Cyclic prefix (CP) detection and removal in a wireless communications system (WCS) is disclosed. More specifically, embodiments disclosed herein relate to removing a CP(s) from a random-access symbol(s) in an open radio access network (O-RAN) communications system in the WCS. The random-access symbol(s) includes the CP followed by a random-access sequence. As such, the CP must be removed before the random-access sequence can be detected and processed. In this regard, in embodiments disclosed herein, the O-RAN communications system is configured to determine a group delay associated with the random-access symbol(s) to thereby accurately determine a start of the CP in the random-access symbol(s). Accordingly, the O-RAN communications system can detect and remove the CP from the random-access symbol(s) based on the determined start of the CP. As a result, it is possible to preserve integrity of the random-access symbol(s) to thereby reduce random-access latency in the WCS.

The disclosure relates generally to detecting and removing cyclic prefix (CP) from a random-access symbol(s) in a wireless communications system (WCS), which can include an open radio access network (O-RAN) based fifth-generation (5G) communications system and/or a distributed communications system (DCS).
Wireless communication is rapidly growing, with ever-increasing demands for high-speed mobile data communication. As an example, local area wireless services (e.g., so-called "wireless fidelity" or "WiFi" systems) and wide area wireless services are being deployed in many different types of areas (e.g., coffee shops, airports, libraries, etc.). Communications systems have been provided to transmit and/or distribute communications signals to wireless devices called "clients," "client devices," or"wireless client devices," which must reside within the wireless range or "cell coverage area" in order to communicate with an access point device. Example applications where communications systems can be used to provide or enhance coverage for wireless services include public safety, cellular telephony, wireless local access networks (LANs), location tracking, and medical telemetry inside buildings and over campuses. One approach to deploying a communications system involves the use of radio nodes/base stations that transmit communications signals distributed over physical communications medium remote units forming RF antenna coverage areas, also referred to as "antenna coverage areas." The remote units each contain or are configured to couple to one or more antennas configured to support the desired frequency(ies) of the radio nodes to provide the antenna coverage areas. Antenna coverage areas can have a radius in a range from a few meters up to twenty meters, as an example. Another example of a communications system includes radio nodes, such as base stations, that form cell radio access networks, wherein the radio nodes are configured to transmit communications signals wirelessly directly to client devices without being distributed through intermediate remote units.
For example, FIG. 1 is an example of a WCS 100 that includes a radio node 102 configured to support one or more service providers 104(1)-104(N) as signal sources (also known as "carriers" or "service operators"—e.g., mobile network operators (MNOs)) and wireless client devices 106(1)-106(W). For example, the radio node 102 may be abase station (eNodeB) that includes modem functionality and is configured to distribute communications signal streams 108(1)-108(S) to the wireless client devices 106(1)-106(W) based on communications signals 110(1)-110(N) received from the service providers 104(1)-104(N). The communications signal streams 108(1)-108(S) of each respective service provider 104(1)-104(N) in their different spectrums are radiated through an antenna 112 to the wireless client devices 106(1)-106(W) in a communication range of the antenna 112. For example, the antenna 112 may be an antenna array. As another example, the radio node 102 in the WCS 100 in FIG. 1 can be a small cell radio access node ("small cell") that is configured to support the multiple service providers 104(1)-104(N) by distributing the communications signal streams 108(1)-108(S) for the multiple service providers 104(1)-104(N) based on respective communications signals 110(1)-110(N) received from a respective evolved packet core (EPC) network CN1-CNN of the service providers 104(1)-104(N) through interface connections. The radio node 102 includes radio circuits 118(1)-118(N) for each service provider 104(1)-104(N) that are configured to create multiple simultaneous signal beams ("beams") 120(1)-120(N) for the communications signal streams 108(1)-108(S) to serve multiple wireless client devices 106(1)-106(W). For example, the multiple beams 120(1)-120(N) may support multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) communications.
The radio node 102 of the WCS 100 in FIG. 1 may be configured to support service providers 104(1)-104(N) that have a different frequency spectrum and do not share the spectrum. Thus, in this instance, the communications signals 110(1)-110(N) from the different service providers 104(1)-104(N) do not interfere with each other even if transmitted by the radio node 102 at the same time. The radio node 102 may also be configured as a shared spectrum communications system where the multiple service providers 104(1)-104(N) have a shared spectrum. In this regard, the capacity supported by the radio node 102 for the shared spectrum is split (i.e., shared) between the multiple service providers 104(1)-104(N) for providing services to the subscribers.
When any of the wireless client devices 106(1)-106(W) first enters, wakes up from sleep mode, and/or losses uplink timing synchronization in the coverage cell of the radio node 102, the wireless client device must acquire/reacquire timing synchronization with the radio node 102. Specifically, the wireless client device transmits a random-access symbol(s) on a physical random-access channel (PRACH) to the radio node 102. As further illustrated in FIG. 2A below, the random-access symbol(s) includes a cyclic prefix (CP) followed by a random-access sequence and a guard time (GT). The CP is provided in the random-access symbol(s) to mitigate inter-symbol interference (ISI) and to account for propagation delay between the wireless client device and the radio node 102.
The radio node 102, upon receiving the random-access symbol(s), detects the random-access preamble(s) based on a fixed detection window that begins at a start of the CP. Accordingly, the radio node 102 can remove the CP from the random-access symbol(s) to extract the random-access sequence. Subsequently, the radio node 102 can provide timing synchronization information to the wireless client device. Understandably, when the propagation delay between the wireless client device and the radio node 102 falls within the fixed detection window, the CP can be removed properly. In contrast, when the wireless client device is located at an edge of the coverage cell of the radio node 102, for example, the random-access symbol(s) may experience a phase shift and thus fall, at least partially, outside the fixed detection window. As a result, the radio node 102 may not be able to correctly detect and remove the CP based on the fixed detection window.
Although the duration of the CP can be adjusted according to a maximum delay spread (e.g., the longest propagation delay in the coverage cell), the CP duration is typically configured to be longer than the GT duration, particularly in 5G new radio (5G-NR) communications systems. Further, the CP duration is typically standardized in, for example, third-generation partnership project (3GPP) standards for the sake of interoperability. As such, it is desirable to accurately determine the start of the CP in the random-access symbol(s) to help reduce access latency in the coverage cell of the radio node 102.
No admission is made that any reference cited herein constitutes prior art. Applicant expressly reserves the right to challenge the accuracy and pertinency of any cited documents.

CORNING RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION


A method and system for forming a beverage mixture comprising protein is disclosed. The method comprises heating the beverage in a heat exchanger, transferring the beverage to a hold loop located outside of the heat exchanger, and denaturizing the protein within the hold loop for a residence time, after the beverage is heated in the heat exchanger such that the denaturizing occurs outside of the heat exchanger to prevent fouling of the heat exchanger. The system comprises a beverage forming tank, a heat exchanger for heating the beverage, and a first hold loop separate from the heat exchanger, which is configured to hold the beverage for a residence time to denaturize a protein in the beverage.

Various types of beverages or products are stored in different types of containers for the eventual consumption by consumers. Beverages and other products are typically filled in containers such as thermoplastic or glass liquid containers in an automated filling process. The product must be sterilized, or free from live microorganisms of food and spoilage concern (including spores thereof) to provide the consumer with a safe product that has the respective quality attributes expected by the consumer.
Typically containers can be filled with beverages in a "cold-fill" process, "ambient fill" process, or a "hot-fill" process. In cold-fill applications, the beverage product is heated to an elevated temperature for a specific time interval to kill any live microorganisms of food safety and spoilage concern, (including spores thereof) (also referred to as pasteurization) and is then cooled to generally ambient temperatures. In ambient-fill applications, the beverage product is also heated to an elevated temperature for a specific time interval to kill any live microorganisms and spores (also referred to as pasteurization) and is then cooled to a generally ambient temperature or 70-100° F. In both cases, pre-sterilized containers are then filled with the cooled sterilized product in a filler, and the containers are capped and prepared for shipping.
A cold-fill or an ambient technique can be used in filling operations for fruit juice smoothie beverages. During this process, it may be desirable to denaturize proteins in protein fruit smoothie beverages for taste, texture, and other reasons. Many systems are designed to denaturalize proteins on the heating surfaces of heat exchangers. However, in the case of higher protein beverages, for example, formulations of 3-8% whey protein, during the filling operation, protein may foul the heat exchanger during denaturation, which may lead to product flavor deterioration because of the buildup of denatured protein in the flow pathway, and may slow the filling process. Specifically, during the denaturation process, proteins become less soluble, and the proteins tend to form sediments in the heat exchanger tubes, which results in a fouled heat exchanger and product flavor deterioration.

