The invention relates to a drive device (100) for use in a laboratory device, having a stepping motor (10) having rotor and stator, and having a motor controller (20), which is designed for the purpose of activating the stepping motor (10). In one embodiment, the drive device (100) comprises an encoder (11), which supplies a respective current encoder signal (e(t)) in operation (ia, ib), which reflects the current rotor position of the rotor, and phase terminals (14, 27), to tap the currently flowing motor phase currents (ia, ib). The motor controller (20) comprises a transformation module (13), in order to decompose the currently flowing motor phase currents (ia, ib) using a transformation method into a slip component (ix) and a torque component (iy). Furthermore, it comprises a slip regulation module (15), to which the slip component (ix) and a first target value (ix*) are supplied as input variables, and a torque regulation module (16), to which the torque component (iy) and a second target value (iy*) are supplied as input variables. The slip regulation module (15) and the torque regulation module (16) predefine the rotor phase currents (ia, ib) so that the difference between the slip component (ix) and the first target value (ix*) and the difference between the torque component (iy) and the second target value (iy*) are minimal.

Diluters are frequently used in the laboratory field when liquid quantities must be dispensed precisely. Diluters frequently comprise motor-driven syringe pumps, in which an actuator moves a piston of a syringe up and down precisely. An exemplary diluter is shown in FIG. 6. A three-way valve can be seated on the syringe, for example, which is also switched over via motor. The valve is preferably rotated so that a syringe chamber and a supply vessel having a reagent or diluent (e.g., a solvent, buffer, or similar medium) are fluidically connected. When the piston is pulled or moved down, the syringe is filled with diluent. The valve is then rotated so that the syringe chamber is fluidically connected to a dispenser tip. Diluent is delivered via the dispenser tip by the motorized raising of the piston. If the piston has reached the very top and the syringe is thus empty, the valve can be rotated in the direction of the supply vessel again and the syringe can be refilled.
In automated pipetting robots, so-called liquid handling devices, up to 16 diluters are used, for example, Freedom EVO® (Tecan Schweiz AG, 8708 Mannedorf, Switzerland) or Biomek® FX (Beckman Coulter, Inc., Fullerton, Calif.). In liquid handling devices, the diluters are used to generate an overpressure or partial vacuum via a line which leads to a pipette tip. The syringe and the line are therefore filled using system liquid. Deionized water is typically used as the system liquid. If the pipette tip is immersed in a sample liquid and a partial vacuum is generated at the pipette tip using movement of the syringe piston, a liquid sample is sucked into the syringe. If an overpressure is generated at the pipette tip via the syringe piston, the previously received liquid sample is delivered again. The diluters used in the liquid handling devices typically have a three-way valve. However, other valves can also be used. With the aid of the valve, fresh system liquid can be sucked in from a supply vessel via the syringes, in order to fill the line between diluter and pipette tip or to flush the line and to clean the pipette tips using system liquid.
During automatic pipetting, a sample is preferably delivered from the air without contact with the target vessel. The risk of sample carryover is thus minimized. In addition, the samples can be delivered more rapidly from the air than in contact with the target vessel or with a liquid already located in the target vessel. In the case of delivery of small volumes from the air, it is very important for the sample to be delivered at high speed and with a sharp stop at the end, in order to thus achieve a large negative acceleration. Otherwise, clean droplet ejection does not occur at the pipette tip. To be able to ensure these speeds having the sharp end stop at the pipette tip, it is important that the movement of the syringe piston is generated as precisely as possible and with high dynamic response, and is transmitted very directly to the pipette tip.
Water, preferably deionized water, in the pipette tip, line, and syringe, is used in liquid handling devices as a rigid movement mediator of the movement of the syringe piston to the pipette tip. The deionized water is considered an incompressible liquid and is therefore very well suitable as a movement mediator. However, if gas bubbles occur in the system liquid, e.g., due to the outgassing of air, every gas bubble acts as a small spring. Gas bubbles can form because of elevated temperatures of a motor in a diluter. The movement mediation from the syringe piston to the pipette tip is damped by such gas bubbles. Mechanical hysteresis effects in the diluter mechanism can also influence the system. This damping has a disadvantageous effect on the pipetting accuracy and correctness of the delivered volumes.
Motors, preferably stepping motors having corresponding motor controllers, are used in a liquid handling device. It has been shown that in the case of the conventional activation of a typical two-phase AC-operated stepping motor, high holding currents occur. These holding currents have the result that the entire diluter heats up. Temperatures of greater than 50° C. have been measured on freestanding diluters. If multiple such diluters are installed adjacent to one another in a liquid handling device, still higher temperatures can even occur, because the heat can only be dissipated poorly. The syringes, the valves, and sometimes the lines also heat up via the diluter housing. The system liquid is thus heated, which results in outgassing of air and therefore the above-mentioned undesirable bubble formation.
In addition, this heating of the motor and the surrounding components can result in a reduction of the lifetime (above all of the electronics and the plastic parts) of the liquid handling device, which is undesirable.
The object therefore results of providing diluters which generate minimal waste heat, do not unnecessarily heat up the system, and therefore do not display bubble formation in the system liquid. The object also results of optimizing other laboratory devices and in particular liquid handling devices. A particularly suitable drive device for this purpose is to be provided. In addition, a corresponding method for activating a motor is to be proposed.
These objects are achieved according to the invention by a device according to the claims. The features of a corresponding laboratory device having at least one drive device according to the invention can also be inferred be inferred.
Proceeding from the findings with respect to the origin of the mentioned temperature problems and the bubble formation in the system liquid in diluters and liquid handling devices, a novel drive device is proposed for use in a diluter, a liquid handling device, or another laboratory device.
According to the invention, the drive device comprises an AC-operated motor, preferably a two-phase AC-operated stepping motor, having rotor and stator, and a motor controller, which is designed to activate the motor dynamically with respect to speed and/or acceleration. The drive device according to the invention comprises means (e.g., a motor-side encoder), which deliver a current signal in operation, which reflects the current position of the rotor in the motor in relation to the stator or the poles. In addition, phase terminals in the form of shunt resistors are provided, for example, to be able to tap the currently flowing motor phase currents on the motor side. The motor controller according to the invention comprises a transformation module, in order to decompose the currently flowing motor phase currents into a slip component and a torque component using a transformation method. Furthermore, it comprises a slip regulation module, to which the slip component and a first target value (e.g., a zero value) are provided as input variables, as well as a torque regulation module, to which the torque component and a second target value are provided as the input variables. The slip regulation module and the torque regulation module regulate the rotor phase currents so that the difference between the slip component and the first target value and the difference between the torque component and the second target value are minimal at all times.
Such a configuration and wiring has the advantage that the motor which is used is always operated in the optimal range (i.e., greater efficiency and lower power consumption). The controllability of the motor is thus substantially improved and the dynamic response of the motor is increased. Dynamic response is understood above all as the capability for rapid acceleration and deceleration. The sharp deceleration is very important for contactless dispensing from the air, as explained at the beginning.
In addition, it is important in the handling of liquids and samples in laboratory devices to always know the precise location of the rotor of the motor. The invention allows a very precise check of the rotor position. Furthermore, it is important to know the precise position of the mechanical elements (for example, the pump piston) for the mentioned devices. This can also be achieved using the drive device according to the invention. In addition, the high dynamic response also plays a role for the pipetting result, as noted. For this purpose, the most rigid possible, undamped system is important, which does not display any spring action. The drive device according to the invention also offers advantages over typical devices in this regard.
Above all, at a standstill, current is only fed into the motor of the drive device when a force is required. Therefore, in a static case, no or only very low holding currents flow and hardly any heat is formed at the motor. Heating of the system liquid and therefore the outgassing of air are thus avoided. The drive device according to the invention is therefore particularly suitable as a drive device for a pump in a laboratory device and especially for a pump in a diluter or another laboratory device.
It is considered to be a further advantage of the invention that, due to the intelligent, demand-dependent feed of the motor, the power consumption is less than in previous devices or laboratory devices. The reduced power consumption has an influence on the ecology of the device or the laboratory device. In addition, applications can be implemented because of the low power consumption, which were not possible using previous approaches. For example, the invention can be used in portable applications, e.g., for environmental analysis or other field applications, which are fed from batteries or regenerative power sources.
