A filling element includes a filling-element housing and a liquid-carrying duct formed therein that ends in an opening for discharging liquid product into a container. A liquid valve controls flow through the duct. During filling, a return-gas tube extends into the container's interior. An actuator uses the gas tube as a valve tappet to open and close the liquid valve. As it moves the gas tube up and down, the actuator simultaneously controls a first control-valve that controls flow between the return-gas tube and a gas-chamber. The gas chamber is configured for conducting away return gas forced out of the container's interior by incoming filling product during filling thereof, for imposing a filling pressure in the container's interior, for flushing said container's interior with a flushing gas, or for evacuating the container's interior.

When filling an empty container, it is sometimes easy to overlook the fact that it is, in fact, already full. However, it is full of gas, not liquid.
A typical filling machine must manage this gas. When filling a container, the liquid displaces the gas. This gas must be disposed of as it leaves the container. In addition, the air that normally fills an empty container has oxygen. This is often harmful to products. As such, it is often useful to flush the container with some inert gas to displace oxygen-laden air. In some cases, it is useful to evacuate the container, so that it truly is empty, or as nearly empty as it is possible to make it. In yet other cases, it is useful to prepare the container to receive liquid by pre-tensioning it with a high pressure pre-tensioning gas
A modern filling machine has one or more gas paths to accomplish one or more of these tasks. The need to control these gas paths introduces considerable complexity into the design of a filling machine.

Filling system and filling machine for filling containers


When a message contains an actionable request or question the invention measures a time til transmitted reply (TTTR). Replies which contain substantive answers such as dates, decisions, quantities, concurrence, or content are paired with their respective request for each sender-recipient directed dyad. The replies are categorized to the type of action taken in response to the request. The history of each dyad is examined to determine the relative importance each party ascribes to the other and a range of typical TTTR is stored. Questions, directives, and requests are discovered in a message by scanning for deadline words, calendar words, time words, urgency phrases, question words such as who what when, capability syntax, and agreement/disagreement alternatives. A user receives an alert when a response is nearly past a deadline or close to exceeding expected time to reply, immediately upon receipt, or both. An alert offers a potential response.

Field of the Invention
The disclosure relates to electronic message systems and transformation of a question, directive, or request into priority and content of a reply.
Background of the Related Technologies
Presently, email traffic is growing without bounds from both automated senders and individuals. Recipients are frustrated that each day includes many hours searching through their inbox for desired correspondence. As is known, RFC's 822, 2822, and 4021 describe use of headers for email such as "IN-REPLY-TO." Other less mature messaging systems are anticipated to converge toward similar standards for meta data.
One problem is that an abundance of low priority messages bury an action or question that a recipient would wish to prioritize.
What is needed is a method of discovering message requests which have been overlooked and smoothly returning them into scope or formulating suitably responsive replies.
What is needed is a more efficient way to answer an important request for information or action received from a preferred sender and eliminate undesired delay due to the ever-rising deluge of touches from lower affiliation message senders.

Discovering questions, directives, and requests from, and prioritizing replies to, a preferred message sender method and apparatus


A method and apparatus to prepare and deliver a gas mixture of constant composition of liquid chemical compounds soluble in liquid carbon dioxide to be used as an enhanced attractant for biting insects. The mixtures can be prepared in high pressure vessels where carbon dioxide remains liquified under its own vapor pressure or in low pressure vessels where carbon dioxide is kept liquid, at low pressure, by cooling it with a refrigeration unit. Direct vaporization of the liquid mixture from the vessels results in a gas mixture of constant composition. This mixture is to be delivered in a continuous or pulsed flow to an insect trap. These baited insect traps are an ecological alternative to chemical insecticide methods of insect control currently in use.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for preparing a liquid mixture of liquid carbon dioxide and a liquid chemical soluble in liquid carbon dioxide; to a method and apparatus for producing a flow of such liquid mixture; and to a method and apparatus for producing a flow of carbon dioxide gas containing vapor of such liquid chemical.
2. Discussion of the Background
Carbon dioxide is used as an attracting agent for removal trapping or destructive sampling of biting insects. The use of carbon dioxide together with certain other chemical compounds, for example, acetone or octenol, produces a synergistic effect greatly increasing the trapping results for certain insects.
Carbon dioxide is available as a liquified gas under its own vapor pressure of 5.7 MPa at 20.degree. C. in standard high pressure vessels containing 9 to 23 kg of carbon dioxide. Liquid carbon dioxide is also available from low pressure, insulated bulk vessels, where the pressure is kept low by maintaining the temperature at a suitable low level with a mechanical refrigeration unit. Low pressure vessels are available in capacities of 2,720 kg, 3,630 kg, 5,440 kg, 11,800 kg, 21,800 kg and 28,100 kg.
Liquid carbon dioxide is a very good solvent for many chemical compounds. This property is used to extract and recover chemical products from natural and synthetic mixtures. Acetone, for example, is completely soluble in liquid carbon dioxide. The solubility of octenol in liquid carbon dioxide is about 5% by weight.
Homogeneous mixtures of acetone or octenol in liquid carbon dioxide can be prepared in high or low pressure vessels provided the concentrations are kept below the solubility limits.
Currently, mixtures of acetone or octenol in carbon dioxide are prepared dynamically by metering a flow of gaseous carbon dioxide from a standard vessel and mixing it with acetone or octenol vapor obtained by evaporation from a wick in a liquid reservoir. The acetone or octenol concentration depends on the reservoir temperature, state of the wick and the stability of the carbon dioxide flow.
Homogeneous gas mixtures of acetone or octenol in gaseous carbon dioxide can be prepared in a vessel provided that the final pressure is below the vapor pressure of the carbon dioxide or the acetone or octenol, at the minimum exposed temperature of the vessel. This is to eliminate condensation of any component of the mixture. The final pressures are so low that the quantity of the mixture available from the vessels is very small.
Liquid mixtures of acetone or octenol in carbon dioxide would provide an easy method to store and to deliver the required quantities of homogeneous gas mixture, by using liquid withdrawal and followed by vaporization.

Method and apparatus for formation and delivery of insect attractant based on carbon dioxide


A tripod type constant velocity joint is disclosed. A tripod housing defines an opening, and is formed with three track grooves which are communicated with the opening and are uniformly spaced apart from one another in a circumferential direction. Each track groove has a contact groove formed in a side wall section thereof, and the contact groove has a bottom wall part which defines a guide surface. A spider is disposed in the opening of the tripod housing. The spider has three trunnions which project from an outer surface thereof to be inserted into the three track grooves, respectively. Three pairs of a needle roller, a spherical roller and a cylindrical roller are sequentially and diametrically fitted around the three trunnions of the spider, respectively. One portion of the guide surface of the contact groove is lengthened at its upper end and the other portion of the guide surface of the contact groove is lengthened at its lower end, such that the cylindrical roller comes into contact with the contact groove only at two contact points.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tripod type constant velocity joint mounted to drive axles of a car for transmitting power to drive wheels, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a tripod type constant velocity joint which can reduce frictional resistance generated between a tripod housing and a cylindrical roller which are in contact with each other.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, a constant velocity joint is mounted to drive axles connected to a final reduction gear in a front wheel drive car or a four wheel drive car and functions to transmit power to drive wheels. The constant velocity joint can transmit power due to the fact that a contact point between a drive shaft and a driven shaft exists on a line which bisects an angle between them.
A constant velocity joint consists of a sliding joint, a shaft and a fixed joint. The sliding joint is used for absorbing displacements in X and Y directions in a car, and examples of the sliding joint include a tripod type joint, a double offset type joint, a cross groove type joint, etc. The fixed joint is used for absorbing a steering angle of the car, and examples of the fixed joint include a Rzeppa type joint, a Birfield type joint, etc.
The present invention is concerned with a tripod type constant velocity joint, and therefore, a construction of a tripod type constant velocity joint of the prior art will be described hereinafter with reference to FIGS. 1 through 5.
A tripod type constant velocity joint mounted to drive axles connected to a final reduction gear in a car for transmitting power to drive wheels, as shown in FIGS. 1 through 3, includes a tripod housing 20 which defines an opening. The tripod housing 20 is formed with three track grooves 21 which are communicated with the opening and are uniformly spaced apart from one another in a circumferential direction. Each track groove 21 has a contact groove 22 formed in a side wall section thereof. The contact groove 22 has a bottom wall portion which defines a pair of guide surfaces P and Q which are parallel to each other. A spider 23 is disposed in the opening of the tripod housing 20 and has three trunnions 24 which project from an outer surface thereof to be inserted into the three track grooves 21, respectively. Three pairs of a needle roller 25, a spherical roller 26 and a cylindrical roller 27 are sequentially and diametrically fitted around the three trunnions 24 of the spider 23, respectively. By this, the cylindrical roller 27 is engaged into the contact groove 22. A striker-out 28 and a retainer ring 29 are locked to a threaded portion of each trunnion 24 above the needle roller 25. The striker-out 28 and the retainer ring 29 prevent the cylindrical roller 27 from being released.
In the tripod type constant velocity joint constructed as mentioned above, when the joint is rotated at a certain joint angle, the cylindrical roller 27 engaged into the contact groove 22 defined in the track groove 21 of the tripod housing 20 is rolled on the pair of guide surfaces P and Q of the contact groove 22, and at the same time, the spherical roller 26 absorbs an aligning movement of the cylindrical roller 27.
On the other hand, the cylindrical roller 27 is moved along the pair of guide surfaces P and Q of the contact groove 22 of the tripod housing 20 upon rolling as described above. According to this, as shown in FIG. 4, it is possible to control a direction over a specified angle .beta..
However, the tripod type constant velocity joint of the prior art suffers from defects in that since an upper end surface and a lower end surface of the cylindrical roller 27 are in contact with all of a left lower end contact point A1, a right lower end contact point A2, a right upper end contact point A3 and a left upper end contact point A4 formed in the contact groove 22 of the tripod housing 20 while performing a direction control over the specified angle .beta., a great deal of frictional resistance is generated between the cylindrical roller 27 and the tripod housing 20.
In other words, in the tripod type constant velocity joint as shown in FIG. 5, when assuming that F.sub.1, F.sub.2, F.sub.3, and F.sub.4 are frictional resistance at the contact points A1, A2, A3 and A4, respectively, and l.sub.1, l.sub.2, l.sub.3, and l.sub.4 are distances from a center of the cylindrical roller 27 to the contact points A1, A2, A3 and A4, respectively, since the upper end surface and the lower end surface of the cylindrical roller 27 are in contact with all contact points A1, A2, A3 and A4 formed in the contact groove 22, rotational friction moment M.sub.4 of the cylindrical roller 27 is described by M.sub.4 =F.sub.1 l.sub.1 +F.sub.2 l.sub.2 +F.sub.3 l.sub.3 +F.sub.4 l.sub.4, whereby the frictional resistance cannot but be increased.


