In a multi-PHY, low power and lossy network comprising a plurality of nodes, a sender determines that a dwell time threshold limit for transmission of data will be exceeded by transmission of the data over a first network interface or that the recipient is unknown. The sender determines transmission parameters for the transmission of the data over the first network interface and transmits the transmission parameters to a receiver device over a second network interface that is different than the first network interface. The sender determines a channel on the first network interface for transmission of the data and transmits the determined channel with the transmission parameters to the receiver, or the receiver determines the channel on the first network interface for transmission of the data and transmits an indication of the determined channel to the sender in response to receiving the transmission parameters.

Constrained networks include, for example, Low power and Lossy Networks (LLNs), such as sensor networks. These constrained networks have a myriad of applications, such as Smart Grid, Smart Cities, home and building automation, etc. Various challenges are presented with LLNs, such as lossy links, low bandwidth, battery operation, low memory and/or processing capability, etc. Large-scale internet protocol (IP) smart object networks pose a number of technical challenges. For instance, the degree of density of such networks (such as Smart Grid networks with a large number of sensors and actuators, smart cities, or advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) networks) may be extremely high. For example, it is not rare for each node to see several hundreds of neighbors. This architecture is particularly problematic for LLNs, where constrained links can wreak havoc on data transmission.
Network transmissions are often constrained by regulatory compliance and dwell time limitations that squelch transmissions when the transmission time on a given channel exceeds the specified dwell time. While the dwell time limitation ensures regulatory compliance, it can add unwanted delays.

Obtaining data reception parameters on-demand in a multiple interface network


A method for controlling radiation scattering, comprises: directing radiation to a metamaterial having an array of individually tunable and near field coupled resonators, varying an individual resonance frequency of at least one of the resonators to provide a collective resonance scattering of the radiation by the metamaterial, measuring a scattering signal of the collective resonance scattering of the radiation, and identifying the metamaterial based on the scattering signal.

The present invention, in some embodiments thereof, relates to radiation scattering and, more particularly, but not exclusively, to a method and system for controlling radiation scattering.
The verification of the authenticity of an item is often done by labelling the item with a distinguishable piece of identification. Traditionally, such identification is the label bearing the maker's name and product name, but the ability to reproduce such labels by counterfeiters has required more sophisticated solutions. Identification techniques currently used include engraving, holograms, two dimensional bar codes, referred to as QR codes, and integrated circuits commonly referred to as identification (ID) tags.
With the developed wireless technologies, diverse ID tag reading systems ranging from a prepayment bus card to a parking lot pass and a laboratory pass are used. The ID tag reading system includes a tag and a reader. The ID tag reading system operates in the method that the tag modulates the reflected radiation once the reader sends it. For example, in devices known as RFID tag systems, the tag data are transmitted as radiofrequency (RF) radiation. The reader can be formed in various terminals including smartphones and specially designed circuits. The tag can be implemented in the form of a card which a user can carry such as a pass and a bus card, or can be implemented in the form of a sticker which is attached to a product to transmit product information. Different types of tags for marking boxes, containers and other goods can be used in logistic applications, where management of storage is required.
Some ID tags include a battery embedded in the tag for supplying power for its operation. Other ID tags are of the passive type which generates an induced current using radiation transmitted from the reader. Passive tags in the form of a slim and light-weight card are generally used. As the passive tag does not need a battery, it can be miniaturized and low-priced. Tags with batteries can be subdivided into two categories (i) active tags that generate the radiation, and (ii) battery assisted tags that use the battery to power the electronic circuit only and not to generate the radiation. Battery assisted tags require substantially less energy from the battery compared to active tags.

Method and system for controlling radiation scattering


A method for displaying an image includes receiving an image having a first luminance dynamic range and modifying the image to a second luminance dynamic range free from being based upon other images, where the second dynamic range is greater than the first dynamic range. The modified image is displayed on a display.

The present application relates to increasing the dynamic range of images.
Many scenes existing in the real world inherently have extremely high dynamic range. For example, white paper in full sunlight has a luminance level of 30,000 cd/m^2, while white paper in the full moon has a luminance level of 0.01 cd/m^2, giving a dynamic range of 3 million to one (or 6.4 log units). The human eye can see even dimmer levels than 0.01 cd/m^2, so the visible range is even greater. In most situations, the dynamic range of a single scene is usually not this great, but it is frequently in excess of 5 log units. The human eye can only see 2-3 log units at a given instant, but is able to adjust the range via light adaptation, which can be less than a few seconds for the smaller adjustments, such as being able to go from reading a magazine in the sun to looking into the shadow under a car. More extreme range changes, such as going into a movie theatre from daylight, can take more than a minute.
Since traditional displays (both soft copy and hard copy) are not capable of displaying the full range luminances of the real world, a luminance mapping transfer is used to map from the dynamic range of the real world to the lower dynamic range of the display. Generally this mapping is performed in the image capture stage, and examples include the shoulder of D-Log-E curve for film, saturation for CCD sensors, or clipping in the A/D stages of such capture processes. These mapping functions are generally point processes, that is, ID functions of luminance that are applied per pixel (in the digital versions).
Computer graphics can generate images in floating point that match the luminances of the real world (generally, radiance approaches). In addition, some digital cameras similarly capture images with 12 to 16 bits per color. These are usually represented in a 16-bit format (examples: Radiance XYZ, OpenEXR, scRGB). But these digital images cannot be traditionally displayed without conversion to the lower dynamic range of the display. Generally the mapping algorithms for conversion from a greater to a lower dynamic range for the display capabilities are referred to as Tone Mapping Operators (TMO).
Tone Mapping Operators can be point processes, as mentioned for film and digital capture, but they can include spatial processes as well. Regardless of the type of TMO, all the approaches have traditionally been designed to go from a high dynamic range (HDR) image to a lower dynamic range (LDR) display (this term encompasses standard dynamic range, SDR).

High dynamic range images from low dynamic range images


A belt-conveying installation has at least one carrying structure, a conveying belt and at least one drive apparatus for driving the conveying belt. The drive apparatus includes at least one drive shaft, at least one drive-shaft-bearing arrangement, at least one drive roller and at least one independently excited drive motor in the form of a frequency-converter-fed alternating-current synchronous motor with a stator and a rotor. The drive shaft and the at least one drive motor are connected to one another without any gearing, and the rotor and drive shaft are arranged coaxially, each drive shaft being guided through at least one rotor. The belt-conveying installation can be operated and used for heavy industry, in particular for the extractive or mining industry.

The invention relates to a belt-conveying installation for heavy industry and a method for operating such a belt-conveying installation.
Known belt-conveying installations may have at least one support structure, a conveying belt and at least one drive apparatus for driving the conveying belt. The drive apparatus in this case might include at least one drive shaft, at least one drive shaft bearing arrangement, at least one drive roller and at least one independently excited drive motor in the form of an alternating current synchronous motor which is fed by a frequency converter and has a stator and a rotor, wherein the drive shaft and the at least one drive motor are connected to one another without any gearing and wherein rotor and drive shaft are arranged coaxially. Such a belt-conveying installation is already installed at the Prosper-Haniel underground mine in Bottrop, Germany, for example, for the purpose of transporting extracted coal to the surface. A detailed description of this belt-conveying installation is disclosed in the company brochure entitled "Advanced Drive System Saves Up to 20% Energy" and published by Siemens Aktiengesellschaft (Order No. A19199-E273-B198-X-7600). The belt-conveying installation has two drive motors with a nominal power of more than 3000 kW each. The drive shaft for the conveying belt has at its end face a plurality of pegs, which are oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drive shaft and onto which the rotor of the drive motor is laterally mounted.
A so-called direct drive is used here, no components being provided between drive motor(s) and drive shaft for the purpose of converting the rotational speed of the rotor into a different rotational speed of the drive shaft. The drive shaft therefore rotates at the same rotational speed as predetermined by the rotor or rotors. Both the drive shaft and the stator of the drive motor are arranged on a stable support structure in order to ensure that the gap dimension required for correct motor operation is maintained between rotor and stator. In such an application, the gap dimension between rotor and stator usually has a value of 5 to 15 mm. In order to ensure correct motor operation, an acceptable displacement between rotor and stator is usually in the range of 10 to 15% of the gap dimension.
The rotor used in this context due to the necessarily high nominal power of the drive motor weighs several tons, and therefore the bearings required for the drive shaft are so configured as to be correspondingly stable and the pegs on the end face of the drive shaft are subjected to an enormous load. Any change in the physical position of the belt-conveying installation in a mining operation therefore presents problems because the gap dimension must be reliably maintained at all times.

Belt-conveying installation, method for operating the same, and use thereof

THYSSENKRUPP INDUSTRIAL SOLUTIONS (USA), INC.


The invention relates to a radial blower for a cleaning device for a combine harvester, with several component blowers, where each of the blowers is arranged in an associated housing, each of which is connected to a wind duct that during operation guides the air stream generated by the component blower to the cleaning device, wherein the wind ducts have side walls that are connected with convex curvature to the side walls of the housing of the component blowers and wherein the side walls of adjacent wind ducts are connected to each other at the end facing toward the cleaning device, in which the side walls of the wind duct have a convex curvature over their length.

