A plasma display panel and a driving method thereof that is capable of improving a discharge efficiency as well as preventing a crosstalk. In the panel, an address electrode is included in each discharge cell making a unit pixel of the plasma display panel. A plurality of second sustain electrodes are positioned at each periphery of the discharge cell in a direction crossing the address electrode to receive a second sustaining pulse. At least one of first sustain electrode is positioned at the center of the discharge cell in a direction crossing the address electrode to receive a first sustaining pulse applied alternately with respect to the second sustaining pulse.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a plasma display panel, and more particularly to a plasma display panel and a driving method thereof that is capable of improving discharge efficiency as well as preventing a crosstalk.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a plasma display panel (PDP) is a display device utilizing a visible light emitted from a fluorescent body when an ultraviolet ray generated by a gas discharge excites the fluorescent body. The PDP has an advantage in that it has a thinner thickness and a lighter weight in comparison to the existent cathode ray tube (CRT) and is capable of realizing a high resolution and a large-scale screen. The PDP includes a plurality of discharge cells arranged in a matrix pattern, each of which makes one pixel of a field.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a discharge cell structure of a conventional three-electrode, alternating current (AC) surface-discharge PDP.
Referring to FIG. 1, a discharge cell of the conventional three-electrode, AC surface-discharge PDP includes a scan/sustain electrode 12Y and a common sustain electrode 12Z provided on an upper substrate 10, and an address electrode 20X provided on a lower substrate 18.
The scan/sustain electrode 12Y and the common sustain electrode 12Z are transparent electrodes made from indium-tin-oxide (ITO). Since the ITO has a high resistance value, a signal is applied via bus electrodes 13YB and 13ZB to thereby apply an uniform voltage to each discharge cell
On the upper substrate 10 provided with the scan/sustain electrode 12Y and the common sustain electrode 12Z in parallel, an upper dielectric layer 14 and a protective film 16 are disposed. Wall charges generated by plasma discharge are accumulated on the upper dielectric layer 14. The protective film 16 prevents a damage of the upper dielectric layer 14 caused by a sputtering during the plasma discharge and improves the emission efficiency of secondary electrons. This protective film 16 is usually made from magnesium oxide (MgO).
A lower dielectric layer 22, barrier ribs 24 are formed on the lower substrate 18 provided with the address electrode 20X. The surfaces of the lower dielectric layer 22 and the barrier ribs 24 are coated with a fluorescent layer 26. The address electrode 20X is formed in a direction crossing the scan/sustain electrode 12Y and the common sustain electrode 12Z.
The barrier rib 24 is formed in parallel to the address electrode 20X to prevent an ultraviolet ray and a visible light generated by a discharge from being leaked to the adjacent discharge cells. The fluorescent layer 26 is excited by an ultraviolet ray generated during the plasma discharge to generate any one of red, green and blue visible light rays. An inactive gas for a gas discharge is injected into a discharge space defined between the upper and lower substrate 10 and 18 and the barrier rib 24.
FIG. 2 represents an arrangement structure of the overall electrode lines and discharge cells of the PDP shown in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 2, a discharge cell 28 is positioned at each intersection among the scan/sustain electrode lines Y, the common sustain electrode lines Z and the address electrode lines X. The outer edge of the scan/sustain electrode line Y and the common sustain electrode lines Z is provided with the bus electrodes YB and ZB. The barrier ribs 24 are formed in parallel to the address electrode lines X.
Such a three-electrode AC surface-discharge PDP drives one frame, which is divided into various sub-fields having a different emission number, so as to realize gray levels of a picture. Each sub-field is again divided into a reset period for uniformly causing a discharge, an address period for selecting the discharge cell and a sustain period for realizing the gray levels depending on the discharge number. When it is intended to display a picture of 256 gray levels, a frame interval equal to 1/60 second (i.e. 16.67 msec) is divided into 8 sub-fields. Each of the 8 sub-fields is divided into a reset period, an address period and a sustain period. The reset period and the address period of each sub-field are equal every sub-field, whereas the sustain period and the discharge number are increased at a ration of 2n (wherein n=0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7) at each sub-field. Since the sustain period becomes different at each sub-field as mentioned above, the gray levels of a picture can be expressed. In order to express the gray levels, driving waveforms as shown in FIG. 3 are applied to each electrode line of the PDP for each sub-field.
Referring to FIG. 3, one sub-field is divided into a reset period for initializing the entire field, an address period for scanning the entire field on a line-sequence basis to write a data, and a sustain period for keeping a light-emission state of the cells into which a data is written.
First, in the reset period, a reset pulse VR is applied to the common sustain electrode line Z to generate a reset discharge between the common sustain electrode line Z and the scan/sustain electrode line Y. When the reset discharge is generated between the common sustain electrode line Z and the scan/sustain electrode line Y, priming charged particles and wall charges are formed at each discharge cell.
In the address period, a scanning pulse −Vs is sequentially applied to the scan/sustain electrode lines Y, and a data pulse Vd synchronized with the scanning pulse −Vs is applied to the address electrode lines X. At this time, a desired level of direct current voltage for preventing an erroneous discharge is applied to the common sustain electrode lines Z.
In the sustain period, sustaining pulses Vsus having the same pulse width and voltage are alternately applied to the scan/sustain electrode lines Y and the common sustain electrode lines Z to make a sustain discharge of the discharge cells selected by an address discharge.
As described above, the conventional PDP allows sustaining pulses to be alternately applied to the scan/sustain electrode lines and the common sustain electrodes formed in adjacent to each other in the sustain period. For this reason, an erroneous discharge may be caused between the scan/sustain electrode lines and the common sustain electrodes formed adjacently with having the barrier ribs therebetween.
Further, since the scan/sustain electrode lines and the common sustain electrode lines are formed at the center of the discharge cell, the sustain discharge concentrates on the middle portion of the upper substrate to reduce a utility of the discharge space. In other words, a discharge area of the sustain discharge is reduced to cause a deterioration in the light-emission efficiency.
In addition, since the barrier ribs are formed in parallel to the address electrodes, a light generated at a specific discharge cell is provided at the upper/lower portion of the specific discharge cell. In other words, a crosstalk may be generated between the discharge cells arranged in a direction perpendicular to the barrier ribs.
In order to improve the discharge efficiency, there has been suggested a five-electrode, AC surface-discharge PDP as shown in FIG. 4.
Referring to FIG. 4, the conventional five-electrode, AC surface-discharge PDP includes first and second trigger electrodes 34Y and 34Z provided on an upper substrate 30 in such a manner to be positioned at the center of a discharge cell, first and second sustain electrodes 32Y and 32Z provided on the upper substrate 30 in such a manner to be positioned at the edge of the discharge cell, and an address electrode 42X provided at a lower substrate in a direction crossing the trigger electrodes 34Y and 34Z and the first and second sustain electrodes 32Y and 32Z.
On the upper substrate 30 provided with the first sustain electrode 32Y, the first trigger electrode 34Y, the second trigger electrode 34Z and the second sustain electrode 32Z in parallel, an upper dielectric layer 36 and a protective layer 38 are disposed. On the other hand, a lower dielectric layer 44 and a barrier rib 46 are formed on a lower substrate 40 provided with the address electrode 42X, and a fluorescent layer 48 is coated on the surfaces of the lower dielectric layer 44 and the barrier ribs 46.
The trigger electrodes 34Y and 34Z spaced at a narrow distance Ni at the center of the discharge cell are supplied with an alternating pulse in the sustain period to initiate a sustain discharge. The first and second sustain electrodes 32Y and 32Z spaced at a wide distance Wi at the edge of the discharge cell are used to keep a plasma discharge after the discharge was initiated by the trigger electrodes 34Y and 34Z.
An operation process of the five-electrode AC surface-discharge PDP will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 5 below. FIG. 5 is a section view representing a state of rotating the upper substrate by 90° with respect to the lower substrate so as to show up the overall electrode structure within one discharge cell.
First, in the reset period, a reset pulse is applied to the second trigger electrode 34Z of the discharge cell to generate a reset discharge for initializing the discharge cell.
In the address period, a scanning pulse is sequentially applied to the first trigger electrode 34Y and a data pulse synchronized with the scanning pulse is applied to the address electrode X. At this time, an address discharge is generated at the discharge cells supplied with a data.
In the sustain period, a first alternating current pulse is alternately applied to the first and second trigger electrodes 34Y and 34Z. Also, a second alternating current pulse having a higher voltage level than the first alternating current pulse is applied to the first and second electrodes 32Y and 32Z. When the first alternating current pulse is applied, a discharge is initiated between the first and second trigger electrodes 34Y and 34Z. At this time, the first and second sustain electrodes 32Y and 32Z generate a sustain discharge by a priming effect of charged particles caused by said discharge between the first and second trigger electrodes 34Y and 34Z.
In such a conventional five-electrode PDP, a sustain electrode is initiated by utilizing the trigger electrodes 34Y and 34Z, to thereby cause a sustain discharge having a long discharge path.
However, a sustaining pulse is alternately applied to the first and second sustain electrodes formed adjacently each other during the sustain period. Accordingly, an erroneous discharge may be generated between the first and second sustain electrodes formed in parallel with the barrier ribs therebetween.
Furthermore, since the barrier ribs are formed in parallel to the address electrode lines, a light generated at a specific discharge cell is applied to the discharge cells provided at the upper/lower portions of the specific discharge cell. In other words, a crosstalk may be generated between the discharge cells arranged in parallel in a direction perpendicular to the barrier ribs.

