A communication system having a plurality of communication stations and a modulation transmission line for transmitting a burst modulation signal between the plurality of communication stations in time division multiple access, at least one of the plurality of communication stations comprising, sampling timing generating device for generating a sampling timing whose bits have been synchronized with the burst modulation signal before receiving the burst modulation signal transmitted from another communication station, quasi-synchronous detecting device for quasi-synchronously detecting the burst modulation signal and for successively outputting a first vector signal on a phase plane, sampling device for successively sampling the first vector signal obtained by the quasi-synchronous detecting device in a sampling timing generated by the sampling timing generating device, phase rotation amount estimating device for estimating a phase rotation amount of the first vector signal in accordance with a correlation among a particular number of the first vector signals sampled by the sampling device, and phase compensating device for compensating the phase of the first vector signal in accordance with the phase rotation amount estimated by the phase rotation amount estimating device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a communication system, in particular, relates to a communication system using quasi-synchronous detection for use in a high speed burst communication over a modulation transmission line.
2. Description of the Related Art
Since time division multiplex access (TDMA) using a modulation transmission line can more flexibly change information transmission speeds of child stations with a single modem than frequency-division multiple access (FDMA), the TDMA has been widely studied, developed, and utilized for fixed and mobile radio communications, and communications over tree shaped networks using coaxial cables.
With respect to the modulation and demodulation, one of technical problems to be solved to enhance the efficiency of the TDMA is how to remove the acquisition of carrier synchronism. In other words, by removing a carrier synchronous field of each burst signal transmitted from each station, the efficiency of using frames can be enhanced.
A technique for solving such a problem which has been used is asynchronous detection typified by delay detection. However, in the delay detection, a delay amount with a satisfactorily high accuracy should be provided for 1/fc sec where fc is the frequency of an IF carrier. Moreover, the delay detection is inferior to the synchronous detection with respect to the C/N to bit error rate (BER) property. It is known that when for example a four-phased phase modulation signal is detected, the delay detection is inferior to the synchronous detection theoretically by 2.3 dB in the C/N ratio for obtaining the same BER. As the modulation system uses many values and many phases, the deterioration of the C/N ratio in the delay detection tends to correspondingly increase.
Recently, a system having the same C/N to BER property as the synchronous detection without necessity of an acquisition field of carrier synchronism for each burst has attracted public attention and studied. In this system, many points of a quasi-synchronous detection signal are sampled and then stored in memory. Thereafter, the stored signal is digitally processed and then a clock, carrier frequency, and carrier phase rotation amount are estimated so as to demodulate the data.
The quasi-synchronous detection is a method for freely running an oscillated signal of a local oscillator used for converting an IF signal into a base band signal in the vicinity of the IF carrier frequency without feeding back the signal like the Costas system or the PLL system.
In this system, of course, it is not assured that the in-phase component (Is) and the quadrature component (Qs) are perfectly separated. Generally, a vector (Is, Qs) is obtained by rotating the phase of a vector (Ic, Qc) by an angle .theta.. where Ic is an in-phase component and Qc is an quadrature component. In addition, 8 can be represented with for example the following linear function for a time t. EQU .theta.=2.pi..times.t.times.(fL-fC)+.theta..sub.O
where .theta..sub.O is a constant specific to each burst, fc is a carrier frequency of an input IF signal, fL is a local oscillation frequency.
In the quasi-synchronous detection system which has been used, since the bit synchronization for the burst signal is not established, before a burst signal is received, the burst signal should be sampled at many points by using a clock with a frequency which is at least several times as high as the transmission speed (baud rate) of the signal as described above.
The sampling at many points results in increasing the data amount and requiring to estimate a timing, phase, and, when necessary, frequency from a large amount of data. Thus, since the calculation amount becomes huge, the signal speed is significantly affected by the processing capacity of the calculation system.
Practically, in a demodulator according to the quasi-synchronous detection method which was reported in Spring Conference, The Institute of Electronics, Information and Communication of Japan, held on March 1989, a digital signal processing LSI could demodulate a four-phased phase modulation signal of at most 250 k baud.
As described above, when the quasi-synchronous detection having the same bit error rate as the synchronous detection system without necessity of a field for acquiring carrier synchronism is performed, since an optimum sampling timing cannot be known before a burst signal is received, the burst signal should be sampled at many points and the huge data being obtained should be processed in complicated ways. Thus, the device becomes complicated and high speed burst communication becomes difficult.
The present invention was made to solve the above mentioned problems.