Embodiments provide an apparatus, a method, a central unit and a computer program for determining information related to precoding. A mobile communication system (300) comprises one or more relay station transceivers (100) being configured, to provide wireless services to one or more mobile transceivers (200) of the mobile communication system (300) via a first radio channel. The one or more relay station transceivers (100) are configured to use wireless backhaul communication to communicate with a central, unit (400) of the mobile communication system (300) via a second radio channel. An apparatus (10) for determining information related to precoding in the mobile communication system (300) comprises one or more interfaces (12) configured to obtain, information related to the first radio channel or an. effective access channel, and to obtain information related to the second radio channel. The apparatus (10) further comprises a control module (14) configured to determine the information related to the precoding based on the information related to the first radio channel or the effective access channel, and based on the information related to the second radio channel.

This section introduces aspects that may be helpful in facilitating a better understanding of the invention(s). Accordingly, the statements of this section are to be read in this light and are not to be understood as admissions about what is in the prior art or what is not in the prior art.
With the increasing demand for data services, wireless systems tend to use more and more bandwidth and higher carrier frequencies. For example, Fifth Generation (5G) wireless access may be expected to embrace mm-Wave frequencies to provide multi-Gbps data rates, typically in femto, pico, or metro cell type of deployments. With deployment of a higher number of small cells costs for backhaul infrastructure are growing. Using wireless backhauls may reduce the costs but introduces further complexity and processing for the wireless backhaul links.
Some solutions use wired backhauls (e.g. coax or optical cables) for transferring the data of small cells to a central unit. In some scenarios a wired backhaul is not desired or not possible. In this case alternatives are wireless backhaul methods like mm-wave backhauls with multiple min-wave links or massive MIMO (Multiple-input-Multiple-Output) backhauls, where with the help of an array antenna multiple beams are transmitted to the individual small cells.
A wireless backhaul may introduce cross interference between the multiple radio links that use the same radio resources, which is reduced as much as possible using antenna arrays with a high number of antennas and corresponding complex processing. It is tried to reduce this cross interference as much as possible by increasing the directivity of the radio links, e.g. by increasing the antenna size of the mm-wave links or by increasing the number of antennas of the massive MIMO array antenna. It is desired to make the quality of the massive MIMO backhaul links good enough such that backhaul impairments do not significantly reduce the quality of the wireless access link.
As a result the effort for the massive MIMO wireless backhaul is high in order to reduce the cross interference of multiple backhaul links. A large number of antenna elements may be used, precise channel state information may be required and computational expensive beamforming algorithms (e.g. Zero Forcing (ZF)) are used. In some solutions, where analog RX-TX (Receive-Transmit) data of wireless cells are transported with a massive MIMO backhaul solution to a central unit that handles the data of multiple small cells, the cross interference of the backhaul link can reduce the quality of the wireless access links.
Document US 2014/0307702 A1 discloses a concept for a mobile communication system with a wireless backhaul using massive MIMO. Document US 2012/0300654 A1 describes a concept for channel estimation in a relaying scenario.

Apparatus, method, central unit and computer program for determining precoding information


A method of casting metal so that the finished casting will hold a precise dimension in certain critical areas in order to enable the finished casting to be used as a frame for objects such as coins and medallions which are die struck to precise dimensions. Means of and apparatus for rigidly maintaining the object inside the cast frame by inexpensive means which will not damage the object and which will allow the object to be easily removed from the frame if necessary.

Centrifugal casting of jewelry is a development and refinement of the very old lost-wax method of casting. The lost-wax process was used by the ancient Greeks and Chinese over two thousand years ago. In the 1930's the manufacturing jewelers in the United States discovered that they could use the lost-wax process for casting jewelery. This was made possible through the development of a means for rapidly duplicating a jewelry model in wax by means of a rubber mold.
To make duplicate wax patterns for lost-wax casting, a mold of the original metal model is needed. Rubber molds are used extensively by jewelry manufacturers for the mass production of jewelry because of the flexible and elastic nature of the rubber mold and because rubber molds can be used for many years to make thousands of intricate patterns.
The process of manufacturing the rubber mold is well known in the art. An aluminum mold frame is used, into which is placed unvulcanized rubber. The model from which a rubber mold is to be made can be brass, copper, silver, gold, platinum or any firm material with a melting point of approximately 150.degree. F. or more above the vulcanizing temperature (310.degree. F.) of the uncured rubber. A sprue rod, used to provide the hole in the rubber mold through which wax will be injected, is then soldered to the model. The model is placed inside the aluminum frame and packed with rubber by conventional means. The rubber is then vulcanized in the mold by a commercial electric vulcanizer. When the uncured rubber has been vulcanized, the entire frame is cooled and then the rubber mold is removed from the frame. The rubber mold is then cut in half at least a sufficient amount to enable the model to be removed and the rubber can also be cut by conventional and well known means to create an intricate design mold.
It is well known in the prior art to inject casting wax into the rubber mold by means of a wax injector or a centrifugal machine in order to obtain a wax pattern replica of the model. After the wax has been injected into the rubber mold, it is allowed to set for 2-3 minutes and then carefully removed.
The resulting wax pattern replica, when fully cooled, will be approximately 10 to 15 percent smaller than the original model made from metal. This variation in size is caused by a combination of factors: (1) the elasticity of the mold rubber itself which is packed and vulcanized under heat and pressure and then expands to an unpredictable and variable degree in all dimensions to fill the cavity when the original metal model is cut away and removed from the rubber to create the mold; (2) variations in mold clamping pressure and exactness of registration of mold parts, coupled with the differences in temperature and pressure at which the wax is repeatedly injected into the mold to form multiple wax patterns for production; (3) shrinkage of the wax itself during cooling; (4) distortion of the wax during handling to remove the wax pattern from the rubber mold. While it is possible to make the model oversize in order to partially compensate for shrinkage, it is impossible to produce a finished wax pattern which is absolutely precise when compared to the original metal model because of the unpredictability of these various factors.
A group of wax patterns can then be assembled on a master wax sprue to form a tree which can be surrounded with investment in order to form the final mold for casting metal such as gold. The investment can be a combination of plaster of paris and quartz, or it can be composed of cristobalite, gypsum, silicas, and modifying agents. The investment must possess the power to withstand the required high temperature to remove the wax and the higher temperature and pressure of the molten metal without cracking. The investment is prepared by traditional and well known methods and is placed in a bell jar and vacuumed to remove trapped air from the investment. The wax pattern tree is then surrounded with the investment. Wax is then eliminated (burned out) by heating the object in a furnace at 1300.degree. to 1400.degree. F.
Metal such as gold is then injected into the cavities formed in the investment when the wax patterns were burned out by well known centrifugal casting means. In one such method, a flask containing the formed investment is placed on the end of one arm of the machine and the nozzle of the crucible which holds the molten gold is placed into the sprue opening of the flask and the investment. The other end of the machine's arm has adjustable weights to balance the arm. The arm is rotated by use of an electric motor in order to develop the necessary centrifugal force which is outward or away from the center, and this force injects the molten gold into the investment cavity. All the gold in the crucible enters the flask on the first rotation, and the arm continues to spin so that the metal remains in the flask until it solidifies. After the gold has been cast, the flask is removed from the centrifugal casting machine and is permitted to cool.
The resulting casting will be approximately one percent (1%) dimensionally smaller than the wax pattern used to form the investment capacity. This is due to the combined factors of shrinkage of the investment compound and shrinkage during the solidification of the metal cast. Then the investment is broken away and the gold casting is finished and polished by conventional means.
While the above described method of centrifugal casting provides finished products of substantial beauty, the method does not permit the casting to be made within uniformly precise tolerances. In the manufacture of most items of jewelry, such exact precision is not required. However, if an item of jewelry is to be matched with a second item which has been stamped or die struck to exact measurements, the conventional method of lost wax centrifugal casting is inadequate. As discussed above, this is primarily due to the reduction in size of the wax pattern replica which cannot be precisely controlled by conventional means known in the above described prior art and in addition due to the shrinkage of the investment and the metal being cast.