The motors which are used here are synchronous motors which follow the externally applied field. Therefore, they can be operated without sensors for position feedback (encoder or rotary encoder). However, in some of the embodiments the invention nonetheless provides a motor-side encoder, to achieve good positioning accuracy, shorten the initialization method, and above all simplify the activation of the motor having the described advantages. In other embodiments which manage without an encoder, a motor is briefly operated in generator operation, in order to obtain information about the rotor position cyclically (e.g., every second current control cycle).
The invention has the advantage that a linear encoder or another decoder is not necessary to ascertain a linear movement of a mechanical component (e.g., a pump piston, tappet, a rotary spindle, or another mechanically movable element). The precise position is preferably accomplished according to the invention by an interaction of a motor-side angle encoder and a position regulation module, or by an interaction of a motor briefly operated in generator operation and a position regulation module.
In order to achieve an accuracy which is suitable for high-precision dosing in a diluter, for example, in which a motor controller according to the invention activates a (stepping) motor used as a pump motor, an encoder which has an angle resolution greater than 1024 lines per revolution can be used.
Depending on the embodiment and demand profile, an additional encoder can be placed on the moving mechanism, in order to also be able to compensate for the mechanical hysteresis, for example.
The use of linear encoders is superfluous, since the motor-side encoder or the motor in generator operation allows precise positioning specification with or without an additional encoder on the mechanism. Therefore, a drive device according to the invention can be integrated easily in greatly varying laboratory devices.
An activator of the motor typically has a processor which interacts with the motor. Only a control connection, for example, via a signal bus (e.g., RS-232, RS-485, or CAN) and a mechanical connection of the shaft or the axis of the (stepping) motor to the mechanical element of the laboratory device to be moved must be produced, in order to be able to address or activate the system (e.g., a processor).
It is a further advantage of the invention that the (stepping) motor is operated more efficiently than in the case of typical drive devices for laboratory devices.
The (stepping) motor has a significantly longer run time (in the meaning of service life or usage duration), since it is always operated at the optimum operating point using load-dependent current.
Through the increased dynamic response of the (stepping) motor using activation according to the invention, it is possible to dispense smaller volumes directly from the air. Liquid handling devices equipped with conventionally activated motors can deliver up to approximately 3 μl without contact from the air (diluter having 1000 μl syringe, pipette outlet 0.8 mm, and sharp stop), without additional units being required, which allow the drop ejection of the liquid sample by an impulse (see also patent application EP 876 219 of the applicant of the present application). Using the activation according to the invention, the contact-free delivery from the air of volumes up to 1 μl is possible without additional apparatus. The dynamic response of the (stepping) motor allows much steeper deceleration ramps than a conventional controller with identical hardware.
The precision and reproduction accuracy of the liquid delivery can be significantly increased by the precise motor regulation of the invention.
In the case of a conventional activator, extremely annoying noises can occur in specific speed ranges, for example, rattling when passing over the poles, which are intolerable in laboratory daily routine. Using the activation according to the invention, these annoying noises can be easily prevented or masked.
Further advantages result from the detailed description.
The device according to the invention, the laboratory device according to the invention, and the method according to the invention will be explained in detail on the basis of schematic drawings of exemplary embodiments, which do not restrict the scope of the invention.
Advantageous embodiments of the invention are described hereafter, these being exemplary embodiments. They comprise both various implementations of the overall invention, and also assemblies and individual parts of the invention. Fundamentally, the described assemblies and individual parts of the various embodiments may be combined with one another, or the assemblies and individual parts of individual embodiments may be replaced by the assemblies and individual parts of other embodiments, respectively. The combinations formed in this case can require small adaptations, which are trivial to a person skilled in the art and are therefore not described further, for example, to allow cooperation or interlocking of the assemblies and individual parts.
The term module is used here to indicate a functional group which is implemented in hardware, software, or as a combination of hardware and software. These modules preferably comprise one or more digital signal processors (DSP).
The motors which are used here are identified by the reference sign 10. Where a differentiation is made between motors with encoder 11 and motors without encoder 11, the first are identified by 10.1 and the second by 10.2. The motors 10.1 and 10.2 do not have to differ from one another technically, however, but rather the difference is primarily in the wiring and/or activation of the motors 10.1, 10.2.
Two fundamental embodiments of the invention with encoder are shown in schematic block diagrams in FIGS. 1A and 1B. Another fundamental embodiment of the invention without encoder (encoder-free embodiment) is shown in a schematic block diagram in FIG. 2. The function of the individual blocks or modules can also be allocated or combined differently, however, as shown in the figures.
Reference is made at various times to stepping motors 10 in connection with the present invention. The stepping motor 10 is a synchronous motor 10, in which the stator current is advanced from one set of stator coils to the next set of stator coils. The corresponding commutation is performed electronically in the case of the drive device 100 according to the invention by the use of a motor controller 20 having commutation module 31, as schematically shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2. The commutation can also be performed directly by a PID controller and/or other modules (this form of commutation is not shown in the figures). The magnetic attraction between rotor and stator teeth and the continuous commutation result in a rotational movement of the rotor.
In general, this activation can be applied with any type of synchronous motors 10. However, stepping motors 10 are preferably used in all embodiments here. Stepping motors 10 which have a step width less than 2° and preferably less than 1° are very particularly suitable. The smaller the step width, the better the controllability.
A stepping motor 10 is a motor whose rotor precisely follows the externally applied stator field. It can therefore also be operated without sensors for position feedback (encoder 11 or rotary encoder). Motors 10.2 which are briefly operable in generator operation to thus allow feedback about the rotor position, can also be operated without sensors for position feedback (encoder 11 or rotary encoder) by utilizing the back-EMF effect.
According to the invention, in some of the embodiments, a motor 10.1 having motor-side encoder 11 is used, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 3. This encoder 11 is seated directly on or adjacent to the motor 10.1 and supplies a signal, an encoder signal e(t) here, to the commutation module 31 (via an interconnected module for encoder signal processing 33 here). In addition, the encoder 11 can also transmit the encoder signal e(t) or a signal e1(t), which was derived from the encoder signal e(t) or ascertained therefrom, to a position regulation module 21, as shown in FIG. 1A. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1B, an additional (separate) encoder 32 is used, which is seated on or adjacent to a moving mechanical element (e.g., a mechanical element of a pump) of the drive device 100, for example. This encoder 32 supplies an encoder signal f(t) to the position regulation module 21. A combination of the two embodiments of FIGS. 1A and 1B is also conceivable, in which both the encoder 11 on the motor 10.1, and also a further encoder 32 transmit encoder signals e(t) or e1(t) and f(t) to the position regulation module 21.
However, the activation according to the invention may also be applied without encoder, in that the so-called back-EMF effect (also known as the electromotive counterforce or counter electromotive force) of a motor 10.2 is utilized. The corresponding embodiments do not require a motor-side encoder 11 to allow a statement about the rotor position, as indicated on the basis of the very schematic block diagram in FIG. 2. A motor 10.2 whose back-EMF is used is employed and activated by a commutation module 31 so that it primarily operates as a motor 10.2 and absorbs electrical power, to convert this power into mechanical movement (in the form of a rotation). However, the motor 10.2 is briefly operated as a freewheeling generator, which converts the rotation of the motor 10.2 into a voltage/current (referred to as generator signal e2(t) here). The embodiments of the invention which use an encoder-free motor 10.2 instead of a motor 10.1 having encoder 11 use the short-term generator operation of the motor 10.2 to allow a statement about the rotor position. The voltage (referred to as generator signal e2(t) here), which is tapped at the motor windings (on the rotor), while the motor 10.2 briefly continues to rotate in generator operation, is proportional to the angular velocity of the rotor. The rotor position in relation to the stator can be ascertained on the basis of the voltage curve. During the short-term generator operation, the rotor of the motor 10.2 continues to rotate at nearly unchanged angular velocity. During the motor operation, a current signal e2(t) is not available. The current signal e2(t) is only provided during the short-term generator operation, but can be tracked using a model which is modulated in software. The signal e2(t) or a signal e3(t), which is derived from the signal e2(t) or ascertained therefrom, can optionally also be supplied to a position regulation module 21. It contains the same information as the encoder signal.
