A reaction torque actuator has a sensor operatively coupled between a motor housing and an outer housing. A pair of bearings support the motor within the outer housing in a spaced, concentric relationship. The bearings allow a mutual angular displacement of the housing about the axis of rotation of the output shaft of the motor, but they isolate the sensor from the axial and radial moments. A resolver surrounds the shaft at its output end to produce a signal that accurately measures the angular position of the shaft. A controller regulates power to the motor windings as a function of signals from the resolver and the sensor and torque commands. In a preferred form for use in robotics where very accurate force control is desired, the motor: is a brushless D.C. motor, the sensor is of the strain gauge type, and the controller uses high quality amplifiers, sine wave commutation, cable shielding, and filtering to limit the noise generated by electronic switching.

This invention relates generally to force control of mechanical devices. More specifically, it relates to a very accurate, high bandwidth torque actuator with a built-in feedback reaction sensor.
Force control is often important in applications where a machine or robot has a member or members that interact with the external world. These machines include numerically controlled machine tools, mechanical arms and hands that assemble, paint, or handle parts and materials, and teleoperated or autonomous robots that can perform tasks in factories, at the ocean bottom, or in outer space. The world in which the robot or machine acts may be well defined, or unknown. Many robotic tasks in assembly or pick and place manipulation can require a control of the force exerted on an object so as not to damage it or the robotic device. In unknown environments it is important to have excellent force control to sense and react to collisions. Fast reaction requires a high bandwidth. Increasingly the capabilities of robots are becoming limited by the accuracy and bandwidth of the force control.
Force control in robotics falls into one of three categories: passive, active, or a combination of passive and active. Remote Center Compliance devices, as described in a 1977 Ph.D. thesis at M.I.T. by S. H. Drake entitled "Using Compliance In Liew Of Sensing Feedback For Automatic Assembly", are representative of passive control. They use compliance to control and limit forces at the end-effector. In active control, commands to an actuator control the forces exerted by manipulators. Active force control methods include feedforward control and feedback control. Active feedforward systems are most effective when the environment is known and relatively static. Control of joint torques can be adjusted through servo gains or precomputed torques. The actuator then produces the output torque computed. In general, these systems are imprecise, require large amounts of processing time, and are not well suited to operation in changing, dynamic situations, or situations where the operating environment is not well known.
Force and torque sensors are known to provide feedback control. Typically feedback controls fall into one of four types--damping control, stiffness control, impedance control or hybrid position/force control. Damping control uses an inverse damping matrix of variable velocity feedback gains to transform forces into joint velocity commands. Stiffness control uses proportional gains to produce a linear relationship between position error and commanded force. In impedance control, damping and stiffness matrices are used to convert position, velocity and acceleration errors into actuator commands. In the hybrid arrangement, two control systems operate simultaneously, one to close a position loop and the other to close a force loop.
Placement of the sensors is also important in determining whether the force control will operate well. Studies have demonstrated that placing the force sensor on an end effector necessitates lower gains to avoid instability when the end effector is in contact with a stiff environment. See, for example, "Force Feedback Control Of Fine Manipulator Motions" by D. E. Whitney, in the Journal of Dynamic Systems, Measurement and Control, Vol. 99, No. 2, (June 1977), pp. 91-97. Other research has shown that dynamics between a sensor and an actuator add poles to the system that often lead to instabilities. These instabilities were overcome if the sensor and actuator were colocated, or if one closed joint torque loops rather than end point force loops. Studies have also demonstrated a positive effect on bandwidth using joint torque sensors. Direct analog feedback of this type avoids calculations associated with Jacobian transforms needed in other active feedback control systems and thereby decreases the response time. However, colocation will not ordinarily provide a precise measure of the output torque at the end-effector.
Even with feedback and colocation, known arrangements for coupling the sensor into the drive have drawbacks. In one arrangement the sensor is connected in line with a motor output shaft. Slip rings or some other arrangement must connect to the shaft, a transmission member, or the output joint to obtain information as to the torque output. This arrangement interferes with the power and signal transmission. Also the sensor bandwidth is limited by the bandwidth of the transmission, which is typically low, e.g., less than 50 Hz. Torque tables are also known where the actuator is compliantly coupled to the torque table and strain gauges measure the reaction torque as a function of the angular displacement of the actuator in response to the reaction torque. The mass of the actuator limits bandwidth.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,493 to Grunbaum discloses a device that measures the output torque of a motor shaft by measuring the reaction torque exhibited by a rotation of the motor housing with respect to a fixed motor mounting flange. Strain gauges measure the torque produced by this rotation through the flexure of a bolt fixed on the motor and engaged at one end in a recess on the mounting flange. While this arrangement overcomes some of the problems with the prior art feedback actuators noted above, it is limited to an arrangement where a flange mounts the motor at one end. It also supports the shaft at one bearing and is therefore susceptible to axial and radial moments applied to the shaft. This arrangement is therefore not capable of extreme accuracy and is limited in its applications.
Whole arm manipulators (WAM's) place extreme demands on the force control system since the manipulator must sense and control forces anywhere along a link precisely, accurately, and rapidly. The WAM described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,046,375 has certain inherent force control advantages. It uses a highly efficient cable transmission that exhibits almost no friction or backlash, is backdrivable, lightweight, and has a high aspect ratio. This combination of advantages has shifted the limits on force accuracy and bandwidth of the system from the transmissions to the actuators driving the transmissions.
In theory, the torque output of an electric motor is linearly related to the current flowing to a motor, and therefore measuring the current should give an accurate measure of the torque. However, this approach does not take into account non-linear effects such as friction, (Coulomb, static, and viscous damping), torque ripple and dynamic effects. These non-linear effects can introduce errors as large as 10%. For high accuracy applications such as WAM, accurate feedback of the actual system output torque is required.
In practice, even with actual feedback from joint sensors, torque ripple, friction, sensor-actuator dynamics and other factors limit closed loop torque accuracy to about 8% of full output. Feedforward ripple compensation can usually reduce this error to about 5%, which is acceptable for many applications, but not for others such as precise contact detection. Low error is important whenever high accuracy or a high dynamic range is required. Dynamic range is defined as the ratio relating maximum output torque to the torque precision. Dynamic range allows a comparison, for example, of small actuators with a highly accurate torque output to actuators exhibiting a wider operating range, but lower accuracy.
Despite the known desirability of good control on the torque output of an actuator in robotics and other applications, no known arrangements provide the high accuracy, large bandwidth, and mounting versatility which is becoming necessary for further advances in many robotics applications such as whole arm manipulation.
It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide a torque actuator with a very high degree of accuracy and precision and with a high bandwidth.
Another principal object is to provide such a high accuracy, responsive actuator which is compact, lightweight and can be mounted in a system in a wide variety of locations and orientations.
Still another principal object is to provide an actuator with the foregoing advantages which is substantially insensitive to torque ripple, friction, and the dynamics of the system.
Still another advantage is that the actuator can be sealed to allow underwater or space operation while still providing all of the foregoing advantages.
Yet another advantage is that the actuator can circulate a cooling liquid over its windings to allow operation at higher maximum output torques than otherwise attainable.
Another object is to provide a torque actuator with all of these advantages which is easily assembled and uses many standard components, and therefore has a favorable cost of manufacture.


A switching device module comprising a frame (2), the switching device module being adapted to be connected to another switching device module for providing a modular switching device. The frame (2) of the switching device module is provided with one or more wire troughs (8), each of which is adapted to receive at least one wire of an auxiliary circuit of said modular switching device.

The invention relates to a switching device module.
Switching devices are instruments employed for opening and closing an electric circuit. Switching devices typically comprise a main shaft for controlling the poles of the switching device. Switching devices include switches and switch-fuses, for example.
A switching device assembly may comprise auxiliary circuits adapted for instance to protect and monitor the switching device. Auxiliary circuits may comprise auxiliary contacts adapted to open and close locking, alarm and position indication circuits, for example. In switch-fuses, the auxiliary circuits may comprise components associated with fuse monitoring. The auxiliary circuits are adapted to substantially lower currents than the electric circuit that the switching device is adapted to open and close.
The wires of the auxiliary circuits may pass between the switching device and the user interface equipment employed for controlling it. The wires of the auxiliary circuits may also pass for instance from one part to another part of the switching device.
The placement of the wirings of auxiliary circuits In the assembly space, such as a cubicle, of a switching device is problematic. The wires of the auxiliary circuits that pass outside the switching device take up space and make the installation untidy. The placement of the wirings of the auxiliary circuits is particularly difficult in modular switching devices composed of a plurality of interconnected switching device modules.


A free space communications apparatus includes a first receiving element configured to receive a communication signal and an ambient noise signal and to generate a first current as a function of any and all received signals, a second receiving element electrically coupled with the first receiving element to receive the ambient noise signal and to generate a second current as a function of any and all received signals, and an output signal produced as a function of the communication signal received by the first receiving element. The first and second receiving elements are electrically connected in a circuit that cancels at least a portion of the first current as a function of the second current to produce the output signal.