Method of manufacturing protein beverages and denaturizing loop apparatus and system


An aircraft having an avionics system comprising a plurality of avionics equipment and a system of connections, the avionics equipment incorporating protection means for providing protection against indirect effects of lightning, the system of connections including wired connections and connectors between the wired connections. The avionics system has at least one avionics equipment with protection means that are insufficient for providing total protection against the indirect effects of lightning when the equipment is incorporated in the structure, which equipment is connected to at least one connector including a resistor connected in series relative to at least one wired connection secured to the resistive connector.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an aircraft having an avionics system adapted in particular for withstanding lightning strikes. The invention is thus situated in the narrow technical field of systems that might be subjected to lightning strikes.
(2) Description of Related Art
An aircraft may include an avionics system, usually an avionics system including pieces of electronic and/or electrical and/or computer equipment connected together by wired connections, and in particular by electrical connections.
By its very nature, an aircraft is liable to be struck by lightning while in flight.
Such an impact generates indirect effects including generating transient electric currents flowing through the avionics system. Such a transient current possesses a high voltage and high energy.
Consequently, specifications for equipment in an avionics system may require a manufacturer to incorporate a protection system for providing protection against such transient currents.
In particular, avionics equipment may include a diode for suppressing transient voltages solely for the purpose of protecting the circuit. Such a diode may be considered to be a protective component of the surge suppressor type.
The avionics equipment is then protected against transient currents as predetermined by a specification.
Nevertheless, such transient currents may have characteristics that differ strongly from one aircraft to another.
In particular following a lightning strike, a transient current flowing in an avionics system of an aircraft having a metal structure differs from the transient current that would flow in an avionics system of an aircraft having a structure made of composite material.
Avionics equipment that is designed for an aircraft of metal structure is likely not to satisfy the specifications imposed for equipment on board an aircraft having a composite material structure.
This aspect can raise problems for a manufacturer, e.g. seeking to have uniform equipment installed over a wide range of aircraft.
At present, an aircraft manufacturer seeking to make an aircraft with a composite material structure can implement three different approaches.
The natural first approach consists in modifying the avionics equipment for a metal structure aircraft so as to enable it to be used on a composite material structure aircraft. The avionics equipment is modified so as to include a protection system against the levels of transient current that are to be expected on an aircraft with a structure made of composite material.
For example, the transient voltage suppressor diode of an avionics equipment may be replaced by a diode that corresponds to the new specifications.
This first approach is effective, but it can lead to costs that are relatively high. These costs include the costs of developing the new equipment, and also costs associated with managing new stock numbers specifying the new pieces of equipment.
Given the relatively large number of avionics equipment, these costs can thus be considerable.
A second approach consists in using pieces of avionics equipment that are not protected against the transient currents to which they might be subjected in flight, in particular as a result of a lightning strike.
In parallel, the manufacturer fits the avionics system with specific protection units connected in series in the wired connections. These protection units then include devices for protecting avionics equipment against destructive transient currents.
This second approach is also expensive, since it requires a plurality of protection units that are dedicated to protecting avionics equipment, which protection units are also heavy.
Like the second approach, a third approach consists in using avionics equipment that are not protected against the transient currents to which they might be subjected in flight.
In parallel, the manufacturer fits the wired connections of the avionics equipment with connectors that include devices for protecting the avionics equipment against destructive transient currents.
Such a connector thus seeks to suppress a transient current, and in particular to protect an avionics equipment that does not have its own protection.
Using such connectors can turn out to be expensive.
In particular, Document EP 0 512 927 B1 describes a set of transient current suppressor contacts. That set includes a multilayer thyristor having an active electrode and a ground electrode.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,099 does not belong to the technical field of avionics equipment to which the present invention relates. That Document U.S. Pat. No. 5,846,099 describes a connector having a diode-thyristor.
Document US 2013/171852 and Document EP 2 551 771 present avionics architectures.
Document US 2010/123591 presents a connector between two threaded ends. The connector includes an anti-explosion barrier and a printed circuit.
Document US 2003/0179533 describes a device for providing protection against voltage surges.
Also known is Document US 2010/127193.

Aircraft having an avionics system including avionics equipment that has primary lightning protector and is connected in series via wired connection to supplemental lightning protector


A method for debugging network activity involving receiving, by HCA, a packet stream comprising multiple packets, comparing a packet header of each of the packets to a trigger condition to determine whether the trigger condition has been met, after the trigger condition has been met, comparing each packet header of the packets to one or more trace filters stored in the HCA to identify matching packets, duplicating one or more portions of the matching packets and storing the duplicated portions of the matching packets in a trace buffer, where the trace buffer is located in the HCA and is dynamically repurposed from a payload RAM to the trace buffer when a corresponding port of the HCA for transmitting or receiving the packet stream is set to trace mode, and stopping the trace and copying the one or more portions of packets from the trace buffer to host memory.

The Infiniband® network includes nodes that communicate through a channel-based switched fabric (Infiniband® is a registered trademark of Infiniband Trade Association, located in Beaverton, Oreg.). For example, the nodes may be a host, an input/output subsystem, or a router which connects to another network. The switched fabric is made up of a collection of switches, routers, and/or links that connect a set of channel adapters. The channel adapters form an interface between the switched fabric and the nodes. The channel adapter of the host is referred to as a host channel adapter. The channel adapter of an I/O subsystem is referred to as a target channel adapter.
In Infiniband®, two processes communicate using a queue pair. A queue pair includes a send queue and a receive queue. Specifically, in order for a process to send a message to another process, the process posts the message to the send queue. The host channel adapter sends the message in the form of packets to the channel adapter having the receive queue. Each packet that is sent includes at least an Infiniband® header and a packet payload. The payload is typically stored in on-chip random access memory (RAM). Logic associated with the receive queue ensures that packets are processed in a particular order using packet sequence numbers.
Infiniband® supports operations such as remote direct memory access (RDMA) read and write operations. Specifically, a requesting process may send a request in the message for the receiver to store data and/or return data. In response, the remote node's channel adapter includes functionality to store and/or return the requested data to the requesting process. As with any type of transmission and response system, errors may occur in networking activity, e.g., during packet transmission or reception. When errors occur, dedicated hardware is provided to collect and data for debugging purposes.

Method and system for dynamic repurposing of payload storage as a trace buffer


The synthesis of dimethyl-1,5-naphthalenedicarboxylate and polymers and articles formed therefrom is disclosed, as well as applications for dimethyl-1,5-naphthalenedicarboxylate, its corresponding acid 1,5-NDA, and various synthesis intermediates.

The invention generally relates to the synthesis of naphthalenic compounds, and more particularly relates to the synthesis of 1,5 dimethylnaphthalenes and the use of these compounds and their synthesis intermediates.
Polymers based on dimethyl-2,6-naphthalenedicarboxylate (2,6-NDC) are known to be useful in a wide variety of commercial applications.
Films made from 2,6-NDC-based polymers exhibit strength and thermal properties which are superior to films and fibers made from other polymers such as polyethyleneterephthalate (PET). These enhanced properties have led to the use of 2,6-NDC-based polymers in camera films and magnetic recording tapes as well as electrical and electronic components.
2,6-NDC-based polymers also exhibit high resistance to the diffusion of gases such as carbon dioxide, water vapor and oxygen. This resistance to gas diffusion makes these polymers useful in films and containers for a wide variety of food and beverage packaging applications.
The superior physical strength of 2,6-NDC-based polymers also renders these polymers useful in physically demanding applications such as cords for automobile and motorcycle tires.
Unfortunately, the commercial scale synthesis of 2,6-NDC is a complex, multi-step process, which can result in a relatively high price per pound for 2,6-NDC when compared to other polymers.
The synthesis of 2,6-NDC typically includes several steps. In a typical synthesis, orthoxylene and butadiene are reacted over an alkali metal or other catalyst to yield a 5-orthotolylpentene (5-OTP) alkenylation product. The 5-OTP is then cyclized over an acid catalyst to yield 1,5 dimethyltetralin (1,5-DMT). The 1,5 DMT is dehydrogenated over a noble metal or some other dehydrogenation catalyst to yield 1,5-dimethylnaphthalene(1,5-DMN), which is subsequently isomerized to produce 2,6-dimethylnaphthalene (2,6-DMN).
Once 2,6-DMN has been produced, it is oxidized to produce 2,6-naphthalene dicarboxylic acid (2,6-NDA), which is subsequently esterified to produce 2,6-NDC. This 2,6-NDC can then be polymerized in the presence of, for example, ethylene glycol, to produce polyethylenenaphthate (PEN) useful as a monomer or comonomer in applications such as those discussed above.
The foregoing seven step process to produce PEN demands that every synthesis step be selective and produce high yields of the desired end product if NDC is to be manufactured in a commercially economically successful manner.
What is needed is a naphthalenic monomer that can be produced more efficiently and at low cost.
We find that the economic viability of naphthalenic monomers can be increased in many applications by producing a 1,5-NDC-based material rather than a 2,6-NDC-based material. Elimination of the isomerization reaction and 2,6-DMN purification required to convert 1,5-DMN to 2,6-DMN reduces process cost, increases yield and can increase plant capacity where the isomerization reaction or purification of the isomerized product is a production limiting step. By identifying uses for several intermediates in the 1,5-NDC synthesis reaction, we find that the production of these intermediates need not be carried out in the specific proportion required to manufacture the 1,5-NDC end product material, thereby making the sizing of equipment less critical, and increasing the economic viability of an NDC polymer plant as overproduction of intermediates can be accommodated by diverting excess material to other end uses.
Additionally, we believe that the unique physical and chemical properties of 1,5-NDC make 1,5-NDC a preferred material over other monomers such as isophthalic acid in many applications, thereby increasing demand for NDC materials generally.

