A homopolar DC electromagnetic transmission (HET) and an application system thereof are provided. The HET includes two rotors, a stator, an external auxiliary system and an adjustment control system. Each of the rotors has one or more axisymmetric rotor magnetic conductors, and the stator has one or more direct current magnet exciting coils wound around an axis of a rotation shaft. A main magnetic circuit is guided to be a closed ring. The HET includes at least two main magnetic circuits. The HET includes a closed main current loop. The loop is connected with all the rotor magnetic conductors, a rotor electric conductor, a dynamic/static circuit connecting medium, stator conductors and stator magnetic conductors in series or in series and parallel. A direction of main current on the rotor magnetic conductors is perpendicular to a direction of magnetic flux (ϕ) on meridian plane.

(a) Homopolar DC Electromagnetic Transmission (HET)
Stepless variable speed and variable torque transmission devices applied currently mainly include mechanical continuously variable transmissions and hydraulic torque converters.
The mechanical continuously variable transmissions are basically frictional, conduct transmission by means of frictional force between transmission elements or shear stress of an oil film, and include a rigid fixed shaft type mechanical continuously variable transmission, a rigid movable shaft type (planetary) mechanical continuously variable transmission, a flexible belt type mechanical continuously variable transmission and a flexible chain type mechanical continuously variable transmission. The fixed shaft type mechanical continuously variable transmission also includes a mechanical continuously variable transmission without middle rolling body and a mechanical continuously variable transmission with middle rolling body. The mechanical continuously variable transmission without middle rolling body also includes a mechanical continuously variable transmission for changing working diameter and regulating speed of a driving wheel (I type) and a mechanical continuously variable transmission for changing working diameter and regulating speed of a driven wheel (II type). The mechanical continuously variable transmission with middle rolling body also includes a mechanical continuously variable transmission for simultaneously changing working diameter and regulating speed of a driving wheel and a driven wheel (III type) and a mechanical continuously variable transmission for changing working diameter and regulating speed of a middle rolling body (IV type). The fixed shaft type mechanical continuously variable transmission has a frictional sliding rate of 3%-5%; I type, III type and IV type have power less than 40 kW; and I type has a transmission efficiency of only 50%, II type has a transmission efficiency of about 85%, III type has a transmission efficiency of 75%-95%, and IV type has a transmission efficiency of 80%-93%. I type has a transmission gear ratio (a ratio of a maximum value to a minimum value of rotating speed of an output shaft when rotating speed of an input shaft is constant) of 3-5, II type has a transmission gear ratio less than 3, III type has a transmission gear ratio less than 16 or 25, IV type has a transmission gear ratio less than 17 or 20 and III type and IV type cannot rotate reversely. The planetary mechanical continuously variable transmission has the same basic principle as the fixed shaft type mechanical continuously variable transmission, and uses a planetary transmission principle to increase the range of the transmission power and variable speed. But the planetary mechanical continuously variable transmission has a power less than 75 kW, a transmission gear ratio less than 40, poor mechanical property near zero rotating speed, large sliding rate (7%-10%) and a transmission efficiency of 60%-80%, and can only decrease and regulate the speed. The belt type continuously variable transmission and the chain type continuously variable transmission have basically the same principle as the fixed shaft type continuously variable transmission, but adopts a middle flexible member (belt or chain). A single-variable diameter wheel belt type continuously variable transmission has a transmission efficiency not greater than 92%, a transmission gear ratio not greater than 2.5, and a power not greater than 25 kW, and is only used for decreasing the speed; and a dual-variable diameter wheel belt type continuously variable transmission has a transmission efficiency of 80%-90%. An ordinary V belt type continuously variable transmission has a transmission gear ratio of 1.6-2.5, and a power not greater than 40 kW. A wide V belt type continuously variable transmission has a transmission gear ratio of 3-6, and a power not greater than 55 kW. A block belt type continuously variable transmission has a transmission gear ratio of 2-16, and a power not greater than 44 kW. The chain type continuously variable transmission has a transmission power greater than that of the belt type continuously variable transmission, but has a more complicated structure. A toothed chain type continuously variable transmission has a power of 0.75-22 kW, a transmission gear ratio of 3-6 and a transmission efficiency of 90%-95%. A smooth wheel chain type continuously variable transmission has a maximum power of 175 kW, a transmission gear ratio of 2-10 and a transmission efficiency not greater than 93%. The mechanical continuously variable transmissions are only suitable for medium and small-power transmission, and have limited transmission gear ratios, sliding friction, low transmission efficiency, high requirements for material, heat treatment, processing accuracy and lubricating oil, large axial and bearing loads, poor capability of bearing overload and impact and short life. Most of the mechanical continuously variable transmissions cannot change the speed during parking. Some of them can only decrease and regulate the speed, and some cannot rotate reversely (the above data herein is from the transmission design volume of Mechanical Engineering Manual (Version 2)). The mechanical continuously variable transmissions are rarely applied at present, but V type push block metal belt continuously variable transmissions are already applied in the automotive filed.
The hydraulic torque converter has a pump wheel, a turbine and a guide wheel in which operating liquid successively flows circularly. The pump wheel is installed on the input shaft, and the turbine is installed on the output shaft. The guide wheel is connected with a stator, thereby generating a torque change effect. The pump wheel is centrifugal. The turbine includes centripetal, axial-flow type and centrifugal turbines. The guide wheel is generally axial-flow type or centripetal guide wheel, and is widely applied to centripetal turbine and axial-flow type guide wheel structures. The axial-flow type or centrifugal turbine type hydraulic torque converter has excellent reverse rotation braking performance. When the rotating speed of the pump wheel is constant, the pump wheel torque, the turbine torque and the transmission efficiency are one-variable functions of the rotating speed of the turbine, wherein the pump wheel torque is changed slightly; the turbine torque is almost decreased linearly to zero with the increase of the rotating speed of the turbine; and the transmission efficiency reaches a maximum value at a certain middle rotating speed (the turbine is designed near the rotating speed, and generally at the right side), has a maximum value of about 85%-90%, and is decreased rapidly at a low rotating speed region and a high rotating speed region down to zero. When the pump wheel torque is constant, the rotating speed of the pump wheel, the turbine torque and the transmission efficiency are also one-variable functions of the rotating speed of the turbine. Due to the constraints of the above associations, the hydraulic torque converter only has a torque changing effect, and the rotating speed is limited to only follow the change. To solve the problem, adjustable-speed hydraulic torque converters with auxiliary structures or measures can realize stepless speed change, with a speed change range of 3-5 and an efficiency of 40%-85% (the above data herein is from the transmission design volume of Mechanical Engineering Manual (Version 2)). The main problem of the hydraulic torque converter is low efficiency. To increase the efficiency, the structure shall be simplified and the transmission gear ratio (a ratio of the turbine torque to the pump wheel torque) shall be decreased; and the efficiency can be close to about 90% only when the transmission gear ratio KO (the transmission gear ratio reaches a maximum value when the rotating speed of the turbine is zero) under the starting condition is decreased to about 2.
The combined use of multiple devices is a common way of the current stepless variable speed and variable torque transmission devices, which is designed to compensate for defects and add functions. The V type push block metal belt continuously variable transmissions applied on automobiles are combined with a starting device part and a forward/backward reversing mechanism part to form a transmission system. There are three forms of starting devices: an electromagnetic clutch, an electronic control type wet friction clutch and a hydraulic torque converter. At present, the hydraulic torque converter is preferred as the starting device. The mainstream applied to automatic transmissions of the automobiles currently is a hydraulic mechanical torque converter which is composed of a hydraulic torque converter and an electronic control type power shift mechanical transmission. The structure of the electronic control type power shift mechanical transmission is generally a planetary gear drive mechanism which has 6-7 shifts of transmission gear ratio at most. A symmetrical three-element single-stage two-phase form with simple structure is mostly adopted in the hydraulic torque converter, and KO is generally about 2. The torque converter works mainly at starting acceleration and shifting.
A DC or AC electrical transmission system can also be adopted to indirectly realize continuously variable transmission between two shafts. At present, AC speed regulation transmission has replaced DC speed regulation transmission, while AC frequency-conversion speed regulation transmission is an applied mainstream. An AC frequency-conversion speed regulation transmission system for realizing continuously variable transmission between two shafts is mainly composed of the following devices: an AC generator connected with an input shaft, a rectifier, a frequency converter, and an AC motor which is connected with an output shaft. The system has the disadvantages of multiple devices, large volume, high cost, multiple links and low efficiency. The efficiency of an international advanced standard high-efficiency low-voltage three-phase cage induction motor is not greater than 95% (for models with 160 kW or below), and the efficiency of a frequency converter is about 94%-96%. Based on the efficiency of 95% for each device, system efficiency of two motors and one frequency converter is only 86%.
In the application fields of automobiles, wind power generation, power grid peak adjustment, ship propulsion, industrial and mining mechanical drive and the like, there are a wide range of demands for stepless variable torque transmission, such as hundreds of, thousands of, and tens of thousands of kilowatts of transmission efficiency, reverse power transmitting function, a large range of continuously variable transmission (e.g., rotating speed from 0 to a maximum value, and infinite transmission gear ratio), continuously variable transmission reversing function, a large range of continuously variable transmission (e.g., from 0 to maximum torque, and from negative torque to maximum positive torque), independent full-range torque regulation independent of rotating speed, independent and free change of rotating speeds of two shafts without relevance (the change of the rotating speed of rotor systems on both ends is determined by aerodynamic laws) (e.g., between an energy storing flywheel shaft and a rotation shaft for connecting a wheel), large rotating speed ratio of two shafts (e.g., an input shaft in a wind power generation occasion has a rated rotating speed of dozens of revolutions per minute, and an output shaft has a rotating speed of 1500 or 3000 revolutions per minute), higher transmission efficiency (e.g., 95%-98%), high power density, simple structure, low cost, high reliability, long service life, isolation of transfer of mechanical vibration and impact between two shafts, low noise, and small vibration. The existing stepless variable speed and variable torque transmission devices or systems are difficult to meet the above demands. Some of them only meet local individual demands. So far, no device has fully met the above demands. The current strategy is to combine a plurality of devices with different types and characteristics to try to meet more functional demands, but the effect is unsatisfactory.
