A system and method for proxying Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“DHCP”) network services for a network device, such as, a customer premise equipment entity, on a network device, such as, a cable modem, include creating a specialized proxy task for the customer premise equipment entity on the cable modem. One method of the present invention includes intercepting DHCP message flow between a customer premise equipment having a specialized proxy task created on the cable modem and a DHCP server selected by the customer premise equipment entity. The methods further include modifying lease time intervals prior to providing a routable network address lease to a customer premise equipment entity and renewing an initial lease for the customer premise equipment entity by a cable modem prior to expiration of the lease time interval provided by a DHCP server. The methods include using known protocols, such as, for example, the Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol.

Cable television networks such as those provided by Comcast Cable Communications, Inc., of Philadelphia, Pa., Cox Communications of Atlanta Ga., Time-Warner Cable, of Marietta Ga., Continental Cablevision, Inc., of Boston Mass., and others, provide cable television services to a large number of subscribers over a large geographical area.
The cable television networks typically are interconnected by cables such as coaxial cables or a Hybrid Fiber/Coaxial ("HFC") cable system which have data rates of about 10 Mega-bits-per-second ("Mbps") to 30+ Mbps.
The Internet, a world-wide-network of interconnected computers, provides multi-media content including audio, video, graphics and text that requires a large bandwidth for downloading and viewing. Most Internet Service Providers ("ISPs") allow customers to connect to the Internet via a serial telephone line from a Public Switched Telephone Network ("PSTN") at data rates including 14,400 bps, 28,800 bps, 33,600 bps, 56,000 bps and others that are much slower than the about 10 Mbps to 30+ Mbps available on a coaxial cable or HFC cable system on a cable television network.
With the explosive growth of the Internet, many customers have desired to use the larger bandwidth of a cable television network to connect to the Internet and other computer networks. Cable modems, such as those provided by 3Com Corporation of Santa Clara, Calif., Motorola Corporation of Arlington Heights, Ill., Cisco Corporation of San Jose, Calif., Scientific-Atlanta, of Norcross, Ga., and others, offer customers higher-speed connectivity to the Internet, an intranet, Local Area Networks ("LANs") and other computer networks via cable television networks. These cable modems currently support a data connection to the Internet and other computer networks via a cable television network with a data rate of up to 30+ Mbps, which is a much larger data rate than can be supported by a modem used over a serial telephone line.
Many cable television networks provide bi-directional cable systems, in which data is sent "downstream", from a "headend" to a customer, as well as "upstream", from the customer back to the headend. The cable system headend is a central location in the cable television network and, further, is responsible for sending cable signals in the downstream direction and receiving cable signals in the upstream direction. An exemplary data-over-cable system with RF return typically includes customer premises equipment entities such a customer computer, a cable modem, a cable modem termination system, a cable television network, and a data network such as the Internet.
Some cable television networks provide only uni-directional cable systems, supporting only a "downstream" data path, which provides a path for flow of data from a cable system headend to a customer. A return data path via a telephone network, such as a public switched telephone network provided by AT&T and others, (i.e., a "telephone return") is typically used for an "upstream" data path, which provides a path for flow of data from the customer back to the cable system headend. A cable television system with an upstream connection to a telephone network is typically called a "data-over-cable system with telephony return."
An exemplary data-over-cable system with a telephony return typically includes customer premise equipment ("CPE") entities (such as a customer computer or a Voice over Internet Protocol ("VoIP") device), a cable modem, a cable modem termination system, a cable television network, a public switched telephone network, a telephone remote access concentrator, and a data network (e.g., the Internet). The cable modem termination system and the telephone remote access concentrator combined are called a telephone return termination system.
If the customer premises equipment entity comprises a telephone or a device capable of sending and receiving video or voice signals, the cable modem has to be capable of sending and receiving such signals. In such cases, the cable modem typically comprises an internal media terminal adapter, which provides a network interface functionality that accepts analog voice inputs or video signal and generates IP packets using the Real Time Transport Protocol, for instance.
In a bi-directional cable system, when a cable modem termination system receives data packets from a data network, the cable modem termination system transmits received data packets downstream via the cable television network to a cable modem attached to a customer premises equipment entity. The customer premises equipment entity sends response data packets to the cable modem, which sends the response data packets upstream via the cable network. The cable modem termination system sends the response data packets back to the appropriate host on the data network.
In the case of a telephony return system, when a cable modem termination system receives data packets from a data network, the cable modem termination system transmits the received data packets downstream via a cable television network to a cable modem attached to a customer premises equipment entity. The customer premises equipment entity sends response data packets to the cable modem, which sends response data packets upstream via a public switched telephone network to a telephone remote access concentrator. Next, the telephone remote access concentrator sends the response data packets back to the appropriate host on the data network. When a cable modem used in a cable system is initialized, the cable modem establishes a communication link to a cable modem termination system via a cable network and, in telephony return data-over-cable systems, to a telephone return termination system via a public switched telephone network. As the cable modem is initialized, the cable modem initializes one or more downstream channels via the cable network. Also upon initialization, the cable modem receives a configuration file (a boot file) from a configuration server via a trivial file-transfer protocol ("TFTP") exchange process.
The configuration file may include a plurality of configuration parameters encoded in a type-length-value format ("TLV"), for instance. The configuration file may comprise a plurality of Class-of-Service ("CoS") and Quality-of-Service ("QoS") parameters. The Class of Service parameters include, for example, maximum allowed data rates, minimum reserved data rate, maximum latency and a plurality of other parameters. The Quality of Service parameters include, for example, parameters defining delays expected to deliver data to a specific destination, a level of protection from unauthorized monitoring or modification of data, an expected residual error probability, a relative priority associated with data and a plurality of other parameters.
Upon a receipt of a configuration file, a cable modem may register with a cable modem termination system. To do that, the cable modem may send to the cable modem termination system a registration request message comprising a copy of the configuration file including a plurality of QoS and CoS parameters.
Similarly to a cable modem, a customer premise equipment entity obtains network access parameters such as an IP address of a network interface via which the customer premise equipment entity may send and receive data from a data network. Typically, a customer premise equipment entity receives an IP address from a network server such as a Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol server. Further, as is known in the art, when a network server provides an IP address for a customer premise equipment entity, the server typically leases that address for a predetermined period of time, and the customer premise equipment entity has to renew the lease prior to the lease's expiration. It is often desirable that a customer premise equipment entity receives the same IP address upon the lease renewal. However, when an original lease of a customer premise equipment entity expires during the time when the customer premise equipment entity is turned off, there is a very low probability that the customer premise entity receives the same IP address upon sending a lease renewal request to a designated network server.
Further, during a mass re-registration following a headend system failure, the network activity on network servers providing network services to customer premise equipment entities often exceeds acceptable loads, and many customer premise equipment entities may not be able to renew their leases for a longer time. Additionally, when many customer premise equipment entities try to acquire network services at the same time, the upstream bandwidth usage may exceed acceptable limits.
Further, as is known in the art, there are two types of IP addresses that are assigned to network devices. A public access IP address is typically used to reach network devices such as mail servers located on other networks, and may not be used to access public networks. Typically, cable modems are assigned private access IP addresses and may not access network devices on public networks. However, in some applications, it would be desirable to provide a cable modem with an ability to access network devices or servers on public networks. Further, it is desirable to develop a system and method that would allow for longer retention of IP address leases at a customer premise equipment entity and reduction of a traffic load on a network server providing services to many customer premise equipment entities.

System and method for a specialized dynamic host configuration protocol proxy in a data-over-cable network


A display device includes a display section displaying instruction information to be instructed to users in an instruction information display region provided corresponding to the instruction information, a touch panel capturing an instruction represented by the instruction information displayed in the instruction information display region, in response to a users' touch operation to a touch detection region provided corresponding to the instruction information display region, and a control section performing a predetermined operation control based on the instruction information inputted through the touch panel. The instruction information display region is provided in an upward zone within the touch detection region.

The present disclosure relates to a display device equipped with a touch detection function, and a display program and a display method used for the display device.
In recent years, display devices are drawing attention in which a touch detection device, which is so-called touch panel, is mounted on the display device such as a liquid display device, and various button images or the like are displayed on the display device, making an information input possible as an alternative to commonly used mechanical buttons. Such a display device equipped with a touch panel does not necessitate an input device such as a keyboard, a mouse, and a keypad, so that it is increasingly used in a computer as well as in a mobile information terminal such as a mobile phone or the like.
Some methods have been proposed to improve the user operability of such a display device. For example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-37344 discloses a touch panel in which, in the case where a touch panel is operated from the side, not the front, or in the case where an operation button is hard to be viewed due to the dark indoor environment, the gap between a displayed button and a position actually touched is measured, and a touch detection region corresponding to the displayed button is expanded on the basis of the measured gap. Meanwhile, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-192573 discloses an information-processing device in which, in the case where a scroll bar is operated and the region corresponding to the scroll bar is touched, the width of the scroll bar is expanded.

