A drive system includes a pulley, an engine, a variator for varying a ratio of an output speed and an input speed, a gearset including a first and second components driveably connected to the engine and pulley, respectively, and a third component connected to the output, and a second gearset for increasing an input speed relative to an pulley speed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a system for transmitting rotating power between an electric machine and engine in a motor vehicle, and more particularly to a system that includes a transmission having a stepless speed ratio range.
2. Description of the Prior Art
On vehicles equipped with assisted direct start (ADS), the engine is stopped when the vehicle comes to a stop with the brake pedal depressed and the accelerator pedal released. While the engine is stopped in this way, the electric machine should drive the vehicle accessories and to restart the engine when the driver signals that the vehicle is to move again by releasing the brake pedal and depressing the accelerator pedal. The electric machine replaces the alternator that is conventionally used.
A transmission located in a power path between the electric machine and the engine will allow the engine to remain at zero rotational speed while the electric machine is driving the accessories through the transmission, permit the electric machine to rotate the engine up to start speed when the engine restart is required, and allow the engine to drive the electric machine and accessories under normal driving conditions.
A need exists in the industry for a drive connection between the engine and electric machine, particularly on vehicles equipped with ADS that will provide the desired and necessary functions.

Accessory drive and engine restarting system


An apparatus for locking a rotatable portion of a storage device is provided. The apparatus comprises a component irrotatably engaged with the rotatable portion, the component having first teeth for engaging second teeth disposed on a surface irrotatable with respect to the component. A spring is disposed between the component and the reel to urge engagement of the first teeth and the second teeth. The component is slidably engaged with the reel such that by pulling on the component, the component slides with respect to the reel and the first teeth disengage from the second teeth, thereby permitting the reel and the component to rotate. A method for accessing media disposed on the reel includes pushing the reel away from a bottom portion of the storage device, pulling down on the component to disengage the first teeth from the second teeth, and rotating the reel to access the media.

1. Field
The present invention relates to storage devices having a rotatable portion, such as a tape reel, and more particularly to lock systems for securing the rotatable portion.
2. Description of Related Art
Storage devices, such as magnetic tape cartridges, may provide a means for securing a rotatable portion (e.g., a tape reel) of the storage device against unwanted rotation or other movement. Such securing means ought to be releasable so that the rotatable portion can rotate freely when the storage device is accessed for reading and/or writing of data onto media disposed on the rotatable portion. By example, a tape cartridge may have a reel with magnetic tape disposed thereon, and the reel may be secured from rotation when the tape cartridge is stored in a library system, and upon retrieval of the tape cartridge for access in a drive, the reel may be freed for rotation so that the magnetic tape disposed on the reel may be accessed.
With further regard to tape cartridges, conventional art includes a reel that has teeth disposed on a radial edge of the reel (i.e., facing radially from an axis of rotation), and an arm mechanism attached to a housing of the tape cartridge that pivots to engage the teeth of the reel to prevent reel rotation and pivots away from the teeth so that the reel can rotate. Such mechanisms can be complicated and typically provide for a single point of contact between the teeth and the arm. Another locking mechanism is also conventional and provides for a more distributed contact surface between a locking mechanism and a portion of the reel. This locking mechanism in the context of a tape cartridge is illustrated in FIG. 1. This locking mechanism has certain disadvantages as well, which are described herein. Therefore, a demand exists for an improved mechanism to releasably secure a rotatable portion of a storage device.


A people mover, such as a travelator, moving ramp or escalator, comprises a conveyor. The conveyor comprises a frame having a first frame part secured to a fixed structure, and a second frame part mounted to be movable in relation to the first frame part in the longitudinal direction. The first and second frame parts are arranged one after the other. Transport platforms are secured to a first drive element and a second drive element. The drive elements are endless elements. A first tensioning device tensions the first drive element and a second tensioning device tensions the second drive element. Each tensioning device acts between the first frame part and the second frame part. The conveyor additionally comprises mechanical transmission elements between the first and second tensioning devices for keeping the stroke lengths of the first and the second tensioning movements equal.

