A system includes an authentication server and a media authentication device. The authentication server stores authenticated media files. The authenticated media files have an associated string value. Generally, the authentication device is used to scan a barcode on a media sample, determine a string value from the scanned barcode, generate a string value based on fragments of the media sample, and determine a string value from an authenticated media file on the authentication server. The authentication device then concatenates the barcode string value with the generated string value, and it concatenates the authentication string value with the generated string value. A hash function is applied to the concatenated string values, and the resulting hash values are compared. The authentication device causes to be displayed an indication that the media sample is authentic when the hash values match.

Synthetic media are a growing problem in the information security field. Synthetic media are artificially generated or manipulated media samples. Visual and audio content are generated using machine learning and artificial intelligence. Humans are not capable of detecting advanced synthetic media without the aid of computers. Unauthorized individuals use synthetic media, often videos, to deceive viewers/listeners. The resulting trust gap among users of digital media hinders further adoption of digital media technology.

System and method for authenticating media using barcodes and hash values


A method of obtaining data for a geographic database is disclosed. Data indicating a plurality of locations along roads including data indicating altitudes at the plurality of locations is provided. Road grade values for a plurality of subsections of the road are computed; each of the subsections is a portion of the road between two of the locations. A plurality of temporary change points are identified as joining two adjacent subsections having road grade values that differ by a value greater than a predetermined amount. Road grade values for each part of the road between adjacent temporary change points are computed. Consecutive parts of the road having road grade values that falls within a predetermined range are grouped into at least one constant road grade section. The geographic database stores data that define the constant road grade section.

The present invention relates generally to geographic databases, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for computing road grade data using collected altitude or elevation data.
Geographic databases have various uses. Geographic databases are used in in-vehicle navigation systems, personal computers, networked computing environments, and various other kinds of platforms, as well as on the Internet. Geographic databases are used with various kinds of applications to provide various navigation-related and map-related functions including map display, route calculation, route guidance, truck fleet deployment, traffic control, traffic monitoring, electronic yellow pages, roadside assistance, emergency services, and so on.
In order to provide these kinds of functions, a geographic database includes data that represent geographic features in a region. The geographic features that are represented in a geographic database may include roads, intersections, and so on. A geographic database includes information about the represented geographic features, such as the geographic coordinates of roads in a geographic region, speed limits along the road segments, locations of stop lights, turn restrictions at intersections of roads, address ranges, street names, and so on.
Collecting information for a geographic database is a significant task. Not only is the initial collection of data a significant undertaking, but a geographic database needs to be updated on a regular basis. For example, new streets are constructed, street names change, traffic signals are installed, and turn restrictions are added to existing roads. Also, new levels of detail may be added about geographic features that are already represented in an existing geographic database. For example, an existing geographic database for roads may be enhanced with information about lane widths, shoulder sizes, traffic signs, lane barriers, address ranges, sidewalks, bicycles paths, etc. Thus, there exists a need to continue to collect information for a geographic database.
One type of information that is useful to include in a geographic database is road grade information. One way of measuring road grade is with a vehicle having a mechanical road grade sensor traveling the road. One shortcoming of the mechanical road grade sensors is that they may provide inaccurate road grade measurements when traveling over bumps or a rough road. Additionally, road grade may be derived with altitude at points along the road determined using surveying equipment. However, surveying equipment may require that the equipment be mounted in a stationary position and therefore is not useable in a moving vehicle.
Accordingly, it would be beneficial to collect and compute road grade information more inexpensively, efficiently and accurately.

Method and system for computing road grade data


A method of compensating for component errors within a radar altimeter is described. The method includes periodically switching transmit pulses from a transmit antenna to a programmable delay device, calculating an altitude based on a transmit pulse received from the programmable delay device, comparing the calculated altitude to an expected altitude, the expected altitude based on a pre-set delay through the programmable delay device, and compensating an altitude measured by the radar altimeter, based on transmit pulses output through the transmit antenna, by an error correction amount based on a difference between the calculated altitude and expected altitudes.

This invention relates generally to radar altimeters, and more specifically, to methods and systems that improve radar altimeter accuracy.
The proper navigation of an aircraft in all phases of its flight is based to a large extent upon the ability to determine accurately the height above terrain over which it is passing, and further based on the ability to determine a position of the aircraft. In this regard, aircraft instrumentation, sensors, radar systems, and specifically, radar altimeters are used in combination with accurate electronic terrain maps. The electronic terrain maps provide the height of objects on the map, and together with the radar altimeter aid in the flight and the planning of a flight path for the aircraft.
As such, radar altimeters are commonly implemented within aircraft. A radar altimeter typically includes a transmitter for applying pulses of electromagnetic energy at regular intervals to an antenna which then radiates the energy, in the form of a transmit beam, towards the earth's surface. A transmit beam from a radar is sometimes said to "illuminate" or "paint" an area which reflects the transmit beam. Based on a configuration of the antenna, the transmit beam includes a main lobe, and one or more side lobes which are separated from the main lobe by an angle.
The radar altimeter further includes a signal receiver which receives return pulses, sometimes referred to as an echo or a return signal. Return pulses are received at a receive antenna, and constitute the transmitted beams that have been reflected from the earth's surface. It is known that some radar altimeters utilize the same antenna for both transmitting and receiving. A closed loop servo tracker for measuring the time interval between the transmitted pulse and its associated return pulse also forms a part of the radar altimeter. The time interval between the transmit pulse and the return pulse is directly related to the altitude of the aircraft.
Many aircraft require better accuracy from a radar altimeter than presently exists. Generally, the accuracy becomes more important at low altitudes where aircraft require controlled flight into and just above terrain, for example, during landing, low altitude equipment drops, precision hovering, detection avoidance, and nap of the earth flying. Some of these applications include unmanned vehicles where landing is controlled remotely and there is little room for error. The low altitude region of a radar altimeter, where the accuracy becomes more important, is usually defined as from 0 to 50 feet. Laser systems have been proposed but problems, for example, with weather, errors relative to aircraft attitude with a collimated beam, and inability to see through dust, rain, fog and other environments have negated their use for critical radar altimeter applications.
The total accuracy of a radar altimeter system is a function of sensor accuracy and ground return signal accuracy. Sensor accuracy is diminished by variations due to environmental changes, including but not limited to changes in temperature and humidity, and affected by variations in signal amplitude, risetime, bandwidths, pulse or gate widths, and clock frequencies.
In contrast to sensor accuracy where the error is caused by variations within the radar altimeter system, ground return signal accuracy is a function of the radar signal from when it leaves a transmit antenna to when it is received at a receive antenna. Ground return signal errors are caused by vehicle attitude, the external environment including but not limited to rain, fog, and dust, and terrain characteristics and associated reflection coefficient characteristics including shaping functions. The above described errors are difficult to detect and correct in a radar altimeter. As a result, wide accuracy tolerances are utilized to account for the various error sources.

High accuracy radar altimeter using automatic calibration


Arrangement for establishing and/or breaking a connection between a plug and a complementary mating plug, wherein a lever which can be pivoted about an axis is arranged on the plug. The connection between the plug and the mating plug can be broken when the lever is pivoted into a disconnection position and/or can be established when the lever is pivoted into a connection position. The plug is, in particular, a switch module, for example a tripping module for a mating plug which is in the form of a circuit breaker.

Such arrangements of plugs and complementary mating plugs, especially of circuit breakers with trigger modules, are used with switching devices, switches and especially switches with accessories, such as adapters, among other things. The connection of a plug with a complementary mating plug, each with several pins that can be connected to electrical conductors, is generally created or detached by plugging in or removing by hand.
The use of a pivoted lever for connecting the plug with a complementary mating plug is, for instance, known from DE 94 04 295 U1 and serves to lock the connection as soon as it is created. By swivelling the lever that is arranged on the plug or on the mating plug, it engages—using a locking curve—an engagement spigot on the other part and in this manner, locks the plug and mating plug in the connected position. A disadvantage here is that plugging in the plug into the mating plug depending on the type of the plug and, for instance, the number and design of the pins to be connected requires considerable force, which needs to be provided in order to be able to create the lock. The requirement of force hereby rises during the plugging-in process, as the pins increasingly mesh, causing an increase in friction. If the requirement of force is, say, 120 newton, in the region of a few millimeters of the fully plugged-in position, there exists a considerable risk of injury when connecting and especially when removing the plug connection by hand. If, for instance, a trigger module in a structurally unfavourable position of a switching device needs to be removed overhead from a circuit breaker by a person standing on a ladder, the sudden disconnection can easily lead to a fall.

Arrangement for establishing and breaking a connection between a plug and a mating plug by pivoting lever arranged on the plug


To improve tranquility and controllability of an iron core-equipped permanent magnet motor with an improved maximum energy product (BH)max by improving shape compatibility of a radial anisotropic magnet, there is provided a radial anisotropic magnet manufacturing method of fixing magnet powder in a net shape so as to maintain a magnetic anisotropic (C-axis) angle of a magnet with respect to a tangential line and for performing a deformation with a flow so as to have a predetermined circular arc shape or a predetermined annular shape. Particularly, by performing a deformation with a viscous flow or an extension flow, a deformability of the magnet is improved, and thus shape compatibility with respect to a thickness is improved. A C-axis angle θ with respect to a tangential direction is controlled at an arbitrary position and an arbitrary angle so as to reduce cogging torque without separating a magnetic pole into segments.