Display device, display program, and display method


A solventless or high solids-containing organopolysiloxane composition curable to produce a pressure sensitive adhesive having high tack and hig peel adhesion, comprising (A) a toluene soluble, resinous copolymer comprising R.sub.3 SiO.sub.1/2 units and SiO.sub.4/2 units; (B) an alkenyl-terminated polydiorganosiloxane having a viscosity of from about 10 to about 500 centipoise at 25.degree. C.; (C) from 0 to about 90 mole % of a hydride-terminated organohydrogenpolysiloxane having a viscosity of from about 10 to about 1000 centipoise at 25.degree. C.; (D) from about 10 to about 100 mole % of a hydrogen-containing polydiorganosiloxane crosslinking agent; the combined average hydride equivalent weight of (C) and (D) being at least 1500 grams/silicon-bonded hydrogen atom; the mole percentages of (C) and (D) being based on the total silicon-bonded hydrogen content of (C) and (D); the total of (B), (C) and (D) being from about 25 to about 50 parts by weight; the total of (A), (B), (C) and (D) being 100 parts by weight; the ratio of silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms in (C) and (D) to olefinically unsaturated radicals in the total of (A) and (B) being in the range of from about 1.1:1 to about 15.0:1; (E) a catalytic amount of a hydrosilation catalyst; and (F) from 0 to about 40% by weight of an organic solvent.

The present invention relates to silicone compositions suitable for forming pressure sensitive adhesive compositions. More particularly, the present invention relates to low viscosity, addition-curable silicone compositions which have a high solids content and which cure to form pressure sensitive adhesive compositions having excellent tack and peel adhesion properties.
The term "pressure sensitive adhesive" (PSA) as used herein refers to adhesives that can be adhered to a surface and yet can be stripped from the surface without transferring more than trace quantities of adhesive to the surface, and can be readhered to the same or another surface because the adhesive retains some or all of its tack and adhesive strength.
Silicone pressure sensitive adhesives have an excellent adhesive strength, tack, and cohesive strength, which are the properties required of a pressure sensitive adhesive. In addition, they also have the heat resistance, cold resistance, electrical properties, and the like, characteristic of silicones, and so are widely used for electrical-insulating tape, which must be highly reliable, and for various pressure-sensitive products which must be resistant to hot and cold.
A drawback associated with the use of silicone pressure sensitive adhesives is the use, handling, and emission of flammable and volatile organic compounds, e.g., organic solvents, in the preparation of the pressure sensitive adhesives from compositions containing high levels of organic solvent. Solvent is generally used for the purpose of reducing the viscosity of the composition to a level which renders the curable composition processable. It is desirable, therefore, to provide solventless or high solids containing (i.e., low solvent-containing) polydiorganosiloxane compositions for use in the preparation of pressure sensitive adhesives.
Another drawback associated with conventional pressure sensitive adhesives is the requirement for a high temperature, e.g., 165.degree. C., to effectively cure the pressure sensitive adhesive using a peroxide catalyst. Such pressure sensitive adhesives cannot be used on substrates sensitive to high temperatures, for example, polyolefin-backed substrates, due to their temperature incompatibility.
Addition-curable silicone compositions capable of curing to form pressure sensitive adhesive compositions are known in the art.
European Patent Application No. 0355991 (Boardman) is directed to a pressure sensitive adhesive composition having a high solids content, i.e., typically in excess of 95% by weight, preferably in excess of 98% by weight, comprising (a) a benzene soluble resinous copolymer consisting of R.sup.1 R.sup.11 R.sup.111 SiO.sub.1/2 units and SiO.sub.4/2 units and containing silicon-bonded hydroxyl radicals ranging from 1 to 4 percent by weight of the copolymer, (b) a diorganoalkenylsiloxy endblocked polydiorganosiloxane, (c) a diorganohydrogensiloxy endblocked polydiorganosiloxane, (d) a crosslinking agent, and (e) a hydrosilation catalyst. The crosslinking agent used in Boardman is selected from low and high molecular weight polyorganosiloxanes having the general formulae ##STR1## wherein each R.sup.6 represents a monovalent saturated hydrocarbyl group, n and m are each numbers from 0 to about 1000, p represents 3 or 4, Z is a vinyl radial or hydrogen, and M is a silyl group selected from R.sup.a R.sup.b R.sup.c Si and R.sup.d R.sup.e ZSi, wherein R.sup.a, R.sup.b, R.sup.c, R.sup.d, and R.sup.e are each monovalent saturated hydrocarbyl groups. The ratio of the total number of alkenyl groups present in (d) and (b) to the total number of silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms present in (d) and (c) ranges from 0.8 to 1.2, i.e., the ratio of the total number of silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms to the total number of alkenyl groups ranges from 0.83-1.25:1. The Examples presented in Boardman show that the pressure sensitive adhesives prepared therein had low to moderate tack properties. The Boardman patent does not teach that useful pressure sensitive adhesive properties (especially tack) can be obtained at SiH/SiVinyl ratios of greater than 1.25:1. It would be desirable to provide solventless or high solids-containing pressure sensitive adhesives having higher tack properties as well as high peel adhesion. Furthermore, the Boardman patent does not disclose the connection between the combined hydride equivalent weight of the hydride-containing polydiorganosiloxane crosslinker and the hydride-terminated polydiorganosiloxane fluid and the ultimate PSA properties.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,983,298 (Hahn et al.) is directed to a composition suitable for use as a pressure sensitive adhesive and obtained by mixing components consisting essentially of (a) 50-60 parts by weight of a solid, benzene-soluble resin copolymer consisting essentially of R.sub.3 SiO.sub.1/2 units and SiO.sub.4/2 units, (b) 40-50 parts by weight of a vinyl-terminated polydiorganosiloxane having a viscosity of from 20,000 to 100,000 centipoise at 25.degree. C., (c) a hydrogen-containing organopolysiloxane in an amount sufficient to provide from 1.0 to 20.0 silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms of every olefinically unsaturated radical in the total of (a) plus (b), and (d) a platinum-containing catalyst. It is pointed out in Hahn et al. that compositions of the prior art based on mixtures of a benzene soluble resin copolymer containing R.sub.3 SiO.sub.1/2 units and SiO.sub.4/2 units (hereinafter somtimes referred to as "MQ resin") and low viscosity silicones do not form pressure sensitive adhesive compositions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,774,297 (Murakami et al.) teaches the preparation of pressure sensitive adhesives using vinyl functional polysiloxanes having even higher viscosity than those used in the Hahn et al. patent discussed above. The patent to Murakami et al. is directed to a composition suitable for forming a pressure sensitive adhesive having excellent tack and adhesive strength, comprising (A) 30-70 parts by weight of a vinyl-terminated polydiorganosiloxane having a viscosity of at least 500,000 centipoise at 25.degree. C., (B) 70-30 parts by weight of an organopolysiloxane containing R.sub.3 SiO.sub.1/2 units and SiO.sub.4/2 units, (C) an organohydrogensiloxane in an amount sufficient to provide 1-20 silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms per alkenyl group, (D) a platinum-containing catalyst, and (E) from 25-400 parts by weight of an organic solvent. In order to obtain a satisfactory product, Murakami et al. teach that it is essential that the vinyl polymer have a viscosity of at least 500,000 centipoise and preferably at least one million centipoise at 25.degree. C.
European Patent Application No. 0269454 (Murakami et al.) discloses a composition suitable for forming a pressure sensitive adhesive having excellent tack and adhesive strength and comprising an alkenyl group-containing silicone polymer, a tackifying silicone resin, an organohydrogensiloxane, and a platinum-containing catalyst. According to the Murakami et al. (Murakami) reference, there is no specific restriction on the molecular weight of the alkenyl group-containing silicone polymer as long as no adverse effect accruses with respect to the workability of the pressure sensitive adhesive composition. If the pressure sensitive adhesive composition is solventless, the viscosity of the alkenyl group-containing silicone polymer is no more than 100,000 centipoise at 25.degree. C. In a solvent-containing composition, the alkenyl group-containing silicone polymer should have a viscosity of at least one million centipoise at 25.degree. C. The organohydrogenpolysiloxane should be present in an amount sufficient to provide 1 to 40 silicon-bonded hydrogen atoms per alkenyl group in the composition. The patent to Murakami et al. does not disclose a pressure sensitive adhesive composition using low viscosity vinyl-functional silicones wherein the composition has excellent peel adhesion and high tack properties.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,779 (Medford et al.) disclose a composition suitable for forming a pressure sensitive adhesive, the composition having a solvent content of no more than 5-10% by weight and comprising from 30 to 50 parts of a vinyl endblocked polydiorganosiloxane fluid having a viscosity of from 500 to 10,000 centipoise at 25.degree. C., from 50 to 70 parts of a benzene soluble resin copolymer containing R.sub.3 SiO.sub.1/2 units and SiO.sub.4/2 units, an organopoly-siloxane having silicon bonded hydrogen atoms, and a platinum catalyst. The hydrogen-containing organopolysiloxane is present in an amount sufficient to provide from 1.0 to 30.0 silicon bonded hydrogen atoms for every olefinically unsaturated radical in the composition. Although the composition disclosed in the Medford et al. patent uses a low viscosity vinyl-functional silicone, it is continually desirable to provide pressure sensitive adhesive compositions which use even lower viscosity vinyl-functional silicones.
It is continually desirable to provide solventless or high solids-containing, addition-curable polydiorganosiloxane compositions which cure to yield silicone pressure sensitive adhesives having high tack and excellent peel adhesive strength. It is further desirable to provide solventless or high solids-containing, addition-curable silicone pressure sensitive adhesive compositions which can be cured at relatively low temperatures to yield silicone pressure sensitive adhesives having high tack and excellent peel adhesive strength.
In the present invention, it was found that an addition-curable silicone composition containing a vinyl-terminated polydiorganosiloxane having a viscosity of less than 500 centipoise at 25.degree. C. can be cured at relatively low temperature to form pressure sensitive adhesives with both high tack and high peel adhesion, if a particular type of external hydride crosslinking agent is used, if the combined average hydride equivalent weight of the hydride crosslinking agent and the hydride silicone fluid in the addition-curable composition are within a certain range, and if the ratio of silicon-bonded hydrogen groups to silicon-bonded alkenyl groups is within the ranges of the present invention. Unexpectedly, such compositions at critical average hydride equivalent weight (HEW) levels can be obtained at relatively low viscosity from proper design and selection of the hydride-terminated fluid and the hydride crosslinker fluid.

