Thermally sprayable powders for the formation of abradable seals and abradable seals formed by thermally spraying the powders include an alloyed metal phase material and a solid lubricant ceramic phase material. The alloyed metal phase material includes a major amount of a matrix metal which can be one or more of Ag or Cu, at least one melting point depressing metal which can be one or more of Si, B, Mn, or Al, and at least one oxidation resistant metal which can be one or more of Al, Cr, or Si. The solid lubricant ceramic phase is preferably hexagonal boron nitride, molybdenum sulphide, graphite, talc, bentonite or mica. Abradable seals formed by thermally spraying the powders are suitable for use with Ti alloy blades at temperatures up to 700.degree. C.

Abradable seals are used on the shrouds of compressors, particularly gas turbine engines of jets or land based rotary machinery, to assure efficient operation of the engines by minimizing gas leakage in both the compressor and turbine sections of the engines. Although the engine is typically designed and manufactured to precise dimensional tolerances, thermal and centrifugal expansion of rotating and stationary members makes zero clearances difficult to achieve. Thus, abradable seals are commonly employed on surfaces of the stationary member. Abradable seals allow penetration of rotating members, thereby establishing desired gas leakage control, by creating what is effectively a low tolerance seal. Abradable seals are distinct from rub surfaces in wet environments such as exist around oil bathed friction parts in engines, couplings and brakes.
A viable abradable seal is a compromise among many mutually exclusive physical properties. The seal should wear by disintegrating into fine particles rather than by tearing or spalling, and without causing substantial wear to the tips of the rotor blade. The seal should also be highly resistant to erosion and oxidation, as the hot, high velocity gas stream passing through the engine, laden with abrasive particulate matter, creates an environment that is both highly erosive and oxidative. Various attempts have been made to provide the property of abradability in the seal by manipulating the mechanical properties of the seal. Abradability may be achieved by using low sintering temperature during the seal formation process to provide a low density seal. The mechanical strength of the seal can also be reduced by the inclusion of friable non-metallic materials such as graphite or diatomaceous earth.
Alternatively, the quality of abradability may be a function of the melting point and melting characteristics of the seal. Where the melting point of the seal is somewhat above the operating temperature of the compressor, but below the melting temperature of the rotating member, heating caused by friction at the rub surface results in melting of the seal. As the rub surface temperature approaches the melting point of the seal, the seal loses mechanical strength and is readily abraded or displaced by the rotating member. The rotating member, having a substantially higher melting point, loses little mechanical strength, and can abrade the seal without damaging the rotor tip.
Modern gas turbine engines utilize rotor blades made up of titanium alloy, operating at temperatures up to about 700.degree. C. Two main seal formulations are currently in commercial use, an AlSi-polyester seal (Metco 601--Trade Mark of Perkin-Elmer Corporation, New York) and a felt metal seal. The felt metal seals are typically formed from nickel based alloys. The seal consists of metal fibres which are sintered to produce a highly porous material (about 80% porous). The seal is applied by brazing. Neither commercially available seal is entirely satisfactory. The felt metal seal melts at temperatures substantially above 700.degree. C., too high for the conditions of the Ti alloy blades. This results in substantial blade tip wear, the seal rub surface becomes very rough, creating an aerodynamically undesirable surface, and the seal sparks during rubbing. Sparking is particularly undesirable in turbine engines utilizing Ti alloy rotor blades as the potential for a Ti fire exists. Furthermore, the low density of the seal results in a undesirable amount of leakage.
An AlSi-polyester seal creates a rough rubbing surface, sparking, and the debris of the disintegrating seal tends to stick to the rotor blades and other engine hardware. The sticking of debris to the engine hardware is aerodynamically undesirable, and the debris-air mixture can be explosive.
The prior art describes many abradable seal compositions and structures. However, none of the seals described meet the dual requirements of being suitable for use with Ti alloy rotor blades at temperatures up to 700.degree. C. and suitable for application by thermal spraying.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,053,694, U.S. Pat. No. 3,068,016 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,639,388 describe abradable seal structures in which the seal is either applied as a slurry or sintered into a metallic honeycomb matrix. Such seals cannot be deposited by thermal spraying.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,975,165, U.S. Pat. No. 3,985,513, U.S. Pat. No. 3,817,719 and U.S. Pat. No. 3,879,831 teach abradable seal compositions designed for use in the turbine sections of jet engines. Such seals are designed to withstand temperatures in excess of 1000.degree. C. These seals therefore have melting points that are too high to provide abradability under 700.degree. C. against titanium alloy blades.
Other prior art seals, such as those described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,049,450, U.S. Pat. No. 3,084,064 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,023,252 comprise compositions having melting points too low to provide seals with sufficient strength in the 345-700.degree. C. operating temperature range.
As a result of these unresolved problems, the industry has sought alternative materials, especially for use in the 345 to 700.degree. C. range. One present solution is to hard-tip the Ti alloy blades. This allows for the use of dense, hard, shroud seal coatings. However, hard tipping of the blades is expensive and can lower the fatigue life of the blades. The use of Ni alloy blades, which are harder than Ti alloy blades and need no hard tipping, is not practical as they are twice as heavy as Ti blades. Thus, a need remains for an abradable seal suitable for use with Ti alloy blades at temperatures up to about 700.degree. C. that will cause minimal blade wear, sparking or debris sticking, will be highly resistant to erosion, oxidation and roughening of the rub surface, and will disintegrate into fine particles during rubbing.

Thermally sprayable powder materials having an alloyed metal phase and a solid lubricant ceramic phase and abradable seal assemblies manufactured therefrom


A storage stable aqueous or aqueous/alcoholic solution of zinc ions in the presence of bicarbonate ions is disclosed. The solution comprises: (a) a source of zinc ion, (b) a source of a stabilizing anion which can stabilize soluble zinc and bicarbonate in solution; (c) a source of bicarbonate ion; and (d) a solvent therefor. The solvent comprises: (i) a major proportion of water; (ii) optionally a minor amount of a lower monohydric alcohol; and (iii) optionally a minor amount of a humectant having at least 3 hydroxy groups. The zinc salt is present in an amount A sufficient to provide from about 0.01 weight % to about 1 weight % zinc ion; the stabilizing anion in an amount B of at least 1.2 equivalents per equivalent of zinc ion; and the bicarbonate ion cannot exceed certain levels which are related to the level of the stabilizing anion.

Zinc ion has been used in oral products for some time now. In dentrifices, it has been employed as a tartar control agent. In mouthwashes, it is used as a bacteriocide (U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,023) and to combat malodor.
Bicarbonate has been used in oral products for a variety of purposes including, but not limited to, buffering capacity, alkalinizing agent, as an abrasive (as solid sodium bicarbonate particles),for deodorizing activity, and because it provides for a clean "mouthfeel" and a refreshing aftertaste in the oral cavity. Exemplary patents dealing with mouthwashes or rinses having bicarbonate included include, but are not limited to U.S. Pat. No. 4,132,770; U.S. Pat. No. 4,312,889; U.S. Pat. No. 4,666,708; U.S. Pat. No. 5,185,153; U.S. Pat. No.5,302,373; U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,749, U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,023; U.S. Pat. No. 5,541,165; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,587,147; all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
It has therefore been deemed advantageous to try to combine, in a single formulation, both zinc containing compounds and bicarbonate containing compounds. Unfortunately this has not been possible. Zinc ion reacts with bicarbonate ion to result in liberation of carbon dioxide and the formation of various insoluble basic salts of zinc and carbonate. Attempts to get around this technical difficulty have included keeping the two components separated in different compartment or containers until ready for use; encapsulating one or both of the ingredients; or presenting one or both of the components in slightly soluble form so that the two species are in limited contact until diluted by the user in the course of using the product, among others.
Examples of encapsulating one or both components include U.S. Pat. No. 5,302,373; U.S. Pat. No. 5,330,749; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,455,023. Examples of dual compartment dispensing include U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,902; U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,358; U.S. Pat. No. 5,616,313; and U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,972. Examples of complexation include U.S. Pat. No. 5,587,147. Typical of the presentation of one or more of the components in an insoluble or slightly soluble form until use is in the toothpaste, tooth gel and tooth powder area where remaining in solution during storage is not a critical requirement to meet.
However, mouthwashes cannot present with precipitates during storage and still be considered suitable delivery vehicles for the components they contain. Additionally, dual dispensing systems are inconvenient for the user and generally not desirable. As such, there has been a long felt need for a single phase stable mouthwash solution having both zinc ion containing compounds and bicarbonate ion containing compounds, each in solution.

Stable solution of zinc and bicarbonate ions


A screwdriver having a retention mechanism for temporarily holding a screw in place on its tip while the screw is being positioned, rotated or removed. More particularly, a screwdriver with a cruciform head used in the installation and removal of bone screws during maxillofacial surgery.

