A navigation system includes current position calculating sections 10, 13, 14, and 15 calculating the current position; an input section 3 inputting the destination and transit points; a route searching section 130 searching a route from the current position calculated by the current position calculating section to the destination or the transit points inputted by the input section; and a guiding section 140 guiding a user along the route searched by the route searching section. The navigation system further includes a control section 10, which, when the route searched by the route searching section contains special roads, causes the propriety of use of the special roads contained the searched route to be individually selected, and makes a re-search for a route containing the special roads the use of which is selected by control of the control section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a navigation system making a route search from the current position to the destination or to transit points, and more particularly to a technology of finitely making a search according to a command for the propriety of use of special roads, such as, e.g., toll roads.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, the number of toll roads or toll special roads (hereinafter referred to as a "special road") has been going on increasing, including fee-charging bridges and tunnels, toll bypass roads, expressways (FWY), toll reserved roads, and ferries. In the conventional on-vehicle navigation system, a method has been accounted for the mainstream, in which it sets the propriety of use ("use" or "non-use") of special roads as a route condition before making a route search in a route search to the destination or to the transitpoints. In this case, e.g., when setting a condition that special roads are "used," a calculation of the optimum route is made by taking all special roads to the destination into consideration, or, when setting a condition that special roads are "not used," a calculation of the optimum route is made by not completely taking special roads to the destination into consideration.
In this connection, as a related art, Patent Document 1 discloses a navigation system which can present, by design, routes of a variety of toll fares to a user to increase the degree of freedom of user's route selection. In the navigation system, a searching section sequentially changes the cost of the toll roads to search for a plurality of potential candidate routes; a calculating section calculates a toll fare of each of the potential candidate routes searched by the searching section; the selecting section selects a plurality of routes of different toll fares from the plurality of searched candidate routes based on the result searched by the searching section and the result calculated by the calculating section; and a presenting section presents information on the plurality of routes selected by the selecting section.
Patent Document 1: JP-A2006-017507
In the conventional navigation system mentioned above, when the propriety of use of the special roads is set as a route condition, only specification of the use of all the special roads to the destination or the non-use of all the special roads is permitted. In general, a user has a propensity to select the use of the individual special roads by thinking about a charge for using the special roads or cost performance thereof, such as toll fares of the individual special roads to the destination or time efficiency thereof in limited conditions (for example, a user wants to use some of toll roads only in a commuting time period). Therefore, it has been hitherto on the tiptoe of expectancy of the development of a navigation system able to specify the propriety of use of the individual special roads.


A system and method for injecting an electron beam to an accelerator are provided. The system may include a cathode, an anode, and a modulation electrode. The cathode, for generating the electron beam, may have a first electrical potential. The anode may have a second electrical potential. The modulation electrode, located between the cathode and the anode, may be configured to adjust at least one parameter of the electron beam. The at least one parameter of the electron beam may include at least one transverse parameter of the electron beam.

Radiation therapy is widely used in cancer therapy and is also indicated for several other health conditions. Conventionally, a radiation therapy treatment plan (also referred to herein as a treatment plan) for a patient is generated before treatment starts. Different treatment plans for different patients may require different parameters. For example, different parameters of electron beams may be required in different treatment plans. Besides, a radiation therapy system may have different operation modes, such as an imaging mode and a treatment mode. The treatment mode may include a low-energy therapy mode, a medium-energy therapy mode, and/or a high-energy therapy mode. Different treatment modes may have different requirements for electron beams injected into an electron gun. Thus, it may be desirable to develop systems and methods for allowing an adjustment of parameters of an electron injector so that desired electron beams may be produced to satisfy different operation modes.

SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.


Method of manufacturing consumable filler metal wire, rod, or stick, and the like, of predetermined length and cross-section for use in welding, including: providing an ingot of a first metal and one or more different further metals; forming composite product by providing the ingot of the first metal with one or more hollow cores in substantially parallel relation to each other and locating in the hollow cores the different further metal or metals; applying pressure to the composite product to reduce its cross-section to a predetermined cross-section to form feedstock. Optionally further deforming the feedstock by mechanical pressure to form wire, rod or stick, of final cross-section so ultimate alloying of the first metal with the different further metal or metals occurs when the wire, rod or stick is used as filler material or consumable electrode during welding. Using this filler metal for welding an assembly of aluminium members.

A common technique of industrial scale manufacturing of consumable filler metals is by continuously casting the weld filler alloy in the form, for example, of a rectangular bar. The continuous casting technique used for these products is by casting the bar on a casting wheel, often called a PROPERZI (trademark) wheel. The bar is subsequently in-line rolled to a round bar of about 8 to 10 mm diameter. Another common technique is the CONFORM (trademark) process, which is a continuous extrusion technique in which also a big rotating wheel is employed placed in line with a continuous casting facility to provide the feedstock for extrusion. The technique can be used as an alternative to the rolling process described above. For most welding wired the casting-rolling process is preferred over the casting-extrusion process because of the better metal quality with regard to the absence of processing contaminants such as grease.
The bars may be either directly coiled, or coiled after a rolling step, and then subsequently drawn to produce the weld filler wire of typical diameter.
Another method of industrial scale manufacturing of consumable filler metals is to cast an ingot of the weld filler alloy of predetermined chemical composition, extruding the ingot typically at elevated temperature, and afterwards the extruded rod may then be drawn into a wire. When used for welding aluminium alloys, the finished drawn wire has a diameter typically in the range of 0.5-6.0 mm.
However, these known techniques have been proven unsuitable for the production of certain weld filler metals, in particular those which become very brittle during a deformation operation possibly due to strain hardening and/or because of crack formation at elevated temperature during deformation operations due to the presence of low melting phases.

Method of manufacturing a consumable filler metal for use in a welding operation


It provides a condenser microphone such as a tiepin type including a small microphone unit, which is capable of effectively suppressing noise generation due to an electromagnetic wave. It covers the entirety from a microphone unit 12 to a connecting cable 22 with an integrally formed cover member 32 and connects the cover member 32 to a shielded wire 25 so as to electromagnetically shield the entirety.

As shown in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Utility Model Registration No. 3027420) for instance, a connection between a microphone unit and a microphone cord of a condenser microphone is normally made by electrically connecting two cores consisting of a signal wire and a power wire of a connecting cord to a predetermined position on an impedance converter side respectively and soldering a shielded wire on a predetermined ground side.
Tiepin-type and headset-type condenser microphones are required to be rather unnoticeable in use and lightweight, and so they are designed so that an outside diameter of the microphone unit becomes 5 mm or less for instance. In the case of such a small condenser microphone, the microphone unit contains a condenser portion and an impedance converter, and an inputted sound signal is connected to a power module separately placed via a dedicated connecting cable. The power module contains main circuits such as a low-cut circuit and an output circuit for driving the microphone therein. As for the connecting cable, a microphone cable consisting of a two-core shielded covered wire is used.
FIG. 2 is a relevant part enlarged view showing a conventional example of a coupling structure of this small microphone unit and the connecting cable. In this example, a connecting cable 2 uses a power wire 4 for supplying power to a microphone unit 1, a signal wire 5 for sending a sound signal outputted from the impedance converter not shown to the power module side and a shielded wire 6 for electrostatically shielding and grounding the power wire 4 and signal wire 5, which are covered by a sheath 3.
The connecting cable 2 has the power wire 4, signal wire 5 and shielded wire 6 projected on its one end 2a side electrically connected by soldering them to the predetermined positions on the microphone unit 1 side respectively. A joint between the microphone unit 1 and the connecting cable 2 is protected by covering and solidifying the portion between a back end side of the microphone unit 1 and the one end 2a side of the connecting cable 2 with an appropriate synthetic resin material 7 such as polypropylene to couple them integrally for protection.
In the case of the small condenser microphone 1 shown in FIG. 2, however, the sound signal in the connecting cable 2 is apt to be transmitted in an unbalanced state and so it is weak against noise from outside unlike a large condenser microphone. Therefore, there is a problem that if a strong electromagnetic wave is applied to the connecting cable 2 from a cellular phone for instance, the electromagnetic wave goes inside the microphone unit 1 and the power module so as to be detected by a semiconductor and generate the noise.
In the case of the coupling structure shown in FIG. 2 in particular, the power wire 4 and signal wire 5 are not covered by the shielded wire 6 but are connected to the microphone unit 1 side in an exposed state. Besides, the joint is covered by the synthetic resin material 7 having no shielding effect so that, if the electromagnetic wave goes into the power wire 4 and signal wire 5, there is a possibility that a high-frequency current may go into the shielded wire 6 and induce the noise.


A liver-mimetic device and method include a 3D polymer scaffold having a matrix of liver-like lobules with hepatic-functioning particles encapsulated within the lobules. In some embodiments, each liver-like lobule is hexagonal in structure and the matrix is in a honeycomb arrangement. In some embodiments, the hepatic-functioning particles are hepatic progenitor cells. In other embodiments, the hepatic-functioning particles are polymer nanoparticles adapted to capture pore-forming toxins.

