A distortion in an amplified signal obtained by amplifying a first input signal, is compensated for by applying a correction factor to the first input signal. The correction factor is updated based on the first input signal and the amplified signal. Updating the correction factor is prohibited when a value of the first input signal is same as a value of a second input signal among a plurality of input signals input previous to the first input signal.

High power amplifiers (HPAs) for third-generation (3G) wireless communication systems and wireless local area network (WLAN) like IEEE811.x or IEEE816.x need high linearity at the HPA output, to achieve a high adjacent channel leakage ratio (ACLR) and low error vector magnitude (EVM). In addition, high efficiency is desirable. However, when operating with high efficiency, HPAs are the most non-linear. Digital predistortion (DPD) is an efficient cost-effective means of compensating for HPA nonlinearity and retaining high efficiency.
The DPD reference design (see non-patent document 1) implements an adaptive lookup table (LUT) and applies correction values from the LUT to the incoming stream of samples. It also compares the measured output with the input, and uses this measurement to update the LUT, making the system adaptive.
For 3G and WLAN systems the DPD reference design can operate on up to four universal mobile telecommunication systems (UMTS) channels and correct 3rd and 5th order intermodulation products.
DPD is commonly used to linearize HPAs. Ideal HPAs are perfectly linear. Denoting input and output amplitude and a coefficient by VIN, VOUT and k, respectively, their response can be described with the following equation (see line 101 in FIG. 1).VOUT=k·VIN  (1)
However, real HPAs as used in wireless system exhibit some nonlinearities and eventually reach saturation. This nonlinearity can be expressed as follows by adding the term fNL into the equation (1), where fNL is used to describe the nonlinearity (see curve 102 in FIG. 1).VOUT=fNL·k·VIN  (2)
The nonlinearity adversely affects the overall performance of a wireless system. It causes in-band distortion, which degrades the performance of the receiver, and out-of-band distortion, which degrades the performance of receivers in adjacent channels.
The task of the predistorter is to add predistortion before the power amplifier, which is exactly the inverse of the distortion caused by the power amplifier i.e. equals fNL−1. When combining the predistorter with the power amplifier, the terms fNL and fNL−1 cancel out, and the overall system can be described by the ideal HPA equation (1).
The nonlinearity of the HPA is affected by ageing and changes in the operating environment, in particular the temperature. For this reason, the nonlinearity changes over time, and the solution should be made adaptive such that the predistorter tracks the changes in behavior of HPA.
FIG. 2 describes the basic algorithm implemented in the reference design. The incoming complex sample S(t) at time t has correction factor h applied from LUT 208 at mixer 201 and then sent to radio frequency (RF) I-Q modulator 203 through digital-analog converter (DAC) 202. The address for the LUT 208 is derived from the input power by address calculator 205. The correction factor h is complex so the LUT 208 must contain two values for each location—the real part I and the imaginary part Q.
In the RF I-Q modulator 203, the sample is up-converted and sent to HPA 204. The HPA output is down-converted in RF I-Q Demodulator 214 and supplied to subtractor 212 through analog-digital converter (ADC) 213. The down-conversion allows us to measure the error, i.e., the difference between the input phase and magnitude of S(t), and the measured phase and magnitude at the HPA output. Obviously, delay unit 207 ensures that the input is compared to the correct output value by subtractor 212. The error signal output from the subtractor 212 is used to update the values currently stored in the LUT 208.
The input data signal is fed into the address calculator 205, which determines the address of the correction factor h in the LUT 208. This correction factor h modifies the input data signal. In the design shown in FIG. 2, power indexing is used to calculate the address.
The delay unit 207 delays the input sample S(t) by Δ and outputs the delayed sample S(t−Δ) to the subtractor 212. This delay compensates for the delay Δ of the predistorted signal traveling to the HPA 204 and then the HPA output making its way back to the feedback processing path. Thus the delay Δ is also because of the additional delays (latency) in the digital signal processing circuits such as multipliers and adders, and can exceed tens system clocks. The typical total traveling delay is 10-30 clocks, depending on the field programmable gate array (FPGA) used for the actual circuit and design properties.
In the simplest case, the LUT 208 must be updated every clock, i.e. the LUT 208 is updated every time when a new output sample y(t) is coming from ADC 213 and error signal err(t)=S(t−Δ)−y(t) is calculated. Such LUT updating strategy has a strong drawback. In fact, there is a significant problem with feedback loop dynamic performances and selection of the close loop gain.
As shown in FIG. 2, the HPA reaction for input stimulus S(t) is coming into the DPD circuit including adder 209, update unit 210, multiplier 211 and subtractor 212 after traveling delay. Typical DPD circuit determines the updated values of the correction factor h in the LUT 208 by comparing the feedback signal y(t) and the delayed input signal S(t−Δ). It is important that the feedback signal from HPA has to correspond to the stimulant input signal S(t−Δ).
The subtractor 212 outputs the error signal err(t) to the multiplier 211, the multiplier 211 multiplies the error signal err(t) by loop gain factor μ. Then the update unit 210 calculates difference Δh from the output of the multiplier 211 according to an adaptation algorithm. The adaptation algorithm is based on the least mean square (LMS) approach. The adder 209 adds the difference Δh to the current correction factor h and outputs updated correction factor h′ to the LUT 208. Delay unit 206 delays the read address for h by the delay Δ and supplies it to the LUT 208 as the write address for h′.
The main problem for DPD loop is that there is a relatively big delay between input signal sample S(t) and HPA reaction on this sample that comes through feedback. Typically this delay can exceed 30 master clocks of large-scale integration (LSI) or FPGA easily, or be even longer in some narrow-band systems. Such long response time causes that loop has a strong overshooting and in order to achieve operating stability the loop gain factor μ must be very low. Such a low gain causes a long time for LMS algorithm convergence.
Lets describe this problem in details with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4. Assume that input sample S(t) comes to the DPD input at time t1. The input sample is fed into the address calculator 205, which determines the address of the LUT 208 i.e. values for complex correction factor h. This sample S(t) is multiplied before the DAC 202 by the correction factor h drawn from the LUT 208. After correction the sample is up-converted in the RF I-Q modulator 203 and sent to the HPA 204. Some portion of RF signal from HPA output is down-converted to measure the error signal err(t) after the delay Δ.
Assume that the total traveling delay Δ equals 20 system clocks. The adaptation algorithm that is typically based on LMS approach, determines the value of the correction factor difference Δh≈err (t) by comparing the feedback signal y(t) at time t20 and the delayed input signal S(t−Δ). Thus, after correction at time t20 a new value for correction factor h′=h+Δh becomes available. This new value h′ is used for updating the LUT 208, i.e. h=h′. What is important about DPD is that the feedback signal y(t) as HPA reaction on the input signal S(t) comes with the traveling delay Δ.
The problem with DPD shown in FIG. 2 arises if the input signal samples S(t) at the consecutive times t1, t2, t3 and so on, are the same and use the same address in LUT 208 i.e. the samples use the same complex correction factor h, the overshooting will happen. Thus, after the initial correction h′=h+Δh at time t20, additional corrections will happen at times t21, t22 and so on. This is because LUT updating algorithm h′=h+Δh is still using the old (delayed) data y(t). Therefore, instead of a single correction of Δh for h, due to the traveling delay, additional corrections at times t21, t22 and so on will happen. Thus, the complex correction factor in this example at time t22 will equal to h′=h+3Δh instead of correct value h′=h+Δh, i.e. there is the three times overshooting. Such overshooting causes DPD instability and increases time required for convergence of an LMS algorithm.
Patent Documents 1 and 2 relate to a distortion compensator with a predistorter.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-189685    Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2005-020373    Non-patent Document 1: "Digital Predistortion Reference Design," [online], [Searched Jun. 11, 2007], Internet <URL:http://www.altera.com/literature/an/an314.pdf>


