Provided is a high-manganese hot-dip aluminum-coated steel sheet comprising: a base steel sheet containing, by weight, 5% to 35% of Mn, 0.3 to 6% of Al, 0.1 to 1.2% of Si, the balanced amount of Fe, and inevitable impurities; a hot-dip aluminum-coated layer, formed on a surface of the base steel sheet, containing, by weight, 3 to 12% of Si and the balanced amount of Al, and inevitable impurities; and an alloy layer, 0.1 to 10 μm in thickness with a Fe—Al—Si—Mn-based alloy phase on an interface between the base steel sheet and the hot-dip aluminum-coated layer, containing, by weight, 40 to 70% of Al, 2 to 13% of Si, 3 to 9% of Mn, the balance amount of Fe, and inevitable impurities.

In order to improve the fuel efficiency of automobiles, reducing the weight of automobile bodies has emerged as an important issue. To meet this requirement, many kinds of high strength automotive steels have been developed. Most steel sheets have a relationship of an inverse proportion in which an increase in strength reduces ductility, which, thus, entails many restrictions and cost increases in processing. A lot of studies have been made into improving the ductility of high strength steels, and an austenitic twinning induced plasticity (TWIP) steel which remarkably improves ductility by configuring 5 to 35% of manganese in steel such that TWIN is induced during plastic deformation has been proposed.
Meanwhile, manganese has a high ionization tendency, and steel having a high content of manganese is more easily corroded than general steel. Among various methods of protection against corrosion, metal plating is an effective method of protecting steel.
A hot-dip galvanized steel sheet is known as a sheet having metal plating to provide corrosion resistance to a high manganese steel material. For example, Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2007-0067593 discloses a coated steel sheet having improved corrosion resistance by forming a hot-dip galvanized layer or an alloy hot-dip galvanized layer on a base steel sheet including a large amount of manganese. Also, Korean Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 2012-0048399 discloses a technique of forming a Mn—Ni—Fe—Al—Si—Zn alloy phase to improve coating adhesion of a base steel sheet including a large amount of manganese.

High-manganese hot-dip aluminum-coated steel sheet having excellent coating adhesion


A precision high-pressure control assembly for supercritical fluids comprises a continuous flow system having a pressure control loop which includes a source of fluid communicating with a piston driven pump. A pressure sensor monitors the pressure of the supercritical fluid in the outlet line of the pump. A pressure controller has an input for receiving a signal relating to the pressure sent by the pressure sensor and the pressure controller yields an electronic output signal to an electropneumatic regulator. A source of air communicates with the electropneumatic regulator to provide pressurized regulated driver air directed to the pump. The electropneumatic regulator controls the regulated driver air pressure of the pump in accordance with the signal received from the pressure controller. The piston head of the pump is in a cryogenic chamber to minimize flash and cavitation.

The present invention relates to improved assembly or system for the control of a pump to increase and closely maintain the desired pressure for a supercritical fluid.
The critical point for a substance is the temperature and pressure where the liquid and vapor phases exist in equilibrium. Above the critical point, the supercritical range, the vapor will have the high densities of a liquid but the diffusion coefficient of a vapor. The vapor looks like a "gas" but acts like a "liquid" and is called a supercritical fluid which has the superior dissolving and extracting properties of a liquid.
Supercritical fluids may function as a superior media for chemical reactions. Once a supercritical reaction is complete the fluid is vented to leave just the reaction product. Supercritical fluid reactions offer enhanced reaction rates and selectivity. Additionally, supercritical fluids technology may be used for chromagraphy and infusion as well as close pressure control or processing within the supercritical range.
Various attempts have been made to provide controls for supercritical fluids. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,684,465 relates to an apparatus for analyzing a process stream via supercritical fluid chromatography wherein the monitoring and control functions are related to controlling the flow rate. The '465 patent is an auto sampler which uses only one pump cycle and thus does not involve a continuous flow.

Precision high pressure control assembly


A radiant heating apparatus for deployment within an animal body to radiate heat-producing electromagnetic energy into the body includes an antenna mounted on a catheter element and connected to an electrical transmission line having first and second conductors for feeding electrical current from a source to the antenna. The apparatus has the improvement in which the antenna comprises a first radiating element carried on the catheter element and extending from an antenna feed junction in a first direction along a first elongation axis. The first radiating element is connected to the first transmission line conductor at the feed junction and presents a first selected impedance to the feed junction. A second radiating element is carried on the catheter element and extends from the feed junction in a second direction opposite to the first direction along the first axis. The second radiating element is connected to the second transmission line conductor and presents a second selected impedance to the feed junction. The first and second radiating elements radiate electromagnetic energy outwardly from the feed junction upon being excited from the transmission line with alternating electrical current within a selected frequency range. The first and second radiating elements are arranged for presenting the first and second impedances and for providing the radiation substantially independently of the length of the catheter element inserted within the animal body beyond the full insertion of the first or second radiating elements within the animal body.. This invention was made in part with government support under contract number NIH/NC1 R01 CA23549 awarded by the National Institute of Health. The government has certain limited rights in the invention.

The invention relates generally to the field of non-surgical treatment techniques and, in particular, to such techniques used for hyperthermia treatment of the prostate.
More particularly, the invention provides an improved energy-radiating instrument for intracavity use to heat body tissue selectively.
Prostatic disease, malignant or benign, is relatively common in men over 50 years of age. More than 90% of all men develop benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) by the eighth decade of life. It is the most common cause of urinary obstruction in men, and 10-20% of men will require prostatic surgery at some time in their lives to relieve obstructive symptoms. Presently, the treatment of choice for symptomatic BPH is surgery. That many patients suffering from BPH are elderly and may not be candidates for surgery, however, suggests that non-surgical alternatives for therapy warrant consideration.
Non-surgical treatments for BPH include medications such as alpha-adrenergic antagonists, 5-.alpha.reductase blockers, and hormones as well as mechanical dilatation. Recently, hyperthermia has been suggested as a possible treatment for BPH. Although the precise mechanism by which hyperthermia causes cell death is not fully understood, heat is known to disrupt both the cellular membrane and nuclear function. Although the biological rationale for non-surgically treating malignant tumors with hyperthermia is well established, clinical evidence has recently begun to suggest that hyperthermia may also be useful in the management of symptomatic (BPH). The anatomical location of the prostate permits various approaches to be used for treating localized prostatic disease with hyperthermia. Intracavity approaches to the prostate are possible through either the rectum or the urethra.
The transrectal approach is preferable for treating prostatic cancers because the rectum can accommodate a larger instrument which in turn can heat a larger volume of tissue. Other advantages to approaching the prostate through the rectum are that most prostatic cancers lie in the posterior portion of the prostate and are therefore most accessible transrectally. The urethra offers an easily accessible central location in the prostate for monitoring temperature. Most transrectal instrument designs feature water cooling to prevent damage to the rectal mucosa.
On the other hand, while transrectal hyperthermia instruments are advantageous for treating large prostatic lesions such as cancer, the transurethral approach has significant advantages for treating BPH. First, water-cooled transrectal instruments deliver a maximum temperature several millimeters beneath the rectal mucosa and in the posterior prostate, whereas transurethral microwave instruments deliver maximum temperature periurethrally and concentrate the hyperthermia around the symptomatic lesion. Secondly, transurethral instruments can be easily localized within the prostate using a balloon catheter and/or imaging techniques. This is more efficient than transrectal instruments which must be properly "aimed" at the prostatic lesion. Finally, the transurethral approach is less likely to cause complications resulting from damages to the rectal mucosa.
One problem facing known techniques for treating the prostate with hyperthermia is that the performance of known microwave radiating instruments, e.g. employing antennas, is a function of insertion depth. For optimum radiation, the antenna is to have antenna sections that are equal in length and that correspond to a quarter wavelength in the composite tissue/catheter medium. In typical practice, however, the length of one antenna section is dependent upon the depth to which the antenna is inserted into the patient. This insertion depth is determined by the clinical situation.
When insertion depth is not ideal based on theoretical calculations governing the operation of known transurethral microwave instruments, several problems are encountered. Antenna performance can be reduced due to increased reflected power at the antenna junction, which results in increased power requirements and ohmic heating of the antenna feedline. Clinically, this often results in pain for the patient, particularly at the entrance site of the catheter which the instrument employs to display the antenna sections. In severe situations, ohmic heating of the antenna feed-line can damage the patient's external sphincter making it difficult or impossible for the patient to voluntarily obstruct urine flow. Another problem is that as insertion depth is changed, the impedances presented by the antenna sections become unbalanced. This causes one antenna section to radiate preferentially, and displaces the heating pattern away from the desired pattern that occurs with balanced radiation.
It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide a microwave hyperthermia instrument for intracavity use that radiates energy independently of insertion depth.
It is another object of the invention to provide such an instrument that limits the area over which energy is radiated.
It is still another object of the invention to provide such an apparatus that can be precisely positioned within a patient.
A further object is to provide a transurethral instrument having the foregoing features.
Other objects of the invention will, in part, be obvious and will, in part, appear hereinafter.