Radial blowers are used for applying air streams to sieves and optionally to cascading sieves in the cleaning devices of self-propelled combine harvesters. The air stream allows a separation of the heavy grains from lighter particles, such as chaff, and it should have as-even-as-possible an intensity over the width of the cleaning device, so that the desired cleaning effect can be achieved over the entire width of the sieves.
Besides radial blowers with a housing that extends over the width of the cleaning device in which several paddles attached on a rotating shaft are circumferentially offset from each other (DE 504 189 A), or with paddles that extend nearly over the width of the housing (EP 1 389 416 A), radial blowers have been proposed that consist of several component blowers arranged next to each other in separate housings. The component blowers comprise paddles arranged on a shaft that passes through all the housings. The housings have lateral inlet openings that are adjacent to the shaft and wind ducts that radially from the paddles towards the cleaning device.
Such a radial blower is described in DE 29 22 607 C. The side walls of the wind ducts extend in a straight line outward and form an obtuse angle with the lateral housing walls in each case, so that the cross section of the wind ducts broadens to form a funnel toward the cleaning. Adjacent side walls of the wind ducts are connected to each other by short front walls. The front walls are absent in DE 24 23 917 A and U.S. Pat. No. 2,954,123 A because there the side walls of the wind ducts are connected directly to each other.
In DE 14 03 495 A, which is considered to be the generic case, the side walls of the wind ducts broaden outward in the shape of an S. The side walls of the wind ducts are connected with a convex curvature to the side walls of the housing of the component blower. The convex curvature then transitions, approximately in the middle of the length of the side walls of the wind ducts, into a concave curvature, so that the mentioned S shape is produced. The front walls are omitted because the ends of the side walls are connected directly to each other. This arrangement is said to have been designed using fluidics.
To further improve the evenness of the transverse distribution of the intensity of the wind, DE 102 46 858 A proposes to extend the side walls of the wind ducts in a straight-line extension of the side walls of the associated blower housing, and to connect the adjacent side walls of the wind ducts to each other by a front surface that extends at a right angle from the side walls of the associated blower housing. In embodiments, radii are provided in the connection area between the side walls of the wind ducts and the front wall, or the front surface is designed in a shape of an arc of a circle.

Combine harvester blower having convex wind channel side walls


A process comprising (1) polymerizing an organic phase of monomer in the presence of a carboxylic acid, an oil soluble chain transfer agent, and a partially water soluble chain transfer agent; and which polymerizing is accomplished in the presence of (2) an aqueous phase containing a nonionic surfactant, and an anionic surfactant, and wherein there is added to the aqueous phase an aqueous initiator solution of an inorganic persulfate, and wherein the resulting latex contains particles of polymer with carboxylic acid; aggregating said latex particles with colorant; thereafter adding an effective amount of anionic surfactant and heating the mixture resulting about equal to, or about above the polymer Tg resulting from said monomer, or said monomers.

The present invention is generally directed to aqueous ink compositions. More specifically, the present invention is directed to colored, especially pigmented aqueous ink compositions particularly suitable for use in ink jet printing processes, and especially thermal ink jet processes. In embodiments, the present invention is directed to processes for the preparation of anionically charged latexes with properties that enable the breakdown, or reduction in size of formed aggregates of latex and colorant, especially pigment particles upon aggregation and coalescence to provide submicron to micron sized pigmented particles in the size range of, for example, from about 0.3 to about 2, or about 1.5 microns (volume average throughout) as measured by a disk centrifuge.
The present invention is specifically directed to the preparation of latexes by, for example, batch or semibatch emulsion polymerization processes, wherein the parameters, such as temperature, monomer composition, chain transfer agent (CTA) type and concentration, and type and concentration of surfactant, permit products with colloidal or surface properties that result in submicron pigmented particles when aggregated and coalesced. The process for the preparation of an anionically charged latex comprised of resin, or polymer particles suspended in water, involves the mixing and selection of a suitable latex, and a water soluble initiator, which initiator provides for the majority of the surface charge on the latex. The charge is not believed to be primarily directed by the oil soluble initiator which is less ionic. The latex is combined with a dispersion of colorant, especially pigment, in an aqueous mixture containing an aqueous surfactant, such as a cationic surfactant, which surfactant is present in suitable amounts, such as for example, from about 0.5 weight percent throughout unless otherwise indicated, to about 10 percent and shearing this mixture in the presence of the latex mixture comprised of suspended submicron resin particles of from, for example, about 0.01 to about 0.8 micron in volume average diameter in an aqueous solution containing anionic surfactant, which surfactant is selected, for example, in an amount of from about 0.5 percent to about 10 percent, and nonionic surfactants selected in amounts of from about 0.02 percent to about 10 weight percent. The resultant mixture comprised of a flocculation of polymer, or resin and colorant, especially pigment particles, is then vigorously mixed with a high speed shearing device, followed by heating at, for example, from about 5 to about 40.degree. C. below the resin, or polymer Tg resulting in the formation of electrostatically bound aggregates of from about 0.5 to about 5 microns in volume average diameter, and which particles are comprised of colorant, such as pigment and polymer, followed by the optional, but preferable addition of a surfactant or stabilizer, and thereafter, heating the formed aggregates above about the polymer Tg, wherein the formed aggregates breakdown, or are separated and reduced to particles of resin and colorant suitable for ink jet inks. Breakdown refers to a change, especially reduction in size, or separation of the formed aggregates into about submicron to about micron sized particles containing colorant, wherein the size thereof is, for example, in the range of from about 0.3 to about 2.5 microns and preferably in the range of from about 0.3 to about 1.5 microns.
The present invention is further directed to processes wherein the amount of anionic surfactant, the type of anionic surfactant, the concentration of the water soluble initiator, the concentration of the chain transfer agent, such as carbon tetrabromide, and the amount of acrylic acid or methacrylic acid results in latexes with certain properties which when aggregated and coalesced result in a breakdown of the aggregates to submicron colorant, such as pigmented particles suitable for ink jet processes.
The latex can be prepared by batch or semibatch polymerization processes, wherein in the batch polymerization process the addition of (1) an organic phase comprised of monomers, such as styrene, butyl acrylates, methacrylates, and the like, an oil soluble CTA (charge transfer agent), such as dodecanethiol, and the partial water soluble component, such as carbon tetrabromide and the acrylic or methacrylic acid, to (2) an aqueous phase containing an anionic surfactant, such as sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (SDBS), and a nonionic surfactant, such as nanophenol ethoxylates, for example ANTAROX 897.TM., and emulsified for an effective period of time, for example from about 5 to about 20, and preferably about 10 minutes, prior to the addition of the initiator, such as potassium or ammonium persulfate and mixed, followed by polymerizing the monomers at a suitable temperature, for example, by heating at from about 60.degree. C. to about 80.degree. C. for a period of, for example, from about 6 to about 8 hours. The semibatch polymerization can provide greater process latitude for synthesizing custom latexes suitable for ink jet applications, primarily since, for example, a fraction of the organic and aqueous phases are added initially and the remainder is added over a period of time during the polymerization. Therefore, a greater control on the monomer composition, the distribution of the acrylic acid, the charge of the latex particles, and the like can be readily obtained since the feed composition to the reactor composition can be custom tailored to provide suitable ink requirements. Furthermore, the type of anionic surfactant at relatively the same concentration, for example from about 0.5 weight percent to about 10 percent, or parts can also result in the formation of submicron pigmented particles suitable for ink jet applications during coalescence by the known emulsion/aggregation processes, reference for example the patents recited herein.
In embodiments, the present invention also resides in processes for the preparation of submicron colorant, such as pigmented particles, wherein the latex possesses a zeta potential of from about -85 to about -120 millivolts (mV) and contains submicron resin particles, anionic, such as NEOGEN R.TM., and nonionic surfactant, such as ANTAROX 897.TM., and is blended together with a colorant, especially pigment dispersion containing submicron pigment particles and cationic surfactant, such as SANIZOL B.TM., at speeds of from about 500 to about 5,000 rpm, where the zeta potential of the blend formed is in the range of from about -45 to about -55 mV, followed by heating the mixture to a suitable temperature of, for example, from about 5 to about 20 degrees below the resin Tg to form aggregates of pigment and resin particles having a size of from about 0.5 to about 5 microns in volume average diameter. Anionic stabilizer is then added to the mixture to increase the zeta potential of the aggregates to from about -75 to about -90 mV, and the temperature of the mixture is increased to from about 5 to about 50 degrees above the resin Tg, resulting in a breakdown of the aggregates into colorant, such as pigmented particles suitable for thermal ink jet methods.
Embodiments of the present invention also include the elimination of the anionic surfactant which is added to the aggregates and prior to coalescence by modifying the surface or colloidal properties thereof and wherein such latexes when aggregated result in a zeta potential which is equal to that of the mixture that contained the additional anionic stabilizer, which when coalesced also results in an aggregate reduction, or breakdown; a process for the preparation of latexes which have surface colloidal properties suitable for the formation of submicron pigmented particles wherein the desired surface colloidal properties are obtained by the manipulation of processing conditions, such as
(i) the sequence of addition of the monomers;
(ii) concentration of the components utilized;
(iii) the concentration of the carboxylic acid utilized, which is, for example, from about 3 to about 20 weight percent of the monomers and preferably in the range of about 5 to about 15 percent;
(iv) the type, the concentration and the purity of the anionic surfactant, such as sodium dodecyl benzene sulfonate, which can be either linear or branched; and/or
(v) the ratio of the carboxylic acid, such as acrylic acid or methacrylic acid, to the partially soluble water chain transfer agent, such as carbon tetrabromide, and which ratio is, for example, greater than about 1:0.5 by weight percent of the monomers; and wherein the monomers are polymerized in a nonionic/anionic surfactant solution utilizing a water soluble initiator, such as an inorganic persulfate such as ammonium persulfate, and an optional organic soluble initiator, such as an azobis compound, and wherein there results a resin with a weight average molecular weight of from about 10,000 to about 60,000 and preferably in the range of from about 20,000 to about 40,000, and a Tg of between about 20.degree. C. and about 60.degree. C., and preferably in the range of from about 25.degree. C. to about 50.degree. C.; whereupon such latexes when aggregated with submicron colorant, such as pigment particles, result in particle sizes of about 3 to about 5 microns; which when stabilized with an anionic surfactant to primarily retain the particle size of the aggregates upon further heating rather results in a breakdown of the preformed aggregates into colorant, such as pigmented particles, with a size diameter of from about 0.3 to about 2 microns, and which particles are, suitable for ink jet inks.
In another embodiment thereof, the present invention is directed to an in situ process comprised of first dispersing a colorant, especially pigment, such as SUNSPERSE BLUE.TM., in an aqueous mixture containing a cationic surfactant, such as dodecyl benzyl, dimethyl ammonium chloride (SANIZOL B-50.TM.), utilizing a high shearing device, such as a Brinkmann Polytron, microfluidizer or sonicator, thereafter shearing this mixture with a latex prepared as illustrated herein and comprised of suspended resin particles, such as poly(styrene butadiene acrylic acid), poly(styrene butylacrylate acrylic acid) or poly(styrene isoprene acrylic acid), and which particles are, for example, of a size ranging from about 0.01 to about 0.5 micron in volume average diameter as measured by the Brookhaven nanosizer or a Disk Centrifuge in an aqueous surfactant mixture containing an anionic surfactant, such as sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (for example NEOGEN R.TM. or NEOGEN SC.TM.), and a nonionic surfactant, such as alkyl phenoxy poly(ethyleneoxy)ethanol (for example IGEPAL 897.TM. or ANTAROX 897.TM.), thereby resulting in a flocculation, or heterocoagulation of the resin particles with the pigment particles; and which, on further stirring for from about 1 to about 3 hours while heating, for example, from about 35 to about 45C, results in the formation of statically bound aggregates ranging in size of from about 0.2 micron to about 1.5 microns in average diameter size as measured by the Disk Centrifuge, where the size of the aggregated particles and their distribution can be controlled by the temperature of heating, for example from about 5.degree. C. to about 25.degree. C. below the resin Tg. Thereafter, there is added a colloidal stabilizer, such as additional anionic surfactant like sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (for example NEOGEN R.TM. or NEOGEN SC.TM.), in an amount of, for example, from about 0.2 to about 2 percent by weight of the aggregate suspension to prevent, or minimize further growth of the aggregates and heating the aggregate suspension from about 5.degree. C. to about 50.degree. C. above the resin Tg to provide for particle fusion or coalescence of the polymer and pigment particles yielding a suspension of pigmented latex composite particles in which various particle size diameters can be obtained, such as from about 0.1 to about 3, from about 0.2 to 1.5 microns, or submicron, that is about 1 micron, or less in volume average particle diameter. The aforementioned particle dispersions are especially useful for ink jet printing of colored images with excellent line and solid resolution.
While not being desired to be limited by theory, it is believed that the flocculation or heterocoagulation is caused by the partial neutralization of the colorant, such as pigment mixture containing the pigment and cationic surfactant absorbed on the pigment surface with the resin mixture containing the resin particles and anionic surfactant absorbed on the resin particles.
In another embodiment thereof, the present invention is directed to an in situ process comprised of first dispersing a pigment, such as SUNSPERSE BLUE.TM., in an aqueous mixture containing a cationic surfactant, such as dodecyl benzyl, dimethyl ammonium chloride (SANIZOL B-50.TM.), utilizing a high shearing device, such as a Brinkmann Polytron, microfluidizer or sonicator, thereafter shearing this mixture with a latex prepared as illustrated herein and comprised of suspended resin particles, such as poly(styrene butadiene acrylic acid), poly(styrene butylacrylate acrylic acid) or poly(styrene isoprene acrylic acid), and which particles are, for example, of a size ranging from about 0.01 to about 0.5 micron in volume average diameter as measured by the Brookhaven nanosizer or a Disk Centrifuge in an aqueous surfactant mixture containing an anionic surfactant, such as sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (for example NEOGEN R.TM. or NEOGEN SC.TM.), and nonionic surfactant, such as alkyl phenoxy poly(ethyleneoxy)ethanol (for example IGEPAL 897.TM. or ANTAROX 897.TM.), thereby resulting in a flocculation, or heterocoagulation of the resin particles with the pigment particles; and which, on further stirring for about 1 to about 3 hours while heating, for example, from about 35.degree. C. to about 45.degree. C., results in the formation of statically bound aggregates ranging in size of from about 0.2 micron to about 1.5 microns in volume average diameter size as measured by the Disk Centrifuge, where the size of the aggregated particles and their distribution can be controlled by the temperature of heating, for example, from about 5.degree. C. to about 25.degree. C. below the resin Tg, and thereafter, adding a colloidal stabilizer, such as additional anionic surfactant such as sodium dodecylbenzene sulfonate (for example NEOGEN R.TM. or NEOGEN SC.TM.) in an amount of from about 0.2 to about 2 percent by weight of the aggregate suspension to prevent further growth of the aggregates and heating the aggregate suspension at from about 5.degree. C. to about 50.degree. C. above the resin Tg to provide for particle fusion or coalescence of the polymer and pigment particles yielding a suspension of pigmented latex composite particles in which various particle size diameters can be obtained, such as from 0.1 to about 3, and preferably from about 0.2 to 1.5 microns in volume average particle diameter. The aforementioned particle dispersions are especially useful for ink jet printing of colored images with excellent line and solid resolution.