A type of magnet material such as Nd2Fe14B, αFe/Nd2Fe14B, and Fe3B/Nd2Fe14B obtained by a melt span is limited to a thin band such as a ribbon or flake-shaped powder obtained by milling the same. For this reason, in order to obtain a bulk-shaped permanent magnet which is used in general, a technique is necessary which changes a type of material, that is, fixes the ribbon or the powder to a predetermined bulk in a certain manner. A basic powder fixing means in powder metallurgy is pressureless sintering, but since the ribbon needs to maintain a magnetic characteristic based on a metastable state, it is difficult to apply the pressureless sintering thereto. For this reason, a predetermined-shape bulk fixation is carried out just by using a coupling agent such as epoxy resin. For example, R. W. Lee, etc. have disclosed that a ribbon of (BH)max of 111 kJ/m3 is fixed by resin to thereby obtain an isotropic Nd2Fe14B-based bond magnet of (BH)max of 72 kJ/m3 [R. W. Lee, E. G. Brewer, N. A. Schaffel, "Hot-pressed Neodymium-Iron-Boron magnets" IEEE Trans. Magn., Vol. 21, 1958 (1985)] (see Non-patent Document 1).
In 1986, the present inventors have proved that a small-diameter annular isotropic Nd2Fe14B bond magnet of (BH)max of ˜72 kJ/m3, in which the Nd2Fe14B magnet powder obtained by milling the melt spun ribbon is fixed by epoxy resin, is suitable for a small-size motor in Japanese Patent Application No. S61-38830. Later, T. Shimoda has compared a characteristic of a small-size motor of the small-diameter annular isotropic Nd2Fe14B-based bond magnet with a characteristic of a small-size motor of Sm—Co-based radial anisotropic bond magnet, and has mentioned that the former is suitable [T. Shimoda, "Compression molding magnet made from rapid-quenched powder", "PERMANENT MAGNETS 1988 UPDATE", Wheeler Associate INC (1988)] (see Non-patent Document 2). The reports that the former is suitable for a small-size motor have been made by W. Baran ["Case histories of NdFeB in the European community", The European Business and Technical Outlook for NdFeB Magnets, Nov. (1989)], G. X. Huang, W. M. Gao, S. F. Yu ["Application of melt-spun Nd—Fe—B bonded magnet to the micro-motor", Proc. of the 11th International Rare-Earth Magnets and Their Applications, Pittsburgh, USA, pp. 583-595 (1990)], Kasai ["MQ1, 2&3 magnets applied to motors and actuators", Polymer Bonded Magnets' 92, Embassy Suite O'Hare-Rosemont, Ill., USA, (1992)], etc., and the former has been widely used as an annular magnet for a permanent magnet motor of a telecommunication equipment, OA, AV, PC, and their peripheral equipments since 1990 (see Non-patent Documents 3, 4, and 5).
On the other hand, a study about magnet material in terms of melt spinning has been actively carried out since 1980. By using a material of which various alloy compositions are controlled in terms of a microstructure, such as nano composite material using an exchange coupling based on a microstructure of Nd2Fe14B-based, Sm2Fe17N3-based, or αFe, Fe3B-based, etc. with them, isotropic magnet powder having a different powder shape obtained in terms of a rapid solidification method other than a melt spinning can be used for an industrial purpose [for example, YASUHIKO IRIYAMA, "Development Tendency of High-performance Rare-earth BondMagnet", Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Innovation Creation Project/Symposium of Efficient Usage of Rare-earth Resource and AdvancedMaterial, Tokyo, pp. 19-26 (2002), B. H. Rabin, B. M. Ma, "Recent developments in Nd—Fe—B powder", 120th Topical Symposium of the Magnetic Society of Japan, pp. 23-28 (2001), B M. Ma, "Recent powder development at magnequench", Polymer Bonded Magnets 2002, Chicago (2002), S. Hirasawa, H. Kanekiyo, T. Miyoshi, K. Murakami, Y. Shigemoto, T. Nishiuchi, "Structure and magnetic properties of Nd2Fe14B/FexB-type nano composite permanent magnets prepared by strip casting", 9th Joint MMM/INTERMAG, CA (2004) FG-05] (see Non-patent Documents 6, 7, 8, and 9).
Davies, etc. have reported that isotropic (BH)max is 220 kJ/m3 [H. A. Davies, J. I. Betancourt, C. L. Harland, "Nanophase Pr and Nd/Pr based rare-earth-iron-boron alloys", Proc. of 16th Int. Workshop on Rare-Earth Magnets and Their Applications, Sendai, pp. 485-495 (2000)] (see Non-patent Document 10). However, it is supposed that of (BH)max of rapid solidified powder used for an industrial purpose is 134 kJ/m3 and (BH)max of isotropic Nd2Fe14B bond magnet is almost 80 kJ/m3.
Irrespective of the above description, the permanent magnet motor corresponding to an object of the invention has been continuously demanded to be more decreased in size, to be more increased in output, and to be more tranquil in accordance with an increase in performance of electric and electronic devices. Accordingly, it is obvious that the improvement of the representative magnetic characteristic of (BH)max of the magnet powder of the isotropic bond magnet is useful for an increase in performance of the corresponding motor. Accordingly, in a field of such isotropic bond magnet motor, the necessity of the anisotropic bond magnet motor increases [FUMITOSI YAMASITA, "Application and Anticipation of Rare-earth Magnet to Electronic Device", Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Innovation Creation Project/Symposium of Efficient Usage of Rare-earth Resource and Advanced Material, Tokyo, (2002)] (see Non-patent Document 11).
Incidentally, the Sm—Co-based magnet powder using the anisotropic magnet can obtain a high coercive force HCJ even when an ingot is milled. However, Sm or Co has a large problem of a resource balance, and thus is not widely used as an industrial material. On the contrary, Nd or Fe is advantageous in a view point of a resource balance. However, even when an ingot of Nd2Fe14B-based alloy or a sintered magnet is milled, the HCJ is small.
For this reason, regarding a manufacture of anisotropic Nd2Fe14B magnet powder, a study that melt spinning material is used as an initial material has been carried out in advance.
In 1989, TOKUNAGAhas obtained the anisotropic bond magnet of (BH)max of 127 kJ/m3 in such a manner that a bulk in which Nd14Fe80-xB6Gax (X=0.4 to 0.5) subjected to a hot upsetting (Die-upset) is milled to obtain anisotropic Nd2Fe14B powder of HCJ=1.52 MA/m and hardened by resin [GARYO TOKUNAGA, "Magnetic Characteristic of Rare-earth Bond Magnet", Fine Particle and Powder metallurgy, Vol. 35, pp. 3-7, (1988)] (see Non-patent Document 12).
In 1991, H. Sakamoto, etc. have manufactured anisotropic Nd2Fe14B powder of HCJ of 1.30 MA/m by subjecting Nd14Fe79.8B5.2Cu1 to a hot rolling [H. Sakamoto, M. Fujikura and T. Mukai, "Fully-dense Nd—Fe—B magnets prepared from hot-rolled anisotropic powders", Proc. 11th Int. Workshop on Rare-earth Magnets and Their Applications, Pittsburg, pp. 72-84 (1990)] (see Non-patent Document 13).
As described above, there is known powder in which Ga or Cu is added to improve a hot rolling performance and a crystalline diameter of Nd2Fe14B is controlled to obtain a high HCJ. In 1991, V. Panchanathan, etc. have manufactured anisotropic bond magnet of (BH)max of 150 kJ/m3 in such a manner that hydrogen enters from a grain boundary in terms of a milling method of a hot rolling bulk to thereby break down into Nd2Fe14BHx and HD (Hydrogen Decrepitation)-Nd2Fe14B particle is dehydrogenated in terms of a vacuum heating [M. Doser, V. Panchanacthan, and R. K. Mishra, "Pulverizing anisotropic rapidly solidified Nd—Fe—B materials for bonded magnets", J. Appl. Phys., Vol. 70, pp. 6603-6805 (1991)] (see Non-patent Document 14).
In 2001, Iriyama has improved anisotropic bond magnet of (BH)max of 177 kJ/m3 in such a manner that Nd0.137Fe0.735Co0.067B0.055Ga0.006 is formed into a particle of 310 kJ/m3 in the same way [T. Iriyama, "Anisotropic bonded NdFeB magnets made from hot-upset powders", Polymer Bonded Magnet 2002, Chicago (2002)] (see Non-patent Document 15).
Meanwhile, Takeshita, etc. have suggested an HDDR method in which Hydrogenation (Hydrogenation, Nd2[Fe, Co]14 BHx) of Nd2(Fe, Co)14B phase occurs and, Decomposition (Decomposition, NdH2+Fe+ Fe2B), Desorpsion (Desorpsion), and Recombination (Recombination) occur at 650 to 1,000° C. [T. Takeshita, and R. Nakayama, "Magnetic properties and micro-structure of the Nd—Fe—B magnet powders produced by hydrogen treatment", Proc. 10th Int. Workshop on Rare-earth Magnets and Their Applications, Kyoto, pp. 551-562 (1989)], and in 1999, have manufactured anisotropic bond magnet of (BH)max of 193 kJ/m3 from HDDR-Nd2Fe14B particle [K. Morimoto, R. Nakayama, K. Mori, K. Igarashi, Y. Ishii, M. Itakura, N. Kuwano, K. Oki, "Nd2Fe14B-based magnetic powder with high remanence produced by modified HDDR process", IEEE. Trans. Magn., Vol. 35, pp. 3253-3255 (1999)] (see Non-patent Documents 16 and 17).
In 2001, Mishima, etc. have reported d-HDDR Nd2Fe14B particle of Co-free [C. Mishima, N. Hamada, H. Mitarai, and Y. Honkura, "Development of a Co-free NdFeB anisotropic magnet produced d-HDDR processes powder", IEEE. Trans. Magn., Vol. 37, pp. 2467-2470 (2001)], and N. Hamada, etc. have manufactured a cubic anisotropic bond magnet (7 mm×7 mm×7 mm) of (BH)max of 213 kJ/m3 and a density of 6.51 Mg/m3 in such a manner that the d-HDDR anisotropic Nd2Fe14B particle is compressed by 0.9 GPa at 150° C. in the presence of an oriented magnetic field of 2.5 T [N. Hamada, C. Mishima, H. Mitarai and Y. Honkura, "Development of anisotropic bonded magnet with 27 MGOe", IEEE. Trans. Magn., Vol. 39, pp. 2953-2956 (2003)] (see Non-patent Documents 18 and 19). However, the cubic magnet is not suitable for a general permanent magnet motor.
Meanwhile, in 2001, there is reported an injection forming bond magnet of (BH)max of ˜119 kJ/m3 using RD (Reduction & Diffusion)-Sm2Fe17N3 fine powder [JUN KAWAMOTO, KAYO SIRAISI, KAZUTOSI ISIZAKA, SINNICHI YASUDA, "15 MGOe-grade SmFeN Injection Forming Compound", Magnetics Seminar of Electric Association, (2001) MAG-01-173] (see Non-patent Document 20). In 2002, Ohmori has reported an anisotropic magnet manufactured by an injection forming of (BH)max of 136 kJ/m3 using weather-resistant RD-Sm2Fe17N3 fine powder of (BH)max of 323 kJ/m3 [K. Ohmori, "New era of anisotropic bonded SmFeN magnets", Polymer Bonded Magnet 2002, Chicago (2002)] (see Non-patent Document 21). There is reported that an increase in output of a ferrite sintered magnet is realized by using a surface magnet (SPM) rotor applied with an anisotropic Sm2Fe17N3 bond magnet of (BH)max of 80 kJ/m3 in terms of such an injection forming radial anisotropic [ATSUSI MATSUOKA, TOUGO YAMAZAKI, HITOSI KAWAGUCHI, "Investigation of Increase in Performance of Blowing Brushless DC Motor", Rotating Equipment Seminar of Electric Association, (2001) RM-01-161] (see Non-Patent Document 22).