The position regulation module 21 (see FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2, and 3) acts on the commutation module 31, as shown by the arrow P1. A connection P2 is used as feedback between the encoder 11 or the motor 10.2 and the commutation module 31. In the embodiment according to FIG. 2, a connection P9 is used as feedback. The tapping of the motor position by the motor-side encoder 11 is shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 3 by the arrow P3. The commutative activation of the motor 10.1 is symbolized in FIGS. 1A, 1B, and 2 by the arrow P4.
In addition to the mentioned encoder signals e(t), e1(t), the commutation module 31 preferably also processes phase currents which are measured on the motor 10.1 or 10.2 or tapped via phase terminals 27, as shown in FIG. 3, for example.
Further details on the tapping of the phase currents and an embodiment having motor-side encoder 11 can be inferred from FIG. 3.
Precise positioning is brought about in some embodiments of the invention by interaction of the motor-side encoder 11 and the position regulation module 21, or the additional encoder 32 and the position regulation module 21, respectively. It is also possible, as noted, to have two encoders 11 and 32 interact jointly with the position regulation module 21.
According to the invention, two-phase AC-operated stepping motors 10 are preferably used in all embodiments, since these motors 10 can be operated at a slow speed (e.g., less than 400 RPM), since they generate high torques, have minimal wear, and are cost-effective above all.
As shown on the basis of a schematic example in FIG. 4, the (stepping) motor 10 comprises a shaft (axis) 18, which is connected to a rotor mounted so it is rotatable. Since the stepping motor 10 with the motor controller 20 is primarily designed for use in a diluter 200 or another liquid-handling laboratory device (e.g., a liquid handling device), a mechanical element (e.g., a pump piston 202, a piston rod, a rotating spindle 28, a tappet, a gearwheel 208, a toothed roller or wheel 213) of a pump is connected to the shaft 18. Preferably, such pumps comprise a cylinder 216 having a piston 202 movable therein, as shown as an example in FIGS. 6 to 10. The axis or shaft 18 of the (stepping) motor 10 is mechanically connected to a movable mechanical element of the pump for the driving thereof.
The invention can also be used in connection with gearwheel pumps, screw pumps, diaphragm pumps, or peristaltic pumps. Further details on the possible pump configurations and constructions can be inferred from FIGS. 7 to 10.
According to the invention, the (stepping) motors 10 are operated in a closed control loop (closed loop), as described in greater detail hereafter. It is taken into consideration that in the case of a motor 10.1, the encoder information (e.g., the signal e(t)), or in the case of a motor 10.2, the generator signal e2(t), and the measured or tapped phase currents are used for the commutation of the motor 10.1 or 10.2. This commutation is performed, for example, by the commutation module 31.
The motor controller 20 for the commutation of the motor 10 comprises at least one PI or PID controller. A PI controller is a proportional-integral controller and a PID controller is a proportional-integral-derivative controller. The controllers 22, 23, 24 which are used according to the invention operate using a difference between an actual value and a target value. They attempt by regulating the motor controller 20 to minimize this difference or these differences or bring them entirely to zero.
The motor controller 20 preferably comprises three PI controllers or PID controllers 22, 23, 24, as shown in FIG. 3 on the basis of a special embodiment. These PI controllers or PID controllers 22, 23, 24 are elements of the corresponding slip regulation module 15, the corresponding position regulation module 21, and the corresponding torque regulation module 16.
The motor controller 20 of the invention is designed so that a rotary field is predefined using the stator coils in such a way that the rotary field follows the rotor of the (stepping) motor 10 with optimum slip. Small deviations from the ideal slip are immediately corrected by the slip regulation module 15 and the torque regulation module 16, which are responsible for the commutation together.
Further details of an embodiment of the device 100, which is especially designed for use in a laboratory device, are shown in above-mentioned FIG. 3. The device 100 comprises a two-phase AC-operated stepping motor 10.1 having rotor and stator here, as well as a motor controller 20, which is designed to efficiently activate the stepping motor 10. The device 100 further comprises a motor-side encoder 11, which supplies a current encoder signal e(t) in each case, which indicates the current rotor position of the rotor of the motor 10.1. In addition, phase terminals 27 and lines 14 are provided to be able to tap the currently flowing motor phase currents ia, ib on the motor side.
The motor controller 20 is distinguished in all embodiments in that it comprises a transformation module 13, to decompose the currently flowing motor phase currents ia, ib using a transformation method into a slip component ix and a torque component iy. Preferably, matrix transformation is used as the transformation method. Through the transformation, the current values of a first a-b coordinate system are mapped on a second x-y coordinate system. A slip regulation module 15 is used, to which the slip component ix and a so-called first target value ix* as a reference value are provided as input variables. Furthermore, the motor controller 20 comprises a torque regulation module 16, to which the torque component iy and a second target value iy* as a reference value are provided as input variables. The slip regulation module 15 and the torque regulation module 16 set the motor phase currents ia, ib in such a way that the difference between the slip component ix and the first target value ix* and the difference between the torque component iy and the second target value iy* are minimal or equal to zero at all times. Furthermore, a module 33 (module for encoder signal processing) is used here, which converts the electrical signals of the encoder 11 (in the concrete case 1024 lines, or 4096 increments per revolution) into an angle φm.
In FIG. 3, addition elements A1, A2, A3 are shown by circles and the respective sign applied is indicated by a plus sign or a minus sign directly adjacent to these addition elements A1, A2, A3. The addition element A1 subtracts the actual position φm from the target position φm*, i.e., the difference between the target position φm*and the actual position φm is observed. The addition element A2 subtracts the torque component iy from the second target value iy*, i.e., the difference between the second target value iy* and the torque component iy is observed. The addition element A3 subtracts the slip component ix from the first target value ix*, i.e., the difference between the first target value ix* and the slip component ix is observed.
A module 12 for pulse-width modulation can be used, as shown in FIG. 3, which is supplied with a DC voltage V= and modulates the motor phase currents ia, ib. The DC voltage V=can be 24 V, for example. The mentioned module 33 (module for encoder signal processing) can be used here to convert the electrical signals of the encoder 11 into an angle φm. In the case of an encoder-free motor 10.2, another module 34 (module for generator signal processing) can perform any conversion or preprocessing of the generator signal e2(t), as indicated in FIG. 2.
In all embodiments of the invention, the position regulation is particularly important, which is schematically illustrated by a position regulation module 21. The position regulation module 21 processes, depending on the embodiment, an encoder signal (e.g., e(t)) of a motor 10.1 or a generator signal e2(t) of a motor 10.2. A module for encoder signal processing 33 or a module for generator signal processing 34 is preferably interconnected, as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 2, and 3.
The module for encoder signal processing 33 can be used as part of the motor controller 20, in order to derive a speed statement from the signal e(t) of the encoder 11. The speed statement results, for example, from the number of the angle increments, which the encoder 11 indicates, and the time. The speed statement can also be ascertained using an additional encoder 32 (see FIG. 1B, for example). The speed statement can be an angular velocity of the shaft or axis 18 of the stepping motor 10 or a linear velocity of a moving mechanical element (e.g., the pump piston 202) of a pump. This speed statement can additionally be supplied to the slip regulation module 15 and/or a higher-order controller of the laboratory device, as shown in FIG. 3 by the connection 35. This function block or this connection 35, respectively, is optional.
An optional profile generator 19 is used, which predefines the time-dependent target values φm* for the position controller. In the case of a speed controller instead of the position controller 23, it predefines time-dependent target values for the speed controller. The target value(s), which are each identified by a "*", can also be predefined by application software or an application (e.g., a laboratory device, such as a liquid handling device).
The encoder 11 is preferably an incremental encoder. The higher the resolution of the encoder 11, the more precisely can target positions φm* be approached and also held. To achieve an accuracy which is suitable for the high-precision handling of a liquid quantity in a diluter 200, for example, in which a motor controller 20 according to the invention activates a (stepping) motor 10.1 used as a pump motor, an encoder 11 which has an angle resolution greater than 1024 lines is used.
A Hall sensor is particularly suitable as an encoder 11, since such a Hall sensor can be placed in a contactless way on the rear side of a stepping motor 10.1, for example. A schematic example of a stepping motor 10.1 having a Hall sensor used as an encoder 11 is shown in FIG. 4. It may also be seen on the basis of this FIG. 4 that the shaft or axis 18 of the motor 10.1 (or a motor 10.2) can be mechanically connected to a coaxial rotary spindle 28. The rotary spindle 28 can move a piston 202 or another mechanical element of a pump, for example. In FIG. 4, it is further indicated that a card 30 or circuit board can be seated on the rear side of the motor 10.1 (or the motor 10.2) (this card 30 or circuit board on the rear side of the motor 10.1 or 10.2 is optional). A part or all components of the motor controller 20 can be situated on the card 30 or circuit board. The connection to a higher-order controller, e.g., of a laboratory device, can be performed via a plug or a plug connection 29, for example. The laboratory device can thus be connected with respect to control to the motor controller 20.