Microwave applicator for transurethral hyperthermia


A nitrogen oxide absorbing unit, a nitrogen oxide absorbing liquid extraction line, a nitrogen oxide absorbing liquid heating/regenerating unit, a released gas line, and a regenerated liquid discharge line are provided. The nitrogen oxide absorbing unit is configured to absorb and remove nitrogen oxides in exhaust gas with nitrogen oxide absorbing liquid by introducing the exhaust gas containing nitrogen oxides and carbon dioxide. Through the nitrogen oxide absorbing liquid extraction line, the circulating nitrogen oxide absorbing liquid is extracted from a nitrogen oxide absorbing liquid circulation line. The nitrogen oxide absorbing liquid heating/regenerating unit is configured to obtain released gas containing at least nitrogen monoxide and carbon dioxide and nitrogen oxide absorbing liquid regenerated liquid by subjecting the nitrogen oxide absorbing liquid to heating and regeneration treatment. Through the released gas line, exhaust gas from the nitrogen oxide absorbing unit is introduced to the released gas.

In order to remove CO2 from combustion exhaust gas (hereinafter referred to as "exhaust gas") generated from combustion equipment (for example, a boiler and a gas turbine), the following technology has been proposed. That is, the exhaust gas is drawn to a CO2 absorbing column, and is brought into contact with CO2 absorbing liquid so that the CO2 absorbing liquid absorbs CO2 in the exhaust gas. The CO2 absorbing liquid having absorbed CO2 is sent to an absorbing liquid regeneration column, and is heated with steam generated from a reboiler. Accordingly, CO2 is released, and CO2 having high purity is recovered. Also, the CO2 absorbing liquid is regenerated, and is sent to the CO2 absorbing column. In this manner, the CO2 absorbing liquid is circulated and reused.
Further, for example, in a case where nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is contained in the exhaust gas exhausted from the combustion equipment, there is a problem in that components caused by NO2 in the exhaust gas is accumulated in the CO2 absorbing liquid. With this problem, frequency of a reclaiming operation for removing the accumulated components and regenerating the CO2 absorbing liquid is increased, and operation cost is increased. As a countermeasure, there has been proposed a process for removing nitrogen oxides by installing a nitrogen oxide removing device, which removes nitrogen oxides in the exhaust gas, on upstream of the CO2 recovery device (Patent Document 1). Further, there has also been proposed a process for removing nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides in the exhaust gas by an amine compound and performing decomposition treatment (Patent Document 2).

Exhaust gas treatment device and CO2 recovery device using same

Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Engineering, Ltd.


This invention provides novel methods for creation of patterned lipid bilayer membranes as well as methods for refunctionalization of such patterned membranes with selected components. Such components optionally comprise, e.g., lipid bilayer membranes (which optionally comprise specific proteins), proteins, non-biologic moieties, etc.

The construction and use of various types of biological micro-arrays has greatly expanded in recent years. For example, use of DNA micro-arrays has facilitated such procedures as analysis of gene expression, sequencing, genomic analysis, etc., through increases in throughput and the like. Additionally, some types of protein micro-arrays that include, e.g., antibodies, can be synthesized and used for antigen screening, etc. However, construction of micro-arrays involving membranes (e.g., lipid bilayers) has lagged behind development of other types of micro-arrays. Additionally, construction of more finely tuned and robust protein arrays, especially those involving membrane-bound or membrane-associated proteins, has also proven problematic.
A welcome addition to the art would be a convenient, stable method of creating micro-arrays of lipid bilayers and of creating micro-arrays of lipid bilayers comprising such additions as proteins (especially membrane bound proteins), non-biological moieties, etc. The present invention provides these and other benefits which will be apparent upon examination of the following.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Direct micro-patterning of lipid bilayers using UV light and selected uses thereof

The Regents of the University of California


A respiratory program is disclosed which fully integrates the development and maintenance of a workplace respiratory protection program. The respiratory program (i) provides the forms which are useful in developing and maintaining a workplace respiratory protection program, (ii) facilitates the training of employees which is necessary to ensure that the workplace respiratory protection program is effective, (iii) includes the database which is necessary to provide all of the knowledge required during the development and maintenance of a workplace respiratory protection program, (iv) permits customization of the workplace respiratory protection program, (v) allows the employer and employees to read the knowledge provided by a fully informative workplace respiratory protection program, and (vi) assists the employer in preparing for an audit of the workplace respiratory protection program.

Government regulatory bodies, such as the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in the United States of America, and standards setting organizations, such as the Canadian Standards Administration (CSA) in Canada, promulgate regulations and establish standards intended to control the safety of the workplaces provided by employers to their employees. For example, one such regulation promulgated by OSHA requires employers to establish respiratory protection programs. This regulation is intended to reduce exposure to employees against such airborne contaminants as occupational dusts, fumes, mists, radionuclides, gases, and vapors. Where feasible, effective engineering controls are to be implemented in order to maintain such airborne contaminants at levels which are considered to be non-hazardous to employees. However, where effective engineering controls are not feasible, or while such engineering controls are being designed, implemented, and evaluated, use of respirators may be required in order to protect employees from exposure to these airborne contaminants.
In the past, there have been numerous problems connected with workplace respiratory protection programs. The development of such workplace respiratory protection programs has involved haphazard and non-structured searches for the various governmental regulations and standards which impact respiratory protection in a workplace and for the respirators and standard operating procedures which must be adopted to assure compliance with the applicable governmental regulations and standards. The development of the workplace respiratory protection program to ensure compliance with the applicable governmental regulations and standards usually also requires the accumulation and maintenance of a great many forms. These forms may include, for example, medical questionnaires, requests for medical clearance, fit test results, exposure assessments, various evaluation forms, and the like. Once the workplace respiratory protection program has been developed, this program must be maintained in order to assure continuing compliance with the applicable governmental regulations and standards.
Moreover, responsibility within the workplace for the development and maintenance of the workplace respiratory protection program may be delegated to a great many people, may be decentralized, and may not be clearly defined. The forms created during both the development and the maintenance of the workplace respiratory protection program typically are filled out by a great many people and are stored in a great many locations within a workplace, which can make finding these records difficult. The documentation, which relates to the respirators and which are approved for each employee, for each type of job within the workplace, for each workplace location, and for each type of contaminant to which employees may be exposed, may also be scattered throughout a workplace. Standard operating procedures, such as those relating to cleaning, inspection, and training, may not be easily accessible. Training requirements and procedures with respect to the use and maintenance of respirators may not be consistently and centrally controlled within a workplace.
Furthermore, workplaces are frequently audited to assure that the employer is in compliance with the applicable governmental regulations and standards. Because the forms and records used in the workplace respiratory protection program are typically decentralized and may be scattered throughout a workplace, it may be extremely difficult for the employer to prepare for an audit. Failure to assure the auditor that the employer is in compliance with governmental regulations and standards can lead to the imposition of fines and other penalties.
While some efforts have been made in the past in an attempt to manage compliance with various governmental regulations and standards relating to health and safety, such efforts have not been adequate and have not involved complete workplace respiratory protection programs. Thus, software application programs exist which allow the users thereof to create and maintain databases containing certain employee records relating to health and safety. These records may include medical tests, physical examinations, accident and illness reports, and the treatments prescribed as a result of the reported accidents and illnesses. These records allow accidents and illnesses to be tracked and, hopefully, managed. Some software application programs assist the user in filling out the forms required by government regulators for the reporting of employee accidents and illnesses. Some software application programs assist the user in maintaining records relating to hygiene and to workplace safety training.
It has even been known to integrate one or more of these software application programs with each other and with software application programs which allow maintenance of Material Safety Data Sheets and records related to hazardous materials. There are also software application programs which allow employers to monitor and track employee demographics, injuries and illnesses, worker's compensation claims, the workplace environment, employee medical health, and hazardous materials in the workplace.
However, such software application programs have substantial problems. For example, none of these software application programs relate to respiratory protection, and none of these software application programs fully integrate the development and maintenance of a workplace respiratory protection program for the protection of employees in the workplace. Accordingly, none of these software application programs integrate all aspects of workplace respiratory protection programs such as (i) the forms which are useful in developing and maintaining a workplace respiratory protection program, (ii) the training of employees which is necessary to ensure that the workplace respiratory protection program is effective, (iii) the database which is necessary to provide all of the information required during the development and maintenance of a workplace respiratory protection program, (iv) the customization which is necessary to permit the employer to tailor a workplace respiratory protection program to the employer's workplace, (v) the ability of the employer and employees to read the information provided by a fully informative workplace respiratory protection program, and (vi) the assistance helpful to the employer in preparing for an audit of the workplace respiratory protection program. The present invention solves one or more of the above described problems.

