A probabilistic data signal processor used to determine health of a system is described. Initial probability distribution functions are input to a dynamic state-space model, which iteratively operates on probability distribution functions, such as state and model probability distribution functions, to generate a prior probability distribution function, which is input to a probabilistic updater. The probabilistic updater integrates sensor data with the prior to generate a posterior probability distribution function passed to a probabilistic sampler, which estimates one or more parameters using the posterior, which is output or re-sampled and used as an input to the dynamic state-space model in the iterative algorithm. In various embodiments, the probabilistic data signal processor is used to filter output from any mechanical device using appropriate physical models, which optionally include chemical, electrical, optical, mechanical, or fluid based models. Examples to valve bearings and pipe systems are provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to apparatus and methods for monitoring mechanical health of an apparatus.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Any mechanical product will eventually fail. Often, a failure of a component or sub-component results in failure of an overall system. Such failures present safety, time, and financial concerns. Failures are attributable to a plurality of damage mechanisms, such as fatigue, corrosion, and buckling. A method or apparatus for predicting failure of a system, component, or sub-component would allow operators to repair, replace, or retire system components prior to actual failure, which reduces negative consequence of component failure.
Patents related to the current invention are summarized herein.
Deterministic Techniques
Typically, computer-based systems use a mapping between observed symptoms of failure and the equipment where the mapping is built using deterministic techniques. The mapping typically takes the form of a look-up table, a symptom-problem matrix, trend analysis, and production rules.
Vibrational Analysis
R. Klein "Method and System for Diagnostics and Prognostics of a Mechanical System", U.S. Pat. No. 7,027,953 B2 (Apr. 11, 2006) describes a vibrational analysis system for diagnosis of health of a mechanical system by reference to vibration signature data from multiple domains, which aggregates several features applicable to a desired fault for trend analysis of the health of the mechanical system.
Intelligent System
S. Patel, et. al. "Process and System for Developing Predictive Diagnostic Algorithms in a Machine", U.S. Pat. No. 6,405,108 B1 (Jun. 11, 2002) describe a process for developing an algorithm for predicting failures in a system, such as a locomotive, comprising conducting a failure mode analysis to identify a subsystem, collecting expert data on the subsystem, and generating a predicting signal for identifying failure modes, where the system uses external variables that affect the predictive accuracy of the system.
C. Bjornson, "Apparatus and Method for Monitoring and Maintaining Plant Equipment", U.S. Pat. No. 6,505,145 B1 (Jan. 11, 2003) describes a computer system that implements a process for gathering, synthesizing, and analyzing data related to a pump and/or a seal, in which data are gathered, the data is synthesized and analyzed, a root cause is determined, and the system suggests a corrective action.
C. Bjornson, "Apparatus and Method for Monitoring and Maintaining Plant Equipment", U.S. Pat. No. 6,728,660 B2 (Apr. 27, 2004) describes a computer system that implements a process for gathering, synthesizing, and analyzing data related to a pump and/or a seal, in which data are gathered, the data is synthesized and analyzed, and a root cause is determined to allow a non-specialist to properly identify and diagnose a failure associated with a mechanical seal and pump.
K. Pattipatti, et. al. "Intelligent Model-Based Diagnostics for System Monitoring, Diagnosis and Maintenance", U.S. Pat. No. 7,536,277 B2 (May 19, 2009) and K. Pattipatti, et. al. "Intelligent Model-Based Diagnostics for System Monitoring, Diagnosis and Maintenance", U.S. Pat. No. 7,260,501 B2 (Aug. 21, 2007) both describe systems and methods for monitoring, diagnosing, and for condition-based maintenance of a mechanical system, where model-based diagnostic methodologies combine or integrate analytical models and graph-based dependency models to enhance diagnostic performance.
Probabilistic Techniques
Typically, deterministic methods are used to predict failures. A limited number of probability methods have been proposed for determination of component failure. Probability based component failure systems related to the present invention are summarized herein.
Inferred Data
R. Tryon, et. al. "Method and Apparatus for Predicting Failure in a System", U.S. Pat. No. 7,006,947 B2 (Feb. 28, 2006) describe a method and apparatus for predicting system failure or reliability using a computer implemented model relying on probabilistic analysis, where the model uses data obtained from references and data inferred from acquired data. More specifically, the method and apparatus uses a pre-selected probabilistic model operating on a specific load to the system while the system is under operation.
Virtual Prototyping
R. Tryon, et. al. "Method and Apparatus for Predicting Failure of a Component", U.S. Pat. No. 7,016,825 B1 (Mar. 21, 2006) describe a method and apparatus for predicting component failure using a probabilistic model of a material's microstructural-based response to fatigue using virtual prototyping, where the virtual prototyping simulates grain size, grain orientation, and micro-applied stress in fatigue of the component.
R. Tryon, et. al. "Method and Apparatus for Predicting Failure of a Component, and for Determining a Grain Orientation Factor for a Material", U.S. Pat. No. 7,480,601 B2 (Jan. 20, 2009) describe a method and apparatus for predicting component failure using a probabilistic model of a material's microstructural-based response to fatigue using a computer simulation of multiple incarnations of real material behavior or virtual prototyping.
Statement of the Problem
A method or apparatus for predicting failure of a system, component, or sub-component is needed to allow operators to repair, replace, or retire system components prior to actual failure, which reduces negative consequence of component failure.

Mechanical health monitor apparatus and method of operation therefor


A selective emitter exhibiting heat resistance up to 1000° C., comprising a metal body, a first dielectric layer provided on one surface of the metal body, a composite layer provided on another surface of the first dielectric layer at an opposite side to the metal body side, and a second dielectric layer provided on another surface of the composite layer at an opposite side to the first dielectric layer, the composite layer being a layer provided with a metal or semiconductor dispersed in an oxide of the metal or the semiconductor.

As a method of utilizing waste heat of a temperature range of 500° C. or more, thermophotovoltaic (TPV) power generation is gathering attention. In thermophotovoltaic power generation, heat energy (emitted light) is converted to light having a predetermined wavelength distribution by selection of wavelength by a selective emitter, the converted light is emitted from the selective emitter, and the light emitted from the t selective emitter is converted to electricity by a photovoltaic (PV) device. Thermophotovoltaic power generation can directly transform heat energy to electrical energy, so is excellent in energy conversion efficiency.
Wavelength matching between the emission characteristic of a selective emitter which selects the wavelength of emitted light generated from a heat source and the absorption characteristic of a photovoltaic device which converts the emitted light from the selective emitter to electricity becomes important. For this reason, development of a selective emitter able to selectively emit a wavelength which a photovoltaic device can convert to electricity has been desired.
PTL 1 discloses a selective emitter including a composite material of at least one type of semiconductor and at least one type of metal material. PTL 1 illustrates FeSiX (X=0.5 to 4) as a semiconductor and illustrates Ag, Mo, and Cu as metal materials.
PTL 2 discloses a selective emitter including a composite material of at least one type of semiconductor and a dielectric. PTL 2 illustrates FeS2, Mg2Si, Zn3As2, and Ge as a semiconductor and illustrates SiO2, Al2O3, and AlN as a dielectric.
PTL 3 discloses a heat conversion device comprised of a base material on the upper surface and lower surface of which an infrared emitting material layer and an antireflection layer are laminated. As one example of such a heat conversion device, an example with an infrared emitting material layer of a cermet film of Cr and Cr2O3 and an antireflection film of Cr2O3 is disclosed.
PTL 4 discloses an emitter for thermophotovoltaic power generation comprised of an Fe, Co, Ni, stainless steel, or other substrate on which P—FeSi2 or another antireflection film is provided.