A headlamp adjuster is provided for use and access from the front of a headlamp assembly on which it is installed. The adjuster includes an input shaft and an output screw in substantially parallel, spaced arrangement. A gear train drivingly connects inner ends of the input shaft and the output screw. Rotation of the input shaft about its longitudinal axis causes axial translation of the output screw.

Headlamps on motor vehicles require proper aiming, both vertically and horizontally, for safe and optimal performance. From time-to-time, it is necessary to readjust the aim of vehicle headlamps. If the headlamp is not properly adjusted vertically, the headlamp may focus the light too close to the vehicle, not adequately lighting the distance. If the field of light is too short, objects might not be illuminated soon enough for a driver to react to the presence of the object, even if the vehicle is being operated within legal speed limits. Conversely, if the headlamp is aimed to direct the light too far in the distance, the area in front of the vehicle may not be properly illuminated for adequate recognition of something in front of the vehicle. Further, a headlamp aimed too distant may "blind" an oncoming driver even in the dimmed or "low-beam" condition.
Proper horizontal adjustment is just as important as proper vertical adjustment. If the headlamp is aimed to direct the beam of light too far to the left, oncoming drivers can be blinded. If focused too far left to the right, the primary field directly in front of the automobile may not be properly illuminated. Improperly directed headlamps can be distracting and unsafe.
Modern vehicle styling and design uses adjustable reflectors that are pivotable about both horizontal and vertical axes to direct the light from the headlamp. Known adjusters for such headlamp assemblies are geared devices operating at right angles. The adjusters are positioned above or behind the reflector and are accessed from the engine compartment to engage a tool and operate the adjuster. Such mechanisms work effectively when the headlamp assembly is positioned to provide ample space behind or above by which the adjuster can be accessed.
In some modern aerodynamic styles, sports utility vehicles and the like, the headlamp assemblies are incorporated into fenders designs that provide little or no access from above, below or behind the headlamp assembly. In such vehicles, headlamp adjusters must be accessed from in front of the headlamp assembly. A known design for front access adjustment has a base housing with channels to accept a sliding member with rails. The sliding member holds a fixed ball stud which protrudes into the lamp, engaging the reflector. An input shaft, accessible from the front of the lamp, is snapped into the base housing and is threadedly engaged with the sliding member. Rotation of the input shaft causes the sliding member to advance along the channels in the base housing. An adjuster of this type is relatively bulky, difficult to install and expensive to manufacture and assemble.
What is needed is a front operated headlamp adjuster having a simplified design and construction that is easy to manufacture and install, and easy and effective in operation.