Silicone pressure sensitive adhesive compositions having high solids content


An apparatus including a frame, a cantilever arm movably mounted on the frame, and a servomotor operatively connected to the frame and the cantilever arm for setting a height position of the cantilever arm. The servomotor is exposed to tension loads derived from forces acting on the cantilever arm. The apparatus further includes a device for relieving the servomotor of the tension loads for an arbitrary period. The device includes a tension member attached parallel to the servomotor for the arbitrary period. The device further has an intermediate member having a first pivot joint operatively articulated to the cantilever arm for introducing the tension loads into the intermediate member, a second pivot joint for being coupled to an end of the tension member and a third pivot joint for being releasably coupled to the servomotor. The first, second and third pivot joints are spaced from one another and form the three corners of an imaginary triangle.

This invention relates to a device for relieving tension-loaded servomotors employed for the height adjustment of cantilever arms, particularly the cantilever arms of open-pit mining equipment. The apparatus includes at least one pulling member being connectable in parallel with the servomotor or servomotors.
Cantilever arms of machines such as open-pit mining equipment, cranes and similar conveying devices often include tension-loaded servomotors for height adjustment, particularly hydraulic cylinders. If--for example, in the case of a malfunction--the servomotor must be replaced, the problem is encountered that before the servomotor can be relieved of the tension load, the cantilever arm must be fixed in its position. This is customarily effected by a supporting framework which supports the cantilever arm or, as the case may be, the heavier counterweight cantilever arm against the ground. It is a disadvantage of such a method that it requires significant material input, it is time-consuming and it is not reliable.
Instead of a supporting framework, as outlined above, additional guying has been employed by attaching a tension cable parallel to the servomotor so as to absorb the tensile forces after the servomotor has been relieved of loads. In order to avoid damage to the hydraulic cylinder, the cable must be disposed at a sufficient distance from the latter. Fastening of the cable generally proves difficult because special and sufficiently stable attachment means, for example eye straps, are not available or cannot be applied. Moreover, the cable must also be provided with suitable attachment means and must have a defined length.

Load-relieving device for servomotors adjusting the height of cantilever arms

Krupp Industrietechnik Gesellschaft mit beschrankter Haftung


A spring actuated, pivoting cutting tool, which is used in conjunction with turning equipment and which at the termination of its cutting stroke automatically lifts the cutting edge off the finished surface to allow the tool to be withdrawn without leaving a return mark, is provided with a spring actuated, slidable shield which substantially covers any gap between the moving parts of the cutting tool, thus reducing the likelihood of chips or other debris from lodging between the moving parts of the tool and preventing its proper operation.

This invention relates to no-return-mark turning, boring or facing tools which are used in conjunction with turning equipment, and more particularly to a method of preventing chips created during the operation of the tool from lodging between the moving parts of such a tool.
A smooth finished surface is needed for components in many mechanisms, for example, discs for automobile brakes. Prior to the advent of no-return-mark tools, the facing of a disc required adjusting the tool to the proper depth of cut before the disc was machined and, after completion of the cutting stroke, laterally moving the cutting edge off the finished surface so that the tool, as it was withdrawn, did not cut a return mark into the otherwise smooth surface.
The no-return-mark tool arose from the desire to eliminate, particularly in high output repetitive manufacturing processes, additional lateral motion of the cutting tools in order to prevent leaving a return mark on the finished surface of the machined piece when the cutting tool is withdrawn. Typically, a no-return-mark tool has a spring-loaded, pivoting cutting edge. As the cutting tool is fed into the work, the cutting pressure overcomes the spring force and allows the cutting edge to pivot and bottom-out against a hardened surface on the tool holder, the cutting edge remaining in this position as long as it is engaged in the cut. As the withdrawal stroke starts the cutting pressure is removed and the spring force pivots the cutting edge away from the finished surface. The tool can thus be withdrawn, leaving no return mark on the finished surface, without lateral movement of the tool setting.
The utility of no-return-mark tools is limited, however, because it is common for chips or metal fragments to become lodged between the moving parts of the tool, preventing the cutting tool from properly pivoting between its cutting and return settings.
It is the object of this invention to provide a no-return-mark tool with a means of preventing chips and other debris from lodging between the moving parts of the tool.


Provided is a folding bed arrangement for over-the-road-trucks. The folding bed includes first and second frame members and an elastic mattress stretched over the frame members. The first frame member is secured within the truck cab and the second frame member is pivotably mounted to the first frame member and is adapted to be moved from an upright stowed position to a lowered sleeping position. In the lowered sleeping position, the elastic mattress is stretched so as to provide a firm comfortable sleeping surface.

This invention relates generally to bed arrangements for over-the-road trucks, and more particularly, to a folding bed arrangement adaptable to the cab of an over-the-road truck having a supportive fabric mattress.
Large over-the-road trucks, or long haul tractor-trailers have long been designed with extended cab areas into which beds may be placed so that the drivers have a place to sleep or relax during breaks in driving. Often the cab is designed to accommodate two such beds, however, since the cab of the truck is also frequently the driver's home for long periods of time, it is important to create as much storage space within the cab for keeping the drivers belongings or other items. Therefore, it is desirable to have a bed arrangement which can be compactly and conveniently stored within the cab, thus providing extended storage space, yet still providing a convenient comfortable sleeping surface.
In this regard, folding beds and beds adapted for use within truck cabs are well known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,664,438 discloses a bed which includes a rigid honeycombed sleeping surface which may be folded up and out of the way for additional storage. U.S. Pat. No. 4,659,137 discloses a folding bunk which has a canvas sleeping area supported on two rods. One of the rods may be moved to a first position where the canvas material is extended into a horizontal sleeping surface or to a second position, where the rod and canvas material are folded out of the way. As will be greatly appreciated, however, the bunk must not only be convenient to use and stow, it must also be comfortable to sleep on, that is, not too hard so as to be uncomfortable nor too flimsy so as not to provide enough support. Prior art bunks having rigid sleeping surfaces are either very hard and uncomfortable to sleep on or require large cushions or mattresses which take up storage space and add to the weight and cost of the bunk. Bunks using canvas material generally do not provide the support required for comfortable sleeping.
Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a folding bed arrangement for over-the-road trucks in which the bed is constructed of a frame and a semi-elastic fabric stretch over the frame providing a firm comfortable sleeping surface. The frame can be pivoted from a lowered or sleeping position to a raised or stowed position thereby allowing ease of access to and increased storage area. The semi-elastic fabric, when the bunk is in the lowered position, is stretched to a pre-load tension condition thereby providing the firmness necessary for a superior sleeping surface without a conventional mattress. The pivoting frame is designed to provide the predetermined amount of pre-load to the fabric when it is in the sleeping position as well as to facilitate the stowing or extending of the bunk.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a comfortable supportive folding bunk arrangement for over-the-road trucks which can be conveniently stowed within a minimum amount of space in the cab and is quickly and easily moved from the stowed position to a sleeping position and vise versa.
An additional object of the present invention is to provide a folding bed arrangement for over-the-road trucks in which the tensioned fabric mattress further acts to retain the folding bed in the stowed position thereby eliminating the need for additional latches, straps or gas cylinders to retain the bed in the stowed position.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a comfortable supportive folding bunk arrangement for trucks which is light weight and low cost.
These and other advantages and features of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following written description and appended claims taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.


