An engine start-up control device for a vehicle is provided with a structure which prevents the occurrence of an uncomfortable shock arising from amplified engine load torque fluctuation caused by resonance, when an output of a first motor generator starting up an engine by driving the same is limited. With a second motor generator having reactive torque restricting the rotation of a transfer member, the first motor generator rotatably drives a sun gear to crank the engine for start-up thereof. When this takes place, if the output of the first motor generator is limited, torque reference reactive-force control is executed to control reactive torque of the second motor generator in accordance with a predetermined torque whereby when the engine load torque exceeds a predetermined value, a rotation speed variation of the transfer member is permitted against reactive torque such that the rotation speed variation of the transfer member allows engine load torque to escape for thereby precluding engine load torque fluctuation to be amplified due to resonance.

There has been known an engine start-up control device for a vehicle which includes a differential mechanism connected to an engine generating a drive power by combustion of fuel, a first electric motor, and a reactive-force receiving member whose rotation is restricted with a reactive torque controlled by a reactive-force control device. The engine start-up control device for the vehicle has an engine start-up control device for starting up the engine by driving the same by the first electric motor with the reactive-force control device caused to restrict the rotation of the reactive-force receiving member. One example of such engine start-up control device for the vehicle is disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-340010). In the vehicle, the engine and first and second motor generators are connected to each other via a differential gear device (differential mechanism), under which the first motor generator starts up the engine by rotatably driving the same. When this takes place, the second motor generator is arranged to restrict the rotation of an output member (reactive-force receiving member) so as to allow an engine rotation speed to vary in a desired profile. In this case, a rotation speed of an output shaft basically depends on a vehicle speed, and the second motor generator, acting as the reactive-force control device, has an effect to supplementarily restrict the rotation of the output member.
In such an engine start-up control device for a vehicle of the related art, however, a battery is limited in charging or discharging at, for instance, under an extremely low temperature, during a drop in charge amount SOC or during a fully charged state of the battery, etc. This causes an output power (power-running torque or regenerative torque) of the first electric motor to be limited, resulting in a delay in rise of an engine rotation speed. Such a structure causes the engine rotation speed to stay for an extended time period in a resonant region (ranging from, for instance, 250 to 4000 rpm) that is determined in terms of rigidity etc. of a power transmitting system. This results in a occurrence of resonance due to torsional vibration of the power transmitting system with a resultant amplified fluctuation of a load torque (rotational resistance resulting from a pumping action and friction) of the engine, causing a risk of uncomfortable shock occurring through an engine mount or the like.
FIG. 13 is a timing chart for a hybrid vehicle shown in FIG. 1 for representing a sequence of cranking an engine 10 for start-up thereof. Under a neutral state in which a power transmitting is interrupted in an automatic shifting portion 20, the second motor generator MG2 (reactive-force control device) allows a rotation speed Nmg2 of a transfer member 18 (reactive-force receiving member) to be maintained at a zero level to receive a reactive force. In addition, the first motor generator MG1 (first electric motor) is rotatably driven for cranking or starting up the engine 10. This timing chart represents a normal state in which output of the first motor generator is unlimited. An engine rotation speed NE is immediately increased due to large power-running torque T1 to escape the resonant region in a short time period, causing no fear of uncomfortable shock arising due to resonance.
In contrast, if the output of the first motor generator MG1 is limited, then, there is a delay in rise time of the engine rotation speed NE by an amount corresponding to a decrease in power-running torque T1 of the first motor generator MG1 as shown in FIG. 25. This increases a time period by that extent for which the engine rotation speed stays in the resonant region. Thus, an amplified fluctuation of the engine load torque Te due to resonance occurs, resulting in the occurrence of uncomfortable shock.
The present invention has been completed with the above view in mind, and has an object to provide an engine start-up control device for a vehicle arranged to suppress the occurrence of uncomfortable shock, caused by engine load torque whose fluctuation is amplified due to resonance because of an increase of time period for the engine rotation speed to stay in a resonant region, when an output of the first electric motor enabled to rotatably drive an engine during start-up thereof is limited.
For achieving the above object, in a first aspect of the invention, an engine start-up control device for a vehicle which includes a differential mechanism connected to an engine generating a drive power by combustion of fuel, a first electric motor, and a reactive-force receiving member whose rotation is restricted with a reactive torque controlled by a reactive-force control device, the engine start-up control device starting up the engine by driving thereof by the first electric motor under a condition where the reactive-force control device restricts the rotation of the reactive-force receiving member. The engine start-up control device is operable to control the reactive-force control device such that in an output limiting state of the first electric motor, a rotation speed of the reactive-force receiving member varies at a greater rate than that in a state where the output of the first electric motor is unlimited.
In a second aspect, in the first aspect, during an engine start-up in the output limiting state of the first electric motor, the reactive torque of the reactive-force control device is decreased to permit the rotation speed of the reactive-force receiving member to vary at the greater rate than that in the state where the output of the first electric motor is unlimited.
In a third aspect, in the first or second aspect, during an engine start-up in the output limiting state of the first electric motor, a torque reference reactive-force control, to control the reactive torque of the reactive-force control device in accordance with a target torque, is executed.
In a fourth aspect, in the third aspect, the target torque is varied such that the lower an output power of the first electric motor in the output limiting state is, the smaller the target torque will be.
In a fifth aspect, in the third or fourth aspect, during the engine start-up in the output limiting state of the first electric motor, a variation amount of the rotation speed of the first electric motor is detected and the target torque is varied such that the greater a rotation speed variation is, the smaller the target torque will be.
In a sixth aspect, in one of the third to fifth aspects, during the engine start-up in the output limiting state of the first electric motor, an in-cylinder pressure of the engine is detected and the target torque is varied such that the higher the in-cylinder pressure is, the smaller the target torque will be.
In a seventh aspect, in the first aspect, during an engine start-up in the output limiting state of the first electric motor, a rotation-speed reference reactive-force control, to control the reactive torque of the reactive-force control device such that a rotation speed of the reactive-force receiving member follows a predetermined target rotation speed, is executed, and a deviation allowable value in the rotation speed of the reactive-force receiving member controlled by the rotation-speed reference reactive-force control is set to a value allowing the rotation speed of the reactive-force receiving member to vary at a predetermined rate.
In a eighth aspect, in one of the first to seventh aspects, the differential mechanism is disposed in a power transmitting path between an output shaft of the engine and drive wheels; and the reactive-force control device includes a second electric motor disposed to give a drive power to the power transmitting path and to receive the drive power from the power transmitting path.
According to the first aspect, the reactive-force control device is controlled such that in an output limiting state of the first electric motor, a rotation speed of the reactive-force receiving member varies at a greater rate than that in a state where the output of the first electric motor is unlimited. Thus, the rotation speed variation of the reactive-force receiving member allows the engine load torque to escape even if the engine rotation speed of which rise is delayed due to the output limitation of the first electric motor stays in the resonant region for a relatively extended time period. This suppresses the occurrence of amplified engine load torque fluctuation caused by resonance due to the torsional vibration of the power transmitting system. Such operation prevents uncomfortable shock from occurring due to an amplified engine load torque fluctuation.
According to the second aspect, during an engine start-up in the output limiting state of the first electric motor, the reactive torque of the reactive-force control device is decreased to permit the rotation speed of the reactive-force receiving member to vary at the greater rate than that in the state where the output of the first electric motor is unlimited. Thus, the rotation speed variation of the reactive-force receiving member, easily occurring against the reactive torque by that extent, allows the engine load torque to escape, thereby suppressing the occurrence of the amplified engine load torque fluctuation caused by resonance.
According to the third aspect, the target torque is varied such that the lower an output power of the first electric motor in the output limiting state is, the smaller the target torque will be. With such a control, for instance, a feedforward control is executed to control the reactive torque at a target torque for keeping the reactive-force receiving member at a predetermined rotation speed (of, for instance, "0" or a speed corresponding to a vehicle speed) in the presence of such a target torque. If the engine load torque exceeds a torque, corresponding to target torque, i.e., a torque determined by a gear ratio, etc., of the differential mechanism, a rotation speed of the reactive-force receiving member is caused to vary against the reactive torque. Such a rotation speed variation allows the engine load torque to escape, suppressing the amplified engine load torque fluctuation caused by resonance.
According to the fourth aspect, the target torque is varied such that the lower an output power of the first electric motor in the output limiting state is, the smaller the target torque will be. Such a structure causes the rotation speed variation of the reactive-force receiving member to easily occur, further effectively suppressing the amplified engine load torque fluctuation caused by resonance. That is, if the output of the first electric motor decreases, the engine rotation speed of which rise is delayed stays in the resonant region for long time period. This increases capability of occurring the amplified engine load torque fluctuation due to resonance by that extent. However, decreasing the target torque for the torque reference reactive-force at a rate depending on the output of the first electric motor allows the rotation speed variation of the reactive-force receiving member to occur with such a small amount of the engine load torque fluctuation. This suppresses the amplified engine load torque fluctuation caused by resonance.
On the contrary, if the reactive torque decreases to cause the rotation speed variation of the reactive-force receiving member to easily occur, then, a rise of the engine rotation speed is interrupted to further delay start-up of the engine. Therefore, it is preferable for the rotation speed variation of the reactive-force receiving member, caused by a drop in reactive torque, to be suppressed to a required minimum level. Thus, a value of the target torque is determined depending on the output of the first electric motor, which appropriately suppresses, with suppressing the occurrence of a delay in start-up of the engine to a minimal level, the occurrence of amplified engine load torque fluctuation caused by resonance.
According to the fifth aspect, during the engine start-up in the output limiting state of the first electric motor, a variation amount of the rotation speed of the first electric motor is detected and the target torque is varied such that the greater a rotation speed variation is, the smaller the target torque will be. Thus, the rotation speed variation of the reactive-force receiving member easily occurs to appropriately escape the engine load torque, thereby appropriately suppressing the occurrence of amplified engine load torque fluctuation caused by resonance. That is, since the variation amount of the engine rotation speed corresponds to the engine load torque fluctuation, an increase of the rotation speed variation means amplification of the engine load torque fluctuation caused due to resonance. Therefore, the target torque for the torque reference reactive-force is decreased at a rate depending on an actual rotation speed variation. Thus, with suppressing the delay in start-up of the engine caused by the drop in reactive torque to a required minimum level, the occurrence of amplified engine load torque fluctuation caused by resonance can be appropriately suppressed.