A method for automatically warming up a clutch actuator for a clutch of a transmission in a vehicle, wherein the clutch actuator is operable by use of pressurized fluid and configured to actuate the clutch from an engaged to a disengaged state, and/or vice versa, the method including:

A vehicle transmission may to at least some degree be automated. For example, it is known to use so called Automated Mechanical Transmissions (AMT) for heavy-duty trucks. The AMT comprises a clutch which is actuated by use of a clutch actuator. The clutch actuator is typically actuated by use of pressurized air, but also other actuating techniques are possible, such as using a hydraulic clutch actuator instead of a pneumatic clutch actuator.
The clutch can be actuated by the clutch actuator between an engaged state and a disengaged state, and typically the clutch is biased, e.g. spring-biased, towards one of the states. For example, the clutch may be spring-biased towards the engaged state, whereby the clutch actuator is used for actuating the clutch from the engaged state to the disengaged state.
It has been found that the clutch actuators may experience problems when the vehicle is started in cold conditions. For example, clutch actuator cylinders using pressurized air may sometimes experience problems with air leakage when it is too cold. As such, with the above-mentioned clutch which is spring-biased towards the engaged state, the clutch may not be able to disengage when it is too cold, or at least it may be difficult to control the clutch in a normal manner.
To this end, it has been proposed in US 2019/0186562 A1 to warm up the clutch by increasing the rotational speed of a drive aggregate to a speed which is higher than an idling speed.
However, it has been realized that there is a need to provide a further improved method for warming up a clutch actuator, or at least to find a suitable alternative.

Method for automatically warming up a clutch actuator

Abstract: identifying if a temperature is below a predetermined temperature value and if the clutch actuator is leaking, and if it is identified that the temperature is below the predetermined temperature value and that the clutch actuator is leaking; then

Abstract: repeatedly pressurizing the clutch actuator by use of the pressurized fluid until a state is reached indicative of the clutch actuator being functional, or until a maximum run out state is reached indicative of a faulty clutch actuator.


Modular prosthesis kits and systems are disclosed. The kit includes a plurality of stems having a bore therein and a plurality of necks having a tapered distal end adapted to taper lock in the bore of one of the stems. Each neck includes a stem registration element on the distal end of the neck, and each stem includes a neck registration element in an end portion of the bore. The stem registration elements of certain necks and the neck registration elements of certain stems are configured to prevent certain necks from taper locking with certain stems in at least one position, and the stem registration elements of certain necks and the neck registration elements of certain stems cooperate to permit taper locking of certain necks with certain stems.

Conventional shoulder and hip prostheses typically were unitary structures including an integral stem and neck interconnecting a head. These types of prostheses involve the insertion of the stem in a cavity formed in the femur for a hip prosthesis, or in the humerus for shoulder prosthesis. A problem associated with conventional shoulder and hip prostheses is the need to maintain large inventories of differently configured prostheses for different patient anatomies. Prostheses having a variety of different head sizes, different stem sizes, and different neck angles and radial offsets between the head and stem are required to be kept on hand. Various configurations are required for each size category.
To reduce the required inventory of parts, assorted modular prostheses have been provided. Such systems include differently sized necks, heads and necks with different lengths and angles. While existing modular prosthesis systems allow flexibility with respect to either the neck angle or the radial offset between the head and the stem to accommodate each patient's unique anatomical requirements, improvements are still needed. Some combinations of stems and necks result in a prosthesis that may fail. If the prosthesis fails, the patient must undergo a second operation to remove the failed prosthesis and insert a new prosthesis. It would be desirable to provide a kit and a system comprising a plurality of different sized stems and necks of different lengths and angles that prevent combinations of certain necks with certain stems to prevent failure of the prosthesis.


A system for detecting digitized content and selecting matches from a master verification database. The detection of digitized content is performed using a verification database which contains a master table of contents identifiers and songprints for corresponding digitized content. A network server is programmed to receive selections of a table of contents identifiers from computers, and to request selections of songprint identifiers from the computers and selects matches from the master verification database.

This invention relates to the field of online digital content distribution and more particularly, to a system and method for facilitating music distribution and authentication over a communications network.
The internet has created a highway for users and companies to share digitized content. Online services allow digitized content stored on servers to be shared by multiple users via the internet. Online services also allow users to play digitized content stored in an Internet-connected repository.
It is advantageous for online service providers to detect and verify whether or not the user has a physical copy of digitized content, such as a CD or DVD, prior to allowing the user access to the digitized content.

System and method for detecting and verifying digitized content over a computer network


A novel and useful virtual private network (VPN) mechanism and related security association processor for maintaining the necessary security related parameters to perform security functions such as encryption, decryption and authentication. A security association database (SAD) and related circuitry is adapted to provide the necessary parameters to implement the IPSec group of security specifications for encryption/decryption and authentication. Each security association (SA) entry in the database comprises all the parameters that are necessary to receive and transmit VPN packets according to the IPSec specification.

In recent years, the world has witnessed the explosive growth of the Internet. Each year many more hosts are added while the number of users seems to be growing without limit. The Internet enables communications using different techniques including remote computer login, file transfer, world wide web (WWW) browsing, email, etc. Various protocols have been designed and are in use on the Internet to handle various types of communications. For example, file transfer protocol (FTP) for file transfer, hypertext markup language (HTML) for web traffic, etc. Generally, the protocol related to Internet communications are grouped under the umbrella of the transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) suite of protocols that includes protocols at various layers of the OSI communications stack.
A key feature of the Internet is that it is a public network that is accessible by nearly anyone with a computer, telephone line and Internet service provider (ISP) account. A downside to this wide scale public accessibility is that it permits easy access to hackers and others intent on carrying out malicious activities against one or more hosts on the Internet. Illegal conduct such as stealing of secret information or the deletion of important files by a malicious user is possible by a hacker that manages to break into a computer of a remote network and succeed to tap communication data. The need for security was addressed by the Internet Architecture Board (IAB) by including security features such as encryption and authentication in IPv6 that permit secure transactions over the Internet.
To combat the threat of hackers and to secure private networks, it is common today to place a firewall at the entrance of the private network in a company or organization. The firewall employs some form of packet filter that functions to enforce a user defined security policy. The firewall is a system that sits at the boundary between the local network of the organization and the global Internet. It implements the filtering of all data communications in order to prevent leakage of information out to the external network and to prevent unauthorized access of the internal network from the outside. A deny/allow decision is made for each packet that is received by the firewall.
At the same time, the world is witnessing increasing demand for wireless services (i.e. cellular phones, two way pagers, cordless devices, etc.) and personal computing devices such as laptops, PDAs, etc. Many of these personal computing devices incorporate wireless communications circuitry to enable them to communicate via wireless networks (e.g., cellular or other broadband schemes) to WAN networks such as the Internet. Thus, more and more PDAs and cellular telephones are being connecting to the Internet thus exposing these devices to security risks. Preferably, these devices employ some type of firewall to protect against unauthorized access to the device. Most firewalls today, however, are implemented in software and require the computing resources of an entire desktop computer, making their use in a portable computing device such as cellular telephone or PDA very costly or impractical.
Thus, there is a need for a firewall or packet filter that can be easily implemented in hardware in small size suitable for incorporation in small portable electronic computing devices such as cellular telephones and wireless connected PDAs.

Virtual private network mechanism incorporating security association processor


The present invention relates to the use of at least one polyene macrolide for the preparation of pharmaceutical compositions for the treatment of diseases that are associated with an impaired energy turnover. Particularly, the present inventions allows to specifically stimulate the energy conversion in human cell, i.e. to stimulate the cell metabolism, and thus to treat or prevent a series of diseases.