Method of manufacturing and interlocking jewelry with precise preforms


Disclosed are a transformer circuit and a method of reducing idling power consumption. The transformer circuit comprises a transformer and an auxiliary winding circuit. The transformer comprises a core, a primary winding, a secondary winding and an auxiliary winding. The auxiliary winding circuit is connected to the auxiliary winding. The auxiliary winding circuit comprises a first power supply circuit and a second power supply circuit. The auxiliary winding comprises a first end, a second end and a tap located between the first end and the second end. The present invention can reduce idling power consumption.

The voltage of the secondary of the transformer tends to change in a larger range to satisfy the demands for the wide voltage output for the current transformer. For the transformers with an auxiliary winding, since the voltage outputted by the auxiliary winding is proportional to the voltage of the secondary winding of the transformer and as the voltage outputted by the transformer is lower, the voltage coupled on the auxiliary winding is also lower and the voltage outputted by the auxiliary winding is lower. Generally, the auxiliary winding supplies power to the chip via the auxiliary winding circuit. The auxiliary winding circuit generally comprises semiconductor components, such as a diode and a triode. As the voltage outputted by the auxiliary winding circuit is lower, the supply voltage of the chip is lower. The larger supply voltage of the chip will cause damage to the chip. Therefore, for avoiding the damage to the chip as the output voltage of the transformer is lower, a voltage stabilization diode is usually added in the auxiliary winding circuit for ensuring that the input voltage of the chip is not lower than the voltage of the voltage stabilization diode (for instance, the voltage stabilization value of the voltage stabilization diode is set to be 15V). However, after the voltage stabilization diode is configured and once the voltage outputted by the secondary winding of the transformer gets high, the voltage outputted by the corresponding auxiliary winding will rise and the input voltage of the auxiliary winding circuit will rise. With the configuration of the voltage stabilization diode, the output voltage of the auxiliary winding circuit is still maintained at the voltage of the voltage stabilization diode. The voltage drop between the input voltage and the output voltage of the auxiliary winding circuit increases. The voltage drop on the component (such as semiconductor components, such as a diode and a triode) in the auxiliary winding circuit will also increase correspondingly to result in the increase of the idling power consumption.

Transformer circuit and method of reducing idling power consumption

Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd


A handgrip with a built-in heater for a motorcycle in which an FPC heater is integrally embedded in a hollow cylindrical handgrip body made of rubber and exteriorly fitted to a handle pipe of a motorcycle. A heater circuit region of the handgrip body is constituted by a synthetic resin inner piece of a substantially hollow cylindrical shape with a hollow cylindrical or peripheral portion slotted, a plurality of grooves communicating with each other are formed on an inner peripheral surface of the inner piece, a rubber layer for making pressure contact with a pipe, formed integrally with a cladding rubber layer for covering the FPC heater extending on the outer peripheral surface of the inner piece, is filled in the grooves, and the inner piece is split into a plurality of pieces. Hence, the formation of the grooves on the inner peripheral surface of the inner piece is facilitated.

The present invention relates to a handgrip with a built-in heater and intended for use on a motorcycle or the like. More particularly, the invention relates to a handgrip with a built-in flexible printed circuit heater circuit (hereafter simply referred to as an FPC heater), which is a planar heater.
Conventionally, it has been known to incorporate a planar heater into the handgrips of a handlebar of a motorcycle to heat the handgrips as needed.
FIGS. 12 and 13 are cross-sectional views illustrating an example of a handgrip with a built-in heater of this type. (See Japanese Utility Model Application Laid-Open No. 60996/1993). Reference numeral 1 denotes a handgrip body which can be integrally fitted over and secured to a handle pipe 2 as the handle pipe 2 is inserted into the handgrip body 1. The handgrip body 1 has a structure in which a cladding layer 5 made of soft rubber is molded integrally over the outer periphery of a synthetic resin inner piece 3 having a semicircular cross section as well as appropriate rigidity, and around which an FPC heater 4 is wound. A rubber layer 6 for making pressure contact with the pipe is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the inner piece 3, thereby making it possible to positively hold and fix the handgrip body 1 onto the handle pipe 2.
With the handgrip shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, however, the FPC heater 4 extends around only about half the circumference of the handgrip 1 body, so that only about half the area of the handgrip body 1 is directly warmed.
To overcome this problem, as shown in FIG. 14, a handgrip with a built-in heater has been proposed in which an FPC heater 4 is wound around the outer peripheral surface of a substantially hollow cylindrical inner piece 3 having a peripheral portion 3a which is slotted, and the cladding rubber layer 5 is molded thereon. Also, though not shown, a handgrip with a built-in heater in which the inner piece 3 is formed in a hollow cylindrical shape has been proposed. Since the FPC heater 4 extends substantially over the entire periphery of the handgrip body, the rider's hand gripping the handgrip can be warmed efficiently.
In FIG. 14, reference numeral 7 denotes grooves which extend circumferentially and axially on the inner peripheral surface of the inner piece 3. The rubber layer 6 for making pressure contact with the pipe is filled in these grooves 7.
With the above-described conventional handgrip heater shown in FIG. 14, the grooves 7 filled by the rubber layer 6 for making pressure contact with the pipe need to be formed on the inner peripheral surface of the inner piece 3. However, since the inner piece 3 is of a hollow cylindrical or a substantially hollow cylindrical configuration, it is very difficult to form the grooves 7. The manufacture of a handgrip with a built-in heater has been troublesome for this reason.

Handgrip with built-in heater for motorcycle


A system for collecting data from a communications network includes customer premises equipment (“CPE”) for monitoring and storing response data. A CPE data collection module uses a Web-based service to collect information from the CPE and process the information to determine line quality and any errors that may exist on either the WAN side or the LAN side of the communications network, and further determine the root cause based on built-in business rules for trouble shooting customer service. The CPE conducts per-tone diagnostics on the WAN side of the communications network and obtains WAN side data. The CPE obtains response data from devices on the LAN side. Both WAN side data and LAN data may be transmitted substantially in real-time or stored and transmitted periodically to the CPE data collection module upon requests originated from the CPE data collection module.

1. Field of the Disclosure
This disclosure relates to monitoring networks by customer premises equipment.
2. Description of the Related Art
Data can be transmitted in a communications network over telephone lines using Digital Subscriber Line ("DSL") technology. On the provider side of the communications network, multiple DSL lines can be connected to a Digital Subscriber Line Access Multiplexer (DSLAM). The DSLAM and related equipment may be configured to collect data from the provider side of the communications network, but the data is limited.

Network monitoring by customer premises equipment


Methods and systems are provided for a close-coupled aftertreatment device. In one arrangement, a system may include an engine comprising separate first and second overall exhaust lines, where a blow-off line branches off of the second overall exhaust line, and where the close-coupled aftertreatment device is arranged in the blow-off line and configured to receive exhaust gases during at least a cold-start of the engine.