The present invention relates generally to signal reception systems and methods for free space communication, and more particularly to signal reception systems and methods for free space communication with compensation for ambient noise signals.
Photo detectors can be used to detect laser signals to support high-speed data communications for a variety of applications, such as for ground-to-air, air-to-air and other types of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) communications, deep space communications, and underwater submersible communications. However, unwanted ambient light (or other noise signals) often causes the photo detector to saturate, causing an undesirable signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio. Saturation is generally not a problem during nighttime conditions, when ambient light levels are low. However, during daytime conditions, sunlight can produce a direct current (DC) photo current and cause the photo detector to saturate, making a desired communication signal (e.g., laser beam signal) undetectable. Moreover, in deep space application, sunlight and other atmospheric conditions can produce similar saturation problems. Filters are sometimes used to reduce saturation, including optical filters, colored and neutral density filters, and low, band pass, and high pass filters. However, known filters have not performed well. Some receivers don't have any kind of filtering, and use computers to sift through all the signals to receive the correct one. Computerized signal analysis has drawbacks, such as requiring complex equipment and software. All of these filtering and computer processing methods have the effect of reducing signals from unwanted bandwidths while keeping others, and when they are placed with photo-diodes, are often called 'daylight' filters. None of these known methods truly cancels out all unwanted ambient signals; they only diminish the power of signals in unwanted bandwidths.
Known optical laser receivers, in their most basic construction, consist of one photo-detector. Such a known communication system is illustrated in FIG. 1, which shows laser transmitter 10 having a laser illustrated as diode D1 and a receiver 12 having a single optical receiver element illustrated as photo detector diode D2. In the absence of any kind of filtering, sunlight received by the photo diode D2 of the receiver 12 will produce a strong DC current. Strong sunlight will indeed overpower a laser signal from the diode D1, which may have been transmitted a great distance away from the receiver 12. An output voltage VO of the system of FIG. 1 can be represented by Equation 1, where IA is current produced by ambient noise such as ambient light (e.g., sunlight) and any and all other received ambient noise, IL is current produced by a signal from the transmitter 10, and R2 is the resistance of a resistor R2 in the receiver 12:VO=(IA+IL)●R2  (1)
Discerning a laser signal is difficult amid all the background noise received by the photo-detector diode D2. Known filters and computerized processing methods are simply not good enough to eliminate all the unwanted noise, including sunlight. As a result, some believe that these saturation problems mean optical free space communication system are not feasible for many applications, such as for UAV communications.
Thus, additional techniques are needed to further reduce problems of atmospheric or other ambient noise in communication signal reception.

Method and apparatus for signal reception with ambient light compensation


A device is disclosed for reducing the likelihood of cardiac arrhythmia or halting the arrhythmia after it begins without having to give a large shock which can be painful or may damage the heart. The device includes an elongated primary strip having a plurality of electrodes positioned at spaced intervals along its length. The strip is dimensioned so that, upon insertion into a patient, the electrodes on the strip electrically contact the heart tissue, either directly or through an intermediate high resistance conductive layer. The electrodes are then energized with an electrical energy sufficient to hyperpolarize heart tissue adjacent to each of the electrodes. Furthermore, the electrodes are spaced along the strip sufficiently close to each other so that, upon energization of the electrodes, a line of heart tissue is hyperpolarized to thereby prevent cardiac electrical conductance across that line. Optionally, secondary electrode strip(s) extend alongside, or encircle, the primary strip. The secondary strip(s) include electrodes which are activated by lower current levels than the primary strip to minimize the likelihood of an activation front caused by activation from the primary strip electrodes.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to medical devices and, more particularly, to a medical device to reduce the likelihood of cardiac arrhythmia or to halt it once it has begun.
II. Description of the Prior Art
It is well known that, in order to halt tachyrhythmia, defibrillators are employed to apply a shock to the heart. While this previously known method is effective in halting tachyrhythmia, this procedure is oftentimes quite painful for the patient. This is particularly true for atrial fibrillation since patients normally do not lose consciousness with this type of arrhythmia. Furthermore, shocks having an energy level of 1 to 5 joules are oftentimes required to halt atrial fibrillation while electrical shocks greater than a fraction of a joule are quite painful.
In the treatment of arrhythmia, such as tachyrhythmia, it is believed that a certain critical mass of myocardium must be present in order to allow the fibrillation to be maintained. In one previously known procedure known as the maze procedure, the heart tissue is surgically divided into segments, each of which is smaller than the critical mass of myocardium necessary to maintain a fibrillation. The maze procedure, however, while effective in use, requires open heart surgery and entails relatively high risk to the patient. Furthermore, the previously known maze procedure creates a permanent surgical modification to the heart which may have long term undesirable effects which are currently unknown. Likewise, the use of the maze procedure may preclude future medical treatments for arrhythmia which would otherwise be beneficial to the patient.


A ring binder (100, 200) adapted to be secured to a cover (116, 214) is disclosed as comprising a substantially rigid upper plate member (102, 202) supporting a pair of lower pivotable plates (104a, 104b, 204a, 204b) to which a plurality of rings (106, 206) are mounted, and the upper plate member (102, 202) comprises two ends and the cover (116, 214) abuts at least part of the upper plate member (102, 202), and said part surrounds the end of the upper plate member (102, 202) by substantially 360.degree..

Conventionally, a ring binder is securable to a cover by at least one rivet having a head portion for engagement with the cover and a tail portion which is deformable to engage a recess in the upper part of the ring binder.
A disadvantage associated with such an arrangement is that the ring binder may wobble relative to the cover such that the connection(s) therebetween may be loosened.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a ring binder in which the aforesaid shortcoming is mitigated.

World Wide Stationery Manufacturing Company, Ltd.


A server for vehicle sharing includes a receiver receiving a first or second trigger command in relation with renting of the vehicle; a controller generating an activation command based on the first trigger command and generating a hiding command based on the second trigger command, wherein the activation command can cause the vehicle to activate an image capturing component arranged inside the vehicle so as to obtain one or more images of the vehicle interior, and the hiding command can cause the vehicle to hide the image capturing component from view of a user inside the vehicle; and a transmitter transmitting the activation command or the hiding command to the vehicle. The receiver can receive the images of the vehicle interior from the vehicle.