A variety of medical procedures, such as maxillofacial surgery, require the use of screws that are driven into a patient's bone and may at a later time be removed. Prior to being driven into the bone the screw must be maneuvered into place and following removal of the screw it is necessary to maneuver the screw out of the body without dropping the screw. A dropped screw may become lost inside the patient or may become located in a position from which it is difficult to remove.
Further in both installation of screws into bone and removal of screws from the bone it may be necessary to apply considerable torque to the screw. Thus, a secure coupling between the screwdriver tip and the screw is necessary to allow the transmission of such torque and to prevent undesirable lateral movement that may cause misalignment of the screw.
Finally there may be only restricted access to the patient site so use of a second apparatus to position or secure the screw may be impractical, such as when used through a cannula.
Thus, it is desirable to have a single apparatus that has a tip capable of securely and temporarily engaging and retaining the screw. Additionally, it is sometimes necessary to drive a screw with the axis of the blade at an angle to the axis of the screw, such as in difficult or minimally-invasive approaches.


A bodice system includes a combination of stretch and non-stretch fabrics and/or textiles that are shaped, arranged, layered, and connected from front to back, to provide lift, shape, and support to a wearer's breasts in a comfortable garment. The bodice system includes an under-bust cradle, an elastic support band around the wearer's torso, three-piece left and right breast cups, a curved sling within each of the breast cups, left and right shoulder straps, and a flexible back aligning member integrally formed with each of the shoulder straps. The elastic support band is coupled to the under-bust cradle along the anterior portion of the bodice system, and to the back aligning member along the posterior portion of the bodice system. The interconnectedness of the components of the bodice system enable front-to-back lift, shape, and support for the wearer's breasts, even breasts that are D-cup and larger in size or volume.

At nighttime, unsupported, sagging, and/or drooping breasts (known as breast ptosis) can disrupt sleep and may cause feelings of discomfort, unattractiveness, or self-consciousness. Breast ptosis is common, with age, breast size, weight, pregnancy, and breastfeeding all being potential contributing factors. While lifted and supported breasts may contribute to a better night's sleep, bras and other conventional breast-supportive garments typically worn during the day often include underwires and/or clasps, closures, or other hardware, and are thus uncomfortable to wear overnight, at least partially due to this hardware. On the other hand, conventional nightwear garments do not provide the lift, shape, and support to counteract breast ptosis, especially for larger size breasts.
Namely, conventional nightwear garments fails to provide breast lift, shape, support, and comfort in one garment.
Those with larger breast volume/weight looking for attractive and comfortable nightwear that beautifully lifts and shapes breasts are underserved, creating a need gap in today's intimate apparel market. Often, conventional breast-supportive garments use said uncomfortable wiring and/or hardware to attempt to provide breast lift, support, and separation, but these garments have a tendency to deliver unnatural and unattractive breast lift, shape, and cleavage that isn't comfortable or desirable to the wearer. Alternatively, many conventional breast-supportive garments that deliver comfort forgo breast lift, shape, and support altogether, leaving breasts sagging, drooping, or falling out of place. Even conventional breast-supportive garments that claim to lift, shape, and support larger size breasts do not have the technical elements and level of integrated construction to successfully lift, shape, and support larger breasts, such as D-cup and larger size breasts.
Conventional breast-supportive garments have other disadvantages, as well. For example, they may have sewn-in bands that do not stay in the correct placement on the wearer's body, and thus allow breasts to fall under or below the band and ride-up along the back. They can have triangle shaped cutouts for the breasts which don't support the woman's natural shape, and lack support, thereby allowing breasts to fall out along the sides. Most also have narrow, adjustable straps not strong enough to lift heavier breasts. Conventional breast-supportive garments also can be too severe or overbearing in forcing the breasts into unnatural or uncomfortable shapes. Conventional breast-supportive garments with multiple adjustment points, closures, and adjustable straps often are cumbersome to use at nighttime and are not comfortable to wear all night. Foam structures in breast cups of conventional breast-supportive garments generally results in unnatural breast shape, as do breast cups formed with straight-edged pieces.

Garments having bodice systems for breast lift, shape, support, and comfort


A training device includes a belt for attachment about the waist of a user. The belt includes a first end and a second end. The training device also includes a plurality of resilient straps positioned between the belt and a first foot engaging platform and a second foot engaging platform.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a training device. More particularly, the invention relates to a resilient training device adapted to strengthen the legs of a user while being worn by the user.
2. Description of the Related Art
Training devices for strengthening the legs of an individual have been around for some time. In fact, some of the prior training devices may be worn by the user while he or she exercises to strengthen his or her legs. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,097,376 to Marshman discloses an exerciser for attachment to the body of a user. The exerciser includes a harness for attachment to the upper body of the user. The harness supports a plurality of cables secured between the harness and the feet of the user.
Specifically, two cables are worn on the front of the harness and secured to the front of special shoes having eyes for attachment of the cables thereto. Two cables are also worn on the back of the harness and secured to the back of the special shoes having eyes for attachment of the cables thereto. Unfortunately, this design is rather cumbersome and does not provide a user with a wide range of flexibility as he or she uses the exerciser.
For example, the full upper body harness substantially confines the movements of the user, while the special shoes required by the exerciser make it difficult to adapt the exercise for different uses. In addition, the use of separate straps for the front and back of the exerciser substantially limits the versatility of the exerciser, since the fixed lengths of the cables do not adapt to the different positions a user might assume while he or she exercises.
Another training device employing elastic straps is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,642 to Berry et al. This training device includes a single strap secured between a belt and a pair of foot engaging loops to create two forward runs and two rearward runs. The device is primarily designed for training golfers to properly position their legs while swinging a golf club. As such, the foot engaging loops are shaped and designed for attachment at the arch of the user's feet.
While positioning each loop at the arch of a user's foot may be advantageous for golfers who remain stationary, the use of a foot engaging loop secured at each arch of a user's foot would cause a great deal of discomfort resulting from the application of pressure on the arch of the user's foot. In addition, the loop is not designed to remain on the foot of a user moving about while he or she exercises. Finally, the use of a single strap requires that the strap pass along the inner surface of the belt. While the attachment of the belt along the inner surface of the belt may be acceptable in golf training, where the golfer does not move a great deal, the belt mounted on the inner surface would apply undesirable pressure to the body of a user moving about while he or she exercises with the training device.
After reviewing the prior art, it is clear that a need exists for a training device that may be worn by a user to strengthen his or her core and legs while the user goes about his or her normal training routine. The present invention provides such a training device.


A cyclic carbonate monomer including the reaction product of (a) a divinylarene dioxide, and (b) carbon dioxide; a process for making the cyclic carbonate monomer; and a polymer such as a poly(hydroxyurethane) composition made therefrom. The poly(hydroxyurethane) composition made from the above cyclic carbonate monomer forms a reactive intermediate that can be used for making, for example, a poly(hydroxyurethane) foam product.

Processes for preparing polymer products such as polyurethanes are known in the art. For example, traditional polyurethanes are synthesized by reacting an isocyanate with a polyol. Typical polyurethane foam formation via isocyanates is also known in the art. However, isocyanate-based polyurethane synthesis methods are known to have environmental, health and safety concerns and there is a growing trend in the industry to discover alternative chemistries to alleviate these concerns. Typically, isocyanate-based polyurethanes may be used, for example, in end-use applications such as spray foams.
It is also known to use a 1-12 part by weight addition of a mono alkyl cyclic carbonate as a stabilizer in traditional isocyanate foams; or as a blowing agent in traditional foam formulations. However, cyclic carbonate-amine foams per se are not known or taught in the prior art. In addition, nothing in the prior art teaches a divinylarene dioxide cyclic carbonate which can react at room temperature (25° C.) and produce an exotherm sufficient for room temperature cure and foam formation.
The polymerization of cyclic carbonates with amines is a known alternative to generating a related type of polyurethane network termed a poly(hydroxyurethane). But poly(hydroxyurethane)s derived from cyclic carbonates and amines suffer from poorer reactivity when compared to the aforementioned isocyanate chemistries. In addition, certain cyclic carbonate monomers, such as those derived from bisphenol A epoxy resins, are solids at room temperature, rendering processing difficult. Other cyclic carbonate monomers, such as those based on poly ether epoxy resins, remain liquid at room temperature but are not capable of room temperature cure or foam formation. In view of the above issues regarding cyclic carbonates with amines, foaming utilizing a cyclic carbonate monomer has heretofore not been disclosed in the prior art.
Heretofore, it known to prepare poly(hydroxyurethane)s by reacting a cyclic carbonate from an epoxy resin (e.g. bisphenol A diglycidyl ether) with a polyamine (e.g. diethylenetriamine, ethylene diamine). The resulting polymers are mixed with other polyamines, pigments and fillers in an aqueous solution with a commercial aqueous epoxy resin (e.g. Beckopox, VEP 2385) to form an automotive coating. The poly(hydroxyurethane) polymer requires heat to cure and is created in solvent prior to incorporation with the aqueous epoxy resin. Similar materials utilizing a tricyclic carbonate (e.g. trimethylolpropanetriglycidyl ether converted to the tri cyclic carbonate) as a crosslinker with a primary amine functional resin for electro deposition coatings have also been disclosed in the art.
Also known in the art is a method for using amine-terminated oligomers and cyclic carbonate/epoxy-terminated oligomers to create a hybrid network of urethane/epoxy-amine groups.
The prior art generally requires heated curing (curing temperatures generally between 70° C. and 120° C.) to utilize cyclic carbonate-amine poly(hydroxyurethane) networks in traditional coating applications. Many examples also require solvent-based polymerizations because many traditional epoxy resins will solidify as the percentage of epoxy groups converted to cyclic carbonate groups approaches 100% (e.g. DER™ 383 begins to solidify as the bulk cyclic carbonate concentration exceeds 70%). Epoxy resins that remain liquids at room temperature after 100% conversion to the cyclic carbonate (e.g. DER 736) do not produce an exotherm when reacted with amines preventing room temperature cure or foam formation.

