A method for handoff of an analog connection within a cellular communication system which relies upon mobile station synchronization to a system time is disclosed herein. In order to reduce the acquisition time for a mobile station commencing operation in a digital mode, an estimate of master system time is transferred to the mobile station in analog mode before entering digital mode. The alignment operates within the protocols of existing analog systems, and hence requires only minimal changes in the mobile station. Time alignment may be initiated upon the base station sending to the mobile station a command to continually transmit a periodic signaling tone. The base station compares the phase of the signaling tone from the mobile station to a master system clock and determines an error signal. The base station notifies the mobile station to delay or advance in time the transmitted signaling tones based on the error signal. This procedure may continue until the calculated error falls below a predetermined level. Having attained time alignment, the base station is able to transfer to the mobile station absolute time of day information with increased accuracy. The mobile station is then commanded into digital mode where transition time is reduced to a level tolerable by the end user due to the performed alignment.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to communications. More particularly, the present invention relates to a novel and improved method for executing multi-mode handoffs in a cellular system through preliminary time alignment of a mobile station.
II. Description of the Related Art
In the field of cellular communications, systems employing both analog and digital systems have been developed. Systems operating in the analog mode are typically of a frequency modulation type, an example of which is the system known as the Advanced Mobile Phone Service (AMPS), as prescribed in Electronic Industry Association standard EIA/TIA-553 "Mobile Station-Land Station Compatibility Specification". Systems operating in the digital mode may be of different types of digital modulation such as time division multiple access system (TDMA) or a spread spectrum multiple access type, employing a frequency hopping (FH) or direct sequence spread spectrum modulation mode. Digital multiple access systems employing direct sequence spreading are commonly referred to as Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) systems. An example of a TDMA system is one that is described in the Telecommunications Industry Association/Electronic Industry Association Interim Standard TIA/EIA/IS-54 "Cellular System Dual-Mode Mobile Station-Base Station Compatibility Standard", and the revisions thereto (TIA/EIA/IS-54A and TIA/EIA/IS-54B). Another example of a TDMA system is the system known as the Global System for Mobile Communication (GSM). An example of a CDMA system is one that is set forth in the Telecommunications Industry Association/Electronic Industry Association Interim Standard TIA/EIA/IS-95 "Mobile Station-Base Station Compatibility Standard for Dual-Mode Wideband Spread Spectrum Cellular System", and the revisions thereto (TIA/EIA/IS-95A). Although these standards are typically defined for frequency spectrum specific to cellular communications, the analog and digital techniques are also applicable to other frequencies such as those defined for personal communication services (PCS).
Dual mode cellular communication mobile stations or subscriber units are capable of operating in both a standard analog mode and a digital mode. Within such a system, a need may arise to handoff from analog mode to digital mode during an active call or vice versa. Analog to digital system handoffs are not restricted to those within the cellular frequency band, but may also occur between an analog cellular system and a digital PCS system.
Regardless of the systems involved, a prolonged discontinuity in service during the handoff from analog mode to digital mode is unacceptable to the users of the system. A quality system must therefore incorporate a dual mode handoff method that causes a minimum interruption of service. However, in standard analog mode time alignment of a mobile station to a predetermined system time is not required, and no analogous function is currently available. In digital mode, time alignment is critical and required for communication between the mobile station and the base station. This dissimilarity between the two modes can cause delays in handoff from analog mode to digital mode.
Within the current analog cellular phone system, a handoff of a mobile station call can be performed between base stations during an active call. One handoff criteria which initiates a handoff is the strength of the mobile station signal arriving at the base station. Initiation of a handoff by the base station begins when the base station with which a mobile station is communicating receives from the mobile station a message indicative of insufficient mobile station received signal strength. The base station sends a request to a system controller or mobile switching center (MSC) for a handoff of the call. The system controller polls the neighboring base stations to ascertain an estimate of the signal strength of the mobile station at neighboring base stations, and, from this information, determines a candidate base station. The original base station informs the mobile station of the frequency and various other parameters of the candidate base station, and directs the mobile station to handoff. The call is then transferred from the original base station to the candidate base station, which becomes the new active base station. It should be noted that the procedure above might vary depending on the manufacturer of the equipment performing the functions.
The handoff of a mobile station call in a digital system, such as a CDMA system or Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), is initiated either by a base station or by a mobile station. In a typical CDMA digital system, neighboring base stations use the same frequency for transmission, thus allowing a mobile station to monitor signal strengths of neighboring base stations during an active call. A mobile station sends a message when one of the neighboring base stations' signal arrives at the mobile station at a level exceeding some predetermined threshold, thereby initiating a handoff procedure. The system controller commands the neighboring base station to establish communication with the mobile station if resources are available at the neighboring base station. The system controller relays a message to the mobile station, through the active base station, directing the mobile station to establish communication with the neighboring base station. The mobile station establishes communication with the neighboring base station without breaking the call with the active base station. The mobile station can maintain the call with two base stations until one of the base stations' signal strength falls below a predetermined level. Further information on handoffs within a digital CDMA system is disclosed in a U.S. Pat No. 5,101,501 entitled "METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR PROVIDING A SOFT HANDOFF IN COMMUNICATIONS IN A CDMA CELLULAR MOBILE TELEPHONE SYSTEM", the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein, which is assigned to the Assignee of the present invention. Also, further information on handoffs within a digital CDMA system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,267,261, entitled "MOBILE STATION ASSISTED SOFT HANDOFF IN A CDMA CELLULAR COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM", the disclosure of which is also incorporated by reference herein, and also assigned to the Assignee of the present invention.
A handoff from digital mode to analog mode is typically easier than the handoff from analog mode to digital mode. A digital mode to analog mode handoff could be initiated by either a mobile station or a base station on the basis of the mobile station having exited the coverage area of the digital system. In digital mode the base station can transmit the necessary information about the analog system including, for example, the new frequency assignment, supervisory audio tones (SAT), and voice mobile attenuation code (VMAC) information as dictated by the system controller. Similar to handoff within an analog system, the call can then be transferred from the base station operative in digital mode to an analog mode base station.
As a digital system is initially deployed covering only certain localities within an operating system, a need may arise to perform a handoff from analog mode to digital mode. For example, a digital system may be deployed in a metropolitan city but not deployed in the surrounding suburban areas. A user may initiate an analog call as he leaves the suburban area driving towards the city. As the metropolitan area is approached, the heavily laden analog system may not have the capacity to accept the transfer of the call, hence necessitating that the call be terminated prior to completion (i.e., "dropped"). If the dual mode system were capable of transferring the call from the analog system to the higher capacity digital system, it would be unnecessary to drop the call.
The need for handoff from analog mode to digital mode may also arise within the context of private branch exchange (PBX). A digital PBX system integrated into an office building might be surrounded by an analog system outside of the building. A handoff from the outside analog system to the inside digital system would take place as the user entered the building while maintaining an active call. If the system could not perform such a handoff, the call could be dropped due to the inability of the analog signals to penetrate the walls of the building and maintain signal levels capable of supporting continued communication.
A complication to the handoff from analog mode to digital mode is that digital mode requires a finite time duration for the mobile station to synchronize (acquire time alignment). The acquisition time typically varies as a function of: the system architecture of the digital system to be deployed, the signal to noise level at the mobile station at the time of attempted acquisition, the accuracy of the initial guess, and as a function of the acquisition algorithm used. In a typical CDMA system, the average system acquisition time is several seconds. The acquisition time in TDMA systems is generally less than in CDMA systems. However, in either instance the discontinuity of service resulting from the requisite acquisition time may be unacceptable in a voice system.

Method for multi-mode handoff using preliminary time alignment of a mobile station operating in analog mode


Aspects of the methods and apparatus include determining that a time-to-trigger (TTT) timer has expired, and determining that a serving radio access technology (RAT) received signal characteristic is less than a signal characteristic threshold when the TTT timer has expired. Further, the aspects include determining, in response to the serving RAT received signal characteristic being less than the signal characteristic threshold, that a target RAT frequency measurement associated with a Measurement Report Message (MRM) for performing an inter-RAT (IRAT) handover cannot be completed within a time limit according to a current measurement gap configuration. Also, the aspects include calculating a measurement gap duration sufficient to complete the target RAT frequency measurement associated with the MRM for performing the IRAT handover, and configuring a new measurement gap prior to the time limit, wherein the new measurement gap comprises the calculated measurement gap duration.

Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to wireless communication systems, and more particularly, for reporting Time Division Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA) to Long Term Evolution (LTE) inter-system Radio Access Technology (IRAT) frequency measurements to a radio network.
Wireless communication networks are widely deployed to provide various communication services such as telephony, video, data, messaging, broadcasts, and so on. Such networks, which are usually multiple access networks, support communications for multiple users by sharing the available network resources. One example of such a network is the UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN). The UTRAN is the radio access network (RAN) defined as a part of the UMTS, a third generation (3G) mobile phone technology supported by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The UMTS, which is the successor to Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) technologies, currently supports various air interface standards, such as Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA), Time Division-Code Division Multiple Access (TD-CDMA), and Time Division-Synchronous Code Division Multiple Access (TD-SCDMA). The UMTS also supports enhanced 3G data communications protocols, such as High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), which provides higher data transfer speeds and capacity to associated UMTS networks.
Generally, reporting LTE frequency measurements by a user equipment (UE) to a radio network for an inter-radio access technology (IRAT) handover from one radio access technology (RAT), e.g., TD-SCDMA, to a particular LTE frequency is challenging because of the time required to complete the measurements for a particular LTE frequency. Thus, there is a need for quickly completing and reporting IRAT frequency measurements of a particular LTE frequency to a radio network, thereby providing consistent service in a wireless communication system.

Method and apparatus for enhanced TD-SCDMA to LTE measurement reporting


A method for responding to a particular drive being removed from a drive array, comprising the steps of (A) determining a maximum drive response time of the particular drive being removed from the drive array; (B) determining a duration of each of one or more commands needing completion; (C) if a particular one of the commands takes longer than the maximum drive response time, aborting the particular command and checking if the drive is physically present; and (D) if the command takes less than the maximum drive response time, completing the command.

For a conventional redundant array of inexpensive drives (RAID), a driver takes time to detect when a drive is removed. If the drive is removed from the RAID configuration, the driver will wait for an IO time out from the operating system and later cause a controller to reset. Such a time out and reset is time consuming and freezes the system during the process.
Conventional approaches to detect a drive being removed from a RAID configuration often use a soft RAID solution. The soft RAID solution depends on an operating system (OS) layer IO time out to detect a drive removal. More specifically, an operating system subsystem layer (such as a Linux SCSI layer) typically has a time out period of more than 30 seconds. In some Linux kernels (or SCSI subsystem layers), a time out period can be up to 90 seconds. Since a soft RAID configuration depends on the Linux SCSI layer time out to determine if the drive is removed, the driver will take more time to detect such a drive removal. Conventional solutions are not able to prevent an IO timeout if a drive is removed from a healthy RAID configuration.
It would be desirable to implement a proactive driver response in an operating system that detects if a drive is removed from a drive array.

Proactive driver response to an operating system if a drive is removed from a RAID configuration


Hybrid differential pairs and methods of their hybridization by connecting and operating in parallel a degenerated differential pair with a multitanh. Proper matching of the degenerated differential pair and the multitanh results in higher linearity levels than can be attained with either approach individually. Also, the hybrid benefits from reduced process variation when compared with prior multitanh solutions. Increased gain, increased linearity, reduced noise and reduced supply current can all be achieved in a manufacturable fashion using the invention.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of transconductors, and more particularly to linear transconductors.
2. Prior Art
One of the basic building blocks in analog electronics is the transconductor, permitting the designer to convert an input voltage signal into a current-mode signal. The differential pair is the most common, but suffers from an inherently small linear input range. In order to increase the linear input range, feedback in the form of emitter degeneration is typically used. This form of feedback improves linearity at the expense of gain and noise performance. To reduce power supply consumption, an alternative linearization technique was developed, known as the multitanh. The multitanh approach involves using a pair of parallel connected differential pairs with intentional symmetrical input offsets forced by emitter area ratios. Others have used more than two differential pairs with varying offsets to attempt to achieve a wider linear input range. However, this method suffers significant degradation in performance when process variation of the devices is considered.
The standard degenerated transconductor is shown in FIG. 1. It is the most common open loop form of linearization. As shown, resistors R1 and R2 (R1=R2) in the emitter circuits of transistors Q1 and Q2 (of equal size) broaden the transconductance versus differential input curve of the differential pair, at the expense of gain and noise, to provide a wider range of differential input for a given error in linearity. The collector circuits of transistors Q1 and Q2 of FIG. 1, as well as the collector circuits of transistors Q3, Q4, Q5 and Q6 of FIG. 2, are shown as being coupled by resistors R5 and R6, respectively, and resistors R7 and R8, respectively, to VCC. In a typical circuit, the collector circuits would likely differ however. By way of one example only, in a typical operational amplifier, the current in one collector circuit is mirrored to the other collector circuit, which thus becomes a summing point for the difference in currents in the input transistors, converting the differential voltage input to a single ended current output for the input stage of the operational amplifier.
The multitanh circuit shown in FIG. 2 has found increased use recently due to the continued push to lower supply voltages and lower power consumption. With transistor Q3 larger than transistor Q4, the peak transconductance of this differential pair is skewed toward a negative differential input voltage (Vinn greater than Vinp). With transistor Q5 larger than transistor Q6, the peak transconductance of the second differential pair is skewed toward a positive differential input voltage (Vinp greater than Vinn). The net effect is to flatten and broaden the transconductance of the parallel combination of the transistor pairs. The 4:1 area ratio flattens the transconductance characteristic as much as possible without introducing a minimum in transconductance (Gm) at zero differential input.
While the multitanh extends the linear range beyond that of an undegenerated differential pair, it still is only good for about 40 mvpp of input signal before the transconductance falls more than 1% from the peak. The use of more than two differential pairs with offsets of the additional pairs forced by higher emitter area ratios have also been proposed to further flatten the transconductance curve. However, the inventor has found these suffer marked performance degradations over processing conditions due to a sensitivity to physical emitter resistance in the bipolar junction transistors.

Hybrid differential pairs for flat transconductance


Systems, methods, and computer-readable and executable instructions are provided for managing shared memory. A method for managing shared memory can include statically assigning a first number of locks to the shared memory during compile-time and dynamically assigning a second number of locks to the shared memory during runtime.

A lock is a mechanism for enforcing limits on access to a resource in a multithreaded shared memory programming environment. In a software transactional memory (STM) implementation, a runtime address is assigned a corresponding lock without any analysis of an application's characteristics, which may result in high runtime overheads. For example, in a word-based STM implementation, the mapping from a runtime address to a lock is computed using a tagless hashing technique. A defined procedure or mathematical function (e.g. hash function) may be used to find and assign locks to certain shared memory locations. Because no tags of colliding memory locations are maintained, distinct memory locations may be assigned to the same lock causing conflicts, even though there may be no actual conflicts (by virtue of the memory addresses being distinct). These conflicts may be referred to as false conflicts and can impact execution time by increasing the number of aborts or rollbacks.
When a program using atomic sections is presented to a compiler, it can perform one of two actions. The program may lower atomic sections into calls to an STM library, or it may generate a mapping from shared memory to locks and use a locking discipline while accessing shared memory locations. The latter may be referred to as compile-time lock assignment. Compile-lock assignment may be used to address false conflicts, in addition to changing the STM hash function and increasing the number of locks available to a program.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A difference between a reference clock and feedback clock is detected to generate a difference signal that is filtered to generate a voltage controlled oscillator control signal and produce an oscillation signal having an oscillation frequency. A first frequency dividing circuit divides the oscillation signal by a selected one of a number of first frequency divisors to generate an output signal at a selected frequency. A second frequency dividing circuit divides the output signal by a selected one of a number of second frequency divisors to generate the feedback clock. The frequency divisors are selected by a frequency selection signal. The first frequency dividing circuit samples the frequency selection signal at the rate of the oscillation signal divided by a least common multiple of the plurality of first frequency divisors. The second frequency dividing circuit samples the sampled frequency selection signal at the rate of the feedback clock.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to switching the frequency of a clock signal.
2. Description of Related Art
It is a requirement in certain applications, such as with communications systems that support different data rates, for the frequency of a clock signal to be switched between different frequency values on an instantaneous (or nearly instantaneous) basis. This requirement arises from the need to ensure that communicated data is not lost while the communications system supports and switches between different data rates.
Clock generation circuitry of the Phase Lock Loop (PLL) type is commonly used to generate clock signals. These PLL-type clocks can be controlled (or programmed) to switch the clock signal frequency among and between two or more clock frequencies. However, there is generally a need for a lock time to be associated with each frequency change. Instantaneous frequency change of the clock signal is not possible due to the delay introduced by the lock time.
A need exists in the art for a PLL-type clock generation circuit having a controllable frequency that can be switched on-the-fly between at least two frequencies without requiring a lock time. Preferably, this PLL-type clock generation circuit will maintain frequency lock, phase lock and clock de-skew as the output clock makes frequency changes.