Synthesis and use of dimethyl 1,5-naphthalenedicarboxlyates and intermediates therefrom


A fuel cell system including a fuel cell, an air compressor for supplying compressed air to the fuel cell, an expander for recovering energy from the air discharged from the fuel cell, and a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between the air discharged from the compressor and the air discharged from the fuel cell. The air discharged from the fuel cell is supplied to the expander after flowing through the heat exchanger.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a fuel cell system, particularly to a system for reducing energy consumption of an air feeding system in a fuel cell system, which efficiently cools air to be fed to a fuel cell thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
In a fuel cell, fuel gas such as hydrogen gas and oxidizing gas containing oxygen electrochemically react to produce electric current, which is taken out of a pair of electrodes provided on both sides of an electrolyte membrane. Especially, Polymer Electrolyte Fuel Cell using a solid polymer electrolyte has drawn attention as a power source of an electrical vehicle due to low operating temperature and easy handling. A fuel cell vehicle carries a hydrogen storage device, such as a high-pressure hydrogen tank, a liquid hydrogen tank, or a hydrogen storage alloy tank, and a fuel cell to which hydrogen gas is supplied from the hydrogen storage device to react with air. Electric energy produced by the reaction is taken out of the fuel cell to drive a motor connected to driving wheels. The fuel cell vehicle is thus an ultimate clean vehicle, which discharges only water.
In the fuel cell system, pressurization of air to be supplied to the air electrode has the following advantages.    (1) Increase in the oxygen partial pressure in the air, which contributes to an increase in a generated voltage and the power generation efficiency of the fuel cell.    (2) Because of an increase in the total pressure of the air, less moisture needs to be added at a gas temperature for creating moist air having the same dew point.    (3) Because of an increase in the total pressure of the air, the dew point rises, and the relative humidity can be maintained high in the fuel cell.    (4) Because the volume flow rate of the air is reduced, the cross-sectional area of a gas flow path in the fuel cell can be made smaller as long as the pressure loss is in an allowable range.
However, the pressurization of air to be supplied has the following disadvantages.    (1) Increase in electric power consumed by a compressor for pressurization.    (2) Temperature rise in the compressed air, resulting in an increase in capacity and in running cost of a cooler for lowering the raised temperature of the compressed air to an allowable temperature for the fuel cell.
The Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2002-56865 discloses a fuel cell system, in which the energy consumption of the compressor is reduced by providing the system with an expander for recovering energy from the discharged air of the fuel cell, and a gas-gas heat exchanger to lower the temperature of the compressed air by exchanging heat between outlet air of the compressor and outlet air of the expander, which is cooled by adiabatic expansion therein.


A process for spreading and flowing in a flowable dielectric during manufacture of an integrated circuit resulting in greater planarity and better gap filling ability. The process involves spinning the integrated circuit while controlling evaporation of the solvent from the flowable dielectric to increase the amount of flow in time and decrease spin velocity during flow in to improve planarity in gap filling ability. The process includes supporting the integrated circuit in a chamber; dispensing the flowable dielectric in a solvent on the integrated circuit in the chamber; covering the integrated circuit to provide a controllable environment within the chamber after the step of dispensing; spinning the integrated circuit while controlling the controllable environment to spread and flow in the flowable dielectric; uncovering the integrated circuit within the chamber; spinning the integrated circuit to spin off flowable dielectric; and curing the flowable the flowable dielectric.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to planarization processes used during integrated circuit manufacturing; and more particularly to an improved spin-on-glass process in which the environment is controlled during the spread/flow-in step and other steps of the process.
2. Description of Related Art
Spin-on-glass (SOG) has been widely used in integrated circuit manufacturing to improve wafer surface planarity. A high degree of planarity on the wafer surface is needed for fine photolithographic resolution. Also, planarity is needed to avoid metal stringers after etching of the metal lines which might be left in impressions on the surface of the wafer and cause shorts on the device. Many articles have been published, for instance, in the annual VLSI Multilevel Interconnection Conferences, such as Ting, et al., "Planarization Process Using Spin-On-Glass", Proceedings Fourth International IEEE VLSI Multilevel Interconnection Conference, Jun. 15-16, 1987, pages 61-67. Also, background concerning the SOG coating principles can be found in Yonkoski, et al., "A Mathematical Model for Planarization of Microelectronic Topographies", Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Vol 141, No. 2, 1994, pages 585-593; and Sukanek, "A Model for Spin Coating with Topography", Journal of the Electrochemical Society, Vol. 136, No. 10, 1989, pages 3019-3026.
Many factors affect the results of a SOG coating profile. Properties of the materials used, including the surface tension, viscosity, solvent evaporation rate, and shrinkage due to high temperature curing are key factors in the ability of the SOG process to fill gaps and establish a planar surface. However, spin speed, SOG settling time, acceleration, the manner of dispensing the SOG, and the ambient during the coating process are important factors for establishing a quality coat on the device. There are many interacting factors involved in the SOG coating process including surface tension, SOG bulk viscosity, centrifugal force, and gravitational forces that the SOG experiences.
A conventional SOG coating process typically consists of the following steps:
1) Dispense SOG at a low wafer spin speed (e.g. 0-200 RPM).
2) Spread SOG at a medium spin speed to get uniform wafer coverage (e.g. 500-1000 RPM).
3) Flow-in (planarize) SOG at a slow speed (e.g. 500-1000 RPM).
4) Spin off the excess top layer SOG at a high speed (e.g. 2000-3000 RPM).
5) Transfer the wafer from the coater to a hot plate.
6) Bake/dry the SOG at higher temperatures.
There are several limitations to the conventional SOG coating process. First, there is a lower limit as to how slow the wafer may be spinned during the spread step, and a maximum amount of time during which the flow in step may be allowed to occur to avoid rapid viscosity changes due to loss of solvent. Further, the spin off rotation speed during the fourth step needs to be high enough to minimize excess SOG thickness on the top of wide metal structures. However, the spin off rotation speed cannot be too high such that unhardened SOG escapes filled in gaps in the underlying structure, leaving a void behind.
Further background concerning SOG coating process can be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,721,548 by Morimoto (SOG with etch back for semiconductor planarization); U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,550 by Chu, et al. (SOG with etch back for intermetal dielectric); U.S. Pat. No. 4,885,262 by Ting, et al. (chemically modified SOG); U.S. Pat. No. 5,003,062 by Yen (planarization process); U.S. Pat. No. 5,106,787 by Yen (high vacuum curing for SOG planarization).
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a spin-on-glass process resulting in better filling of voids, better planarity, and thinner structures over wide metal features on the device.

Spin-on-glass process with controlled environment


Examples disclosed herein include means for comparing bandwidth usage of an application executing in a background of a device to a threshold to determine a state of the application as one of active or inactive, means for logging event records associated with the application, and means for crediting a duration of background execution of the application. In disclosed examples, the means for crediting is to determine whether the bandwidth usage pattern is spiked or continuous based on a first event record representative of background execution of the application being started, update a second event record to be representative of the background execution of the application being stopped when the bandwidth usage pattern is spiked and a timestamp of the second event record exceeds a temporal activity window, and determine the duration of the background execution of the application based on the first event record and the second event record.

In recent years, methods of accessing media have evolved. For example, methods of media access may now involve streaming media over a network to a consumer device. Such consumer devices often allow users to run multiple applications simultaneously. In some instances, one or more applications run in a foreground of the operating system of the consumer device while one or more applications simultaneously execute in the background context of the operating system (e.g., using parallel processing and/or simulated parallel processing).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods and apparatus to credit background applications


A device for irrotationally locking a motor vehicle's steering shaft (1) using a locking element (2) located within a housing (8) and displaceable to-and-fro between a locking and a release position. The housing (8) is detachably affixed to a tubular casing (5) enclosing the steering shaft (1) and comprising a receptacle (18) that receives the housing (8) being inserted therein. According to the invention and for the sake of easy assembly and disassembly and high security against theft and easy manufacture, the housing (8) is pushed into the receptacle (18) in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis (10) of the tubular casing (5).

A. Field
The present invention relates to a device for irrotationally locking a motor-vehicle's steering spindle, hereafter steering shaft by means of a locking element which is displaceable to-and-fro within a housing between a locking and a release position, said housing being detachably affixed to a tubular casing enclosing the steering shaft and the casing being fitted with a receptacle receiving the inserted housing.
B. Related Art
Such devices irrotationally locking motor vehicle steering shafts are known in a variety of designs. Among these are those whereby the housing is inserted into the receptacle perpendicularly or nearly perpendicularly to the tubular casing's longitudinal axis (FR 1,605,119 A; DE 23 23 387 A; DE 36 06 564 C; DE 36 26 014 C; EP 0,365,423 A; DE 42 19 853 C; EP 0,764,566 C; FR 2,783,218 A; FR 2,783,219 A; FR 2,783,220 A; FR 2,783,221 A and DE 198 15 311 C) and further those wherein the housing is inserted in a parallel manner to the tubular casing's longitudinal axis (DE 1,603,844 U; DE 1,119,696 B; DE 1,204,091 B and DE 199 06 302 C).

Device for blocking the steering spindle of a motor vehicle


An exercise device according to which at least one weight is disposed in the enclosure and is locked in the enclosure.

