A system for controlling pressurized infusion and temperature of intravenous fluids according to the present invention includes a housing, a heating assembly and a flexible cover. The heating assembly is recessed within the housing and includes a generally U-shaped configuration to surround and uniformly heat fluid within a fluid container placed thereon. The cover wraps around a portion of the fluid container to secure the fluid container against the heating assembly. The cover includes a pressurization member to apply a desired pressure to the fluid container to achieve a desired flow rate of intravenous fluid from the fluid container to an infusion site on a patient. The system further includes a controller to control the heating assembly and pressure within the pressurization member in accordance with desired temperature and pressure information entered into the controller for system operation.

1. Technical Field
The present invention pertains to pressurized infusion and temperature control systems for infused liquids, such as the type disclosed in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/380,507, entitled "Method and Apparatus for Pressure Infusion and Temperature Control of Infused Liquids" and filed Apr. 24, 2000, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. In particular, the present invention is directed toward a system that controls the flow rate and temperature of a fluid within a flexible bag or container during infusion of the fluid from the container to a patient.
2. Discussion of Related Art
Intravenous (IV) fluids are typically infused into a patient utilizing a flexible bag or container filled with IV fluid and a fluid line to convey the IV fluid from the bag to the patient. The fluids are generally delivered from the container to the patient via gravitational forces and/or applied pressure. Typically, applied pressure is employed to control the infusion rate of fluid from the bag to the patient.
The related art provides several devices for regulating pressure applied to an IV fluid bag to control the infusion rate of fluid from the bag to a patient. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,090,514 (Hinck et al.) discloses a pressure infusion device including a bladder as part of the cuff in which a fluid filled plastic bag is encased. The bladder surrounds at least eighty percent of the plastic bag, and, upon fluid being pumped into the bladder, the fluid in the plastic bag is infused under pressure to a patient.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,551,136 (Mandl) discloses a pressure infusor for introduction of fluids into the human body. Two sheets of polyurethane overlie each other and are continuously sealed to form an air inflatable bladder. A strip of polyurethane projects from one vertical margin of the bladder to wrap completely around the liquid filled bag. A narrow elongated strap essentially attached to one margin of the infusor is long enough to wrap completely about the infusor with the bag enclosed. Velcro strips are secured to the strap to enable the strap to be fastened upon itself.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,308,335, 5,433,704, 5,584,811, 5,743,878 and Re. No. 35,501 (Ross et al.) disclose an infusion pump for infusion of a medical treatment fluid intravenously into a patient. The pump includes a collapsible treatment fluid bag juxtaposed with an inflatable drive fluid bladder confined between a pair of opposing containment members which cause the bladder to impinge against the bag as the bladder is inflated. A drive fluid pump controllably inflates the bladder, thereby displacing treatment fluid from the bag into an outlet tube affixed thereto which conveys the treatment fluid to the patient where it is received intravenously. The treatment fluid flow rate through the tube is controlled by increasing or decreasing the drive fluid pump output and consequently the pressure in the bladder in response to a pressure sensor in fluid communication with the bladder. In one embodiment, a first containment member is a rigid platen, while a second containment member is a flexible, yet inelastic, sheet loosely attached to the platen at opposite sides to form a sling. The bladder is positioned within the sling, while a fluid bag is slid into the sling in abutment with the bladder.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,681,284 (Herskowitz) discloses an infusion pump for infusion of solutions from IV bags through tubing to patients. The pump includes a housing having a compartment which receives an IV bag in a solution-dispensing position. The bag is placed over a bladder within the compartment, and the bladder is expanded by a pressurized fluid to apply a force against the bag to collapse the bag and infuse solution through the tubing. A pump in the housing pumps a fluid into the bladder in accordance with a control circuit. A pressure sensor indirectly senses pressure of fluid in the bladder through a pressure pad that contacts the bladder wall. The control circuit generates a pressure signal responsive to movement of the pressure pad for operating a valve which directs fluid between the pump and bladder.
The related art devices described above suffer from several disadvantages. In particular, the devices do not provide any control mechanism for maintaining the temperature of fluid flowing from the IV bag within a particular temperature range. This is of vital importance during infusion procedures in order to eliminate any potential for thermal shock and injury to the patient when the fluid enters the patient's body. In addition, the manual pressurization feature of the Hinck et al. and Mandl devices generally requires constant monitoring and manipulation of the devices by an operator in order to continuously maintain a desired fluid flow rate during infusion.
The related art has attempted to overcome the aforementioned problems by providing systems employing controlled pressure in combination with temperature control of IV fluid. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,900 (Teves) discloses a device for heating and pressurizing fluid filled containers. The device wraps around a flexible bag containing fluid to warm the fluid and to pressurize the bag so that warm fluid flows from the bag at a rate dependent upon the amount of pressure applied to the bag. The device includes a heating element that may be set at a preselected temperature and an inflatable bladder that may be inflated to a preselected pressure. The bladder is inflated manually utilizing a bulb.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,430,078 (Sprague) discloses a portable blood infusion pump designed to be employed in combination with a blood bag. The blood bag is located within a storage chamber that includes an inflatable bladder. Pressurized fluid is conducted within the inflatable bladder to press against the blood bag to enable discharge of the blood from the blood bag through a discharge conduit assembly. A container containing a supply of the pressurized fluid is mounted within the pump housing and is connected to the inflatable bladder. A pressure regulator is disposed in the housing to permit variance of pressure applied by the bladder against the blood bag in response to user manipulation of a knob. The pressure level applied by the bladder to the blood bag may be preset by a user via the knob while the regulator maintains the pressure level and automatically provides additional gas to the bladder in response to decreasing quantities of blood within the blood bag. An electrical heater apparatus may be included within the device to provide heat energy to the blood bag so as to warm the blood prior to being infused into a patient.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,879,329 and 5,989,238 (Ginsburg) disclose a system for infusing a fluid into a patient. The system includes a fluid reservoir and a temperature altering device in close proximity thereto. The temperature altering device is employed to heat or cool the fluid to a desired temperature. A positive pressure device in the form of a bladder and pressure source may be provided to place the reservoir under positive pressure while at the desired temperature. The pressure source maybe connected to a process or to control the total rate and volume of fluid introduced into the bladder, thereby controlling the rate and volume of fluid leaving the reservoir. A transfer member is further provided to transfer at least some of the fluid into the patient while at the desired temperature. In addition, the system may be portable for utilization in field applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,733,263 (Wheatman) discloses an apparatus for heating fluid contained in one or more bags and delivering the fluid from at least one bag to a surgical patient. The apparatus includes a housing to enclose at least one bag containing fluid and having a door positioned to provide access to the housing interior. The apparatus further includes an inflatable bladder mounted in the housing interior and connected to a source of pressurized fluid for inflation. The inflatable bladder exerts force against at least one bag mounted within the housing. A regulator permits regulation of gas pressure to the bladder in response to user manipulation of a housing regulator knob. In addition, the apparatus includes a heater mounted adjacent the housing door in heat transfer relationship with the fluid and at least one bag.
The related art devices described above providing both pressurized infusion and IV fluid temperature control suffer from several disadvantages. In particular, the Teves device requires constant monitoring and manipulation by an operator to maintain a desired flow rate of IV fluid from a bag to a patient. Further, the Teves device does not completely enclose a fluid bag within the device, thereby enabling skewed or non-uniform heating of IV fluid within the bag. Similarly, the Wheatman apparatus employs a heating element assembly located on the housing door that provides heat to one surface of the IV bag. These types of heating typically produce "hot" and/or "cold" spots within the IV fluid that may cause patients to receive the fluid at inappropriate temperatures, thereby risking injury to those patients.
In addition, the Sprague, Wheatman and Ginsburg devices typically house an IV fluid bag within a housing. Thus, these devices do not permit easy access and/or viewing of the bag during infusion. This typically requires medical personnel to repeatedly access the housing interior to monitor the bag (e.g., to determine the amount of fluid remaining within the bag and whether or not the bag needs to be replaced with a new bag) and/or increases the amount of time needed to replace an existing depleted or problematic bag with a new bag. The increased time needed to replace a bag may cause serious adverse conditions for a patient, especially during critical medical situations.

