A fluid-holding toy including a flexible container capable of holding fluid. The container has a valve configured to be closed upon the introduction of fluid into the container, whereby the fluid creates a first pressure inside the container closing the first valve. The first valve is configured to be opened upon the occurrence of a second, higher pressure inside the container. The valve can include a flexible flap attached to the inner surface of the container and adapted to cover an opening in the container. Additional valves can also be provided.

Water activities are popular with children of all ages. Not only do swimming and diving enjoy a large following, but many children also find amusement by throwing water at targets. A well-known method of dousing a target with water is to throw a water-filled balloon at the target. However, such balloons are destroyed on impact with the target, and the small balloon pieces are unsafe when used around small children. Accordingly, there is a need to replace the water balloon with a reusable water-retaining projectile that would be safe to use around small children.
To be a satisfactory alternative to the water balloon, a reusable water-containing projectile must retain an appreciable amount of water until impact with a target, yet be designed so that a person would not be injured if accidentally impacted by the projectile. The projectile should be robust enough to be repeatedly used. Furthermore, the projectile should be inexpensive to manufacture and easy to use, with as few moving parts as possible.
Previous toy designs have included hollow balls designed to surround a flexible membrane, such as a water balloon. The membrane is ruptured when the ball impacts a target or when a predetermined time has elapsed. These designs require a water balloon for proper use and are not true replacements for water balloons. Another ball design includes two flexible plastic hemispheres. The hemispheres are filled with water and held together by vacuum pressure that is created when air is squeezed from the hemispheres. Although this design does not require a water balloon, it is significantly more expensive than a water balloon, and the two hemispheres separate easily and can become lost. In addition, in order to work, the hemispheres must be thick, so if the ball hits a person, it may hurt the person because of the ball's substantial mass.


The invention relates to a wireless network defined as a group of wireless terminals and an assigned central station. After receiving requests for the wireless transmission of packets between a transmitting and a receiving terminal during a time multiplex frame, the central station assigns time slots within a following time multiplex frame for the transmission of packets from transmitting to receiving terminals. After reception of all the transmission requests, the central station determines a first subset of the group that intend to transmit to receiving terminals, and a second subset containing all transmitting terminals (of the group) that are not contained in the first subset. An order in which the transmitting terminals of the first subset will transmit is determined in accordance with the decreasing number of receiving terminals assigned to each transmitting terminal. The receiving terminals of the first subset are subdivided into a first group, and into a second group where the second group contains all the receiving terminals not contained in the first group, and the receiving terminals of the second group are selected for reception first in time.

The invention relates to a wireless network comprising a plurality of terminals and an assigned central station, which network, after receiving requests for the wireless transmission of packets between a transmitting and a receiving terminal during a time multiplex frame, is provided for assigning time slots of a following time multiplex frame for the wireless transmission of packets from a transmitting to a receiving terminal.
Any data or packets can be sent via a wireless network of this type. A packet transmission is effected, for example, in the asynchronous transfer mode (ATM=asynchronous transfer mode), which has been developed for transmitting multimedia data between network nodes or devices respectively of a network node of a network. Prior to a connection set-up, for example between two network nodes in such an ATM network agreements about transmission parameters (for example, about bandwidth) are transported and according to the agreement various types of data (for example video and audio data) are inserted into cells. These cells are then transmitted over a single link to a receiving device. The receiving device verifies whether the received data have been transmitted error-free and, if necessary, the receiving device returns data to the transmitting device in response to the received cells.
The asynchronous transfer mode has actually been developed for transmitting data through wire-bound media (for example optical cables or copper cables). However, there are also wireless ATM networks that have been developed as a substitute for the wire-bound media. Such a wireless network transmits, for example, data over radio or infrared links and is known, for example, from EP 0 831 620 A2. A protocol is used here for the MAC layer (MAC=Medium Access Control) of a wireless ATM network.

Time slot sorting method for a wireless network


A urinous wet alarm to detect a soaked diaper and generate an audio alarm to alert replacement includes a shell to house a test IC. The test IC connects to a lithium battery, a thin alarm speaker and one end of a sensing unit which is a pliable, elongate, narrow and thin plate and has a detection circuit consisting of two conductive wires of opposite polarity extended from the shell. The sensing unit may be inserted into a test insertion hole formed on a diaper during production. Urine soaked the fluid absorption layer of the diaper makes the conductive wires conductive, and the test IC determines the urine overflow condition to activate the thin alarm speaker to generate an audio alarm.

There are many types of diapers on the market that offer wide selections of functions. And many patents have been disclosed in this field. Most of them focus on the improvement of fluid absorption layers, inner protection layer material or elastic band of the diaper.
The widely used diapers are the common paper diapers that merely protect users from incontinence or urine overflow (namely the urination exceeds the fluid absorption saturation limit of the diaper) and prevent clothes and bed sheets from being smeared. When urine overflow occurs to an infant wrapped by the diaper and the parents do not replace the smeared diaper timely due to negligence, infant's hip could be infected with bacteria. For adult users who suffer from incontinence or loss of sense (such as after surgery and patient's sense not yet recovers), wearing such type of diaper is not comfortable. While some improvements have been made on the inner fluid absorption layer and elastic band, urine overflow could still happen and replacement is not being made timely.
To overcome the problem mentioned above, some vendors adopt modern electronic technologies and use electronic audio effect and electronic conductive circuits on the diaper. Whenever the diaper is soaked with excretion, the circuits become conductive and an electronic audio alarm is generated to alert nurses to replace the diaper. For instance, R.O.C. patent No. 210012 entitled "Improved diaper with a separated audio alarm" discloses such a technique that has a conductive circuit consisting of two parallel metal wires to detect urinous wet. But it cannot detect a larger area. In the event that urine seeps through between the two parallel metal wires or overflows and seeps through outside the two metal wires, it is not effective. Moreover, to lay conductive wires in the diaper increases fabrication cost and the price. As the diaper is a household goods that is consumed at huge quantity, to set the price too high will discourage consumers from buying.


Unstructured voice information from an incoming caller is processed by automatic speech recognition and semantic categorization system to convert the information into structured data that may then be used to access one or more databases to retrieve associated supplemental data. The structured data and associated supplemental data are then made available through a presentation system that provides information to the call center agent and, optionally, to the incoming caller. The system thus allows a call center information processing system to handle unstructured voice input for use by the live agent in handling the incoming call and for storage and retrieval at a later time. The semantic analysis system may be implemented by a global parser or by an information retrieval technique, such as latent semantic analysis. Co-occurrence of keywords may be used to associate prior calls with an incoming call to assist in understanding the purpose of the incoming call.

The present invention relates generally to telephone call processing systems and call center applications. More specifically, the invention relates to a call center information processing system that is capable of processing unstructured voice input from an incoming caller.
Currently, when a caller is connected to a call center agent, only limited information about the purpose of the call is available to the agent. Callers to call centers typically spend considerable time on hold, while waiting to talk to a call center agent. Currently some call center systems may prompt the caller for specific information while the caller is waiting to talk to an agent. The caller may be asked to enter the information by touch-tone response or by voice, which would be then interpreted by an automatic speech recognition system. While this is a step in the right direction, this conventional approach allows only structured information entry. In other words, the user's response is made with respect to a particular question or topic that the call center system knows about in advance. Currently there is no effective way of accepting and using unstructured voice responses from the caller.
The present invention addresses this shortcoming of conventional systems. It supports the reduction of work by call center agents by capturing unstructured voice information from incoming callers. The system has an input port that is adapted for coupling to a call center telephone switch through which unstructured voice input from an incoming caller is received. An automatic speech recognition system, receptive of the unstructured voice input, converts the unstructured voice input into unstructured text data. Then, a semantic categorization system, receptive of the unstructured text data, converts the unstructured text data into structured data. The semantic categorization system can employ a parsing system or a latent semantic analysis system.
The parsing system may utilize local parsers for keywords, which are entered manually or found automatically via latent semantic analysis, for example.
The latent semantic analysis system, used as an alternative to the parsing system, associates the unstructured text data to different keyword categories using a latent semantic analysis engine.
A data management system then receives the structured data and accesses at least one database of supplemental or relational data to form associations between the structured data and the supplemental data. A presentation system communicates with the data management system for providing information to a call center agent based on the structured data, the supplemental data, or both. The presentation system may also be configured to access and supply other data in addition to said structured data and said supplemental data, including, for example, relational data, tabular data, audio/video data, and graphical data.
The data collection phase may occur either before or during the time the caller is connected to a call center agent. Search results are processed to add additional information and this information may be displayed by either visual presentation or audible presentation.
In one presently preferred embodiment the system display provides a running transcript of speech with keywords highlighted. Alternatively, a list of transcribed keywords may be provided, showing the surrounding text to allow the call center agent to understand the context under which the keywords were spoken. The database access allows product or service information relating to keywords found in the caller's speech to be displayed or presented in auditory form on a second audio channel, for example.
As will be more fully explained herein, the call center information system provides a rich mechanism for transferring expertise between call center agents. If a user provides an unstructured request and if the system does know what information to bring up, but the call center agent does, the appropriate database queries identified by the call center agent can be stored along with the transcript of the call. The next time a similar request is spoken, either by the original incoming caller or another caller, the system will bring up relevant information from the call center agent who handled the first call. In this way, the expertise of the call center agent is stored for later use by that agent, or another agent, who may be asked to handle a call of a similar nature.
The system thus has the ability to characterize incoming calls, by parsing and tagging. Parsing (or tagging) may be performed against a set of predetermined keywords. These can be either manually assigned by a system operator, or learned using latent semantic analysis. The system also has the ability to compare an incoming call with prior calls, by finding similar calls using a semantic distance measure.
For a more complete understanding of the invention, its objects and advantages, refer to the remaining specification and to the accompanying drawings.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