This invention relates to an exercise device not unlike a kettlebell, and a method of adjusting the weight of same.
A standard kettlebell is a generally spherically-shaped cast iron weight with a handle attached. With a variety of functional motions, one can swing, pull and press a kettlebell between several positions (such as swing, rack, and lock) to achieve a wide range of fast, convenient and fluid workouts.
However, it is often desirable to change weights during a workout, depending on the particular exercise involved. This requires changing to a different kettlebell corresponding to the desired weight. Thus, an exerciser has to have several kettlebells of varying weights in order to complete one workout.
Therefore, what is needed is an exercise devise similar to a kettlebell, whose weight can be adjusted.


A process is used for the renovation or new construction of corrugated sheet metal tunnels. The corrugated sheets are sandblasted for cleaning and room cleaning. Then anchoring elements are welded to the rough side of the sheets. A layer of shotcrete is applied to this roughened side of the sheets to obtain a smooth coating over the crests and valleys of the sheets. A reinforcement net is placed on this layer and a second layer of shotcrete or mortar is applied to cover the reinforcement net. The top layer can be smoothed. The subsequent corrugated sheet metal tunnel includes corrugated sheets covering the tunnel walls and ceilings with the course direction of their wave crests and valleys parallel to the circumferential direction of the tunnel profile. The corrugated sheets on the inside and/or outside of the tunnel are reinforced with an applied reinforced concrete layer.

Bridges and passages for roads and waterways are necessary components of the road and waterway network. The maintenance of corrugated tunnels is a special technical challenge. Bendable, elastically embedded pipes made of corrugated sheet metal or corrugated steel pipes offer a construction system that proves to be ideal for numerous problems. Corrugated sheet metal tunnels were first used in the 1950s and offer a number of advantages:                fast in preparation and construction,        economical and with good corrosion protection durable and hardly sensitive to settling,        existing corrugated sheet metal structures can be extended by connecting new prefabricated steel elements        Ailing bridge structures or vaults can be rehabilitated by pulling in corrugated sheet metal structures without affecting the traffic above.
Corrugated steel structures are assembled on site from corrugated and curved steel plates, which have a plate thickness of 2.50 mm to 8 mm, using screw connections. Alternatively, the corrugated sheets can also be helically rolled with a steep thread pitch and then joined along their edges to form a pipe. Common shapes are circular profiles in cross section, mouth profiles of different height/width ratios, ellipses, circular and basket arcs. This corrugated sheet metal construction is then covered with gravel and then soil, for example as part of an embankment. Optimized corrugations are available for the corresponding application. Well-known applications are culverts for paths and watercourses, for example to cross elevations or dams, which are often used as road or railroad lines. In France alone, for example, there are 1073 such corrugated sheet metal tunnels under national surveillance, and 3000 to 4000 under surveillance by the individual departments.
In connection with completing construction elements such as steel walls, bends, supports, entrances, etc., it is also possible to construct economical piping of any length, rain retention and backwater channels, pipe collecting channels, escape tunnels or drainage tunnels in landfills in this way. The range of standard cross-sections is tailored to the various application conditions.
Most of these corrugated sheet metal tunnels have a diameter of between 1.5 m and 2.5 m, although larger diameters are also possible. In addition to the standard cross-sections, a large number of special profiles can be designed by changing the radii and opening angles in order to optimally adapt them to the application. The bends can thus be used to bridge existing railroad tracks or pipeline routes. The securing and renovation of old arched bridges and culverts during ongoing traffic using prefabricated steel elements has also proven its worth. Here, too, the profile can be optimally adapted to the cross-section of the vault.
In addition to the applications described above in road and bridge construction, corrugated sheet metal structures are also used in industry and agriculture. For example, the prefabricated steel parts are used to build gravel extraction tunnels, where heap heights of up to 25 m are possible, as well as silos, which are used for the storage of sand, gravel, crushed stone and similar materials. Discharge tunnels can include individual design details such as hopper inlets, change of inclination, pump sump, fastening for cables and similar. The tunnels can easily be dismantled after years of use and moved to another extraction site. Silos that require a simple foundation on ring foundations are constructed up to 12 m high and 16 m in diameter. Slurry tanks made of prefabricated corrugated sheet metal parts for farms are circular tanks that stand on a reinforced concrete slab, provided with a secure joint seal and special corrosion protection. These tanks are also suitable as service water tanks in industry.
Aged underpasses or other structures made of corrugated sheets may nevertheless show damage, be it due to the aging of the corrugated sheet, its corrosion, or be it due to the excessive mountain pressure or the high permanently acting load, or due to a temporary overload, or due to the abrasive effect of water flowing rapidly and permanently past the corrugated sheet elements in the case of a water channel made of such corrugated sheets. Further damage can occur as a result of natural subsidence of the terrain. In extreme cases, the tunnel profile may buckle, so that such a corrugated sheet metal tunnel is no longer accessible or drivable for safety reasons and must be closed. From the state of the art basic procedures for the renovation of corrugated iron tunnels are known. For example, D1: XP055605530 Management of Corrugated Steel Buried Structures as the next document on the state of the art shows a procedure in which the corrugated sheet metal is first cleaned, then anchoring elements are welded, screwed, riveted, glued or shot into the corrugated sheet metal. Then a layer of shotcrete is applied and roughly smoothed. One or more reinforcement nets of structural steel are inserted into this layer and then sprayed with shotcrete. Also D2: XP 055605503 Buses métalliques: Guide pour la surveillance spécialisée, l'entretien et la réparation by N. Bertolini et al., a method according to which reinforcing nets of mild steel are placed inside corrugated sheet metal tunnels and then covered with shotcrete. D3: XP055605556 La réparation des buses métalliques by Jean-Michel Morel also shows such a process. Similar processes can be seen in D4: CN 104 213 515 B, in D5: US 2009/214297 A and D7: U.S. Pat. No. 4,390,306 A, but none of them reveals the use of absolutely stainless and highly tensile reinforcing nets. Rather, conventional reinforcement nets made of structural steel are used, which, however, are excessively exposed to corrosion, especially in the case of water-bearing corrugated metal tunnels, and consequently a renovated corrugated metal tunnel will soon be in need of renovation again.
The task of the present invention is, in view of these facts, to specify a method for the efficient, rapid and inexpensive and sustainable rehabilitation, repair or reinforcement of such corrugated sheet metal tunnels, but also a method for the new construction of a corrugated sheet metal tunnel, whereby a longer service life of the structure, an increase in the load-bearing capacity or both should be ensured at low costs.
This task is solved by a procedure for the renovation, repair, reinforcement, protection or new construction of corrugated sheet metal tunnels, in which the inner or outer sides of the corrugated sheets are cleaned, then anchoring elements are welded, screwed or riveted onto the cleaned side of the corrugated sheets, are glued or shot in and a layer of shotcrete is applied to this cleaned side of the corrugated sheets until an externally smooth or coarsely smooth coating is obtained, and which is characterized in that one or more reinforcement nets in the form of carbon fiber nets with a mesh width of 15 mm to 20 mm are applied to this layer or and covering this or these reinforcement net(s) with a second layer of shotcrete or wet and/or dry sprayed mortar.

Method for renovating, repairing, reinforcing, protecting or newly creating corrugated metal-sheet tunnels, and corrugated metal-sheet tunnels of this type


A composite fishing kit includes a partitioned tray for holding various fishing tackles and tools, a foldable chair which can be adjusted to different heights and has an adjustable bar engageable with an umbrella and a storing bag for holding the tray and the folded chair therein. The tray further has rod support racks for holding the fishing rods. A fisherman can rest on the chair under the umbrella while fishing. The kit may be packed in a small size to facilitate carrying or storage.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a composite fishing kit and particularly to a multifunction fishing kit which is versatile and compact in size.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Fishing is a very popular outdoors leisure activity. To fully enjoy this activity, a fisherman usually has to prepare and equip a lot of things, e.g. fishing gears, hook, bait, chair, umbrella, hand tools, etc. These things have different sizes and shapes. They need to be packed together for carrying and need to be unpacked and arranged for use. It is a rather burdensome chore. Doing it not properly or carefully could easily spoil the fun of fishing.


A method for installing a vapor bather in a building includes loosely hanging a strip around a periphery of an area to be insulated, providing a vapor bather having a plurality of attachments, the attachments adapted to attach to the strip, attaching the attachments to the strip, and then tightening the strip to tighten the vapor bather.

As natural resources, particularly those required for heating and cooling, become scarcer, consumers and businesses are trying to utilize better technologies to lower the cost of energy and the like. Likewise, local governments and industry groups are promulgating new standards for energy compliance.
For instance, ASHRAE (The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers), has promulgated standards that will require that new conditioned air low-rise commercial construction will require roof u-values of between 0.035-0.040 and wall u-values of 0.050-0.060. This is a significant change from its current u-value of 0.062 for the roof.


A double conversion tuning system for a high definition television receiver includes a microprocessor supplying first and second digital numbers to first and second local oscillators. The first local oscillator is controlled by a wide band phase locked loop that includes a programmable divider that receives the first digital number from the microprocessor and a prescaler that couples the first local oscillator signal to the programmable divider. The output of the programmable divider supplies one input of a phase detector, the other input of which is supplied with the divided down output of a crystal reference source. The output of the phase detector controls the first local oscillator frequency. The tuning of the first local oscillator is coarse and the first IF signal frequency may deviate within a predetermined range from a desired value. The second digital number from the microprocessor controls, via a D/A and varactor, the resonant frequency of a tunable dielectric resonator in the second local oscillator to adjust the second local oscillator frequency to compensate for the deviation in first IF signal frequency so that the second IF signal frequency remains constant.