In the U.S., liver associated diseases are major contributors to morbidity and mortality. Approximately 40,000 people in the U.S. die each year from acute or chronic liver diseases. Organ transplantation is the gold standard of care for end-stage liver disease. Unfortunately, the dramatic discrepancy between available donors vs. patients on the waiting lists highlights the critical need for functional liver replacements. Furthermore, as the liver serves a vital role in drug metabolism and detoxification, the investigation of liver-drug interactions is an essential component of any preclinical drug study. Conventional animal models are costly, often unreliable, and difficult to translate to human studies due to the species-specific variations in hepatocellular functions. For example, in 2004, the FDA estimated that 92 out of every 100 drugs that successfully passed preclinical animal testing failed in subsequent human trials. The resulting financial consequences of a drug failing at the clinical stage can be catastrophic to the drug makers. While several human liver models, such as liver slices, microsomes, cell lines and primary hepatocytes, are currently in use, these models are still limited in terms of fully representing the dynamic cellular responses of healthy liver tissue.
Over the last two decades, liver tissue engineering has made significant progress towards the creation of in vitro liver models for drug screening, as well as in vivo constructs for ultimately addressing the large clinical need for transplant sources. Nonetheless, cell sourcing remains a significant challenge for both in vivo and in vitro liver models. Most tissue engineered liver models consist of suboptimal cell sources, such as primary hepatocytes and hepatic cell lines isolated from liver tumors (e.g. HepG2), which make them less practical for clinical applications. Current in vitro liver models includes liver slices, immortalized hepatic cell lines, primary hepatocyte cultures, multi-well perfused bioreactors, microfluidic devices (e.g., the cell-based hepatic models from HμREL® Corporation), and hollow fiber reactors. However, none of these models exhibit similar micro-architecture compared to native liver tissue. For instance, although HepG2 cells show great proliferative capacity and are relatively inexpensive, they display abnormal cellular functions when compared with native physiology. Moreover, the tumor origin of HepG2 cells presents a safety concern for in vivo applications. Conventional cultures of primary hepatocytes have served as the gold standard for in vitro applications, however, these primary cells lack robust proliferative capacity and are prone to de-differentiate fairly quickly. As a result, their functional activity can only be maintained for a relatively short time frame (i.e., 24-72 hours). Furthermore, human primary hepatocytes are difficult to obtain on a consistent basis.
Due to these limitations in sourcing optimal cell types, recent developments in iPSC (induced pluripotent stem cell) technology have attracted significant attention within the tissue engineering field due to the iPSC's competent proliferative capacity, proven pluripotency, and absence of ethical issues associated with embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Human iPSCs may provide a limitless supply of hepatocytes from multiple donors and thereby improve experimental reproducibility while also allowing for the investigation of individual-specific hepatotoxicity. Although there are limited data on the clinical safety of iPSCs, the development of patient-specific tissue and organ models from iPSCs would help bring to reality the vision of personalized in vitro organoid systems. Furthermore, these technologies can enable the design of disease-on-a-chip models for use as early-stage testing tools to assess pharmacotoxicity and therapeutic target engagement.
Improvements in cell sourcing notwithstanding, the development of fully functional liver constructs has been limited due to the challenge of fully recapitulating the native physical structure of hepatic tissue. Such micro-architecture plays a critical role in stem cell biology and hepatocellular function. Replicating these tissue morphologies involves the consideration of both their complex 3D geometries as well as the heterogeneity of their constituent cell populations. Numerous groups have demonstrated the substantial difference in cellular physiology between 2D vs. 3D culture systems. Likewise, co-culture of multiple cell types can direct markedly different cell activity as compared with monoculture. Endothelial cells can help stabilize hepatocytes and participate in blood vessel formation. MSCs have shown great potential in inhibiting hepatocyte apoptosis and supporting hepatocellular function. However, very limited progress has been achieved in fully mimicking the native architecture and organization of liver in both composition and form, partially due to the lack of appropriate biofabrication techniques.
Focusing specifically on the important hepatic function of detoxification, pore-forming toxins (PFTs) that can damage cellular membrane are key virulence factors of pathologies resulting from animal bites/stings and bacterial infections. Conventional detoxification platforms such as antisera, monoclonal antibodies and small-molecule inhibitors are unable to completely neutralize toxins because of their limited ability to block the entire PFT molecule. In addition, over 80 PFTs have been identified, displaying diverse molecular structures and distinctive epitopic targets. The commonly used antidotes target the specific molecular structures of PFTs. Thus, customized treatments are frequently required for different toxins.
Due to their inherent small size and flexibility in rational design and preparation, functional nanoparticles have shown potential applications in effective detoxification. Recent advancements in the field have spurred the development of nanoparticles that can efficiently bind PFTs and neutralize their toxicity in vivo. Although patients suffering from poisoning may benefit from these strategies, intravenous administration of nanoparticles can cause nanoparticle-toxin accumulation in the liver, leading to the risk of secondary poisoning, which is particularly detrimental in liver-failure patients. Despite these challenges, cleaning blood by adsorption of toxins to retrievable nanoparticles provides an alternative strategy for detoxification. Meanwhile, similar to injection of antidotes, it is clinically approved to remove toxins by in vitro devices.

Liver-mimetic device and method for simulation of hepatic function using such device

THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA

NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH), U.S. DEPT. OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (DHHS)


A structural assembly for a vehicle and method of making same includes a hydroformed tubular member extending axially, a reinforcement disposed within and generally perpendicular to an axis of the tubular member, and at least one securement to secure the reinforcement to the tubular member.

It is known to construct vehicles such as automotive vehicles with structural members. For some automotive vehicles such as pick-up trucks, a bed or box incorporates several structural members. Reinforcements are typically used to stiffen or strengthen structural members. Hydroformed reinforcements have been suggested to stiffen up the existing front and rear of the pick-up bed or box. These hydroformed reinforcements occupy the same space as the existing stamped steel stake pocket reinforcements, but are missing a bottom surface or floor of the stake pocket.
As a result, it is desirable to provide a structural assembly for a vehicle that has an integral reinforcement. It is also desirable to provide a structural assembly for a vehicle that has a stop or floor for a pocket of a hydroformed member. It is further desirable to provide a structural assembly for a vehicle that is less time consuming and costly to manufacture. Therefore, there is a need in the art to provide a structural assembly for of a vehicle that meets these desires.

Structural assembly for vehicles and method of making same


Systems and methods for determining operation commands for a fixture within an area of a facility. One example system includes a processor configured to: receive, from a first fixture associated with an area within a facility, operational data related to an operation of the first fixture; receive, from a second fixture associated with the area within the facility, environmental data related to a condition of the area; process the operational data and the environmental data through a status model to determine a status for the area, the status model trained with operational data and environmental data previously received from the first fixture, the second fixture, and other fixtures associated with the facility; determine an operation command for a third fixture associated with the area within the facility based on the status; and provide the operation command to the third fixture for execution.

In the field of facility or building management, there is a desire to manage the performance of an Internet of Things (IoT) architecture of fixtures. Examples of such IoT enabled fixtures include faucets, flush valves, hand dryers, floor drains, air or room quality sensors, backflow preventers, bottle fillers, pressure sensors, leak detection sensors, occupancy detection sensors, resource dispensers (e.g., a soap dispenser, a sanitizer dispenser, a room deodorizer dispenser, a paper tower dispenser), and the like.

Determining operations for a smart fixture based on an area status


A respiratory intubating device for carrying a gas to or from the lungs of a patient including a flexible tubular member having a pair of parallel lumens for extending from a proximal area at the patient's mouth to a distal area at a bronchus of the patient, and an adapter integrally connected to the tubular member for interconnecting the tubular member with a source of gas and for providing access for surgical instruments. The adapter includes a Y-shaped member having a pair of hollow branches which lead to the pair of lumens of the tubular member and a pair of hollow stem members integrally connected to the hollow branch members at about a right angle thereto, and extending upwardly to aim across the patient's face. The Y-shaped member including the junctions of the branch members and the stem members are encased in a soft flexible plastic.

Devices for introducing gases, such as air or an anesthetizing gas, into the lungs of a patient are well-known. Such devices typically comprise a flexible tubular member having a pair of conduits extending from a proximal end portion at a patient's mouth for connection to a source of gas such as a breathing circuit to a distal end portion in a patient's bronchus region. An orifice is provided at the distal end portion of each conduit for introducing gas into the lungs. The distal end portion of these devices is also typically provided with means, such as inflatable cuffs, for blocking flow of gas along the outer surface of the tubular member.
While these devices have proved to be useful, further developments and improvements are desirable, especially at the proximal end portion of the device. Problems may arise in this area when flexible hoses leading to the intubation device from a source of gas interfere with a surgical site, or when means are not provided for securing the device in the desired position within the patient's respiratory system.