Method and apparatus for controlling pressurized infusion and temperature of infused liquids


Faster cool down time is achieved in a low profile cryopump by having heat transferred directly from the inlet louver to the first stage heat station through one or more tapered thermal busses, and by obviating the need of a thermal shield over the second stage cylinder of the expander by having second stage cryopanels that form a nested tent like structure, at least one of which, extends over the cylinder.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to cryopump used in limited space applications.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Cryopumps are typically made with the inlet in a plane perpendicular to the axis of the expander cylinder, "in line", or parallel to the axis of the cylinder, "low-profile". Low profile cryopumps are preferred over in line cryopumps in applications where space is limited and are usually mounted under or on the side of the vacuum chamber.
Two stage G-M ("Gifford-Mchon") refrigerators are used to cool cryopumps. These cool a first stage cryopanel at 50 to 100 K and a second stage cryopanel at about 15 K. The expander is usually configured as a stepped cylinder with a valve assembly at the warm end of the first stage, a first stage cold station (at 50 to 100 K) at the transition from the larger diameter first stage to the smaller diameter second stage, and a second stage cold station (at about 15 K) at the far end. An example of an expander that is used in cryopumps as described in this application is found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,256,997.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,150,549 describes a typical in line cryopump that uses a two stage G-M refrigerator to cool two axi-symetric cryopanels. The first stage cools an inlet (warm) panel that pumps Group I gases, e.g. H2O and CO2, and blocks a significant amount of radiation from reaching the second stage (cold) panel but allows Group II gases, e.g. Ar and N2, and Group III gases, e.g. H2 and He, to pass through it. The Group II gases freeze on the front side of a cup shaped cold panel and Group III gases are adsorbed in an adsorbent on the backside of the cold panel. U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,213 describes a cold panel design that consists of a series of concentric rings of increasing diameter from the inlet region to the back of the housing. This design has more room for large amounts of Ar to collect than the cup design, as is the case with sputtering, and there is more surface area on which the Ar is distributed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,530,213 shows an arrangement that is typical for in line cryopumps of having heat from the inlet louver, typically consisting of segments of circular cones, transported radially to the inlet end of the warm panel then conducted to the first stage heat station through the warm panel. A similar arrangement is shown for a low profile cryopump in U.S. Pat. No. 5,974,809. U.S. Pat. No. 6,155,059 shows an in line cryopump with straight inlet louvers and two straight bars, thermal busses, that carry heat to opposite sides of the inlet end of the warm panel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,691,534 describes straight louvers that are individually attached to the warm panel at the inlet end. U.S. Pat. No. 5,542,257 shows in FIGS. 1 and 2 a low profile cryopump that has straight inlet louvers and a single cross bar that transfers heat radially to opposite sides of the warm panel inlet.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,056,319 describes a low profile cryopump with a vibration isolation mechanism. The drawings show straight inlet louvers with a cross rod taking heat to the warm panel but the physical description is lacking.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,356,701 describes an in line cryopump that has conventional conical inlet louvers with radial bars to conduct heat but these bars are not connected to the inlet end of the warm panel, rather they are connected to rods that conduct heat through the second stage cryopanels to the bottom of the warm panel.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,007 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,974,809 show a shield that has to be added over the second stage cylinder to avoid having Ar or N2 freeze at some temperature above the cryopanel temperature. The phenomena of "Ar hang up" that results from Ar freezing on the second stage cylinder is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,007.
The cryopanels for in line cryopumps are typically axi-symetric around the expander cylinder. This panel design is frequently adapted to low profile cryopumps by having cutouts in the cold panel for the expander cylinder, e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,007. This invention improves upon previous designs by having second stage cryopanels that are comprised of flat surfaces that form a nested tent like structure that is attached to the second stage heat station and extends over the second stage cylinder, between the cylinder and inlet, to shield the cylinder from having Group II gases freeze on it. The second stage heat station does not have to be in the middle of the housing because the second stage cryopanels, which consist of folded flat sheets of copper, can be attached any place along their length.

SUMITOMO (SHI) CRYOGENICS OF AMERICA INC


Techniques for efficiently stabilizing an output voltage produced by a voltage regulation circuit are disclosed. One embodiment pertains to a voltage regulation circuit that includes a supplemental current source that can be controllably activated to provide a supplemental current to an output terminal of the voltage regulation circuit. This supplemental current can then assist in stabilizing the output voltage level at the output terminal of the voltage regulation circuit even in the presence of high current surges by a load (i.e., electronic circuitry). Advantageously, given the availability of the supplemental current, the required amount of capacitance for a decoupling capacitor (also coupled to the output terminal of the voltage regulation circuit) can be significantly reduced. In the case of semiconductor electronic devices, the reduction in the needed capacitance yields substantial die area savings with respect to decoupling capacitors.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to voltage generation and, more particularly, to voltage generation internal to memory systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
Memory cards are commonly used to store digital data for use with various products (e.g., electronics products). Examples of memory cards are Flash cards that use Flash type or EEPROM type memory cells to store the data. Flash cards have a relatively small form factor and have been used to store digital data for products such as cameras, hand-held computers, set-top boxes, hand-held or other small audio players/recorders (e.g., MP3 devices), and medical monitors. A major supplier of Flash cards is SanDisk Corporation of Sunnyvale, Calif.
FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a conventional voltage regulation circuit 100. The conventional voltage generation circuit 100 can provide a regulated voltage to a memory system that provides non-volatile data storage and represents, for example, a memory card (e.g., Flash card). The conventional voltage regulation circuit 100 includes an amplifier 102 that couples to a supply voltage (Vcc) and outputs a regulated voltage (Vdd) at output terminal 104. A resistor divider 106 is coupled to the output terminal 104. The resistor divider 106 includes resistors RI and R2. A feedback voltage (Vfb) is fed back from the resistor divider 106 to an input to the amplifier 102. Another input to the amplifier 102 is a reference voltage (Vref). The conventional voltage regulation circuit 100 also includes a decoupling capacitor 108 (Cd) coupled to the output terminal 104.
The voltage regulation circuit 100 regulates the supply voltage (Vcc) downward to produce the output voltage (Vdd). The downward regulation helps produce a more stable output voltage (Vdd) as compared to the supply voltage (Vcc). The decoupling capacitor 108 is utilized to stabilize the voltage level at the output terminal. When a load is coupled to the output terminal, the load may draw substantially high current levels (i.e., surges) such that the output voltage (Vdd) is pulled significantly downward. The decoupling capacitor 108 can operate to supply current to the output terminal 104 when significant current is being drawn by the load.
Unfortunately, however, when a load coupled to the voltage regulation circuit 100 draws substantially high current levels, the decoupling capacitor 108 needs to have a relatively large capacitance to significantly stabilize the output voltage level in the presence of current surges. However, to provide such high capacitance requires a lot of die area within a semiconductor product. Given that die area utilization affects overall size and cost of the product, there is a need to provide improved approaches to stabilizing output voltage levels in the presence of high current surges.

Voltage regulation with active supplemental current for output stabilization


The present invention relates to compositions for the sustained release of drugs and to methods for the production of such compositions. In one embodiment, somatotropin is layered onto non-pareil seeds, which, in turn are sprayed with a glycine solution. Next, a coating of a wax mixture is applied.

This invention relates to compositions and processes for the sustained release of drugs. Sustained release compositions or devices for the delayed release of drugs have been used for many years. Such compositions or devices increase the effectiveness of many drugs. Various compositions have been developed, each with a varying degree of success.
For example, the use of drug-containing pellets known as non-pareil seeds has been known since at least 1862. See e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 36,816. Non-pareil seeds are pellets made from sugar and starch. Subsequently, these drug containing pellets came to be coated with a digestible or dispersable delayed release coating. Often, various coatings having different release characteristics would be used on groups of pellets which then would be combined in a single gelatin capsule. As recognized in U.S. Pat. No. 3,119,742, incorporated herein by reference, this procedure had the significant disadvantage of being limited to drugs of relatively small doses.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,871,549, also incorporated herein by reference, discloses one method of preparing a sustained release composition. Pellets incorporating a swelling agent are coated with an outer membrane. The swelling agent absorbs fluid and the outer membrane breaks, releasing the drug quickly from each pellet.
A need exists for new and improved methods and compositions which administer drugs in a sustained fashion. Particularly with respect to proteins such as somatotropins, which are most effective when administered over a period of days or weeks, there is a need for such processes and compositions.