A travelator, moving ramp or escalator, collectively referred to herein as a people mover, comprises a conveyor. Such a conveyor is known to include a frame, which comprises a first frame part secured to a fixed structure and a second frame part mounted to be movable with respect to the first frame part in its longitudinal direction, the first and second frame parts being mounted one after the other. A first drive element is located on a first side of the conveyor and implemented as an endless loop. A second drive element is disposed on a second side of the conveyor at a distance from and parallel to the first drive element and implemented as an endless loop. A plurality of conveyor platforms, such as pallets or stairs, are arranged one after the other and secured to the first drive element and the second drive element. A first wheel is disposed on the first side at a first end of the conveyor and mounted with bearings on the first frame part, the first drive element being passed over the first wheel. A second wheel is disposed on the first side of the conveyor at a second end and mounted with bearings on the second frame part, the first drive element being passed over the second wheel. A third wheel is disposed on the second side at the first end and mounted with bearings on the first frame part, the second drive element being passed over the third wheel. A fourth wheel is disposed on the second side at the second end and mounted with bearings on the second frame part, the second drive element being passed over the fourth wheel. A first tensioning device is disposed on the first side and arranged to act between the first frame part and the second frame part to force the first wheel and the second wheel flexibly away from each other to tension the first drive element with a first tensioning movement. A second tensioning device, disposed on the second side of the conveyor, is of a construction substantially identical with the first tensioning device and arranged to act between the first frame part and the second frame part to force the third wheel and the fourth wheel flexibly away from each other to tension the second drive element with a second tensioning movement. By tensioning the drive element, a drive element tension suitable in respect of operation of the conveyor is maintained.
Today, however, there is a need for travelators, moving ramps and/or escalators in which the transport distances are very long and in which the distance between the wheels of the drive elements are consequently also very long. For example, in very long travelators, the distance between the wheels can be long, e.g. on the order of 100 meters.
Further, there has arisen a need for low-construction travelators, moving ramps and escalators designed to be mounted directly on a fixed base, such as a floor, without any special pits formed in the fixed structure, such as the floor of a building, for embedded mounting of the frame and machinery of the travelator. In the low-construction frame structure of a travelator, moving ramp or escalator mounted on a fixed base there is very little space for the drive machine of the conveyor, and therefore the diameter of the wheels has to be quite small and consequently the chain must have a small pitch (e.g. 15 . . . 20 mm). Thus, the number of chain links subject to wear over the length of the chain must be fairly large and the chain undergoes much larger elongation than conventionally. This means that the tensioning device must have a fairly long stroke (e.g. 300 . . . 400 mm). Also, the difference of elongation (due to uneven load or the like) in each chain is quite large. As the transport platforms are fastened to the chains, different elongation of the chains means that the transport platforms are not in a straight position when moving, and this leads to problems in the operation of the conveyor.
Usually the chains used in travelators and escalators are long-pitch drive chains (typically having a pitch of 100 . . . 200 mm). As the number of links subject to wear over the length of the conveyor is relatively small, the elongation is relatively small. Therefore, the chain tensioning device need not have a long stroke (typically <100 mm) and the elongation of each chain is relatively small. Thus, there has been no need for compensating the elongation.