An internal combustion engine of the stated type is used as a motor vehicle drive unit. Within the context of the present disclosure, the expression "internal combustion engine" may encompass Otto-cycle engines and also hybrid internal combustion engines, which utilize a hybrid combustion process with applied ignition, and hybrid drives which comprise not only an applied-ignition internal combustion engine but also an electric machine which can be connected in terms of drive to the internal combustion engine and which receives power from the internal combustion engine or which, as a switchable auxiliary drive, additionally outputs power.
Internal combustion engines may comprise a cylinder block and at least one cylinder head which are connected to one another to form the cylinders and the combustion chambers thereof. The cylinder block, as the upper crankcase half, generally serves for the mounting of the crankshaft and for accommodating the piston and the cylinder sleeve of each cylinder.
The crankshaft which is mounted in the crankcase absorbs the connecting rod forces and transforms the oscillating stroke movement of the pistons into a rotational movement of the crankshaft. The upper crankcase half formed by the cylinder block is generally supplemented by the oil pan, which can be mounted on the cylinder block and which serves as the lower crankcase half.
The cylinder head may accommodate the valve drives used for the charge exchange. During the course of the charge exchange, the discharge of the combustion gases via the exhaust-gas discharge system takes place via the outlet openings, and the feed of the charge air via the intake system takes place via the inlet openings of the at least two cylinders.
Each lifting valve moves, so as to realize, that is to say perform, a maximum valve lift, between an open position and a closed position, and in so doing opens up the valve-specific opening for a certain opening duration during the opening process. The valve actuating mechanism desired for the movement of a valve, including the valve itself, is referred to as the valve drive.
The valve drive may open and close and/or shut-off the inlet opening and outlet opening at the correct times, with a fast opening of the largest possible flow cross sections to maintain the throttling losses in the inflowing and outflowing gases low in order to ensure improved charging of the cylinders and an effective discharge of the exhaust gases. Accordingly, the cylinders may be provided with two or more inlet and outlet openings.
The at least two cylinders of the internal combustion engine to which the present disclosure relates are equipped with at least one inlet opening and at least two outlet openings.
According to the previous examples, the intake lines which lead to the inlet openings, and the exhaust lines which adjoin the outlet openings, are at least partially integrated in the cylinder head. The exhaust lines of the cylinders may be merged to form one common overall exhaust line, or else, as in the internal combustion engine according to the disclosure, in groups to form two overall exhaust lines. The merging of exhaust lines to form an overall exhaust line is referred to as an exhaust manifold, wherein, within the context of the present disclosure, the overall exhaust line is regarded as belonging to the exhaust manifold.
Downstream of the manifolds, the exhaust gases may be supplied, for the purposes of supercharging, to the turbine of at least one exhaust-gas turbocharger, and/or to one or more exhaust-gas aftertreatment systems. In some cases, exhaust gas is recirculated into the intake system.
In the case of the internal combustion engine to which the present disclosure relates, exhaust gas originating from the cylinders is supplied, for supercharging purposes, via a first overall exhaust line to the turbine of at least one exhaust-gas turbocharger, and is subjected to exhaust-gas aftertreatment downstream of the turbine. A second overall exhaust line may connect the cylinders at the outlet side to the intake system upstream of the compressor of the at least one exhaust-gas turbocharger. Here, the exhaust lines of the cylinders are configured so as to form two groups, each group comprising at least one exhaust line from each cylinder, and the exhaust lines of each group merging, in each case with the formation of an exhaust manifold, to form an overall exhaust line.
Internal combustion engines of this type, and methods for operating such internal combustion engines, are described for example in the German laid-open specification DE 10 2016 111 686 A1. In one variant of DE 10 2016 111 686 A1, it is for example possible for the exhaust gas of a first group to be introduced into the intake system downstream or upstream of a compressor of an exhaust-gas turbocharger and/or fed to a turbine of the exhaust-gas turbocharger, whereas the exhaust gas of a second group can be introduced upstream of the compressor and/or fed to the turbine. It is sought to achieve improved knocking control and improved scavenging or purging of the cylinders with fresh air, while at the same time, when desired, maintaining a stoichiometric air ratio during the exhaust-gas aftertreatment. The latter may relate to exhaust-gas aftertreatment (e.g., three-way catalytic converters). An acceleration of the exhaust-gas turbocharger can likewise be realized via an increase of the gas throughput through the cylinders.
The advantage of an exhaust-gas turbocharger in relation to a supercharger, which is driven via an auxiliary drive, consists in that an exhaust-gas turbocharger utilizes the exhaust-gas energy of the hot exhaust gases, whereas a supercharger draws the energy needed for driving it directly or indirectly from the internal combustion engine and thus adversely affects, that is to say reduces, the efficiency, at least for as long as the drive energy does not originate from an energy recovery source. If the supercharger is not one that can be driven via an electric machine, that is to say electrically, a mechanical or kinematic connection for power transmission may be arranged between the supercharger and the internal combustion engine, which also adversely affects or determines the packaging in the engine bay.
An exhaust-gas turbocharger comprises a compressor and a turbine which are arranged on the same shaft. The hot exhaust-gas flow may be fed to the turbine and expands in the turbine with a release of energy, as a result of which the shaft is set in rotation. The energy released by the exhaust-gas flow to the turbine and ultimately to the shaft is used for driving the compressor which is likewise arranged on the shaft. The compressor delivers and compresses the charge air supplied to it, as a result of which supercharging of the at least two cylinders is obtained. A charge-air cooling arrangement may be provided to cool the compressed charge air before it enters the cylinders.
Supercharging may increase the power of the internal combustion engine. Here, the air used for the combustion process is compressed, as a result of which a greater air mass can be supplied to each cylinder per working cycle. In this way, the fuel mass and therefore the mean pressure can be increased. Supercharging may increase the power of an internal combustion engine while maintaining an unchanged swept volume, or for reducing the swept volume while maintaining the same power. In all cases, supercharging leads to an increase in volumetric power output and a more expedient power-to-weight ratio. If the swept volume is reduced, it is possible, given the same vehicle boundary conditions, to shift the load collective toward higher loads, at which the specific fuel consumption is lower.
Supercharging consequently assists in the efforts to minimize fuel consumption of an internal combustion engine, that is to say to improve the efficiency of the internal combustion engine.
A suitable transmission configuration may provide downspeeding, whereby a lower specific fuel consumption is likewise achieved. In the case of downspeeding, use is made of the fact that the specific fuel consumption at low engine speeds is generally lower, in particular in the presence of relatively high loads.
With targeted configuration of the supercharging, it is also possible to obtain advantages with regard to the exhaust-gas emissions. With suitable supercharging for example of a diesel engine, the nitrogen oxide emissions can therefore be reduced without any losses in efficiency. At the same time, the hydrocarbon emissions can be positively influenced. The emissions of carbon dioxide, which correlate directly with fuel consumption, decrease in any case with falling fuel consumption.
To be able to adhere to limit values for pollutant emissions in future, further measures in addition to supercharging are necessary, for which reason use is generally made of various exhaust-gas aftertreatment systems for converting the pollutants.
The internal combustion engine to which the present disclosure relates is equipped not only with the supercharging arrangement but also with an exhaust-gas aftertreatment arrangement.
It may be desired to arrange the turbine of an exhaust-gas turbocharger as close as possible to the outlet openings of the cylinders to increasingly utilize the exhaust-gas enthalpy of the hot exhaust gases, which is determined significantly by the exhaust-gas pressure and the exhaust-gas temperature, and to allow a fast response behavior of the turbine and thus of the turbocharger. Furthermore, the close-coupling may minimize the thermal inertia and the volume of the line system between the outlet openings of the cylinders and of the turbine, which may be achieved by reducing the mass and the length of the exhaust lines. Here, the integration of the exhaust manifolds into the cylinder head is expedient in achieving this aim.
The various exhaust-gas aftertreatment systems may desire certain minimum temperatures in order to be able to convert the respective pollutants, for which reason exhaust-gas aftertreatment systems should also be positioned in as close-coupled a position as possible. With regard to the arrangement of a turbine and of an exhaust-gas aftertreatment system, there is thus a conflict of aims, wherein the turbine may be given the higher priority, as is the case in the internal combustion engine of the present disclosure.
The conversion of the pollutants during the course of the exhaust-gas aftertreatment may be less than a threshold during a cold-start, owing to the relatively great distances that the exhaust gases covers from the exhaust valve outlet openings to the exhaust-gas aftertreatment systems, wherein the turbine functions, and is to be regarded, as an additional temperature sink.
The inventors recognize the above described issues and have come up with a way to at least partially solve them. In one example, a supercharged internal combustion engine having three cylinders in an in-line arrangement, in which internal combustion engine each cylinder has at least one inlet opening for the feed of charge air via an intake system and at least two outlet openings for the discharge of exhaust gas via an exhaust-gas discharge system, each outlet opening being adjoined by an exhaust line, at least one exhaust-gas turbocharger is provided which comprises a turbine arranged in the exhaust-gas discharge system and a compressor arranged in the intake system, the exhaust lines are configured so as to form two groups, each group comprising at least one exhaust line from each cylinder, and the exhaust lines of each group merging, in each case with the formation of an exhaust manifold, to form an overall exhaust line, the first overall exhaust line of a first group opens into the turbine of the at least one exhaust-gas turbocharger, the second overall exhaust line of a second group opens into the intake system upstream of the compressor of the at least one exhaust-gas turbocharger, and at least one exhaust-gas aftertreatment system is provided in the exhaust-gas discharge system downstream of the turbine of the at least one exhaust-gas turbocharger, and which internal combustion engine is distinguished by the fact that a discharge of exhaust gas via the first overall exhaust line can be prevented, and a blow-off line is provided in which a shut-off element is arranged and which branches off, with the formation of a first junction, from the exhaust manifold of the second group and which opens, with the formation of a second junction, into the exhaust-gas discharge system downstream of the turbine of the at least one exhaust-gas turbocharger, an accumulator for unburned hydrocarbons being provided in the blow-off line.
In the case of the internal combustion engine according to the disclosure, exhaust gas originating from the exhaust manifold of the second group can be conducted, via the blow-off line, past the turbine of the exhaust-gas turbocharger. An accumulator for unburned hydrocarbons is provided in the blow-off line.
In one example, during the warm-up phase, in particular during a cold start, for the exhaust gas to be treated in a close-coupled position and in accordance with demand, wherein unburned hydrocarbons situated in the exhaust gas are collected and stored in the accumulator provided according to the disclosure.
For this purpose, the discharge of exhaust gas via the first overall exhaust line is prevented, that is to say suppressed via a shut-off element in the exhaust-gas discharge system upstream or downstream of the turbine. Alternatively, the discharge of exhaust gas via the first overall exhaust line can be prevented by equipping the outlet openings of the first group with switchable valves, and deactivating the valves. The introduction of exhaust gas into the intake system may be stopped, for example by closing a shut-off element provided in the second overall exhaust line.
By opening the shut-off element provided in the blow-off line, the blow-off line is opened up for the exhaust gas originating from the second exhaust manifold, and the accumulator for unburned hydrocarbons is charged with exhaust gas.
The unburned hydrocarbons collected in the accumulator can then be released again, and oxidized, under other operating conditions. The unburned hydrocarbons collected in the accumulator are preferably introduced into the exhaust-gas discharge system with the exhaust gas flowing through the blow-off line, and oxidized using a catalytic converter in the exhaust-gas discharge system.
Since no exhaust gas is discharged from the cylinders via the first overall exhaust line during the warm-up phase, the outlet valves belonging to the outlet openings of the second group may be actuated with regard to an effective charge exchange. That is to say, the outlet openings of the second group may be opened such that the maximum valve lift Δhmax is realized in each case in a compression phase of the associated cylinder.
When the internal combustion engine has warmed up, when the exhaust gas is discharged from the cylinders predominantly via the first overall exhaust line, the outlet valves of the second group can also, as desired, be opened such that the maximum valve lift Δhmax is realized in each case upon the transition from the compression phase into an expansion phase of the associated cylinder; in some cases at the charge exchange top dead center.
By doing this, emissions from the internal combustion engine may decrease.
According to the previous examples, the exhaust lines of three-cylinder in-line engines are seldom grouped, because three-cylinder in-line engines may be poorly suited to grouping, in particular cylinder grouping. The merging of the exhaust lines according to the disclosure however avoids these issues.
The internal combustion engine according to an example has exactly three cylinders in an in-line arrangement. The internal combustion engine according to the disclosure is thus a three-cylinder in-line engine.
Embodiments of the supercharged internal combustion engine may further comprise where each cylinder has at least two inlet openings for the supply of charge air via the intake system.
Through the provision of large flow cross sections, the throttling losses in the inflowing charge air can be kept low, and desired charging of the cylinders can be maintained. It may therefore be desired for the cylinders to be equipped with more than one inlet opening, that is to say with at least two inlet openings.
Based on similar or analogous considerations, embodiments of the supercharged internal combustion engine may further comprise where each cylinder has three outlet openings for discharging exhaust gas via the exhaust-gas discharge system, the exhaust lines from two outlet openings per cylinder jointly forming the exhaust manifold of the first group. This may allow an effective discharge of the exhaust gas during the course of the charge exchange.
During normal operation of the warmed-up internal combustion engine (e.g., outside of a cold-start), the cylinders are evacuated primarily via the outlet openings or the exhaust lines of the first group. That is to say, the predominant exhaust-gas fraction is discharged from the cylinders via the first overall exhaust line via the first group of exhaust valves.
The exhaust lines of two outlet openings per cylinder may jointly form the exhaust manifold of the first group, that is to say open into the first overall exhaust line. Then, specifically, a larger inlet cross section, specifically two outlet openings, is provided for the exhaust-gas path via the first overall exhaust line.
For the reasons stated above, embodiments of the supercharged internal combustion engine are also advantageous in which the outlet openings belonging to the exhaust lines of the first group have a larger diameter than the outlet openings belonging to the exhaust lines of the second group.
This embodiment of the outlet openings assigns the or a larger inlet cross section to the exhaust-gas path via the first overall exhaust line, with a larger diameter of the outlet opening.
Embodiments of the supercharged internal combustion engine may comprise where the blow-off line opens, with the formation of the second junction, into the exhaust-gas discharge system upstream of an exhaust-gas aftertreatment system provided in the exhaust-gas discharge system.
If the blow-off line is opened with exhaust gas flowing therethrough, unburned hydrocarbons collected in the accumulator can be released again. The released unburned hydrocarbons pass together with the exhaust gas into the exhaust-gas discharge system at the second junction, and can in the present case be converted or oxidized in the exhaust-gas aftertreatment system provided downstream of the second junction. This is desired if the exhaust-gas aftertreatment system used is a three-way catalytic converter.
Nevertheless, the blow-off line may also open, with the formation of the second junction, into the exhaust-gas discharge system downstream of an exhaust-gas aftertreatment system provided in the exhaust-gas discharge system or else between two exhaust-gas aftertreatment systems, wherein the two exhaust-gas aftertreatment systems may also be exhaust-gas aftertreatment systems of the same type, for example two three-way catalytic converters.
Embodiments of the supercharged internal combustion engine may comprises where a shut-off element is provided in the exhaust-gas discharge system between the turbine of the at least one exhaust-gas turbocharger and the second junction for preventing the discharge of exhaust gas via the first overall exhaust line.
Embodiments of the supercharged internal combustion engine may further comprise where a shut-off element is provided in the exhaust-gas discharge system upstream of the turbine of the at least one exhaust-gas turbocharger for preventing the discharge of exhaust gas via the first overall exhaust line.
The above embodiments may use a shut-off element for adjusting the discharge of exhaust gas via the first overall exhaust line, wherein the shut-off element can be provided, or is to be provided, in the exhaust-gas discharge system upstream of the turbine or between the turbine and the second junction.
Embodiments of the supercharged internal combustion engine may comprise where the outlet openings belonging to the exhaust lines of the first group are each equipped with an at least partially variably actuatable outlet valve, which outlet valves can be deactivated for the purposes of shutting off the associated outlet opening and prevent the discharge of exhaust gas via the first overall exhaust line.
Embodiments of the supercharged internal combustion engine may comprise where a shut-off element is provided in the second overall exhaust line downstream of the first junction.
The introduction of exhaust gas into the intake system may be stopped by closing a shut-off element provided in the second overall exhaust line, when exhaust gas originating from the cylinders is discharged via the blow-off line and the discharge of exhaust gas via the first overall exhaust line is prevented, that is to say stopped.
The shut-off element provided in the second overall exhaust line may adjust the recirculation rate of an exhaust-gas recirculation arrangement.
Embodiments of the supercharged internal combustion engine may comprise where a cooler is provided in the second overall exhaust line downstream of the first junction.
The second overall exhaust line may be used for the recirculation of combustion gases from the outlet side to the inlet side, that is to say in the context of exhaust-gas recirculation, for the purposes of reducing nitrogen oxide emissions. To obtain a considerable reduction in nitrogen oxide emissions, high exhaust-gas recirculation rates may be desired, which may be of the order of magnitude of xEGR≈60% to 70% or more. Such high recirculation rates may desire cooling of the exhaust gas for recirculation, where the temperature of the exhaust gas is reduced and the density of the exhaust gas increased, so that a greater mass of exhaust gas can be recirculated. Consequently, an exhaust-gas recirculation arrangement may be equipped with a cooler. During the cooling process, condensate can form, which is precipitated in the cooler.
Embodiments of the supercharged internal combustion engine may comprise where a charge-air cooler is provided in the intake system downstream of the compressor of the at least one exhaust-gas turbocharger, where the charge-air cooler may cool the compressed charge air before it enters the at least two cylinders. The cooler lowers the temperature and thereby increases the density of the charge air, such that the cooler also contributes to improved charging of the cylinders, that is to say to a greater air mass. In effect, compression by cooling occurs.
Embodiments of the supercharged internal combustion engine may comprise where at least one three-way catalytic converter is provided, for the purposes of exhaust-gas aftertreatment, in the exhaust-gas discharge system downstream of the turbine of the at least one exhaust-gas turbocharger.
To reduce the pollutant emissions, internal combustion engines may be equipped with various exhaust-gas aftertreatment systems. Even without additional measures, oxidation of the unburned hydrocarbons (HC) and of carbon monoxide (CO) duly takes place during the expansion and discharge of the cylinder charge at a sufficiently high temperature level and in the presence of sufficiently large oxygen quantities. However, on account of the exhaust-gas temperature which falls quickly in the downstream direction, and the consequently rapidly decreasing rate of reaction, the reactions may be quickly halted.
For these reasons, use is made of catalytic reactors which, through the use of catalytic materials which increase the rate of certain reactions, allow an oxidation of HC and CO even at low temperatures. If nitrogen oxides are additionally to be reduced, this can be achieved by the use of a three-way catalytic converter, which however for this purpose utilizes stoichiometric operation (λ≈1) of the internal combustion engine within narrow limits. Here, the nitrogen oxides are reduced via the non-oxidized exhaust-gas components which are present, specifically the carbon monoxides and the unburned hydrocarbons, wherein the exhaust-gas components may be oxidized at the same time.
In internal combustion engines which are operated with an excess of air, the nitrogen oxides contained in the exhaust gas may not be reduced without introduction of a reducing agent in the exhaust gas. For the oxidation, oxidation catalytic converters are then provided in the exhaust-gas discharge system.
Embodiments of the supercharged internal combustion engine may comprise where the second exhaust valves corresponding to the second overall exhaust line are each equipped with an at least partially variably actuatable outlet valve, the outlet valve oscillating between an open position and a closed position, so as to realize a maximum valve lift Δhmax, and in the process opening up the associated outlet opening for the opening duration Δtmax during an opening process, and the opening process being capable of being advanced and/or retarded.
During some operations of the warmed-up internal combustion engine outside of a cold-start, when the valves of all of the cylinder openings are active and actuated, the actuation of the second outlet valves may be performed with the aim of recirculating exhaust gas or gas into the intake system upstream of the compressor. Additionally or alternatively, the second outlet valves may be actuated in response to a loading of an accumulator arranged in a blow-off line branching from the second overall exhaust line.
By contrast, during the warm-up phase and/or the cold-start, when no exhaust gas is discharged from the cylinders via the exhaust-gas discharge system via the first overall exhaust line, the outlet valves of the second group are correspondingly actuated, for an effective charge exchange. That is to say, the second exhaust valves may open at a time similar to an opening of the first exhaust valves outside of a cold-start. For this purpose, it may be possible for the opening process of the second exhaust valves to be advanced during the cold-start and/or warm-up phase. That is to say, the outlet openings of the second group are opened earlier, specifically such that the maximum valve lift Δhmax is realized in each case in the compression phase of the charge exchange of the associated cylinder.
When the warm-up phase and/or cold-start is complete, the opening process of the second exhaust valves may be retarded and the first exhaust valves may be activated. The maximum valve lift Δhmax is then realized in each case in the expansion phase of the charge exchange of the associated cylinder, or upon the transition from the compression phase into the expansion phase, possibly at the charge exchange top dead center. In other words, the second exhaust valves may open at a transition between an exhaust stroke and an intake stroke of a piston.
Embodiments of the supercharged internal combustion engine may comprise where the turbine of the at least one exhaust-gas turbocharger is in the form of a wastegate turbine, a bypass line branching off from the exhaust-gas discharge system upstream of the turbine and a shut-off element being provided in the bypass line.
Embodiments of the supercharged internal combustion engine may comprise where the turbine of the at least one exhaust-gas turbocharger has a variable turbine geometry, which permits extensive adaptation to the respective operating point by adjusting the turbine geometry or of the effective turbine cross section. Here, guide blades for influencing the flow direction may be arranged upstream of the impeller of the turbine. In contrast to the impeller blades of the rotating impeller, the guide blades do not rotate with the shaft of the turbine, that is to say with the impeller. The guide blades are arranged so as to be stationary but not so as to be completely immovable, rather so as to be rotatable about their axis such that the flow approaching the impeller blades can be influenced. In contrast, if the turbine has a fixed, invariable geometry, the guide blades are not only stationary but are also completely immovable, that is to say rigidly fixed, if a guide device is provided at all.
Embodiments of the supercharged internal combustion engine may comprise where the exhaust lines of the at least two cylinders merge to form the two overall exhaust lines within a cylinder head.
The cylinder head of a supercharged internal combustion engine is basically a component that is subject to high thermal and mechanical loading. In particular, with the integration of the exhaust manifolds, the thermal loading of the internal combustion engine and of the cylinder head is increased yet further, such that increased demands are to be placed on the cooling arrangement. Embodiments of the supercharged internal combustion engine may desired where a liquid-type cooling arrangement is provided.
A method for operating a supercharged internal combustion engine of a type described above, is achieved via a method comprising during the warm-up phase after a start of the internal combustion engine the discharge of exhaust gas via the first overall exhaust line is prevented, and exhaust gas originating from the second exhaust manifold is introduced via the blow-off line into the exhaust-gas discharge system downstream of the turbine of the at least one exhaust-gas turbocharger, unburned hydrocarbons situated in the exhaust gas being collected and stored in the accumulator.
For the operation of a supercharged internal combustion engine in which a shut-off element is provided in the second overall exhaust line downstream of the first junction, method variants may comprise where the shut-off element is held closed during the warm-up phase to decrease exhaust-gas recirculation flow. The shut-off element provided in the second overall exhaust line may however basically also serve, during the warm-up phase, for the setting of the exhaust-gas quantity recirculated into the intake system.
Method variants may further include where once the internal combustion engine has warmed up, the blow-off line is opened up for the purposes of oxidizing the unburned hydrocarbons collected in the accumulator.
In this context, method variants may comprise where the unburned hydrocarbons collected in the accumulator are released and introduced with exhaust gas into the exhaust-gas discharge system, the unburned hydrocarbons being oxidized using a three-way catalytic converter. As described above, by opening the second exhaust valves during the charge-exchange outside of the cold-start, a sufficient amount of air and exhaust gas may flow through the accumulator to the three-way catalytic converter to oxidize the unburned hydrocarbons.
For the operation of a supercharged internal combustion engine in which the outlet openings belonging to the exhaust lines of the second group are each equipped with an at least partially variably actuatable outlet valve, the outlet valve oscillating between an open position and a closed position, so as to realize a maximum valve lift Δhmax, and in the process opening up the associated outlet opening for the opening duration Δtmax during an opening process, and the opening process being capable of being advanced and/or retarded, method variants may comprise where, during the warm-up phase, the outlet valves belonging to the outlet openings of the second group are opened such that the maximum valve lift Δhmax is realized in each case in a compression phase of the associated cylinder.
In this context, method variants may comprise when the internal combustion engine has warmed up, the outlet valves belonging to the outlet openings of the second group are opened such that the maximum valve lift Δhmax is realized in each case upon the transition from the compression phase into an expansion phase of the associated cylinder.
It should be understood that the summary above is provided to introduce in simplified form a selection of concepts that are further described in the detailed description. It is not meant to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter, the scope of which is defined uniquely by the claims that follow the detailed description. Furthermore, the claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any disadvantages noted above or in any part of this disclosure.


