Arrangement for providing a boosted signal from a signal-generating device, such as a SAW device or an RFID tag, including an antenna and a circulator having a first port connected to the antenna to receive a signal therefrom and a second port connectable to the device to provide a signal thereto and receive a signal therefrom. The circulator amplifies the signal from the antenna and the signal received from the device such that a twice-amplified signal is directed to the antenna. A receiving and processing module transmits a signal to the antenna causing the antenna to generate its signal and receive a signal from the antenna derived from the twice-amplified signal. Various pumping systems for vehicle tires and electricity generating systems which generate energy upon rotation of a tire are also disclosed.

The invention is related to the monitoring of vehicular components, systems and subsystems as well as to the measurement of physical and chemical characteristics relating to the vehicle or its components, systems and subsystems and using the measurements to control and/or affect one or more vehicular systems. Some of the systems which are monitored can include the tires. As generally used herein, a tire is made of a rubber substrate defining side walls and a tread. The tire is mounted on a wheel rim so that a wheel as generally used herein, includes a tire and a wheel rim.
Tire monitoring is now extremely important since NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) has recently linked 148 deaths and more than 525 injuries in the United States to separations, blowouts and other tread problems in Firestone's ATX, ATX II and Wilderness AT tires, 5 million of which were recalled in 2000. Many of the tires were standard equipment on the Ford Explorer. Ford recommends that the Firestone tires on the Explorer sport utility vehicle be inflated to 26 psi, while Firestone recommends 30 psi. It is surprising that a tire can go from a safe condition to an unsafe condition based on an under inflation of 4 psi as suggested by Firestone.
According to a NHTSA research survey, 27% of passenger cars on U.S. roadways are driven with one or more substantially under-inflated tires. In addition, the survey found that 33% of light trucks (including sport utility vehicles, vans and pickup trucks) are driven with one or more substantially under-inflated tires.
Recent studies in the United States conducted by the Society of Automotive Engineers show that low tire pressure causes about 260,000 accidents annually. Another finding is that about 75% of tire failures each year are preceded by slow air leaks or inadequate tire inflation. Nissan, for example, warns that incorrect tire pressures can compromise the stability and overall handling of a vehicle and can contribute to an accident. Additionally, most non-crash auto fatalities occur while drivers are changing flat tires. Thus, tire failures are clearly a serious automobile safety problem that requires a solution.
About 16% of all car accidents are a result of incorrect tire pressure. Thus, effective pressure and wear monitoring is extremely important. Motor Trend magazine stated that one of the most overlooked maintenance areas on a car is tire pressure. An estimated 40% to 80% of all vehicles on the road are operating with under-inflated tires. When under-inflated, a tire tends to flex its sidewall more, increasing its rolling resistance which decreases fuel economy. The extra flex also can create excessive heat in the tire that can shorten its service life.
The Society of Automotive Engineers reports that about 87% of all flat tires have a history of under-inflation. About 85% of pressure loss incidents are slow punctures caused either by small-diameter objects trapped in the tire or by larger diameter nails. The leak will be minor as long as the nail is trapped. If the nail comes out, pressure can decrease rapidly. Incidents of sudden pressure loss are potentially the most dangerous for drivers and account for about 15% of all cases.
A properly inflated tire loses approximately 1 psi per month. A defective or worn tire can lose pressure at a more rapid rate. About 35% of the recalled Bridgestone tires had improper repairs.
Research from a variety of sources suggests that under-inflation can be significant to both fuel economy and tire life. Industry experts have determined that tires under-inflated by a mere 10% wear out about 15% faster. An average driver with an average set of tires can drive an extra 5,000 to 7,000 miles before buying new tires by keeping the tire properly inflated.
The American Automobile Association has determined that under-inflated tires cut a vehicle's fuel economy by as much as 2% per psi below the recommended level. If each of a car's tires is supposed to have a pressure of 30 psi and instead has a pressure of 25 psi, the car's fuel efficiency drops by about 10%. Depending on the vehicle and miles driven, that could cost the owner from $100 to $500 a year.
The ability to control a vehicle is strongly influenced by tire pressure. When the tire pressure is kept at proper levels, optimum vehicle braking, steering, handling and stability are accomplished. Low tire pressure can also lead to damage to both the tires and wheels.
A Michelin study revealed that the average driver does not recognize a low tire until it is 14 psi too low. One of the reasons is that today's radial tire is hard to judge visually because the sidewall flexes even when properly inflated.
Despite all the recent press about keeping tires properly inflated, new research shows that most drivers do not know the correct inflation pressure. In a recent survey, only 45% of respondents knew where to look to find the correct pressure, even though 78% thought they knew. Twenty-seven percent incorrectly believed the sidewall of the tire carries the correct information and did not know that the sidewall only indicates the maximum pressure for the tire, not the optimum pressure for the vehicle. In another survey, about 60% of the respondents reported that they check tire pressure but only before going on a long trip. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that at least one out of every five tires is not properly inflated.
The problem is exacerbated with the new run-flat tires where a driver may not be aware that a tire is flat until it is destroyed. Run-flat tires can be operated at air pressures below normal for a limited distance and at a restricted speed (e.g., 125 miles at a maximum of 55 mph). The driver must therefore be warned of changes in the condition of the tires so that she can adapt her driving to the changed conditions.
One solution to this problem is to continuously monitor the pressure and perhaps the temperature in the tire. Pressure loss can be automatically detected in two ways: by directly measuring air pressure within the tire or by indirect tire rotation methods. Various indirect methods are based on the number of revolutions each tire makes over an extended period of time through the ABS system and others are based on monitoring the frequency changes in the sound emitted by the tire. In the direct detection case, a sensor is mounted into each wheel or tire assembly, each with its own identity. An on-board computer collects the signals, processes and displays the data and triggers a warning signal in the case of pressure loss.
Under-inflation is not the only cause of sudden tire failure. A variety of mechanical problems including a bad wheel bearing or a "dragging" brake can cause the tire to heat up and fail. In addition, as may have been a contributing factor in the Firestone case, substandard materials can lead to intra-tire friction and a buildup of heat. The use of re-capped or over-loaded truck tires is another example of heat caused failure as a result of intra-tire friction. An overheated tire can fail suddenly without warning.
As discussed in more detail below, direct tire monitors permit the driver to check the vehicle tire pressures from inside the vehicle.
The Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation Act, (H.R. 5164, or Public Law No. 106-414) known as the TREAD Act, was signed by President Clinton on Nov. 1, 2000. Section 12, TIRE PRESSURE WARNING, states that: "Not later than one year after the date of enactment of this Act, the Secretary of Transportation, acting through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, shall complete a rulemaking for a regulation to require a warning system in a motor vehicle to indicate to the operator when a tire is significantly under-inflated. Such requirement shall become effective not later than 2 years after the date of the completion of such rulemaking." Thus, it is expected that a rule requiring continuous tire monitoring will take effect for the 2004 model year.
This law will dominate the first generation of such systems as automobile manufacturers move to satisfy the requirement. In subsequent years, more sophisticated systems will be developed that in addition to pressure, will monitor temperature, tire footprint, wear, vibration, etc. Although TREAD requires that the tire pressure be monitored, it is believed by the inventors that other parameters are as important as the tire pressure or even more important than the tire pressure as described in more detail below.
Consumers are also in favor of tire monitors. Johnson Controls' market research showed that about 80% of consumers believe a low tire pressure warning system is an important or extremely important vehicle feature. Thus, as with other safety products such as airbags, competition to meet customer demands will soon drive this market.
Although, as with most other safety products, the initial introductions will be in the United States, speed limits in the United States and Canada are sufficiently low that tire pressure is not as critical an issue as in Europe, for example, where the drivers often drive much faster.
The advent of microelectromechanical (MEMS) pressure sensors, especially those based on surface acoustical wave (SAW) technology, has now made the wireless and powerless monitoring of tire pressure feasible. This is the basis of some of the tire pressure monitors described below. According to a Frost and Sullivan report on the U.S. Micromechanical Systems (MEMS) market (June 1997): "A MEMS tire pressure sensor represents one of the most profound opportunities for MEMS in the automotive sector."
There are many wireless tire temperature and pressure monitoring systems disclosed in the prior art patents such as for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,295,102, 4,296,347, 4,317,372, 4,534,223, 5,289,160, 5,612,671, 5,661,651, 5,853,020 and 5,987,980 and International Publication No. WO 01/07271(A1), all of which are illustrative of the state of the art of tire monitoring and are incorporated by reference herein.