In a method and system for transmitting digital data, a data acceptance clock signal generator that has a controllable clock frequency in a peripheral module is correspondingly adapted to clock frequency information derived from a synchronization pulse train transmitted by a central unit. The same oscillator is used as a frequency source for determining the clock frequency information and for generating the data acceptance clock pulse. In this manner, simple RC oscillators are adequate to fulfill any requirements of long time accuracy of the oscillator. The clock frequency can be changed in that the central unit simply transmits altered clock frequency information. It is also possible to carry out an adjustment or adaptation in the case of deviations of the oscillator frequency in the peripheral unit. Preferably, the clock frequency information is derived from the reciprocal value of the time duration of at least one synchronization pulse, which is determined in a quantized manner by a first counter in a clock frequency information acquisition circuit which counts the number of oscillator pulses occurring during the synchronization pulse. The resulting count value is provided to a data acceptance clock signal generator, which is clocked by the same oscillator and counts the number of oscillator pulses until reaching a prescribed threshold value, whereupon it outputs a corresponding clock signal. By properly adapting numerical elements, it is also possible to process pulse width modulated signals using the present method and apparatus.

The transmission of digital data is necessary in a great number of systems in which a central station or unit, such as a central processing unit or a central control unit, for example, must exchange data with one or more peripheral modules. In order to achieve this, bus systems are typically used, over which the individual data units are transmitted at a certain prescribed clock frequency. In order that a peripheral module can properly receive and recognize without errors the digital data transmitted by the central unit, it is necessary that the peripheral module accepts the incoming data at the same clock frequency at which the data were transmitted.
In order to ensure that the central unit and the peripheral modules operate with the same clock frequency for carrying out a data exchange, it is known to use highly exactly operating clock signal generators with mutually matched clock frequencies in the central unit as well as in the peripheral modules. However, such highly accurate clock signal generators require high precision components, such as quartz crystal oscillators, for example, in order to very precisely maintain the clock frequency at a constant value even over a long period of time. For this reason, such highly accurate clock signal generators are relatively complicated and expensive. Furthermore, even such clock signal generators can drift or become unsynchronized from one another over time.
Other systems for synchronizing the data acceptance or pulse frame clock cycle are known, for example as described in German Patent Publication 2,657,365 B1 and in U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,989. Therein, in order to achieve a time-matching of the transmitting cycle with the receiving cycle, a synchronization pulse or synchronization pulse train having a known form, for example, having known signal level variations, is periodically transmitted. Moreover, U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,989 describes a master-slave communication system in which an initiallizing data signal activates a separate timer provided in the slave. In this manner, a time synchronized sampling of the subsequently transmitted data is made possible. German Patent Publication 2,657,365 B1 describes a method for frame synchronization of a time division multiplexing system in which the counters are correspondingly reset with reference to a synchronization recognition signal and thereby a synchronization is achieved. It is also known to use a synchronizing word comprising a plurality of low and high signal levels, for achieving a synchronization.
Moreover, it is also known to use coding methods, such as the Manchester process for example, in which the clock cycle information can be recovered.
Another possibility for assuring the same clock frequency in the central unit and in the peripheral modules is to connect all of the peripheral modules with the central unit over respective additional clock conductors or lines. However, the provision of such additional clock lines for ensuring a common synchronous system clock signal becomes extremely complicated and costly, especially in systems in which a central control device must exchange data with a plurality of decentralized or peripheral modules, such as in decentralized safety systems in motor vehicles. Moreover, motor vehicle safety systems are becoming ever more complex along with the increasing requirements for increased safety for occupants of the vehicle. Thus, as more safety systems, such as for example side air bags and the like, are being called for in addition to a driver side air bag, a passenger side air bag, seat belt tensioners, roll-over bars, and the like, correspondingly also the number of required peripheral modules and thus also the number of the end stages for triggering or activating the individual safety systems is increasing considerably. As a result of this increasing complexity and number of end stages in a vehicular safety system, the known data bus systems either require a correspondingly increased number of the above described highly accurate and expensive clock signal generators, or the assembly and installation of the system becomes ever more complex and costly in view of the installation of separate clock cycle lines connecting the central unit with the peripheral modules.

Method and control system for the synchronized transmission of digital data


In one embodiment, a method for inferring relationships between test results receives sequential test data from a tester performing tests on a number of devices under test (DUTs); upon receiving a DUT identifier, determines if a data structure exists for the DUT identified by the one of the DUT identifiers; upon determining that the data structure does not exist, creates the data structure associates i) any test results associated with the one of the DUT identifiers with ii) the data structure; and upon determining that the data structure exists, creates a child data structure, as a child of the data structure, and associates i) the any test results associated with the one of the DUT identifiers with ii) the child data structure, wherein the child data structure inferentially indicates that the test results associated therewith are retest results.

Testers such as the 93000 SOC (System On a Chip) Series tester offered by Agilent Technologies, Inc. provide rapid testing of complex circuitry. Such testers can produce massive quantities of sequential test data, with the test results contained in the sequential test data being associated with relatively few indicators as to what kind of testing led to the creation of particular ones or sets of the test results. Simple ways to infer relationships between the test results are therefore useful.

Method and machine-readable media for inferring relationships between test results


A clock, a lamp, an alarm, a motion detector and a smoke alarm are advantageously combined in a travel device which provides the user with both convenience and security when travelling. The motion detector detects motion and controls the delivery of an alarm signal and/or the delivery of light from the lamp. If motion occurs under circumstances suggesting that an intruder is present or if smoke is detected, the alarm signal and the degree of illumination alert the user to a potential security concern. If motion occurs under circumstances indicating the user is present and engaging in normal activities, the illumination is sufficient for those activities. If motion is not detected during a predetermined time period, suggesting that the user has gone to sleep, the illumination is ended. The alarm and the illumination may also be activated by clock functions, thereby achieving alarm clock functionality.

There are a variety of different types of security devices currently available. For example personal security systems detect the presence of motion and turn on lights or deliver alarm signals or both. Smoke detectors detect the presence of smoke and deliver alarm signals. Auxiliary lighting systems are available to create illumination in stairways and fire exit areas when fires or fire conditions are detected. While these types of security systems are generally adequately functional, they are generally installed in single fixed locations in homes and offices. Most of such systems are not readily transportable for use by the user to different locations, such as when travelling.
One potentially disconcerting problem with travelling is staying in unfamiliar accommodations. It can be difficult and disconcerting to remember the physical orientation of an unfamiliar guest room in the dark, and even more difficult or disconcerting to find light switches, alarm clocks, telephones, toilets and other facilities which may need the traveler's attention in the dark. Also, a disoriented traveler may reflexively wonder what time it is and fumble for a wristwatch or to locate a clock in the unfamiliar room.
Not only can the environment of the guest room be unfamiliar, and therefore somewhat disconcerting, but the traveller frequently knows little if anything about the reputation for safety of the lodging establishment in which he or she is staying. Some travelers are particularly concerned about fires or personal assaults from intruders, even in establishments of the best reputation, simply because of greater diversity of people who utilize such establishments.
A traveler who finds these considerations disconcerting may have difficulty in getting to sleep. Reading prior to retiring may divert the traveler's mind, but sometimes the traveler will drift off to sleep while reading. If the traveler awakens later, he or she may wish to turn off the light to go back to sleep, thus further rousing from sleep. Falling asleep a second time after being awakened can be difficult. Also, some travelers might appreciate a relatively dim night light to derive comfort for some of these considerations, but night lights are generally not available as standard guest accommodations.
Most travelers depend heavily on wake up calls or alarm clocks to awaken them. Although the reliability of a wake up call is generally very good, mistakes do occasionally happen. Some lodging establishments provide alarm clocks for the guests to use as an alternative to or in conjunction with the wake up calls. However, some of the more sophisticated alarm clocks are combined with radios and televisions, and are difficult to use. Consequently many travelers do not use these types of alarms because of the difficulty or uncertainty associated with setting them. Also some travelers question the reliability of operation of these devices. Many travelers use their own alarm clocks, known as travel alarm clocks, for these reasons.
It is because of these and other background considerations that the present invention has evolved.