In order that the method of the invention can be applied, the mechanical rotational angle must be uniquely synchronized with the electrical field which is applied to the motor 10. This can be implemented using an initial, controlled movement. During the initialization movement, the encoder signal e(t) or the generator signal e2(t) is input and brought into relation with a control signal P4. The zero position can then be calculated on the basis of the relation.
According to the invention, the following method is used when activating the (stepping) motor 10.1 or 10.2.
First step: measuring or tapping the current motor phase currents ia, ib using phase terminals 27 or other means.
Second step: mapping or converting these motor phase currents ia, ib into a two-axis coordinate system having the axes a and b, as shown in FIG. 5A. The corresponding values iat and ibt represent time-variant values, which were derived from the motor phase currents ia, ib.
Third step: rotating the two-axis a-b coordinate system to adapt it to the current slip of the stepping motor 10. A transformation angle cp can be used for the rotation of the two-axis a-b coordinate system, which has been obtained during a last iteration of the motor controller 20. In this third step, the values iat and ibt are decomposed vectorially into coordinate components (vector components) of the x-y coordinate system newly obtained by rotation. The newly obtained x-y coordinate system is defined by the axes x and y, as shown in FIG. 5A. The vector iat in the a-b coordinate system is decomposed into a component iax on the x axis and a component iay on the y axis. The vector ibt in a-b coordinate system is decomposed into a component ibx on the x axis and a component iby on the y axis. FIG. 5B shows that the vector ix (=slip component) is composed in the y axial direction from the component iay+iby. The vector iy (=torque component) in the y axial direction, in contrast, is composed of the components iay+iby. The corresponding axes a and b, as well as x and y, are each perpendicular to one another and the vectors on the individual axes are therefore orthogonal to one another, i.e., they are independent of one another. Therefore, if needed the vector ix (=slip component), for example, can be forced to zero, for example, without influencing the current vector iy (=torque component).
This third step is referred to as a transformation or matrix transformation and is performed by the transformation module 13.
Fourth step: in this step, the corresponding differences (ix*−ix or iy*−iy) are calculated by the addition elements A3 or A2, respectively, as described. The difference ix*−ix controls or regulates the slip component and the difference iy*—iy controls or regulates the torque component. These differences (ix*−ix or iy*−iy) are transmitted as input variables to the controllers 22 or 24, respectively. The controllers 22 and 24 generate the corresponding voltage vectors Vds and Vqs. To be able to provide the corresponding voltage vectors Vds and Vqs, a transformation is again performed here. A so-called inverse matrix transformation is preferably used for this purpose, which provides a transfer of the vectors of the x-y coordinate system into an a-b coordinate system (in a reversal of the procedure of FIGS. 5A and 5B). This inverse matrix transformation is executed by an inverting transformer 17 (see FIG. 3).
Fifth step: these steps are now each repeated using new values. The higher the repetition rate, the more rapidly the control loop of the motor controller 20 operates. The motor controller 20 regulates the motor 10.1 or 10.2 in quasi-real-time. Ultrasmall deviations are recognized on the basis of the mentioned differentiation and immediately corrected (minimized).
Using the motor controller 20, the low-pass and magnetic flux properties of the (stepping) motor 10.1, 10.2 can be compensated for, in order to be able to predefine a speed-independent torque of the (stepping) motor 10.1, 10.2.
The drive device 100 can be used particularly advantageously in diluters 200, as shown in FIGS. 6 to 10, for example.
A corresponding diluter 200 is shown in FIG. 6. The diluter 200 comprises a motor-driven syringe pump, in which a motor 10 (not shown in FIG. 6) moves a piston 202 of a syringe 201 up and down precisely in a cylinder 216. The up-and-down movement is identified by the double arrow P6. For example, a three-way valve 203 (or another valve) can be seated on the syringe 201, which is also changed over via motor by rotation, as shown by the double arrow P7. The valve 203 is preferably switched so that a syringe chamber 217 and a supply vessel 204 are fluidically connected to a reagent or diluent 203 (e.g., a solvent, buffer, or similar medium). When the piston 202 is pulled or moved down, the syringe 201 is filled with diluent 203. The valve 203 is then switched by rotation, so that the syringe chamber 217 is fluidically connected to a dispenser tip 205. Diluent medium 203 is delivered via the dispenser tip 205 by moving up the piston 202 via motor. If the piston 202 has reached the very top and the syringe 201 is thus empty, the valve 203 can be switched back in the direction of the supply vessel 204 and the syringe 201 can be refilled. The double arrow P8 indicates that the dispenser tip 205 can be automatically moved by a robot arm (not shown), for example.
The described up-and-down movement piece 6 of the piston 202 can be brought about by a motor 10, which is activated and regulated by a motor controller 20, as described. The motor 10 including motor controller 20 is preferably seated behind or in the interior of the housing 206 shown in FIG. 6.
Multiple examples of the construction of a diluter 200 with (stepping) motor 10 are shown in FIGS. 7 to 10.
FIG. 7 shows a diluter 200 having a motor 10 installed at the rear, whose shaft or axis is designed as a rotary spindle 28. The rotary spindle 28 is seated in a carrier or armature 207. When the motor 10 rotates the rotary spindle 28 around its longitudinal axis A, the carrier or armature 207 is moved together with the pump piston 202 mechanically connected thereto. The up-and-down movement of the piston 202 is shown by the double arrow P6. The other elements of the diluter 200 were already described in connection with FIG. 6. Reference is therefore made to the description of this figure.
FIG. 8 shows a diluter 200 having a motor 10 installed at the rear, on whose shaft or axis 18 a gearwheel (a spur gear 208 here) is seated. The spur gear 208 engages in a toothed rack 209. When the motor 10 rotates the axis or shaft 18, the spur gear 208 also rotates. During a rotation of the spur gear 208 clockwise, the toothed rack 209 is moved upward together with the pump piston 202 connected thereto. During a rotation counterclockwise, a downward movement results. The up-and-down movement of the piston 202 is shown by the double arrow P6. In addition to the configuration shown, there are also other forms of so-called gearwheel drives 210 which can be used in a diluter 200.
FIG. 9 shows a diluter 200 having a motor 10 installed at the rear having toothed belt drive 211. A toothed roller or a toothed wheel 213 is seated on the shaft or axis 18 of the motor 10. A second toothed roller or a second toothed wheel 213 is attached at a certain distance. A toothed belt 212 runs around the toothed rollers or wheels 213. When the motor 10 rotates the axis or shaft 18, the toothed belt 212 moves. A carrier 214, for example, which transmits the movement of the toothed belt 212 to the pump piston 202, is attached to the toothed belt 212. An up-and-down movement P6 thus again results.
In the various examples of FIGS. 7 to 9, step-up or step-down transmissions (e.g., via toothed belts or gearings) can additionally also be used.
FIG. 10 shows a diluter 200 having a linear motor 10 installed at the rear, which comprises an oblong stator 215. A movement upward or downward results through suitable change of the fields between the linear motor 10 and the stator 215. This movement can be mechanically transmitted to the pump piston 202, as shown. An up-and-down movement P6 again thus results.
A pump which is driven using a drive device 100 has a high efficiency. The high-precision positioning using the position regulation module 21, the rigid undamped regulating system, and the other features of the invention allow outstanding handling of ultrasmall liquid quantities. In spite of this high accuracy during the handling of ultrasmall liquid volumes, such a pump can be operated at high speed and load-dependent output. The drive device 100 according to the invention can drive a pump at up to 6000 RPM, for example. Because of these properties, such a pump having drive device 100 can be used for manifold different laboratory applications in the corresponding laboratory devices.
Because of the negligible heat development, the drive device 100, or the diluters 200 having the corresponding drive devices 100, can be placed closely adjacent to one another, without thermal problems occurring. In particular, this relates to multichannel liquid handling devices having one diluter 200 per pipetting channel for receiving and delivering liquid samples. Each diluter 200 comprises a drive device 100 according to one of the embodiments in this case.
Because of the reduced power consumption, the drive device 100 is particularly also suitable for mobile uses and applications.
Reference numerals:stepping motor/synchronous motor10encoder11pulse-width modulation module12transformation module (park13transformer)signal lines14slip regulation module15torque regulation module16inverting transformer17motor shaft or axis18profile generator19motor controller20position regulation module21PI or PID controller22PI or PID controller23PI or PID controller24phase terminals (shunts)27rotary spindle28plug or plug connection29card30commutation module31further encoder32module for encoder signal processing33module for generator signal processing34connection35drive device100diluter200syringe201piston202system liquid203supply vessel204dispenser tip205housing206carrier/armature207spur gear208toothed rack209gearwheel drive210toothed belt drive211toothed belt212toothed rollers or wheels213carrier214oblong stator215cylinder216syringe chamber217longitudinal axisAaxes, phase currentsa, baddition elementsA1, A2, A3axes, torque and slipy, x(encoder) signale(t), f(t)signal which was derived from an e1(t)encoder signalgenerator signale2(t)signal which was derived from ae3(t)generator signalmotor phase currentsia, ibtime-variant valuesiat, ibtcomponentiaxcomponentibxcomponentiaycomponentibyslip component (vector)ixfirst target value, slipix*torque component (vector)iysecond target value, torqueiy*transformation angleφarrowP1, P2, P3, P4, P5, P6, P7, P8, P9output signals (voltage vectors) VAs, VBsDC voltageV=target positionΦm*actual positionΦm