Devices for measuring the pressure and/or temperature within a vehicle tire directly can be categorized as those containing electronic circuits and a power supply within the tire, those which contain electronic circuits and derive the power to operate these circuits either inductively, from a generator or through radio frequency radiation, and those that do not contain electronic circuits and receive their operating power only from received radio frequency radiation. For the reasons discussed above, the discussion herein is mainly concerned with the latter category. This category contains devices that operate on the principles of surface acoustic waves (SAW) and the disclosure below is concerned primarily with such SAW devices although in some cases RFID devices are also used.
International Publication No. WO 01/07271 describes a tire pressure sensor that replaces the valve and valve stem in a tire.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,231,827 contains a basic description and background of the tire-monitoring problem. The device disclosed, however, contains a battery and electronics and is not a SAW device. Similarly, the device described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,285,189 contains a battery as do the devices described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,335,540 and 5,559,484. U.S. Pat. No. 5,945,908 applies to a stationary tire monitoring system and does not use SAW devices.
One of the first significant SAW sensor patents is U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,223. This patent describes the use of SAW devices for measuring pressure and also a variety of methods for temperature compensation but does not mention wireless transmission.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,987,980 describes a tire valve assembly using a SAW pressure transducer in conjunction with a sealed cavity. This patent does disclose wireless transmission. The assembly includes a power supply and thus this also distinguishes it from a preferred system of this invention. It is a SAW system but as stated in the patent, the antenna for interrogating the device in this design must be within one meter.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,698,786 relates to the sensors and is primarily concerned with the design of electronic circuits in an interrogator. U.S. Pat. No. 5,700,952 also describes circuitry for use in the interrogator to be used with SAW devices. In neither of these patents is the concept of using a SAW device in a wireless tire pressure monitoring system described. These patents also do not describe including an identification code with the temperature and/or pressure measurements in the sensors and devices.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,804,729 describes circuitry for use with an interrogator in order to obtain more precise measurements of the changes in the delay caused by the physical or chemical property being measured by the SAW device. Similar comments apply to U.S. Pat. No. 5,831,167. Other related prior art includes U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,017.
Other patents disclose the placement of an electronic device in the sidewall or opposite the tread of a tire but they do not disclose either an accelerometer or a surface acoustic wave device. In most cases, the disclosed system has a battery and electronic circuits.
One method of measuring pressure that is applicable to this invention is disclosed in V. V. Varadan, Y. R. Roh and V. K. Varadan "Local/Global SAW Sensors for Turbulence", IEEE 1989 Ultrasonics Symposium p. 591–594 makes use of a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) piezoelectric film to measure pressure. Mention is made in this article that other piezoelectric materials can also be used. Experimental results are given where the height of a column of oil is measured based on the pressure measured by the piezoelectric film used as a SAW device. In particular, the speed of the surface acoustic wave is determined by the pressure exerted by the oil on the SAW device. For the purposes of the instant invention, air pressure can also be measured in a similar manner by first placing a thin layer of a rubber material onto the surface of the SAW device which serves as a coupling agent from the air pressure to the SAW surface. In this manner, the absolute pressure of a tire, for example, can be measured without the need for a diaphragm and reference pressure greatly simplifying the pressure measurement. Other examples of the use of PVDF film as a pressure transducer can be found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,577,510 and 5,341,687, which are incorporated by reference herein, although they are not used as SAW devices.
The following U.S. patents provide relevant information to this invention, and to the extent necessary, all of them are incorporated by reference herein: U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,361,026, 4,620,191, 4,703,327, 4,724,443, 4,725,841, 4,734,698, 5,691,698, 5,841,214, 6,060,815, 6,107,910, 6,114,971, 6,144,332.
In recent years, SAW devices have been used as sensors in a broad variety of applications. Compared with sensors utilizing alternative technologies, SAW sensors possess outstanding properties, such as high sensitivity, high resolution, and ease of manufacturing by microelectronic technologies. However, the most attractive feature of SAW sensors is that they can be interrogated wirelessly and that they can be operated without a battery or other source of power except for the RF signal that is captured by the antenna.
1. Signal Boosting
In the use of SAW sensors for vehicles, one problem which arises is that the vibrations of the vehicle can interfere with or create excessive noise in the signals provided by the SAW sensor in view of the generally low strength of the signal from the SAW sensor. In many cases for SAW tire monitors, for example, an adequate return signal can be obtained while the vehicle is stationary but the signal degrades as the vehicle moves. Thus, whereas the device can operate without power in the stationary mode, it is desirable to have a source powered operation for the case when the vehicle is moving. However, when the vehicle is moving there is a significant amount of energy available in the vehicle tire, and elsewhere in the environment, to permit the powered operation of the SAW device. This is known herein as signal boosting. Such signal boosting, as described below, can increase the gain by as much as 6 db in both directions, or a total of 12 db, or more. The energy generated can be stored on a capacitor, or ultracapacitor, or on a rechargeable battery as appropriate.
Previously, RF MEMS switches have not been used in the tire, RFID or SAW sensor environment such as for TPM (tire pressure monitoring) power and antenna switching. International Application No. WO 03/047035A1 entitled "GPS equipped cellular phone using a SPDT MEMS switch and single shared antenna" describes such a use for cell phones. One example of an RF MEMS switch is manufactured by Teravicta Technologies Inc. The company's initial product, the TT612, is a 0 to 6 GHz RF MEMS single-pole, double-throw (SPDT) switch. It has a loss of 0.14-dB at 2-GHz, good linearity and a power handling capability of three watts continuous, all enclosed within a surface mount package.
Teravicta claims the RF performance of its switch is superior to that of conventional solid-state alternatives such as gallium arsenide FETs and PIN diodes that are used in today's wireless voice and data products.
2. Energy Generation
Several of the above referenced patents have disclosed the use of various non-battery power sources for the use with tire monitors. These include inductive, capacitive and generator systems using a moving weight. Other systems that are disclosed herein for the first time to charge an energy storage device use an RFID circuit, the earth's magnetic field with a coil, a solar sensor, a MEMS or other energy generator that uses the vibrations in the tire and a generator that uses the bending deflection of tread or the deflection of the tire itself relative to the tire rim as sources of energy. These can be used with the boosting circuit with or without an RF MEMS or other appropriate mechanical or electronic switch.
3. Communication, ID
The combination of an RFID with a SAW device has also not been reported in the prior art. This combination in addition to providing energy to boost the SAW system can also provide a tire identification to the interrogator. The ID portion of the RFID can be in the form of a SAW Polyvinylidene Fluoride RFID tag that can be manufactured at low cost. The use of such a PVDF SAW RFID has not previously been reported.
4. Miscellaneous enhancements
A SAW pressure sensor can also be used with bladder weight sensors permitting that device to be interrogated wirelessly and without the need to supply power. This also can use the boosting techniques as disclosed herein.
Similarly, a SAW device can be used as a general switch in a vehicle and in particular as a seatbelt buckle switch indicative of seatbelt use.
The operating frequency of SAW devices has previously been limited to less than about 500 MHz due to manufacturing problems. However, recent advances in the manufacture of diamond films that can be combined with a piezoelectric material such as lithium niobate promise to permit higher frequencies to be used.
The SAW-based tire monitor can preferably be mounted in a vertical plane to minimize the effects of centrifugal acceleration.
The use of a SAW-based TPM (tire pressure monitor), and particularly a boosted SAW-based TPM as described herein, permits the after-market replacement for other battery-powered TPM systems such as those manufactured by Schrader with the replacement product removing the need for a battery and thus periodic replacement.
The use of a piezoelectric generator attached to the tire tread also provides a means to measure the tire footprint and thus a measure of the load on the car and truck tires. This can also be accomplished by the system that is powered by the change in distance between the tread and the rim as the tire rotates, coupled with a measure of the pressure within the tire.
In a different but related invention, the driver is provided with a keyless entry device that can be powerless in the form of an RFID or similar device, that can also be boosted as described herein, and the interrogator determines the proximity of the driver to the vehicle door. If the driver remains within 1 meter from the door, for example, for a time period of 5 seconds, for example, then the door automatically unlocks and even opens in some implementations. Thus, as the driver approaches the trunk with his or her arms filled with groceries and pauses, the trunk can automatically open. Such a system would be especially valuable for older people. Naturally, this system can also be used for other systems in addition to vehicle doors and trunk lids.
Objects and Summary of the Invention
It is an object of the present invention to provide new and improved apparatus and methods for boosting signals to signal-receiving and signal-activated sensors, and boosting signals from signal-generating sensors, exemplifying sensors being a SAW device and an RFID tag, or to and/or from a radar, a GPS or other antenna.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved arrangement including a SAW device and which provides a boost for a signal to and/or from a signal-generating, signal-receiving, or signal-activated sensor such as a SAW device or RFID tag.