Cyclic carbonate monomers and polymers prepared therefrom


A computer-implemented method for comparing a first version of a floorplan of a design for an integrated circuit with a second version. The method comprises (i) generating a timing information for each net in the second version by determining whether timing information is available for the net in the first version; (ii) in case no timing information is available in the first version, generating the timing information for the second version by calculating a spatial distance and timing information between two points of the net using wire length differences between the first version and the second version; (iii) otherwise, generating the timing information for the second version by calculating a spatial distance and timing information between two points of the net using a wire reach table to obtain a wire delay.

The present invention relates in general to data processing systems, in particular, to a computer-implemented method for comparing a first version of a floorplan of a design for an integrated circuit with a second version, as well as a computer program product and a data processing system.
A floorplan is a schematic representation of tentative placement of major functional blocks of an integrated circuit. Prior art processes for optimizing floorplans of the design of integrated circuits use a routed or detailed implementation of a new top level net list followed by a top level timing analyzing detailed timing reports which may be very time consuming.

Floorplan of a design for an integrated circuit

International Business Machines Corporation


A computer-implemented method includes: monitoring, by a computing device, resource usage data for a hypervisor; monitoring, by the computing device, resource usage data for a guest machine; identifying, by the computing device, outliers in the resource usage data for the hypervisor and outliers in the resource usage data for the guest machine; executing, by the computing device, a root cause model based on the resource usage data for the hypervisor and the resource usage data for the guest machine; generating, by the computing device, a root cause report identifying results of the executed root cause model; and providing, by the computing device, the root cause report for display.

The present invention generally relates to root cause determination of excessive resource usage and, more particularly, to root cause determination of excessive resource usage using Bayesian Acyclic graphs.
A virtual machine is a software-based emulation of a computer system in which multiple emulated computing devices may operate on a single physical computing device. A hypervisor may run and manage a number of different virtual machines (each called "guest machines") on a single computer device. Each guest machine may implement different operating systems and/or applications. For example, one guest machine may be used to host a financial data processing system for customers, whereas a different guest machine may be used to host an online gaming platform. Virtual machines are often used in cloud-based environments to provide a multitude of services to cloud-connected clients. Computing resources consumed by hypervisors and virtual machines can be substantial since software is used to emulate the functions of hardware.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Outlier and root cause determination of excessive resource usage in a virtual machine environment

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


Embodiments of the present disclosure discloses a scene-aware video encoder system. The scene-aware encoder system transforms a sequence of video frames of a video of a scene into a spatio-temporal scene graph. The spatio-temporal scene graph includes nodes representing one or multiple static and dynamic objects in the scene. Each node of the spatio-temporal scene graph describes an appearance, a location, and/or a motion of each of the objects (static and dynamic objects) at different time instances. The nodes of the spatio-temporal scene graph are embedded into a latent space using a spatio-temporal transformer encoding different combinations of different nodes of the spatio-temporal scene graph corresponding to different spatio-temporal volumes of the scene. Each node of the different nodes encoded in each of the combinations is weighted with an attention score determined as a function of similarities of spatio-temporal locations of the different nodes in the combination.

Nowadays, machines are built with the potential to interact with humans about objects and events in an environment that are captured in a video. For such interaction with the humans, the machines may be equipped with effective models of dynamic audio-visual scenes to infer about the objects and events from a scene of the video. Such dynamic audio-visual scene models correspond to a multi-modal reasoning problem, e.g., a video-based reasoning problem. Typically, visual scene graphs are used as data structures for video-based reasoning and such visual scene graphs are constructed for each video frame of the video. However, given the fact that videos are essentially sequences of 2D "views" of events happening in a 3D space, the need to have visual scene graphs for every frame may be redundant. The redundancy in the visual scene graphs may become computationally detrimental for longer video sequences.
Further, the visual scene graphs may lack insight that the video represents sequences of two-dimensional (2D) "views" of events happening in a three-dimensional (3D) space. The lack of such insight (i.e., 3D information) may fail to capture spatio-temporal information that flows through each video frame of the video. The spatio-temporal information provides semantics of a 3D scene flowing through frame-to-frame of the video. Furthermore, in some cases, objects in the video may be occluded, and that may impact the visual scene graphs in capturing information (such as spatial/location information) of the objects. The visual scene graphs may include lesser information due to the occlusion of objects that may cause outputting inaccurate outcome for the video-based reasoning.
Accordingly, there is a need to overcome the above-mentioned problems. More specifically, there is a need to generate visual scene graphs in an efficient and feasible manner, while outputting accurate results for video-based reasoning.

Scene-aware video encoder system and method

Mitsubishi Electric Research Laboratories, Inc.


A transmission medium consists of a dielectric waveguide shielded by a metal guide. The guide is particularly suitable for providing low insertion loss, convenient transfer of power from one such transmission line to another and for the trouble free handling of high power levels at many hundreds of watts. This type of transmission medium may be used to provide low loss combination of power signals that is low loss, compact while containing the solid state power amplifying elements (MMICs) and capable of high power.

Power amplifiers are utilized in communications systems to produce sufficient transmitter power to maintain adequate signal to noise ratio. Solid state power amplifiers are particularly desirable because they are efficient and of compact size requiring low voltage power supplies.
The present invention addresses the problem of devising efficient power combining networks, power combining branching systems, or power combining trees for microwave frequencies. Individual solid state amplifiers, monolithic microwave integrated circuits (MMICs), are capable of producing at their output ports moderate power levels. At X band, 15 watts appears to be the nominal output power maximum available. Often the system power requirement surpasses this level by an order of magnitude. A 200 watt output would require the combining of many such MMICs and orthodox multi-port power combiners based on microstrip lines are lossy and therefore inefficient. The present invention allows the achievement of a 200 watt power using just sixteen MMICs at 15 watts each. The equivalent loss would be 40 watts in a potential 240 watts or less than 1.0 dB loss in the combiner.


A battery load power detecting system includes a generator current sensor which detects a current supplied from a generator to at least one of a battery and a load group including a steering device, and first and second load current sensors which detect a current supplied from at least one of the generator and the battery to the load group. A battery state monitor calculates a load power of the battery by multiplying a difference between both the currents by a voltage at a terminal of the battery detected by a voltage sensor. Therefore, the load state of the battery can be appropriately confirmed to avoid a situation where the steering device, e.g., a steering-by-wire type steering device, falls into an inoperable state due to power deficiency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a battery load power detecting system for detecting a load power of a battery connected to a load group including a steering device for providing a steering torque by a motor and to a generator driven by an engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a steering-by-wire type steering device in which there is no mechanical connection between a steering wheel and a steering gear box, and a control means controls the driving of a motor mounted in the steering gear box based on an electric signal generated by the operation of the steering wheel thereby steering left and right wheels, if the state of a battery as a power source is deteriorated, there is a possibility that the steering of the wheels cannot be reliably carried out. Therefore, it is necessary to conduct the maintenance or replacement of the battery while accurately monitoring the load state of the battery.
A conventional power supply system for such a steering-by-wire type steering device has a single current sensor which is mounted on a line extending from the battery and a generator to a load group including the steering-by-wire type steering device, and the current sensor detects a load current supplied from the battery and/or the generator to the load group, thereby determining the load state of the battery.
The determination of the deteriorated state of a regular lead battery to be mounted on a vehicle is carried out based on an internal impedance, a specific gravity and temperature of a liquid electrolyte and the like, but such determination is troublesome, and determination accuracy is not satisfactory.
Published Japanese Translation No. 2002-542576 of PCT/US00/09705 and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2002-190329 disclose a system which performs life lengthening and determination of the deterioration of a battery, and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 6-54402 discloses a system which measures remaining capacity of a battery for an electric vehicle.
In a system in which a current supplied to a load group is detected by a single current sensor, as in the power supply system for the conventional steering-by-wire type steering device, it is impossible to determine whether the current is supplied from a battery or a generator, so that it is impossible to properly determine the load state of the battery by detecting a current flowing directly into and out of the battery.


The invention is a method for controlling growth of spores of specific fungi to the vegetative state by introducing a salt of formic acid to an aqueous system forming a mixture, applying the mixture to a surface where fungal spore growth control is desired, and drying the surface with the mixture disposed thereon, thereby forming an ionic lattice on the surface that prevents fungal spore growth to a vegetative state.