However, in the radial oriented magnetic field, when a forming ring cavity decreases in diameter (or increases in length), since most of a magnetomotive force is consumed as a leakage magnetic flux, the oriented magnetic field reduces. Accordingly, (BH)max reduces in a radial direction in accordance with a reduction of an orientation degree and in accordance with a decrease in diameter (an increase in length) irrespective of a bond magnet or a sintered magnet [for example, MOTOHARU SIMIZU, NOBUYUKI HIRAI, "Nd—Fe—B-based sinter-type anisotropic ring magnet", Hitachi Metals Technical Review, Vol. 6, pp. 33-36 (1990)] (see Non-patent Document 23). Since it is difficult to generate a homogeneous radial magnetic field, a problem arises in that productivity is lower than that of the isotropic bond magnet.
However, when the magnetic characteristic in a radial direction is not dependent on a shape, a homogenous orientation is possible, and high productivity can be realized, it is possible to expect a distribution of a high (BH)max radial anisotropic magnet suitable for an increase in performance of the permanent magnet motor.
Therefore, the present inventors have disclosed a magnet manufacturing technique and its magnetic characteristic in which a compound of a coupling agent and magnet powder is compressed, and a cross-linking macromolecule of the coupling agent formed after a self-organization is mechanically stretched so that an anisotropic direction is changed to a radial direction in terms of a sintering deformation of the stretched perpendicular anisotropic thin-film magnet [F. Yamashita, S. Tsutsumi, H. Fukunaga, "Radially Anisotropic Ring- or Arc-Shaped Rare-Earth Bonded Magnets Using Self-Organization Techniqu", IEEE Trans. Magn., Vol. 40, No. 4 pp. 2059-2064 (2004)] (see Non-patent Document 24). Accordingly, it is possible to manufacture a radial anisotropic magnet having a thickness of 1 mm or so of which a magnetic characteristic hardly reduces even when realizing a decrease in diameter (or an increase in length).
Meanwhile, in an iron core of an iron core-equipped permanent magnet motor, there are a slot for mounting excitation winding wires and teeth for forming a part of a magnetic circuit together with a magnet. In such an iron core structure, when the motor rotates, a torque pulsation, that is, cogging torque is generated in accordance with a permeance variation between the iron core and the magnet. The cogging torque prevents smooth rotation of the motor to make the cause impairing tranquility or controllability of the motor. Such cogging torque is apparently generated in the high (BH)max radial anisotropic magnet for generating a strong static magnetic field with a rectangular wave shape. Accordingly, it may be understood that an increase of the cogging torque disturbs an application in which the high (BH)max radial anisotropic magnet is applied to the permanent magnet motor.
As a cogging torque reducing method, there are known a method in which a magnetic pole of an iron core or a magnet is skewed or a gap between the iron core and the magnet is set to an irregular distance, a polar anisotropy method in which a magnetization direction of the magnet is set to a magnetic flux flow, a halbach method, and the like. Particularly, the halbach method of fitting segment magnets is suitable for the reduction of the cogging torque [YOSIDA, KESAMARU, SANG, "Reduction of Cogging Torque and Rotor Iron Core in terms of Segment-type Magnetization Method of Surface PM Synchronization Motor", IEEJ. Trans. IA, Vol. 124, pp. 114-115 (2004)] (see Non-patent Document 25).
However, when the magnetic pole is separated into segments, since assembling precision largely influences the cogging torque, and a limitation in an actual shape or a configuration and complexity are overlapped, its production is difficult.
For example, a perpendicular anisotropic thin-film magnet having a thickness of 0.97 mm and (BH)max=162 kJ/m3 including a self organized coupling agent is anisotropically stretched to be thereby formed into a circular arc shape having a radius of 3.55 mm, an outer radius of 3.65 mm, a maximum thickness of 0.88 mm, and a length of 10 mm. When the magnet is magnetized in a pulse magnetic field of 4 MA/m, a magnetic flux becomes 1.53 times larger than a magnetic flux amount of an isotropic Nd2Fe14B bond magnet of (BH)max of 72 kJ/m3, and thus start torque of an iron core-equipped permanent magnet motor increase 1.4 times or more [F. Yamashita, H. Fukunaga, "Radially-Anisotropic Rare-Earth Hybrid Magnet with Sel-Organizing Binder Consolidated Under a Heat and a Low-Pressure Configuration", Proc. 18th Int. Workshop on High Performance Magnets and Their Applications, Annecy, France, pp. 76-83 (2004)].
However, when a thickness of the magnet is, for example, 1.5 mm, since it is difficult to anisotropically stretch the perpendicular anisotropic thin-film magnet, there is a limitation in the thickness of the magnet in a deformation in which the magnetic characteristic is maintained. In a structure in which electromagnetic winding wires are arranged on a surface of the iron core opposed to the magnet, the iron core is provided with teeth and slots. For this reason, the cogging torque increases due to a permeance variation in accordance with a rotation of the motor. Particularly, the radial anisotropic magnet having a gap magnetic flux density distribution of a rectangular wave shape and a strong static magnetic field has the cogging torque 15 times or more that of the isotropic Nd2Fe14B bond magnet.
As described above, as the cogging torque reducing means, many studies and ideas have been made. Particularly, the halbach method of fitting the segment magnets is suitable for the reduction of the cogging torque [YOSIDA, KESAMARU, SANG, "Reduction of Cogging Torque and Rotor Iron Core in terms of Segment-type Magnetization Method of Surface PM Synchronization Motor", IEEJ. Trans. IA, Vol. 124, pp. 114-115 (2004)]. However, when the magnetic pole is separated into segments, assembling precision critically influences the cogging torque. The limitation in the actual shape or the configuration and complexity are overlapped, which is difficult to be carried out in an industrial field. For this reason, in the radial anisotropic magnet, a radial anisotropic magnet manufacturing method has been demanded which is capable of being used in a combination of a known technique such as uneven thickness or skew without separating the magnetic pole and of remarkably reducing cogging torque while maintaining an output characteristic.
Non-patent Document 1: R. W. Lee, E. G. Brewer, N. A. Schaffel, "Hot-pressed Neodymium-Iron-Boron magnets" IEEE Trans. Magn., Vol. 21, 1958 (1985)
Non-patent Document 2: T. Shimoda, "Compression molding magnet made from rapid-quenched powder", "PERMANENT MAGNETS 1988 UPDATE", Wheeler Associate INC (1988)
Non-patent Document 3: W. Baran, "Case histories of NdFeB in the European community", The European Business and Technical Outlook for NdFeB Magnets, Nov. (1989)
Non-patent Document 4: G. X. Huang, W. M. Gao, S. F. Yu, "Application of melt-spun Nd—Fe—B bonded magnet to the micro-motor", Proc. of the 11th International Rare-Earth Magnets and Their Applications, Pittsburgh, USA, pp. 583-595 (1990)
Non-patent Document 5: Kasai, "MQ1, 2 & 3 magnets applied to motors and actuators", Polymer Bonded Magnets' 92, Embassy Suite O'Hare-Rosemont, Ill., USA, (1992)
Non-patent Document 6: YASUHIKO IRIYAMA, "Development Tendency of High-performance Rare-earth Bond Magnet", Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Innovation Creation Project/Symposium of Efficient Usage of Rare-earth Resource and Advanced Material, Tokyo, pp. 19-26 (2002)
Non-patent Document 7: B. H. Rabin, B. M. Ma, "Recent developments in Nd—Fe—B powder", 120th Topical Symposium of the Magnetic Society of Japan, pp. 23-28 (2001)
Non-patent Document 8: B M. Ma, "Recent powder development at magnequench", Polymer Bonded Magnets 2002, Chicago (2002)
Non-patent Document 9: S. Hirasawa, H. Kanekiyo, T. Miyoshi, K. Murakami, Y. Shigemoto, T. Nishiuchi, "Structure and magnetic properties of Nd2Fe14B/FexB-type nano composite permanent magnets prepared by strip casting", 9th Joint MMM/INTERMAG, CA (2004) FG-05
Non-patent Document 10: H. A. Davies, J. I. Betancourt, C. L. Harland, "Nanophase Pr and Nd/Pr based rare-earth-iron-boron alloys", Proc. Of 16th Int. Workshop on Rare-Earth Magnets and Their Applications, Sendai, pp. 485-495 (2000)
Non-patent Document 11: FUMITOSHI YAMASITA, "Application and Anticipation of Rare-earth Magnet to Electronic Device", Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, Innovation Creation Project/Symposium of Efficient Usage of Rare-earth Resource and Advanced Material, Tokyo, (2002)
Non-patent Document 12: GARYO TOKUNAGA, "Magnetic Characteristic of Rare-earth Bond Magnet", Fine Particle and Powder metallurgy, Vol. 35, pp. 3-7, (1988)
Non-patent Document 13: H. Sakamoto, M. Fujikura and T. Mukai, "Fully-dense Nd—Fe—B magnets prepared from hot-rolled anisotropic powders", Proc. 11th Int. Workshop on Rare-earth Magnets and Their Applications, Pittsburg, pp. 72-84 (1990)
Non-patent Document 14: M. Doser, V. Panchanacthan, and R. K. Mishra, "Pulverizing anisotropic rapidly solidified Nd—Fe—B materials for bonded magnets", J. Appl. Phys., Vol. 70, pp. 6603-6805 (1991)
Non-patent Document 15: T. Iriyama, "Anisotropic bonded NdFeB magnets made from hot-upset powders", Polymer Bonded Magnet 2002, Chicago (2002)
Non-patent Document 16: T. Takeshita, and R. Nakayama, "Magnetic properties and micro-structure of the Nd—Fe—B magnet powders producedbyhydrogen treatment", Proc. 10th Int. Workshop on Rare-earth Magnets and Their Applications, Kyoto, pp. 551-562 (1989)
Non-patent Document 17: K. Morimoto, R. Nakayama, K. Mori, K. Igarashi, Y. Ishii, M. Itakura, N. Kuwano, K. Oki, "Nd2Fe14B-based magnetic powder with high remanence produced by modified HDDR process", IEEE. Trans. Magn., Vol. 35, pp. 3253-3255 (1999)
Non-patent Document 18: C. Mishima, N. Hamada, H. Mitarai, and Y. Honkura, "Development of a Co-free NdFeB anisotropic magnet produced d-HDDR processes powder", IEEE. Trans. Magn., Vol. 37, pp. 2467-2470 (2001)
Non-patent Document 19: N. Hamada, C. Mishima, H. Mitarai and Y. Honkura, "Development of anisotropic bonded magnet with 27 MGOe", IEEE. Trans. Magn., Vol. 39, pp. 2953-2956 (2003)
Non-patent Document 20: JUN KAWAMOTO, KAYO SIRAISI, KAZUTOSI ISIZAKA, SINNICHI YASUDA, "15 MGOe-grade SmFeN Injection Forming Compound", Magnetics Seminar of Electric Association, (2001) MAG-01-173
Non-patent Document 21: K. Ohmori, "New era of anisotropic bonded SmFeN magnets", Polymer Bonded Magnet 2002, Chicago (2002)
Non-patent Document 22: ATSUSIMATSUOKA, TOUGOYAMAZAKI, HITOSI KAWAGUCHI, "Investigation of Increase in Performance of Blowing Brushless DC Motor", Rotating Equipment Seminar of Electric Association, (2001) RM-01-161
Non-patent Document 23: MOTOHARUSIMIZU, NOBUYUKI HIRAI, "Nd—Fe—B-based sinter-type anisotropic ring magnet", Hitachi Metals Technical Review, Vol. 6, pp. 33-36 (1990)
Non-patent Document 24: F. Yamashita, S. Tsutsumi, H. Fukunaga, "Radially Anisotropic Ring- or Arc-Shaped Rare-Earth Bonded Magnets Using Self-Organization Technique", IEEE Trans. Magn., Vol. 40, No. 4 pp. 2059-2064 (2004)
Non-patent Document 25: Yoshida, Kesamaru, Sano, "Reduction of Cogging Torque and Rotor Iron Core in terms of Segment-type Magnetization Method of Surface PM Synchronization Motor", IEEJ. Trans. IA, Vol. 124, pp. 114-115 (2004)