A joint is provided between a transmission operating member of a transmission and a control rod of a transmission gear control mechanism. The joint includes rigid stopper rings for rigidly stopping deformations of resilient deformable members in predetermined directions and thereby rigidly stopping movement of outer sleeves of an outer sleeve unit in the directions crossing joint pins at right angles. The stopper rings are fittingly interposed between the outer sleeves and channel-like end portions of the transmission operating member such that the transmission operating member and control rod are relatively less movable in the direction crossing their axial directions at right angles.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to a transmission gear control mechanism of the remote control type such as a gear control mechanism for a transaxle of a front engine-front drive vehicle and more particularly to a joint between a transmission and a gear control mechanism therefor of the remote control type.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An example of a prior art transmission gear control mechanism of the above described type, is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Provisional Publication No. 61-138720 and also shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. In the figures, a support rod 10 is connected at an end to a transmission 12 and at the other end to a control lever bracket 14 which is in turn supported on a vehicle body 16. A control lever 18 is pivotally supported on the bracket 14 and connected through a control rod 20 to a striking rod or the like transmission operating member 22. A joint 24 is provided between the control rod 20 and the transmission operating member 22 for preventing or reducing the transfer of vibration from the transmission 12 to the control lever 18. The joint 24, as shown in detail in FIG. 5, consists of a connector 26 having a pair of channel-like portions 26a, 26b to which a hollow cylindrical end portion 20a of the control rod 20 and a hollow elliptic end portion 22a of the transmission operating member 22 are connected by means of joint pins 28, inner sleeves 30, and resilient rubber bushings 32, 34. The rubber bushings 32, 34 are formed with arcuated openings 32a, 34a such that the bushings 32, 34 effect a larger spring constant in case of deformation in the axial directions of the control rod 20 and transmission operating member 22 and a smaller spring constant in case of deformation in the direction crossing the axial directions of the control rod 20 and transmission operating member 22 at right angles.
A disadvantage of the prior art transmission gear control mechanism is that a loss of shift effort on the control lever 18 is liable to be caused, therefore the feel of the control lever 18 during operation is liable to be deteriorated. In the worst case an incomplete shift can result since the end portions 20a, 22a of the control rod 20 and transmission operating member 22 are respectively movable relative to the channel-like end portions 26a, 26b of the connector 26 in the axial directions of the joint pins 28, i.e., in certain directions crossing the axial directions of the control rod 20 and transmission operating member 22 at right angles, while causing deformations of the bushings 32, 34. Therefore the joint 24 cannot attain a sufficient structural rigidity.
Another disadvantage is that the bushings 32, 34 are difficult to install and liable to be disposed out of place in assembly. In particular, the portions to be interposed between the channel-like portions 26a, 26b of the connector 26 and the end portions 20a, 22a of the control rod 20 and transmission operating member 22 have such a difficulty, resulting in a deteriorated assembling efficiency and durability.
A further disadvantage is that the joint 24 cannot provide sufficient insulation since the bushings 32, 34 for use in such an arrangement cannot be sufficiently low in hardness or spring constant in order to retain their durability.

Joint for connecting a transmission to a gear control mechanism


A machine for winding two-pole stators includes a revolving table around which are located at least three working stations: a station to feed the machine with unwound stators from a conveyor placed alongside the machine and for returning the wound stators to the conveyor; a winding station where one or more winding needles with alternating translatory and angular motion wind the stator; and a terminating station with means to anchor the coil leads to the stator. The revolving table carries a plurality of circumferentially spaced stator housings, each stator housing having stator-containing means. The stator housings and table are equipped with mechanical, reciprocally meshing means, those on the table being located between the winding station and the load/unload station for rotating the stator housings about the horizontal axis tangentially to the table between a position in which the axis of the stator-containing means is vertical and a position in which that axis is horizontal. The stator housings further include a spring to keep the axis of the associated stator-containing means horizontal during movement of the housings from the load/unload station through the winding station to the terminating station.

This invention relates to machines for winding two-pole stators for electric motors. In particular, the invention relates to machines for winding two-pole stators which do not employ wire-guiding winding forms, thereby permitting changeover from one stator type to another with a minimum of work.
It is an object of this invention to provide a machine fed from a conveyor system for completely automated winding of stators within a very short cycle time.
It is another object of this invention to provide a very reliable and flexible machine, i.e., a machine able to wind stators of various stack diameters and stack heights.
These and other objects of the invention are accomplished by providing a two-pole stator winding machine including a table mounted on a base for rotation about a vertical axis. Spaced from one another around the table are at least three working stations. These are (1) a station for feeding the machine with unwound stators from a conveyor placed alongside the machine and for subsequently returning the wound stators to said conveyor; (2) a winding station where one or more winding needles with alternating translatory and angular motion provide for winding each stator; and (3) a terminating station including means for anchoring the coil leads to the stator. The revolving table has stator housings fitted to it at distances related to the distances between the working stations. Each stator housing includes stator-containing means. The stator housings and table are equipped with mechanical, reciprocally meshing means, those on the table being located between the winding station and the load/unload station for rotating the stator housings about their horizontal axis which is tangential to the table between a position in which the axis of the stator-containing means is vertical and a position in which that axis is horizontal. The stator housings further include a spring to keep the housings in the position in which the axis of the associated stator-containing means is horizontal during motion of the table from the load/unload station through the winding station and to the terminating station.
Further features of the invention, its nature and various advantages will be more apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

Machine and method for winding two-pole stators


A method of arresting propagation of an incident crack through a transparent material includes focusing pulsed laser beams into a laser beam focal line directed into the transparent material a series of locations corresponding to a predetermined pattern that is designed to arrest an incident crack that propagates through the transparent material, and generating, with the laser beam focal line (1460), an induced absorption within the transparent material in order to produce a defect (1440) in the transparent material.

The present invention relates to methods and apparatus for creating small (micron and smaller) holes in transparent materials for the purpose of drilling, cutting, separating, perforating, or otherwise processing the materials, and, more particularly, to the arrangement of these holes to arrest crack propagation in the transparent materials.
In recent years, precision micromachining and its improvement of process development to meet customer demand to reduce the size, weight and material cost of leading-edge devices has led to fast pace growth in high-tech industries in flat panel displays for touch screens, tablets, smartphones and TVs, where ultrafast industrial lasers are becoming important tools for applications requiring high precision.
There are various known ways to cut glasses. In conventional laser glass cutting processes, the separation of glass relies on laser scribing or perforation followed by separation with mechanical force or thermal stress-induced crack propagation. Nearly all current laser cutting techniques exhibit one or more shortcomings, including: (1) limitations in their ability to perform a free form shaped cut of thin glass on a carrier due to a large heat-affected zone associated with the long laser pulses (nanosecond scale or longer) used for cutting; (2) production of thermal stress that often results in cracking of the glass surface near the region of laser illumination due to the generation of shock waves and uncontrolled material removal; (3) difficulties in controlling the depth of the cut (e.g., to within tens of microns); and/or (4) creation of sub-surface damage in the glass that extends hundreds of microns (or more) glass below the surface of the glass, resulting in defect sites at which crack propagation can initiate.
These micro-cracks, for example, most typically form at the edges of the glass, and the crack can then propagate into the bulk of the glass. While there are different techniques to deal with crack propagation, such as ion-exchange used to create a compressive stress ("CS") at the edge of the glass sheet, these techniques are expensive and ineffective. Accordingly, there is a need to improve glass strength and stability by preventing or arresting crack propagation.

Method and system for arresting crack propagation


The present disclosure described heterocyclic compounds of Formula I or, its stereoisomers, pharmaceutically acceptable salts, complexes, hydrates, solvates, tautomers, polymorphs, racemic mixtures, optically active forms and pharmaceutically active derivative thereof and pharmaceutical compositions containing them as the active ingredient. The present disclosure also describes the synthesis and characterization of aforementioned compounds to exhibit high anticancer activity. The compounds of the present disclosure are useful as medicaments and their use in the manufacture of medicaments for treatment, prevention or suppression of diseases, and conditions mediated by one or more BET family of bromodomains.

Transcriptional regulation is a major event in cell differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis. Transcriptional activation of a set of genes determines cellular function and is tightly regulated by a variety of factors. One of the regulatory mechanisms involved in this process is an alteration in the tertiary structure of DNA, which affects transcription factors to their target DNA regiments. Nucleosomal integrity is regulated by the acetylation status of the core histone, with the result being permissiveness to transcription. The regulations of transcription factor are thought to involve changes in the structure of chromatin. Changing the affinity of histone proteins for coiled DNA in the nucleosome alters the structure of chromatin. Hypoacetylated histones are believed to have greater affinity to the DNA and form a tightly bound DNA-histone complex and render the DNA inaccessible to transcriptional regulation. The acetylating status of the histone is governed by the balanced activities of the histone acetyl transferase (HAT) and histone deacetylase (HDAC). The bromodomain and extraterminal family of proteins called as BET proteins are readers of the acetyl status of histone and changes the chromatin structure and gene expression.
The BET family of bromodomain containing proteins comprises four proteins, namely BRD2, BRD3, BRD4 and BRDT, which are widely expressed in various tissues, except BRDT which is localized in the testes. Each of the BRD proteins contains tandem bromodomains capable of binding to acetylated lysine residues in histones H3 and H4. It has been reported that BRD2 and BRD3 are associated with histones along actively transcribed genes and involved in facilitating transcriptional elongation (Leroy et al, Mol. Cell. 2008 30(1):51-60), while BRD4 appears to be involved in the recruitment of the pTEF-[beta] complex to nuclesomes, which results in phosphorylation of RNA polymerase II and increases the transcriptional elongation of neighboring genes. (Hargreaves et al, Cell, 2009 138(1): 129-145).
BRD4 or BRD3 may fuse with NUT (nuclear protein in testis) forming novel fusion oncogenes, BRD4-NUT or BRD3-NUT, in a highly malignant form of epithelial neoplasia (French et al. Cancer Research, 2003, 63, 304-307 and French et al. Journal of Clinical Oncology, 2004, 22 (20), 4135-4139). Data suggests that BRD-NUT fusion proteins contribute to carcinogenesis (Oncogene, 2008, 27, 2237-2242). A BET protein which includes BRD4 have been shown to be important regulators of gene expression profiles in numerous diseases such as cancer, diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular and renal disorders. Currently several BRD4 inhibitors is in various stages of clinical trial for cancer such as IBET-762, JQ1, OTX-015 and RVX-2135 (P. Filippakopoulos, et. al., Nature Review Drug Discovery, 13, 2014, 337-356, M. Brand, et. al., ACS Chem. Biol, 10, 2015, 22-39).