Selective emitter for thermophotovoltaic power generator


A complementary field-effect (CMOS) circuit is provided which includes a current-limiting device arranged along a power-supply bus or a ground bus of the circuit The current-limiting device is configured to prevent latch up of the CMOS circuit. More specifically, the current-limiting device is configured to maintain a junction of the parasitic pnpn diode structure as reverse-biased. A method is also provided which includes creating a current-voltage plot of a pnpn diode arranged within a first CMOS circuit which is absent of a current-limiting device arranged along a power bus of the circuit. In addition, the method includes determining a holding current level from the current-voltage plot and sizing a current-limiting device to place along a power bus of a second CMOS circuit comprising similar design specifications as the first CMOS circuit such that the current through the second CMOS circuit does not exceed the holding current level.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to integrated circuits and, more specifically, complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) memory circuits that are configured to be free or immune from latch up.
2. Description of the Related Art
The following descriptions and examples are given as background information only.
Integrated circuit semiconductor devices using CMOS technology inherently contain parasitic bipolar pnp and npn transistors in the structure of p-channel metal oxide semiconductor (PMOS) and n-channel metal oxide semiconductor (NMOS) devices. For example, in a structure of a n-well CMOS circuit, a parasitic pnp bipolar transistor may be formed when a source/drain region of a PMOS device acts as an emitter, the n-well of the PMOS device acts as a base, and a p-type doped substrate acts as the collector. In addition, a parasitic npn bipolar transistor may be formed when a source/drain region of the NMOS device acts as an emitter, a substrate tie of the NMOS device acts as a base, and the n-well of the PMOS device acts as the collector. Since the parasitic bipolar transistors are connected through the n-well of the PMOS device (serving as the collector of the npn bipolar transistor and the base of the pnp bipolar transistor) and through p-type doped substrate (serving as the collector of the pnp bipolar transistor and the base of the npn bipolar transistor), the transistors interact electrically to form a pnpn diode structure equating to a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR).
A disadvantage of forming an SCR within a CMOS circuit is that it allows a low-resistance path between power supply buses to form, which in turn allows high amounts of current to flow through the circuit. In some cases, the current through the circuit can be amplified to a level at which one or more memory cells are in a state where they cannot be switched. In particular, internal voltages across the anode and cathode of an SCR which exceed a breakover or trigger voltage can cause junctions within the bipolar transistors of the circuit to become forward-biased. As a result, the SCR enters into a low impedance state with the possibility of a resultant high current. The low impedance state can be maintained indefinitely if a minimum holding current can be supplied to the circuit. As a consequence, the memory cells of the circuit may be restricted from switching and may lose their data. The SCR, in such a state, is commonly referred to as being latched up and, thus, the phenomenon of inducing a circuit into such a state is commonly referred to as "latch up."
As device dimensions continue to decrease and device density increases, the latch up phenomenon becomes more prevalent. In particular, the closer NMOS and PMOS devices are fabricated relative to each other, the breakover voltage needed to forward-bias junctions within pnpn diode structures created therefrom as well as the minimum holding current needed to maintain a circuit in such a state decrease. As such, various techniques for controlling latch up in CMOS circuits have been proposed and are used in the microelectronics fabrication industry. For example, one method for controlling latch up in CMOS circuits involves incorporating well and/or substrate taps within a circuit to respectively reduce well and substrate resistances. In order to realize the benefit of such a technique, the taps are generally fabricated within each cell of a memory array. As a consequence, cell size is undesirably increased and the objective to increase memory cell density is hindered. In addition, the fabrication of contacts is sensitive to processing parameters of the circuit, such as mask alignment, for example.
Another technique used in the microelectronics industry for controlling latch up in CMOS circuits includes the formation of low resistance well regions having a varied doping profile within the substrate of the circuit. Such a technique is used to reduce the current-gain product of the parasitic bipolar transistors of the CMOS circuit and retard minority carrier injection into active junctions of the device. The formation of low resistance well regions, however, induces higher junction capacitance, which may undesirably increase the threshold voltage at which devices operate. Higher threshold voltages lead to decreased circuit speeds, which is contrary to the industry objective to increase processing speeds within circuits. Moreover, the formation of low resistance well regions does not completely eliminate the formation of latch up. In addition, well region fabrication is sensitive to processing parameters of the circuit, such E mask alignment and processing temperatures, for example. In particular, the placement of well regions within a circuit is directly dependent on the correct alignment of masks with the substrate. Misplacement of well regions may adversely affect the functionality of the device and, in some cases, cause the device to malfunction. In addition, the diffusion of dopants both vertically and horizontally can vary with the temperature, affecting the efficacy of low resistance wells. Furthermore, the activation of dopants to form well regions involves a thermal process, which is an additional restraint for the overall thermal budget of the device.
It would, therefore, be advantageous to develop other manners in which to prevent latch up in CMOS circuits. In particular, it would be beneficial to develop techniques for preventing latch up which do not increase memory cell size, are less sensitive to process variations and do not affect the functionality of the CMOS circuits.


Hybrid regulatory proteins are provided which contain amino acid sequences that are susceptible to cleavage by specific proteolytic enzymes. When acted upon by such enzymes, the hybrid regulatory proteins are rendered substantially less active, thereby altering the rate of production of products of indicator genes that are controlled by the regulatory proteins. Also provided are DNAs encoding such regulatory proteins, recombinant vectors and transformed eukaryotic cells containing such DNAs, and methods for identifying inhibitors of the specific proteolytic enzymes.

Specific proteolytic enzymes (proteases) play critical roles in a number of important human and animal diseases. In some cases, proteases are essential for the replication of microbial pathogens. In other cases they may have harmful effects on target tissues and organs independent of any microbial involvement.
Among the microbes that depend upon the action of specific proteases are the picornaviruses, which are currently divided into four genera: Enterovirus, Cardiovirus, Rhinovirus and Aphthovirus (foot-and-mouth disease viruses). Coxsackieviruses are picomaviruses within the Enterovirus group which cause a wide spectrum of human diseases, ranging from mild respiratory illness to more serious disseminated diseases of the nervous system and heart (Melnick, J. L., in Virology, 1985, B. N. Fields, Ed., Raven Press, New York, pp. 739-794). Although most of the detailed information on this group of viruses comes from in-depth analyses of poliovirus structure and replication, other members of the picornaviruses have the same genomic organization and appear to function similarly (Rueckert, R. R., in Virology, 1985, B. N. Fields, Ed., Raven Press, New York, pp. 705-738).
The genomes of all picornaviruses comprise a messenger-active single-stranded RNA molecule. This RNA encodes a single large polyprotein that is cleaved to produce both structural and non-structural mature viral proteins. In poliovirus, these cleavages are carried out by two virally-encoded proteases designated 2A and 3C. The 2A protease is responsible for the primary cleavage that generates the viral capsid precursor P1 Toyoda et al., Cell 45:761 (1986)!. The 3C protease, which is itself released from the polyprotein by an autocatalytic cleavage, then carries out all but one of the remaining cleavage reactions Hanecak et al., Cell 37:1063 (1984)!. This protease specifically cleaves the peptide bond between certain adjacent glutamine and glycine residues.
Another microbial pathogen dependent upon a specific protease is the human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1), the causative agent of most cases of AIDS. The HIV-1 protease, which is part of the pol gene product and is instrumental in the cleavage of large precursor proteins into structural and functional viral proteins, is specific for HIV proteins Ratner et al., Nature 313:277 (1985); Farmerie et al., Science 236:305 (1987)!.
In some cases, proteases are involved in the destructive effects of microbial pathogens in ways that do not involve replicative processes. For example, Clostridium histolylicum, a bacterium that causes gas gangrene, secretes a battery of collagenases that produce multiple cleavage of collagen. These collagenases, which specifically cleave at the amino side of glycine residues in peptide linkages, contribute to the invasiveness of the bacterium by destroying the connective-tissue barriers of the host. The bacterium itself is unaffected by its secretory products because it, unlike the multicellular eukaryotes it infects, is devoid of collagen.
Destructive effects of collagenases have also been implicated in disease states which do not involve microbial pathogens. For example, the destruction of connective tissue collagen in bone joints by collagenases in some forms of arthritis is known to occur.
Because the above-mentioned proteases and others are involved in many human and animal diseases, it would be desirable to identify potential inhibitors of the specific proteases involved. Screening assays that can be used to identify such inhibitors, however, are presently laborious to carry out and/or relatively insensitive.


A micro-actuator for a head gimbal assembly includes a fixed portion connectable to a suspension of the head gimbal assembly and a movable portion connectable to a slider of the head gimbal assembly. A pair of frame ribs interconnect the fixed portion and the movable portion. A PZT element is mounted to each of the frame ribs. Each PZT element is excitable to cause selective movement of the frame ribs which causes movement of the movable portion to cause movement of the slider. A tongue is fixed to and extends from the fixed portion. The tongue is engagable with a pivot provided on the suspension of the head gimbal assembly. The tongue forms a gap between the movable portion and itself.