A multi-turn angle sensor includes rotors 60, 62, 64, each of which rotates in a different manner with respect to an input shaft 19, and a common stator portion 66. The rotors and pole teeth disposed around the rotors form each of resolvers 600, 620, 640. At least two of the resolvers are arranged on a single plane vertical to the rotation central axis of each of the rotors. The common stator portion 66 surrounding each of the rotors is formed by laminating electromagnetic steel sheets 106, each of which has an identical shape including a plurality of sets of pole teeth corresponding to each of the rotors. A single length of unspliced electrical wire is wound around each of the pole tooth sets. This facilitates automation of assembly.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a multi-turn angle sensor which includes two or more resolvers having a structure which facilitates assembly.
2. Related Art
Japanese Patent Publication JP 3414953 A discloses a conventional multi-turn angle sensor which has a rotation shaft and a resolver which can sense a rotation angle of a shaft in one turn. This multi-turn angle sensor can sense a rotation angle of shaft for multiple turns, such as several hundred turns, by positioning the resolver on a speed reduction shaft whose speed is reduced from the speed of the rotation shaft.
FIG. 5 of the present application relates to FIG. 1 of JP 3414953 A, which is a cross-sectional view in an axial direction showing one embodiment of an absolute encoder in which three reluctance-type resolvers are coaxially placed. FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line I-I of FIG. 5.
The three resolvers, each of which is respectively formed by stators 61A, 63A, 65A and rotors 60, 62, 64, are arranged coaxially. An input shaft 19 is supported by casings 81, 84 via bearings 90, 95. A rotor 60 and non-magnetic gear 25 are connected to the input shaft 19 by interference fit. A shaft 20 is supported by the casings 81, 84 via bearings (not shown). Non-magnetic gears 26, 27, 29 are connected to the shaft 20 by interference fitting. A rotor 62 and non-magnetic gear 28 are connected to the input shaft 19 by interference fit via a bearing 93. A rotor 64 and non-magnetic gear 30 are connected to the input shaft 19 interference fitting via a bearing 94.
A speed reduction gear mechanism is formed by engagements between gear 25 with gear 26, gear 27 with gear 28, and gear 29 with gear 30. Gear 28 paired with rotor 62 and gear 30 paired with rotor 64 respectively. The speed reduction gear mechanism causes the rotor 62 to be rotated for every 24 rotations of the input shaft 19, and the rotor 64 to be rotated once for every 25 rotations of the input shaft 19.
As shown in FIG. 6, both of stator 63A and rotor 62 are formed by laminating thin plates of magnetic material produced by die blanking. The rotor 62 has a cylindrical shape arranged to eccentrically rotate about the center of a rotation shaft 80. The stator 63A is provided with four pole teeth 101 to 104, around each of which is wound one of four windings 111 to 114. Similarly, stator 61A (refer to FIG. 8) is provided with wirings 121 to 124 (not shown in FIG. 6), and stator 65A (refer to FIG. 8) with wirings 131 to 134 (not shown in FIG. 6). Each of these windings comprises excitation wiring and sensing wiring.
FIG. 7 shows a layout of wirings 111 to 114, 121 to 124, and 131 to 134. Circles 1-10 in FIG. 7 represent each of the connections to a connector 68 provided on printed circuit boards 51, 52, arranged between 61A and 63A and between 63A and 65A, respectively. The number with which each circle is labeled represents a pin number of a pin of the connector 68. FIG. 8 shows the relationships between the wiring shown in FIG. 6, and the excitation wiring numbers and sensing wiring numbers in FIG. 7. For example, FIG. 7 shows that the wiring 111 of the stator 63A is formed by an excitation wiring f1 and a sensing wiring a3. The connections between the wirings and between the wirings and the connector 68 are achieved by soldering connections onto the printed circuit boards 51, 52.
In the resolver formed by the stator 63A and rotor 62, a voltage in accordance with a rotation angle of the rotor is generated between pins 5 and 4 and between pins 6 and 4 of the connector 68 by applying a pulse voltage between pins 2 and 4 of the connector 68. An absolute position of the input shaft 19 for up to 25 turns can be sensed by interpolating a generated voltage. Further, the other two resolvers have structures similar to the resolver formed by the stator 63A and rotor 62, that is, the structure respectively formed by stator 61A and rotor 60, and stator 65A and rotor 64. These two resolvers can respectively sense an absolute position of the input shaft at one turn and 24 turns. A position of the input shaft 19 up to 600 turns can be accurately detected by numerically processing the values of the three absolute positions sensed by these three resolvers.


The present disclosure provides a multi-pass free-carrier absorption variable optical attenuator device, including: a diode structure including a P-type doped region and an N-type doped region separated by an intrinsic region; and an optical waveguide including a plurality of optical waveguide sections aligned parallel to one another and disposed between the P-type doped region and the N-type doped region and within the intrinsic region of the diode structure. Further, the present disclosure provides a multi-pass thermal phase shifter device, including: a silicon structure including or coupled to one or more heater elements; and an optical waveguide including a plurality of optical waveguide sections aligned parallel to one another and disposed adjacent to the one or more heater elements. Optionally, at least two of the optical waveguide sections have different geometries and are separated by a predetermined gap.