This invention relates generally to double conversion television tuning systems and in particular to a double conversion tuning system for use with digital television (TV) signals.
The recently proposed Zenith/AT&T Digital Spectrum Compatible High Definition Television System (DSC/HDTV) transmits wide band television information that is digitally encoded. Processing of the digital information imposes severe restrictions on the amount of phase noise that may be tolerated in the tuning system. It is critical that the tuning system impose a minimal amount of phase noise on the digital information which, lacking the redundancy of conventional television signals, demands accurate detection and decoding. A double conversion type tuning system appears to be the most desirable for digital HDTV signals, although conventional NTSC double conversion tuning systems do not exhibit sufficiently low phase noise characteristics to be entirely satisfactory. This is due to both the low "Q" of the varactor diode-tuned tank circuit in the first local oscillator of the double conversion tuning stage and the narrow band phase locked loop (PLL) of the synthesizer. The arrangement of copending application Ser. No. 815,721 above remedies the first part of the problem, i.e. low Q of the tuned circuits. The latter part of the problem is the subject of the present invention. Thus the present invention describes a double conversion tuning system that meets both the criteria of low phase noise and tuning accuracy.

Double conversion digital tuning system using separate digital numbers for controlling the local oscillators


A drawing apparatus constructed such that a screw rod 17 having an axis center along a drawing direction of an electrical machinery 1 is rotatably supported by a floor portion 11a of a drawing type electrical machinery accommodating portion 11 of a switch gear, a nut 19 engaged with a lower portion of the electrical machinery 1 is screwed with the screw rod 17, the nut 19 is moved by rotating the screw rod 17, and the electrical machinery 1 is driven in a direction of inserting or drawing out, whereby the drawing apparatus is commonly used for various drawing-type electrical machineries regardless of sizes of the electrical machineries.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drawing apparatus for inserting and drawing out an electrical machinery of a drawer type, which is accommodated in switch gear.
2. Discussion of Background
FIG. 8 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional drawing apparatus disclosed in, for example, Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Publication JP-A-48-43931. In FIG. 8, numerical reference 1 designates a breaker; numerical reference 2 designates a screw rod, penetrating through a dolly of the breaker 1 so as to be rotatable; numerical reference 3 designates a nut located on a side of a switch gear; and numerical reference 4 designates a handle, engaged with the screw rod 2, for rotating the screw rod 2.
When the breaker is inserted in the switch gear, the screw rod is made in contact with the nut 3, and the handle 4 is turned to rotate the screw rod 2, whereby the screw rod 2 is screwed into the nut 3. Because the nut 3 is fixed to the switch gear (not shown), the breaker is drawn into the switch gear along with the rotation of the screw rod 2. By rotating the screw rod 2 in a direction adverse to described above, the nut 3 is moved relatively left in FIG. 8, whereby the breaker 1 is drawn out of the switch gear.
However, the conventional apparatus has a problem that various types of screw rods, corresponding to various sizes of breakers, are necessary because a length of the screw rod is determined by an overall depth of the breaker or a distance between a breaking position and a making position of the switch gear. Further, there is a problem that a large space should be prepared in a manufacturing factory, and at time of installing and transporting.
It is an object of the present invention to solve the above-mentioned problems inherent in the conventional technique and to provide a drawing apparatus which can deal with breakers having any size without changing components of the drawing apparatus.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a drawing apparatus which can be easily installed inside switch gear.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a drawing apparatus, which can be safely operated by detecting making and breaking states of a switch.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a means for detecting making and breaking states, which can securely detect the making and breaking states of a switch in a simple structure.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a shutter which can easily realize an operation interlocked with a means for detecting making and breaking states.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a drawing apparatus which can be easily assembled.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drawing apparatus comprising: a screw rod rotatably supported around an axis center along a direction of drawing an electrical machinery; and a nut engaged with the electrical machinery, screwed with the screw rod, and driving the electrical machinery in a direction of inserting or drawing out by moving the electrical machinery of a drawing type in directions of inserting and drawing out upon the rotation of the screw rod.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drawing apparatus comprising: a screw rod supported by a floor of an electrical machinery room so as to be rotatable around an axis center along a direction of drawing out the electrical machinery; and a nut engaging a lower portion of the electrical machinery in directions of inserting and drawing out, screwed with the screw rod, and driving the electrical machinery in the directions of inserting and drawing out the electrical machinery by moving the electrical machinery upon the rotation of the screw rod.
According to a third aspect of the present invention, there is provided a drawing apparatus comprising: a screw rod rotatably supported around an axis center along a drawing direction of a switch; a nut engaged with the switch, screwed with the screw rod, and driving the switch in directions of inserting and drawing out the switch by moving the switch in the directions; a making and breaking state detecting means detecting making and breaking states of the switch; and a shutter closing a front surface of a driving portion of the screw rod, engaged with the making and breaking state detecting means on one side thereof, and being movable in a position of releasing the front surface of the driving portion of the screw rod only in case that the making and breaking state detecting means detects the breaking state.
According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the drawing apparatus, wherein the making and breaking state detecting means comprising: an interlocking member installed in the switch and moving between making and breaking positions of the switch; and an interlocking rod having a shaft rotatably supported in parallel with the screw rod, an arm-like detector, rotated along with the shaft, engaged with the interlocking member, and detecting the making and breaking states of the switch, and an arm-like actuator located in one end of the shaft and outputting a detected state.
According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the drawing apparatus, wherein the shutter is located on a front surface of a driving portion of the screw rod so as to be freely slidable in directions perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the screw rod, and the shutter is rotated in a direction that the interlocking rod is in contact with the interlocking member of the switch by an engagement between one side of the shutter and a roller, located in a tip of a displaying portion of the interlocking rod of the making and breaking state detecting means in case that the shutter slides in a direction of releasing the front surface of the driving portion.
According to a sixth aspect of the present invention, there is provided the drawing apparatus, wherein the screw rod, the making and breaking state detecting means, and the shutter are constructed to be a single unit on a common base.

Drawing apparatus for a drawer type electrical machinery


In one non-limiting embodiment, a transparency for use as a cover plate for a solar collector, window and/or room divider includes a major surface of a glass substrate having Brewster tetrahedrons to convert s-polarized light waves to converted p-polarized light waves to reduce the percent of light wave reflectance of the substrate. In another non-limiting embodiment, the transparency includes a major surface of the substrate having pyramidal tetrahedrons to capture light waves within the body of the substrate to reduce the percent of visible light reflection.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to patterns on a transparent substrate, e.g. a glass substrate to increase light transmission and/or light trapping, and more particularly, to patterns on a glass cover plate of a solar cell to convert s-polarized light wave to p-polarized light wave to increase transmission of light waves through the cover plate, and/or to trap internally reflected light waves, to increase electrical output of the solar cell.
2. Discussion of the Present Technology
At the present time solar cells include a transparent cover plate, e.g. a glass cover plate over a mono-crystalline silicon photovoltaic module. The cover plate protects the module against a hostile environment, e.g. rain, snow, and wind blown debris, e.g. wind blown dust and stones, while passing solar energy through the cover plate to the module. Although the use of transparent cover plates is acceptable, there are limitations. More particularly and with exception, the solar energy is incident on the glass cover plate as non-polarized collimated light waves. As is appreciated by those skilled in the art, when the non-polarized light waves are incident on the outer surface of the glass cover plate at a Brewster-angle the non-polarized light waves become polarized light waves with the p-polarized light waves having an electric field parallel to the plane of incidence passing thought the glass cover plate, and the s-polarized light waves having an electric field perpendicular to the plane of incidence partly reflected away from the glass cover plate and the photovoltaic module.
Technology is available, e.g. as disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,913,520; 5,559,634; 5,594,830 and 5,640,480 to convert s-polarized light waves reflected from a glass cover plate to p-polarized light waves (hereinafter also referred to as "converted p-polarized light waves") and pass the p-polarized light waves and the converted p-polarized light waves through the glass cover plate to increase the light transmission through the cover plate. A drawback of the presently available technology, e.g. as disclosed in the above-mentioned patents, is that the light source is stationary and the light waves travel along a set, unchanging path, such that the light waves are always incident on the surface of the glass substrate at the Brewster-angle, and the s-polarized light waves are converted to p-polarized light waves. In the case of solar cells, the light source is the sun, and the sun travels along a path such that the sun's rays are not always incident on the glass cover plate at the Brewster-angle. Tracking equipment is available to move the solar cell to have the glass cover plate track the movement of the sun such that the sun's rays are incident on the cover plate at the Brewster-angle. However, as is appreciated by those skilled in the art, tracking equipment is expensive and must be maintained in proper operating condition.
Another limitation associated with transmitting light waves through a glass cover plate is the loss of light waves that are re-reflected through the glass cover plate. More particularly, the light waves are incident on a first surface of the glass cover plate, and a portion of the light waves incident on the first surface passes through the first surface into the body of the glass cover plate and a portion of the light is reflected toward an opposite second surface of the glass cover plate. At the opposite second surface of the glass cover plate, a portion of the light waves passes through the second surface, and a portion of the light waves is reflected back toward and through the first surface of the glass cover plate.
As can now be appreciated, it would be advantageous to provide a transparent plate or substrate, for example, but not limited to a display cover and/or a cover plate for a solar absorbing device, for example, but not limited to a solar cell, that minimizes, if not eliminates, the limitations of the presently available cover plates by increasing solar light transmission through the transparent plate, for example, but not limited to a display cover and/or a cover plate of a solar cell.