The present invention applies the electromagnetic action principle of a homopolar DC motor. The homopolar DC motor is a motor in which magnetic flux that passes through the full area of an air gap presents the same polarity, and a magnet exciting coil of the motor encircles an axis and is wound into an axisymmetric shape. When direct current is led into the motor, the generated magnetic flux penetrates through an axisymmetric conductor on a rotor; a rotating rotor conductor cuts the magnetic flux, and induces a direct current electromotive force with the same polarity; and the direct current electromotive force is connected to an external circuit through electric brushes on both ends of the rotor conductor to form direct current. Because only one conductor induces the electromotive force, the voltage is low, while the current is high, so the motor can be used as a low-voltage high-current DC generator for use in electrochemical industry and the like. The motor almost has no eddy current and hysteresis loss, which is favorable for increasing the efficiency. The rotor has no winding, and does not need commutator, thereby saving copper and realizing simple structure. The current density can be very high, and the motor is a high power density model. Liquid metal is used for afflux and replaces the electric brushes, thereby greatly reducing voltage drop and loss during afflux, but air shall be isolated. The motor has the disadvantages of high external current, thick wire, many consumables and high loss, and can only be used in special application occasions that need low voltage and high current.
(b) Fuel Engine Power System for Vehicles Including HET
It is a vehicle power system which uses a fuel burning engine and has continuously variable transmission. It mainly adopts a mechanical continuously variable transmission and a hydraulic torque converter currently. For application situations and technical limitations of the mechanical continuously variable transmission and the hydraulic torque converter, see Background part of "(a) Homopolar DC Electromagnetic Transmission (HET)".
In the application fields of cars, passenger cars, trucks, engineering vehicles, working vehicles, tracked vehicles, rail vehicles and the like, there are higher requirements and more functional demands for stepless variable speed and variable torque transmission, such as hundreds of and thousands of kilowatts of transmission efficiency, a large range of continuously variable transmission (e.g., rotating speed from 0 to a maximum value, and infinite transmission gear ratio), continuously variable transmission reversing function, a large range of continuously variable transmission (e.g., from 0 to maximum torque), independent full-range torque regulation independent of rotating speed, independent and free change of rotating speeds of two shafts without relevance (the change of the rotating speed of rotor systems on both ends is determined by aerodynamic laws), higher transmission efficiency (e.g., 95%-98%), high power density, simple structure, low cost, high reliability, long service life, isolation of transfer of mechanical vibration and impact between two shafts, low noise, and small vibration. The existing stepless variable speed and variable torque transmission devices are difficult to meet the above demands. Some of them only meet local individual demands. So far, no device has fully met the above demands. The current strategy is to combine a plurality of devices with different types and characteristics to try to meet more functional demands, but the effect is unsatisfactory.
In addition, for the existing vehicles which use the fuel burning engines, including the vehicles with continuously variable transmissions, the overall fuel efficiency of the engine during running is low; the running ratio of high-efficiency region is small; and a control means for efficient operation is deficient or absent.
(c) Flywheel Power System for Vehicles Including HET
It is a vehicle power system which does not carry fuel, is charged with a power grid and has zero emission. At present, it mainly includes two types: a chemical battery power system and a flywheel power system.
The existing chemical battery power system for vehicles includes a chemical battery, a motor/generator, a convertor device, a control system and other major parts. After alternating current of the power grid is rectified into direct current, the direct current charges energy to the chemical battery; and the direct current of the chemical battery is converted into alternating current with proper frequency and voltage through the convertor device and is inputted into the motor for driving the vehicle. When a kinetic energy recovery function is used in vehicle braking, the generator is used, instead of the motor; a related system enables the energy to flow reversely; and the kinetic energy of the vehicle is converted into chemical energy of the battery. So far, the chemical battery power system for vehicles also has many problems and disadvantages including:
(1) Charging time of the chemical battery is too long; a used fast charge solution also takes a long time; and fast charge greatly damages the battery;
(2) Power performance of the vehicle is insufficient; due to the constraints of power capacities of the motor and the convertor device and the limitation of high current discharge of the chemical battery, the maximum speed of the vehicle per hour is slightly low; acceleration, especially at high speed, is not enough; and gradeability is not enough;
(3) The kinetic energy recovery function is limited during vehicle braking; similarly, due to the limitations of device power and high current charging of the chemical battery, kinetic energy recovery braking power is slightly low, while vehicle braking is often in a case of high energy conversion rate;
(4) Vehicle miles traveled are not long enough; this problem is related to battery cost and weight and other problems, and is also related to the problem of too long charging time of the battery; the charging problem cannot solve the problem of the miles traveled, and even rises to the most important problem, while internal driving force actively constructed for supported facilities in charging places and the like shall come from the practical competitiveness and market prospect of the power vehicle; and in addition, the occupation area of the place with very long charging time is unacceptable, and each time efficiency is extremely low;
(5) The chemical battery is very high in unit cost; and the vehicle cost is very high and does not have market competitiveness;
(6) The life of the chemical battery is limited; the service life is quite different from the service life of a general automobile, while the cost occupies the largest part of the vehicle; and repeated maintenance and replacement of the battery need high cost;
(7) Energy conversion efficiency is low; charging efficiency of the chemical battery (efficiency of converting electric energy into chemical energy) is about 70%; the efficiency of the motor and the convertor device is about 80% at constant speed, and about 60% at acceleration; the total comprehensive efficiency is only 56% at constant speed, and about 42% at acceleration; (data is from Practical Manual For Motor Technology (Japanese) Edited by Tree Ebihara Hideto, Translated by Wang yiquan et al. Science Press, 2005, Page 844)
(8) Safety and environmental protection problems exist; a lithium ion battery with high energy density is easy to cause overheat, spontaneous combustion and even explosion; a lead acid battery with low energy density has heavier weight and seriously pollutes the environment; and the chemical battery always has a great problem which is not favorable for environmental protection in the full life cycle from protection to treatment after use.
The existing flywheel power system for vehicles is not applied as an individual main power in the vehicle, and is mainly used in hybrid vehicles. The system or subsystem is typically composed of: a vacuum environment, flywheels supported by magnetic suspension, a high-speed variable-frequency motor/generator coaxial with the flywheels, a power semiconductor convertor device, and a variable-frequency motor/generator which is finally connected to wheels. When the flywheels are driven, kinetic energy of the flywheels drives the vehicle through the following energy transfer paths: a flywheel-side generator, a convertor device and a wheel-side motor; when the kinetic energy is recovered for braking, the kinetic energy of the vehicle is transferred to the flywheels through the following paths: a wheel-side generator, the convertor device and a flywheel-side motor; and an external power grid or a fuel engine in the vehicle charges the flywheels through the following transfer paths: electric energy, the convertor device, and the wheel-side motor. The flywheel power system has disadvantages including:
(1) The efficiency of the energy transfer process is low; the power grid charges the flywheels through the convertor device and the flywheel-side high-frequency motor; in this process, the maximum efficiency is not greater than 90% and average efficiency is about 80%; the flywheels drive the vehicle through the flywheel-side high-frequency generator, the convertor device and the wheel-side motor; in this process, the maximum efficiency is not greater than 86% and average efficiency is about 72%; and in the entire process of energy transfer from the electric energy of the power grid to the mechanical energy for driving the vehicle, the maximum efficiency is not greater than 77% and average efficiency is about 58%;
(2) Two sets of motors/generators and a complete set of convertor device have higher cost, heavier weight and more occupied space;
(3) The high-speed variable-frequency motor/generator coaxial with the flywheels is located in a vacuum container; and the high-frequency high-speed motor has serious problems of large heat and poor heat radiation;
(4) It is very difficult to correct dynamic balance of large-mass flywheels; flywheel bodies are greatly deformed during high-speed rotation; great creep deformation is generated after long-term use; and these factors make it difficult to control to decrease dynamic unbalance force and moment for the existing flywheel bodies with rigid structural design, thereby generating harmful vibration;
(5) Problems caused by that magnetic bearings are adopted as radial load bearings and axial load bearings of the flywheels: an active control system of a magnetic suspension bearing, which must have high reliability, is added; in movable application occasions such as vehicles and the like, frequent and random large impact load is encountered, and especially, the impact load, from gyrostatic moment of the flywheels, supported by the radial bearings is very serious; compared with uncontrolled mechanical bearings or permanent magnet bearings, magnetic suspension bearings and control systems thereof are complex systems, and are probable to generate problems; once fault and failure occur, because inertial rotation of the flywheels cannot be stopped within short time, heat and abrasion of protecting bearings are very serious, cause damage to the bearings and finally seriously damage the rotor system of the flywheels; the magnetic suspension bearing system is maintained by means of a power supply, and the power supply shall not be interrupted when the flywheels are not operated for long but keep rotating;
(6) The existing flywheel power system is not individually applied on the vehicle, does not include large power and large energy storing capacity design types, and includes small capacity and small size design types which are applied on trial in individual hybrid vehicles; and this indicates that the power system has an unacceptable defect and has the disadvantages that the power system cannot be individually applied and cannot be designed according to conventional capacity.