An electronic device in a cavity in a mold is encapsulated by a composite plastic having two materials placed, respectively, in sequential locations in a reservoir in the mold. The first material has desirable properties when in contact with the surface of the device, e.g., better adhesion. The second and different material has other desirable properties, e.g., mechanical strength, low moisture permeability, etc. The first location is first in line in a direction through the mold chambers to the cavity. The two-part encapsulant is injected into the cavity without significant turbulence so as to avoid much mixing of the two materials. This creates a boundary layer of the first material which preferentially applies a coating to the device while the second material substantially fills the bulk of the space in the mold cavity. A composite encapsulation is formed having overall superior properties.

It is common in the electronic art to encapsulate various devices to protect them from the ambient atmosphere in which they will be used. The word "device", singular or plural, is intended to include any type of component, electronic or not. Non-limiting examples of devices of particular commercial interest are electronic components, transistors, integrated circuits, LED's, acousto-optical devices, sensors, transducers, and so forth.
Plastic is a common encapsulant material for electronic devices. The device is typically coated with the plastic encapsulant by molding or potting. Two well known molding techniques are injection molding and transfer molding. With these techniques, the device is placed in a cavity in a mold, the mold closed and the plastic encapsulant is forced under pressure from a reservoir through various channels into the mold cavity so as to surround the device. Potting generally includes dipping the object into a liquid plastic or pouring a liquid plastic around the device. A mold may or may not be used for potting.
A great variety of plastic materials are used for encapsulation. Such materials and associated molding and potting techniques are well known in the art. In many cases, the electronic device is mounted on a leadframe or header before being encapsulated. As used herein, the word "leadframe" is intended to include any type of device support structure. Non-limiting examples are metal, ceramic or plastic headers, bases or circuit boards, and metal leadframes and pin-grid arrays, and combinations thereof.
A long standing problem with plastic encapsulation is that encapsulation materials with good mechanical and electrical properties, often do not adhere to the electronic device or its associated leadframe as well as is desired. By altering the composition of the encapsulant, it is possible to raise or lower its relative adhesion to different kinds of surfaces, e.g., metal, ceramic, oxide, nitride and semiconductor, to name a few.
Low adhesion is undesirable because it allows minute crevices to form where the plastic encapsulant separates from the surface of the leadframe or device. These crevices form pathways whereby ambient gases and moisture can penetrate and thereby degrade device performance, stability and reliability. Despite many years of effort by numerous researchers, it has not been possible to find means and methods for plastic encapsulation that simultaneously give both excellent mechanical and electrical properties and high adhesion of the encapsulant to leadframe and device surfaces. Accordingly, a need continues to exist for improved means and methods for encapsulating objects, especially electronic devices, that impart better adhesion without adverse impact on the mechanical and electrical properties of the encapsulation as a whole or on the finished device.


A method of correcting an error in a memory array in a DRAM during a read operation, wherein the memory array includes a data array and an ECC array, the method comprising: reading data from the memory array; when the data contains one or more erroneous data bits, correcting the erroneous data bits by an ECC decoding and correcting module in the DRAM; registering only corrected erroneous data bits and their positions in a register; controlling a plurality of write drivers in the DRAM by the register so as to write only the corrected erroneous data bits back to the memory array.

DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) is a volatile memory.
As for DRAM, data errors often occur during data storage, and thus there is a need for error detection and correction techniques to ensure correct data storage. ECC (Error Correction Code) detects and corrects the erroneous data by adding parity bits to a certain length of data bits. The conventional read and write processes of a DRAM including ECC function are shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 respectively.
FIG. 1 schematically depicts a data write process of a DRAM, in which a data array is used to store data and an ECC array is used to store ECC bits, i.e. parity bits. When an N-bit data is written into a memory from an external source, the N-bit data is used by the memory to generate M-bit parity bits through an ECC encoding module. The N-bit data and the M-bit parity bits are temporarily latched, and then written into respective memory arrays by means of write drivers, i.e. the N-bit data is stored in the data array and the M-bit parity bits are stored in the ECC array. The length N of the data is greater than 0 and less than or equal to the length of the data that can be read or written by the memory when the memory performs one read or write operation. The length M of the parity bits is greater than 0 and its value is determined by the selected ECC algorithm. It should be noted that the data array, the ECC array and the ECC encoding module are all in the memory, and the memory may also include other components, which are not shown here.
FIG. 2 schematically depicts a data read process of the DRAM. The N-bit data and the M-bit parity bits are read from respective memory arrays, and then amplified by a sense amplifier. The amplified data and parity bits are temporarily latched, and then sent to the ECC decoding and correcting module. The ECC decoding and correcting module can detect and correct the error and output a corrected N-bit data.
FIG. 3 shows a data read process with error correction. FIG. 3 only shows that the error (or errors) exists in the data array. Nevertheless, it should be understood that the error may also exist in the ECC array. The data is read from the data array and then is amplified by the sense amplifier carried the same error information with the error in the data of the data array, which error information is corrected by the ECC decoding and correcting module, so that the data read into an system external to the memory is data with no error. Although the data read into the system external to the memory is correct, the corresponding data in the memory array is still erroneous. As time goes by, more errors will occur in the memory array. As shown in FIG. 4, if the number of the erroneous data is beyond the capability of the ECC detection and correction module, the ECC decoding and correcting module can neither detect an error, nor correct an error, and the data read into the system external to the memory will be erroneous.
Therefore, there is a need for being able to correct the error in the data array and the ECC array in a timely manner.

Method of correcting an error in a memory array in a DRAM during a read operation and a DRAM


Disclosed is a method, system and apparatus for use in remotely and internally tapping a conduit. The method is performed, at least partially, by an automatic mechanism or robot configured to effectively perform the tasks and various steps of the method. The method includes the steps of: (a) lining a conduit with a liner; and (b) inserting an automatic mechanism into an internal portion of the liner, wherein the automatic mechanism (i) locates a service tap connection point; and (ii) at least partially engages a fitting device within an internal surface of the service tap entry portion, thereby providing fluid communication between a service tap internal passageway and an internal portion of the liner. An automatic mechanism, a fitting device and an insert element are also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to methods and systems for tapping or connecting a service tap to a conduit, such as a water main, a liner or the like and, in particular, to a remote tapping method and system for internally tapping or reestablishing a tap point for a conduit, such as a host conduit lined with a liner.
2. Description of Related Art
Conduit systems are used extensively throughout the world in order to transfer or convey material, such as water and other fluids, from location to location for distribution throughout the system. For example, extensive conduit systems are used to distribute water to both residences and businesses for use and further processes. Typically, such conduit or piping systems are located underground, as aboveground piping would be both unsightly and intrusive.
Typical water conduit systems transport material through pipe, e.g., cast iron, ductile iron, reinforced concrete, cement-asbestos, etc., buried underground with the branches extending in various directions in order to reach the end user. Normally, after many years of use, or for some other reason, the present piping fails and begins to leak, thereby reducing line pressure and unnecessarily allowing water to leak into the area surrounding the piping. Such leaks not only affect the system but increase the processing costs of the supplier, which, in turn, increases the end user costs. Therefore, these leaks must be quickly repaired and preventative measures taken to ensure that further leakage is prevented.
Due to the underground positioning of the conduit system, repairing a leaking pipe is particularly labor intensive and time consuming. Trenches must be dug along the pipeline to locate the leak and effectively repair it prior to putting the pipe back in service. Various lining systems have been developed according to the prior art in an attempt to seal a leaking pipe or a pipe that has fallen into disrepair, whether to repair a present crack or to preventatively ensure against future cracks or breaks. In addition, the use of a much smaller diameter pipe within the larger diameter cracked or broken pipe has been used. However, this merely replaces the problem of a cracked outer pipe with a cracked or otherwise leaking inner pipe. Still further, using such a pipe-in-pipe system drastically reduces the flow through the conduit system and evidences unwanted and varying pressure parameters.
To that end, a pipe liner and method of installation have been developed, as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,794,662 to St. Onge et al., specifically directed to pressurized pipeline applications. The St. Onge patent is directed to a method of relining sewer lines, water lines or gas lines, and uses a segmented liner of reduced size relative to the pipe being relined. However, as opposed to merely leaving the small diameter liner conduit within the large diameter outer conduit, the method of the St. Onge patent uses heat and/or pressure to mold the reduced size pipe to the shape of the pipe being relined. In particular, the inner or liner conduit is a thermoplastic pipe, typically a polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipe that, when exposed to heat or pressure, expands and molds against the inside of an existing conduit to effect the relining of it. This process allows for both the lining of the entire length of pipe or only a portion of it that is damaged, which is typically referred to as "spot repair."
According to the St. Onge patent, once the length of the liner conduit is inserted into the existing or host conduit, the liner conduit is plugged at either end and exposed to steam under pressure to heat the liner conduit along its length and apply pressure which urges it to expand and contact the interior walls of the surrounding host conduit. Once the liner conduit has fully expanded to conform to the interior surface of the existing conduit, it is cooled and the plugs are removed. The resulting expanded liner conduit conforms to the walls of the host conduit, thereby preventing any further leakage. Also, the method of the St. Onge patent requires only trenches to be dug at either end of the section to be repaired.
While the St. Onge patent represents an advance in the art of relining or repairing underground conduit systems, there is room in the art for additional improvements and advancements. When initially constructing a water main conduit in a trench, the conduit is fitted with various service taps along its length. These service taps are used to draw water from the main conduit and provide controlled flow through a service conduit or line to a dwelling, business, site, property, etc. After the service taps are positioned and integrated with the main conduit, and the service conduits are attached thereto, the exposed water main is covered and the trench filled in.
A drawback in the art presents itself when, after the host conduit is lined with the liner conduit, as discussed above or in any "lining" method and system as is known in the art, the liner is now blocking the service taps. In order to reestablish the service tap entrance to the water main conduit, another trench must be excavated to access the service tap and allow a subsequent tap entrance to be formed through the liner or liner conduit. This represents a large undertaking, in that, in any given length of the water main, multiple service taps are present, such that great lengths of the water main must be excavated and exposed in order to reestablish the tap points.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Remote tapping method and system for internally tapping a conduit