On-the-fly frequency switching while maintaining phase and frequency lock


A router table assembly includes a removable throat plate having a frame with a generally-planar upper surface, and an opening formed in the frame's upper surface. A disc, supported within the opening for rotation about a first axis, includes a through-hole which is sized to permit extension therethrough of a routing bit along a second axis parallel to the first axis. A graduated scale on the frame adjacent to the disc cooperates with a reference mark on the disk to provide an indication of the displacement of the bit's second axis relative to a reference edge on the working surface. A clamp secures the disc against rotation after the disc has been rotated within the frame to position the bit's second axis a desired distance from the reference edge. A fence is secured in one of a plurality of parallel-spaced positions relative to the reference edge.

In a conventional router table assembly, a router is hung beneath the assembly's working surface such that a routing tool or "bit" driven by the router extends upwardly through a hole in the assembly's working surface to engage a workpiece manipulated by an operator on the working surface. The router is either secured directly to the underside of the table or, more preferably, the router is secured to a throat plate, which is typically a thin panel which is received and supported in a complementary hole or recess formed in the assembly's working surface, with the upper surface of the panel being flush with the working surface.
Prior art throat plates often comprise a simple, rectangular plate, commonly formed of an acrylic, having a central aperture through which the routing bit may extend. Unfortunately, router table assemblies employing such nonadjustable throat plates must necessarily rely upon accurate and reliable positioning of a fence in order to achieve consistent "final cut" dimensions. Complex and costly fence-locating mechanisms are thus required in assemblies employing such nonadjustable plates particularly where "fine tuning" of fence position is periodically required.
The prior art alternatively teaches throat plates which employ a lead screw and sliding plate system to achieve limited adjustability relative to a fence. Such known adjustable throat plates, however, are complex and costly to manufacture. Moreover, such known adjustable throat plates are often difficult to adjust quickly and reliably. Accordingly, router table assemblies employing such known adjustable throat plates likewise employ the complex and costly fence-positioning mechanisms used with nonadjustable throat plates.

Router table assembly with microset throat plate


A motor control system is provided. The motor control system includes a motor, a position sensor, a current sensor, and a control module. The motor has a rotor and a stator. The motor generates an output torque based on a phase current applied to the motor. The output torque generated by the motor creates a torque ripple that is within a predefined range. The position sensor monitors the motor to determine a rotor position. The current sensor monitors the motor to determine the phase current. The control module is in communication with the motor, the position sensor, and the current sensor. The control module includes a lookup table that stores values of phase current commands. The control module determines a phase current command from the lookup table based on the rotor position and the phase current.

The present invention relates to a control system for a motor, and more particularly to a control system for applying phase current to the motor.
A switched reluctance motor (SRM) is a type of electric motor that converts reluctance torque into mechanical power. SRMs are relatively tolerant to faults (e.g., no braking torque under a short circuit fault and no shoot-through fault in an inverter circuit). SRMs do not include magnets, and therefore do not produce a cogging torque (cogging torque is created by an interaction between permanent magnets of a rotor and stator slots). Moreover, SRMs also have a relatively high operational temperature, concentrated motor windings, and a relatively simple and rugged construction. However, SRMs also produce a relatively high torque ripple as well as acoustic noise. Torque ripple is typically defined as a periodic increase or decrease in output torque of an output shaft of the SRM.
Electric motors utilized in electric power steering (EPS) applications are generally required to produce relatively low torque ripple and low acoustic noise. Thus, the torque ripple and the acoustic noise produced by an SRM may need to be reduced before being used in an EPS application.

System for reducing torque ripple in an electric motor

STEERING SOLUTIONS IP HOLDING CORPORATION


In an ink jet head driving method for applying a drive pulse to an actuator ACT to change capacities of a plurality of pressure chambers in which ink has been filled, ejecting an ink droplet from a nozzle formed in communication with the pressure chamber to print onto a printing medium, and moreover, controlling the number of ink droplets ejected according to the number of drive pulses to carry out gradation printing, a control is made such that, in the case where the number of ink droplets is small, a boost pulse Pb for amplifying a pressure vibration of the pressure chamber is applied prior to a drive pulse for ejecting a first ink droplet, and in the case where the number of ink droplets is large, applying of the boost pulse Pb is disabled.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ink jet head driving method and driving apparatus for changing the capacity of a pressure chamber in which ink has been filled by a piezoelectric element in response to a print signal, and then, ejecting an ink droplet from a nozzle which communicates with the pressure chamber by the resulting pressure change, thereby printing a character or an image and the like on a printing medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
A description will be given with a conventional print head with reference to FIG. 13. In FIG. 13, reference numeral 1 denotes an ink jet print head. This ink jet print head 1 is composed of: a plurality of pressure generating chambers in which ink is filled; a nozzle plate 11 provided at one end of each of these pressure generating chambers 17; a nozzle 15 for ejecting an ink droplet 19 formed in correspondence with each of the pressure generating chambers 17 on this nozzle plate 11; a piezoelectric actuator 14 provided in correspondence with each of the pressure generating chambers 17 to apply vibration to the pressure generating chambers 17 via a vibration plate 13, and then, eject ink from the nozzle 15 by a capacity change inside of the pressure generating chambers 17 due to the applying of this vibration; and an ink chamber 18 or the like provided in communication with each of the pressure generating chambers 17, the ink chamber being adopted to supply the ink to the pressure generating chamber 17 via an ink supply passage 16 from an ink tank not shown. With such a construction, when the piezoelectric actuator 14 is driven, a pressure vibration is applied to the pressure generating chamber 17, the capacity inside of the pressure generating chamber 17 is changed by this pressure vibration, and the ink droplet 19 is ejected from the nozzle 15. This ink droplet 19 is deposited onto a printing medium such as printing sheet of paper, and a dot is formed on the printing medium. By continuous forming of such dots, a predetermined character or image and the like based on image data is printed.
In general, in an ink jet printer, in the case where high quality printing is carried out, there is used an area gradation system such as a dither system, for forming one pixel by producing a matrix with a plurality of dots without changing the size of an ink droplet, and expressing gradation based on a difference in the number of dots in pixel. In this case, resolution must be sacrificed in order to allocate a certain number of gradations. In addition, there is provided a density gradation system for changing the density of one dot by varying the size of an ink droplet. In this case, although resolution is not sacrificed, there is a problem that a technique for controlling the size of an ink droplet is difficult.
Further, there is a so called multi-drop driving system for carrying out density gradation by varying the number of ink droplets to be printed with respect to one dot without changing the size of an ink droplet. In this case, resolution is not sacrificed, and there is no need to control the size of an ink droplet, thus making it possible to comparatively easily carry out this driving system.
A method for driving an ink jet head in a multi-drop system is also known (refer to Jpn. Pat. No. 2931817). Further, an ink jet type printing apparatus is known as reducing a cycle of a drive signal so as to speed up printing (refer to Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2001-146003). Furthermore, an ink jet printing apparatus for, when a repetition time for ejecting ink droplets variously changes, efficiently ejecting a predetermined amount of ink from an ejecting port is also known (refer to Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2000-177127).
In this multi-drop driving system, in the case where a plurality of ink droplets are continuously ejected, an ejection speed of second and subsequent droplets can be increased more significantly than that in a first ink droplet by using residual pressure vibration of the droplets just ejected before.
On the other hand, in general, the first ink droplet becomes lower in ejection speed than the second and subsequent ink droplets because a pressure vibration is applied in a state in which meniscus is stationary. Thus, there is a problem that ejection becomes unstable or print quality is degraded because of a small amount of ejection.
In order to avoid such a problem, there is an option for increasing an applied voltage, and then, increasing a pressure vibration entirely applied to a pressure chamber, thereby increasing a first-drop ejection speed. However, there is a problem that power consumption is increased, and a heating rate is increased by increasing a voltage. In addition, there is a problem that ejection becomes unstable because the ejection speed of the second and subsequent droplets becomes too high or print quality is degraded due to displacement in ink deposition between gradations, resulting from the increased difference in ejection speed of each droplet.
In addition, another method for avoiding a problem that an amount of ejection is small and print quality is degraded includes increasing a first-drop ejection speed by applying a fine pressure vibration to an extent that a ink droplet is not ejected before a first-drop drive pulse (hereinafter, such a drive pulse is referred to as a boost pulse). This boost pulse is redundantly applied, whereby a time of an entire drive cycle is extended, and therefore, such an extended time is disadvantageous for high speed printing.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Ink jet head driving method and apparatus


An image forming apparatus includes a discharge path through which the recording medium that has passed through the printing path is discharged; a reverse path in which the recording medium that has passed through the printing path is reversed; a resupply path in which the recording medium which reversely travels along the reverse path is guided to the printing path; a connection portion in which the printing path, the discharge path, the reverse path, and the resupply path cross one another; and a first guide member that is disposed in the connection portion.