In general, it is desirable to increase the efficiency of free-carrier VOAs, as well as to provide such devices fabricated using typical SiP fabrication processes. Here, the primary efficiency is defined in terms of achieved attenuation relative to a typical control voltage, control current, and total dissipated power for the devices. Secondarily, it is desirable that a smaller VOA can be fabricated, with fewer sections, to achieve the same attenuation, with lower power dissipation and smaller drive/control electronics.
Likewise, in integrated optics, low-speed but low-power consumption phase shifters are important building blocks because of the difficulty in precisely controlling the phase of an optical wave propagating in a waveguide. Although fabricated waveguide lengths are generally known precisely, the roughness associated with the waveguide randomly changes the optical mode effective index and, thus, makes the phase uncertainty larger than 2π radians. As a result, active control of the phase is included in most interferometer-based structures. Thus, there is a need to improve the power efficiency of such phase-shifting building blocks.

Free-carrier absorption variable optical attenuators and thermal phase shifters formed by an optical waveguide having multiple passes in an intrinsic region


A MIMO base station is provided that includes a multi-channel transmitter having an input Fourier Transform Matrix (FTM) and an output FTM that are each coupled to an intervening signal processing section having multiple radio frequency (RF) amplifiers. A signal applied to an input port of the input FTM is distributed to all RF amplifiers of the transmitter by the input FTM and then is recombined by the output FTM such that the signal is routed to a single antenna of the multiple antennas of an antenna array. Thus, for both MIMO and non-MIMO transmissions, all RF amplifiers are used to amplify each input signal, but the non-MIMO transmission signal then is recombined such that only a single transmit antenna then is used to transmit the signal. The base station further provides antenna selection for a single antenna transmission and gain allocation among the multiple antennas for a MIMO transmission.

Multiple-Input Multiple-Output (MIMO) transmissions have been proposed for fourth generation (4G) wireless communication systems. Unlike third generation (3G) wireless communication systems, where a single amplifier may amplify a signal that then is distributed to multiple elements of an antenna array, a MIMO transmitter conveys a different signal via each antenna of multiple antennas of an antenna array and correspondingly requires multiple amplifiers, that is, an amplifier for each antenna. However, as 4G wireless communication systems get rolled out, the 4G base station transmitters will have to service legacy communication technologies as well as a fourth generation communication technology. As a result, operation of a 4G base station will involve single antenna transmissions as well as multiple antenna transmissions. Single antenna transmissions merely require use of a single amplifier, with the result that the additional amplifiers included in the base station that supports MIMO transmissions will go unused in non-MIMO transmissions.
As MIMO wireless communication systems are rolled out, most transmissions will be legacy transmissions. Amplifiers are costly components of a base station and a failure to use, in a non-MIMO transmission, the multiple amplifiers that are available for MIMO transmissions is a waste of expense and hardware. Also, by amplifying a non-MIMO signal using a single amplifier, larger and more costly amplifiers are required than would be required if such a single was amplified using multiple amplifiers.
Therefore a need exists for a method and apparatus that utilizes all amplifiers of a MIMO transmitter regardless of whether or not a transmission is a MIMO transmission and that further allocates power gains among the multiple antennas of the MIMO transmitter.
One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common and well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention.

Method and apparatus for antenna selection and power control in a multiple input multiple output wireless communication system


An angle-adjustable support includes a base, a carrier and a pivot mechanism. The base includes a sidewall and a bottom. The sidewall has a first pivot and a second pivot. The pivot mechanism pivotally connects the carrier with the base. The pivot mechanism has three working states. The carrier is locked when the pivot mechanism works in a first working state. The carrier is capable of pivoting relative to the base in a clockwise or anticlockwise when the pivot mechanism works in a second working state. The carrier is free to rotate when the pivot mechanism works in a third working state.