Plasma display and driving method thereof


A method and apparatus for centrifuging. The apparatus comprises a centrifuge for centrifuging a slurry, comprising a bowl driven by a bowl drive motor, a screw conveyor driven by a screw conveyor drive motor, a pump driven by a pump motor, a bowl drive unit operatively arranged to drive the bowl drive motor, a conveyor drive unit operatively arranged to drive the screw conveyor drive motor, a pump drive unit operatively arranged to drive the pump drive motor, and, a general purpose first computer specially programmed to control the bowl drive unit to drive the bowl drive motor at a first constant speed and to control the screw conveyor drive unit to drive the screw conveyor drive motor at a second constant speed and to monitor the torques of the bowl drive motor and the screw conveyor drive motor, while simultaneously controlling the pump drive unit to variably control flow of the slurry through the centrifuge so as to drive one of the bowl drive motor or the screw conveyor motor at a pre-set operating torque.

One well-known type of centrifuge comprises a bowl and screw conveyor, each of which is driven by an electric motor. A danger in operating this type of centrifuge in some applications is that one or both of the motors may be presented with a load that will require the motor(s) to exceed rated torque. This could lead to motor failure and machine overload, in some circumstances, and to system shutdown. In some applications, such as oil well drilling, for example, down-time caused by centrifuge failure could be extremely expensive. One obvious solution to this problem known in the art is to simply monitor motor torque and shut down the entire system when overload occurs. Another known solution is to simply shut off the feed pump (which supplies a slurry to the centrifuge for separation) when overload occurs. Both of these known solutions are unsatisfactory, however, as they both adversely affect overall system performance and/or efficiency. In a solution to this problem in the parent patent of which this patent claims priority, predetermined limits were imposed on operating torque of both the conveyor and bowl motors. A drawback of this solution, however, is that the operator had no control over the predetermined torque limits and, under some operating conditions, the operator might want to run the motors within different limits. Another problem in existing centrifuge systems is that some users/operators have existing pump/gear box assemblies that they would like to use with a newly installed centrifuge. Heretofore, this was not possible, because the computer controlled centrifuges were not programmed to run with third party (i.e., other than OEM) pumps. What is needed, then, is a method and apparatus for centrifuging which continuously monitors motor torques, permits operators to preset torque limits for conveyor and bowl motors, adjusts centrifuge operation automatically as load conditions change to ensure safe motor operation and efficient system operation, and can be used with customers' existing feed pumps.


A controller which exists between a client apparatus and an image processing apparatus and which controls access from the client apparatus such that the client apparatus can use a network server function of the image processing apparatus, its control method and control program and storage medium. To accomplish this, the controller which exists between a client terminal and an image processing apparatus and which controls data transmitted from the client terminal to the image processing apparatus comprises an information providing unit which provides setup information of the controller to the client terminal and a transfer unit which transfers setup information of the image processing apparatus to the client terminal.

In recent years, many image processing apparatuses such as a printer, a scanner, a facsimile machine, or an apparatus with functions of these devices have a network communication function. Some of these image processing apparatuses have a network server function, as an information providing function of transmitting data, where setup window for setting the image processing apparatus is described, to a web browser on a PC, a server or the like connected to the apparatuses via a network, for user's setting and operations of device via the web browser. Further, some image processing apparatuses have a data transfer function of transferring image data or the like to a PC, a server or the like connected to the apparatuses via a network.
In the data transfer function, higher-order protocols such as the SMTP protocol for transfer of electronic mail, the i-Fax, the HTTP (Hyper Text Transfer Protocol) enabling file uploading and the FTP (File Transfer Protocol) for file transfer are used.
On the other hand, an external controller is known as a means of expanding the functions of the image processing apparatus. The external controller performs a network-function expansion function of converting data in the communication format of a user environment network (LAN) to data corresponding to the I/F format of the image processing apparatus, a storage expansion function of spooling communication data, a load distribution function of performing a part of processing by the image processing apparatus or a client apparatus, and the like.
Further, as the connection among the image processing apparatus, the external controller and the LAN, the dual network type connection where the external controller is connected between the image processing apparatus and the LAN and the external controller performs its interface function therebetween, and a single network type connection where the image processing apparatus and the external controller are respectively connected to the LAN are known.
In comparison with the single network type connection, the dual network type connection is advantageous in that the band of the LAN is not consumed since an independent local network is constructed between the external controller and the image processing apparatus. In the dual network type connection, a large amount of image data can be transmitted between the external controller and the image processing apparatus by using a transmission format of band wider than the LAN band the local network.
Further, in the dual network type connection, the external controller and the image processing apparatus operate as one network apparatus. On the other hand, in the single network type connection, the external controller and the image processing apparatus respectively consume logical resources such as network addresses and physical resources such as hub ports. Accordingly, the dual network type connection is advantageous in that the amount of consumption of network resources in the LAN is smaller than that in the single network type connection.
However, if the conventional external controller is connected between the LAN and the image processing apparatus, the image processing apparatus itself cannot perform communication on the LAN, and the above-described data transfer function of the image processing apparatus cannot be utilized on the LAN.

Control apparatus and its method, and control program and storage medium holding it, with access designating second address being performed based on link to the second address included in display information


The invention provides a gas turbine installation, a cooling air supplying method, a method of modifying a gas turbine installation, which can reduce the amount of compressed air extracted for cooling of an exhaust plenum and which can increase energy efficiency. The gas turbine installation comprises an exhaust plenum comprising an exhaust casing connected to the downstream side of a turbine and made up of an outer casing and an inner casing, and an exhaust diffuser made up of an outer diffuser and an inner diffuser, which are disposed between the outer casing and the inner casing; a first cooling system for introducing, from the outer peripheral side of the outer diffuser, cooling air for cooling the exhaust plenum; and a second cooling system for introducing, from the inner peripheral side of the inner diffuser, cooling air for cooling the exhaust plenum.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a gas turbine installation for providing torque by combustion gas that is produced by burning compressed air together with fuel. More particularly, the present invention relates to a gas turbine installation having an exhaust plenum downstream of a turbine, to a cooling air supplying method for use in the gas turbine installation, to a method of modifying a gas turbine installation.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a turbine section of a gas turbine, turbine cooled vanes exposed to the highest temperature and most of other components must be cooled. For example, an exhaust diffuser of a double tube structure is generally connected to a combustion gas outlet of a turbine for the purpose of restoring the static pressure of mainstream gas. An exhaust plenum including such an exhaust diffuser is also one of the components to be cooled. The exhaust plenum usually comprises inner and outer exhaust diffusers, inner and outer exhaust casings disposed so as to cover those exhaust diffusers, a strut for coupling the inner and outer exhaust casings to each other, a strut cover for coupling the inner and outer exhaust diffusers to each other in a covering relation to the strut, and so on. The exhaust plenum thus constructed is generally cooled by a method of supplying, as a coolant, compressed air exhausted from a compressor to a space between the outer exhaust casing and the outer exhaust diffuser, and then introducing the compressed air to a space between the inner exhaust casing and the inner exhaust diffuser through a space between the strut and the strut cover (see, e.g., Patent Reference 1: JP,A 2001-182503).

Gas turbine installation, cooling air supplying method and method of modifying a gas turbine installation


Various embodiments for reducing power consumption and radio frequency (RF) interference in a mobile computing device are described. In one or more embodiments, the mobile computing device may support cellular voice communication, wireless wide area network (WWAN) data communication, and wireless local area network (WLAN) data communication. The mobile computing device may be arranged to disable WWAN data communication whenever an available WLAN is detected to reduce RF interference and/or power consumption. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

A mobile computing device such as a combination handheld computer and mobile telephone or smart phone generally may provide voice and data communications functionality, as well as computing and processing capabilities. In some cases, a smart phone may be implemented as an Unlicensed Mobile Access (UMA) or dual-mode mobile computing device to support both cellular communication over a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) cellular network as well as Wireless Fidelity (WiFi) communication over an 802.11 wireless network. In addition, a CDMA mobile computing device may support Evolution-Data Optimized (EV-DO) data communication over a wireless radio channel.
Typically, multiple modes of a mobile computing device are supported at the same time which often may result in radio frequency (RF) interference and excessive power consumption especially when operating from a battery. Accordingly, there exists the need for an improved apparatus and methods for reducing power consumption and RF interference in a mobile computing device.