1. Field
The following description relates to an image forming apparatus, and more particularly, to an image forming apparatus capable of double-sided printing.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, light that is changed to correspond to image information is irradiated to a photoconductor to form an electrostatic latent image on a surface of the photoconductor, toner is supplied to the electrostatic latent image to develop the electrostatic latent image into a visible toner image, and then the visible toner image is transferred and fixed onto a recording medium, thereby printing an image on the recording medium.
In particular, a double-sided image forming apparatus is capable of printing an image on two sides of a recording medium such that the usage amount of recording media may be reduced compared to single-sided printing, and thus, is currently used by many users.


The invention concerns a method for detecting an analyte in a blood sample or a derived fraction thereof. In this method one uses the binding affinity between the analyte and its specific binding agent. Moreover, a reaction component containing a peroxidase label is added to the sample and specific binding agent to form a reaction mixture. The incubation of the reaction mixture, containing the analyte and its specific binding agent, with the peroxidase-labeled reaction component has to be carried out in the presence of a quaternary ammonium salt or ionic surfactant.

The invention relates to a method for quantitatively and/or qualitatively detecting a specific binding substance in blood or a derived fraction thereof using the binding affinity between the specific binding substance and its co-reactant. Moreover a reaction component with peroxidase activity has been used by incubating a reaction mixture containing the specific binding substance and its co-reactant and by which the peroxidase activity in said reaction mixture or a fraction derived therefrom has been determined. The peroxidase activity is a measure of the quantity and/or presence of the specific binding substance. Also a test kit for carrying out said method is part of the invention. Such a method to demonstrate a peroxidase activity has already been described in Dutch Patent 154,600.
As carrier material in said method has often been used the wall of a small well in a microtitration plate to which antibodies are bonded. The blood to be investigated or a fraction derived therefrom, such as serum, is introduced into the small wells of the microtitration plate. The bonded antibody is able to react with the antigen present in the blood or a derived fraction thereof, as a result of which said antigen is bonded. In order to be able to detect whether an immunochemical reaction has taken place, subsequently one can use marked antibodies which are directed against the antigen to be determined. Said marked antibodies will react with the antibody-antigen complex formed already on the solid phase. The marked antibodies consist of antibodies to which an enzyme is bonded, preferably a peroxidase-enzyme. In the next step, a colourless solution (substrate+chromogen) is added. The enzyme is able to convert this solution into a coloured compound. The intensity of the colour depends on the quantity of enzyme which is proportional to the quantity of bound antigen. Said colour can be altered by adding a stop reagent. The method thus described of determining an antigen in blood or a derived fraction thereof is a method of the sandwich type. Other immunochemical methods, such as an inhibition reaction and a competition reaction, can also be used. As suitable enzymes one can use, inter alia, alkaline phosphatase, urease and a previously mentioned peroxidase, preferably Horse Radish Peroxidase (HRP). The HRP catalyses the conversion of the substrate, a peroxide compound, in water. The electrons needed for this reaction may be supplied by chromogenic substances such as tetramethylbenzidine (TMB). The TMB is converted as a result into coloured complexes, by which the enzyme action is demonstrated. The colour formed can either be detected visually or the enzyme action can be determined in an analytically suitable manner.
In examining blood for the presence of antigens or antibodies, it is usual that the serum containing the antigens or antibodies to be determined has been separated from the blood cells prior to the determination.
In practice it emerges that an undesired, increased colour intensity is often produced, in particular in carrying out an enzyme immunoassay (EIA) when a peroxidase being used as enzyme. This phenomenon is also described as partial coloration.
It will be clear that this phenomenon of partial coloration will lead to undesired results and conclusions. In this connection one can mention so-called AIDS antibody tests. In these tests sera of blood donors are tested routinely in an enzyme immunoassay for the presence of antibodies directed against the AIDS virus.

Method for suppressing partial coloration in immunoassays utilizing peroxidase labels


A dental prosthodontic apparatus including an abutment which is implanted into the jaw of a patient and which is provided with a slot which accepts fitted risers of different lengths. The end of the riser is substantially flat and forms a shelf and the length of the riser is selected so that when the riser is inserted into the slot, the end is approximately level with the gum line of the patient. When a prostheses is mounted to the abutment, the proximal margin of the prosthesis forms a gap between the margin of the prosthesis and the shelf formed by the inserted riser. The gap provides opposed surfaces against which a prying instrument can be worked in the event the prosthesis needs to be removed from the abutment.

The present invention relates to a dental prosthodontic apparatus and a method of securing and recovering a dental prosthesis. In more detail, the present invention relates to a dental prosthodontic apparatus which is provided with a gap for insertion of a prying instrument with surfaces formed in the gap against which the prying instrument bears for removing the prosthesis, the gap being formed by the lower margin of the prosthesis and the top surface of a riser which is fitted into the abutment on which the prosthesis is received, the fitted riser being sized so as to be slightly coronal to the patient's gum line.
Present dental practice tends toward the replacement of lost teeth with cylindrical or plate metal alloy abutments embedded in the bone of the mandible or maxilla to support the artificial tooth restoration. If extensive replacement of several teeth is needed, several abutments, alone or in conjunction with existing teeth prepared as abutments, are used to anchor the replacement prosthetic teeth.
In the last two decades, significant advances have occurred in both the abutments which are used for such replacements and in the methods used to implant the prosthodontic apparatus in the jaw. In one currently favored practice, titanium alloy abutment cylinders or plates are intimately installed in holes or slots drilled in the underlying bone of the jaw. Several months are allotted to allow the underlying bone to bond to the surfaces of the implant. For this reason, implant bodies are provided with at least one threaded hole on the crestal surface or edge. These holes are temporarily capped with a healing screw to prevent the invagination of soft tissue and/or bone into the internal threads. The soft tissue is sutured over the abutment until an intimate implant-bone bond is completed.
At the next surgical encounter, the soft tissue is resected and the healing screw is replaced with a metal alloy perimucosal extension of selectable height and emergence profile and the soft tissue is sutured around the base of this extension. This extension is usually bolted in place and prevented from rotating by locating pins and holes or internal and external matching hexagonal (or other regular polygonally-shaped) projections. These perimucosal extensions form the support for the artificial abutment(s) used to support the final prosthetic restoration.
The final prosthodontic restoration requires close mechanical mating between the abutment(s) and the internal aspect and underside of the prosthesis which is fitted on and cemented to the abutment. These closely matched parts often consist of telescoped, tapered conical surfaces requiring a tight, non-binding, "passive" fit on the abutment. This requirement demands inordinate precision from the laboratory technician and tests the technical skills of both the dentist and the laboratory technician. Parallel alignment of the axes of each abutment to prevent binding of the tapered fit is not easily achieved.
The methods and apparatus disclosed in Applicant's prior U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,928, in combination with an appropriate dental cement, yield a predictable, controllable technique for securing and, if necessary, retrieving the final restoration by providing a gap, or window, formed in the implant between the cemented prosthesis and abutment. The gap is formed of opposing surfaces on the prosthesis and the abutment with enough space between the surfaces to allow introduction of a prying instrument which can be manipulated to impose a force couple on the opposed surfaces. The dentist uses the prying instrument to apply even, measured force to gradually separate the prosthesis from the cement and gently remove it from the abutment.
Although the prosthodontic abutment described in Applicant's prior patent provides a satisfactory result, there is room for improvement. Specifically, because patients' gums are of varying thicknesses, the distance from the bone in which the abutment is implanted and the gum line varies from patient to patient and even in the same patient receiving multiple restorations. This variability creates a situation in which, even several sizes of the prosthodontic apparatus described in Applicant's Pat. No. 5,564,928 does not provide enough options to the restoring dentist to size the implant so that the gap between the prosthesis and the implant is positioned just coronal to the gum line. Even if several sizes of the prosthodontic apparatus described in that prior patent did provide enough variability, the mere fact that it must be provided in several sizes increases its cost and requires that the restoring dentist, lab or implant/abutment vendor keep a supply of parts of enough different sizes so as to provide the necessary variability.
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to overcome this disadvantage by providing a dental prosthodontic apparatus which, even though provided in only several different sizes, is capable of being adapted for use in nearly every circumstance likely to be encountered by the restoring dentist or laboratory technician.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a dental prosthodontic apparatus with a gap between abutment and prosthesis the height of which can be changed relative to the patient's bone and soft tissue in which the abutment is sized to accommodate varying gum thicknesses.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of forming a gap in an implanted dental prosthodontic apparatus for allowing insertion of a prying instrument for retrieval of the prosthesis.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method of mounting a dental prosthesis to an abutment connected to an implant placed in a jaw.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a dental prosthodontic kit having a plurality of risers of different heights for selection and insertion into a slot formed in an abutment so as to form a gap between the abutment having the riser of selected height therein and the prosthesis.
Other objects, and the advantages of the dental prosthesis of the present invention will be made clear to those skilled in the art by the following description of the presently preferred embodiments thereof.