At present more than 200 different polyene macrolide antibiotics have been described, most of them being produced by soil actinomycetes, mainly by the genus Streptomyces.
Polyene macrolides (referred to in the following also as polyenes or macrolides) are characterized by 20- to 40-membered lactone rings containing three to eight conjugated carbon-carbon double bonds. Often, the lactone ring carries a sugar moiety. Some macrolides contain an aliphatic side chain, optionally carrying an aromatic substituent. Usually, the macrolide ring carries at least one hydroxyl group.
Nystatin was the first substance from the class of the polyene macrolides to be described. In 1961 it was isolated as the metabolite of the fungus species Streptomyces noursei. Nystatin, referred to in the following as Nys, has the following structural formula: ##STR1##
Due to its .pi.-electron structure comprising 4 conjugated double bonds, Nys is referred to as tetraene macrolide.
Another example of a polyene macrolide is Amphotericin B (referred to in the following as Amp). In contrast to Nys, this compound has an additional double bond. Since Amp exhibits a total of seven conjugated double bonds, it is classified among the group of the heptaene macrolides. Amp has the following structural formula: ##STR2##
Although particularly Nys and Amp have been known for several decades and have been administered orally to millions of patients, their therapeutical use has been limited exclusively to the treatment of candidiases (mycoses). In vitro studies have shown that Nys and Amp administered in decreasing dosages may have fungicidal, fungistatic or mycotic growth enhancing effect. Most scientific publications are quite silent about the latter effect. In turn, there are many in vivo studies which found cell-stimulating effects of Nys and Amp in eucaryotic cells (J. Bolard, How do polyene macrolide antibiotics affect the cellular membrane properties, Biochim. Biophys. Acta (1986), 864, 257-304).
It is assumed in the art that the antimycotic effect of Nys and Amp is based on a specific interaction with the membrane-bound ergosterol of the fungi. This interaction is believed to effect disruption of the fungal membranes, the entry of ions and other soluble substances in the fungi, thereby inhibiting the fungal metabolism and bringing about lysis of the fungal cells. It will be shown in the present invention that this conventional concept is not capable of explaining the manifold pharmacological effects of the polyene macrolides. The wrong pharmacodynamic concept, on which the practical use of this class of substances has so far been based, only can give an explanation for the fact that the universal therapeutical potential of polyene macrolides so far has not be recognized.
In the art, Nys and Amp are only used in the therapy of superficial and gastrointestinal mycotic infections. For example, for the treatment of intestinal candidiases and monoliases the administration of Nys in a dose of 3-4.times.10.sup.6 I.U./day over a period of 8 days, followed by a dose of 1.5 to 2.times.10.sup.6 I.U./day in the following 8 days is recommended. For the treatment of mycotic infections of the skin, e.g., application of a Nystatin cream (1.times.10.sup.5 I.U./g ointment) 2 to 3 times a day until remission of the infection (about 6 days) is recommended. 1 g Nys corresponds to about 5.times.10.sup.6 I.U. The oral and topical dosages, however, which are recommended in the art and are usually administered, are far lower and/or the duration of the treatment is considerably shorter than the dosage or duration of the therapy recommended by the present invention for the indications described in the invention. This may further explain why the new therapeutical effects of the polyene macrolides have not been recognized so far.
Additionally, there is the general assumption, which, however, is not verified by scientific findings, that polyene macrolides, such as Nys and Amp, are not or only insufficiently resorbed in the gastrointestinal tract upon oral, intranasal or topical administration (e.g., Van den Boussche, H. et al., CRC Crit. Rev. Microbiol. (1987), Vol. 15, 57-72; Arzneimittel Fortschritte 1972-1985, Kleeman et al. Eds., Verlag Chemie, Weinheim, Germany, 1176-1184; Goodman & Geiman's, The Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, (1992), 8.sup.th edition, Vol. 2, page 1178). This prejudice must be regarded as the main reason why the practical use of Nys has been limited to the local treatment of candidiases and why a possible systemic use has not been recognized.
There is yet another reason for the limited use of polyene macrolides in the art. It is known that Nys and all other polyenes are substantially toxic when administered intravenously or intramuscularly. Upon i.m. injection, severe local inflammations are observed. Upon i.v. administration, renal injuries as well as other severe side effects can occur. Therefore, Nys is not admitted for i.v. therapy. Amp, which is admitted for i.v. therapy, although it is even more toxic when administered in vitro and in vivo than Nys, may be administered only in doses that are 20- to 100-fold lower than the oral doses.
The practical experiences which were made world-wide with the oral therapy in millions of patients with Nys and Amp furthermore show that these substances are well-tolerated. Apart from a mild, temporary sickness in the beginning of the therapy, which occurs in less than 1% of patients and quickly abates, no severe side effects are so far known. This is evident from a literature search which evaluated about 2,000 publications dealing with this topic. This discrepancy--high toxicity upon i.v. and i.m. administration on the one hand and no toxicity upon oral administration on the other hand--has additionally reinforced the general prejudice that polyene macrolides are not resorbed.


An arrangement for an optical measuring device wherein a detachable plug-in connector is provided to optically couple a sensing device to a transmitter and to a receiver. In this arrangement, a transmitting bundle extending from the transmitter and a receiving bundle extending from the receiver are combined in a single hybrid cable whose end is optically coupled to a corresponding end of a sensing cable extending from a sensing device. To prevent light transported by the transmitting bundle from being reflected onto the receiving bundle, the respective bundles are separated from one another within the hybrid cable by a distance at least as wide as the diameter of any single fiber of the transmitting bundle or the receiving bundle.

The present invention is directed to an arrangement for optical fiber measuring devices. More specifically, the present invention is directed to an arrangement for optical fiber measuring devices wherein a sensing device is optically coupled to a transmitter and to a receiver through respective optical fiber bundles.
Optical fiber measuring devices offer distinct advantages over other types of measuring systems. Unlike electrical measuring systems, for instance, optical fiber measuring devices are insensitive to electromagnetic irradiation. Additionally, optical fiber measuring devices permit measurements to be made free of electrical potential and dissipation heat. Optical fiber measuring devices are thus particularly well-suited to medical technology applications, such as measuring a patient's pulse and respiration in the high-frequency field of a nuclear spin tomograph.
German Provisional Patent 38 33 131 discloses a photoelectric pulse recorder having an optical fiber sensing element that is optically coupled to a transmitter and a receiver by an optical fiber bundle housed in an optical fiber cable. This fiber bundle is integrally cast at one of its ends in the sensing element, such that a cross-section of the fiber bundle terminates at the application surface of the sensing element, with the longitudinal axis of the fiber bundle perpendicular to the application surface. The other end of the fiber bundle is firmly coupled to a plug connector, in which the transmitter and the receiver are also arranged. In the plug connector, the fiber bundle fans out into a transmitting bundle and a receiving bundle, leading to the transmitter and the receiver, respectively. The plug connector is electrically connected to an operating unit.
In known optical fiber measuring devices such as the pulse recorder described above, the sensing element is undetachably connected to the transmitter and the receiver; however, in many applications a detachable connection is desirable. For example, when measuring the pulse of a patient in a nuclear spin tomograph, it would be beneficial to have a detachable plug-in connector between a fiber bundle leading to a sensing element affixed to the patient and two optical fiber bundles installed in a support, namely a transmitting bundle and a receiving bundle. A requirement for any such configuration is that light transported by the transmitting bundle and reflected off the break at the connection must not be received by the receiving bundle; otherwise, light from the optical transmitter will create an interfering offset at the optical receiver. A further requirement for any such configuration is that the plug-in connector be easy to manufacture and maintain.

Arrangement for optical fiber measuring devices using detachable connector with hybrid cable


A touchscreen apparatus includes pixel rows including pixels configured to display an image, a touch-sensing unit configured to sense a physical touch, light-sensing unit configured to sense incident light, a first sensor gate line configured to provide a first gate signal for activating the light-sensing unit and resetting the touch-sensing unit, a second sensor gate line configured to provide a second gate signal for activating the touch-sensing unit and resetting the light-sensing unit, and a reset circuit configured to provide a common voltage to the pixels based on the operation of at least one of the light-sensing unit and the touch-sensing unit.

1. Field
The present disclosure relates to a hybrid sensing touchscreen apparatus and/or a method of driving the same, and more particularly, to an in-cell type touchscreen apparatus which performs both a touch-sensing operation of sensing a direct physical touch and a light-sensing operation of sensing light incident from a remote place, and/or a method of driving the in-cell type touchscreen apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
A touchscreen apparatus refers to a device capable of directly receiving input data on a display screen such that when a user's hand or pen touches a specific position of the display screen, the position is recognized for particular processing with software. Generally, the touchscreen apparatus performs its function with a display panel having a touch panel attached thereto. The touch panel may adopt several touchscreen apparatus types including a resistive type, a capacitive type, a surface acoustic wave (SAW) type, a piezoelectric type, and so forth. The touchscreen apparatus has been widely employed in various fields as an input device capable of replacing a keyboard or a mouse.
A light touchscreen apparatus has been proposed which senses light instead of a touch by the hand or the pen to perform the same function as a conventional touchscreen apparatus. The light touchscreen apparatus is expected to be useful for communication between users as well as communication between a user and a terminal.
Recently, an in-cell type touchscreen apparatus has been developed in which a separate touch panel is not mounted on a display panel and a sensing unit is formed in a pixel array of the display panel.

Hybrid sensing touchscreen apparatus capable of light touch sensing and physical touch sensing and method of driving the same


A vertical MOSFET transistor is formed in a body of semiconductor material having a surface. The transistor includes a buried conductive region of a first conductivity type; a channel region of a second conductivity type, arranged on top of the buried conductive region; a surface conductive region of the first conductivity type, arranged on top of the channel region and the buried conductive region; a gate insulation region, extending at the sides of and contiguous to the channel region; and a gate region extending at the sides of and contiguous to the gate insulation region.

1. Field of Invention
The subject of the present invention is a vertical MOSFET transistor, in particular operating as a selector in nonvolatile memory devices.
The following description relates to a MOSFET transistor designed to operate as selector for a phase-change memory, without, however, being limited to this type of application. In particular, the MOSFET transistor according to the invention can be advantageously used also for other types of nonvolatile memories or other common-source-region applications.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is known, phase-change memoires (PCMs) exploit the characteristics of materials that have the property of switching between two phases that have different electrical characteristics. For example, these materials can switch between an amorphous, disorderly phase and a crystalline or polycrystalline, orderly phase, and the two phases are associated to resistivities of markedly different values.
Currently, the alloys of group VI of the periodic table, such as Te or Se, referred to as calcogenides or calcogenic materials, may advantageously be used in phase-change memories. The currently most promising calcogenide is formed by a Ge, Sb, and Te alloy (Ge2Sb2Te5), which is currently widely used for storing information in overwritable disks.
In phase-change memories comprising calcogenic elements as storage elements, the memory cells are arranged in rows and columns, as illustrated in FIG. 1. The memory array 1 of FIG. 1 comprises a plurality of memory cells 2, arranged in the crossing points between rows 6 (also referred to as wordlines) and columns 5 (also referred to as bitlines) and each of which includes a memory element 3 of a phase-change type and a selection element 4.
In each memory cell 2, the memory element 3 has a first terminal connected to an own wordline 6 and a second terminal connected to a first conduction terminal of an own selection element 4. The selection element 4 has a second terminal connected to a bitline 5. In another solution, the memory element 3 and the selection element 4 of each cell 2 can be exchanged.
Currently, as selection elements bipolar transistors, planar MOS transistors, or diodes have been proposed.
A method of manufacturing a phase-change memory device including a diode as a selection element is described in US 200310219924. Another method for obtaining a memory comprising a bipolar transistor as a selection element is described in.
Phase-change memories using selectors made as bipolar components have the problem that they dissipate even when they are in the non-selected or off state thereby, as a whole, giving rise to a non-negligible consumption. Phase-change memories that use selectors made with planar MOS technology have the problem that they occupy a non-negligible area.