One known type of information storage device is a disk drive device that uses magnetic media to store data and a movable read/write head that is positioned over the media to selectively read from or write to the disk.
Consumers are constantly desiring greater storage capacity for such disk drive devices, as well as faster and more accurate reading and writing operations. Thus, disk drive manufacturers have continued to develop higher capacity disk drives by, for example, increasing the density of the information tracks on the disks by using a narrower track width and/or a narrower track pitch. However, each increase in track density requires that the disk drive device have a corresponding increase in the positional control of the read/write head in order to enable quick and accurate reading and writing operations using the higher density disks. As track density increases, it becomes more and more difficult using known technology to quickly and accurately position the read/write head over the desired information tracks on the storage media. Thus, disk drive manufacturers are constantly seeking ways to improve the positional control of the read/write head in order to take advantage of the continual increases in track density.
One approach that has been effectively used by disk drive manufacturers to improve the positional control of read/write heads for higher density disks is to employ a secondary actuator, known as a micro-actuator, that works in conjunction with a primary actuator to enable quick and accurate positional control for the read/write head. Disk drives that incorporate a micro-actuator are known as dual-stage actuator systems.
Various dual-stage actuator systems have been developed in the past for the purpose of increasing the access speed and fine tuning the position of the read/write head over the desired tracks on high density storage media. Such dual-stage actuator systems typically include a primary voice-coil motor (VCM) actuator and a secondary micro-actuator, such as a PZT element micro-actuator. The VCM actuator is controlled by a servo control system that rotates the actuator arm that supports the read/write head to position the read/write head over the desired information track on the storage media. The PZT element micro-actuator is used in conjunction with the VCM actuator for the purpose of increasing the positioning access speed and fine tuning the exact position of the read/write head over the desired track. Thus, the VCM actuator makes larger adjustments to the position of the read/write head, while the PZT element micro-actuator makes smaller adjustments that fine tune the position of the read/write head relative to the storage media. In conjunction, the VCM actuator and the PZT element micro-actuator enable information to be efficiently and accurately written to and read from high density storage media.
One known type of micro-actuator incorporates PZT elements for causing fine positional adjustments of the read/write head. Such PZT micro-actuators include associated electronics that are operable to excite the PZT elements on the micro-actuator to selectively cause expansion or contraction thereof. The PZT micro-actuator is configured such that expansion or contraction of the PZT elements causes movement of the micro-actuator which, in turn, causes movement of the read/write head. This movement is used to make faster and finer adjustments to the position of the read/write head, as compared to a disk drive device that uses only a VCM actuator. Exemplary PZT micro-actuators are disclosed in, for example, JP 2002-133803, entitled "Very Small Positioning Actuator For Head Element, Head Gimbal Assembly Equipped With The Actuator, Disk Device Equipped With The Head Gimbal Assembly, Actuator Manufacturing Method, And Head Gimbal Assembly Manufacturing Method" and JP 2002-074871, entitled "Head Gimbals Assembly Equipped with Actuator for Fine Position, Disk Drive Equipped with Head Gimbals Assembly, and Manufacture Method for Head Gimbal Assembly."
FIGS. 1a and 1b illustrate a conventional disk drive device and show a magnetic disk 101 mounted on a spindle motor 102 for spinning the disk 101. A voice coil motor arm 104 carries a head gimbal assembly (HGA) 100 that includes a micro-actuator 105 with a slider 103 incorporating a read/write head, such as a thin-film magnetic head element for magnetic recording. A voice-coil motor (VCM) 115 is provided for controlling the motion of the motor arm 104 and, in turn, controlling the slider 103 to move from track to track across the surface of the disk 101, thereby enabling the read/write head to read data from or write data to the disk 101. In operation, a lift force is generated by the aerodynamic interaction between the slider 103, incorporating the read/write head, and the spinning magnetic disk 101. The lift force is opposed by equal and opposite spring forces applied by a suspension of the HGA 100 such that a predetermined flying height above the surface of the spinning disk 101 is maintained over a full radial stroke of the motor arm 104.
The head gimbal assembly (HGA) 100 of the conventional disk drive device of FIGS. 1a-1b incorporates a dual-stage actuator. However, because of the inherent tolerances of the VCM and the head suspension assembly, the slider 103 cannot achieve quick and fine position control which adversely impacts the ability of the read/write head to accurately read data from and write data to the disk. As a result, a PZT micro-actuator 105, as described above, is provided in order to improve the positional control of the slider and the read/write head. More particularly, the PZT micro-actuator 105 corrects the displacement of the slider 103 on a much smaller scale, as compared to the VCM, in order to compensate for the manufacturing tolerance of the VCM and/or head suspension assembly. The micro-actuator 105 enables, for example, the use of a smaller recording track pitch, and can increase the "tracks-per-inch" (TPI) value by 50% for the disk drive device, as well as provide an advantageous reduction in the head seeking and settling time. Thus, the PZT micro-actuator 105 enables the disk drive device to have a significant increase in the surface recording density of the information storage disks used therein.
U.S. Patent Application Publication Nos. US 2003/0147177 and US 2003/0147181 disclose one type of micro-actuator. This micro-actuator is U-shaped and has two side arms that hold the slider therebetween and displace the slider by movement of the side arms. In order not to interfere with movement of the slider, the micro-actuator is assembled to the suspension such that a gap is maintained between the slider and the suspension gimbal tongue. However, providing such a gap decreases shock resistance. Moreover, it is difficult to precisely maintain the gap constant. In addition, the micro-actuator configuration causes the suspension to be more complicated because the suspension has to be divided into two separated parts, i.e., one part attached with a fixed portion of the micro-actuator and another part attached with a movable portion of the micro-actuator.
Thus, there is a need for an improved micro-actuator for use in head gimbal assemblies and disk drive devices that does not suffer from the above-mentioned disadvantages, yet still enables fine tuning of the read/write head.

Head gimbal assembly with precise positioning actuator for read/write head and disk drive device with the head gimbal assembly


A mechanical inertia switch in a housing has an elastic tongue with an inertial mass as well as a contact piece. The elastic tongue has a stable neutral position and can be moved in the direction of the contact piece against a force, for example a magnetic force or a force due to preloading of the elastic tongue, which acts in addition to a spring force of the elastic tongue. The compact mechanical inertia switch has a small number of components and short switching times. The elastic tongue is prevented from oscillating. It is thus possible to use the mechanical inertia switch as a safing sensor for detecting side impact.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a mechanical inertia switch, having a housing, an inertial mass disposed at an electrically conductive elastic tongue, and a contact piece.
Such an inertia switch, which is known from German Patent DE 35 09 054 C1, has an inertial mass which is disposed at an elastic tongue, and a contact piece. The electrically conductive elastic tongue and the contact piece are guided through the housing and each have an electrical contact at their free ends. The elastic tongue, with the inertial mass, is deflected in the direction of the contact piece under the effect of an acceleration. If the acceleration is sufficient, an electrical connection is made through the two electrical contacts on the elastic tongue and on the contact piece.
With an inertia switch of that type, short switching times can only be achieved at the cost of an unreliable response. What is more, if the inertia switch is used in a vehicle, the inertia switch is exposed to vibrations which can make the elastic tongue oscillate and thus result in inadvertent closure of the inertia switch.


A time switch is disposed between a calling terminal and a called terminal to changeably form a communication loop with respect to an established call, so as to determine the origin of a call failure. For example, when only the calling party hears a voice from the called party, and the called party may not hear any voice, the time switch connects the output of the calling party to the input of the calling party itself to determine whether or not the calling party can hear their own voice. If the calling party can hear their voice, it will be determined that the call failure does not originate from the calling party. The time switch then connects the output of the called party to the input of the called party itself to determine whether or not the called party can hear their own voice. If the called party can not hear their voice, it will be determined that the call failure originated from the called party.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to data communication between terminals, and more particularly to a method for controlling a time switch placed between a calling terminal and a called terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
A data communication system generally includes a time switch placed between the calling party and the party being called. In a normal case, in order to establish a call between the calling terminal and the called terminal, the time switch connects an output of the calling party to an input of the called party, and vice versa. Conventionally, once established, the communication path will be fixedly maintained while processing the call.
However, in case of a call failure in the course of processing the call (e.g., a unidirectional communication or a generation of noises), since the conventional time switch fixedly maintains the call connection status, it is difficult to determine where the failure originated (i.e., from the calling party or from the called party).

Method of controlling time switch for diagnosing failure on call path


A method, an apparatus and a terminal device can be used for sharing Internet protocol television content. The method includes receiving a request message that is sent by a first terminal and includes a receiving terminal identifier. The request message is used for the instruction of providing a receiving terminal, which corresponds to the receiving terminal identifier, with IPTV content that is being played by a second terminal. The method further includes obtaining identification information of the IPTV content that is being played by the second terminal. The identification information includes a content identifier, a channel identifier, or a multicast address. The method further includes providing, according to the identification information, the receiving terminal with the IPTV content that is being played by the second terminal.

Internet protocol television (IPTV) is a manageable multimedia service that transmits television, video, texts, images, and data over an IP network and provides QoS (quality of service)/QoE (quality of experience), security, interactivity and reliability. An IPTV technology integrates multiple technologies such as an Internet technology, a multimedia technology, and a communication technology, uses a broadband network as infrastructure, uses a household television, a personal computer, or a mobile phone as a major display terminal, and provides, through the IP protocol, a user with various interactive multimedia services including a digital television program.
A video sharing (Video Share) service refers to a service in which a user initiates video sharing to a peer end of a call in a call process. A shared object may be video that is captured by a mobile terminal through a camera in real time, or a video clip file stored in the mobile terminal. In a call process, a user may randomly initiate or terminate the service. Later, a sharing technology is extended. Sharing content is not limited to video, but may also be discrete media, and such sharing is collectively referred to as content share.
A current video sharing solution is provided as follows. A share initiator terminal sends a request message (for example, SIP Invite), where the request message is forwarded by an application server to a share receiver terminal, and an Accept-Contact header field of the request message carries a characteristic identifier (for example, "+g.3gpp.cs-voice"), which indicates what is initiated is a video sharing service. The share receiver terminal returns a reply message (for example, SIP 183), where SDP information of the reply message carries a media type and an encoding type that are received by the share receiver terminal, and the reply message is also forwarded by an AS to the share initiator terminal. Subsequently, resources are reserved at the share initiator terminal and the share receiver terminal separately, and after the resources are successively reserved, the share initiator terminal performs real-time video sharing with the share receiver terminal through an RTP packet.
In the foregoing content sharing solution provided in the prior art, a share initiator terminal initiates a share request message to perform content sharing. However, most existing set-top box IPTV terminal function (ITF) do not support a content sharing feature, and a user cannot use these current terminals to initiate a content sharing service. If such current terminals are improved, a cost is relatively high. Therefore, an existing IPTV system cannot support a content sharing service effectively.