Radial anisotropic magnet manufacturing method, permanent magnet motor using radial anisotropic magnet, and iron core-equipped permanent magnet motor


A watercraft lift having raised and lowered positions is provided. The lift includes a substantially rectangular base (10) with longitudinal side beams (34) and front, rear, and intermediate transverse beams (28), (30), (32) connected to the longitudinal beams. The intermediate transverse beam (32) is located between the front and rear transverse beams (28), (30) and at a height lower than the front and rear transverse beams. Forward booms (12) are pivotably connected to the base (10) at a location near the front transverse beam (28). Rear booms (14) are pivotably connected to the base at a location near the intermediate transverse beam (32). A watercraft support platform (24) is pivotally connected to the forward and rear booms (12), (14). The raising and lowering of the lift of the present invention is accomplished by an actuation assembly (26). In a preferred embodiments, the actuation assembly includes two dual-directional high pressure hydraulic cylinders (62) pivotally connected between the intermediate transverse beam (32) and the rear booms (14). During use, the actuator assembly (26) rotates the booms (12), (14) upward and forward about their pivotable connection to the base (10) further raising the watercraft support platform and the watercraft to an overcenter position.

There are a number of advantages to storing a boat out of the water when it is not in use. Out-of-water storage prevents damage resulting from the boat bumping against adjacent docks, other crafts, or floating debris. It reduces the possibility of the boat breaking free from its moorage and either floating away or running aground. Out-of-water storage also lessens boat damage associated with long-term exposure to water and water-carried pollutants (e.g., corrosion, electrolysis, rusting, etc.), and the attachment of barnacles or other marine growth to the boat's hull. To store a craft out of water, many boat owners prefer to use a boat lift that simply raises the craft above the water's surface as opposed to the more involved procedure of dry docking the craft. Once a boat is lifted it can be maintained in a raised position for an extended period of time. A number of lift designs are currently known that provide this basic function.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,479 describes a lift for a watercraft that includes a base frame positioned underwater. The frame supports upwardly extending pivotable parallel arms. A lift platform is connect to the upper ends of the arms. The base frame, arms, and platform combine to form a parallelogram shape when viewed from the side. The lift is actuated by a hydraulic cylinder that is connected diagonally across the parallelogram. Extension of the cylinder rotates the arms about their lower end connection to the base frame. Thus, the rotation of the arms moves the lift platform (and hence any watercraft thereon) between raised and lowered positions. In its raised position, the pivotable arms are disposed under true vertical at an angle of approximately 70.degree. counterclockwise from horizontal. The pivotable arms are locked in this position by a cylinder locking mechanism that includes a pawl having a nose that is insertable into slots spaced along the cylinder's plunger. The nose is biased to enter a slot by a compression spring.
Another known boat lift is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,184,914. The '914 lift has upwardly extending pivoting booms that are supported on a rectangular base submerged in water, similar to the '479 device. A watercraft support platform is connected to the upper ends of the pivoting booms. A double-acting hydraulic cylinder is connected diagonally between the rectangular base and the forward pivoting booms. The cylinder swings the pivoting booms upwardly until the booms are braced by boom stops located on the base. In the lift's fully extended position, the booms are braced against the boom stops at an angle of about 10.degree. overcenter (i.e., 10.degree. counterclockwise past vertical). Like the '479 lift, the '914 lift has a parallelogram configuration in side view.
Both the '479 and '914 devices suffer from a number of disadvantages. For example, the locking mechanism of the '479 device can be unreliable and hazardous, resulting in the unexpected and rapid lowering of a watercraft should the pawl release the plunger or otherwise fail. It appears that the '914 device attempts to overcome the deficiencies of the '479 cylinder locking mechanism by instead using the canted boom stops to brace the pivoting booms in an overcenter position.
A second disadvantage is that the diagonal placement of the actuating components in the '479 and '914 devices limit the minimum lowered position height that may be attained. It is desirable for a lift to be capable of being moved to a low height, to enable a user to drive a boat onto the lift in shallower waters. This does not appear to be possible with the '479 and '914 lifts, since both devices are configured with their actuators oriented between the middle of a rear transverse beam and the middle of a cross member at the forward boom arms. For the cylinders to effectively raise the arms, the force exerted by the cylinders must include a significant vertical force component at all times. This is especially true when the lift is in its lowered position, otherwise the cylinder will not be able to raise the arms, but will instead jam against the connection to the forward booms when the cylinder attempts to extend. It is this required vertical component that prohibits the lift from lowering further. The '914 lift has an additional disadvantage in that its canted boom stops further limits the minimum lowered height attainable.
A third disadvantage is that both devices appear to be using low pressure hydraulic water cylinders. These large cylinders are typically not sealed well enough to maintain the lift in any particular position. The '479 lift compensates for this insufficiency by including a cylinder locking mechanism. The '914 lift compensates by positioning the support platform overcenter, braced against the canted boom stops.
A fourth disadvantage of the '479 and '914 devices is the mid-lateral placement of their hydraulic cylinders. At this location, the cylinders can interfere with the keels and skegs of certain watercraft, thereby limiting and restricting the lift's utility to shallow keeled and shallow skegged crafts.
Accordingly, there exists a need for a watercraft lift that can safely, securely, and reliably support a watercraft in a lowered position, a raised position, and all points in between. The ideal watercraft lift should be operable in relatively shallow water, and should accormodate watercraft having deeper keels and skegs. The lift's minimum height should not be limited by the actuating components, so that the lift can be used in shallower waters. The present invention is directed to fulfilling this need and to providing further related advantages.