According to the sixth aspect, during the engine start-up in the output limiting state of the first electric motor, an in-cylinder pressure of the engine is detected and the target torque is varied such that the higher the in-cylinder pressure is, the smaller the target torque will be. Thus, the rotation speed variation of the reactive-force receiving member easily occurs to appropriately escape the engine load torque, thereby appropriately suppressing the occurrence of amplified engine load torque fluctuation caused by resonance. That is, the increased in-cylinder pressure of the engine increases the engine load torque to cause resonance. Thus, by decreasing the target torque for the torque reference reactive-force control at a rate depending on the actual in-cylinder pressure, with suppressing a delay in start-up of the engine caused by a drop in reactive torque to a required minimum level, the amplified engine load torque fluctuation caused by resonance can be appropriately suppressed.
According to the seventh aspect, during an engine start-up in the output limiting state of the first electric motor, a rotation-speed reference reactive-force control, to control the reactive torque of the reactive-force control device such that a rotation speed of the reactive-force receiving member follows a given target rotation speed, is executed, and a deviation allowable value in the rotation speed of the reactive-force receiving member controlled by the rotation-speed reference reactive-force control is set to a value allowing the rotation speed of the reactive-force receiving member to vary at a predetermined rate. Thus, permitting the rotation speed variation of the reactive-force receiving member to occur suppresses the amplification of the engine load torque fluctuation caused by resonance.
Like an eighth invention, an engine start-up control device for a vehicle of the present invention is preferably applied to an electric vehicle, including an engine in addition to first and second electric motors in which either one or both of the first and second electric motors is (are) used as a drive power source for running the vehicle, and the engine is exclusively used for electric power generator or to a hybrid vehicle in which both of the electric motors and the engine are used as a running drive power source. However, the engine start-up control device can also be applied to a vehicle in which only the engine is used as the running drive power source.
For the first and second electric motors for instance, electric motors which are rotatably driven with electric energy, or motor generators selectively rendering functions as the electric motors and electric power generators are preferably used. Depending on a structure, either one of the motor generators may function as the electric power generator. As the reactive-force control device, the second electric motor is preferably employed for instance, but a friction-engaging device (clutch and brake), operative to connect or disconnect (interrupt) a power transmitting path between a differential mechanism and drive wheels, may be used for controlling an engaging torque to control the rotation of the reactive-force receiving member. The engaging torque corresponds to the reactive torque. In addition, both of the second electric motor and the friction-engaging device can be used as a reactive-force control device to control the reactive torque by at least one of them.
As the differential mechanism, although a planetary gear set of a single pinion type or a double pinion type may be preferably used, a differential mechanism of a bevel gear type may also be used. The engine start-up control may be executed during for instance a halt of the vehicle, with controlling the reactive force using the second electric motor under a condition (neutral state etc.) in which the power transfer path is interrupted. In an alternative, the engine start-up control may be executed with controlling the engaging torque (reactive torque) under a condition in which the friction-engaging device of the power transfer path is half-engaged. Even under the running of the vehicle, the engine start-up control may be possibly executed during for instance a shifting of an automatic transmission by interrupting the power transmitting path or by causing the friction-engaging device for the shifting etc. to be half-engaged.
The output of the first electric motor is limited in the following cases. In one case, the output (power-running torque or regenerative torque) of the first electric motor is limited due to a limited a charging or discharging of a battery by for instance under an extremely low temperature, during a drop of charge SOC or during a fully charged state. In another case, the output of the first electric motor is limited due to a failure occurring therein. Under such cases, detecting the limited charging or discharging state of the battery and the presence of such a failure can determine whether to limit the output of the first electric motor. When the output of the first electric motor is limited due to the battery, in a case wherein a target torque is set to a value depending on the output of the first electric motor like a fourth invention, the output of the first electric motor can be acquired by referring to a data map, etc. This data map is preliminarily determined on experimental tests based on for instance a temperature of the battery and the charge amount SOC.
In a second invention, decreasing the reactive torque of the reactive-force control device permits the rotation speed of the reactive-force receiving member to significantly vary. This is because decreasing the reactive torque to a value less than a sharing torque, determined in terms of a gear ratio etc. of the differential mechanism for the engine load torque amplified due to resonance, allows the rotation speed of the reactive-force receiving member to vary. This prevents the engine load torque fluctuation due to resonance from amplifying in a further degree. Accordingly, the reactive torque may suffice to be determined such that the engine load torque fluctuation, arising from resonance, occurs at a magnitude less than a predetermined value.
In a third invention, a torque reference reactive-force control is executed for controlling the reactive torque of the reactive-force control device in accordance with the target torque. This is achieved in feedforward control such that for instance the reactive torque follows or lies at the target torque. The target torque used in such a case may be preferably determined depending on the output of the first electric motor, like the control executed in the fourth invention, but may be preliminarily determined to have a constant value. In the third invention, the torque reference reactive-force control is executed in the output limiting state of the first electric motor. In the absence of the output limiting state of the first electric motor, a rotation-speed reference reactive-force control is executed for controlling the reactive torque such that for instance the rotation speed of the reactive-force receiving member follows or lies at a predetermined target rotation speed. However, the torque reference reactive-force control may also be executed to provide a reactive force at a relatively large target torque. For instance, in the absence of the output limiting state of the first electric motor, the rotation of the reactive-force receiving member may be fixed to "0" or a predetermined rotation speed associated with the vehicle speed, by maximizing the regenerative torque of the second electric motor as the reactive-force control device, or by maximizing an engaging torque of an friction engaging device (reactive-force control device) disposed in the power transmitting path.
In the fourth invention, the lower the output power of the first electric motor is, the less the target torque becomes. In carrying out the third embodiment, a constant target torque may be preliminarily determined regardless of the output of the first electric motor. In addition, when the target torque is determined depending on the output of the first electric motor, a decrease of the reactive torque blocks an increase of the engine rotation speed with a resultant delay in start-up of the engine. Therefore, a predetermined lower limit may be preferably provided on the target torque or an actual reactive torque. This similarly applies to fifth and seventh inventions.
In the fifth and sixth inventions, the target torque may be altered on a real time basis in the course of the engine start-up control. In an alternative, the target torque may be corrected on learning to alter the target torque on subsequent execution of the engine start-up control. In the fifth invention, the variation amount of the rotation speed of the engine is detected to control such that the greater the variation amount is, the lower the target torque will be. In an alternative, the target torque may be lowered in multiple stages or in a continuous fashion depending on the rate or magnitude of the variation amount of the rotation speed. In another alternative, the target torque may suffice to be lowered when it exceeds a certain threshold value of the variation amount.
In the sixth invention, the in-cylinder pressure of the engine is acquired to perform a control such that the higher the in-cylinder pressure is, the less the target torque will be. In an alternative, the target torque may be lowered in multiple stages or in a continuous fashion depending on a level of the in-cylinder pressure. In another alternative, the target torque may suffice to be lowered when the in-cylinder pressure exceeds a certain threshold value. The in-cylinder pressure determined depending on a compression ratio, can be estimated by referring to opening and closing timings, associated with for instance opening and closing signals applied to intake and exhaust valves, the engine rotation speed and an intake air quantity, etc. The in-cylinder pressure, i.e., the compression ratio, is caused to increase at for instance the extremely lower temperature than that appearing at a normal temperature. Moreover, when applied to a flexible fuel vehicle enabled for ethanol etc., to be mixed to fuel at a predetermined mixing ratio, such a mixing ratio is detected to perform, a control such that the higher the mixing ratio is, the higher the in-cylinder pressure will be. Thus, the present invention may be preferably applied to such a vehicle in which the in-cylinder pressure is controlled.
In a seventh invention, the rotation-speed reference reactive-force control is performed to control the reactive torque of the reactive force control device in the feedback control or in a feedforward control depending on the target rotation speed. A deviation permit value may be simply adjusted by altering a gain of for instance the feedback control. Decreasing the gain increases the deviation permitting value. When the upper and lower limit values are set for the target rotation speed to control the reactive torque such that the rotation speed of the reactive-force receiving member falls in such upper and lower limit values, the upper and lower limit values may be altered depending on the deviation permit value. Thus, the present invention may be implemented in various modes.
Upon carrying out the seventh invention, the rotation speed of the reactive-force receiving member is permitted to significantly vary with a structure in which: (a) during engine start-up, the reactive torque of the reactive-force control device is controlled by the rotation-speed reference reactive-force control regardless of the presence of or absence of the output limitation of the first electric motor; and (b) during engine start-up the deviation permit value is set to lie or to follow at a higher value in the presence of the output limitation of the first electric motor, than in the absence of the output limitation. However, such a control in the absence of the output limitation of the first electric motor can be suitably determined. For instance, a regenerative torque of the first electric motor acting as the reactive-force control device may be maximized, or an engaging torque of a friction engaging device (reactive-force control device) disposed in the power transmitting path may be maximized, so that the rotation of the reactive-force receiving member may be fixed to "0" or a predetermined rotation speed etc., associated with the vehicle speed.
In an eighth invention wherein the second electric motor is used as the reactive-force control device, the second electric motor is disposed in the power transfer path between for instance the differential mechanism and the drive wheels, and the engine and the first electric motor are connected to other two rotary elements. In an alternative, the first and second electric motors may be replaced by one another to dispose the first electric motor in the power transmitting path between the differential mechanism and the drive wheels.
During the engine start-up with the output limitation of the first electric motor, performing the rotation-speed reference reactive-force control allows the reactive torque of the reactive-force control device to be controlled depending on the target rotation speed and sets the deviation permitting value so as to permit the rotation speed variation of the reactive-force receiving member. In determining such a deviation permit value, the same control as those of the fourth to sixth inventions can be applied. For instance, (a) the lower the output power of the first electric motor limited in the output limitation is, the greater the deviation permit value becomes; (b) during the engine start-up with the output limitation of the first electric motor, the variation amount of the rotation speed of the engine is detected to perform a control such that the greater the rotation speed variation is, the greater the deviation permit value will be; and (c) during the engine start-up with the output limitation of the first electric motor, the in-cylinder pressure of the engine is acquired to perform a control such that the higher the in-cylinder pressure is, the greater the deviation permit value will be. In these cases, it is possible to obtain the same advantageous effects as those of the fourth to sixth inventions.