Underground Solutions Technologies Group, Inc.


A hydraulic control system according to the present invention for a construction machine is provided with a directional control valve switchable by a pilot control valve, a hydraulic cylinder, a pilot pump, a selector valve for selecting one of a maximum value out of pilot pressures of the pilot control valve, a flow control unit for controlling the flow rate of a variable displacement hydraulic pump, a pressure-reducing valve for converting a delivery pressure of the pilot pump to a pump control signal, which controls driving of the flow control unit, in accordance with a pilot pressure guided to a first signal line connected to the selector valve, a branch line connecting the pilot pump and the pressure-reducing valve with each other, and a second signal line for guiding the pump control signal, which has been converted at the pressure-reducing valve, to the flow control unit.

a) Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a hydraulic control system for a construction machine such as a hydraulic excavator, and especially to a hydraulic control system for controlling a delivery rate of a variable displacement hydraulic pump by a positive control method.
b) Description of the Related Art
As a conventional hydraulic control system for an actuator arranged in a construction machine, a positive control system that controls a delivery rate of a pump by a pilot pressure outputted from a pilot control valve is known to the public.
FIG. 7 is a hydraulic circuit diagram illustrating a conventional hydraulic control system of such a positive control type for a construction machine, FIG. 8 is a diagram showing output characteristics of a pilot control valve disposed in the hydraulic control system depicted in FIG. 7, and FIG. 9 is a diagram showing delivery rate characteristics of a variable displacement hydraulic pump arranged in the hydraulic control system depicted in FIG. 7.
The conventional hydraulic control system shown in FIG. 7 is provided with a variable displacement hydraulic pump 1 making up a main pump, an actuator driven by pressure fluid delivered from the variable displacement hydraulic pump 1, for example, a hydraulic cylinder 4, and a directional control valve 3 for controlling a flow of the pressure fluid to be fed from the variable displacement hydraulic pump 1 to the hydraulic cylinder 4. When the directional control valve 3 is switched to a position 3a, the hydraulic cylinder 4 is brought, at a bottom side thereof, into communication with the variable displacement hydraulic pump 1 and is also brought, at a rod side thereof into communication with a tank 9. When the directional control valve 3 is switched to a position 3b, on the other hand, the hydraulic cylinder 4 is brought, at the rod side thereof, into communication with the variable displacement hydraulic pump 1 and is also brought, at the bottom side thereof, into communication with the tank 9. The delivery rate of the variable displacement hydraulic pump 1 is controlled by a flow control unit 2. The hydraulic cylinder 4 drives a working equipment of a work vehicle which is not illustrated. If the work vehicle is a hydraulic excavator, for example, the hydraulic cylinder 4 can be an arm cylinder, a boom cylinder or the like.
The conventional hydraulic control system shown in FIG. 7 is also equipped with a pilot control valve 5 for outputting a pilot pressure Pa adapted to switch the directional control valve 3, a pilot pump 7 for feeding pressure fluid to the pilot control valve 5, and a pilot relief valve 8 for specifying the delivery pressure of the pilot pump 7. The pilot control valve 5 is composed of pressure-reducing valve portions 10, 11 and a control lever 5a for operating these pressure-reducing valve portions 10, 11. The pressure-reducing valve portion 10 is connected to one of drive control units of the directional control valve 3 via a pilot line 13, whereas the pressure-reducing valve portion 11 is connected to the other drive control unit of the directional control valve 3 via a pilot line 14. The conventional hydraulic control system is also equipped with a selector valve 6, which selects one of a greater value out of a pilot pressure Pa in the pilot line 13 and another pilot pressure Pa in the pilot line 14 and outputs the pilot pressure of the greater value as a pump control signal Pc to the flow control unit 2 via a signal line 12.
Output characteristics of the pilot control valve 5, that is, a relationship between a stroke S of the control lever 5a and pilot pressures Pa outputted from the pressure-reducing valve portions 10, 11 is set in such a way that, as is illustrated in FIG. 8, each pilot pressure Pa is outputted at a level substantially proportional with the stroke S. Further, delivery rate characteristics of the variable displacement hydraulic pump 1, that is, a relationship between the pump control signal Pc applied to the flow control unit 2 and a pump flow rate Q delivered from the variable displacement hydraulic pump 1 is set in such a way that, as is shown in FIG. 9, the pressure fluid is delivered at a pump flow rate Q which is substantially in proportion with the pump control signal Pc (which is equal to the above-selected pilot pressure Pa).
According to the conventional hydraulic control system constructed as described above, turning of the control lever 5a of the pilot control valve 5 over a stroke S in the direction of arrow 5b, for example, to make the hydraulic cylinder 4 perform an extending operation actuates the pressure-reducing valve 10, and a pilot pressure Pa is outputted from the pressure-reducing valve portion 10. This pilot pressure Pa is outputted to the one drive control unit of the directional control valve 3 via the pilot line 13 so that the directional control valve 3 is switched to the position 3a. At this time, the pilot pressure Pa in the pilot line 13 is selected by the selector valve 6, and this pilot pressure Pa is outputted as a pump control signal Pc to the signal line 12. The flow control unit 2 is driven by the pump control signal Pc, and the pump flow rate Q of the pressure fluid delivered from the variable displacement hydraulic pump 1 is controlled at a level corresponding to the stroke S of the control lever 5a of the pilot control valve 5. The pressure fluid delivered at the pump flow rate Q from the variable displacement hydraulic pump 1 is fed to the bottom side of the hydraulic cylinder 4 via the directional control valve 3, and the fluid on the rod side is returned to the tank 9 via the directional control valve 3. As a consequence, the hydraulic cylinder 4 performs an extending operation so that the associated working equipment of the unillustrated work vehicle is driven.
As conventional art of this kind, reference may be had to Japanese Patent No. 2,534,897.
In the above-described conventional hydraulic control system shown in FIG. 7, the pilot pressure Pa of the greater value fed to the selector valve 6 is guided, as is, as the pump control signal Pc to the signal line 12 to drive the flow control unit 2. Due to a design limitation to the layout that the position of a pilot circuit--which includes the pilot control valve 5, the directional control valve 3, the pilot lines 13, 14 and the selector valve 6--and the position of the flow control unit 2--which is arranged in the vicinity of the variable displacement hydraulic pump 1--have to be separated sufficiently from each other, the above-mentioned signal line 12 is generally made of a rubber hose, the length of which is as long as several meters. Accordingly, the total volume of the volume of the signal line 12 and the volumes of the pilot lines 13, 14 connected to the respective drive control units of the directional control valve 3 is relatively large.
In the conventional hydraulic control system shown in FIG. 7, it therefore takes some time after operation of the control lever 5a and hence actuation of the pilot control valve 5 until the cumulative quantity of the pilot pressure fluid outputted from the pressure-reducing valve portion 10 or the pressure-reducing valve portion 11 becomes equal to the above-mentioned total volume, although this time is not substantial. As a result, the switching of the directional control valve 3 tends to be delayed. Further, an increase in the flow rate of pressure fluid to the line 13 or 14 and thus to the line 12 results in the occurrence of a greater pressure loss at the selector valve 6, so that the actuation of the flow control unit 2 also tends to become late. In other words, the switching responsibility of the directional control valve 3 to the operation of the pilot control valve 5 tends to be reduced and, moreover, the follow-up controllability of an increase or decrease in the pump flow rate Q of the variable displacement hydraulic pump 1 for the operation of the pilot control valve 5 also tends to be deteriorated. For these, the conventional hydraulic control system is accompanied by problems that the accuracy of driving control of the hydraulic cylinder 4 controlled by the directional control valve 3, that is, of the actuator tends to be lowered and no improvement can thus be expected in the efficiency of work to be performed by the construction machines

Hydraulic control system for construction machine

Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.