Communication system and demodulator used in communication system


A method for forming a graphene layer is disclosed herein. The method includes establishing an insulating layer on a substrate such that at least one seed region, which exposes a surface of the substrate, is formed. A seed material in the seed region is exposed to a carbon-containing precursor gas, thereby initiating nucleation of the graphene layer on the seed material and enabling lateral growth of the graphene layer along at least a portion of a surface of the insulating layer.

The present disclosure relates generally to a structure including a graphene layer and a method for forming a graphene layer.
Graphene is the basic structural element of other graphitic materials including graphite, fullerenes, and carbon nanotubes. Graphene is formed of sp2-bonded carbon atoms that are densely packed in a honeycomb crystal lattice. Generally, graphene is in the form of one-atom-thick planar sheets. Several different approaches have been proposed to form single or multiple layers of graphene. For example, exfoliation methods have been used to form small areas of single or multiple layers of graphene. Such methods, however, generally do not enable control over the size of the crystal formed or the location of single layers. Similarly, the transfer of graphene from a large piece to a substrate by rubbing is generally not amenable to forming large, controllable regions of graphene.

Structure including a graphene layer and method for forming the same

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A molded body treating apparatus includes a support, at least one flat plate and a first movement mechanism. The support is configured to support a honeycomb molded body which has a first end portion and a second end portion in a longitudinal direction of the honeycomb molded body and which includes a plurality of cells each extending along the longitudinal direction from a first end at the first end portion to a second end at the second end portion. Either the first end or the second end of each of the plurality of cells is sealed with a plug material paste. The first movement mechanism is configured to move the at least one flat plate along the longitudinal direction to press the either one of the first and second end portions.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a molded body treating apparatus, a sealing method of a honeycomb molded body, and a method for manufacturing a cell-sealed honeycomb fired body.
2. Discussion of the Background
Particulates such as soot and the like contained in the exhaust gas expelled by the internal combustion engines of vehicles such as busses and trucks, and construction equipment and the like, have become a problem of recent, in that they cause harm to the environment and the human body. To remedy this, there are currently being proposed various kinds of honeycomb filters using a honeycomb structured body of porous ceramic as a filter for capturing particulates contained in exhaust gases, and thus purifying the exhaust gas.
Conventionally, when manufacturing a honeycomb structured body, first, ceramic powder, binder, and a liquid dispersal medium, for example, are mixed together to prepare a moist mixture. The moist mixture is then continuously extrusion molded using a die, and the extruded molded body is then cut to a prescribed length. Carrying out above manufactures a pillar-shaped honeycomb molded body.
Next, the honeycomb molded body obtained above is dried out, and afterward a plug material paste is filled into prescribed cells to carry out sealing on the cells so that a sealed state of either end portion of the cells is achieved. After the sealed state has been achieved, degreasing and firing treatments are carried out, thereby manufacturing the honeycomb fired body.
After this, a sealing material paste is applied to the side face of the honeycomb fired body, and using an adhesive, a multitude of honeycomb fired bodies is adhered together. This state of the multitude of honeycomb fired bodies being bonded together by interposing a sealing material layer (an adhesive layer) manufactures a honeycomb fired body aggregate. A cutting treatment is carried out to the achieved aggregate of honeycomb fired bodies using a cutting machine or the like, to form a ceramic block of a prescribed form, such as cylindrical or cylindroid form. Finally, sealing material paste is applied to the external circumference of the ceramic block to form a sealing material layer (a coat layer), thus completing the manufacture of the honeycomb structured body.
In the present description the term 'end face' is used to refer to any face of the faces constituting the external shape of either honeycomb form (that is, the honeycomb molded body, the honeycomb fired body, or the honeycomb structured body) at which cells are exposed, while the term 'side face' is used to refer to all faces other than the end faces.
Here, flatness on the end face of a honeycomb fired body to which sealing of the cell has been carried out to be sought in light of uniformity of the outward appearance and physical properties thereof.
In order to adjust the shape of the sealed portion of the cell which is sealed by such a plug, there is disclosed in a method for manufacturing a honeycomb structured body including a process of sealing cells by soaking end faces of a honeycomb structured body in a slurry inside of a storage container and then pressurizing the slurry to thereby seal the cells, a method for removing slurry adhered to the end faces and drying the end faces when separating the honeycomb structured body from within the storage container. See, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-290766. The contents of this publication are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety.
Here, in conventional cases in which cells intended to be sealed cannot be sealed assuredly, the honeycomb structured body is not able to fulfill its function as a filter, and because of this, sealing of the cells is carried out in a manner in which prescribed cells are sealed with an amount of plug material paste enabling assured sealing of the cells. However, if one attempts to carry out sealing of an amount of plug material paste enabling assured sealing of the cells, there arise cases in which the plug material paste comes to protrude from the cells and the protruded plug material paste adheres to edges of the cell walls.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2004-290766 describes that, on the sealed portion of the cell, it is possible to prevent the concave (so-called recesses) receding toward the interior portion of the cells or shrinking of the plugging slurry. However, the method for manufacturing a honeycomb structured body of Patent Document 1 focuses only on slurry recesses generated when separating the honeycomb structured body from within the storage container as an object of adjusting the shape of the honeycomb structured body, and while it is indeed effective in the prevention of this kind of recess the above mentioned method was not able to do anything about the state of slurry protruding to the outside of the cells.