Method, apparatus, and terminal device for sharing internet protocol television content


A carburetor fuel adjustment assembly includes a low speed needle valve and preferably a high speed needle valve threaded into respective receptacles of a carburetor body. Each receptacle defines an elongated cavity which intersects a fuel passage and has a valve orifice or seat. Each needle valve has a shank which threadably engages the respective receptacles and a tip that extends into the axially-aligned orifice or seat. The tip is axially movable relative to the orifice by rotation of the needle valve to control the size of the opening between the valve and orifice for fuel flow. A resilient body cooperates with the valve shank in laterally biasing the tip into a steadfast position relative to the orifice or seat. The lateral bias assures constant area for fuel flow through the orifice by resisting needle movement until a sufficient torque is intentionally applied to the needle valve.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, a known prior art carburetor has a fuel adjustment assembly 16 with low and high speed adjustable needle valves 17, each threaded into a needle valve receptacle 18 in a carburetor body 19. To permit adjustment of fuel flow, each valve receptacle 18 communicates with a separate fuel passage (not shown) in the carburetor body. Each needle valve 17 generally includes a distal tip 21, an enlarged head 22 and a threaded shank 23 disposed between the tip and the enlarged head. The threaded shank 23 of the needle valve 17 engages a female threaded portion 20 of the needle valve receptacle 18. The tip 21 of the valve 17 may be positioned within an axially-aligned needle seat orifice of the fuel passage and can be axially advanced and retracted, by rotation of the needle valve 17, to adjust the fuel flow rate. Axial advancement and retraction of the distal tip 21 in the seat orifice respectively decreases and increases the amount of fuel that can flow through the orifice by decreasing and increasing the cross-sectional area through which fuel flows. The enlarged head 22 of the needle valve 17 is rotated by using a tool such as a screwdriver inserted into a diametric slot 24 in the head 22 which protrudes from the carburetor body 19. In some such assemblies, to prevent inadvertent or un-commanded rotation of the needle valve 17, an adjustment needle limiter cap 25 is placed over the screw head 22 and is engagable with an adjacent stop.
Because of machining tolerances and limitations during manufacture, fuel adjustment assemblies of this type include enough clearance between the threads of shank 23 of the needle valve 17 and the valve receptacle 18 to allow for lateral and axial movement of the tip 21 relative to the needle seat orifice when force is applied to the valve head 22. This lateral and axial movement can change the size of the orifice flow area enough to result in fuel flow rate changes of up to 20% from an optimum fuel flow rate determined by the manufacturer. Fuel flow rate changes caused by this needle "slop or wobble" result in excessively rich or lean fuel mixtures that undesirably increase exhaust emissions or affect engine performance. Therefore, it is desirable to reduce fuel flow fluctuations through the needle valve 17 and the resulting increase in exhaust emissions and/or deterioration of engine performance by limiting needle slop and wobble.
Not only is it desirable to limit or hold steady the lateral and axial position of the needle valve tip 21 with respect to the orifice and regardless of the valve's rotational position, it is also desirable to maintain the desired setting of the fuel flow in a running engine. Any inadvertent rotation of the needle valve 17, possibly caused by the vibration of a running engine or placement of a conventional limiter cap 25 over the valve's head 22 and after valve adjustments, can alter desired setting of the fuel flow. Therefore it is desirable to restrain the rotation of the needle valve 17 thereby preventing any unintended changes to the fuel flow setting. To do so, traditionally, compression springs 26 are disposed concentrically about the shank 23 and axially between the carburetor body 19 and the head 22 of the needle valve 17. The spring-induced axial force produces increased frictional forces amongst the threads between the carburetor body 19 and the needle valve 17, thus resisting needle valve rotation and alteration of the fuel flow setting. Unfortunately, springs 26 are relatively expensive to manufacture, and to produce sufficient frictional forces must be relatively long, causing the needle valves 17 to project a substantial distance outward from an otherwise compact carburetor.
One example of a stabilizing system for a fuel adjustment assembly is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,540,212, issued Apr. 1, 2003, assigned to Walbro Corporation, and incorporated herein by reference. This U.S. patent generally describes the carburetor fuel adjustment assembly 16 illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, having both the spring 26, as described above, and a retainer or clip 27 which exerts a lateral force upon the spring 26 and indirectly upon the needle valve shank 23 to produce further friction and minimize unintentional valve rotation. Unfortunately, the retainer clip 27 is external to the carburetor body 19 and thus subject to possible damage.
Another example of a stabilizing system for a fuel adjustment assembly is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,948,325, issued Sep. 7, 1999, assigned to U.S.A. Zama, Incorporated, and incorporated herein by reference. In this U.S. patent, a resilient fastening member is press fitted into a pre-drilled bore of a carburetor body. Once located in the bore, two needle valve receptacle cavities are bored transversely into the body and completely through the fastening member, thus the fastening member has a diameter which is larger than the receptacle cavity. Threads are then formed in the receptacles by rolling threads into both the carburetor body and the fastening member, for threadable receipt of the needle valves. Because the fastening member is resilient, it does not undergo plastic deformation during thread rolling and does not form actual female threads as does the metal portion of the receptacle or carburetor body. When the needle valves are installed and adjusted, the fastening member produces a frictional force upon the male threaded valve shanks which assuredly holds the valves in their adjusted position. Unfortunately, manufacture of the fastening member is expensive because after installation into the carburetor body, it must be drilled to produce two axially spaced through-holes and the threads must be formed by the thread rolling. Moreover, the process of manufacturing the carburetor is restricted because both the receptacles and the fastening member must be machined simultaneously. Yet further, the bore required to receive the fastening member is relatively long because the through-holes, and thus the receptacles, are spaced radically away from one-another and with respect to the longitude of the bore. This requires a large portion of the carburetor body to be dedicated for the bore and fastening members, and which might otherwise be utilized for other carburetor features, producing a relatively larger and less compact carburetor.


An electromechanical tool for driving fasteners into a workpiece. The tool uses a single flywheel in combination with a clutch mechanism whereby a conically shaped flywheel frictionally cooperates with a corresponding drum to cause a driver which is coupled to the drum by a cable to be pulled with considerable force through a working stroke to drive a fastener from the tool.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to an electromechanical fastener driving tool, and, in particular, to a fastener driving tool which uses a cone clutch to couple a flywheel to a fastener driving device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Prior art workers have devised many types of mechanically operated fastener driving tools utilizing driving means actuated pneumatically, electromechanically or by internal combustion. To date, pneumatically actuated fastener driving tools are the ones most frequently encountered. While pneumatically actuated tools work well and have become quite sophisticated, they nevertheless require the presence of a compressor or the like.
There are many job sites where a source of compressed air is not normally present. This is particularly true of smaller job sites and the like. On the other hand, electricity is almost always present on such sites. As a consequence, particularly in recent years, prior art workers have directed considerable attention to electromechanical tools.
Some prior art electromechanical tools depend upon a heavy duty solenoid to do the fastener driving. In general, however, such tools are not adequate where large driving forces are required or desired. As a consequence, prior art workers have also expended considerable thought and effort in the development of electromechanical fastener driving tools employing one or more flywheels. Examples of such tools are taught in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,042,036; 4,121,745; 4,204,622; and 4,298,072. Yet another example is taught in British Pat. No. 2,000,716.
It will be evident from these patents that prior art workers have devoted a great deal of time to the development of flywheel fastener driving tools. Nevertheless, such tools do present their own unique problems. For example, in tools utilizing two flywheels, it has been the practice to provide a separate electric motor for each flywheel. This adds considerably to the weight and bulk of the tool and is difficult to synchronize. Another approach is to mount one of the flywheels on the electric motor shaft and then drive the second flywheel through a series of belts or chains and pulleys. Such drives are complex, difficult to adjust, and are subject to wear.
Another problem area involved means to cause one of the flywheels to move toward and away from the other. Preferably, for example, one of the flywheels is capable of shifting toward the other and into an operative position wherein its periphery is spaced from that of the stationary flywheel by a distance less than the nominal thickness of the thick part of the driver. The same flywheel is shiftable in the opposite direction to an inoperative position wherein its periphery is spaced from that of the fixed flywheel by a distance greater than the greatest nominal thickness of the driver. Heretofore, systems to bring about this shifting of one of the flywheels with respect to the other have been cumbersome, complex and not altogether satisfactory.
Yet another area of concern has involved means for returning the driver at the end of the drive stroke to its normal, retracted position. For these purposes, prior art workers have developed complex systems of springs, pulleys and elastomeric cords. Such systems, however, have proven to be subject to wear, stretching and deterioration due to lubricants and foreign materials within the tool housing. Other systems have employed a powered return roller and an idler roller which shifted a free floating driver to its normal position after the drive stroke. These systems were also found to be less than satisfactory.
Consequently, heretofore there has not been available in the industry a reliable, lightweight and relatively simple electromechanical fastener driving tool which can efficiently drive fasteners of various sizes, particularly those sizes needed in heavy duty framing applications.
However, a novel solution to these problems has been found with the use of a frictional clutch mechanism. These mechanisms are common in other types of mechanical devices. U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,291,151; 4,030,581; 4,416,3590; 4,526,052; and 4,545,469 all teach the use of clutch mechanisms to transfer energy from one mechanism to another. This energy transfer may be accomplished using several different methods. By employing this concept within a fastener driving tool, it is possible to overcome the aforementioned problems which have prevented the prior art electromechanical fastener driving tools from being accepted commercially.


