Device for cleaning of surfaces under water, such as ship hulls, includes a rotary disc furnished with nozzles for discharge of pressurized liquid against the surface to be cleaned. The nozzles are mounted obliquely in relation to the rotational axis of the rotary disc and are arranged to be supplied with pressurized liquid through a hollow spindle that is concentric with the rotational axis. The nozzles have an inclination that have an orientation involving that the velocity component (Vp) of the liquid jet from each nozzle that is not perpendicular to the surface to be cleaned, has a tangential velocity component (Vt) that has the same direction as the direction of rotation (R) of the rotary disc and optionally a radial velocity component that is positive, i.e. that is directed outwards in relation to the center of the disc.

The present invention concerns a device for cleaning surfaces, particularly large surfaces that have at least partly limited availability for conventional methods of cleaning, including ship hulls and the like.
It is a considerable challenge to develop equipment for large surfaces such as ship hulls, partly due to their limited availability being partly submerged in water. On the other hand, due to fouling of the surfaces with marine organisms that make the surfaces rough and not smooth, a rather frequent cleaning is required. A ship hull covered with layers of such organisms will have a significant increase in fuel consumption as a result of the increased friction between the hull and the water. In this connection it should be noted that an increase in friction of 1% leads to an increase in fuel consumption of 3%.
Furthermore ship hulls are commonly coated with toxic ship-bottom paints containing organic tin compounds that it is highly desired remain in place during the cleaning operation, as it else will lead to poisoning of marine organisms. It is thus a challenge to develop equipment that removes impurities from the surfaces but that does not or to only a limited extent damage any layers of ship-bottom paints present.
Norwegian patent No. 310 902 (Andorsen) describes a cleaning apparatus for marine constructions, primary closing nets and fish farming net cages. The apparatus comprises a rotary disc provided with nozzles along the disc periphery. The disc is suspended in a line arranged to be moved mainly vertically along a vertical surface to be cleaned. By directing the nozzles with a certain inclination a so-called "foil" effect is obtained, which is understood to mean a kind of attraction between the disc and the surface to be cleaned.
Norwegian patent No. 313 746 (Andorsen) describes a cleaning apparatus for marine constructions, mainly ship hulls, offshore construction, fish farming plants, and the like. The apparatus comprises nozzles arranged on rotor members and a cleaning unit typically comprises three or five such rotor members. The main unit is suspending by a wire, chain or the like. According to the patent it is important to reduce the size of the rotor members that typically have a diameter less than 25 cm, to thereby increase their speed, which is assumed to lead to an improved cleaning effect at a given water pressure. From this it seems to be clear that the water pressure provides the driving force for the rotor members. An operational pressure of 200 to 250 bars is mentioned.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,946,692 concerns a device for cleaning of surfaces under water provided with wheels, having cleaning members comprised by circularly, rotary brushes arranged in a manner to be create an attraction force between the brushes and the surface. The device typically has three brushes and the attraction force per brush is said to be about 220 kg, i.e. abut 660 kg for the entire device/vehicle. The brushes are powered by separate hydraulic motors and the rotary speed is typically between 700 and 1200 rpm. The brush diameter is typically 400 mm. There is no mention of supply of pressurized water in this patent.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,574,722, like U.S. Pat. No. 3,946,692, concerns a "vehicle" provided with brushes to clean surfaces such as ship hulls under water. A drawing shows that a little surface vehicle is intended to act as a "buoy" for the vehicle when the latter is moved along a vertical surface of a ship. An important feature of this device is the fact that each brush has a flexible suspension mechanism that shall ensure good cleaning even when the surface to be cleaned is not flat. The vehicle also comprises a buoyancy tank.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,926,775 also concerns a cleaning device intended for use on mainly vertical surfaces under water. The apparatus comprises a set of nozzles (or at least one nozzle) arranged to spray water under high pressure against a surface, the nozzles being arranged on (at least) one rotary disc, the rotational axis of which is mainly perpendicular to the surface to be cleaned. It is particularly pointed out that the nozzles are obliquely arranged to provide the spraying water with a tangential motion component, leading to a reactive force that sets the disc in rotation. In addition one or more of the nozzles are directed away from the surface to be cleaned in order to maintain the apparatus in a position close to the same surface.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,884,642 concerns a movable vehicle for cleaning of metallic surfaces such as ship hulls by application of pressurized water. The movement is conducted by means of cog wheels and chains comprising magnetic elements or sections. The patent is largely occupied with the individual control of the wheels to provide the vehicle with a convenient movability/maneuverability. Cleaning nozzles are distributed along a rotation symmetrical central arm under the vehicle, said arm being arranged to pivot around a central axis (48) through which the water is supplied, such that the nozzles draw circles with different radii. Nothing in this patent indicates that the arm may rotate against the direction of obliquely arranged nozzles, and it is therefore assumed that the mechanism for rotation is the same as described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,926,775.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,425,340 concerns a device for cleaning surfaces under water, utilizing a permanent magnet to attach the device to e.g. a ship hull or the like. The cleaning device comprises an "ultra-high pressure water jet system" and is intended to remove also "coatings" like paint etc. A water pressure of 25 000 psi or 1725 bar is indicated and the system comprises at least one pivotal nozzle. Furthermore the device includes a surrounding sheath that covers the area around the nozzle orifices tightly against the hull in order to collect material that comes loose, so that it does not get lost to the environment. It is worth noticing that the nozzle or nozzles according to this publication are rotating around themselves, they are not mounted on a rotating disc. This feature is evident e.g. by FIG. 5 (rotary part 32) and by column 9, lines 15-16 and lines 30-33 of the description. This publication by the way provides a broad reference to prior art publications in the area.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,048,445 concerns a device for the same purpose as the publications discussed above, and describes "Thruster assemblies" for propulsion of the device/vessel. The nozzles are arranged on one or more manifold(s) that in certain embodiments may have the shape of a rotatable ring. It is mentioned, cf. col. 9, lines 23-35, that the nozzles for this purpose are obliquely arranged, so that the counter force from the water leaving the nozzles under a high pressure, sets the ring shaped manifold supporting the nozzles in rotation with a rotational speed of typically 90 rpm.
There are also a number of cleaner devices for land based purposes with a rotary head for water flushing or spraying, like the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,829,019. This patent describes an apparatus for cleaning of floors and walls and comprises a housing that covers rotating arms furnished with water channels and nozzles for discharging water under pressure against a surface in the form of wall, a floor (terrace) or the like. The rotation of the arms is provided by means of obliquely arranged nozzles on the arms but some of the nozzles may also be directed obliquely in the opposite direction of the rotation powering nozzles. While the nozzles determining the direction of rotation have an angle typically 30° "backwards", the oppositely oblique nozzles have an inclination typically 15° forward. With the presumption that the backward pointing nozzles are not fewer than the forward pointing nozzles, the sum of the force components of the former in the direction of rotation will be larger than the sum of force components of the latter, since the former has a direction closer to the direction of rotation. The force components of the forward pointing nozzles do, however, reduce the rotation to a speed less than what would have been obtained if such nozzles were not present. The apparatus according to this US patent is not suited for cleaning surfaces under water, since the rotating arms provided with nozzles are localized in a substantially open construction and would be surrounded by water that would drastically reduce the arms ability to rotate if the apparatus is submerged in water.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,314,521 teaches an apparatus and a method for cleaning surfaces under water. The apparatus comprises both brush and nozzles attached to a member arranged to rotate and it is mentioned that the rotation may either be effected by means of obliquely arranged nozzles or by means of e.g. hydraulic motors. The apparatus is mainly intended to be controlled by divers and nothing specifically is said about the arrangement of the nozzles apart from the obvious that they must be oblique in the cases where they are to effect the rotation. Liquid is provided from a pump under the surface and in addition the apparatus needs supply of air from the surface to rotate sufficiently easy. The rotating member is hidden beneath a housing that covers all sides of the brush and the member furnish with nozzles, except the side facing the surface to be cleaned.
In short a number of devices for cleaning surfaces like ship hulls and the like comprising both use of brushes and spraying with pressurized water through nozzles. Among the devices based on nozzles some have nozzles arranged on members arranged for rotation, some with nozzles on an arm, some with nozzles on a ring shaped member and some with nozzles arranged on a "whole" disc.
It is a significant challenge to provide a sufficient cleaning of fouled surfaces of a ship hull without damaging or removing parts of the ship-bottom paints applied to the hull. At the same time it is a considerable challenge when transferring liquid under high pressure to a high-speed rotation disc or the like, to establish a liquid coupling that is reliable and leakage free over a longer period of time.

Device for cleaning subsea surfaces such as ship hulls


A connector assembly for mounting a coaxial plug to a coaxial cable includes a contacting ferrule which on one hand engages a cable conductor corrugated tube by means of threads, and on the other hand is connected to the housing of the coaxial plug. The connector is configured in such a manner that at its plug-side end the contacting ferrule constitutes a collet having resilient segments and evincing a conical compression surface which is subject to radial compression against the cable conductor corrugated tube by a plug-side, cooperating compression cone.