Engine startup control device for vehicle


A temperature control system of a mobile device is provided. The system includes a memory for storing a set temperature value and a release temperature value, a temperature sensor for sensing an internal temperature of the mobile device; at least one module that emits heat, and a controller. The controller compares the output of the temperature sensor with the set temperature value in a normal mode in order to determine whether the mobile device is overheated, and controls, if the mobile device is overheated, the at least one module to operate in a heat generation suppressing mode, compares the output of the temperature sensor with the release temperature value in the heat generation suppressing mode in order to determine whether to release the heat generation suppressing mode, and executes the normal mode if the heat generation suppressing mode is released according to the comparison result.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system and method for controlling the operations of a mobile device. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for controlling the operations of a mobile device according to its internal temperature.
2. Description of the Related Art
Mobile devices have been developed to simultaneously process a variety of functions, such as communication, multimedia, and the like. Mobile devices are getting thinner to enhance portability. However, thinner mobile devices have difficulty achieving efficient heat dissipation. Despite these difficulties that arise as mobile devices are made thinner, they are nonetheless required to execute an increasing variety of functions. For example, mobile devices may be developed with an increased number of processors, with an increased maximum clock speed, a larger Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen for improved brightness, a large capacity battery, a high resolution camera module, and the like. However, such increased functionality also causes undesirable heat generation in the mobile device.
Attenuation of heat generated from parts in a mobile device so as to cause the parts to remain under their maximum operating temperatures has been difficult because the mobile device cannot be turned off. Therefore, as the modules operate in the mobile device, heat is generated that increases the temperature therein. Although conventional systems control the clock speed using a temperature sensor in the processor, they cannot prevent the mobile device from overheating while in operation.
Therefore, a need exists for a system and method for attenuating the generation of heat from parts in a mobile device so as to cause the parts to remain under their maximum operating temperatures without the need to turn off the mobile device.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present invention.

System and method for controlling temperature in mobile device


A device for detaching a first substrate from a second substrate in a detaching direction (L) with: at least two elements guided crosswise to the detaching direction (L) and in a radial direction (R) to the first substrate for clamping the first substrate crosswise to the detaching direction (L), a substrate holding device for holding the second substrate, and detaching means for detaching the first substrate from the second substrate by moving the first substrate, attached by the clamping elements, in the detaching direction (L) and/or by moving the substrate holding device opposite to the detaching direction (L). In addition, this invention relates to a corresponding method.

The first mechanical embodiments for separating two semiconductor substrates worked primarily with blades, wires or fluid jets, in particular water jets, which were inserted, pushed through or sprayed into the interface between the two substrates. This approach routinely results in at least partial destruction of the surface of at least one of the two substrates. The scratching of a substrate surface is primarily problematic for substrates that are coated and provided with functional units.
Other proposed solutions for separating two semiconductor substrates that are connected to one another in particular via an adhesive layer tracked a full-surface attachment of both substrates to their surfaces. The removal of a substrate by a (surface) force that only acts normally is technically difficult to carry out, since the adhesive strength routinely results in an at least partial destruction of the substrate.
Another separation approach was disclosed in the patent specification WO2013/091714A1. The patent specification discloses an annular, flexible tool, with which two substrates can be separated from one another by a peripheral collar of an inner side of a ring that opens on one side enclosing the peripheral edge of a first substrate. The bending moment of the annular tool allows a continuous controlled detachment of the upper substrate from a lower substrate beginning from a point on the side of the substrate stack. The production of the flexible tool is extremely expensive, however, since the peripheral collars must be fabricated with very tight tolerances. The tight tolerances are necessary in order to enclose the peripheral edges of the substrate exactly. If the peripheral collars are too large, the peripheral edge of the substrate slides from the peripheral collar; if it is too small, the peripheral edge of the substrate can really not be enclosed at all. In addition, not all substrates are made the same. Substrates can in general have different thicknesses and different, albeit standardized, peripheral edges, hi general, therefore, the peripheral collars must always pass into the respectively used type of substrate.