Prosthodontic abutment apparatus and method


A method (100) of researching and analyzing information contained in documents that belong to a first database (200) and are organized according to a first set of fields (210) for an electronic search and retrieval by a computer (850). The method includes the steps of: a) conducting an electronic search (202) of the first database to retrieve at least one document; b) developing user-defined fields (300); c) reading (310) the at least one document to retrieve information pertaining to the user-defined fields; d) entering into a second database (510) the at least one document, values of the first set of fields for the at least one document, the user-defined fields and the retrieved information pertaining to the user-defined fields; and e) analyzing (506) the information contained in the second database.

A large number of databases are available in the public domain that are accessible over the Internet and contain a plethora of information. A database is defined as a collection of data organized especially for rapid search and retrieval as by a computer. The data may be text documents and/or images or numbers.
One example of a database is the patent database displayed in the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) web page. A provider, in this case the USPTO organization, provides and displays documents (i.e., patents) in the database and defines a method of searching the database using standard patent fields, i.e., patent number, inventor, assignee, issue date and title, among others. A user may also search the database by entering a search query consisting of specific keywords encoded in a Boolean formalism. The result of the database search is a list of documents that contain the standard patent fields or the keywords the user requested.
However, in many cases a user searches for specific type of information which although it may be contained in the database documents it cannot be directly accessed using the conventional search methods because the specific search query was not envisioned by the provider or was not intended to be searched. These specific types of search queries require advanced search methods and are used in research applications.
One such advanced search method is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,038,561, where a dynamic concept (or "natural language") query is performed. A user enters a list of words ranging from a single keyword to an entire document in a user-specified query document. This user-specified query document is then compared for similarity to a set of documents contained in the database and measures of similarity scores are obtained. These measures of similarity scores provide answers regarding patent infringement between two patents, or synergy between companies and inventories, among others.
However, in general research applications, a user seeks answers to a "new set of questions" and is not looking to develop a similarity analysis between two documents but rather to develop "a thesis about a new subject matter". The "new subject matter" may be an assessment of the technical capabilities of a given company, a business strategy, a marketing analysis, type of material or human resources required to set-up a specific operation or to develop a specific type of technology. This type of research is usually performed manually in a non-systematic way. It is also cumbersome and takes a long time.
There is a need for an advanced method of researching electronically information in existing databases in order to develop via analysis and/or synthesis a new type of information database and ultimately "a thesis about a new subject matter".

Method of researching and analyzing information contained in a database


A horn and a loudspeaker employing the horn are disclosed that include a body having a throat that expands outwardly to a mouth such that a first interior area defined by the throat is smaller than a second interior area defined by the mouth. A plurality of raised surface areas is located on an interior surface of the body. The raised surface areas extend into a hollow interior defined by the body a predetermined distance and are utilized to channel sound waves through the body and out the mouth.

The present invention relates generally to acoustic loudspeakers and, more particularly, to an acoustic horn including geometric shapes operable to provide smoother frequency coverage patterns.
A horn speaker is a form of a loudspeaker that uses a horn to increase the overall efficiency of a driver of the horn speaker. The driver is typically a diaphragm that is driven by an electromagnet. Horns can be viewed as an acoustic impedance transformer that provides impedance matching between the relatively dense diaphragm medium of the driver and the air. In a speaker system, the diaphragm is the high impedance source and the air is the low impedance receiver. The horn assists the solid-air impedance transformation by acting as an impedance transformer.

Acoustic horn having internally raised geometric shapes


A cargo container hold down device that includes a housing defined by a base which forms a planar surfacing thereabout on which cargo container corner fittings results in the applied relation on the container relative to the supporting structure or platform involved. The hold down device includes a flanged end which engages a cargo container corner casting aperture opening or an appropriate aperture and utilizes the structure for retention of the hold down device so the opposite side of the hold down device is allowed to automatically engage and disengage with a cargo container corner fitting as necessary to achieve proper handling and transport of cargo containers.

The invention relates to container securement devices, and more particularly, to improvements in cargo container securement devices of the type that provides automatic securement and release of a cargo container. The device is mountable and demountable on a deck or frame of a vehicle so that the device can be adapted to different load conditions including a different mix of containers of different length and the like while having unused devices not interfere with the flush mounting of long containers.

Latch device for securing cargo containers together and/or to vehicle decks


An electronic apparatus for receiving a memory card. A card connector is disposed in an opening of an exterior wall of the electronic apparatus. A door connected to the electronic apparatus pivots between and open and closed position. In the open position, a slot integral with the door removably receives the memory card. In the closed position, an exterior surface of the door covers the opening. An aperture in the slot is arranged in overlapping registration with the electrical connection portion when the door is in the closed position whereby, when a memory card is disposed within the slot, a terminal portion of the memory card forms an electrical connection with the electrical connection portion.

The present invention relates generally to a memory card receiving apparatus, such as an electronic camera. More particularly, the present invention relates to an improved design for receiving the memory card and forming an electrical connection therewith.
A digital imaging device is a device which uses an electronic sensor to capture an image either directly from an object or indirectly from a medium such as film; signal processing to represent the captured signal numerically; and some storage device to preserve the numerical image data. Known imaging devices (e.g., electronic camera, film scanner, or data collector) use a removable storage device, such as an integrated circuit memory card, to store images. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,016,107 (Sasson et al), commonly assigned, describes an electronic still camera utilizing image compression and providing digital storage in a removable memory card having a static random access memory. In this electronic camera, the integrated circuits in the removable memory card store image data and a directory locating the data. The image data provided by the digital imaging device and stored in a memory card is ordinarily used to produce some type of display or print, for example, a digital print of optional size made from images scanned from film or taken by an electronic camera.
An electrical connection between the memory card and the imaging device is typically made by means of a card connector which receives the memory card.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,986,618 (Wakatsuki) discloses a memory card storage device in which a memory card is used. The device includes a hinged lid having a slideably mounted card connector to receive the memory card therein. Such a loading configuration for the memory card is complicated and cumbersome. Indeed, as disclosed by Wakatsuki, such a configuration is suited for the field of civil engineering construction wherein the device endures a rugged outdoor application including strong winds and rain. Thus, the Wakatsuki configuration is not preferable for a consumer product wherein consumers request easy and ready access to the memory card.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,337,220 (Granitz) discloses a card connector assembly for use with a memory card. The assembly includes a casing pivotably mounted on a base member. The casing holding the memory card is pivoted so that contact pads on the memory card engage contact members on the base member. A latch member on the memory card maintains the contact between the contact pads and the contact members. While such a device may be suitable for its particular application, the device is not suited for a consumer product since it is complicated and requires a separate exterior door to protect/conceal the assembly. Further, a memory card is required for the latch member to function. Thus, the Granitz configuration is not preferable for a consumer product wherein the configuration should be readily manufacturable, and provide easy access to the memory card by a consumer.
Accordingly, a need continues to exist for a memory card receiving apparatus having a configuration for receiving the memory card and forming an electrical connection therewith. The configuration should be should be readily manufacturable, provide uncomplicated use, provide easy and ready access to the memory card, robust, and suited for consumer products.
An object of the present invention is to provide a memory card receiving apparatus having a configuration for receiving the memory card and forming an electrical connection therewith.
Another object of the invention is to provide such a memory card receiving apparatus which is readily manufacturable, provides uncomplicated use, provides easy and ready access to the memory card, and suited for consumer products.
These objects are given only by way of illustrative example. Thus, other desirable objectives and advantages inherently achieved by the disclosed invention may occur or become apparent to those skilled in the art. The invention is defined by the appended claims.
According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided an electronic apparatus adapted to receive a memory card. The apparatus comprises a body including an exterior wall having an opening. Disposed on the body adjacent the opening is a latch. Stationarily mounted within the opening is a card connector which has an electrical connection portion. A door connect to the body has a free end and a pivotable end connected to the body. The door moves between (i) an open position to receive the memory card and (ii) a closed position wherein an exterior surface of the door covers the opening. The door further includes a slot formed on an interior surface of the door which is adapted to receive the memory card therein at the free end. An aperture on the door is disposed in overlapping registration with the electrical connection portion when the door is in the closed position. Biasing the door in the open position is a resilient member. A latching feature disposed on the door is adapted to mechanically cooperate with the latch to overcome the biasing of the resilient member when the door is in the closed position.
The present invention provides a memory card receiving apparatus which is readily manufacturable, provides uncomplicated use, provides easy and ready access to the memory card, and is suited for consumer products.