It is still another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved two-port circulator for boosting electronic signals, such as signals to and/or from a SAW device or RFID tag.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an energy-supply module for supplying energy to an electricity-requiring component derived from movement, such as a sensor on a vehicle whereby energy is provided by motion of the vehicle or a part or component thereof.
Another object of the present invention is to provide a new tire pumping system and tire incorporating the same whereby the rotation of tire causes inflation of the tire.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide new electricity generating system for tire which generates electricity upon rotation of the tire which can be stored in an storage device, such as a capacitor or rechargeable battery, or used to power a component in the vehicle, such as a tire pump.
In order to achieve at least one of these objects, an arrangement for providing a boosted signal from a signal-generating device such as a SAW device comprises an antenna and a circulator having a first port connected to the antenna to receive a signal from the antenna and a second port adapted to be connected to the SAW device to provide a signal to the SAW device and receive a signal from the SAW device. The circulator amplifies the signal from the antenna such that the amplified signal is directed to the SAW device and amplifies the signal received from the SAW device such that a twice-amplified signal is directed to the antenna. A receiving and processing module is provided to transmit a signal to the antenna causing the antenna to generate its signal and to receive a signal from the antenna derived from the twice-amplified signal.
The circulator may be arranged to provide a signal gain of 6 dB at 400 MHz, for example, so that a round-trip gain of 12 db or more is provided.
The circulator may comprise a first signal splitter arranged in connection with the first port and a second signal splitter arranged in connection with the second port. A first gain mechanism amplifies the signal being directed from the antenna to the SAW device and second gain mechanism amplifies the signal being directed from the SAW device to the antenna.
An energy-supply module may optionally be provided to supply energy to operate the circulator, or another vehicular component. The energy-supply module may comprise a charging capacitor, at least one movable mass, a mechanical-electrical converter coupled to each mass to convert the movement of the mass into electric signals and a bridge rectifier coupled to each converter. The capacitor is coupled to each bridge rectifier to enable charging of the capacitor during movement of the mass(es). Other alternate energy-supply modules may be optionally provided.
The energy-supply module may also comprise an over-charge protector to prevent overcharging of the capacitor, such as a Zener diode arranged in a parallel with the capacitor.
In an embodiment wherein two masses are provided, the masses may be arranged in perpendicular directions.
Several pumping systems for a tire and the like which inflate the tire upon rotation thereof are disclosed. One embodiment includes a housing adapted to be mounted external to the tire and defining a first fluid-receiving chamber. A mass is movable in the housing in response to rotation of the housing and includes a piston rod movable in the first chamber. A first spring is arranged to be compressed by the mass upon movement thereof caused by rotation of the tire. A first inlet valve is arranged in the housing and leads from ambient atmosphere to the first chamber. A first tube is adapted to connect to a nipple or other inlet of the tire. A first exhaust valve is arranged in the housing and provides a flow connection from the first chamber to the first tube. In operation, upon rotation of the tire, the mass moves causing the piston to move in the first chamber and alternately draw air into the first chamber through the first inlet valve and force air through the first exhaust valve into the tube to the nipple to inflate the tire.
To improve the pumping of air into the tire, the housing an also include a second fluid-receiving chamber with the piston rod being movable therein. A second spring is compressed by the mass upon movement thereof in an opposite direction from a direction in which the first spring is compressed by the mass. A second inlet valve is arranged in the housing and leads from ambient atmosphere to the second chamber. A second tube is adapted to connect to a nipple or other inlet of the tire. A second exhaust valve is arranged in the housing and provides a flow connection from the second chamber to the second tube.
With regard to the springs, they may be arranged on opposite sides of the mass and may be linear or non-linear springs.
The housing can include one or more cylinders each defining one or more of the chambers.
An electricity generating system for a vehicle having a tire, which can be used to power a pumping system or charge a battery, comprises a housing adapted to be mounted external to the tire and including a first cylinder defining a first chamber and a first coil wrapped around the first cylinder. A mass is movable in the housing in response to rotation thereof and includes a magnetic piston rod movable in the first chamber. A first spring is compressed by the mass upon movement thereof. An energy storage or load device is connected to the first coil. During vehicular operation, upon rotation of the tire, the mass moves causing the piston to move in the first chamber and impart a charge to the first coil which is stored or used by the energy storage or load device.
The housing may include a second cylinder defining a second chamber and a second coil wrapped around the second cylinder. In this case, the piston rod is movable in the second chamber and the energy storage or load device is connected to the second coil. A second spring is compressed by the mass upon movement thereof in an opposite direction from a direction in which the first spring is compressed by the mass. In operation, upon rotation of the tire, the mass moves causing the piston to alternatingly move in the first and second chambers and impart a charge to the first or second coil which is stored or used by the energy storage or load device. The springs may be arranged on opposite sides of the mass and may be linear or non-linear springs.
Another embodiment of an electricity generating system for a vehicle having a tire in accordance with the invention comprises a housing adapted to be mounted inside the tire and including a coil defining a chamber, a magnetic piston movable in the chamber in response to rotation of the housing and an energy storage or load device connected to the coil. Upon rotation of the tire, the piston moves in the chamber and imparts a charge to the first coil which is stored or used by the energy storage or load device.
Another embodiment of a pumping system for a tire which inflates the tire upon rotation of the tire comprises a housing adapted to be mounted inside the tire and defining an air-receiving chamber, a piston movable in the chamber in response to rotation of the housing and intake mechanism arranged in connection with the piston and adapted to have an inlet external of the tire. The intake mechanism provides a conduit from ambient atmosphere to the chamber. An exhaust valve is arranged in the housing for providing a flow connection from the chamber to an interior of the tire. During vehicular operation, upon rotation of the tire, the piston moves in the chamber and alternately draws air into the chamber through the intake mechanism and forces air through the exhaust valve into the tire. The intake mechanism may comprise a rod for connecting a wheel rim to the piston.
An embodiment of a tire including an electricity generating system in accordance with the invention comprises a rubber substrate defining side walls, a tread, a pad made from a piezoelectric material and attached to an inner surface of the substrate adjacent to the tread and a circuit coupled to the pad and including an energy storage device. During vehicular operation, upon rotation of the tire, the pad flexes causing a charge to appear on opposite sides of the pad thereby creating a voltage which is processed by the circuit to charge the energy storage device. The pad may include a plurality of layers of piezoelectric material, for example, a plurality of sections of piezoelectric material joined together to form a belt stretching around an inner circumference of the substrate. The piezoelectric material may be polyvinylidene fluoride.
Another embodiment of a tire including an electricity generating system comprises a rubber substrate defining side walls, a tread, a housing mounted on an inner surface of the tread and defining an air-receiving chamber and a piston movable in the chamber in response to rotation of the housing. An intake mechanism is arranged in connection with the piston and has an inlet external of the tire when the tire is mounted on a wheel rim. The intake mechanism provides a conduit from the ambient atmosphere, or any location outside of the interior of the tire, to the chamber. An exhaust valve is arranged in the housing and provides a flow connection from the chamber to an interior of the tire. During vehicular operation, upon rotation of the tire, the piston moves in the chamber and alternately draws air into the chamber through the intake mechanism and forces air through the exhaust valve into the tire. The intake mechanism may comprise a rod for connecting a wheel rim to the piston.
Also disclosed herein is a method for providing energy to boost a SAW-based tire pressure monitor which comprises the steps of mounting the SAW-based tire pressure monitor on each tire of a vehicle and coupling a tag to the tire pressure monitor on each tire, each tag including an antenna, a capacitor and an electronic circuit. The electronic circuit includes a circulator having a first port connected to the antenna to receive a signal from the antenna and a second port connected to the tire pressure monitor to provide a signal to the tire pressure monitor and receive a signal from the tire pressure monitor. The circulator receives energy from the capacitor and amplifies the signal from the antenna such that the amplified signal is directed to the tire pressure monitor and also preferably amplifies the signal received from the tire pressure monitor such that a twice-amplified signal is directed to the antenna. The electronic circuit in each tag may include a memory containing a unique identification code for the tag.
Also disclosed is an arrangement for opening a trunk or door of a vehicle including an interrogator adapted to be arranged on the vehicle, a keyless entry device including an antenna and a circuit including a circulator for boosting signals to and from the antenna and a memory containing a unique identification code and a device for opening the trunk or door. The device is coupled to the interrogator and opens the trunk or door when the keyless entry device is a set distance from the interrogator for a certain duration of time.