A photoelectrical bobbin feeler, in particular weft bobbin feeler, comprises one light source and two light sensors, or vice versa, two light sources and one light sensor. At least one polaroid filter is arranged in front of the one light source, or one light sensor, respectively, for polarizing the light which is specularly as well as diffusely reflected from the bobbin, and provides for a safer detection of the "bobbin empty" condition.

The present invention refers to a novel and improved photoelectrical bobbin feeler for detecting or discriminating the full and empty conditions of a textile bobbin, which bobbin feeler is provided with three optoelectrical devices. These optoelectrical devices may comprise a light source and first and second light sensors for receiving light emitted from the light source and specularly or diffusely, respectively, reflected from the bobbin, the optoelectrical devices having optical axes defining a scanning plane. The optoelectrical devices may alternatively comprise two alternately pulsed light sources and one light sensor.
There have been known to the art for quite some time weft or filling bobbin feelers for shuttle weaving machines which respond when the bobbin is empty or depleted of yarn winding, in which event the weaving machine is stopped. In order to improve the detection of the "bobbin empty" condition, bobbins have been provided with a reflecting layer, or further have been prepared with a retroreflector, such as "Scotchlite" tape (Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing Comp.).
The use of such bobbins in weaving mills complicates the operation of the looms and increases the costs of production. Thus, recently there has arisen a demand for bobbin feelers which also operate accurately with conventional unprepared weft bobbins. Preferably, such bobbin feelers should also be usable with the known prepared bobbins, such as the ones provided with "Scotchlite" tape.
A photoelectrical bobbin feeler designed for scanning unprepared weft bobbins is described and shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,693,671. Therein, the optical axes of a D.C.-supplied light source and a first photocell form an obtuse angle, whereas the optical axis of a second photocell is arranged near the optical axis of the light source. The principle of the detection is based on the fact that a normal yarn winding reflects diffusely, whereas the surface of the depleted bobbin shows a distinctly specular reflection. That is the usual weft bobbins are provided with a gloss varnish as a protective layer causing a certain degree of specular reflection. On prolonged use of the weft bobbin, the varnish is worn and the bobbin surface delustered, such that the detection of the "bobbin empty" condition becomes critical or even impossible.
The bobbin feeler known from the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 3,693,671 cannot be used for scanning bobbins prepared with "Scotchlite" tape since the second photocell is located near the light source and therefore is energized by light reflected from the retroreflecting tape, and thus, is unable to detect light diffusely reflected from the bobbin which is its very function.
Further, in German Pat. No. 2,335,794 (Swiss patent No. 559,364, Belgian Pat. No. 802,542, U.S. Pat. No. 3,892,492) there is described an optoelectrical weft bobbin feeler which comprises two alternately pulsed directional light sources and a sensor for receiving light emitted by the light sources and reflected from a bobbin. This bobbin feeler affords a distinct improvement in the critical case of dull or mat bobbin cores, and moreover does not respond to ambient light.
In German patent publication No. 1,223,320 there is described a photoelectrical bobbin feeler cooperating with a weft bobbin provided with a specularly reflecting metallic sleeve. This bobbin feeler comprises only one light source and one photosensor each of which is associated with a polaroid screen or filter. This bobbin feeler may generally be used for bobbins having a specularly reflecting or gloss-varnished core, however, does not work with mat or delustered bobbin cores.
Extremely critical is the scanning of bobbins with mat or dull core and glossy yarn winding, such as fiber glass. In this case, the reflection properties of the wrapped and empty bobbin are so close to one another that a difference is difficult to detect. Even in this case detection of the "bobbin empty" condition is possible only if the dull bobbin core exhibits a certain amount of specular reflection, i.e. when the goniometric curve of the reflected light shows a distinct maximum.


Lubricant compositions comprise blends or mixtures of low viscosity, 3-8 cS e.g. about 5 cS(100.degree. C.), HVI lube basestock with higher viscosity, 15 cS+e.g. 30+ cS(100.degree. C.) HVI PAO lube basestock produced from slack wax by thermal cracking to alpha olefins followed by Lewis acid catalyzed oligomerization of the alpha olefin mixture to lube base stock. Blending these components in appropriate proportions produces lube basestock having viscosities in the range of 8-15 cS (100.degree. C.) from which material suitable for the formulation of 10W-30 automobile engine lube can be produced. The blends are notable for exhibiting high VI values greater than that of either component of the blend.

Mineral oil based lubricants are conventionally produced by a separative sequence carried out in the petroleum refinery which comprises fractionation of a paraffinic crude under atmospheric pressure followed by fractionation under vacuum to produce distillate fractions (neutral oils) and a residual fraction which, after deasphalting and severe solvent treatment may also be used as a lubricant base stock usually referred as a bright stock. Neutral oils, after solvent extraction to remove low viscosity index (V.I.) components are conventionally subjected to dewaxing, either by solvent or catalytic dewaxing processes, to the desired pour point, after which the dewaxed lube stock may be hydrofinished to improve stability and remove color bodies. This conventional technique relies upon the selection and use of crude stocks, usually of a paraffinic character, which produce the desired lube fractions of the desired qualities in adequate amounts.
The range of permissible crude sources for lubricant production may be extended by the lube hydrocracking process which is capable of utilizing crude stocks of marginal or poor quality, usually with a higher aromatic content than the best paraffinic crudes. The lube hydrocracking process, which is well established in the petroleum refining industry, generally comprises an initial hydrocracking step carried out under high pressure in the presence of a bifunctional catalyst which effects partial saturation and ring opening of the aromatic components which are present in the feed. The hydrocracked product is then subjected to dewaxing in order to reach the target pour point since the products from the initial hydrocracking step which are paraffinic in character include components with a relatively high pour point which need to be removed in the dewaxing step.
Mineral oil derived lubricants have been severely constrained to match the lubrication demands of issuing from modern automotive engine development. Current trends in the design of automotive engines are associated with higher operating temperatures as the efficiency of the engines increases and these higher operating temperatures require successively higher quality lubricants. One of the requirements is for higher viscosity indices (V.I.) in order to reduce the effects of the higher operating temperatures on the viscosity of the engine lubricants. High V.I. values have conventionally been attained by the use of V.I. improvers e.g. polyacrylates, but there is a limit to the degree of improvement which may be effected in this way. In addition, V.I. improvers tend to undergo degradation under the effects of high temperatures and high shear rates encountered in the engine, the more stressing conditions encountered in high efficiency engines result in even faster degradation of oils which employ significant amounts of V.I. improvers. Thus, there is a continuing need for automotive lubricants which are based on fluids of high viscosity index and which are stable to the high temperature, high shear rate conditions encountered in modern engines.
Synthetic lubricants produced by the polymerization of alpha olefins in the presence of certain catalysts have been shown to possess excellent V.I. values, but they are expensive to produce by conventional synthetic procedures and usually require expensive starting materials.
Another approach to the production of high VI oils has been to subject petroleum waxes to severe hydrotreatment (hydrocracking) over an amorphous lube hydrocracking catalyst, followed by dewaxing to target pour point. In processes of this type hydroisomerization of the wax takes place to form high VI iso-paraffins of low pour point. Processes of this kind are described, for instance, in British Patents Nos. 1,429,494, 1,429,291 and 1,493,620 and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,830,273, 3,776,839, 3,794,580, and 3,682,813. In the process described in GB 1,429,494, a slack wax produced by the dewaxing of a waxy feed is subjected to hydrocracking over a bifunctional hydrocracking catalyst at hydrogen pressures of 2,000 psig of higher, followed by dewaxing of the hydrocracked product to obtain the desired pour point. Dewaxing is stated to be preferably carried out by the solvent process with recycle of the separated wax to the hydrocracking step.
In processes of this kind, the catalyst is typically a bifunctional catalyst containing a metal hydrogenation component on an amorphous acidic support. The metal component is usually a combination of base metals, with one metal selected from the iron group (Group VIII) and one metal from Group VIB of the Periodic Table, for example, nickel in combination with molybdenum or tungsten. Modifiers such as phosphorus or boron may be present, as described in GB 1,350,257, GB 1,342,499, GB 1,440,230, FR 2,123,235, FR 2,124,138 and EP 199,394. Boron may also be used as a modifier as described in GB 1,440,230. The activity of the catalyst may be increased by the use of fluorine, either by incorporation into the catalyst during its preparation in the form of a suitable fluorine compound or by in situ fluoriding during the operation of the process, as disclosed in GB 1,390,359.
A novel lower cost process for the preparation of alpha olefins useful in the production of synthetic lubricants by oligomerization with Lewis acid catalyst such as AlCl.sub.3 is described in U.S. patent applications Ser. Nos. 07/571,345 and 07/545,347, filed Aug. 23, 1990, to which reference is made for details of such processes. The process, in brief, involves the thermal cracking of slack wax to produce a mixture of alpha olefins. A portion of the mixed alpha olefins is oligomerized using Lewis acid catalyst. A high viscosity, high VI value lubricant base stock is produced by the process. Typical values for the lubricant product from oligomerization of alpha olefins from the thermal cracking of slack wax are a viscosity of above 30 cS at 100.degree. C. and a VI of about 126.
Specific automotive engine lubricant oil formulations, such as 10W-30 engine oil, have required the use of specific lubricant base stock in order to provide the requisite viscosity, lubricity, high viscosity index and other properties. In turn, the production of the specific lube base stock has been locked into certain raw materials and processes capable of producing lube stock with the requisite properties.
Low viscosity lubes can be produced from neutral slack wax by hydroisomerization. For instance, a lube basestock with a viscosity of 5-6 cS (100.degree. C.) and high VI (HVI) can be produced by hydroisomerization of HNSW in yields of 60 to 65 percent, for example, using a Pt/zeolite beta catalyst, as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 07/548,701. However, the production of high VI material from neutral slack wax in high yields is limited to low viscosity products with a viscosity of 6 cS or less, even if the wax is obtained from a heavy neutral oil (HNSW). Higher viscosity products with high VI, such as an 8 cS (100.degree. C.) lube stock preferred for the formulation of 10W-30 engine oil, can only be obtained from a waxy feed of higher average molecular weight, namely, a petrolatum wax (the wax from dewaxing a deasphalted residual oil such as bright stock). Consequently, petrolatum is the preferred raw material for 8 cS HVI lube stock. Petrolatum is, however, a feedstock of limit availability and there is the additional difficulty that the yield of 8 cS HVI product from petrolatum is low, about 36%.