In daily life, pivot mechanisms are widely applied to such articles as doors, windows, rearview mirrors of cars, notebook computers, electronic dictionaries, personal digital assistants (PDAs) and mobile phones. Such an article generally includes a rotating body and a body. The rotating body is rotatable relative to the body through a pivot mechanism. The pivot mechanism generally includes a shaft, a gasket, a stator and a rotor. The rotating body of the article is connected to the rotor such that the rotating body can rotate together with the rotor. As the rotor rotates relative to the stator, the friction force produced between the stator and the rotor is used to counteract the torque force produced by the weight of the rotating body, so that the rotating body can be positioned and held in place by the external force. However, the friction force between the stator and the rotor may too large or too small. If the friction force between the stator and the rotor is too large, the necessary of external force taken to rotate the rotating body also become larger. In the meantime, the pivot mechanism is easily worn out and has a shot service life. In the contrary, if the friction force between the stator and the rotor is too small, the pivot mechanism is loose and the rotating body cannot be efficiently positioned and held in place.
In addition, if the relationship between the components of the pivot mechanism is improper, a counter force is produced between the stator and the rotor during rotating. The counter force drives the rotating body to rotate back when an external force used to rotate the rotating body is removed. Thus, the rotating body cannot be exactly positioned.
Thus, there is a room for improving the pivot mechanism.

Angle-adjustable support with pivot mechanism

Universal Scientific Industrial (Shanghai) Co., Ltd.

Universal Global Scientific Industrial Co., Ltd.


A profiled element for rotary drilling equipment and applications to components of a string of drill pipes has an area of abutment on the wall of a drilling hole having a maximum diameter constituting the maximum diameter of the rotary drilling equipment and a turbulence area for producing an activation of the circulation of a drilling fluid in the annulus. The profiled element also has a deflection area adjacent to the abutment area and to the turbulence area, having at least one surface inclined with respect to the axis of the rotary drilling, whose meridian line moves away from the axis in the direction going from bottom to top, in the service position of the profiled element in the drilling hole.

The invention concerns a profiled element for rotary drilling equipment, such as a drill stem or collar, interposed in a rotary drill pipe string.
In the field of prospecting and the exploitation of oil deposits, rotary drill pipe strings are used consisting of pipes and possibly other tubular elements connected end to end, according to the drilling requirements.
Such strings can in particular make it possible to produce deviating drillings, that is to say drillings where it is possible to vary the inclination with respect to the vertical or the direction in azimuth, during the drilling. In the case of greatly deviating drillings having practically horizontal portions, the friction torques due to the rotation of the drilling lining may attain very high values during the drilling. The friction torques may call into question the equipment used or the drilling objectives. In addition, it is often very difficult to bring up the cuttings produced by the drilling, because of the sedimentation of the debris produced in the drilling hole, in particular in the part of the drilling hole which is highly inclined with respect to the vertical. The result is poor cleaning of the hole and an increase both in the coefficients of friction of the pipes in the string inside the drilling hole and the contact surfaces between the pipes and the walls of the hole.
In order to reduce the coefficient of friction and the contact surface between the string and the walls of the drilling hole and to improve the cleaning of the drilling hole and the discharge of debris in the drilling fluid, there was proposed, in patent application FR-97 03207, a profile for a drill pipe which has a diameter greater than the diameter of the end portions coming into contact with the wall of the drilling hole and provides a certain degree of reduction in the friction between the drill pipe and the wall of the drilling hole. The end parts, which have hydraulic profiles, activate the circulation of the drilling fluid and detach the debris attached to the wall of the drilling hole and form turbulence areas.
In a more recent French patent application, FR-99 01391, a profiled element has been proposed for rotary drilling equipment making it possible to reduce the friction between the drilling equipment and a wall of the drilling hole at the abutment areas of the profiled element and to limit the risks of jamming of the drilling equipment, when the equipment is brought up inside the drilling hole.
To achieve this aim, there are provided, on the profiled element, hollow parts and radially projecting parts having an arrangement in a helix around the profiled element and having geometric and dimensional characteristics which vary according to the axial direction of the element. Preferably, the hollow parts or grooves in the profiled element disposed in helixes have a cross-section of transverse passage, in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the drilling equipment, which decreases in the axial direction and in the direction of circulation of a drilling fluid in a drilling annulus between the equipment and the drilling hole.
In this way, a circulation of drilling fluid is achieved in the circumferential direction around the abutment areas of the profiled element, which reduces the friction between the drill pipe and the wall of the drilling hole at the abutment areas.
The profiled element described in FR-99 01391 generally has, upstream of the abutment area, an area of activation of the circulation of drilling fluid in the annulus of the drilling hole or turbulence area, according to which the profiled element has helical grooves having a profile making it possible to clean the drilling hole and to drive the debris conveyed by the drilling fluid. In general terms, the grooves provided in the different areas of the profiled element are placed in line with each other, along the entire length of the profiled element. However, the drilling debris driven with the drilling fluid may have a tendency to collect at the profiled element, inside the grooves, and effective scavenging of the drilling hole is not always obtained because of an activated axial circulation essentially in contact with the profiled drilling element.
The aim of the invention is therefore to propose a profiled element for rotary drilling equipment for producing a drilling hole, having an overall shape of revolution and an axis directed along the rotation axis of the drilling and at least one area of abutment on the wall of the drilling hole extending in the axial direction of the profiled element and having a maximum diameter constituting the maximum diameter of the drilling equipment and a turbulence area for producing an activation of the circulation of a drilling fluid in the drilling hole around the drilling equipment, this profiled element making it possible to obtain a good circulation of the drilling fluid in the drilling hole, at the periphery of the drilling equipment, and effective scavenging of the wall of the drilling hole and an energetic entrainment of the drilling debris, in the direction of circulation of the drilling fluid.
For this purpose, the profiled element according to the invention has in addition a deflection area adjacent to the abutment area and to the turbulence area, extending in the axial direction of the profiled element having at least one surface inclined with respect to the axis of the drilling, whose meridian line, in an axial plane, moves away from the axis of the profiled element in the direction going from bottom to top, in the service position of the profiled element in the drilling hole.