Apparatus and method for boosting signals from a signal-generating or modifying device

Automotive Technologies International, Inc.


A switch mechanism for use with reversible handheld power tools comprises a pair of switches that co-operate using abutment to restrict displacement of each switch according to the position of the other switch. In a tool having a dynamic brake and a series-wound motor, one of the switches has a false neutral position wherein a continuous current path is maintained between the tool motor and the dynamic brake when the second switch is moved from REVERSE or FORWARD to the neutral position.

Handheld power tools tend to be small, lightweight and portable, making them useful in many situations. However, these tools can also be dangerous, in that they may continue to operate even after the user has turned it off. For example, momentum may cause the grinding wheel on a reversible grinder to rotate even after the user has released the trigger. To alleviate the problem, many power tools incorporate a dynamic brake and provide a default position for the power switch that engages the dynamic brake. Dynamic brakes typically short the motor windings through a resistor. In order to increase the amount of braking power, it is known to sometimes employ an auxiliary set of windings in series with the motor windings.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,600,107 to Tsai and U.S. Pat. No. 5,380,971 to Bittel disclose trigger mechanisms for power tools with dynamic braking systems. In both patents, depressing or squeezing the trigger moves the electrical contacts within the switch, completing a power circuit and operating the tool's motor. The triggers are spring-biased to the OFF position. Releasing the trigger causes the electrical contacts to move back to the OFF position, both breaking the motor supply circuit and completing a separate dynamic braking circuit. Thus, two sets of contacts are required to move before the dynamic brake is activated and the motor stops. Neither patent is applicable to reversible power tools.
A typical reversible power tool directional switch has FORWARD, OFF and REVERSE positions. In the OFF position, current flow through the motor windings is interrupted. However, in order for a dynamic brake to operate, a current path through the motor windings must be maintained.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,892,885 to Smith discloses a complicated dynamic braking circuit, for use with a reversible power tool. The dynamic brake is engaged by disconnecting the power source and speed control circuit, then connecting two other contacts, creating a low resistance path between the motor terminals. The means for switching the direction of operation of the motor comprises a pivoting lever that is independent of the actuating trigger. It therefore appears that it is possible, using the switch disclosed by Smith, to switch the direction of tool operation between FORWARD and REVERSE without any intermediate state, thereby presenting a significant risk to the user.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,638,945 to Fukinuki discloses a safety mechanism in the form of a lock or blocking element associated with the trigger, so as to physically prevent the trigger from moving out of position until the user does so intentionally by releasing the lock. A sliding safety switch is disposed on opposite sides of a tool handle. The safety switch consists of a generally T-shaped sliding lock button that is spring-biased to return to the locked position upon release by the user. An abutment surface extends from the trigger and physically blocks the sliding switch, preventing accidental depression of the trigger and operation of the tool. Once the sliding switch is moved to an operational position, it no longer blocks the trigger abutment surface. When the trigger is depressed, a hooked extension at the front of the trigger engages an inversely hooked extension at the front of the sliding switch. This contact locks the tool in an operative mode by preventing the switch from sliding back to a neutral position, even if the trigger is released. Depressing the trigger again unlocks the hook, allowing the tool to shut down when the trigger is released. While the hook mechanism reduces hand fatigue by allowing the user to operate the tool without maintaining pressure on the handle, if the user accidentally drops the tool while the hook is engaged, the tool will continue to operate. This poses a significant danger to both the user and to any person or thing around him. Further, the switch mechanism disclosed by Fukinuki is unsuitable for use in a power tool with a dynamic brake, as the switch does not actively make or break an electrical contact, as is required for a dynamic braking system.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a switch mechanism that is suited for a reversible power tool having a dynamic brake. The switch arrangement according to the invention is designed to maintain a current path through the motor windings when a FORWARD, OFF and REVERSE switch is moved to the OFF position. There is also provided a safety mechanism to ensure that the dynamic brake is engaged prior to switching between the FORWARD and REVERSE positions.
The foregoing and other objects of the invention will be appreciated by reference to the summary of the invention and to the detailed description of the preferred embodiment that follow.


Nano granular materials (NGM) are provided that have the extraordinary capability to conduct current in a 100 fold current density compared to high Tc superconductors by charges moving in form of Bosons produced by Bose-Einstein-Condensation (BEC) in overlapping excitonic surface orbital states at room temperature and has a light dependent conductivity. The material is disposed between electrically conductive connections and is a nano-crystalline composite material. Also provided are electrical components comprising NGM and methods and arrangements for making it by corpuscular-beam induced deposition applied to a substrate, using inorganic compounds being adsorbed on the surface of the substrate owing to their vapor pressure, and which render a crystalline conducting phase embedded in an inorganic insolating matrix enclosing the material.