Apparatus and methods for reducing power consumption and/or radio frequency interference in a mobile computing device


A jack-up platform is described having a horizontal working deck that may be jacked up out of the water by moving its legs to a position wherein they take support on an underwater bottom. The jack-up platform further comprises a mooring system for mooring a floating vessel at a mooring side of the jack-up platform. The mooring system comprises an elongated support means for supporting a hull part of the floating vessel, and guiding means connected to the hull of the jack-up platform at the mooring side. The guiding means are able to rigidly hold the elongated support means in a support position, in which the elongated support means is within reach of the hull part of the floating vessel to be supported when the hull is jacked out of the water and the jack-up platform rests on its legs. A method for mooring a floating vessel using the jack-up platform is also described.

The invention is particularly relevant in the context of lifting objects between a floating vessel and a jack-up platform, by using a lifting device positioned on the jack-up platform. The lifting may be carried out in waters on-shore or off-shore, the latter being preferred. The jack-up platform may be floating, may be in a semi-jacked-up position, in which its hull is still in the water, or may be jacked-up with its hull fully out of the water. The jack-up platform in the latter case represents a relatively stable position for the lifting device. The jack-up platform may be self-propelling in which case it is generally referred to as a jack-up vessel. It is expressly stated that when a jack-up platform is referred to throughout the present disclosure, reference is also made to a jack-up vessel.
The invention is not limited to the lifting of particular objects, but may be used with advantage for lifting turbine components, such as a full tower of for instance 900 tons, a split tower (two sections) of 500 tons each for instance, a split tower (three sections) of 350 tons each for instance, a nacelle (+ rotor) of 800 tons for instance, blades (or a blade rack carrying a single blade, or a complete blade rack carrying multiple blades), and a pre-assembled combination of the above in any form. It is also possible to use the invention for lifting wind turbine foundation components, such as a monopile of 1600 tons for instance, a transition piece of 500 tons for instance, an anode cage (or anode cage tower containing multiple anode cages), and complete jackets, weighing up to 1600 tons and more. Apart from the above named objects, general items may also be lifted with the lifting device when using the invented mooring system. Such general items include but are not limited to supply containers of any kind, offshore wind turbine (foundation) installation equipment, and spare vessel and equipment parts.
The reference to the above wind turbine components does not imply that the invention is limited thereto, and the jack-up platform and method could be applied for lifting any other object, such as for instance, but not limited to, offshore foundation structures, jetties, radar and other towers, and the like.
A floating vessel in a water mass is subject to movements according to six degrees of freedom. Translational movements comprise heave, sway and surge. Where heave is a vertical movement, sway is the side to side or port to starboard movement and surge is the front to back or bow to stern movement. Rotational movements comprise pitch, roll and yaw. Where pitch is a rotation of a vessel about its lateral (port-starboard) axis, roll is the rotation about its longitudinal (bow-stern) axis, and yaw is the rotation about its vertical axis. Heave, sway, surge, pitch, roll and yaw movements are defined in a coordinate system fixed to the floating vessel and therefore may differ from movements in the vertical and two horizontal directions, defined by a coordinate system fixed to the outside world.
The motions of the water mass are transferred to a vessel that is floating on the water mass. The induced vessel movements, in turn, impose movements and accelerations on objects that are transported by the vessel or manipulated on or from the vessel. When lifting an object from a deck of a floating vessel with a lifting device for instance, the relative position between the floating vessel, including the object to be lifted off, and the lifting device preferably should be kept fixed within certain horizontal distance limitations that are defined by the lifting device's specifications. The object preferably should be kept positioned within a watch circle of the lifting device to avoid lifting the object under an angle with the vertical direction that is too large for the lifting device to handle. Preferably, a hoisting wire of the lifting device is kept substantially vertical during the lifting operations. This is especially the case when the lifting device is not provided on the floating vessel itself, but is provided on another floating vessel and/or on a stabilized vessel or platform, such as a jack-up platform that is separate from the object's vessel.
When lifting off an object from the floating vessel with a lifting device located on a jack-up platform, it is of importance that the horizontal position (⅔ translational degrees of freedom: surge & sway) and the horizontal rotational movement (⅓ rotational degrees of freedom: yaw) of the floating vessel, and therefore also of the objects it carries, remain fixed within certain limitations relative to the location of the lifting device, in order to avoid lifting device breakdown for instance during the lift, and to ensure a safe rigging procedure. The floating vessel preferably should have a fixed position versus the jack-up platform and the lifting device, provided thereon. Also, the jack-up platform and the lifting device preferably have to remain in a fixed horizontal position relative to an outside world reference system during lifting. Further, when using a lifting device provided on a semi-jacked-up or jacked-up jack-up platform, this lifting device will also be fixed horizontally relative to an outside world reference system during lifting. If both the floating vessel and lifting device are fixed horizontally to the same outside world reference system, their relative horizontal position will be also fixed towards each other. Further and ideally, the object to be lifted should preferably be positioned directly under the lifting device's connection point in a vertical direction. This is particularly challenging when lifting an object from a floating vessel carried out with a lifting device provided on a fixedly positioned jack-up vessel or platform in offshore conditions.
Known methods and systems for keeping a floating vessel positioned offshore next to a jack-up vessel comprise anchoring system in the first place. The floating vessel may then be equipped with an anchor spread. Usually an assist vessel (anchor handler) needs to be used in parallel, which is costly. Also, positioning a floating vessel on anchors is time consuming. The assist vessel picks up the anchors from the floating vessel and positions these at the correct location on the seabed. Having a couple of anchors lines out in different directions will keep the floating vessel or barge positioned in a more or less stable position. Anchoring systems are not ideal when used in combination with a jack-up vessel or platform, in particular when it is the intention to position the floating vessel as close as possible to the jack-up vessel. Depending on the size of the jack-up vessel and the floating vessel, as well as on the relative position of both, anchor lines could clash with the legs of the jack-up vessel, which represents a large risk. If an anchor line breaks, the floating vessel's position can become uncontrollable and a clash may even occur between the floating vessel itself and the legs of the jack-up vessel or platform when the lifting is performed when the jack-up vessel or platform is jacked-up until a height where the floating vessel fits under the jack-up vessel or platform. Such clashing indeed may immediately compromise the integrity of the jack-up vessel or platform. Also, anchors are typically fixated in the seabed, which may cause interfacing with existing (buried) structures in the seabed, for instance, but not limited to cables, pipelines, other debris and such like. Preliminary surveys are needed.
Another known method and system employs a floating vessel equipped with a dynamic positioning (DP) system, which also requires a certain amount of thrusters capable of holding the floating vessel in a fixed position. The more power the DP system possesses, the more accurate it can keep a certain position up to a designed sea state. More power will however come with greater cost. The accuracy of positioning when lifting an object off a floating vessel using a lifting device fixed on a static jack-up platform further should preferably be high, which requires thrusters with a high power. Using a floating vessel equipped with a DP system in close proximity with another structure (for instance the elevated jack-up platform, an offshore foundation or other) may also involve risks. A DP system's power is continuously adjusting to cope with external forces (water, wind, other, . . . ). As the system is working close to a structure, its own thruster force may induce forces that come into contact with the fixed structure and are reflected from it. This could cause the DP system to assume that the structure is applying a direct force onto the floating vessel (even if a physical connection between the floating vessel and the jack-up vessel has not been made). As a reaction, the DP system could try to react against this 'fake' external force by activating more power in the direction of the structure. This could cause the DP system to actually move the floating vessel towards the structure, cause it to collide with the structure. This of course is highly undesirable.
Although the known systems may be used in some circumstances, they generally have disadvantages, as stated above. The capacity of the lifting device on the jack-up platform may not be fully utilised since the floating vessel should in the known methods always leave some distance to (the legs of) the jack-up platform. Indeed, when the floating vessel would approach the (main legs of the) jack-up platform too closely, it could for instance partly slide under the jacked-up jack-up platform, hit the main legs and endanger the total stability of the jack-up platform.