Provided are a communication system that is capable of acquiring information having a relatively large data amount by a transmission unit while securing a communication speed of a transmission signal of transmission unit, and a transmission unit employed in communication system. Transmission unit transmits superimposition requesting data from a superimposition requesting unit to a second monitoring terminal in a transmission segment of transmission signal. Second monitoring terminal, upon receiving superimposition requesting data and with responding thereto, transmits, to transmission unit, monitoring data corresponding to a monitoring input from a sensor device with a superimposition signal superimposed on transmission signal as superimposition response data in a reply segment of transmission signal. Transmission unit, upon receiving superimposition response data composed of monitoring data with a superimposition communication unit, transmits control data to either a second control terminal or a first control terminal associated with this monitoring data in control table.

Heretofore, communication systems in which a transmission unit (master) and a plurality of terminal devices (slaves) are connected to a transmission channel and communication is performed between the transmission unit and each of the terminal devices are in widespread use. An example of this kind of communication system is a system in which the transmission unit monitors states of the terminal devices periodically, and when there is a change in the state of one of the terminal devices, the transmission unit transmits a signal to another terminal device so as to perform processing corresponding to the state change (e.g., refer to Japanese Patent Publication No. 1180690, Japanese Patent Publication No. 1195362, Japanese Patent Publication No. 1144477).
Note that, the communication system having the aforementioned configuration is a system originally used for on-off control of lighting apparatuses or the like, and is not suited to transmitting information having a relatively large data amount such as data represented by an analog quantity, since the communication speed is slow.
In view of this, a communication system that is formed by mixing an existing communication system in which terminal devices communicate with each other via a transmission unit and a communication system in which terminal devices directly communicate with each other peer-to-peer (P2P) has been proposed (e.g., see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-225328). In this communication system, since first terminals (first communication terminals) that communicate via the transmission unit (master) share a communication line (transmission channel) with second terminals (second communication terminals) that communicate with each other directly, the second terminals can be easily added to the existing communication system. The first terminals communicate by a transmission signal (signal conforming to a first protocol) that is repeatedly transmitted to the communication line from the transmission unit, and the second terminals perform higher speed communication by a superimposition signal (signal conforming to a second protocol) that is superimposed on the transmission signal.
Here, the transmission signal is a time-division signal that is divided, frame by frame, into a plurality of regions (periods) in the time axis direction, and some of the regions are assigned as superimposition allowable segments (communication suitable periods) in which a superimposition signal can be superimposed. That is, the second terminals communicate by the superimposition signal that is transmitted on the communication line, on which the transmission signal is also transmitted, in the superimposition allowable segments assigned to part of the transmission signal.
Incidentally, in the communication system described in aforementioned Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-225328, although the first terminals and the second terminals share the communication line, communication is performed between the first terminals or between the second terminals independently without interfering with each other, and transmitting and receiving data between a first terminal and a second terminal is not considered. However, in recent years, a flexible system is desired, in which apparatuses can be controlled based on the information having a relatively large data amount as in a case of data from sensor devices such as an image sensor and a power measurement unit. In this case, the transmission unit is required to acquire information having a relatively large data amount. However, the communication speed is not sufficient for acquiring information having a large data amount with the transmission signal of the transmission unit.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Communication system and transmission unit employed in same

Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.


A method and system that employ a central server with an associated database and a Master Agent for establishing a TCP/IP connection between a client and an application server associated with a Remote Agent. The application server hosts one or more business software applications for the client, and the client accesses the one or more business software applications at the application server using the established TCP/IP session. Files created by the client using the one or more business software applications at the application server are maintained and backed-up periodically at the application server by a service provider on behalf of the client.

Computer security is becoming increasingly important. The media is replete with stories of computer hackers breaking into computers, or viruses that attack and destroy information stored on computers. Many tools exist for enhancing computer security. For example, a security protocol known as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) provides both privacy (e.g., secrecy) and authentication (e.g., confidence that a computer's and/or user's asserted identity is true) in the context of the world wide web. SSL technology is now built into many Internet browsers and web servers. The SSL protocol works by encrypting data passing between computers through use of encryption keys and associated encryption techniques. Despite the existence of SSL, additional solutions are required in order to meet the computer security needs of many organizations. The present invention provides such solutions.
In order to access typical business software applications (e.g., MS Word, Excel, or PowerPoint), a user is typically required to purchase a license for the software from the software owner, and install the software on the user's computer equipment. In addition, once the software is installed, the user is tasked with performing: (i) periodic data backups in order to ensure that data is recoverable in the event of a system failure; (ii) applications maintenance in order to ensure that updates and new versions are promptly installed on the user's equipment; and (iii) equipment installation/maintenance including, in some instances, internal network configuration. For many businesses, performance of these functions requires that costly IT personnel be on staff at the business. The present invention offers an alternative methodology which allows individuals and businesses to securely access business software applications that are hosted and maintained on a remote server by a service provider. The service provider performs functions currently performed by in-house IT staff at many businesses, including data backups and equipment/software maintenance.

Systems and methods for establishing and validating secure network sessions


In a disk apparatus, media include first and second surfaces having first and second servo patterns which are read at different timings by first and second heads. A controller controls the first head based on a first demodulated position obtained by demodulating the first servo pattern and a target position. The controller calculates a first estimated demodulated position from the demodulated position and a first demodulated velocity based on the first servo patterns, calculates a second estimated demodulated position from the first demodulated position and a second demodulated velocity based on the second servo patterns, and stops writing operation of the first head in accordance with one of the first and second estimated demodulated positions exceeding a threshold.

In recent years, in the field of disk storage apparatuses such as hard disk drives (hereinafter, simply as disk drives), higher recording densities of a magnetic disk as a storage medium have been promoted. In a disk drive, generally, the sector servo system is adopted and a large number of circular cylinders (i.e. tracks) including servo sectors are arranged concentrically on the magnetic disk. The servo sector includes a servo area and a user data area subsequent to the servo area. A servo pattern to detect position of a magnetic head over the magnetic disk is recorded in the servo area. The servo pattern includes a preamble pattern, address data containing a cylinder number and a servo sector number, and a burst pattern.
There is known a staggered servo system which is one of variations of the sector servo system. In a magnetic disk apparatus in the staggered servo system, both sides of the magnetic disk are used as a recording surface respectively and the magnetic head is provided over both sides of the magnetic disk respectively. There is provided a positional difference between the servo sectors on the both sides of the magnetic disk along the circumferential direction of the disk and the servo areas are also recorded on the both side so as to have a positional difference in the circumferential direction depending on the positions of the sectors.
In such a magnetic disk apparatus, one of the magnetic heads is activated and the servo pattern is sampled at servo sampling intervals by the magnetic head from the corresponding recording surface of the magnetic disk. The magnetic head is positioned to the target track based on the sampled servo pattern. More specifically, a demodulated position and an estimated position of the magnetic head are determined from address data contained in the servo pattern sampled at servo sampling intervals and a demodulated velocity and servo control to the target track position of the magnetic head is exercised. Then, if off-tracked writing error in which the magnetic head is drifted over a permissible position error (threshold dp) is detected in the servo control while writing data, the magnetic head is disabled to write data.
In the servo control involving off-tracking detection of the magnetic head as described above, even if a rapid velocity change of the magnetic head is caused and off-tracked writing error is occurred after the magnetic head passes particular servo sample, the detection of the off-tracking is delayed to the next servo sample. Accompanying such a delay of off-tracking detection, data writing may continue even if the magnetic head is over an adjacent track due to off-tracking, resulting in deletion of data of the adjacent track. In addition, if the servo sampling interval is set small to minimize the delay of off-tracking detection, the user data area is decreased.

Magnetic disk apparatus and off-tracking detection method


A low-power digital frequency synthesizer combining direct digital frequency synthesis techniques with serrodyne frequency translation principles to produce a wideband frequency response with high spectral purity. A conventional direct digital synthesizer is used to generate a high-resolution analog carrier signal from a low-speed digital clock signal. The carrier signal is phase modulated by a low-resolution signal generated from a high-speed digital clock signal. The modulation signal is a higher frequency signal than the carrier signal. The phase modulation is accomplished by exact decoded gain elements. The spectral purity of the resulting high-resolution output signal is unobtainable by conventional direct digital synthesizers, while providing significant power savings.