Such coaxial cables with a corrugated outer conductor and, where called for, also a corrugated inner conductor inclusive in the appropriately assembled plug connection, are used in various sizes and outputs to transmit high-frequency power in mobile radio networks, broadcasting and TV facilities, radio relay systems, radar and satellite ground stations etc., and are used in large numbers worldwide.
Extraordinarily high quality of assembling is required for the connection between the conductor elements of the coaxial plug and the corrugated outer conductor or inner conductor of the coaxial cable, in order to meet the high electrical and mechanical requirements, especially regarding good contact and substantially loss-free transmission.
As regards the heretofore known connectors of the prior art, an exemplary connection of the outer conductor of the corrugated-jacket cable to the corresponding outer conductor of the coaxial plug is implemented by screwing a contacting ferrule in the form of a seating ferrule onto the outer cable conductor until it comes to rest against the cable plastic insulator. Next the projecting outer conducting tube of the corrugated jacket cable is outwardly flanged by about 90.degree., either manually or using cumbersome assembly devices, whereby said projecting outer conducting tube rests against the end surface of the screwed-on contacting ferrule.
The corrugated inner cable conducting tube is connected to the inner conductor of the plug in the same manner. For that purpose an inner-conductor contacting element is screwed into the inner cable conductor and thereupon a correspondingly projecting end of the inner cable conductor is flanged inwardly by about 45.degree. on a conical portion of said inner-conductor contacting-element.
In both cases the flanging of the corrugated conducting cable tubes serves, on the one hand, to mechanically fix the contacting ferrule or the inner conductor contacting element to the corresponding cable conductor; on the other hand, flanging simultaneously forms the electrical contacting surface. This means that the electrical quality of the connection between the coaxial cable and the coaxial plug critically depends on the quality of flanging.
Depending on size, the assembling of such cable fittings requires 20 to 120 minutes of labor. Accordingly the said connection can only be carried at high costs in time and with other commensurate costs.
Lastly phase compensation frequently requires the disassembly of the assembled connection between the coaxial plug and the coaxial cable in order to shorten the cable for instance by 2-5 mm. This procedure is highly time-consuming as well, because the flanging must be bent back into its initial position in order that the contacting ferrule or the inner conductor contacting element can be unscrewed and the particular cable conductor can be trimmed. Thereupon the particular cable conductor must be flanged again. Additional cost in time is thus incurred.
Based on the above state of the art, the object of the invention is to design a connector assembly in such a manner that the cited drawbacks shall be eliminated, and that said connector assembly can easily and rapidly be assembled and disassembled without recourse to special tools, while meeting both electrical and mechanical requirements with components of simple construction.

Connector assembly for mounting a coaxial plug to a coaxial cable

Rosenberger Hochfrequenztechnik GmbH & Co.


A self-aligning idler wheel assembly for a belted work vehicle includes a spindle having first and second radially extending flange portions. First and second self-aligning mechanisms are associated with a respective flange portion. The vehicle has an undercarriage assembly including a belt tensioning mechanism and a roller frame assembly. The first self-aligning mechanism connects the idler wheel assembly to the belt tensioning mechanism and the second self-aligning mechanism connects the idler wheel assembly to the roller frame assembly. The first and second self-aligning mechanisms provide self-aligning of the idler wheel assembly to ensure that the track belt runs straight and true.

Work vehicles equipped with endless elastomeric drive belts are being utilized in earthmoving and agricultural applications to replace vehicles equipped with metal track and rubber tired wheels. The vehicles having elastomeric track belts offer many advantages over previously utilized vehicles, including less weight and maintenance, lower soil compaction, lower noise levels, and the ability to travel on improved roadways.
Most of the endless track belt assemblies include a plurality of center mounted guide blocks to guide the endless belt as it rotates around the drive wheel, the guide rollers, and the idler wheel. It is important to have the endless belt properly aligned with the rollers, wheels, and guide blocks to prevent excessive contact between the guide blocks and the various rollers and wheels. Excessive contact between these members generates heat and accelerated wear.
One type of vehicle having an endless elastomeric belt and an adjustment means for adjusting the angularity of the belt is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,050,710 issued to B.C. Bargfrede on Sep. 24, 1991. In this patent, an adjustment device, including a plurality of inboard and outboard shims, adjusts the angular disposition of the housing assembly, and thus the inclination angle of the central axis of the idler wheel assembly. Although this is a rather simple method of adjusting the angle of the idler wheel, considerable time and effort is required to insert or remove the shims. The shims also need to be stored in some convenient place.
The present invention is directed toward overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.


A method for reducing at least one of loads, deflections of rotor blades, or peak rotational speed of a wind turbine includes storing recent historical pitch related data, wind related data, or both. The stored recent historical data is analyzed to determine at least one of whether rapid pitching is occurring or whether wind speed decreases are occurring. A minimum pitch, a pitch rate limit, or both are imposed on pitch angle controls of the rotor blades conditioned upon results of the analysis.

This invention relates generally to wind turbines, and more particularly to methods and apparatus for reducing peak loads, deflections, and/or rotational speed of wind turbines such as those that occur in a changing wind environment during normal operation.
Recently, wind turbines have received increased attention as environmentally safe and relatively inexpensive alternative energy sources. With this growing interest, considerable efforts have been made to develop wind turbines that are reliable and efficient.
Generally, a wind turbine includes a rotor having multiple blades. The rotor is mounted to a housing or nacelle, which is positioned on top of a truss or tubular tower. Utility grade wind turbines (i.e., wind turbines designed to provide electrical power to a utility grid) can have large rotors (e.g., 30 or more meters in diameter). Blades on these rotors transform wind energy into a rotational torque or force that drives one or more generators that may be rotationally coupled to the rotor through a gearbox. The gearbox steps up the inherently low rotational speed of the turbine rotor for the generator to efficiently convert mechanical energy to electrical energy, which is fed into a utility grid.
It has been observed that peak loads and/or rotational speeds of pitch regulated wind turbines often occur as a result of wind speed dropping suddenly to a level in which the pitch controller demands a rapid pitch toward minimum pitch followed by a large increase in wind speed. In the worst cases observed, the pitch controller cannot keep up with the wind change and large blade deflections, loads, and rotational speeds arise. In at least one known wind turbine configuration, a time lag is provided to limit the minimum pitch of the pitch control system. However, the time lag is based upon the power output of the turbine and is not always active to limit the minimum pitch.

Method and apparatus for reducing rotor blade deflections, loads, and/or peak rotational speed


Systems, methods, and techniques for assessing driver safety based on noise levels or sounds associated with the interior of a vehicle are provided. Noise levels or sounds associated with the interior of a vehicle over a first interval of time may be compared to indications of vehicle motion over the first interval of time to identify noise levels or sounds at times when the indications of vehicle motion indicate unsafe driving. The identified noise levels or sounds may be analyzed to determine noise levels, sources, and/or characteristics of sounds associated with unsafe driving. Noise levels or sounds associated with the interior of the vehicle over a second interval of time may be analyzed to determine instances in which the noise levels, sources, and/or characteristics of sounds associated with unsafe driving occur over the second interval of time. Alerts may be generated for vehicle operators based on the determined instances.

The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in the background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.
Generally speaking, drivers who are distracted are more likely to drive in unsafe ways and even get into vehicle accidents. Loud noises or certain types of noises or sounds may be distracting to some drivers. However, noise levels or certain types of noises that are distracting to one driver may not necessarily be distracting to another driver, and vice versa.