Patterns on glass for increased light transmission and/or light trapping


A device capable of procuring one or more objects from a surface, particularly the removal of pet waste from the ground or another surface. The device can allow a person to remove waste while standing or sitting in a comfortable position, thereby reducing or eliminating strain or injury. The device can be used with one hand and with minimal effort.

1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to the field of pet care equipment, specifically a device for the removal of pet waste from the ground or another surface.
2. Background
Dog owners often enjoy taking their canines for walks outdoors, however the task of cleaning up the waste left behind by the dogs can be bothersome. A dog walker has to not only carry around several bags on each outing but must also pick up the dog's feces, a task that usually includes squatting or bending down, using a bag and one's hand to scoop up the waste, and simultaneously holding onto the dog's leash and making sure that he or she does not run away. Depending on the length of the walk this task may need to be completed several times. For some people with physical limitations, waste removal can be not only annoying but also difficult and/or painful.
In order to make the waste removal process easier, it is important to have a device that allows a person to remove waste while standing in a comfortable position. It is also important to have a device that is compact and easy to carry. Several dog waste removal devices are currently on the market. However, these devices require the use of both hands, are bulky and non-retractable, are inefficient, and/or are difficult to use.
What is needed is an efficient waste removal device that is compact and easy to carry, requires the use of only one hand with minimal effort, and can be used while standing.


A map fusing method includes receiving a source graph and a target graph. The source graph is representative of a source map and the target graph is representative of a target map and includes nodes and edges that connect the nodes. The method further includes processing each of the source graph and the target graph in a graph convolutional layer to provide graph convolutional layer outputs related to the source graph and to the target graph, processing each of the graph convolutional layer outputs for the source graph and the target graph in a linear rectifying layer to output node feature maps related to the source graph and the target graph. The method further includes selecting pairs of node representations from the node feature maps related to the source graph and the target graph and concatenating the selected pairs to output selected and concatenated pairs of node representations.

Many applications such as areal exploration, location-based services, route planning, free parking-spot search and the like are based on digital street maps. Due to the large variety of applications, there also exists a large amount of digital street maps that differ, among other aspects, in their coverage, recording time, map generation approach, and attributes. To take advantage of all the information included in different street maps, a technique known as map fusion (also referred to as map conflation, map merging or map matching) is applied which allows to merge two or more maps into one. However, due to the large amount of information contained in the numerous maps, map fusion approaches can be time and resource consuming or inaccurate. Thus, there is a considerable interest in more efficient and accurate map fusion techniques.


A portable device can transmit information through one of a mobile phone network and an Internet, wherein the portable device includes a text-based communication module to allow a user may synchronously transmit or receive data through a local area network, wherein the data is text, audio, video or the combination thereof. The text-based communication module of the portable device includes a text-to-speech recognition module used to convert a text data for outputting the text data by vocal, and a read determination module for determining read target terminals and unread target terminals when a user of the portable phone device activates the read determination module.

Because of the development of the information technology (IT), the information could be exchanged with higher capacity and faster speed. Internet is designed as an open structure to exchange information freely without restriction. Thus, certain communication service requiring real time information exchange, such as viewing a live video, has become feasible through Internet. The VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) is a popular Internet protocol about the transmission of voice data packets. Conventionally, the VoIP operators are needed to obtain telephone lines from phone companies for linking themselves to the regular phone systems. Therefore, the applications of VoIP are still constrained within the Internet users.
Some mobile computing devices, such as, for example, laptop computers, netbooks, tablets and cell phones can be configured with a data plan that provides service for mobile telephone and mobile Internet access, such as, access to electronic mail, short message service (SMS) (e.g., text messaging) and multimedia messaging service (MMS) through a cellular mobile network (e.g., a CDMA network, a GSM network, a GPRS network, an EV-DO network, an EDGE network, an LTE network, an HSPA+ network, a UMTS network, etc.).
Cellular communications systems typically include multiple base stations for communicating with mobile stations in various geographical transmission areas. Each base station provides an interface between the mobile station and a telecommunications network. Mobile telephone systems are in use or being developed in which the geographic coverage area of the system is divided into smaller separate cells, it communicates with the network via a fixed station located in the cell. Mobile telephones belonging to the system are free to travel from one cell to another. When a subscriber within the same system or within an external system wishes to call a mobile subscriber within this system, the network must have information on the actual location of the mobile telephone. In pace with the development of information and computer technology, the electronic products grow rapidly with the trend of small size, multifunction and high operation speed. Based on the development of cellular integration technology, communication systems have also been introduced to allow users obtain information more convenient. Thus, the business accompanied with the communication device flourish as well due to the development of the communication technology. The internet and communication service providers also offer business services to assist clients to transfer information or extend the market. The cellular manufactures have to release new models with different appearances, function and styles more frequently so as to attract the attention of the buyer and occupy a favorable marketing share. Communication services providers or information services providers also have to provide diverse, comprehensive and latest information to clients. However, text message received by the communication module is generally display on the screen for reading by a user. Differently, the present invention introduces a new method to read the received text message.

Smart phone with a text recognition module


A system for clearing a memory of a virtual machine stores a clearing program for clearing a memory of a virtual machine in a memory area of the virtual machine in response to a request for clearing a memory area assigned to the virtual machine, operates the clearing program on the virtual machine; and clears the memory area portion of the virtual machine in which the clearing program is stored, after a completion of the clearing program. The clearing program is caused to operate on the virtual machine which is the subject of the clear operation and the memory area assigned to the virtual machine is cleared.

This invention relates to a method of clearing a memory of a virtual machine which executes a clearing operation under the environment of the virtual machine when the memory assigned to the virtual machine is to be cleared.
Recently, the memory area assigned to the virtual machine has increased and thus the time required to clear the memory has also increased. Therefore, a technique is required which does not cause any inconvenience even if the time required to clear the memory is long. It is necessary in a virtual machine system to clear the virtual machine (called VM hereinafter) memory area to prevent a malfunction of an operating system (OS) and to prevent information of a previously operating OS from being given to the next-operating OS.
As a trigger to clear the VM memory, an IPL command of the OS or a VM-memory clear command, for example, are used. These commands are designated by an operator. A clear operation is also necessary upon completing a VM operation.
FIG. 1A (PRIOR ART) shows a conventional method of clearing a memory in the virtual machine system. Virtual machine system 10 comprises virtual machine control monitor 11 (called VM control monitor hereinafter), virtual machine dispatcher 14(called VM dispatcher hereinafter) for sequentially providing respective VMs with a CPU executing right in a time divisional manner, clearing program 15 and virtual machine areas 16-1 to 16-3 (called VM areas hereinafter) of a memory, which are assigned to respective VMs. Clearing program 15 for clearing a memory of the VM is conventionally provided in VM control monitor 11 and when a clear request for VM area 16-1 is produced, clearing program 15 operates to clear the area designated by the clear request within a continuous time period as shown in FIG. 1B (PRIOR ART).
A clear operation of clearing program 15, which operates as a part of command processes in VM control monitor 11, generally has a higher CPU executing priority right than a process for operating an OS on the VM. Therefore, in the conventional method, there is a problem that the other VMs cannot operate until a clear operation of VM area 16-1 is completed.
Furthermore, the size of the memory area assigned to the VM has increased and therefore the time required for a memory clear process has also increased. This sometimes prevents another VM from operating for a long period of time. For example, if a plurality of VMs perform a communication, a VM does not return a response within a predetermined time. As shown in FIG. 1C (PRIOR ART), VM area 16-1, for example, exclusively occupies the CPU of the particular system to clear the VM area 16-1 until the process of the clearing program for the VM area 16-1 is completed. Therefore, when the opposite VM in the same or different system tries to access VM area 16-1, VM area 16-1 of the predetermined system cannot send a response for a certain period of time. Therefore, the opposite VM erroneously recognizes that the VM has become abnormal.
In the prior art, VM control monitor 11 executes a clearing operation of the VM memory. Thus, there is a danger of an area other than the subject of the memory clear operation being destroyed by a malfunction of VM control monitor 11. FIG. 1C shows an explanatory view of a memory space regarding a guard of the VM control monitor and a guard of the VM. The guard for the VM control monitor is provided at the last address of the VM control monitor and under the VM control monitor are provided VM areas VM16-3, VM16-2, and VM16-1, for example. A guard of the VM control monitor is moved to the last address of the VM16-1 area so that the clearing program provided in the VM control monitor can clear the program in the VM16-1. Therefore, there is a problem that the clearing program erroneously clears the VM16-2 area as the clear process for the VM16-1 extends to the VM16-2.