Digital frequency synthesizers are replacing oscillators in a number of important applications such as frequency generating subsystems, test equipment and communication systems. In particular, many communication systems use complex modulation schemes which are often more easily implemented using digital frequency synthesis.
Battery-powered communication systems using spread spectrum technology are one category of applications that benefit from digital frequency synthesis. This category includes cellular telephone systems and ground terminal communication systems. Such applications may use frequency hopping techniques to spread a signal over the channel bandwidth. These applications will benefit from a low-power, wideband frequency synthesizer with high spectral purity. Current technology has failed to achieve those goals.
One existing device is the direct digital synthesizer (DDS). Conventionally, a high-resolution DDS generates wideband analog signals using a high-speed digital clock. For example, frequency responses up to 400 MHz have been demonstrated using a 1 GHz clock. However, due to phase truncation effects, amplitude quantization effects, and digital-to-analog converter (DAC) nonlinearities and glitches, a large number of high level spurious signals are present in the output frequency band. These spurious signals increase with the clock frequency.
In addition to spectral purity problems, conventional DDSs suffer from hardware constraints, Because of the high clock frequencies, conventional high-speed DDSs are fabricated in Gallium Arsenide (GaAs). Furthermore, the conventional DDS dissipates higher power when driven at high clock frequencies.
Serrodyne modulators have been used to modulate high frequency analog signals by lower frequency digital signals. For example, this technique is used to generate frequency chirps for radar systems. The resulting frequency translation is relatively narrow band, typically less than one octave. In addition, the resulting signal has mediocre near carrier, spurious performance, typically -15 to -30 dBc. The use of analog devices to generate the phase shifts further limits performance.
One such serrodyne modulator is discussed by Smith et al. in U.S. Pat. No. 5,063,361, which discusses a direct digital synthesizer having a phase accumulator for changing the phase of an RF signal. The device uses dual shifter channels in a ping-pong arrangement. Channel switching is done using make-before-break RF switches, which are switched on every clock cycle alternate phase shifting of the RF signal in alternate channels. The DDS is implemented as a digital monolithic microwave integrated circuit (MMIC).
Phase modulation has been discussed by Hiramatsu in European Patent Publication 0 419 680 as frequency-modulating a digital signal by a carrier frequency. In particular, an analog modulation signal is digitally processed to be FM modulated. The output signal is centered at the carrier frequency.
Doughty in U.S. Pat. No. 3,749,937 discusses an electronic musical tone modifier. An analog audio frequency is FM modulated by a sub-audible signal. The modifier can include a digital or an analog shift register to perform the frequency modulation. The output signal is an analog audio signal.


An electrochemical cell, particularly an electrochemical capacitor device (30) includes first and second electrodes (24) and (28) having an electrolyte (26) disposed therebetween. At least one of the electrodes (24) is fabricated on a substrate (12) and includes a multilayer composite electrode active material disposed thereon. The multilayer composite electrode includes first and second layer (16) and (22), in which the ratios of electroactive materials therein is varied so as to promote good adherence to the electrode substrate as well as excellent electrochemical performance.

Energy generation and storage has long been a subject of study and development. Of special importance is the storage of electrical energy in a compact form which can be easily charged and discharged, such as the rechargeable battery and/or electrochemical capacitor. High power, particularly high current pulse, rechargeable electrochemical charge storage devices are very important in applications requiring electrical pulses, examples of which include digital communications devices, power tools, and portable computers. In each of these devices, high electrochemical kinetic rate, long cycle life of the electrode, low electrical resistivity, and good ionic conductivity of the electrolyte are extremely important.
Many high power electrochemical capacitor devices have been disclosed using ruthenium oxide as the electrochemically active material of one or both of the electrodes in an electrochemical capacitor device. Ruthenium oxide has the advantage of providing relatively long life and high power, though it is difficult to fabricate, and relatively expensive as compared to other capacitor materials. Thermally formed ruthenium oxide electrodes were developed in the 60's and 70's for the chlorine electrode employed in the chloro-alkali industry. One commonly used such electrode is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,632,498 to Beer, and entitled "ELECTRODE AND COATING THEREFOR." These electrodes were optimized for sodium chloride electrolysis. Generally speaking ruthenium oxide in such an application is a catalytic metal oxide and titanium oxide is a film forming oxide used in conjunction therewith. The Beer Patent claims that the film forming metal is higher than 50 mole percent of the materials of the coating, and specifically that the film forming metal is approximately 70 mole % while the catalytic metal oxide, i.e., TiO.sub.x is approximately 30 mole %.
While these types of electrode materials are known, they have not demonstrated satisfactory capacitance values in electrochemical capacitors. This is due to the fact that the ruthenium oxide content is too low to provide the high power required of most electrical device applications. Simply increasing the ruthenium oxide content in the electrodes does not resolve the problem since reduction of titanium oxide to below approximately 70 mole % will cause poor electrode adherence to the titanium substrates commonly used in such devices. Poor adherence of the electrode active material, results in poor cycle life, shorting, and in general poor device performance.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a dimensionally stable anode employing ruthenium oxide and titanium oxide in a manner sufficient to allow for good material adherence to a titanium substrate, without compromising the electrochemical performance of the ruthenium oxide in the material. Such an electrode should provide a good balance between device performance, costs, and overall process reliability.

Composite multilayer electrodes for electrochemical cells


A fuel consumption saving drive supporting device which calculates a mileage of each driver and informs each driver of advice based on an increase or a decrease of the calculated mileage is disclosed. The fuel consumption saving drive supporting device extracts a drive operation of the driver or a drive condition of a vehicle of the driver for increasing the mileage, and informs the driver of the advice in the drive operation or the drive condition corresponding to the extracted drive operation or the extracted drive condition.

A driver intends to economically drive a vehicle by considering fuel consumption (mileage) of the vehicle. Therefore, for example, at each time of supplying fuel to the vehicle, the mileage is calculated by using a driven distance and consumed fuel by resetting a trip meter of the vehicle. In order to easily calculate the mileage, a technology has been proposed in which the mileage is automatically displayed when the trip meter is reset (for example, see Patent Document 1).
However, by only automatically calculating the mileage, the driver cannot understand what drive operations cause to increase the mileage, and the automatic calculation of the mileage cannot be said to be sufficient to learn drive operations for increasing the mileage.
In addition, a technology has been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 2). In the technology, by comparing a mileage standard value of another vehicle with a mileage standard value of a user's own vehicle, when the mileage of the user's own vehicle has been decreased, the mileage decrease is displayed, and when drive operations for decreasing the mileage such as sudden acceleration and long idling time are detected, a warning is displayed. When the driver obtains the warning on the display, the driver understands what operations have decreased the mileage and can utilize the operations to increase the mileage afterward.
However, by only displaying the operations that cause to decrease the mileage, the driver does not sufficiently obtain what operations can increase the mileage. Consequently, it is insufficient to enable the driver to actively increase the mileage. In addition, it is well known that the sudden acceleration and the long idling time cause to decrease the mileage, and it is difficult for the driver to increase the mileage by only displaying such operations.    [Patent document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2004-210086    [Patent document 2] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-108503