Systems and methods of assessing driver safety based on vehicle noise levels


The present invention relates to an optical sheet and a method of assembling a liquid crystal display module that is capable of preventing an inflow of impurities on a backlight unit, thereby minimizing screen staining caused by the impurities. An optical sheet installed between a liquid crystal display panel and a light guide member according to the present invention includes a transparent peeling sheet adhered to the front surface of the optical sheet facing the liquid crystal display panel; and a semitransparent peeling sheet stuck to the rear surface of the optical sheet facing the light guide member.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a liquid crystal display module, and more particularly to an optical sheet and a method of assembling a liquid crystal display module that is capable of preventing an inflow of impurities on a backlight unit, thereby minimizing screen staining caused by the impurities.
2. Description of the Background Art
Generally, a notebook personal computer NTPC is manufactured in a notebook size to enable a user to access information during the course of the movement. A liquid crystal module LCM is used as a display device for displaying information in the NTPC.
The LCM includes a liquid crystal display panel and a driving circuit part for driving the liquid crystal display panel. The liquid crystal display panel includes liquid crystal cells arranged in matrix form between two glass substrates and switching devices for switching a signal supplied to these liquid crystal cells. Because the LCM includes glass substrates which can be easily damaged by an external impact, a case is used to protect the outer part of the LCD in order to prevent such damage.
Referring to FIG. 1, a conventional LCM includes a support main 14, a liquid crystal display panel 2 deposited on the support main 14, a top case 10 covering the edge of the liquid crystal display panel 2 and the support main 14, and a backlight unit having a plurality of optical sheets 32, 34, 36 and a light guide panel 24.
In the liquid crystal display panel 2, a liquid crystal is interposed between two glass substrates to which an upper and a lower polarizing plate 42, 40 are adhered respectively, and a thin film transistor TFT drives each of liquid crystal cells (arranged in matrix form).
The top case 10 is bent at a right angle to cover the side surface of the support main 14 and the edge of the liquid crystal display panel 2. The support main 14 and the top case 10 are assembled with screws (not shown).
The support main 14 is generally made as a molding, but has recently been manufactured of a metal such as aluminum Al, which has excellent heatproof against high temperature, in correspondence to a high brightness television or a high brightness monitor. A reflecting plate 26 is located at the bottom of the support main 14, and the light guide panel 24 and the optical sheets 32, 34, 36 are deposited on top of it. The liquid crystal display panel 2 is mounted on the optical sheets 32, 34, 36 in the support main 14.
The back light unit includes a lamp 2O for generating light, a lamp housing 16 shaped to adequately cover the lamp 20, a light guide panel 24 for converting the incident light from the lamp 20 to the planar light source, a reflecting plate 26 installed at the rear of the light guide plate 24, and optical sheets on which a diffusion sheet 32, a lower prism sheet 34 and an upper prism sheet 36 are sequentially deposited.
A cold cathode fluorescent lamp CCFL is mainly used as the lamp 20, and the light generated at the lamp 20 is incident to the light guide panel 24 through an incident surface located at the side surface of the light guide panel 24.
The lamp housing 16 has a reflecting surface on the inside of it to reflect the light from the lamp 20 to the incident surface of the light guide panel 24. The light guide panel 24 is manufactured in the shape of its rear surface (being inclined) and its front surface (being flat). The reflecting plate 26 reflects the light incident to itself from the rear surface of the light guide panel 24 to the light guide panel 24, thereby reducing the loss of light. That is, if the light from the lamp 20 is incident to the light guide panel 24, it is reflected in a tilt angle at the rear surface (being the inclined surface) to progress toward the front surface uniformly. At this moment, the light progressed to the lower surface and the side surface of the light guide panel 24 is reflected at the reflecting plate 26 to progress toward the front surface. The light passing through the light guide panel 24 is diffused to an entire area by the diffusion sheet 32.
On the other hand, the light incident to the liquid crystal display panel 2 has higher light efficiency when it is incident perpendicularly. For this cause, it is desirable to deposit two forward direction prism sheets to cause the progression angle of the light coming out of the light guide panel 24 to be perpendicular to the liquid crystal display panel. The light passing through the diffusion sheet 32 is incident to the liquid crystal display panel 2 via the lower and the upper prism sheets 34, 36.
In a method of assembling such a LCM, the reflecting plate 26 is mounted on the bottom surface of the support main 14, the light guide panel 24 is then mounted on the reflecting plate 26, the backlight unit including the diffusion sheet 32, the lower prism sheet 34 and the upper prism sheet 36 are then mounted on the light guide panel 24, and the liquid crystal display panel 2 is then mounted on the backlight unit.
In the backlight assembling process of such an LCM, an upper and a lower peeling sheet 44, 46 (as shown in FIG. 2) are attached to the upper prism sheet 36 for protecting the upper prism sheet 36 itself and preventing the inflow of impurities from the outside before the upper prism sheet 36 is mounted.
Polyethylene, (a semitransparent material) is used for the upper and the lower peeling sheet 44, 46. In the event that the upper prism sheet 36 (to which the upper and the lower peeling sheet 44, 46 are adhered) is mounted on the lower prism sheet 34, firstly the lower peeling sheet 46 and the upper peeling sheet 44 are peeled away from the upper prism sheet 36, and then the upper prism sheet 36 is mounted on the lower prism sheet 34. A reason why the upper and the lower peeling sheet 44, 46 are removed from the upper prism sheet 36 is because the upper and the lower peeling sheet 44, 46 is of the semitransparent material. As a consequence, the screen inspection of the backlight unit (described later) cannot be carried out.
After the upper prism sheet 36 has been mounted on the lower prism sheet 34, the screen inspection of the backlight unit is carried out. The screen inspection of the backlight unit is performed because of possible inflow of impurities (causing stains), or other damage such as scratches. The backlight unit is inspected in-use, with light passing through the light guide panel 24, the diffusion sheet 32, the lower prism sheet 34 and the upper prism sheet 36 by driving the lamp 20.
After the completion of the screen inspection of the backlight unit, the LCM whereon the backlight unit is mounted, is packed to be transferred to a liquid crystal display panel assembling process. In the liquid crystal display panel assembling process, the liquid crystal display panel 2 is mounted to correspond to the top of the light guide panel 24, the diffusion sheet 32, the lower prism sheet 34 and the upper prism sheet 36 on the support main 14.
In this manner, when assembling the conventional LCM, because the upper and the lower peeling sheet 44, 46 are removed from the upper prism sheet 36 for the screen inspection of the backlight unit mounted on the support main 14, the surface of the backlight unit is exposed to the outside during the job waiting time between the assembling processes of the liquid crystal display panel 2. Due to the external exposure of the surface of the backlight unit, impurities flow in from the outside onto the surface of the backlight unit. Due to such impurities flowing into the backlight, screen staining such as white spots and black spots occur upon driving of the conventional LCM.

Optical sheet and method of assembling liquid crystal display module using the same


A technique is disclosed for reducing collisions of signals occurring on at least one communication channel in an access network. The access network may include at least one Head End, and a plurality of network nodes. Each of the network node is configured to transmit signals to the Head End via the communication channel. Filter parameters are included in selected communication request messages transmitted to a first portion of nodes. According to specific embodiments, the filter parameters may be used to limit the number of responses to the communication request messages which are transmitted on the communication channel. In this way, by limiting the number of responses which may be transmitted at specified times over the communication channel, the likelihood of signal collisions occurring on the communication channel may be reduced.

The present invention relates generally to digital computer network technology and more specifically to methods and apparatus for implementing improved sign-on procedures for nodes desiring to access the Head End of an access network.
Broadband access technologies such as cable, fiber optic, and wireless have made rapid progress in recent years. Recently there has been a convergence of voice and data networks which is due in part to US deregulation of the telecommunications industry. In order to stay competitive, companies offering broadband access technologies need to support voice, video, and other high-bandwidth applications over their local access networks. For networks that use a shared access medium to communicate between subscribers and the service provider (e.g., cable networks, wireless networks, etc.), providing reliable high-quality voice/video communication over such networks is not an easy task.
One type of broadband access technology relates to digital video broadcasting (DVB) networks. An example of a conventional DVB network is shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1, the DVB network 100 includes a Head End 102 which is configured to provide interactive services and communications with a plurality of network nodes or user terminals 120. In order to provide interactive network functionality, the Head End typically includes an interactive network adapter (INA) 106, whose functions are similar to the functions of a cable modem termination system (CMTS), which is located at the Head End of a cable network.
In order for data to be able to be transmitted effectively over a wide area network such as a DVB network or other broadband computer network, a common standard for data transmission is typically adopted by network providers. A commonly used and well known standard for implementing digital video broadcasting and interaction channels is the ETSI standard for Digital Video Broadcasting and DVB Interaction Channels For Cable Television Distribution Systems (herein referred to as the "ETSI standard"). The ETSI standard has been publicly presented by the European Broadcasting Union in a document entitled "ETSI ES 200 800 V1.2.1", on April, 2000. That document is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes, and may be accessed via the worldwide web at www.etsi.org.
As shown in FIG. 1, the interactive network adapter 106 communicates with the plurality of user terminals 120 via at least one downstream interaction channel 117, and at least one upstream interaction channel 119. A plurality of different hardware and software components forming interaction network 107 provides the necessary infrastructure for enabling communication between the interactive network adapter (INA) 106 and the plurality of user terminals 120. The interactive network adapter 106 may also be used to communicate with an interactive service provider 112.
The downstream interaction channel(s) 117 provide a forward interaction path from a service provider to the user. These channels may be used to provide information by the service provider to the user, along with other required communications for the interactive service provision. In an alternate embodiment (not shown) the downstream interaction channels 117 may be embedded into the broadcast channels 115.
One or more upstream interaction channel(s) 119 provide a return interaction path from the user to the service provider. The upstream channels may be used to make requests to the service provider or to answer questions. Typically each upstream channel is configured as a narrow band channel, and is commonly referred to as a "return channel".
In the example of FIG. 1, the service provider may be considered to be the entity which controls portion 150 of the DVB network and provides interactive broadband access to the plurality of users. For example, the service provider which manages network portion 150 may correspond to a cable operator facility, and the network 150 may correspond to a cable network. The components of the interactive sub-system (e.g., 112, 106, 107, 117, 119, 124) of the DVB cable network 150 operate in a way that is comparable with the well-known DOCSIS protocol. The DOCSIS standard has been publicly presented by Cable Television Laboratories Inc. (Louisville, Colo.) in a document entitled, DOCSIS 1.1 RF Interface Specification (document control number SP-RFIv1.1-106-001215, Dec. 15, 2000). That document is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety for all purposes.
As show in FIG. 1, the Head End 102 may also include a broadcast network adapter 104 which forms part of a broadcast delivery system or channel for providing content to end users. The broadcast network adapter 104 may communicate with the plurality of user terminals 120 via one or more downstream broadcast channels 115. Typically, the downstream broadcast channels 115 are configured as unidirectional broadband broadcast channels suitable for carrying video, audio, and/or data signals from a broadcast content provider 110. According to a specific embodiment of the present invention, the components of the broadcast sub-system (e.g., 110, 104, 105, 115, 122) may correspond to a conventional one-way television broadcast network.
As shown in FIG. 1, each user terminal (e.g. 120a) comprises a network interface unit (NIU) 125 and a set top unit 126. The functions performed by the network interface unit 125 are similar to the functions performed by a cable modem residing in a DOCSIS cable modem network. In the example of FIG. 1, the user terminal 120a is configured to provide an interface for both broadcast and interaction channels. Accordingly, the network interface unit (NIU) may include a broadcast interface module 122 and an interactive interface module 124. In a specific implementation where the user terminal 120a is configured as an interactive set-top box, the interaction channels 117, 119 may be used for interactive TV programs. In a specific embodiment where the user terminal 120a is configured as a cable modem, the interactive portion of the DVB network 100 may correspond to an interactive cable network. In this latter embodiment, content from the broadcast content providers may be provided to the cable modems via the downstream interaction channels, and the broadcast channel 115 as well as other components of the broadcast subsystem may be omitted.
According to the ETSI standard, the interactive system 100 of FIG. 1 includes at least one forward interaction path (117) and at least one return interaction path (119). The general concept is to use downstream transmission from the INA 106 to the NIUs 125 to provide synchronization and information to all NIUs. This allows the NIUs to adapt to the network and send synchronized information upstream.
Upstream transmissions from the NIUs to the Head End are divided into multiple timeslots using the technique known as Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA). Each of these timeslots may be allocated for use by different network users. A counter at the INA is sent periodically to the NIUs, so that all NIUs work with the same clock. This gives the opportunity to the INA to assign timeslots to different users.
Typically, three types of access modes are used to allow NIUs to communicate with the INA. The first access mode is based on contention access, which lets users send information upstream during designated contention-based timeslots. During these contention-based timeslots, there is a risk that one or more collisions may occur with other users' transmissions. NIU sign-on operations are performed using contention-based timeslots (commonly referred to as Ranging slots). The second and third modes of access are non-contention based, where the INA either provides a finite amount of slots to a specific NIU, or provides a given bit rate requested by a NIU until the INA stops the connection. These access modes are dynamically shared among timeslots, which allows NIUs to know when contention based transmission is or is not allowed. This helps to avoid collisions for the two non-contention based access modes.
As part of the sign-on procedure described in the ETSI standard, the INA periodically sends Sign-On Request messages downstream to the NIUs. Any NIUs which wants to sign-on may reply to the Sign-On Request message by sending a Sign-On Response message upstream to the INA. However, since the Ranging timeslots allocated to the NIUs (for transmitting their Sign-On Response messages) are contention based, collisions will occur if more than one NIU transmits a Sign-On Response message during the same Ranging timeslot. Typically, when a collision occurs, the INA is unable to identify or decipher any of the Sign-On Response messages which were transmitted by the NIUs, and therefore will be unable to respond to any of the NIUs which sent the Sign-On Response messages.
When Sign-On Response message collisions occur, the corresponding NIUs are required to wait a randomized time interval before attempting to transmit another Sign-On Response message to the INA, thereby further delaying the sign-on process. Moreover, such delays increase as the number of NIUs attempting to sign-on to the DVB network increase. Thus, for example, if a network failure were to occur, the end users may experience significant disruptions in service as a result of the delays associated with the conventional NIU sign-on process.
Accordingly, it will be appreciated that there exists a continual need to improve access network protocols in order to better utilize network resources and minimize service disruptions and delays.