Jack-up platform comprising a mooring system and method for mooring a floating vessel


An improved Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filter is presented which provides linear scalability and implementation without the need for delay lines. A multiprocessor architecture includes a plurality of ALUs (Arithmetic and Logic Unit), Multipliers units, Data cache, and Load/Store units sharing a common Instruction cache. A multi-port memory is also included. An assigning functionality assigns to each available processing unit the computation of specified unique partial product terms and the accumulation of each computed partial product on specified output sample values.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to Finite Impulse Response (FIR) Digital Filters. More specifically the invention relates to an efficient implementation for Finite Impulse Response filters in a multi-processor architecture.
2. Description of Related Art
Finite Impulse Response (FIR) filters are an important and widely used form of a digital filter. FIR filters are used in numerous real time applications including telecommunication, particularly for the generation of constant phase delay characteristics. In addition, signal processing applications requiring an interpolation and decimation function incorporate FIR filtration as an integral part of the process.
The output sample of a FIR filter is a convolution summation of input samples and the impulse response of the filter. The output, y(n) of a causal FIR filter can be written as:
      y              (      n      )        =            ∑              k        =        0                    H        -        1                                h                          (          k          )                    *              x                          (                      n            -            k                    )                    Where:                H is the total number of filter coefficients and n=0, 1, 2, 3 . . . for different values of n, the output sample of the filter can be obtained;        h(k) is the impulse response of the filter. Filter coefficients are determined for various values of k. The value of k can never be negative for a causal system; and        x(m) is the input sample, m=n−k as shown in the equation above. The value of m can never be negative for a causal system.                    As stated by the above equation, the coefficients are multiplied with the appropriate input samples and summed (i.e., accumulated) for obtaining a particular output sample. For N number of input samples and H number of coefficients, the required number of multiplications for a given output sample is H. The saturation point occurs at the Hth output sample as shown in FIG. 1. The H number of multiplications are necessarily required if all the H coefficients are unique.
Compared to other filters, FIR filters offer the following advantages: FIR filters are simple to implement and design. Linear-phase filters that delay the input signal, without causing phase distortion, can be easily realized using FIR filters. FIR filters do not employ any feedback and hence present fewer difficulties in practical implementation. The absence of feedback also simplifies design by making it possible to use finite precision arithmetic. Multi-rate applications such as "decimation" (reducing the sampling rate), "interpolation" (increasing the sampling rate), can be realized best by FIR filters.
FIR filters can be easily implemented using fractional arithmetic unlike other types of filters in which it is difficult to do so. It is always possible to implement a FIR filter using coefficients with a magnitude of less than 1.0 as the overall gain of the FIR filter can be adjusted at its output. All the above advantages make FIR filters preferable for fixed-point Digital Signal Processors (DSPs).
The conventional approach of FIR filter implementation utilizes a delay line (m=n−k, as in the equation above), resulting in increased memory requirements and slower computation.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,004 describes an algorithm for FIR filtering. It proposes a method of decimating and/or interpolating a multi-bit input signal in which n/2 additions are performed, where 'n' is the number of bits in each filter coefficient. Scaling and multiplication of data with coefficients is performed using standard DSP architecture using coefficient values and associated scaling factors stored in memory. The coefficients are stored in coded form, and are then decoded prior to multiplication by the data values. A delay line is essential for the implementation of this method.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,260,053 and 5,297,069 describe methods and implementations that utilize delay lines for FIR filter implementation. Moreover, none of these methods provides linear scalability.

Linearly scalable finite impulse response filter


According to an aspect, a method for searching within user-generated reviews includes receiving, from a client device, a search query to search within a plurality of user-generated reviews relating to a plurality of entities, and identifying, in response to the search query, a set of user-generated reviews from the plurality of user-generated reviews that correspond to one or more search terms of the search query, where the set of user-generated reviews includes a user-generated review for a first entity and a user-generated review for a second entity. The first entity is different from the second entity. The method includes providing at least a portion of the user-generated review for the first entity and at least a portion of the user-generated review for the second entity for simultaneous display on a comparison layout of a user interface of the client device.

People often consult user-generated reviews when making purchase decisions such as choosing a hotel, restaurant, or product. In addition, to discover various options (e.g., find a hotel in a certain area, learn of restaurants nearby), users may use web search engines to search web content. Some web search engines display high-level information about reviews (overall rating score, number of ratings, etc.).

Comparative search within user-generated content


Techniques for supporting operation on multiple carriers are described. In an aspect, a carrier indicator (CI) field may be used to support cross-carrier assignment. The CI field may be included in a grant sent on one carrier and may be used to indicate another carrier on which resources are assigned. In one design, a cell may determine a first carrier on which to send a grant to a UE, determine a second carrier on which resources are assigned to the UE, set a CI field of the grant based on the second carrier and a CI mapping for the first carrier, and send the grant to the UE on the first carrier. The UE may receive the grant on the first carrier from the cell and may determine the second carrier on which resources are assigned to the UE based on the CI field of the grant and the CI mapping for the first carrier.

I. Field
The present disclosure relates generally to communication, and more specifically to techniques for supporting communication on multiple carriers.
II. Background
Wireless communication networks are widely deployed to provide various communication content such as voice, video, packet data, messaging, broadcast, etc. These wireless networks may be multiple-access networks capable of supporting multiple users by sharing the available network resources. Examples of such multiple-access networks include Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) networks, Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) networks, Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) networks, Orthogonal FDMA (OFDMA) networks, and Single-Carrier FDMA (SC-FDMA) networks.
A wireless network may include a number of base stations that can support communication for a number of user equipments (UEs). A UE may communicate with a base station via the downlink and uplink. The downlink (or forward link) refers to the communication link from the base station to the UE, and the uplink (or reverse link) refers to the communication link from the UE to the base station.
A wireless network may support operation on multiple earners on the downlink and/or uplink. A carrier may refer to a range of frequencies used for communication and may be associated with certain characteristics. A carrier may also be referred to as a channel, a frequency channel, etc. A UE may operate on a carrier or a set of carriers on each link for communication with a base station. The base station may send control information and data on one or more carriers on the downlink to the UE. The UE may send control information and data on one or more carriers on the uplink to the base station. It may be desirable to efficiently support operation on multiple carriers on the downlink and/or uplink.

Carrier indicator field for cross carrier assignments


The present invention is directed at a bin lifting and weighing assembly comprising a bin lifting mechanism having means for engaging and lifting a bin; means for mounting the bin lifting mechanism against a structure; a load cell, mounted against the structure; for measuring a weight of the bins; wherein the means for mounting the bin lifting mechanism allows only a single degree of freedom such that the load cell remains in parallel with the structure.

Mobile trash and refuse systems are known in the art and are generally used to collect large amounts of garbage or refuse from commercial or residential buildings. With some of these services, there is a cost to the building owners which generally is based on the weight of the trash or refuse being collected.
In many cases, the cost for this service is based on a flat monthly fee or set fee per removal. Therefore, regardless of the weight of the trash bin and contents being removed, the owner is charged the same amount. This is quite unfair if an owner is throwing away large items which are lightweight and is charged the same amount as an owner who has a similar sized item which weighs more. This is especially less reasonable when the trash or refuse is simply shredded documents since paper is lightweight. In this manner, owners may find alternatively methods to dispose of their garbage.
Rather than being charged a predetermined fee, it would be more beneficial for removal companies to have a garbage or refuse removal system which includes a way to measure the weight of the garbage or refuse being removed so that owners are charged by weight.
It is, therefore, desirable to provide a novel bin lifting and weighing assembly.


The present invention provides a method, apparatus and system for visually comparing a video file against its source as the video file is being re-encoded, for example, into another video format. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a video frame and a corresponding re-encoded video frame are placed into a single wide (combined) video frame to display each image, for example, side-by-side in the same frame. By synchronizing the source video frames with the re-encoded video frames and displaying them on the same wide video frame, differences caused by, for example, the encoding process may be visually determined as the video is being re-encoded into a desired, second video format.

When re-encoding video from one format to another, it is difficult to determine how the various encoding parameters will affect the resultant video images. Some prior art solutions for comparing an original video to its resultant newly encoded counterpart include encoding a video stream and subsequently playing both the original video and the newly encoded video, separately, to detect any differences. However, an encoding process may be lengthy, and waiting to compare the video streams after an encoding process is complete does not allow for real time adjustments in the encoding process and is not the most efficient solution. In addition, in such prior art solutions, there is no sure way of synchronizing the video streams to each other for comparison.

Method, apparatus and system for visual inspection of transcoded video


A diesel fuel and additive mixture is useful for reducing particulate matter emissions while improving or at least not aggravating oxidative stability during combustion. The additive includes at least one compound having a general formula selected from the group consisting of:

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fuel additives. The present invention particularly relates to fuel additives for use in diesel.
Background of the Art
Historically, diesel fuel was one of the least expensive forms of fossil fuels that could be used in automobiles, trucks, and even trains. Due to the advent of environmental regulations which both tightened the specifications on particulates and sulfur, and the imposition of taxes on "gas guzzlers" which served as the impetus to increase miles per gallon of fuel which in turn required that "auto diesel" be useful in such vehicles; diesel is now one of the most expensive fossil fuels.
Due to the environmental movement; it has become desirable to incorporate "renewable" fuels, the so-called "biodiesels," into conventional diesel fuel. Pursuant to that goal, fuels from renewable vegetable sources have seen an impressive increase in use. The biogenic component of these mixed fuels is seen as being more environmentally friendly because it can be more easily broken down (biodegradable). It is also believed that employing biogenic fuels in conventional fuels can mitigate climate change which has resulted in environmental regulations requiring a certain minimum content of bio fuels to be incorporated into conventional fuels.
One area of concern with employing diesel fuel in general and particularly biodiesel and biodiesel/conventional diesel hybrid fuels is a possibility of damage to internal combustion engines due to the presence of corrosive compounds. While biodiesel is more susceptible to oxidation than conventional diesel, oxidation can also arise from employing additives to prevent or mitigate the production of particulate matter during combustion.
Additives that oxygenate the diesel may be employed to reduce particulate matter production during combustion. Conventional oxygenates were reported to be used as main diesel components (minimum at 1.0 weight percent) to reduce particulate matter. Unfortunately, conventional oxygenates that may be blended with a diesel fuel can significantly reduce the fuel's oxidation stability, due to the exacerbated formation of peroxide in the diesel fuel, which can cause a serious problem at ambient storage and handling.
It would be desirable in the art of preparing diesel fuel for use in automobiles and other internal combustion engines to incorporate into the diesel fuel an additive which can eliminate or at least mitigate the production of particulate matter, while at the same time maintaining or improving the oxidation stability of the fuel.