The invention refers to a nano granular material (NGM) comprising electrically conducting nano crystals embedded in an insulating matrix and surrounding layer. The material carries a high current density by variable range hopping, of electrons between the nano crystals.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,246,055 discloses a nano granular material as well as a photon detector made thereof, which delivers at low light photon quantities and energies usable for signals. The photon detector is partly composed from a nano-crystalline phase and is included in an insulating carbon matrix and which is producible with simple production machines and processes. The production of similar materials using organometallic precursors is described in: H. W. P. Koops, A. Kaya, M. Weber. "Fabrication and Characterization of Platinum nano crystalline Material Grown by Electron-beam Induced Deposition", J. Vac. Sci. Technol, B 13(6) November/December (1995) 2400-2403. High resolution Transmission-electron microscope image at 200 kV reveals 12 to 14 lattice planes of the platinum or gold single crystals of 0.408 nm distance. 800 to 1000 atoms form a perfect crystal embedded into a Fullerene matrix.
Crystal sizes are for Au/C: 3-4 nm obtained from Dimethyl-Gold-Trifluoro-Acetylacetonat, and for Pt/C: 1.8-2.1 nm deposited from Cyclopentadienyl-Platin-trimethyl. [J. Kretz, M. Rudolph, M. Weber, H. W. P Koops, "Three Dimensional Structurization by Additive Lithography, Analysis of Deposits using TEM and EDX, and Application for Field Emitter Tips" Microelectronic Engineering 23 (1994) 477-481]
However, there the matrix in Au/C and Pt/C materials is from Fullerene and presents a 2-D resistor surrounding the NGM material having a Fullerene matrix. This matrix is over the time of use etched away by water and activated gas ions. This limits the lifetime of the detector.
It is desirable to have a nano granular material with extraordinary properties like high current conductivity and radiation sensitivity with a long lifetime.
According to an aspect of the invention this task is solved by high current density carrying nano granular material comprising conducting nano crystals embedded in a matrix, wherein the matrix consists of insulating carbon-free material. Preferably the insulating material is an oxide, oxy-nitride or nitride. Even semiconductors can be used if they are insulating by surface depletion by their small layer thickness.
This invention is strictly different from the one taught in e.g. US Photo detector patent U.S. Pat. No. 6,246,055 B1. There the nano crystalline material is produced from organometallic precursors and has a carbonaceous matrix of low conductivity. Such a material is destroyed by a reaction of the carbonaceous compounds in the matter and in the surrounding surface, which takes place in the presence of excited water or gas atoms which are delivered from the environment and excited by the electromagnetic radiation, which is to be detected.
The carbon-free matrix and coating prevents in an advantageous way the destruction of the current leading wire or sheet, switch, photo detector, or solar cell due to reaction with surrounding materials like water or atmospheric gases, which are excited by the impinging energetic photons.
The material according to an aspect of the invention enables many applications and new electrical components, whereby a separation between the nano crystals is smaller than 2 nm. If required in particular cases the separation can be made larger, e. g. up to 5 nm.
In a preferred electrical component the material is shaped as a thin layer, having an entrance plane for radiation and electrodes for applying, an electrical field to the material.
In one embodiment of this inventive component said electrodes are electrically connected to the material. Such component can be used as detector for visible light, ultraviolet radiation or X-rays.
In another embodiment of this inventive component said electrodes are electrically insulated from the material and further collectors are electrically connected to opposite edges of the material. Exited by a weak electrical field provided by the insulated electrodes incident light causes the electrons to flow to one of the collectors at d the holes to flow to the other one of the collectors. Therefore this embodiment is a high efficient solar cell. Detailed explanations follow in connection with the drawings.
In another electrical component comprising material according to an aspect of the invention the material forms field emitter tips being arranged in vacuum cells which are formed by two planes, at least one of which is transparent for photons, and spacers between the planes, the transparent plane is covered with a luminescent layer in each cell, said field emitter tips are arranged opposite to the luminescent layers and the spacers carry an accelerator grid. This component generates light very effectively.
In a further development of this electrical component said cells form groups having luminescent layers of different colors within each group. This enables different colors of the light at the application as a light source e or as a display, if said field emitter tips or groups of said field emitter tips can be activated separately from each other.
To improve focusing of the emitted electrons in this electrical component an extractor can be attached to each of said field emitter tips.
A further embodiment of the electrical component can serve as radiation detector wherein the material forms field emitter tips which are arranged on a transparent support plane with tip structures and wherein the field emitter tips emit electrons which occupy the excited excitonic levels being lifted to those energy levels by incident photons of IR-, visible-, or X-radiation due to the extraction voltage between the emitter tips and a micro channel plate and co-act with a charge detector array through the micro channel plate.
Another embodiment of the electrical component forms a high voltage and high current switch, wherein the material forms an array of field emitter tips being arranged as cathode at one end of a vacuum tube and wherein the vacuum tube comprises further an anode and near the cathode an extractor. Preferably the extractor is arranged co-planar to the cathode or below (opposite to the anode) an insulating layer carrying the cathode and is used to switch the emission with a low voltage. This embodiment can further be improved by at least one accelerator dynode.
In an advantageous method for manufacturing material according, to an aspect of the invention a high energy electron, ion or photon beam is directed on a sample producing secondary electrons, wherein multiple inorganic molecules and metallic precursor gas are supplied, which are dissociated by said secondary electrons resulting in the deposition of the insulating matrix and metallic nano crystals embedded therein.
An arrangement for manufacturing material according to an aspect of the invention comprises in a vacuum chamber an electron, ion or photon beam source as a deposition system and a computer controlled multiple inorganic molecules and metallic precursor gas supply system.
An arrangement for manufacturing electrical components according to an aspect of the invention with areal field emitter tips comprises in a vacuum chamber an electron, ion or photon beam reducing image projection systems as a deposition system having a computer controlled multiple inorganic molecules and metallic precursor gas supply system in a structured fashion to define areal arrangements of field emitter tips.
The invention, according to an aspect thereof, relates further to an arrangement for manufacturing elongated forms of material according, to an aspect of the invention, which comprises in a vacuum chamber an electron, ion or photon beam source as a deposition system and a computer controlled multiple inorganic molecules and metallic precursor gas supply system and comprises further a transport system for the elongated material in order to move the material through a reaction area. Preferably this arrangement comprises means for maintaining temperature of the material in the reaction area. This solves the problem to deposit large areas of the NGM Material.
Another arrangement for manufacturing material according to an aspect of the invention by electron, ion or photon beam shadow mask image projection system uses a deposition system having a computer controlled multiple precursor gas supply system and the anode drop of a gas discharge areal energy source to deposit in a structured fashion NGM material for arrays of field emission electron or ion sources, for sheets, for long wire deposition, for power cables, for multiple pixel aerial photon detectors, for fast imaging in the IR, visible and X-ray regime, as well as for solar cells. For the purpose of enlarging the area this arrangement can be improved further by an electrostatic or magnetic multi beam deflection capability.
Another advantageous method for manufacturing nano granular materials according to an aspect of the invention uses especially tip arrays replicated with nano-imprint lithography means and then supplied with field emitter tips by high field material deposition using a deposition system having a computer controlled multiple precursor gas supply system, with the refined method of measuring the electron field emission by a computer evaluation of the emission on current during the tip growth process in an intermediate step in very short times compared to the tip growth process and to stop the growth for all parallel growing tips by a computer evaluation of the emission at a defined emission current.
A further development of this method is characterized in that the intermediate measurement of emission characteristics presents also a method to renew all tips by using a deposition system having a computer controlled multiple precursor (more than 1) gas supply system also equipped with halogens to etch all tips in the large area emitter structure and to re-grow the tips to the previous perfection with the high-field chemistry 1, 2 or 3 molecule deposition process.
Such process per se is published in:    M. Bischoff Int. Journal of Electronics 1992, Vol. 73 No. 5, 827-828    H. B. Linden, e. Hilt, H. D. Beckey, J. Phys. E: sci. Instruments. Vol 11 1987 1033 "High rate growth of dentrites on thin wire anodes for field desorption mass spectrometry"    J. T. L. Thong "Metallic Nanowires grown via field emission induced growth as electron sources" IVNC 2013 Tech digest 1 21 page 94.
In the following the matrix of the inventive material is referred to as M, e. g. Au/M means gold nano crystals in such matrix.
The invention, according to an aspect thereof, enables material for high current conducting wires and sheets, for bright electron and ion sources, as well as for photon detectors. The task is solved, using an energetic electron impact process, which produces the material fabricated as a nano-crystalline material, which is composed from conducting metal- or metal compound nanocrystals embedded into an insulating oxide, oxinitride or nitride matrix, which also surrounds the material with a non-conducting oxide, oxinitride or nitride layer, or by a semiconducting material which is in its surface states depleted by the small geometry. The nano crystals are having a dimension of smaller than 15 nm diameter and the intermediate insulating layer is thinner than 2 nm between the nano crystals, which is the reason for single charge moving from nano crystal to nano crystal using excited excitonie surface orbital states, which overlap to the ones of neighboring crystals and therefore free electrons and holes can form Bosons which are distributed through all the NGM material.
By the effect called Bose Einstein Condensation (BEC) positive and negative charges can form Bosons, which allows the condensation of many Bosons in one energy level. This is the reason for the very high current densities emitted from field emitter tips and being carried in thin wires at room temperature without destruction. (Literature: L. V. Butov et. al. "Towards Bose-Einstein Condensation of excitons in potential traps" in: NATURE/Vol. 47/47-52, 2. May 2002). Typically metals or metallic compounds have no bandgap in their energy level structure, and therefore cannot present Eigenstates of distinct separation to absorb energy from photons. Si has a bandgap of 1.5 eV and can therefore absorb electromagnetic radiation energy quanta with this value. That leads to ca. 16% effectivity in Si-solar cells in the visible spectrum collecting energy from the sun.
In addition the geometry quantization of the nano-crystals, which have a diameter below 10 nm, prevents that high energy phonons, like in 3-dimensional electron gas materials, like normal crystalline metals or metal alloy conductors, can be excited.
This is due to the fact that inside the nano crystal only 8 to 12 lattice planes exist. The insulating matrix having, a different density than the crystal materials also prevents the impulse transfer to neighboring atom chains. According to Patton and Geller only the lower energy state for acoustic phonons is occupied, which has an energy of 2 meV corresponding to a temperature of 23.2 K or −250° C. (Patton, K. R. & Geller, M. Phonons: in "A nanoparticle mechanically coupled to a substrate", Phys. Rev. B 67, 155418 (2003).
Therefore photo detectors from such materials do not need an additional power consuming Peltier cooler to reach the detection limit at 8 μm photon wavelength (for the Au/M compound or 4 nm crystal diameter), like commercial infrared cameras need to have.
Due to the fabrication method with an energetic electron impact on adsorbed molecules many for semiconductor photo-detectors required technology fabrication steps are avoided which makes the production of NGM current leads and detectors much cheaper.
Very small amounts of the compound material are sufficient to detect photons. In earlier experiments to measure the effectivity ala photon detector from Au/M deposited from Dimethyl-Gold-Acetylacetonate with the dimensions of 2 mm×50 nm wire width and thickness showed at illumination with a lamp of 60 W power a photocurrent of several nA. Resistive change was 10 MΩ to 3 MΩ. A Voltage change by 2 meV is good for 12 bit image contrast at 1 μV amplifier noise level.
Aerial detectors of 2 μm×2 μm deposited from Pt/M material showed similar results. Recently (not published jet) we measured from Pt/M wires of an area of 0.32 μm2 an photocurrent of 200 nA illuminating the area of the structure with a power density like the sun sends to the earth of 100 mW/mm2. The solar light source delivers to the earth 1.36 kW/m2=1.36 10{circumflex over (0)}3/10{circumflex over (0)}4 W/cm2=0.136 W/cm2=136 W/cm2, which is 100 times less than the laser source intensity of our experiment.
Therefore the efficiency of this material, if produced in an aerial coating, would allow converting the energy from the sun with a so far not reached efficiency!
An experiment revealed: red light of 700 nm wavelength (=1.3 eV per quanta) with an intensity of 100 mW/mm2 releases, if used with an intensity of 100 mW/mm2 from the deposited area of 3.2 10{circumflex over (0)}-9 cm2 an electron current density 0.2 μA/3.2 10{circumflex over (0)}-9 cm2=2 10−7 A/3.2 10{circumflex over (0)}-9=60 A/cm2=60 A/cm2. With a voltage difference of 0.12 V this would amount to 60×0.12 W/cm2=7.2 W/cm2 collection efficiency of the Pt/M material. With the solar light source of 136 mW/cm2, which is 1/100 of the experimental condition the NGM Material would have collected 72 mW/cm2. This is a significantly higher value (around 3), than Si solar cells, which convert 15% of this energy, which is 20.4 mW/cm2, when using only yellow to blue light. NGM Pt/M materials efficiency in monochromatic red light is at least a factor of 3 higher than that of Si-solar cells.
Producing the nano granular material with a larger grain size would increase the number of electrons, which are excited by the photon and can tunnel through the NGM material, due to the effect of the reduction of the Eigenstate separation values of the electron orbitals at the crystal surface.
A crystal diameter of 2 nm correspond to an Eigenstate separation of 125 mV, 4 nm to 65 eV, 6 nm to 32.5 meV and 8 nm to 16 meV, which would correspond to a 100 times higher effectivity for electromagnetic radiation conversion compared to silicon or similar solar cells!
Therefore it is a task for the production of the crystals to select the deposition and materials composition conditions in a way that larger crystals are produced in the deposit. This can be achieved using additional reaction partners, which reduce the confining molecules which form the insulating matrix.
For hopping conduction it is necessary that the crystals have a separation from each other which is as small as <2 nm. However, if there is a separation larger than 2 nm, and no hopping conduction is possible, such materials are insulators. One method is to use a gas discharge with ions as it is used to coat tools e.g. with a hard layer of AlTiN with an amorphous Si3N4 insulator matrix material. [Lecture of H. Frank G F E at 3rd ITG Workshop on vacuum nano electronics at Bad Honnef 19.8.12] The crystals and intermediate oxide or nitride fit the expectations. However, the violet looking materials layers have not been investigated for optical and electrical activity so far.
Another method is to use a multi-source sputter deposition system with material flux control.
Another method is ALD Atomic Layer deposition with Multi-precursor reactions for conductive nano crystals and insulating embedding of the crystal grains in a repeated manner to form NGM material layers of several 100 nm thicknesses.
Another method is to use the as discharge in a large flat chamber to generate fast electrons with the anode fall for electrons to decompose and deposit to a target the adsorbed mixture of inorganic precursor molecules of several compounds as supplied to the gas phase in the discharge. Appropriate inorganic low vapor pressure compounds are the fluorines, or halogenes of Al and Ti, as well as Si. Also other compounds forming mixtures of conducting crystalline material from metals and nitrides or oxides can be used, but they must be selected with their condensation reaction energy which avoids, that they co-condense in an epitaxial way with the insulating phase which is embedding the nano crystals phase.
Typically the crystallographic system of the deposits of the compounds of the crystal core and the surrounding insulator should not match, and for the insulating phase a hindered epitaxy is needed which has an epitaxial temperature below the temperature of the crystals growing temperature.
Another way to fabricate the NGM materials in large areas is to use focused electron beam induced deposition using massive parallel electron beams from gas discharges, thermal source arrays, Thermofield electron source arrays or field emitter arrays produced by semiconductor technology and micromechanical means, especially using tip arrays replicated with nano imprint lithography means and then supplied with field emitter tips by high field material deposition.