A cutting insert includes an upper surface, a lower surface, a side surface, and an upper cutting edge. The upper cutting edge includes a major cutting edge having an outwardly projecting curvilinear shape, and a minor cutting edge having a straight line shape and being continuous with the major cutting edge. The side surface includes a continuous inclined surface with the major cutting edge and is inclined outward from the upper surface to the lower surface with respect to a virtual straight line connecting the respective centers of the upper and lower surfaces. An inclination angle of the inclined surface with respect to a virtual straight line on the side surface increases from a portion of the inclined surface which is continuous with an end portion of the major cutting edge to a portion of the inclined surface which is continuous with a center of the major cutting edge.

Conventionally, a cutting insert as described in Patent document 1 has been well known as a cutting tool for use in a cutting process of a workpiece. The cutting insert described in Patent document 1 is specifically used in a milling process, such as a face milling process or an end milling process. The cutting insert described in Patent document 1 includes an upper cutting edge disposed along an intersection of an upper surface and a side surface, and a lower cutting edge disposed along an intersection of a lower surface and the side surface. The cutting edges are respectively made up of a major cutting edge having a projecting curvilinear shape, and a minor cutting edge that is continuous with the major cutting edge and has a straight line shape in a top plan view.
In the case of including the major cutting edge and the minor cutting edge as described above, the cutting process of the workpiece is performed mainly by the major cutting edge. On this occasion, the minor cutting edge may not be used in the cutting process, but may be used as a flat cutting edge for the purpose of improving a finished surface.
When the cutting process is performed using the cutting insert described in Patent document 1, because the upper cutting edge and the lower cutting edge are included as the cutting edge, an axial rake and a radial rake of a holder are respectively set to negative values in order to avoid interference of the cutting edge on the opposite side during the cutting process. However, the cutting performance of the cutting edges may be deteriorated when the axial rake and the radial rake respectively have the negative values. It is therefore necessary to increase a rake angle. This leads to the problem that the cutting edge strength is lowered and consequently the durability of the cutting insert is lowered.
The present invention has been made in view of the above problem, and an object thereof is to provide a cutting insert having satisfactory durability while ensuring satisfactory cutting performance of the cutting edges, as well as a cutting tool and a method of producing a machined product.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2012-500732

Cutting insert, cutting tool, and method of producing machined product


A multiplexing circuit for a positron emission tomography (PET) detector includes a delay circuit and a multiplexer communicating with the delay circuit. The delay circuit configured to receive a plurality of timing pickoff (TPO) signals from a plurality of positron emission tomography (PET) detector units, add a delay time to at least one of the plurality of TPO signals, and transmit the TPO signals based on the delay time to the multiplexer, the multiplexer configured to a multiplex the TPO signals and output a single TPO signal from the plurality of TPO signals to a Time-to-Digital Convertor (TDC). A method of operating a multiplexer and a imaging system including a multiplexer are also provided.

The subject matter described herein relates generally to medical imaging systems, and more particularly, to a multiplexing device utilized in a medical imaging system.
In PET imaging, the general locations of annihilation photons impacting a detector are recorded. The outputs from the detector are then utilized to reconstruct an image of a patient. More specifically, when a photon impacts a crystal on the detector, the crystal generates a signal. When the signal exceeds a predetermined threshold, an event detection pulse (EDP) is generated. The EDP is then provided to a processor coincidence circuitry which identifies approximately simultaneous EDP pairs which correspond to crystals in the detector which are generally on opposite sides of an imaging area.
The processor coincidence circuitry includes a Time-to-Digital Convertor (TDC) to measure the arrival time of the detected annihilation photons by measuring a time difference between annihilation events using a universal clock. More specifically, the TDCs measure the arrival time of each of the detected photons by measuring a time difference between pulses generated by the universal clock and a leading edge of a logic signal generated by a timing pick off circuit (TPO). Thus, a simultaneous pulse pair indicates that an annihilation event has occurred on a straight line between an associated pair of crystals. Over an acquisition period of a few minutes, millions of annihilation events are recorded, wherein each annihilation event is associated with a unique crystal pair in the detector.
However, high-resolution TDCs are generally large in size and consume relatively large quantities of power to operate effectively. Thus, at least one known detector combines multiple signals output from the detector to reduce a quantity of signals processed by the TDCs thus reducing the power consumed by the TDCs and also reducing the quantity of TDCs utilized to process the signals.
However, for silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) based detectors, the dark pulse rate generated by thermal created electron-hole pairs may affect the timing resolution of the SiPM based detectors. For example, as the dark pulse rate increases, the timing performance is reduced. As a result, the dark pulse rate in a TPO circuit increases linearly with the total area of the SiPM's being processed by each TPO. The detector's timing performance is therefore affected by the area processed by the TPO resulting in a relatively large quantity of TPO circuits being utilized to process the signals.
More specifically, to achieve an optimal timing performance, a TPO circuit is used for each crystal. However, if a TDC is utilized for each crystal, the quantity of TDCs in the detector becomes large thus increasing the power consumed.

Mulitplexing device for a medical imaging system


The present invention comprises methods and circuits for increasing the number of selectable gain settings of an amplifier by subtracting gains. In one embodiment, the amplifier is configured with three gain channels that are power-of-three weighted—that is, the gain channels provide gains of 1×, 3× and 9×. By combining the gain values of those gain channels in a manner that adds and/or subtracts the gain values, the amplifier can be configured with any of 13 consecutive gain settings of the same polarity.

Many electrical circuits use amplifiers, which amplify one or more input voltages according to a gain setting of the amplifier. One particular type of amplifier is a difference amplifier that accepts two input voltages and supplies an output voltage that is a function of the gain setting of the amplifier and the difference between the two input voltages. A selectable-gain amplifier permits a user to select the gain of the amplifier by use of external components or provision of external signals.
FIG. 1A illustrates a prior art circuit having three gain channels, the gains of which are binary weighted. In FIG. 1A, each gain channel has switch SWx that connects input voltage VIN to the gain channel when the switch is closed. Amplifier 10A comprises amplification element 12 (e.g., an operational amplifier) having non-inverting input 14 and inverting input 16. Gain resistors RM1, RM2 and RM4 are electrically coupled between inverting input 16 and input voltage VIN when switches SW1, SW2 and SW4 are closed respectively. Gain resistors RM1, RM2 and RM4 respectively correspond to gain channels having gains of 1×, 2× and 4×. Feedback resistor RFM is connected between inverting input 16 and output node 18. Non-inverting input 14 of amplification element 12 is connected to analog ground. Because the gain channels and feedback resistor RFM are coupled to inverting input 16, amplifier 10A provides inverting gains. To provide binary weighted gains, the nominal resistances of the resistors in amplifier 10A may be chosen so that (1) resistors RFM and RM1 have the same nominal resistances, (2) resistor RM2 has half the nominal resistance of resistor RFM or RM1, and (3) resistor RM4 has one-fourth the nominal resistance of resistor RFM or RM1.
To configure amplifier 10A with a gain of 1×, SW1 is closed, while switches SW2 and SW4 are left open. Likewise, to configure amplifier 10A with a gain of 2×, SW2 is closed, while switches SW1 and SW4 are left open. Similarly, to configure amplifier 10A with a gain of 4×, SW4 is closed, while switches SW1 and SW2 are left open. Switches SW1, SW2 and SW4 are opened and closed responsive to digital signals.
Amplifier 10A may be configured with additional gains by coupling the gain channels in a manner that adds the gain values of the gain channels. Specifically, the gains are added by closing two or more switches SW1, SW2 and SW4, thereby connecting their respective gain channels together to input voltage VIN. For example, as shown in FIG. 1A, amplifier 10A is configured with a gain of 3× by closing switches SW1 and SW2, thereby connecting input voltage VIN to gain channels 1× and 2×. Table 1A provides a chart of connections to configure amplifier 10A with one of seven possible integer gains.
TABLE 1AGainSW1SW2SW4−1closedopenopen−2openclosedopen−3closedclosedopen−4openopenclosed−5closedopenclosed−6openclosedclosed−7closedclosedclosed
The disadvantage of amplifier 10A having binary weighted gains is that the amplifier can provide only 2n−1 different integer gains using n gain channels. Furthermore, because switches SW1, SW2 and SW4 open and close responsive to digital signals, amplifier 10A requires at least one extra input pin to receive the digital signals.
FIG. 1B illustrates a prior art circuit similar to that illustrated in FIG. 1A, the amplifier having three gain channels that are binary weighted. As shown in FIG. 1B, each gain channel has corresponding positive and negative input terminals Px and Mx. Amplifier 10B comprises amplification element 12 (e.g., an operational amplifier) having non-inverting input 14 and inverting input 16. Gain resistors RP1, RP2 and RP4 are coupled between non-inverting input 14 and positive input pins P1, P2 and P4 (respectively). Positive input pins P1, P2 and P4 respectively correspond to gain channels having gains of 1×, 2× and 4×. Reference resistor RFP is connected between non-inverting input 14 and reference voltage VREF. Gain resistors RM1, RM2 and RM4 are coupled between inverting input 16 and negative input pins M1, M2 and M4 (respectively). Negative input pins M1, M2 and M4 respectively correspond to gain channels having gains of 1×, 2× and 4×. Feedback resistor RFM is connected between inverting input 16 and output node 18. To provide binary weighted gains, the nominal resistances of the resistors in amplifier 10B may be chosen so that (1) resistors RFP, RFM, RP1 and RM1 have the same nominal resistances, (2) each resistor RP2 and RM2 has half the nominal resistance of resistors RFP, RFM, RP1 or RM1, and (3) each resistor RP4 and RM4 has one-fourth the nominal resistance of resistors RFP, RFM, RP1 or RM1.
To configure amplifier 10B with a gain of 1×, positive input voltage VINP should be connected to input pin P1 and negative input voltage VINM should be connected to input pin M1. Likewise, to configure amplifier 10B with a gain of 2×, positive and negative input voltages should be connected to input pins P2 and M2, respectively. Similarly, to configure amplifier 10B with a gain of 4×, positive and negative input voltages should be connected to input pins P4 and M4, respectively.
Amplifier 10B may be configured with additional gains by combining the analog inputs in a manner that adds the gain values of the gain channels. Specifically, the gains are added by connecting the positive inputs of the gain channels together to positive input voltage VINP and the negative inputs of the gain channels together to negative input voltage VINM. For example, as shown in FIG. 1B, amplifier 10B is configured with a gain of 3× by connecting (1) positive input voltage VINP to input pins P1 and P2, which respectively correspond to the positive inputs of gain channels 1× and 2×, and (2) negative input voltage VINM to input pins M1 and M2, which respectively correspond to the negative inputs of gain channels 1× and 2×. Table 1B provides a chart of connections to configure amplifier 10B with one of seven possible integer gains.
TABLE 1BGainP1P2P4M1M2M41VINPFloatFloatVINMFloatFloat2FloatVINPFloatFloatVINMFloat3VINPVINPFloatVINMVINMFloat4FloatFloatVINPFloatFloatVINM5VINPFloatVINPVINMFloatVINM6FloatVINPVINPFloatVINMVINM7VINPVINPVINPVINMVINMVINM
Similar to amplifier 10A of FIG. 1A, one disadvantage of amplifier 10B is that amplifier 10B can provide only 2n−1 different integer gains of the same polarity using n gain channels since its gain channels also are binary weighted.
Another prior art circuit that also employs a control input separate from the analog signal input(s) is one in which the control input operates to internally change the gains of the gain channels. An example of such a prior art circuit is a digitally-controlled, variable-gain amplifier. The disadvantages of such a prior art amplifier are that (1) a separate control signal is required, and (2) the precision of the gain channels may degrade when the gain value of the gain channel is changed.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide methods and circuits for increasing the number of selectable gain settings of an amplifier, as compared to that of a binary weighted amplifier, without increasing the number of gain channels.
It also would be desirable to provide methods and circuits for increasing the number of selectable gain settings of an amplifier without requiring use of a separate control signal.