The authenticity of an item which is one of a group of such items can be determined by attaching to or incorporating into each such item an authentication marker, all such markers interacting substantially identically with a given magnetic field. A field generating apparatus is provided which incorporates a reference sample that interacts with the given magnetic field in the same way as the authentication markers do. The field generating apparatus subjects both the reference sample and a candidate authentication marker to substantially identical magnetic search fields. A receiver apparatus detects the signals resulting from the interactions of the reference sample and the candidate marker with their respective magnetic search fields, so that, with the candidate marker positioned at a predetermined location with respect to the field-generating apparatus, substantially identical magnetic fields can be generated around the reference sample and the candidate marker, whereupon the receiver apparatus detects the signals. Comparing means are provided for comparing the signals to determine the authenticity of the candidate marker.

This invention relates generally to the authentication of products such as paper money, brand name products, documents, etc., using the magnetic properties of a marker joined to or incorporated in the product.
The counterfeiting of products and documents is a widespread problem and results in many billions of dollars in losses to legitimate business. In an attempt to combat counterfeiters, many different authentication techniques have been developed and are in use today. These vary according to the target product, but all depend upon the addition of a unique marker that is difficult to copy but whose authenticity may be verified easily. When this marker is authenticated, the product to which it belongs is also authenticated. The list of technologies applied to this problem includes various kinds of complex printing with overt or covert information, holograms, embedded materials and chemicals in trace amounts, magnetic additives, etc. All employ a specially manufactured material (i.e. the marker) that is attached either permanently or via a tag or a label to the true product.
A proper authentication system has other uses. Besides providing a method of verifying the authenticity of a product in the field, it can be used to establish a distinction between real and counterfeit products for legal purposes. When coupled to an actuator, it can also control processes such as photocopying, faxing and data transmission.
Unfortunately, current authentication technologies are not without their weaknesses. Usually, they can be copied over time, so that there is a recurring need for greater sophistication. In addition, since many such techniques rely only on visual inspection for verification, human error or lack of training becomes a significant consideration. Other technologies require specialized equipment for verification and may be too expensive, cumbersome or slow to be effective in many situations.
Therefore, an ideal authentication technology a) gives authentication information that can be detected swiftly and unambiguously in an objective manner, b) is difficult to copy yet simple to implement, c) can be developed easily to more sophisticated levels of complexity that are more difficult to defeat, and d) is compatible with existing methods of manufacturing, marking or labelling goods.
In my earlier patent application Ser. No. 09/198,280, filed on Nov. 24, 1998, and entitled xe2x80x9cApparatus for Authenticating Products and Authorizing Processes Using the Magnetic Properties of a Markerxe2x80x9d, there is described an authentication system based upon the measurement of certain magnetic properties of ferromagnetic materials, with an electronic reader that detected the presence of the marker by means of an electromagnetic search field. This patent describes a unique reader that is suitable for this authentication system.
A discussion of the technical background of the present invention can be found in my above-mentioned patent application Ser. No. 09/198280. However, in order to appreciate the innovative features of this particular reader, it is useful to examine the two major factors that degrade its performance. These are (1) the earth""s magnetic field and (2) the strength of the magnetic search field as seen by the marker.
It is obvious that the effectiveness of the authentication function depends critically upon the degree to which the marker signal is unique and can be accurately determined. We can assume that it is possible to manufacture the marker with uniform magnetic properties. We can also assume that a reader can be built to any desired degree of accuracy if cost is no barrier. However, we are faced with another problem. Because the measurement requires that a magnetic search field interact with the magnetic marker to produce the unique response, any external magnetic field will affect the readings.
One such pervasive field is the earth""s magnetic field, which is found everywhere, although it differs in strength and direction depending upon geographical location. In order for the reader to operate to its full potential, all measurements should be independent of the earth""s magnetic field.
A more serious problem is that the response of the magnetic marker to the strength of the search field is non-linear and can change very dramatically with different measurement geometries. This severely limits the effectiveness of the measurement of magnetic properties.
Consider the case of a marker made of low coercivity amorphous steel ribbon oriented in the direction of a time varying magnetic field (i.e. parallel to the magnetic flux lines), so that maximum magnetic coupling occurs between it and the flux. At some field strength, the marker will saturate and a clear, characteristic pulse will be created as it goes from saturation in one direction to saturation in the other. However, if the same marker is then oriented at right angles to the same field, minimum magnetic coupling will occur and a small or non-existent pulse will result. At intermediate positions, other responses will be observed. This shows that the amplitude and shape of the response is also a function of the orientation of the marker within the field.
A reader that measures the magnetic properties of a marker in this manner will have to deal with many different shapes of the measured signal. Therefore, such a system cannot provide an acceptable authentication function.
This invention overcomes the aforementioned problems in a simple but effective manner. It does this by adding to the measurement system a standard or reference sample to which the authentication marker can be compared and ensuring that the measurement conditions for the reference and the marker are identical in virtually all important respects. By orienting the reference sample and the authentication marker identically during the measurement with respect to the earth""s magnetic field, those effects are cancelled out. By orienting and positioning both the reference sample and the authentication marker identically (or very close to identically) with respect to identical search fields during the measurement, the measurement conditions are identical. When the responses from two matched markers are subtracted, a xe2x80x9cnull conditionxe2x80x9d is obtained and authentication is confirmed.
In practice, it may be impossible to achieve a perfect null, because of subtle differences between the reference sample and the authentication marker. If there is always a residual signal even under the best measurement conditions, the acceptance threshold can be set accordingly.
Due to the simple nature of the measurement, it is possible to use magnetic search fields of different frequencies, duty cycles, waveforms, etc.. This enhances the effectiveness of the authentication process, as it is now possible to choose those search field characteristics that optimize the measurement of the unique properties of a given marker.
In this invention, a field-generating apparatus generates the electromagnetic search field and a receiver apparatus looks for the response from a candidate marker and only that marker and produces an alarm signal when the characteristic response is found. The detection and decision making process is both automatic and objective. The details of the process are as follows.
In addition to the field generating, detecting and analysing circuitry, the measurement apparatus contains a sample of the authentication marker, the reference sample. Both materials (i.e. authentication marker and reference sample) are selected from the same source, such as the same manufacturing batch or process, so that the responses are functionally identical under a wide range of measurement conditions. The measurement apparatus is designed so that both the reference sample and the candidate marker are subjected to essentially identical search fields (i.e. measurement conditions). When the candidate marker is present in the correct position and the responses to these search fields are compared, the lack of a signal (i.e. the presence of a null signal) indicates that a match has been found and that the authenticity of the marker and therefore the object is verified. If no candidate marker is present, a large signal generated by the reference marker is observed.
With this apparatus, the choice of materials used in the candidate marker and the reference sample is determined only by their magnetic properties. Virtually any combination of ferromagnetic materials may be employed and there is no limit to the number of different samples of ferromagnetic material that can be combined in one marker. The design of the reader is such that at any time the reference sample may be changed, thereby changing the target marker. In addition, the waveform of the electromagnetic search field is limited only by the response characteristics of the marker material. Thus, sinusoidal, square, triangle and other complex waveforms may be employed for this measurement. This provides a migration path to increased complexity.
Successful authentication of an object may be signified by an audible or visible alarm, by a wire or wireless transmission to a remote station, or merely stored in a memory for future analysis.
For accurate measurements, the reading face must be properly oriented and located with respect to the authentication label, so that both the authentication marker and the reference sample experience the same external electromagnetic field. An automatic field strength adjustment can be added to the apparatus to compensate for some mismatch in positioning.
If the apparatus is set to high sensitivity, the reading process may take several seconds, as different positions and orientations of the apparatus with respect to the authentication label are tried out in order to find the best spot. If it is desired, a lower sensitivity setting may be employed to speed up the measurement process. A higher sensitivity setting will increase discrimination. Different waveform shapes and frequencies may be chosen to improve the differentiation between materials.
The advantages of this invention lie in its high reading accuracy, flexibility with respect to signal frequency and waveform, adaptability to use almost any low coercivity based magnetic marker and adjustable sensitivity to meet external conditions. These features make it suitable for many products, such as currency, documents, clothing, videos, CD""s, toys, perfumes, industrial parts, etc. and objects made of metal, plastics, papers, etc.
More particularly, this invention provides a method for establishing the authenticity of an item which may or may not be one of a group of such items, each such item having attached thereto or incorporated therein an authentication marker, all of such markers being such as to interact substantially identically with a given magnetic field, the method comprising:
providing a field-generating apparatus which includes a reference sample having a structure and magnetic characteristics to which all said authentication markers should conform, the field-generating apparatus being adapted to subject both the reference sample and a candidate authentication marker to substantially identical magnetic search fields,
providing receiver apparatus for detecting the signals resulting from the interactions of the reference sample and the candidate marker with their respective magnetic search fields,
positioning the candidate marker at a predetermined location with respect to the field-generating apparatus,
using the field-generating apparatus to generate substantially identical magnetic fields around the reference sample and the candidate marker,
using the receiver apparatus to detect the said signals, and
comparing the signals to determine the authenticity of the candidate marker.
Furthermore, this invention provides, for establishing the authenticity of an item which is one of a group of such items, wherein there is attached to or incorporated into each such item an authentication marker, all of such markers being such as to interact substantially identically with a given magnetic field, the ombination of:
a field-generating apparatus which includes a reference sample adapted to interact with said given magnetic field in the same way as said authentication markers do, the field-generating apparatus being adapted to subject both the reference sample and a candidate authentication marker to substantially identical magnetic search fields,
receiver apparatus for detecting the signals resulting from the interactions of the reference sample and the candidate marker with their respective magnetic search fields, such that, with the candidate marker positioned at a predetermined location with respect to the field-generating apparatus, substantially identical magnetic fields can be generated around the reference sample and the candidate marker, so that the receiver apparatus detects the said signals,
and comparing means for comparing said signals to determine the authenticity of the candidate marker.