Sealing method of honeycomb molded body, and method for manufacturing cell-sealed honeycomb fired body


A trigger lockout device for a clip applying instrument. The lockout device includes a displaceable slider actuable by squeezing a trigger slidable in first and second directions a longitudinal axial direction within the barrel, and a block disposed within the barrel. When a first number of clips have not been applied and when the trigger is squeezed, the slider slidably engages and displaces the block and slides along a path in the axial direction to retrieve a clip of the first number of clips, and to insert the clip into the pair of jaws, and when a second number or none of the clips have not been applied, the slider engages the block to substantially prevent the slider from sliding along the path in at least one of the first or second directions such that the triggery cannot be unsqueezed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a trigger lockout device, and more particularly relates to a trigger lockout device for a clip applying instrument.
2. Background and Material Information
Laparoscopic surgery is generally defined as minimally invasive surgery upon a patient, utilizing small or miniaturized medical devices by which body tissue is cut, removed or cauterized by small manipulable tools/devices through small incisions or openings within the patient's body. One such tool is a clip applier, which is used to grasp and/or crimp/seal tissue by the single hand of an operating surgeon, and is described in commonly-assigned U.S. Patent Publication No. 2003/0040759 and U.S. Pat. No. 6,277,131, the entire contents of both documents being expressly incorporated by reference herein.
Prior art clip appliers have a patient-engaging distalmost end with a pair of squeezable jaws arranged on the distal end of an elongated channel or frame. The elongated channel is surrounded by an elongated tube, which elongated tube and elongated channel are secured at their respective proximalmost ends to the distal end of a pistol-like handle grip assembly. The handle grip assembly includes an arcuately movable squeezable trigger. By squeezing the trigger towards a housing portion of the handle grip assembly, a clip is advanced through the elongated channel and into the jaws from an elongated ladder-like clip supply cartridge disposed through the elongated housing. The actuating sequence includes the squeezing of the trigger to close the jaws and thus crimp the clip between the jaws, then releasing the trigger to advance a new clip into location between the jaws awaiting the next squeezing of the trigger. The elongated clip supply cartridge is fed into a receiving slot or port in the proximal end of the handle grip assembly. Once all of the clips have been discharged from the cartridge, the cartridge may be removed from the clip applier and discarded, and the clip applier may be sterilized and reused.
It is also noted that once all of the clips have been discharged from the applier, there exists the danger that the surgeon may attempt to apply a clip anyway (not realizing that all the clips have been discharged), thereby letting the jaws close upon the tissue (without applying a clip) and potentially damaging the tissue and increasing the duration of the medical procedure and the risk of complications. Therefore, a need has arisen to prevent the surgeon from attempting to apply a clip when there are no more clips left in the clip applier.