System for clearing a memory of a virtual machine


Brake pressure indication apparatus in a vehicle includes a plurality of red L.E.D.s arranged in a ladder-like configuration. The L.E.D.s illuminate progressively in response to brake pressure. As brake pressure is increased, more L.E.D.s illuminate. Brake pressure may be sensed in either of two ways, such as movement of the brake pedal or the expansion of a flexible brake hose.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to vehicle brake lights and, more particularly, to vehicle brake lights having a plurality of lights with the lights illuminating in response to the degree of brake application pressure.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 4,682,146 (Friedman) discloses an indicator light system using a horizontally disposed tube filled with a rare gas. The gas tube is connected to turn signal indicators and the light in the tube propagates from either the left hand side of the tube or the right hand side of the tube, depending on the direction of travel of the vehicle. For a left hand turn, the light propagates from the right hand side progressively to the left hand side, indicating a left turn. For a right turn, the opposite happens. That is, the light propagates from the left side progressively to the right side. The apparatus is not degree-based responsive.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,606,310 (Egger et al) discloses a safety system in which a pair of lights illuminate when hard braking pressure is applied. A pressure transducer is used to sense the pressure of the brake pedal application. The system is coupled to the ordinary brake light system to provide different light effects depending on brake pressure applied. However, the light effects could be mistaken as a hazard warning light function.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,610,578 (Gilmore) discloses a light system indicative of pressure application on the brake system. Deceleration is sensed as well as brake pressure application. The brake illumination system provides brake light intensity as a function of the deceleration of the vehicle. The motion of the brake arm during braking is used as a determining element. This apparatus, like the '310 (Egger) apparatus, utilizes the brake lights in an ordinary brake light system circuit. No additional lights or light elements are used. The apparatus is dependent on ambient conditions and bulb life to indicate intensity. Its is unclear how light intensity is translated into vehicle deceleration.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,682,137 (Li) discloses a safety system for vehicles which indicates acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle. The system utilizes inertial forces to determine acceleration and deceleration and sequentially activates lights in response to acceleration and deceleration. Red lights are used in response to deceleration, and green lights are used in response to acceleration. It will be noted that a problem with this system is that changes in the attitude of the vehicle will also cause changes of the sensitivity of the apparatus. That is, going uphill or going downhill which changes the attitude of the vehicle, will result false indications of acceleration or deceleration. The apparatus is also sensitive to vehicle loading changes which affect the attitude of the vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,831,523 (Lange) discloses a vehicle light system which uses a plurality of spaced apart light emitting diodes disposed about the rear window. Both red and yellow L.E.D.s are used with yellow L.E.D.s used as an adjunct to the directional indicators and red L.E.D.s tied into the brake system. The red L.E.D.s are activated when the brake light system is activated. The lights actuate sequentially, not in response to brake pressure. The red lights actuate sequentially as an indication that the brakes have been actuated, but they are not indicative of brake pressure. That is, the apparatus is independent of brake application intensity. The red L.E.D.s illuminate sequentially from the top center of the rear window outwardly and downwardly on the sides of the window.
The apparatus of the present invention utilizes red L.E.D.s or high intensity lamps or the like which illuminate sequentially in response to intensity of brake application pressure. That is, a ladder-effect of the red L.E.D.s occurs in direct response to brake pressure. Two embodiments are included, the first being an original equipment type installation and the second being an after market installation.


The present invention relates to new methods for diagnosing a pregnancy-associated disorder by analyzing fetal DNA present in the mother's blood. More specifically, this invention relies on the discovery that the maspin gene is differentially methylated in fetal DNA and in maternal DNA and provides these new diagnostic methods, which distinguish fetal DNA from maternal DNA and detect prenatal disorders based on abnormalities in fetal DNA level and methylation status.

Early detection of pregnancy-related conditions, including potential complications during pregnancy or delivery and genetic defects of the fetus is of crucial importance, as it allows early medical intervention necessary for the safety of both the mother and the fetus. Prenatal diagnosis has been routinely conducted using cells isolated from the fetus through procedures such as chorionic villus sampling (CVS) or amniocentesis. These conventional methods are, however, invasive and present an appreciable risk to both the mother and the fetus despite most careful handling (Tabor et al., Lancet 1:1287-1293, 1986).
Alternatives to these invasive approaches have been developed for prenatal screening, e.g., to detecting fetal abnormalities, following the discoveries that several types of fetal cells can be found in maternal circulation (Johansen et al., Prenat. Diagn. 15:921-931, 1995) and more importantly, circulating cell-free fetal DNA can be detected in maternal plasma and serum (Lo et al., Lancet 350:485-487, 1997). The amount of fetal DNA in maternal blood has been shown to be sufficient for genetic analysis without complex treatment of the plasma or serum, in contrast to the necessary steps for isolating and enriching fetal cells. Fetal rhesus D (RhD) genotyping (Lo et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 339:1734-1738, 1998), fetal sex determination (Costa et al., N. Engl. J. Med. 346:1502, 2002), and diagnosis of several fetal disorders (Amicucci et al., Clin. Chem. 46:301-302, 2000; Saito et al., Lancet 356:1170, 2000; and Chiu et al., Lancet 360:998-1000, 2002) have since been achieved by detecting fetal DNA in maternal blood using a polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based technique.
In addition, quantitative abnormalities of fetal DNA in maternal plasma/serum have been reported in preeclampsia (Lo et al., Clin. Chem. 45:184-188, 1999 and Zhong et al., Am. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 184:414-419, 2001), fetal trisomy 21 (Lo et al., Clin. Chem. 45:1747-1751, 1999 and Zhong et al. Prenat. Diagn. 20:795-798, 2000) and hyperemesis gravidarum (Sekizawa et al., Clin. Chem. 47:2164-2165, 2001). Detection of fetal nucleic acid in maternal blood for prenatal genetic analysis is also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,258,540.
Fetal RNA present in maternal blood has also been established as a diagnostic tool for pregnancy-associated conditions. For instance, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/876,005 discloses non-invasive techniques based on detection of fetal RNA in maternal blood; U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/759,783 further discloses that the amount of certain mRNA species (e.g., hCG-β, hCRH, hPL, KISS1, TPFI2, and PLAC1) present in maternal blood can be used as markers for diagnosing, monitoring, or predicting pregnancy-related disorders such as preeclampsia, fetal chromosomal aneuploidy, and preterm labor.
Although the stability of DNA provides an advantage for fetal DNA-based diagnosis, one major limitation does exist for this approach: both fetal and maternal DNA is present in the acellular portion of a pregnant woman's blood, e.g., serum or plasma. Thus, there is a need to distinguish fetal DNA from maternal DNA to ensure accurate diagnosis. It was first disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/944,951, published as 20030044388, that fetal and maternal DNA may be distinguished by their different methylation profile. Landes et al. in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 20030211522 also proposed differential methylation markers may be used for prenatal diagnosis. In the present disclosure, one particular gene, the mammary serine protease inhibitor (maspin) gene, is identified for the first time as a gene containing regions differentially methylated in genomic DNA originated from a fetus or from an adult (e.g., a pregnant women) due to the different status of gene expression. Thus, the differentially methylated fetal maspin gene allows proper identification or quantification of fetal and maternal DNA and therefore reliable diagnosis of prenatal conditions.

Marker for prenatal diagnosis and monitoring


A motor includes a shaft that extends in an axial direction, a rotor including a field magnet, a stator, a resolver positioned farther toward one side of the motor in the axial direction than the rotor and the stator, and a shield including at least a portion is between the rotor and the resolver in the axial direction. The shield includes a bottom portion of which at least a portion is between the rotor and the resolver in the axial direction and which includes a through-hole through which the shaft passes, and a convex portion that extends from the bottom portion toward the other side in the axial direction. A front end portion of the convex portion is positioned farther toward an inner side of the motor in a radial direction than an outer circumferential portion of the field magnet when viewed in the axial direction.

Conventionally, the motor has a magnetic sensor such as a resolver or the like to detect a rotational position of a rotor. Generally, a magnetic sensor such as a resolver or the like detects a rotational position of a rotor using magnetism. Therefore, when a magnetic flux generated in a rotor and a stator flows into a magnetic sensor, detection accuracy of the magnetic sensor is lowered.
On the other hand, a configuration is known in which a shielding member for shielding a magnetic flux flowing into a magnetic sensor is disposed between a stator and a magnetic sensor. For example, a brushless motor has a resolver holder as a shielding member for shielding a magnetic flux flowing into a resolver (a magnetic sensor).
However, the bottom wall portion of the resolver holder described above has the through-hole through which the rotor shaft passes. Therefore, in the above-described configuration, there is a possibility of a magnetic flux (a leakage magnetic flux), which is generated in a field magnet of the rotor positioned on an inner side of the stator, flowing in a radial direction from the through-hole into the resolver (the magnetic sensor). That is, the above-described configuration, there is a possibility that the magnetic flux flowing from the rotor into the magnetic sensor cannot be sufficiently suppressed.
On the other hand, it is considered that the resolver holder is arranged at a predetermined distance from the rotor in an axial direction of the rotor such that the magnetic flux does not flow from the rotor into the magnetic sensor. However, in this case, since an axial dimension of the motor becomes large, the motor becomes large.