Technique for using address filter parameters to facilitate sign-on procedures in access networks


A method and system for transmitting an aggregated interrupt packet are described herein. The method includes sending metadata from a client device to a host device. The method also includes detecting at least two sets of data from the client device. Additionally, the method includes detecting an identifier for the client device. Furthermore, the method includes generating an aggregated interrupt packet in the client device that comprises the identifier and the at least two sets of data for the client device. The method also includes sending the aggregated interrupt packet from the client device to the host device.

Modern computing devices continue to incorporate a growing number of components. For example, modern computing devices may include any suitable number of sensors and I/O devices, among others. Each component may transfer data to a storage device or processor using a common bus. For example, a universal serial bus (also referred to herein as USB) may transfer data for any suitable number of components.


A probing system for electrical testing of a semiconductor device uses a probe device including probe tips on a surface of a semiconductor die. The probe tips can be fabricated as metal bumps on contact pads having a pattern that is the same as the pattern of contact pads on the semiconductor device. The semiconductor die can provide the probe device with substantially the same thermal properties as the semiconductor device, so that the same probe can be used for testing over a broad temperature range. Further, the probe device can be fabricated using semiconductor device fabrication techniques, so that probe designs can scale down as device fabrication techniques move to smaller dimensions.

Testing of integrated circuit devices identifies devices that are defective and also provides information regarding the yield of or problems in the fabrication process. Preferably testing is performed early in the fabrication process to avoid wasted processing of defected parts and to identify process problems before a correctable problem affects multiple batches. Wafer probing in particular permits early electrical testing of integrated circuit devices before the devices are separated from a wafer. The devices identified as being defective or bad can then be discarded before being packaged. Further, corrections or adjustments to the fabrication process can be made without the additional delay that would result if devices were only tested after being packaged.
FIG. 1 illustrates conventional test equipment 100 for the testing of an integrated circuit device 112 fabricated on a wafer 110. Wafer 110 generally is a semiconductor wafer that includes multiple devices 112. For testing, a prober or other positioning system (not shown) moves wafer 110 or a test head 130 to align a test board 120 with the device 112 currently selected for testing. On test board 120 are pins 124 arranged to match the pattern of electrical terminals 114 on each device 112. When test board 120 is appropriately aligned with the selected device 112, pins 124 and terminals 114 are brought together to provide electrical connections between the selected device 112 and test board 120. Pins 124, test board 120, and test head 130 can then relay electrical signals between the selected device 112 and test electronics 140.
Test equipment 100 is generally designed to avoid or minimize damage to devices 112, particularly where pins 124 contact terminals 114. In FIG. 1, pins 124 are cantilevered to provide flexibility that limits the force that pins 124 apply to terminals 114. Some other similar test equipment designs use spring-loaded pins that similarly cushion or limit the force applied to devices 112 during testing.
A disadvantage of pins 124 being flexible is the ease with which pins 124 become misaligned. When one of pins 124 is bent during cleaning or use, for example, that pin 124 will often fail to make a good electrical contact with the target terminal 114, resulting in a failed test. Further, a difference in the thermal properties of wafer 110 and test board 120 or pins 124 limits the temperature range at which pins 124 will suitably match the pattern of terminals 114. Particularly, pins 124 are long relative to the size of device 112 and will proportionally change in length when the temperature changes.
Damage or abrasion that testing causes on terminals 114 can be a problem even when pins 124 are compliant, and such damage is particularly problematic when device 112 is designed for flip-chip packaging. FIG. 2 illustrates a flip-chip package 200 including a die 210 and an interconnect substrate 220. Die 210 contains a device 112 that has been separated from a wafer such as wafer 110 of FIG. 1. Flip-chip packaging attaches metal bumps, which form elevated electrical terminals 114 on device 112, to pads 224 on interconnect substrate 220. Interconnect substrate 220 then provides electrical connections between die 210 and external terminals 222.
Sharp test pins 124 that contact terminals 114 before the packaging process can leave gouges 216 in terminals 114, particularly when the contacted portion of terminals 114 are relatively soft metal such as solder. Gouges 216 can trap contaminants such as oxidation or soldering flux that weaken joints between terminals 114 and pads 214, resulting in a less dependable package.
Another potential problem in flip-chip packages arises from the non-uniformity of terminals 114. In particular, for a reliable attachment of terminals 114 to pads 214, the tops of terminals 114 and pads 214 should lie in a plane corresponding to the packaging substrate. FIG. 2 illustrates the problem of a terminal 114′ that fails to extend to or make a reliable connection with a corresponding pad 214. The formation process for terminals 114 would typically be the cause of non-uniform terminals 114, but pins 124 can abrade selected terminals 114 during testing and further disrupt planarity, making reliable packaging more difficult.

Probing system uses a probe device including probe tips on a surface of a semiconductor die