The present invention generally relates to the field of vehicle sharing, and more particularly, relates to an apparatus, server and method for vehicle sharing which can detect interior condition of a vehicle.
Several vehicle sharing service platforms are developing and available in these years. The current vehicle sharing service is not convenient for the user and the operator of the platform, especially in the aspect of checking the interior condition of the vehicle.
The present invention aims to provide an improved apparatus, server and method for vehicle sharing.
In accordance with a first exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a server for vehicle sharing is provided, comprising: a receiver configured to receive a first trigger command or a second trigger command in relation with renting of the vehicle; a controller configured to generate an activation command based on the first trigger command and generate a hiding command based on the second trigger command, wherein the activation command is adapted to cause the vehicle to activate an image capturing component arranged inside the vehicle so as to obtain one or more images of the vehicle interior, and the hiding command is adapted to cause the vehicle to hide the image capturing component from view of a user inside the vehicle; and a transmitter configured to transmit the activation command or the hiding command to the vehicle; wherein the receiver is further configured to receive the one or more images of the vehicle interior from the vehicle.
In an example of the present embodiment, the first trigger command is a selection command indicating that the user selects the vehicle, a placing-order command indicating that the user places an order for renting the vehicle, or a return command indicating the user returns the vehicle, wherein, the second trigger command is a pick-up command indicating that the user picks up the vehicle, or a detection signal indicating that the user sits inside the vehicle.
In an example of the present embodiment, in the case of receiving more than one images of the vehicle interior from the vehicle, the controller is further configured to combine the more than one images into one image showing the entire interior of the vehicle.
In an example of the present embodiment, in the case that the first trigger command is the selection command indicating that the user selects the vehicle before placing an order for renting the vehicle, the transmitter is further configured to send the one or more images of the vehicle interior to the user's terminal, in order for the user to preview the vehicle interior before placing the order.
In an example of the present embodiment, the controller is further configured to generate a tutorial for guiding the user to manipulate the vehicle, based on the received one or more images of the vehicle interior.
In an example of the present embodiment, when the user selects the vehicle or places the order for renting the vehicle, the first trigger command is the selection command or the placing-order command, and the receiver receives the one or more images of the vehicle interior as a first set of images; when the user returns the vehicle, the first trigger command is the return command, and the receiver receives the one or more images of the vehicle interior as a second set of images; and the controller is further configured to compare the second set of images with the first set of images so as to evaluate the usage condition for this renting order.
In accordance with a second exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an on-vehicle apparatus for vehicle sharing is provided, comprising: an image capturing component; a receiver configured to receive an activation command or a hiding command; a controller configured to activate the image capturing component so as to obtain one or more images of the vehicle interior in response to the activation command, and to hide the image capturing component from view of a user inside the vehicle in response to the hiding command; and a transmitter configured to transmit the one or more images of the vehicle interior to the server.
In an example of the present embodiment, the image capturing component is arranged at the middle top of the vehicle, and the image capturing component has at least 90° field of view.
In an example of the present embodiment, the image capturing component is able to rotate around at least one of a horizontal axis and a vertical axis.
In an example of the present embodiment, when the user places an order for renting the vehicle, or selects the vehicle before or after placing the order, the receiver receives the activation command so that the image capturing component captures one or more images of the vehicle interior; and when the user picks up the vehicle or it is detected that the user sits inside the vehicle, the receiver receives the hiding command so that the image capturing component is hidden from view of the user inside the vehicle.
In accordance with a third exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a computer-implemented method for vehicle sharing is provided, comprising: acquiring a first trigger command or a second trigger command received by a server; and generating an activation command based on the first trigger command, and generating a hiding command based on the second trigger command, wherein the first and second trigger commands are in relation with renting of the vehicle, wherein the activation command is adapted to cause the vehicle to activate an image capturing component arranged inside the vehicle so as to obtain one or more images of the vehicle interior, and wherein the hiding command is adapted to cause the vehicle to hide the image capturing component from view of a user inside the vehicle.
In an example of the present embodiment, the first trigger command is a selection command indicating that the user selects the vehicle, a placing-order command indicating that the user places an order for renting the vehicle, or a return command indicating the user returns the vehicle, wherein, the second trigger command is a pick-up command indicating that the user picks up the vehicle, or a detection signal indicating that the user sits inside the vehicle.
In an example of the present embodiment, the method further comprises combining the more than one images into one image showing the entire interior of the vehicle, in the case of obtaining more than one images of the vehicle interior.
In an example of the present embodiment, the method further comprises causing the one or more images of the vehicle interior to be sent to the user's terminal, in order for the user to preview the vehicle interior before placing the order, in the case that the first trigger command is the selection command indicating that the user selects the vehicle before placing an order for renting the vehicle.
In an example of the present embodiment, the method further comprises generating a tutorial for guiding the user to manipulate the vehicle, based on the one or more images of the vehicle interior.
In an example of the present embodiment, the method further comprises: storing the one or more images of the vehicle interior as a first set of images, when the user selects the vehicle or places the order for renting the vehicle, and the first trigger command is the selection command or the placing-order command, storing the one or more images of the vehicle interior as a second set of images, when the user returns the vehicle, and the first trigger command is the return command, and comparing the second set of images with the first set of images so as to evaluate the usage condition for this renting order.
In accordance with a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a computer-implemented method for vehicle sharing is provided, comprising: acquiring an activation command or a hiding command; activating an image capturing component arranged inside the vehicle so as to obtain one or more images of the vehicle interior, in response to the activation command, and hiding the image capturing component from view of a user inside the vehicle, in response to the hiding command.
In an example of the present embodiment, when the user places an order for renting the vehicle, or selects the vehicle before or after placing the order, the activation command is acquired, so that the image capturing component is activated so as to obtain the one or more images of the vehicle interior; and when the user picks up the vehicle or it is detected that the user sits inside the vehicle, the hiding command is acquired, so that the image capturing component is hidden from view of the user inside the vehicle.
In accordance with a fifth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, an apparatus for vehicle sharing is provided, comprising: one or more processors; and one or more memories configured to store a series of computer executable instructions, wherein the series of computer executable instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform any one of the above mentioned methods.
In accordance with a sixth exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, a non-transitory computer readable storage medium is provided, the medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform any one of the above mentioned methods.
Further scope of applicability of the present disclosure will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the present disclosure, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the present disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description.

Apparatus, server and method for vehicle sharing

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


To increase efficiency of wireless power feeding to a moving object in wireless power feeding. A wireless power feeder 116 feeds power by wireless from a plurality of feeding coils L2 to an EV 108 including a receiving coil L3. The feeding coils L2 are arranged along a moving direction of the EV 108 and receive power from a power supply circuit including a plurality of power transmission control circuits 200. The power supply circuit 102 makes a first feeding coil L2 supply AC power to the EV 108 when the EV 108 passes through the first feeding coil L2 and, at the same time, prepares power feeding from a second feeding coil L2 through which the EV 108 has not passed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wireless power feeding and, more particularly, to wireless power feeding to a moving object.
2. Description of Related Art
A wireless power feeding technique of feeding power without a power cord is now attracting attention. The current wireless power feeding technique is roughly divided into three: (A) type utilizing electromagnetic induction (for short range); (B) type utilizing radio wave (for long range); and (C) type utilizing resonance phenomenon of magnetic field (for intermediate range).
The type (A) utilizing electromagnetic induction has generally been employed in familiar home appliances such as an electric shaver; however, it can be effective only in a short range. The type (B) utilizing radio wave is available in a long range; however, it has small electric power. The type (C) utilizing resonance phenomenon is a comparatively new technique and is of particular interest because of its high power transmission efficiency even in an intermediate range of about several meters. For example, a plan is being studied in which a receiving coil is buried in a lower portion of an EV (Electric Vehicle) so as to feed power from a feeding coil in the ground in a non-contact manner. Hereinafter, the type (C) is referred to as "magnetic field resonance type".
The magnetic field resonance type is based on a theory published by Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2006 (refer to Patent Document 1). In Patent Document 1, four coils are prepared. The four coils are referred to as "exciting coil", "feeding coil", "receiving coil", and "loading coil" in the order starting from the feeding side. The exciting coil and feeding coil closely face each other for electromagnetic coupling. Similarly, the receiving coil and loading coil closely face each other for electromagnetic coupling. The distance (intermediate distance) between the feeding coil and receiving coil is larger than the distance between the exciting coil and feeding coil and distance between the receiving coil and loading coil. This system aims to feed power from the feeding coil to receiving coil.
When AC power is fed to the exciting coil, current also flows in the feeding coil according to the principle of electromagnetic induction. When the feeding coil generates a magnetic field to cause the feeding coil and receiving coil to magnetically resonate, high current flows in the receiving coil. At this time, current also flows in the loading coil according to the principle of electromagnetic induction, and power is taken from a load connected in series to the loading coil. By utilizing the magnetic field resonance phenomenon, high power transmission efficiency can be achieved even if the feeding coil and receiving coil are largely spaced from each other (refer to Patent Document 4).
In a case where both or one of the feeding coil and receiving coil are made to form a resonance circuit, a resonance frequency changes depending on a distance between the feeding coil and receiving coil, which in turn changes power transmission efficiency. Even if the resonance frequency has changed, a resonance state can be maintained by adjusting a drive frequency of the feeding coil (see Patent Document 2 and Patent Document 5). Alternatively, a resonance state may be maintained by adjusting an inductance of the feeding coil in a resonance circuit or a capacitance of a capacitor in a resonance circuit (see Patent Document 6), or by adjusting a distance between the exciting coil and feeding coil (see Patent Document 7). The above adjustment methods can be applied in the same way to an electric-field coupling type.
Currently, a plan is being studied in which a receiving coil is buried in a lower portion of an EV (Electric Vehicle) so as to feed power from a feeding coil provided outside the EV in a non-contact manner. Patent Document 8 and Patent Document 9 disclose a technique in which power supplies are connected respectively to a plurality of feeding coils provided on the ground so as to feed power by wireless to a vehicle.

Wireless power feeder, wireless power receiver, and wireless power transmission system


The designed circuit is used for testing all kinds of discharge counter for lightning arresters. Discharge counter for lightning arresters are used in substation and all power plants with various voltages and discharge currents. The lightning arresters counter tester creates the needed voltage and current that operates the counter and simulates the conditions that the counter works in; therefore it can be concluded whether the counter works well or not.

U.S. Pat. No. 3,469,188 A (Hall) describes a circuit for use with lightning arresters to provide a measure of the grading current and leakage current associated with the arresters as well as to count the number of surges occurring through the arresters and also in U.S. Pat. No. 4,338,648 (Subbarao) describes gapless discharge counter for lightning arresters.
The discharge counter is connected between the surge arrester and ground, monitors the steady state current by means of an ammeter and records the number of discharges by means of a capacitor, cyclometer coil, and a recorder. Regarding These parameters the accuracy or having malfunction in lightning arresters can be determined.
The lightning arresters are used in substations to protect the equipment against the excessive voltage that are produced because of surge or switching. Considering that there was no device for testing the accuracy of discharge counter function, there was no insurance that the counter worked well or not. Therefore the accuracy of the lightning arrester function wasn't specified because of the lack of a secure and accurate monitoring done by discharge counter. It's very important to know that if the lightning arresters don't work well, a lot of irreparable accidents can occur to the system. So; the accuracy of the discharge counters function is very important. Therefore inventing a device for testing the accuracy of discharge counters function was seen very important.