Disclosed are methods for extending the cycle life of solid, secondary electrolytic cells employing a solid electrolyte having at least about 100 ppm water which methods involve an initial, substantially constant, high rate discharge of the fabricated, charged electrolytic cell.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is directed to methods for extending the cycle life of solid, secondary electrolytic cells employing a solid electrolyte having less than about 100 ppm water and to the electrolytic cells produced by this method.
2. State of the Art
Electrolytic cells comprising an anode, a cathode and a solid, solvent-containing electrolyte are known in the art and are usually referred to as "solid electrolytic cells". One class of solid electrolytic cells are rechargeable (secondary) lithium cells which comprise a solid electrolyte interposed between an anode comprising lithium and a cathode which comprises materials suitable for recycling (recharging) the cell after discharge.
A solid, secondary battery typically comprises several solid, secondary electrolytic cells wherein the current from each of the cells is accumulated by a conventional current collector so that the total current generated by the battery is roughly the sum of the current generated from each of the individual electrolytic cells employed in the battery. Such an arrangement enhances the overall current produced by the solid, secondary battery to levels which render such batteries commercially viable.
However, one problem encountered with the use of solid, secondary electrolytic cells in such batteries is limited cycle life for the battery, i.e., the number of rechargings the battery can accept before the battery is no longer able to maintain acceptable levels of capacity. Specifically, the cycle life of the solid, secondary battery is related to the cycle lives of the individual electrolytic cells comprising the battery. In general, when one of the electrolytic cells in the battery ceases to maintain acceptable levels of capacity, the battery must drain more current from the remaining electrolytic cells so as to produce the same overall level of current from the battery which results in a reduction of the capacity of the remaining electrolytic cells in the battery. In turn, this results in a significant reduction in the cycle life of these cells and hence that of the battery.
Accordingly, in order to extend the cycle life of the battery at a given level of anodic material, it is necessary to extend the cycle lives of the individual electrolytic cells comprising the battery. It goes without saying that methods for increasing the cycle life of solid, secondary electrolytic cells would greatly facilitate their widespread commercial use.