Vertical MOSFET transistor, in particular operating as a selector in nonvolatile memory devices


A non-transitory computer-readable medium stores a computer program for setting a shape of a label causing a computer to execute: receiving an input of first information for setting a width of a second part in a first direction; receiving an input of second information for setting a height in a second direction of a display area of the second part; receiving an input of third information for setting a height in the second direction of an overlap width area of the second part, an end portion of the display area in a third direction being capable of adhering to the overlap width area; receiving an input of fourth information for setting a height of a first protruding portion in the second direction; and setting a shape of the label, based on the input first information, second length information, third length information and fourth information.

In order to identify a cable such as an optical fiber, an electric wire and a LAN cable from other cables, a label (which may also be referred to as 'tag') that is wrapped around the cable is known. A printing apparatus for producing the label is known.
JP-A-2003-170628 (hereinafter, referred to as PTL 1) discloses a printing apparatus that can easily set a margin according to a diameter of a cable when producing a label. When a diameter or outer periphery of a connection cable is input, the printing apparatus can set a size of a margin to an outer periphery length of the cable.
JP-A-2018-172608 (hereinafter, referred to as PTL 2) discloses a printing apparatus for printing labels that can be wrapped around cables having diverse outer diameter sizes. The printing apparatus is configured to print labels having a plurality of cuts for separating the labels. For this reason, a user can obtain a label having a desired length by separating the label along a selected cut.
JP-A-2017-26888 (hereinafter, referred to as PTL 3) discloses a printing apparatus for printing a label that can be easily detached after being wrapped around a cable. The printing apparatus can print a label having a plurality of slits provided in a width direction of a wrapping portion. For this reason, a user can easily detach the label from the cable by strongly pulling the label.
However, the printing apparatuses disclosed in PTLs cannot freely set a label shape. Since all the printing apparatuses disclosed in PTLs 1 to 3 are each configured to produce the label by cutting a tape roll having a predetermined roll, a width of the label is limited to a width of the tape.
The present inventors noticed that according to the printing apparatuses, the information to be displayed on the label cannot be all displayed on the label, and to the contrary, a label having a display area that is too large as compared to the information to be displayed on the label should be printed, in some cases. On the other hand, if the production of a label shape is wholly entrusted to a user, the burden on the user is too great. In addition, a label having a function that the user desires may not be completed.
It is therefore an object of the present disclosure to provide a computer-readable medium, an apparatus, a printing apparatus and a printing system capable of easily setting a label shape that a user desires.

Computer-readable medium, apparatus, printing apparatus and printing system


The invention relates to an electrical energy meter comprising a current-measuring circuit and a voltage-measuring circuit, the current-measuring circuit comprising a current sensor producing a first analog measuring voltage and a first analog-to-digital converter arranged so as to carry out a first sampling of the first analog measuring voltage in a such a way as to produce first digital values, and the voltage-measuring circuit comprising a voltage sensor-producing a second analog measuring voltage and a second analog-to-digital converter arranged so as to carry out a second sampling of the second analog measuring voltage in such a way as to produce second digital values, the electrical energy meter also comprising a first synchronization circuit arranged so as to synchronize the frequency of the first sampling and the second sampling.

Electricity meters of class D, which are intended for heavy industrial use, conventionally measure currents that are very high, sometimes greater than 1000 amps (A).
Such a meter is thus generally connected to one or more phase conductors of a distribution network via one or more external transformers connected to the phase conductors. Typically, those external transformers present a transformation ratio lying in the range 100 to 1000.
In a meter connected to a distribution network via an external transformer, it is appropriate to isolate electrically both current-measurement components for measuring one or more phase currents flowing in the phase conductor(s) and also voltage-measurement components for measuring one or more phase voltages on the phase conductor(s). Specifically, for each phase conductor, the phase voltage is acquired directly on the phase conductor, whereas the phase current is acquired via the external transformer. The current-measurement components and the voltage-measurement components are thus isolated in independent and distinct manner, and large potential differences can exist between their reference grounds.
Such a meter must also comply with accuracy requirements that are relatively stringent. The accuracy to be achieved by a class D meter is typically equal to ±0.2%.
In order to satisfy those isolation and accuracy requirements, the designers of meters nowadays have a choice between two known solutions.
A first solution consists in using one or more Rogowski sensors in the current-measurement components. It is then very complicated to make the meter comply with requirements for immunity against disturbances in the frequency range of 2 kilohertz (kHz) to 150 kHz. Specifically, Rogowski sensors are current differentiators, and once they have been differentiated, such disturbances have amplitudes that are proportional to their frequencies.
A second solution consists in using internal current transformers in the current-measurement components, with relatively accurate current sensors being connected to those transformers. Nevertheless, such internal current transformers present temperature drift. Compensating that temperature drift in order to comply with the accuracy requirements associated with a class D meter is complicated to achieve.
It should also be observed that both the first and the second solutions are generally implemented using components that are mainly analog, and that tend to drift over time.

Electrical energy meter comprising a current-measuring circuit and a voltage-measuring circuit


A battery management system and a battery pack having the same including a charging circuit path for charging a battery and a discharging circuit path for discharging the battery is disclosed. The battery pack also includes a controller configured to control a charge switch unit in the charging circuit path during charging and to compensate for a change in voltage across the battery during discharging by controlling a discharge switch unit in the discharging circuit path to supply substantially constant power to an output terminal unit.

1. Field
The disclosed technology relate to a battery management system and a battery pack having the same.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Secondary or exchangeable batteries are widely used as power sources of portable electronic devices, such as cellular phones, notebook computers, camcorders, or personal digital assistants (PDAs), or motors for electric tools or wireless cleaners.
Some secondary batteries are fabricated in the form of battery packs including battery cells and a battery management system, and the battery cells are charged or discharged using an external power source or an external load connected to an external terminal installed in the battery pack. The battery management system may measure voltage and current levels of the battery cells, and may control protecting operations of the battery cells based on the measured voltage and current levels.
With recent diversification of applications for battery management systems, the demand for battery management systems additionally equipped with various functions in addition to functions of the existing battery management systems has increased. Accordingly, there is a need to develop a battery pack having these new additional functions.

Battery management system and battery pack having the same


Disclosed are systems, apparatuses, and methods for implementing a competitive BCM learning rule used in a neural network. Such a method includes identifying a maximally responding neuron with respect to a feature of an input signal. The maximally responding neuron is the neuron in a group that has a response with respect to the feature of the input signal that is greater than a response of each other neuron in the group. Such a method also includes applying a learning rule to weaken the response of each other neuron with respect to the feature of the input signal. The learning rule may also strengthen the response of the maximally responding neuron with respect to the feature of the input signal.

1 . Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally directed to neural networks. More particularly, the present invention is directed to learning in neural networks.
2 . Background Art
Neural networks attempt to achieve autonomous behavior based on a network of simulated neurons that are connected in a manner suggestive of connections between real neurons in humans. In humans, a first neuron may fire in response to an external stimulus. In response to the firing of the first neuron, other neurons connected to the first neuron may also fire.
Similarly, a first simulated neuron in an input layer of a neural network can become active (e.g., fire) in response to stimulus to the neural network. One or more simulated neurons connected to the first simulated neuron may become active (e.g., fire) in response to the activity (e.g., firing) of the first neuron. Whether the activity of the first simulated neuron causes other simulated neurons to become active is dependent on at least two factors: (i) a weight associated with a connection between the first simulated neuron and each other simulated neuron to which the first simulated neuron is connected; and (ii) the threshold activity level required to cause each other simulated neuron to become active.
To train the neural network (i.e., to cause the neural network to behave in a desired way), the weight associated with each connection is adjusted in response to different types of stimuli. A learning rule is the rule applied to determine how the weight changes during each time step.
A well-known learning rule is called the BCM learning rule, after Bienenstock, Cooper, and Munro who introduced this rule in 1982. See Bienenstock, E. L., Cooper, L. N, and Munro, P. W, "Theory for the Development of Neuron Selectivity: Orientation Specificity and Binocular Interaction in Visual Cortex," Journal of Neuroscience, 2:32-48 (1982), the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference herein.
A drawback of the conventional BCM learning rule is that it may cause multiple neurons of a neural network to respond to the same feature of an input signal. As a result, another interesting feature of the input signal may not be responded to by any neurons of the neural network.
Given the foregoing, what is desired are systems, apparatuses, and methods for implementing a neural network that uses an improved learning rule.