Methods and circuits for selectable gain amplification by subtracting gains


An electric resistance heating element preferably of cylindrical or prismatic shape to be inserted into a test tube, a cartridge or in another cavity has one or more conductors connected to the supply system by the use of one or more electrodes. The conductors are made of a conductive composite material of a polymeric matrix with resistive function which are formulated at such ratio and materials as to achieve an electric resistance with high positive temperature coefficient (PTC) at the operation temperatures. The electrodes may be made of metallic materials. At least a core is made of insulating material, onto which the conductors with resistive function (PTC) and the electrodes are applied.

The electric heaters shaped as test tubes are generally provided with an envelope which is similar for the different uses thereof which are different for the kind of heating element namely heater contained therein. The same can be said for electric heaters shaped as cartridges. Such heaters shaped as test tubes are generally provided with an envelope made of insulating material (normally glass, but also any other insulating material) and have the form of a cylinder with a bottom which is closed by the same material of the cylindrical part thereof, or by a plug. The heating element of the currently used test tubes is generally formed of one or more spirals or windings made of alloys for resistances (for example, NiCr) which are positioned on a core made of ceramic material or mica. Recently, there have appeared in the field of aquarium appliances some kinds of test tubes with a hearing element based on a self-regulating thick film resistance with FTC effect. This technology, which has been used in electronic engineering since several decades in the field of hybrid circuits, consists of producing a circuit by applying one or more conductor inks on a support constituted by a polymeric film, which is then pressed against the test tube inner surfaces However, such technology has the following main drawbacks: high scattering of resistance values of the heating elements of the same lot, due above all to the difficulty of providing a uniform layer thereof, high production costs, the manufacturing process not very clean from the ecological point of view The cartridge heaters are provided with a metallic outer envelope, a cartridge, and made with a cylindrical form, as usual, and also with different prismatic forms.
A most diffused heating element is that constituted by a metallic spiral immersed in the compact magnesium oxide, as in the case of the armored resistances.
A kind of heating element which at the present has a certain diffusion is the PTC (positive temperature coefficient) element with self-regulating characteristics based on ceramic pellets (doped barium titanate). Some constructive products of this kind, having also envelopes made of special materials such as for instance siliconic rubbers filled with large amounts of conductive ceramic powders are provided. The drawbacks of this kind of resistance are: cost and high scattering of resistance values of the single pellets.

Self-regulating electric heating element for heaters shaped as cartridges or test tubes


A counterrotating turbine support assembly includes outer and inner rotors having respective outer and inner blades disposed in an outer casing. A mid-frame is disposed forwardly of the rotors and fixedly joined to the outer casing. A rear frame is disposed axially aft of the rotors and is fixedly joined to the outer casing. A forward support shaft is joined at one end to a forward end of the outer rotor and is rotatably supported at an inner end to the mid-frame by a forward bearing. An aft support shaft is joined at one end to an aft end of the outer rotor and is rotatably supported at an inner end to the rear frame by an aft bearing. An intermediate support shaft is fixedly joined at one end to the inner rotor and is rotatably supported at an inner end to the mid-frame by an intermediate bearing.

Aircraft gas turbine engines include two or more rotors supported by stationary frames thereof. The rotors carry fan, compressor, and turbine blades having radially outer tips disposed closely adjacent to stationary shrouds for maintaining relatively small blade tip clearances therebetween. Small tip clearances are desired for minimizing the leakage of the motive fluids therepast which decreases efficiency of operation of the engine. Accordingly, the several rotors should be supported in bearings as rigidly as possible for minimizing elastic deflections thereof which can undesirably vary the blade tip clearances as is conventionally known.
In one type of gas turbine engine, a counterrotating power turbine is provided downstream of the core engine for driving forward and aft fan blades either disposed at the forward end of the engine or the aft end of the engine as is conventionally known. Each of the counterrotating turbine rotors includes a respective plurality of rotor blades extending therefrom in predetermined numbers of axial stages. The blade tip clearances at the bottom of the outer rotor blades and at the top of the inner rotor blades are affected by in-plane bending moments of the two rotors due to the various forces encountered during operation of the engine, with it being desirable to control such blade tip clearances by suitably supporting the rotors to stationary frames. Stationary frames are conventionally known and used in various configurations for supporting the power turbine rotors.
However, conventional cantilevered counterrotating rotor support assemblies are suitable for use for blade tip speeds up to about 300 feet/sec (91 meters/sec). Higher speeds substantially increase centrifugal loads and vibratory excitation forces which must be accommodated by the support assembly. For example, the outer blades are subject to compressive column buckling forces and tangential loads which are reacted in part in the outer rotor by hoop stresses. The outer rotor is therefore more subject to radial dynamic motion. And, the inner rotor critical frequencies must be more carefully controlled to avoid undesirable vibratory response. Accordingly, improved support of the power turbine rotors to control deflections due to in-plane bending moments, centrifugal loads, and vibratory response is desired.

Counterrotating turbine support assembly


Molded case circuit breaker having collapsible toggle linkage with rectangular cross section knee pin non-rotatably held within open rectangular slots in upper link, bifurcated movable contact fingers loosely guided for pivotal movement about fixed pin to break contact welds, helical compression springs biasing bifurcations against faces of a stationary connector, trapezoidal cross section shaft biasing shaft against a fixed corner of clamping strap and frame, increasing clamping force and increasing tool clearance, operating handle which changes pivot point moving to RESET position, reducing lateral force component of operating springs for reliable return of handle to OFF position, dual stops for movable contact fingers to spread impact forces along fingers, greater contact separation in poles not containing operating mechanism, slot motor laminations providing metal reinforcement to separate arc chamber housing which is cooperatively interlocked with base to distribute structural strength, terminal cover with arc vent extension angled downwardly, extended lug cover with second arc vent extension interlocked to terminal cover and arc chamber housing for no-fastener securement, trip unit armature pivoted in crested surface of molded pocket and connected to trip bar by wire bail for space-efficient location of parts, and accessory devices supported on and secured to trip unit housing have throw-away pin locking.

This invention relates to molded case circuit breakers operable in response to fault currents to open the contacts and interrupt a circuit in which the circuit breaker is connected. While not limited thereto this invention relates to circuit breakers of the aforementioned type which are operable upon high fault currents to limit the peak let-through current. The circuit breaker of this invention is intended to handle moderately high fault current levels which upon interruption can cause explosive forces and expel hot ionized arc gasses. Circuit breakers of this type are known and have generally been useful for their intended purposes. However, this invention relates to improvements thereover.

Molded case circuit breaker having trapezoidally shaped shaft


Fabric softening compositions comprising polymeric materials capable of retaining volatile perfume ingredients are disclosed, as well as methods of softening fabrics.