A tricyclic aryl compound as squalene synthase inhibitors has been disclosed in WO2008133288 for the treatment of hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia and hypo-HDL cholesterolemia and/or arteriosclerosis.

Masanori Ichikawa et. al published a paper (ACS Med. Chem. Lett., 2013, 932-936) describing the squalene synthase inhibitors DF4611 (B) and also Nils Griebenow, et. al. published a paper (Bioorg. Med. Chem. Lett. 21, 2011, 3648-3653) on the synthesis of novel 4H,6H-[2]benzoxepino[4,5-c][1,2]oxazoles (C) as squalene synthase inhibitors.

Although, there are several chemotherapies and target therapies based drugs for cancer, an effective cure for cancer still remains elusive. Further, development of acquired resistance and disease relapse are major issues that still need to be addressed. Even though several bromodomain inhibitors are known in the clinic as well as in the preclinic, still remains a need for finding potent bromodomain inhibitors having desirable drug like properties.
Therefore, the present invention provides novel and drug like molecules having good potency as BRD4 inhibitors which can inhibit the binding of acetylated lysine residue of histone for controlling gene expressions in various diseases.

Tricyclic fused derivatives of 1-(cyclo)alkyl pyridin-2-one useful for the treatment of cancer


High gas flow requirements of large size lines are conveniently provided by a series of high pressure tubes connected to header means adapted to control the storage and distribution of gas to the lines at desired flow rates for relatively short periods of time. Gas thus supplied can conveniently be used as a propelling gas stream for the in-situ cleaning of large size lines under high exit velocity conditions requiring the supply of gas at a high flow rate not conveniently supplied by conventional pumpers.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the flow of gas through lines. More particularly, it relates to such flow through large lines having high flow rate requirements.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are a variety of industrial operations that require the pumping of gases through relatively large size lines. As the diameter of the line increases, the flow rate requirements of the gas are correspondingly increased. For various applications, the providing of such high flow rate capacity can pose a practical problem from an operational viewpoint. In some instances flow rate limitations may preclude the carrying out of a desired operation with conditions requiring relatively high flow rates.
The in-situ cleaning of water or gas pipelines is a highly desirable industrial operation in which gas pumper flow rate limitations have tended to preclude application to large size lines. In such in-situ cleaning, an industrial service activity provided by Union Carbide Industrial Services Company (UCISCO) as the Sandjet.RTM. process, a high velocity, propelling gas stream (e.g. nitrogen) having cleaning particle entrained therein is injected into the line to be cleaned. The turbulent and swirling motion of the propelling gas stream in the line induces a high radial velocity to the cleaning particles, with sufficient energy to dislodge deposits from the inner walls of the line. Such dislodged deposits are removed from the line with the propelling gas stream and cleaning particles. The in-situ cleaning operation is continued, through a number of relatively short cleaning runs, until the unwanted deposit has been removed, as evidenced by the removal of a clean, essentially deposit-free gas stream from the outlet end of the line. A sufficient supply of propelling gas must be available for this in-situ cleaning process, which is commonly carried out at exit flow velocities of about 14,000 to 20,000 feet per minute, with 16,000 feet per minute being a typical exit flow velocity for such applications.
The in-situ cleaning process is normally limited to the cleaning of lines having a maximum diameter of 12 inches due to increasingly higher flow rate requirements for larger lines. Thus, at said 16,000 feet per minute exit velocity, a 6" line requires a gas flow rate of 3,142 scfm (standard cubic feet per minute), said flow rate increasing to 12,566 scfm for a 12" line, to 28,274 scfm for an 18" line, and to 50,265 scfm for a 24" line.
A conventional pumper for the vaporizing and pumping of liquid nitrogen, as employed in common commercial practice, typically has a maximum flow capacity of about 3,800 scfm. Thus, a 6" line can be cleaned using one such pumper, while four pumpers are required for a 12" line. Eight pumpers would be required for an 18" line, and a total of fourteen pumpers would be required for a 24" line. Under such circumstances, the use of such pumpers for the cleaning of lines larger than 12" becomes unduly expensive and presents practical logistical problems because of the large number of pumpers required. For certain cross country pipeline applications, such problems are obviated by the use of a technique referred to as ballasting, wherein a part of a line is pumped to the desired pressure and is then used to supply the required high flow rate needed in the in-situ cleaning of another portion of the line. For plant operations, ballasting has not been found feasible because no suitable line is typically available for ballasting. In order to achieve the required high flow rates of large size lines using pumpers only, a fleet of pumpers would have to be available for a particular job, and all of the pumpers would have to be connected to a common manifold, be supplied with liquid nitrogen and be brought on line simultaneously for each run of the in-situ cleaning process. Such an operation becomes increasingly more difficult and expensive with each additional pumper.
For some in-situ cleaning applications, it may be feasible to use air in place of nitrogen as the propelling gas. With respect to supplying high flow rates, however, it was determined that a 1,000 hp compressor will supply about 1,500 scfm of air. As with the pumpers referred to above, a large number of air compressors would be required for high flow operations, and the cost and space requirements associated with the use of air compressors would be prohibitive.
While in-situ cleaning of high flow rate lines has been precluded for the reasons indicated above, there is nevertheless a desire in the art for the use of the in-situ cleaning process for the cleaning of larger diameter lines. The inherent advantages of the in-situ process are such, compared with the alternatives of cutting open sections of the line, cleaning by mechanical means, and re-assembling the line, that it would readily be used for large size lines if a convenient means for providing the high flow rate requirements could be found.
It is an object of the invention, therefore, to provide a process and apparatus for the supply of gas at high flow rates.
It is another object of the invention to provide a process and apparatus for the supply of gas for in-situ cleaning and other operations requiring high flow rates for relatively short periods of time.
With these and other objects in mind, the invention is hereinafter described in detail, the novel features of which are particularly pointed out in the appended claims.


A hoist synchronization apparatus and method using a master controller operating software that provides a pulse reference to a slave controller. The slave commands its motor to rotate at the speed conveyed by that pulse reference. The slave controller monitors the pulse feedback from both the master encoder and the slave's encoder and compensates for any position error by adjusting its motor output speed. In addition, the slave controller includes the capability to automatically resynchronize the hoists. Resynchronization is accomplished by storing position error generated when either the master or the slave is run independently and correcting for the error when both units are operated at a later time.