Compositions and processes for the sustained release of drugs


A sintering apparatus for silver clay wherein a silver clay composition can be readily and easily sintered by exposing a silver clay composition obtained by molding to a flame of a solid alcohol fuel.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for easily sintering a silver clay composition.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, silver clay is obtained by mixing a powder of pure silver or silver alloy with binder and the like. An accessory is manufactured by heating and sintering a silver clay composition which is obtained by forming the silver clay to a predetermined shape and drying it in an electric furnace or a gas furnace whose heating temperature can be controlled.
While the above electric furnace or the gas furnace is relatively suited to sinter a lot of work pieces simultaneously since the furnace is relatively large, it is difficult for an individual worker to prepare this type of furnace. Accordingly, a sintering method in which the silver clay composition is inserted into a sintering box which absorbs microwave and generates heat, and is sintered by setting the sintering box in a household microwave oven has been proposed recently. However, this sintering method is inconvenient since the special sintering box which absorbs microwave and generates heat has to be prepared. Furthermore, since temperature control is difficult and the heating condition of the silver clay composition in the sintering box cannot easily be observed, occasionally the clayish composition melts due to excessive heat beyond a melting point thereof.
In addition, a sintering method for the silver clay in which the silver clay composition is sintered by being directly exposed to the flame of a gas burner has been proposed recently (see Japanese Patent Application, First Publication No. 2000-80404). In this method, the flame of the gas burner can be freely controlled and the silver clay composition can be sintered anywhere merely by preparing a portable gas bottle and a gas burner.
However, in the method in which the silver clay composition is sintered using the gas burner, the gas burner is generally used without a cover and thus the flame of the gas burner is visible whole the sintering operation. In this case, the flame of the gas burner often ignites explosively even though it can be controlled, and as a result, when a person uses the burner, the desire to manufacture an accessory by heating the silver clay may be dampened due to a fear of the gas burner. While a method in which the silver clay composition is heated and sintered by the flame of the gas burner in a receptacle that is made of a fireproof material has been proposed, however, in the case of performing the sintering in the receptacle, the operability is decreased unless the space in the receptacle is enlarged so that the gas burner can be moved within the receptacle. As a result, the receptacle becomes larger, and therefore, labor for installing the receptacle and a space for storing the receptacle after the sintering operation are necessary.
Furthermore, though the gas burner is convenient in that the flame thereof can be freely controlled, it is difficult to adjust the temperature of the flame to the optimum temperature for the sintering of the silver clay composition. Therefore, the temperature of the flame often deviates from the optimum temperature for the sintering of the silver clay composition as a result of controlling of the flame. Consequently, it is difficult to obtain desired accessories.


The invention relates to a connection fitting for connecting a pressure expansion vessel to a conduit system, in which a water flow flows, a diaphragm dividing said vessel into a cavity filled with water and a pressurized gas chamber filled with pressurized gas. The fitting comprises a suction device, in which a suction is generated by the water flow and a water exchange flow is generated by means of this suction along a flow path extending parallel to the water flow and through the cavity. A plug valve is arranged to shut off the parallel flow path. The valve plug is directly arranged between a first formed body forming the suction device and located adjacent to the water flow and a second formed body likewise located in the connecting socket on the side of the pressure expansion vessel. The formed bodies and the valve plug have coaxial passages, which are aligned with each other and form forward-flow path and return-flow path of a flow path parallel to the water flow. The suction device is formed by a bent-off end of the return-flow path extending into the water flow.

This invention relates to a connection fitting for connecting a pressure expansion vessel to a conduit system, in which a water flow flows, a diaphragm dividing said vessel into a cavity filled with water and a pressurized gas chamber filled with pressurized gas, wherein said connection fitting comprises a suction device, in which a suction is generated by said water flow, and a water exchange flow is generated by means of said suction along a flow path extending parallel to said water flow and through said cavity.
This invention particularly relates to a connection fitting of this type, wherein a plug valve having a valve plug is arranged to shut off said parallel flow path, said connection fitting comprises a fitting basic body having a connecting socket for said pressure expansion vessel, said valve plug of said plug valve is arranged in said connecting socket for said pressure expansion vessel between a first formed body forming said suction device and located adjacent to said water flow and a second formed body likewise located in said connecting socket on the side of said pressure expansion vessel, and said second formed body has a tubular central portion and an annular portion surrounding said tubular central portion and connected to said tubular central portion by webs.

Connection fitting for connecting a pressure expansion vessel for heated drinking water


Methods and systems are provided for debugging application code in an on demand environment. The method includes executing the code on a server in the on demand environment; identifying a first location within the code having a suspected error; defining a first check point within the code corresponding to the first location; subsequently re-executing the code, including the first check point, on the server; creating a memory dump corresponding the first check point during re-execution of the code; and debugging the code based on the heap dump without suspending subsequent re-execution of the code.

Software development is evolving away from the client-server model toward network-based processing systems that provide access to data and services via the Internet or other networks. In contrast to traditional systems that host networked applications on dedicated server hardware, a "cloud" computing model allows applications to be provided over the network "as a service" supplied by an infrastructure provider. The infrastructure provider typically abstracts the underlying hardware and other resources used to deliver a customer-developed application so that the customer no longer needs to operate and support dedicated server hardware. The cloud computing model can often provide substantial cost savings to the customer over the life of the application because the customer no longer needs to provide dedicated network infrastructure, electrical and temperature controls, physical security and other logistics in support of dedicated server hardware.
Multi-tenant cloud-based architectures have been developed to improve collaboration, integration, and community-based cooperation between customer tenants without sacrificing data security. Generally speaking, multi-tenancy refers to a system where a single hardware and software platform simultaneously supports multiple user groups (also referred to as "organizations" or "tenants") from a common data storage element (also referred to as a "multi-tenant database"). The multi-tenant design provides a number of advantages over conventional server virtualization systems. First, the multi-tenant platform operator can often make improvements to the platform based upon collective information from the entire tenant community. Additionally, because all users in the multi-tenant environment execute applications within a common processing space, it is relatively easy to grant or deny access to specific sets of data for any user within the multi-tenant platform, thereby improving collaboration and integration between applications and the data managed by the various applications. The multi-tenant architecture therefore allows convenient and cost effective sharing of similar application feature software s between multiple sets of users.
Conventional tools for debugging software and testing executable code (e.g., the Python™ debugger (PDB) or the Java™ debugger (JDB)) typically include holding down connections to the database and suppressing or locking selected resources, memory threads, and database cursors. These problems may be effectively managed in a single-tenant environment, but may be unacceptable for an on demand server hosting multiple users.
Systems and methods are thus needed which overcome the foregoing shortcomings.

System and method for dynamically debugging data in a multi-tenant database environment