Perfume is an important component of modern fabric softeners, particularly those delivered through the rinse cycle of a washing machine and those present in dryer sheets and other forms. It is estimated that the cost of perfume may represent about 50% of the overall formula cost of a typical rinse cycle fabric softener. However, there is often a high volume of wasted perfume in the laundry process; instrumental measurements have indicated that about 50 to 70% of the perfume ingredients in a commercial liquid fabric softener typically remain in the washing liquor, and thus are never deposited on the fabrics being treated.
Consequently, increasing perfume deposition efficiency onto fabrics is desirable because it may allow for a significant decrease in waste and cost of a commercial fabric softening product. Furthermore, by improving the deposition efficiency of the volatile ingredients in a perfume, new perfume notes can be introduced into fabric softening compositions and more effectively deposited onto treated fabrics.
In laundry products such as fabric softeners, the presence of a perfume is intended to make the compositions more aesthetically pleasing to consumers. Apart from the point of purchase perception, the perfume additives may impart a pleasant and longer lasting fragrance to fabrics that are treated therewith. However, as noted above, with regard to liquid fabric softening compositions that are added during the laundry process, the major portion of the perfume is often lost in the wash solution during the wash and therefore wasted.
Attempts have been made in the art to increase the efficiency and deposition of perfumes on fabrics. For example, the use of cross-linked cationic vinyl polymers has been discussed and explored in conjunction with fabric conditioning formulations and personal care compositions as a thickening agent, for example in International Patent Publication No. WO 90/12862 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,806,345. Various methods for achieving controlled active release have been developed. One of the simplest of such embodiments is described in Canadian Patent No. 1,111,616 to Young, and U.S. Pat. No. 6,042,792 to Shefer et al., which describe incorporation of perfumes into wax. U.S. Pat. No. 4,464,271 describes encapsulation technology for entrapping softener compositions and fragrance oils in solid particles. An example of such microencapsulation technology is embodied in capsules with perfume, which are broken under friction to provide an instant "burst" of fragrance when the capsules are ruptured.
These types of capsules may behave differently depending on the compositions with which they are used. In particular, they may be disadvantageous in that they can often leak in aqueous compositions containing high levels of surfactants and lower alcohols. As it is desirable to provide perfumed articles that are stable in fluid compositions but still liberate perfume during use, different approaches have been used; for example, building a coating around the particles as described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,137,646, or encapsulating perfume materials together with high C log P solvents to enable the fragrances to remain in the capsules for extended times without leaching from the capsules, as described in European Patent Publication No. 1 533 364 A3. However, there is an ongoing need for the improvement of perfume efficiency and deposition on fabrics and the capture of the more volatile ingredients of a perfume for fabric deposition.
The present invention is directed, in certain embodiments, to a cross-linked polymeric material designed as a perfume "sponge" to retain volatile perfume ingredients. In certain embodiments, the invention is directed to a polymeric material capable of increasing the efficiency of perfume deposition on fabrics such as cotton when used in conjunction with a rinse cycle fabric softening composition.


Articles from a polyester resin reinforced with glass fiber obtained by melt-shaping of the resin mixed with the glass fiber and a polyfunctional compound capable of increasing the intrinsic viscosity of the resin by addition reactions with the end groups of the rein using melt residence times during the shaping phase lower than 120 sec. and temperatures lower than 300.degree. C.

The present invention relates a process for the preparation of glass fibre reinforced articles from polyester resin.
It is known that the addition of glass fibre to polyester resins may improve the mechanical properties of the resins and particularly their impact strength.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,553,157 discloses the production of articles with thick walls by shaping the resin in the molten state, carried out in the presence of polyfunctional compounds capable of reacting with the resin end groups to lead to an extension of the polymer chain. The polyfunctional compound bringing about an extension of the polymer chain counterbalances the thermal degradation reactions which occur during the shaping process of the article.
It is possible to obtain shaped articles with sufficiently high values of intrinsic viscosity to ensure the necessary mechanical properties of the article.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,553,157 also describes the rein glass fibres reinforced articles.
The fibres are preferably used in a quantity comprised between about 10 and 45% by weight of the polyester resin and the glass fibres.
The polyfunctional compounds most preferred are the polyisocyanates. The use of tetracaboxyilic acid dianhydrides and particularly the use of pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA) are also described.
As already indicated, the presence of polyfunctional compounds during the shaping phase allows shaped articles with intrinsic viscosity higher than that of the starting polymer to be obtained, and which, in the case of the polyisocyanates, can have an intrinsic viscosity of 3 dl/g or more.
Regarding the use of PMDA, the I.V. highest value is about 0.84 dl/g.
The I.V. increase depends on the PMDA concentration; it reaches a peak and then decreases.
The highest theoretical value of the increase is obtained when the PMDA concentration corresponds to that necessary to react with all the reactive groups of the resin. The viscosity decreases when PMDA is in excess of said value (the maximum of the IV increase obtained when the PMDA reacts with all the reactive end groups of the resin).
Regarding the shaping of articles reinforced with glass fibres, it has been observed that the polymer intrinsic viscosity decreases considerably with respect to the value obtainable in the shaped articles, and is not reinforced with glass fibres. The above situation practically excludes the possibility of obtaining articles reinforced with glass fibres having I.V. values sufficiently high to show the good mechanical properties obtainable with high values of I.V.
It has been unexpectedly found, and this is in contrast with the teaching derived from U.S. Pat. No. 3,553,157, that it is possible to obtain, by melt shaping of polyester resins, articles reinforced with glass fibres having sufficiently high values of I.V. to give the shaped article mechanical properties of high interest.

Articles from a polyester resin reinforced with glass fibre


A resilient pre-cut fibrous insulation blanket includes first and second insulation blankets. The blankets each have a first major surface with one or more longitudinally extending cuts in the surface that are spaced inwardly from lateral edges of the surface and spaced apart from each other. The cuts only partially sever the blankets to form separable connectors in the blankets that join adjacent blanket sections formed by the cuts. The first major surfaces of the blankets are bonded to each other, with the cuts in the major surfaces of the blankets aligned longitudinally, to form a batt with longitudinally extending batt sections joined by the separable connectors in the blankets whereby the batt can be handled as a unit or one or more batt sections can be separated from the remainder of the batt by hand to form a batt of lesser width.

The present invention relates to a resilient fibrous insulation batt, and, in particular, to a resilient pre-cut fibrous insulation batt including two or more batt sections, that are separably connected together and can be torn away or separated by hand from the remainder of the batt, without the need to use a cutting tool, to form a batt having a lesser width than the pre-cut fibrous insulation batt for insulating a wall, floor, ceiling or roof cavity having a width less than the width of the pre-cut fibrous insulation batt and a method of making such a batt
Building structures, such as residential houses, industrial buildings, office buildings, mobile homes, prefabricated buildings and similar structures, typically include walls (both interior and exterior), ceilings, floors, and roofs that are insulated for thermal and/or acoustical purposes, especially exterior walls, the ceilings below open attic spaces, and the roofs of such structures. The walls, ceilings, floors and roofs of these structures include framing members, e.g. studs, rafters, floor and ceiling joists, beams and similar support or structural members which are normally spaced-apart standard distances established by the building industry. Sheathing, paneling, lathing or similar construction materials are secured to these framing members to form the walls, ceilings, floors and roofs of the structures. While the builder or contractor seeks to maintain the spacing of the framing members in these structures at these standard distances for ease of construction and the insulation of the elongated cavities formed in these walls, ceilings, floors and roofs, frequently, the walls, ceilings, floors and roofs of these structures include elongated cavities defined, at least in part, by successive or adjacent framing members which are spaced-apart nonstandard distances less than the standard distance between framing members. Studies have shown that in a typical residential home, it is not uncommon for 25% or more of the framing members in the exterior walls of these structures to be spaced-apart at nonstandard distances less than the standard distance for such framing members. Thus, there has been a need for providing contractors with insulation batts that can be quickly and easily installed in a structure to insulate both standard and many nonstandard width cavities without the need to cut the insulation batts with a knife or other cutting tool to fit the cavities of nonstandard widths.
The insulation batt of the present invention provides a solution to the problem discussed above. The resilient pre-cut fibrous insulation batt of the present invention includes first and second resilient fibrous insulation blankets. While the insulation blankets may be made from other fibers, preferably, the blankets are made of glass fibers. The blankets each have a first major surface with one or more longitudinally extending cuts in the surface that are spaced inwardly from lateral edges of the surface and spaced apart from each other. The cuts, which may be continuous or discontinuous, only partially sever the blankets to form separable connectors in the blankets that join adjacent blanket sections formed by the cuts. The first major surfaces of the blankets are bonded to each other, with the cuts in the major surfaces of the blankets aligned longitudinally, to form a batt with longitudinally extending batt sections joined by the separable connectors in the blankets whereby the batt can be handled as a unit or one or more batt sections can be separated from the remainder of the batt by hand to form a batt of lesser width. Preferably, the cut(s) in each blanket have a maximum depth less than the thickness of the blanket so that the second major surfaces of the blankets, which form the outer major surfaces of the batt, remain uncut. The outer major surfaces of the batts can be marked longitudinally in alignment with the cut(s) to show the installer where the resilient pre-cut fibrous insulation batt can be separated into sections by hand to form a batt having a lesser width to insulate wall, floor, ceiling, and roof cavities having widths less than the width of the pre-cut fibrous insulation batt
In a preferred method of making the resilient pre-cut fibrous insulation batt of the present invention, a resilient insulation blanket is fed through a cutting station where the blanket is cut transversely intermediate its major surfaces, in a plane parallel to the major surfaces of the blanket, to form first and second blankets of the same width having thicknesses less than the original insulation blanket or, rather than cutting an insulation blanket intermediate its major surfaces to form two blankets of lesser width, first and second blankets of the same width are selected to form the resilient pre-cut fibrous insulation batt The opposed major surfaces of the first and second blankets are then cut or severed longitudinally. The one or more cuts formed in each of the opposed inner major surfaces of the first and second blankets: are spaced inwardly from lateral edges of the major surfaces; are spaced apart from each other; and extend parallel to the lateral edges of the major surfaces and each other. Preferably, the cut or cuts in each blanket, which may be continuous or discontinuous cuts, have a maximum depth less than the thickness of the blanket so that the outer major surface of the blanket is uncut. An adhesive or bonding agent is then applied to one or both of the opposed major surfaces of the first and second blankets and the opposed major surfaces of the blankets are then brought into contact and bonded together to form, the resilient fibrous insulation batt with the cuts in the opposed major surfaces of the first and second blanket in longitudinal alignment. Lines or other marking can then be made on one or both of the outer major surfaces of the batt, in alignment with the cuts, to show the installer where the batt can be separated.