Device and method for loosening a first substrate


A dielectric resonator is disclosed. In one embodiment, the resonator includes i) a conductive case having a plurality of walls which together define an inner space, ii) a substrate placed at the bottom of the conductive case, and iii) a cylindrical dielectric resonator unit, mounted centrally on the substrate having a central longitudinal axis. The cylindrical dielectric resonator unit includes a dumbbell shaped hole located centrally in the resonator unit extending from a top to a bottom of the resonator unit. In one embodiment, the dumbbell shaped hole includes i) a top layer, ii) a bottom layer and iii) an intermediate layer sandwiched between the top and bottom layers. In one embodiment, the substrate and resonator unit are enclosed inside the conductive case.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates, in general, to improved dielectric resonators wherein the spurious frequency modes are highly subsided.
2. Description of the Related Art
Microwave filters and dielectric resonator oscillators are widely used in the field of communication electronics especially in microwave telecom systems for Satellite telecom as well as terrestrial links and cellular/mobile handsets. Dielectric resonators (DRs) are key microwave passive components finding wide applications in miniature microwave filters and oscillators for generating resonating frequencies for communication. The resonance mode spectrum of a DR is so dense that the spurious (undesirable, HE11, HE12 or TM01δ,) modes may interfere with the dominant (desirable, usually TE01δ) mode. Thus it is valuable to attenuate the spurious modes for efficient transmission of the dominant (desirable) mode.
There have been several studies to improve the spurious free response of a DR configuration, while providing limited or no influence on the Q-factor for the DR.
The mode separation (in frequency) of the dominant (f0, desirable) and the nearest (the undesirable) mode has been found to be 0.58 f0 for a case of a ring DR shielded in a circular metal cavity. The comparative separation however tends to reduce for the DR in MIC configuration to (0.35 to 0.38)f0.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,706,052 describes a design of dielectric resonator with TE01δ mode being the primary mode used. The design is provided with a dielectric resonator having a plurality of dielectric resonator units which are combined into one unit by a connecting means, with a boundary being formed between adjacent dielectric resonator units. The dielectric resonator units are accommodated in a metallic conductive case with input and output members for electrical connection of said dielectric resonator with an external circuit. The design shifts a resonant frequency of spurious mode into a frequency zone higher than a resonant point by causing said spurious mode to pass through boundary surfaces or layers.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,059,929 provides a design of dielectric resonator which is constructed by piling a plurality of plate-shaped dielectrics one on the other under pressure or adhering respective dielectrics with an adhesive to each other so that faces thereof to which pressure is applied or faces thereof adhered to each other are parallel with an electric field in the dominant resonance mode of the dielectric resonator. The dielectric constant in the spaces to which pressure is applied or in the spaces in which the adhesive exists is low making it difficult for an electric field in a resonance mode other than a dominant resonance mode to pass through the spaces between the faces of the dielectrics to which pressure is applied or the faces thereof adhered to each. The spurious response is thus suppressed.
The disadvantages of the resonators of the said patents is that the mode separation changes with the change in the substrate thickness which does not provide versatility for choosing the substrate. Further, the mode separation degrades while tuning the device.
Thus there is still no dielectric resonator available in the art which efficiently generates the dominant desirable mode by subsiding the spurious modes. To fulfill this need, the present invention provides an improved dielectric resonator which overcomes all the above limitations.


Methods, systems, and articles of manufacture for leveraging social media to assist in troubleshooting are provided herein. A method includes extracting user-generated information pertaining to multiple failure scenarios from at least one social media data source; determining one or more causality relationships between a set of log entries associated with the multiple failure scenarios and the extracted user-generated information; identifying a similarity between the one or more determined causality relationships and information contained within a user query; and providing guidance to the user regarding resolving and/or obviating a failure associated with the user query based on said identified similarity.

Data analytics can include searching and analyzing structured and unstructured machine data to facilitate infrastructure and application management. Existing management approaches can include tools and capabilities to aid in problem isolation, root cause analysis, problem resolution, and preventive maintenance. By way of example, capabilities in the area of machine data analytics can include providing expert advice and generating alerts. Providing expert advice includes providing contextually relevant guidance and/or suggestions extracted from materials such as technical notes, articles, product documentation, etc. Generating alerts can include identifying system patterns (combinations of logs, metrics, configuration options, etc.) that are predictive of potential issues (for example, outages or service level agreement (SLA) violations) and raising alerts to the administrator and/or operator for preventive action.
Such existing management approaches, however, do not incorporate social media data derived from online discussion forums, message boards, social networks, etc. Social media data sources are growing sources of information, and current as well as prospective customers refer to such data for information on products and services.
Accordingly, a need exists for techniques capable of leveraging social media as a data source to provide contextually relevant guidance and alerts for IT troubleshooting.

Leveraging social media to assist in troubleshooting

International Business Machines Corporation


A telephone call management system and method are disclosed, allowing for call review where a voice mail message being recorded for a specific telephone may be played on a television associated therewith during the time it is being recorded. Optionally, the call may further be retrieved and rerouted to the user telephone responsive to a command entered via the television distribution gateway, and any call may be recorded responsive to commands entered via the gateway.

Oftentimes, when a telephone call is unanswered for a certain number of rings (i.e. a predetermined time), the call is redirected to a messaging system adapted to receive at least voice messaging. In many cases a TAD (telephone Answering Device) is located at the subscriber premises. Such TADs often allow the subscriber to hear the message as it is being recorded, thus allowing the subscriber to pick up the call if desired. The capacity to listen to the incoming message without answering the call is called 'call preview' in these specifications. Many telephony service providers and PBX (Private Branch Exchange) systems offer voice mail—TAD like services—integrated into the telephony network. Some PBX's provide call preview services by using either dedicated keys on specialized telephones, or by complex dialing sequences. Some PBX systems connect to the user's computer and deliver call management via the computer. However public telephony services provide little if any call management features like the call preview. None provide the capacity for call retrieval, i.e. the capacity to answer the call after it was directed to the voice mail. Even advanced wireless telephony communication services such as GPRS (General Purpose radio Service) fail to provide such services. One of the reasons for the lack of service is due to the fact that the recording occurs in a messaging server remote to the subscriber home. Most simple telephones do not offer out of band signaling for controlling the operation as well as perform call screening. Thus not only is the user prevented from listening to the recorded message as it is being recorded, the telco (traditional telephony networks) or wireless based voice mail does not allow the user to 'change his/her mind' and pick up the call after it got directed to the voice mail service, as offered by a home based TAD. One exception to this limitation is described by Dee et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 6,266,524. However the Dee et al. does not allow call screening without the use of the telephone itself, which presents a disadvantage if the phone is used otherwise, such as during a "call waiting" incoming call.
There exist today the methods for providing caller identification (Caller ID, or CID henceforth) on a subscriber television. An example of such methods is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,754,546 to Voit et al.
Broadband system such as television distribution systems have been used as alternative to common carrier telephony systems. Typically, such system will have a class 5 telephony switch or a softswitch—a telephony switch driven primarily by software, installed in a television distribution center such as a headend, and interfaces with the telco network. From here on this example will refer to the softswitch, with the understanding that other telephony switching or interfacing that provide similar functionality may be substituted. The softswitch also interfaces with the headend, and utilizes the television distribution to distribute calls to the subscriber home. Oftentimes, the softswitch includes capabilities such as voice mail, call redirection, and the like. Generally, the softswitch is coupled to the headend to carry out the conversation, to learn if a telephone was picked up, etc. Oftentimes, the softswitch is communicating with the telco domain using SS7—a popular interface standard between telephony switching equipment. However even television distribution systems based telephony, fails so far to provide the call preview or the call retrieval features.
Thus, there is an unfulfilled need for easy-to-use call and massage management with a telephony provider automated answering services.


A new and distinct cultivar of Argyranthemum frustescens plant named ‘Argymidowi’ characterized by its very compact plant habit, nice bright white double flower heads and floriferous character through Summer.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Marguerite Daisy plant, botanically known as Argyranthemum frutescens and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name 'Argymidowi.'
The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the inventor in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands. The new cultivar 'Argymidowi' is compact with early freely flowering habit, which can be grown without growth regulators.
The new Argyranthemum originated from an open-pollination conducted in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands in 2001 of a proprietary selection of Argyranthemum frutescens identified as code number 'D0039-1,' not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with an unknown selection of Argyranthemum frutescens as the male, or pollen, parent.
The cultivar 'Argymidowi' was discovered and selected as a single plant within the progeny of the stated open pollination in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, the Netherlands in August 2002. Asexual reproduction of the new Argyranthemum by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Enkhuizen, The Netherlands since August 2002, has shown that the unique features of this new Argyranthemum are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

Argyranthemum frutescens plant named ‘Argymidowi’


The invention provides an adaptor for mechanically coupling a prompt box and a video camera to a tripod. In the preferred embodiment, the adaptor is a single piece bracket having a first horizontal portion with a first fastening round hole located at the first horizontal portion's center, a vertical portion with its lower end merged to the first horizontal portion, and a second horizontal portion merged to the vertical portion's upper end. The second horizontal portion has one or more second fastening round roles evenly spaced along the second horizontal portion's longitude. In operation, the prompt box is fastened to the tripod through the first fastening round hole, and the video camera is fastened through one of the second fastening round holes with a screw matching the video camera's tripod mount.