The present invention relates generally to the material handling industry and more particularly, this invention pertains to the overhead material handling industry using applications involving dual hoists.
Within the overhead material handling industry, applications involving dual hoists can be inefficient, costly to implement and wrought with safety concerns. Before the use of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs), dual trolley loads were raised utilizing two separate motor and drive packages. Since the hoists operated independently, the loads often would rise at incongruent speeds, causing an un-even lift and potentially unsafe working conditions.
Until recently, the only remedy for this situation was to use a PLC in conjunction with the motor and drive packages. Two drives would be applied to two separate motors and encoders, giving hook position feedback to a PLC. The PLC would control the drives in order to synchronize the speeds of each hook. Though it accomplished the mission of synchronizing the hook speeds, it also increased the complexity and cost of the operating system.
Current products and techniques tend to be either open loop or require an extra sensor of some sort. Open loop products give a simultaneous run command and expect the two hoists to follow the same command well enough to perform a synchronized lift. Other devices require a load cell or some other tension/torque measurement device to detect loading of individual cables and adjust speed on drives based on load. One final method is to monitor position from each motor in an external device, such as a PLC, and then adjust the speed command to individual drives based on the position feedback from their respective motor and encoder.
Several United States Patents have been issued for alternative technologies. These include U.S. Pat. No. 4,266,175, issued to Braun et al. on May 5, 1981; U.S. Pat. No. 4,665,696, issued to Rosman on May 19, 1987; U.S. Pat. No. 5,210,473, issued to Backstrand on May 11, 1993; U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,007, issued to Freneix on Jun. 28, 1994; U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,262, issued to Lapota on Apr. 29, 1997; U.S. Pat. No. 5,874,813, issued to Bode et al. on Feb. 23, 1999; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,581, issued to Everlove, Jr. et al. on Apr. 11, 2000.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,266,175 issued to Braun, et al. on May 5, 1981 discloses a method for thyristor control of AC wound rotor motors. This patent involves controlling the switching devices which generate the variable frequency output voltage to a motor.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,665,696 issued to Rosman on May 19, 1987 discloses a hydraulically operated hoist for containerized freight or the like. As may be noted in the claims section, this patent refers specifically to a lift system that is hydraulically actuated. Additionally, per Column 10, lines 30–39 and FIG. 5, the ability to help level the load is produced through a level-sensitive transducer. This transducer, in turn, causes the hydraulic pressure to adjust the load to be leveled.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,210,473 issued to Backstrand on May 11, 1993 discloses a system with delay timer for motor load equalization. This patent is directed to a circuit utilizing a control circuit providing a motor speed signal. Two separate motor connected inverters monitor the signal and generate command ramps for the motor speed control. Each inverter includes a microprocessor means which repetitively runs through its program to scan a sequence of program instructions. One of the items read is the motor speed signal which is utilized to control the speed of the motor. The essential purpose of this device is to attempt to provide a more uniform reference to both motor drives. These motor drives are run asynchronously with each motor following the commands of their respective drives. By setting internal parameters related to acceleration, deceleration, or other pertinent speed control parameters, a similar path will be followed. This device attempts to allow each motor and drive to proceed through initial start-up conditions, such as receiving a run command, generating initial torque, and opening the brake, and then wait at some speed for a set dwell time to ensure both motors are ready to run at the commanded reference speed. At this point the motors begin to follow the independent command trajectories generated by their respective drives.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,007 issued to Freneix on Jun. 28, 1994 discloses a load-hoisting system having two synchronously rotating drums operating in parallel. This system has a single motor and controller driving two output shafts. This patent is for a system that is mechanically redundant in order to prevent a load from falling due to a single mechanical failure.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,579,931 issued to Zuehlke, et al. on Dec. 3, 1996 disclosing a system for a lift crane with synchronous rope operation. This method is used by a lift crane which uses two separate ropes attached to a single hook in such a manner that tension can be measured between the two ropes. If the tension changes such that it indicates one of the ropes is moving faster than the other, the speed can then be adjusted so that the two ropes lift at the same speed.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,625,262 issued to Lapota on Apr. 29, 1997 discloses a system for equalizing the load of a plurality of motors. This patent details a method of load sharing between two drives utilized in tandem to control a single hoist. This is accomplished by issuing a torque reference command from the first inverter to the second inverter as noted in column 3, lines 3–16. In column 3, lines 17–30 of this patent, it is claimed that a speed indication of the first motor is sent to the second motor to assist in controlling the speed of the second motor. The only connection between the two drives that is necessary and/or discussed is line 150 of FIG. 3 as referenced in column 7, lines 31–34. This is the torque reference generated by the first drive, labeled 96, and sent to the second drive, labeled 94. Column 4, lines 59–64, reference controller operating by a lever to provide input signals to the drives producing a speed command for the drives. This is one of two common methods of generating a speed command to a drive. This allows for an analog command signal with a range of speed commands from the minimum programmed speed up to the maximum programmed speed. The second method typically uses pushbuttons, but could be any type of discrete input, to generate discrete speed input commands corresponding to pre-programmed levels. This is common practice in the crane and hoist industry.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,874,813 issued to Bode et al. on Feb. 23, 1999 discloses a control method, especially for load balancing of a plurality of electromotor drives. As noted in the background of this patent it is known in the art to utilize a control process in which the difference between the armature currents of two successive drives produces a signal which is used to reduce the speed setpoint in the speed control circuit of the more strongly loaded drive to bring about a load balancing. As noted in Column 4 each of the electric motors have a separate speed control circuit which comprises a speed controller and a proportional feedback unit connected in parallel to the controller. As noted in Column 5, beginning at Line 4, the output of the speed controller is feed into an adder so that the setpoint value can be corrected and delivered to the current controller. The primary purpose of this controller is to provide the proper torque or tension throughout a system in which material is pulled through or across multiple points by multiple motors. In this type of application, controlling the tension is typically the most desired feature of a control system. This explains the primary concentration on controlling current, as torque is directly proportional to current. As stated in column 3, lines 26–30, the effect of the speed feedback controller is limited to allow the separate load-balancing controller to dominate performance in this system.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,047,581 issued to Everlove Jr., et al. on Apr. 11, 2000 discloses a drive system for vertical rack spline-forming machine. This patent discloses the use of two or more motors for driving a spline-forming machine. This invention utilizes a PLC to provide output to two circuit motor power control modules which advance the slide. As noted by the description in this patent a home position is utilized to synchronize the position of the two motors. In the machine tool industry, it is common practice to synchronize a mechanical component which requires dual (multiple) drives such as these rails on a slide by using some sort of electronic home position and an external controller then to keep the two (or more) servomotors running synchronously.
Current control methods typically utilize one of the following methods for synchronizing multiple hoists:
Mechanical coupling between the hoist drums combined with load sharing between the motor drives.
An external sensor to detect differences in speed, alignment or loading of hooks and use of the information to align the hooks.
An external controller used to receive a speed reference and an encoder feedback from each motor drive and use this information to provide the appropriate reference to each drive to maintain alignment of the hooks.
What is needed then is a simplified construction and system for a Multiple Hoist Synchronization Apparatus and Method.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Multiple hoist synchronization apparatus and method


A multi-color harmonic synthesized laser system for laser processing and a laser processing method using multi-color harmonic synthesized laser are disclosed. The multi-color harmonic synthesized laser system includes a laser source for providing a single laser wave, a converter for converting the single laser wave into a plurality of harmonic waves with different frequencies, and a modulating unit for modulating amplitudes and relative phases of the harmonic waves to form a plurality of modulated harmonic waves, so as to synthesize the modulated harmonic waves as a single synthesized laser wave, wherein the single synthesized laser wave is focused on an object to perform a laser processing. The converter includes a plurality of non-linear crystals for converting the single laser wave into a fundamental harmonic wave and a plurality of multi-frequency harmonic waves. The harmonic waves are coherent and collinear, and the phases of the harmonic waves are related to one another.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to laser systems and processing methods, and, more particularly, to a multi-color harmonic synthesized laser system for laser processing and a laser processing method using multi-color harmonic synthesized laser.
2. Description of Related Art
In the development of micro-nano technology and optoelectronic industry, high energy laser beams have been applied in the fabrication of micro electro mechanical systems, optoelectronic products and biomedical micro fluid chips such as high molecular weight material and silicon chip processing, electronic packages and drilling of circuit boards.
Generally, there are two high energy laser beam processing mechanisms, a photo-thermal mechanism and a photo-chemical mechanism. In the photo-thermal mechanism, high energy laser beams with high power density are used as a thermal source to be focused on an object in an extremely short time period, the energy absorbed on the surface of the object is introduced into the object via the thermal conduction, then a part of the object is melted or vaporized by sufficient heat, and the laser beams or a working station is moved for further processing. In the photo-chemical mechanism, the bonding in the material to be processed is broken by the high energy laser beams having photon energy, such that ablation is performed on the material, wherein it is easier to break the bonding in the material by the laser beams with shorter wavelength. In addition, in the laser ablation mechanism, high energy laser beams are absorbed by the material, and photons make electrons hop between energy levels and break bonding in a molecule, so as to perform precise ablation on the material.
In the high energy laser beam processing, the material is processed by the laser beams according to the energy absorption, thermal diffusion and melting point of the material. For example, ablation is performed on various materials by the laser beam with different frequencies, and the laser beams with different wave shapes may have various ablation efficiencies on the same material. Therefore, there is a need to provide a corresponding laser beam in response to various materials or requirements of processing so as to improve efficiency of laser processing.

Multi-color harmonic synthesized laser system for laser processing and laser processing method using multi-color harmonic synthesized laser


A technique relates to dynamic time-domain reflectometry (TDR). A machine spares a bad lane in a bus. The bad lane is taken offline. TDR is dynamically executed on the bad lane while the bus is still in operation. A defect is isolated using results of the TDR.

The present invention generally relates to computer systems, and more specifically, to dynamic time-domain reflectometry (TDR) analysis for field replaceable unit (FRU) isolation in a running system.
Time-domain reflectometry is a measurement technique used to determine the characteristics of electrical lines and/or circuits connected to the electrical line by observing reflected waveforms. Time-domain transmissometry (TDT) is an analogous technique that measures the transmitted (rather than reflected) impulse. Together, they provide a powerful means of analyzing electrical or optical transmission media such as coaxial cable and optical fiber. Variations of TDR exist. For example, spread-spectrum time-domain reflectometry (SSTDR) is used to detect intermittent faults in complex and high-noise systems such as aircraft wiring. Coherent optical time domain reflectometry (COTDR) is another variant, used in optical systems, in which the returned signal is mixed with a local oscillator and then filtered to reduce noise. The impedance of the discontinuity can be determined from the amplitude of the reflected signal. The distance to the reflecting impedance can also be determined from the time that a pulse takes to return.

Dynamic time-domain reflectometry analysis for field replaceable unit isolation in a running system

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A system and method are provided for implementing a unique electrophotographic layered manufacturing scheme for creating higher fidelity electrophotographic composite laminate layers using tri-level electrophotography or electrostatic imaging scheme as a process for rendering individual laminate layers to be built up to form and/or manufacture three-dimensional objects, parts and components as 3D objects. A multi-stage 3D object forming scheme is described involving steps of multi-component laminate forming in a particularized electrophotographic layer forming process. This process renders a part component and a support component precisely next to one another with a single exposure by an exposing device to form a latent image of variable discharge voltages. Multiple toner product sources are used to dispose part component toner and support component toner in the forming of the multi-component laminate layer.