Apparatus for authenticating products and authorizing processes using the magnetic properties of a marker

Abstract: In a preferred form, the field-generating apparatus and the receiver apparatus both include portions of an H-shaped ferromagnetic core. The field generating apparatus includes a coil encircling the cross bar of the H, while the receiver apparatus includes first and second receiver coils respectively encircling opposite ends of one of the upright bars of the H. The receiver coils are wired in series such that their signals cancel if the reference sample is identical to the candidate authentication marker.


A vascular plug for implantation into a patient's vessel includes an inflatable balloon and a flow accelerator. The flow accelerator includes a conical portion and a tubular coupling element which couples the conical portion to an aperture to the interior of the inflatable balloon. The flow accelerator will concentrate and therefore accelerate fluid flow into the inflatable balloon. Flow accelerator will increase the pressure of fluid thereby to cause the inflatable balloon to inflate even within a pressurised blood vessel. The plug may include a sleeve which provides a chamber between the flow accelerator and the balloon, into which blood may pass from the inflatable balloon or the flow accelerator to create additional blood statis and as a result thrombosis and a second occlusive barrier.

Vascular occluders have been known for a number of years. Many types are in the form of a device which is implanted within a vessel of the patient and which has a structure which closes off the vessel so as to occlude blood flow. Occluders of this nature, sometimes referred to as vascular plugs, are preferable over more traditional forms of occluder, such as vascular constrictors, which generally require an invasive medical procedure. Vascular occluders, on the other hand, can be deployed endoluminally in a significantly faster and less traumatic medical procedure.
Vascular occluders may be designed or used to provide temporary occlusion, for example to be effective only for the duration of a medical procedure or during a period of treatment. Occlusion may also be permanent, in which case the occluder will be left within the patient indefinitely.
There are generally two types of vascular occluders. The first type promotes embolization within the vessel, for instance by slowing the flow of blood through the device and in some cases with the addition of embolization promoters. Such devices do not produce immediate occlusion of the vessel as they rely upon the formation of sufficient blood clotting to act as the occluding barrier. Sufficient thrombosis can take hours, days or even weeks in some instances.
Another type of vascular occluder has an impervious element, typically a membrane, attached to a supporting structure which gives it a conical shape. The wide end of the device expands to spread across the entire diameter of the vessel and thus creates an instantaneous barrier to blood flow. Other examples provide an inflatable balloon or chamber, which is filled with fluid to expand the balloon or chamber and thereby cause it to fill the diameter of the vessel in which the balloon or chamber is placed, thereby closing off the vessel. In many cases immediate occlusion of this type is preferable. However, some designs of such occluders do not reliably counter the full force of the blood stream, leading to migration of the device, loss of positional orientation, failure to achieve a full seal against the vessel wall and thus failure of the device. Furthermore, some such devices can fail to deploy properly in the vessel, leading to them being ineffective from the start.
In addition to difficulties in accurate placement and risk of migration, an occluder may also leak or become dislodged if the vessel changes size or shape over time. Such size or shape change can lead to loss of connection to the vessel wall.
Some examples of known vascular occluders can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 6,638,293 and US-2008/0221600.


Some embodiments include methods of forming transistors. Recesses are formed to extend into semiconductor material. The recesses have upper regions lined with liner material and have segments of semiconductor material exposed along lower regions. Semiconductor material is isotropically etched through the exposed segments which transforms the recesses into openings having wide lower regions beneath narrow upper regions. Gate dielectric material is formed along sidewalls of the openings. Gate material is formed within the openings and over regions of the semiconductor material between the openings. Insulative material is formed down the center of each opening and entirely through the gate material. A segment of gate material extends from one of the openings to the other, and wraps around a pillar of the semiconductor material between the openings. The segment is a gate of a transistor. Source/drain regions are formed on opposing sides of the gate.

Transistors are commonly utilized in integrated circuits, and may have many applications throughout memory, logic, etc. For instance, transistors may be utilized in dynamic random access memory (DRAM) arrays, NAND flash, etc.
A continuing goal of integrated circuit fabrication is to create higher levels of integration, and accordingly to reduce size and spacing of existing components. It is becoming increasingly difficult to reduce the size of transistors due to short channel effects and other complications.
Transistor performance may be characterized by numerous metrics, including, for example, current flow through the on state (Ion) of the transistor and current flow through the off state (Ioff) of the transistor. It is desired to have high Ion without leakage so that current is controlled and relatively unimpeded when the transistor is in the on state; and it is desired to have low Ioff. Often there may be some level of leakage through transistors, especially as the transistors become increasingly smaller. An example leakage mechanism is hot electron induced punchthrough (HEIP), which can be particularly problematic in transistors having short channels.


The present invention provides a preparation method for a DNA origami based carrier, which essentially comprises the steps of performing multi-functional DNA origami based nanocarrier preparation.

Adenine-thymine and guanine-cytosine Watson-Crick hydrogen bonding allows the preparation of artificial 2D and 3D DNA based nanostructures. Using DNA and artificial oligonucleotides, molecular structures with different sizes and shapes can be constructed. Since the first report for the construction of DNA origami structure by Paul Rothemund, the preparation of many 2D and 3D structures using simple base pairing (or DNA hybridization) has been demonstrated. The first 2D DNA structure was designed by Winfree et al. using DNA tiles. In 1999, the first discrete 3D structures were reported by Seeman.
The DNA tiles are rectangular shaped DNA structures that contain multiple antiparallel DNA crossovers. The first developed DNA tiles were consisted of two DNA double helices with two crossovers, subsequently structures contain three double helices with four crossovers were developed. The DNA tiles are designed to include short and unpaired single stranded DNA strands, which allow the binding of another tile. Through these free regions, called sticky ends, the DNA tiles can be combined to create larger DNA structures or modified with different molecules for several applications.
Although the use of DNA brings several advantages such as biocompatibility and biodegradability, it also has some disadvantages such as inefficient cellular uptake. Cellular uptake is an important parameter that should be considered for use of DNA constructs in drug delivery applications. Therefore, a molecular moiety that may utilize this function can be introduced into the DNA construct. The use of the viral vectors, peptides, and liposomes was reported as carrier structures to increase the cellular uptake efficiency. Carbohydrates are a group of biomacromolecules that may serve for this goal as well. Sugar conjugates were reported to be as effective as commercial transfection agents. The transfection efficiencies of the lactosylated and α-glucosylated polylysine structures were found high as commercial transfection agents, lipofectamine and PEI.
Doxorubicin is typical anthracycline type drug molecule and it is commonly used as chemotherapeutic agents for the cancer treatments, more specifically for breast cancer treatment. It mainly induces apoptotic cell death in cancer cells. Beside cancer cells, doxorubicin also affects other cells and shows side effects on healthy cells. To reduce side effects of doxorubicin, the novel vehicles have always been investigated.
The first DNA based system investigated for doxorubicin delivery was an aptamer conjugated DNA icosa, which was used for killing the cancer cells. Triangular-shaped and tubular-shaped DNA origami structures were used as carriers of doxorubicin. The effect of doxorubicin intercalated triangular-shaped and tubular-shaped DNA origami structures was investigated on regular human breast adenocarcinoma cancer cells, MCF7, and doxorubicin resistant subline and overcome to doxorubicin resistance. The two 18-helix bundle nanotubes were evaluated as delivery systems for doxorubicin.