Fuel consumption saving drive supporting device


Exercising machine (1) provided with a frame (10) (110) (210) and with at least one operating apparatus (30) (130) (230) which can be used to perform a physical exercise and comprising a load group (15) (115) (215) supported by the frame (10) (110) (210) and connected to the operating apparatus (30) (130) (230) by means of at least one cable (26) (126) (226) wound around a plurality of transmission members (25) (140) (240) supported by the frame (10) (110) (210) and arranged so as to define a path (P) for the cable (26) (126) (226); the load group (15) (115) (215) comprising at least two load units (16, 17) separate from each other and connected together by means of the said cable (26) (126) (226) and arranged at ends of the path (P) on opposite sides of the operating apparatus (30) (130) (230) so that the latter can be tensioned on respective opposite sides by means of different loads.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exercising machine for performing muscle training exercises making 5 use of the resistance offered by a load group of a given type.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As is known, the execution of a simple articular movement or athletic action is the result of the balanced activity of at least one pair of muscles, more particularly agonistic muscles, or muscles which tend to cause flexing of the articulation, and antagonistic muscles, or muscles which tend to bring the articulation back into its extended position.
The exercising machines which may be used to perform muscle exercises of an anaerobic type are normally provided with levers or cables by means of which the user interacts with a load unit normally of the gravitational type so that the load model most familiar to users may be reproduced. Hereinbelow, for the sake of brevity, the machines by means of which the user interacts with a load of a varying nature will be referred to simply as "weights machines".
It is likewise known that some weights machines are provided with levers which may be connected to the load directly or indirectly. Leaving aside the former, which are of no interest for illustrating the object and nature of the present invention, the latter very commonly include machines where the user operates the load by means of a cable which is arranged between the load and an operating apparatus with which the user interacts. The cable usually follows a path passing between a plurality of pulleys to each of which a deviation through a particular angle corresponds. Normally the load unit is of the gravitational type and usually comprises a plurality of weights and is normally referred to as "set of weights". Each weight has a given mass and is mounted so as to be slidable axially in a vertical direction by means of a pair of rods. Some of the problems associated with these machines will be illustrated below, it being the aim of the present invention to examine and overcome said problems.
Firstly it must be pointed out that in these cable operated weights machines a translatory movement is imparted to the set of weights selected between a lowered position and a raised position and that the sensation of resistance offered by the set of weights selected for the exercise gradually diminishes as the movement imparted to the operating apparatus reaches completion. When the set of weights nears its highest point, the user experiences a reduction in the force to be overcome, which becomes—3-very evident whenever the user performs a movement which keeps the set of weights at a constant height. It is obvious that, when there is no movement of the resistive load, the user does not perform any work which, as is known, is the product of a force times movement. Therefore, the user is aware, at least for a moment, of an interruption in the muscular exercise. This is the cause of dissatisfaction for an experienced user who is able to recognise his own degree of effort at all times and wishes to maximise it during the whole of the exercise. Normally this type of user prefers not to use single-function weights machines, which exercise just one particular muscle group, and so-called "functional" machines which exercise several muscle groups at the same time. For the sake of clarity, a functional machine is a machine where the operating apparatus, which is connected to the load by means of a cable, allows the user to perform complex articular movements starting from a free posture and therefore simulate activities/movements which are usually performed during the carrying out of any sporting or working activity. The ends of the cable in these machines may be fixed or adjustable spatially. Examples of these machines may be found in the patents U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,238,323, 6,387,020 and 6,422,980.
It should be noted, moreover, that, in cable-operated weights machines, be they of the conventional or functional type, the resistive load always acts tangentially with respect to the limb which is to be exercised by raising the load, and this depends on the fact that the articular movements are obtained by means of a combination of rotational movements, while the cable is a member having a mechanical action only when it is subjected to a pulling force acting along its axis. Therefore, in a cable-operated weights machine, the resistive load applied to a limb by means of a cable will be mainly oriented transversely with respect to the said limb, and the resistance which this load will produce to movement of the limb will always exert a pulling force acting on a given side. Therefore, a cable-operated weights machine reproduces only partially natural conditions where the limbs, when they move in space against the thrust of a load, are subject to combined loads, each of which acts in a given direction.
Moreover it is known that, when it is required to increase the resistance to prolonged effort and not so much the degree of explosive power, it is necessary to perform preferably a large number of repetitions with a low set weight. In cable-operated weights machines it can be easily established that the set of weights is imparted by the user a speed such that it exceeds the energy in its current position and therefore continues to move vertically upwards as a result of inertia, even when the user has completed the agonistic phase of the athletic movement. In the worst of cases, the set of weights at the end of its travel movement, due to inertia, strikes against the upper travel stops of the weight guiding rods and in any case the situation arises—albeit for a very short time interval—whereby the apparatus operated by the user is not subject to any load. At the end of this very short time interval, the load acts again on the operating apparatus suddenly, causing an unpleasant sensation of increased load, which could also be damaging from a physiological point of view, in addition to causing discomfort, in the case where the user has set a large load.
In attempt to overcome the problem of inertia, in some cable-operated weights machines a cam has been mounted along the path of the cable, so as to keep constant the variation in energy of the set of weights during the respective operating movement and thus keep constant the amount of energy required of the user during the course of the exercise. Obviously the installation of this cam, which must be varyingly designed for different types of machine, results in a considerably increase in the cost of the machine. Moreover, it must be mentioned that the addition of this cam is difficult to implement in machines where the operating apparatus consists of a handle which must be gripped by the user, as in the case of so-called pulley-type machines. This type of problem has been examined and partially solved in the above-mentioned patent U.S. Pat. No. 6,238,323, by means of the creation of a multiple-transmission hoist provided with a plurality of pulleys arranged between the set of weights and a final pulley which diverts the cable upstream of the operating apparatus. This final pulley is mounted fixed on the frame of the machine. In this way the operating apparatus and the set of weights are disassociated from each other in terms of speed by a cable, the length of which is at least twice the minimum length required to raise the set of weights by means of the operating apparatus. The consequence of this is that the operating apparatus and the set of weights move constantly at different speeds, the ratio of which depends on the ratio between the actual length of the cable and the minimum length required. The reduction in the speed of the set of weights has the effect of reducing the inertia of the load and hence the different sensation perceived by the user when exercising.
However, even by means of this solution it is not possible to eliminate completely the sensation of lack of load in cable-operated weights machines, among other things because the machines which adopt this solution of increasing the length of the cable must multiply the load by the multiplication factor of the length of the cable in order to keep the value of the resistive load unchanged. It can be easily understood that this solution causes considerable problems in the case, for example, of leg press machines where the load in terms of weights is frequently 250 kg in the case of machines without hoists. In this case doubling of the load would result in machines where the single set of weights has a mass of 500 kg and therefore results in positioning restrictions due to the act that it can be installed only in areas where the floor is suitably reinforced.
It must also be added that, as is known, in the case of cable-operated exercising machines where the user operates the cable indirectly by means of a lever, each user must perform beforehand certain adjustments in order to personalise the machine before being able to use it properly, i.e. in order to grip the lever in a given position, at a certain distance from the fulcrum. Otherwise, the user will find the machine unsuitable and, in addition to losing the time needed to set the machine to structural parameters appropriate for his/her physical size, risks suffering, in the event of imprecise adjustment, serious injury as a result of stressing his/her physical/muscular structure in a physiologically inappropriate manner. In addition, these adjustments may not be easy to carry out, both because, in order to perform them correctly, it is necessary to have a clear idea of the notions as to how the muscles and limbs of our body work and because, on occasions, the adjustments may be complicated for users which are not familiar with the mechanisms present on the machine, as, for example, in the case of the functional machines of the type described with reference to the already mentioned patent U.S. Pat. No. 6,387,020 and the PCT application WO 01/66195. These machines have articulated hollow arms inside which the cable passes and terminates in a handle or other apparatus which can be operated by a user. Each of the respective arms supports, at its free end, a pulley which is mounted eccentrically and from which the cable departs in a direction which is constantly tangential to the pulley. This eccentric pulley is mounted rotatably on the arm and is mechanically balanced by means of a counterweight, in order to cancel out the moment of inertia of the pulley and therefore make its presence mechanically invisible for the user. In this type of machine also, which is acclaimed as being simple to use, it is required to perform adjustment of the machine before exercising and this is possible only with a considerable degree of constructional complexity. For example, it is possible to imagine the problems encountered should a broken cable need replacing and the complex operation required to disassemble at least one part of the machine.
Owing to the plurality of problems described above, cable-operated exercising machines both of the conventional type and of the functional type are not easy to operate and the exercises which may be performed on these machines reproduce only partly the physiological movements and load patterns which occur every day during the practice of respective sporting or working activities. Therefore, cable-operated exercising machines may be improved in several respects.
The object of the present invention is to provide an exercising machine in which the operating apparatus to which the user applies force and the resistive load are connected together by a flexible cable, where the above-mentioned problems are no longer present and where the user is provided with a novel and different approach to muscular exercise in both the sports sector and working sector owing to the adoption of an innovative structural configuration.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an exercising machine where it is possible to perform movements in association with an operating apparatus subject to the constant action of a force couple so as to exercise constantly agonistic and antagonistic muscle groups, thereby converting the notion of a repetitive exercising action into the notion of an exercising movement.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a cable-operated exercising machine which allows immediate use thereof, dispensing with settings performed before use, and is provided with at least one user interface/operating apparatus, the physiologically correct position of which can be easily determined.
A further object of the present invention is to provide a cable-operated exercising machine where the position of the operating apparatus may be selectively modified along a section of cable during the course of exercising so as to ensure constant uniformity between the operating condition and the postures assumed by the user in each particular moment.


A belt pretensioner for a vehicular occupant restraint system comprises a piston/cylinder unit having a piston and a cylinder, a belt deflection member, a connecting part arranged between the piston and the belt deflection member and a ring-shaped seal. The cylinder has a cylinder wall with an end face and an opening in the end face through which the connecting part extends. The piston, the connecting part and the belt deflection member are displaced in a longitudinal direction upon actuation of the belt pretensioner to a tensioning path. The ring-shaped seal is arranged between the opening and the connecting part and uniformly engages the connecting part about its periphery so that any longitudinal displacement of the connecting part is counteracted by a force of more than 100 N as a result of which leakage gas flows are almost completely avoided.

In belt pretensioners known hitherto comprising a piston/cylinder unit, provided with a pyrotechnical piston drive, the connecting part extends through an opening in the cylinder wall adapted as precisely as possible to the outer diameter of the connecting part, it being necessary thereby to prevent an excessively large gap between the opening and the connecting part via which the generated gas may escape. In this arrangement, the connecting part is either a piston rod or a traction cable having a smooth outer surface as possible. A ring seal may also be provided in the end face opening, said ring seal being intended to prevent escape of the gas. The seals normally used hitherto are designed so that the friction force between the seal and the connecting part is as low as possible and that the connecting part together with the belt deflection member may be easily shifted. Particularly due to the high cylinder internal pressure, when the gas generator is activated and when employing a traction cable as the connecting part, leakage results despite using a seal thus reducing the cylinder internal pressure and the tensioning force provided by the belt pretensioner.

Belt pretensioner for a vehicular occupant restraint system


A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for wireless communication are provided in connection with dynamic selection of a UE receiver. In one example, a communications device is equipped to obtain one or more channel impulse response (CIR) estimates, generate a delay spread metric value that characterizes a multipath delay spread of a channel based on the obtained one or more CIR estimates, and select a receiver option with a first power consumption value, for use by the UE, from a plurality receiver options with different optimal power consumption values, based on the generated delay spread metric value. In an aspect, a comparatively more complex receiver option may be selected when the channel is rich in multipath. In another aspect, a comparatively less complex receiver option may be selected when the channel exhibits flat fading.