1. Field of the Disclosed Embodiments
This disclosure relates to systems and methods for implementing a unique electrophotographic layered manufacturing scheme for creating higher fidelity electrophotographic composite laminate layers using tri-level electrophotography as a process for rendering individual laminate layers to be built up to form and/or manufacture three-dimensional objects, parts and components (3D objects).
2. Related Art
Traditional object, part and component manufacturing processes, which generally included varying forms of molding or machining of output products, have expanded to include commercial implementations of a new class of techniques globally referred to as "additive manufacturing" or AM techniques. These AM techniques generally involve processes, alternatively referred to as "Solid Freeform Fabrication (SFF)" or "3D printing" in which layers of additive materials, sometimes toxic or otherwise hazardous in an unfinished state, are sequentially deposited on an in-process 3D object according to a particular material deposition and curing scheme. As each layer is added in the 3D object forming process, the new layer of material is added and adhered to the one or more already existing layers. Each AM layer may then be individually cured, at least partially, prior to deposition of any next AM layer in the 3D object build process. This sequential-layer material addition/joining throughout a 3D work envelope is executed under automated control of varying levels of sophistication.
AM (or 3D printing) techniques often employ one or more processes that are adapted from, and appear in many respects to be similar to, well-known processes for forming two-dimensional (2D) printed images on image receiving media substrates. The significant differences in the output structures produced by the 3D printing techniques are generally based on (1) a composition of the deposited materials that are used to form the output 3D objects from the AM device/system or 3D printer; and (2) a number of passes made by the printing systems in depositing comparatively large numbers of successive layers of the deposition material to build up the body of material to the form of the output 3D objects.
An expanding number of AM or 3D printing processes and techniques are now available. Principal distinguishing characteristic between the multiplicity of these AM or 3D printing processes are in the manner in which the layers are deposited to create the output 3D objects, and in the materials that are used to form the output 3D objects.
Certain of the AM techniques (as this term will be used throughout the balance of this disclosure to refer to various 3D object layering and build techniques including 3D printing) melt or soften materials to produce the build layers using techniques such as, for example, selective laser melting or sintering of an input material. Others of the AM manufacturing techniques deposit and cure liquid materials using technologies for the deposition of those liquid materials such as jetted (ink) material "printing" techniques.
Examples of existing AM techniques include those generally referred to as Fused Deposition Modelling (FDM) and Multi-Jet Modelling (MJM). These techniques are being increasingly adopted for prototyping and short run manufacturing of 3D objects. AM techniques like FDM are, for example, capable of building 3D objects from many different common thermoplastic resins that are extrudable. AM techniques like MJM are, for example, capable of building 3D objects by depositing additive materials, including the same thermoplastic resins and other solids components, suspended in pigmented and unpigmented ink-like solutions. The 3D object is built up layer-by-layer by deposition of extruded resin droplets in FDM, or otherwise according to the deposition of jetted material droplets in MJM. As industrial and other applications emerge that attempt to capitalize on the flexibility incumbent in the applications of these and other AM technologies, adaptation of a broader range of techniques is being pursued to potentially exploit advantages in these adaptations from other 2D printing methods.

Systems and methods for implementing electrophotographic layered manufacturing of three dimensional (3D) objects, parts and components using tri-level electrophotography


Height extender for use in an apparatus for repairing and straightening is disclosed in its preferred form for use in connection with apparatus for repairing and straightening the body and frame of a vehicle, most preferably a high ground clearance vehicle. The apparatus for repairing and straightening includes a tread member allowing placement of the vehicle thereon and having a plurality of apertures passing vertically therethrough. Bolsters, well known in the prior art, are removably held in the tread apertures by a locking member. The height extender includes a sleeve member, a plate attached to the sleeve member having an abutting portion and an elongated bar portion, and first and second bracing members attached to the elongated bar portion and the sleeve member. The sleeve member is received and slidable on the bolster. The height extender can then be positioned on the bolster at multilevel positions by a pin which passes through apertures formed in the bracing members. The elongated bar portion is spaced from the bolster when the bolster is located within the sleeve member, and the elongated bar portion does not contact the bolster when a counterforce is transferred to the bolster by the height extender, as insured by the bracing members, such that the counterforce is only transferred to the bolster by the sleeve member at a position adjacent to the tread member and not transferred to the bolster by the plate or bracing members to avoid an undue amount of cantilever type counterforce into the tread member or the bolster.

The present invention relates generally to an accessory for an apparatus for repairing and straightening vehicles, more particularly to a height extender, and most specifically to a height extender for use in an apparatus for repairing and straightening vehicles.
With the increasing sophistication of apparatus for repairing and straightening, faster repairing and straightening of damaged vehicles has been attained with less expenditures of time, labor, and energy. There is also an increasing need for accessories for use in such apparatus for repairing and straightening to further increase their ability to repair all types of vehicles having various types of damages and to further increase their range and efficiency to thus further reduce the time, labor, and effort required to repair and straighten vehicles.
Also such accessories should be easy to use without the need to strip away parts of the vehicle to be repaired in order to hold the vehicle for repairing and straightening.
Still further, such apparatus should be light in weight and of small size while maintaining sufficient strength to avoid damage, and still allow easy use thereof without the expenditures of large amounts of time and energy.
A special need has arisen for accessories for use in repairing high ground clearance vehicles such as small trucks, four wheel drives, and intermediate trucks. Previous known apparatus used in anchoring such vehicles has been very heavy and bulky, required extremely large amounts of energy and time to attach, and in many cases, demanded that vehicles be taken apart and stripped in order to be held for repair. Not only are these vehicles strongly built, but they are built higher off the ground to thereby require substantial holding devices.

Height extender for use in connection with an apparatus for repairing and straightening


The case (1) comprises a lid (2), a base (3) and a holder (7) for a cosmetics applicator; the lid, base and holder being interconnected along a hinge (4). The hinge comprises a boss (5) positioned intermediate its ends and the holder comprises a surface (18) engageable with the boss such that opening the container causes the holder to lift from the base.

Conventional cosmetics cases and compacts for application of cosmetic material such as face powder can be cumbersome and inconvenient to use. It can be particularly inconvenient and awkward when the user has to extract an applicator from within a recess in the cosmetic case. A cosmetic case in which the applicator more readily presents itself to the user for extraction is desired.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,027 describes a case containing a number of cosmetic brushes. The brushes are disposed in holders pivotally arranged side by side along a hinge pin. The body of each brush holder has an arc shaped guide groove for receiving a protrusion extending from an immediately neighbouring brush holder. Similar protrusions and guide groves connect the endmost brush holders to side walls of the lid and base respectively. Opening of the case by rotating the lid about the hinge pin causes the protrusion at the lid side wall to move along its guide groove. When the movement of the protrusion has reached the end of the guide groove further rotation of the lid causes the associated endmost holder to lift and pivot upwards. This is repeated for the other brush holders in series along the hinge pin. When the case is fully opened the brushes therefore spread out in a fan shape. With this arrangement, it is imperative that the endmost brush holders are adjacent and connected to the side walls of the lid and base respectively, with each holder connected to its neighbour(s), to provide the required leverage and support to all the brush holders in the series. To achieve the full spread of the brush holders it is necessary to fully open the lid. This arrangement is not readily adaptable for operation of fewer brush holders, or to eliminate the mechanical interconnections between neighbouring holders or between the endmost holders and the base/lid sidewalls. This limits design freedom. For example, it may be desirable to separate the brush holders from the side edges of the case to provide space for a powder container, mirror or the like. In the case of a powder compact, only a single brush holder may be necessary. The cosmetic brush container of U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,027 cannot meet these requirements.
In addition, the protrusions extending from the brush holders of U.S. Pat. No. 6,398,027 are preferably made of metal. A protrusion made from the same material as the rest of the brush holder body, i.e. plastic, would be more susceptible to breakage. Providing the brush holder with a metal pin in by insert moulding requires an additional process step.
JP10-243814 shows a cosmetic compact with a hinged outer lid. A lever is fixed to the outer lid near its hinge line and extends above the top surface of a base tray or godet. Opening the outer lid causes the lever to open an inner lid, to uncover a volatile cosmetics product in the base tray.
The present applicant has devised a cosmetics applicator holder actuation mechanism which is more readily adaptable to different applicator and container configurations, which is easier to manufacture and which is neat and unobtrusive in appearance.


In one embodiment, a device in a network reserves first and second sets of local resources for an anomaly detection mechanism. The device reports the first set of local resources to a supervisory node in the network. The device applies one or more anomaly detection rules from the supervisory node using the first set of reserved resources. The device receives one or more anomaly detection rules from a peer node in the network. The device applies the one or more anomaly detection rules from the peer node using the second set of reserved resources.

Low-Power and Lossy Networks (LLNs), e.g., sensor networks, have a myriad of applications, such as Smart Grid and Smart Cities. Various challenges are presented with LLNs, such as lossy links, low bandwidth, battery operation, low memory and/or processing capability of a device, etc. Changing environmental conditions may also affect device communications. For example, physical obstructions (e.g., changes in the foliage density of nearby trees, the opening and closing of doors, etc.), changes in interference (e.g., from other wireless networks or devices), propagation characteristics of the media (e.g., temperature or humidity changes, etc.), and the like, also present unique challenges to LLNs.
Anomaly detection seeks to ensure that a deployed network is operating as expected. This may entail detecting and remediating security threats, misbehaving or misconfigured devices, user policy violations, anomalous sensor readings, and the like. In traditional networks, anomaly detection is fairly straight-forward, as the devices in these networks have ample resources available to devote to anomaly detection. This allows the use of distributed anomaly detection approaches, as the devices themselves can perform the anomaly detection functions directly. However, devices in LLNs and other constrained networks likely do not have the resources to perform anomaly detection in addition to their primary functions. Accordingly, many anomaly detection approaches for constrained networks use a centralized model whereby the devices in the network pass status data to a more sophisticated, centralized anomaly detection device.