A teleprompter is an assembly which enables on-camera talent to look directly into the lens of the camera and read a prepared script text that is generated by a computer software application that allows scrolling up of the text so the reader can keep up with the up-coming text as she reads aloud. The reader sees the text reflected from a two-way mirror and the audience can only sees the scene being shot by the camera through the two-way mirror.
Such type of prompters evolved from the days of cathode ray TV tube displays. As a result, they were heavy off-camera devices that had to be mounted below the front of the camera on a "sled" between the camera and the camera pan and tilt head, which is then mounted on a tripod. These prompters were heavy and time-consuming to mount and operate. Usually it takes a professional about 30 minutes to set-up, align, balance and trim and connect to a personal computer.
With the availability of small size, low-cost and lightweight LCD displays and smart phones, it is now possible to design and build a prompter that is lightweight, mounts in a more industry standard manner and is very quick to mount, set-up and use.
There are several types of the prompters have been developed. Each of them needs a mounting assembly to put the camera with the prompting box together. As an example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,902,355 teaches a mounting assembly that includes a flat mounting bracket, a first shaft, an elongate adjustment bracket, a sub-assembly including a second shaft with a square flat base which is for coupling with an accessory shoe on the camera's top. The flat mounting bracket is secured to the top of the prompting box by three or four mounting screws. The first shaft is a threaded mounting shaft being vertically screwed into the flat mounting bracket and tightened down by an internally threaded fastener such as a wing nut. The elongate adjustment bracket has a slot along its length direction. There is an internally threaded hole on one end of the elongate adjustment bracket. The elongate adjustment bracket is screwed onto the first shaft through the hole to the necessary vertical height and held in place by one or two internally threaded fasteners, such as wing nuts, which may be further tightened with a wrench when the proper vertical height is realized to allow the center of the through-hole to be aligned with the camcorder's lens. The sub-assembly includes a second shaft with a square flat base and fasteners. The second shaft is a dual thread mounting shaft, having an upper portion with a first thread and a lower portion with a second thread. The second shaft is vertical to the square flat base. The lower portion's diameter is larger than the upper portion's diameter. A first fastener, such as an internally threaded wing nut, is screwed onto the upper portion of the second mounting shaft after the upper portion is inserted into the slot on the elongate adjustment bracket. The first fastener is used to secure the second shaft to the elongate adjustment bracket after the distance between the second shaft and the first shaft is adjusted. After the square base is inserted into the accessory shoe which is available on all modern camcorders or video cameras, the second shaft can be secured to the camcorder by screwing down a second fastener, such as a wing nut, along the second thread. A washer is placed over the second fastener. The washer's inner diameter is slightly larger than the second shaft's upper portion's diameter but less than its lower portion's diameter such that the washer can be blocked by the lower portion. In operation, the second shaft's upper portion is inserted into the slot on the elongate adjustment bracket and moved horizontally in the slot until the accessory bracket is aligned with the camcorder's accessory shoe. The first fastener is then fastened to the upper end of the second shaft's upper portion. Then, the flat square base is inserted to the camcorder's accessory shoe. By screwing down the second fastener toward the square flat base, the second shaft is secured to the camcorder. Accordingly, the prompting box is securely coupled to the camcorder.
What is needed is an easy to setup, lightweight, compact yet effective adapter to replace the traditional mounting assembly.

Adapter for integrating a prompt box, a camera and a tripod


A system and method to protect uniquely extended metadata by others, while maintaining compatibility of metadata. An information processing apparatus determines if items included in entered metadata are defined in advance, and reproduces only items that are included in the metadata and determined as defined in advance, and rewrites or transfers the entered metadata when the metadata is rewritten or transferred.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus and method, a program, and a recording medium, and more particularly to an information processing apparatus and method, a program, and a recording medium that allow the user to search for or edit data such as a video, more easily.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, more and more metadata, in which information on filmed video material data (hereinafter also called as material data) is described, is used in the production field of video work such as a TV program and video contents. Such metadata refers to data used to search for or edit material data.
To effectively utilize such metadata, it is necessary for the metadata to have compatibility among a plurality of apparatuses used in the production of a video work so that a video signal reproducing apparatus such as an editing apparatus can use metadata generated by a video signal recording apparatus such as a video camera.
To achieve this, the metadata description format has been standardized to ensure the consistency of the description format and the meaning of metadata. For example, in MPEG (Moving Picture Experts Group) 7, more versatile XML (extensible Markup Language) is used for describing metadata to standardize the format of metadata.
However, in spite of an effort to standardize metadata, the concept and the object differ, in practice, among manufacturers that manufacture and sell video signal recording apparatuses and video signal reproducing apparatuses, and therefore, there is a possibility that manufacturers uniquely extend and describe metadata.
Although metadata maybe uniquely extended by each manufacturer in MPEG 7 as described above, the definition of metadata extended by some manufacturer is not regulated. Therefore, the problem is that metadata including the contents extended by some manufacturer is deleted or changed by the apparatus of some other manufacturer that does not know the extension.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Information processing apparatus for reproducing metadata and method, program, and recording medium


There is provided a failure mode specifying system or the like that suitably specifies a failure mode of an apparatus. A failure mode specifying system 10 includes a communication portion 11 that obtains data including a detection value of a sensor 22 which is installed in an apparatus 20, an apparatus structural parameter estimating portion 14 that estimates a predetermined apparatus structural parameter based on a structure and properties of the apparatus 20, based on the data which is obtained by the communication portion 11, a failure mode specifying portion 16 that specifies a failure mode indicating a kind of failure or failure sign of the apparatus 20, based on the apparatus structural parameter, and an input-output portion 18 that presents the failure mode which is specified by the failure mode specifying portion 16.

As a technology of specifying a failure mode (kind of failure or failure sign) of an apparatus such as a mining machine or a construction machine, in addition to a gas engine or an elevator, for example, a technology which is disclosed in PTL 1 is known. That is, PTL 1 discloses a plant diagnosis apparatus that includes "means for monitoring an abnormality symptom by inputting an actual measurement signal and a simulated signal, and outputting a monitoring signal regarding presence or absence of the abnormality symptom based on a difference between both".
The "simulated signal" described above is a signal that is obtained by changing a coefficient of a physical model of the apparatus from normal time, and reproducing a behavior to indicate the abnormality symptom of the apparatus with simulation.

Failure mode specifying system, failure mode specifying method, and program


Aspects of the present invention disclose a method, computer program product, and system for generating search results based on access control of a requesting user. The method includes one or more processors receiving a search query from a user. The method further includes generating a first candidate list of search results based on the received search query. The method further includes generating a second candidate list of search results based on the received search query. Generating the second candidate list of search results includes filtering out potential search results based on indexed access privilege data. The method further includes determining a subset of search result entries in the first candidate list by analyzing a defined number of search result entries in the first candidate list. Analyzing the defined number of search result entries includes attempting to access entries of the defined number utilizing access credentials of the user.

The present invention relates generally to the field of searching, and more particularly to searching based on access privileges.
A search engine is a software system that is designed to carry out web searches (i.e., Internet searches), which means to search the World Wide Web in a systematic way for particular information specified in a textual web search query. The search results are generally presented in a line of results, often referred to as search engine results pages (SERPs). The information may be a mix of links to web pages, images, videos, infographics, articles, research papers, and other types of files. Some search engines also mine data available in databases or open directories.
Enterprise search is the practice of making content from multiple enterprise-type sources, such as databases and intranets, searchable to a defined audience. "Enterprise search" is used to describe the software of search information within an enterprise (though the search function and the results may still be public). Enterprise search can be contrasted with web search, which applies search technology to documents on the open web, and desktop search, which applies search technology to the content on a single computer. Enterprise search systems index data and documents from a variety of sources such as: file systems, intranets, document management systems, e-mail, and databases. Many enterprise search systems integrate structured and unstructured data in the corresponding collections. Enterprise search systems can also use access controls to enforce a security policy on their users. Enterprise search can be seen as a type of vertical search of an enterprise.
A vertical search engine is distinct from a general web search engine, in that a vertical search engine focuses on a specific segment of online content. They are also called specialty or topical search engines. The vertical content area may be based on topicality, media type, genre of content, etc. Common verticals include shopping, the automotive industry, legal information, medical information, scholarly literature, job search and travel. Examples of vertical search engines include the Library of Congress, genealogy services, real estate search services, etc.