A method is provided for accurately determining the complexing capacity (or free HF concentration) of a pickling liquor. A sample of pickling liquor is obtained and an excess of ferric ion is added thereto to complex with all of the free HF in the sample. A back titration is performed to determine the residual free ferric ion. The difference between the amount of ferric ion added and that found by the titration is related to the free HF in the original sample.. The method is useful in conjunction with an automated, on-line system which periodically monitors a pickling bath and makes any necessary adjustments thereto.

This invention relates to a method and system for determining the effective ferric ion-complexing capacity of a hydrofluoric acid-containing cleaning liquid. The invention is particularly well adapted for use with mixed acid (hydrofluoric and nitric acids) pickling liquors, such as those used in steel processing.
Various grades of steel, including stainless steel, are cleaned during processing with a pickling liquor to remove oxides and scale from the surface of the metal. Pickling liquors typically comprise a concentrated, mixed acid solution of hydrofluoric acid (HF) and nitric acid (HNO.sub.3).
During a pickling process nitric acid, a strong oxidizer, is used to dissolve oxides and scale from the metal surface. These are primarily oxides of iron in stainless steel, but are also oxides of chromium, nickel and minor amounts of other metals. Fluoride, in the form of hydrogen fluoride, is added to the bath to complex these metal ions as they are dissolved. In the absence of fluorides, a passive layer would form on the steel due to hydrolysis, and pickling would quickly cease. Hydrogen fluoride is able to hold these metals in solution through the formation of metal complexes represented by the general formulas H.sub.3 MF.sub.6 and H.sub.2 MF.sub.5, where M is a metal such as Fe, Ni or Cr. In addition, siliceous scale, containing non-metallic silica, is also cleaned through the formation of soluble silicon fluoride complexes.
Optimum concentration levels of acids and of fluoride, as HF, in a pickling liquor are to be maintained to ensure proper and efficient pickling. Thus, frequent monitoring of the pickling bath is desirable. However, there is no standard analytical method for monitoring the condition of a pickling bath. Indeed, controversy exists as to whether the proper species to analyze is free fluoride ion, total fluoride, hydrogen fluoride concentration, or combinations thereof.
Accurate analysis of the pickling bath is difficult because free fluoride ion (F.sup.-) is not present in a measurable quantity due to the highly acidic nature of the bath. As pickling progresses, HF, the active complexer, is consumed with the formation of complexes. Analytical methods which seek to measure the concentration of fluoride ion require an upward adjustment of the pH of the sample. However, such techniques foster inaccurate results as the pH adjustment disturbs the chemical equilibrium relationships that exist in the bath. For example, if the pH is adjusted to 4, HF dissociates to F.sup.-, and complexed metal, as H.sub.3 MF.sub.6, is converted to hydrolytic compounds such as M(OH).sub.x, while HF is liberated. Analysis of HF under these conditions thus gives inaccurate results because the pH change causes the sample being analyzed to contain more HF than the actual pickling bath. Data obtained through such techniques are thus not relevant to the actual pickling liquor. Moreover, such techniques use "grab samples", which are pickling liquor samples removed from the pickling bath and analyzed off-line, often at a remote location. These methods do not provide "real time" information as desired to assess the ever changing conditions of an industrial pickling line.
Accordingly, there is a need for a real-time method of analyzing the condition of a mixed acid liquid, such as a pickling bath, to provide reliable and accurate information on the ability of the bath to continue a pickling process at an acceptable rate.
It is thus an object of the invention to provide an improved method for determining the iron-complexing power of a pickling bath. Another object of the invention is to provide an analytical method for performing an analysis of the iron-complexing power of a pickling bath which does not require a significant change in the pH of the sample. It is also an object of the invention to perform the analysis in an on-line manner, and to obtain data in essentially real-time. A further object of the invention is to provide a system for performing on-line, automated measurements of the iron-complexing power of a pickling liquor. Other objects of the invention will be apparent from the disclosure which follows.

Method of analyzing the complexing power of a pickling liquor


A method of disinfecting a contact lens is disclosed and comprises placing the contact lens to be disinfected into a liquid electrolyte containing chlorine dioxide precursor, e.g., stabilized chlorine dioxide, and forming a disinfecting amount of chlorine dioxide in the liquid electrolyte by passing an electric current through the liquid electrolyte.

This invention relates to disinfecting lenses, such as contact lenses. In particular, the invention relates to methods useful to quickly and effectively disinfect contact lenses.
Contact lenses should be periodically disinfected to protect the wearer's eyes from infection and to improve the wearer's comfort. It is often desirable that lens disinfecting be accomplished quickly, e.g., for the convenience of the wearer. However, conventional fast-acting disinfectants that are used with contact lenses have a high potential to cause eye irritation. A disinfectant which can be easily and effectively dissipated after use would be advantageous to reduce the chance of eye irritation.
Stoner U.S. Pat. No. 4,202,740 and Tanaka, et al Canadian Pat. No. 1,156,420 disclose contact lens disinfection methods in which a contact lens is submerged in a saline solution subjected to electrolysis to produce chlorine, and possibly hypochlorous acid, to disinfect the contact lens. Although these materials do provide effective lens disinfection, they tend to linger in the solution and may cause eye irritation. Clearly, a new disinfection method involving an effective disinfectant which is rapidly dissipated would be advantageous.


An apparatus for making a box from a foldable blank having a central polygonal floor panel and a plurality of outwardly projecting side panels has a frame, a supply on the frame holding the blank, a folder on the frame above the supply, and a feeder having a grab engageable with the blank in the supply and movable to a position above the folder. The feeder picks up the blank with the grab, moves the picked-up blank and grab up to above the folder, and deposits the picked-up blank in the folder that folds the deposited blank into a box.

A box is typically made from a blank of cardboard or the like having a central polygonal floor panel from whose sides project side panels. The apparatus for making boxes from such blanks has a feeder for supplying cardboard blanks to the apparatus and a folder for folding the cardboard blanks. In top view, it is advantageous for the cardboard blank and/or a cardboard box that is to be folded to be rectangular and/or square. It is within the scope of the invention for the cardboard box that is to be folded to be upwardly open.
Cardboard folders of the type as described above are known from practice in various constructions. The known devices are typically characterized by relatively complex and/or time-consuming process steps. Many apparatuses of the type as described above have a pickup tool that picks up the cardboard blank from a stack of cardboard blanks. This pickup tool transfers the cardboard blank it has picked up from the stack to a feed tool, and the feed tool supplies the cardboard blank to the folder. The operating speeds and/or safety of these known cardboard-folding apparatuses are far from perfect. The processing is comparatively complex in these devices, plus they are susceptible to breakdowns. The cardboard-folding apparatuses that are known in practice suffer, furthermore, from the considerable disadvantage that they require a great deal of space and/or are quite voluminous in design.

Folding method and apparatus for making a carton


A covering for air-permeable light-alloy rims of motor vehicles protects the disc brake lying behind against salt corrosion during overseas transport for long periods. In order to be able to fit such a covering easily and remove it again just as easily, but also to be able nevertheless to fasten it securely to the vehicle wheel, the covering is configured as an inherently rigid, round, closed molded sheet which reaches over the outer side of the light-alloy rim, covering its surface area, as far as over the rim flange. The covering is clasped centrally on the vehicle wheel by fastening studs molded into the molded sheet to the wheel bolts/nuts or the correspondingly countersunk depressions. The fastening studs are adapted in terms of number, position and shape to the wheel bolts or nuts themselves or to the countersunk depressions provided for this purpose in the rims. A grip for manually pulling the molded sheet off the light-alloy rim after use is molded on centrally in the molded sheet. At least in the region close to the center, the molded sheet is stiffened by molded-in peripherally and radially running beads. In the radial region of the filling valve, a circumferential channel, reaching beyond the filling valve, is molded into the molded sheet formed from a rigid sheet of thermoplastic.