Competitive BCM learning rule for identifying features


Evaluating wireless network access connections via near field communications, including: identifying, by a requesting device, one or more network connections available to the requesting device; requesting, by the requesting device to one or more responding devices using a near field communications connection, information describing the performance of the network connections experienced by the one or more responding devices; receiving, by the requesting device, the information describing the performance of the network connections experienced by the one or more responding devices; and connecting, by the requesting device, to a preferred network connection in dependence upon the information describing the performance of the network connections experienced by the one or more responding devices.

Field of the Invention
The field of the invention is data processing, or, more specifically, methods, apparatus, and products for evaluating wireless network access connections via near field communications.
Description of Related Art
Modern computing devices are able to connect to data communications in a variety of ways. Computing devices may connect to data communications using wired connections and wireless connections. Computing devices that connect to data communications networks using wireless connections may identify a plurality of potential access points for wirelessly connecting to a data communications network. Many computing devices will select a particular access point to connect to the data communications network based on criteria such as signal strength, with no understanding of the actual quality of service that will be delivered through such a connection.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

International Business Machines Corporation


A method of changing the functionality of a statically bound device driver, by dynamically extending the static device driver using a registered driver extension. The static device driver has a plurality of handlers or functions (such as input/output functions) used to control a device that is connected to or part of the computer system, and the driver extension modifies at least one of these functions, although it can be used to change several, or even all, of the functions. In the embodiment wherein the computer system is a UNIX-type workstation having a kernel residing in the memory, the static device driver is loaded in the kernel and is dynamically extended by providing at least one entry point for the driver extension.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to computer systems and more particularly to a method for extending static device driver functionality without requiring rebuilding of the operating system.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The basic structure of a conventional computer system 10 is shown in FIG. 1. The heart of computer system 10 is a central-processing unit (CPU) or processor 12, which is connected to several peripheral devices, including input/output (I/O) devices 14 (such as a display monitor and keyboard) for the user interface, a permanent memory device 16 (such as a hard disk or floppy diskette) for storing the computer's operating system and user programs, and a temporary memory device 18 (such as random-access memory or RAM) that is used by processor 12 to carry out program instructions. Processor 12 communicates with the peripheral devices by various means, including a bus 20 or a direct channel 22. Computer system 10 may have many additional components which are not shown, such as serial and parallel ports for connection to, e.g., modems or printers. Those skilled in the art will further appreciate that there are other components that might be used in conjunction with those shown in the block diagram of FIG. 1; for example, a display adapter connected to processor 12 might be used to control a video display monitor. Various types of device drivers (software programs) are used to control the hardware devices.
Computer system 10 also includes firmware 24 whose primary purpose is to seek out and load an operating system from one of the peripherals (usually permanent memory device 16) whenever the computer is first turned on. The process of seeking out and loading the operating system is referred to as "booting" the computer. Computer system 10 may be designed to allow firmware 24 to re-initialize an operating system without turning the computer off and back on again (a "soft" boot). Firmware 24 is essentially a series of machine instructions which are typically stored in a read-only storage (ROS) device, such as read-only memory (ROM). As shown in the flow chart of FIG. 2, after power to computer system 10 is turned on, processor 12 begins to execute the firmware instructions and seeks out an operating system (26). If an operating system is found, it is loaded (28) into temporary memory 18, including any device drivers present in the operating system image, to enable the system to communicate with appropriate hardware. Thereafter, additional device drivers may be dynamically loaded by the operating system (30), for example, if a hardware device is connected to the computer system after the boot sequence. Finally, the operating system allows other application layers to be added, i.e., user software programs (32).
The foregoing description generally applies to any type of operating system, including two popular operating systems known as MSDOS and UNIX (MSDOS is a trademark of Microsoft Corp.; UNIX is a trademark of UNIX System Laboratories), but the present invention has particular application to UNIX. UNIX is a multi-user, multi-tasking operating system which is available from a variety of sources with different versions. These include, among others, System V (American Telephone & Telegraph), AIX (International Business Machines) and Mach (NeXT Computers). FIG. 3 illustrates a typical UNIX workstation 34. Workstation 34 includes the various hardware components shown in FIG. 1, and generally represented at 36, and furthermore includes two software layers, the kernel 38 and the user application layer 40. Kernel 36 is the lowest level of the operating system and acts as the intermediary between user programs and hardware devices and includes, among other things, device drivers that interface with hardware control 42. Kernel 38 may include static device drivers 44 which are originally bound with the kernel during initialization and dynamically loaded device drivers 46 which are added to the kernel after initialization. A dynamically loaded device driver 46 can be used for a unique device or can simply be a replacement for a generic static device driver. Both types of device drivers are usually accessed by a buffering mechanism such as a device switch table 48.
Device drivers are often hardware dependent, which can present difficulties when installing or using particular hardware devices. If an appropriate device driver for a new device is not already present in the kernel, (i.e., statically bound) and if a dynamically loadable driver is not available, then the kernel must be re-bound with a new static device driver. If a dynamically loadable driver is available, then it can easily be loaded as a kernel extension but, in some cases, the system requires certain devices or hardware functions to be provided only via static device drivers bound in the kernel since the facilities they require must exist prior to the ability to load kernel extensions. These functions include, for example, NVRAM, RAMDD, and console device drivers. In these cases, the only way to enhance the functionality or capabilities of the static device driver is to rebuild the base kernel. Similarly, there is no way to modify a static device driver once it has been loaded. For example, there might be a bug (software instruction error) in the static device driver, but it cannot be fixed unless the kernel is rebuilt. It would, therefore, be desirable and advantageous to devise a method of changing the functionality of a statically bound device driver without requiring rebuilding of the kernel or otherwise rebooting the operating system.

System for modifying functions of static device driver using a registered driver extension extended dynamically by providing an entry point for the driver extension

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention relates to a method for inferring a plant organ, in which a certain gene is to be expressed, using a part of a base sequence, a method for searching for a gene which is to be expressed at a desired site, and a composition, kit, system and program for carrying out these methods. The present invention also relates to a method for inferring a plant organ, in which a plant gene is to be expressed, based on information about the presence or absence of a base sequence which is highly similar to a transposable element in the vicinity of a protein coding region of a plant gene.

Recent progress in genome base sequence analysis technologies has provided a rapid improvement in analysis speed and a reduction in analysis cost, whereby analysis of the structure of genomes of various organisms is proceeding at dramatic speed. Current methods for inferring a function of a gene from its deciphered base sequence depend on the presence or absence of a similar sequence found by searching sequence data of DNA or protein registered in an international database, such as GenBank or DDBJ, using, for example, PSI-BLAST algorithm (Altschul et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 25:3389-3402 (1997)) or the like. In these methods, the similarity between sequences and functions is estimated from the similarity between known nucleic acids or proteins and sequences. In order to estimate the amino acid sequence of a protein coded by a base sequence, various programs aimed at gene modeling for predicting the positions of exons or introns from the genome base sequence have been developed. An attempt to realize full automation is proceeding, however accurate gene modeling essentially requires manual editing of a result of prediction, though accuracy problems remain unsolved.
Some databases and programs for predicting gene expression sites based on a genome base sequence have been developed (Ghosh, Nucleic Acids Res., 21:3117-3118 (1993); Ghosh, Nucleic Acids Res., 26:360-361 (1998); Heinemeyer et al., Nucleic Acids Res., 26:362-367 (1998)), though accuracy problems remain unsolved.
For plants, a database compiling about 400cis element motifs in an expression control region for a plant gene, to which transcription regulatory elements bind has constructed (Higo et al., Nucleic Acids Res. 26:358-359 (1998); Nucleic Acids Res. 27:297-300 (1999)). When analysis is carried out using a base sequence inferred as a promoter as a query, each cis element motif present in the base sequence is displayed. However, although there is a possibility that these function as cis elements, no evidence exists that these actually function as cis elements. Therefore, there is a demand for the development of a method for inferring a gene expression site (expression tissue/expression organ) using a genome base sequence.
Clarification of gene expression sites would help reveal functions of individual genes and could make it possible to isolate and utilize a promoter portion. In the field of plants, development of tissue-specific promoters would make possible gene expression specific to individual tissues using transformation technologies or inhibition of gene expression. For example, if an anther-specific promoter were developed, the following applications would be expected.
It has been known that a F1 hybrid (first filial generation) generated by crossing between varieties may have a more excellent property than that of its parents. This inter-variety crossing has conventionally attracted attention as a method for breeding crops. For crops, such as rice, which perform self-pollination, methods for producing a male sterility strain have been studied as a technology required for utilization of such a property. Conventionally, male sterility strains have been searched for among plant gene resources, or mutagenesis has been used for selection of a male sterility strain. However, these methods have difficulty in introducing a male sterility gene into a commercial variety and their use is limited.
A recent promising approach is a method of utilizing biotechnology to link a promoter, which expresses in an anther and/or pollen, with a gene having a function to inhibit formation of an anther and/or pollen (e.g., nuclease, protease, and glucanase) and introduce the linked genes into a plant so as to prevent formation of fertile pollen. An alternative promising approach is a method of using a promoter, which is to be expressed in an anther and/or pollen, so as to transcribe antisense RNA for a gene which is to be expressed upon formation of an anther and/or pollen, or a method of introducing ribozyme, which decomposes mRNA for the gene, into a plant.
There are several known promoters for genes which are expressed in an anther and/or pollen. However, unfortunately, the activities of the promoters are too low for practical use, or the expression time thereof is limited. It would be very useful to isolate a promoter which functions at each developmental stage of an anther or pollen, clarify features of each promoter, and produce a promoter cassette having a high activity so as to artificially control formation of an anther and/or pollen.
Therefore, for example, if a promoter, which has a high activity, may be practically used, and is directed to a desired site (e.g., an anther or pollen), can be obtained from a gene of rice, such a promoter can contribute much to breeding of crops, such as rice. Further, in order to modify a component of each tissue of flower, such as a protein involved in adhesion of a petal pigment or pollen to a pistil, it is necessary to obtain a gene which is to be expressed in a flower.
To this end, required is a method for efficiently searching a DNA database, in which a vast number of genome base sequences are stored, for a gene which is to be expressed in a flower, or a method for efficiently screening a genome DNA library for a gene which is to be expressed in a desired site (e.g., flower).