Trigger lockout device for clip applying instrument


A method and an apparatus control a car equipped with an automatic transmission having a lockup clutch. When the lockup clutch is in the lockup state, a variation of a generated torque is detected. When the range of the torque variation detected exceeds a predetermined value, an engine torque is reduced by controlling the engine, and the automatic transmission is controlled to compensate for a reduction of the driving torque due to a reduction of the engine torque. Thus, the speed change ratio is changed to the low gear side. The control unit includes a unit for controlling an output torque of an engine according to a command value, a unit for changing the transmission ratio of the automatic transmission, a unit for detecting a variation of the engine torque, a unit for deciding a target driving torque, a unit for reducing a torque command value when the range of a detected variation of the torque has exceeded a predetermined value when the lockup clutch was in the lockup state, and a unit for deciding a transmission ratio at which the reduction of the driving torque due to the reduction of the engine torque is compensated for.

In a car equipped with an automatic transmission having a lockup clutch, the present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for controlling the car which controls both the engine and the automatic transmission to improve the fuel economy of the car and provide of comfortable riding of the car.
An automatic transmission equipped with a torque converter has a slipping loss due to the torque converter and has, therefore, a disadvantage of higher fuel consumption as compared with a manual transmission equipped with a mechanical clutch. As a result, there has been an increasing tendency that an automatic transmission having a lockup clutch built into the torque converter is being used to have an improved fuel economy of the car.
A lockup clutch mechanically transmits an engine torque directly to the transmission with a clutch except for starting or slow speed running of a car, to thereby avoid a slipping loss of a fluid in the torque converter. Accordingly, when the lockup clutch is being engaged (locked up), a torque is transmitted from the engine to the car shaft without the fluid so that fuel economy of the car can be improved.
From the viewpoint of improving the fuel economy, it is more advantageous that the car speed, when the lockup clutch is engaged, is set as low as possible. However, if a car is abruptly accelerated from the state of a low engine speed in a lockup state, there occurs an extreme torque variation, which makes it difficult for the fluid to absorb the torque variation, and a vibration occurs in the drive train as a result. This vibration is transmitted to the car body to generate a car body vibration and a booming noise within the passenger room. Accordingly, although a lockup at the time of a slow speed operation is desirable from the viewpoint of the fuel economy, the car speed when the lockup operation is started is limited from the viewpoint of the restriction of a car body vibration (torque variation).
A lockup control of the torque converter is disclosed in the Japanese Patent Unexamined Publication No. JP-A-61-136057 dated Jun. 23, 1986, for example. According to the invention disclosed in this publication, a lockup is cancelled when a torque variation has occurred.
According to the conventional automatic transmission, there has been a wide operation area in which the torque converter is used in a slipping state, or a lockup cancelled state, which has resulted in a small effect of improvement in the fuel economy due to the lockup clutch.

Method and an apparatus for controlling a car equipped with an automatic transmission having a lockup clutch


Methods and systems for providing trusted signaling of domain-specific security policies. One method includes intercepting a connection request to a remote server from a client device on a domain and returning a security certificate with policy information for regulating the communications with the target server.

In some on-line environments, local IT security staff block all programs which may compromise or otherwise disclose information on a local domain to sources outside the domain. For example, local IT security staff block remote collaboration applications which may give users outside the local domain various rights to the screen or desktop of a computer on the domain. In a specific example, a remote collaboration tool may give a remote user external to a local domain the ability to control the desktop of a computer on the local domain. Healthcare, pharmaceutical, financial, defense, Federal Government, and other regulated, risk-averse IT environments are typical examples of environments where such programs are blocked. Thus, to be compatible with these types of secure environments, provisioning of on-line resources must permit local IT security staff to communicate policies to protect the interests of a specific domain.
One option for compatibility is to modify the registry on each computer. When using a computer's registry, a software client will always refer to the registry when executing. A problem with this solution is that it is difficult to deploy the registry settings to every computer on a network, which could be in the thousands. Another option would be to direct software toward an active directory. A problem with this solution, however, requires pre-programming of the software client.