(d) Fuel Engine and Flywheel Hybrid Power System for Vehicles Including HET
It is a vehicle hybrid power system which combines a fuel engine and an energy storage device, and currently includes two types: a hybrid power system of a fuel engine and a chemical battery, and a hybrid power system of a fuel engine and flywheels.
The existing hybrid power system of the fuel engine for vehicles and the chemical battery comprises a fuel engine, a chemical battery, a generator, a motor, a convertor device, a control system and other major parts. During electrifying and charging, after alternating current of the power grid is rectified into direct current, the direct current charges energy to the chemical battery. When the fuel engine charges energy to the chemical battery, mechanical energy is converted into chemical energy of the battery through the generator and the convertor device. The direct current of the battery is converted into alternating current with proper frequency and voltage through the convertor device and the vehicle is driven through the motor. When a kinetic energy recovery function is used in vehicle braking, the generator is used, instead of the motor; a related system enables the energy to flow reversely; and the kinetic energy of the vehicle is converted into chemical energy of the battery. In some design solutions, the fuel engine can individually drive or jointly drive the vehicle through a mechanical transmission structure. So far, the hybrid power system of the fuel engine for vehicles and the chemical battery also has many problems and disadvantages including:
(1) The chemical battery, the generator, the motor and the convertor device have low efficiency, and the total energy conversion efficiency is low;
(2) Due to the limitations of power capacities of the chemical battery, the motor and the convertor device, power performance of the vehicle during pure-electric running is insufficient;
(3) The kinetic energy recovery function is limited during vehicle braking; due to the limitations of device power and high current charging of the chemical battery, kinetic energy recovery braking power is slightly low, while vehicle braking is often in a case of high energy conversion rate;
(4) Charging time of the chemical battery is long; a used fast charge solution also takes a long time; and fast charge greatly damages the battery;
(5) The chemical battery is very high in unit cost;
(6) The life of the chemical battery is limited; and the service life is quite different from the service life of a general automobile;
(7) Safety and environmental protection problems exist in the chemical battery; a lithium ion battery with high energy density is easy to cause overheat, spontaneous combustion and even explosion; a lead acid battery with low energy density has heavier weight and seriously pollutes the environment; and the chemical battery always has a great problem which is not favorable for environmental protection in the full life cycle from protection to treatment after use.
The existing hybrid power system of a fuel engine and flywheels is typically composed of: a fuel engine, a generator connected with the engine, a vacuum environment, flywheels supported by magnetic suspension, a high-speed variable-frequency motor/generator coaxial with the flywheels, a power semiconductor convertor device, and a variable-frequency motor/generator which is connected to wheels. An external power grid charges energy to the flywheels through the following transfer paths: electric energy, the convertor device, and a flywheel-side motor; the fuel engine charges energy to the flywheels through the following transfer paths: an engine-side generator, the convertor device and the flywheel-side motor; when the flywheels are driven, kinetic energy of the flywheels drives the vehicle through the following energy transfer paths: a flywheel-side generator, a convertor device and a wheel-side motor; and when the kinetic energy is recovered for braking, the kinetic energy of the vehicle is transferred to the flywheels through the following paths: a wheel-side generator, the convertor device and a flywheel-side motor. The hybrid power system of flywheels has disadvantages including:
(1) The efficiency of the energy transfer process is low; the process that the fuel engine charges energy to the flywheels and the process that the flywheels drive the vehicle need energy conversion of two motors and a set of convertor device; in each process, the maximum efficiency is not greater than 86% and average efficiency is about 72%; and the maximum efficiency of the overall process is not greater than 74% and average efficiency is about 52%;
(2) Three motors and a complete set of convertor device have higher cost, heavier weight and more occupied space;
(3) The high-speed variable-frequency motor/generator coaxial with the flywheels is located in a vacuum container; and the high-frequency high-speed motor has serious problems of large heat and poor heat radiation;
(4) It is very difficult to correct dynamic balance of flywheels; flywheel bodies are greatly deformed during high-speed rotation; great creep deformation is generated after long-term use; and theses factors make it difficult to control to decrease dynamic unbalance force and moment for the existing flywheel bodies with rigid structural design, thereby generating harmful vibration;
(5) Problems caused by that magnetic bearings are adopted as radial load bearings and axial load bearings of the flywheels: an active control system of a magnetic suspension bearing, which must have high reliability, is added; in movable application occasions such as vehicles and the like, frequent and random large impact load is encountered, and especially, the impact load, from gyrostatic moment of the flywheels, supported by the radial bearings is very serious; compared with uncontrolled mechanical bearings or permanent magnet bearings, magnetic suspension bearings and control systems thereof are complex systems, and are probable to generate problems; once fault and failure occur, because inertial rotation of the flywheels cannot be stopped within short time, heat and abrasion of protecting bearings are very serious, cause damage to the bearings and finally seriously damage the rotor system of the flywheels; the magnetic suspension bearing system is maintained by means of a power supply, and the power supply shall not be interrupted when the flywheels are not operated for long but keep rotating;
(e) Mechanical Connection and Load Charging System for Energy Storage Flywheel of Vehicle Including HET
The existing charging method for energy storage flywheel is operated using a motor which is installed coaxially with the flywheel. There is no charging method for directly driving a flywheel shaft through an external rotation shaft. Due to the limitations of a motor carried by the vehicle and the capacity of a convertor device, the charging power of the motor is limited.
(f) Wind Power Generation System Including HET
The source of the wind power generation system is a wind wheel which absorbs wind energy. The rear end of the wind wheel has a generator, and the rotating speed of the wind wheel is very low. The wind wheel and the generator are generally connected through a speed-up gear box, and a so-called "direct drive" solution of directly connecting the wind wheel and the generator is also present (size and weight of the generator are large). The wind wheel includes a horizontal axis type wind wheel and a vertical axis type wind wheel. The horizontal axis type wind wheel is generally applied, and oftens adopts three blades and airfoils. A blade which has a structure, on a root, which rotates by using a radial centerline of a blade body as a central axis is called as a "variable pitch (angle)" blade, and a blade without this rotating structure is called as "fixed pitch (angle)" blade. Both of the two blades are applied.
Wind energy (kinetic energy) that flows through unit windward area at unit time is equal to half of the product of third power of air density and wind speed. The wind energy which can be captured by the wind wheel is only part of the full wind energy, i.e., the captured wind energy shall be multiplied by a wind-power utilization coefficient Cp. A theoretical limit value of Cp is 16/27 (Betz limit, about 0.593). Cp value in the practical situation is lower than the Betz limit; a maximum value of Cp of a typical modern three-blade horizontal axis type wind wheel is about 0.47; and the maximum value of Cp is only a peak value which occurs under a corresponding optimal tip speed ratio (the tip speed ratio is a ratio of rotating linear speed at the top of the blade to the wind speed); and the Cp value is decreased if the maximum value is greater than or smaller than the optimal tip speed ratio. From the viewpoint of capturing the wind energy to the maximum degree, within the wind speed below designed wind speed of corresponding design (rated) power, the horizontal axis type wind wheel shall be always operated in the optimal tip speed ratio state, i.e., the rotating speed of the wind wheel shall be linearly changed in direct proportional with the wind speed to maintain the tip speed ratio to be the optimal value. The variable speed operation of the wind wheel has the following advantages: conditions are provided for constantly keeping the optimal tip speed ratio and maximum efficiency; the wind wheel is operated at low rotating speed when the wind speed is low, and the blades do not generate too high aerodynamic noise relative to environmental noise; and the wind wheel with relatively free rotating speed as a large inertia flywheel can temporarily absorb energy pulsing caused by gust and torque pulsing formed when the blades cross a tower body, thereby avoiding generating excessive moment impact on the transmission system and the generator at the rear end.
The current operation of the horizontal axis type wind wheel includes three solutions: constant speed, dual speeds and variable speed. The constant speed (or approximate constant speed) operation solution of the wind wheel is favorable for the generator to generate electricity at fixed frequency, adopts an asynchronous generator generally and has simple structure, but has low efficiency of capturing the wind energy. The dual speeds solution adopts a dual-speed asynchronous generator, and improves the efficiency of capturing the wind energy in the constant speed solution. The variable speed solution actually applies a frequency conversion principle, and a frequency converter is added between the generator and the power grid. The generator and the wind wheel can be operated at variable speed. Variable frequency alternating current outputted by the generator is rectified and inverted into power frequency alternating current, and delivered to the power grid. There are two methods for the variable frequency and variable speed: "broadband" variable speed and "narrowband" variable speed. The "broadband" variable speed situation is as follows: a generator stator is connected to the power grid through the frequency converter; and the generator (together with the wind wheel) is allowed to change from zero to rated rotating speed under load, but all powers must be outputted via the frequency converter. The "narrowband" variable speed situation is as follows: a generator stator and a generator rotor are connected to the power grid; the stator is directly connected with the power grid; the rotor is connected to the power grid through a slip and a frequency converter; and the required frequency converter has small capacity, but has narrow variable speed range which is generally from about 50% rotating speed to rated rotating speed. This generator is called as a "double-fed asynchronous generator" which is a widely-used mainstream technology. The variable speed solution also researches other ways such as mechanical continuously variable transmissions, but these ways are not practically applied mainly because they have serious disadvantages in many aspects.