Drive device for use in a laboratory device


A composite building component includes a non-planar molded composite web having two outer zones and two angled zones wherein the caliper of the angled zones differs from the caliper of at least one of the outer zones, and a flange disposed on an outer surface of an outer zone. A method of providing a composite building component also is disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to man-made composite building components and their method of manufacture and assembly. More particularly, the invention relates to the production of composite framing members and integrated components such as studs, walls, roofs, floors, and posts.
2. Description of Related Technology
In conventional building construction, building components such as walls, roofs, floors, and posts may be assembled from wooden framing members and sheathing. Framing members. e.g., lumber, may be produced from natural wood cut in standard sizes from trees such as aspen, spruce, pine, and fir. Sheathing, typically made of plywood or oriented strandboard (OSB), is fastened to the frame of a building component using mechanical fasteners and adhesives such as staples, nails, glue, screws or a urethane foam adhesive.
Traditional lumber produced from natural wood generally has shortcomings in consistency, availability, and cost. Likewise, building components made from traditional materials also have shortcomings in consistency, cost, and ease of assembly.
Conventional lumber from natural wood varies widely in quality. Because framing members, such as nominal 2×4s (actually measuring approximately 1½ inches by approximately 3½ inches), are cut whole from trees or logs as solid pieces, they can possess faults inherent in natural wood, such as knots and splits. Knots typically result in reduced strength in a piece of lumber, requiring a high design safety factor leading to inefficient use of materials. In addition, in a condition known as "waning," lumber cut from an outer surface of a tree, particularly from younger, smaller trees, can exhibit an undesirable rounded, rather than squared, edge. Also, subsequent to milling, lumber can take on moisture or dry out, which causes a board to become warped and unusable for its intended purpose. These faults contribute to 30-35% of conventional lumber being of a downgraded quality rating.
The lumber that remains suitable for use in construction must often be trimmed, shimmed, nailed to fit, or otherwise adapted for use due to inconsistencies in dimensional accuracy. Furthermore, once installed, lumber is subject to dimensional instability due to environmental factors or the other factors mentioned above. For example, in a condition known as nail pop, installed lumber dries out and shrinks, causing fasteners to move or break loose. Likewise, accidental contact with water or moisture can cause wood to swell and permanently warp.
Natural wood used to produce lumber also is becoming more and more scarce, especially in larger sizes, due to the depletion of old growth forests. This scarcity naturally leads to reduction in quality and/or to the rising cost of conventional lumber and of the homes and businesses built with lumber.
This application also relates to cellulosic, composite articles. One type of composite article is a wood composite such as a man-made board of bonded wood elements and/or lignocellulosic materials, commonly referred to in the art by the following exemplary terms: fiberboards such as hardboard, medium density fiberboard, and softboard; chipboards such as particleboard, waferboard, strandboard, OSB, and plywood. Wood composites also include man-made boards comprising combinations of these materials.
Many different methods of manufacturing OSB are known in the art, such as, for example, those described in Chapter 4.3 of the Wood Reference Handbook, published by the Canadian Wood Council, and The Complete Manual of Woodworking, by Albert Jackson, David Day and Simon Jennings, the disclosures of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
The first step in producing a wood composite is to obtain and sort the logs, which may be aspen, balsam fir, beech, birch, cedar, elm, locust, maple, oak, pine, poplar, spruce, or combinations thereof. The logs may be soaked in hot water ponds to soften the wood for debarking. Once debarked, the logs are then machined into strands by mechanical cutting means. The strands thus produced are stored in wet bins prior to drying. Once dried to a consistent moisture content, the strands are generally screened to reduce the amount of fine particles present. The strands, sometimes referred to as the filler-material, are then mixed in a blending operation, adding a resin binder, wax, and any desired performance-enhancing additives to form the composite raw material, sometimes called the furnish. The resin-coated or resin-sprayed strands then are deposited onto a forming line, which arranges the strands to form a loosely felted mat. The mat thus formed also can be referred to as an array of strands. The mat, including one or more layers of strands arranged with a selected orientation (including, for example, a random orientation), is then conveyed into a press. The press consolidates the mat under heat and pressure, polymerizing the resin and binding the strands together to form a consolidated array of strands with other additives, including the binder. The boards are then conveyed out of press into sawing operations which trim the boards to size.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of making a composite building material


At least one pair of first pockets (12A, 12D) are formed in the inner peripheral surface of a housing (1). The first pockets (12A, 12D) are arranged away from each other in a circumferential direction of the housing (1). Planetary gears (3A, 3B) meshed with one pair of side gears (2A, 2B) are rotatably received in the first pockets (12A, 12D), respectively. Second pockets 12B, 12C are formed in the inner peripheral surface of the housing (1) between the first pockets (12A, 12D). Transfer gears (4A, 4B) are rotatably received respectively in the second pockets (12B, 12C). The transfer gears (4A, 4B) are in meshing engagement with the planetary gears (3A, 3B) respectively, and also in meshing engagement with each other.