Methods for extending the cycle life of solid, secondary electrolytic cells using a spiked discharge


The present invention relates to a nonrotating billboard of a rotation body which is attached on a surface of a rotation center of a vertical rotation member such as vehicle wheel, fan, etc. for showing a nonrotating state of a pattern, emblem or advertisement irrespective of a rotation of a rotation body. The nonrotating billboard includes a housing rotated together with the rotation member, a billboard member having a surface on which a billboard is formed installed in the housing and rotatable relative thereto while maintaining an upright state through use of a weight member. The nonrotating billboard further includes a friction prevention unit for maintaining a free state of the billboard member such that the billboard is restricted from contacting the housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nonrotating billboard of a rotation body, and in particular to a nonrotating billboard of a rotation body which is attached on a surface of a rotation center of a vertical rotation member such as vehicle wheel, fan, etc. for thereby showing a nonrotating state of a pattern, emblem or advertisement irrespective of a rotation of a rotation body.
2. Description of the Background Art
A cover is attached to the surface of a rotation body engaged to a rotary shaft such as a vehicle wheel, fan, etc. for thereby covering fixtures such as a bolt for fixing the rotation body to the rotary shaft, so that it is possible to implement a better outer appearance of the rotation body.
A certain pattern, character or advertisement of a company is protruded on the surface of a cover of the rotation body or a certain printed matter is attached thereon for thereby advertising a company. In particular, in the case of a wheel cover attached to the vehicle wheel, the fixture capable of fixing the wheel is covered, and the outer appearance of the wheel is integral with respect to the outer appearance of the body, so that it is possible to implement a better outer appearance of the vehicle.
Since the above rotation body cover does not receive a direct load from the rotary shaft, the rotation body cover is formed of a light material such as a synthetic resin material or aluminum.
Since the conventional cover attached to the rotation body such as a wheel cover of a vehicle or a fan cover of a fan is attached to the rotation body and is integrally rotated with the rotation body, when the rotation body is rotated, it is impossible to recognize a certain pattern(or advertisement) formed on the surface of the same.
In the case of the conventional vehicle wheel cover, a certain billboard such as an emblem of a vehicle fabrication company is protrudely formed on the surface of the same. When the vehicle runs, since the billboard is rotated at a high speed together with the wheel, it is impossible to recognize the billboard. Therefore, the billboard is visible only when the vehicle is stopped.
The Korean Utility Model No. 2000-7039 discloses xe2x80x9cNonrotating wheel coverxe2x80x9d for overcoming the problems of the conventional vehicle wheel cover.
The nonrotating wheel cover includes a balance weight below the center and is fixed to a hub of a wheel by a fixing unit which includes a lubrication unit formed of a carbonic rotation friction material and a ceramic fixing friction material. Therefore, in the case that the wheel is rotated, the wheel cover is not rotated by the balancing operation of the balancing weight and the lubrication operation of the lubrication unit, so that the billboard such as an emblem or advertisement protruded on or attached to the surface of the same is visible.
However, when the vehicle moves, the conventional nonrotating wheel cover does not maintain a fully stopped state due to a limitation in a lubricating operation of the lubrication unit, an air resistance flown over the surface, or because the wheel cover is severely moved in the forward or backward direction. In any or all of the foregoing situations, the wheel cover is rotated together with the wheel, thereby hampering visibility of the billboard. Therefore, in the above conventional wheel cover, it is impossible to implement a clear billboard state of the advertisement on the surface.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a nonrotating billboard of a rotation body which overcomes the problems encountered in the conventional art.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a nonrotating billboard of a rotation body which is attached to a surface of a rotation body such as a vehicle wheel or a fan that is capable of covering the inner fixtures and implementing a clear state of a billboard such as an emblem or an advertisement formed on the surface of the same even when the rotation body is rotated.
To achieve the above objects, there is provided a nonrotating billboard of a rotation member which includes a housing attached to a center of a rotation body and rotated together with the rotation member, a billboard member which has a surface on which a billboard is formed and includes a weight member below the weight center and is installed in the housing based on a relative rotation method and maintains an upright state by the weight of the weight member, and a friction prevention unit for maintaining a free state of the billboard member from the housing in a nonrotating state by preventing the billboard member from being contacted with the housing.
There is further provided a cover which covers the billboard member in such a manner that a billboard is exposed to the outside and is contacted with the housing and protects the billboard member.
The friction prevention unit includes a plurality of magnetic strips which are attached to each surrounding portion of the housing, billboard member and cover in such a manner that the same poles of the magnetic strips are opposite to each other for generating a repulsive force with respect to each other, so that the billboard member does not contact the housing and the cover.
The billboard member is relatively rotatable with respect to the housing in such a manner that a through hole formed in the center portion of the same is inserted onto a fixing pin installed in the center portion of the housing.