1. Field
Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, to dynamic selection of a user equipment (UE) receiver from multiple receiver options with different processing capabilities based on channel impulse response estimates.
2. Background
Wireless communication networks are widely deployed to provide various communication services such as telephony, video, data, messaging, broadcasts, and so on. Such networks, which are usually multiple access networks, support communications for multiple users by sharing the available network resources. One example of such a network is the UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN). The UTRAN is the radio access network (RAN) defined as a part of the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), a third generation (3G) mobile phone technology supported by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The UMTS, which is the successor to Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technologies, currently supports various air interface standards, such as Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), Time Division-Code Division Multiple Access (TD-CDMA), and Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA). The UMTS also supports enhanced 3G data communications protocols, such as High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), which provides higher data transfer speeds and capacity to associated UMTS networks.
High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) is a 3G packet based data service offered on the downlink of wideband CDMA (WCDMA) networks. HSDPA was first standardized in the Release 5 specifications of 3GPP and continues to evolve as the premier technology for providing broadband wireless access to users in over 100 countries.
A RAKE receiver may commonly be used by WCDMA/HSDPA user equipment (UEs) in order to collect signal energy from various multipaths and improve modem performance. However, more sophisticated receiver architectures (e.g. chip equalizer, interference suppression or type 3i equalizer, interference canceller) which may deliver superior performance compared to RAKE have become prominent in recent years. Minimum performance requirements for advanced receiver architectures have been specified in the 3GPP Specification and numerous commercially available WCDMA/HSDPA capable mobile devices support these architectures.
Advanced receivers may deliver superior performance, but it comes at the cost of increased modem power consumption. Indiscriminate use of power draining advanced receivers can drain a UE battery and leave the end user dissatisfied with his or her mobile device user experience.
As the demand for mobile broadband access continues to increase, research and development continue to advance the UMTS technologies not only to meet the growing demand for mobile broadband access, but to advance and enhance the user experience with mobile communications.

Method and apparatus to dynamically select UE processing capabilities based on channel impulse response estimates


A method and device for rolling tube blanks in a planetary skew rolling mill continuously feeds tubular blanks which are to be rolled into the rolling gap end to end. A first tube blank is located in the rolling mill. A second tubular blank following the first tubular blank which is respectively located in the rolling gap of the rolling mill is fed forward with a rotation corresponding to the rotation of the end of the first tube blank caused by the torsion under the rollers in the rolling mill.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for rolling tube blanks in a planetary skew rolling mill.
2. Description of the Related Art
In practice, tube blanks are loaded into planetary skew rolling mills discontinuously. Therefore, loading in a new tube blank inevitably leads to a downtime of the rolling mill which influences the overall performance of the rolling mill.
On the other hand, a continuous method of operating is known with cold pilger rolling. In this method, the blank to be cold pilger rolled is loaded without interrupting the rolling operation. The tube blank to be rolled is fed forward incrementally by driven feed carriages toward the rolling stand which moves backward and forward.
In addition, the tube blank is rotated incrementally during the forward feed by driven run-in and run-out chucks which are mounted upstream and downstream of the rolling stand.
German reference DE 33 04 002 C1 discloses a forward feed device for a cold pilger rolling mill having two feed carriages which are equipped with chucks. Each of these feed carriages is moved by two feed spindles arranged in parallel and on each side of the rolling line, via spindle nuts arranged in the feed carriage. This arrangement of the feed spindles permits a moment-free application of force to the feed carriages and continuous forward feeding of the blank, thereby allowing continuous rolling operation. German reference DE 29 22 941 C2 discloses a cold pilger rolling mill in which the first feed carriage is provided with a device for gripping the end of the blank during forward feeding. A device for pulling back the blank counter to the forward feed direction behind the mandrel stop assigned to the first speed-changing gear mechanism is assigned to the second feed carriage. The feed travel of the second feed carriage is dimensioned such that the front end of the blank being fed forward by the second feed carriage lies between the rolling stand and the driver device of the first feed carriage. This design and arrangement also permits continuous forward feed of the tube blanks to be rolled.
Cold pilger rolling requires both positive forward feed in the axial direction and positive rotation of the tube blank so that uniform rolling occurs over the circumference of the tube as a result of the conically profiled rollers in the rolling stand which moves backward and forward.
Skew rolling is different in that the roller arrangement of a skew rolling mill includes conical rollers arranged in a rotor which circulates about the tubular blank. The conical rollers arc rotated by the rotor in a rolling stand in the manner of a planet and thereby continuously draw the tubular blank into the rolling stand. Feed carriages are actually necessary only for rolling the blank head onto the roll stand. However, they may be optionally connected into the system during ongoing operation.
A further feature of skew rolling mills is that both the blank and the tube turn slowly as a result of torsion of the material during rolling. Both the direction of rotation and the angular speed are undeterminable before the rolling operation. The tube which is running out of the skew rolling mill may be required to be wound up behind the rolling stand. To allow for this, the tube must be prevented from rotating as it exits the rolling stand. This is achieved by varying the rotational speeds of the rotor and of the rollers with respect to one another. The rotor and the rollers are driven by separate motors in an arrangement referred to as a variable ratio planetary drive. A sensor, which detects rotation of the tube which is running out, is mounted on the runout side of the rolling mill. The rotation of the blank may be controlled such that the tube does not rotate only with an unacceptably high degree of expenditure on measurement and control. In this case, it would not be sufficient to change the rotational speed of the rotor and of the rollers with respect to one another but instead the position of the rollers would also have to be adapted to the tubular blank and to the tube. However, this can not be carried out with a running machine. For this reason, in most cases the tubular blank will rotate in an undetermined direction and with an undetermined angular speed.
The object of the present invention is to increase the performance of the planetary skew bevel gear rolling mill while taking into account the particular properties of this rolling method.
The object is achieved according to an embodiment of the present invention by continuously feeding the tube blanks which are to be rolled into a rolling gap of the roll stand end to end. A first tube blank is located in the rolling gap of the rolling stand. A second tubular blank directly following the first tubular blank is fed forward with a rotation corresponding to the rotation of the end of the first tubular blank caused by the torsion during rolling.
To this end, a device is provided for feeding tube blanks into a planetary skew rolling mill. A tubular blank may be rolled out by an internal tool which is fixedly held in position with respect to the rolling gap. The device includes a first holding device and a second holding device arranged at an axial distance from each other for holding a mandrel rod. Clamping jaws of the first and second holding devices may engage radially against the mandrel rod independently of one another. First and second forward feed devices for the tube blanks including clamping jaws are arranged for selectively engaging radially against the tube blanks independently of one another. Each of the first and second forward feed devices may be displaced with the tube blank in the forward feed direction or counter thereto. A device for pushing is arranged for pushing a new tubular blank onto the rear end of the mandrel rod which is held in the rolling position during the rolling of a preceding tubular blank. The movements of the holding devices and of the forward feed devices are capable of being matched to one another such that the rear end of the preceding tubular blank and the front end of the following tubular blank can be fed end to end to the rolling gap.
Other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. It is to be understood, however, that the drawings are designed solely for purposes of illustration and not as a definition of the limits of the invention, for which reference should be made to the appended claims. It should be further understood that the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale and that, unless otherwise indicated, they are merely intended to conceptually illustrate the structures and procedures described herein.

Method for rolling tube blanks in a planetary skew rolling mill


The present invention discloses a movable valve core and an electromagnetic valve comprising the same. The movable valve core, comprising a cylindrical core body (1) defining a central axis, a leading head (2) fixed to the core body (1) removably, wherein a water-proof valve membrane (3) sandwiched between the core body (1) and the leading head (2), wherein a mounting hole (4) is axially formed in the core body (1), and a connector (5) for projecting into the mounting hole (4) extends axially from the bottom of the leading head (2), and the connector (5) is fixed into the mounting hole (4). The connector (5) is provided with an outer thread (6), and the leading head (2) is screwed into the mounting hole (4).

Currently, inner armature valves of most electromagnetic valves are generally of a traditional poppet structure or a direct-lifting valve structure. Specifically, a stationary valve core is fixed to an upper portion of a sleeve, and a lower portion of the sleeve is provided thereon with a movable valve core that can move up and down. Moreover, a returning spring is disposed between the stationary valve core and the movable valve core, such that the movable valve core drives a piston disposed on its lower portion to move downward to press against a valve port, and is spaced apart from the stationary valve core by a certain gap.
In the prior art, the movable valve core is basically structured as an integrally formed cylinder. As such, in the movement process of the movable valve core, it is difficult to ensure the sealability of the chamber where the movable valve core is located. Moreover, the movable valve core is generally formed in one step by such machining manners as die-casting, stamping or drawing. Nevertheless, the above machining methods have relatively high demands on the machining precision of the movable valve core. Besides, they are complex in procedures and high in costs, and are thus not suitable for production-line machining.

Movable valve core and electromagnetic valve comprising the same


Assisting-work management apparatus and an assisting-work management program for performing the assisting work in a substrate work machine system efficiently by a plurality of workers. A worker determining section (140) determines a worker to perform an objective work obtained according to assisting work occurrence information acquired by an assisting work occurrence information acquiring section (110) and a work informing section (180) informs the determined worker of the objective work. The workers determining section (140) can determine the worker of the objective work appropriately based on set worker information, current worker information, the worker intension, and the like.