In general, parallel-axis gear differentials comprise, as disclosed in International Publication No. WO93/02300 and WO93/02301, a housing driven for rotation, one pair of side gears rotationally arranged within the housing on an axis of rotation thereof, and at least one pair of planet gears arranged within the housing in parallel relation with the axis of rotation thereof. The planetary gears of each pair are in meshing engagement with each other and also meshed with the respective side gears.
The one pair of planetary gears are rotatably received respectively in pockets formed in the housing. By utilizing a frictional resistance generated between an outer peripheral surface of each planetary gear and an inner peripheral surface of each pocket, a driving torque transmitted to the housing is distributed to the one pair of side gears in accordance with a prescribed torque bias (hereinafter referred to as the "TBR"). Factors for determining the largeness of the TBR include a frictional resistance between the housing and an end face of each side gear, a frictional resistance between the end faces of adjacent side gears, a frictional resistance between teeth of the gears which are in meshing engagement with each other, and the like. A frictional resistance between an outer peripheral surface of each planetary gear and an inner peripheral surface of the pocket is one main factor for determining the largeness of the TBR.
In the above conventional parallel-axis gear differential, there is involved such a problem that a large TBR is unobtainable.
That is, as shown in FIG. 16, presuming that the housing is driven for rotation in a direction as indicated by an arrow, thrust forces F1, F2 attributable to the meshing engagement between the side gears S1, S2 and the planetary gears P1, P2, and between the planetary gears P1 and P2 are acted on the planetary gears P1, P2. The thrust forces F1, F2 cause the planetary gears P1, P2 to be urged against inner peripheral surface of each pocket (not shown) to thereby generate a frictional resistance between the outer peripheral surfaces of the planetary gears P1, P2 and the inner peripheral surfaces of the pockets. Accordingly, in order to obtain a large TBR, it is necessary to increase the thrust forces F1, F2.
The thrust force F1 is a sum of vectors of meshing engagement reaction forces Fs1, Fp1 acting between the planetary gear P1 and the side gear S1, and between the planetary gear P1 and the planetary gear P2, while the thrust force F2 is a sum of vectors of meshing engagement reaction forces Fs2, Fp2 acting between the planetary gear P2 and the side gear S2, and between the planetary gear P2 and the planetary gear P1. In this case, the thrust force F1 acting on the planetary gear P1 becomes large because the meshing engagement reaction forces Fs1, Fp1 are oriented generally in the same direction, but the thrust force F2 acting on the planetary gear P2 is very small compared with the thrust force F1 because the meshing engagement reaction forces Fs2, Fps are oriented generally in opposite directions. Accordingly, it is only one of the paired planetary gears P1, P2 that contributes the TBR. For this reason, there is involved in the conventional parallel-axis gear differential that a large TBR is unobtainable.
If a number, n (n.gtoreq.2) pairs, of the planetary gears P1, P2 should be provided, it would be possible to increase the number of the planetary gears P1, P2 which can contribute to the TBR compared with the case where only one pair of the planetary gears Pa, P2 are provided. However, if a number, n pairs of the planetary gears P1, P2 should be provided, the thrust forces acting on the respective planetary gears P1, P2 become 1/n compared with the case where only one pair of the planetary gears P1, P2 are provided. Accordingly, the TBR can not be increased.


Methods and apparatus, including computer program products, for gift card services. In general, data characterizing a request to provide a merchant credit service to an intended recipient is received and a message to be sent to the intended recipient is generated, where the message characterizes a phone number to call to activate the merchant credit service. Data characterizing authentication by a call to the phone number to activate the merchant credit service from the mobile phone number of the intended recipient is received, where the authentication includes checking caller identification of the call to ensure the call is from the mobile phone number of the intended recipient. The merchant credit service is activated. Credit associated with an account of a merchant credit service may be redeemed by providing an account number of the service. Redemption may be authorized based on caller identification of a mobile phone number associated with an account.

The present disclosure relates to data processing by digital computer, and more particularly to gift card services for mobile devices.
Gift cards may provide a form of payment for a particular merchant that may be used at a point of sales. For example, a clothing retailer may issue plastic gift cards that include magnetic strips similar to credit cards, where the gift cards are associated with credit to pay for purchases. A shopper may buy a gift card from the retailer and give it to a friend. Then, the friend may try to purchase clothing from the retailer by using the gift card, where the gift card may be swiped through a point of sales terminal similar to sleeping of a credit card. At the retailer, backend systems may determine whether a sufficient amount of credit exists for the gift card and the purchase may be wholly or partially paid by credit associated with the gift card.


There is provided a system including a housing configured to be grasped by a hand, a determination unit configured to determine whether an object point is present in a vicinity of an electronic apparatus, a recognition unit configured to recognize a relative relationship between the object point and a position of the electronic apparatus when the determination unit has determined that the object point is present in the vicinity, and a stimulation control unit configured to perform control in a manner that a stimulus is provided to a hand in accordance with the recognized relative relationship.

The present disclosure relates to a system, an electronic apparatus, and a recording medium.
In recent years, navigation technology has been known that has display for navigating a user to a destination in a mobile terminal such as a mobile phone.
For example, a navigation device for an exhibition described in JP 2011-75292A displays navigation information that includes a travelling direction toward a navigation position, based on the current position information and the direction information of the navigation device and the navigation position information read out from a medium such as a pamphlet.
A position display system described in JP 2002-286493A derives, as a route leading to a destination, an optimal route in terms of a user's fate, which is determined as a lucky route in directionology, based on the position information of a portable terminal and the position information of the destination. A portable terminal according to the present system displays the derived optimal route in terms with a user's fate on a display in the form of a letter or a diagram.
A mobile terminal described in JP 2003-194571A calculates a relative direction of a destination according to the direction of the terminal, which is displayed using a display medium.
A route navigation device described in JP 2007-51872A selects a route to a destination in accordance with a user's health condition, and displays an image indicating the selected route to guide the user.

System, electronic apparatus, and recording medium


The 3D image generation with position-sensing gamma probe utilizes a gamma probe connected to a control unit. The control unit is also connected to a display unit. A probe contact surface feeds position information to the display unit. The gamma probe is moved across a region of interest over the probe contact surface, generating position-dependent gamma rates with the help of the control unit. The probe contact surface is utilized to determine the position of the probe head and provides position information, which, together with the gamma rate, enables generation of a rate map in the display unit. This allows producing 2D and 3D images of gamma activity concentrations and assures proper recording of scan data. The scanning area of interest is pre-defined by frames having shapes and contours optimized for intended applications. 2D and 3D images can be obtained in a single scanning cycle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to gamma ray imaging devices, and particularly to 3D image generation with position-sensing gamma probe that allows localizing the probe in space relative to the area to be mapped.
2. Description of the Related Art
Gamma cameras are used for numerous applications, including medical diagnosis, pharmacological studies, environmental investigations, industrial quality inspection, and nuclear non-proliferation monitoring. Fundamental science areas, such as atomic and nuclear physics, geology, biology and medicine, rely heavily on gamma imaging probes as well. The drawback of gamma rays as imaging agents is the non-availability of optical lenses for generating focused images.
Thus, 3D image generation with position-sensing gamma probe solving the aforementioned problems is desired.


An apparatus for generating a fingerprint of a digital medium having a partial decoder for generating a partially decoded form of a compressed datastream, feature extractor for extracting at least one invariant feature from the partially decoded form, a fingerprint calculator for computing at least one fingerprint from the extracted invariant feature. An apparatus for authenticating fingerprints and methods for generating and authenticating fingerprints.