An imaging system comprises a tuner and an image sensor including a plurality of pixel sensors. Each pixel sensor includes a photodetector, a stack of two or more filter layers comprising a given transition metal dichalcogenide (TMD), and one or more transparent glass layers positioned between adjacent filter layers. The stack selectively transmits received radiation to the photodetector based on a transmissivity of the filter layers, the transmissivity being based on a tuning context of the tuner. The imaging system sets the tuning context of the tuner and, for each of the pixel sensors, measures an intensity of radiation received from the stacks by the photodetector, determines a transmissivity of the stack based on both (i) the given TMD and (ii) the tuning context, and determines an intensity of radiation received by the pixel sensor at the stack based on the measured intensity and the determined transmissivity.

Electromagnetic radiation (or just radiation) refers to waves of the electromagnetic field propagating (radiating) through space with respective wavelengths, frequencies, and energies. The range of frequencies of electromagnetic radiation is known as the electromagnetic spectrum, and includes electromagnetic waves with frequencies ranging from below one hertz to above 1025 hertz, corresponding to wavelengths from thousands of kilometers down to a fraction of the size of an atomic nucleus. This frequency range is divided into separate bands, and the electromagnetic waves within each frequency band are identified by respectively different names. Waves with long wavelengths (i.e., low frequency waves) include radio waves and microwaves, while waves with short wavelengths (i.e., high frequency waves) include X-rays and gamma rays.
An image sensor is able to detect electromagnetic radiation and convey information representing the detected radiation. For example, the image sensor may detect visible light and convey information representing an image. The image sensor may function by converting the waves of radiation into signals in the form of electrical current. Image sensors are used in electronic imaging devices such as digital cameras, camera modules, medical imaging equipment, thermal imaging devices, radar, and sonar, among numerous other examples.

Tunable imaging systems and methods thereof

TOYOTA MOTOR ENGINEERING & MANUFACTURING NORTH AMERICA, INC.


This document discusses, among other things, a radio frequency magnetic coil is coupled to a wireless communication circuit. The wireless communication circuit allows control or monitoring of individual channels or other functions of a coil.

Magnetic resonance (MR) coils are used for biomedical and other applications. The coils are used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) as well as magnetic resonance spectroscopy (MRS), electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and electron spin resonance (ESR), functional MRI (fMRI) and other magnetic resonance modalities.
Some magnetic resonance coils, such as a multi-channel parallel imaging coil, have 96 or more discrete channels some of which include multiple RF signal lines, power supply lines, control lines, physiological monitoring lines, communication lines, physiological stimuli lines and other electrically conductive or optically conductive lines and cables.
Each channel of a multi-channel radio frequency (RF) coils used for MR applications is electrically connected to a driver circuit, receiver circuit, or both a driver and receiver circuit. In addition, multiple cables, power lines and control lines combine to make an unwieldy bundle of cables that can impair the medical procedure. In particular, with a large number of cables, the ease of use, flexibility, versatility, quality of performance and ergonomics of the coil are reduced. Signal losses are also a problem with the long cables required.

Bandage or garment combined with a wirelessly coupled magnetic resonance coil


A windshield wiper includes a scrubbing assembly attached to a wiper assembly. The wiper assembly includes a wiper blade attached to a wiper housing. The scrubbing assembly includes a scrubbing element having a central longitudinal axis and one or more turbines attached to the scrubbing element, the turbine(s) being configured to fluidly couple with a washer fluid line of a vehicle and to rotate the scrubbing element about the central longitudinal axis when wiper fluid flows through the turbine(s). The wiper fluid may be deposited on the scrubbing element after flowing through the turbine(s) and the scrubbing assembly can also include a shield. The scrubbing assembly can be rigidly secured to the wiper assembly or can be detachable therefrom.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wipers having a wiper blade and an additional rotating scrubber element attached thereto. The invention also relates to scrubber elements selectively rotatable by hydraulic means such as turbines that can be attached to conventional wipers.
2. The Relevant Technology
Almost all motor vehicles sold today come with a standard set of windshield wipers. These wipers typically include a wiper blade made of rubber or the like, which is attached to a wiper housing so as to contact the windshield surface. The wiper housing is attached to a wiper arm extending from the motor vehicle. During use, the wiper arm causes the wiper housing to move back and forth across the windshield. This causes the wiper blade to push the rain, snow, or other debris away from the forward field of view of the driver. This, of course, is necessary so the driver can see the road ahead while driving during inclement weather. When the windshield becomes dirty while there is no precipitation, the driver can activate a washer pump that causes washer fluid to flow through a fluid line and spray onto the windshield to help the wipers remove the debris.
If the view through the windshield becomes blocked or even obscured for whatever reason, it can impact the driver's view and create a dangerous situation. This can occur, for example, when the wiper stops working or when the wiper blades become worn. It can also occur when something hits the windshield that the wiper is not able to remove, even when using washer fluid. The latter can occur, for example, when a car passes through a swarm of insects that splatter all over the windshield.
To aid in these situations, various after-market wipers have been designed that can replace stock wipers that come with the vehicle. These replacement wipers include scrubbing pads designed to scrub the windshield as the wiper passes back and forth over the windshield. The scrubbing pads help remove the foreign matter from the windshield, but they have significant disadvantages. For example, the scrubbing pads tend to wear out quickly and need to be replaced often. This can be very expensive. Furthermore, dry scrubbing pads can actually further obscure the view through the windshield by smearing the foreign matter further on the windshield. While the windshield washer fluid can be energized to wet the window, this only partially helps.
To help in the scrubbing action, various wipers have been designed to include a motor that can rotate or otherwise move the scrubber. While this can improve the scrubbing action, the scrubber can still wear out quickly. Furthermore, the motor must have electrical wires run to it. As a result, when replacing the original wipers a technician or other qualified person must modify the automobile to position and run the wires to the new wiper, which can be expensive and time consuming. The cost of the motor can also cause the wipers to be relatively expensive.
Accordingly, what is needed are wipers that can provide more scrubbing action for hard to remove debris and that can easily replace standard wipers but that will not wear out quickly and do not require much installation expertise.