The invention allows anonymization of user identifications associated with telecommunication traffic measurement data that is fast, secure, and easy to use with distributed traffic measurements. Acquired user identification is input as an initialization vector to a block cipher. The block cipher is executed in cipher-block chaining mode to output a ciphertext. The output ciphertext is provided for use as an anonymized user identification in place of the user identification in further processing of the telecommunication traffic measurement data.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to telecommunication traffic measurement. In particular, the invention relates to methods, computer programs and apparatuses for providing anonymous user identifications for use in processing telecommunication traffic measurement data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Today, various kinds of traffic measurements—e.g. traffic traces—are routinely performed on both packet switched and circuit switched telecommunication networks. For example in the case of packet switched networks, these traffic measurements may contain e.g. packet headers, signaling messages, and/or authorization log-files. Such traffic measurements are utilized e.g. in examining the status and performance of a network, and to ensure the correct operation of the network. Furthermore, traffic analysis based on these measurements provides valuable data about user behavior and trends in application and network usage.
Typically, the traffic measurements contain identification information that can be used to identify subscribers and the kind of services the subscribers are using. Obviously, such identification information is highly confidential and usually only the network operator is legally allowed to handle it and even then only for certain reasons, such as troubleshooting and accounting.
Traditionally, this confidentiality has not caused problems since such measurements have been conducted by the network operator using e.g. specialized Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH) or Signaling System #7 (SS7) signaling analyzers.
However, there is an increasing trend of outsourcing network management tasks. As a result, traffic measurement data including subscriber identification information of a given network may today be handled or processed by staff external to the operator of the given network. Obviously, this contradicts the above confidentiality requirement.
Given that in most traffic measurement and analysis cases it is not necessary to know the actual identities of the subscribers—rather being able to find out which packet or call belongs to which particular anonymous subscriber is sufficient—the above confidentiality requirement may be met by anonymizing the traffic measurement data by replacing each included real user identification with an unique label. Often, the traffic measurement data contains multiple information fields that need to be anonymized, e.g. telephone numbers, subscriber line identifications, IP addresses, and the like. Even anonymized measurement data can be used to track the traffic from and to a given subscriber: the network operator can provide an anonymized user identification of the given subscriber to outsourced network management staff and ask them to find out, for example, whether something in the network is degrading the performance for the given subscriber.
While there are prior art concepts for anonymizing traffic traces they all have significant drawbacks: usually they are either not secure enough, not fast enough, or not suitable for distributed on-line measurements.
For example, it is known to encrypt the user identifications included in the traffic measurement data using straightforward symmetric encryption. However, given that a user identification (e.g. a telephone number or an IP address) to be encrypted, i.e. the plaintext, is relatively short (typically 32-128 bits), and given that typically there is only a limited set of possible user identifications, symmetric encryption based anonymization schemes are insecure. If an attacker knows or has enough hints to guess from which network a traffic trace originates, the attacker can use known addresses to find out ciphertext—plaintext pairs. For example, in the case of TCP/IP traces, port numbers can easily reveal well known servers in the target network, such as Domain Name System (DNS), mail, and Post Office Protocol (POP) servers. Furthermore, the attacker can launch an active attack if the attacker knows that traffic trace collection is presently ongoing. In the active attack, the attacker starts e.g. a TCP/IP session at a certain time and records that session. Later, the attacker can use a fingerprint of that TCP/IP session to find the same fingerprint among the traffic trace being thus able to gain many plaintext—ciphertext pairs.
Furthermore, it is known to use cryptographic hash functions to encrypt the user identifications included in the traffic measurement data. However, cryptographic hash functions, such as those based on public key encryption, are computationally expensive and thus too slow for on-line anonymizations at line-speed. For example, tests performed by the applicant with a 1.89 GHz Fujitsu SparcV show that, while normal encryption speed of 64-bit blocks with Data Encryption Standard (DES) is 2.5×106 1/s, the speed of hashing with DES is only 47×103 1/s.
In addition, it is known to replace a user identification included in the traffic measurement data with a unique label or the like. Such unique labels or the like may be stored e.g. in a replacement table. However, such replacement schemes are not suitable for distributed on-line measurements, particularly given that such a replacement table is usually generated on-the-fly. While a pre-made replacement table could theoretically be distributed to measurement locations, such replacement tables would be extremely large—e.g. approximately 32 GB for 32-bit IPv4 addresses—impeding distribution of such replacement tables significantly. Thus, this replacement scheme is typically used with post-processing measurement data in a centralized location where it is easy to share the replacement table.
Anonymization of user identifications included in or otherwise associated with telecommunication traffic measurement data needs to be secure, and fast enough to allow the anonymization to be performed on-line, and easy to use with distributed traffic measurements. The anonymization speed is important because, if anonymizations can be done at the rate of line-speed, there is no need to store user identifications temporarily to hard-disk or memory. Distributed traffic measurements are needed e.g. when it is necessary to inspect the performance of various parts of a network. Such measurements are becoming more and more important, particularly as traditional TDM (Time-Division Multiplexing) transport networks are being replaced with heterogeneous packet networks. Locating faults (such as degraded performance) and ensuring Quality of Service are much harder tasks in packet based networks than they used be in legacy telecommunication networks. Furthermore, few common monitoring functions are shared by various vendors. Thus, distributed traffic measurements are usually required to pin point hard-to-catch errors in heterogeneous networks.
Therefore, an object of the present invention is to alleviate the problems described above and to introduce anonymization of user identifications included in or otherwise associated with telecommunication traffic measurement data that is fast, secure, and easy to use with distributed traffic measurements.

Anonymous telecommunication traffic measurement data associated user identifications


A semiconductor structure may be formed by forming a fin on a substrate, forming a gate over a portion of the fin, removing a portion of the fin not below the gate to expose a sidewall of the fin beneath the gate and a top surface of the substrate, forming a first protective layer on the top surface of the substrate but not on the sidewall of the fin, forming a second protective layer on the sidewall of the fin prevented from forming on the top surface of the substrate by the first protective layer, removing the first protective layer to expose the top surface of the substrate, forming a buffer layer on the top surface of the substrate; the buffer layer prevented from forming on the sidewall of the fin by the second protective layer, and forming a source-drain region on the buffer layer electrically connected to the fin.

The present invention relates to semiconductor devices, and particularly to fabricating bulk finFET devices having buffer layers insulating source/drain regions from an underlying substrate.
Field effect transistors (FETs) are commonly employed in electronic circuit applications. FETs may include a source region and a drain region spaced apart by a semiconductor channel region. A gate, potentially including a gate dielectric layer, a work function metal layer, and a metal electrode, may be formed above the channel region. By applying voltage to the gate, the conductivity of the channel region may increase and allow current to flow from the source region to the drain region. FET structures having n-type source and drain regions may be referred to as nFETs, and FET structures having p-type source and drain regions may be referred to as pFETs.
FinFETs are an emerging technology which may provide solutions to field effect transistor (FET) scaling problems at, and below, the 22 nm node. FinFET structures include at least one narrow semiconductor fin as the channel region of the FET and are gated on at least two sides of each of the at least one semiconductor fin. FinFETs including more than one fin may be referred to as multi-fin FinFETs. FinFETs may be formed on bulk substrates to reduce wafer cost and/or enable formation of certain devices in the bulk substrate.

Growing buffer layers in bulk finFET structures

International Business Machines Corporation


A lens for distributing light from a light emitter in a desired asymmetric illumination profile includes a lens body having an input side and an output side. The input side receives light from an emitter, and the output side includes a major total internal reflection surface and a refractive surface. A primary emission axis associated with the emitter is defined through the lens body, and a transverse reference plane is positioned parallel to the primary emission axis. A desired illumination region is located on a first side of the reference plane, and a desired dark region is located on a second side of the reference plane. In some embodiments, the total internal reflection surface is entirely positioned on the second side of the reference plane. In additional embodiments, the total internal reflection surface includes a plurality of substantially planar adjacent longitudinal faces.

The present invention relates generally to lighting products and more particularly to optical lens devices, lighting systems, and associated methods for asymmetrically distributing light into an environment.
Conventional lighting products for illuminating environments typically include a light emitter such as a bulb or light emitting diode (LED) and a lens. Light emitted by the emitter is distributed in a desired pattern into the environment by the lens. In many applications, it is generally desirable to emit light in an asymmetric profile such that more light is distributed by the lens into a desired direction, and less light is distributed into non-preferred directions. Such applications for asymmetric lighting include street lighting where it is desirable to maximize the amount of light projected toward the street, but to minimize the amount of light projected away from the street toward nearby houses or buildings. Numerous other applications where asymmetric lighting profiles are desired from emitter and lens combinations are generally known in the art for both indoor and outdoor applications.
Asymmetric light distribution may be achieved in a variety of ways. For example, conventional devices for projecting light in a given direction include mechanical reflectors or shields that intercept light rays and redirect those light rays in a desired direction. Reflectors often have a polished surface to improve surface reflectivity to more efficiently reflect incident light. However, reflectors are often inadequate for many asymmetric lighting applications because they absorb photons and reduce lighting efficiency. Additionally, reflectors may become hot during use or may become damaged or misaligned, resulting in uneven light distribution profiles. Reflectors also may be expensive to produce and align in a mass production environment.
Others have attempted to overcome the problems of efficiently distributing emitted light in an asymmetric profile by providing a shaped lens over an emitter. The shaped lens may include a transparent or semi-transparent material having one or more exterior refractive surfaces. Emitted light travels through the lens material and is redirected in a desired direction upon contact with the exterior refractive surface. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,618,163 teaches a lens for covering an LED apparatus for illumination toward a preferential side utilizing a refractive outer surface. Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 6,837,605 teaches illumination optics for asymmetrically refracting light transmitted through the optic.
One problem with conventional asymmetric lens devices is the use of primarily refractive exterior surfaces for distributing light asymmetrically. The use of refractive surfaces for the majority of light control often requires additional mechanical shields or reflectors to block light inadvertently distributed toward the desired dark region, or house side, of a lighting system. As such, conventional systems may require two components—a primarily refractive lens and a mechanical shield or reflector—for achieving satisfactory asymmetric light distribution. Additionally, conventional asymmetric lens devices do not achieve optimal efficiency and do not minimize unwanted light emission toward the desired dark regions.
What is needed, then, are improvements in asymmetric area lighting devices, optical lenses and associated methods.


A system and method for metering fuel is provided which includes a fuel supply line and a metering valve in fluid connection with the fuel supply line to control a flow of fuel through the fuel supply line. The valve is movable into a closed position to block a primary flow of fuel and create a leakage fuel flow in the fuel supply line downstream of the metering valve. The system also includes a venturi apparatus fluidly coupled to the fuel supply line upstream of the metering valve. The venturi apparatus is further coupled to the fuel supply line downstream of the metering valve to direct the leakage fuel flow out of the fuel supply line.