Abstract: andcombinations thereof, wherein: R is a saturated or unsaturated hydrocarbon having from about 1 to about 6 carbons. The additive is effective in diesel at concentrations as low as from about 50 to about 1000 ppm by weight.


A hybrid vehicle is capable of performing regenerative operations of generator-motors disposed adjacently to front wheels and/or rear wheels of the vehicle so as to achieve efficient conversion of kinetic energy of the vehicle into electric energy as much as possible when the vehicle slows down, thereby permitting higher use efficiency of energy. When the vehicle decelerates, a target deceleration force or a target deceleration torque of the vehicle is set, and a permissible maximum value of the braking torque to be imparted to rear wheels from a second generator-motor is set, and the permissible maximum value and the target deceleration torque of the vehicle, whichever is smaller, is set as a target braking torque to be imparted from the second generator-motor to the rear wheels. Furthermore, with the remaining torque of the target deceleration torque being set as an upper limit, a target braking torque to be imparted to front wheels from a first generator-motor is determined, and a friction type braking mechanism compensates a shortfall torque of a total sum of the target braking torques of the two generator-motors to reach the target deceleration torque.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a hybrid vehicle and, more particularly, to a hybrid vehicle provided with a generator-motor capable of imparting torque to front wheels of the vehicle and another generator-motor capable of imparting torque to rear wheels thereof.
2. Description of the Related Art
A hybrid vehicle (so-called parallel hybrid vehicle) having an engine and a generator-motor, which is a motor capable of acting as a generator and also as a motor, as a driving source of the vehicle, normally performs regenerative operation of the generator-motor when the vehicle is slowing down so as to operate the generator-motor as a generator and to charge a battery (secondary battery) with the generated energy, the battery serving as a power source of the generator-motor. Thus, a part of the kinetic energy of the vehicle is converted into electric energy to be collected or absorbed by the battery. As a technique for performing the regenerative operation of a generator-motor when a vehicle slows down, there has been known a technique disclosed in, for example, the Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-316204 (hereinafter referred to as "patent document 1").
The patent document 1 has discloses a hybrid vehicle in which a rotating shaft (rotor) of a generator-motor is directly coupled to a crankshaft of an engine, and the generated torque of the engine and the torque of the generator-motor are output to wheels through the intermediary of a transmission. According to the technique described in the patent document 1, the regenerative operation of the generator-motor is performed when a brake pedal of the vehicle is operated. At this time, as the operating amount of the brake pedal increases, the regenerative current of the generator-motor increases. Thus, when the vehicle decelerates, the ratio of the kinetic energy of the vehicle that is lost due to mechanical frictional heat is decreased, while the ratio of the kinetic energy to be converted into electric energy is increased so as to improve the effective use of the energy.
There has been known another type of hybrid vehicle. This type of hybrid vehicle is provided with an additional generator-motor (hereinafter referred to as "the second generator-motor") capable of independently imparting torque to different driving wheels (e.g., rear wheels) from the driving wheels (e.g., front wheels) to which output torque of the engine and the generator-motor is imparted, in addition to the generator-motor (hereinafter referred to as "the first generator-motor") connected to the engine and the transmission, as in the case of the vehicle described in the patent document 1. In such a hybrid vehicle, both the first and second generator-motors are capable of performing regenerative operation when the vehicle slows down, so that how to successfully have the two generator-motors share the braking force of entire vehicle based on the regenerative operations becomes an important consideration.
This is typically handled as described below. When, for example, the vehicle is decelerated by braking, of all braking force of the vehicle, the braking force to be provided by the front wheels of the vehicle and the braking force to be provided by the rear wheels are determined according to a predetermined distribution ratio based on longitudinal weight distribution in the vehicle. Then, based on the determined braking forces, a friction type braking mechanism of the front wheels and a friction type braking mechanism of the rear wheels are controlled. Hence, the hybrid vehicle having the first and second generator-motors described above could be adapted so that the ratio of the braking force to be produced by the regenerative operation of the first generator-motor and the ratio of the braking force to be produced by the regenerative operation of the second generator-motor out of a total braking force required by the whole vehicle when the vehicle slows down are determined in advance on the basis of the longitudinal weight distribution of the vehicle.
However, the aforementioned method for determining the braking force distribution ratios between the generator-motors poses the following difficulties in achieving improved efficiency in use of energy.
Regarding the weight distribution of a vehicle, of the front wheels and the rear wheels, the pair of wheels equipped with an engine and the first generator-motor (hereinafter the front wheels in this case) are generally heavier than the other pair of wheels (hereinafter the rear wheels in this case). If, therefore, the braking force distribution ratio between the generator-motors is determined on the basis of the weight distribution of the vehicle, then the first generator-motor on the front wheel side will basically assume a larger share than the second generator-motor on the rear wheel side. However, the first generator-motor is coupled to the vehicular front wheels through the intermediary of a transmission, so that the efficiency of torque transmission between the first generator-motor and the front wheels is generally lower than that between the second generator-motor and the rear wheels. In addition, the engine is connected to the first generator-motor, so that a part of the kinetic energy of the vehicle transmitted from the front wheels of the vehicle to the first generator-motor is undesirably absorbed as a frictional heat inside the engine. This tends to lead to deteriorated efficiency of conversion of the vehicular kinetic energy into electric energy, making it difficult to improve the use efficiency of energy.


A graphic output device for removing the aliases of the edges of a vector image by an antialiasing procedure and effectively outputting image data undergone such processing. Whether or not the inclination of an input vector is greater than 45 degrees is determined. In the event of outputting the result of antialiasing processing, a pulse width modulation system (vertically long dot diameter) is selected if the inclination of the vector is greater than 45 degrees, or a power modulation system (horizontally long dot diameter) is selected if it is smaller than 45 degrees.

The present invention relates to a graphic output device of the type effecting antialiasing processing to remove the seps or aliases of jaggy edges of an output image and, more particularly, to a graphic output device capable of effectively outputting image data undergoing antialiasing processing.
In the computer graphic art, an antialiasing technique is used to make an image to appear on an output medium in the form of CRT more attractive. The antialiasing processing is such that the steps of aliases are modulated in luminance to allow an image to appear smooth on a CRT. The data undergone antialiasing may be outputted by a multilevel color laser printer which is usually driven by a power modulation (PM) system or a pulse width modulation (PWM) system. Japanese patent Laid-Open Publication No. 112966/1990 discloses an apparatus which receives bilevel image data in a dot matrix format, recognizes a pattern by dividing the bilevel image data into small areas, and executes correction (antialiasing) with the recognized pattern to thereby improve an image to be displayed. However, a multilevel printer of the type electrostatically forming a latent image by the PM system has a problem that the latent image of each pixel representative of the edge of a figure elongate in the subscanning direction is isolated from the overlying and underlying pixel latent images. The problem with a multilevel printer implemented with the PWM system is that the latent image of each pixel representative of the edge of a figure elongate in the main scanning direction is isolated from the nearby pixel latent images. Moreover, when data undergone antialiasing is outputted by a laser printer, pixels whose luminane is reduced due to modulation cannot be printed out in adequate density. This is especially true when the printing area is small. The apparatus taught in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 112966/1990 also lacks the continuity of an image, failing to make the most of the antialiasing procedure.