This application claims the priority of Germany application 196 34 508.1, the disclosure of which is expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention relates to a covering for vehicle wheels with light-alloy rims during long periods of transport in which the outwardly facing side of the vehicle wheels is covered by a closed plastic sheet, which is fastened to the wheel, such as is known, for example, from use as a standard feature by some vehicle manufacturers.
Many customers order their vehicle with light-alloy rims. Because this optional part is popular among customers, many vehicle manufacturers offer a selection of different designs of light-alloy rims. Light-alloy rims differ from conventional steel rims, in particular from steel rims fitted with hub caps, by greater openness in the region of the wheel disc. In addition to the advantage of good brake ventilation, however, this openness has the disadvantage that the brake disc lying behind the wheel disc is exposed to weathering by salty air during transport of the vehicle, in particular when transported overseas.
Salt-air weathering occurs not only on account of the sea wind when the vehicles are parked in a harbor area, but also on the ship, because the cargo areas are well ventilated with sea air because of the emissions of fuel vapors. Consequently, if the vehicles are left standing for long periods, their brake discs begin to rust in the exposed region, but remain bright in the region of the caliper, where they are protected against salty air. Although the rust covering is rubbed off very quickly by the normal braking action when the vehicle is put into operation, in cases of severe local rusting of the brake disc there may occur slight differences in thickness of the brake disc and, as a result, undesired rubbing of the brakes. This has been observed mainly with open light-metal rims, and only on their outer side. The inner side of the brake disc is protected against salty air by the splash guard usually provided and by the vehicle itself. Therefore, no appreciable rusting has been observed on the inner sides of the brake discs.
With steel rims fitted with hub caps, if the steel rims and the hub caps are permeable to air, the brake disc is protected in a simple and effective way in that, for transporting purposes, the hub cap is clipped onto the wheel with a plastic sheet in between. The sheet may be a plastic bag supplied by the manufacturer of the hub caps as packaging for the hub caps. The hub caps are clipped onto the wheel virtually complete with their sheet packaging. Thereby, virtually no additional effort is required protecting the brake discs.
Light-alloy rims require, however, a separate transport covering for protection against rusting of an outer side of the brake disc. A sheet covering can be realized only by laboriously sticking a self-adhesive plastic sheet onto the wheels. Significant cost factors are, on one hand, the consumption of self-adhesive UV-resistant sheet and, on the other hand, the time spent cutting the sheet into round shapes and manually applying it, without bubbles as far as possible, to the vehicle wheels already on the vehicle. It is then necessary to take into consideration that the self-adhesive sheet must again be removed from the rim without any problems and without leaving any residual material behind, even after the vehicle has been standing in the sun for long periods.
Some vehicle manufacturers protect the brake disc by inserting between the brake disc and the vehicle wheel an inherently rigid bell-shaped molded sheet which reaches over the outer side of the brake disc and the caliper at a distance. It must be possible to turn it with the wheel and the brake disc past the fixed caliper without any hindrance so that the vehicle still remains ready to run. Although this molded sheet offers good protection against rusting of the brake disc during overseas transport, it requires laborious assembly work both when fitting the protector and when removing it, because each time the vehicle wheels have to be taken off and put on again and the vehicle has to be jacked up for this purpose, thus tying up personnel and workshop capacity.
An object of the present invention is to improve the covering so that it is not only inexpensive but in particular is easy to fit, irrespective of the rim design and with the same configuration of the covering for different rim designs, but nevertheless attaches securely to the vehicle wheel and can be removed again just as easily.
This object has been achieved according to the present invention by an inherently rigid, round, closed molded sheet which reaches over the outer side of the light-alloy rim, covering its surface area, as far as over the rim flange and which is press-fitted under prestressing centrally on the vehicle wheel by means of fastening studs molded into the molded sheet, which are adapted in terms of number, position and shape to the wheel bolts or nuts themselves or to the countersunk depressions provided for this purpose in the disks, onto the wheel bolts or nuts and/or into the correspondingly countersunk depressions.
Because of the central clasping of the covering, configured as a closed molded sheet, by way of fastening studs to the wheel bolts/nuts or to the corresponding countersunk depressions, a simple and quick manual fitting and removal of the covering is achieved, and secure retention of the covering on the vehicle wheel also is provided. As a result, the coverings remain firmly attached to the wheel even during driving and/or in strong side wind.
Experience shows that the bolt ring for the wheel fastening bolts is always of the same design in virtually all types of vehicle of a specific vehicle manufacturer, even throughout the different vehicle generations, in terms of the number and size of the bolts and with respect to the pitch circle diameter. Thus, with the wheel coverings clipped into the bolt ring, they can be used or kept unchanged for all types of light-alloy rims, vehicle types and vehicle or rim generations of a vehicle manufacturer. Because the molded sheet is easier to handle during application, also because, if necessary, temporary removal of the covering is readily possible (e.g., for topping up the air in the tires) and, finally because the covering can be removed quickly and without leaving any residual material behind even after use for long periods, the present invention is overall less expensive than, for example, a covering using self-adhesive sheet.

Covering for light-alloy rim vehicle wheels during extended transport


A fuel injector assembly sufficiently configured to be mountable within an injector bore defined by a cylinder head assembly is provided. The fuel injector assembly includes an injector body having an injector tip portion and a generally annular combustion seal mounted with respect to the injector tip portion. A secondary combustion seal is mounted with respect to the injector tip portion and is substantially adjacent to the generally annular combustion seal. A cylinder head assembly incorporating the disclosed fuel injector assembly is also provided.

Recent advances in fuel delivery and combustion research have allowed direct injection, or DI, fuel delivery systems to increase in popularity. The DI fuel delivery system provides a fuel injector within a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine. The fuel injector operates to inject a predetermined amount of fuel directly into the combustion chamber. The DI fuel delivery system enables higher power levels, improved fuel economy, and lower emissions. These beneficial aspects of the DI fuel delivery system are a result of the precise metering of the fuel injected into the combustion chamber as well as improved intake airflow into the combustion chamber.
Since the fuel injector assembly is in direct communication with the combustion chamber, the fuel injector is subject to high pressure loads and temperatures of the combustion process. Therefore, the fuel injector must be sealed with respect to the cylinder head to prevent combustion gases from leaking past the fuel injector.

Fuel injector with secondary combustion seal


A comprehensive welding gauge two or more of: a ruler, a weld height gauge, a protractor gauge, a Hi-Lo gauge, and a fillet height gauge, wherein each measurement device overlays a measurement scale on a main gauge plate and is riveted to the main gauge plate such that the measurement device may be extended beyond and retracted within the main gauge plate borders, either by sliding or rotating. The comprehensive gauge may thus be easily stored in and retrieved from a pocket by the user.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to welding gauge used for the measurement of weld dimension parameters for fusion welding, typically utilizing Electric Arc Stick Welding, MIG (metallic inert gas), TIG (tungsten inert gas) or a similar welding process.
2. Background of the Invention
The current state of knowledge is as follows.
Welding gauges are used in fusion welding to measure multiple welding parameters, notably including the gap between the prepared edges of metal components, which can be steel, steel alloys, stainless steels, non-ferrous alloys and the like. Fillet weld depths and leg length also commonly require measurement, as does the angle of a prepared bevel when either joining plates or pipe ends.
Products currently on the market require multiple measurement devices to measure the various parameters that are required by welders and/or inspectors before, during and after fusion welding operations. Currently available gauges are often of a size and configuration such that they are difficult to carry without special belt attachments or other accoutrement, and also require recalibration or adjustment once they have been in use for a period of time. Thus, it is common for a welder or inspector on the job to have as many as six or seven gauges on his or her person in different locations, generally hanging from a belt and/or in pockets. Thus, each time a measurement is required, time is wasted locating and retrieving the proper gauge for the given measurement. Additionally, the risk of loss of a given gauge is much higher when the user is required to keep up with multiple devices.
Despite the fact that industry standards typically require recalibration of gauges every six to 12 months, such recalibration can be difficult or impractical with existing gauge models, often making replacement of a unit necessary.
Depending on the standards required by a given welding job, the welder must also decide which measurement scale is required by the governing protocols of the job. Depending upon such protocols, and often upon geographic location, the required scale can be 0.01 of an inch, 0.5 mm, or 1/64 of an inch. Many existing gauges allow for measurements in only one or two of the preferred scales, requiring a user to own and/or carry even more gauge devices.
Characteristics of such welding gauges are illustrated in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/523,741 to Palynchuk.
The object of the current invention is to provide users with a single, affordable welding gauge that can provide many types of fusion-welding measurements, can measure in each of the three preferred scales, is easy to carry and reduces both the difficulty and frequency of recalibration.


A dialog processing system which includes a target expression data extraction unit for extracting a plurality of target expression data each including a pattern matching portion which matches an utterance pattern, which are inputted by an utterance pattern input unit and is an utterance structure derived from contents of field-independent general conversations, among a plurality of utterance data which are inputted by an utterance data input unit and obtained by converting contents of a plurality of conversations in one field; a feature extraction unit for retrieving the pattern matching portions, respectively, from the plurality of target expression data extracted, and then for extracting feature quantity common to the plurality of pattern matching portions; and a mandatory data extraction unit for extracting mandatory data in the one field included in the plurality of utterance data by use of the feature quantities extracted.