With the advent of increased fuel economy and reduced emissions requirements imposed by the government, various fuel systems have been developed to precisely control the amount of fuel that is injected during the injection events of a combustion cycle. In particular, high pressure fuel injection systems have been developed which provide increased control of the fuel injected by the fuel injectors of an internal combustion engine in comparison to conventional fuel injection systems.
Such high pressure fuel injection systems typically utilize at least one high pressure pump that pressurizes the fuel to be injected by the fuel injectors. Fuel systems may utilize a plurality of such high pressure pumps corresponding to the number of fuel injectors, each of the pumps providing highly pressurized fuel to a fuel injector. Other fuel systems utilize fewer high pressure pumps in conjunction with a high pressure common rail. The high pressure common rail may include a common rail fuel apparatus such as a high pressure accumulator. In an exemplary design, one or more high pressure pumps are connected to the high pressure common rail to thereby provide highly pressurized fuel to the fuel injectors of the internal combustion engine. The common rail then distributes the pressurized fuel to each of the fuel injectors.
Some high pressure fuel injection systems utilizes a hydro mechanical actuator to precisely control the quantity of fuel to be admitted to the high pressure fuel pump. In FIG. 1, for example, a conventional high pressure fuel pump system 10 is illustrated. A fuel supply 12 is dispersed in a supply line 14 such as via a low pressure fuel transfer pump (not shown). A hydro mechanical actuator 16 is configured to control the quantity of fuel 12 dispersed towards one or more high pressure fuel pumps 30. The fuel pumps 30 can include a high pressure piston pump suitable for dispersing fuel from a fuel supply 12 to a receptacle such as a common rail fuel apparatus or accumulator 42. An air bleed orifice 18 is provided to disperse air from within the supply, line 14 upstream to the hydro mechanical actuator 16. The hydro mechanical actuator 16 may include an inlet metering valve (IMV) having a variable area orifice operated, for example, by a solenoid. Thus, the IMV can include a variable area sleeve type valve that uses linear position to control the amount of fuel to be pumped through the supply line 14 towards one or more fuel pumps 30. Hence, the IMV is configured such that it may be actuated to a fully closed position in order to prevent fuel from passing downstream to the fuel pump 30. However, by nature of the sleeve type valve design, there may be a natural leakage rate that passes through the clearance of the sleeve valve.
A design of the conventional high pressure fuel pump system 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes inlet check valves 26 which allow fuel to be fed to one or more fuel pumps 30 via supply lines 28. The inlet check valves 26 are configured to open after a pressure buildup within the inlet check valve passage 17. This tolerance pressure may occur, for example, at 7 psi. Thus, when the pressure buildup exceeds 7 psi, the inlet check valve 26 opens to allow a flow of fuel to pass therethrough. The aforementioned pressure buildup may occur prematurely due to any fuel flow leakage from the IMV 16. The pressure buildup in the inlet check valve passage 17 can occur downstream to the IMV 16. Thus, once the tolerance pressure, for example, 7 psi, is achieved, the inlet check valve 26 is opened to allow fuel to be fed to fuel pump 30.
The exemplary embodiment of FIG. 1 illustrates a plurality of high pressure fuel pumps 30 which are driven via cams 32 and followers 34 in order to drive fuel towards outlet check valves 38 via supply lines 36. Again, the outlet check valves 38 are also configured to open, upon achieving a tolerance pressure, in order to allow fuel to pass therethrough towards the common rail fuel apparatus or high pressure accumulator 42. Upon obtaining the tolerance pressure, the outlet check valves 38 open and allow fuel to pass therethrough to be received by the accumulator 42 via supply lines 40.
Hence, under ideal circumstances, the fuel is precisely regulated from the fuel supply 12 via the IMV 16. This would, in turn, regulate an amount of fuel delivered to one or more fuel pumps 30. However, due to leakage of fuel past the IMV 16 into the inlet check valve passage 17 downstream to the IMV 16, the additional amount of fuel flow leakage can pressurize the system. The IMV 16 fuel leakage rate may be measured at approximately 5-40 cc/min. The presence of this additional fuel leakage within the high pressure fuel pump system 10 can produce additional pressurization downstream to the IMV 16 such as within in the inlet check valve passage 17 and at one or more inlet check valves 26. The increased pressurization can be sufficient to achieve the minimum tolerance pressure of the inlet check valves 26 and cause them to open. This will allow additional fuel to flow to one or more fuel pumps 30. Upon operation, the receipt of the aforementioned additional leakage of fuel flow received by one or more fuel pumps 30 will increase the pressure in supply lines 36 toward one or more outlet check valves 38. This additional pressurization created in supply lines 36 can achieve the minimum tolerance pressure of valves 38 required for opening and upon doing so will therefore allow additional fuel to flow towards accumulator 42. This additional amount of fuel can over-pressurize the accumulator 42 thus creating potentially negative effects.
In one example, a diesel engine may be equipped with the conventional high pressure fuel pump system 10 of FIG. 1. When the diesel engine is motored down, such as upon encountering long mountain grades, with a closed throttle pedal, the IMV 16 is commanded fully closed to prevent fuel from entering the fuel pump 30. However, the before mentioned leakage of fuel flowing past the IMV sleeve valve may be admitted to the fuel pump 30 where it is pressurized and delivered to the high pressure accumulator 42. The flow of fuel into the accumulator 42 during closed throttle engine motoring is undesired and causes the accumulator pressure to rise above the target pressure.
When the target pressure of the accumulator is exceeded, several undesirable effects may occur. For example, upon reopening the IMV 16, such as via the throttle pedal, an undesirable combustion noise may occur due to a fuel injection event occurring at higher pressures. Increased pressure may negatively affect components such as by reducing the service life of engine seals or causing other engine components to fail. Such failures may include creating fractures in fuel system components including, for example, fuel injector bodies.
Embodiments of accumulators 42 having pressure safety relief valves may also be affected. For example, undesirable increased pressure, as described herein, may trigger a relief valve to open in order to prevent the system from buildup of excessive pressure. However, continuous multiple and repetitive relief valve opening events, such as those occurring subsequent to encountering long mountain grades, occurring during unexpected openings as a result of fuel leakage from the IMV, can reduce the service life of the relief valve. This can induce increased costs for repair and possibly incur additional damages to the accumulator itself if the relief valve fails prematurely before being noticed. Damage to the accumulator could also adversely affect other components of the vehicle including creating additional damages.
Turning again to FIG. 1, a fuel drain supply line 22 is fluidly connected to fuel pump drain 44 of fuel drain circuit 20. The fuel drain supply line 22 receives fuel from one or more high pressure pumps 30. In some instances, the one or more fuel pumps 30 can operate even when the IMV 16 is in a closed position. Such operation may draw fuel from the fuel drain supply line 22 and pressurize the aforementioned fuel, for example, as the cam 32 enacts the piston of the piston fuel pump 30 in a stroke motion. This, too, can cause over-pressurization of the fuel pump system 10 including over-pressurizing components such as accumulator 42.
Thus, there exists a need to prevent undesirable pressure buildup within the high pressure fuel injection system and to address, at least, the aforementioned problems of the prior art.
The present disclosure is directed towards overcoming one or more shortcomings set forth above.

System and method for metering fuel in a high pressure pump system


A switched gain element has an input differential transistor pair and a gain control stage formed of a transistor quad. The four transistors of the transistor quad are connected through respective impedances to a supply voltage. The junction of the impedances and the transistors are connected through further respective transistors to output terminals. The further transistors are switched on by respective control voltages applied to switchable current sources. The same control voltages are applied to the transistor quad. Thus, when first predetermined voltages are applied a first voltage corresponding to the value of two of the impedances is output and when second predetermined voltages are applied a second voltage corresponding to the value of the remaining two impedances is output. The invention may also be applied to a mixer for switching the gain.

Most communication systems in use today consist of a transmitting station and a receiving station connected by a channel which can be free space (wireless), fibre optic cable, coaxial cable or copper wire.
To improve performance and to optimize the use of a given type of channel, the information signal is usually translated to a higher frequency to be transmitted, sent into the channel and then translated back to a lower frequency to be received. The channel normally exhibits characteristics that degrade the transmission of the signal such as fading, attenuation, additional noise and interference from other sources or other users of the channel.
The transmitter and receiver can be made adaptable to aid in reducing the effects of detrimental channel characteristics by employing circuit components with variable characteristics.
In the transmitter, a variety of transmit power levels should be available to allow the use of increased transmit power when required, relying on the lowest possible transmit power to ensure a reliable signal at the receiver while minimizing power consumption. These additional power levels should not require significantly more power or circuit complexity to implement than a comparable single power level system, nor affect the linearity of the system as the power level is changed.
In a receiver, channel variations such as fading can be adjusted for by increasing the gain in the receiver. However, large signals that are near in frequency to the desired signal can then overload the amplifier or mixer and block all reception. A solution for this is to use a variable gain selection stage early in the receiver to allow maximum gain without overload to ensure maximum dynamic range and ensure proper reception of the desired signal. Variable gain blocks can also be used in front of the demodulator or decision block to ensure a constant input signal level which is useful for decreasing the probability of reception error.
In a transmitter, the power control and frequency translation functions are usually done separately. The power control is often done in the final power amplifier or in a preceding driving amplifier, both of which require significant design effort to maintain linearity and spectral purity of the signal over a wide range of transmit powers. If the power control is done at a lower frequency, increased design effort is required in or before the frequency translation stage, often requiring increased power consumption to maintain linearity.
In a receiver, the power or gain control and the frequency translation functions are usually done separately as well. Usually the gain control is done as close as possible to the antenna to reduce the design effort required in the subsequent circuitry. This, however, often requires significant power consumption and design complexity to maintain a high dynamic range. In addition, it is greatly preferred that the transfer curve of any automatic gain control (AGC) block be linear, which can be difficult to achieve without complex circuitry.