A keyboard assembly for an electronic musical instrument comprises at least a plurality of keys, a key support member and a plurality of key-return springs. The key support member rotatably supports the keys; and the key-return spring is provided between the key and key support member so as to press up the key to a normal position. Mechanical parameters which affect a key scaling to key-touch responses of the keys are sizes, shapes and locations of parts of the keyboard assembly, which are set by analyzing motions of an action mechanism of an acoustic piano. For example, weight of the key is adjusted using a deadweight member so as to provide a specific key-touch response for the key. An amount of elastic resilience, made by the key-return spring, is adjusted by changing at least one location, at which one end of the key-return spring is terminated, so as to provide a specific key-touch response for the key. Viscous resistance, made by viscous material, such as grease, which is provided between a selected portion of the key and some member, such as a key guide and a support-point member, is adjusted by changing shape and/or size of that member, so as to provide a specific key-touch response for the key. The key scaling is performed by changing the key-touch response with respect to each of the keys; or the key scaling is performed by changing the key-touch response with respect to a selected division of the keyboard.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a keyboard assembly which is applicable to an electronic musical instrument to provide a simulated touch response of an acoustic piano.
2. Prior Art
The acoustic piano provides an action mechanism which transmits a motion of key to a string. In general, reaction against depression of key is differed with respect to each of the keys of the acoustic piano; in other words, a key-touch response is differed with respect each of the keys. Specifically, the key-touch response becomes "heavy" as pitch of a key depressed becomes low, while the key-touch response becomes "light" as the pitch of the key depressed becomes high. Such difference in key-touch response is caused due to necessity of a physical structure in the action mechanism. Thus, a performer, who plays the acoustic piano, should increase depressing force made by his finger or hand when the performer depresses a key which belongs to a relatively-low pitch division in a keyboard of the acoustic piano. In contrast, the performer softens depressing force to a key which belongs to a relatively-high pitch division of the keyboard of the acoustic piano.
Next, "key scaling", which is accomplished in keyboard instruments such as the acoustic piano, will be explained. In the keyboard instrument, hammer heads are different from each other in size and hardness in accordance with lengths of strings. Specifically, a hammer head, which is provided for the relatively-low pitch division of the keyboard, is made "soft" by being wound by a relatively large felt, while a hammer head, which is provided for the relatively-high pitch division of the keyboard, is made "hard" by being wound by a relatively small felt. In addition, intensity of the spring, which is applied to the key, as well as weight of the key are different with respect to each of the keys. Those elements affect the key-touch response; and they affect determination in weight of the keys. In order to get an average weight for some of the keys, a member of lead material is put into a wood-made portion of the key. Thus, weight of the key, which belongs to the high-pitch division of the keyboard, is set at 50 gram; weight of the key, which belongs to an intermediate-pitch division of the keyboard, is set at 55 gram; and weight of the key, which belongs to the low-pitch division of the keyboard, is set at 60 gram. In short, the key scaling is performed on the reaction to the depression of key in such a way that the key-touch response is gradually lessened in a pitch-ascending order of the keys of the keyboard.
In the conventional keyboard assembly, the key scaling is tuned by adjusting a manner of winding the felt around the hammer head or by adjusting the weight of the member of lead material. However, such adjustment is hard to perform with accuracy. Therefore, it is difficult to perform a desired key scaling to key-touch responses with high precision.
In addition, the keyboard is designed to inevitably perform a key scaling to dynamic key-touch responses. Because each key provides a hammer or the like which has a specific mass; in other words, each key has different resistance to depression of key. Herein, the dynamic key-touch response can be defined as resistance to depression of key in a duration between a key-depression start timing and a key-depression end timing. In general, a person, who is familiar with a piano providing a mechanism performing a key scaling to key-touch responses, may fail to familiarize himself or herself with the keyboard of the electronic musical instrument which does not provide such mechanism. Hereinafter, the mechanism performing the key scaling to key-touch responses will be simply referred to as a "key-touch scaling mechanism".
Meanwhile, the acoustic piano has a complicated structure and requires high cost. Therefore, all of characteristics in structure of the acoustic piano cannot be directly applied to the electronic musical instrument which requires switch processing and the like. For example, the electronic musical instrument employs the keyboard which does not use the action mechanism of the acoustic piano but which uses key switches provided for the keys respectively. In some cases, mutually-slanted relationship is established between a line, which connects supporting points of the keys disposed in the keyboard, and a line which connects the key switches, wherein each key switch has a reversed-cup-like shape. This relationship may result in undesired occurrence of a key scaling to sounding-stroke positions of the keys. In other words, a sounding-stroke position of a key, which belongs to the low-pitch division of the keyboard, should be different from that of a key which belongs to the high-pitch division of the keyboard. In some case, the keyboard employs a two-make-contact-type touch-response switch which is located beneath the key at a certain position between a tip-edge portion and a supporting point of the key. In that case, a different distance, measured between the supporting point of the key and the touch-response switch, is set with respect to each of the keys. Hence, even if the finger depresses the key with same key-depression force (or at same key-depression speed), a keyboard switch output, given by depressing a key belonging to the low-pitch division, should be different from a keyboard switch output given by depressing a key belonging to the high-pitch division. Herein, the keyboard switch output is defined as time-difference information between the contacts of the touch-response switch which are respectively turned on when the key is depressed, wherein the time-difference information corresponds to the key-depression speed.
When performing the key scaling to key-touch responses, the conventional technology suffers from some disadvantages described above. For this reason, the conventional technology fails to think out the design of the keyboard assembly which is suitable for performing the key scaling to key-touch responses and which can be actually manufactured in a factory. And the design of the keyboard assembly should be made on the ground that manufacturing cost and assembling cost should be reduced as low as possible.
By the way, some proposals are made to manufacture the keyboard assembly for the electronic musical instrument providing the key-touch scaling mechanism. For example, key scaling is performed with respect to a distance between a supporting point of a hammer and a supporting point of a key in the keyboard assembly providing multiple hammers; key scaling is performed with respect to a distance between a tip-edge portion and a supporting point of a key; and key scaling is performed with respect to a distance between a supporting point of a key and a rubber switch. In the meantime, certain technology, by which same "touch pressure" (i.e., static reaction to a depression of key) is employed for both of white and black keys of the keyboard at their tip-edge portions, had been conventionally known. Herein, same touch response is set for each of the white key and black key by making an effecting point between the white key and its hammer different from an effecting point between the black key and its hammer.
Even the third proposal by which the key scaling is performed with respect to the distance between the supporting point of the key and the rubber switch suffers from the aforementioned disadvantages. In addition, the third proposal may result in complicated arrangement for the switches, complicated structure for wiring patterns, complicated structure for a substrate, complicated structure for a keyboard frame and complicated structure for a mechanism or member for fixing the switches, all of which will reduce productivity in manufacturing the keyboard assembly. Hence, this proposal does not work in practice.
Moreover, many proposals are made to manufacture a key-return spring in a comb-like structure which is formed as one member. In addition, some proposals are made to manufacture a multi-stage structure for a spring-terminating portion of a key and to use resin formation for a spring bearing.
The above-mentioned proposal, by which the key-return spring is manufactured in the comb-like structure, does not consider about the key scaling to key-touch responses. Further, such comb-like structure is disadvantageous because the key-return spring, after being used for a long period of time, may become wobbly; and such structure is disadvantageous because of low efficiency in equipping the keyboard assembly with the key-return spring. In addition, another proposal, by which the spring-terminating portion of the key is manufactured in the multi-stage structure and the spring bearing is formed using the resin material, is not made under the consideration of the key scaling by which the key-touch responses are altered between the keys belonging to the high-pitch division and low-pitch division respectively. Or this proposal may result in occurrence of noises by the spring; or this proposal may result in low efficiency in making the keyboard assembly.