Within a range from the wind speed above the designed wind speed to cut-out wind speed, a power limit adjustment measure is taken for the wind wheel, and the wind speed is generally controlled to be not greater than the rated power. Control methods mainly include: a stall regulation method is used for the "fixed pitch" blade; the structure is simple, but the power is lower than the rated power within the range of the wind speed; and stall of the air flow on the back arc of the blade causes instable operation, energy pulsing, poor performance regularity and large aerodynamic thrust load for the wind wheel and a tower; a variable pitch angle adjustment method is used for the "variable pitch" blade; a blade installing angle is correspondingly changed when the wind speed is changed, so that the power is equal to the rated power within the full range. While the value of the wind-power utilization coefficient Cp is decreased in time, the blade keeps steady flow without stall and aerodynamic thrust is also small. This method has the disadvantages that a complex variable pitch angle regulation mechanism is added and the response to the gust should be fast enough. Other power limit methods include: an "active stall control" method for increasing stall trend orientation used for the "variable pitch" blade, and a "yaw control" method which is conducted through a windward yaw driving mechanism. A "passive variable pitch control" method for power limit is also researched.
The current wind power generation system has the following disadvantages: the constant speed operation solution and the dual speeds operation solution of the wind wheel have great gaps with efficient wind energy capture; the widely-used "narrowband" variable speed cannot satisfy optimal variable speed requirements within the low wind speed range, and this wind speed range basically includes a part below average annual wind speed and belongs to a region with highest wind frequency; the slip of the double-fed asynchronous generator is not favorable for maintenance and utilization; the frequency converter generates electromagnetic noise and harmonic waves, and causes high electromagnetic interference; the frequency converter is high in price, and energy loss in the current conversion process is also large; and due to the limitations of the regulation means and the like, the values of the wind-power utilization coefficient Cp of many actually applied wind wheels are much lower than reachable maximum values, including design point operating condition and variable speed operating condition.
(g) Wind Power Generation System Including HET and Flywheels
Wind power generation is recognized green energy and has a broad prospect. At present, the technology has been successfully applied for a long time. The economic competitiveness of the wind power generation system is constantly improving. However, from the global perspective of the power grid, in the aspect of aggregative index, there are some problems as follows: the wind speed is highly instable and random; thus, wind energy power obtained by the wind wheel is always changed within a large range, the power generation power of a wind power generation system without an energy storage device is very instable, the installed capacity of a wind turbine is not regarded as stable and reliable power generation capacity in the power grid generally, and the increase of the installed capacity of the wind turbine basically does not decrease the installed capacity of conventional power generation equipment; on the contrary, due to instability and randomness of wind power generation, wind power generation of the power grid is very difficult and enough supporting facilities for peaking (including peaking emergency generator sets, pumped storage power stations and the like) shall be added correspondingly; instability of wind power also reduces the quality of electric energy and increases instability of the power grid; and in addition, in order to sufficiently absorb wind energy under all wind conditions, the rated capacity of the wind power system is designed to be quite high; the design/rated wind speed corresponding to the rated power is much higher than annual average wind speed; the annual average power only occupies about 19% of the rated power; and the effective utilization ratio of the device capacity is very low.
If an effective energy storage device is added to the wind power generation system, the above problems can be solved well. Firstly, a relatively stable and reliable generation source can be formed; secondly, the added power grid peaking measure can be cancelled, and meanwhile, peaking capability can also be provided for the power grid; thirdly, electric energy of standard quality can be provided; and fourthly, rated capacities of the generator and equipment connected with the power grid can be greatly reduced.
It is more necessary to configure the energy storage device for an off-grid (isolated grid) wind power generation system. Because input wind energy and electrical load greatly fluctuate and wind power is the only power supply, it is a necessary way to configure the energy storage device which can stably supply power for long term for ensuring a stable power supply.
A broad variety of methods about storage of wind energy include: chemical batteries, pumped energy storage, flywheel energy storage, compressed air energy storage, phase change energy storage, hydrogen production energy storage and the like. Practical methods which can be applied in the wind power generation system include the chemical batteries and flywheel energy storage. The chemical batteries are usually used for a small off-grid wind power generation system. The chemical batteries have lower total energy efficiency (about 50% on the average), are limited in high-power fast charge and discharge, but maintain electrical energy for a longer time. A grid-connected wind power generation system with the energy storage device has not been applied and reported.
A flywheel energy storage technique covers two major parts: a flywheel device and an energy conversion system. At present, typical flywheel energy storage and conversion systems have the following structure and features:
flywheel kinetic energy carrier: flywheel kinetic energy comes from rotation of a flywheel body with large mass at high linear speed; mass blocks of the flywheel body are formed through winding of unidirectional continuous fiber reinforced plastic composite material to obtain maximum energy storage density through the characteristic of high strength of the fiber reinforced plastic. This material structure has highest circumferential (material longitudinal) strength, but very low radial and axial (material transverse) strength, so that the mass blocks of the flywheel body can only be made into cylinder rings with thin radial thickness. This brings the disadvantage that occupied spatial mass blocks cannot be fully used and practical energy storage volume density is slightly small. In addition, it is difficult to control dynamic unbalanced force and moment of the composite flywheel body with large mass and high linear speed. First of all, correction difficulty of dynamic balance is high. Firstly, a large-load dynamic balancing machine shall be supported; secondly, a combination of the flywheel body and a rotation shaft generally forms a simple flexible rotor, and high-speed dynamic balance with high correction difficulty and vacuum dynamic balance condition are needed; and thirdly, the fiber reinforced plastic under high-speed rotation may be greatly displaced and deformed, and deformation is changed with the rotating speed, which is unfavorable for high-speed dynamic balance correction. Even worse, dynamic unbalance is grown during operation. Firstly, great displacement and deformation are generated, and size and material differences cause symmetrical uneven deformation; and secondly, an incremental creep deformation behavior is generated after long-term use. Glassfiber reinforced plastics may generate great elastic deformation and creep, and carbon fiber reinforced plastics may generate small elastic deformation and creep. However, carbon fiber material with high elasticity modulus has high cost, thereby impeding large-scale economical application, while glassfiber is suitable for practical application but shall solve the problems of great deformation and creep;
Flyweel vacuum container: the rotating flywheel body is placed in the vacuum container so as to reduce blasting friction loss to the largest degree. All the rotation shafts are located in the vacuum container without axial seal (i.e., isolation of vacuum and atmosphere). Bearings and the motor are also located in the vacuum container;
Flywheel bearing: a magnetic bearing is adopted to support radial load and axial load (the flywheel is of a vertical structure generally) so as to reduce bearing friction loss to the largest degree and to avoid the problems of lubricant evaporation and sharp life decrease of a mechanical bearing in a vacuum environment. Meanwhile, a mechanical protecting bearing is adopted to play a role of temporary supporting and positioning under the condition that the magnetic bearing is not used, unused, failed and overloaded; and
Energy conversion system: a high-speed variable frequency motor/generator and a bidirectional frequency converter are adopted; the motor has the same rotating speed as the flywheel. When the power grid inputs the energy into the flywheel, power frequency alternating current of the power grid is rectified and converted to drive the motor so that the flywheel speeds up; and when the flywheel outputs the energy into the power grid, the kinetic energy of the flywheel drives the generator and the generated electric energy is rectified and converted, and then outputted to the power frequency power grid. The motor is located in the vacuum container, and the high-frequency high-speed motor has serious problems of large heat and limited heat conduction.
In conclusion, the existing flywheel energy storage and conversion system has the following disadvantages or aspects to be improved:
(1) Because a single mass block of the flywheel body can only be made into the cylinder ring with thin radial thickness, the practical energy storage volume density is slightly small.
(2) The existing energy storage flywheel has serious problem of rotation imbalance, is difficult to solve the problem, is easy to cause great unbalanced vibration, and aggravates imbalance with use time. Furthermore, most of flywheels cannot avoid resonance speed within the range of operating speed, bringing the problem of a resonance point. The larger the flywheel mass is, the more serious the problems of imbalance and resonance are. Most of energy storage flywheels applied in fixed places have large mass. For example, the energy storage flywheels used in power grid peaking and stable load for wind power generation have large mass. The problems of imbalance and resonance of such flywheels are especially obvious.
(3) Problems caused by that magnetic bearings are adopted as radial load bearings and axial load bearings: an active control system of a magnetic suspension bearing, which must have high reliability, is added; compared with uncontrolled mechanical bearings or permanent magnet bearings, magnetic suspension bearings and control systems thereof are complex systems, and are probable to generate problems; once fault and failure occur, because inertial rotation of the flywheels cannot be stopped within short time, heat and abrasion of protecting bearings are very serious, cause damage to the bearings and finally seriously damage the rotor system of the flywheels; the magnetic suspension bearing system is maintained by means of a power supply, and the power supply shall not be interrupted when the flywheels are not operated for long but keep rotating
(4) The high-frequency high-speed motor has serious problems of large heat and limited heat conduction, thereby limiting the increase of the motor power. A variable frequency motor also needs a frequency converter with high configuration cost. The total efficiency of the variable frequency motor and the frequency converter is also low, i.e., this energy transfer mode has low efficiency.
(h) Flywheel Energy Storage and Conversion System including HET
The flywheel energy storage and conversion system is mainly composed of two major parts: a flywheel energy storage device and an energy conversion system. At present, the structure and features as well as defects or aspects to be improved of the typical flywheel energy storage and conversion system are described above, and are omitted herein.