An electronic circuit is assembled by using various substrate-related-operation performing machines. Those substrate-related-operation performing machines are, for example, a solder printing machine that prints solder cream on a circuit substrate; an adhesive applying machine that applies adhesive to a circuit substrate; and a component mounting machine that mounts circuit components such as electronic components on a circuit substrate. Those substrate-related-operation performing machines need various assisting works that are carried out by workers; such as a maintenance work, a material supplying work, a re-setting work, or a recovering work. Above all, the material supplying work is an assisting work to supply solder cream, adhesive, or circuit components. If the material supplying work is not smoothly carried out, then a time duration in which an operation of a substrate-related-operation performing machine is stopped is increased, and accordingly an operation efficiency of the machine is decreased. In addition, the recovering work is an assisting work to repair a failure of a substrate-related-operation performing machine, such as an urgency stop, production of a defective product, or lowering of an operation speed, and restore the machine to its normal condition. If a substrate-related-operation performing machine fails, then a worker needs to quickly deal with the failure.
Of the assisting works, the material supplying work is carried out frequently, for many objective machines. Therefore, it is difficult to efficiently manage those material supplying works. To smoothly carry out material supplying works, Patent Document 1 proposes to predict a time when electronic components will run short in an electronic-component mounting machine and inform, 5 minutes before the predicted time, a worker responsible for the machine, of a number representing a position where components are to be supplied, and a sort of the components. In addition, Patent Document 2 proposes to inform all workers of information including a predicted time when electronic components will run short.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 9-223896
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2002-164697

Managing apparatus for managing assisting work to assist substrate-related-work performing system, and managing program for managing assisting work to assist substrate-related-work performing system


A tool and method for roll-forming a seat and retainer with a shoulder and seal surface capable of operatively engaging a ferrule to form a fluid-tight seal around the outer surface of a rigid tube which is harder than the ferrule.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to ferrule-type seals for rigid metal tubing which is harder than the ferrule and, more particularly, to a roll-formed seat and retainer on such a tube which can be used with a ferrule to form a fluid-tight seal, and a tool and method for forming the seat.
2. DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
The present inventions relate to ferrule-type seals on rigid metal tubes where the tubes are formed of a material that is harder than the ferrule. Commercially-available ferrule fittings are specified for use with rigid metal tubes with a hardness that is lower than the cold-worked, high-strength hardness of most stainless-steel alloys. Thus, ferrule fittings are not used on these types of tubes where high internal tube pressure or high tension loads would push or pull the tube out of the fitting. Thus, the use of ferrule fittings in these types of applications is not recommended.
There are many potential uses of ferrule tube fittings where the metal tube is harder than the ferrule. However, ferrule fittings for such uses are limited because the ferrule cannot deform the tube or bite into the outer surface of the tube to form a seal. Instead, the ferrule deforms against the outer surface of the tube. This type of seal does not have the ability to withstand high pressure or tension forces in the tubes because the ferrule and its associated fittings will blow or pull off the tube when the applied pressure or tension exceeds a certain level.
One application for ferrule fittings where tubes are harder than commercially-available ferrules is in wirelines that are used in conjunction with logging or measurement instruments that are typically lowered into an underground well, such as an oil or gas well, to be positioned adjacent to a subterranean formation to measure pressure, temperature and other downhole characteristics. The diameter of a typical wireline tubing of the type described ranges from about 1/8" to 1/2. While various types of materials may be used to form the rigid tube, the preferred material is corrosion-resistant with relatively high strength and hardness at elevated temperatures which is accomplished by cold working the material during manufacture. Various types of stainless steel known to those skilled in the industry are typically used.
A seal must be formed in the connection between the wireline tubing and the downhole measuring tool to prevent leakage of well fluids into the tube which causes electrical short circuits. While such a fitting typically uses a ferrule as part of the fitting, even though the ferrule can deform into intimate contact between the tubing and connector walls, the ferrule is unable to bite into the outer surface of the metal tube because the tube is "work hardened" when it is formed into a tube and resists deformation.
Thus, a need exists for a fluid-tight, ferrule-type seal on tubes which is harder than the ferrule, which retains the ferrule on the tube and resists failure at high pressures and tension loads. The seal should be one that is formed quickly and easily in the field without the use of complicated or cumbersome tools or machines.
Another problem that can arise in the use of wirelines occurs when the tool is raised out of a well bore. Because of irregularities in the well bore or other problems, it is not uncommon for a downhole tool to get stuck. When that occurs, continued spooling of the wireline at the surface causes increased tensile force along the length of the wireline which, if not stopped, causes the wireline to break. If a break occurs, the tool as well as the length of the wireline tubing beneath the breaking point remain in the bottom of the well.
Fishing operations for retrieving a tool are not easy to perform. However, they are made more difficult and time consuming when a length of wireline is positioned above a tool because the wireline hampers efforts to grasp the tool. Additional time necessary to retrieve a tool translates into downtime for the well logging operations and dramatically increases the cost of the well.

Rolled-formed seat and retainer for a fluid-tight ferrule seal on a rigid metal tube which is harder than the ferrule, method and apparatus


A paper-feeding mechanism includes a paper tray for positioning print media, a pickup roller installed in front of the paper tray for pressing print media so as to pick up print media, a pickup arm fixed to a first shaft at one end and connected to the pickup roller at another end for driving the pickup roller to rotate around the first shaft, a first gear installed inside the pickup arm and connected to a first end of the pickup roller, a swing arm fixed to a second shaft at one end and connected to a second gear for gearing the first gear at another end, a third gear fixed to the second shaft and engaged with the second gear for driving the swing arm and the second gear to rotate, and a driving device for driving the third gear.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a paper-feeding mechanism, and more particularly, to a paper-feeding mechanism with fewer components to reduce cost and increase precision.
2. Description of the Prior Art
When printing to paper with a fax machine, a printer, or a multi-function product, a paper-feeding mechanism is utilized for feeding paper one sheet at a time into machines so as to proceed to faxes, printouts, copies, and so on. Please refer to FIG. 1, FIG. 1 is a diagram of a paper-feeding mechanism 10 of the prior art. The paper-feeding mechanism 10 includes a paper tray 12 for positioning print media 14, such as paper or transparencies. The paper-feeding mechanism 10 further includes a burster 16 installed below the paper tray 12, a shaft 18, a pickup arm 20, and a pickup roller 22. Both ends of the shaft 18 are fixed to two lateral sides of the paper tray 12. The shaft 18 is sheathed into one end of the pickup arm 20. The other end of the pickup arm is connected to the pickup roller 22. The pickup arm 20 rotates around the shaft 18 according to a change of thickness of the print media 14 on the paper tray 12 so that the pickup roller 22 can press the upper surface of the print media 14 steady. The pickup roller 22 can apply a normal force on the print media 14 so as to provide a friction force to move the print media 14.
Please refer to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3. FIG. 2 is a lateral view of the paper-feeding mechanism 10 in a full-of-paper condition in the prior art. FIG. 3 is a lateral view of the paper-feeding mechanism 10 in an empty-of-paper condition in the prior art. The pickup roller 22 can press the upper surface of the print media 14 steady and apply a normal force to the print media 14 so as to provide a friction force for causing the print media 14 to move downward. The burster 16 blocks a bottom of the print media 14 so as to buckle the print media 14 so that the top print medium can be separated from other print media and fed out individually. As shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, the torque generated by the shaft 18 not only drives the pickup roller 22 connected to the pickup arm 20 to rotate, but also drives the pickup arm 20 to rotate so that the pickup roller 22 can press the upper surface of the print media 14 and apply enough normal force to the print media 14. However, the power generated by a motor is transmitted to the shaft 18 via a chain of gears on the right side of the shaft 18, as shown in FIG. 1, and then transmitted to the pickup roller 22 from the shaft 18 via a chain of gears inside the pickup arm 20. There are too many components used in the paper-feeding mechanism 10, such as the shaft 18, the outer casing of the pickup arm 20, many idle gears, and the corresponding gear shafts, so that the cost and operating noise increase and precision decreases.