Graphic output device including antialiasing capability governed by decisions regarding slope of edge data


A color multifunction printer as an example of an image forming apparatus includes a plurality of cartridges each containing a photoconductor; a support frame configured to support the cartridges arranged in tandem, the support frame being allowed to be pulled out horizontally from a casing of the apparatus to a position in which each of the cartridges is detachable from the support frame; and a plurality of exposure units mounted to the support frame, wherein each of the exposure units is disposed opposite to a corresponding photoconductor and is configured to expose the photoconductor to light to form an electrostatic latent image thereon. Each of the cartridges is configured to be detachable in such a direction that the photoconductor in the cartridge moves away from the corresponding exposure unit upon detachment.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus which includes exposure units each disposed opposite to a corresponding photoconductor.
2. Description of Related Art
Among image forming apparatuses for forming an image on a recording sheet, the so-called tandem type image forming apparatus is known in the art (e.g., see patent documents 1-3 listed below) which typically includes exposure units arranged in tandem and each disposed above and opposite to a corresponding photoconductor. The exposure units may be LED heads, for example, which use light-emitting diodes (LEDs) as a light source for forming an electrostatic latent image on a photoconductor. Varieties of such image forming apparatus known in the art include, for example: type I (as disclosed in patent document 1) in which a frame on which cartridges each containing a photoconductor are supported is slid upward to render any of the cartridges replaceable; and type II (as disclosed in patent documents 2 and 3) in which cartridges each containing a photoconductor or a frame on which the cartridges are supported can be pulled out horizontally for replacement of the cartridges.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Image forming apparatus having support frame from which cartridges are detachable


An instrument (10) for measuring three-dimensional motion in a living body comprises a plurality of magnetism generators (12i) fixed to one of at least two objects (44, 46) moving relatively in the living body, a plurality of magnetic field sensors (14j) fixed to the other object in order to perform noncontact detection of the magnetic field of each magnetism generator (12i), and a signal processing means (26) for calculating relative position and direction between each magnetism generator (12i) and each magnetic field sensor (14j) according to a magnetic field detected by each magnetic field sensor (14j). The number of magnetism generators (12i) and magnetic field sensors (14j) is at least five, respectively.

Heretofore, apparatus for measuring three-dimensional movement in a living body have been available in the market. For example, an optical jaw movement measuring apparatus is used to measure relative movement of a lower jaw with respect to an upper jaw, which is constructed integrally with a human head. The optical jaw movement measuring apparatus has a light source device mounted on the head or the upper jaw tooth row of an examinee as a fixed source for measuring the movement of the upper jaw of the examinee, and another light source device mounted on the lower jaw tooth row as a fixed source for measuring the movement of the lower jaw.
However, since the light source devices are mounted respectively on the head or the upper jaw tooth row of the examinee and the lower jaw tooth row, the optical jaw movement measuring apparatus is problematic in that the examinee's freedom is greatly limited in measuring jaw movement. Furthermore, the optical nature of the apparatus makes it impossible to make measurements within a shielded space such as an oral cavity.
Other jaw movement measuring apparatus include magnetic jaw movement measuring apparatus. The magnetic jaw movement measuring apparatus are classified into DC magnetic field measuring apparatus for measuring three-dimensional jaw movement by detecting a DC magnetic field generated by a magnetic generator with a magnetic field sensor, and AC magnetic field measuring apparatus for measuring three-dimensional jaw movement by detecting an AC magnetic field generated by a magnetic generator with a magnetic field sensor. Of these measuring apparatus, the DC magnetic field measuring apparatus may possibly have their measuring accuracy and positional accuracy lowered due to externally applied low-frequency noise such as temporal variation in the geomagnetism, the movement of a magnetic body, etc.
The magnetic field sensor of the AC magnetic field measuring apparatus comprises a triaxial coil. When the magnetic field sensor is inserted into an oral cavity, a magnetic field detected by the magnetic field sensor is transmitted through a cable to a signal processor or the like. Since it is difficult to install the triaxial coil and the cable reliably in the oral cavity, when the examinee makes a jaw movement, the magnetic field sensor tends to fluctuate, thereby increasing the measuring error and reducing the positional accuracy of the magnetic field sensor. It is thus difficult to. reproduce the jaw movement accurately. Furthermore, inasmuch as the components mounted in the oral cavity are large, the examinee's freedom is greatly limited in measuring jaw movement.
In view of the foregoing problems, a magnetic jaw movement measuring apparatus 200 shown in FIG. 17 has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). The magnetic jaw movement measuring apparatus 200 includes a spherical shell 202, six circularly wound field coils 204 disposed in the spherical shell 202, an attachment 210 rigidly coupled to the lower jaw 208 of an examinee 206 in the spherical shell 202, and a sensor coil 212 coupled to the attachment 210 and comprising three choke coils.
Of the six field coils 204, every two field coils 204 make up a uniaxial coil. While alternating currents are flowing through the field coils 204, generating a magnetic field, when the examinee 206 moves the lower jaw 208 with respect to the upper jaw 214, the sensor coil 212 on the attachment 210 is tilted, changing the amplitude of an AC signal that is induced in the sensor coil 212. The amplitude is detected to measure the three-dimensional movement of the lower jaw 208.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2000-193409

Instrument and method for measuring three-dimensional motion


A pneumatic tool with an air blow device. The pneumatic tool, a dual action (DA) sander, includes a nozzle and air blow valve. Compressed air is provided via a DA supply line and an air blow supply line to independently power the DA sander and the air blow device, respectively. The DA sander has an actuator for activating a tool piece including a mounting disc and sandpaper. The air blow device is activated by depressing an actuating button on the air blow valve to open the air blow valve. Layout of the tool piece and the air blow device provide for independent operation of the tool piece and the air blow device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed toward an air blow device for a dual action disc sander.
2. Description of Related Art
In modern manufacturing plants and vehicle repair facilities, it is common to have pneumatic tools for performing manufacturing/repair related tasks. These pneumatic tools use compressed air as an energy source for operation. The compressed air is supplied by a main air supply line that provides large volumes of air at a set pressure.
The pneumatic tool may be, for example, a drill for drilling holes, a saw for cutting materials, or a dual action (DA) disc sander for sanding/polishing a surface. The pneumatic tools are lightweight and traditionally operate at high speed. By operating at high speed, the pneumatic tool can quickly complete the required manufacturing/repair task.
Traditionally, a worker is faced with multiple tasks that must be performed at the worker's workstation. These tasks may or may not be related. For example, the worker may need to drill a hole in an object and then tighten a fastener that extends through the recently drilled hole. Alternatively, the tasks may be somewhat diverse in nature and only related in that the first task precipitated the second task.
For example, the worker may use the DA sander to sand/polish a portion of a painted surface (hereinafter "work area") of a vehicle (hereinafter "workpiece"). Unfortunately, the DA sander creates airborne dust and/or debris. As such, the dust/debris may settle in/on an area of the vehicle that is not adjacent to the workpiece (hereinafter "non-work area"). Further, the non-work area where the dust/debris settles may be a somewhat confined space with reduced accessibility.
Known in the art are pneumatic tools that cut, drill, or sand (hereinafter "work") with a blade, drill bit, or mounting disc with sandpaper (hereinafter "tool piece"), that also expel pressurized air to clear dust or debris from around the work area. Such known pneumatic tools expel the pressurized air through the nozzle any time that the tool piece is active, so as to remove dust/debris from the around the work area as the dust/debris is created. While these known pneumatic tools are effective in removing dust/debris from the workpiece during operation of the tool piece, the tools are ineffective in removing dust/debris from the non-work areas (i.e., areas remote from the work area).
Traditionally, when dust/debris settles onto the non-work area, the worker could disconnect the pneumatic tool from the main air supply line and attach an air blow gun to remove the dust/debris from the non-work area. However, disconnecting the tool and connecting the air blow gun takes additional time and effort. In a manufacturing/repair environment, the worker may opt to not remove the dust/debris from the non-work area to avoid suffering from the lost productivity attributed to changing from the tool to the air blow gun. Alternatively, dedicated air blow guns may be used to remove the dust/debris from the non-work area. However, such an arrangement is expensive and requires additional compressed air connections and space that may not be available in the manufacturing/repair environment.
Unfortunately, when dust/debris is allowed to remain in the non-work area, problems on the downstream manufacturing line or in the repair facility may be encountered. For example, the dust/debris may later become airborne again and settle in a still wet paint area of the vehicle, resulting in an appearance defect. Alternatively, the dust/debris may become dislodged during some other subsequent operation during which dust/debris is not tolerated (e.g. during final assembly) or after the vehicle is delivered to the customer.
Therefore, there exists a need in the art for an apparatus and method to permit a worker to operate an air blow device without operating the tool piece of the tool.


A high voltage high current transmission line for transmitting high voltage high current energy in the 10 kV and 200,000 A range from a power source to an end item to which the power is delivered. The high voltage high current transmission line includes two generally parallel configured conductive plates with an overlapping dielectric layering configuration. Each of the conductive plates are encompassed by a first dielectric material, both of the conductive plates encompassed by a second dielectric material, and the conductive plates are encompassed by an outer dielectric sheathing. The dielectric layering configuration may also include a dielectric material applied to the edges of the conductive plates. At one or both ends of the high voltage high current transmission line, a plug assembly may be provided for connecting to the power source and/or the discharge device. The high voltage high current transmission line may also include an exposed conductive plate surface with a staggered configuration such that the exposed surfaces of the conductive plates do not overlap.