Profiled element for rotary drilling equipment and applications to components of a string of drill pipes


An image capture apparatus which captures an object image formed by an imaging lens, comprises a focus detection unit which detects a focus position of the object image at a plurality of positions on an image sensing plane, a prediction unit which stores the past output from the focus detection unit, and predicts a locus of the focus position of the object image based on the stored output, thereby predicting the focus position of the object image at a predetermined time instant, a detection unit which detects a shift of the object image on the image sensing plane, and a control unit which changes the output from the prediction unit based on the output from the detection unit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automatic focus adjustment technique in an image capture apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A focus detection apparatus which detects relative movement of a main object, to undergo focus detection, on a two-dimensional image sensing plane based on a change in luminance signal or color difference signal, thereby moving the focus detection position in accordance with the movement of the main object has conventionally been proposed, as described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 60-249477.
A focus detection apparatus which predicts the focus position of a main object a predetermined time into the future based on a temporal change in characteristic of focus detection while continuously performing focus detection of the main object has conventionally been proposed as well, as described in Japanese Patent No. 03218730.
The focus detection apparatus described in Japanese Patent No. 03218730 calculates a moving velocity change curve in the direction in which the main object moves on the image plane based on the focus detection result obtained within a predetermined elapsed time to predict the focus position of the main object a predetermined time into the future. Before a moving velocity change curve is calculated, it is determined whether the change in velocity at which the main object moves on the image plane exceeds a predetermined threshold. If the change in velocity at which the main object moves on the image plane is small, a moving velocity change curve in the direction in which the main object moves on the image plane is calculated based on the focus detection result obtained over a relatively long elapsed time. If the change in velocity at which the main object moves on the image plane is great then a moving velocity change curve is calculated based on the focus detection result over a relatively short elapsed time. With such an operation, the prediction error can be kept small to a certain degree.
A focus detection apparatus which can perform focus detection of a main object even if the main object moves rapidly has been proposed, as described above. However, when focus detection is performed for, for example, a figure skater, the direction in which he or she moves may change rapidly in the middle of the performance due, for example, to a jump or fall, so it is difficult to continue to focus on the skater. This is because not only the velocity of the main object in the direction in which the main object moves on the image plane but also the composition of the main object on the two-dimensional image sensing plane changes.