Paper-feeding mechanism with swing arm and gear train

Shang-Ting Tsun, Gueishan Hsiang, Taoyuan


A client-server arrangement for camera viewing using digital cameras across a computer network. A camera server controls a motorized gimbal which determines the viewing angles of a set of cameras according to signals from a client computer which is equipped with an eye movement tracking system. Movements of the viewer's eyes result in changes in viewing angle of the remote cameras. A high resolution foveal field of view image centered on the user's point of interest is captured and overlaid on a lower resolution full filed of view image, rendering a combined image having a low resolution peripheral area and a high resolution foveal area, and being significantly reduced in size compared to a full resolution, full field of view image. This combined image is transmitted to the client for display to the user.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to the arts of remote viewing systems and remote image processing, for purposes such as remote quality inspection, maintenance service actions, medical procedures, and the like.
2. Background of the Invention
Remote viewing of camera images is well known in the art, from the proprietary arrangements used in systems such as building surveillance, to the more modem "web cams" which are viewable over publicly-accessible computer networks, such as the Internet.
In any remote viewing arrangement, several fundamental components exist, including one or more cameras or imaging devices, a transmission network, and a viewing console. In older arrangements, such as a remote security monitoring configuration, an "analog" camera may be employed which transmits analog video signals (e.g. NTSC or RGB) over a transmission network to a monitoring display (e.g. television or CRT video monitor). In the more advanced versions of these older systems, the camera may be mounted to a motorized gimbal, which allows the camera to be pointed in a variety of positions within 2 or 3 axes. In some systems, the operator at the monitoring display may be able to command the gimbal to point the camera in a desired direction, and in other systems, the gimbal may simply cycle from one axis extreme to another (e.g. auto-panning from left to right).
To provide similar functionality, "web cams" have be developed with the same types of features, although their means of accomplishing these features can be quite different from the older "analog" versions. Web cams have been provided with fixed positions for many applications, including remote security monitoring and public relations promotions (e.g. web cams showing live pictures of ski slopes or beaches). These arrangements including a digital camera with a web server, interconnected to a client computer via a computer network such as a wide area network ("WAN"), local area network ("LAN"), wireless digital network, or the Internet. The client computer may be equipped with proprietary software for receiving and displaying images, or as in many cases, may be equipped with "standard" software such as a web browser. The camera "web server" provides digital images in a format compatible with corresponding client computer, such as Joint Photographic Experts Group ("JPEG") or Graphic Interchange Format ("GIF") web photos. In more advanced web cam arrangements which provide for moving video transmission to the client computer, proprietary digital video formats may be employed, or standard video data formats (e.g. streaming video) such as the well-known Motion Picture Experts Group ("MPEG") format. The digital images are sent from the server computer to the client computer using proprietary digital transmission protocols, or standard digital transmission protocols such as Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol ("TCP/IP).
For some advanced uses of web cams, web cams have also been attached to motorized gimbals with remote control from the corresponding client computer. This allows the user the same advantages of the older "analog" systems, in which the client computer establishes a "back channel" or "control channel" through the computer network to the server computer through which gimbal commands may be passed. In such a system, a user may use a gaming joystick on his or her personal computer ("PC"), mouse commands, or on-screen pan controls to send gimbal pointing commands to the remote web cam server computer. When these commands are received by the web cam server computer, the server computer then implements them as control signals to the motors of the gimbal to effect a change in pointing angle of the web cam. Such remotely-controlled web cams are found in more advanced security applications, as well as in some applications such as remote quality inspection, "telemedicine", and the like.
In most basic applications, the web cams provided are of fairly low-resolution performance, and often transmit only black and white images, in order to minimize the digital transmission bandwidth consumed by the images while in transit from the remote server to the client computer. This allows the images to be provided to the user as quickly as possible with minimized noticeable delays.
For more advanced applications such as telemedicine, the web cams have very high resolution, however. In these cases, the delay of receiving a new image from a recently repositioned web camera may be quite noticeable, which reduces the number of possible applications for such a system to only include non-realtime applications.
Further compounding this problem and trade-off between resolution and image update latency is the fact that for many of these advanced applications, stereoscopic remote monitoring may be required. For example, in order to enable remote surgical procedures, a system with two remote web cams may be employed to provide the surgeon with needed depth perception. In these stereoscopic applications, the bandwidth demand is doubled due to the doubling of the number of cameras. Additionally, use of manual controls such as joysticks and on-screen icons may not be sufficient for the intended application.
As such, there is a need in the art for a remote stereoscopic viewing system which reduces server-to-client image latency and which provides sufficient clarity and resolution for more advanced applications such as telemedicine. Ideally, this new system and method would be compatible with commonplace technologies, such as the Internet, web browsers, and web servers, in order to maximize the usefulness of the invention. This new system and method should use minimal transmission bandwidth, as well, in order to enable a wider variety of client devices interconnected via lower-bandwidth transmission networks.
Further, there is a need in the art for a system which decreases the latency of repositioning a web cam which is remotely movable via gimbal controls in order to facility more responsive remote viewing for higher precision tasks, such as remote security monitoring, remote surgery, and remote maintenance.

Rendering system and method for images having differing foveal area and peripheral view area resolutions

International Business Machines Corporation


In one embodiment, an MRI apparatus includes a memory storing a predetermined program and processing circuitry. The processing circuitry configured, by executing the predetermined program, to generate a first image based on first data acquired from an object with Ultrashort TE (UTE), generate a second image based on second data acquired from the object with non-UTE, generate a mask image from the second image, and perform mask processing, by using the mask image, to remove or reduce an undesired signal around the object depicted in the first image.

An MRI apparatus is an imaging apparatus that magnetically excites nuclear spin of an object placed in a static magnetic field by applying a radio frequency (RF) pulse having the Larmor frequency and reconstructs an image on the basis of magnetic resonance (MR) signals emitted from the object due to the excitation.
In the field of MRI, an imaging technique called ultrashort TE (UTE) imaging is known. The UTE imaging is performed by using a pulse sequence in which the period from an application of an excitation pulse to data acquisition (i.e., echo time TE) is set to a very short span.
Since the transverse relaxation time (T2 or T2*) of tissues with less water such as bones or the lungs is very short in general, MR signals from the bones or the lungs decay immediately after the application of the excitation pulse. Thus, even in the case of using a pulse sequence with a relatively short echo time TE in the conventional imaging methods, for example, with TE of about several milliseconds, it has been difficult to depict a bone region and/or a lung region (i.e., pulmonary region).
The UTE imaging has been developed as an imaging method capable of depicting the bone region and/or the lung region by setting the echo time TE to a value much shorter than that of the conventional technique to acquire the MR signals even from the tissues such as the bone region and/or the lung region, which have a very short transverse relaxation time.
However, it has been found out that setting the echo time TE very short causes the MRI apparatus, in the UTE imaging, to receive MR signals not only from the object such as a human body but also from non-living substances such as a coil device or a bed around the object. Thus, the UTE image may include not only desired components such as bones or lungs of the object but also undesired components such as the coil device and/or the bed around the object.

MRI apparatus utilizing non-ultrashort TE(UTE) imaging to generate a mask image for performance of mask processing


A layer thickness restricting blade may include an arm main body and a contact portion provided at a front end portion of the arm main body. The contact portion may be configured by inserting a rubber member made of polyurethane to a rubber member made of silicone. The contact portion may be brought into contact with a surface of a developing roller and be gradually worn in accordance with rotation of the developing roller. When a revolution number of the developing roller reaches a rectified revolution number, a polyurethane layer at inside thereof may be exposed to a surface. Thereby, a failure in charging may be brought about in a toner at the portion, further, a failure in an image may be brought about on a sheet and therefore, by bringing about the failure in the image, an operator may be informed that a timing of interchanging the toner is reached.

In a background art, there is widely known a developing method for developing an electrostatic latent image formed on a surface of a photosensitive drum by a developer agent (toner) (for example, see JP-A-2004-037779).
According to the developing method, a toner is charged by friction by a supply roller and a layer thickness restricting blade and thereafter, adhered to a surface of the developing roller in a state of being formed into a thin layer. Further, by generating an electric field by applying a developing bias voltage to the developing roller, the charged toner is made to adhere to a portion formed with the electrostatic latent image. Further, the toner adhered to the electrostatic latent image portion is transcribed onto a sheet and a desired image is formed on the sheet by bringing the toner into press contact therewith by a fixer.
On the other hand, the toner adhered onto the developing roller which is not used for development is returned again to a toner hopper and is agitated with the toner remaining in the toner hopper by an agitator. Further, when the development is carried again, the toner is charged by friction by the supply roller and the layer thickness restricting blade and thereafter adhered to the surface of the developing roller.
In this way, the toner is repeatedly subjected to successive cycles of friction charging->adhering to the developing roller->returning to the toner hopper->friction charging and therefore, with an increase in a number of times of development, the toner is gradually deteriorated to be difficult to be charged, since in the above-described developing method, development is carried out by utilizing operation of a force which an electric charge (charged toner) receives from the electric field, when an amount of charging the toner is reduced, the development cannot excellently be carried out and an image quality is deteriorated. In order to prevent the deterioration in the image quality beforehand, prior to deteriorating the toner, the toner and therefore, the developing cartridge (having the developing roller, the supply roller, the layer thickness restricting blade, the toner hopper and the like) may be interchanged by informing the deterioration of the toner to an operator and in order to realize the interchange, for example, a counter for counting a revolution number of the developing roller may be provided at an apparatus main body and when the revolution number reaches a predetermined rectified number of times, a timing of interchanging the toner may be displayed.
However, according to the above-described configuration, the counter is needed and therefore, a number of parts is increased and when the counter is failed, even when the developing roller reaches the rectified number of times, the timing of interchanging the toner is not displayed and the operator continues printing by the deteriorated toner.

Developing cartridge and image forming apparatus