System and method for developing and/or maintaining a workplace respiratory protection program


A digital waveform oscillator generates digitized waveforms without distortion using a lookup table. The frequencies which may be generated using direct lookup tables at their fundamental table frequencies are increased according to this invention by including multiple cycles of the waveform within a single table. The selection of a table length L and a number of cycles N to be stored in a lookup table is done in a manner to optimize corresponding values of the frequencies to be generated and the sample rate.

The present application is related to co-pending application U.S. Ser. No. 08/941,959, entitled "Digital Oscillator Using Lookup Table with Multiple Cycles", which was filed concurrently herewith.
The present invention relates in general to a digital oscillator for generating a sampled digital signal at a predetermined frequency, and more specifically, to a method for determining an appropriate number of cycles and signal samples to be stored in a lookup table for a digital oscillator for generating a sampled digital signal at a predetermined frequency.
Many types of digital signal processing equipment need to generate various signal waveforms during operation. For example, music synthesizers generate variously shaped waveforms at various frequencies. Radio receivers generate injection signals at predetermined frequencies for mixing with information signals to perform frequency translations.
Various techniques have been developed for generating digital waveforms. The technique used in any particular application depends upon the signal quality needed, whether a fixed or variable frequency signal is needed, signal processing capabilities available, desired component cost, and other factors. Use of a mathematical formula to generate sample values of a digital waveform provides high accuracy representation of the signal but requires higher processing capability and results in higher costs. In applications where only a fixed frequency or a limited number of frequencies are needed, a lookup table storing actual signal samples can be employed as a lower cost solution. Variable frequencies can be obtained using interpolation between samples in a lookup table, but noise and distortion are added and more signal processing capability must be provided.
Applications which only require a fixed frequency can generate a digitally sampled signal without noise or distortion, but only at integer multiples of a fundamental table frequency. Distortion is avoided since the needed sample values are all contained within the table and no interpolation between values is necessary. One example of an application needing only a fixed frequency is in generating a mixing signal used in a radio receiver to frequency shift a modulated signal, such as an intermediate frequency signal in a superheterodyne receiver.
The fundamental table frequency corresponds to the lowest frequency that can be generated from the table and is equal to the sample rate at which the digital signal is produced divided by the number of samples for one cycle of the stored waveform in the table. To generate the lowest frequency available, the table address is stepped one address at a time with the address looping back to zero at the end of the table so that the table output is a steam of values representing the waveform. To generate twice the frequency, the address step size is set to two so that only half the samples are used. Higher integer multiples of the fundamental table frequency are obtained using larger address step sizes (but only up to the point where the frequency generated is half the sample frequency). In order to obtain variable step sizes, the oscillator must use an adder in order to generate successive table addresses for producing an oscillator output signal. This results in added complexity and cost over a simple counter which can be used when only using a step size of one.
The step size between consecutive samples in the table corresponds to a phase increment .DELTA.. In order to produce a periodic signal at a desired frequency without distortion and without sample correction or interpolation in prior art digital oscillators, .DELTA. must divide evenly into one cycle of the waveform as stored in the table. In other words, phase coherence must be maintained when wrapping around from the end of the table back to the beginning of the table. Thus, at a given sample rate f.sub.s, only a limited number of frequencies can be produced without distortion since the phase increment .DELTA. inherent in the table must evenly divide into one cycle of the waveform (usually a sinewave). By reducing the phase increment .DELTA. (i.e., by increasing the sample rate of the table), it is possible to increase the number of frequencies which can be generated. However, substantially increasing the sample rate adds substantial cost to the processor.
Alternatively, it would be possible to vary the sample rate during operation in order to facilitate use of a lookup table to generate the periodic signals over a range of frequencies, but the sample rate must normally remain fixed during system operation.

Method for generating a lookup table for a digital oscillator


An LED reading light, in particular for a passenger transport vehicle, such as an aircraft, a road vehicle, a ship or a rail car, is disclosed that has a plurality of illuminating LED's and in operation provides a desired light intensity for a set supply current, wherein the LED reading light comprises two power supply terminals connectable to a power supply for receiving the set supply current, and at least one lighting strand coupled between the two power supply terminals. Each of the at least one lighting strand comprises at least one voltage drop diode, with the at least one voltage drop diode in operation not contributing to the desired light intensity, and at least one of the illuminating LED's. The illuminating LED's are distributed among the at least one lighting strand and connected such that they jointly provide the desired light intensity for the set supply current.

The invention relates to interior lighting systems for passenger transport vehicles, such as aircraft, road vehicles, ships or rail cars. In particular, it relates to an LED reading light for such passenger transport vehicles.
In some passenger transport vehicles, such as air planes, LED reading lights have started to become common place and have started to replace conventional halogen lights. These LED reading lights are exemplarily used as seat lights or reading lights or other interior lights in the passenger cabin. Many passenger transport vehicles have very long life cycles, at least as compared to the life cycles of LED reading lights. Also, changes to the standardisation of components for such passenger transport vehicles, such as changes to the standardized power supply system throughout the passenger cabin in an air plane, tend to be lengthy and cumbersome processes. Much of the technology used in passenger transport vehicles is frozen for long periods of time. This is both due to the keeping of the remaining components in a passenger transport vehicle when replacing certain components and due to industry standards that are constant for long times.
Accordingly, it would be beneficial to provide an LED reading light having improved cost efficiency and being able to be used in passenger transport vehicles without changing their power supply systems. Further, it would be beneficial to provide a method of replacing existing LED reading lights, for example when they are used for a long time or broken, with more cost efficient LED reading lights, while keeping the wiring of the power supply systems.

Led reading light and method of replacing an LED reading light


An image processing apparatus is composed of an image memory comprising a plurality of memory elements, and a processor unit comprising a plurality of processor elements. By suitably engineering the arrangement of the image memory of memory elements, the arrangement of the processor unit of processor elements and the connections among the memory elements and processor elements, it is possible to realize, through a simple construction, high-speed image processing such as image density conversion, image color conversion, image masking, image spatial filtering, image enlargement, image reduction, image rotation, image compression, image extension and image color correction. Also provided are an image processing apparatus for a color image, composed of a plurality of image memories and a plurality of processor elements, and a generalized, multifunctional data parallel processing apparatus capable of processing a large volume of data at high speed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an apparatus for the parallel processing of data. More particularly, the invention relates to a data parallel processing apparatus well-suited for application to an image processing system in which image data are processed at high speed and in parallel fashion by control of an image memory.
2. Related Art
When an image is processed at high speed, the general approach is to rely upon computer processing using software. However, higher processing speeds are required to deal with larger quantities of image data. There are two methods which can be adopted to raise processing speed. One is to rely upon sequential processing-type hardware or a so-called "pipeline" system. The other is to employ a parallel processing-type system in which a plurality of processors are arranged in parallel fashion. There is a limitation upon the image processing speed achievable with the former system since the clock frequency necessary for processing rises with an increase in the speed at which the picture data are processed. With the latter system, on the other hand, processing speed can be raised as much as desired by increasing the number of processors that are connected in parallel. In fact, speed can be maximized by providing a number of processors equivalent to the number of pixels. For this reason, the latter system represents a technique which is now the focus of much interest.
Here processing for communication between pixels takes on importance and it is necessary that processing proceed while such cross-communication is taking place. In the aforementioned parallel processing system, providing a number of processors equivalent to the number of pixels is impossible when dealing with high-resolution data. For example, when dealing with an image wherein a sheet of A4 size paper is read at 16 pixels/mm, the number of pixels is about 16M, and it would not be feasible to provide the system with this many processors simultaneously.
Accordingly, it is necessary to execute parallel processing using a finite, small number of processors. The specification of U.S. Ser. No. 807,662, filed on Dec. 11, 1985, proposes a technique for accomplishing such parallel processing, which involves dividing image data into a plurality of blocks each comprising plural items of image data, and processing the image data in each block by a respective one of a plurality of CPUs. The arrangement is such that each CPU receives an input of image data of the corresponding block as well as an input of image data of the adjoining blocks, and such that the CPU processes the image data of the corresponding block.
The proposed system still leaves room for improvement in terms of performance and construction.


A filtering device includes: a fluid-collecting tube; a plurality of positioning trays sleeved around the fluid-collecting tube and stacked one above the other; and a plurality of membranes alternating with the positioning trays. Each of the membranes is sandwiched between an adjacent pair of the positioning trays. Each of the positioning trays includes first and second engaging members. Each adjacent pair of the positioning trays are coupled to each other and are rotatable relative to each other between a first relative position and a second relative position. The first engaging member of each of the positioning trays is engageable with the second engaging member of an adjacent one of the positioning trays.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a filtering device, more particularly to a filtering device including a plurality of positioning trays sleeved around a fluid-collecting tube, and a plurality of membranes alternating with the positioning trays.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional filtering devices normally include a plurality of frames and membranes that are assembled together. The fluid to be filtered enters one end of the assembly of the framed membranes, and is discharged from an opposite end of the assembly of the framed membranes. Assembly of the framed membranes is required to be very careful so as to prevent leakage from occurring during filtering operation. As a consequence, assembly of the frames and the membranes of the conventional filtering device in a manner to prevent leakage from occurring is relatively difficult to achieve. Hence, there is a need to design a filtering device that is easy to assemble without causing leakage.