The invention relates to an additive for the control of the growth of fungi and mold cells from their spore on the surfaces of objected treated with an aqueous systems. The invention was designed to control the growth by killing the vegetative growth of the fungi from its spore with an additive that can be blended into commercially available paints, spackle, adhesives, grout, and sealants used in the home and commercial construction industry. The additive can also be used in the paper making industry to control growth of fungi or mold during the making of paper that causes spoilage. The additive can also be used to control the growth of bacterial in automotive and air conditioning end uses by adding it to lubrication systems of cars, compressors for oil field drilling, transmission systems or cars and other motors, air conditioning and heating systems and the like.
An object of the invention is to provide an easy to use, environmentally friendly additive which is cheaper than those currently commercially available.
Another object of the invention is to provide an additive that is light and easy to transport additive. that does not adsorb water in a high humidity environment.
A final object of the invention is to provide and additive that does not cake or clog and can be easily flowed into a system in a continuous flow without the need to batch addition of the additive.

Method for controlling spore producing fungi and bacteria


In an ATM switch device having a plurality of input ports and a plurality of output ports, a port buffer is arranged for each of the output ports and is given a minimum guaranteed value which represents the minimum number of output cells sent to each output port even when traffic congestion takes place at the other output ports. A total queue monitoring buffer is also arranged to monitor a total number of output cells which is equal to a total sum of the minimum guaranteed values determined for the respective output ports and is counted up only when the counts of the port buffers exceed the minimum guaranteed values. With this structure, it is possible to detect traffic congestion all over the ATM switch device by the total queue monitoring buffer and to assure delivery of the output cells equal to the minimum guaranteed value. Each minimum guaranteed value may be determined for each service class and a multicast cell.

This invention relates to an ATM switch device and an ATM method for use in switching ATM cells in an ATM network.
In general, a conventional ATM switch device of the type described (includes an input port portion and an output port portion) is operable to receive an ATM cell as an input cell at an input port and to deliver the input cell to an output port as an output cell after the input cell is stored in the ATM switch device. Herein, it is to be noted that such an ATM cell has a fixed length of fifty-three bytes in total and is structured by a header of five bytes and a payload of forty-eight bytes. The header has indentifiers, such as VPI, VCI, and the like while the payload has a sequence of data signals, and so on.
In such an ATM network which uses an ATM cell of a fixed length, after an ATM cell is formed once, all cells have the same structure. Therefore, it is advantageous that the ATM network never recognizes a structure of an original information structure. Under the circumstances, it has been expected that the ATM network is suitable for multimedia communications.
In a method of transmitting an ATM cell through an ATM switch device, there are a wide variety of services, such as a constant bit rate (CBR) service, a variable bit rate (VBR) service, an available bit rate (ABR) service, an unspecified bit rate (UBR) service, and the like. Herein, it is to be noted that the CBR service is for transmitting a moving picture signal and an audio signal at a constant transmission rate while the VBR service is for varying a transmission rate of a moving picture signal and an audio signal at a real time. On the other hand, the ABR service is for varying a transmission rate in consideration of traffic congestion of an ATM network while the UBR method is for carrying out transmission without specifying a transmission rate.
In considering a variety of the methods, it is preferable that the ATM switch device is matched with all of the above-mentioned methods. In other words, the ATM switch device can desirably distinguish all of the methods from one another as service classes to carry out control operation which corresponds to each of the service classes.
Moreover, it should be considered that the ATM cells which is supplied to and transmitted from the ATM switch device are classified into a single cast cell which is sent to a single output port and an a multicast cell which is simultaneously delivered to a plurality of output ports. Accordingly, it is preferable that the ATM switch device can not only process the single cast cell but also can process the multicast cell.
Herein, proposal has been made about a wide variety of ATM switch devices which are divided into three groups. One of the groups is of a type which includes a plurality of input ports and a plurality of input buffers arranged for the respective input ports to store the input cells while another one of the groups is of a type which includes a plurality of output ports arranged for the respective output ports to store the output cells. The last one of the groups is of a type which includes a shared buffer shared by a plurality of output ports and which will be referred to as a shared buffer type hereinafter.
Among others, a recent interest has been directed to the ATM switch device of the shared buffer type because it is excellent in comparison with the other groups of the ATM switch devices in view of the fact that the shared buffer can reduce a memory capacity.
At any rate, all the ATM switch devices have a common problem that the ATM cells are discarded when traffic congestion takes place at a certain output port, which causes an overflow to occur in the input, the output, and the shared buffers.
This problem will be mentioned about the shared buffer type in detail hereinunder. Such an ATM switch device of the shared buffer type is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. Hei 5-153,150, namely, 153,150/1993 (will be referred to as Reference). The ATM switch device disclosed therein includes a shared buffer shared by a plurality of output ports to store each cell and an address administration buffer arranged for each of the output port to store an address of the shared buffer assigned to each cell. In addition, an idle address buffer is also included to store an idle address of the shared buffer.
Furthermore, description is made in Reference about a conventional ATM switch device which includes a threshold value monitoring unit. The threshold value monitoring unit monitors whether or not an activity ratio of each address administration buffer exceeds a threshold value set therein. In addition, the threshold value monitoring unit produces a cell discard indication when the the activity ratio exceeds the threshold value. The cell discard indication is sent to a cell discard unit and, as a result, the cell in question is discarded.
From this fact, it is readily understood that selective discard is made about the cell which is directed to the output port corresponding to one of the address administration buffers that exceeds the threshold value and that the threshold values are determined for the respective output ports. With this structure, the cells are discarded even when the conventional ATM switch device as a whole affords to receive and transmit the cells. Therefore, discarding the cells comparatively frequently happens in the conventional ATM switch device.
In order to reduce cell discard as small as possible, Reference proposes a method of monitoring a total amount of cells stored in the shared buffer shared by the output ports. In this method, when a load begins to be concentrated on a specific one of the output ports with the total amount of the stored cells exceeding a predetermined value, an input regulation or restriction is imposed on the shared buffer.
In other words, when the total amount of the stored cells exceeds the predetermined value, the input regulation is made in this method about the cells which are maximum in number and which are delivered to the specific output port. As a result, the cells delivered to the specific output port are discarded during the input regulation or restriction even when the cells are to be quickly processed in a real time.
As mentioned above, this method detects the specific output port to which a maximum number of cells is delivered. In addition, the cells to be delivered to the specific output port are subjected to regulation or restriction and are consequently discarded as long as the total amount of the stored cells exceeds the predetermined value. Such regulation or restriction state is continued in connection with the specific output port until the total amount of the stored cells becomes equal to or smaller than the predetermined value.
This brings about inconvenience that the cell regulation of the specific output port is not released or stopped when the total amount of the cells is kept over the predetermined value by an increase of the cells directed to the output ports other than the specific output port in spite of a decrease of the cells directed to the specific output port.
Moreover, no consideration is made at all in Reference about input regulation to be carried out in the cases where the different service classes are present and where the multicast cell is present together with the single cast cell. In addition, no teaching is also made about the case where each output port has a different concentration of the cells to be allowed.

ATM switch device capable of favorably controlling traffic congestion


A signal masking circuit includes a detection circuit, a delayed read data strobe signal generation circuit, a gating circuit, a counting circuit, and a masking circuit. The detection circuit detects a period of a logic “L” of a read data strobe signal. The gating circuit gates a delayed read data strobe signal, and generates a first masked read data strobe signal. The counting circuit counts the falls of the first masked read data strobe signal until the count reaches a predetermined number, and generates a masking signal for masking the first masked read data strobe signal. The masking circuit masks the first masked read data strobe signal, and outputs a second masked read data strobe signal.