A data transfer apparatus includes a virtual channel unit configured to time share a serial bus for a first virtual channel and a second virtual channel and include a buffering control unit configured to receive data via the first virtual channel and the second virtual channel, first and second receive buffers being configured to store the data received via the first virtual channel and the second virtual channel, respectively; and a switching unit configured to control storing the data received via the first virtual channel in the second receive buffer when the buffering control unit receives the data from another data transfer apparatus which is configured to use only the first virtual channel and the capacity of the first receive buffer is smaller than that of the second receive buffer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data transfer apparatus and an image forming system.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, a high speed serial transmission line, whose transmission speed exceeds several Gbps, capable of transmitting data much faster than Ethernet (registered trademark) has been actualized. For this kind of transmission line, a standard of a local In/Out (I/O) adopting a communication method similar to a conventional computer network has been spreading. Thus, a data network for communications within a chip, between chips or between boards of a Large Scale Integration (LSI) by packet communication using a serial transmission line and a switch, similar to the computer network, is becoming to be used in an electric device to be embedded in a system.
Specifically, for a system such as a Personal Computer (PC) system, an embedded system such as an image forming apparatus such as a Multi Function Peripheral (hereinafter, simply referred to as a "MFP") or the like, a high speed serial communication standard so-called Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCI Express (registered trademark) hereinafter, simply referred to as a "PCIe" as well) has been used for transmitting mass data within an apparatus.
The merit for using the PCIe, which is the high speed serial communication standard, is that it is only necessary to increase the number of lanes in order to spread band so that it is flexible in increasing and decreasing the band compared with the conventional PCI, which is a parallel communication standard. Further, by using the PCIe, the number of the terminals for the LSI and the number of interconnects on a board can be reduced. Further, as the components for the PCIe are mass produced for PCs, the cost for the components is relatively low.
(Virtual Channel)
For a data transfer system in which plural data transfer apparatuses are connected with each other via a common channel for transferring data, if traffic streams of different kinds are transferred through the same channel, there may be a conflict. When such a conflict occurs, the communication qualities (data transfer rate, continuity or the like) for the traffic streams may not be maintained. Thus, an algorithm of arbitration for a serial interface of the PCIe includes a virtual channel function in which a serial bus is time shared by plural virtual channels so that packet data of the plural traffic streams are separately transferred, and an arbitration function in which priority in issuing packet data is arbitrated for each of the virtual channels. The virtual channel is simply referred to as a "VC" as well, hereinafter. With this, Quality of Service (QoS) is actualized. In the data transfer apparatus that includes such an algorithm, packet data is transferred while the order of transferring the data is adjusted for each of the transactions when the packet data of the plural traffic streams corresponding to the plural virtual channels whose priorities are different are to be transferred by the serial bus at the same time (see Patent Document 1).
For the data transfer apparatus which is to be embedded in a system such as an image forming apparatus such as a MFP, the capacities of buffers of the plural virtual channels are respectively optimized corresponding to the kinds of transactions in accordance with the purpose of the system.
Therefore, as will be explained later in detail, there is a problem when it is necessary for the data transfer apparatus to communicate with another data transfer apparatus which is not configured to form plural virtual channels corresponding to those of the data transfer apparatus, that throughput in transferring data of some kinds of transactions via a virtual channel is lowered.