Keyboard assembly for electronic musical instrument


A switching power supply device includes: a switching element connected through a primary winding of a transformer to an output end of an input rectifying/smoothing circuit that rectifies and smoothes an alternating current input voltage and outputs a direct current input voltage; an output rectifying/smoothing circuit that rectifies and smoothes a voltage induced in a secondary winding of the transformer and outputs a direct current output voltage; and a control circuit that controls ON and OFF of the switching element. The control circuit includes an overvoltage protection circuit that detects a voltage corresponding to the direct current output voltage and a voltage corresponding to the alternating current input voltage, outputs an overvoltage operation prohibition signal for prohibiting ON and OFF operations of the switching element when the voltage corresponding to the direct current output voltage rises to a first threshold value or more, and releases the overvoltage operation prohibition signal when the alternating current input voltage drops and the voltage corresponding to the alternating current input voltage falls down below a second threshold value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a switching power supply device in a power IC to which an activation terminal and a drain terminal of a power MOSFET are commonly connected. In order to avoid a phenomenon that a time required for releasing an operation prohibited state of a switching element after operating an overvoltage protection circuit and then turning off an alternating current input voltage is extremely long, the switching power supply device of the present invention monitors the alternating current input voltage, and releases the operation prohibited state of the switching element when the alternating current input voltage drops to a threshold value or less, and thereby releases the operation prohibited state of the switching element instantaneously after turning off an alternating current power supply even in a high-power power supply system in which a capacitance value of an input smoothing capacitor is large.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a conventional switching power supply device, there is a device that protects a switching element in the following manner when a secondary side output voltage becomes an overvoltage owing to such an abnormal state that an output voltage detection circuit turns to an open state. Specifically, for the purpose of protecting the switching element, such an overvoltage state of the secondary side output voltage is indirectly detected by a primary side power supply voltage through a transformer, a switching operation is then stopped, and an operation prohibited state is maintained for a while until an AC plug is pulled out.
FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram showing an example of this type of switching power supply device. This switching power supply device includes an input rectifying/smoothing circuit 10, a transformer 20, a primary winding 21 of the transformer 20, a drive winding 23, an activation circuit 30, a first switch 31, a Zener diode 32, an inverter 33, a second switch 34, a rectifying/smoothing circuit 40, a low-voltage malfunction prevention circuit 50, a reference voltage circuit 60, a feedback control circuit 70, a switching element 80, an overcurrent detection circuit 90, a PWM control circuit 100, a NOR gate 110, a drive circuit 120, a low-input protection circuit 160, an overvoltage protection circuit 180, and an integrated circuit 190e composed of a control circuit.
Next, a description is made of configurations and operations of the respective units by using a timing chart shown in FIG. 2. First, an alternating current input voltage V1 of an alternating current power supply is inputted to the input rectifying/smoothing circuit 10. Then, the alternating current input voltage V1 is rectified by a diode bridge composed of diodes 11 to 14, is thereafter smoothed by a smoothing capacitor 15, and is outputted as a direct current input voltage V2 from the input rectifying/smoothing circuit 10. Then, the direct current input voltage V2 is supplied to the switching element 80 through the primary winding 21 of the transformer 20.
When the switching element 80 is switched on and off, the direct current input voltage V2 is converted into an alternating current voltage. Then, energy is transmitted from the primary winding 21 of the transformer 20 to a secondary winding 22 of the transformer 20 and the drive winding 23.
When the direct current input voltage V2 rises and reaches a breakdown voltage V3 of the Zener diode 32, the activation circuit 30 supplies an activation current I3 to a capacitor 42 of the rectifying/smoothing circuit 40.
Then, at the time of activation, the activation current I3 charges the capacitor 42 of the rectifying/smoothing circuit 40. In such a way, a power supply voltage V4 is raised. Moreover, after the switching operation is started, the power supply voltage V4 is generated from a voltage induced by the drive winding 23 of the rectifying/smoothing circuit 40, and is supplied to the integrated circuit 190e composed of the control circuit.
The power supply voltage V4 reaches a first threshold value V5a of the low-voltage malfunction prevention circuit 50. Then, the reference voltage circuit (REG) 60 operates, and a reference voltage V6 is supplied to the respective circuit blocks. In such a way, the switching element 80 starts the switching operation. At this time, the second switch 34 is simultaneously turned to the open state through the inverter 33, whereby the activation current I3 is stopped.
A current detection resistor 91 of the overcurrent detection circuit 90 detects, as a voltage, a current I1 with a triangular waveform, which flows during an ON period of the switching element 80. Then, a low pass filter 92 of the overcurrent detection circuit 90 only passes a low frequency component of the detected voltage therethrough, and outputs an overcurrent signal V8 to a comparator 75.
The feedback control circuit 70 generates a control voltage V7 based on an error amplified signal from an output voltage detection circuit 140. Here, the output voltage detection circuit 140 includes photocouplers 141a and 141b, a resistor 142, and a Zener diode 143. Then, the PWM comparator 75 of the feedback control circuit 70 compares the control voltage V7 and the overcurrent signal V8 with each other. Then, when the overcurrent signal V8 rises to the control voltage V7 or more, an OFF trigger signal of the switching element 80 is outputted to the PWM control circuit 100. In such a way, a PWM control of the switching element 80 is performed.
The low-input protection circuit 160 is a circuit for preventing excessive spread of an ON duty of the switching element 80 and a breakage of the switching element 80 when a low voltage is applied as the alternating current input voltage V1 owing to adverse power supply circumstances and the like. The low-input protection circuit 160 is composed of two voltage dividing resistors 161 and 162, a smoothing capacitor 163, and an input detection comparator 164.
The alternating current input voltage V1 is subjected to half-wave rectification by the diodes 12 and 14, is thereafter dropped by the two voltage dividing resistors 161 and 162, and is supplied to the smoothing capacitor 163. Then, the smoothing capacitor 163 smoothes the dropped half-wave rectified voltage, and generates an input detection signal V10 proportional to the alternating current input voltage V1. In such a way, the input detection signal V10 is inputted to the input detection comparator 164. The input detection comparator 164 compares the input detection signal V10 and an input detection threshold value V9 with each other. Then, when the input detection signal V10 falls down below the input detection threshold value V9, the input detection comparator 164 determines that the present state is a low input state, and switches an operation prohibition signal V12 from an L level to an H level. In such a way, the switching operation of the switching element 80 is stopped, and the switching element 80 is protected.
When such abnormality that the output voltage detection circuit 140 turns to the open state occurs, an output voltage V11 sometimes rises to the threshold value or more. At this time, the overvoltage protection circuit 180 indirectly detects an overvoltage state of the output voltage V11 through the transformer 20 by the power supply voltage V4. In such a way, the overvoltage protection circuit 180 stops the switching operation of the switching element 80, and performs overvoltage protection. Next, a description is made of detailed operations of the overvoltage protection circuit while referring to the timing chart of FIG. 2.
First, at the time of a stationary operation, a voltage, as the power supply voltage V4, of which magnitude is a product of a turns ratio of the drive winding 23 and the secondary winding 22 and the output voltage V11 decided by a breakdown voltage of the Zener diode 143 provided in the output voltage detection circuit 140 is generated.
Here, when such abnormality that the output voltage detection circuit 140 turns to the open state occurs, the output voltage V11 rises (overvoltage state). Then, the power supply voltage V4 also rises in proportion to the output voltage V11. Then, when the power supply voltage V4 rises to an overvoltage detection threshold value V13 or more, an overvoltage detection comparator 181 outputs a SET signal to a SET terminal of an overvoltage latch 182. Then, an overvoltage operation prohibition signal V14 switches from the L level to the H level.
At this time, the overvoltage operation prohibition signal V14 prohibits the switching operation of the switching element 80 through a NOR gate 110, and at the same time, turns the first switch 31 to a conductive state.
Thereafter, when the power supply voltage V4 drops to the threshold voltage decided in the activation circuit 30, the activation circuit 30 supplies the activation current I3. In such a way, the power supply voltage V4 is prevented from dropping to a release threshold value V18 of the overvoltage latch 182. In such a way, the operation prohibited state of the switching element 80 is maintained (operation prohibition period).
Next, the alternating current input voltage V1 is turned OFF in order to release the operation prohibited state. Then, the direct current input voltage V2 drops slowly while discharging the smoothing capacitor 15. Then, when the direct current input voltage V2 drops to the breakdown voltage V3 of the Zener diode 32, the activation current I3 is stopped. Therefore, the power supply voltage V4 starts to drop (alternating current power supply OFF period).
When the power supply voltage V4 drops to the overvoltage latch release threshold value V18 or less, a latch release comparator 183 outputs a release signal to a RESET terminal of the overvoltage latch 182. In such a way, the overvoltage operation prohibition signal V14 switches from the H level to the L level, and the operation prohibited state is released (operation prohibition release period).
Incidentally, it is considered ideal that the operation prohibition release period as a time for releasing the operation prohibited state after the overvoltage is detected and the alternating current input voltage is then turned OFF be as short as possible.
Moreover, as a related technology of the conventional switching power supply device, an uninterruptible power supply device described in Patent Publication 1 is known. This uninterruptible power supply device stops the power supply operation once after an output overvoltage is detected, then detects a pulsating voltage of an alternating current input, and automatically resumes the power supply for each cycle of the alternating current power supply. Then, in the case where the overvoltage state continues, such automatic resuming is stopped after counting the number of automatic resuming times.    [Patent Publication 1] Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-268501


A hydraulic system is provided. The hydraulic system includes a source of pressurized fluid, a first control valve, a first actuator, a second control valve, a second actuator, and a relief. The first control valve is coupled to the source of pressurized fluid. The first actuator is coupled to the first control valve and has a first end and a second end. The second control valve is coupled to the source of pressurized fluid. The second actuator is coupled to the second control valve and has a first end and a second end. The relief has an input and an output, with the input coupled to the first end of the second actuator and the output coupled to the second end of the second actuator and the second end of the first actuator.

Mining and construction machines such as backhoe loaders and excavators employ various implements, such as buckets, rams, forks, grapples, thumbs, etc., to perform different operations. For example, a machine may use counteracting thumbs and buckets to grasp, hold, and lift odd-shaped articles such as pipes, structural components, and the like. Hydraulic actuators typically control these thumbs and buckets. Due to different kinematics and varying cylinder geometry, moving the bucket and thumb together in a coordinated manner is not easy. For example, if the hydraulic actuators for the thumb and the bucket are both extended the same amount, the thumb may move a different angular distance than the bucket. Moreover, the hydraulic actuators for the thumb and the bucket may extend or retract at different rates given the same flow of hydraulic fluid.
Methods have been proposed to attempt to coordinate the linkage motion between the thumb and the bucket. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,385,870 to Webel ("Webel") discloses a control system for an excavator thumb and a method of controlling an excavator thumb. Webel uses a thumb control circuit that is activated by the press of a button and maintains a constant reduced close fluid pressure of the extend port of the thumb cylinder until the open control is actuated.
While Webel provides a technique that seeks to maintain a constant thumb cylinder pressure as the bucket rotates, Webel requires activation of a separate switch. In addition, the hydraulic circuit of Webel requires complex circuitry and plumbing that may not be suitable for retrofit applications.
The present invention is directed to overcome one or more of the problems as set forth above.