An increase in the speed of data transfer in a semiconductor integrated circuit has been attempted by causing a data signal to be transferred in synchronization with a clock signal between a logic circuit and an SDRAM (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) which is a semiconductor memory operating in synchronization with a clock signal.
Further, to increase the transfer speed, a DDR SDRAM (Double Data Rate Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memory) has been increasingly used which outputs data both at the rise and fall of the clock signal.
The output period of read data output by the DDR SDRAM is half the cycle of the clock signal, and thus the data is transferred at a high speed. Meanwhile, a skew between signals is always an issue to be addressed in a parallel interface as used in the DDR SDRAM. Along with the increase in the transfer speed, therefore, it becomes difficult to capture the read data.
Therefore, the DDR SDRAM outputs the read data together with a read data strobe (RDQS) signal synchronized with the read data. That is, the DDR SDRAM outputs the read data in a so-called source synchronous transfer. The logic circuit acquires the read data in accordance with a signal generated from the read data strobe (RDQS) signal. In this configuration, the read data and the read data strobe (RDQS) signal are synchronized with each other. Thus, the phase between the signals becomes substantially constant. Accordingly, the period for defining the read data is not reduced.
Thereafter, to enable the logic circuit to use the read data acquired in accordance with the read data strobe (RDQS) signal, the read data needs to be passed to a storage circuit, such as a flip-flop circuit, which is synchronized with the clock signal.
Therefore, the read data and the read data strobe (RDQS) signal are input to a data terminal and a clock terminal of the flip-flop circuit, respectively, and the read data is latched. Then, the latched data is input to the flip-flop circuit of the next stage. Further, the clock signal used in the logic circuit is input to a clock terminal of the flip-flop circuit, and the latched data is latched.
Herein, it is assumed that a signal line for transmitting the read data strobe (RDQS) signal to the logic circuit is connected to a plurality of semiconductor memories. In this configuration, when the DDR SDRAM outputs the read data strobe (RDQS) signal, the DDR SDRAM drives the signal line for transmitting the read data strobe (RDQS) signal only during the output period of the read data, and does not drive the signal line during the other period. That is, the read data strobe (RDQS) signal is a so-called bus signal. Therefore, the logic of the read data strobe (RDQS) signal is defined during a period of the read data strobe (RDQS) signal effective for receiving the read data, an approximately one cycle period of a logic "L (Low)" preceding the first rise of the read data strobe (RDQS) signal effective for receiving the read data (a so-called read preamble), and an approximately 0.5 cycle period of the logic "L" subsequent to the last fall of the read data strobe (RDQS) signal (a so-called read postamble). In the other period, the read data strobe (RDQS) signal is in a Hi-Z (high impedance) state. In the simple configuration which connects the read data strobe (RDQS) signal to the clock terminal of the flip-flop circuit that latches the read data, therefore, if a pulse coincides with the Hi-Z state of the read data strobe (RDQS) signal when the read data captured in accordance with the read data strobe (RDQS) signal is passed to an internal logic circuit, the captured data may be destroyed.
In view of the above, a semiconductor integrated circuit has been proposed which includes a delay circuit for receiving the input of the read data strobe (RDQS) signal and generating a first timing signal for latching the read data at the flip-flop circuit and a signal defined state maintaining circuit for maintaining, in accordance with a second timing signal generated from the first timing signal, the output from the flip-flop circuit which has latched the read data (e.g., Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2006-107352). The read data is maintained in the flip-flop circuit for a predetermined period even after the shift of the read data strobe (RDQS) signal to the Hi-Z state. It is therefore possible to ensure a period until the latch of the read data by the flip-flop circuit of the next stage input with the clock signal in the clock terminal thereof. Accordingly, the read data is maintained even if the read data strobe (RDQS) signal falls into the Hi-Z state at the time of inhibiting the input to an input circuit of the read data strobe (RDQS) signal (i.e., at the time of masking).
However, if the read data strobe (RDQS) signal is in the Hi-Z state at the time of permitting the input to the input circuit of the read data strobe (RDQS) signal (i.e., at the time of gating) after the input operation of the read data to the flip-flop circuit has been notified, the flip-flop circuit latches incorrect read data.
As described above, the timing of masking and gating the read data strobe (RDQS) signal deviates from the effective period of the read data strobe (RDQS) signal effective for receiving the read data, the read preamble, and the read postamble for the following reasons. That is, in a period in which the clock signal of the logic circuit is transmitted to the DDR SDRAM and the read data strobe (RDQS) signal is propagated to the logic circuit, a signal delay on the path (i.e., a so-called flight time) is not constant with respect to the timing of masking and gating performed in accordance with the clock signal of the logic circuit, due to a variety of variation factors such as input-output circuit characteristics of the logic circuit, a transmission path delay, and DRAM characteristics. Therefore, the arrival timing of the read data strobe (RDQS) signal to the logic circuit is not constant.
To prevent the flip-flop circuit from latching the incorrect read data, it is conceivable to set the timing of masking and gating the read data strobe (RDQS) signal within the effective period of the read data strobe (RDQS) signal effective for receiving the read data, the read preamble, and the read postamble. However, the signal delay (the flight time) is not constant. Therefore, there arises a case in which the effective period of the read data strobe (RDQS) signal effective for receiving the read data is reduced.
The path for generating the read data strobe (RDQS) signal is constituted by the logic circuit for generating the clock signal, a transmission path of the clock signal, a circuit in the DDR SDRAM for generating the clock signal, a circuit in the DDR SDRAM for generating the read data strobe (RDQS) signal, a transmission path of the read data strobe (RDQS) signal, and a circuit in the logic circuit for receiving the read data strobe (RDQS) signal. Thus, the variation in the amount of the signal delay varies among the respective sections of the path. Accordingly, it is substantially difficult to make the signal delay (the flight time) of the whole path constant.

Signal masking method, signal masking circuit, and semiconductor integrated circuit


A system for parsing frames including a first cell extraction circuit (CEC) configured to identify a first cell from a first frame, a first parser engine operatively connected to the first CEC, where the first parser engine is configured to generate a result based on the first cell, and a first forwarding circuit operatively connected to the first parser engine and configured to forward the result, where the first CEC, the first parser engine, and the first forwarding circuit are associated with a first frame parser unit.

A network may be considered a group of stations (e.g., personal computers, servers, mainframes, telephones, etc.) connected to exchange information (i.e., communicate). The transmission medium connecting the group of stations may contain wired and/or wireless segments (e.g., parallel two-wire, twisted pair, shielded pair, coaxial line, waveguide, fiber-optics, satellite, infra-red, etc.). Communication may take place using packets that are exchanged between two or more stations in the group of stations.
Network processing may be considered the management and movement of packet-based communication traffic using network processing hardware. Frame parsing is a key function performed in a network processing application. Frame parsing often includes the extraction and analysis of the contents of a packet header field(s) and the generation of parsing results which guide the subsequent processing of the frame by other hardware and/or software processing elements.


A computer process establishes data frequencies for recording data in zones of a zone bit recording medium in a disc drive. At least three data points are identified for each zone correlating data frequencies and corresponding bit error rates, and a slope of a curve between each two data points is calculated. The slopes are averaged, and the data frequency is calculated based on the average slope. If a difference between the average and default slopes exceeds a first threshold value, or if a spread of the slopes exceeds a second threshold value, the data frequency is calculated based on the average slope and the default slope. In one embodiment, each of the three data points is generated by recording data in the zone at each of three selected data frequencies, reading the recorded data, and calculating bit error rates based on the recorded and read data.

Areal density of magnetic recording in hard disc data storage devices is a product of track density and bit recording density. Drive storage capacity can be increased without increasing the number or size of recording discs by increasing areal density, such as by increasing track and/or bit density. Track density can be increased by decreasing track width and/or spacing between tracks. Bit density can be increased by increasing the number of bits per inch recorded along the length of each track, such as by increasing data frequency for the track. However, there are practical limits to increasing bit density. More particularly, increasing the track and/or bit density decreases the signal-to-noise ratio of the recovered data signals on readback, leading to unacceptably increased data errors.
Bit density is often expressed as the number of bits per inch (BPI) along the length of a track. Because the tracks on a recording disc are circular and are concentrically arranged, the length of a track at an outer radius is significantly greater than the length of a track at an inner radius. Consequently, for a given recording frequency, bit density is greater at an inner radius than at outer radius. Thus, the BPI of each track is related to the data frequency and the radial location of the track.
Ordinarily, disc drives are manufactured to meet some set of specifications that define the performance of the drive. One element of the specifications relates to the bit error rate (BER). The bit error rate is related to bit density and is a measure of the performance of the head/medium combination in recording and recovering data. The BER is expressed as a number of recorded bits successfully recovered per error (e.g., 10X). By convention, the bit error rate is expressed simply as X, so a bit error rate of 7.8 is equivalent one error in 107.8 recovered bits. Thus greater BERs represent better head/medium performance.
Typically, increases in bit density (BPI) adversely affects the error rate, reducing the BER number. More particularly, higher BPIs require more closely packed data bits along the length of the track, thereby degrading the signal-to-noise ratio and decreasing the BER number. Therefore, one goal of disc drive performance is to establish the BPI to meet a specified minimum BER.
One well-known technique to increase bit density is to segment the disc surface into radial zones and record data at higher frequencies in outer zones. This is known as "zone bit recording" and results in a bit density that is substantially the same in each radial zone. Consequently, the BER is substantially the same over the entire disc, and within stated specifications.
However, head/disc performance is not equal for all discs of a storage medium. Manufacturing variances of both the heads and the discs often result in slight variances of the BER between head/disc combinations of a multi-surface storage device. Consequently, an improvement to zone bit recording, particularly useful in disc drives having plural recording discs (i.e., disc packs), is to adjust the BPI for each disc to an optimal value based upon a target BER. This concept, known as variable bits per inch (VBPI) selects a recording frequency for each disc based on the data transfer capability of the particular head/disc combination.
In practice, the BER might vary between zones for a given head/disc combination having a given BPI. Manufacturing tolerances may result in slight differences in performance of a head/disc combination over the various zones of the disc, resulting in different BERs between zones. As a result, some disc drives failed qualification tests at manufacture simply because one or a few zones failed the BER test at the established BPI. An examination of the failed disc drives revealed that further adjustment of the BPI of the failed zones and of other passing zones could result in a passing disc drive.
However, it has not been economically feasible to test the BER of each zone of each disc surface of each disc drive manufactured to optimize the BPI. Therefore, there is a need for a technique to select the optimal data frequency that meets a minimal BER threshold without requiring an extensive test of each zone of each disc for each copy of the model of disc drive. The present invention provides a solution to this and other problems, and offers other advantages over the prior art.

Calculation of data frequencies in recording media


A sample pump device comprising a flexible pouch, a rigid frame, a mechanical pump, an actuator and a rigid, non-flexible stem attachment. A flexible dip tube is specifically not included. The rigid frame houses the mechanical pump and supports the flexible pouch which contains a flowable product, such as perfume. The stem attachment provides a firm surface against which a user can provide counter pressure, as the mechanical pump is being operated. The sample pump device is adapted to withstand the extreme pressures of binding, bundling and distribution operations associated with printed circulars.