Fog-based hybrid system for optimal distribution of anomaly detection and remediation services


An improved structure of keyswitch comprises a circuit base with a circuit layer, a resilient dome, a supporting lever and a keytop. The circuit base further comprises a substrate and a flexible circuit layer. T supporting lever comprising a first lever and a second lever pivotal to each other in scissors arrangement. The first lever has a sliding portion on bottom side thereof and the second lever has a rotating portion on bottom side thereof and a sliding portion on top side thereof. The sliding portion of the first lever comprises two clamping blocks and a sliding shaft arranged between the two clamping blocks. The clamping block is extended from the sliding shaft such that the edge at the intersection of an outer surface of the sliding shaft and an bottom surface of the sliding shaft is an embowed square shape. The sliding shaft is entirely or partially embedded into the first through hole. The rotational portion of the second lever has two rotational shafts retained between the second retaining bodies and embedded within the second through hole. Therefore, the height of the keyswitch is lowered and the key pressing operation is more stable.

As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional keyswitch 1 for notebook computer at least comprises a substrate 10, a flexible circuit layer 11, a resilient dome 12, a supporting lever 13 and a keytop 14. The substrate 10 is provided with a first retaining hook 100, a second retaining hook 101, a first through hole 102 and a second through hole 103. The flexible circuit layer 11 and the resilient dome 12 are respectively stacked on the substrate 10. The supporting lever 13 comprises a first lever 130 and a second lever 131 pivotal to each other in scissors arrangement. The first lever 130 comprises a rounded sliding shaft 132 on bottom side thereof and slidable within the first retaining hook 100. The top of the first lever 130 is pivotally connected to the keytop 14. The second lever 131 comprises a rounded rotating shaft 133 on bottom side thereof and rotatable within the second retaining hook 101. The top of the second lever 130 is slidably connected to the keytop 14. The keytop 14 can be lowered to strike the resilient dome 12 by the rotating movement of the rotating shaft 133 and the sliding movement of the sliding shaft 132. The resilient dome 12 is collapsed to turn on the corresponding switch on the flexible circuit layer 11 and generate associate keyswitch signal.
However, in above-mentioned keyswitch 1, both the rotating shaft 133 and the sliding shaft 132 lay against the substrate 10 at location beside the though holes 102 and 103, or against the flexible circuit layer 11 upon the substrate 10. Therefore, the first retaining hook 100 and the second retaining hook 101 have abrupt-raising height to accommodate the rotating shaft 133 and the sliding shaft 132. The whole supporting lever 13 is forced to place upon the flexible circuit layer 11 and the height of the keytop 14 relative to the flexible circuit layer 11 can not be reduced. Moreover, the supporting lever 13 is in contact with the flexible circuit layer 11 or the substrate 10 by the tangential portion of the rotating shaft 133 and the sliding shaft 132, the stability of the supporting lever 13 is poor. The supporting lever 13 may shake when the keytop 14 is pressed.
To overcome above problem, an improved structure of keyswitch is provided and comprises a circuit base with a circuit layer, a resilient dome, a supporting lever and a keytop. The circuit base further comprises a substrate and a flexible circuit layer. T supporting lever comprising a first lever and a second lever pivotal to each other in scissors arrangement. The first lever has a sliding portion on bottom side thereof and the second lever has a rotating portion on bottom side thereof and a sliding portion on top side thereof. The sliding portion of the first lever comprises two clamping blocks and a sliding shaft arranged between the two clamping blocks. The clamping block is extended from the sliding shaft such that the edge at the intersection of an outer surface of the sliding shaft and an bottom surface of the sliding shaft is an embowed square shape. The sliding shaft is entirely or partially embedded into the first through hole. The rotational portion of the second lever has two rotational shafts retained between the second retaining bodies and embedded within the second through hole. Therefore, the height of the keyswitch is lowered and the key pressing operation is more stable.
The various objects and advantages of the present invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description when read in conjunction with the appended drawing, in which:


In mass spectrometers with a plasma ion source (ICP-MS), a high ion current takes effect on the entrance of the ion optical system. The components provided there, especially lenses and apertures, have hitherto been made of steel. Atoms and ions are released from the surface of the components by a sputtering effect. This results in a correspondingly spoiling background signal and in losses in the quality of the analysis. To avoid the described effects, the components which are subjected to ion bombardment are made of graphite. The sputter rate and the ion yield of the carbon are much lower than those of steel (iron, nickel and chromium).

On its way to the detector, the ion beam of an ion source passes a number of components whose design decisively influence the quality of the analysis by mass spectrometry. The so-called ion optical components for the guidance, the focusing and, if appropriate, the acceleration of the ion beam are of particular importance. Hitherto, aperture and lens systems made of steel have been used. A disadvantage of the material steel is that atoms and ions are released which, under unfavorable circumstances, are detected and interfere with the ions to be analyzed, or spoil their signals. The release of atoms and ions from a surface as a result of bombardment is also known as sputtering effect.
It is of crucial importance to avoid the sputtering effect in high resolution mass spectrometers in connection with an ICP-plasma ion source or an API ion source (ICP=Inductive Coupled Plasma, API=Atmospheric Pressure Ionization). At the exit of the ion source there is a very high ion current. The source itself is normally operated at atmospheric pressure. The inert gas, for example argon, used for the generation of the plasma can flow into the ion optical system in ionized form via an intermediate interface. A pressure reduction occurs over a plurality of stages until a high vacuum is reached, but there is a relatively high current of argon ions at the entrance of the ion optical system which favors the sputtering effect on the components of the ion optical system. The same applies to all other components that are subjected to the ion current, e.g. the sampler and the skimmer of the interface near the exit of the ion source.


A mechanized directory assistance system for use in a telecommunications network includes multiple speech recognition devices comprising a word recognition device, a phoneme recognition device, and an alphabet recognition device. Also provided is a voice processing unit and a computer operating under stored program control. A database is utilized which may comprise the same database as used for operator directory assistance. The system operates as follows: A directory assistance caller is prompted to speak the city or location desired. The response is digitized and simultaneously inputted to the word and phoneme recognition devices which each output a translation signal plus a probability level signal. These are compared and the highest probability level translation is selected. The caller is prompted to speak the name of the sought party. The response is processed in the same manner as the location word. In the event that the probability level fails to meet a predetermined standard the caller is prompted to spell all or part of the location and/or name. The resulting signal is inputted to the alphabet device. When translations are obtained having a satisfactory probability level the database is accessed. If plural listings are located these are articulated and the caller is prompted to respond affirmatively or negatively as to each. When a single directory number has been located a signal is transmitted to the caller to articulate this number. The system also includes provision for DTMF keyboard input in aid of the spelling procedure.