Generating search results utilizing access control


A vehicle navigation device is provided for permitting the display of the current POI (Point of Interest) information about points of interest which serve as landmarks near a guidance route to the destination, thereby improving visibility when a user identifies the guidance route. A vehicle navigation device 50 is connected in communication with a provider 60 for offering transmission service of map information which includes the current POI information pertaining to locations on a map where the points of interest are located. The navigation device 50 includes a display unit 6, information input means 2, communications means 3, and control means 17. The control means 17 accesses the provider 60 through the communications means 3 when the guidance route to the destination is set by the information input means 2, to obtain the current POI information about an area near the set guidance route from the map information, so that the obtained current POI information is displayed on a screen of the display unit 6, together with the guidance route and a vehicle position mark for designating a present position of a vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle navigation device that guides a vehicle to a destination according to a guidance route. More particularly, the invention relates to a vehicle navigation device having the function of displaying on a map screen of a display not only the guidance route, but also information indicative of points of interest (hereinafter referred to as "POI") which serve as landmarks near the route.
For convenience, the information indicating the POI will be referred to as the "landmark" below. Unless otherwise specified, the "vehicle" means a car.
2. Description of the Related Art
A known typical vehicle navigation device comprises a map data storage unit for prestoring map data, such as a CD-ROM, a DVD-ROM or an IC memory card, a display unit, a GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, and a sensor for detecting a present position and a present direction of a vehicle, such as a gyro, a vehicle speed sensor, or the like. The navigation device is designed to read map data for the area including the present vehicle position from the map data storage unit, and then to draw a map image covering the vehicle position and its surroundings on a screen of the display unit based on this map data, while superimposing a vehicle position mark (location) on the map image displayed on the screen. Such a navigation device scrolls the map image as the vehicle travels, or moves the vehicle position mark with the map image fixed on the screen, thereby enabling a user to understand at a glance where the vehicle is now traveling.
Generally, the vehicle navigation device has the function of guiding the user (route guidance function) to a desired destination so that he/she can easily travel to the destination without taking a wrong path. This route guidance function executes an automatic route search for an optimal route (typically, the lowest cost route) connecting a starting point (in most cases, the present vehicle position) to the destination by making a simulation calculation such as a horizontal search method or Dijkstra's algorithm method using the map data, and storing the route searched for or found as a guidance route. During the vehicle travel, the guidance route found is displayed on the map image in a different and distinguishable form (for example, in a different color, or in a thicker line) from the other roads. When the vehicle approaches a predetermined distance to an intersection where the vehicle is to turn on the guidance route, the guidance function displays a guidance view of the intersection superimposed on the map image (which view includes an enlarged diagram of the intersection and an arrow for designating a recommended traveling direction at the intersection), thus enabling the user to recognize the optimal route to the destination.
Particularly, when searching for the route, the navigation device needs the user to preset the destination, or if necessary, a way point to the destination (that is, which route the user desires to pass through to reach the destination). Under certain circumstances, various criteria (for example, whether the user gives a high priority to a toll road or a general road, or whether the user wishes to reduce the traveling distance or the traveling duration) also should be set. Based on this preset data, the navigation device searches for a plurality of possible routes to the destination to display these searched routes, for example in respective different colors, and subsequently conducts the route guidance as mentioned above in compliance with one of these routes selected by the user.
Such known navigation devices display the optimal guidance route determined from a result of the aforesaid route search superimposed on a map screen of the display, while displaying on the map screen the POI information serving as landmarks on the guidance route, such as a convenience store, a bank, a gas station and the like. With the guidance route to the destination shown, the display of the POI information as the landmarks for specifying the guidance route facilitates the user's confirmation of the route during the vehicle travel.
In the prior art, however, the POI information displayed with the guidance route included only fixed contents that had been prestored in a memory of the device or the like. That is, only POI information is displayed that has been included in the map data from the beginning when a disc such as the CD-ROM, the DVD-ROM, or the like was manufactured for storing the map data.
As described above, in the known vehicle navigation devices, the POI information displayed when the route guidance is shown or executed on the map screen of the display has only the fixed or limited contents included in the map data prestored in the CD-ROM and the like. Thus, even if POI information on the points of interest serving as the landmarks displayed on the map screen has been updated by the user's settings, this updated POI information cannot be reflected on the actual map screen.
For instance, suppose that when displaying POI information on the convenience stores located near the guidance route being shown or displayed, the number of the convenience stores increases or decreases, because new ones are opening or because some stores are lost due to bankruptcy or a shift to other business. In these cases, since the POI information capable of being displayed is limited to only the fixed information prestored in the CD-ROM and the like, the navigation device fails to display the current POI information reflecting the increase or decrease in the number of stores on the map screen.
In other words, even when the POI information about the points of interest serving as the landmarks to be displayed has been updated, the updated POI information, namely the updated part of the information, cannot be displayed on the map screen. Therefore, the points or facilities actually existing around the guidance route to the destination do not match the corresponding POI information being displayed on the map screen, which information pertains to the points not updated. This mismatch undesirably makes it difficult for the user (generally, a driver) to identify or recognize the actual or true guidance route by referring to the displayed POI information as landmarks.
As mentioned above, the POI information displayed on the map screen does not necessarily correspond to the actual points of interest. This inaccurate POI information cannot be used with accuracy as landmarks in order for the user or driver to identify the actual or existing guidance route. Additionally, looking at the map image including this incorrect POI information frequently results in interruption of the user's driving

Vehicle navigation device and method of displaying POI information using same


A pump includes a suction space, a delivery space and valves. The suction space is at least partly bounded by a flexible body and located between end elements, at least one of which can be driven so as to move in a reciprocating manner. The delivery space surrounds the suction space and around which a housing is provided. The valves are provided in the housing and in at least one of the end elements, and are constructed such that when a volume of the suction space is increased, a medium is sucked into said suction space, and when the volume is reduced, the medium flows through one of the valves to the delivery space, from which it is expelled when the volume of the delivery space is reduced.

The present invention relates to a pump. The present invention also relates to a method in which said pump serves as a double acting pump, and to the use of such a pump for transferring the medium.
A pump assembly in the form of a centrifugal pump which is self-starting by means of a vacuum pump comprising a float feature is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,616,427 B2. This assembly is configured such that a double acting pump is obtained comprising two mutually cooperating pumps, namely the centrifugal pump and the vacuum pump. The vacuum pump comprises a housing having a suction space which is bounded by a flexible, ring-shaped, flat diaphragm and which comprises oppositely located end plates, of which the upper plate can be moved in a reciprocating manner. The flexible, ring-shaped diaphragm, which is circumferentially fixed between the upper end plate and the two portions of the housing, and which is tensile loaded when movement occurs, divides the housing into two spaces of equal volume. On one side there is the suction space and on the other side of the upper end plate there is the delivery space. The lower end plate is provided with a valve, which is to be opened when there is a reduced pressure in the suction space, and through which valve air is drawn in from an air inlet, and the upper end plate is provided with a valve, which is to be opened by means of a tappet when there is an excess pressure in the suction space, and through which valve air is expelled at the next stroke to an air vent via a valve which is to opened when there is an excess pressure in the delivery space.
A drawback resides in that the displacement volume of the pump operating only as a vacuum pump is limited, and that said pump is vulnerable to water and/or water vapor in the medium drawn in, namely air. In addition, it has been found in practice that the reciprocating, flexible diaphragm will wear and tear relatively quickly, which adversely affects the service life.