An ostomy appliance with a front wall and a rear wall of flexible material forming a bag, the rear wall having an opening into the bag by which waste material can enter the bag. The bag has two or more vents through which gas may escape from the bag and a filter device covering each vent. Each filter device has gas inlet and outlet openings in communication with a respective filter body so that in use gas flows through the filter device from the inlet opening through the filter body to the outlet opening. The inlet openings communicate with the inner space of the bag and are located near the border of the bag, being spaced at an angle of at least 45 degrees along radii of a circle of reference having a perimeter concentric with the waste opening of the bag.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an ostomy appliance comprising a deodorising filter, in particular ostomy bags.
In connection with surgery for a number of diseases in the gastro-intestinal tract a consequence is, in many cases, that after a colostomy, an ileostomy or an urostomy, the patient is left with a stoma in the abdominal wall for the discharge of the effluents or waste products of the body, which are conveyed through the colon, the ileum or the ureter. The discharge of visceral contents including intestinal gases cannot be regulated at will, and for that purpose the opening may be closed with a closure means, e.g. a tampon or a magnetic closure, or the patient will have to rely on an appliance to collect the material emerging from such opening in the form of a receiving bag which is later emptied and/or discarded at suitable times.
Ostomy appliances are well known. Such appliances may be two-piece or one-piece appliances. In both types of appliances, an adhesive wafer is attached to the wearer's skin. In case of a one-piece appliance, a receiving member or bag is attached to the adhesive wafer. In case of a two-piece appliance, the adhesive wafer forms part of a body side member and a receiving bag is attached releasably to the body side ostomy member for receiving exudates from the stoma.
When using one-piece appliances, the whole appliance, including the adhesive skin barrier securing the appliance to the skin is normally removed and replaced by a fresh appliance. When using two-piece appliances, the body side member is left in place up to several days, and only the receiving bag attached to the body side member is replaced.
The discharge of flatus, measured in volume, may exceed the discharge of solid and liquid faecal matter by many hundred percent and therefore there is usually the need for the continuous or frequent venting of the intestine or the collecting bag. Normally the outflowing flatus is deodorised with a suitable filter. Commonly the active filter is powdered active carbon, which absorbs H2S being the principal component of the smell of flatus.
In connection with the use of filters there is a need of measures for effectively preventing blocking of the inlet opening of filters of ostomy appliances. When the inlet opening of the filter is blocked, the gas discharged into the ostomy appliance cause ballooning of the bag which is highly undesirable for several reasons. Ballooning will be embarrassing for the user as the bag will bulge and there is an increased risk of leakage which is unacceptable for the user.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various constructions of filters for ostomy appliances are known. In the state of the art, the filters are designed so as to obtain a high security of deodorisation of the flatus by securing that there is no by-pass by which the flatus may circumvent the filter, and some measures have been discussed with respect to obtaining a better security against blocking of the inlet of the filter by solid discharged visceral content.
Thus, European Patent No. 0 235 928 discloses that a filter may be rendered suitable for use with ileostomy equipment when the filter wall adapted to face the source of intestinal gas is covered by a layer of sheet material, preferably plastic sheet material connected to the filter walls and, inside the periphery of this connection, provided with openings such as slits for the passage of intestinal gas. However, such slits may open if the pressure is high giving free flow of gas and liquid through the layer of sheet material. As an additional or alternative measure, it is proposed to provide the filter housing on the surface adapted to face the source of intestinal gas with a layer of liquid-absorbing material.
EP patent No. 0 443 728 B1 discloses a bag for receiving discharge from the human body comprising a filter and an intervening membrane covering the inlet opening of the filter, said intervening membrane being gas permeable but not liquid permeable. It is mentioned that the membrane may comprise a polyester film bonded to a PTFE film and that such membrane showed no leakage of water. There is no indication of security against leaking when exposed for discharge from an ileostomy or liquids from a colostomy.
Published International Patent Application WO 98/44880 discloses a filter for covering a vent of an ostomy appliance, said filter comprising an elongated, substantially flat filter body of a porous filter material interposed between gas and liquid impervious walls which are sealed to the body along its longitudinal side edges; gas inlet and outlet openings being provided in communication with the filter material adjacent to its respective longitudinal end regions, wherein both of the gas and liquid impervious walls are sealed to the upper and lower surfaces of the filter body, wherein the inlet opening is covered by a hydrophobic sheet, wherein the inlet opening is covered with a microporous oleophobic membrane and wherein a foam material is covering the inlet opening of the vent. Such arrangement shows improved resistance against wetting and blocking of the filter caused by humidity or other liquid constituents of the visceral contents of an ostomy collection bag and, at the same time, shows improved resistance against clogging of the filter.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,750 discloses a medical device comprising a collection receptacle in the form of a thin walled pouch, a member affixed to the pouch wall comprising a plurality of isolated gas passages, each constituting a vent, separate deodorising filter means in each one of said passages and means for obstructing the flow through all but a selected one of said passages. The passages and the filter means are located on a member which is preferably aligned with the stoma receiving opening. With this location, however, due to the close localisation of the filters, the risk of blocking of all filters is roughly of the same magnitude as in case of one filter. The risk of blocking the filter disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,750 is relatively high due to the localisation of the filters aligned with the stoma receiving opening.
EP patent application No. 1 051 955 A2 discloses a bag for receiving discharge from the human body, said bag having a distal and a proximal wall one of which has a gas venting aperture and a filter for deodorising gas vented through the venting aperture wherein a filter package may be located at one or both sides of the bag wall. EP patent application No. 1 051 955 A2 does not disclose more filters having separate inlet openings communicating with the inner space of the bag.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,749 discloses a filter housing for mounting on an ostomy pouch, said housing having a base member having a central gas inlet passageway and three exit passageways radially offset from the inlet passageway and said housing further having a cover member having a recess with three connecting passageways which extend in a radial direction a distance from the central axis of the cover member greater than the distance between exit passageways and the axis of the base member, said base member being able to move between a first position in which said connecting channel aligns with said exit passageway and a second position at which said connecting channel is remote from said exit passageway. Thus, U.S. Pat. No. 4,938,749 does not disclose more filters having separate inlet openings communicating with the inner space of the bag.
However, it has been found that even when using such filters there is a risk, especially at night when ostomates turn in bed, of directly pressing faeces in the receiving bag against the inlet opening(s) of the filter and that the pressure may be sufficiently high to pass the viscerous material through a foam material covering the inlet opening of the vent and to cause a blocking of a microporous oleophobic covering the inlet opening of the vent.
Thus, there is still a need of measures for effectively preventing blocking of the inlet opening of filters of ostomy appliances.
It has now been found that it is possible to reduce the risk of blocking of the inlet opening of filters of ostomy appliances in a manner that almost eliminates the risk and, at the same time, is simple to carry out in industrial practice.
Thus, it has been found that the above drawbacks can be avoided by improving the geometry of the passage to the inlet opening of the filter.

Ostomy appliance with multiple openings for preventing filter input blockage


In a variable capacitor having a stator with a stator electrode and a rotor with a rotor electrode both of which are housed in a recess section of a casing while allowing the recess section to be closed by a cover, enabling the rotor to be brought into stable close contact with the stator. To this end, a cover (46) made of a chosen metal includes a cover main body (55) which covers the upper opening of a recess section (45) except for an adjustment hole (54) that exposes a driver groove (30) of the rotor (43), leg sections (56, 57) which engage a casing (44) letting the cover main body (55) be secured to the casing (44), and a rotor terminal. The cover main body (55) has a size corresponding to the outer diameter of the variable capacitor (41). This cover main body (55) may have a vent shape so as to create intended elastic force which may act to compress the rotor (43) against the stator (42). More preferably, a spring washer (60) is provided which integrally extends from the cover main body (55) and is folded so that it is placed between the cover main body (55) and the rotor (43).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to variable capacitors and, more particularly, to variable capacitors with electrostatic capacitances made variable by changing the effective opposing or overlapping area of a stator electrode and a rotor electrode due to rotation of the rotor electrode relative to the stator electrode.
2. Description of the Related Art
A prior known variable capacitor 1 is shown in FIGS. 17 and 18. FIG. 17 shows a plan view whereas FIG. 18 is a cross-sectional view along line XVIII--XVIII of FIG. 17.
The variable capacitor 1 includes a stator 3 made of resin with a stator terminal 2 being insert-molded therein. The stator terminal 2 is integrally formed with a stator electrode 4 which is exposed to the upper surface of the stator 3. A rotor 5 made of a dielectric material is disposed on the upper surface of the stator 3 while a rotor electrode 6 is formed on the upper surface of rotor 5 in a way such that it opposes stator electrode 4 with rotor 5 being positioned therebetween.
A shaft 7 made of metal is rotatably mounted by penetrating the stator 3, with the above-mentioned rotor 5 being coupled to the shaft 7 in such a way that the rotor 5 is integrally rotatable with this shaft 7. The shaft 7 forms a head 8 on its upper end section. The head 8 includes a driver groove 9 formed in the upper surface of this head 8. In addition, the shaft 7 is electrically connected to the rotor electrode 6 via a projection 10.
A disk-like spring 11 is engaged with the shaft 7 on the lower surface side of the stator 3. The lower end section of the shaft 7 is locked or caulked whereby disk spring 11 is in the state that it creates an elastic force which acts to compress rotor 5 toward stator 3 through shaft 7. The disk spring 11 also permits integral formation of a rotor terminal 12.
In the variable capacitor 1 thus arranged, the electrostatic capacitance as formed vis-a-vis the facing arrangement of the stator electrode 4 and rotor electrode 6, the leads to which are taken out between the stator terminal 22 and rotor terminal 12. Also, the electrostatic capacitance is variable by rotating the rotor 5 via the shaft 7 so as to change the effective opposing or overlapping area of the stator electrode 4 and the rotor electrode 6.
On the other hand, FIGS. 19 and 20 show another variable capacitor 21 in accordance with the second prior art. FIG. 19 depicts a plan view whereas FIG. 20 is a cross-sectional view along line XX--XX of FIG. 19.
The variable capacitor 21 includes a casing 23 made of resin with a stator terminal 22 being insertion-molded therein. The casing 23 is provided with a recess section 24 in which a stator 25 made of a dielectric material is statically disposed with a rotor 26 made of metal being rotatably housed thereon.
A stator electrode 27 is formed on the lower surface of the stator 25. The aforesaid stator terminal 22 causes a contact section 28 to be integrally formed for being elastically contacted with the stator electrode 27. On the other hand, a rotor electrode 29 is formed on the lower surface of the rotor 26 such that it opposes the stator electrode 27 with the stator 25 therebetween. A driver groove 30 is formed in the upper surface of the rotor 26.
The upper opening of the recess section 24 is covered by a cover 32 made of metal, except for an adjustment hole 31 which exposes the driver groove 30 to the outside. The cover 32 integrally forms a spring contact piece 33 which elastically biases the upper surface of the rotor 26 away from a rotor terminal 34. After inserting the stator 25, the rotor 26 and the cover 32 into the recess section 24, the upper end edge 35 of the casing 23 is heated and deformed to change from the state designated by imaginary or phantom line to the state as indicated by the solid line in FIG. 20, whereby the cover 32 is secured to the casing 23 while at the same time allowing the spring contact piece 33 to produce elastic force which acts to compress the rotor 26 against the stator 25.
In the variable capacitor 21 structured as described above, the electrostatic capacitance as formed vis-a-vis the facing arrangement of the stator electrode 27 and the rotor electrode 29, and is measurable between the stator terminal 22 and the rotor terminal 34. The electrostatic capacitance is variable by changing the effective opposing areas of the stator electrode 27 and the rotor electrode 29 due to rotation of the rotor 26.
However, the first and second prior art devices stated above encounter problems, such as follow.
First, in the variable capacitor 1 in accordance with the first prior art embodiment shown in FIGS. 17 and 18, the disk spring 11 is used to cause the stator 3 and the rotor 5 to be in close contact with each other. However, minute size variations can occur at respective portions due to heating during a solder reflow process, which is applied when this variable capacitor 1 is assembled on a printed circuit board. These size variations might lead to a decrease in spring pressure as applied by the disk spring 11, which would result in the risk of loosening the aforesaid close contact state, which in turn serves to decrease the torque for use in rotating the shaft 7 and/or let the electrostatic capacitance be rendered unstable due to drift in the setting.
In addition, while a hand tool such as a screwdriver is inserted into the driver groove 9 when an attempt is made to adjust the electrostatic capacitance, since the head 8 of shaft 7 in which such driver groove 9 is formed is placed so as to project from the remaining portion of this variable capacitor 1, it is rather difficult to reliably insert the screwdriver or the like into driver groove 9. It also remains difficult to eliminate the risk that the screwdriver or the like from spinning off from driver groove 9 after insertion thereof. For these reasons the workability of capacitance adjustment remains relatively low.
Further, during soldering using reflow techniques or soldering irons, flux can move or drift along the shaft 7 or splash and scatter therearound, thereby invading the sliding faces of the stator 3 and the rotor 5. As a result, the electrostatic capacitance stability and Q characteristics can decrease.
Furthermore, since the stator electrode 4 is embedded in the stator 3 made of a resin material that is easily deformable, both thermally and mechanically, a contact with the rotor 5 can become unstable, resulting in the electrostatic capacitance being unstable accordingly.
Next, in the variable capacitor 21 in accordance with the second prior art device shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, after the stator 25, the rotor 26 and the cover 32 are inserted into the recess section 24, the cover 32 is then secured to the casing 23 by causing the upper end edge 35 of the casing 23 to deform while heat is applied thereto.
However, apparatus for heating the casing 23 for such deformation is generally large-scaled in structure resulting in an increase in cost of the variable capacitor 21. In addition, while cooling must be carried out while retaining deformation of the upper end edge 35 of the casing 23, a relatively long time duration might be required for accomplishment of this cooling process.