The present invention relates to a dialog processing system, a dialog processing method and a computer program for extracting mandatory utterances in a specific field from business conversation data, particularly, mandatory utterances for the sake of compliance in sales transactions and the like.
Recently, demands for telesales in a call center have been more and more increased, for example, for stock exchange, bank account management, insurance contract, telephone shopping and the like. Although a transaction through a telephone is simple and convenient for customers, the transaction also has many problems caused by the absence of a medium, such as a written document, which provides authentication information for certifying the transaction. For example, in the case of insurance contract or the like, problems may occur at the time of payment of insurance claim unless mandatory questions are surely checked. In addition, regarding stock exchange, if there is any difference between ordered contents actually listened to by an agent (a staff member responsible for answering incoming calls from customers in a call center) during a telephone conversation, and contents inputted to an order system by the agent, the difference will result in an erroneous order.
To avoid such problems, compliance check has been increasingly required on a transaction or the like through a telephone. Specifically, there has been required checking work for checking whether or not agents make mandatory utterances in a specific field, particularly, mandatory utterances for the sake of compliance in conversations of sales transactions (reconfirmation of ordered items, confirmation of contract, explanations of product risk and the like).
Although, in the checking work, recorded conversations are checked as to whether or not agents make mandatory utterances, it is extremely difficult to monitor all the conversations. This is because, for example, only a few of a hundred agents serve as managers in charge of the checking work. For this reason, it is the current situation that managers manually monitor a small amount of data mainly including data sampled from recorded conversations and conversations of agents on a black list.
To improve the current situation, an attempt was made to check conversations by use of a speech recognition technology as to whether mandatory utterances are made. For the purpose of performing the checking, a speech recognition system must learn utterance portions of mandatory information in conversations with the utterance portions manually labeled beforehand. Moreover, proper transcription data needs be prepared for improvement in a recognition rate. Since contents of utterances regarding mandatory information vary from industry to industry or from company to company, the manual work described above is required every time target data is changed. Moreover, in manual labeling of utterance portions of mandatory information, a range thus labeled may vary due to the manual work.
For automation of the manual labeling, for example, there has been disclosed a method for adding annotations to voice data to be processed through speech recognition, the annotations based on results of conversations by speakers at a call center. By using this method, a specified speaker repeats conversations made by unspecified speakers, and thereby the speech recognition is performed. Then, the results of the speech recognition are utilized for retrieval of sound clips or data mining (for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-316372).
The method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2003-316372 corresponds to labeling of a specific utterance in a conversation. One of similar methods is called dialog act classification, which has heretofore been performed for attaching any one of labels (questions, proposals or requests) to each utterance in a conversation (for example, Stolcke et. al (1998) Dialog Act Modeling for Conversational Speech (AAAI Symposium p. 98-105, 1998)). The heretofore performed dialog act classification is designed for an application such as an interactive voice response system used for ticket reservation and the like.
Moreover, there has been presented a technique of annotating only specific utterances in a conversation, not labeling all the utterances in a conversation (for example, Morgan et. al (2006) Automatically Detecting Action Items in Audio Meeting Recordings (SIGdial Workshop p. 96-103, 2006)). In this technique, discussions in a meeting are monitored to extract utterances regarding action items (decided items in the meeting).
However, even by using the method disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-316372, since the specified speaker selectively repeats the conversations of the unspecified speakers, the repeated conversation depends on selection by the specified speaker. Accordingly, it is undeniable that a variation may occur in the result of adding annotations. Moreover, the technique disclosed in Stolcke et. al (1998) Dialog Act Modeling for Conversational Speech (AAAI Symposium p. 98-105, 1998) is for giving appropriate responses by classifying utterances of a user in a specific situation, and needs creating learning data, for setting labels or classifying utterances, from data and response scenarios corresponding to a specific use situation. Furthermore, also for the extraction of the action items in Morgan et. al (2006) Automatically Detecting Action Items in Audio Meeting Recordings (SIGdial Workshop p. 96-103, 2006), an extraction module is constructed by use of feature quantities in previously given correct data. Providing the correct data allows the extraction module to use features obtained from the correct data. Accordingly, the correct data must be newly prepared manually and then be learnt every time data or fields of application are changed.

Dialog processing system, dialog processing method and computer program


An aircraft environmental control system comprising a fresh air input and a RAM air input, heat exchanger means for receiving fresh air from the fresh air input and RAM air from the RAM air input and using the RAM air to cool the fresh air, and means for providing the cooled fresh air to a cabin of the aircraft, the system further comprising means for feeding back exhaust air emitted from the interior of the aircraft to combine with the RAM air to further cool the fresh air, whereby the heat exchanger means comprises a main heat exchanger and a primary heat exchanger; wherein the main heat exchanger comprising a main heat exchanger cooling fluid inlet, a main heat exchanger cooling fluid outlet and a main heat exchanger bleed air inlet, the cooling fluid working to cool bleed air in the main heat exchanger.

Environmental control systems (ECS) are provided in aircraft to provide pressurised and conditioned air to the inside of the aircraft cabin. Regulations provide for the minimum flow or conditioned air into the cabin per passenger. The Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) requires the fresh air flow rate to be at least 0.25 kg/min per passenger to dilute contaminants generated in the cabin, to provide thermal comfort and oxygen for occupants and to maintain cabin pressure. An ECS must be able to comply with such regulations while maximising efficiency in terms of power consumption but also minimizing overall size and weight of the ECS.
Generally, particularly in commercial aircraft, fresh air from the aircraft engine (bleed air), or compressed ambient air, is used to provide the ECS air flow. The incoming air is, however, at a relatively high temperature and pressure and so needs to be conditioned to the appropriate temperature and pressure before it is fed into the cabin. The way this is usually done is to use ambient air, brought into the system via a RAM air intake device, such as scoop. This air—so-called RAM air—is used in a system of heat exchangers to cool the bleed air or compressed ambient air. The RAM air is firstly used in a main heat exchanger (MHX) as a heat sink to cool the bleed air or compressed ambient air and then in a primary heat exchanger (PHX). By the time the RAM air has passed through the MHX, its temperature has already increased substantially. The RAM air is the sole heat sink for the bleed air and so its flow rate and temperature are the key factors that affect the efficiency and capacity of the heat exchangers and eventually the fuel consumption of the ECS. Introduction of RAM air creates drag on the aircraft and therefore introduces an energy or fuel penalty. In normal conditions up to two or three times as much RAM air as bleed air or compressed ambient air is required to condition the air provided to the cabin. The more RAM air required, the greater the energy/fuel penalty. RAM air penalty is one of the factors that determine ECS energy consumption. The ECS of an aircraft consumes the majority of the non-propulsive power.
There is great pressure on the aircraft industry to improve energy efficiency and to reduce emissions and there is, therefore, a need for a more energy efficient ECS.


A library book reservation method based on ultra high frequency RFID technology, including the following steps: step 1, using an RFID tag adhered on each book by using an RFID reading device, wherein the information read by the RFID reading device corresponding to each group of books includes ID information id of the tags, collecting the phase difference θ of the current tag, collecting the current time t of the current tag, and using Tag=<id, t, θ> to represent the read information of the RFID reading device corresponding to each group of books; step 2, sorting triples; and step 3, obtaining a phase change rule of the books, establishing a model, and analyzing the position relation between an RFID antenna and the books to sort the books.

Radio frequency identification (RFID, Radio Frequency Identification) is a noncontact automatic identification technology that automatically identifies objects through wireless signals and obtains relevant data stored therein. The RFID technology, serving as an important perception technology of Internet of Things perception layers, can realize tracking locating and information sharing of a target object after being combined with the computer network technology and the communication technology. The RFID technology has the advantages of non sight line identification, high identification speed, large data storage capacity, high security and the like. The RFID technology has been widely used in warehousing, logistics and other service industries to greatly improve the management and operation efficiency therefore, and thus becoming an important intelligent infrastructure. At present, the RFID technology is divided into two kinds of high frequency and ultra high frequency, with the maturity of the ultra high frequency RFID technology and the decrease of tag prices, the ultra high frequency RFID technology has also started to be used in the field of libraries. The ultra high frequency RFID technology has brought about revolutionary changes in the field of libraries, such as inquiring and locating books, and quick self-service borrowing and other services start to serve borrowers. The book locating function is particularly important, which greatly shortens the time spent by the borrowers in finding the books in the libraries, and the realization of this function requires accurate library book reservation information, and regular book reservation work can guarantee the accuracy of the library book reservation data.
Currently, most libraries still use barcodes for book management, which poses a tremendous challenge to book reservation: 1, only one bar code can be identified at one time, and the library has a large collection of books, so that the workload of librarians is very large; and 2, the bar code scanning requires to be within the scope of sight, and the bar codes are generally adhered in books in order to protect the bar codes, therefore the books need to be opened during book reservation. When the barcodes are used for managing the books, the workload of book reservation is very large, and a lot of requirements are proposed for the librarians. The ultra high frequency RFID technology brings a lot of convenience for the libraries, so that fast library book reservation becomes a reality. However, the following problems still exist: 1, due to the wide range of the ultra high frequency RFID technology and an indoor multipath effect, it is easy to read other bookshelves and other books in the present shelf during library book reservation, and thus the purpose of accurate book reservation cannot be achieved; 2, the existing book reservation can only achieve a reservation granularity with a layer as the unit and cannot achieve the granularity with a book as the unit, that is, the books reserved on each layer cannot be sorted. Therefore, in general, the library book reservation work takes a lot of manpower to complete.