Homopolar DC electromagnetic transmission and application system thereof


The disclosure discloses an electronic cigarette atomizer and an electronic cigarette, including an outer casing, wherein the outer casing is provided inside with an atomization cavity, a gas outlet is provided at a top end of the atomization cavity, a gas inlet is provided at a bottom end of the atomization cavity, the atomization cavity is provided inside with an atomization assembly, and the atomization assembly includes an oil guiding cotton swab, an electric heating wire wound around outer periphery of the oil guiding cotton swab, and an oil guiding cotton cloth layer covering the top of the oil guiding cotton swab.

With the development of the society, people are paying more and more attention to their own health, the number of people who smoke is gradually decreasing, and as a substitute for cigarette, electronic cigarette has been rapidly popularized in the market; and as a major component of the electronic cigarette, an atomization core is used to atomize cigarette oil and for the atomized cigarette oil to mix with gas.
However, the atomization assembly in the electronic cigarette atomizer on the market today comprises an electric heating wire and an oil guiding cotton swab, the electric heating wire is wound around the oil guiding cotton swab, the cigarette oil is guided from two ends of the oil guiding cotton swab toward the middle of the electric heating wire, and the electric heating wire is powered on and heated to atomize the cigarette oil.
The electric heating wire has the highest temperature at the middle position when heated, the cigarette oil is supplied from two ends of the oil guiding cotton swab toward the middle, the oil content at two ends of the oil guiding cotton swab is greater than that in the middle, and the oil content in the middle of the oil guiding cotton swab is minimum, and if the oil content in the middle of the oil guiding cotton swab lacks, the scorching phenomenon will occur; and if oil content at two ends of the oil guiding cotton swab exceeds, there will be oil leakage.
If the oil content at two ends of the oil guiding cotton swab meets "no oil leakage" and reaches an equilibrating oil quantity, the oil content in the middle of the oil guiding cotton swab will be less than the equilibrating oil quantity. Moreover, the amount of heat generated at the middle position of the electric heating wire is maximum, which easily leads to scorching of the cotton or the cigarette oil, and thus poor taste.
If the oil content in the middle of the oil guiding cotton swab meets "no scorching" and "no oil leakage", and reaches the equilibrating oil quantity, the oil content at two ends of the oil guiding cotton swab will be greater than the equilibrating oil quantity, increasing the risk of oil leakage.
In summary, the electronic cigarette atomizer on the market today involves a problem that oil is supplied from two ends of the oil guiding cotton swab toward the middle of the oil guiding cotton swab, resulting in unbalanced distributions of the oil content of the oil guiding cotton swab, thus resulting in unbalanced speed of supplying oil to the electric heating wire, where the unbalanced oil supply also causes unbalanced surface heating temperature of the electric heating wire, eventually leading to the issue of poor taste of the atomized cigarette oil.

Electronic cigarette atomizer and electronic cigarette


A method for preparing corn fiber oil involving separating corn fiber from corn kernels (e.g., by a wet milling process), drying the corn fiber, grinding the dried corn fiber to produce ground corn fiber having a particle size of less than about 100 microns, combining the ground corn fiber with an aqueous solution having a specific gravity effective to float aleurone cells, removing the floating aleurone fraction, drying the aleurone fraction to form a dried aleurone fraction, grinding the dried aleurone fraction to form a ground aleurone fraction, extracting corn fiber oil from the ground aleurone fraction by a way selected from the group consisting of an organic solvent and supercritical fluid extraction, and separating the extracted corn fiber oil from the extraction medium. Also shown is a method of recovering corn aleurone cells from corn fiber involving separating corn fiber from corn kernels by a wet milling process, drying the corn fiber, grinding the dried corn fiber to produce ground corn fiber having a particle size of less than about 100 microns, combining the ground corn fiber with an aqueous solution having a specific gravity effective to float aleurone cells, and removing the floating aleurone fraction.

The present invention relates to a method for preparing corn fiber oil involving separating corn fiber from corn kernels (e.g., by a wet milling process), drying the corn fiber, grinding the dried corn fiber to produce ground corn fiber having a particle size of less than about 100 microns, combining the ground corn fiber with an aqueous solution having a specific gravity effective to float aleurone cells, removing the floating aleurone fraction, drying the aleurone fraction to form a dried aleurone fraction, grinding the dried aleurone fraction to form a ground aleurone fraction, extracting corn fiber oil from the ground aleurone fraction by means selected from the group consisting of an organic solvent and supercritical fluid extraction, and separating the extracted corn fiber oil from the extraction medium. The present invention also relates to a method of recovering corn aleurone cells from corn fiber involving separating corn fiber from corn kernels by a wet milling process, drying the corn fiber, grinding the dried corn fiber to produce ground corn fiber having a particle size of less than about 100 microns, combining the ground corn fiber with an aqueous solution having a specific gravity effective to float aleurone cells, and removing the floating aleurone fraction.
Corn (maize) fiber oil contains unique compounds called phytosterols that have been shown to have nutraceutical properties (U.S. Pat. No. 5,843,499 which is incorporated by reference in its entirety). Due to their nutraceutical value, commercial corn fiber oil-based products can potentially be sold for $11 to $22/kg ($5 to $10/lb) based on the current market retail price of products similar to corn fiber oil. The amount of oil in corn fiber is very low, approximately 1.5 to 3.0%. Due to the low concentration of oil in corn fiber, the extraction of the oil and its phytosterol compounds is not efficient and can be expensive. Singh et al. (Cereal Chem., 78(4): 436–441 (2001)) showed that more than 90% of the corn fiber oil comes from the aleurone layer, which is approximately 40% of the coarse (pericarp) fiber fraction. Among the different classes of phytosterol compounds present in the corn fiber oil, more than 95% of the ferulate phytosterol esters (FPE), 60% of free phytosterols (St) and 90% of fatty acyl phytosterol esters (St:E) are present in the oil recovered from the aleurone layer (Cereal Chem., 78(4): 436–441 (2001)).
The aleurone layer in most yellow dent corn hybrids is a single layer of cells located directly beneath the pericarp tissue (Watson, S. A., 1984, Corn and sorghum starches: Production, pages 417–468, in: Starch: Chemistry and Technology, R. L. Whistler, J. N. BeMiller, and E. F. Paschall, eds., Academic Press, Orlando, Fla.). During the conventional corn wet milling process the aleurone layer ends up in the fiber fraction.
The present study tested whether the aleurone layer could provide an enriched source of corn fiber oil and phytosterol compounds by attempting to separate the aleurone layer from other parts of the wet milled fiber fraction. Higher concentration of oil and phytosterol could make the extraction more efficient and less expensive. In the present study an effort was made to increase the concentration of the oil and phytosterols in corn fiber by floatation of the fiber tissue associated with the oil bodies (aleurone cells) in the fiber fraction.

Methods of preparing corn fiber oil and of recovering corn aleurone cells from corn fiber

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of Agriculture


A digital driver circuit with one or more CMOS inverters intended as input stages, whereby for the MOS FETs of the inverters the channel width/length (W/L) ratio increases from stage to stage. The digital driver circuit includes an intermediate stage with two further CMOS inverters, connected between a supply voltage Vcc and ground. The driver circuit also includes an output stage having two MOS FETs with the drain terminals of both the MOS FETs of the output stage connected both to each other and to the output of the circuit, the W/L ratio of both MOS FETs exceeding that of the MOS FETs of the intermediate stage. The switch-over of the two MOS FETs of the output stage, occurring with changes of the digital input signal at the input of the circuit, is offset in time with respect to each other, thereby reducing current peaks.