A wheelbarrow comprises a wheeled body in the shape of a sloping shovel having two opposite side walls, a front loading end and a rear receptacle end; a pair of laterally spaced and readwardly extending handles; and a fulcrum mechanism pivotably connected to the wheelbarrow and moveable from a retracted position where the fulcrum mechanism is clearing the ground and an operative position where the fulcrum mechanism is in engagement with the ground and acting as a fulcrum while force is being applied to the handles to swing the front loading end of the body to shovel up a load, with the,fulcrum mechanism assisting in the shovelling action by levering the sloping shovel end forwardly into a load of material.

A traditional wheelbarrow comprises a tray, two wheels and two handles extending rearwardly. It requires two operators to operate this kind of traditional wheelbarrow. A first operator wheels an empty wheelbarrow to a loading area and holds the wheelbarrow by the handles in a steady position while a second operator fills the tray of the wheelbarrow with materials such as stones, sand, soil, or the like, by using a shovel. After the tray is fully loaded, the first operator wheels the loaded wheelbarrow to a dumping area to dump the load. This kind of wheelbarrow loading operation, requiring two operators, is labour consuming and ineffective.


A highly efficient, tuned, switching power amplifier has components in a circuit configuration which minimizes switching losses and stored energy within the circuit. The circuit includes a pair of switches operating at the carrier frequency at substantially 50% duty. The switches are coupled through a transformer to a load, with the circuit being tuned, taking the particular load into account, so as to minimize the power loss in the switches by ensuring that immediately prior to, and during each, transition of each switch from its non-conducting (off) state to its conducting (on) state, both the voltage across the switch and the first derivative with respect to time of the voltage across the switch are substantially zero.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to switching power amplifier circuits connected for operating in a push-pull manner and tuned, given the presence of a particular circuit load, to minimize switching losses.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the design of switching power amplifiers, the number of amplifying devices required to generate a given quantity of power is dictated by the conversion efficiency of the devices within the circuit. A more highly efficient power amplification circuit can be made smaller, simpler, and less expensive than a less efficient circuit which produces the same output power. The selection of the amplifying device is primarily determined by the intended frequency of operation, and the cost of devices which are available that meet the electrical criteria. In general, for each watt of power handling capacity, a slower switching device, such as an SCR, is less expensive than a faster switching device, such as a MOSFET, and silicon devices are less costly than GaAs devices. The maximum frequency at which a device can operate is the frequency at which the switching losses become a major part of the overall device losses. Therefore, it is, in theory, most cost effective for the designer to utilize a circuit configuration in which the amplified device is connected which minimizes the switching losses of the amplifying device.
A type of power amplifier operation is described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,919,656 (Sokol et al.), which exemplifies an amplifier class known in the art as Class E operation. Class E operation reduces switching losses of the amplifying device to substantially zero, resulting in close to 100% power amplifier efficiency, and also allows a given amplifying device to operate at a higher frequency than in non-resonant (Class D) switching circuits.

Resonant push-pull switching power amplifier


The present invention is directed to a method and a system to evaluate operational characteristics of an electronic circuit. The method includes generating a visual display, on a monitor, of an eye diagram viewer. The eye diagram viewer is used to establish a test parameter for the circuit. Accessed is data that includes a graphical file containing eye diagram information corresponding to the test parameter. A visually perceivable image of the eye diagram information is provided in response to the test parameter. Specifically, the eye diagram viewer is used to establish an eye diagram information identifier by displaying in a plurality of test condition selector screens one of a multiple condition values for the test condition parameters. The graphical file containing the eye diagram information corresponding to the eye diagram information identifier is obtained from the server and displayed.