Method and apparatus for coordinated linkage motion


An IFF interrogation system for use on an aircraft is described. The system transmits a signal from an interrogator to a transponder and from the transponder to the interrogator. The system includes a non-reciprocal IFF antenna that breaks either an uplink signal or a downlink signal at any given angle outside the main beam. The IFF transmitter transmits an Uplink Σ signal and an Uplink Δ signal to the IFF antenna.

Throughout time, it has always been important to know who one's friends are. Nowhere has this been more obvious than in military conflicts, where for centuries, flags, banners, insignia and uniforms have allowed adversaries to distinguish their cohorts from others who might have less friendly intentions. And, in darkness, when those visual means of identification were impossible, the business of using passwords and countersigns achieved the same end.
That system worked for millennia as long as conflicts were more or less face to face and visual identification was possible. But about 50 years ago, just as World War II began, the widespread use of aircraft caused a dramatic and inexorable change. Because threats could now approach with great speed by the time the visual identification was possible, it was often too late to prevent destruction. Also, while battle forces were once drawn up on opposing sides of some geographic line in the past, the new battle zones quickly became chaotic mixtures of friendly and hostile forces with many isolated units operating autonomously, thus making identification of others on the battle field nearly impossible.
Visual means were and still are an important method of discriminating between friends and enemies. But airplanes now fly at night, are extremely fast, fly at high altitude and can attack outside of visual range, thus making additional means of detection vital to survival in combat.
The earliest forms of radar were just emerging during WW II and, although it seemed to offer a solution to the problem, a major drawback soon became evident. The radar could detect incoming aircraft at considerable distance by sending out powerful pulses of radio energy and detect the echoes that were sent back, but it could not tell what kind of aircraft had been spotted or to whom they belonged.
The first recorded attempt at an electronic Interrogator Friend or Foe ("IFF") system was used by the Germans during WW II. By rolling their planes over when they received a predetermined signal, the Germans pilots would change the polarization of the radar reflections picked up by their own ground radars. The pilots created a distinctive blip on the radars that differed from others so the radar operators could identify their friendly forces. This simple yet effective attempt to distinguish their planes from enemy planes to German radar operators incorporated the basic structure of all cooperative IFF systems that followed: a challenge or question (the coded radio message) and a specific response (the roll over that caused a change in the reflected radar signal). This maneuver was a passive system in that the returned signal was still just a reflection of the radar energy sent from the ground.
The first active system employed radio energy generated on the target aircraft which was then used as the return signal identifying the aircraft. This is the basic method now used in all modern cooperative IFF systems. The Mk I was an active IFF system and was put into service in about 1940. It used a receiver aboard each aircraft that broke into oscillation and acted as a transmitter when it received a radar signal. Because of the variety of radar frequencies used, it had to be mechanically tuned across the radar bands in order to be triggered by any radar that was illuminating it. This mechanical tuning requirement and other factors limited its performance. The Mk II was a later improvement of the Mk I, it had a separate transmitter that was tuned through the radar bands simultaneously with the receiver and was triggered by signals from the receiver. This greatly increased the strength of the return signal and the return range. It also could be programmed to respond in one of six different codes thus providing some further degree of identification. The MK II was triggered in the radar bands while the MK III operated in the VHF band.
After the war, with rapid technical developments creating new high performance aircraft, the need for efficient and reliable IFF systems led to a long series of further refinements that eventually evolved into the modern IFF systems in use today. Modern IFF systems are basically Question/Answer systems. An interrogator system sends out a coded radio signal that asks any number of queries. The interrogator system is frequently associated with a primary radar installation, but it may also be installed aboard a ship or another aircraft. The interrogation code or challenge, as it is called, is received by an electronic system known as a transponder that is aboard the target aircraft. If the transponder receives the proper electronic code from an interrogator, it automatically transmits the requested identification back to the interrogating system as a coded radio signal. Because it was developed as an adjunct to the primary echo-type detection radar and is usually used in conjunction with a primary radar, the IFF system is also known as secondary radar.
As noted above, the military purpose of IFF is identification of friendly aircraft by the use of identification codes on the transmission and reply. In this case, called IFF 'Interrogation', an aircraft can be requested by either a ground station, land/sea vehicle or another aircraft fitted with an Interrogator to reply to a coded request for identification. Only friendly aircraft who know the code of the day can provide the correct response to the Interrogation. On most military aircraft the IFF Interrogator, which requires extra 'black boxes' and antennas to those of the IFF Transponder, is often enacted by mounting the IFF Interrogator antennas on the main radar dish. In this way, when an aircraft is detected by that radar, it can be selectively interrogated by the directional radar dish, without broadcasting the interrogating aircraft's position through the omnidirectional transmissions typical of Transponder systems.
Modern IFF systems use two channels. Typically 1030 Megahertz is used for interrogating signals and 1090 Megahertz is used for reply signals, but other frequencies may be used as IFF systems change. The IFF system begins when an IFF interrogator attempts to exchange information with its target by establishing an uplink to the transponder. IFF interrogation may be between two aircraft, between a ground based radar station and an aircraft, a tank and an aircraft or a missile system and an aircraft. The transponder accepts the interrogator's request for an uplink by signaling back to the interrogator and thus creating a downlink. The link is established between the interrogator and a transponder over a small azimuth angular extent of the main lobe of the antenna in the direction the antenna is pointing. The antenna used to establish the links between the interrogator and the transponder have other lobes besides the main lobe including but not limited to side lobes and rear lobes, if a link is established in more than one lobe this will create a "ghost" image making it appear as if there are two or more transponders rather than one.
To preclude links from being established in the side lobes, Sidelobe Suppression techniques are implemented for both the uplink and the downlink. For example, Interrogator Side Lobe Suppression (ISLS) and Receiver Side Lobe Suppression (RSLS) have been used for this purpose. Some IFF Interrogation installations, such as those on aircraft, require the vertical size of the IFF antenna to be severely limited. Small vertical aperture IFF antennas will typically have a strong back lobe due to a strong forward to rear RF coupling. The backlobe problem can also be compounded by aircraft installation effects including the platform body and the radome. In systems that use a difference beam to cover the sum beam for Interrogator Side Lobe Suppression (ISLS) and Receiver Side Lobe Suppression (RSLS), a mirror image of the IFF forward radiation patterns appearing 180 degrees out the back of the IFF antenna at lower power but still at a sufficient level to cause the interrogator to try to establish a link. ISLS and RSLS are typically ineffective in the rear hemisphere.
The problem with the mirror image appearing in the rear hemisphere is that in addition to a "ghost" being created on the IFF display, which may confuse the pilot, each target is processed twice, once when the antenna is pointed at the transponder and again when the mirror image pattern is pointed at the transponder. This cuts the target processing capability of the system in half. Also, if every transponder has to respond twice to every interrogator, it may not be available to respond to the real interrogations creating an aircraft awareness deficiency in today's high air traffic density.
The common technique to correct for the back lobe of an antenna is to use a backfill radiator. A backfill radiator is simply a smaller antenna located at the rear of the primary IFF antenna. Transmit power is coupled off the difference port and applied to the backfill radiator at a level sufficient to cover the back lobe present when transmit power is applied to the IFF antennas Sum port. This causes the Difference pattern to cover the Sum pattern radiation pattern out the rear of the antenna and restores the effectiveness of the ISLS and RSLS to 180 degrees out from the intended IFF link.
Therefore historically the use of the backfill radiator restores ISLS and RSLS effectiveness at the mirror angle of the main lobe, breaking the inadvertent IFF link at that angle thus preventing the IFF system from wasting computing resources attempting to link with a "ghost" signal. However, using the standard technique with small vertical aperture IFF antenna's typically used on airborne platforms, nulls can be generated in the difference pattern at other angles than 180 degrees in the rear hemisphere where the link can be re-established generating "ghosts". In cases where the front to back side lobe coupling is tight, the use of the backfill radiator generates nulls in the difference pattern at wide angles in the forward hemisphere, establishing the link at other angles than the mainlobe or mirror angle of the mainlobe. Again, this generates "ghosts". A backfill therefore eliminates the "ghost" at the mirror angle, but "ghosts" may now be generated at other angles. It therefore is not 100% effective. An example of a region outside the main lobe includes but is not limited to the side lobe and the back lobe.