Electronic apparatus adapted to receive a memory card


The metallocene compound represented by the following general formula (1):

As a method for improving molding processability of a metallocene-based polyethylene that is generally poor in molding processability, there are known a method of blending a high-pressure process low density polyethylene into the metallocene-based polyethylene and a method of introducing long-chain branches into polyethylene by a polymerization reaction using a specific metallocene. Since the former requires a blending step, production costs become high. Moreover, the resulting blend is excellent in molding processability but mechanical strength that is an advantage of the metallocene-based polyethylene decreases. On the other hand, there is known a method of using a bridged bisindenyl compound (see, for example, Patent Document 1) or a geometrical constraint half metallocene (see, for example, Patent Document 2) as the latter specific metallocene for introducing the long-chain branches.
Patent Document 3 reports that, when homopolymerization of ethylene is performed by solution polymerization using an asymmetric metallocene, in which a cyclopentadienyl group and an indenyl group were bridged with carbon, and methylaluminoxane, it is possible to produce a polyethylene having branches.
Moreover, Patent Document 4 reports polymerization of propylene by means of a polymerization catalyst obtained by combining an asymmetric metallocene compound in which a cyclopentadienyl group having a specific substituent and an indenyl group having a specific substituent are bridged and methylaluminoxane.
Furthermore, Patent Document 5 reports a catalyst system for producing an ethylene polymer and an ethylene/butene copolymer that are each useful as a macromonomer, using, among asymmetric metallocenes in which a cyclopentadienyl group and an indenyl group were bridged with silicon, a metallocene having methyl groups at the 2, 4, and 7 positions of the indenyl group and a modified clay compound.
Recently, the present inventors have proposed in Patent Document 6, among asymmetric metallocenes in which a cyclopentadienyl group and an indenyl group were bridged with a bridging group, a supported catalyst for olefin polymerization containing, as an essential component, a specific asymmetric metallocene having no substituent other than the bridging group on the cyclopentadienyl group and having an aryl group at the 4 position of the indenyl group and further, a method for producing an ethylene-based polymer having improved molding processability, using the supported catalyst for olefin polymerization.
Moreover, the present inventors have also proposed in Patent Documents 7 and 8 a supported catalyst for olefin polymerization containing an asymmetric metallocene in which a cyclopentadienyl group having various substituents and an indenyl group were bridged with a bridging group, as an essential component, and further, a method for producing an ethylene-based polymer using the supported catalyst for olefin polymerization.
Furthermore, Patent Document 9 proposes, among asymmetric metallocenes in which a cyclopentadienyl group and an indenyl group were bridged with a bridging group, a supported catalyst for olefin polymerization containing, as an essential component, a specific asymmetric metallocene having a linear alkyl group other than the bridging group on the cyclopentadienyl group and having an aryl group at the 3 position of the indenyl group and further, a method for producing an ethylene-based polymer with high activity using the supported catalyst for olefin polymerization.

Metallocene compound, catalyst component for olefin polymerization and catalyst for olefin polymerization containing the same, and method for producing olefin polymer using catalyst for olefin polymerization

Abstract: (the numerals and signs in the general formula (1) are as described in the description).


A method of measuring temperature of a fluid using a direct fluid contact temperature sensor by capturing a cooling line between a radius of a clip portion, the clip portion extending longitudinally in parallel with a corresponding portion of the cooling line, and a tip end of the sensor; directly contacting said tip end of said sensor with said cooling line; and measuring temperature of with the sensor. A device is provided for rapidly installing a fluid temperature sensor onto a fluid line for measuring the temperature of the fluid without requiring cutting or disconnection of the fluid line.

This disclosure relates generally to fluid line temperature sensing and attachments therefor, and, more particularly, to methods and devices for rapidly installing a fluid temperature sensor onto a fluid line, such as an automotive transmission oil cooling line, for measuring the temperature of the fluid without requiring cutting or disconnection of the fluid line.
With automotive vehicles modified for high performance or used for towing, it is common and desirable to measure transmission oil temperature. Some models of automatic transmission include a test port where an automotive fluid temperature sensor may be installed, but the sensor restricts the flow of fluid possibly leading to transmission problems. Further, the sensor may be a possible leak point, and many new transmission models do not have any test ports. Alternatives include placing the sensor in the transmission oil pan, but this requires removal of the pan and drilling, and, again, leaves a possible leak point. Some kits are available to add a "tee" fitting to the transmission cooler line, but these are expensive and require significant effort to install. An alternative was released in approximately 2009, known as the "Transcender" and is described at the website http://www.dieselmanor.com/dm_products/DM-TRS.asp and illustrated as assembly 100 in FIG. 1. This unit 112 simply clamps onto the metallic portion of the transmission cooler line 102.
As described at the aforementioned website, the DieselManor Transcender™ Temperature Adapter 112 was developed to allow for accurate reading of automotive transmission fluid temperature without the hassle of tapping into the cooler line 102. DieselManor claims it takes merely a few minutes to install, simply attaching to the cooler line 102 with a supplied hose clamp 104, 106, 108, with the sender (automotive fluid temperature sensor) 118 installable without Teflon tape or other thread sealants.
The assembly 100 illustrated in FIG. 1 includes an adapter body 112 having a cutout 110 shaped to receive the cooling line 102. The hose clamp strap 106 is then placed around the adapter body 112 and cooling line 102, fed through the hose clamp screw tightener 104, and tightened with the excess strap 108 extending as illustrated. A cylindrical cavity substantially in parallel alignment with the tubular cutout 110 then receives the sender end (which is typically shaped like the sender probe/shaft 216 shown in FIG. 2). The sender is threaded into the adapter using the hex nut 116. The electrical wires 120 are then routed and secured appropriately.
The Transcender™ assembly 100 works by monitoring the radiated heat in the cooler line 102. DieselManor claims tests have shown that the Transcender™ assembly 100 reads approximately 5 degrees cooler at 200° F., compared to monitoring the fluid temperature with the sender 118 in the cooler line 102.
DieselManor advertises that because the Transcender™ merely attaches to the OEM cooler line 102, it will not void the OEM factory warranty. DieselManor recommends using anti-seize lube inside the threaded portion of the Transcender™ (i.e. where the sender sensor end (not shown) and sender threads 114 are inserted into the adapter body 112) to help conduct the heat from the metallic exterior of the cooler line 102 through the adapter body material 112 to the sender. DieselManor recommends an adapter for ½″ cooler lines with ⅛″NPT sender port for most Dodge Cummins automatics, including the 6.7L—Part #: DM-TRS50, Price $29.85—and an adapter for ⅝″ cooler lines with ⅛″NPT sender port for most Chevy/GM Duramax automatics—Part #: DM-TRS625 Price $29.85.
What is needed are additional alternative methods and devices for rapidly installing a fluid temperature sensor onto a fluid line for measuring the temperature of the fluid without requiring cutting or disconnection of the fluid line.


A housing for a control device in vehicles is provided. The housing satisfies the requirements of acceleration transmission and reliable ground connection with a simple and inexpensive construction. The housing comprises a metallic shell that has parallel top and bottom walls, opposed side walls interconnecting the top and bottom walls and an open front face. A shaped carrier structure has a pair of opposed lateral edges. Both side walls of the shell have an internal groove extending parallel to and spaced from the bottom wall of the shell. The carrier structure is accommodated within the shell and has its lateral edges fitted in the grooves of the side walls.

Electronic control devices in vehicles are exposed to high thermal and mechanical stress. Consequently, they require a sufficiently resistant housing. Especially high demands are made for the housings of control devices that involve an acceleration sensor and that serve to actuate safety equipment in the vehicle, such as a belt tensioner or an airbag. With such control devices, it must be possible to rigidly connect the housing to the car body and to transmit the occurring accelerations to the acceleration sensor. Moreover, for the reliable functioning of the electronic components of the control device, there must be a good ground connection between the housing and the car body on the one hand, as well as between the housing and the electronic control device on the other hand.
These requirements are satisfied in conventional housings with heavy and bulky metallic constructions.

Housing for an electronic control device in vehicles

TRW Automotive Electronics & Components GmbH & Co. KG


An NOx sorption-and-reduction type catalyst is made which includes a hydrogen generating catalyst in which Rh is loaded on a support including an Al2O3—ZrO2 composite oxide. Since the Al2O3—ZrO2 composite oxide exhibits a basicity lower than ZrO2, SOx are less likely to approach so that it is possible to suppress the sulfur poisoning of Rh. Moreover, the Al2O3—ZrO2 composite oxide exhibits higher heat resistance than ZrO2, and it has a function of improving the steam reforming reaction activity of Rh in the same manner as ZrO2. Therefore, the post-durability NOx purifying ability of the NOx sorption-and-reduction type catalyst is improved.