Library book reservation method based on ultrahigh-frequency RFID technology


A method for transmitting information between a mobile telephone having an internal device time, and a recipient having an internal time standard, includes: A) telephone transmits a query signal to recipient, B) recipient reads out the internal time standard and sends to telephone, C) a time difference delta-t1 between the internal device time and the received time data is calculated/stored, D) apply time is set to the value of the internal device time minus delta-t1, E) data stream is sent to the recipient, including apply time at time of pressing a key, F) apply time of E) is read-out from the stream and compared with predetermined maximum time, G) if apply time is earlier/simultaneous with the maximum time, further processing of data stream is carried out; if apply time is later than the maximum time, a warning signal is generated/assigned to the data stream of E) and stored.

Mobile telephones are known in the practice. These also include the so-called smartphones, which are capable of performing many additional functions besides the actual telecommunication functions in the strict sense. Such smartphones comprise processor systems, in the storage means of which various application programs, so-called apps, can be stored.
Mobile telephones have internal clocks, which specify, show and constantly update the internal device time. This internal device time is not necessarily required for calls, but is used for many functions of a mobile telephone, from telephone-internal protocol routines to sending time information in connection with application programs.
In some applications it is desirable that a review of the real time of an application can be detected and reconstructed. This is especially true in cases where in an application a data stream must be sent to a recipient within a predefined time window.
The resulting problem is that by the recipient, a real time for example based on atomic clocks or timing signals synchronized therewith can be generated and maintained. In contrast, mobile telephones usually include own time standards, which may have deviations from the real time. Thus, the device time of a mobile telephone may considerably differ from the real time. Consequently, a transmission of a data stream from the mobile telephone to a recipient within a time window cannot easily be verified, if the data stream only contains information about the timing of operation of the mobile telephone based on a read-out of the device time. This can ultimately cause erroneous further processing of such data streams, which, though generated within a predetermined time window of the real time, however contain a device time, which due to clock drifts is outside of the time window.

Method for transmitting information to synchronize a use between a mobile telephone and a receiver


Data throughput rate in a power line communications (“PLC”) system is controlled by generating PLC carrier signals in accordance with a PLC signal frame structure containing payload symbols where orders of modulation are selected for the individual PLC carriers based on evaluation of at least one of a PLC system channel quality and node configuration data. The selected orders of modulation determine the processing operations that a source PLC transceiver performs for generating PLC signals or that a destination PLC transceiver performs for extracting information content from received PLC signals. The orders of modulation can be selected to maximize the data throughput rate while maintaining compatibility with prior art PLC system protocols and standards that require a PLC signal frame structure and its payload portion to have fixed, predetermined lengths.

In a PLC system, information is conveyed over conventional, power line media on PLC data signals. The PLC system includes PLC transceivers that operate in accordance with predetermined PLC protocols and standards. The protocols and standards are formulated in view of the processing capabilities of the PLC transceiver equipment and the expected PLC signal transmission characteristics of the PLC system. The protocols and standards, for example, define the spectrum of frequencies used for PLC signal transmissions and how information content and associated overhead (control) data are carried on PLC signals. The arrangement of information content and overhead data within a PLC signal is typically referred to as a frame structure. The frame structure establishes the sequence in which PLC signals containing overhead and information content data are generated for transmission over the PLC system.
When many of the prior art PLC systems, such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing ("OFDM") PLC systems, were designed, the lack or limited availability of high speed processing technology dictated the format of PLC signals and, thus, the PLC signal processing operations performed at the prior art PLC transceivers. In addition, prior art PLC system design focused on robustness, or ensuring that a destination PLC transceiver accurately and completely reproduces information content that a source PLC transceiver transmits on a PLC signal over a PLC system. Thus, the desire for robustness, the available processing technology and also expected PLC signal transmission characteristics of the PLC system determined the design parameters of the prior art PLC signal frame structure.
The currently and widely used PLC signal frame structure, which is substantially the same as the frame structure adopted in early prior art PLC systems, includes a payload portion interposed between start and end delimiters. See Gardner, S. et al., "HomePlug Standard Bring Networking to the Home", http://www.commsdesign.com/main/2001/12/0012feat5.htm, Dec. 12, 2000, incorporated by reference herein. The start and end delimiters include communications overhead data, such as a preamble, destination address, source address, network protocol type and frame check (error correction), which a destination PLC transceiver requires for extracting information content and other processing control data from the PLC signals transmitted by a source PLC transceiver. The payload portion contains a plurality of payload symbols. Each of the payload symbols corresponds to one or more distinct information content data modulated PLC carriers that are to be generated at and transmitted from the PLC transceiver. The PLC carriers that can be modulated with information content are at frequencies distributed across a predetermined PLC frequency spectrum.
The prior art PLC system design also provided that very few modulation methods can be used to modulate a PLC carrier and that all of the PLC carriers that can be generated for a payload symbol are modulated using the same predetermined modulation method ("order of modulation"). The prior art PLC system design preferred the use of a single order of modulation for all PLC carriers because this simplified the overall system design, especially concerning design of the modulator, demodulator, interleaver, deinterleaver, error correction algorithms, etc. This design approach permitted the complexity level of the system to be commensurate with the capabilities of the then existing design techniques, silicon geometries and design densities. In operation, the prior art PLC transceiver attempts to select the highest order of modulation for the PLC carriers, in view of channel quality data indicating expected PLC signal transmission performance, to obtain the most data bits per available PLC carrier within a predetermined PLC frequency spectrum, thereby maximizing data throughput rate.
Although the prior art PLC system design does not provide that the order of modulation of an individual PLC carrier can be dynamically changed in view of channel quality data particular to an individual PLC carrier, this result was tolerated or required in view of the processing speed limitations of technologies available in the prior art and to ensure reliable and accurate transfer of information content using PLC signals.
Since the development of the prior art PLC frame structure design, which continues to be used in a vast majority of current PLC systems, advanced, higher speed silicon implementations have become available and cost effective for use in a PLC transceiver. PLC systems and PLC transceivers, however, continue to utilize the prior art PLC system frame structure design. In many circumstances, this continued prior art requirement that all PLC carriers that can be generated for a payload symbol are modulated at a single order of modulation unnecessarily limits the maximum available data throughput rate for the PLC system.
Therefore, a need exists for a system and method for maximizing data throughput rate in a PLC system in view of available higher speed data processing technologies and while also permitting that existing PLC transceivers can continue to be used without difficult or costly modifications.

Method and system for modifying modulation of power line communications signals for maximizing data throughput rate