System and method for suppressing IFF responses in the sidelobes and backlobes of IFF interrogator antennas


Communication between processors and I/O communications processes is facilitated. During the communication, shared control blocks and input/output queues are updated without using locks. Instead, a lockless capability is provided to update the queues and control blocks, thereby enhancing system performance and minimizing the need for recovery processes.

Communication between different entities of a processing environment is managed in order to efficiently perform the communication and to preserve data integrity. Typically, this management includes the locking of data structures used in communicating between the entities. For instance, in the z/Architecture®, offered by International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y., a processor and an input/output (I/O) communications process, such as a subchannel process, use shared control blocks and queues to communicate with one another. When these data structures are updated, locks are used to ensure only one update occurs at a time.
While locking is effective in serializing operations and protecting the data, there are disadvantages associated with locking. As examples, locking causes severe performance problems and requires recovery procedures.

Facilitating communication within an emulated processing environment


Control unit for controlling a parameter in an multimedia system said control unit comprising a bracket where the multimedia system can be manipulated relative to the bracket from a neutral position to an unbalanced position, and where the bracket urges the multimedia system back to the neutral position, and a receiver in the multimedia system registering the manipulation of the multimedia system, whereby the control unit alters the parameter in response to the registration by the receiver.

In order to provide for example the desired sound rendition of a piece of music a multimedia system needs to be given certain settings, usually settings which are particular for the particular listener. Such settings may include the level of bass, treble balance and volume level, but also other aspects and further specialized settings may be achieved by manipulating an equalizer in order to provide the exact sound reproduction picture which the listener desires.
However, in a number of circumstances, once these settings have been introduced into the multimedia system or a preselected set of parameters has been selected, most of the interaction with a multimedia system is either turning it on and off, selecting previous or next audio track/programme or adjusting the volume control.
It is further quite common to provide a multimedia system with a remote control making it possible to adjust or select the parameters mentioned above from a listening position without actually interacting physically with the multimedia system.
Normally, on a surface of the multimedia system various control buttons and/or displays are provided such that the above parameters may be adjusted and introduced into the multimedia system's control unit in order to achieve the desired sound reproduction.
In this context it should be noted that by multimedia system any type of audio component is to be included in the meaning of multimedia system such as for example but not limited to loudspeaker, receiver, amplifier, equalizer etc.
It is an object of the present invention to avoid providing the surface of a multimedia system with the control means for controlling the multimedia system thereby allowing the multimedia system to have a more "neutral" look and thereby providing improved design possibilities in designing the appearance (and surfaces) of the multimedia system. At the same time the invention desires to provide an intuitive control of the multimedia system such that control of various parameters is obtained in a surprisingly easy fashion.


A method determines the wear of axles of a robot arm of an industrial robot. A torque profile of at least one axle taken during at least one working cycle of the industrial robot is used as a basis for an analysis. The torque profile is analyzed for portions of the torque profile that exceed a previously fixed torque band, and current axial wear is determined by assessing the frequency and/or the curve profile of the portions of the torque profile. A system is provided for determining the wear.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and a system for appraising the wear of axles of a robot arm of an industrial robot.
Methods for appraising the wear of axles on industrial robots that are based on the mechanical measurement of the axial backlash and appraise axial wear on the basis of the values measured are generally known. The appraisal is generally performed by the operating or service personnel, who can, on the basis of values obtained in their experience with handling the robots, interpret the measured values in such a way that on the one hand the state of wear is established, on the other hand a statement can be made as to whether and which measures have to be performed on the axles of the robot.
2. Summary of the Invention
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a method and a system for appraising the wear of axles of a robot arm which overcome the above-mentioned disadvantages of the prior art methods and devices of this general type, with which wear can be determined in the simplest possible way.
Accordingly, the method according to the invention for determining the wear of axles of a robot arm of an industrial robot has the following method steps. A torque profile of at least one axles during at least one working cycle of the industrial robot is taken as a basis for an analysis. The torque profile is analyzed for portions of the torque profile that leave a previously fixed torque band, and current axial wear is determined by assessing the frequency and/or the curve profile of the portions of the torque profile.
One advantage of the method according to the invention is that only a torque profile of the axle to be considered of the industrial robot is required in order to appraise axial wear. It is of secondary importance here whether the torque profile is measured at the time or is read out from an earlier measurement that has been stored in a data memory.
The proposed method considers in particular a working cycle or number of working cycles of the industrial robot. In principle, any time segment during the movement sequence of the industrial robot may be chosen as the working cycle. It is particularly meaningful, however, for a movement sequence of the industrial robot which the latter keeps repeating to be chosen as the working cycle, so that all the movements, all the tasks and all the loads that are performed during a repeat cycle, from the beginning of the performance of a task to the end of the performance of the task, are included. Such a working cycle therefore covers all the tasks and loads of the industrial robot. The wear appraisal for the axles concerned of a robot arm is accordingly accurate.
The analysis of the torque profile for portions of the torque profile that leave a previously fixed torque band and the assessment of the frequency and/or the curve profile of the portions of the torque profile take place according to the invention in an automated manner. This dispenses entirely with the previously necessary interpretation by operating or service employees specializing in this. In this way, the amount of data considered for the torque profile can be increased and the accuracy of the wear determination is enhanced. Altogether, the method according to the invention is consequently quicker and more accurate than those previously known.
An advantageous development of the method according to the invention is characterized in that the ratio of a maximum torque value to an averaged torque value in a previously defined time period within the working cycle considered is used for the assessment of the axial wear.
In the analysis of the torque profile, individual portions of the torque profile having a maximum torque are analyzed in particular, the rotational direction of the torque being immaterial. The portions of the torque profile are analyzed as to whether they have a maximum that goes beyond a previously set torque band, with the result that a torque loading exceeding the torque band has occurred. These maximum or extreme torque values are one of the factors responsible for increased wear of the axles and are accordingly taken into account in the assessment. The ratio mentioned at the beginning of maximum torque values to averaged values can be adapted more closely to a weighting factor, which is empirically determined.
A further form of the method according to the invention is characterized in that at least one curve profile, in particular the slope of the curve at a time directly before and possibly after an extreme, taken from the latter up to at least the next-following point of inflection of the torque curve, of a portion of the torque profile is used for the assessment of the axial wear.
For the assessment, therefore the steeply rising or steeply falling torque profiles in particular lead to a different basis for the assessment of the axial wear than for example shallow curve profiles. This has to be taken into account for example by different assessment factors, which are included in the assessment formula.
The set object is also achieved by a system for determining the wear of axles of a robot arm of an industrial robot, with a data module, which contains the data of a torque profile of at least one axle during at least one working cycle of the industrial robot, with an analysis module, with which portions of the torque profile that leave a previously fixed torque band can be selected, and with an assessment module, by which the frequency and/or the curve profile of the portions of the torque profile can be interpreted as axial wear, a data exchange between the data module, the analysis module and the assessment module being made possible.
The system for determining the wear of axles of a robot arm has three different functional modules. The functional module referred to as the data module contains the data of the torque profile to be considered or of the torque profiles to be considered in the event that a number of axles are being considered. In the analysis module, specific data provided by the data module can be selected in the way specified. In particular, those portions of the torque profile that leave a previously fixed torque band, that is to say have comparatively high torque values, are to be used for the instances of axial wear that are then to be appraised in the assessment module. In this case, the torque band is generally defined such that the limits of the band correspond to the permissible axial loading of the respective axle, for example coinciding with the limit-value loading specifications of a robot manufacturer or adopted with other empirically established limit values.
In an advantageous basic variant, the system according to the invention for determining wear requires no additional measured value pickups or other measuring devices that would not already be on the robot. Consequently, the construction is comparatively simple and the wear appraisal can be carried out particularly quickly and comparatively accurately on account of the automation of the system concerning the handling of the data, the analysis and the assessment of the data. In the basic variant as described above, the required data are taken from a robot control.
A development of the system according to the invention is characterized in that at least one of the modules is disposed in a robot control.
This additionally simplifies the equipment required. This is so because the robot control is a customary part of a robot system, so that the implementation of the module or modules in the robot control results in a particularly compact system.
However, it is also quite possible for individual modules or all the modules to be integrated in an evaluation device, in particular a measuring computer.
This achieves the advantage that the system according to the invention becomes mobile and is suitable for successive use on a number of industrial robots.
Furthermore, it is immaterial for the system according to the invention whether the torque profile can be read out from the robot control as direct or indirect values.
When indirect values of the torque profile are read out from the robot control, the torque values that are current at the time or else any stored torque values can be called up as the torque values. The system according to the invention can in this case detect a torque value or torque values without further data preparation. Indirect values refer to those values that are either available as an unscaled voltage value of the robot control or are made available as an analog voltage signal or other signal and first have to be interpreted or converted as a torque value. For this purpose, an analog-digital converter or some other transfer module may be disposed upstream of the system according to the invention.
In an advantageous form of the system according to the invention, the modules are in each case configured as computer program products.
Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a method and a system for appraising the wear of axles of a robot arm, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for appraising the wear of axles of a robot arm