An audio stream is detected during a communication session with a user. Natural language processing on the audio stream is performed to update a set of attributes by supplementing the set of attributes based on attributes derived from the audio stream. A set of filter values is updated based on the updated set of attributes. The updated set of filter values is used to query a set of databases to obtain datasets. A probabilistic program is executed during the communication session by determining a set of probability parameters characterizing a probability of an anomaly occurring based on the datasets and the set of attributes. A determination is made if whether the probability satisfies a threshold. In response to a determination that the probability satisfies the threshold, a record is updated to identify the communication session to indicate that the threshold is satisfied.

Database transaction anomalies may be indicative of malicious user behavior or hacking attempts by entities that have taken control of a user's account. Quantities associated with the database transactions, such as amounts by which a value of a record changes, may often be used as input attributes for various anomaly detection operations. Other information, such as demographic information or transaction location information, may also be used to as inputs for anomaly detection operations.

Real-time anomaly determination using integrated probabilistic system


A pressure activated valve incorporates arrangements of permanent magnets within the valve housing to establish a pressure threshold at which the valve is either opened or closed. The magnets are mounted relative to one another with opposing polarities; so that the repelling force between the magnets establishes the pressure threshold at which the valve is operated.

Pressure activated valves are employed in various systems to operate when pressure applied to the valve exceeds some pre-established threshold. Typically, such valves employ coil springs or magnetic attraction between either two magnets or a magnet and magnetizable material to establish the threshold pressure. Once the threshold has been reached, the valve is operated by overcoming the spring force or the magnetic attraction force. It is desirable to provide an improved pressure activated valve.


This invention relates to variable gain amplifiers. The general technique described consists of adding gain elements in parallel in order to create multiple-gain amplifier stages versus the usual dual-gain amplifier stages separated from one another by DC level shift modules. The gain elements are enabled or disabled individually in combinations, which provide a range of controlled gain steps. The main advantages are that current consumption and design complexity are greatly reduced, thereby increasing operating battery life of the device using this type of amplifier.

In wireless receivers, a wide range of signal levels needs to be handled. Some of the reasons for this wide range of signal levels are that changes in the path loss are frequent and so are changes in distance from the transmitter to the receiver. One of the most common methods of accommodating this high dynamic range requirement is to use a variable gain element. This element (or elements), with some control circuitry, acts in such a manner that the signal level at the receiver output is kept constant.
One method of implementing a variable gain element known to those skilled in the art is Lo use dual-gain emitter-coupled differential pairs. This method is shown on page 46 of "RF-Heterodyne Receiver Design Technique for Digital Cellular Wireless Systems" published in 1995 by Josef Fenk of Siemens. This publication is hereby incorporated by reference. With one single amplifier stage, two different values of gain may be realized In order to accomplish multiple gains, several stages of dual-gain amplifiers are stacked in series. This method is also well known to those skilled in the art. With this method, stacking three dual-gain amplifiers cells in series will result in eight different gain values. Several points should be noted concerning this realization. First, in order for it to work, it is necessary that proper DC level shifting be performed at the interface of different dual-gain amplifiers. Second, when this circuit is in operation, one differential pair in each dual-gain cell must be turned on for each gain setting. This results in unnecessary power consumption.
Thus, there exists a need in the industry to provide an improved switchable gain amplifier particularly well suited for an environment where multiple levels of gain are required.

Multiple-tail transconductance switchable gain amplifer


A system, method, and apparatus are provided for copying a virtual volume to multiple physical volumes within a virtual tape system. The virtual tape system may include a virtual tape server (VTS), a library manager, and a plurality of tape drive units into which cartridges may be individually mounted. The virtual tape system stores virtual volumes, each of which represents a physical volume, although one or more virtual volumes are actually stored on a real physical volume. The library manager contains a volume database with a plurality of constructs and associated storage management actions. The constructs are received from a host computer connected to the VTS, but the storage management actions may be entered directly into the library manager, independently of the host. The library manager reads the management action associated with one or more constructs of a virtual volume and, along with the VTS, determines whether multiple physical copies of the virtual volume are to be made.

1. The Field of the Invention
The invention relates to virtual tape systems and more particularly to the creation of multiple physical volumes in a manner that is transparent to the host of the virtual tape system.
2. The Relevant Art
High density, removable media storage libraries are used to provide large quantities of storage in computer systems. Typically, such data storage systems are employed for backup or other types of secondary storage purposes, but may be used as primary storage in circumstances that are conducive to sequential data access and the like.
The data is stored on media cartridges, such as magnetic or optical disks, that are arranged in storage bins and accessed when data on a cartridge is requested. Currently available media cartridges are capable of storing much more data than early media cartridges. For example, a data volume that corresponds to a 400 Megabyte disk may now be stored on a disk with up to 60 Gigabytes of storage capacity. Unfortunately, much legacy equipment in existing computer systems is configured for the smaller data volume sizes.
Volume mapping is used to create a correlation between the physical capacity of a storage cartridge (stack volume or physical volume) and the data storage unit size (virtual volumes or logical volumes) of a file or block that is stored on the cartridge. Given the available data storage capacity of a disk, such mapping allows multiple logical volumes to be stored on a single physical volume, hence providing an efficient use of the available storage media. A virtual tape server (VTS) is one device capable of creating and maintaining such mapping among physical volumes and logical volumes.
In certain circumstances, it may be desirable to make two physical back-up copies of a single logical volume. For example, if the data is particularly important, it may be wise to store it in multiple locations to avoid loss due to failure of a single tape or tape drive unit. Systems and methods have been proposed to create two physical copies of a logical volume in a virtual tape system. Unfortunately, a number of deficiencies exist in such known systems and methods.
For example, many known dual copy systems require an explicit command from the host to initiate creation of a second copy. The software running on the host must be modified to provide the dual copy command. As a result, such a dual copy system may be difficult to use with existing (legacy) software. Consequently, adding dual copy capability to an existing system may be rather difficult. Such dual copy systems may also require that the host transmit the data to the VTS again to create the second copy. Thus, the I/O resources of the host are unduly taxed.
Furthermore, some dual copy systems require the host to track the locations, i.e., the physical storage sites, of the logical volumes. This may require the maintenance of a database on the host to store metadata for each file stored in the VTS. Again, such dual copy systems are difficult or impossible to incorporate into existing host systems without providing new host software, and may unduly tax the resources of the host. Additionally, such a system may be difficult to use in a heterogeneous environment, i.e., with host computers that use different operating systems, file formats, etc.
Additionally, many known dual copy systems are somewhat inefficient in their use of VTS resources. In some instances, the primary copy is made from the virtual volume, and then the secondary copy is made from the primary copy. This requires extra time due to the need to mount and read from the tape on which the primary copy is stored. Additionally, VTS memory is required to transport the data from the primary location to the secondary location.
Thus, it would be an advancement in the art to provide a virtual tape system capable of making multiple copies of a logical volume in a manner that is substantially transparent to the host and thus does not burden the host's resources. It would be a further advancement in the art to provide a virtual tape system capable of efficiently storing and accessing file location information independent of the host. Yet further, it would be an advancement in the art to provide a virtual tape system that minimizes the VTS resources required to make the additional physical copies.