Small liquid containing pouch packages that include a pump to dispense the contained liquid are known. It is often desirable to provide such packages in exceptionally small sizes to contain a limited amount of liquid for product sampling or single dose applications. Such small packages are particularly desirable for sampling via inserts in printed circulars, such as magazines, newspapers and catalogs, an application that can subject the package to extreme external pressure when the circulars are bound and bundled for distribution. Examples of such small packages include those shown in U.S. Pat. No. 8,070,015 to Lee, or U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,735,753, 7,735,754 or 8,152,077 to Marelli et al., or U.S. Pat. Pub. No. 2011/0186174 to Sibileau et al. In particular for sampling applications, low cost is a key consideration since the samples are given to potential customers free of charge. A problem with the flat atomizer packages of Marelli is that the package and pump mechanism components must be custom tooled, thereby increasing the cost. The Lee package requires an internal pouch for the liquid storage and external layers of foil to enclose the frame, again increasing cost. The structure disclosed in Sibileau shows a pump secured to the frame by only a single connection area, an arrangement that may not adequately support the pump particularly during distribution and operation of the pump actuator. Accordingly, there is a need for low cost, small pump/package combination that utilizes common pump components with a minimal amount of additional components or structure, yet can withstand the extreme pressures encountered during binding and bundling of magazines, newspapers, catalogs and the like.

Sample pump device for insertion into printed circulars


A method for managing document revisions. The method includes receiving a request to access a parent file stored on a server, where the parent file is associated with one or more child files; determining whether a first option is enabled that is associated with selecting a latest version or revision of a child file, where a revision includes one or more versions; determining whether a second option is enabled, where the second option is associated with selecting a released version or revision of a child file; and, for each child file, providing access to a version or revision of the child file based on whether the first option is enabled and whether the second option is enabled.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate generally to systems and methods for document revision control.
2. Description of the Related Art
Within conventional design environments, a part that belongs to an assembly is often assigned a revision number. When the part is modified, design standards dictate that the modified version of the part be assigned a new revision number, such as the next sequential revision number. When an assembly is opened that includes a reference to the part, the design application prompts the user that a new revision for the part is available and asks the user whether the current version of the part should be loaded or whether the previous version should be loaded. However, the user may not be privy to the changes that were made to the part and may not be sure as to which revision of the part should be loaded in the assembly. For example, a particular assembly may be dependent on the previous revision of the part and is not operable using the current revision. The complications associated with multiple revisions of parts described above provide for inefficient workflow and a cumbersome user experience.
As the foregoing illustrates, there is a need in the art for an improved technique for the management of document revisions.


An error flag generation apparatus and method for error correction, wherein the apparatus includes: a frame-sync error memory which stores frame-sync error information for each data block; a BIS (Burst Indicator Subcode) error flag memory which stores a BIS error flag for each data block; and an error flag generator, which generates an error flag indicating error existence/absence for ECC (Error-Correction Coding) data with reference to the frame-sync error information stored in the frame-sync error memory and the BIS error flag stored in the BIS error flag memory.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method generating an error flag for error correction.
2. Description of the Related Art
To store information in an optical recording medium such as CD or DVD, error-correction coding (ECC) is performed in which parity data is added to user data to generate a codeword and the codeword is processed according to a predetermined method. If the user data is 30 bytes, the parity data is 30 bytes, and accordingly one codeword is 60 bytes, error correction is possible although errors are generated in maximal 15 bytes of one codeword when decoding is performed. However, if an error flag indicating the location of data including an error in the codeword is provided, error correction is possible although errors are generated in maximal 30 bytes of the codeword.
Such a technique that improves error correction performance using an error flag is called erasure correction. The erasure correction has higher error correction efficiency where a burst error is generated rather than a random error.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,049 discloses an error correction format consisting of a plurality of ECC (Error Correction Code) columns and a plurality of BIS (Burst Indicator Subcode) columns. BIS is information that is inserted when decoding is performed, in order to indicate the generation of a burst error. A reliability of a decoded BIS is higher than that of ECC.
FIG. 1 is a view showing a data block with an error correction format disclosed in the above-described U.S. Pat. No. 6,367,049.
According to the error correction format, in one data block, frame synchronization (frame-sync) data is included in the heading of the data block, and subsequently 38 ECC columns and one BIS column are located alternately. One data block has 496 frames. Data constructing the data block is interleaved according to a predetermined method. The detailed descriptions related to the error correction format and interleaving are disclosed in the above-described U.S. patent application Ser. No. 6,367,049.
FIG. 2 shows a detailed structure of one frame forming part of the data block of FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 2, in one frame, frame-sync data is included in the heading of the frame and subsequently 38-byte ECC and one-byte BIS are located alternately.
However, an error correction system according to the error correction format shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 has problems in that an interleaving process is complex, accordingly the generation of an error flag for erasure correction is not easy, and a hardware structure is complicated.

Apparatus and method generating error flag for error correction


An integrated circuit package includes a flexible laminar substrate 1. The substrate 1 has a flexible layer 5 of heat conductive material on one of its faces. The layer 5 extends across an aperture 9 in the flexible substrate 1. A first integrated circuit 11 is mounted on the layer 5 within the aperture 9, and wire bonded to the substrate 1. A flip chip 21 is mounted on the first integrated circuit 11. The two integrated circuits 11, 21 are embedded in a resin body 23.

It is well known to provide integrated circuit packages in which integrated circuits (dies), principally composed of semiconductor material, are located within resin bodies. Electrical contacts of the integrated circuit are electrically in contact with corresponding electrical conductors that protrude out of the resin body.
In one type of package, the integrated circuits are located on a die pad portion of a lead frame with the electric contacts facing away from the lead frame, and wires are formed between the electric contacts and respective lead fingers of the lead frame. The resin is applied to encase the integrated circuits and the wires in the resin body, leaving a portion of the lead frames protruding from the resin body. The lead fingers are then cut to separate them from the remainder of the lead frame, and thus singulate the packages.
An alternative type of integrated circuit is called a "flip-chip," which is positioned on (and normally adhered to) a substrate with the electrical contacts facing the substrate, and in electrical contact with corresponding electric contacts provided in the substrate. The electric contacts on the substrate are typically electrically connected to electrically conductive paths formed through the material of the substrate. The flip-chip is typically encased in a resin body which secures it to the substrate to form a package.
There is pressure to improve integrated circuit packages to increase the number of input/output connections (I/Os), reduce the package footprint, reduce the package thickness and improve the thermal management (that is, reduce the risk of the integrated circuit overheating).
Various proposals have been made to do this, typically proposing that a plurality of dies are packaged into a single package. For example, it is known to provide a plurality of dies inside a single package stacked one above the other with an adhesive paste between them. It is further known to provide two dies placed side-by-side (e.g., on a lead frame) within a single resin body.
One disadvantage with providing a stacked die package assembly is that the thickness of the package is increased. Additionally, there are reliability concerns due to the reduced possibilities for heat dissipation, which in turn lead to an increased risk of overheating.
Conversely, providing the dies side-by-side means that the footprint of the package is increased.
A separate development in the field of packaging is to employ flexible substrates, that is substrates consisting of an element of flexible material onto which an integrated circuit can be mounted, and carrying electrically conductive paths for electrical connection to electric contacts of the integrated circuit, e.g., by the wire-bonding or flip-chip techniques. The preferred base material for flexible substrates is polyimide, although other materials (such as polyester, fluorocarbon films, aramid papers, and composites) are also known. These are quite different from the materials used to make conventional substrates. There are numerous advantages in providing flexible substrates to help in the miniaturization of electronic products. For example, if the substrate is flexible, the product is less likely to be sensitive to variations in temperature, since the substrate can absorb heat shrinkage or expansion of components of the product.

Integrated circuit package employing a flexible substrate


A caster base for a cabinet includes support plates and struts connecting the forward and rearward end of the support plates. The struts are disposed within the cabinet so that the cabinet bottom is integrated with and sandwiched between the struts and the support plates. Casters are mounted at each end of each support plate. The base structural elements thus all reside within the periphery of the cabinet or within the cabinet and are not visible to the outside casual observer. Thus, each base does not protrude from the periphery of the cabinet and can be used for any color of the same size cabinet, it not being necessary to paint the base in a color to match the cabinet. The cabinet bottom is strengthened against deformation during movement over rough surfaces and the struts of the base are configured to be fitted within the cabinet and to accommodate inwardly turned front corner structure.

In the past, it has been known to mount casters, wheels or rollers to cabinets so they can be rolled over a floor surface. Such cabinets are typically made of sheet metal, for example, and the casters support the base above the floor. Their mounting, usually at the cabinet bottom corners, is accompanied by several disadvantages. Since the cabinet construction is of relatively thin sheet metal and all the cabinet weight is concentrated or supported by casters at only the four corners, movement of a heavily loaded cabinet over a rough floor surface or an obstacle above the flat floor can cause distortion, perhaps permanently, of the cabinet's bottom, front, side or back structures. Where separate bases have been used to mount the casters and hold the cabinet, the base structure frequently extends outside or beyond the cabinet periphery. This is unsightly, at best. Extensions protrude undesirably.
Accordingly, it has been one objective of this invention to provide a caster base for cabinets wherein the base does not extend outside the cabinet periphery.
Another objective of the invention has been to provide an improved caster base for a cabinet which adds strength to the cabinet bottom and resists deformation of cabinet structure when the cabinet is heavily loaded or moved over a surface.