Recently, as a catalyst for purifying NOx in an exhaust gas of an oxygen-excessive lean atmosphere, an NOx sorption-and-reduction type catalyst has been utilized. This NOx sorption-and-reduction type catalyst, for example, as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 5-317,625, is one in which a noble metal, such as Pt and Rh, and an NOx sorption member, such as K and Ba, are loaded on a porous support, such as Al2O3. By using this NOx sorption-and-reduction type catalyst and controlling an air-fuel ratio from a lean side to a stoichiometric as well as rich side in a pulsating manner (rich spiking), since an exhaust gas, too, becomes from a lean atmosphere to a stoichiometric as well as rich atmosphere, NOx are sorbed in the NOx sorption member on the lean side, and they are released on the stoichiometric or rich side to react with reductive components, such as HC and CO, so that they are purified. Therefore, even when it is an exhaust gas from a lean burn engine, it is possible to purify NOx with good efficiency. Moreover, since HC and CO in the exhaust gas are oxidized by the noble metal and, at the same time, are consumed in the reduction of NOx, HC as well as Co are also purified with good efficiency.
For example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 5-317,652, a catalyst for purifying an exhaust gas is proposed in which an alkaline-earth metal, such as Ba, and Pt are loaded on a porous oxide support, such as Al2O3. Further, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 6-31,139, a catalyst for purifying an exhaust gas is proposed in which an alkali metal, such as K, and Pt are loaded on a porous oxide support, such as Al2O3. Furthermore, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 5-168,860, a catalyst for purifying an exhaust gas is proposed in which a rare-earth element, such as La, and Pt are loaded on a porous oxide support, such as Al2O3.
It has been found out that the purifying reaction of NOx in the NOx sorption-and-reduction type catalyst comprises a first step, in which NO in an exhaust gas is oxidized to make it into NOx, a second step, in which NOx are sorbed onto an NOx sorption member, and a third step, in which NOx released from the NOx sorption member are reduced on the catalyst.
However, in the conventional NOx sorption-and-reduction type catalyst, the granular growth of Pt occurs in a lean atmosphere, there is a problem in that the reactivities of the aforementioned first step and second step are lowered by the decrement in the catalytic active sites.
While, as a catalytic noble metal which is less likely cause such a granular growth in a lean atmosphere, Rh has been known, however, the oxidizing ability does not come up to Pt. Hence, it is thought of using Pt and Rh together.
However, when Pt and Rh are used together, there is a drawback in that the oxidizing ability of Pt lowers. Accordingly, as the addition amount of Rh increases, the reactivity of the first step, in which NO is oxidized to make it into NOx, lowers so that the sorbing ability of NOx in the second step lowers as well. Moreover, Rh is poor in terms of the compatibility to an NOx sorption member, and there is a problem in that, when Rh and an NOx sorption member coexist, the characteristics of the NOx sorption ability and Rh cannot be fully exhibited.
Moreover, in an exhaust gas, SO2, which is generated by burning sulfur (S) contained in a fuel, is included, and it is oxidized by a noble metal in an exhaust gas of a lean atmosphere so that it is turned into SO3. Then, it has become apparent that it is readily turned into sulfuric acid by water vapor, which is also contained in the exhaust gas, that these react with the NOx sorption member to generate sulfites and sulfates, and that the NOx sorption member is thereby poisoned to degrade. This is referred to as the sulfur poisoning of the NOx sorption member. In addition, since the porous oxide support, such as Al2O3, has a property that it is likely to adsorb SOx, there is a problem in that the aforementioned sulfur poisoning has been facilitated. Then, when the NOx sorption member is thus turned into sulfites and sulfates so that it is poisoned to degrade, it can no longer sorb NOx, as a result, there is a drawback in that the NOx purifying performance lowers after a high-temperature durability test (hereinafter, referred to as "post-durability").
Hence, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 10-356, there is disclosed an NOx sorption-and-reduction type catalyst which is made by intermingling a first powder, in which Rh is loaded on Al2O3 or ZrO2, and a second powder, in which an NOx sorption member and Pt are loaded on Al2O3. In accordance with this NOx sorption-and-reduction type catalyst, since Rh and Pt are loaded separately, the oxidizing ability of Pt is inhibited from lowering. Moreover, since Rh and the NOx sorption member are loaded separately, the poorness in the mutual compatibility is not revealed so that the characteristics of the NOx sorption member and Rh are fully exhibited.
Moreover, in accordance with ZrO2 with Rh loaded (hereinafter referred to as an "Rh/ZrO2 catalyst"), hydrogen having a high reducing power is formed out of HC and H2O in an exhaust gas (a steam reforming reaction), and this hydrogen contributes to the reduction of NOx and the elimination of SOx from sulfates of the NOx sorption member. Thus, the NOx reduction ability in rich spiking becomes high, and the sulfur poisoning becomes remarkably less.
However, compared with Al2O3 which is often used as a support for noble metals, ZrO2 exhibits lower heat resistance, the specific surface area is decreased by the heat in service, and thereby there is a drawback in that the dispersibility of Rh lowers so that the hydrogen generating ability lowers. Moreover, since ZrO2 is a basic support, SOx in an exhaust gas are likely to approach, and accordingly a phenomenon arises in which the hydrogen generating ability is lowered by the sulfur poisoning of loaded Rh.
Accordingly, in an NOx sorption-and-reduction type catalyst including an Rh/ZrO2 catalyst, there is a problem in that the post-durability NOx purifying ability is lowered by the lowering of the hydrogen generating ability of the Rh/ZrO2 catalyst.
Moreover, it has been understood that another cause, by which the post-durability NOx purifying ability is lowered, lies in that a reaction occurs between cordierite, which has been used as a support substrate in general, and an alkali component, which works as the NOx sorption member, and thereby the NOx sorption ability has been lowered.
Namely, the alkali component is likely to move in a coating layer, such as Al2O3, and simultaneously exhibits a high reactivity to Si. Accordingly, it is believed that the alkali component moves in the coating layer when the temperature is high, arrives at the support substrate and reacts with Si in cordierite to form silicate, being a composite oxide. Since this silicate is a stable compound, the alkali component, which has been turned into silicate, no longer has an ability of sorbing NOx, and accordingly the NOx purifying performance has been lowered.
Hence, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 8-117,602, an NOx sorption-and-reduction type catalyst is proposed in which a Ti—Zr composite oxide, an NOx sorption member and a noble metal are loaded on an Al2O3 support.
By thus making a composite support in which a Ti—Zr composite oxide is loaded on Al2O3, it is possible to highly maintain the initial NOx purifying rate due to the advantage of Al2O3. Moreover, by loading a Ti—Zr composite oxide, it is possible to raise the acidity of the support itself. Therefore, since this composite support, compared with the case where Al2O3 is used alone, is less likely to adsorb SOx, and since adsorbed SOx are likely to eliminate at a low temperature, the contacting probability between the NOx sorption member and SOx is lowered In addition, in a support in which a Ti—Zr composite oxide is loaded, it is believed that the movement of alkali component is suppressed, and it has been understood that the reaction of the alkali component to TiO2 is suppressed. Therefore, when the aforementioned composite support is used, a high NOx purifying rate is secured even in the initial period, since the sulfur poisoning as well as the solving of the alkali metal into the support are suppressed, a post-durability NOx purifying rate is improved.
However, in a catalyst in which a Ti—Zr composite oxide is loaded on an Al2O3 support, compared with a composite support comprising TiO2—Al2O3 as disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 8-099,034 or a catalyst which uses a support in which TiO2 is added to Al2O3, it is not possible to say that the suppression effect of the sulfur poisoning is sufficient, and accordingly it has been required to further suppress the sulfur poisoning and improve the NOx purifying rate.
Moreover, due to the recent improvement of engine performance, the increase of high speed driving, and the like, the temperature of exhaust gas has risen so that the improvement of NOx purifying activity in a high temperature region has become an assignment. This is because, in a high temperature region, NOx, which have been sorbed in an NOx sorption member, are likely to be released, and the NOx sorption amount is likely to be insufficient in a lean atmosphere. Hence, K, which exhibits a high basicity and is stable at a high temperature, is made into an NOx sorption member, but, in a catalyst in which K is loaded on Al2O3, and so on, there has been a problem in that the NOx sorption ability in a high temperature region is not improved so much.
Hence, it was thought of using a support which exhibits a higher basicity, and, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 5-195,755, a catalyst is disclosed in which K and a noble metal are loaded on ZrO2. In accordance with this catalyst, since the basicities of the support and NOx sorption member are high, it is likely to sorb but less likely to release NOx. Therefore, the NOx sorption ability in a high temperature region is improved, as a result, the NOx purifying performance in a high temperature region is improved.
However, in the catalyst in which K and a noble metal are loaded on ZrO2, since the basicity of the support is high, there has been a drawback in that it is likely to sorb not only NOx but also SOx so that the lowering of the activity by the sulfur poisoning is considerable. Namely, when the basicity of a support is high, although the NOx sorption ability is improved, even the sulfur poisoning is facilitated. On the contrary, when the basicity of a support is low, although the sulfur poisoning is suppressed, even the NOx sorption ability is lowered.
The present invention has been done in view of such circumstances, it is a main object to improve the heat resistance and sulfur-poisoning resistance of an Rh/ZrO2 catalyst, being a hydrogen generating catalyst, and, being accompanied therewith, to improve the post-durability NOx purifying ability of an NOx sorption-and-reduction type catalyst.
Moreover, the second object of the present invention is to further suppress the sulfur poisoning of an NOx sorption-and-reduction type catalyst, thereby furthermore improving the high-temperature post-durability NOx purifying rate.
In addition, a further object of the present invention is to make a catalyst which can satisfy both of the contradictory phenomena, such as the improvement of the NOx sorption ability in a high temperature region and the suppression of the sulfur poisoning, and which is good in terms of the heat resistance.
The characteristic of a hydrogen generating catalyst, which solves the aforementioned assignments and is set forth in claim 1, lies in that Rh is loaded on a support comprising a ZrO2—Al2O3 composite oxide including first composite particles having a structure comprising a core portion in which ZrO2 is a major component and a superficial portion formed on a surface of the core portion and including Al2O3 more than the core portion.
Al2O3 can desirably be included in an amount of from 1 to 30% by mol in the ZrO2—Al2O3 composite oxide.
Then, the characteristic of a catalyst for purifying an exhaust gas, of an NOx sorption-and-reduction type catalyst comprising a noble metal and an NOx sorption member loaded on a porous oxide support, which solves the aforementioned assignments and is set forth in claim 4, lies in that the hydrogen generating catalyst of the present invention is included. The porous oxide support can desirably include second composite particles having a structure comprising a core portion in which ZrO2 is a major component and a superficial portion formed on a surface of the core portion and including an oxide, whose basicity is lower than ZrO2, more than the core portion.