System, method and apparatus for logical volume duplexing in a virtual tape system

International Business Machines Corporation


A heating apparatus for cooking using steam and a method of controlling the same. The heating apparatus includes a main body having a cooking chamber; a steam-generating device for supplying steam to the cooking chamber; and a water supply device for supplying water to the steam-generating device, having a water bucket for containing water; a water bucket-supporting device installed on the main body for supporting the water bucket, and including a space for containing an inlet of the water bucket such that the inlet can be soaked in the water when the water bucket is inserted into the water bucket-supporting device such that the inlet of the water bucket faces a bottom of the bucket-supporting device; a water supply pump for supplying the water of the water bucket-supporting device to the steam-generating device; and water supply pipes for guiding the water from the water bucket-supporting device to the steam-generating device. The method controls removal of residual water of the steam-generating device and the water supply device, and a time for supplementing water of the water supply device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heating apparatus for cooking, and more particularly to a heating apparatus for cooking having an improved water supply device for supplying water to a steam-generating device, and a method for controlling the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, heating apparatuses for cooking include an electronic oven range, an electric oven range, and a gas oven range, for example. The electronic oven range, i.e., a microwave oven, supplies high-frequency waves generated from a magnetron to the inside of a cooking chamber, thereby cooking foods placed in the cooking chamber using heat generated from the foods themselves. The electric oven range or the gas oven range transmits heat, generated from the operation of an electric heater or the combustion of a gas, to the inside of a cooking chamber, thereby cooking foods in the cooking chamber. Since moisture of the foods is evaporated during cooking, the above heating apparatuses for cooking are disadvantageous in that the foods are easily dried. Thus, a steam-generating device for preventing foods from being dried and improving cooking effects is installed in the heating apparatuses for cooking.
EP Patent No. 0277337 discloses a heating apparatus for cooking comprising a steam-generating device having a container shape installed on the bottom of a cooking chamber, and a water tank in a drawer-type installed above the cooking chamber for supplying water to the steam-generating device. Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 2004-20005 discloses a heating apparatus using high-frequency waves comprising an evaporation tray installed on the bottom of a cooking chamber, a heater for heating water in the evaporation tray, and a water tank installed at a side of the cooking chamber for supplying water to the evaporation tray. The above heating apparatuses supply water from the water tank to the steam-generating device or the evaporation tray, heat the water, supplied to the steam-generating device or the evaporation tray, using the heater to generate steam, and then supply the steam to the cooking chamber.
Since the water tanks of the above-described heating apparatuses for cooking are not exposed to the outside, a user cannot check a quantity of residual water in the water tank and it is difficult to determine a time for supplying water to the water tank. Further, the filling of the water tank with water causes the user inconvenience.
When the operation of the above-described heating apparatuses is terminated during cooking using steam, residual water often remains in the steam-generating device. When the heating apparatus is not operated for a long period of time under and the residual water remains in the steam-generating device, the residual water in the steam-generating device eventually becomes contaminated and causes hygienic problems. Further, when the replacement of the water filling the water tank of the heating apparatuses is not performed for a long period of time, the inside of the water tank becomes incrusted with harmful biological material and this biological material also causes hygienic problems.
Thus, there is a need for a heating apparatus for cooking, which informs a user of a time for supplying water and easily performs water supply, and a control method thereof. There is also a need for a heating apparatus for cooking, in which residual water does not remain in a steam-generating device and a water supply device after cooking using steam is terminated, and a control method thereof. Further, there is a need for a heating apparatus for cooking, which informs a user of a time for replacing water of the water supply device with new water, and a control method thereof.

Heating apparatus for cooking and method for controlling the same


An improved service cable and cable harness assembly for submersible sensors and pumps which includes a service cable, a well head connector and an end cap attachable to the sensor. The service cable secured at its lower end to the end cap and at its upper end to the well head connector which in turn supports the sensor, the cable and the harness assembly from the well head. The end cap includes a cylindrical bore through which the service cable passes and the bore has an annular groove formed therein. During assembly the end cap is compressed about the service cable by swaging, forcing the service cable jacket to extrude into the groove thereby locking the cable into position in the end cap. In other embodiments of the invention the service cable includes a support cable which is secured within the end cap by a support washer. The support cable is secured at its upper end either by a support washer locked within the well head connector or to a support washer positioned atop the well head.

This invention generally relates to well water monitoring equipment and more particularly to a service cable and cable harness for use with submersible pumps and sensors for monitoring the physical properties of well water.
It is not only desirable but in many circumstances legally required to periodically observe and record the physical characteristics of potable water obtained from wells. The properties of interest typically include pressure, temperature, conductivity and PH level. The absolute value and rate of change of these properties can be quite useful in determining water quality and predicting significant changes in quality. Monitoring is normally accomplished with specialized sensors which are lowered into a well and submerged in the water. Typically the sensors will include one or more sensing devices such as a pressure transducer or temperature sensor for detecting the physical properties of interest. The sensors are normally enclosed in a water tight housing and connected to a multi-conductor cable for transmitting power to and signals from the sensor.
In the monitoring process it may also be desirable to periodically obtain a sample of water from a well. Such samples are typically obtained using a submersible sampling pump which is suspended from the end of a service cable and lowered into the well. Typically these pumps are low profile centrifugal design devices which are electrically or pneumatically powered. The service cables provide power and control inputs to the pumps and include a discharge tube through which well water is transported back to the surface. One such cable is described in applicant's U.S. Pat. No. 5,186,253.
One of the problems which designers of submersible sensors and pumps have faced is how to prevent leakage of well water into the sensor or pump housing. The leakage problem is complicated by the fact that in most sensor and pump designs there are a number of possible leakage paths. Typically, the housings for both types of units have hollow cylindrical bodies and at least one end cap removable for servicing purposes. Accordingly, one such leakage path is at the interface between the cylindrical body and the end cap and another is along the interface between the service cable and the end cap.
The second problem encountered with submersible sensors and pumps is how to support the weight of those devices together with the service cable. If the sensor or pump is relatively light and the well relatively shallow then the service cable itself may be strong enough to support device. If the weight of the submersible unit is sufficiently high, however, the service cable may become dislodged from the harness even though the load is on the cable is well below its tensile strength. Even heavier units will require some load bearing structure in addition to the cable itself for support.
Another problem encountered with the use of submersible sensors and pumps is determining the depth to which the device has been lowered in the well. One solution to the problem has been to place regularly spaced markings or indicators on the service cable from which the depth of the unit can be calculated. A simple approach to the problem is to print such markings on the exterior surface of the cable jacket but it has been found to be difficult to print on curved jacket surfaces and to prevent the markings from being rubbed off during usage. Another approach has been to impress the markings in the jacket by heat stamping and then to fill the impressions with epoxy or another filler to make them more visible. The resulting markings are durable but the process is relatively expensive. Another known method of cable marking involves the application of spaced circular bands containing distance markings to the cable. Again, the resulting markings are relatively durable but the process is costly.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide for an improved service cable and cable harness for submersible sensors and pumps which will minimize the possibility of leakage into the device.
Another object of this invention is to provide for an improved cable and harness which can support heavier pumps and sensors without the inclusion of reinforcing structure in the cable.
Another object of this invention is to provide for a reinforced cable and harness which can be used with heavier sensors, pumps and extended length cable.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide for a service cable having durable and easily visible markings from which the depth of a sensor or a pump in a well can be computed and an inexpensive method for applying such markings to the cable.

Service cable and cable harness for submersible sensors and pumps


A single range, electrically variable transmission (EVT) is provided with a lockup clutch that reduces motor power requirements. When applied, the lockup clutch allows engine torque to be transmitted directly to the output without the necessity of a motor/generator supplying reaction torque. With the lockup clutch applied, the transmission operates with zero electro-mechanical power flow at a fixed mechanical ratio, thus mitigating the power peak which occurs through the motor/generators. Input-split, output-split, and compound-split transmissions are disclosed. A method of operating an EVT with a lockup clutch is also provided.