The invention in general relates to a digital driver circuit, and in particular to a digital driver circuit which uses CMOS inverters.
Digital driver circuits are used in integrated circuits to recharge relatively large capacitance values, such as occur, for example, in connection with the feed-in of data and clock pulses. The driver circuits thereby adapt small capacitive loads to large capacitive loads, whilst optimising delay times. A further criterion for optimising digital driver circuits constitutes the amount of chip surface required. Examples of digital driver circuits include output driver circuits, part of which are bus drivers.
In order to reduce the delay times caused by the re-charging process, which can have a negative influence on the overall speed of a digital system, a particularly simple digital driver circuit has been proposed, which consists of a chain of CMOS inverters, where the relation of channel width (W) to channel length (L) (from here on referred to as W/L ratio, for simplicity), of the MOS FETs composing the CMOS inverters increases from chain unit to chain unit. Huang Chang Lin and Loren W. Linholm describe such a digital driver circuit in their article xc3x4An Optimised Output Stage for MOS Integrated Circuitsxc3x6in the IEEE Journal of Solid State Circuits, Vol. SC-10, No. 2, April 1975. The degree of change of the W/L ratio between the individual chain units is chosen to suit specific applications, so as to minimise the delay times caused by the re-charging processes.
FIG. 1 shows such a digital driver circuit with inverting functions, as known in accordance with contemporary technology, which consists of three successive CMOS inverters where the source of each p-channel MOS FET is connected to the supply voltage and the source of each n-channel MOS FET is connected to ground. If a digital input signal of voltage Ue, which may take the states of 0 V or Vcc, is applied to input 1 of the circuit, this appears as an inverted digital output signal of voltage Ua at the output 2 of the circuit. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the W/L ratios of the p-channel MOS FETs of the individual stages, from input 1 of the circuit to output 2 of the circuit, increase from 20/1 to 200/1 and then to 800/1, and those of the n-channel MOS FETs increase from 10/1 to 100/1 and finally to 400/1.
When in a non-active state, that is when the digital input signal Ue of the circuit is in either the H or L state, the energy consumption of the circuit is very low, since in each CMOS inverter one MOS FET is in the OFF state, therefore preventing current to flow from the supply voltage terminal to the ground terminal. When, however, the digital input signal changes its state, that is when it changes either from the H into the L state or from the L into the H state, both MOS transistors of each of the inverter stages are switched ON during a short period while the voltage Ue changes, leading to a current peak. The largest current peak will thereby be generated by the last CMOS inverter, which is the one supplying the greatest power.
These current peaks, which for circuits designed for low power applications may be well in excess of currents normally encountered, are undesirable and may be the cause of several problems. For example, reference circuits and low-noise circuits may suffer interference from these current peaks. Furthermore, when series resistors are used as a protection against electrostatic discharges, these current peaks cause a marked voltage drop at the resistors involved.
The purpose of the invention is to provide an especially compact driver circuit of simple design, whereby the current peaks originated in conventional circuits of this type, when the digital input signal changes over, are markedly reduced. This problem is solved by a digital driver circuit comprising
one or more cascading input stages, each consisting of a CMOS inverter where the source of its p-channel MOS FET is connected to the supply voltage and where the source of its n-channel MOS FET is connected to ground, whereby the ratio between channel width (w) and channel length (L) (W/L ratio) of the CMOS inverter MOS FETs increases from stage to stage by a pre-determined amount;
an intermediate stage with a first CMOS inverter, where the source of its p-channel MOS FET is connected to the supply voltage, and a second inverter where the source of its n-channel MOS FET is connected to ground, whereby the inputs of both the CMOS inverters of the intermediate stage are connected to the output of the last input stage, the source of the n-channel MOS FET of the first CMOS inverter of the intermediate stage being connected to the source of the p-channel MOS FET of the second CMOS inverter of the intermediate stage, and where the pre-determined W/L ratio of the p-channel MOS FET of the first CMOS inverter of the intermediate stage and of that of the n-channel MOS FET of the second CMOS inverter of the intermediate stage is not smaller than that of the corresponding MOS FET of the last CMOS inverter of the input stages;
a delay stage with a CMOS inverter connected between the supply voltage rail and ground, the input of which being connected o the output of the last input stage, and whose output is connected to the source of the n-channel MOS FET of the first CMOS inverter of the intermediate stage; and
an output stage with a p-channel MOS FET, the gate of which is connected to the output of the first CMOS inverter of the intermediate stage, and whose source is connected to the supply rail, and an n-channel MOS FET, the gate of which is connected to the output of the second CMOS inverter of the intermediate stage, and whose source is connected to ground, whereby the drains of both MOS FETs of the output stage are connected to each other, as well as with the output of the circuit, and where the W/L ratio of the p-channel MOS FET of the output stage and the W/L ratio of the n-channel MOS FET of the output stage exceed the W/L ratio of the p-channel MOS FET of the first CMOS inverter of the intermediate stage or, respectively, the W/L ratio of the n-channel MOS FET of the second CMOS inverter of the intermediate stage by a pre-determined value;
whereby the W/L ratio of the MOS FETs of the CMOS inverter of the delay stage, in comparison with the W/L ratios of the corresponding MOS FETs of the last CMOS inverter of the input stages, the p-channel MOS FET of the first CMOS inverter of the intermediate stage, and the n-channel MOS FET of the second CMOS inverter of the intermediate stage is made so small that the switch-over of both the MOS FETs of the output stage occurring when a change of the digital input signal at the input of the circuit takes place is offset in time with respect to each other.
The digital driver stage according to the invention achieves the reduction of current peaks in that the p-channel MOS FET and the n-channel MOS FET of the output stage of the circuit switch over at different times when the digital input signal changes, so that the current flow occurring with conventional driver circuits during switch-over between the supply voltage and ground is either absent or markedly shorter and smaller than before.
Advantageous further embodiments of the invention are characterised in the sub-claims.


Examples of techniques for sensitive data redaction in a memory dump are described herein. An aspect includes, based on a dump of a virtual address space being triggered, receiving a primary dump corresponding to the virtual address space, the primary dump including one or more tagged memory pages. Another aspect includes identifying, by a sensitive data identification module, sensitive data that is located outside of the of the one or more tagged memory pages in the primary dump. Another aspect includes redacting data corresponding to the sensitive data and the one or more tagged memory pages to determine a redacted dump.

The present invention generally relates to computer systems, and more specifically, to sensitive data redaction in a memory dump in a computer system.
Computer systems may store relatively large amounts of personal user data. Many types of websites (for example, banks, retailers, and social media) may collect and store potentially sensitive personal user data, including but not limited to names, addresses, credit card numbers, social security numbers, and personal health information on a computer system. If sensitive or otherwise protected (e.g., by data privacy regulations) user data falls into the wrong hands, legal repercussions, fraud, identify theft, or similar harm may occur. A security breach may also result in a loss of consumer trust in an organization.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A downhole tool is positioned in a borehole of a geological formation at a given depth. A formation property is determined at the given depth. The positioning and determining is repeated to form data points of a data set indicative of formation properties at various depths in the borehole. One or more outlier data points is removed from the data set based on first gradients to form an updated data set. One or more properties associated with a reservoir compartment are determined based on second respective gradients associated with the updated data set.

A geological formation typically has one or more reservoir compartments containing one or more fluids such as oil, gas, and/or water. A reservoir compartment is typically an area of the geological formation bounded by an impermeable rock. In the case that a reservoir compartment has a plurality of fluids, the plurality of fluids is organized in layers such that a fluid with greatest density such as water is at a bottom of a reservoir compartment and a fluid with less density such as oil or gas is at a top of the reservoir compartment.
Conventional log measurements such as resistivity, gamma, neutron, nuclear magnetic resonance and/or acoustic are used to identify a type of fluid in the reservoir compartment. In the case that the reservoir compartment contains more than one fluid, the conventional log measurements are also used to identify fluid contacts. The fluid contacts characterize the depth at which fluid transitions from one type to another in a reservoir compartment, such as from oil to gas, oil to water, water to gas, etc. A disadvantage with the conventional log measurements is that inferences need to be made as to the fluid type and where the fluid contacts are located. Instead of conventional log measurements, pressure measurements can be used to identify the type of fluid and location of fluid contacts in the reservoir compartment. Pressure measurements are more conclusive indicators of fluid type and location of fluid contacts compared to conventional log measurements.

Determining pressure measurement locations, fluid type, location of fluid contacts, and sampling locations in one or more reservoir compartments of a geological formation


A data storage apparatus has a transmission interface, a nonvolatile memory and a controller. The controller records a non-completed flag. When the controller starts a card opening process, the nonvolatile memory is configured under card opening, and the non-completed flag is set non-completed status. When the controller receives a format command form the transmission interface, the nonvolatile memory is formatted and the non-completed flag is set as completed status. When the controller receives a write command, the write data are scrambled before being written to the nonvolatile memory. When in non-completed status, when the controller receives a read command from the transmission interface, no matter whether the data corresponding to the requested address are scrambled, the data are descrambled and descrambled are provided via the transmission interface.

More and more devices use nonvolatile memory devices like flash memory. It is therefore more and more important to ensure data liability and security. During manufacturing a data storage apparatus, card opening is also involved. It is therefore critical to design a process to ensure data security and liability while supporting various encoding skills.