Nano granular materials (NGM) material, methods and arrangements for manufacturing said material and electrical components comprising said material


A fishing line threader passes a fishing line through guide rings of fishing line guides installed in a fishing rod. The fishing line threader is composed of a single metallic wire material and has a fishing line pinching portion, an elastic portion and a leading end portion. First and second pinching portions of the fishing line pinching portion connect with each other at a first end portion and form an annular shape to fit and support the fishing line. The elastic portion forms a rhombus shape and has first and second elastic portions respectively extending from the first and second pinching portions. First and second leading end portions of the leading end portion extend respectively from the first and second elastic portions to a second end portion and are adjacent to each other. The first and second leading end portions are joined to each other by a joining portion.

When fishing, a fishing line wound around a reel is passed through a guide ring provided in a fishing line guide. To pass the fishing line through the inside of the guide ring, an angler holds the tip of the fishing line and passes the fishing line through the guide ring, or uses a fishing line threader.
An example of a fishing line threader, which can pass the fishing line through the fishing line guide, is disclosed in Japanese Utility Model Registration Publication No. 301668. The fishing line threader disclosed by the aforementioned document includes a leading end portion and a rear portion, which has a spring property and is integrally formed with the leading end portion in a bifurcated shape. One branch of the rear portion has a fixing portion of a fishing line, and the other branch of the rear portion has a portion bent outward. When the fishing line is passed through the fishing line guide, the rear portion is curved against resistance of the spring property and passes through the fishing line guide. After the fishing line passes through the fishing line guide, the rear portion is restored and hinders the threader from passing through the fishing line guide in a reverse direction, thus functioning as a fishing line stopper.
Fishing rods have been evolving so as to improve shortcomings such as a decrease in fishing sensitivity, a heavy feeling of the fishing rod, and a short flying distance of a sinker or lure. In such a context, in consideration of the configuration of a fishing line guide group to be mounted between a tip of the fishing rod and a reel, for example, a fishing line guide group disclosed in Japanese Patent Registration Publication No. 5474868 can be adopted. According to this, it is deemed desirable that the fishing line guide group to be mounted in a tip section located on a tip side of the fishing rod is configured with fishing line guides having a small aperture, a light weight, and the same aperture size.
According to the type of fishing, the fishing line guides to be mounted in the tip section of the fishing rod are minimized in size. That is, the fishing line guides, which are minimized such that their guide rings have an inner diameter of 1.3 mm, are mounted in the tip section. If the fishing line guides are minimized as such, it is very difficult to pass a fishing line by fingers, and the conventional fishing line threader is problematic in that it cannot easily pass through the guide ring.
Further, it is difficult for an angler to identify the inner diameter of the minimized fishing line guide in the tip section with the naked eye, and the spacings of the minimized fishing line guides are very narrow. Thus, the angler feels cumbersome in having to pass the fishing line through the fishing line guides one by one.
Together with the minimization of the fishing line, in the minimized fishing line guides in the tip section, there may occur a case where the angler does not actually pass the fishing line even if the angler believes that the fishing line has passed. In such a case, in order to pass the fishing line again, it is necessary to easily pull back the fishing line in a direction opposite to the direction of passing the fishing line.


The invention relates to a device (1), for the ventilation of the crankcase (20) of an internal combustion engine (2), with a breather tube (3), running from the crankcase (20) to an inlet manifold (22) on the internal combustion engine (2), in the course of which an oil-mist separator (30) is arranged. The novel device is characterized in that in the course of the breather line (3), a pump device is arranged, by means of which a reduced pressure may be generated in the crankcase (20) relative to ambient pressure.