Internal combustion engines, particularly those of the reciprocating piston type, currently propel most vehicles. Such engines are relatively efficient, compact, lightweight, and inexpensive mechanisms by which to convert highly concentrated energy in the form of fuel into useful mechanical power. Such an engine is typically operated through a wide range of speeds and a wide range of loads and typically at an average of approximately a fifth of its maximum power output. A power-split hybrid transmission may be employed to make more efficient use of an internal combustion engine in a vehicle by allowing the engine to operate closer to its peak in efficiency or its peak in power, by virtue of continuously variable gear ratio and the assistance of an energy storage device such as a battery.
A power-split hybrid transmission can use what is commonly understood to be a "differential gear set" to achieve a continuously variable torque and speed ratio between input and output. An electrically variable transmission can use a differential gear set to send a fraction of its transmitted power through a pair of electric motor/generators. The remainder of its power flows through another, parallel path that is all mechanical and direct, of fixed ratio, or alternatively selectable.
One form of a differential gear set, as is well known to those skilled in this art, may constitute a planetary gear set. Planetary gearing is usually the preferred embodiment employed in differentially geared inventions, with the advantages of compactness and different torque and speed ratios among all members of the planetary gear set. However, other types of differential gear sets may be used, such as bevel gears other gears in an arrangement where the rotational speed of at least one element of a gear set is always a weighted average of speeds of two other elements.
A two-range, compound-split, hybrid electro-mechanical transmission having four fixed ratios is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,953,409, commonly assigned with the present application, and hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. Such a transmission utilizes an input means to receive power from the vehicle engine and a power output means to deliver power to drive the vehicle. First and second motor/generators are connected to an energy storage device, such as a battery, so that the energy storage device can accept power from, and supply power to, the first and second motor/generators. A control unit regulates power flow among the energy storage device and the motor/generators as well as between the first and second motor/generators. The transmission may be operated both in an input-split mode and a compound-split mode. Several clutches of substantial capacity are required, including multiple clutches effecting alternative power flows from a differential gear set to the output of the transmission.
"Input-split" means that one member of a differential gear set is connected to the input member and receives all of the power flowing into the transmission, so that differential gear set can split that power into an electro-mechanical power path including a pair of motor-generators, and a mechanical power path through the transmission. "Output-split" means that one member of a differential gear set is connected to the output member and receives all of the power flowing out of the transmission to the output member, so that differential gear set can combine power from an electro-mechanical power path and a mechanical power path through the transmission. "Compound-split" means that these characteristics of input-split and output-split are both present in the transmission at the same time.
Operation in first or second variable-speed-ratio modes of operation may be selectively achieved by using clutches in the nature of first and second torque transfer devices. In the first mode, an input-split speed ratio range is formed by the application of the first clutch, and the output speed of the transmission is proportional to the speed of one motor/generator. In the second mode, a compound-split speed ratio range is formed by the application of the second clutch, and the output speed of the transmission is not proportional to the speeds of either of the motor/generators, but is an algebraic linear combination of the speeds of the two motor/generators. Operation at a fixed transmission speed ratio may be selectively achieved by the application of both of the clutches. Operation at fixed transmission speed ratio may be selectively achieved by the application of one of the first and second clutches, along with application of either of a third or fourth torque transfer device. The transmission incorporates one mechanical point in its first mode of operation and two mechanical points in its second mode of operation. As used herein, a "mechanical point" is a finite, non-zero speed ratio between the transmission input member and the transmission output member, where the speed of one of the motor/generators is zero. Thus, a mechanical point occurs when either motor/generator is stationary at any time during operation of the transmission.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,527,658, issued Mar. 4, 2003 to Holmes et al, commonly assigned with the present application, and hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety, discloses an electrically variable transmission utilizing two planetary gear sets, two motor/generators and two clutches to provide input-split, compound-split, neutral and reverse modes of operation. Both planetary gear sets may be simple, or one may be individually compounded. A control unit regulates power flow among an energy storage device and the two motor/generators. This transmission provides two ranges or modes of electrically variable transmission (EVT) operation, selectively providing an input-split speed ratio range and a compound-split speed ratio range. One fixed speed ratio can also be selectively achieved, but only by the simultaneous use of multiple clutches.
A single range, input-split system requires a high portion of the engine power to flow through the electro-mechanical path during acceleration, thus increasing motor power requirements and potentially requiring a DC-DC converter between a storage battery and the motor/generators in order to provide enough voltage. Power flow through the transmission would be entirely through the electro-mechanical path with the output member at rest, but the power transmitted with the output member at rest is actually zero. As the vehicle accelerates from rest, the amount of power transmitted through the electro-mechanical path builds up to a relatively high value, then drops to zero as the transmission ratio reaches the mechanical point of the input-split mode of operation. If the vehicle operates at a ratio beyond the mechanical point, such as a low engine speed and high vehicle speed for cruising, the power transmitted through the electro-mechanical path is negative, from the output member toward the input member, that is, counter to the overall flow of power through the transmission, and rises sharply as the ratio changes further from the mechanical point. Additionally, the output motor in an input-split design must also have a high torque rating; typically, one to two times the engine torque, depending on the gear ratio available. The situation with a single range, compound-split transmission is similar, except that the electro-mechanical power flow at low output speeds, below the lower of the two mechanical points, is counter to the overall power flow through the transmission and rises rapidly with falling output speed.
A two range, input-split and compound-split system generally achieves a wide ratio of coverage, but requires clutches for transitions from range to range, with associated spin losses and accessory power requirements to operate those clutches.
Most EVTs constructed to date have a single operating range: that is, a single arrangement of gearing wherein all of the mechanical power must be transmitted through the mechanical path of the transmission at only one ratio (in the cases of input-split or output-split) or two ratios (in the case of compound-split) of input speed to output speed. Moreover, EVT operation may result in a flow of power through the electro-mechanical path that opposed the flow of mechanical power through the mechanical power path at all speed ratios beyond the pure mechanical ratio, that is, the mechanical point. Thus, to cover a wide range of speed ratios from input to output, the single-range EVT must have a mechanical point near the extreme ratio that will be used continuously, such as vehicle cruising, and thus must be able to transmit a large fraction of the total power through the transmission by means of the electric motor/generators during acceleration, necessitating motor/generators with high torque ratings and thus relatively high cost.

Single range electrically variable transmission with lockup clutch and method of operation


A method and apparatus can adaptively control a pulsed power arc welding process. A trainable system can recognize an empirical transfer mode from a signal emitted during an arc welding pulse and determine a pulsed power parameter set to produce a modified transfer mode in a subsequent pulse, by controlling a power source using the parameter set.

Gas metal arc welding (GMAW) is commonly used to join pieces of metal in high throughput production, for example, in assembly lines employing robotic welders, such as in automotive manufacturing. An electric arc between one or more workpieces and a consumable electrode liquefies the electrode into metal droplets, which are shielded by an inert gas such as argon. These droplets form a weld by penetrating the metal of the workpieces before solidifying.
A variation called pulsed GMAW, which is controlled by pulsing the current and/or voltage of the welding power supply, is particularly preferred in high throughput production because it produces low spattering and good bead finish while generating little heat. These characteristics are essential to avoid heat distortion and residual stress on relatively thin workpieces.
A significant limitation of pulsed GMAW is the complexity of optimizing the power supply parameters in real time in response to changing materials and process variables. In an attempt to deal with this limitation, commercially available GMAW systems employ computerized parameter control in combination with recorded information about materials and ideal process conditions. However, these efforts are limited for two reasons.
Generally, such simple algorithmic control schemes involve understanding of the fundamental relationships between all process variables and the ability to measure and analyze those variables in real time. For GMAW processes, these fundamental relationships are not yet completely understood. Furthermore, were these relationships understood, it would still be expensive and complicated to measure the essential variables and calculate appropriate control actions, all in real time.
For some schemes, the level of understanding and the number of variables that are measured can be reduced by compiling databases of observed variables correlated with optimized control parameters. However, for many commercially important GMAW processes, the number of independent process variables makes this a difficult, time-consuming task. Furthermore, a specific application may introduce a process variable not contemplated during development, rendering the scheme inefficient or unusable in that application.
An attempt to solve the parameter complexity problem proposed to vary a single control variable, the pulse period, based on a single observed variable, the arc light intensity. Generally, the intensity varies with time in relation to the formation of liquid metal droplets at the arc. Because high weld quality is related directly to controlled droplet transfer, this method proposes to improve weld quality by cutting the pulse period short in response to an arc light intensity cutoff. This method, however, has not been successful because of numerous defects. First, the variation of arc light intensity does not always give a definite indication of droplet transfer. Second, many welding conditions of commercial interest do not generate sufficient variation in arc light intensity to reliably trigger a cutoff, for example, carbon steel welding shielded with argon based mixtures with less than 5% of carbon dioxide. Third, control of a GMAW process by varying each instant pulse in real time can lead to over-control of current variations, which results in control oscillation, unstable metal transfer, and poor weld quality.