Data storage apparatus for scrambled data and management method thereof


A scanning optical apparatus includes a light source device, a first optical element for converting a beam emitted from the light source device to a converging light beam, a deflecting element for deflecting the beam emitted from the light source device, a second optical element for focusing the beam emerging from the first optical element in a linear shape longitudinal in a main scanning direction on a deflective face of the deflecting element, and a third optical element for focusing the beam deflected by the deflecting element in a spot shape on a scanned surface. The third optical element has a spherical lens and a toric lens in order from the side of the deflecting element, surfaces of the spherical lens comprise a meniscus shape of positive refracting power with a concave surface faced toward the deflecting element, and the toric lens has two lens surfaces formed in aspherical shapes in a main scanning section and comprising a meniscus shape of positive refracting power with a convex surface faced toward the deflecting element in the vicinity of a center of scan.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a scanning optical apparatus and, more particularly, to a scanning optical apparatus suitably applicable to devices arranged to deflect and reflect light optically modulated and emitted from light source means, by an optical deflector comprised of a rotary polygon mirror, etc., and thereafter to make the light scan an area on a scanned surface through an imaging optical system (f.theta. lens) having the f.theta. characteristic to record image information thereon, for example, such as laser beam printer apparatus (LBP) or digital copiers having the electrophotographic process.
2. Related Background Art
In the conventional scanning optical apparatus such as the laser beam printers, the beam optically modulated according to an image signal and emitted from the light source means is regularly deflected by the optical deflector, for example, comprised of a rotary polygon mirror (polygon mirror), the beam is converged in a spot shape on a surface of a photosensitive recording medium (photosensitive drum) by the imaging optical system having the fe characteristic, and the beam is made to optically scan the area on the surface to undergo image recording.
FIG. 1 is a schematic drawing to show the major part of a conventional scanning optical apparatus, which is a cross--sectional view thereof in the main scanning direction. In the drawing diverging light emitted from the light source means 11 is converted into a nearly parallel beam by collimator lens 12, stop 13 limits the beam (quantity of light), and then the beam is incident to cylindrical lens 14 which has predetermined refracting power only in the sub scanning direction. The parallel beam incident to the cylindrical lens 14 is emergent in the state of parallel rays as it is, in the main scanning section. In the sub scanning section the beam is converged to be focused as a nearly linear image on a deflective surface (reflective surface) 15a of the optical deflector 15 comprised of the rotary polygon mirror (polygon mirror).
Then the beam deflected by the deflective surface 15a of optical deflector 15 is guided through the imaging optical system (f.theta. lens) 16 having the f.theta. characteristic onto the surface of photosensitive drum 18 as a scanned surface and the beam is made to optically scan the area on the surface of photosensitive drum 18 by rotating the optical deflector 15 in the direction of arrow A, thereby performing recording of image information.
In order to undergo highly accurate recording of image information, the scanning optical apparatus of this type needs to be well corrected for curvature of field throughout the entire region of the scanned surface so as to have uniform spot diameters and needs to have distortion (the f.theta. characteristic) for achieving the proportional relation between angle of incident light and height of image. A variety of scanning optical devices or correction optical systems (f.theta. lenses) thereof satisfying such optical characteristics have been proposed heretofore.
On the other hand, as the scale and cost of the laser beam printers, digital copiers, etc. are decreasing, the scanning optical apparatus is also required to decrease the same.
For simultaneously meeting these demands, various scanning optical devices comprised of a single f.theta. lens were proposed, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-48684, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 63-157122, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 4-104213, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 4-50908 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,219), and so on.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-48684, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 63-157122, etc., out of these patents and applications, disclose that the parallel beam from the collimator lens is converged on the surface of recording medium by use of a single lens with a concave surface on the optical deflector side as an f.theta. lens. Further, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 4-104213 discloses that a single lens with a concave surface on the optical deflector side and a toroidal surface on the image plane side is used as an f.theta. lens and a beam, which was converted into converging light by the collimator lens, is made incident to the f.theta. lens. Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 4-50908 (corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,219) discloses that a single lens with lens surfaces being higher-order aspherical surfaces is used as an f.theta. lens and the beam, which was converted into the converging light by the collimator lens, is made incident to the f.theta. lens.
The conventional scanning optical devices as described above, however, had the following problems. In the apparatus of Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-48684, the curvature of field remains in the sub scanning direction; and, because the parallel beam is focused on the scanned surface, the focal length f, a distance from the f.theta. lens to the scanned surface, is long, thus posing the problem that it is difficult to construct a compact scanning optical device.
The apparatus of Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 63-157122 had the problem that it was difficult to produce the fO lens by molding because the thickness thereof was large and it was the cause of increase in the cost.
The apparatus of Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 4-104213 had the problems that distortion remained and that jitter occurred in the period of the number of polygon faces because of a mounting error of the polygon mirror being the optical deflector.
In the apparatus of Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 4-50908, aberration was well corrected for by use of the f.theta. lens of higher-order aspherical surfaces, whereas spot diameters in the sub scanning direction tended to vary depending upon heights of image because of nonuniformity of magnification in the sub scanning direction between the optical deflector and the scanned surface.
In addition to the above, the scanning optical devices with the f.theta. lens comprised of two lenses were proposed, for example, in Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 56-36622, Japanese Laid-open Patent Application No. 61-175607, and so on. The f.theta. lenses proposed in these were constructed in a cross-sectional shape composed of spherical surfaces or weak aspherical surfaces, and with these f.theta. lenses it seemed rather difficult to decrease the scale, decrease the cost, and increase the definition.

Imaging lens system of scanning optical apparatus


Methods and systems for associating two objects in a drawing application with one another are provided. Embodiments of the invention are directed toward a method in a computing environment that includes receiving a command to designate a target and designating the target. The method can further include identifying a subject and providing a suggested association of the subject with the target. The method can still further include receiving a command to accept the suggested association and associating the subject with the target as suggested.

Various computer applications are available that allow users to produce drawings using the computer. Many of these applications, however, are complex and complicated to use. For example, when a user is drawing or revising a process flow chart or a hierarchy chart, various drawing components must be created, placed relative to one another, and connected to provide context and meaning. The process of creating, placing, and connecting components can require multiple manual steps, and can be difficult, time consuming, and frustrating for the user.
Additionally, in some circumstances, the user must choose between various types of connections, further complicating the process. For example, some applications provide both simple and glued connections. The simple connection places a connection line between two components (e.g., at a specific point in space). When one of the components moves, the connection line remains fixed in space and no longer connects the two components. Conversely, the glued connection places a line between two components and automatically adjusts the connection line so that the two components remain connected when one of the components is moved. If the user chooses the wrong type of connection for the type of drawing being made, the resulting drawing can be even more difficult to revise in the future.
Various arrangements have been used to simplify the process of creating and placing components. For example, Visio®, available from the Microsoft Corporation of Redmond, Wash., provides the user with the ability to cut, copy, or move drawing components, and/or the ability to select components from a master shape container or window. Additionally, Visio® provides a stamping tool which allows a shape to be selected and then dropped at various locations in a drawing by placing the pointer at the desired location and clicking on a mouse button. The stamping tool, however, does not suggest the placement of the shape and does not provide any connection between the shape dropped into the drawing and other pre-existing shapes. Accordingly, the user must decide precisely (e.g., the precise direction and distance) where to place the component and then manually connected the dropped shape to pre-existing shapes, if desired.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Object association in a computer generated drawing environment


A method and apparatus is provided for use in the fabrication of an electrical chemical cell having a spiral wound core. An anode plate and a first separator sheet are Juxtaposed in an adjacent relationship and restrained against relative lengthwise displacement. A cathode plate is Juxtaposed with a second separator sheet in an adjacent relationship and also restrained against relative lengthwise displacement. Portions of the first and second separator sheets are overlapped and restrained against relative movement while the restrained overlapping end portions are rotated Continuously about an axis so as to wind the plates and separator sheets into a coiled core which can be inserted into an electrochemical cell casing. The apparatus includes a vacuum holding member for holding the anode plate and first separator sheet together, and includes a vacuum holding member for holding the cathode place and second separator sheet together. A pair of rotatable clamping mandrels grip the overlapping end portions of the separator sheets and rotate to wind the sheets and the plates into the coiled core configuration. Guide members are provided adjacent the clamping mandrels to prevent the plates and separator sheets from being swung outwardly during the coil forming process. Mechanisms are also provided for inserting the coiled core into the cell casing.