A device and process for applying mixtures of adhesive formulations combined with solder flux such that flip chips may be rapidly encapsulated with such combinations without interfering with subsequent wafer processing steps are provided. Also provided is a wafer stencil designed in such a manner that the saw kerf lines separating individual chip dies are protected from coming into contact with the formulation. Extrusion screening using such wafer stencil is also provided.

1. Technical Field
The present invention is concerned with so-called xe2x80x9ccontrolled collapse chip connectionxe2x80x9d or C4 semiconductor devices that employ solder bump interconnections, also known as flip chip or face down bonding. Specifically, the present invention relates to assembling, such devices, together with surface mount technology (SMT) devices, on a single carrier surface while allowing convenient dicing, subsequent processing, and preparation for surface mount assembly on cards and boards.
2. Background of Invention
Controlled collapse chip connection technology has been successfully used for decades to interconnect high input/ouput (I/O) count and area array solder bumps on integrated circuit chips to the base ceramic e.g. alumina, carriers. See U.S. Pat. No. 5,668,059 to Christie et al. and assigned to the assignee of the present patent application, disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference, for further discussion of the C4 interconnection technology.
The rapidly increasing sophistication of integrated circuit devices has resulted in greatly increased chip sizes, but of even more significance, in explosively larger numbers of I/O terminals that must be solder connected. The advantage of solder joining is that the I/O terminals may be distributed over substantially the entire top surface of the semiconductor device. This efficient use of the entire surface area is known as area array bonding
The usual practice involves mounting the integrated circuit semiconductor device, normally formed of monocrystalline silicon having a coefficient of thermal expansion 2.5xc3x9710xe2x88x926 per xc2x0 C., on a substrate, either alumina (5.8xc3x9710xe2x88x926 per xc2x0 C.) or a rigid or flexible organic material (coefficient of thermal expansion ranging from 6xc3x9710xe2x88x926 per xc2x0 C. to 24xc3x9710xe2x88x926 per xc2x0 C.). The active and passive circuit elements generate heat that is conducted through the electrical connections. As a result the devices and their carriers expand and contract differentially imposing stresses on the relatively rigid solder joints. The stress on the solder joints is inversely proportional to the height of the solder bump, but the larger the number of I/O terminals incorporated into the device, the smaller the individual solder bumps become.
To provide mechanical stability and electrical isolation, Beckham et al. disclose in U.S. Pat. No. 4,604,644 (assigned to assignee of present invention and disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference) an improved solder interconnection structure with increased fatigue life. In particular their method for electrically joining a semiconductor device to a support substrate that has a plurality of solder connections incorporates a dielectric, organic material disposed between the semiconductor device and the supporting substrate to provide both electrical isolation and mechanical stability.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,668,059 to Christie et al. and assigned to the assignee of the present application, disclosure of which is hereby incorporated by reference, discloses an improved organic encapsulating adhesive formulation.
During the process of manufacturing semiconductor devices a plurality of dies, each containing an integrated circuit, are fabricated on a semiconductor wafer. Saw kerf lines are provided between adjacent dies such that the wafer may be sliced with a diamond saw into individual chips. Subsequent to the slicing operation, each individual chip is provided with an array of solder bumps to facilitate electrical connection With the chip carrier to which it will ultimately be mated. And in separate steps. the individual chips are coated with an adhesive formulation to provide stable, mechanical bonding between the chip and its carrier and a flux application is made to enable flow of the solder bumps during subsequent heating steps. The individual encapsulated chips are packaged to await placement on camers.
Mixtutes of adhesive and flux which can be applied to chips in a single step are now in development at Dexter Corporation, Windsor Locks, CT. Clearly, great reductions in processing time could be realized if such flux-adhesive formulation could be applied to the plurality of dies in a single step instead of having to be applied to individual chips. However, currently, a disadvantage of attempting such wafer-scale application is that the flux-adhesive formulations aggregate to and disable the diamond saw used to slice the wafer.
The present invention addresses problems encountered in attempting to apply adhesive and flux compositions to a plurality of dies at the same time. The present invention relates to a device and process for applying mixtures of such formulations combined with solder flux such that flip chips may be rapidly encapsulated with such combinations without interfering with subsequent wafer processing steps.
The present invention provides a method by which the flux-adhesive formulation is screened onto the wafer using a stencil designed in such a manner that the saw kerf lines separating individual chip dies are protected from coming into contact with the formulation. Moreover, the invention provides a means of forming a dam about the peripheral area of the wafer, thus preventing the formulation from contaminating the edge of the wafer or from escaping from the surface of the wafer. The present invention also permits greater production throughput by permitting the application of combined flux-adhesive formulations, in a single step, to a plurality of chips, rather than requiring a separate step for each chip.
The present invention provides a means by which both flip-chip and SMT devices may be placed on a single surface of a carrier and reflowed in a single step.
In particular, the present invention is concerned with a screening mask for screening of a formulation for mounting a combination of flip chip and SMT devices on a carrier comprising peripheral members;
a lattice of kerf protecting members disposed to cover the saw kerf area of the corresponding semiconductor chip and connected to the peripheral members,
membrane of mask material 25 interconnecting the lattice of kerf protecting members, the membrane having a pattern of openings.
Another aspect of the present invention is concerned with a method of using a screening head above the disclosed screening mask. The method comprises aligning the screening mask over a semiconductor wafer;
aligning an extrusion head over the screening mask with wiping blades contacting the screening mask;
extruding an encapsulant flux mixture; and
traversing the extrusion head thereby removing excess encapsulant flux mixture.
Still other objects and advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent by those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, wherein it is shown and described preferred embodiments of the invention, simply by way of illustration of the best mode contemplated of carrying out the invention. As will be realized the invention is capable of other and different embodiments, and its several details are capable of modifications in various obvious respects, without departing from the invention. Accordingly, the description is to be regarded as illustrative in nature and not as restrictive.

Wafer scale encapsulation for integrated flip chip and surface mount technology assembly

International Business Machines Corporation


Systems and methods of audio reproduction are described. In one embodiment, one or more processors can be configured, for example, to receive an L channel signal and an R channel signal, to combine the L channel signal and the R channel signal, to average the combined signal, to detect an impulse signal in the averaged signal, to multiply the impulse signal, to scale the multiplied impulse signal, and to add the scaled impulse signal to the averaged signal to form a resultant signal. Sound can be generated, for example, by speakers based on at least the resultant signal.

Conventional attempts to improve the subwoofer response of audio systems include reducing the weight of the speaker driver (e.g., a cone). By reducing the mass that must be pushed by the driver's magnetic field, the cone can travel back and forth faster. Such a design accomplishes a very limited boost in impulse response, but requires expensive materials to construct a strong, yet lightweight cone for use in producing large impulses.
Other conventional attempts to improve the subwoofer response of audio systems include increasing the treble frequencies of an incoming audio signal. Such a design accomplishes a very limited amount of "punch" in a larger driver, but produces many unwanted frequencies in the subwoofer driver, thereby reducing overall sound production quality.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art through the comparison of such systems with some aspects of some embodiments according to the present disclosure as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

System and method for audio reproduction

STAR CO Scientific Technologies Advanced Research Co., LLC