An object is to perform connection control for a wireless layer appropriate for service execution in an application layer.

In recent years, there have been a growing number of cases where an electronic device, such as a digital camera or a printer, is equipped with a wireless LAN station function, connected to a wireless LAN, and used as a communication device. For example, Patent Literature (PTL) 1 discloses a method in which a digital camera is equipped with a wireless LAN function to facilitate image sharing.
The Wi-Fi Alliance established a standard called Wi-Fi Direct (registered trademark). The Wi-Fi Direct defines a protocol that determines whether each electronic device operates as a wireless LAN access point or a wireless LAN station. Executing the protocol can automatically determine which electronic device serves as a wireless LAN access point and which electronic device serves as a wireless LAN station, and this improves user convenience.
A function (service discovery function) that searches for the content of a service provided in an application layer by another device is defined as an optional function of the Wi-Fi Direct. The service discovery function improves user convenience, because it enables the user to obtain information about a service provided by an electronic device, which is a connection partner, before execution of connection processing.

Communication device, method for controlling the communication device, and program

Abstract: A communication device determines to operate as an access point when serving as a device that provides a service in an application layer, whereas the communication device operates as a station when serving as a device that receives a service in the application layer.


The present invention relates to a prosthesis (1) for hernia repair comprising a reinforcement layer (2), a first barrier layer (3) of anti-adhesion material covering at least a part of a surface of the reinforcement layer, and a second barrier layer of anti-adhesion material covering a remaining part of the surface of the reinforcement layer, the second barrier layer being formed of one or more flap member(s) (4).

The present invention relates to a prosthesis, for example a prosthesis for treating hernias of the abdominal wall, comprising a reinforcement layer capable of promoting tissue ingrowth, and two barrier layers capable of preventing post-surgical adhesions on the prosthesis and on the fixing means provided for fixing the prosthesis on the abdominal wall.


An improved method and apparatus for detecting leaks in pipelines using cross-correlation techniques including improved correlating circuitry featuring a pair of circulating delay lines for respectively receiving, temporarily storing and processing in a revolving sequence samples of input data obtained from a pair of remotely positioned sensors, a multiplying circuit for causing samples input to each channel to be multiplied by each sample stored in the circulating delay line associated with the other channel, an adder and accumulator memory for accumulating the multiplication results, and a display for displaying the correlation results.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to pipeline leak detection methods and apparatus, and more particularly to an improved method and apparatus for quickly and accurately locating the source of a leak in a pipeline utilizing improved cross-correlation techniques which allow the entire length of pipe between two sensors to be scanned without requiring use of a fixed delay or reversal of sensor inputs.
2. Brief Description of the Prior Art
It has long been known that water or any other fluid escaping from a pressurized pipe produces a characteristic noise which is propagated along the pipe with a constant velocity in both directions away from the leak location. It is likewise known that by placing sensors on opposite sides of the leak, the leak noise will be received at different times depending upon the distance of each sensor from the leak. Since the propagating velocity can easily be determined the location of the leak can be determined as a function of the time difference. In the U.S. Pat. No. 4,083,229 to Alan Anway, a cross-correlation measurement technique is disclosed wherein one signal is progressively delayed relative to the other while the apparatus continues to compare the similarity between the two signals. This enables the device to measure the difference in travel time T.sub.d of the leak noise to the respective sensors. By determining the velocity of sound for the particular piperline under test and using the distance between the sensors, the apparatus can compute the leak position in accordance with the following formula: EQU L=[D-(V.times.T.sub.d)]/2
where L is the leak position, D is the overall distance between the sensors, V is the velocity of sound in the pipeline medium, and T.sub.d is the transit time difference.
One of the problems associated with such prior art correlation techniques is that, in order to scan the entire length of the pipe between the two sensors, a fixed delay must be introduced into one of the input data streams, or means must be provided for switching the device inputs. Not only does this add additional complexity to the apparatus, but it also means that a certain delay is introduced into the operational function before meaningful data can be accumulated.

Method and apparatus for detecting leaks in pipelines using cross-correlation techniques


A liquid crystal display device contains a liquid crystal panel and a light transmission member disposed below the liquid crystal panel. A reflection sheet is disposed below the light transmission member and a light source is disposed adjacent to one end of the light transmission member. A reflector encases the light source. The periphery of the reflector has reflection walls and forms an opening continuous with the reflection walls. Light direction control walls are formed near the opening of the reflector to control the direction of the light from the light source. The light direction control walls cut off light directed in directions other than a predetermined set of directions. An inner surface of the light direction control walls is composed of reflection layers formed from a different material from the material that forms the reflection walls.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a liquid crystal display device for guiding light from a backlight source to a light transmission member and irradiating a liquid crystal panel, and more specifically, to the improvement of the brightness of the liquid crystal panel.
2. Description of the Related Art
As shown in FIG. 11, a conventional ordinary liquid crystal display device is arranged such that: successively laminated on the back surface of a liquid crystal panel 31 are a protection/diffusion sheet 32; two lens sheets 33 disposed under the protection/diffusion sheet 32 for improving the brightness of light; a diffusion plate 34 disposed under the lens sheets 33 for diffusing the light; a light transmission member 35 composed of an acryl resin or the like and disposed below diffusion plate 34, a light transmission member reflection pattern 35b formed on the bottom surface of the light transmission member 35 by silk print or when the light transmission member is molded for reflecting the light upward; and a reflection sheet 36 disposed under the light transmission member 35 for reflecting the light upward. Further, a backlight source 38 composed of a cold cathode fluorescent lamp (CCFL) or the like is disposed in a lamp holder 37 on the one end surface 35a of the light transmission member 35 and a U-shaped reflection film 39 is held in the lamp holder 37 on the upper, lower and back sides of the backlight source 38 to reflect the light from the backlight source 38 forward.
The above respective components are held by an upper holder 40 and a lower holder 41 as a frame member.
The light from the backlight source 38 and the light reflected at the reflection film 39 are irradiated to the one end surface 35a of the light transmission member 35 positioned forward of the backlight source 38 and the light from the end surface 35a is entered into the light transmission member 35. Then, the incoming light can reach every point in the light transmission member 35 while irregularly reflecting therein.
The incoming light which irregularly reflects in the light transmission member 35 is reflected at the light transmission member reflection pattern 35b on the bottom surface of the light transmission member 35, the reflection sheet 36 under the light transmission member 35 and so on in an approximately vertical direction and emerges from the upper surface of the light transmission member 35.
At the time, the light from the backlight source 38 also emerges from the upper surface of the of the portion of the light transmission member 35 which is located on the other end surface (not shown) side thereof which is apart from the backlight source 38.
The light emerged from the upper surface of the light transmission member 35 is caused to pass through the diffusion plate 34, the lens sheets 33, the protection/diffusion sheet 32 on the lens sheets 33 and so on so that it can irradiate the effective display area 31a of the liquid crystal panel 31 from the backside thereof.
In the liquid crystal display device described above, however, the light which irradiates the liquid crystal panel 31 includes two kinds of light beams. One of the light beams, that is, a first light beam is such that when the light which emerges from the backlight source 38 and the reflection film 39 and travels straight in an approximately horizontal direction enters the light transmission member 35, the light irregularly reflects in the light transmission member 35 and the thus irregularly reflected light is reflected at the light transmission member reflection pattern 35b on the bottom surface of the light transmission member 35, the reflection sheet 36 under the light transmission member 35 and so on while changing its direction approximately perpendicularly to the light transmission member 35, then emerges upward from the upper surface of the light transmission member 35 and irradiates the entire surface of the effective display area 31a of the liquid crystal panel 31 from the backside thereof.
Whereas, the other of the light beams, that is, a second light beam is such that when an oblique light beam A shown by the arrow in FIG. 11 emerges from the backlight source 38 and the reflection film 39 obliquely upward with respect to the end surface 35a of the light transmission member 35 and enters the light transmission member 35, the oblique light beam A passes through the light transmission member 35 straight in an obliquely upward direction without irregularly reflecting in it, emerges from the light transmission member 35 and irradiates, in addition to the first light beam, the portion of the effective display area 31a which is shown in the schematic plan view of the liquid crystal display device in FIG. 12 and located near to the edge 31b thereof in the vicinity of the backlight source 38, for example, the portion of the effective display area 31a within the range of 10 mm from the edge 31b of the liquid crystal panel 31.
Since the portion of the effective display area 31a within the range of 10 mm from the edge 31b of the liquid crystal panel 31 is irradiated by the composite light beam composed of both the first and second light beams, the above portion of the effective display area 31a is brighter than the other portion thereof and "glittering state" emission lines 31c are generated. Accordingly, there is a problem that the brightness of the effective display area 31a of the liquid crystal panel 31 is made uneven.
As a coutermeasure to cope with the above problem, the conventional liquid crystal display device has a black or gray colored portion 36a formed thereto by print or the like within the range of approximately 10 mm, which is near to the backlight source 38, of the reflecting surface of the reflection sheet 36 under the light transmission member 35 to absorb a part of the first light beam so that the generation of the emission lines 1c is prevented by lowering the brightness of the effective display area 31a within the range of approximately 10 mm thereof near to the edge 31b.
In the conventional liquid crystal display device, however, since the "glittering state" emission lines 31c which are generated to the effective display area 31a of the liquid crystal panel 31 are prevented by the provision of the black or gray colored portion 36a formed within the range of approximately 10 mm near to the backlight source 38 of the reflection sheet 36, there is a problem that the surface brightness in the liquid crystal display area is lowered, although there is an effect that the light of the backlight source 38 is partly absorbed by the colored portion 36a and the quantity of light emerged upward from the light transmission member 35 is reduced and the generation of the emission lines is prevented.
As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, another conventional liquid crystal display device has a reflector 59 whose interior is formed to a U-shape so as to encase a backlight source 38.
A reflecting surface 59b to which glossy processing is applied is formed to the interior of the opening 59a of the reflector 59 so that the reflecting surface 59b reflects the light irradiated from the backlight source 38 forward and irradiates the end surface 55a of a light transmission member 55.
Further, a case portion 59c on which the aforesaid respective components are placed is formed to the reflector 59 integrally therewith. The respective members are held by the reflector 59 having the case portion 59c and an upper holder 40 acting as a frame member.
According to the liquid crystal display device arranged as described above, in the liquid crystal panel 31 shown in FIG. 12 which shows the schematic plan view of the liquid crystal display device, there is a second light beam, that is, a reflected light beam C1 which irradiates, in addition to the above first light beam, the portion of the effective display area 31a of the liquid crystal panel 31 which is located near to the edge portion 31b in the vicinity of the backlight source 38, for example, the portion of the effective display area 31a of the liquid crystal panel 31 within the range of 10 mm from the edge 31b.
The behavior of second light beam or the reflected light beam C1 is such that since the above portion of the effective display area 31a is located near to the backlight source 38, when an oblique light beam C shown by the arrow in FIG. 13 irradiates the surface of a reflection sheet 56 within the range of 10 mm from the end surface 56a thereof, it is reflected at the reflection sheet 56 and the thus reflected light beam C1 passes through the light transmission member 55 straight in an obliquely upward direction without irregularly reflecting therein and emerges from the upper surface of the light transmission member 55 so as to irradiate the portion of the effective display area 31a within the range of 10 mm from the edge portion 31b of the liquid crystal panel 31.
The second light beam includes, in addition to the reflected light beam C1, a reflected light beam D1 which irradiates the portion the effective display area 31a within 10 mm from the edge 31b of the liquid crystal panel 31. The behavior of the reflected light beam D1 is such that when an oblique light beam D irradiates the lower plane portion 59d of the reflecting surface 59b of the reflector 59, in which the backlight source 38 is encased, on the side thereof near to the light transmission member 55, the oblique light beam D is reflected upward at the lower plane portion 59d and when the thus reflected light beam D1 enters the light transmission member 55 from the end surface 55a, it passes through the light transmission member 55 likewise the reflected light beam C1 and emerges from the upper surface of the light transmission member 55 so as to irradiate the portion of the effective display area 31a within the range of 10 mm from the edge portion 31b of the liquid crystal panel 31.
As a result, since the portion of the effective display area 31a within the range of 10 mm from the edge 31b of the liquid crystal panel 31 is irradiated by the composite light beam composed of the first and second light beams, the portion is made brighter than the other area. Thus, there is a problem that the brightness of the effective display area 31a of the liquid crystal panel 31 is made uneven by the generation of "glittering state" emission lines 31c.
As a coutermeasure to cope with the above problem, the conventional liquid crystal display device has a light: quantity control portion 56b of, for example, black or gray formed by print or the like to the reflection sheet 56 under the light transmission member 55 within the range of 10 mm from the end surface 56a thereof for partly absorbing the second light beam so that the generation of the emission lines 1c is prevented by lowering the brightness of the effective display area 31a of the liquid crystal panel 31 within the range of approximately 10 mm thereof which is located near to the edge 31b as shown in FIG. 14.
In the aforesaid conventional liquid crystal display device, since the light quantity control portion 56b composed of the colored portion of for example, black or gray is formed by print or the like to the reflection sheet 56 within the range of 10 mm from the end surface 56a thereof as shown in FIG. 14 to absorb the oblique light beams from the backlight source 38, the reflected light beam C1 resulting from the oblique light C can be absorbed. However, since the oblique light beam D irradiating the lower plane portion 59d of the reflecting surface 59b is not absorbed, it emerges as the reflected light beam D1. Thus, there is caused a problem that since the brightness of the effective display area 31a of the liquid crystal panel 31 is made uneven and the emission lines 31c are generated and accordingly it is difficult to discriminate characters etc. displayed on the effective display area 31a.