A user-propelled vehicle has a wheelchair embodiment and a three-wheeled skateboard embodiment. In the wheelchair embodiment, a foldable frame has a seat for supporting the user and a propulsor movably attached to the frame for allowing the user to pump the propulsor. The propulsor is engaged with both rear wheels of the wheelchair through independent ratchet-clutch mechanisms for permitting torque to be transferred to one or both wheels when the propulsor is pumped to propel and steer the wheelchair. In the three-wheeled skateboard embodiment, a frame has two wheels mounted in tandem near the front of the frame and a third wheel mounted on the centerline of the frame behind the front wheels. Two pedals are hingedly mounted side-by-side on the frame and are ratchetably engaged with the rear wheel. Each pedal is movable between a thrust position, wherein the front portion of the pedal is raised from the frame, and a rest position, wherein the pedal is flush with the frame. Each pedal is spring-returned to its thrust position. The user can alternately or simultaneously depress the pedals to impart torque to the rear wheel and thereby propel the skateboard.

Several user-propelled vehicles have been introduced which allow the rider of the particular vehicle to propel the vehicle using the rider's limbs. These devices are preferred in certain applications over electrically-powered wheelchairs because user-propelled wheelchairs can, among other things, exercise the user's muscles while providing a means for the user to move about.
In one application for such vehicles, several wheelchairs have been introduced that include provisions for permitting the user of the wheelchair to propel the wheelchair. An example of one user-propelled wheelchair is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,506,900 to Korosue. The Korosue patent discloses a wheelchair having a lever that can be urged against by the user to impart torque, through a linkage system, to the wheels of the chair. Another user-propelled wheelchair is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,865,344 to Romero, Sr. et al. As disclosed in the Romero, Sr. et al. patent, the wheelchair can be propelled by the user by urging against a portion of a push rod that is mounted on the frame of the Romero, Sr. et al. device. By urging on the push rod, the user generates a torque which can be imparted to the wheels of the device through a linkage system.
Unfortunately, the devices mentioned above can be difficult for some users to operate. More particularly, it may be difficult for a user whose fingers are debilitated to operate the propulsion levers of the devices mentioned above. Furthermore, users with limited use of their hands or fingers can find it difficult to steer such devices. Additionally, the devices mentioned above do not provide for augmenting the propulsive force imparted by appropriate movement of the user's upper body with propulsive force that can be supplied by the user's legs and feet. Thus, the devices mentioned above do not efficiently use all of the user's muscle power. Looked at in a different light, the devices above stimulate or exercise only a few body muscles of a user. This is unfortunate, because certain wheelchair users can benefit from the exercise and stimulation of partially debilitated leg muscles.
Furthermore, the devices mentioned above do not provide for easily adjusting the configuration of the devices to suit the physique of the user. Also, the devices mentioned above cannot be folded for easy storage of the wheelchair. The present invention recognizes that a user-propelled foldable wheelchair can be provided which can be easily steered by a person with a limited range of arm or finger motion, for example, a person with only one hand and no fingers, and which can exercise the person's leg or legs.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a user-propelled wheelchair which can be easily steered by a person with a limited range of arm or finger motion. It is another object of the present invention to provide a user-propelled wheelchair which can exercise the user's legs. A further object of the present invention is to provide a user-propelled wheelchair which is foldable and which is configurable to suit the physique of the particular user. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a user-propelled wheelchair which is easy to use and cost-effective to manufacture.
In another application of user-propelled vehicles, several skateboards have been introduced which can be propelled by the user of the skateboard without requiring the user's foot to touch the ground. One example of such a device is the skateboard disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,399,906 to Portnoff. The Portnoff patent discusses an occupant-propelled skateboard in which the motive force is supplied by the occupant through a pedal that is connected to a toothed arm. In accordance with the Portnoff invention, the toothed arm is ratchetably engaged with a gear, and the gear is attached to a rear axle of the skateboard. When the pedal is depressed by the occupant, the resulting torque is transferred through the arm and gear to the rear axle to propel the skateboard.
While skateboards such as the Portnoff invention do not require the user to touch the ground in order to propel the skateboard, it is unfortunately the case that such skateboards characteristically introduce mechanical complications relating to the steering of the skateboard. More particularly, most skateboards are steered by the operator of the skateboard by the operator appropriately shifting his weight on the board. When the operator shifts his weight to change the direction of the skateboard, the surface of the skateboard on which the operator stands tilts toward the intended new direction of motion.
It will be appreciated that while the skateboard's surface tilts, the wheels of the skateboard are intended to remain rollably engaged with the ground. Thus, relative tilting motion between the surface of the skateboard and the skateboard's wheels occurs whenever the direction of the skateboard is changed. Unfortunately, this tilting motion of the skateboard's surface relative to the wheels of the board can interfere with the smooth rotation of, for example, a drive gear such as the Portnoff drive gear, and thereby impede the operation of the skateboard.
Furthermore, the Portnoff skateboard cannot be slowed without abruptly stopping the skateboard. Specifically, the Portnoff skateboard, and most conventional skateboards, do not provide a direct means for retarding rotation of the wheels of the board. Instead, to stop the board, the user ordinarily must stop the board by jumping off or by causing a portion of the skateboard's surface to contact the ground.
The present invention recognizes that a user-propelled skateboard can be provided which permits tilting motion of the skateboard's surface relative to the wheels of the skateboard without unduly interfering with the propulsion components of the board. Also, the present invention recognizes that a skateboard can be provided in which the rotation of the wheels of the skateboard can be slowed by the user.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a user-propelled skateboard which permits tilting motion of the skateboard's surface relative to the wheels of the skateboard without unduly interfering with the propulsion components of the board. It is another object of the present invention to provide a user-propelled skateboard in which the rotation of the wheels of the skateboard can be slowed by the user without the user having to contact the ground or other object not part of the skateboard. Another object of this invention is to provide a user-propelled skateboard that can with practicality pull a hauling cart behind it. Yet another object of this invention is to provide a user-propelled skateboard in which the front can be elevated in such a way that the skateboard, balanced on one wheel somewhat like a unicycle, can be propelled by the hands and/or one foot, and in which a new variety of single wheel type steering can then be used. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a user-propelled skateboard which is easy and fun to use and cost-effective to manufacture.


A temperature management method suitable for a memory storage device having a rewritable non-volatile memory module and a memory controller used for controlling the rewritable non-volatile memory module are provided. The temperature management method includes detecting and determining whether the hot-spot temperature of the memory storage device is higher than a predetermined temperature; and when affirmative, making the memory controller execute a cooling process, so as to reduce the hot-spot temperature of the memory storage device. Accordingly, the problem of heat buildup of the (rewritable non-volatile) memory storage device can be mitigated, as well as the problems of data loss and device aging of the (rewritable non-volatile) memory storage device.

1. Technology Field
The invention relates to a hot-spot temperature management method for a memory storage device, and a memory controller and a memory storage device using the same.
2. Description of Related Art
Along with the rapid growth of digital cameras, cell phones, and MP3 devices in recent years, the consumers' demand for storage media has increased drastically. Rewritable non-volatile memory is one of the most adaptable memories for portable electronic products such as cell phones, personal digital assistant (PDA) devices, and notebook computers due to its characteristics such as data non-volatility, low power consumption, small volume, non-mechanical structure, and high access speed.
Moreover, rewritable non-volatile memory has been broadly used for storing important personal data thanks to its small volume and large storage capacity. Therefore, the rewritable non-volatile memory industry has become a very important part of the electronic industry in recent years. However, as the volume of the rewritable non-volatile memory device becomes smaller and smaller, the heat buildup problem of the rewritable non-volatile memory becomes increasingly significant. If no proper heat dissipation measures are adopted to control the overall temperature of the rewritable non-volatile memory device, the rewritable non-volatile memory device becomes prone to data loss due to the heat buildup, and the memory device ages at a fast pace.
Nothing herein should be construed as an admission of knowledge in the prior art of any portion of the present invention. Furthermore, citation or identification of any document in this application is not an admission that such document is available as prior art to the present invention, or that any reference forms a part of the common general knowledge in the art.