Certain electrical applications involve the use of high voltage, high current devices. For example, certain applications store large charges in large, high capacity capacitors. An important consideration in high voltage high current applications is the transmission of the high voltage high current from the power source and the end item to which the power is delivered, such as a discharge device. The presence of high voltage high current electricity creates the possibility of power loss by inductance and the generation of heat during the transmission process, as well as the high potential for arcing between the poles of the high voltage high current device.
In some applications, capacitors may create voltages in the realm of at least ten kilovolts when static charged and during discharge. In the past few years, there has been considerable improvement in the area of pulsed power research, which involves storing, shaping, and performance of high energy density capacitors used in pulsed power applications. Pulsed power applications pertain to numerous areas including at least laser drivers, high power microwave generators, particle accelerators, nuclear fusion, electromagnetic mass drivers, medical equipment, and industrial manufacturing technology. High pulsed power systems with capacitors capable of energy in the 10 kV and 150,000 A range have also found military applications, including in current military vehicles and future combat systems. The requirements for components in pulsed power applications in military applications are more taxing than that of other market segments due to the systems being mobile rather than fixed emplacements, the systems operating in hostile environments rather than controlled climate laboratories, the systems requiring more periodic maintenance service, which needs to be quick and efficient without affecting safety, and the systems having other criteria requirements such as size and weight constraints, as well as performance criteria.
A high voltage high current transmission line capable of providing dielectric to over 10 kV during both static and discharging modes, transmitting high currents in the range of 200 kA, achieving power transmission with minimal line loss (i.e., low inductance), operating in extremes of outside environments, and remaining flexible to allow for variations in power source and discharge device location is not known by the inventors to exist in the prior art. Another issue with the use of such high voltage and high current devices is isolation from the environment. In particular, the leakage of water into a high voltage high current device, the transmission line, and/or the connection therebetween can create short circuiting and arcing in short order. While there may be transmission lines existing in the prior art to meet these sorts of dielectric and environmental constraints, such lines are capable of operating at only a very small fraction of the power levels required for this specialized high voltage high current application.
Thus, there is a need for a high voltage high current transmission line for pulsed power systems. In mobile military applications, the need for a high voltage high current transmission line must also be able to survive the tactical environment, including for instance, shock, vibration, rain, dust, water immersion, fog, humidity, fungus and the like while also being able to meet size, weight, and performance requirements. There is also the need for a high voltage high current transmission line that can be used in current pulsed power systems.

High voltage high current transmission line


Described herein are apparatuses for analyzing an optical signal decay. In some embodiments, an apparatus includes: a source of a beam of pulsed optical energy; a sample holder configured to expose a sample to the beam; a detector comprising a number of spectral detection channels configured to convert the optical signals into respective electrical signals; and a signal processing module configured to perform a method. In some embodiments, the method includes: receiving the electrical signals from the detector; mathematically combining individual decay curves in the electrical signals into a decay supercurve, the supercurve comprising a number of components, each component having a time constant and a relative contribution to the supercurve; and numerically fitting a model to the supercurve.

Cellular analysis and sorting have reached a high level of sophistication, enabling their widespread use in life science research and medical diagnostics alike. Yet for all their remarkable success as technologies, much remains to be done in order to meet significant needs in terms of applications.
One area of continuing unmet need is that of multiplexing. Multiplexing refers to the practice of labeling cells, beads, or other particles with multiple types of biochemical or biophysical "tags" simultaneously and detecting those tags uniquely, so as to generate a richer set of information with each analysis. The most commonly used tags in microscopy and flow cytometry are fluorescent molecules, or fluorophores. A fluorophore may be a naturally occurring fluorophore; it may be an added reagent; it may be a fluorescent protein [like, e.g., Green Fluorescence Protein (GFP)] expressed by genetic manipulation; it may be a byproduct of chemical or biochemical reactions, etc. Fluorophores may be used as they are, relying on their native affinity for certain subcellular structures such as, e.g., DNA or RNA; or they may be linked to the highly specific biochemical entities known as antibodies, in a process referred to as conjugation. As a particular antibody binds to a matching antigen, often on the surface of a cell, the fluorophore conjugated to that antibody becomes a "tag" for that cell. The presence or absence of the fluorophore (and therefore of the antigen the fluorophore-conjugated antibody is intended to specifically bind to) can then be established by excitation of the cells in the sample by optical means and the detection (if present) of the fluorescence emission from the fluorophore. Fluorescence emission into a certain range of the optical spectrum, or band, is sometimes referred to in the art as a "color;" the ability to perform multiplexed analysis is therefore sometimes ranked by the number of simultaneous colors available for detection.
The use of multiple distinct tags (and detection of their associated colors) simultaneously allows the characterization of each cell to a much greater degree of detail than possible with the use of a single tag. In immunology particularly, cells are classified based on their expression of surface antigens. The identification of a large number of different surface antigens on various types of cells has motivated the creation of a rich taxonomy of cell types. To uniquely identify the exact type of cell under analysis, it is therefore often necessary to perform cell analysis protocols involving simultaneously a large number of distinct antibody-conjugated tags, each specifically designed to identify the presence of a particular type of antigen on the cell surface.
In flow cytometry of the prior art, methods have been devised to simultaneously label cells with up to twenty or more different fluorescent tags and detect their respective colors. Commercially available instrumentation is generally limited to simultaneous detection of fifteen colors or less, and most commonly less than about ten colors. One of the main challenges of routinely performing highly multiplexed analysis (as the practice of simultaneously detecting more than about a dozen separate colors is sometimes called) is the technical difficulty of keeping detection of each color (and its associated tag) separate from detection of all the other ones. FIG. 1 illustrates one key aspect of the challenge of multiplexed measurement of fluorescence in the prior art. The graph in this FIG. 1 depicts various fluorescence emission curves (thin solid lines) of intensity (I) as a function of wavelength (λ), all curves having been normalized to their respective peak intensities. In applications of fluorescence detection, it is very commonly desirable to employ several different colors, or spectral bands, of the electromagnetic spectrum, and to assign each band to a different fluorophore. Different fluorophores can be selected, on the basis of their average emission spectra, so as to obtain relatively dense coverage of a certain range of the electromagnetic spectrum, and thereby maximize the amount of information that can be extracted in the course of a single experiment or analysis "run." However, when striving to maximize spectral coverage, one of the common undesirable consequences is spectral overlap. The shaded portions in FIG. 1 illustrate the problem caused by spectral overlap between adjacent fluorescence spectra. In this particular illustrative example, five spectral fluorescence "bands" or colors (the five emission curves peaking at different wavelengths) span a certain desired range of the electromagnetic spectrum, such as, e.g., the visible portion of the spectrum from about 400 nm to about 750 nm in wavelength. The shaded portions indicate sections of the spectrum where it is impossible, using spectral means alone, to decide whether the signal comes from one or the other of the two bands adjacent to the overlapping region; accordingly, the portions of the spectrum corresponding to significant overlap are commonly discarded, resulting in inefficient use of the spectrum. Additionally, even after discarding such portions, residual overlap remains in the other portions, resulting in contamination of one band from signals from other bands. Attempts at negating the deleterious effects of such contamination go under the heading of "compensation." This spectral overlap problem is variously described in the literature and the community as the "crosstalk," the "spillover," the "compensation problem," etc., and it is a major factor in limiting the maximum number of concurrent spectral bands, or colors, that can be employed in a fluorescence detection experiment.
It would be desirable, then, to provide a way to perform highly multiplexed analyses of particles or cells with a reduced or eliminated impact of spectral crosstalk.
In cell analysis of the prior art, methods have also been devised to simultaneously label cells with up to thirty or more different tags and detect their respective characteristics. For example, the technique known in the art as mass cytometry employs not fluorescence as a way to distinguish different tags, but mass spectrometry, where the tags incorporate not fluorophores, but different isotopes of rare earths identifiable by their mass spectra. One major drawback of this approach is that the protocol of analysis is destructive to the sample, the cells and their tags becoming elementally vaporized in the process of generating the mass spectra. This approach is therefore not suited to the selection and sorting of cells or other particles following their identification by analysis.
It would be further desirable, then, to provide a way to perform selection and sorting of particles or cells based on nondestructive highly multiplexed analysis with a reduced or eliminated impact of spectral crosstalk.
In bead-based multiplexing assays of the prior art, the substrate for the capture of analytes is the surface of a color-coded microsphere (also referred to as "bead"). The measurement of analytes (e.g., antigens) by so-called sandwich immunoassays is typically performed with, e.g., antigen-specific primary antibodies attached to the surface of the microsphere; the analytes are captured by the primary antibodies; and the reporting is typically performed using, e.g., secondary antibodies conjugated to fluorescent reporter molecules. Similar methods of the prior art are used for measurement of other analytes, including proteins, enzymes, hormones, drugs, nucleic acids, and other biological and synthetic molecules. To provide for simultaneous measurement of different analytes (multiplexing), each microsphere is internally stained with one or more dyes (colors) in precise amounts spanning a range of discrete levels. Each particular level of dye A (and optionally in combination with particular levels of dye B, dye C, etc.) is assigned to, e.g., a specific primary capture antibody attached to the surface of the microsphere. As color-coded beads are mixed with a sample, they each capture a certain analyte; a second step provides the secondary binding of the reporter molecule. The resulting bead+analytes+reporters complex is then passed through a particle analysis apparatus substantially very similar to a flow cytometer, where one light source is used to excite the dye or dyes in each bead, and another light source is used to excite the reporter fluorophore. The unique color code (combination of specific staining levels of dye A and optionally dye B, dye C, etc.) assigned to each capture entity allows the simultaneous analysis of tens or hundreds of analytes in a sample; the dye-based color coding of each bead is used to classify the results as the beads pass through. In current commercial offerings, there is a practical limit to the number of color-coded bead types that can be used simultaneously in a multiplex assay. One fluorescence detection spectral band is reserved for the reporter molecules, reducing the spectral range available for coding the beads; accordingly, it has been challenging to fashion more than two or three separate fluorescence detection bands out of the remaining available spectrum. Each band providing about 10 discrete levels of fluorescence for multiplexing, the total number of possible combinations is about 10 for one dye, about 100 for two dyes, and about 1,000 for three dyes. Current commercial offerings cap at 500 the number of practically available multiplexing combinations, limiting the number of individual analytes that can be examined in a single measurement run.
It would be further desirable, then, to provide a way to perform bead-based multiplexing with a greater number of simultaneously distinguishable beads, to enable the performance of multiplexing assays with a greater number of simultaneously measured analytes.