Pump having a suction space surrounded by a delivery space


A zeolite suspension contains MEL-type zeolite nanocrystals as a principal component. A method for the production of MEL-type zeolite nanocrystals includes the steps of aging a synthesized solution comprising TEOS, TBAOH, water and alcohol and subjecting the aged solution to hydrothermal crystallization treatment at a predetermined temperature. A method for the production of a zeolite suspension includes the steps of aging a synthesized solution comprising TEOS, TBAOH, water and alcohol, subjecting the aged solution to hydrothermal crystallization treatment to produce MEL-type zeolite nanocrystals and mixing a composition having a surfactant dissolved in at least one organic solvent or a mixed solvent of alcohol-based organic solvents, amide-based organic solvents and ketone-based organic solvents with a zeolite nano-crystal suspension containing the MEL-type zeolite nanocrystals to produce a zeolite suspension.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a zeolite suspension used as a precursor for an interlayer dielectric film in next-generation semiconductor devices, a zeolite nano-crystal production method, a zeolite suspension production method and a zeolite thin film.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Zeorites are inorganic microporous crystalline materials. Their pore size is extremely uniform. Compared with conventional mesoporous silica with amorphous nature, zeolites have a better local order (ordered structure) and are therefore excellent in chemical stability, mechanical strength and heat conductivity. While aluminosilicate zeolites are hydrophilic, pure-silica zeolites are hydrophobic and adsorb little water.
As regards zeolites, there are the following prior art references in which MFI-type pure-silica zeolites are reported as being usable as excellent materials of low relative permittivity.    1. U.S. Pat. No. 6,573,131    2. U.S. Pat. No. 6,630,696    3. PCT-A2004-504716    4. JP-A2003-249495    5. JP-A 2004-79582    6. U.S. Pat. No. 6,533,855    7. U.S. Pat. No. 6,566,243    8. U.S. Pat. No. 6,660,245    9. U.S. Pat. No. 6,329,062    10. JP-A2004-149714    11. JP-A2004-153147    12. PCT-A2004-26765    13. Z. Wang, H. Wang, A. Mitra, L. Huang, Y. Yan, Pure-silica zeolite low-k dielectric thin films, Advanced Materials, 13 (10), 2001, pp. 746-749    14. Z. Wang, A. Mitra, H. Wang, L. Huang, Y. Yan, Pure silica zeolite films as low-k dielectric by spin-on of nanoparticle suspensions, Advanced Materials, 13 (19), 2001, pp. 1463-1466    15. S. Li, Z. Li, Y. Yan Ultra-low-k pure-silica zeolite MFI films using cyclodextrin as porogen, Advanced Materials, 15 (18), 2003, pp. 1528-1531    16. O. Larlus, S. Mintova, V. Valtchev, B. Jean, T. H. Metzger, T. Bein, Silicalite-1/polymer films with low-k dielectric constants, Applied Surface Science, 226 (1-3), 2004, pp. 155-160    17. Miki Egami, Semiconductor Device Porous Silica Thin Film Characteristics, Science and Industry, 77 (11), 2003, pp. 582-587
In prior art references 1, 3 and 13 above, Wang et al. disclose the results of in-situ growth of an MFI-type zeolite crystal film in a heat application atmosphere on a silicon substrate through immersion of the substrate in an autoclave coated with polytetrafluoroethylene in which starting chemicals of tetraethyl orthosilicate (TEOS), tetrapropyl ammonium hydroxide (TPAOH) and water have been introduced and well mixed. The film thus obtained is found to be excellent in mechanical strength (Young's modulus of 30 to 40 GPa) and have low relative permittivity of 2.7 to 3.3. While adaptability of the in-situ zeolite crystallization technique for the semiconductor fabrication technique leaves serious problems, the high potential of zeolite polycrystal thin films has been demonstrated in its principle.
Also in prior art references 1, 2, 3 and 14, Wang et al. disclose the results of the film formation by spin-coating using a conventional method on the synthesis of an MFI-type zeolite nanocrystal suspension by hydrothermal crystallization, in which after the synthesis a short-time low-speed centrifugation is used to remove crystals of large grain size, and the remaining suspension is applied onto the substrate by spin-coating. The film thus obtained has a bi-modal porous structure comprising micropores of 0.56 nm peculiar to MFI-type zeolites and interparticle mesopores of 2 to 17 nm. The mesopores are regulated to control the relative permittivity to a range of 1.8 to 2.1. Furthermore, y-cyclodextrin is used as a porogen (pore generator) to increase the mesopore volume fraction and succeed in materialization of an MFI-type pure-silica zeolite-based film having relative permittivity of 1.6 to 1.7. As the increased mesopores, it cannot be avoided to increase the hygroscopicity and lower the mechanical strength. Though Wang et al. have succeeded in obtaining a pure-silica film of low relative permittivity through the spin-coating of a liquid containing nanocrystal grains on a silicon substrate, no report is made of any experimental results proving the flatness of the film surface. They rather report that it is necessary to polish the surface of the film obtained through spin-coating using a liquid containing alumina particles for ten minutes or subject the film to secondary growth to acquire surface flatness. A check experiment was actually conducted in accordance with this report, the surface of the film obtained was in a terrible state, i.e. too coarse to obtain useful data through thin film measurement by spectroscopic ellipsometry.
Also, Wang et al. describe in prior art references 4 and 5 that improvement in surface flatness and pore diameter distribution could take place when mixing an organic substance or polymer into a liquid. However, no demonstrative data thereof is shown. While the internal pore surface of pure-silica zeolites is hydrophobic, the external surface of zeolite crystal grains and amorphous silica surrounding the grains have a silanol (—OH) group and consequently exhibit hydrophilicity. Taking this into consideration, Wong et al. have mixed methyl-group into a solution for application in a large amount of 50% by weight, thereby having succeeded in making the entire film hydrophobic.
According to the method of Gayner et al., as described in prior art references 6 to 9, a porous material of low relative permittivity that comprises two components, i.e. MFI-type zeolite crystals and a porous binder is obtained. The film obtained has relative permittivity of 2.15 to 2.45 and Young's modulus of 5 GPa or less. The porous binder is synthesized through addition of a small amount of acidic water to an ethyl alcohol solution of TEOS with hydrolyzed amorphous silica containing pores of 5% or less. However, they do not show any data on the surface flatness and pore diameter distribution of the film thus obtained.
In the method of Larlus et al., a porous irregular structure composite of MFI-type zeolite and acryl rubber polymer is used to materialize a film having relative permittivity of 2.0 to 2.56. Though they admit the film surface flatness, neither the mechanical strength of the film nor the pore diameter distribution thereof is touched upon.
Egami et al. reports a film of low relative permittivity having relative permittivity of 2.3 and Young's modulus of 8 to 10 GPa as described in prior art references 10, 11 and 17. The production method is directed to spin-coating of liquid containing MFI-type zeolite crystals. Followed by the spin-coating is the heat treatment at 400° C., and it is reported that in the subsequent Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, the peak that ought to appear in the spectrum resulting from the MFI-type zeolite structure has disappeared. They also disclose a method for the production of a low-relative-permittivity thin film of hydrophobic amorphous silica (having relative permittivity of 2.5 or less and Young's modulus of 6 GPa or more). The method adopts TEOS as a silica source, TPAOH or tetrabutylammonium hydroxide (TBAOH) as a template molecule, methyl trimethoxysilane (MTMS) or methyl triethoxysilane (MTES) as a methyl source for promoting film hydrophobicity and ethyl alcohol as a solvent, and the reaction temperature and reaction time are as low as 50° C. and as short as 20 hours, respectively. A check experiment conducted under the same reaction conditions failed to detect zeolite crystals in the liquid. The film obtained is found to be a porous silica film though the synthesizing method is similar to the case of zeolite.
Takamura et al. disclose in prior art reference 12 that the mechanical strength of a low-relative-permittivity film of MFI-type zeolite is enhanced through the treatment with tetramethylcyclotetrasiloxane (TMCTS). However, the method of the production of an MFI-type zeolite described therein is the same as that of Wang et al, and the relative permittivity reported is 3.2 that is a rather high value.
In the prior art references, as described above, pure-silica films of low relative permittivity are obtained through spin-coating of the suspensions containing particles of various sizes. However, the thin films are formed each of MFI-type zeolite, and no data on thin film surface flatness is shown, meaning that the surface flatness would be insufficient. The hydrophobicity of the films cannot be said to be satisfactory. Furthermore, the synthesizing method in each of the prior art references is used to give rise to large particles and requires centrifugation prior to the spin-coating of a suspension containing MFI-type zeolite crystals, resulting in a cumbersome and costly production process.
The present invention has been proposed in view of the above drawbacks and has as its object provision of a zeolite suspension, a zeolite nano-crystal production method, a zeolite suspension production method and a zeolite thin film, in which it is possible to secure sufficient strength of a zeolite film even when the principal component comprises zeolite nano-crystals other than MFI-type zeolite crystals, materialize reduction in the relative permittivity thereof, enhancement of the surface flatness thereof and enhancement of the hydrophobicity thereof and simplify the production process thereof to render the cost thereof inexpensive.

Zeolite nano-crystal suspension, zeolite nano-crystal production method, zeolite nano-crystal suspension production method, and zeolite thin film

National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology


An apparatus for providing haptic guidance during manipulation of an end-effector includes a robotic arm. The robotic arm has at least one actuated joint, at least one other joint connected to the at least one actuated joint, and a physical constraint movable by actuation of the at least one actuated joint. The physical constraint limits the motion of the at least one other joint in at least one direction. The apparatus further includes an end-effector configured to be manipulated by an application of external forces and connected to the at least one other joint.