The present invention relates to an apparatus for ventilating the crankcase of a combustion engine, comprising a vent line running from the crankcase to an intake pipe of the combustion engine and an oil-mist separator that is arranged in the course of the vent line.
An apparatus of the said type is known from the practice of engine construction, in particular for automobiles. This apparatus aims at maintaining in the crankcase of the combustion engine a vacuum pressure that is required for technical and legal reasons by ventilating the crankcase; to achieve this, gases or, in particular, blow-by gases are conducted out of the crankcase or the combustion chambers of the combustion engine to the intake pipe of the engine. Any oil contents carried in the crankcase ventilation gas are separated in an oil-mist separator; preferably, the separated oil is supplied to the lubricating oil circuit of the combustion engine again. The gas that has been freed from the oil enters the intake pipe of the combustion engine and is then running through the combustion that takes place in the engine.
Known apparatuses of the said type have various operational drawbacks that are, in particular, incurred in certain operating states. A drawback of spark-ignition engines is that the drop in pressure above the oil-mist separator is relatively high and causes the danger of an excess pressure developing in the crankcase if the difference between the vacuum pressure in the intake pipe and the atmospheric pressure is inadequate. Moreover, this results in a reduced efficiency of the oil-mist separator because in spark-ignition engines, use is normally made of separators that are operated by the principle of inertia and require a high efficiency to ensure an adequately high volume flow. Another drawback is incurred whenever the combustion engine is in its no-load range because, in this state, the pressure developing in the crankcase may become too high. This problem is, in particular, arising in case of advanced combustion engine wear because this may lead to high blow-by volume flows at high speed and no-load.
For that reason, the present invention aims at creating an apparatus of the aforementioned type, which obviates the drawbacks disclosed and which, in particular, permits to maintain a vacuum pressure in the crankcase of the combustion engine in any and all possible operating states of the combustion engine, with the vacuum pressure being negative in comparison with the atmospheric pressure, and, at the same time, to ensure a high efficiency of the oil-mist separator.

Device for the ventilation of the crankcase of an internal combustion engine


A rail adjuster has a frame which mounts a head assembly for powered vertical movement between a raised travel position and a lowered operative position, with the head assembly having adjuster arms which can be positioned immediately adjacent a pair of rail-mounted anchors. The adjuster arms are moved together to shift the rail-mounted anchors along the rail toward the tie to achieve the anchor adjusting. The adjuster arms are constructed in a pivoting linkage having a horizontally acting hydraulic cylinder to provided a substantially horizontal force to the adjuster arms for providing an enhanced mechanical advantage in adjusting the anchors.

The object of the present invention is to provide an improved anchor adjuster for adjusting one or more rail-mounted anchors on a rail toward a tie.
A rail anchor clamps onto a railway rail and is positioned to abut a vertical face of a tie whereby resistance is provided against longitudinal movement of a rail relative to the supporting tie.
For many years, there have been machines for setting, applying and removing rail anchors. This procedure involves both placing rail-mounted anchors in close abutting relation with opposite vertical faces of a tie when installing the anchors and/or tie, as well as shifting the tie-abutting rail-mounted anchors lengthwise of the rail so that a tie remover can withdraw the tie longitudinally from beneath the rail to replace the tie. Equipment for spreading anchors is shown in Quella U.S. Pat. No. 4,890,558. The adjusting of anchors into tie-abutting positions generally can be accomplished with a limited degree of efficiency with the use of a rail anchor relocator, such as that shown in Miller U.S. Pat. No. 3,117,531.
Utilization of equipment of the type shown in Miller has proven effective for many years, but, however, is subject to some limitations. The relocator assembly in Miller is suspended from a chain during transport of the machine and is allowed to fall under the acceleration of gravity to an operative position. To sufficiently engage an anchor for relocating, it is necessary that the assembly be lowered to a position some distance below the base of the rail. The rocks and gravel which comprise railway ballast for rigidifying the ties is frequently very densely packed and prevents the necessary downward deployment of the assembly. When this type of ballast is encountered, the apparatus of Miller is inadequate to adjust the anchors.
Also, because of the minimal tolerances and tight fit of the anchors on the rails, substantial force is required to shift the anchors along the rails toward the tie. Miller discloses a pin-and-groove linkage arrangement which imparts minimal horizontal forces to the anchors during a portion of the stroke of a hydraulic driving cylinder. The resulting mechanical advantage requires a high-powered hydraulic actuator which inherently must provide non-linear adjusting force versus actuator stroke characteristics.


A method is used by a mesh point that includes one or more step of receiving one of a beacon and probe response from an other mesh point; setting a state of whether the mesh point is already synchronized with one or more peers to true and performing a beacon timing synchronization function when the mesh point is in the unsynchronized state and the other mesh point requests synchronization from a peer mesh point; adding an identity of the other mesh point to a database of beacon senders maintained by the mesh point and performing a beacon timing synchronization function when the mesh point and the other mesh point are both synchronized; and providing indications of whether the mesh point supports synchronization, requests synchronization from a peer mesh point, and is already synchronized with one or more peer.

The IEEE 802.11 standard at the time of this filing outlines two mechanisms to provide timing synchronization for stations. In an infrastructure mode of operation, an access point (AP) is the timing master of the basic service set (BSS), and stations always accept the timing synchronization information of the beacon transmitted by the AP. However in independent basic service set (IBSS) mode of operation, the timing synchronization function (TSF) is performed by all stations in a distributed manner and stations in an IBSS adopt the timing received from any beacon or probe response that has a TSF value later than its own TSF timer.
The diversity of devices available in mesh creates an interesting challenge of synchronization and beacon generation because it is difficult to do a strict classification of some mesh devices. While a wireless local area network (WLAN) mesh is expected to reuse the concepts from BSS based AP beaconing and IBSS station beaconing, special attention needs to be given for devices like a mesh point (MP), which may be a wireless device containing an 802.11-conformant MAC and PHY interface to the wireless medium that provides mesh services, and a mesh access point (MAP), which is a MP that is also an access point, and therefore supports both BSS and mesh interface functions. Beacon collisions between multiple MAPs, packet forwarding in presence of power save (PS) MPs are among few areas which need to be addressed.

Timing synchronization and beacon generation for mesh points operating in a wireless mesh network


Aromatic polyimide powder wherein a solid portion consisting of a highly heat resistant crystalline aromatic polyimide is covered with a coating layer of an amorphous polyimide, and a process for producing polyimide powder molded bodies by compression molding of the powder. The polyimide powder has satisfactory secondary molding workability, and molding thereof gives molded bodies which retain heat resistance and dimensional stability while having high mechanical strength and elongation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for producing an aromatic polyimide powder molded body which maintains an extremely high level of heat resistance while also having particularly high mechanical characteristics such as elongation, strength, etc., and which contains, for example, a 3,3',4,4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid component as major units, a 2,3,3',4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid component as minor units and para-phenylenediamine as an aromatic diamine component, as well as to an aromatic polyimide powder which is used for the production process.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional processes for producing polyimide powder molded bodies comprising 3,3',4,4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid components and para-phenylenediamine components are described, for example, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 61-241326 and Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 1-266314.
These documents present molded bodies with excellent mechanical characteristics such as heat resistance, dimensional stability and compressive strength.
However, the polyimide powders described in these publicly known documents have essentially unmeasured melting points (or glass transition points), and because of inadequate fusion between the powder during hot compression molding, some of the mechanical characteristics, particularly flexural strength and tensile strength, have not always been satisfactory.
Other indicated problems include low productivity by loss during molding, because the elongation, flexural strength and tensile strength have been insufficient during secondary working of the molded bodies into various shapes by cutting, etc.
Consequently, attempts have been made to improve the fusibility between the powder during hot compression molding, in order to increase the elongation and the mechanical characteristics of such molded bodies.
For example, one attempted process has been compression molding polyimide powder obtained by mixing a thermoplastic polyimide with a polyimide comprising a 3,3',4,4'-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid component and a para-phenylenediamine component, but this has also been associated with certain drawbacks, since uniform mixture of the two components with totally different properties is difficult, and the mechanical strength and elongation of the resulting molded bodies have still not reached satisfactory levels, while the heat resistance is in fact lower.
Consequently, according to the prior art it has not been possible to obtain aromatic polyimide powder molded bodies with satisfactory heat resistance, mechanical strength and elongation.