A control apparatus for the internal combustion engine includes a fuel cut post-return fuel increasing correction unit for performing a fuel increasing correction during a specified period when a fuel supply stop state by an fuel cut control unit is returned to a fuel supply state, and a fuel increasing correction stop unit which compares an integrated value of an amount of air flowing into a three-way catalyst during a period of the fuel supply stop with an integrated value of an amount of air flowing into the three-way catalyst during the fuel increasing correction after a fuel supply return, and stops the fuel increasing correction of the fuel cut post-return fuel increasing correction unit when a comparison value reaches a specified value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, which prevents, in an internal combustion engine performing a fuel cut control at the time of deceleration of a vehicle or the like, an exhaust gas from deteriorating after a return from the fuel cut.
2. Description of the Related Art
A three-way catalyst used for purifying an exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine oxidizes or reduces hydrocarbon, carbon monoxide, and nitrogen oxide as harmful components in the exhaust gas under stoichiometric atmosphere and converts them into harmless components, and further has such properties as to store oxygen when the oxygen used at the time of oxidation or reduction is excessive and as to release the stored oxygen when it is insufficient. When the internal combustion engine carries out fuel cut, since fuel is not supplied, and combustion in a cylinder is not performed, a large amount of oxygen is introduced into an exhaust system of the internal combustion engine, and the oxygen is stored in the three-way catalyst provided in the exhaust system. Thus, after a return from the fuel cut control, a difference occurs between the oxygen concentration at the upstream side of the three-way catalyst and the oxygen concentration in the actual three-way catalyst.
In the state as stated above, even if feedback control of an air-fuel ratio is performed to purify the exhaust gas, oxygen becomes excessive by the oxygen stored in the three-way catalyst, the air-fuel ratio can not be suitably controlled until the stored oxygen is consumed, and the oxidation/reduction reaction by the three-way catalyst can not be sufficiently used. Accordingly, until the stored oxygen is consumed, especially the amount of reaction to nitrogen oxide is lowered, and the nitrogen oxide in the exhaust gas is increased. In order to prevent this, it becomes necessary to change, when the fuel cut state is returned to a fuel supply state, the content of the air-fuel ratio control from that at the normal time.
As a technique for controlling the air-fuel ratio to suppress the increase of nitrogen oxide as stated above, there is a technique disclosed in, for example, patent document 1 (JP-A-05-26076 (pages 3 to 4, FIGS. 1 and 4)). The technique disclosed in this document is such that a main oxygen sensor is provided at the upstream side of a three-way catalyst, a sub-oxygen sensor is provided at the downstream side thereof, a feedback correction coefficient is increased or decreased according to a detection signal of oxygen concentration detected by the main oxygen sensor to feedback control an air-fuel ratio of an air-fuel mixture, a control constant used for the increase/decrease calculation of the feedback correction coefficient is changed according to a signal from the sub-oxygen sensor, and a deviation from the control center of the feedback control is corrected, in which the control constant is offset to a rich side during a period from the time point when the fuel cut is released to the time point when a signal of the sub-oxygen sensor is changed to a rich state, so that the consumption of oxygen stored in the three-way catalyst is accelerated, and the period when a purification rate of nitrogen oxide is deteriorated is shortened.
However, as in the technique disclosed in the prior art document, when the control constant is continuously offset to the rich side during a period until when the signal of the sub-oxygen sensor provided at the downstream side of the three-way catalyst is changed to the rich state after the fuel cut is released, although the air-fuel ratio in the three-way catalyst is made suitable and the nitrogen oxide can be purified, there occurs a state of excessive fuel supply, and carbon monoxide in the exhaust gas is increased. This state will be described below with reference to FIG. 4 of patent document 1.
When the fuel cut control is started, the output of the sub-oxygen sensor is shifted to the lean side, and lean output is continued. Since combustion is not performed during the period of the fuel cut, oxygen continues to be stored in the three-way catalyst, and is finally stored up to the limit of storage capacity. When the fuel cut is released, the control constant of the feedback is offset to the rich side during the period until when the signal of the sub-oxygen sensor is changed to the rich side, and the oxygen stored in the three-way catalyst is consumed, so that the output signal of the sub-oxygen sensor is changed from the lean side to the rich side. To this point, the description as shown in FIG. 4 of patent document 1 is appropriate, however, even if the control constant of the feedback is returned to a normal value in response to the shift of the signal of the sub-oxygen sensor to the rich side, the rich state of the air-fuel ratio continues for a specified time according to a time delay of the control, and since the stored oxygen of the three-way catalyst is wholly consumed, carbon monoxide or the like can not be reacted, and the carbon monoxide or the like in the exhaust gas is increased.

Control apparatus for internal combustion engine


A memory controller includes a power mode sensitive reordering device coupled to receive a power mode indication. The memory controller includes a selectable high and low power mode. An indication of which of the high and low power modes is selected is coupled to the power mode sensitive reordering device as the power mode indication. In the low power mode, memory transactions are reordered to minimize power consumption in memory devices controlled by the memory controller.

1. Cross-Reference to Related Applications
The present invention is related to subject matter disclosed in, U.S. patent application entitled, "Method And System For Generating and Utilizing Speculative Memory Access Requests in Data Processing Systems", application Ser. No. 09/208,569, naming Geoffrey S. S. Strongin and Qadeer A. Qureshi as inventors and filed Dec. 9, 1998; and to U.S. patent application entitled, "Method and Apparatus for Page-State Sensitive Memory Control and Access in Data Processing Systems", application Ser. No. 09/207,971, naming Geoffrey S. S. Strongin and Qadeer A. Qureshi as inventors and filed Dec. 9, 1998, which applications are incorporated herein by reference.
2. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to computer systems and more particularly to memory control functions within computer systems.
3. Description of the Related Art
In conventional computer systems, such as personal computer systems utilizing x86 based processors, the processor, along with other components in the computer system, are coupled to main system memory through an integrated circuit known in the art as the "North Bridge." The North Bridge provides a memory control function as well as a bridge function between the host bus connected the processor and system input/output buses such as the Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) bus and the devices connected to the PCI bus.
In current architectures, the PCI bus provides the major I/O bus for the computer system. Other buses are commonly found in conventional computer systems. One such bus is the Universal Serial Bus (USB) bus and another bus is the IEEE 1394 bus. USB and 1394 traffic typically communicate with system memory through a South Bridge integrated circuit, which is coupled to the PCI bus. The South Bridge provides a bridge function between the PCI bus and other buses. In addition, the South Bridge provides for such functions as communication with a variety of legacy devices and provides power management functions. In any case, the buses at issue, and the devices which couple to those buses access system memory through the PCI bus.
One exception is a graphics bus, the Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP), which has been developed to both (1) reduce the load on the PCI bus systems, and (2) extend the graphics capabilities of systems. The AGP interface standard (defined by Accelerated Graphics Port Interface Specification, Revision 1.0 (31 Jul. 1996) from Intel corporation), allows the graphics processor to retrieve graphics information from system memory independently of the PCI.
In current industry architectures, the host bus, the AGP interconnect, and the PCI bus access system memory through the memory controller in the North Bridge. The memory controller maps logical addresses used by the processor to physical locations in system memory. The system memory controlled by the North Bridge is typically made up of a plurality of Direct Random Access Memory chips (DRAMs). There are a number of different types of DRAMs that may be used in system memory in current and future memory systems, such as RDRAM (Rambus DRAM), SDRAM (Synchronous DRAM), DDRSDRAM (Double data rate SDRAM).
DRAMs are organized into various banks. Each bank is comprised of a matrix of storage locations organized in rows and columns. When a memory access occurs, such as a read cycle, the memory controller receives an address over one of the buses, maps the received address into an appropriate physical address and performs the access operation to system memory. Consequently, an address, which for sake of illustration will be assumed to be 16 bits long, customarily is conceived of as being composed of two parts: a first 8-bit portion of the address which is associated with a row address, and a second 8-bit portion which is associated with a column address (the bit lengths are exemplary and merely utilized here for illustrative purposes). This separation of the address into row and column portions allows the address to correctly specify a storage location, or cell, by its row and column.
In order to minimize the number of pins on the DRAM, memory accesses in conventional DRAMs typically place the row portion of the address on the address bus to select the appropriate row, and then place the column portion of the address on the address bus to select the appropriate column. At some time after the row and column information have both been specified, the data from the memory location specified by the row and column address appears on the DRAM data bus.
From the foregoing, it can be seen that in order to make a single memory access there are three phases: a row address phase, a column address phase, and a data retrieval phase. In the past, it was noticed that typical programs tend to operate sequentially, so if there is a memory address accessed, it is likely that the next memory address accessed will be the very next cell, which means that the column address is likely to change, while the row address is not likely to change. Consequently, typical DRAMs are structured such that once the row address has been provided, thereafter DRAMS can continue to access the row (also referred to herein as page) that is "open" in the DRAM.
In the event that a memory controller has several memory accesses to be done sequentially, then once a page is open it would be desirable from an efficiency standpoint to examine pending as well as current memory accesses in order to determine which of those pending memory accesses will be to memory locations that are within a currently open page (that is, the row of the request is the row from which a memory controller is currently reading within a DRAM). In other words, assuming a page X is open, if there are four memory accesses A, B, C, and D, waiting to be performed, and assuming the first access A is to page Z, the second access B is to page X, the third access C is to page Y, and the fourth access D is to page W, it is preferable from a memory efficiency standpoint that the data access (i.e., access B) to the page that is open (i.e., page X) be made first.
Current memory controllers do not typically "look ahead" to see if certain pending memory accesses are destined for currently open pages based on the type of stream that is currently accessing memory. Furthermore, at any given time, typically more than one page of memory is generally open and in future systems this will become more likely. For example, under the Direct RDRAM scheme, it is expected that up to 8 pages per RDRAM chip will be open simultaneously. Thus, if a system has eight RDRAM chips (a reasonable assumption), it will be possible to have up to 64 pages open simultaneously.
Controlling memory access via the use of "look ahead" would be undeniably valuable. Furthermore, as the foregoing has shown, the prospective ability of the memory controllers to schedule memory access on the basis of look ahead is likely to become even more important in that future system memories are likely to be able to provide a very large number of open pages of memory simultaneously. It is therefore apparent that a need exists in the art for a method and system which will provide data processing systems, having memory controllers, with the ability to look ahead and intelligently schedule accesses to system memory utilizing information gained from such looking ahead.
In addition to the foregoing, another problem of concern to memory designers and memory controller designers is the issue of power consumption by the memory devices. Advanced DRAMs achieve higher performance but pay a penalty in higher power consumption. The more pages that are open, the more power is consumed. To address power concerns, some DRAMs provide reduced power modes in which some or all of a given memory component can be placed in a reduced power mode. However, such reduced power modes are provided at the cost of significantly increased latency. It would be desirable to be able to control memory to reduce power consumption without an associated large increase in latency by intelligently using the information available about current and pending transactions.