Evolution of the Internet has caused an enormous increase in the use of digital media. Internet has become the primary channel for transmitting digital data to distant locations. A digital media such as digital audio, digital video, and digital images can be easily created, edited, converted and delivered using a computer connected to the Internet. Consequently, digital medium has faced problems of piracy as described next.
Pirates now have easy access to the tools necessary to make illegal copies and unauthorized use of proprietary material contained in a digital medium. For example, music is rampantly pirated in the form of MP3 format files, which are easily created and illegally proliferated with a minimal skill level. For example, a pirate can copy a piece of music stored on a compact disk (CD) and convert it into MP3 format files using generic and freely available tools. The pirate then uses a peer-to-peer file-sharing network to freely distribute such MP3 format files on a worldwide scale. Thus, there is a need for a mechanism by which the rightful owner of an electronic content can robustly control copying, secure copyrights, prevent illegal distribution, and provide easy tracking of pirated materials. Many techniques are known for content protection purposes. An overview of the field of fingerprinting as for content security applications is discussed next.
Methods for controlling use of electronic materials exist. One such family of methods is termed as "media fingerprinting". Fingerprinting refers to the technology that extracts a fingerprint of and from a source medium. The extracted fingerprint may then be stored on a variety of different storage mechanisms like databases or data-stores for subsequent use in tracking copies of the source medium. A fingerprint of a medium is a small and unique mark or characteristic of the medium from which the mark is generated or extracted from. The fingerprint is small in size as compared to the source media datastream. A given fingerprint is also unique as compared to all other fingerprints in the database(s) or data-stores. It usually can be used to identify the source medium. It can also be used to determine the originality of a piece of medium. In general, the criteria for a successful media fingerprinting include uniqueness as well as robustness, i.e., robustness against common processing noise. Desirable features of a fingerprint in the context of various operations carried out on the medium are described next.
The fingerprint should not change after a given medium undergoes processing such as compression, scaling, blurring, reprinting, etc. These common signal-processing tasks often do not alter the overall structure or the overall appearance of the medium data; however, each such processing task would alter the details of the medium data to various degrees. Therefore, there is a need for a robust representation of medium content, so that the representation is invariant against common processing noises, and can preserve the fingerprint under any common signal processing. Security aspects of fingerprinting are described next.
At times, it is also desirable to have survivability towards certain intentional attacks. That is, ideally, any processing on the medium that does not change the perceptual content of the medium should not change the fingerprint. For instance, a fingerprint of a song in a digital form should not change without distorting the music. Media fingerprinting is an effective and easy to implement technique for protecting electronic content stored on a digital medium. There is a need for an implementation of a fingerprinting method, which is commercially viable, low cost, and operates in a real-time mode. Various known approaches to fingerprinting and their limitations are as described next.
One approach toward fingerprinting embeds fingerprint data in a source medium and then uses a decoding medium to recover the original medium. This approach is often termed as "active fingerprinting". For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,859,920 to Daly et al. creates an encoded source image embedded with source data. Active fingerprint typically accompanies the source media data; hence, there is no need to connect to a network for fingerprint verification. The drawback, however, is that when the source medium is altered, the fingerprint can easily get lost. It is sometimes desirable to transform the source medium in a content preserving way in order to adapt to different application requirements and networking conditions. For instance, compression and transcoding are among the most frequently used transformations.
Another approach is termed as "passive fingerprinting". Passive fingerprinting refers to the system and method that saves the extracted fingerprint in a remote secure server. Technologies dealing with passive fingerprints are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,918,223 to Blum, et al., discloses forming a vector of features from audio files. However, this approach is not directed to compressed media.
A digital medium is often stored, processed or transmitted in a variety of compressed formats. Compressed formats for contents stored on digital media are preferred due to huge sizes of electronic media files. Storing and processing such huge files is a complex and slow process. Thus, there is a need for an apparatus and method for authenticating and securing electronic media existing in the compressed format. Such apparatus and method should operate in a speedy manner to process large media file sizes for real-time or streaming applications.
Therefore, is a need for a robust fingerprinting apparatus and method. The fingerprinting apparatus and method should generate unique fingerprints that are robust against common processing noise. Further, the fingerprint should be able to survive certain intentional attacks.

Apparatus and method for fingerprinting digital media

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


An intermediate frequency gain and rectifying stage for an IF system is implemented with a high swing folded-casecode structure terminated into a current-mirror load. The signal-path outputs are derived from the current-mirror loads, and the rectification and current-limiting RSSI functions are performed with two additional constant-current sources and two additional current-mirror loads. One load current from one leg or current path of the signal-path gain-stage is mirrored into a constant-current source and a second current-mirror structure. A second leg or current path of the signal-path gain-stage is likewise mirrored into yet another constant-current source and another current-mirror structure. When the input signal is not present, the load currents in the signal-path gain-stage are equal and the rectified output signal on an output node IOUT is constant or set to zero. With a differential input signal present, the load currents in the signal-path gain-stage produce a plus delta-current and minus delta-current. The plus delta-current, which represents a difference between the current in one of the legs of the signal-path gain-stage and the current of a corresponding constant current source, is mirrored to generate the RSSI current output signal at the IOUT node. Likewise, during the negative-half input-cycle the signal-path load currents are again mirrored and only the plus delta-load-current is rectified and output on the output node IOUT.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to radio frequency and intermediate frequency communications systems, and more particularly to intermediate frequency gain stage circuitry and rectifying circuitry of a radio frequency system receiver.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the dramatic advances of deep submicron CMOS technology, the ability to integrate more and more radio functions into one piece of silicon is becoming possible. Radio functions within integrated circuits are generally partitioned into either an RF (radio frequency) chip and an IF (intermediate frequency) chip, or are partitioned into independent transmitter and receiver chips. Traditionally, RF and IF chips have been implemented in a BiCMOS, Bipolar, or Gallium Arsenide (GA) technology. However, more recently, these functions are being implemented in CMOS technology.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram that illustrates a typical sub-section of an IF system. The basic function of the sub-section is to provide large amounts of gain between the differential inputs, IM and IP, and differential outputs, OP and OM, and to produce a linear output on node IOUT with logarithmic changes of power on the inputs IP and IM. An IF signal path is therefore formed between the differential inputs IM and IP and differential outputs OP and OM. The function of the IF signal path is to prepare the relatively low amplitude incoming signal for demodulation by giving it many decibels of gain and filtering. The linear output on node IOUT is used to generate a receive signal strength indicator (RSSI) signal which is typically employed for choosing an incoming channel that has the highest strength and yields the optimum signal to noise performance for the receiver. The voltage range, or power range, of the incoming signal varies so greatly that a logarithmic RSSI is required to function within the limited voltage range of integrated circuits.
The IF signal path of the limiter includes a plurality of serially coupled gain stages 11A-11E. Each limiter stage 11 has a fixed amount of gain, such as 12 db, and a limited voltage swing, such as 0.4 volts. As the input power increases on the inputs IP and IM, the last limiter stage 11E will reach clipping first. Likewise, limiter stages 11D, 11C, 11B and 11A will each reach a clipping level in order in intervals of the interstage gain. The intent of the IF signal path is to produce a voltage-limited square-wave like output signal on outputs OP and OM that can be converted to digital logic levels with a simple comparator.
The circuitry used to generate the linear output on node IOUT includes a plurality of RSSI rectifying stages 13A-13E. Each RSSI rectifying stage 13 operates similar to the gain stages II in the IF signal path, but outputs a limited rectified current at intervals of the interstage gain. Rectifying stage 13E is the first output stage to output a limited rectified current as a function of the input power, and rectifying stages 13D, 13C, 13B and 13A each follow with corresponding increases in input power. By terminating node IOUT into a resistive load, the rectified current is converted into a rectified voltage. The effect of cascading multiple current-limited rectifying stages creates a piecewise linear approximation of a logarithmic function. FIG. 2 depicts the RSSI function as a function of input power and FIG. 3 illustrates the transient response on the last three gain stages 11C, 11D and 11E of the IF signal path for a fixed sinusoidal input.
FIGS. 4 and 5 are schematic diagrams that illustrate circuitry for implementing each gain stage and each rectifying stage 13, respectively, of the IF system of FIG. 1. The limiter stage 11 of FIG. 4 is a simple differential-pair circuit with a diode-connected load, where the input pair transistors MN1 and MN2 are of the same type as the load transistors MN3 and MN4. The basic idea of this architecture is to get a voltage gain relationship from the gm of transistors MN1 and MN2 to the gm of transistors MN3 and MN4. This performs well from an AC perspective but has limitations with respect to the common-mode voltage. In order to get more gain from the circuit, the size of transistors MN3 and MN4 must be decreased or the current through transistors MN1 and MN2 must be increased. By increasing the tail current in transistor MN0, the current through transistors MN1 and MN2 may be increased, but the gain will not change appreciably because the same current is in the loads MN3 and MN4. Hence, the best way to increase gain is to increase the ratio of transistor size MN1 and MN2 with respect to the size of transistors MN3 and MN4. This creates another difficulty in that the input-pair transistors MN1 and MN2 desirably operate with a common mode voltage closer to the supply voltage AVCC. However, as transistors MN3 and MN4 are decreased in size the drain to source voltage increases and forces transistors MN1 and MN2 to operate with a common mode voltage closer to a VSS. The effects of input and output common mode voltage can best be seen by cascading multiple gain stages as illustrated in FIG. 1. This results in design tradeoffs between gain and common-mode operation, thus create difficulties for a manufacturable circuit.
The rectifying circuit of FIG. 5 performs the current rectification and limiting function of each rectifying stage 13 of FIG. 1. When the input signal is not present, the circuit produces a constant output current, Ir, which is proportional to the differential tail current "I". The tail-current I is divided between the first differential pair of transistors MN5 and MN6 and further divided between the second differential pair formed with transistors MN1, MN2, MN3, and MN4. The p-channel diode-connected transistors MP1 and MP2 define the loads for the second differential pair devices. The use of two differential pair circuits and the redirection of current for positive and negative input signals create the rectified output signal on IOUT. Lastly, the implementation of using one common tail-current elegantly produces a current-limited output as well. This circuit can perform adequately, but it is difficult to bias both sets of input pair devices, and the fact that it uses a completely different gain stage from the IF signal path induces potential problems. Furthermore, this circuit does not use any casecode structures. Thus, current mirroring mismatches and reduced power supply rejection can lead to reduction in the overall system performance.