The prior art teaches various designs for electrochemical cells in which a sheet-like anode plate, sheet-like cathode plate, and separator sheets are spirally wound in the form of a coiled core which can be inserted into a metal casing or can. U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,699,856, No. 4,702,978, and No. 4,707,421 disclose various designs proposed for spirally wound electrochemical cell cores.
During the discharge of an electrochemical cell, diffusion of ions .from the anode into the cathode occurs. Minimization of the diffusion distance is typically achieved in a spirally wound cell by providing a coiled core in which the cathode material has anode material on both sides of it. Separator sheets can be provided which permit the passage of ions and gas.
Some kinds of spirally wound cores may be fabricated by conventional machines. One such conventional machine is sold under the trade name "Nickel Cadmium - Battery Winder" in the United States of America by Weiler Engineering Company, 2445 East Oakton Street, Arlington Heights, Ill. 60005 U.S.A. While this machine functions well in fabricating spirally wound cores of the type for which it is designed, the winding is intermittent and thus relatively slow. Accordingly, there is a need for even better performance and greater versatility.
It would also be desirable to provide an improved method and apparatus for winding an electrochemical cell core in an efficient manner that would have a relatively low likelihood of operational failure.
Further, it would be advantageous if such an improved method and apparatus operated to positively engage and manipulate the core components, including the anode plate, cathode plate, and separator sheets, so as to insure proper registration and winding of the components.
Additionally, it would be beneficial if such an improved method and apparatus could readily accommodate variations in the lengths of the components. It would also be desirable if such an improved method and apparatus could readily accommodate variations in the thicknesses of the components.

Method and apparatus for winding a core for an electrochemical cell and processing thereof


An imaging device includes an image sensor and an estimating circuit. The image sensor includes a plurality of pixel units disposed in a two-dimensional array, each equipped with a plurality of imaging pixels with varying spectral sensitivity characteristics set regularly, and focus detection pixels with sensitivity over a range encompassing the spectral sensitivity of the pixel units. The estimating circuit determines an image output structure corresponding to the position of each focus detection pixel based upon outputs from the imaging pixels present around the focus detection pixel and estimates the image output at the focus detection pixel based upon the image output structure and the output from the focus detection pixel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imaging device equipped with an image sensor that includes imaging pixels and focus detection pixels, a camera equipped with the imaging device and an image processing method adopted in an image sensor that includes imaging pixels and focus detection pixels.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is an imaging device known in the related art equipped with an image sensor having imaging pixels and focus detection pixels disposed together on a single substrate, which captures an image formed on the image sensor and also detects the focus adjustment state of the image (see Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication No. 2000-305010).
In the imaging device in the related art described above, a virtual imaging pixel output corresponding to the focus detection pixel position is obtained simply by averaging the outputs from the imaging pixels present around the focus detection pixel or simply averaging the focus detection pixel output and the outputs from the imaging pixel around the focus detection pixel. This means that the virtual imaging pixel output obtained through the simple averaging deviates from the output of the imaging pixel that would otherwise occupy the focus detection pixel position if an edge pattern image or a fine line pattern image is superimposed over the focus detection pixel. This, in turn, may lead to the occurrence of color artifacts, a false pattern or a loss of pattern, resulting in poor image quality.

Imaging device, camera and image processing method


A mobile terminal including a first body, a second body slidably moveable with respect to the first body such that the first body is moved between a closed position and an open position, a connector electrically connecting the first body to the second body, and a slide module connecting the first body to the second body to allow the second body to move with respect to the first body between the closed position and the open position is provided. The slide module includes a first slide member connected to the first body, a second slide member connected to the second body, the second slide member being slidably connected to the first slide member, and a cover unit disposed between the first and second slide members, the cover unit being configured to prevent exposure of the connector when the first body is in the open position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a slide module and a mobile terminal having the same. More particularly, the present invention relates to a slide module with a cover unit for covering a connector so that the connector is not exposed in an open position, and a mobile terminal having the same.
2. Description of Related Art
A mobile terminal is a device which may be configured to perform various functions. Examples of such fictions include data and voice communications, capturing images and video via a camera, recording audio, playing music files via a speaker system, and displaying images and video on a display. Some terminals include additional functionality that support game playing, while other terminals are configured as multimedia players. More recently, mobile terminals have been configured to receive broadcast and multicast signals that permit viewing of content such as videos and television programs.
Efforts are ongoing to support and increase the functionality of mobile terminals. Such efforts include software and hardware improvements. For example, a user interface environment is provided to allow users to easily and conveniently search for and/or select functions. Also, because users consider their mobile terminal to be a personal portable device that can express their personality, many different designs for mobile terminals have been developed. For example, mobile terminals come in many different types such as folder types, slide types, swivel types, and the like.
Of the various types of mobile terminals, the slide type mobile terminal is configured such that first and second bodies move relative to each other between a closed position in which the first and second bodies are disposed to overlap with each other and in an open position in which at least a portion between the first and second bodies is exposed.
A connector is arranged where the first and second bodies overlap each other in the open position. As the relative movement distance of the first and second bodies increases, a space where the connector may be disposed is reduced, and if the relative movement distance of the first and second bodies increases by more than a certain distance, a portion of the connector becomes exposed, thereby degrading the aesthetics of the mobile terminal and subjecting the connector to the environment.

Slide module and mobile terminal having the same


A handle assembly comprises two handle pieces. Each handle piece comprises a left section having left and right ends and inside and outside faces, a right section having left and right ends and inside and outside faces, and a center section containing a notch. The center section connects the right end of the left section to the left end of the right section in a generally diagonal manner. The handle pieces are capable of interlocking such that the center section of each handle piece fits into the notch of the other handle piece, the inside face of the left section of one handle piece is situated against the inside face of the left section of the other handle piece, and the inside face of the right section of one handle piece is situated against the inside face of the right section of the other handle piece. The handle assembly can be incorporated into a bag comprising two handle straps, each handle strap being associated with a different handle piece.

The present invention relates to a two-part interlocking handle assembly that enables the user to quickly attach or detach flexible handle straps, such as those common on soft-sided luggage and sport bags. The handle assembly provides strain relief while carrying the bag by distributing the load more evenly and comfortably across the fingers and palm of the hand. The handle assembly's quick detach feature provides easy access to the bag's main opening that is between the handle straps.
Previous interlocking handles have been designed, such as that described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,210,904 to Pratt. The Pratt handle, having a cradle design, involves two interlocking pieces where one piece fits almost entirely in a recessed channel in the second piece. Thus, to interlock the pieces of the Pratt handle when carrying a bag, a user must raise one piece above the other to get it into the recessed channel. Another disadvantage of the Pratt handle is that it requires two different molds to manufacture the two different-shaped handle pieces.
The present invention, in contrast, allows the user to interlock the pieces at the same height. Additionally, the handle pieces can be manufactured from the same mold, making the handle assembly more economical to produce.


A digital-control phase-composing circuit system has a phase-composing circuit which is supplied with two input clock signals having a phase difference therebetween and a control signal, and which composes an output clock signal having a phase between the phases of the two input clock signals on the basis of weighting through the control signal, a binary comparison circuit which compares the phase of the output clock signal to the phase of a reference clock signal, a first up/down counter which increments or decrements a first count value on the basis of the result of comparison made by the binary phase comparison circuit, outputs the most significant bit of the first count value, and outputs a clock pulse when a carry or a borrow occurs in the first count value, and a second up/down counter which operates on the basis of the clock pulse as an operating clock, increments or decrements a second count value on the basis of the most significant bit of the first count value, and outputs the second count value as the control signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital-control-type phase-composing circuit system in which two clock signals having a phase difference therebetween are weighted through a control signal to compose an output clock signal having a phase between those of the two clock signals. More particularly, the present invention relates to a digital-control-type phase-composing circuit system capable of improving jitter resistance and expanding the lock range.
2. Background Art
In a delay locked loop (DLL) circuit, a digital-control-type phase-composing circuit system which combines two clock signals having a phase difference therebetween by weighting the signals is used (see, for example, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2001-217682 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,485,490).
FIG. 4 is a block diagram showing a conventional digital-control-type phase-composing circuit system. A phase-composing circuit 11 composes an output clock signal having a phase between the phases of two clock signals i-CLK and q-CLK different from each other by weighting these clock signals through a control signal, as shown in FIG. 5. This output clock signal and a reference clock signal (or input data) are input to a flip-flop circuit 12.
A binary phase comparison circuit 13 compares the phase of the output clock signal and the phase of the reference clock signal. An up/down counter 14 increments or decrements the count value on the basis of the result of comparison and outputs the count value as a control signal to the phase-composing circuit 11. Thus, feedback to the control signal is provided such that the phase of the output clock signal is equalized to the phase of the reference clock signal, thereby locking the output clock signal to the reference clock signal.
However, if the operating frequency of the counter is reduced to improve the jitter resistance of the phase-composing circuit, the lock range is reduced. Conversely, if the operating frequency of the counter is increased to expand the lock range, the phase-composing circuit is easily affected by high-frequency jitter when the reference clock signal and the output clock signal become in phase with each other.
Also, in a situation where the reference clock signal and the output clock signal are in a positional relationship shown in FIG. 6, the phase comparison circuit may output low level (L) when it should output high level (H), if the edge of the reference clock signal fluctuates due to jitter. If the reference clock signal has such jitter, the output clock signal from the phase comparison circuit is fluctuated by the jitter so that the value of the up/down counter in the following stage is changed unnecessarily frequently, thus causing jitter in the output clock signal. For this reason, it is difficult to apply the conventional digital-control-type phase-composing circuit system particularly to a clock and data recovery (CDR) circuit which processes data containing a large amount of jitter.

Digital-control-type phase-composing circuit system