A package includes a blank having a face panel and a back panel. The face panel includes apertures and face tabs. The back panel includes gates that correspond with apertures, and tab strips that overlap the gates and are adjoined to back tabs. A blister pack is sealed between the face panel and the back panel whereby blisters align over gates and protrude through apertures, and tabs and form a composite pull tab. To remove an item from a blister, the pull tab is pressed out of the panels, the tab strip is peeled from the back panel, and pressure is applied to force the item through the backing sheet of the blister pack and the exposed gate.

It is well known to use blister packaging to contain items. Such items may include pharmaceutical tablets, pills, and capsules. Conventional blister packages include a blister tray that is typically a thermo-formed plastic sheet having a plurality of blister cells or depressions formed therein. Typically, after the items are placed in the cells, the items are retained and protected in the cell by securing a backing sheet comprising foil, plastic or a paperboard lid that covers the blister cells. In other types of conventional packages the contents are placed in substantially puncture proof foil containers that are then covered with a foil or paperboard lid.
In conventional packages, the foil is thin enough to be either punctured mechanically or ruptured by pressing the enclosed items against the foil. Typically with paperboard lids, gates are formed in the lid in the general vicinity of the blister cells to assist with removing the contents from the cells. Each gate is deformed or manipulated so that it ruptures or partially separates from the paperboard lid, allowing the item within the blister cell to be pushed through the gate.
While the conventional blister packages are suitable for some applications, there are several design deficiencies. The conventional blister packages provide removal of the items from the blister cells, but offer very little child resistance. Child resistance is a feature that is particularly desired for unit dose pharmaceutical packaging, and is mandated by the Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970. Guidelines are prescribed for packaging to satisfy the criteria for child resistance. For example, a child-resistance (CR) rating of F=1 requires that a random sampling of the subject packages not be compromised by an age-specific test pool of children at no greater than a predetermined failure rate. This general guideline is designed to ensure that the package has sufficient integrity against tampering by children.
In addition to a blister package being child-resistant, it is also desirable that the package be senior friendly to permit easy withdrawal of items from the package requiring minimum manipulation even where a user's manual dexterity and strength is reduced.
Accordingly, there remains in the art a need for apparatus and methods of packaging and dispensing items where the package is senior friendly and substantially child-resistant.


The invention relates to the field of hydropower scheduling, and relates to a method for multi-objective optimal operations of cascade hydropower plants based on relative target proximity and marginal analysis principle. The invention constructs an optimization model with relative target proximity by introducing positive and negative ideal points of objectives so that a multi-objective optimization is efficiently handled. A strategy for processing complex operation constraints is proposed and coupled with genetic algorithm to solve the model. Thus, optimal solution sets under different weight coefficients of objectives can be determined. Following this, marginal benefit and marginal cost are introduced to represent a relationship between multiple objective values and corresponding weight coefficients. According to principle of profit maximization in economics, a marginal analysis of objective weight coefficient is finally made to determine benefit-dominant area, cost-dominant area and equilibrium area, and there by obtaining a basis of multi-objective decision-making.

Usually, large-scale cascade hydropower plants bear responsibility for comprehensive utilization tasks such as power generation, flood control, water supply, navigation and ecology. Their operations are a typical multi-objective optimization problem. Solving such a problem is very complex, mainly reflected in two aspects. Firstly, from a mathematical point of view, multi-objective optimal operation of hydropower plants is a typical high-dimensional, strong coupling, non-linear optimization problem. In particular, in short-term operations, how to solve the multi-objective optimization problem under highly coupled constraints of temporal-spatial requires efficient solution techniques to take account of both computational efficiency and accuracy of optimization results. Secondly, the multi-objective optimization problem usually faces a huge set of non-inferior solutions. How to avoid the influence of subjective factors and make scientific and objective decisions is another difficulty. At present, there are two main methods to solve multi-objective optimization problems. One is to transform the multi-objective problem into a single-objective problem, including objective weight method, constraint method, sequence optimization method and fuzzy maximum satisfaction method. These methods are simple in principle and easy to implement. In fact, they simplify the original problem and reduce optimization difficulty, but the solution procedure heavily depends on many subjective factors, such as determination of objective weight coefficient, selection of objective for representing as constraints, ranking of objective importance, expansion range of objective value in membership function. These factors are very likely to have a significant impact on calculation results and operational decisions. The other method is to use multi-objective optimization algorithm to obtain Pareto solution set of the optimized problem. This type of methods will not destroy the physical meaning of the multi-objective problem, and can obtain non-inferior solution set that approximates real Pareto front of the problem. An optional set of operation schemes of hydropower plants is given. However, the final decision still depends on subjective orientation or target preference of dispatcher. There is a lack for objective decision-making measures. It is difficult to fully reflect decision-making benefits caused by the influence of multiple objectives.
For the above problems, the invention proposes a method for multi-objective optimal operations of cascade hydropower plants based on relative target proximity and marginal analysis principle, which derives from on the key support project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (91547201) and the surface project of the National Natural Science Foundation of China (51579029). The invented method is tested by multi-objective optimal operations of cascade hydropower plants in the middle and lower reaches of Lancang River. Results show that the invention can effectively meet multi-objective control requirements of peak shaving and navigation of downstream river, and meanwhile reduce subjective assumption facing traditional multi-objective decision-making methods.

Method for multi-objective optimal operations of cascade hydropower plants based on relative target proximity and marginal analysis principle


A menu and application navigation system utilizing pressure includes a display device including a touch sensitive user interface, and a navigation engine coupled to the display device. The navigation engine is configured to generate a measurement of pressure applied by a user as a function of time at the touch sensitive user interface. The navigation engine is further configured to navigate through a three dimensional data set in response to the measurement of pressure. An increase in the pressure navigates in a first direction through the three dimensional data set, and a decrease in the pressure navigates in a second direction through the three dimensional data set.

Navigating through content or applications on a touch screen device may be difficult, especially for mobile phones or other mobile platforms with smaller display dimensions. Many users seek to move quickly and efficiently to the desired content while retaining context. Retaining context while navigating through a menu or application may also be difficult. Navigating through levels of data may involve multiple inputs or multiple touch gestures by a user, increasing the likelihood of losing context as well as increasing the time to navigate multiple levels of a menu or application.

Pressure navigation on a touch sensitive user interface

International Business Machines Corporation


A system and method is described for creating a predictable flow of funds from an otherwise unpredictable source. An investment and receiving vehicle is established where participants pool their ownership of insurance policies so as to share in the proceeds from those policies.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a system and method for achieving predictable amounts of incoming funds from an otherwise relatively unpredictable source. By utilizing this inventive system and method, a business concern can more efficiently manage its finances.
II. Description of the Prior Art
The element of "Risk" exists in a multitude of forms in the daily life of every person. A variety of instruments, financial and non-financial, have through the years been developed to assess and to indemnify and protect against these risk factors. Many of these instruments have, in the past, been developed as insurance products. Such insurance products have been specifically created, for example, to indemnify the risk associated with the unexpected loss of human life. These specific insurance instruments are known as life insurance policies.
The many different types of life insurance policies assess and charge for this indemnification utilizing, among other resources, tables of mortality statistics that are based on empirically expected numbers of deaths occurring within large pools of people. In short, by virtue of actuarially driven premium payments, life insurance allows for the indemnification of the unexpected loss of human life by the receipt of death benefits. The premiums developed allow for "spreading" of these risks over large pools of insureds.
Although insurance premiums in general, and life insurance premiums in particular, allow for this spreading of uncertainty, no system has been developed which allows for a different type of problem of uncertainty. This is the problem of not knowing when one may receive incoming funds from an unpredictable source. This lack of knowledge translates into large costs for example, costs associated with interest rates because funds must often be borrowed to account for cash and investment shortfalls, costs associated with deferring certain investments and purchases that are badly needed by a corporation (or individual), and other attendant costs associated with the lack of needed and necessary funds.
Institutions obtain through purchases, assignment or other ownership vehicles, ownership of life insurance coverage on the lives of people with whom they have an insurable interest. If these institutions, as policy holders of the life insurance policies, own too few policies, they are uncertain about when these policies will pay death benefits.
If the number of lives that are covered by those who purchased life insurance policies are too small to fall within numbers that could yield predictability about the timing of incoming death benefits, this creates an uncertainty as to the receipt of funds to the institution. If the institution's receipt of funds is uncertain then the aforementioned, concomitant financial difficulties arise. The financial probity of the institution can be more adequately assured if the mechanism of the present invention can be applied. This will result in a greater degree of statistical probability of incoming funds for those institutions using the invention herein described.
There is therefore a great need in the art for making predictable, an otherwise unpredictable date of receiving funds. Accordingly, there is now provided with this invention a system and method for assuring otherwise unpredictable gains and for effectively overcoming the aforementioned difficulties and longstanding problems inherent in managing unpredictable inflows of funds. These problems have been solved in a simple, convenient, and highly effective way by which to assure a predictable inflow of funds. More particularly, the system and method of the present invention allows the owners of risk spreading insurance to formulate predictable patterns of the inflow of indemnification funds so as to enable those owners to realistically assess the financial impact of the risk spreading process. Additional objects of the present invention will become apparent from the following description.

System and method for assuring predictable gains

The Mutual Life Insurance Company of New York