Preparation method for a DNA origami based carrier system


Systems and methods are provided for balancing current through a first conductor and a second conductor. A method comprises determining if a first current through the first conductor is greater than a second current through the second conductor by more than a threshold value. The first current and the second current are received from a ground fault current interrupt device. The method further comprises increasing the second current in response to determining that the first current is greater than the second current by more than the threshold value.

In recent years, advances in technology, as well as ever evolving tastes in style, have led to substantial changes in the design of automobiles. One of the changes involves the power usage and complexity of the various electrical systems within automobiles, particularly alternative fuel vehicles, such as hybrid and electric vehicles.
Electric or hybrid vehicles often utilize electric motors as an alternative to internal combustion engines or other fuel-based engines. These electric motors generally operate on electricity from an energy storage device within the vehicle (e.g., a battery pack or an ultracapacitor). Rechargeable or plug-in vehicles allow these energy storage devices to be charged from an external power source when the vehicle is not in operation. For example, a vehicle may be plugged into or otherwise connected to a residential wall outlet to provide power from the main power supply for the residence to a charging circuit within the vehicle.
Often, a charging cord is used to connect the vehicle to an external power supply. These charging cords generally include a safety device or interrupt device, such as a charge current interrupt device (CCID), which disconnects the charging circuit whenever the device detects a current imbalance (or current leakage) between the conductors in the cord that exceeds a trip point. The trip point or level of imbalance is generally set at a high-enough level that avoids undesirable or nuisance trips as a result of exposure to environmental conditions (e.g., the cord is outside in the rain) during otherwise normal operating conditions (e.g., fault-free), yet low-enough that it provides adequate protection against fault conditions.
However, most residential power systems are equipped with a ground fault current interrupter (GFCI) or other residual current device designed with a significantly lower trip point than the safety device on the vehicle charging cord. In this situation, the device with the lower trip setting (i.e., the GFCI) will always trip before the safety device on the vehicle charging cord. This defeats the purpose of the safety device on the charging cord, and may result in undesirable nuisance trips during routine operations. Often, when the GFCI device trips, the user must manually reset the device which may result in an incomplete vehicle battery charge. In some cases, the GFCI device may be difficult to locate or access, placing additional burdens on the user.

Method and apparatus for balancing current through an interrupt device


An electro-optical device includes a test circuit for testing drive of a plurality of pixel units and a plurality of test terminals that output inputted signals to the test circuit or that output signals inputted from the test circuit. The test terminals including a first test terminal input with a high frequency signal with a frequency higher than a frequency of a signal output from a second terminal. A third test terminal is interposed between the first test terminal and the second test terminal.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an electro-optical device such as a liquid crystal device or the like. In addition, the invention further relates to an electronic apparatus that is provided with an electro-optical device. An example of a variety of electronic apparatuses to which the invention can be applied includes but not limited to a liquid crystal projector.
2. Related Art
A typical electro-optical device of related art has the following configuration. A plurality of pixel units (i.e., pixels) is formed over a substrate. A variety of peripheral circuits such as a driving circuit and a test circuit, though not limited thereto, are provided around the pixels. The driving circuit provides a driving force to the plurality of pixels for the operation thereof. The test circuit is used for testing the electro-optical device. In addition, a plurality of input terminals through which various kinds of input signals are inputted into the driving circuit and other circuits/components/elements and the like and a plurality of output terminals through which various kinds of output signals are outputted from the driving circuit and other circuits/components/elements and the like are provided over the substrate. An example of such a configuration of the related art is described in JP-A-2007-79541. The plurality of these terminals include test terminals through which test input signals are inputted into the test circuit and test output signals are outputted from the test circuit and the driving circuit at the time when an inspection is conducted on such an electro-optical device. The testing of the electro-optical device is performed on the basis of the test output signals that are outputted through the test terminals.
These days, there is a growing demand for an electro-optical device that features a small size. As the market demands for a smaller electro-optical device, it is required that the array pitch of a plurality of terminals thereof, inclusive of that of test terminals, should be decreased. As the terminal-to-terminal array pitch narrows, there is an increased risk that probe pins, each of which is used for inputting a signal through a test terminal at the time of testing operation or used for outputting a signal through a test terminal at the time of testing operation, cause a test failure that is attributable to such a narrow array pitch. That is, because of the narrow pitch, the distance between two test terminals that are provided adjacent to each other could be too small for accurate testing or even too small to cause a pin contact therebetween. If any other test terminal through which an input signal having a relatively high frequency is inputted or through which an output signal having a relatively high frequency is outputted is provided next to a certain test terminal through which a test signal is outputted under such a narrow pitch layout, the close pin array or pin contact explained above could cause a high-frequency noise contamination. That is, the waveform of the high-frequency signal may be contained as a noise in the detected output signal, which makes it practically impossible or at best difficult to conduct a substantially error-free inspection in an accurate manner.

Electro-optical device and electronic apparatus


An approach for identifying a location of a mobile device is provided. In the approach, location information from a mobile device is received, wherein the location information includes a sampling of location coordinates of the mobile device over a period of time. A processor generates a path, using the sampling of location coordinates of the mobile device over the period of time. A processor compares the path to geographic information system (GIS) data associated with the received location information. A processor determines additional location information based on the path and the GIS data.

Mobile device location identification may be accomplished through multilateration techniques, e.g., Global Positioning System (GPS). GPS is a satellite-based navigation system made up of a network of satellites placed in orbit. GPS satellites circle the Earth and continually transmit messages to Earth that include the time the message was transmitted and the satellite position at the time of the message transmission. A GPS receiver uses the messages it receives from multiple satellites to determine the transit time of each message to calculate the location of the GPS receiver. Multilateration is a navigation technique based on the measurement of the difference in distance to two or more stations at known locations that broadcast signals at known times. For example, with a mobile phone, location identification may be accomplished through the use of multilateration of radio signals between several radio towers of the network and the phone.
A geographic information system (GIS) is a system designed to capture, store, manipulate, analyze, manage, and present all types of geographical data. In general, GIS describes any information system that integrates, stores, edits, analyzes, shares, and displays geographic information. GIS applications can allow users to create interactive queries, analyze spatial information, edit data in maps, and present the results of these operations. GIS data represents physical objects (such as roads, land use, elevation, trees, waterways, etc.) and this data may be varied based on the design of the GIS and its intended use.