Intermediate frequency gain stage with rectifier


In one embodiment, an electrochemical battery system performs optimized charging of a battery. The electrochemical battery system includes at least one electrochemical cell, a memory storing command instructions, and a controller operably connected to the memory and a current source. The controller executes the command instructions to generate a first prediction of at least one state parameter corresponding to an internal state of the at least one electrochemical cell in the event that a first input current is applied to the at least one electrochemical cell for a predetermined time based upon a present state of the at least one state parameter in the electrochemical cell, determine a second input current based on the first prediction and at least one predetermined state parameter constraint, and control the current source to apply the second input current to the at least one electrochemical cell.

Currently, Li-ion based batteries are believed to be the most promising battery system for HEV/PHEV/EV applications due to their high energy density, lack of hysteresis and low self-discharge currents. However, a formidable challenge lies in fast charging of Li-ion batteries where standard charging techniques such as CC-CV, if used for fast charging, can result in damage to the battery due to the large currents passed through the battery. These large currents result in overpotentials and mechanical stress in the battery that can accelerate the aging process of the battery and resulting in reduced lifetime.
There is an increasing trend towards the electrification of the automobile, and most car manufacturers have announced plans to produce plug-in hybrid and electric vehicles. Besides other technological challenges, one important aspect of an electric vehicle is the time needed to recharge the battery pack. Advanced battery management systems need to provide adequate charging strategies for refueling the battery pack in a fast and reliable manner.
Although it is widely recognized that an appropriate charging strategy of the battery is critical for preventing damage and performance degradation, in general only current and voltage limits are considered during the charging process. For example, voltage limits may be too conservative for new batteries and possibly inappropriate for use with aged batteries due to the changed behavior.
Most charging strategies are ad hoc methods, where certain design parameters determine the major part of some rule based control design. Fast charging of batteries is a popular research topic in the field of electrochemistry, however, this problem has received very little attention in the field of control systems. Popular charging strategies are constant-current/constant-voltage (CC/CV), pulse current charging, and pulse voltage charging, with CC/CV being the most wide-spread method to recharge Li-ion batteries. However, the existing approaches fail to achieve a maximum performance as determined by the electrochemistry of the battery.
In an ideal battery, and without limitation of the charging unit, one could pass all the charge needed to bring a battery from one state of charge (SOC) to another SOC instantaneously. Kinetic limitations in real batteries, however, allow only a finite current to be passed through a battery. Many internal processes of the battery have an influence on the charge transfer capabilities, e.g. finite diffusion rate of lithium ions in the electrolyte, reduction/oxidation of materials other than the active material, formation of resistive films on the active particle surface, and charge transfer limitation between the electrolyte and the active material. The faster the charge transfer is forced to happen, the more strongly these processes affect the health of the battery. Cell manufacturers thus always provide additional information about utilization constraints on their cells. These constraints mostly involve limits on the maximum charge or discharge current, limits of lower and upper cut-off voltages, and the operating temperature domain. Some manufacturers provide these limits at different operating ambient temperatures. All these limits are geared towards the CC/CV charging method, and hence are rather conservative, since the limits are specified for the complete lifetime of the battery.
In light of the foregoing limitations, improved methods for charging batteries, and lithium-ion batteries in particular, that reduce the time required to charge the battery while avoiding excessive degradation and aging of the battery during the charging process would be beneficial. Additionally, systems for controlling the charging process for batteries in an improved manner would be beneficial.

System and method for fast charging of lithium-ion batteries with improved safety


A fastener assembly for securing a first panel member to a second panel member in a spaced-apart relationship. The fastener comprises a tubular shank portion having first and second end portions, a cavity being formed in the shank portion. A first spring member is secured on the outside of the shank portion and has openings near the first end of the shank portion to enable steel ball members to protrude therefrom. Inside the shank portion cavity is a stepped pin member that is spring loaded and held in place by a combination of the shank portion spring ball retention feature and step angles formed on the pin member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvements in assembly line type fastener assemblies wherein the fastener can be both quickly installed and released.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Many systems wherein at least two members are mechanically joined require that the members be capable of being fastened together and separated quickly and simply for maintainability purposes. For example, in the assembly of an automotive airbag to the steering column and wheel, the air bag mechanism typically is attached by four screws that are threaded into tubular standoffs that are attached to a plate that the airbag is secured to. As the airbag is one of the last items to be assembled on the almost finished vehicle, its accessibility is very limited. Therefore the time required to assemble the airbag to the steering wheel assembly is longer than desired because the screws have to be inserted from behind the steering wheel. The convenience of installation is severely hampered due to the natural obstructions that accompany any automobile such as a gear selector lever, the turn signal stalk, the steering wheel post shroud and the proximity of the dashboard. The installation may also require the steering wheel to be rotated to a certain position in order to access all four holes; in addition the aligning of the screw to its mating threads in a blind application is difficult. The same problems occur during the check out cycle of a malfunction occurs or at a later time during normal servicing at the dealer's facility. The current practice of locating the holes for the airbag assembly and to install the four screws is slow and expensive.
The reduction in time required to remove the installed airbag, i.e., due to a mechanical defect or after deployment is more than desired due both to the absence of a trained mechanic who normally installs airbags and to the cramped quarters which prohibits the use of power tools. The current time consuming system thus requires rotation of the steering wheel to certain positions to provide access and the unloosening and removal of the four screws.
A number of fastener assemblies for joining two members together which does not require the use of a nut are available in the prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,011,355 to Motoshige discloses a pushbutton type fastener which utilizes a stud assembly snap-fitted into one of two panels to be joined, a mating socket being snap fit to the other panel. The two components are secured together by pushing a stud in the stud assembly toward the socket. The stud assembly is released from the socket by rotating the stud enabling a spring to urge the stud out of its engagement with the socket.
Although the pushbutton fastener of the type illustrated in the Motoshige patent satisfactorily performs its function of releasably joining two panels together, the fastener requires a number of mechanical parts to perform its function, thus increasing its cost and complexity. In addition, certain applications such as the airbag installation/maintenance procedure noted hereinabove, requires access to the rear (non-head) portion of the fastener assembly to release it. Since the Motoshige type pushbutton fastener is releasable by rotating the head portion of the stud portion of the stud assembly, it would not be adaptable for use in that application.
What is therefore desired is to provide a pushbutton, or press fit, type fastener for releasably joining together two panels which is less complex, less expensive and wherein the fastener can be released by accessing the fastener at the end opposite the head of the stud.