This invention relates to an apparatus and a method for analyzing operation of an electronic circuit and, more particularly, for analyzing the operation of an electronic circuit using eye diagrams.
One way by which to determine the operational characteristics of an electronic circuit is by evaluating a stream of pulse coded signals, often referred to as a bit stream, which is produced by the electronic circuit. A bit stream is usually binary coded pulse signals represented by zeros and ones that may be electrical voltages or optical signals derived from the electrical voltages, created by the electronic circuit and monitored with an oscilloscope. The signal displayed on the oscilloscope that results from the bit streams is referred to as an "eye diagram".
The eye diagram is made from thousands of voltage samples taken over a period of time that reveal the quality of the measured bit streams. In an eye diagram the high and low states of the signal appear as substantially horizontal traces across the oscilloscope screen. State transitions are not completely random. Each transition potentially occurs relative to a conversion clock signal. Thus, if a state transition occurs, it happens at a known time relative to the conversion clock signal. By triggering the oscilloscope with the conversion clock signal, the state transitions of the communication signal appear at substantially the same locations on the oscilloscope display. The resulting pattern is an open area, the eye, bounded on the top and bottom by the high and low state levels, respectively, and on each side by state transition traces. The state transitions on each side of the opening generally cross and form an "X" shape on each side of the eye. One component of each "X" shape corresponds to high-to-low transitions and the other component corresponds to low-to-high transitions. The distance between the high and low states, the slope of the state transition, overall size of the open area, and other similar measurements aid in characterizing the operation of the electronic circuit producing the eye pattern.
Typically the operational characteristics of an electronic circuit are evaluated with a myriad different inputs stimuli and a myriad of different output conditions. The result is that several hundred to several thousand eye diagrams may be generated to properly assess the operational characteristics of an electronic circuit.
A need exists, therefore, to provide a method and system to ascertain the operational characteristics of an electronic circuit employing eye diagrams.

Method and system to evaluate operational characteristics of an electronic circuit


A system, method, and related data structure are provided for transmitting data in a network. Included is a data object (i.e. metadata) for communicating between a first network protocol layer and a second network protocol layer. In use, the data object facilitates network communication management utilizing a transport offload engine.

Transport offload engines (TOE) include technology that is gaining popularity in high-speed systems for the purpose of optimizing throughput, and lowering processor utilization. TOE components are often incorporated into one of various printed circuit boards, such as a network interface card (NIC), a host bus adapter (HBA), a motherboard; or in any other desired offloading context.
In recent years, the communication speed in systems has increased faster than processor speed. This has produced an input/output (I/O) bottleneck. The processor, which is designed primarily for computing and not for I/O, cannot typically keep up with the data units flowing through the network. As a result, the data flow is processed at a rate slower than the speed of the network. TOE technology solves this problem by removing the burden (i.e. offloading) from the processor and/or I/O subsystem.
Prior art FIG. 1 illustrates a system 100 including both a host processor 102 and a transport offload engine 104, in accordance with the prior art. In use, the processor 102 generates data lists 106 [i.e. scatter-gather lists (SGLs), etc.] for identifying a location in memory 110 where data resides which is to be communicated via a network 116. As shown, the data lists 106 include an address where the data may be found, as well as an associated length.
In use, the processor 102 transmits the data lists 106 to the transport offload engine 104. Armed with such data lists 106, the transport offload engine 104 retrieves the data from the memory 110 and stores the same in a buffer 112, where the data waits to be communicated via the network 116.
To track the various network connections or sockets over which the data is communicated via the network 116, the transport offload engine 104 further employs control blocks 114, which may each include various information associated with a particular network connection or socket.
Thus, to receive a large amount of data via the network 116, the memory required to store data lists 106 and control blocks 114 as well as the buffer 112 may become excessively large. Unfortunately, a large memory can not be implemented in a cost-effective manner on an integrated-circuit transport offload engine 104, since integrating on-board memory on the transport offload engine 104 is costly in terms of silicon die area, for example.
There is thus a need for a more cost effective-technique for transmitting data in a network using data lists (SGLs, etc.).