The invention relates to a data transmission method and equipment in a telecommunication system, particularly in a situation where the maximum data rate of a traffic channel is equal to one user data rate at a terminal interface. A mobile station inserts terminal interface status information in redundant parts of redundant user data elements of an end-to-end transmission protocol and sends them through the traffic channel without that the status information raises the data rate. If no user data elements are received at the terminal interface, auxiliary frames, in which the terminal interface status information can be transmitted, are generated. A mobile services switching centre separates the terminal interface status information from the redundant data elements or auxiliary frames at the receiving end.

The invention relates to data transmission in a telecommunication system, particularly in a case where the maximum data rate of a traffic channel is equal to one user data rate at a terminal interface.
Mobile systems generally mean different telecommunication systems that enable private wireless data transmission for subscribers moving within the system. A typical mobile system is a public land mobile network PLMN. The PLMN comprises fixed radio stations (base stations) located in the service area of the mobile network, the radio coverage areas (cells) of the base stations providing a uniform cellular network. A base station provides a radio interface (air interface) in the cell for communication between a mobile station and the PLMN.
Another area of mobile systems includes satellite-based mobile services. In a satellite system, radio coverage is obtained by satellites instead of terrestrial base stations, the satellites being in orbit round the earth and transmitting radio signals between mobile stations (or user terminals UT) and land earth stations (LES).
Subscriber mobility requires similar solutions in satellite mobile systems as in the PLMNs, i.e. subscriber data management, authentication and location management of mobile subscribers, handover, etc. The satellite systems should also support similar services as the PLMNs.
One way of meeting the above requirements in satellite mobile systems is to use existing PLMN solutions. In principle this alternative is very straightforward since a satellite system can basically be compared to a base station system of a mobile system having a different radio interface. In other words, it is possible to use conventional PLMN infrastructure, where the base station system(s) is(are) a satellite system. In such a case, the same network infrastructure could, in principle, even contain both conventional PLMN base station systems and satellite xe2x80x98base station systemsxe2x80x99.
There are many practical problems, however, in adaptation of PLMN infrastructure and a satellite system. A problem apparent to the Applicant is that a PLMN traffic channel and a traffic channel of a xe2x80x98radio interfacexe2x80x99 in a satellite system differ considerably. Let us examine an example where the PLMN is the pan-European digital mobile system GSM (Global System for Mobile Communication), and the satellite mobile system is the Inmarsat-P system currently developed.
At present, a GSM traffic channel supports data transmission at user rates 2400, 4800, 7200 and 9600 bit/s. In addition to user data, status information on the terminal interface (control signals of a V.24 connection) is transmitted in both directions on the traffic channel. In transparent HSCSD data service, it is also necessary to transfer synchronization information between subchannels. On the traffic channel is used channel coding to reduce the effect of transmission errors. The channel coding and the above-mentioned additional information increase the bit rate at the radio interface above the actual user rate. The user rates 2400, 4800 and 9600 bit/s are corresponded to by rates 3600, 6000 and 12000 bit/s at the radio interface.
The Inmarsat-P satellite system requires that standard data rates up to 4800 bit/s (e.g. 1200, 2400, 4800 bit/s) can be transferred on one traffic channel, and that standard data rates exceeding 4800 bit/s (e.g. 9600, 14400, 19200 bit/s, etc.) can be transferred by using several parallel traffic channels, like in the HSCSD service of the GSM system.
In the Inmarsat-P satellite system, the data rate of one traffic channel at the radio interface is at most 4800 bit/s, which equals the user data rate of 4800 bit/s at the terminal interface. In a data service employing two traffic channels the data rate at the radio interface equals the user data rate of 9600 bit/s at the terminal interface. A problem arises when not only the user data but also the above-described terminal interface status information and potential inter-subchannel synchronization information should be transferred over the radio interface. Therefore the protocol data unit, i.e. frame structure, used by the satellite system at the radio interface should be defined to carry the above-mentioned control and synchronization information over the radio interface. One way would be to use a GSM solution, i.e. a V.110-based frame structure, also at the radio interface of the satellite system. However, this would be a very complicated solution, and it would significantly reduce the user data rates available. A single traffic channel could not support the user data rate of 4800 bit/s since a V.110 frame structure and the terminal interface status information increase the actual data rate (radio interface rate) above 4800 bit/s. Therefore the highest standard user data rate on one traffic channel would be 2400 bit/s. For the same reason, a two-traffic-channel data service could not support the user rate of 9600 bit/s, but the highest standard user data rate would be 4800 bit/s (or in some systems 7200 bit/s). A corresponding decrease in the available data rates would also occur in data services employing more than two traffic channels. Such a solution, where the overhead information causes a significant loss of capacity, would not be satisfactory.
A similar problem can also arise when other types of radio interfaces, such as wireless telephone systems, are connected to the PLMNs.
A similar problem can also arise with other types of connections in which the radio interface rate is to be used as effectively as possible. For example, a new 14400 bit/s traffic channel has been planned for the GSM. In order that the status information of the terminal interface and any other control information could be transferred over the radio path in addition to the 14400 bit/s user data, the radio interface rate, implemented on the present principles, would be higher than 14400 bit/s, about 18 kbit/s. A higher radio interface rate requires that the existing radio networks should be re-designed and the intermediate rate (TRAU) increased so that only two subchannels could be put in a single 64 kbit/s timeslot in the HSCSD service (i.e. the efficiency decreases in a TRAU data link). The radio interface rate of 14400 bit/s does not cause such problems, but the actual user data rate would then be below 14400 bit/s, if the new traffic channel were implemented on the same principles as the existing GSM traffic channels. It would thus be preferable to implement a user data rate of 14400 bit/s at a radio interface rate of 14400 bit/s.
An object of the present invention is to provide a solution that supports transmission of user data, terminal interface status information and any other control or synchronization information through a transparent traffic channel having a data rate that is equal to the user data rate at the terminal interface.
The object of the invention is a method according to claim 1, and equipment according to claim 8.
In the present invention, the terminal interface status information and any other control or synchronization information are transferred through the traffic channel in redundant data elements of end-to-end protocols, e.g. in redundant parts of protocol data units of user data or in start and stop bits of asynchronous data characters. Overhead information does thus not increase the number of bits transmitted, so the data rate of the traffic channel can be equal to the user data rate at the terminal interface. In high-speed data transmission, a data connection may comprise a group of two or more traffic channels, whereby the overall data rate of the traffic channel group may be the same as the user data rate at the terminal interface.
Although the above solution usually works well, the operation can be optimized in situations where no user data elements of end-to-end protocols are present at the terminal interface and yet e.g. the status bits of the user interface have to be transferred through a traffic channel. These situations include, for example, call set-up, a pause in data transmission, and call set-down.
In the present invention, it is monitored at the transmitting end whether there are user data elements of the end-to-end protocol at the user interface. If user data elements of the end-to-end protocol are lacking and e.g. a change in the status information has to be sent, transmission of a bit stream through a traffic channel is interrupted, and specific auxiliary frames that carry the status bits and any other additional information are sent instead. At the receiving end, the status bits and other additional information are separated from the auxiliary frames and replaced with a suitable bit stream, which is supplied to the terminal interface. Simultaneously the terminal interface is monitored, and if new user data elements are received, the routine switches to an operating mode where the status bits and any other additional information are sent in the redundant parts of the user data elements. The type of the auxiliary frame can be selected specifically for each application, as long as both the transmitting end and the receiving end know what type of auxiliary frame is used.