Memory controller providing multiple power modes for accessing memory devices by reordering memory transactions


A compact four-unit type of zoom lens system particularly suited for video cameras. The zoom lens system has a variable power ratio of about 6-8 and is made up of a reduced number of about 9-11 lenses. This zoom lens system comprises a first lens unit I having a positive refractive power, a second lens unit II having a negative refractive power, a third lens unit III having a positive refractive power and a fourth lens unit IV having a positive refractive power. The first and third lens units I and III are movable toward the object side for zooming from the wide angle end to the telephoto end while the second lens unit II remains fixed. The fourth lens unit IV is movable for correcting image position variations. The third lens unit III includes at least one positive lens element and one negative lens element with a concave surface facing the fourth lens unit IV. The fourth lens unit IV includes one positive lens element and may further include one negative lens element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a four-unit type of zoom lens system lending itself well fit for still cameras, cinecameras or other cameras, esp., video cameras and, more specifically, to a compact zoom lens arrangement comprising a reduced number of lenses and having a variable power ratio of about 6-8.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In recent years, video cameras have been smaller in size and lower in price than ever before and, with this, zoom lenses for video cameras are now required to get ever smaller and ever more inexpensive.
In most cases, zoom lenses having a variable power ratio of 6 or more for video cameras, available so far in the art, are of a four-unit type built up of, in order from the object side, positive, negative, negative and positive lens units, with the overall lens length kept constant during zooming, the 2nd lens unit used for power variation and the 3rd lens unit intended for image position correction.
With demand for lens miniaturization in mind, however, some zoom lens systems for video cameras--which are variable in the overall lens length during zooming and are generally designed such that the overall lens length is minimized at the wide angle end have been proposed in JP-P-61(1986)-55653, JP-A-58(1983)-179809 and JP-A-60(1985)-14212.
However, these zoom lens systems each consist of as large as 13 to 15 lenses. For lens systems for cameras using small-sized image sensors, typically video cameras, the more the number of lenses used, the more difficult it is to assure a space large enough to accommodate such lenses, thus offering an obstacle to their miniaturization. This problem becomes more serious as the image sensors get smaller.


The playback of content from a playlist is disclosed. A user may influence the probability of a specific item from a content playlist being selected during the execution of a pseudo-random (shuffle) algorithm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally concerns the playback of audio and/or video content selections (hereinafter 'content') from a playlist. More specifically, the present invention concerns user influence on the probability of a specific item from a content playlist being selected during the execution of a pseudo-random (shuffle) algorithm.
2. Description of the Related Art
Many consumer electronics devices such as digital audio players, mobile devices with content playback capability, and even laptop or desktop computing devices with a content player or application support the implementation of a playlist. In the most general form, a playlist is a list of content that can be played in a sequential or shuffled order. In the latter case, content is played back in a pseudo-random order.
While there are numerous instances of pseudo-random selection algorithms, such algorithms generally fall into one or two distinct categories. The first such category includes those algorithms where subsequent selections of content made by the execution of the algorithm are independent of content previously selected through execution of the algorithm. The second such category includes those algorithms where previous content selections are excluded from further playback until the entire playlist has been processed. In the first category, a given piece of content may be randomly selected multiple times while another piece of content may not be selected for playback at all. In the second category, every item of content on the playlist is played back before any one item is played again.
In many instances, a playlist inevitably includes content that is no longer desired by a user of the consumer electronics device. Such a lack of desire to hear further playback of the content may be permanent such that the user never desires to hear the particular selection or any selection by a particular group ever again. Such a lack of desire may also be temporary. For example, a user may simply not be in the mood to hear a particular selection at any given time. In many instances, a user may be more interested in hearing one type of content selection to the detriment of another.
Removing a particular selection from a playlist can often be time consuming in that it requires 'synching' a mobile device to a host computer that manages playlist generation and modification and, further, that hosts all content owned by a user and that may be included on a playlist. Further, if the lack of interest in a particular content selection is temporary, removing a selection from a playlist can be even more laborious if it need be reintroduced at a later time.
There is a need in the art for a user to weight or rank playlist items whereby content may be randomly played back but more or less so than other items in the playlist.


The present invention relates to a production process for an electrode material, an electrode and an electric storage device, and the production process for an electrode material comprises a step of heating a polymer having a silicon-containing unit and a silicon-non-containing unit.

In recent years, the progress of downsizing and lightening of electronic equipments is remarkable, and with this, requirements for downsizing and lightening of batteries used as power sources for driving the electronic equipments have also much more increased. In order to meet such requirements for downsizing and lightening, a nonaqueous electrolyte secondary battery, such as a lithium ion secondary battery, has been developed as an electric storage device. Further, as an electric storage device having properties such as high output density and favorable cycle performance, an electric double layer capacitor is known. Furthermore, as an electric storage device meeting uses requiring high energy density property and high output property, a lithium ion capacitor wherein electric storage principals of a lithium ion secondary battery and an electric double layer capacitor are combined is known.
As negative electrode materials used for such electric storage devices, carbon particles such as graphite particles have been used for, for example, a lithium ion secondary battery. However, with the aim of further increase in capacity, a composite material of carbon and silicon has been studied. For example, in a patent literature 1, a lithium ion secondary battery containing carbonaceous particles obtained by calcining a mixture of a silicon precursor such as polyethoxysilane and a carbon precursor such as a furan resin, pulverizing the calcined product to prepare silicon-containing carbonaceous particles, coating the particles with a carbon precursor such as coal tar pitch and then calcining the carbon precursor is described. In a patent literature 2, a lithium ion secondary battery containing a composite electrode material obtained by adding a mixture of a carbon precursor organic polymer compound such as a furan resin and an organosilicon compound such as a tetramethoxysilane partial condensate to graphite particles and calcining the resulting mixture is described.

Production process for electrode material, electrode and electric storage device


A system and method of customizing a flush toilet to help train an animal to utilize the toilet when making waste. A primary tray is provided. The primary tray is placed over the toilet. An opening is formed in the primary tray. If a pet in training becomes tentative, the opening is reduced in size or eliminated by the use of a supplemental tray. The supplemental tray is sized to cover only the part of the primary tray that holds litter. With the litter removed, the supplemental tray is placed atop or under the primary tray. If no opening is desired, no opening is formed. If a smaller opening is desired, an opening of the appropriate size is made in the supplemental tray. The supplemental tray is then filled with litter and is used to train an animal as if it were part of the primary tray.

1. Field of the Invention
In general, the present invention relates to devices and methods that are used to train a pet to utilize a flush toilet. More particularly, the present invention relates to devices and methods that suspend litter over the seat of a toilet to condition a pet to make waste into the toilet seat opening.
2. Prior Art Description
Many pets, and especially cats, can be trained to use a litter box. However, litter boxes must be cleaned and the litter periodically changed. Litter can be accidentally moved out of litter box by a pet and litter boxes can emit unappealing smells. It is for these reasons that many pet owners prefer options other than litter boxes.
The most obvious choice, other than a litter box, is to train a pet to go to the bathroom outside. However, for many people, such a choice is not possible. Many people do not have the time in their schedules to walk their pets at necessary times. Furthermore, many pets cannot be trained to safely roam free outdoors.
If a pet owner does not want the hassle of a litter box and cannot train a pet to go outside, the only other viable option is to train the pet to use the toilet. The way a pet is trained to use a toilet is to position the litter atop the toilet. Eventually, a pet will get into the habit of going to the bathroom atop the toilet. Over time, the amount of litter positioned atop the toilet is decreased, until little or no litter is needed to entice the pet. The pet is then trained to use the toilet and the pet's waste can be flushed away.
In the prior art, there are many litter trays that are designed to hold litter over the opening of a toilet. Such prior art devices are exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 3,688,742 to McGee, entitled Toilet Training Assembly For Cats. Many of the prior art litter trays have openings that lead to the underlying toilet. The size of the openings can often be enlarged by removing material from the suspended litter tray. However, it has been found that pets, especially certain cats, are tentative about perching themselves atop a toilet bowl. Often, a cat may be comfortable using a litter tray provided the hole to the underlying toilet is small. As soon as a pet owner enlarges the hole, the cat may refuse to use the litter tray and the training cycle is lost. The hole cannot be reduced in size because the hole was enlarged by removing material from the litter tray. The only way a pet owner can return to the previous configuration is to purchase a new litter tray and again begin the training process.
A need therefore exists for a pet training device that can train a pet to use a toilet, where the size of the opening exposed to the toilet gradually increases. A need also exists for a pet training device where the size of the hole exposed to the underlying toilet can be decreased as well as increased in order to meet the training requirements of a particular pet. These needs are met by the present invention as described and claimed below.