A tensioning apparatus is adapted to tension a strap. The tensioning apparatus includes a frame and a shaft rotatably installed on the frame. The strap is inserted through the shaft and includes first and second portions extending in opposite directions. A handle is pivotally connected to the frame and is operable to rotate the shaft and wind the strap on the shaft thereafter. The tensioning apparatus also include a reeling device and the second portion of the strap is adapted to be received and wound onto the reeling device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a tensioning apparatus including a rotating shaft and a strap inserted through the rotating shaft such that the strap has first and second portions extending in opposite directions, and by operably moving the rotating shaft the first portion of the strap is wound onto the shaft. The tensioning apparatus further includes a reeling device onto which the second portion of the strap is adapted to be wound.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 13 shows a conventional tensioning apparatus including a reeling device. The reeling device is rotatably mounted between two pivotal arms 93 of the tensioning apparatus. The reeling device includes a shaft 91 interconnecting the two pivotal arms 93, a slot 94 extending through the shaft 91, and two cylindrical knobs 92 connected to proximal and distal ends of the shaft 91 respectively. Additionally, user grips the shaft 91 to operably move the two pivotal arms 93. Further, a strap is adapted to be inserted through the slot 94 and wound onto the shaft 91 thereafter by rotating the knobs 92. However, this design suffers from a problem that the strap which is wounded around the shaft 91 would obstruct user to grip the shaft 91.
The present invention is, therefore, intended to obviate or at least alleviate the problems encountered in the prior art.


The construction material on a plant basis PB (preferably miscantus) contains a binder and a mineralizer composed of a defined mixture M2 of calcium carbonate CaCO3 and magnesium carbonate MgCO3 that is prepared in an application-oriented manner, thereby resulting in a substantial improvement of its chemical, physical, and mechanical properties. The weight proportions of the components constituting said mixture M2 are comprised between approx. 60% and approx. 95%, preferably between 2/3 and 9/10, for the CaCO3, and between approx. 5% and approx. 40%, preferably between 1/10 and 1/3, for the MgCO3. The method for producing said construction material is rationalized by previously admixing the mineralizer to the binder, preferably Portland cement of strength class 52.5, directly at the binder plant according to determined specifications to obtain a mixture M1. The weight proportions of the components constituting the mixture M1 are comprised between approx. 50% and approx. 90%, preferably between 6/10 and 4/5, for the binder, and between approx. 10% and approx. 50%, preferably between 1/5 and 4/10, for the mineralizer. In order to improve the solidification process, a fungicidal preparation is added to the mixing water. A universal construction material allowing innumerable applications can be produced from the aggregate {PB+M1}. The range of applications is further enlarged by adding another application-oriented mixture M3 to said aggregate in defined proportions (e.g. gypsum for producing quick-assembly structural panels) or a flow agent in order to allow an extrusion method (e.g. for producing bar-shaped elements)).

The invention refers to a plant-based construction material. The invention further refers to said plant-based construction material and objects that are produced from this construction material.
Many construction materials produced from renewable primary products have been developed and applied in order to satisfy the need for an ecological construction method in accordance with nature. Various combinations on the basis of vegetable raw materials are known in the art.
Straw and clay are historical ecological construction materials that have been used very frequently. However, their application is restricted by the limited stability and durability of this material combination. Thus, timber framing infills made of straw and clay do not meet today's modern requirements with respect to thermal and acoustic insulation.
Furthermore, various attempts have been made to use wood as a vegetable raw material in combination with cement as a sustainable construction material. However, the low strength resp. surface strength and the excessive density and therefore relatively high weight of the resulting components are often problematic. Also, the noise and heat insulating properties are relatively poor due to the high proportion of cement required as a binder.
In the search for a construction material having a maximum content of renewable primary material and good chemical, physical and mechanical properties, tests have also been made with miscantus (China reed). Due to its high silicon content, inter alia, this plant genus offers ideal properties for processing into a stable and durable construction material.
However, the production of a viable construction material on the basis of a vegetable aggregate is only possible if the latter is bonded in the binder matrix. This condition is fulfilled by a mineralization of the vegetable raw materials. Therefore, a qualitative utilization of renewable vegetable raw materials for modern, contemporary constructions is subject to the quality and efficiency of this mineralization in particular.
Furthermore, as is generally known, constructions require the use of different structural components and elements having specific properties according to the intended application. Thus, besides the components for the construction e.g. of walls, there are other elements such as prefabricated plasterboards.
Accordingly, the problem is to produce a universally applicable plant-based construction material, i.e. a construction material that is suitable for virtually all conceivable applications due to a basic composition that is adaptable in view of the intended application and thus of the required properties and, as the case may be, supplementable by specific, also application-oriented additives.
According to the disclosure of EP-1,108,696 A1, a premineralization of renewable fibrous raw material particles such as wood, hemp, and/or reed particles is achieved by means of cement, preferably Portland cement as a mineralizer. Here, the premineralization of the vegetable raw materials is accomplished in a separate process step, after which the raw materials treated with the mineralization liquid are dried. The pretreated plant parts may then be used for producing concrete or mortars. The drawback of this approach is that an additional treatment of the vegetable raw materials for the purpose of premineralization is necessary. An additional process step is also associated to additional costs, and the construction industry is forced to save additional process steps due to the constant cost pressure. Increased costs for ecological construction methods strongly reduce the attractiveness of such methods and cannot bring about to the application of such alternative plant-based construction materials instead of conventional construction materials.
Therefore, according to WO-A-02/12145, a premineralization of the vegetable aggregate is omitted in order to make the production of concrete and mortars cheaper and simpler on the basis of this aggregate and still to obtain favorable properties with respect to thermal insulation, acoustic insulation, bending and compression strength. However, particularly with regard to the selected mineralizer, this might not be accomplished optimally. Furthermore, an adaptation of the construction material in view of different required properties is not being mentioned, so that the fields of application are expected to be relatively limited.
It is an object of the present invention to solve the problem set forth above and to overcome the disadvantages of the prior art.

Method for the production of a plant-based construction material and construction material obtained by means of said method


An adapter which enables a smaller size magnetic disc cartridge to be driven by a disc drive system for a larger size magnetic disc cartridge has an adapter body which is substantially the same as the casing of the larger size magnetic disc cartridge in the outer dimensions and contour. A disc holding portion in which the smaller size magnetic disc cartridge can be removably set is formed in the adapter body. A first opening is formed in the adapter body in a position substantially corresponding to the position of the center core hole in the casing of the larger size magnetic disc cartridge, and a second opening is formed in the adapter body in a position substantially corresponding to the position of the magnetic head insertion window in the casing of the larger size magnetic disc cartridge. The smaller size magnetic disc cartridge is set in the disc holding portion so that its center core hole and magnetic head insertion window are respectively aligned with the first and second openings of the adapter body and the distance between the recording surface of the magnetic disc medium thereof and a reference surface of the adapter body is substantially equal to the distance between the recording surface of the magnetic disc medium of the larger size magnetic disc cartridge and a surface of the casing of the larger size magnetic disc cartridge corresponding to the reference surface of the adapter body.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an adapter for a magnetic disc cartridge which enables a small size magnetic disc cartridge containing therein a small size magnetic disc medium to be driven by a magnetic disc drive system for a larger size magnetic disc cartridge containing therein a larger size magnetic disc medium.
2. Description of the Related Art
There has been known a magnetic disc medium, a so-called floppy disc, which comprises magnetic layers formed on opposite sides of a flexible disc base of a polyester sheet or the like. Information is recorded on the floppy disc by a magnetic head while rotating the floppy disc. The floppy disc is generally contained in a thin casing and is used in the form of a magnetic disc cartridge. Such magnetic disc cartridges have been mainly used as recording media for computers because they are easy to handle and can be produced at low cost.
In the magnetic disc cartridge, the casing is provided with a magnetic head insertion window for giving a magnetic head access to the magnetic disc therein on one or each side of the magnetic disc and the window is normally closed by a shutter member so that foreign matters such as dust cannot enter the casing.
Such a magnetic disc cartridge can also be suitably used for recording image information and the like in various miniaturized systems such as a digital camera without limiting to computers and when a magnetic disc cartridge is used in a miniaturized system, it is preferred that the magnetic disc cartridge be smaller in size. The advent of a smaller size magnetic disc cartridge will allow the miniaturized system to be more miniaturized and promote popularization of the systems.
Recently the storage capacity of the regular size magnetic disc cartridge has been increased by change in the recording system, improvement of the magnetic layer and the like. By applying the technique of increasing the storage capacity of the magnetic disc cartridge, the size of a magnetic disc cartridge having a storage capacity equivalent to that of the regular size magnetic disc cartridge can be smaller. However the smaller size magnetic disc cartridge cannot be driven by a magnetic disc drive system for the regular size magnetic disc cartridge.
When image information or the like which has been recorded on a smaller size magnetic disc cartridge by, for instance, a digital camera is to be processed by a computer, the digital camera must be connected to the computer by way of cables to transfer the image information recorded on the smaller size magnetic disc cartridge to the computer. However such information transfer operation is troublesome.