Disclosed herein is a door of a drum type washing machine. The door comprises a ring-shaped door frame hingedly connected to the front surface of the cabinet at one lateral side thereof, a door glass disposed at an open center of the door frame, a grip casing mounted inside a grip hole formed at the other lateral side of the door frame for preventing the interior of the door frame from being exposed to the outside through the grip hole, and a hook assembly disposed at the grip casing for locking the door frame to the front surface of the cabinet at the other lateral side of the door frame. The interiors of the front door frame and the rear door frame are prevented from being exposed to the outside through the grip hole by the grip casing, and the hook assembly is easily and conveniently mounted to the door frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a door of a drum type washing machine having a hook assembly for locking the door, and, more particularly, to a door of a drum type washing machine that allows a hook assembly to be easily and conveniently mounted to the door and that is capable of preventing the pleasing appearance of the door from being spoiled due to a handle of the hook assembly.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a drum type washing machine is a machine that washes the laundry using friction generated between a drum rotated by a driving force of a motor and the laundry while detergent, wash water, and the laundry are put in the drum, which is horizontally disposed.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view illustrating a conventional drum type washing machine.
As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional drum type washing machine comprises: a cabinet 2 forming the appearance of the drum type washing machine; a tub (not shown) horizontally disposed in the cabinet 2; a drum 4 rotatably disposed in the tub for washing the laundry; a plurality of lifting blades 6 attached to the inner circumferential surface of the drum 4 for lifting the laundry to a predetermined height such that the laundry drops from the lifting blades by gravity at the predetermined height; a motor 8 disposed at the rear of the tub for generating a driving force necessary to drive the drum 4; a cabinet cover 10 attached to the front part of the cabinet 2, the cabinet cover 20 being provided at the center thereof with a laundry inlet/outlet hole 10A for allowing the laundry to be put into or removed from the drum 4 therethrough; and a door 20 attached to the cabinet cover 10 for opening and closing the laundry inlet/outlet hole 10A.
Specifically, one lateral side of the door 20 is hingedly connected to the cabinet cover 10 by means of a door hinge 24, and at the other lateral side of the door 20 is disposed a hook assembly 28 for locking the door 20 to the cabinet cover 10 to prevent the door 20 from being accidentally opened.
When the other lateral side of the door 20 comes into contact with the cabinet cover 10, the hook assembly 28 is inserted in a locking fashion into a hook hole 10B formed at the cabinet cover 10.
The hook assembly 28 may be a handle type hook assembly or a non-handle type hook assembly. The handle type hook assembly has a handle, which is manipulated by a user of the drum type washing machine. In the handle type hook assembly, the door 20 is locked or unlocked through the user's manual manipulation of the handle. The non-handle type hook assembly has an additional locking mechanism (not shown), which is disposed at the hook hole side of the cabinet cover 10. In the non-handle type hook assembly, the door 20 is automatically locked or unlocked by the locking mechanism based on operations of the drum type washing machine.
Since the door 20 is automatically locked or unlocked by the locking mechanism based on operations of the drum type washing machine in the case of the non-handle type hook assembly, it is difficult to manufacture the hook assembly, it is costly to manufacture the hook assembly, and it is necessary to manufacture the hook assembly with high precision.
Since the door 10 is manually locked or unlocked through the user's manual manipulation of the handle in the case of the handle type hook assembly, on the other hand, it is easy to manufacture the hook assembly as compared to the non-handle type hook assembly, and the hook assembly can be economically manufactured. However, the handle type hook assembly has problems in that the appearance of the door 20 is not pleasing due to the presence of the handle and in that it is very difficult to mount the hook assembly to the door 20.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view illustrating one example of a conventional door 20 having a handle type hook assembly, and FIG. 3 is an exploded plan view illustrating a door frame of the door 20 shown in FIG. 2.
As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the conventional door 20 comprises: a ring-shaped door frame 22 hingedly connected to the front surface of the cabinet cover 10 at one lateral side thereof; a door hinge 24 (See FIG. 1), having both ends attached to one lateral side of the door frame 22 and the front cover of the cabinet cover 10, respectively, for hingedly supporting the door frame 22; a door glass 26 disposed at the center, which is opened, of the door frame 22; and a hook assembly 28 disposed at the other lateral side of the door frame 22 such that the hook assembly 28 is inserted in a locking fashion into a hook hole 10B formed at the front surface of the cabinet cover 10.
The door frame 22 is made of an injection-molded plastic material. The door frame 22 comprises: a front door frame part 30; and a rear door frame part 32 disposed at the rear surface of the front door frame part 30.
At one lateral side of the inner circumferential surface of the front door frame part 30 is formed a grip part 34, which is protruded inward such that the grip part 34 is gripped by a user of the drum type washing machine when the door 20 is opened or closed. At the inner circumferential surface of the front door frame part 30, which is opposite to the rear of the grip part 34, is formed an opening hole 31.
The edge of the door glass 26 is fixedly disposed between the front door frame part 30 and the rear door frame part 32 for hermetically sealing the opened center of the door frame 22.
The hook assembly 28 comprises: a hook 40 extending through the rear door frame part 32; a hook shaft 42, to which the hook 40 is hingedly attached, the hook shaft 42 having both ends respectively supported by supporting parts 36 formed at the front surface of the rear door frame part 32; a handle 44 having one lateral side hingedly attached to the hook shaft 42 and the other lateral side disposed at the rear of the grip part 34; and resilient members 46 disposed on the hook shaft 42 for resiliently supporting the hook 40.
At the rear door frame part 32 is formed a through-hole 38, through which the hook 40 is inserted. At the cabinet cover 10 is formed a hook hole 10B, which corresponds to the hook 40. The hook 40 is inserted in a locking fashion into the hook hole 10B such that the hook 40 is locked.
The handle 44 is inserted through the opening hole 31 of the front door frame part 30. When the handle is manipulated by the user of the drum type washing machine, the hook 40 is moved in a hinged fashion in the lateral direction of the drum type washing machine.
The resilient members 46 are coil springs disposed on the hook shaft 42. The inner ends of the resilient members 46 are held at both sides of the hook 40, respectively, and the outer ends of the resilient members 46 are held at the rear surface of the front door frame part 30.
In the door having the handle type hook assembly with the above-stated construction, the hook assembly 28 is mounted to the rear door frame part 32, and then the front door frame part 30 is securely fixed to the front surface of the rear door frame part 32 by means of a fixing member.
At this time, the edge of the door glass 26 is disposed between the inner circumferential parts of the front door frame part 30 and the rear door frame part 32, and therefore, the door glass 26 is securely fixed by the front door frame part 30 and the rear door frame part 32. The outer ends of the resilient members 46 of the hook assembly 28 are pressed by the front door frame part 30, and therefore, resilient forces are provided to the hook 40.
Subsequently, the door frame 22 is hingedly connected to the cabinet cover 10 by the door hinge 24 at one lateral side thereof.
When the handle 44 of the hook assembly 28 of the door 20 with the above-stated construction is pushed forward by the user of the drum type washing machine, the hook 40 is moved in a hinged fashion by the handle 44, and therefore, the hook 40 is disengaged from the hook hole 10B. When the user holds the grip part 34 of the front door frame part 30 in the above state, and then moves the door in a hinged fashion in the lateral direction of the drum type washing machine, the laundry inlet/outlet hole 10A is opened or closed by the door 20.
In the conventional door having the handle type hook assembly with the above-stated construction, however, the grip part 34 is protruded inward from the inner circumferential surface of the front door frame part 30 such that the handle 44 of the hook assembly 28 is hidden and the grip part 34 is held by the user of the drum type washing machine. As a result, the door frame 22 is not formed in the shape of a complete ring due to the grip part 34, and therefore, the pleasing appearance of the door 20 is spoiled.
Furthermore, the front door frame part 30 is securely fixed to the front surface of the rear door frame part 32 by means of the fixing member while the door hinge 24, the hook assembly 28, and the door glass 26 are disposed at the rear door frame part 32. As a result, the assembling process of the door frame 22 is very difficult, and the hook assembly 28 may be incorrectly assembled.
When the door frame 22 is assembled, for example, the hook shaft 42 may be accidentally separated from the door frame 22, or the outer ends of the resilient members 46 may not be correctly held at the rear surface of the front door frame part 30. For this reason, it is necessary to securely fix the front door frame part 30 to the front surface of the rear door frame part 32 while the hook assembly 28 is properly held. Consequently, the assembling process of the door frame 22 is very difficult.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view illustrating another example of a conventional door 21 having a handle type hook assembly, and FIG. 5 is an exploded plan view illustrating a door frame of the door 21 shown in FIG. 4.
Components of the conventional door 21 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, which are identical or similar to those of the conventional door 20 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, are indicated by the same reference numerals as those of the conventional door 20 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, and a detailed description thereof will not be given.
As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, a grip hole 35 is formed at the inner circumferential surface of the front door frame part 30 such that the user of the drum type washing machine can hold the grip hole 35 to open or close the door 21. The hook assembly 29, including the handle 45, is disposed inside the grip hole 35. Other construction of the conventional door 21 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is identical to that of the conventional door 20 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3.
One end of the handle 45 is hingedly attached to the hook shaft 42, and the other end of the handle 45 is disposed in the grip hole 35 such that the hook 40 is moved in a hinged fashion in the lateral direction of the drum type washing machine through the user's manipulation.
As described above, the handle 45 is not protruded out of the grip hole 35, and the front door frame part 30 is formed in the shape of a complete ring. Consequently, the pleasing appearance of the door 21 is not spoiled as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, which is distinguished from the conventional door 20 shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, in which the pleasing appearance of the door 20 is spoiled due to the handle 44 and the grip part 34.
In the conventional door 21 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, however, the hook assembly 29, including the handle 45, is disposed in the door frame 22, at which the grip hole 35 is formed. As a result, it is difficult to provide space sufficient to dispose the hook assembly 29 at the door frame 22, and therefore, the disposition of the hook assembly 29 is very difficult.
Furthermore, the interiors of the front door frame part 30 and the rear door frame part 32 are exposed to the outside through the grip hole 35, which affects the pleasing appearance of the door 21, and therefore, marketability of the drum type washing machines having such doors is lowered.
For example, the door frame 30 is made of an injection-molded plastic material, which does not provide high quality and luxurious appearance to the consuming public. The rear door frame part 32, which is not exposed to the outside, is not plated, although the surface of the front door frame part 30 is plated with a metal material to improve the pleasing appearance and surface hardness of the front door frame part 30. Consequently, the unplated front surface of the rear door frame part 32 and the complicated components in the door frame 22 are exposed to the outside through the grip hole 35, and therefore, the pleasing appearance of the door 21 is spoiled.