An apparatus and method for printing directly onto print media including smooth non-absorbent media substrates (e.g., polymer films) inks having a wide range in viscosity, so that flexographic, gravure, and lithographic inks can all be contemplated. The proposed method is able to print with variable data/imaging. Dampening fluid may be patterned onto an imaging roll by coating the imaging roll with a layer of the dampening fluid and selectively evaporating off a patterned portion via a laser imaging device. The imaging roll then contacts the print substrate and transfers the patterned dampening fluid onto the substrate via film splitting. The substrate then passes through an inker station where ink is deposited directly to the substrate for attachment thereto except where rejected by the dampening fluid.

The disclosure relates to ink-based digital printing. In particular, the disclosure relates to printing variable data directly onto a print substrate that may be smooth and non-absorbent using an ink-based digital printing system that includes dampening fluid and ink.
Ink-based digital printing uses a variable data lithography printing system, or digital offset printing system. A "variable data lithography system" is a system that is configured for lithographic printing using high viscosity lithographic inks and based on digital image data, which may be variable from one image to the next. "Variable data lithography printing," or "digital ink-based printing," or "digital offset printing" is lithographic printing of variable image data for producing images on a substrate that are changeable with each subsequent rendering of an image on the substrate in an image forming process.
The problem of printing high viscosity inks or materials using variable data is a current problem for current marking systems. Current systems such as offset lithography and inkjet marking can either print high viscosity inks or variable data but not both. In conventional offset printing, the printing process may include transferring radiation-curable ink onto a portion of an imaging member surface (plate, drum, or the like) that has been selectively coated with a dampening fluid layer according to invariant image data. The ink is then transferred from the printing plate to a print substrate such as paper, plastic, or metal on which an image is being printed and subsequently cured. However, while conventional offset printing can print medium to high viscosity inks it cannot print variable data. Inkjet marking systems can print variable data but not using medium or high viscosity inks. Further, a digital system containing a blanket or plate will have difficulties providing cleaning systems capable of reliably and safely removing residual ink from a reimageable surface of the blanket or plate without affecting its longevity. These challenges need to be met in order for variable data lithography printing systems to work efficiently for a wide range of paper media and inks.
As such, there is a need to overcome the deficiencies of conventional printing technology for printing variable data with a wide range of inks and print substrates. There is also a need in the art for a printing process that can print inks of various viscosities directly to the print substrate with variable image data.

Variable data marking direct to print media


A non-linear bulk capacitance bootstrapped current switch includes a current switch circuit including a source node and a first bulk connection having a first bulk capacitance associated with it; a current defining circuit connected to the source node and having a second bulk connection having a second bulk capacitance associated with it; and a tracking circuit for driving the voltage on at least one of the first and second bulk connections in response to the voltage on the source node to reduce the associated non-linear bulk capacitance.

This invention relates to a non-linear bulk capacitance bootstrapped current switch.
In NMOS and PMOS FETs there are inherently parasitic non-linear capacitances between the bulk and the drain and the source (bulk capacitances). The source to bulk parasitic capacitance has been typically reduced or eliminated either by shorting the bulk to the source or connecting the bulk to an external voltage source higher than the source voltage to reverse bias the capacitance. In conventional current output DAC""s, FET""s are used to construct each cell including a differential current switch and a current source for driving the switch. Thus the common source node of the current switch is subject to the source to bulk capacitance of the current switch and the drain to bulk capacitance of the current source. A differential current switch will exhibit distortion on its output as a result of the non-linear bulk capacitances associated with the common source node. These non-linear bulk capacitances can be a result of just the current switch or can also include any device connected to the common source node. Connecting the bulk to the source of the current switch is not wholly effective because while it reduces the source to bulk capacitance, the drain to bulk capacitance of the current switch is now connected to the common source node. And the bulk to drain capacitance of the current source is still present. Connecting the bulk of the current switch to a fixed voltage greater than the source voltage reduces the non-linearity of the bulk capacitances but the capacitance is still present and still causes frequency roll-off because the capacitance is not fully shorted since the fixed voltage does not precisely follow the source voltage.
It is therefore an object of this invention to provide an improved non-linear bulk capacitance bootstrapped current switch.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such an improved non-linear bulk capacitance bootstrapped current switch with improved distortion performance.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such an improved non-linear bulk capacitance bootstrapped current switch which reduces effective capacitance on the common source node.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such an improved non-linear bulk capacitance bootstrapped current switch which effectively shorts the non-linear component of the capacitances on the common source node.
It is a further object of this invention to provide such an improved non-linear bulk capacitance bootstrapped current switch in which the bulk and source voltage track.
This invention results from the realization that by connecting the bulk connections of one or both of the current switching circuit and current defining circuit to a tracking circuit so that the voltage on the bulk capacitance follows that on the source node of the current switch those non-linear bulk capacitances see no signal voltage over them so the normal roll-off effect of their capacitance as well as their non-linearity is removed.
This invention features a non-linear bulk capacitance bootstrapped current switch including a current switching circuit including a source node and a first bulk connection having a first bulk capacitance associated with it. A current defining circuit is connected to the source node and has a second bulk connection with a second bulk capacitance associated with it. A tracking circuit drives the voltage on at least one of the first and second bulk connections in response to the voltage on the source node to reduce the associated non-linear bulk capacitance. In a preferred embodiment the current switching circuit may include an FET. The current switching circuit may include a differential current switch which includes FETs and the source node may be a common source node. The FETs may be PMOS or NMOS. The first bulk capacitance may be a source to bulk capacitance. The current defining circuit may include a current source; it may include a current sink. The tracking circuit may be connected to both bulk connections. The tracking circuit may include a DC level shifting circuit. The current defining circuit may include a cascode circuit. The second bulk capacitance may be the bulk to drain capacitance of the cascode circuit. The first bulk capacitance may be the source to bulk capacitance and the second bulk capacitance may be the drain to bulk capacitance. The tracking circuit may drive the voltage on at least one of the bulk connections to be equal to the voltage on the source node or to be greater than the voltage on the source node or less than the voltage on the source node depending in part on whether the current defining circuit is a current source or current sink.

Non-linear bulk capacitance bootstrapped current switch


A rare earth element-doped glass in which the rare earth element is homogeneously doped is produced by a method coprises hydrolyzing a metal alkoxide of the formula: EQU M(OR).sub.4. wherein M is a metal and R is an alkyl group in a liquid medium selected from the group consisting of alcohols and water in the presence of a compound of a rare earth element and condensing the hydrolyzed material to form a rare earth element-doped glass.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method for producing a rare earth element-doped glass which exhibits properties of the rare earth by a sol-gel process.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the production of a glass optical fiber such as quartz glass optical fiber, techniques for producing a highly pure material and controlling optical structure have been almost completed, and the glass optical fiber is practically and widely used.
Since it was found that a glass added with, for example, Nd.sup.3+ ions as active ions could generate a laser beam in the 1960s, it has been confirmed that a glass added with various rare earth elements such as Er.sup.3+, Yb.sup.3+, Ho.sup.3+ or Tm.sup.3+ can also generate a laser beam. This is because the laser transition in the trivalent rare earth element ions is the f-f transition so that it gives a narrow spectrum width in the glass.
The glass has many advantages for practical use, in that it can provide a large size mass compared to a crystalline material, and it is homogeneous and easily processed. In addition, the glass can be easily processed in a fiber form and used to assemble a telecommunication optical fiber system.
Two methods are known for addition of the rare earth element to the glass optical fiber, such as a quartz glass optical fiber, a vapor phase method and a solution impregnating method.
The vapor phase method includes a method comprising heating a chloride of a rare earth element to vaporize it, and introducing the vaporized chloride into a reaction tube together with a quartz glass-forming raw material, such as silicon tetrachloride, in order to form a glass which contains the rare earth element. Another type of vapor phase synthesis is a method comprising heating a mass of silica particles to vitrify it in an atmosphere comprising a vapor of the rare earth elements. This adds the rare earth element to the glass.
Typically, the solution impregnating method comprises dipping a mass of silica particles into a solution of the rare earth element in an alcohol or water, evaporating the alcohol or water and sintering the mass of silica particles to produce a glass containing the rare earth element.
The above conventional methods for producing the rare earth element-doped glass are based on the techniques for producing quartz glass optical fibers and have various merits in quality and productivity. However, by the vapor phase method, the rare earth element is added to the glass in an amount of several ppm to several ten ppm. When the solution impregnating method is used, the rare earth element can be added in an amount up to several thousand ppm. However, the amount of the impregnated rare earth element varies due to the bulk density profile in the mass of silica particles. This makes it difficult to produce a glass in which the rare earth element is uniformly added.