A programmable logic device (PLD) which includes a phase comparator in addition to the conventional configurable logic circuitry normally present in the PLD. The configurable logic circuitry of the PLD includes a clock distribution circuit which is configured to route a clock signal VCO.sub.OUT generated by a voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) throughout the PLD as a distributed clock signal (DIST.sub.-- CLK). The DIST.sub.-- CLK signal is used to clock the output registers which route data values out of the PLD. The DIST.sub.-- CLK signal is also provided to the phase comparator. The phase comparator is also coupled to receive a clock signal CLK.sub.IN from an external device. In response, the phase comparator generates an error signal which is representative of the phase difference between the CLK.sub.IN and DIST.sub.-- CLK signals. This error signal is provided to a loop filter. In response, the loop filter generates a control signal, which in turn, controls the frequency of the VCO.sub.OUT signal generated by the VCO. The frequency of the VCO.sub.OUT signal is controlled such that the DIST.sub.-- CLK signal is synchronized with the CLK.sub.IN signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an architecture for a phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit. More specifically, the present invention relates to a PLL circuit that compensates for the distribution delay experienced by a clock signal as it is routed through a programmable logic device, such as a field programmable gate array (FPGA).
2. Related Art
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional phase-locked loop (PLL) circuit 100. PLL circuit 100 includes voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) 101, phase comparator 102 and loop filter 103. VCO 101 generates an output clock signal, VCO.sub.OUT, in response to a frequency control voltage provided by loop filter 103. VCO 101 is an analog device which is designed to generate a VCO.sub.OUT signal having a frequency which is controllable within a range about a desired frequency. The VCO.sub.OUT signal is provided to phase comparator 102. Phase comparator 102 is also coupled to receive a reference clock signal CLK.sub.REF. Phase comparator 102 determines the phase difference between the VCO.sub.OUT and CLK.sub.REF signals, and in response, generates an error signal (ERROR) which is representative of this phase difference. Loop filter 103 integrates the ERROR signal, thereby creating the frequency control voltage. The frequency control voltage, in turn, controls the frequency of the VCO.sub.OUT signal generated by VCO 101.
If the VCO.sub.OUT signal lags in phase with respect to the CLK.sub.REF signal, then phase comparator 102 generates an ERROR signal having a first logic level (e.g., V.sub.CC). Loop filter 103 integrates this ERROR signal to create the frequency control voltage. This frequency control voltage, when applied to VCO 101, causes the frequency of the VCO.sub.OUT signal to increase, thereby causing the VCO.sub.OUT signal to gain in phase with respect to the CLK.sub.REF signal.
Similarly, if the VCO.sub.OUT signal leads in phase with respect to the CLK.sub.REF signal, then phase comparator 102 generates an ERROR signal having a second logic level (e.g., V.sub.SS). Loop filter 103 integrates this ERROR signal to create the frequency control voltage. This frequency control voltage, when applied to VCO 101, causes the frequency of the VCO.sub.OUT signal to decrease, thereby causing the CLK.sub.REF signal to gain in phase with respect to the VCO.sub.OUT signal.
In the foregoing manner, PLL circuit 100 continuously adjusts the frequency of the VCO.sub.OUT signal to eliminate any phase difference between the CLK.sub.REF and VCO.sub.OUT signals. The operating parameters of VCO 101, phase comparator 102 and loop filter 103 are selected to provide a stable closed loop control system. As a result, PLL circuit 100 ultimately eliminates the phase difference between the VCO.sub.OUT and CLK signals. At this time, the VCO.sub.OUT and CL.sub.REF signals will be matched in both frequency and phase (i.e., synchronized). Under these conditions, PLL circuit 100 is said to be "locked". PLL circuit 100 remains locked by continual small adjustments of VCO 101 based on the feedback received from phase comparator 102 and loop filter 103.
One application of PLL circuit 100 is to compensate for clock distribution delays which occur within application specific integrated circuits (ASICs).
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a conventional ASIC 200 which operates in response to an input clock signal CLK.sub.IN. The CLK.sub.IN signal is routed through an input buffer circuit 201 to internal circuitry 202 of the ASIC. While traveling through internal circuitry 202, the CLK.sub.IN signal experiences a clock distribution delay (t.sub.dd) thereby resulting in a distributed clock signal DIST.sub.-- CLK. The DIST.sub.-- CLK signal clocks data values D.sub.IN through output register 203 as output data values D.sub.OUT. A clock-to-out delay (t.sub.co) exists from the time the DIST.sub.-- CLK signal is applied to output register 203 until the time that a corresponding data value D.sub.OUT is provided out of output register 203.
FIG. 3 is a waveform diagram illustrating CLK.sub.IN signal 301, DIST.sub.-- CLK signal 302 and D.sub.OUT signal 303, as well as the clock distribution delay t.sub.dd and the clock-to-out delay, t.sub.co. As illustrated in FIG. 3, the clock distribution delay, t.sub.dd and the clock-to-out delay t.sub.co are cumulative, such that the total delay (t.sub.total) from the time that the CLK.sub.IN signal is received until the time that the data value D.sub.OUT is output is equal to t.sub.dd plus t.sub.co.
In order to reduce the total delay t.sub.total, certain ASICs, such as ASIC 200, have implemented an on-chip PLL circuit in the manner illustrated in FIG. 4. In this circuit, VCO 101 provides the VCO.sub.OUT signal to internal circuitry 202. The VCO.sub.OUT signal undergoes the previously described clock distribution delay t.sub.dd, thereby creating the distributed clock signal, DIST.sub.-- CLK. The DIST.sub.-- CLK signal is used to clock data values D.sub.OUT out of output register 203.
The DIST.sub.-- CLK signal is also provided to an input terminal of phase comparator 102. The other input terminal of phase comparator 102 is coupled to receive the CLK.sub.IN signal from input buffer 201. In response, phase comparator 102 generates an ERROR signal that is representative of the phase difference between the CLK.sub.IN and DIST.sub.-- CLK signals. This ERROR signal is integrated by loop filter 103 to create the frequency control voltage. The frequency control voltage, in turn, controls the frequency of the VCO.sub.OUT signal generated by VCO 101. The VCO.sub.OUT signal is controlled such that the DIST.sub.-- CLK signal becomes synchronized with the CLK.sub.IN signal.
FIG. 5 is a waveform diagram illustrating CLK.sub.IN signal 501, VCO.sub.OUT signal 502, DIST.sub.-- CLK signal 503 and D.sub.OUT signal 504 as generated within ASIC 200 of FIG. 4. As previously stated, the PLL circuitry causes DIST.sub.-- CLK signal 503 to be synchronized with CLK.sub.IN signal 501. As a result, the total delay t.sub.total from the time that the CLK.sub.IN signal 501 is received until the data value D.sub.OUT is output is equal to the clock-to-out time t.sub.co of output register 203. The clock distribution delay t.sub.dd is effectively hidden by causing the VCO.sub.OUT signal 502 to lead the DIST.sub.-- CLK signal 503 by a time period which is exactly equal to the clock distribution delay t.sub.dd.
It is possible to implement a PLL circuit on ASIC 200 because the desired operating frequency of ASIC 200 is well defined. The operating frequency of ASIC 200 is selected during the design of the ASIC. VCO 101, phase comparator 102 and loop filter 103 are designed to operate at this predetermined operating frequency. For example, ASIC 200 may be designed to operate at 100 MHz. In such an example, VCO 101 might generate a VCO.sub.OUT signal which varies between 90 and 110 MHz (i.e., 100 MHz +/-10 percent). The operating frequency of ASIC 200 could not subsequently be changed to 50 MHz because VCO 101 is not capable of generating an appropriate VCO.sub.OUT clock signal.
Field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) are programmable logic devices that can be configured to perform different logic functions. The operating frequency of an FPGA is not limited in the same manner as the operating frequency of an ASIC. That is, an FPGA is a digital circuit that is designed to be operated in response to many different input clock frequencies. Because PLL circuits are limited to operating within a relatively narrow range of frequencies, it is not practical to implement a PLL circuit on the same chip as an FPGA. Implementing a PLL circuit on an FPGA would undesirably limit the operating frequency of the FPGA to the operating frequency of the PLL circuit.
An alternative would be to include a mechanism on the FPGA to modify the operating frequency of the PLL circuit. However, the programmable mechanisms available in an FPGA are digital in nature. As a result, selected circuit elements would have to be either connected or disconnected using transistor switches to configure different PLL circuits when the FPGA is operated at different frequencies. This method of digital configuration is inappropriate for making the fine adjustments required to modify the operating frequency of a PLL circuit.
For the foregoing reasons, PLL circuits have not typically been implemented on the same chips as FPGAs.
In the instances where PLL circuits have been used with FPGAs, the entire PLL circuit (i.e., VCO 101, phase comparator 102 and loop filter 103) has been located on a chip which is separate from the FPGA chip. However, the delays resulting from transmitting the various signals across the FPGA chip interface cause a loss in performance.
It would therefore be desirable to have an improved method and structure for operably coupling a PLL circuit with an FPGA.

Phase-locked loop architecture for a programmable logic device