Catalyst for hydrogen generation and catalyst for purifying of exhaust gas


A control system includes a current control unit providing, in accordance with the magnetic pole position of a rotor in which permanent magnets are disposed, a first current command to a first excitation phase of a stator winding and providing a second current command to a second excitation phase, a current error calculator calculating a current error which is a difference between a current flowing through the motor during the first period and the first current command or a difference between a current flowing through the motor during the second period and the second current command, and an abnormality detection and diagnosis unit detecting an abnormality based on the speed, the direction of movement and the amount of movement of the motor and the magnitude of the current error.

In the field of synchronous motors, a synchronous motor is controlled to pass a current in an appropriate excitation phase of a stator winding in accordance with a magnetic pole position of a rotor in which permanent magnets are disposed, thereby producing a desired torque. One known way to detect a magnetic pole position of the rotor is to use a magnetic pole sensor or the like designed for that purpose. Typically, an angle sensor for absolute angular measurement is used. To attach the angle sensor, a "magnetic pole alignment operation" needs to be performed in which a reference position of the angle sensor is aligned with a magnetic pole position of the rotor.
In the case of an ordinary motor with an angle sensor, the magnetic pole alignment of the angle sensor is carried out in a manufacturing process by the manufacturer. However, in the case of a motor for a machine or an apparatus (a built-in motor), parts, including a rotor, a stator and a sensor, are provided to a user and the user needs to carry out the magnetic pole alignment operation when incorporating the motor into a machine or the like.
In order to facilitate the magnetic pole alignment operation performed by the user, most controllers for synchronous motors include a function for detecting a magnetic pole position and various methods for the function have been proposed (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications No. JP-A-2001-78487). JP-A-2001-78487 discloses a method for detecting a magnetic pole position of a rotor, including the steps of (1) applying a current to a predetermined excitation phase of a stator, (2) obtaining a direction of movement of a rotor caused by the application of the current, (3) estimating a magnetic pole position of the rotor on the basis of the obtained direction of movement, (4) identifying, on the basis of the estimated magnetic pole position of the rotor, a predetermined excitation phase to which a current is to be applied next, and (5) repeating the steps (1) to (4).
The conventional technique requires information such as the number of poles of the synchronous motor, the resolution of the angle sensor, and the direction of rotation of the synchronous motor and the angle sensor beforehand and cannot accurately detect the magnetic pole position if these items of information are not available. Furthermore, if there is an incorrect connection between an amplifier which supplies electric power to the motor and a power line of the motor, i.e., connection of power lines in an incorrect phase sequence in the case of a three-phase synchronous motor, or a poor connection, or if there is significant noise in a signal fed back to the controller, for example a feedback signal of a current flowing through a power line or a feedback signal of the angle sensor, the magnetic pole position is difficult to accurately detect. Moreover, in a method for detecting the magnetic pole position while the motor is operating as in the conventional magnetic pole position detection method, friction and inertia in a machine can affect the detection of magnetic pole position and thereby reduce the accuracy of the detection.
When the magnetic pole position is difficult to accurately detect as described above, it may be necessary to analyze causes of the abnormality and notify the user of a likely cause. Notifying the user of an abnormality allows the user to quickly take a corrective action and facilitates quick initial start-up of the motor. Moreover, the notification can also prevent damage to the machine which would otherwise be caused by an unexpected motion due to activation of the motor based on a false detection.
A controller capable of detecting an abnormality such as a false detection of a magnetic pole position is known (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Publications No. JP-A-2005-237199). This existing controller uses a sensorless control method to estimate a magnetic pole position from the value of a current flowing through the motor and can detect an abnormal estimated magnetic pole position from electric power obtained by two computational operation means.
However, the existing motor controllers are unable to detect an abnormality during the initial start-up of the motor. Another problem with the existing motor controllers is the inability to detect an abnormality due to a fault such as an incorrect connection of a power line of the motor or an incorrect setting of a parameter such as the number of poles of the motor.

Control system for synchronous motor including abnormality detection and diagnosis function


An eyepiece lens is disclosed, in which the total number of constituent lenses is reduced but good optical performance is obtained by setting forth proper rules of design for optical parameters.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to eyepiece lenses for use in telescopes, binoculars, microscopes and, more particularly, to wide-angle eyepiece lenses which cover a field of about 60.degree..
2. Description of the Related Art
The eyepiece lens is used to enlarge the apparent field of view when an object on a plane is observed. Of its types, the Erfle and orthoscopic ones are widely known.
For example, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Sho 49-115558 proposes an eyepiece lens of the orthoscopic type comprised of two groups with four members.
Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 63-7363 discloses an eyepiece lens of the Erfle type comprising three groups with five members, wherein an increase of the eye-relief is achieved.
Anther Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Sho 60-159719 has made a proposal for widening the apparent angular field to 60.degree. or so, while reducing the astigmatism at the edge of the field to be covered. Another Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 63-10409 shows an eyepiece lens of widened apparent field of about 60.degree. with relatively small distortion over the entire area of the field to be covered.
Such an eyepiece lens in the Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Sho 60-159719 suffers very large distortion of 16% at a semifield of 30 degrees. Though it is acceptable for astronomical telescopes, the use of this eyepiece lens in the ordinary binocular gives a problem of distorting the image largely.
Also in the Japanese Patent Publication No. Sho 63-10409, the eyepiece lens, though having as small distortion as 3% at a semifield of 30 degrees, gives rise to a problem of increasing the curvature of field and the astigmatism greatly.
In general, with the use of the above-described forms of either the Erfle or the orthoscopic type in the eyepiece lens, when widening the apparent field angle up to 60.degree. and elongating the distance from the back of the eyepiece lens to the pupil of the observer's eye (hereinafter, this distance is called the "eye-relief"), while still maintaining the entire system to be constructed in compact form, the number of lens surfaces of convergent refractivity for the off-axial principal ray is caused to increase. Therefore, it becomes very difficult to correct well all aberrations to obtain a high optical performance.
Meanwhile, an eyepiece lens whose angular field is about 60.degree. with the number of constituent lenses reduced to four or five is proposed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Sho 55-24084.
Another proposal for improving the imaging performance of the eyepiece lens with the limitation of the lens number to 4 is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Sho 60-48729.
However, the eyepiece lens proposed in the Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Sho 55-24084, though being of wide-angle, has large field curvature and large astigmatism. In actual use, therefore, the image would probably be blurred at the edge of the field.
The eyepiece lens proposed in the Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. Sho 60-48729, though being improved in imagery, has a narrow field angle of 50.degree.. In the embodiment using four constituent lenses, on the other hand, there is a problem that the eye-relief is as short as 60% of the focal length.