Method for producing rare earth element-doped glass by sol-gel process


Systems and methods for simultaneously charging two or more cell strings of a hybrid battery system from a shared input current path to the battery system. An input common charging current may be limited to the smallest maximum allowable charging current value of multiple battery cell strings of a hybrid battery system, or may be provided as the greater of the maximum allowable charging currents of multiple battery cell strings of a hybrid battery system with current supplied to individual cell strings that require less than the maximum current being individually controlled so as not to exceed the maximum allowable current for each of the individual cell strings of the hybrid battery system.

As the value and use of information continues to increase, individuals and businesses seek additional ways to process and store information. One option available to users is information handling systems. An information handling system generally processes, compiles, stores, and/or communicates information or data for business, personal, or other purposes thereby allowing users to take advantage of the value of the information. Because technology and information handling needs and requirements vary between different users or applications, information handling systems may also vary regarding what information is handled, how the information is handled, how much information is processed, stored, or communicated, and how quickly and efficiently the information may be processed, stored, or communicated. The variations in information handling systems allow for information handling systems to be general or configured for a specific user or specific use such as financial transaction processing, airline reservations, enterprise data storage, or global communications. In addition, information handling systems may include a variety of hardware and software components that may be configured to process, store, and communicate information and may include one or more computer systems, data storage systems, and networking systems.
Examples of portable information handling systems include notebook computers. These portable electronic devices are typically powered by rechargeable battery pack systems such as lithium ion ("Li-ion") or nickel metal hydride ("NiMH") battery packs. The rechargeable battery packs generally include multiple battery cells connected in serial and/or parallel configuration. A "string" consists of battery cells which may be connected in this series/parallel configuration. Two or more separate sets or "strings" of such cells may be provided in a single "hybrid" battery pack to power an information handling system. Each of these separate battery cell strings may sometimes have different physical characteristics, charge capacity, and/or impedance. Such a combination of different battery cell strings may be desirable, for example, to meet space requirements or the physical configuration of a portable information handling system. For example, in pursuit of longer battery run time of notebook computers the ability to package the maximum battery energy capacity into a given irregular volume is critical. This often involves using different types of battery cells in a hybrid battery pack due to different z height constraints, e.g., using both cylindrical and polymer batteries to maximize the pack capacity in a restricted volume. It is expected that the use of hybrid packs will increase significantly due to the profile (height) challenge and the continuous push for higher battery capacities.
Due to the different impedances and capacities, the traditional approach is to design a hybrid battery pack which has two separate battery packs inside, all being reported to the system as a single battery pack. However, due to the difference in impedance and capacity of the cell strings, the status of the cells in each cell string and the distribution of charging currents are usually different and are controlled as if each string is a separate battery. If the charging current into a cell string exceeds an allowable rate the life requirement for the cell string may be compromised.
FIG. 1 illustrates an example of a prior art configuration of a hybrid battery pack 100 having two battery cell strings 102 and 104 of different capacity and/or impedance characteristics that are coupled together in parallel between battery system terminals 120 and 122 as shown. In the configuration of FIG. 1, each of battery cell strings 102 and 104 are treated as separate battery packs that are coupled between battery system terminals 120 and 122 by separate current paths 180 and 182, respectively. As shown, battery cell string 102 is made up of multiple serially-coupled battery cells 150, and battery cell string 104 is made up of multiple serially-coupled battery cells 152. A respective analog front end ("AFE") 106 or 108 is coupled to a respective one of battery strings 102 or 104 by voltage monitoring lines 170 or 172 to allow battery management unit ("BMU") microcontroller or gas gauge 110 to monitor voltage of individual battery cells of each of battery strings 102 and 104 by data paths 112 or 114 as shown.
Still referring to FIG. 1, each of separate current paths 180 and 182 is provided with separate charge/discharge control circuitry that includes two field effect transistors ("FETs") SC1 and SD1 or SC2 and SD2 that are coupled in series between battery system terminal 122 and a respective battery cell string 102 or 104 as shown. Each charge FET (SC1 or SC2) is a switching element that forms a part of a separate charge circuit that is controlled by BMU 110 through a respective AFE 106 or 108 and control path 196 or 192 to allow or disallow charging current to a respective coupled battery cell string 102 or 104. Similarly, each discharge FET (SD1 or SD2) is a switching element that forms a part of discharge circuit that is controlled by BMU 110 through a respective AFE 106 or 108 and control path 198 or 194 to allow or disallow discharge current from a respective coupled battery cell string 102 or 104. Parasitic diodes are present across the source and drain of each FET switching element, i.e., to conduct charging current to the battery cell strings 102 or 104 when the respective discharge FET switching element SD-1 or SD-2 is open, and to conduct discharging current from the battery cell strings 102 or 104 when the respective charge FET switching element SC1 or SC2 is open. Also shown in FIG. 1 is protective fuse circuitry F1 or F2 that is provided for respective current paths 180 and 182, with fuse controller circuitry 130 and 132 provided to control operation of fuse circuitry F1 and F2, respectively, i.e., to disconnect battery cell strings 102 or 104 from battery system terminal 122 in the event of overcharging.
During constant current charging phase of the charging, a constant charge current ICHG is applied to battery system terminal 122 and a corresponding appropriate battery cell string charge current IBPK1 or IBPK2 is supplied to only one of battery cell strings 102 or 104 at a time in sequential fashion. In this way, the amount of charge current that is supplied to each of battery cell strings 102 or 104 during constant current (CC) charging operations may be maintained within the desired charge current range. Charge FETs SC1 and SC2 are used to control which battery cell string 102 or 104 is being charged at a given time. In some cases, battery cell strings 102 or 104 may be charged simultaneously together during constant voltage (CV) charging operations after constant current charging operations are complete.

Systems and methods for configuring and charging hybrid battery systems


A power system includes a first unit block having first resonant circuitry that receives power from a DC bus, a first controlled rectifier that provides a first portion of power to one or more loads at a first voltage level, and a first transformer coupled between the first resonant circuitry and the first controlled rectifier. A second unit block includes second resonant circuitry that receives power from the DC bus, a second controlled rectifier configured to provide a second portion of power to the one or more loads at a second voltage level, and a second transformer coupled between the resonant circuitry and the controlled rectifier. The first and second unit blocks are coupled in series to output a summation waveform.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to power systems, and more particularly, to a multilevel inverter that converts power for cryogenic power systems.
Cryogenic power systems, as used herein, are those that include a cryogenic fuel used by an engine to produce power. For instance, cryogenic fuel may be stored as a liquid and, to be used, may be provided to a vaporizer that vaporizes the fuel to be used by the engine. The engine may then combust the vaporized fuel to produce mechanical power that may then be converted to electrical power. The electrical power may then be converted to a form suitable for powering one or more loads using power electronics circuitry.
Cryogenics may be used in a wide variety of applications, such as automotive, locomotive, aerospace, or stationary, among others. In some of these applications, less weight and/or space occupied by the cryogenic power system may result in increased power density. However, some of the components, such as the vaporizer and the power electronics circuitry, may increase the size and/or weight of the cryogenic power system.

Multilevel inverter for cryogenic power systems


Dental device acting as a variable-height mouth opener, a saliva ejector and an oral dam including a casing having a shape reproducing the shape of the dental arches and able to maintain the patient's mouth open once inserted into it in contact with the dental arches, and a saliva discharge opening communicating with a tube for removing the saliva by suction applied to the other end of the tube. The size of the device casing in the mastication direction can be varied from a minimum to a maximum, for example, by pivotally mounting a projecting element to the casing.

A dental instrument of this type is already known from Italian Patent Application No. RC94U 000011, which has the same inventor as the present application. This instrument comprises:
a casing having a shape reproducing the shape of the dental arches and able to maintain the patient's mouth open once inserted into it in contact with the dental arches; and PA1 a saliva discharge opening communicating with a tube for removing the saliva by suction applied to the other end of the tube.
The aforedescribed instrument is conveniently provided with means for coupling the instrument to the patient's teeth in order to maintain the instrument in position relative to the patient's mouth.
Using such an instrument, it has been found that although being very useful in achieving sufficient opening of the patient's mouth, its casing is too bulky in the mastication direction, so that it is uncomfortable to insert into the patient's mouth.
Moreover, because of its size in mastication direction, the known dental instrument does not leave sufficient space free for the dentist to carry out the operations required within the patient's mouth with ease.