Particle analysis and imaging apparatus and methods


A first set of configuration logic is configurable to provide a first port input clock signal for controlling input registers of a first port of a memory block. The first set of configuration logic is also configurable to provide a first port core clock signal for controlling the memory block core. The first port core clock signal can either be the same as the first port input clock signal, or can be controlled independently from the first port input clock signal. A second set of configuration logic is configurable to provide a second port input clock signal for controlling input registers of a second port of the memory block. The second set of configuration logic is also configurable to provide a second port core clock signal for controlling the memory block core. The second port core clock signal can be controlled independently from the second port input clock signal.

Programmable logic devices (PLDs) such as field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs) include configurable logic blocks and memory blocks. As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, the FPGA architecture can be configured by appropriately setting configuration bits. In general, the configuration bits control connections between available routings within the FPGA. By appropriately setting a particular combination of configuration bits, the programmable architecture of the FPGA can be connected, i.e., programmed, to provide a particular functionality. It should be appreciated that by setting different, yet appropriate, combinations of the configuration bits, the FPGA can be connected to provide different functionality. Hence, in some FPGA architectures, the configurable memory blocks can be configured into a number of different memory types and sizes. A FPGA programmer can select the particular memory type and size that best suits the needs of the system to be defined on the FPGA. Therefore, it is desirable to provide an FPGA architecture that supports a broad spectrum of memory block configuration options.


A terminal apparatus includes a display device; a first sensor configured to detect a proximity state of being in proximity to an object different from the terminal apparatus; a second sensor configured to detect vibrations; and a processor, wherein the processor determines whether or not a first detection value acquired from the first sensor indicates that the terminal apparatus is in the proximity state, turns off a backlight of the display device in accordance with the first detection value, and acquires, when it is determined that the first detection value does not indicate that the terminal apparatus is in the proximity state, a second detection value from the second sensor, determines whether or not the second detection value, which has been acquired, indicates that the terminal apparatus is vibrating, and turns off the backlight of the display device in accordance with the second detection value.

In recent years, regarding terminal apparatuses such as mobile phones, smartphones, personal digital assistants (PDAs), and mobile personal computers (PCs), the size of the displays thereof has been increased. As the size of the display of such a terminal apparatus is increased as mentioned above, the visibility and operability are improved. Meanwhile, the current consumption increases. Accordingly, a problem that the time period for which the terminal apparatus is used decreases occurs.
In order to avoid the above-mentioned problem, in terminal apparatuses of the related art, a function of setting a lighting time period of a backlight in advance is implemented. However, when this function is used, in such a terminal apparatus, for example, when the lighting time period is set to be short, the backlight is automatically turned off although a user is looking at a display. In contrast, when the lighting time period is set to be long, in the terminal apparatus, the backlight is continuously turned on although the user is not looking at the display. Accordingly, the power is wastefully consumed.
For such an issue, among the terminal apparatuses of the related art, there is a terminal apparatus in which a function of turning on and off the backlight in accordance with an inclination obtained using an acceleration sensor is implemented. By using this function, performing control so that the backlight of the display is not turned off when the user is holding the terminal apparatus in his or her hand and looking at the display is made possible.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2011-142497 is an example of the related art.
However, in the terminal apparatus of the related art, when the function of performing control so that the backlight is turned on and off in accordance with the inclination of the terminal apparatus is used, this causes the acceleration sensor to continuously operate. Accordingly, a current of about 200 μA is continuously consumed. Thus, in the terminal apparatus of the related art, the continuous operation of the acceleration sensor is not desired.

Terminal apparatus, backlight control method, and backlight control program


A method for ordering all of the possible hands into a particular sequence is presented. Due to the particular manner in which the hands are ordered and sequenced, any one of the hands can be accessed fairly quickly by the methods provided herein which simplifies complex calculations to table look-up operations. Given a particular hand (the first five cards given to the player in a five-card draw poker), all of the possible hands arising from the particular hand (as a result of the number of cards kept by the player) is iterated and the types of all possible resulting hands tabulated. The combination of hands resulting from the number of cards kept is considered in the iteration. After the iteration is completed, the results obtained is a tabulation of each combination of hands obtained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to methods for electronic games of chance, and, more particularly, to methods for determining payout amounts for electronic games of chance.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Wherever a new game of chance is developed or a new payout scheme is developed for a game of chance, it is necessary to calculate the amount payable to the player for the game in order for the owner of the game or the administrative agency regulating the game of chance to properly evaluate the acceptability of the payout scheme.
For example, in a 5-card draw video poker game of chance where the player deposits a certain amount of money to play the game and is dealt five cards with the option of keeping zero or more of the cards in favor of exchanging for new cards, a variety of betting and paying options are available depending on the player's final hand, which in traditional poker can be a single-card high, a pair, two pairs, three-of-a-kind, straight, flush, full-house, straight-flush, four-of-a-kind, and royal flush. If a payout scheme is developed where each type of hand enumerated above is given a monetary value, the question then becomes what is the maximum payout, the average payout, or other statistical data of interest.
This problem is relatively simple if there is no drawing of new cards. The solution for a particular type of hand would then be the probability of that particular type of hand occurring multiplied by the payout value for that particular hand.
The problem becomes complicated when there is one or more drawing of cards where the number of possible outcomes becomes tremendously large. To further illustrate the situation, if the player receives a particular five-card hand and decides to give up two cards, the resulting hand depends on the two cards given up and the two new cards drawn. All of the possible resulting hands would have to be tabulated as a function of the number and the particular cards given up in order to properly understand the probability of the types of hands occurring and to calculate the corresponding payout statistics.
If this problem were to be solved by currently available computing methods and machines, it would take months if not years to calculate all of the probabilities of a particular game of chance. Thus, a new method is needed for the computation of the probabilities of the occurrence of the possible types of hands and the corresponding payout amounts.

Method for tabulating payout values for games of chance


A profiled rod for a web-spreading roller has an elongated basic body of approximately C-shaped cross section with holding legs on both sides and with a friction-grip elastic support on its back. The support is fastened to an intermediate support made of stiffer material than the support itself and the intermediate support is pushed lengthwise onto the basic body and detachably fastened to its back and holding legs with a clamping claw.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a profiled rod for a web-spreading roller with an approximately C-shaped, extended basic element which can be displaced in the longitudinal direction of the spreading roller, with holder shanks on both sides to hold the profiled rod in place on support rings assigned to the roller axis, which has a longitudinal, frictionally-engaged, elastic contact surface on its back.
2. The Prior Art
A profiled rod of this type, known from DE-OS 24 00 741, consists of a blade element made of aluminum, which is provided with an elastomer surface layer. The production of the two parts of the profiled rod is complicated. Application of the surface layer requires extreme care and therefore takes a lot of time. Replacement of the surface layer is almost impossible to carry out, so that a worn profiled rod must be replaced with a new one. The surface layer tends to come loose, especially in the border areas, under the effect of the forces exerted by the web.
Furthermore, a profiled rod is known from practice which consists of a C-shaped metal rail with claw-shaped, bent-in holder shanks, and a contact surface glued onto the straight back. The contact surface is a plastic adhesive coating in the form of an adhesive strip which adheres on one side. The edges of the contact surface must end at a distance from the edges of the back, because the adhesive force is not sufficient there, and the contact surface can come loose. The useful surface to transfer force to the web is limited; the durability of the contact surface leaves something to be desired, since centrifugal force works on the contact surface. Applying or replacing the contact surface for repair purposes is difficult. Often, additional adhesive is used in order to increase the adhesive strength of the contact surface.