Efficient telecommunications systems require an ability to provide users with telephone or directory numbers of subscribers in response to telephonic requests. Generally such information is obtained by dialing a directory assistance number (411) which results in connection to a directory assistance office which supplies the telephone number in response to a customer request for residence, business or government listing.
Many present day directory assistance systems use a computer-aided search arrangement. In such a system a customer places a call to an operator and gives the particulars of a request for a directory listing. The operator keys identifying data into a computer for locating directory listings. When the operator has found an apparently correct listing in a computer generated display the operator signals the identity of the correct listing in the display and disconnects from the directory assistance call. The listing is then automatically announced to the calling telephone customer.
Daudelin U.S. Pat. No. 4,797,910 issued Jan. 10, 1989 describes a proposal which is said to further reduce operator work time.
More recently there have been numerous proposals for effecting a greater degree of automation. An early example of such a proposed system is described in Byram et al. U.S. Pat. No. 3,928,724 issued Dec. 23, 1975.
The Byram et al. patent describes a voice actuated directory assistance system in which the user spells the last name of the subscriber whose telephone number is desired. The user dials the uniform directory assistance number (411), causing the telephone switching system to connect the telephone to an audio-digital interface system and causing a first prestored prompt to be provided to the user from system memory. This message instructs the user to spell letter-by-letter the last name of the subscriber whose telephone number is desired. Each time a letter of the subscriber's last name is spelled it is encoded into digital form and stored in a register. The computer compares the stored digital signals with the digital signals representing subscribers stored in its main memory, and each time there is a match causes the identification and telephone number of the subscriber to be stored in a first temporary memory and the number of such matches in reading through the entire main memory to be stored in a match counter.
A selected one of three recorded messages is then transmitted to the user with the selected message corresponding to one of four different situations. These situations are (1) one exact match between the user provided input and the stored addresses from the main memory of the computer; (2) no match; (3) more than one match and (4) one or more partial matches. If only one subscriber is found corresponding to the spelling of the last name the telephone number is provided by the computer to the audio-digital interface system which converts the digital signal received from the computer into an audio signal and transmits the audio signal to the telephone receiver held by the user. If no subscriber corresponding to the spelling of the name is found the user is so informed and asked to provide alternate spellings or to hang up the receiver.
Padden et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,979,206 issued Dec. 18, 1990, describes an arrangement intended to minimize the speech recognition requirement. Thus this patent describes an arrangement relying upon alphabet and numbers only, i.e., zip code location and name and address spelling. Two embodiments are disclosed. In one embodiment the caller dials the regular directory assistance number such as 411 or 555-1212. The system then proceeds with the prompt and response dialogue until a directory number is located in the database. At this point the located number is orally delivered to the user. This methodology is illustrated in the flow charts of FIGS. 2-6 under the "Detect Regular DA Number" option referenced by the numeral 150 in FIG. 2.
The alternative embodiment involves a situation in which the caller desires the system to automatically complete the call. In this case the caller dials a special directory assistance code such as 311 or 555-1234. The system then proceeds through the same methodology with the added feature of call completion. This methodology is also illustrated in FIGS. 2-6 under the "Detect Special DA Number" referenced at 101.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,038 issued Sep. 24, 1991, describes a directory assistance request processor wherein the name of the subscriber whose telephone number is sought is entered through the use of standard DTMF push buttons using the grouped alphabetic designators on those buttons.
Carter et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,460, issued Aug. 26, 1986, describes an automatic directory assistance apparatus and method which uses automated voice prompts to a caller in order to obtain an input identifying the called party. The user responds by utilizing DTMF signal inputs representing the first four letters of the last name and the initial of the first name of the desired party.
Dubnowski et al. U.S. Pat. No. 4,164,025 issued Aug. 7, 1979, describes an arrangement for recognizing words corresponding to a sequence of spelled input character signals.
The use of automated speech recognition devices to process spoken information received over telephone lines is well known and is becoming increasingly popular. If such automated speech recognition equipment is utilized it is important that the speaker communicate accurate information to the system with maximum machine assistance and minimum user inconvenience. For example it is desirable that the caller be prompted as few times as possible to repeat questionable information or to supply additional information to permit reaching a solution to the selection process.
Accordingly it is an object of this invention to provide automated directory assistance in a manner which is not only efficient but also acceptable and pleasing to the user.
It is another object of the invention to provide automated directory assistance using available speech recognition equipment in a unique manner to attain an improved level of effectiveness.
It is another object of the invention to provide automated directory assistance using available speech recognition devices in an improved manner to minimize the necessity to rely on operator intervention.
It is another object of the invention to provide automated directory assistance using multiple types of available speech recognition equipment to maximize the successful provision of the requested assistance without reliance upon operator intervention.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become more apparent upon reference to the following specification, drawings and claims.

Automated directory assistance system using word recognition and phoneme processing method


A method for raising vine plants having a fruiting portion and a renewal portion, such as grapevines, for enhanced production and healthier crop. The method vertically separates the fruiting zone from the renewal zone by placing the fruiting canes in an upper zone apart from the renewal canes in the lower zone. The separation of zones improves air circulation and sunlight exposure, allows the two zones to have different cultivation techniques applied as necessary and permits the harvesting of the fruit without harming the renewal canes, making the method particularly applicable for fruit that can be dried-on-the-vine, such as raisins. A vertical canopy trellis apparatus for use with the method facilitates separation of the two zones and the switch from renewal canes to fruiting canes. A double tunnel harvesting apparatus allows the upper fruiting zone to be efficiently and effectively harvested while protecting the lower renewal zone from damage.

A. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for raising plants that facilitates increased and healthier production. The method and apparatus are uniquely situated for the commercial production of crops that have certain botanical characteristics of growth, such as vine plants. This method will allow for fully automated harvest, having had minimal manual labor expended on maintenance.
B. Description of the Prior Art
Botanical characteristics have long plagued the growing process. Many plants inhibit fully automated harvest and continue to be susceptible to attack. These adverse consequences have forced the development of remedies. The remedies associated with the prior art have been minimally successful in accomplishing the long-term goals that were desired.
To reduce the cost associated with harvesting grapes, raisins and other vine crops, growers have developed various new methods of growing the crops that reduce labor costs while providing an improved product. The conventional method of raising grapes or raisins is to grow the vines in separate parallel rows utilizing a trellis system that runs along the row producing rows of vines approximately four to six feet high. Typically, the raisin grapes are cut from the vine and placed on paper trays laying along the rows of vines. One improvement in growing raisins and other dried fruit is referred to as the dried-on-the-vine (xe2x80x9cDOVxe2x80x9d) methods. The DOV methods of growing raisins leave the grape clusters on the vines during the drying process, as opposed to laying them on the paper trays in the dried-on-the-ground method. To dry the fruit on the vine, labor crews go through the vineyard and cut the canes having fruit so that the grapes on those canes will dry to produce raisins.
The successful production of grapes and dried-on-the-vine raisins relies upon the patterns of growth of the plants and their training for improved functionality. In its natural state, the grapevine has a random and haphazard growth pattern. The trunk produces cordons, which then produces canes that extend, producing the fruit and foliage of the vine. The foliage surrounds the fruit and the density of the two elements decreases the air circulation necessary to ward off certain problems. The density of the vine also prevents the sun from penetrating to the fruit and allowing for its further development. Although direct sunlight can be harmful, causing burns on the fruit, it is important to the process of dried-on-the-vine raisins for sunlight to reach the fruit.
Training the flexible portions of the grapevines in the horizontal method does allow for the density of the plant to be spread over a greater area. This type of separation, typically the north-south division practiced today, does make the fruit more accessible to the sunlight, however the growth of the plant on the trellis system continues to shade the fruit, not allowing sufficient light to it for proper maturation.
It is the density of the grapevine that continues to plague the plant with disease, fungi, and molds. These problems flourish in dark, damp environments. The growth pattern of the grapevine creates an immense trapping device and a protection from the sun for these and other problems. These damaging factors can be devastating to crops. Allowing the sunlight to the fruit reduces the moisture that remains on and around the fruit as well as assisting in the process of drying the fruit. In areas that typically receive a late season rain, the current trellising systems do not allow for the invaluable drying effects of the sun to be used efficiently.
Vineyards can be sprayed for increased resistance to molds and parasites, however there is an advantage in marketing fruit that has not been subjected to constant spraying of pesticides. Fruit grown without pesticides have a better value. Increased air circulation is one method to improve the effectiveness of spraying done to a vineyard, allowing less spraying to be done. Decreasing the density of the plants allows for the pesticide to be more effective with fewer applications because it moves freely in the plants to cover a greater area. Unfortunately, the typical trellis system creates a dense canopy raised above the fruit, which hangs below, to simplify harvesting. The low air circulation of this method retains trapped moisture that creates the molds, fungi, and parasites which are problematic and must be addressed by spraying. As a result, it is known that increasing air circulation is advantageous to increased production, decreased loss of product and reduced spraying.
Methods of raising crops for the prevention of these problems has been faced a number of times. For instance, Sun Maid has developed a system called the South Side or Sun Maid System. The rotation of sides, north to south, has allowed for the increased growth of canes and a maturity to be attained that allows for increased production of fruit and decreased the time in which the raisins are dried. This was all accomplished by increased circulation within the plant and greater exposure of the fruit to the drying sun. The above-referenced South Side System is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,411,561 to Conley and U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,883 to Walker. This system, which utilizes a modified conventional trellis structure, trains the canes into a divided canopy with the fruiting canes primarily on one side (the south side) of the rows and renewal canes on the opposite side. Another DOV system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,768 to Hiyama, et al. In the Hiyama system, a modified trellis system is utilized to horizontally segregate the canes that will produce fruit in one year from the canes which are to produce fruit in the following year. Control wires are used to move the renewal canes from the current year""s growing row to the next year""s growing row. A non-DOV system is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 3,585,756 to Johnson, which describes a method of growing grapevines where cordons are bent in a semi-circular portions and attached to an upper wire to grow fruit therefrom (i.e., spur pruning). The bending of the cordons is to facilitate shaking so as to dislodge the fruit. Replacement cordons can be grown on the lower wire to replace the fruiting canes as they become too stiff for effective shaking.
There are a number of other methods of growing grapes and raisins that take advantage of the DOV principles. Some of these methods utilize the conventional trellis system while others utilize less commonly employed trellis systems, such as an overhead trellis system. The overhead trellis systems allow the vines to be trained such that the canes grow over the trellis wires disposed between rows of upright posts that are placed along the rows of vines. The posts have one or more cross-arms that are connected to the trellis wires. One method of growing grapes and raisins on an overhead trellis system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,109 to Pitts. In the Pitts method, the vine plants are separated to form four cordons and trained such that two pairs of cordons grow along parallel courses but opposite each other. Canes produced by the cordons grow substantially perpendicular to the cordons toward the canes produced by an adjacent row of vines over an overhead trellis structure. This method utilizes an alternate bearing system wherein during each growing season one row is a fruiting row and the adjacent row is a renewal row. During the following season, the rows are reversed. This method of growing grapes and raisins is referred to as the quadrilateral, alternate bearing method and has been found to substantially increase production of grapes and raisins. In another method developed by Lee Simpson of Madera, Calif., the canes grow from the head of the vine and are placed across the wires such that the crop will grow in a generally vertical downward direction from the canes between the rows. This method also utilizes the alternate bearing system.
Prior trellis systems have allowed for the separation of producing and non-producing flexible portions of vine plants. The process has been to separate the producing and non-producing portions, on a trellising apparatus, with the trunk of the vine in the center and the separate portions extending on either side of the trellis over the alley. The separations are determined by which canes will be in production and which will produce on a rotational basis. This method allows for one side to be in use, allowing for the other to mature while providing increased air circulation. Examples of trellis systems for DOV raisins are described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,557,883 to Walker, U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,514 to Hiyama, et al., and in an article entitled xe2x80x9cCurrent Developments in Harvest Mechanization and DOVxe2x80x9d by L. Peter Christensen in Raisin Production Manual published by the University of California in 2000. The Walker trellis is configured particularly for use with the South Side System described above. FIG. 5 of the patent shows a vertical separation of the fruiting and renewal canes that places the renewal canes in a U-shaped member above the arm having the fruiting canes. The Hiyama trellis is configured to be used with the Hiyama method described above. This trellis utilizes a pivot member to move a control wire so as to carry the canes to a position overlying the horizontal support member of the trellis structure. The xe2x80x9cCurrent Developmentsxe2x80x9d article describes an Open Cross trellis as a modified version of the Hiyama trellis. The Open Cross trellis that has the fruiting canes tied out to horizontal support members and the renewal shoots are directed upward between vertical pairs of wires or moved upward with moveable wires.
Farming is also plagued with the expense of manual labor. Although many conventional trellis systems have adapted grapevines and similar plant life for improved production, they fail to decrease the necessity for large amounts of manual labor. Making the fruit more readily accessible to the laborer decreases the amount of time that is expended in gathering the fruit at harvest, separating the flexible portions and pruning.
Several harvesting machines have been developed to harvest DOV raisins. Examples of these machines are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,355,667 to Scott, U.S. Pat. No. 6,009,696 to Walker and U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,276 to Walker. Generally, these patents describe harvesting machines that are either pulled or driven between the rows of vines with a plurality of rods or paddles extending from the side of the harvester such that the rods or paddles engage the plants to dislodge the grapes or raisins from the vines. The dislodged grapes or raisins are collected on a conveyance system and transported up and over the vines into a truck or bin trailer pulled be a tractor in the adjacent row. U.S. Pat. No. 4,480,402 to Hiyama describes a harvester that allows the grapevines to pass through the frame of the harvester so as to harvest the raisins from the lower section having the fruiting canes.
Mechanical harvesters for harvesting grapes or raisins grown on an overhead trellis system are also known. For instance, U.S. Pat. No. 5,423,166 to Scott is directed to a grape and raisin harvester in the form of a trailer that utilizes a series of spinning rods fashioned into a rotating rolling brush that knocks the grapes or raisins off the plants and into one or more boxes located on the trailer platform. The harvester is pulled along the row by a tractor. The rotating rolling brush, referred to as a shaker head, is raised or lowered by the use of hydraulic cylinders linked to the shaker head. U.S. Pat. No. 6,012,276 to Walker, primarily a device for harvesting DOV raisins grown on modified conventional trellises, suggests that the harvester head can be disposed such that the beater rods extend upward for use in overhead trellis systems. However, no reference is made to how the conveying system is modified to convey the raisins over the vines.
Each of the aforementioned patents or other prior art presents a method of growing DOV fruit, a trellis apparatus and/or an apparatus for harvesting DOV fruit. However, nothing in the prior art discloses a method of growing vine plants that places the fruiting portion of the vine above and separate from the portion of the vine that is used for a following year""s crop. In addition, nothing in the prior art discloses a trellis structure or a mechanical harvester that is specially suited for harvesting fruit grown pursuant to such a method. Consequently, a need exists for a method of growing vine plants, with an associated trellis system and harvester, that is easily adapted to new or existing vineyards, provides for improved fruit quality and increased production, and reduces the costs of raising such plants.
The method of raising vine plants, vertical canopy trellis and double tunnel harvesting apparatus of the present invention solves the problems and provides the desired benefits identified above. That is to say, the present invention provides a method of raising vine plants that vertically separates the fruiting canes from the renewal canes by placing the fruiting canes in a separate zone above the renewal canes. In addition, the present invention provides a trellis system and dried fruit harvester specially configured for such method.
The conventional trellis systems, with the horizontal canopies, have not been able to increase the planting ability to the degree of the vertical canopy system of the present invention. Increased planting of grapevines is possible in vineyards using the vertical canopy trellis system because it moves the plant growth upward instead of outward. The increased planting, due to the vertical movement, also decreases the width necessary for each row. The decrease in width allows for increased planting and therefore increased production. The alternate method of cultivating, to that of standard practice today, will be achieved best by the over the row cultural practice incorporating the Greg Oire Tractor or equivalent. These types of cultural practices, where the tractor rides on top of the row, allows for denser row planting, thereby increasing production. Over the row tractoring along with the double tunnel mechanical harvesting system, herein described, is an invaluable part of the cultivating and harvesting process of dried-on-the-vine raisins.
Any spraying that the farmer does choose to do with the vertical trellis system of the present invention will be more effective because of its method of raising the flexible portions and extending them, while further separating the vulnerable fruit. In addition, the present invention will more clearly differentiate the separation by raising the producing flexible portions and pruning them at harvest to ensure those canes are not used the following season. This upward movement also improves the integrity of the trellis apparatus because it removes the strain placed on the stake in the typical horizontal arrangement. Thus, the balance of the vertical system is unmatched.
The double tunnel mechanical harvesting system is a mechanical raisin harvesting system which divides the canopy into two distinct portions, unlike its present counterparts in the wine grape industry, such as the Up Right harvester or equivalent, which employ a single tunnel that the grapevines travel through. The lower tunnel of the double tunnel mechanical harvesting system seals and protects the lower canopy, while the upper canopy is harvested. The picking rods in the upper tunnel mechanically harvests the dried-on-the-vine raisins. Since the upper tunnel is sealed from the lower canopy, virtually all the raisins from the upper canopy are harvested, minimizing crop loss, while eliminating grapes from the head of the vine to contaminate the raisin harvest. The double tunnel mechanical harvesting system will also fill the necessity of the smaller size tractor needed for increased row planting.
The advantages of the present invention to provide an improved method and apparatus for raising grapevines and similar botanicals is that the present invention is more dependable, durable, efficient and economical than present systems due to the training of the flexible portions of the plant upward along the vertical trellis apparatus to provide for increased circulation within the dense plant and the vertical segregation of the upper and lower canopies into fruiting and renewal portions. The upper canopy raises the fruit and exposes it to the sun in a manner unlike that of prior art growing methods and apparatuses The growing method and trellis apparatus of the present invention results in the production of a healthier crop of superior quality dried fruit because of the increased air circulation and exposure to the sun. In addition, the renewal canes are protected during the cultivating and harvesting procedures due to the vertical separation of those canes from the upper canopy having the fruiting canes.
Another advantage of the methods and apparatuses of the present invention is the increased efficiency and effectiveness of manual labor and the automated adaptation to cultivating and harvesting techniques, including over the row tractor cultivation and double tunnel mechanical harvesting. The methods and apparatuses of the present invention require less manual labor and only minimal training is required for that labor to perform the cultural practices necessary to grow and harvest superior quality dried-on-the-vine fruit, such as raisins. Use of the double tunnel harvester improves harvesting efficiency and minimizes product loss.
Yet another advantage of the methods and apparatuses of the present invention is the decreased area required for each plant, thus allowing for increased planting. The adaptability of the methods and apparatuses of the present invention to over the row tractor cultivation also allows for increased row planting.
Accordingly, the primary objective of the present invention is provide an improved method and apparatus for raising grapevines and similar botanicals that aids in the production of a healthier crop of superior quality dried-on-the-vine fruit at a reduced cost.
Another important object is to provide such methods and apparatuses which are advantageous to commercial farming of the production of grapevines and similar plant culture by controlling the growth of the plants with training provided by the apparatus in a more commercially successful manner with increased effectiveness and efficiency.
Yet another important object is to provide such a method and apparatus, which provides benefits to the large-scale farm and small farms alike and which is adaptable to new installations and retrofitting for use in existing vineyards.
Yet another important object is to provide such a method and apparatus which is employed to alter the random, haphazard growth patterns of the vine plants by providing an apparatus that trains the flexible portions and allows for the vertical segregation of the plants into growth zones, determined by the flexible portions that are currently producing and those that are not.
Another object is to provide such a method and apparatus that allows for the fruiting canes and first year canes to be vertically segregated from second year and renewal canes and allowing the fruit to be harvested without risk of damaging the renewal canes.
Another object is to provide such a method and apparatus that enhances the effectiveness and efficiency of manual labor and is adaptable to automated techniques.
Another object is to provide such a method and apparatus that substantially decreases the amount of manual labor necessary to maintain the plant culture.
Another object is to provide such a method and apparatus which allows for minimal training of the manual laborers with regard to the training process, pruning and harvesting.
Another object is to provide such a method and apparatus that decreases susceptibility to adverse circumstances, such as rain, mold, parasites and contaminants.
Another object is to provide such a method and apparatus that promotes the efficient harvest of dried-on-the-vine raisins.
Another object is to provide a harvesting system that allows vertical separation of canopy levels to be continued through the harvesting process.

Method and apparatus for raising vine plants