In order to reduce the excitation of vibrations and resonances in a test bed for a real component and a virtual component, one of the following method steps is provided: a) determining a first correction value (K1) from the measured variable (M), wherein the first correction value (K1) is added to the measured variable (M) and the sum is communicated as a corrected measured variable (M*) to the virtual component for calculating the control variable (S), b) determining a second correction value (K2) from the calculated control variable (S), wherein the second correction value (K2) is added to the calculated control variable (S) and the sum is transferred as a corrected control variable (S*) to the actuator, c) determining a third correction value (K3) from the measured variable (M), wherein the third correction value (K3) is used to modify a parameter (P) of the equation of movement.

In automotive technology, the process of testing is often carried out in such a way that real components, such as for example real internal combustion engines, real tyres, real transmissions, real batteries, real steering systems, real power trains, real vehicles etc. are arranged on test beds. This real component to be tested frequently also determines the name of the test bed. Thus, one speaks of engine test beds, tyre test beds, transmission test beds, vehicle test beds etc. These test beds allow for example the development of internal combustion engines, of vehicle components or the detection of errors in networked vehicle control units, which may have an effect on the overall behaviour of the vehicle. The testing is here a process that is used to obtain greater certainty as to whether technical objects, technical systems or technical products and processes, the real component or the virtual component, operate within certain boundary conditions and/or whether certain characteristics and/or requirements are met. Tests carried out therefore always simulate or anticipate real processes in simulated environments. In the most general case, the simulated environment exchanges with the tested real component material flows (e.g. a media flow such as oil, water etc.), energy flows (e.g. electric current/voltage, rotary speed/torque etc.) and information flows (e.g. measured data etc.) and in this way allows technical processes to be examined without requiring, affecting or compromising the future real environment of the real component. Therefore, a test result will never be perfectly valid, but will always be an approximation. The quality of the approximation depends, inter alia, on the quality of the simulated environment and on the quality that can be achieved when simulating the exchange of energy, information and material flows that occur in the real world. This simulated environment will be referred to below as a virtual component. The real component and the virtual component will jointly be referred to as a test object. The test object and the test bed are also frequently jointly referred to as Hardware-In-The-Loop-System (HiL System) or more specifically as "X-In-The-Loop-System," wherein X denotes the respective test object.
A virtual component consists of simulation models which are substantially implemented as software with implemented algorithms as well as mathematical or physical models, which are run on a simulation unit, generally a computer.
Also for carrying out the test, actuators (a number of actuators) and sensors (a number of sensors) will normally be present on the test bed, as well as possibly a flow control (e.g. a test bed control unit, an automation unit etc.) and periphery (such as e.g. a data logger etc.). The sensors measure physical, chemical or information-related states or state changes ("measured variables") of the real component and the actuators impose certain chemical, physical or Information-related states or state changes ("set points") on the real components. Actuators are therefore the signal conversion counter-piece of sensors. Actuators and sensors link the real world with the virtual world of the test object, i.e. the real component and the virtual component. Examples of actuators are electric, pneumatic or hydraulic load units for imposing rotary speeds, torques, velocities or distances, controllable electrical resistors, oil conditioning systems, air conditioning systems etc. Examples of sensors are torque sensors and rotary encoders.
The real component, the virtual component, actuators and sensors are dynamic systems with certain response behaviour. Thus, also a Hardware-In-The-Loop-System is, as an interconnection of these components, a dynamic system.
An example of a test is a virtual test drive of a hybrid vehicle (internal combustion engine and electric motor) along the Großglockner High Alpine Road under a realistic simulation of humidity, air temperature, rotary speed and torque behaviour of the real component "internal combustion engine," which is arranged on an engine test bed. It is assumed that the aim of this test drive is the evaluation of the dynamic behaviour of the electric motor as well as the temperature behaviour of the traction battery, which are simulated as a virtual component, for a certain type of driver, e.g. a sporty driver with an aggressive gear-changing behaviour. The test route (here the Großglockner High Alpine Road), the driving behaviour as well as the driving environment are also simulated. During this test drive, the Hardware-In-The-Loop-System is set into vibration by the unevenness of the road, by gusts of wind, by the driver's braking and steering activities and/or by combustion shocks. However, these vibrations will probably not be exactly identical with the vibrations occurring during a real drive with the hybrid vehicle over the Großglockner High Alpine Road, due to the dynamic behaviour of the sensors and actuators and due to the simulation accuracy of the virtual component, which is always limited on account of it being a simulation.
Another example is shown in EP 1 037 030 B1, which discloses a method for simulating the behaviour of a vehicle on a road on a power train test bed, wherein a vehicle model and a tyre model (virtual components) are used for the simulation.
In practice, the virtual components are often retrofitted to existing test bed infrastructures. In this way, a conventional, traditional test bed, which so far could impose only simple set point profiles, becomes an efficient X-In-The-Loop test environment, which allows the implementation of new test tasks, such as for example the above-described drive on the Großglockner High Alpine Road under different boundary conditions. The existing test bed actuators and test bed sensors with their underlying dynamic subsystems and control structures are often supposed to remain unchanged (e.g. for cost reasons) or are unknown to the supplier of the virtual component. The same virtual component is often also used on different test beds with different dynamic response behaviours or on different test bed types. It also occurs that a virtual component is replaced with another virtual component (e.g. with modified models).
A further problem in connection with such virtual components can develop on a test bed if the virtual components are to represent extreme load cases that reach or exceed the limits of the implemented actuators, sensors or the real component.
Due to the dynamic response behaviour of the actuators and sensors integrated in the test bed, but also due to the interferences that are always present in the available measurements (e.g. measurement noise, limited resolution etc.), frequently undesired, unexpected and unrealistic vibration and resonance phenomena of the dynamic overall system occur, which can have a negative influence on the test results and may in an extreme case cause the use of the virtual components to fail altogether.
Conventionally, this scenario could be counteracted by using filters (e.g. Bessel filters, Butterworth filters, etc.) for attenuating vibrations which, however, limits the available dynamics of the test bed, which is not desired. In this case, it would no longer be possible to carry out test situations with strong dynamics, e.g. a very rapid change of rotary speeds or torques. A further important negative characteristic that occurs if such filters are used is the distortion of important dynamic states during testing. As an example, the angular momentum on mechanical/rotatory test beds (e.g. power train) could be mentioned, which is exchanged between the real and the virtual component. The use of filters causes here the real applied rotary momentum (e.g. from the internal combustion engine) to be incorrectly introduced into the virtual component, which consequently leads to incorrect test results (e.g. an excessively high/excessively low fuel consumption). Filters moreover also always cause a phase shift which, inter alia, has a negative influence on the stability reserve of the HiL system.

Method for reducing vibrations in a test bed


Cryotherapeutic systems with features that can facilitate pressure relief in the event of exhaust-passage blockage and associated devices, systems, and methods are disclosed herein. A cryotherapeutic system configured in accordance with a particular embodiment can include an elongated shaft having a distal portion and a pressure-relief portion proximal to the distal portion. The cryotherapeutic system can further include a supply lumen, an exhaust passage, and a balloon configured to receive refrigerant from the supply lumen and to exhaust refrigerant to the exhaust passage. The pressure-relief portion can be configured to release refrigerant from the exhaust passage when a pressure of refrigerant in the exhaust passage exceeds a threshold pressure less than a pressure rating of the balloon. The pressure-relief portion, for example, can include a rupture element configured to rupture at about the threshold pressure.

Cryotherapy can be a useful treatment modality in a wide range of catheter-based interventional procedures. For example, cryotherapeutic cooling can be used to modulate nerves or affect other tissue proximate anatomical vessels and other lumens or cavities in the body. This can reduce undesirable neural activity to achieve therapeutic benefits. Catheter-based neuromodulation utilizing cryotherapy can be used, for example, to modulate nerves and thereby reduce pain, local sympathetic activity, systemic sympathetic activity, associated pathologies, and other conditions. Cryotherapy can also be used for ablating tumors, treating stenosis, and other applications. In some cryotherapeutic procedures, it can be useful to deliver cryotherapy via a balloon that can be expanded within an anatomical vessel or lumen. Such balloons can be operatively connected to extracorporeal support components (e.g., refrigerant supplies). As the applicability of cryotherapy for surgical intervention continues to expand, there is a need for innovation in the associated devices, systems, and methods (e.g., with respect to efficacy, efficiency, and/or reliability). Such innovation has the potential to further expand the role of cryotherapy as a tool for improving the health of patients.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Shafts with pressure relief in cryotherapeutic catheters and associated devices, systems, and methods