Polyimide powder and process for producing powder molded body


A method for inputting instruction, a portable electronic device and a computer readable recording medium are provided. The method includes detecting taps applied on a touch screen, and determining whether tap positions of the taps belongs to the same group. The method also includes dividing the tap positions of the taps to groups if the tap positions of the taps do not belong to the same group, generating group flags according to the groups, and sorting the group flags according to a tap order of the taps, so as to generate a group flag sequence. In addition, the method further includes generating an operating instruction according to the group flag sequence.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to a method for inputting instruction, portable electronic device and a computer readable recording medium.
2. Description of Related Art
With the development of technology, functions that can be performed on smart phones have become more and more. Generally, if a user wants to issue an operating instruction to a smart phone, the user typically views icons or texts displayed on a touch screen of the smart phone so as to control the smart phone to perform a corresponding function module by way of the displayed symbols or texts. For instance, the user may control the smart phone to unlock the touch screen by dragging an unlock icon displayed on the touch screen. In other words, the user of the smart phone always has to look at the touch screen for effectively operating the smart phone, which results in inconvenience of using the smart phone.
Specifically, for the user of the smart phone, who is often too busy to distract to view the smart phone, relying on the icons or texts displayed on the touch screen to issue the operating instructions is quite inapplicable.

Method for inputting instruction and portable electronic device and computer readable recording medium


A cache storage system having hardware for in-cache execution of storage-storage and storage-immediate instructions thereby obviating the need for data to be moved from the cache to a separate execution unit and back to cache.

The pipelined processor organization is recognized as providing substantial advantages over conventional systems. Likewise, the use of high speed cache storage systems to obtain a better match between processor speed and memory cycle times has been effective to improve the performance of computing systems. Later development led to the incorporation of cache storage in pipelined processor systems, providing further improved performance. A conventional cache storage system often takes more cycles to execute certain types of IBM System/370 370-XA instructions simply because the data must be moved from storage to the execution unit and back to storage. Such operations may encounter interference by use of common data and/or data paths between successive operations with the cache. For example, with convention systems, in the case of a storage-immediate instruction, the data must be fetched from cache, requiring that the operation to be performed must wait for the fetch operation. The operation is performed and the results are stored to cache. If a common bidirectional data path is used to fetch and store data within cache, further delays may result. A cycle diagram for such an operation with conventional execution in the execution unit and with execution within cache according to the invention are shown below.
______________________________________ Conventional Execution fetch access fetch execute store access access re- cache & transfer operation transfer cache cache quest direc- to E- to direc- for tory unit cache tory store for for fetch store Execution in Cache store access execute immediate cache & operation request directory for fetch access and store cache for store store transfer to cache ______________________________________
Such operations as those listed under the conventional execution approach for storage-immediate instructions are required for storage-storage instructions as well. It can be seen how the execution of such operations, even when pipelined, can be stretched into large numbers of cycles by virtue of the fact that data must move between different hardware units to perform the different operations. The fact that a fetch requires use of the cache data array and address array (directory) in the same cycle, while a store requires access to the cache address array in the cycle prior to the storing of results in the cache data array, leads to contention for the cache resources.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,437,149 shows a data processing system utilizing separate cache memories for data and instructions. The system includes an instruction decode means located astride the bus from main memory to the instruction cache to at least partially decode the instruction and store the result of the decode in the instruction cache. The system does not function to execute instructions on data located in the cache.
In the pipelined processor shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,471,432, the instructions are examined prior to execution and dispatched to the appropriate processor for execution. There is no showing of cache in which the instructions are executed.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,516,203 describes a cache system which uses special codes to designate encacheable data items. There is no showing of cache in which the instructions are executed.
The system described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,734,852 incorporates a register file in which processor and storage. accesses are overlapped to allow data references to storage in parallel with instruction execution. Loads and stores against the register file are partially executed or suspended if the program requires use of the data not yet loaded. The system does not show the execution of instruction in a cache.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,747,044 describes a system in which high level instructions are executed directly by microcode which is contained in main storage. There is no showing of a cache system within which instructions are executed.
The pipeline computing system of U.S. Pat. No. 4,750,112 relates to a pipeline processor which has an instruction pipeline and an execution pipeline which are used with a microcode controlled instruction execution unit. There is no showing of a cache system which allows execution of instructions within.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,775,936, a two cycle memory is shown which permits write requests to be enqueued in a fashion which allows instruction execution to proceed unimpeded. The processor is permitted to fetch from the write queue. There is no showing of instruction execution in the cache storage unit.
The article "Effective Execution of Multicycle Instruction in One Processor Cycle" by J. H. Pomerene, T. R. Puzak, R. N. Rechtschaffen, and F. J. Sparacio, in the IBM Technical Disclosure Bulletin, Vol. 26, No. 9, February 1984, at pages 4667-4668, describes a cache system which reduces a store multiple instruction to one processor cycle which is used to validate a copy of the general purpose registers in the cache. The system does not show the execution of an instruction within the cache unit.
None of the systems known in the prior art avoids the need to pass data contained in the cache to the execution unit for the execution of logical operations essential to the IBM System/370 storage-immediate and storage-storage type instructions. The time required for the transfer of data to the execution unit extends the execution time for completion of the instruction. An additional problem frequently arises due to the interference encountered within the pipeline stages of the system. These problems have prevented full utilization of the cache storage system within a pipeline processor organization.

Execution of storage-immediate and storage-storage instructions within cache buffer storage

International Business Machines Corporation


A predistorter is disclosed that predistorts an input signal based on one or more static coefficients that are representative of a non-linear distortion characteristic of an amplifier. The input signal is also processed based on a non-linear gain parameter that reduces an error metric between the input signal and a feedback signal. The nonlinear gain parameter adapts an amount of nonlinearity introduced by the predistorter. The non-linear gain adaptation is performed, for example, when the input voltage is above a threshold input voltage. The input signal can be processed by multiplying the input signal by the non-linear gain parameter followed by table-coefficient processing, or by both multiplying the input by the non-linear gain parameter followed by dividing the table-coefficient processed output signal by the same non-linear gain parameter. The input signal can also be processed based on a feedback gain parameter that compensates for a small-signal gain of the feedback loop. The feedback gain parameter attempts to maintain a small-signal gain of approximately unity.

Communication devices must comply with various emission requirements and other spectrum constraints defined by a number of regulatory bodies, such as the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) in the United States, or communication standards, such as the IS-95 Base Station Emission Requirements, defined in TIA/EIA-95-B, "Mobile Station—Base Station Compatibility Standard for Wideband Spread Spectrum Cellular Systems," Section 7—Requirements for Base Station CDMA Operation. Adjacent Channel Power Ratio (ACPR), for example, is one such constraint that is generally defined as the ratio of the average power in the adjacent frequency channel to the average power in the transmitted frequency channel. In other words, while a wireless communication device may be configured to transmit over a specific frequency channel at any given time, it is difficult to prevent the energy transmitted by the device from spreading over into adjacent channels. If too much energy resides in the adjacent channels, then the energy can interfere with devices operating on the adjacent channels.
One source of ACPR is the inherent non-linearity found in various communication device components, including RF amplifiers. Currently, two methods are employed to compensate for non-linearities in RF amplifiers. Feedback methods continuously track the output signal of an amplifier and correct for non-linearities using a negative feedback loop. Predistortion methods predistort the magnitude and phase of the input signal so as to cancel distortion introduced by the amplifier, and thereby provide a linear output signal.
Generally, predistortion methods inject a predistortion signal into the input signal path of the RF amplifier. The predistortion signal is approximately equal and opposite to the expected distortion at the amplifier output, in order to cancel the distortion of the RF amplifier. The distortion of an amplifier varies with the temperature and age of the amplifier. Thus, a number of adaptive predistortion techniques have been proposed or suggested to address the varying temperature and aging effects. Adaptive predistortion methods attempt to continuously minimize the distortion in the amplifier output using an error signal.
While existing predistorters effectively compensate for non-linearities in RF amplifiers, they suffer from a number of limitations, which if overcome, could further improve the efficiency of RF amplifiers. In particular, in order to generate the power levels required for evolving communication systems, without excessive heat and within the relevant spectrum constraints, a need exists for improved predistortion systems that allow amplifiers to be more efficient and generate higher output power levels.

Method and apparatus for adaptive digital predistortion using nonlinear and feedback gain parameters