A communication system includes a transmission path through which an optical signal is propagated; and dispersion slope imparting sections provided on a transmitting side and a receiving side of the transmission path, the dispersion slope imparting sections imparting different dispersion and dispersion slope characteristics in accordance with a wavelength band of the optical signal, wherein the dispersion and dispersion slope characteristics imparted by the dispersion slope imparting section on the transmitting side is different from those on the receiving side.

In an optical communication system, chromatic dispersion generated in an optical fiber, which is a component of an optical transmission path, induces waveform distortions in optical signals. In order to assure a satisfactory signal quality, chromatic dispersion accumulated while an optical signal is transmitted through the optical transmission path is compensated for on the receiving side.
Further, as the transmission distance of optical signals is increased, the influence of the wavelength dependency of chromatic dispersion (dispersion slope) cannot be ignored. In other words, in order to suppress waveform distortions, the values of chromatic dispersion to be compensated for in channels on a shorter wavelength side is different from those in channels on a longer wavelength side.
An example optical transmission path may be configured from a transmission fiber, such as a non zero-dispersion shifted fiber (NZ-DSF), and a dispersion compensating fiber (DCF). In this configuration, with the wavelength dependency of the chromatic dispersion (dispersion slope) of 0.1 ps/nm/km/nm, the transmission path length of the optical transmission path of 10000 km, and the light wavelength in a range from 1545 nm to 1555 nm, the chromatic dispersion in the optical transmission path deviates in a range of 10000×0.1×10=10000 ps/nm.
In other words, even when the dispersion at a light wavelength of 1550 nm is as small as +0 ps/nm/km, chromatic dispersion deviates in a range of 10000 ps/nm for light ranging from 1545 nm to 1555 nm.
The following Patent Reference 1 discloses a dispersion compensation device.    Patent Reference 1: WO 2001/006682

Communication system, dispersion slope imparting section, and method for communicating


The present disclosure provides a data reception method, a data transmission method, a data reception device and a data transmission device for device-to-device (D2D) communication, so as to enable a UE to receive data from a transmitting UE in the case that the UE does not know resource pool configuration information of the transmitting UE. The data reception method includes steps of: detecting control information from a transmitter using each set of locally-stored resource pool configuration information; determining resource pool configuration information used by the transmitter in accordance with the detected control information; and receiving data information from the transmitter in accordance with the determined resource pool configuration information and the control information.

For a traditional cellular communication technology, its data communication procedure between two User Equipments (UEs) is shown in FIG. 1, where services such as voice and data services are interacted between the two UEs through base stations (common base stations or evolved Nodes B (eNBs)) where the two UEs reside respectively as well a core network.
D2D communication technology, i.e., direct communication technology between the UEs, refers to a technology where data is transmitted between the adjacent UEs within a short range through a direct link, rather than being forwarded by a central node (e.g., a base station), as shown in FIG. 2.
There exist the following advantages for the D2D communication.
1. Through the short-range, direct communication mode between the UEs, it is able to acquire a high data transmission rate, a low time delay and low power consumption. 2. By use of the communication terminals widely distributed in a network and a short-range characteristic of a D2D communication link, it is able to improve the utilization of spectrum resources efficiently. 3. It is able for the D2D communication mode to meet the local data sharing requirement for services such as peer-to-peer (P2P) services, thereby to provide the data services in a flexible manner. 4. It is able for the D2D communication mode to utilize a large quantity of the communication terminals widely distributed in the network, thereby to expand the network coverage.
As shown in FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c and 3d, there mainly exist four application scenarios for the D2D communication, and these application scenarios may also be combined in any way. For the D2D communication, a UE1 and a UE2 may be located within or outside the network coverage, and one of them may be taken as a transmitter or a reception UE relative to the other. In the scenario as shown in FIG. 3a, the UE1 and UE2 are both located outside the network coverage; in the scenario as shown in FIG. 3b, the UE1 is located within the network coverage, while the UE2 is located outside the network coverage; in the scenario as shown in FIG. 3c, the UE1 and UE2 are located within the coverage area of an identical base station; and in the scenario as shown in FIG. 3d, the UE1 and UE2 are located within the coverage area of different base stations.
Apart from the one-to-one communication mode between the UEs, the D2D communication may typically include D2D multicast or broadcast communication, which may be used for public security applications, such as fire-fighting, rescue and anti-terrorist operations.
In the related art, the UEs within the network coverage may transmit and receive data in accordance with resource pool configuration information configured by the network, and the UEs outside the network coverage may transmit and receive data in accordance with predetermined resource pool configuration information. In the case that the D2D communication is applied to a scenario where merely one of the UEs is located within the network coverage or a scenario where the UEs are located within the coverage area of different cells, there is no scheme about how one of the UEs can receive the data from a transmitting UE when it does not know the resource pool configuration information of the transmitting UE.

Data reception method, data transmission method and data reception device for device-to-device communication

CHINA ACADEMY OF TELECOMMUNICATIONS TECHNOLOGY