A dynamic driving device is disclosed. The device enhances the display effect of a dynamic image on a liquid crystal display by dynamically adjusting the driving voltage applied to a liquid crystal display's Graphic Processing Unit (GPU) or Central Processing Unit (CPU). The device utilizes a driving path selection unit to allow a user to specify a driving path through an operation interface, which in turn affects the variation of driving voltage applied on the Graphic Processing Unit by dynamically adjusting the drive to the liquid crystal display.

Liquid crystal display (LCD) has gradually replaced cathode ray tube (CRT) display in recent years due to its characteristics such as smaller size and lighter weight. However, factors affecting the display effect of liquid crystal display, such as grey-scale response speed, are highly related to the surrounding atmospheric environment of the display, such as temperature. To achieve higher quality of display from liquid crystal display, therefore, the user's surrounding environment should be taken into consideration as well. In general, under the identical driving method, the grey-scale response time of a liquid crystal display increases one millisecond when the ambient temperature of the liquid crystal display decreases one degree.
FIG. 1 of the attached drawings is a pictorial representation of the original driving paths. As shown in FIG. 1, the original driving path refers to the driving voltage's variation from its initial driving voltage to the targeted driving voltage under a certain temperature, such as T1 or T2. The original driving path under temperature T1 reaches the targeted driving voltage at a time t1. Since temperature T1 is much higher than T2, the original driving path under temperature T2 reaches the targeted driving voltage at a time t2 that is later than t1. Because of this, the same liquid crystal display could easily be affected by its surrounding atmospheric environment (especially temperature) to have different grey-scale imaging speed and in turn result in significant difference in dynamic image display effect under temperature T1 and T2.
Based on the foregoing description, it should not be difficult to understand that the display effect of a liquid crystal display is closely related to the surrounding atmospheric environment of the liquid crystal display. When driving the liquid crystal of a liquid crystal display, it is therefore required to take into consideration as a factor the surrounding atmospheric environment of the liquid crystal display.
Currently in the industry, LG Philips adopts a technique to take surrounding atmospheric environment factor into consideration as described in Document No. U.S.2003/0107546, titled "Method and Apparatus for Driving Liquid Crystal Display", published on Jun. 12, 2003. The '546 patent basically utilizes a temperature sensor to detect the ambient temperature of a liquid crystal display, obtaining an appropriate correction from a pre-established Look Up Table (LUT) based on the sensed temperature, and then applying the correction to the output signal of dynamic images.
Samsung adopts another technique to take surrounding atmospheric environment factor into consideration as described in Document No. U.S.2003/0098839, titled "Liquid Crystal Display and a Driving Method Thereof", published on May 29, 2003. The '839 patent applies correction to the dynamic images' output signal based on correcting parameters derived from temperature, user-determined image quality, and the display related surrounding environment.
The above two industry solutions both require the use of temperature sensors to obtain the ambient temperature of a liquid crystal display before correcting the output of dynamic images. However, both solutions not only require additional cost from the temperature sensors, but also lose flexibility by over-emphasizing the temperature variation. After all, the display effect of a liquid crystal display is not entirely related to temperature variation.

Device and method of dynamic driving for liquid crystal display


The specification discloses a cardboard and blister pack packaging and sealing machine that includes an upper and lower heater and die combination that can be compressed together over a package for sealing using heat activated adhesives. The machine may use at least one piston and rod device or pump to provide the necessary energy or pressure. The machine may include a moveable tray containing at least one aperture to hold an unsealed package wherein the unsealed package can be moved proximate to the upper and lower heaters and dies and the upper and lower heaters and dies can press together. In this way, both the top and bottom dies may be heated and the operator is not required to remove the sealed packaging from the hot die.

1. Field of Use
The machine and associated tooling disclosed in this specification may be used for sealing cardboard, corrugated board or paper packaging utilizing adhesives or similar materials. The packaging may contain plastic containers for merchandise, hereinafter "blister packs" that may protrude from one or both sides of the packaging.
2. Related Technology
There are a number of package designs to deter theft, communicate information, protect package contents, etc., including the sealing of packaging, including packaging containing blister packs.


A multi-use, multi-level structure can be installed in and removed from a body of water in a seasonal fashion. The structure has a lower level that includes a boat lift and an upper level that provides an entertainment area. The structure carries a buoyancy system for selectively floating the structure on the body of water or sinking the structure in the water. The buoyancy system preferably comprises a ballast system that includes an array of hydraulically interconnected ballast tanks that are vented to the atmosphere. A valve may be opened to admit water to the ballast tanks to flood the tanks. A pump is used to pump water out of the ballast tanks when desired.

The recreational boating industry involves the use of a watercraft, such as a jet ski or boat, on a body of water. Many different structures have been developed to facilitate the use of and enjoyment of such watercraft. One such structure is a boat lift and an adjoining dock. The boat lift includes a movable cradle that may be raised and lowered to lift the watercraft into a storage position out of contact with the water or drop the watercraft into a use position in which the watercraft floats on the water. The cradle of the boat lift may be powered either manually or by some type of motor.
In northern locales where the body of water freezes during the winter, boat lifts and docks are typically used seasonally. Usually, a boat lift/dock is installed in the body of water in the spring and used throughout the summer. Then, prior to the onset of cold weather in the late fall, the boat lift/dock is removed from the body of water and stored on land during the winter. This prevents the boat lift/dock from being damaged by ice formed in the body of water during the winter.
Installing and removing a boat lift or dock from a body of water is often a very strenuous and difficult operation. While docks come in sections to allow a dock to be disassembled and removed piece by piece, the same is not true of a boat lift. A boat lift is typically provided as one assembled, unitary structure. Thus, a boat lift often has to be manhandled into and out of the water using brute force. This usually requires a number of strong, fit people who often must be specifically hired for the job.
The boat lift installation and removal problem is made even worse if the shorefront property over which the boat lift must travel to the body of water is steep, rocky or uneven or the beach is narrow or non-existent. Most prime shorefront property having relatively wide, smooth and flat beaches has already been developed. Thus, owners of more newly developed shorefront property may have an impossible time of installing and removing a boat lift or dock from the water. It often can't be done if there is a large drop or highly uneven terrain between where the boat lift or dock must be stored out of season and where the boat lift or dock is to be installed and used during the season.
In addition, some boat lifts are part of larger, multi-level structures that include an entertainment area, such as a patio or sundeck, in a second level located above the boat lift. Obviously, such multi-level structures are considerably heavier and more complex than a boat lift or dock alone. To date, such multi-level structures are only used in climates where they can be assembled in place in the body of water and left year round. Thus, the use of such multi-use, multi-level structures has been restricted to bodies of water that remain open and ice free year round.
There is a need in this art for a simpler, easier way of installing and removing structures such as boat lifts and docks from a body of water. In addition, there is a need to find some way of being able to install and remove a multi-use, multi-level structure from a body of water without having to assemble and disassemble such structure in place. This invention addresses these and other needs.

Seasonal, multi-use, multi-level structure transportable both by ground and water for use in a body of water


A method and apparatus are provided for publishing part datasheets. A part characterization database is created, and the technical characteristics of parts in the database are ascertained. In addition to parts, part groups are created based on common technical characteristics of parts, and a database tree is created based on the technical characteristics of parts and part groups. A publishing interface coupled to the part characterization database is provided for coupling a publishing tool to the part characterization database so as to provide context to the technical characteristics of one or more parts characterized within the part characterization database. A computer program product also is provided for publishing part datasheets. The computer program product comprises means for creating the part characterization database, means for ascertaining the technical characteristics of parts in the database and means for creating part groups based on common technical characteristics of parts. The computer readable medium also comprises means for creating a database tree based on the technical characteristics of parts and part groups and means for providing a publishing interface for coupling a publishing tool to the part characterization database so as to provide context to the technical characteristics of one or more parts characterized within the part characterization database.