Pre-cut fibrous insulation batt and method of making the batt


In one embodiment, the present invention includes an apparatus that has multiple buffers, including a first buffer dedicated to a first virtual channel of a first virtual network and a second buffer shared among virtual channels of a second virtual network. The shared buffer may be implemented as a shared adaptive buffer, and the buffers can be controlled using different flow control schemes, such as on a packet and flit basis. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Embodiments of the present invention relate to data communication, and more particularly to packet-based communication.
Most computer systems are formed of components coupled together using one or more buses, which are used to transmit information between the various system components. Present bus standards such as the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) Specification, Rev. 2.1 (published Jun. 1, 1995) provide a multi-drop bus in which multiple devices are coupled to the same bus. Accordingly, it is easy to read or write to devices on the same bus.
However, as bus interface speeds increase, bus architectures are moving away from multi-drop architectures towards point-to-point architectures. In point-to-point architectures, peer-to-peer communication becomes more difficult as synchronization, ordering, and coherency of such communications becomes more difficult. One example of a point-to-point architecture is a PCI Express™ architecture in accordance with the PCI Express Base Specification, Rev. 1.0 (published Jul. 22, 2002).
Communication between serially connected devices typically involves buffering data to be sent in a transmitting device and then sending the data in a packetized form to a receiving device. Various flow control schemes exist to control the transfer of data between the devices. However, common schemes consume significant resources and can lead to inefficiencies in data transmission as well as consumption of buffer resources, communication delays and the like. Accordingly, a need exists for improved flow control between devices.

Buffering data packets according to multiple flow control schemes


A method and apparatus are provided for signaling a maximum UE transmitter power to a Node B for use in scheduling of uplink packet transmission in a mobile communication system. The Node B receives uplink channel status information from a UE and a maximum UE transmitter power from an RNC. The maximum UE transmitter power is the lower of the maximum allowed UL Tx power and the maximum Tx power of the UE. The Node B then schedules uplink packet transmission from the UE based on the uplink channel status information and the maximum UE transmitter power.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a mobile communication system for supporting an enhanced uplink dedicated transport channel service. In particular, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for scheduling uplink packet transmissions from User Equipments (UEs) based on information received from a Serving Radio Network Controller (SRNC) in a Node B.
2. Description of the Related Art
An asynchronous Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA) communication system uses an Enhanced Uplink Dedicated CHannel (E-DCH). The E-DCH was designed to improve the performance of uplink packet transmission in the WCDMA communication system. New techniques have been introduced to the E-DCH transmission, including Adaptive Modulation and Coding (AMC), Hybrid Automatic Repeat reQuest (HARQ), and shorter Transmission Time Interval (TTI). AMC and HARQ are existing schemes adopted for High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA). A TTI is a time unit in which one data block is carried on a physical channel. In HSDPA, a Node B (instead of a Radio Network Controller (RNC)), is responsible for uplink scheduling as well as downlink scheduling. Accordingly, the uplink Node B-controlled scheduling differs from the downlink Node B-controlled scheduling.
FIG. 1 illustrates uplink packet transmission on the E-DCH in a typical mobile communication system.
Referring to FIG. 1, reference numeral 100 denotes a Node B supporting the E-DCH service and reference numerals 101 to 104 denote UEs using the E-DCH. The Node B 100 schedules E-DCHs for the UEs 101 to 104 based on their channel conditions. The scheduling is carried out such that a lower rate is allocated to a UE that is remote from the Node B 100, and a higher rate is allocated to a nearby UE to avoid a noise rise measurement at the Node B 100 exceeding a target noise rise.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a signal flow for a typical E-DCH transmission and reception procedure between a UE 202 and a serving Node B 201.
Referring to FIG. 2, the Node B 201 and the UE 202 set up an F-DCH between them in step 203. Step 203 involves message transmissions on dedicated transport channels. The UE 202 transmits scheduling information to the Node B 201 in step 204. The scheduling information may contain the transmit (Tx) power, the Tx power margin, or the amount of buffered transmission data of the UE 202. The uplink channel status of the UE 202 can be estimated from the Tx power and the Tx power margin.
In step 211, the Node B 201 monitors scheduling information from a plurality of UEs to schedule uplink data transmissions from the individual UEs. How the scheduling is performed may vary with the Node B 201, which will be described in greater detail below. If the Node B 201 decides to approve an uplink packet transmission from the UE 202, it transmits scheduling assignment information, i.e. a scheduling grant to the UE 202 in step 205.
In step 212, the UE 202 determines the Transport Format (TF) of the E-DCH based on the scheduling assignment information. The UE 202 then transmits control information about the E-DCH and E-DCH data to the Node B 201 at a data rate and a transmission timing determined according to the scheduling assignment information in steps 206 and 207.
The Node B 200 checks for errors in the E-DCH control information and the E-DCH data in step 213. In the presence of errors in either of the E-DCH control information and the E-DCH data, the Node B 201 transmits a Negative ACKnowledgement (NACK) signal to the UE 202 on an ACK/NACK channel, whereas in the absence of errors in both, the Node B 201 transmits an ACK signal to the UE 202 on the ACK/NACK channel in step 208.
The Node B 201 determines a data rate for the UE 202 by scheduling based on the scheduling information received in step 204. The Node B 201 must allocate appropriate data rates and transmission timings to the plurality of UEs. For this purpose, the Node B 201 allocates resources to the UEs by performing scheduling such that uplink Rise over Thermal (RoT) at the Node B 201 does not exceed a target RoT. Accordingly, more resources are allocated to a UE in a good channel condition in order to improve overall system performance.
Now a description will be made of a procedure for scheduling E-DCH transmissions from UEs in the Node B. As stated above, the Node B 201 performs scheduling such that the RoT of the Node B 201 does not exceed the target RoT and such that capacity is maximized as well. The scheduling is based on the scheduling information received from the UEs in step 204 of FIG. 2. The scheduling information is signaled to the Node B 201 as follows.
One method of signaling the scheduling information comprises steps such that each UE signals its Tx power to the Node B 201. The UE may additionally signal a queue size indicating the amount of data buffered in its buffer. The Node B 201 estimates the uplink channel status of the UE from the Tx power, to thereby allocate appropriate resources to the UE.
This signaling method will now be described in greater detail with reference to FIG. 1. The UEs 101 to 104 are separated from the Node B 100 by different distances. The UE 101 is nearest and the UE 104 is farthest. Thus, the UE 101 transmits an uplink channel at the weakest power level, whereas the UE 104 transmits an uplink channel at the strongest power level. Accordingly, to achieve the highest performance under the same RoT measurement, scheduling is done so that power is inversely proportional to data rate. That is, the Node B 100 schedules uplink data transmission in the manner that allocates a higher data rate to the nearest UE 101 with the lowest transmit power, and a lower data rate to the farthest UE 104 with the highest transmit power.
The above-described scheduling is called maximum Channel-to-Interference (C/I) scheduling. However, if each UE signals channel information only, the Node B may lose flexibility in scheduling due to the absence of information about the Tx power margin of the UE.
Even though many resources are allocated to a UE in a good uplink channel status, if the UE does not have a sufficient power margin, it cannot utilize the allocated resources fully. For example, since the UE 101 is near to the Node B 100 and thus can transmit data at a low transmit power level, the Node B 100 can allocate a relatively high data rate to the UE 101. Yet, if the UE 101 does not have a sufficient transmit power margin, full utilization of the allocated resources is impossible. That is, because the Node B 100 has no knowledge of the available Tx power margin of the UE 101, it cannot make an effective decision as to how many resources are to be allocated to the UE 101.
Another method of signaling the scheduling information comprises steps to signal the Tx power margin of the UE as the scheduling information. After receiving Tx power margins from a plurality of UEs, the Node B allocates resources to the UEs by scheduling based on the Tx power margins in the manner that increases cell performance.
This signaling method also has a distinctive drawback in that the Node B cannot accurately estimate the channel condition of each UE. The uplink channel status of the UE cannot be derived accurately from the Tx power margin information only. As a consequence, the C/I scheduling scheme based on channel condition is not viable.
For instance, when the UEs 101 to 104 signal their Tx power margins to the Node B 100, the Node B 100 allocates more resources to a UE having a greater Tx power margin, and less resources to a UE having a smaller Tx power margin. However, when a UE has a sufficient transmit power margin but is placed in a bad channel condition, the Node B does not actually allocate as many resources as corresponding to the Tx power margin. Even if the Node B does allocate such resources, the bad channel condition leads to failed data transmission and reception, thereby decreasing channel capacity.
Accordingly, a need exists for a system and method for effectively and efficiently signaling UE information for use in uplink packet transmission in a mobile communication system.

Method and apparatus for signaling maximum UE transmitter power information to base station for scheduling of uplink packet transmission in a mobile communication system


Systems and techniques for policy-based access control in content networks are herein described. Content and metadata describing the content may be encrypted by using an access control policy and a cryptographic key associated with the access control policy. The access control policy may be defined with a set of access control attributes. Each node in the content-based network may be assigned a set of access control attributes and a cryptographic key generated as a function of its assigned set of access control attributes. Each node in the content-based network may be configured to decrypt successfully the metadata or the content if and only if the assigned set of access control attributes of the node satisfies the access control policy used to encrypt the metadata or content.

Content-based networking is an emerging technology; because of its youth, little thought has been given to its security. Content-based networking achieves efficiency via reuse, i.e., multiple nodes requesting the same content, whereas most security mechanisms work by restricting access based on possession of some secret. There is a fundamental tension between reuse and restriction, making it non-trivial to design a security solution for content-based networks without compromising efficiency. Further, since content-based networking uses content descriptions (e.g., metadata) rather than node identifiers as the way to move data around a network, traditional encryption and access control techniques are difficult to apply.

Policy-based access control in content networks