Memory storage device, memory controller, and temperature management method


There is disclosed herein an electronic control module assembly 30 for use in an internal combustion engine, wherein the engine includes an intake manifold 10 with N air inlet port(s) 14 and a throttle body 20 with N air outlet port(s) 24 where N=(1 or 2). One embodiment of the assembly 30 comprises: (a) a housing 32 having opposed upper and lower mounting surfaces 34/36 and an outer surface 38 about the housing, and N bore(s) 42 through the housing, wherein each bore has an upstream port 44 defined in the upper mounting surface 34 and a downstream port 54 defined in the lower mounting surface 36; (b) an electronic control module 60 for controlling one or more sub-systems of the engine; and (c) means 70 for attaching the electronic control module 60 to the outer surface 38 of the housing 32.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an internal combustion engine having a throttle body and an electronic control module, and more particularly to an assembly for using air flow through a throttle body to cool an engine electronic control module.
2. Disclosure Information
FIG. 1 illustrates a typical internal combustion engine having a throttle body 20 mounted atop an intake manifold 10. The throttle body 20 may have one or two bores 22 formed therein, each of which extends completely through the throttle body and terminates in an outlet port 24 defined in a bottom surface 26 of the throttle body. The intake manifold 10 has the same number N of bores therethrough as the throttle body (i.e., N=1 or 2), wherein each manifold bore 12 extends completely through the manifold and originates from an inlet port 14 defined in a top surface 16 of the manifold. The top and bottom surfaces 16/26 and the inlet and outlet ports 14/24 are configured such that the throttle body may be sealably and removably fastened atop the manifold such that the respective inlet and outlet ports 14/24 are placed in sealed communication with each other, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Optional sealing means (not shown), such as one or more gaskets, may be sandwiched between the manifold and throttle body. When sealably fastened together as illustrated in FIG. 2, air may be inducted from the atmosphere through the throttle body bore(s), then into the manifold bore(s), and thence into the engine.
FIGS. 1-2 illustrate an engine having N=2 bores through each of the manifold and throttle body. FIG. 3 shows an alternative configuration having only N=1 bore through the manifold and throttle body. In the former case (FIGS. 1-2), the larger of the two bores 12/22 is the main bore 12m/22m and the smaller is the idle speed bypass bore 12b/22b; in the latter case (FIG. 3), a single through-bore 12/22 is provided, with a non-through-bore idle speed bypass channel 28 being defined within the throttle body only. (It should be noted that as used herein, the word "bore" means any cavity or channel within or through the intake manifold or throttle body, and is not limited to the conventional meaning of the word which otherwise refers typically to only straight, circular-cylindrical through-holes.)
Most modern internal combustion engines, such as those found in current-model automobiles, also include one or more electronic control modules (not shown) which process data from various sensors and provide control signals to various engine sub-system and components in order to maintain optimum engine performance. For example, the Powertrain Control Module (a/k/a Electronic Engine Control Module) may receive data from the throttle position sensor, mass air flow sensor, etc. and send control signals to the throttle plate actuator, idle speed bypass solenoid valve, etc., in order to maintain the engine speed at predetermined levels. In automobiles, these control modules are typically mounted on the firewall or at other sites remote from the sensors, control elements, and engine components they are associated therewith. However, the engine environment where such modules are located is typically very hot, which is problematic for the electronic components within the aforementioned modules.
It would be desirable, therefore, to find an approach which enhances the cooling of such modules, and which may also provide increased functionality thereby.

Electronic control module assembly using throttle body air for cooling and method thereof


A mechanism for minimizing interrupt context execution in a computer system by providing means for a driver to select the context for its execution. The operating system determines the system processing load and stores this information for use by the driver software. Based on the system processing load information, each driver then selects an execution context which meets its particular service requirements. When the system processing load is low and a lower-priority context will provide adequate service to the application, the lower-priority context is selected in order to reduce the amount of interrupt context execution. When the system processing load is high and a lower-priority context may not provide adequate service to the application, a higher-priority context is selected in order to ensure that execution of the application is within the driver""s latency requirements.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to device drivers and more particularly to means for allowing a device driver to determine the system processing load of a computer on which it is executing and to select an execution context which meets latency constraints and at the same time reduces use of the interrupt context for execution.
2. Description of the Relevant Art
As a result of the increased performance of microprocessors and memory systems, there are an increasing number of opportunities to develop software applications. The software applications that have been developed to take advantage of these opportunities have included not only what might be considered more traditional software applications, but also applications which emulate or take over functions traditionally implemented in hardware. These applications utilize the microprocessor of a host computer system to perform the algorithm associated with the hardware. By taking advantage of the extra processing power available in current computer systems, software implementations can reduce the cost of the modem components in these systems.
A modem is one example of computer system component which can be implemented in software. Software modems may provide various advantages over hardware modems. Software designs may be more easily changed than hardware designs. Likewise, it may be easier to update the software designs and to provide the updates to users. Applications such as software modems, however, may present complications which do not arise from typical software applications. For instance, modem applications must operate in real-time and must operate under particular latency constraints with respect to the analog converter which is used to interface with the telephone line. Further, modem applications generally require a large portion of the processing time available in the system. The same is true for many other types of software solutions to traditional hardware problems (xe2x80x9csoft solutionsxe2x80x9d), including multimedia, telephony and data communication applications which need real-time servicing by the operating system.
As additional applications are executed, dynamic loading of the system increases. This loading may include increased use of device drivers (e.g., disk drivers.) The additional applications thus compete with the soft solutions for use of these drivers and the resources with which they are associated. At the start of execution, applications may require disk accesses to load the executable code. During subsequent execution, data may be needed by the application, resulting in further disk accesses. System loading may increase as a result of computation-intensive applications because of their high processor and data storage utilization.
Likewise, if a user adds new devices to a computing system, new driver software is also added. The additional utilization of existing and added drivers reduces the amount of processing time which is available to individual applications and drivers. In a heavily loaded system, the system""s ability to provide real-time service to each of the drivers and applications may be impaired. Therefore, applications which require a great deal of processing time, such as those which implement traditional hardware functions, may seriously degrade system performance.
Producers of the individual drivers and the soft solution applications must nevertheless rely on the operating system to provide service to this software in real time. The operating system must therefore perform with a high degree of determinism. That is, the operating system must be very predictable in terms of providing adequate processing time to support real-time performance in the many applications which may be sharing the host processor""s available processing bandwidth. This requires a mechanism by which the applications can be processed in the background while still providing sufficient service to the applications to allow real-time performance.
An operating system typically uses a process level context (also referred to as passive context or background context) and an interrupt context. The interrupt context may include several levels of priority, so that interrupts having the highest level of priority are executed first, then interrupts of the next lower level, and so on. Routines using the interrupt context are executed before routines in the process level context. Real-time routines which use these operating systems execute in the interrupt context in order to ensure that they are serviced by the operating system in a timely manner. The routines must execute in the interrupt context even if they could be adequately serviced at the process level. Because of the potentially great number of routines which may be competing for service at a given time, it would be desirable to provide a means to reduce the number of interrupt routines demanding processing time. Also, because a real-time routine executing at a particular interrupt level may be preempted by an interrupt routine executing at a higher priority level, the first routine still may not receive real-time service.
One example of a mechanism which has been employed to reduce the number of interrupt-level routines is the use of an additional context level. One operating system includes a deferred procedure call (DPC.) This is also referred to as a deferred processing context or DPC context. The DPC context has a higher level of priority than the process context, but a lower priority than the interrupt context. Execution contexts between process-level and interrupt contexts will be referred to herein as DPC contexts.
The DPC context is intended to provide a means for time-critical scheduling to take precedence over process-level tasks, yet still reduce interrupt context processing. The DPC context, however, cannot guarantee timely execution of routines. For example, the DPC mechanism of Windows NT (a trademark of Microsoft Corp.) executes routines in first-in-first-out (FIFO) order. A poorly written routine can spend an excessive amount of time executing in the DPC context, causing other DPC-scheduled routines to be delayed. As a result, the real-time performance of an application associated with one of the delayed routines can be destroyed. Therefore, because the DPC mechanism may be unreliable, it may still be necessary to execute the routine in the interrupt context.
The present invention provides a means by which drivers can select the context in which they execute. The drivers can dynamically select the context based on the current system processing load. A higher-priority context can be selected to overcome background scheduling latencies when the driver requires immediate servicing. A lower-priority context can be selected when the driver does not require immediate servicing, thereby freeing processing time for other drivers or applications which otherwise would defer to the driver.
Information relating to the system processing load is read from the computing system. This information may be latency data for routines executing in a non-interrupt context or it may be other system loading data. It is determined from this information whether or not a driver executing in a non-interrupt context will be serviced in a timely manner. If the non-interrupt context will provide timely service, the driver is scheduled to execute in this context. The non-interrupt context may be one of several such contexts. If the non-interrupt context will not provide timely service, the driver is executed in interrupt context.

Means used to allow driver software to select most appropriate execution context dynamically