Identification of mobile device location

International Business Machines Corporation


An exposed portion of superconducting filaments is disposed between a sleeve end and an end portion of a stabilizer in which the stabilizer is removed from superconducting wires. The sleeve pressed together with the superconducting filaments, the exposed portion and a peripheral portion of the stabilizer next to this exposed portion are integrated with each other by a wound tensile binding material such as a copper foil and a fixing material such as solder. In accordance with such a structure, it is possible to provide a connecting method of the superconducting wires in which no superconducting filaments in a wire connecting portion are disconnected and excessively distorted and a suitable rigidity of the connecting portion is obtained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to connecting method and structure of superconducting wires used for a coil of a superconducting magnet, etc.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Each of the following methods is widely known as a general connecting method of superconducting wires.
(1) A method for overlapping and connecting superconducting wires to each other by soldering or welding.
(2) A method for removing stabilizers from superconducting wires to expose superconducting filaments and overlapping or twisting the superconducting filaments. Otherwise, A method for soldering, welding or melting-injecting an exposed portion of the superconducting filaments.
(3) A method for pressing superconducting filaments by using a sleeve instead of the soldering, welding or melting-injecting method in the above item (2).
The first method (1) is a simplest method. However, since superconducting filaments come in indirect contact with each other, the electric resistance of a connecting portion of the superconducting filaments is large so that this method is not suitable so much for a coil of a superconducting magnet, etc. requiring a persistent current mode.
In the second method (2), the superconducting filaments are directly connected to each other so that the electric resistance of a connecting portion of the superconducting filaments is greatly reduced. Therefore, this second method is used in many conventional examples. However, rigidity of the connecting portion is low so that it is necessary to further improve the second method to obtain a higher critical current value.
In the third method (3), the superconducting filaments are pressed by using the sleeve so that the superconducting filaments come in closer contact with each other and a higher critical current value can be obtained. Further, it is possible to expect higher rigidity of an entire connecting portion of the superconducting filaments. Therefore, this third method is generally used as a recent connecting method of superconducting wires.
FIG. 6 is a perspective view for explaining the construction of a superconducting wire. In FIG. 6, reference numerals 1 and 2 respectively designate a superconducting wire and a superconducting filament. For example, the superconducting filament is constructed by a wire material made of NbTi and having a diameter about 20 to 50 .mu.m. A stabilizer 3 is used to electrically and thermally stabilize the superconducting filament 2 by burying the above superconducting filament 2 into the stabilizer 3. A copper material is often used as the stabilizer 3.
FIG. 7 is a cross-sectional view showing the above conventional connecting method (3) as a method for pressing the superconducting filaments by using the sleeve and shown in e.g., Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. 59-16207. In FIG. 7, reference numerals 1a and 1b respectively designate one superconducting wire and another superconducting wire to be connected. Reference numerals 2a and 2b respectively designate one superconducting filament and another superconducting filament for the superconducting wire 1b. Reference numerals 3a and 3b respectively designate stabilizers for the superconducting wires 1a and 1b. Reference numerals 4a and 4b respectively designate peeling faces of the superconducting wires 1a and 1b from which the above stabilizers 3a and 3b are removed by a corrosive solvent such as nitric acid. For example, a cylindrical sleeve 5 is made of copper and the above superconducting filaments 2a and 2b suitably bundled are inserted into this cylindrical sleeve 5. The above sleeve 5 is pressed in a direction of pressing force shown by an arrow 6. Reference numeral 7 designates a clearance of the superconducting filaments caused in the vicinity of the peeling faces 4a and 4b since no superconducting filaments 2a and 2b come in close contact with each other when the superconducting filaments 2a and 2b are pressed.
FIG. 8 is a cross-sectional view showing a conventional connecting method in which a shape of the sleeve 5 shown in FIG. 7 is partially changed.
In FIG. 8, constructional portions 1a to 4a, 1b to 4b and 5 to 7 are similar to those shown in FIG. 7. Therefore, an explanation about these constructional portions is omitted in the following description. A counter bore 5a is disposed in an inner diameter portion of the sleeve 5 at one end thereof and overlaps the stabilizers 3a and 3b at a length l.sub.1. An arrow 6a designates a direction of pressing force applied to the sleeve 5 in a pressing range of the above length l.sub.1.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view showing another conventional connecting method shown in e.g., Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. 1-260776.
In FIG. 9, constructional portions 1a to 4a, 1b to 4b and 5 to 7 are similar to those shown in FIG. 7. Therefore, an explanation about these constructional portions is omitted in the following description. Taper portions 8a and 8b are formed and inclined at a predetermined angle with respect to peeling faces 4a and 4b from which stabilizers 3a and 3b are removed.
Procedures of the connecting methods will next be explained.
With respect to FIG. 7, the following procedures are carried out.
(1) The stabilizers 3a and 3b are respectively removed from the superconducting wires 1a and 1b to expose the superconducting filaments 2a and 2b.
(2) The exposed superconducting filaments 2a and 2b are suitably bundled.
(3) These superconducting filaments 2a and 2b are respectively inserted into the sleeve 5 until ends of the superconducting filaments 2a and 2b are in conformity with the peeling faces 4a and 4b of the above stabilizers 3a and 3b.
(4) Next, the sleeve 5 is pressed by using a tool such as an unillustrated die in the direction of the arrow 6 with a predetermined pressing force such as several ten tons.
In FIG. 8, the above procedures (1) to (4) with respect to FIG. 7 are similarly carried out. Namely, the superconducting filaments 2a and 2b are respectively pushed and inserted into the sleeve 5 until a deep position of the counter bore 5a such that positions of the peeling faces 4a and 4b of the stabilizers 3a and 3b are in conformity with this deep position.
(5) Thereafter, the sleeve 5 is pressed in the pressing range of the length l.sub.1 by using a tool such as an unillustrated die in the direction of the arrow 6a with a predetermined pressing force. Thus, the sleeve 5 is fixed to the superconducting wires 1a and 1b.
In FIG. 9, the sleeve and the superconducting wires can be connected to each other in procedures approximately similar to the above procedures (1) to (5) with respect to FIG. 8. In this case, the pressed sleeve 5 is molded along the taper portions 8a and 8b on the peeling faces 4a and 4b from which the stabilizers 3a and 3b are removed.
FIGS. 10a and 10b are cross-sectional views showing a state of a peeling face 4 from which a stabilizer 3 is removed by a corrosive solvent such as nitric acid. FIG. 10a corresponds to FIGS. 7 and 8 and FIG. 10b corresponds to FIG. 9. In general, the peeling face 4 removing the stabilizer 3 therefrom is chemically processed as mentioned above. Accordingly, it is difficult to obtain a planar peeling face including a straight line as shown in each of FIGS. 7 to 9. Normally, an irregular peeling face 4 is obtained as shown in FIGS. 10a and 10b.
Accordingly, the conventional connecting method of the superconducting wires 1 each having such an irregular peeling face 4 has the following problems.
Firstly, when the superconducting filaments are pressed by using the sleeve 5, it is easy to cause a portion in which it is difficult to make the superconducting filaments close to each other by irregularities in the vicinity of the irregular peeling face 4. Therefore, many clearances 7 are formed and superconducting characteristics are reduced by these clearances 7.
Namely, the superconducting filaments 2 are slightly vibrated by influences of an applied magnetic field and a vibration thereof in a superconducting state so that the clearances 7 cause generation of heat of the superconducting filaments 2. As a result, a great disadvantage of transfer (called quench) from the superconducting state to a normal conducting state is caused.
Secondly, a portion of the superconducting filaments 2 in the vicinity of the peeling face 4 tends to be disconnected and excessively distorted by deformation of the sleeve 5 at a pressing time. Accordingly, a critical current in a connecting portion is reduced in comparison with a critical current (i.e., an electric current which can flow through the superconducting filaments in the superconducting state) in a range of the superconducting filaments covered with the stabilizer 3, thereby causing a change in superconducting characteristics. Further, no critical current is stabilized so that excessive dispersion in the critical current is caused.
Thirdly, when the superconducting filaments 2 are inserted into the sleeve 5 in a pressing operation, it is not easy to position the sleeve 5 by irregularities of the irregular peeling face 4. Accordingly, no base portions of the peeling face 4 and the sleeve 5 are firmly fixed after the pressing operation, thereby forming an unstable connecting portion. Therefore, it is impossible to provide a suitable rigidity for the connecting portion so that the superconducting filaments 2 tend to be disconnected and distorted. Further, similar to the above-mentioned case, the critical current is reduced and dispersion in the critical current is caused.
To solve these problems and obtain a preferable rigidity of the connecting portion, there is a proposed method in which the sleeve 5 overlaps the stabilizer 3 as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 to form two separate pressing positions and press the sleeve in these two positions. However, no problems about disconnection and distortion of the superconducting filaments 2 in the vicinity of the peeling face 4 are sufficiently solved.
It is necessary to arrange a connection portion of a coil of a superconducting magnet, etc. in a position having a low magnetic flux density in consideration of the above reduction and dispersion in critical current. Such an arrangement limits design and manufacture of a connecting structure.
Further, when the coil is designed, an electric current density is reduced in consideration of the reduction and the dispersion in critical current so that cost of the coil as a product is increased.

Connecting method and structure of superconducting wires


When a rotational fluctuation ΔNEeng of an engine is equal to or larger than a first threshold NEref1, a rotational fluctuation ΔNEmg1 of a motor MG1 that is calculated at a timing preceding the rotational fluctuation ΔNEeng of the engine by 180 degrees in terms of a rotational angle of a crankshaft is compared with a second threshold NEref2. When the rotational fluctuation ΔNEmg1 is equal to or larger than the second threshold NEref2, it is determined that the rotational fluctuation ΔNEeng of the engine has reached a value equal to or larger than a threshold NEref due to a disturbance such as running on a bad road or the like, and a misfire counter is maintained. When the rotational fluctuation ΔNEmg1 is smaller than the second threshold NEref2, it is determined that a misfire may be occurring in at least one of cylinders of the engine, and the misfire counter is incremented.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a misfire determination device for an internal combustion engine, and more particularly, to a misfire determination device for the internal combustion engine in a hybrid vehicle that is equipped with an internal combustion engine including a plurality of cylinders that can output a motive power for running and an electric motor that is mechanically connected to an output shaft of this internal combustion engine.
2. Description of Related Art
Conventionally, as this kind of misfire determination device for an internal combustion engine, that which detects a driving condition of a hybrid vehicle based on an operation state of an electric motor of the vehicle, and which determines whether or not the vehicle is driven on a condition that may lead to fulfillment of a condition of erroneous detection of a misfire in an internal combustion engine has been proposed (e.g., see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2001-317402 (JP 2001-317402 A)). With this device, when it is determined that the vehicle is driven on the condition that may lead to fulfillment of the condition of erroneous detection of a misfire in the internal combustion engine, a misfire detection process is suppressed or suspended. Thus, erroneous detection of a misfire in the internal combustion engine is more reliably avoided.

Misfire determination device for internal combustion engine