The present invention relates to the exchange of part information, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for publishing part datasheets.
An ever present need exists for the rapid exchange of part information between suppliers, distributors and customers. For example, within the semiconductor industry, part information (e.g., information regarding electronic components, printed circuit boards, component packaging, etc.) typically is exchanged in either electronic or printed format as part datasheets comprising electrical specifications, timing diagrams, timing information, other descriptive diagrams, encapsulated models and the like.
One approach for expediting the exchange of semiconductor-related part information is the Electronic Component Information Exchange (ECIX) project initiated by leading electronic component manufacturers. The ECIX project provides a suite of standards for the electronic exchange of information regarding electronic products (e.g., electronic components, printed circuit boards, etc.), including a Pinnacles Component Standard (PCIS) for the generation of part datasheets.
Despite the ECIX project, the generation of part datasheets employing PCIS or any other convention typically is a difficult, time consuming and manual process. Accordingly, a need exists for an improved method and apparatus for publishing part datasheets.
To overcome the needs of the prior art, an inventive method and apparatus are provided for publishing part datasheets. A part characterization database (e.g., a relational database) is created, and the technical characteristics of parts in the database are ascertained (e.g., parts within the database are defined by a set of identifying characteristics). In addition to parts, part groups are created based on common technical characteristics of parts, and a database tree is created based on the technical characteristics of parts. A publishing interface coupled to the part characterization database is provided for coupling a publishing tool to the part characterization database so as to provide context to the technical characteristics of one or more parts characterized within the part characterization database (e.g., to allow for easy formatting of a part""s technical characteristics within a part datasheet via one or more presentation tables).
A computer program product also is provided for publishing part datasheets. The inventive computer program product is carried by a medium readable by a computer (e.g., a carrier wave signal, a floppy disc, a hard drive, a random access memory, etc.). The computer readable medium comprises means for creating the part characterization database, means for ascertaining the technical characteristics of parts in the database and means for creating part groups based on common technical characteristics of parts. The computer readable medium also comprises means for creating a database tree based on the technical characteristics of parts and means for providing a publishing interface for coupling a publishing tool to the part characterization database so as to provide context to the technical characteristics of one or more parts characterized within the part characterization database.
By having technical characteristics associated with a part group shared by multiple parts, each part""s characteristics may be maintained merely by maintaining the part group""s characteristics (rather than each individual part""s characteristics). Additionally, parts having any combination of product options can be characterized merely by combining appropriate part groups having the desired characteristics (e.g., characteristics can exist in the database for xe2x80x9cvirtualxe2x80x9d parts not even considered by designers). Once generated, a part datasheet can be updated merely by reconnecting to the part characterization database to retrieve updated part information.
Other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more fully apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments, the appended claims and the accompanying drawings.

Method and apparatus for publishing part datasheets

International Business Machines Corporation


An article comprising a non-conductive substrate, preferably of an environmentally degradeable character, having a thickness of an oxidizable metal coating thereon, and optionally an oxidation enhancingly effective amount of a salt, e.g., from about 0.005 to about 25% by weight of salt, based on the weight of oxidizable metal, present on the oxidizable metal coating. Also disclosed is a related method of forming such article, comprising chemical vapor depositing the oxidizable metal coating on the substrate. When utilized in a form comprising fine-diameter substrate elements such as filaments, the resulting product may be usefully employed as an "evanescent" chaff. In the presence of atmospheric moisture, such evanescent chaff undergoes oxidization of the oxidizable metal coating so that the conductivity and radar absorbance/reflectance characteristics of the chaff transiently decays.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to chaff with transient radar absorbance and/or reflectance characteristics, having utility as an electronic warfare countermeasure useful in an absorbance mode for at least partial attenuation of radar signals, and useful in a reflectance mode as an electromagnetic detection decoy or for anti-detection masking of an offensive attack.
2. Description of the Related Art
In modern warfare, a wide variety of weapons systems are employed which operate across the electromagnetic spectrum, including radio waves, microwaves, infrared signals, ultraviolet signals, x-rays and gamma rays.
To counter such weapons systems, smoke and other obscurants have been deployed. In the past, smoke has been variously employed as a means of protection of ground-based military vehicles and personnel during conflict, to blind enemy forces, to camouflage friendly forces, and to serve as decoys to divert hostile forces away from the positions of friendly forces. With the evolution of radar guided missiles and increasing use of radar systems for battlefield surveillance and target acquisition, the obscurant medium must provide signal response in the millimeter wavelengths of the electromagnetic spectrum.
The use of "chaff", viz., strips, fibers, particles, and other discontinuous-form, metal-containing media to provide a signal response to radar, began during World War II. The first use of chaff involved metal strips about 300 millimeters long and 15 millimeters wide, which were deployed in units of about 1,000 strips. These chaff units were manually dispersed into the air from flying aircraft, to form chaff "clouds" which functioned as decoys against radars operating in the frequency range of 490-570 Megahertz.
Chaff in the form of aluminum foil strips has been widely used since World War II. More recent developments in chaff technology include the use of aluminum-coated glass filament and silver-coated nylon filament.
In use, chaff elements are formed with dimensional characteristics creating dipoles of roughly one-half the wavelength of the hostile electromagnetic system. The chaff is dispersed into a hostile radar target zone, so that the hostile radar "locks onto" the signature of the chaff dispersion. The chaff is suitably dispersed into the air from airborne aircraft, rockets or warheads, or from ground-based deployment systems.
The chaff materials which have been developed to date function effectively when deployed at moderate to high altitudes, but are generally unsatisfactory as obscuration media in proximity to the ground due to their high settling rates. Filament-type chaff composed of metal-coated fibers may theoretically be fashioned with properties superior to metal strip chaff materials, but historically the "hang time" (time aloft before final settling of the chaff to the ground) is unfortunately still too short to accommodate low altitude use of such chaff. This high settling rate is a result of large substrate diameters necessary for standard processes, typically on the order of 25 microns, as well as thick metal coatings which increase overall density. A further problem with metallized filaments is that typical metal coatings, such as aluminum, remain present and pose a continuing electrical hazard to electrical and electronic systems after the useful life of the chaff is over.
Although chaff has been highly successfully employed by the prior art, and is routinely used to decoy or divert radar guided threats away from military aircraft, successful exploitation of chaff typically requires precise synchronization of the chaff dissemination with an evasive maneuver. Thus, training is critical to the effective use of chaff for enhanced survivability against radar-based threats. Though the need for realistic training is universally accepted, environmental concerns over the effects of chaff pose a serious and growing threat to peacetime training in its use.
Considering the environmental impact of chaff material usage, in warfare as well as peacetime training applications, it is recognized that conventional chaff materials can measurably affect the electromagnetic environment long after their defense utility has passed. It also is recognized that long-term physical health risks may result from the persistence of the glass fibers which serve as the substrate for standard aluminized chaff materials.
In this respect, the persistence of aluminized glass fibers after settling to the ground and the perception of respiratory or digestive hazards of these materials has limited the open air dissemination of chaff for testing and training. Ranchers and environmentalists, particularly in the midwestern U.S., have objected to chaff because it is carried uncontrollably by the wind and settles on populated areas or on land grazed by wildlife and livestock. Additionally, the United States FAA has experienced difficulties in monitoring air traffic because of the electromagnetic noise associated with drifting chaff.
It would therefore be a substantial advance in the art to provide a chaff material which variously is characterized by a reduced settling rate and increased hang time, as compared with conventional chaff materials, overcomes the persistence of adverse electrical characteristics which is a major disadvantage of conventional chaff materials, and is of enhanced environmentally acceptability in relation to conventional chaff materials.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved chaff material which overcomes such difficulties and deficiencies of the prior art.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a chaff material having a metal component with an evanescent electromagnetic detection signature.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a chaff material whose electronic signature may be selectively adjusted so that the chaff material is transiently active for a predetermined time, consistent with its purpose and its locus of use.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a chaff material which is environmentally degradeable to relatively benign end products.
Other objects and advantages of the present invention will be more fully apparent from the ensuing disclosure and appended claims.

Method of obscuring the location of a radiation-detectable object in a warfare theatre

Alliant Defense Electronic Systems, Inc.


A coupling plate for an engine-driven generator on which a balance weight can be mounted and which is simple in structure and is constituted by a same hole making pattern. In a coupling plate for an engine-driven generator driving a generator by an engine, a plurality of elastic disks overlapped integrally are provided, and the elastic disks have one of the inner circumference side and the outer circumference side in the radial direction connected to the engine and the generator as the input side and the other as the output side, and in each of the elastic disks, a plurality of holes including small-diameter weight mounting holes and large-diameter weight escape holes distributed/arranged with a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction are drilled so that the holes of the respective disks are positionally overlapped with each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a coupling plate for rotating electric machine and particularly to a coupling plate used in an engine-driven generator for connecting the engine to the generator.
2. Related Art
The engine-driven generator is to drive a generator by obtaining a driving force from an engine. However, since an engine generates axial vibration which is harmful for driving together with a torque required for driving of the generator, a coupling plate is interposed between the engine and the generator to transmit only the torque (a plate between a cooling fan 8 and a disk 9 in the Patent Document 2, FIG. 3).
Also, a rotating electric machine generates vibration if a rotor is not balanced, which causes a problem of damage on a bearing, generation of a noise, reduction of machine life and so on. Then, in order to achieve a balance, a balance weight is attached on a rotor after assembling of the rotor.
And in order to achieve a rotating balance of rotating electric machine, a disk for mounting the balance weight at a rotating shaft is provided and the balance is fixed by selecting an appropriate position on this disk (See the Patent Documents 1 and 2).
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Utility Model Laid-Open No. S61-74271
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. H9-298863
Here, the rotating electrical machine is now required to reduce its size and weight and to simplify the structure as a general request for electrical machine, and particularly reduction in the number of parts and the length in the axial direction is in demand. Therefore, there is a demand to reduce the number of members to be mounted on a shaft of rotating electrical machine as much as possible.
Therefore, the above incorporation of a disk only to mount a balance weight onto a shaft of rotating electrical machine is a problem to be improved in machine design.
The present invention was made in view of the above and its object is to provide a coupling plate on which a balance weight can be mounted and which can maintain a function to absorb natural axial vibration with a simple structure.

Coupling plate for engine-driven generator