Data transfer apparatus and image forming system


A semiconductor single crystal rod having a controlled oxygen concentration distribution in the direction of length is produced by method of pulling up a semiconductor melt held in a quartz glass crucible under application of a magnetic field, which method is characterized by fixing the speed of revolution of the quartz glass crucible and varying the intensity of the magnetic field applied to the melt according to the length of pull-up of the single crystal rod.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method for the growth of a semiconductor single crystal by causing a seed crystal to contact a molten semiconductor in quartz crucible and pulling up a rod of semiconductor single crystal. More particularly, this invention relates to a method for the growth of a semiconductor single crystal, characterized by imparting a prescribed distribution to the oxygen concentration of the semiconductor single crystal in the direction of length of pull-up thereof by the adjustment of the intensity of a magnetic field applied to the molten semiconductor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the growth of a single crystal of silicon by the Czochralski method, a quartz (SiO.sub.2) crucible is used as a container for holding molten silicon. It is known that since silicon at the melting point thereof is chemically active, the molten silicon reacts with the quartz of the crucible and dissolves the quartz into itself and, as a result, the grown single crystal of silicon contains a fair amount of oxygen. At the same time that the quartz glass of the crucible dissolves into the molten silicon, the trace of impurities present in the shell of the crucible are dissolved and eventually incorporated in the grown single crystal of silicon.
The oxygen of the single crystal of silicon is welcomed on account of the so-called intrinsic gettering effect. Techniques for uniformly distributing oxygen on a relatively high level, a level on from 15 to 20 ppma, for example, throughout the entire length of the single crystal of silicon have been developed. Japanese Patent Publication SHO 60(1985)-6,911 and Japanese Patent Application Disclosure SHO 57(1982)-135,796, for example, disclose such techniques. In consequence of the advance of the technology for the manufacture of integrated circuits, the demand for the intrinsic gettering effect has dwindled and, at the same time, the demand for a single crystal of silicon containing impurities other than oxygen in the smallest possible concentration has grown. The trend has urged development of a method for producing a crystal of high purity by applying a magnetic field to molten silicon thereby curbing the melt of the raw material for the crystal from undergoing convection and consequently repressing the dissolution of the quartz glass of the crucible. One technique for embodying the method is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Disclosure SHO 56(1981 )-104,791, for example.
Japanese Patent Publication SHO 60(1985)-6,911 discloses a method which, in the process for pulling up a rod of a single crystal from the melt of the raw material for semiconductor held in a quartz glass crucible in accordance with the Czochralski method, controls the gradient of the speed of revolution of the crucible so as to be reciprocal to the gradient of the oxygen concentration profile measured along the direction of pull-up.
Japanese Patent Application Disclosure SHO 57(1982)-135,796 discloses a method which comprises pulling up a grown seed crystal of silicon while rotating it in the direction opposite that of the rotation of the crucible for the melt at a large initial speed of revolution and further increasing the speed of revolution in proportion as the amount of the melt in the crucible decreases.
Japanese Patent Application Disclosure SHO 56(1981) -104,791 discloses a method for producing a crystal of high purity by applying a magnetic field to the raw material for the crystal thereby curbing the melt from undergoing convection and consequently repressing the dissolution of the quartz glass of the crucible.
None of the techniques described above, however, contemplates repressing the oxygen concentration in the grown single crystal to a low level even below 10 ppma, for example, throughout the entire volume of the rod of single crystal, uniformizing the distribution of oxygen concentration from the head to the tail of the rod of crystal, or controlling the distribution arbitrarily.

Method for pulling up semi-conductor single crystal


The present disclosure may relate to a detector and a detecting system. The detector may include a probe, a first connector connected to the probe, a second connector configured to connect to an external apparatus, an elastic member arranged between and connected to the first connector and the second connector, a transmission line and a flexible protector. An end of the transmission line may pass through the first connector and connect with the probe. The other end of the transmission line may connect with the second connector. An end of the flexible protector may be connected to the first connector. The other end of the flexible protector may be connected to the second connector. The length of the flexible protector may be greater than that of the elastic member in its natural state, and less than that of the transmission line between the first connector and the second connector.

Detectors are often used to detect areas where operating personals are incapable or unwilling to enter and directly detect, such as natural cavities of man or animals, tunnels and urban underground pipelines. For example, pipeline detectors are widely used for pipeline inspection and maintenance. Especially in some narrow pipelines with harsh environment, operating personals cannot enter the site for a direct survey, and thus need to obtain video signals from inside of the pipelines through cameras and transmit the signals out.

Detector and detecting system for protecting transmission line therein