The disclosure relates generally to the field of robots and more specifically to the field of haptic robots.
Haptic interfaces permit a user to experience a sense of touch in a virtual or haptic environment. Such interfaces are finding acceptance in virtual reality games and in performing tasks that are virtually imaged. One area which uses haptic interfaces to help a user perform a task is computer aided surgery.
In computer aided surgery, a haptic interface can be used to provide haptic guidance to a surgeon. For example, a surgical instrument, such as a cutting tool, can be coupled to a haptic interface. The haptic interface may be, for example, part of a robotic device, such as a robotic arm. As the surgeon moves the surgical instrument in real space (e.g., to cut bone or other anatomy), constraints may be imposed on the surgeon through the haptic interface that limit his ability to manipulate the surgical instrument. For example, the surgeon's ability to manipulate the surgical instrument may be constrained so that the surgeon can only move the surgical instrument within a defined cutting region. The constraints may be based, for example, upon a desired relationship between the surgical instrument and the defined cutting region in real space. This real space relationship can be represented in a virtual environment as a relationship between a virtual instrument and a haptic object in virtual space, where the virtual instrument corresponds to the physical surgical instrument and the haptic object corresponds to the defined cutting region. In operation, the surgeon manipulates the surgical instrument while it is attached to the end of the haptic interface. Constraint feedback is provided to the surgeon through the haptic interface, which imposes a force on the surgeon sufficient to maintain the desired relationship between the virtual instrument and the haptic object.
For example, the haptic object may be a virtual protective boundary for an anatomic structure or a shape that is to be cut into bony anatomy. The virtual boundary is registered (or correlated) to the anatomy of a patient, and the virtual instrument is registered (or correlated) to the actual surgical instrument. To enable the surgeon to interact with the virtual environment via the haptic interface, a haptic rendering algorithm is employed. Haptic rendering is the process of computing and applying forces in response to user interactions with virtual objects. Using the haptic rendering algorithm, the haptic interface may be configured so that the force experienced by the surgeon increases as the virtual instrument approaches the virtual boundary. This increasing force provides a warning to the surgeon that he is near a forbidden region of the workspace (e.g., an anatomic structure of interest or other boundary) and therefore should proceed with caution in order to prevent unwanted penetration into and damage to the structure (for example, preventing a drill bit from entering too deeply into the bone). If the surgeon tries to force the instrument beyond the virtual boundary, the haptic interface provides an increasing force to prevent such motion. In this manner, the virtual boundary functions as a haptic stop to maintain the surgical instrument within a desired region of the workspace.
Preventing movement using a haptic stop, however, is typically accomplished with an admittance or impedance based system. An admittance device senses forces exerted by a user and responds by changing the position of the device (e.g., the position of the surgical instrument). Although admittance devices can provide stiff boundaries, they require force sensors and generally feel heavy to the user as the user moves the device through free space. In contrast, an impedance device senses a position of the device (e.g., a position of the surgical instrument) and responds by applying forces to the device by applying limited power to actuators of a backdrivable haptic interface system. Impedance devices generally feel relatively light to the user when moved through free space and are preferable for certain applications where the users wants to have a relatively light motion and to feel interaction forces with real objects when moving in free space. The output force of the actuators, however, is finite, and impedance devices are not able to generate boundaries as stiff as those generated by admittance devices. As a result, it may be possible for the surgeon to overcome the constraints imposed by the actuators and force the surgical instrument past the virtual boundary or haptic stop. This would result in unplanned damage to the tissue being operated upon.
What is needed is a haptic device having an adjustable positive stop that can provide haptic constraint forces sufficient to prevent erroneous movements by a user of the haptic device while still permitting the user to experience flexibility of motion during operation of the haptic device.

Apparatus and method for providing an adjustable positive stop in space


Methods and apparatus for improving network boot efficiency are disclosed. Under embodiments of the method, boot images that are initially sent from a boot server to various clients are cached at network devices along communication paths between the boot server and the clients. In response to subsequent boot image requests from the clients, boot images cached at the network devices are downloaded directly from the network devices rather than from the boot server, reducing network traffic to and from the boot server and domains in between. In addition, boot program bootstrap files may also be cached and downloaded in a similar manner. Techniques are also disclosed for intercepting boot image download and network bootstrap program requests at the network devices, and for maintaining valid boot image cache configurations across the network. The network devices generally include switches, routers, bridges, and gateway servers.

A common problem faced by IT (information technology) managers is to ensure that client systems in their enterprises can boot appropriate software images using appropriate configuration parameters. Formerly, this process typically entailed performing an entire operating system installation for each computer, which was often necessary due to the differences in unrestricted platform configurations within an enterprise. This process was improved by controlling the platform configuration (e.g., by purchasing significant numbers of platforms having the same configurations), which enabled an operating system to be provisioned on a platform by simply copying an installation image corresponding to a given platform configuration to each platform in the enterprise having that configuration.
More recently, there is gathering momentum for implementing network booting of operating systems (OS) across all or portions of an enterprise internet. This is driven by several factors, including a reduced expense (both in capital and maintenance costs) for diskless workstations, enterprise software licensing considerations, configuration management workload for the IT department, and security considerations (viruses, hackers, etc.). Under a network boot, a selected boot image is loaded each time a given platform is started or reset. The provisioning of boot images is typically performed in conjunction with client authentication and security considerations. These selected boot images and configuration parameters must be acquired from selected servers in the enterprise as dictated by the needs of the particular environment, the capabilities or mission of the user, the resources available within the client, etc. Furthermore, these clients should boot consistently and in an interoperable manner regardless of the sources or vendors of the software and the hardware of both client and server machines.
While network booting provides several advantages, particularly improved configuration control and reduced software management requirements, it introduces new problems with respect to network traffic and security considerations. For example, a large enterprise internet may serve 1000's of users. With modern boot images approaching upwards of a gigabyte or more, a significant load is placed on the enterprise internet and boot servers, particularly during timeframes in which system booting is heavy, such as during the start of a work day.

Method and apparatus to enhance platform boot efficiency


A transmission system formed by a master station and a plurality of satellite stations which are connected by a transmission line into a loop, the data and command signals from the master station being passed sequentially from station to station around the loop. A failure in a satellite station that prevents further loop transmission is detected by watchdog timers in one or more successive stations. As a result, the stations detecting the failure switch themselves into a bus-mode of operation, the master station switches itself and the remaining stations into the bus-mode of operation. The switching back to the loop-mode of operation can be performed under control of the master station automatically, upon detection that the failure has been corrected. The switching also can be performed under external command.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a system for communicating data and control signals between a master station and plural satellite stations which may have a slave relation to said master station.
Conventionally, a transmission network may be organized to operate in a loop mode for transmitting information in serial data format between the master and one or more satellite stations.
2. Description of the Prior Art
FIG. 4 illustrates the configuration of a conventional loop mode transmission system comprising a plurality of stations 1 through 6. In the figure, a single master station 1 serves to monitor the system's operation and control the polling of other satellite or slave stations that also are connected in the loop. The master station 1 is connected directly to only two adjacent slave stations 2 and 6 by transmission links 7 and 12, respectively. The remaining satellite stations 3 through 5 are connected only to adjacent slave stations by transmission lines 8-11 and communicate with the master station through other slave stations in the loop. Each of satellite stations 2 through 6 has transmission equipment, including a computer and input/output devices, for receiving/transmitting data from/to the master station 1.
In an operation of the system in FIG. 4, data for one or more satellite stations in the network is addressably transmitted from the master station 1 via the transmission line 7 to satellite station 2. Station 2 selects the data addressed to it and passes on the balance of the data to satellite station 3 via the transmission line 8. Station 2 may also insert into the serial stream data addressed to the master station. In a similar fashion, each of stations 3-6 remove their addressed data and pass the remainder, including data addressed to the master station, to other stations through respective transmission circuits 9-11. The last station 6 transmits the assembled data stream via the line 12 to the master station. Thus data is transmitted in the transmission system in a loop mode.
In a loop transmission system, both data and control signals that are transmitted from the master station are regenerated, amplified and relayed to the next satellite station in the loop. Consequently, the transmission distance can be made long. Moreover, the transmission speed can be raised to a high rate. However, if an abnormality in any of the satellite stations occurs, amounting to a station breakdown, the entire system will be shut down.
FIG. 5 illustrates the configuration of a conventional, addressable data transmission system that is organized to operate in a bus mode. In the figure, the master station 13, which controls the data transmission, is connected to plural satellite stations 14-17 that are operative to receive/transmit data from/to the master station by means of input/output devices and to process data by a resident computer. A transmission trunk line 18 connects each of the satellite stations in parallel with the master station. Lines 19-22 are the branch lines that respectively connect the stations 14-17 with the trunk line. Each of the stations inputs only the transmitted data that is addressed to it.
Next, the function of the bus mode of data transmission is described in FIG. 5. As shown in the figure, data transmission from the master station 13 is transmitted through the transmission trunk line 18; the transmission is received by the satellite stations 14-17 through the branch lines 19-22 and input in the respective satellite stations.
In a transmission system operative in a bus mode, the transmission trunk line 18 is not interrupted by any of the satellite stations connected to it. Hence, the impedance of the satellite stations is set higher than that of the transmission trunk line. Thus, if an abnormality should occur within any of the satellite stations, its breakdown will not affect the other stations. The master station can continue to transmit data and communicate with the satellite stations other than the one affected by the breakdown. However, unlike the loop mode, because this mode does not employ the regenerative relay method, its transmission distance and transmission speed is limited.
It is an object of the present invention to overcome the problems that occur in the conventional transmission system operating in a loop mode when an abnormality occurs in any single satellite station in the loop, such that the operation of the entire system breakdowns.
It is a further object of the present invention to identify a station in which the abnormality occurs.
It is yet another object of the present invention to avoid any significant delay after a station breakdown before system operation can be restored.
Finally, it is an object of the present invention to provide a network design that is well suited for long-distance, high-speed transmission.
In particular, the present invention is designed to resolve the problems in the conventional loop mode and bus mode systems while being capable of transmitting data at a relatively high speed. The system is designed so that even if abnormalities occur in a number of satellite stations, the system will not breakdown and can continue to transmit data.

Loop mode transmission system with bus mode backup