Method for screening genes expressing at desired sites

National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences


The present invention provides a method for forming substrates for MOS (metal oxide semiconductor) transistor, comprising the following steps: (A) In a reduced-pressure environment having a pressure lower than 1×10−6 Torr, a base for accomplishing the surface reconstruction and a solid-state metal oxide source is provided, wherein the solid-state metal oxide source is chosen from the group consisting of the following: hafnium oxide, aluminum oxide, scandium oxide, yttrium oxide, titanium oxide, gallium gadolinium oxide and metal oxides of rare earth elements; and (B) vaporize the solid-state metal oxide source in order to make the solid-state metal oxide source become a metal oxide molecular beam and, in a working substrate temperature that is required to achieve an amorphous state of a first metal oxide film, deposit on the base having an amorphous state so as to further fabricate a substrate for MOS transistors.

The invention of the semiconductor integrated circuit has changed the life style of human being, and made the electronic information industry developing rapidly. Today, while there is an increasing demand on the operational clock rate of the integrated circuits, the size of the electronic product in the integrated circuits has become much smaller and lighter. Because the make-up of the semiconductor components and circuits is mainly based on metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect-transistors (MOSFET's) which have a gate to serve as a control electrode, that is, the output characteristics of the transistor are controlled by the voltage signal of the gate, in which, if the gate oxide gets thinner, the driving current will become larger and the speed of the integrated circuit will become faster; therefore the efficiency of the component can be enhanced and the energy consumption can be reduced. Hence, it is a definite trend toward reducing the gate oxide thickness in order to reduce the size of the component and/or increase the device speed.
However, if the thickness of currently used silicon dioxide is less than 10°A, the leakage current density caused by the quantum tunneling effect can be larger than 1 to 10 A/cm2; therefore, the insulating characteristics cannot be maintained. Alternative gate oxides with high dielectric constants (κ) are now urgently sought after. Some common high κ dielectrics are yttrium oxide (Y2O3), hafnium oxide (HfO2), tantalum oxide (Ta2O3), zirconium oxide (ZrO2), lanthanum oxide (La2O3), and titanium oxide (TiO2), etc.
Usually, to grow a high κ dielectric film, the known art includes, for example, the methods of Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD), Atomic Layer Chemical Vapor Deposition (ALCVD), Metal Organic Chemical Vapor Deposition (MOCVD), Pulsed-Laser Deposition (PLD), and Sputtering, etc. When using those methods to grow high κ dielectrics directly on a single crystal semiconductor substrate, it is inevitable to form an interfacial layer of low κ silicon oxide and/or silicate, with a dielectric constant very close to 4 of silicon dioxide. Consequently, the equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) of the gate dielectrics will become larger, which will in turn decrease the overall value of the dielectric constant. Hence, the efficiency of MOS transistors can not be effectively improved.
Additionally, the method of the traditional molecular beam epitaxy (MBE) may also be used to form a metal oxide and then deposit the metal oxide on the substrate by means of the vapor phase composition to form the metal oxide (i.e., a method in which the metal is used as a source of vapor deposition; and then during the vapor deposition process oxygen is injected to make metal react with oxygen so as to accomplish the vapor phase composition). However, while oxygen is injected, the surface of the substrate will be oxidized to form a native oxide film, which also has the same problem as described above.
Among the methods for producing a metal-oxide layer of the gate as mentioned above, the sputtering method is commonly used due to the advantages of the simplified manufacturing process, lower price, and easy to be industrially mass-produced. However, because plasma must be used during the sputtering process, and the collision of the particles in the plasma will cause the base to accumulate much more energies, hence an inevitable formation of an interfacial oxide approximately over 1.9 nm. This has posed the technical difficulty of reducing the thickness of overall high k gate dielectrics.
ALCVD, with superior properties, such as accurate film thickness control, fine covering property of the aspect ratio structure, low-temperature film forming method, feasibility of multi-layer structure, and excellent uniformity for large-scale areas, has been applied to deposit high k gate dielectrics. However, a good starting surface to deposit the high-quality oxide films is required due to the fundamental mechanism of ALD. It is widely accepted that the hydroxyl groups (OH) on silicon surface play an important role as nucleation sites in the high k dielectrics growth by ALD. When the dielectric is directly deposited on HF-cleaned silicon, the gate leakage current is higher and the dielectric is more unstable than those grown on SiO2 layer. This is owing to the non-stoichiometic SiOx forming between oxide and silicon interface during ALD process. An interfacial modification of the Si substrate is critical for achieving excellent ALD grown high k gate dielectrics.
Therefore, how to prevent the interfacial layer formation or to reduce substantially the interfacial layer thickness so as to achieve low EOT, defined as κSiO2* (thickness of high κ dielectrics)/(κhigh κ), is a problem eagerly to be solved by the researchers in the field of the MOSFET manufacturing technology.

Method for forming substrates for MOS transistor components and its products


Apparatus for replacing a suspension insulator on a tower having a davit arm supporting an attached insulator and a conductor shoe attaching an energized conductor to the insulator lower end including a non-conductive board longer than and mounted to the tower below the davit arm, struts extending between the board and the tower, and a movable slider mounted on the board, the slider supporting a jack and a conductor lifting bar attached to the jack. Without contacting any energized components, a lineman moves the slider and operates the jack to lift and support the energized components, detaches the shoe from the insulator, moves the energized components to a remote position on the board, detaches and replaces the insulator while it is supported by a helicopter, moves the slider and operates the jack to lift the shoe into alignment with the insulator and attaches the shoe to the insulator.

High voltage power transmission lines carrying voltages in the hundreds of kilowatt range have been constructed to extend from spaced towers, poles or other vertical supports (hereinafter collectively referred to as "towers") in terrain which is often practically inaccessible to land vehicles. In recent years, a number of methods and devices have been developed to facilitate the repair and maintenance of high voltage power transmission lines which are accessed by helicopter.
Towers having davit arms are frequently employed for supporting multiple high voltage electrical conductors. The conductors are typically supported under the arms of such towers using a suspension insulator for each conductor. Periodically, it is necessary to replace the insulators because they are visibly damaged, as part of a general maintenance plan or for some other reason. Typically, an insulator is attached via a pin to each davit arm and via a pin to a shoe which supports the conductor. These pins, typically, must be manually removed by linemen placed on the tower via helicopter in order to replace the insulators. Pin removal typically requires either bare-handed contact with energized components or shut down of electrical flow in the conductor. Damaged or worn insulators are typically removed from the tower via helicopter and replacement insulators are delivered to the tower via helicopter. However, when the davit arms are narrow and lightweight, they cannot safely support a lineman and the equipment necessary for removing and replacing insulators. Therefore, the conventional manner of removing and replacing insulators, where the lineman and his equipment are supported on and work from the tower arm, cannot be used. This presents a particular problem for safely accessing and replacing the insulators on each davit arm.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a method and apparatus for safely accessing the insulator, energized conductor and their hardware, disconnecting the energized conductor from the insulator, disconnecting the insulator to be replaced from the davit arm and obtaining and connecting a replacement insulator, all without utilizing the davit arm to support the lineman and without exposing the lineman to the risk of contacting the grounded tower while handling the energized conductor.

Apparatus for replacing insulators on energized power lines


A semiconductor optical amplification system that uses a single-mode fiber angle-coupled to a semiconductor wave-guide medium with optical gain. This design is particularly simple and relevant to optical fiber systems, but it may be generalized to include other implementations as well, in which other spatial mode filters are employed. A chip design is employed in which lowest order mode has a size greater than about 5 micrometers (μm). Thus, much smaller facet angles can be employed while still avoiding self-oscillation. More specifically, according to some aspects of the invention, facet angles of less than 4 to 5 degrees are utilized.

Conventional edge-emitting semiconductor devices such as lasers and semiconductor optical amplifiers (SOA's) usually comprise a substrate, on which epitaxial layers of varying alloy compositions, carrier types and carrier densities have grown. These various layers are used to define the optical waveguide and the gain region of the device, which are designed to support amplification and emission of radiation in a single spatial mode. Typically, for high power devices, the dimensions of the cross-sectional area of the single spatial mode are a few micrometers in the direction parallel to the epitaxial layers (the lateral direction) and a fraction of a micrometer perpendicular to those layers (the transverse direction).

Large modal volume semiconductor laser system with spatial mode filter