System and method for using metadata in the context of a transport offload engine


A core sample of a porous rock from a subterranean reservoir is placed in a pressure cell holder. The sample is desaturated to first fluid irreducible desaturation with a second fluid through a porous plate preferentially wet to only the first fluid. The sample is then flooded with a plurality of first and second fluid ratios. Core pressure is measured along the core at various differential pressure plateau's during initial first fluid desaturation and again during fluid flooding with first and second fluids. A computed tomography (CT) scanning system provides images of the density distribution within the core sample during such flooding. Fluid saturation, determined from these CT images, and the pressure measurements are used to determine the relative permeability and capillary pressure responses of the fluids within the subterranean reservoir.

In the production of minerals, e.g., oil and gas, certain properties of a subterranean reservoir must be determined. One of the most important of these properties is the permeability of the reservoir. Permeability of a material is a measure of the ability of the material to transmit fluids through its pore spaces and is inversely proportional to the flow resistance offered by the material. Normally, permeability is determined by taking core samples from the reservoir and carrying out well-defined measurement techniques on the samples. There are several techniques available for making such measurements, many of which are described in PETROLEUM PRODUCTION ENGINEERING DEVELOPMENT by L. C. Uren, Fourth Edition, McGraw-Hill Book Company, Inc., 1956, pps. 660-669. Another standard reference is American Petroleum Institute, API RECOMMENDED PRACTICE FOR CORE-ANALYSIS PROCEDURE, API RP40, 1960.
In addition to these well known techniques, a more recently applied technique involves the use of computed tomography (CT) technology. CT technology has been used in the medical field for several years. CT scanning instruments produce a cross-sectional view through the subject material along any chosen axis. The advantages of CT scanning over conventional radiography is found in its ability to display the electron density variations within the object scanned in a two-dimensional X-ray image.
More recently, CT scanning technology has been applied to the field of energy research for examining the interior of stationary or slowly changing earth materials, such as coal, shale and drilling cores. Processes involved in coal gasification and combustion have been monitored using time-lapse CT imagery to observe changes in density (e.g. thermal expansion, fracturing, emission of gases, consumption by combustion and the like) during progressive heating in a controlled atmosphere. Core flooding experiments can now be carried out with CT scanning to aid in enhanced oil recovery and fluid mobility control. For example, the permeability of materials within core samples to various fluids at varying conditions of temperature and pressure can be determined. Such experiments involve flushing a fluid through a core sample and monitoring the shape of the fluid fronts. By subtracting the images of the cores before and after flooding, the exact shape of the fluid front is determined. Such core flooding experiments allow the interior of the core sample to be observed without disturbing the sample. The sweep efficiency and flow paths of fluids of interest may now be studied on the scale of millimeters. The penetration of X-rays allows experiments to be performed with up to four-inch diameter cores samples.
Drilling fluids can be analyzed by CT scanning as such fluids are characterized by high-density brines, various organics and several compositionally different weighting agents. Formation damage can be investigated since CT scanning can detect migration of clays, absorption of organics and the reversibility of completion fluid penetration. Shale oil recovery can also be aided as CT scanning could detect penetration by solvents and could directly measure structure changes on retorting.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,649,483, issued to Dixon, discloses a method for determining fluid saturation in a porous media through the use of CT scanning. Multi-phase fluid saturation in a sample of porous media is determined through computer tomographic scanning. The sample is scanned with X-rays of differing energies in both the fluid saturated and the fluid extracted states. Each of the extracted fluids is also scanned at differing X-ray energies. The computed tomographic images produced are utilized in the determination of the X-ray mass attenuation coefficients for the sample and the extracted fluids. From these mass attenuation coefficients, the weight fractions and volume fractions of each of the extracted fluids are determined.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,688,238, issued to Sprunt et al. discloses a method for using CT scanning over a range of confining pressures on a core sample to determine pore volume change, pore compressibility and core fracturing. A core sample with a surrounding elastic jacket is placed in a confining pressure cell. Pressure is applied to the cell to press the jacket into contact with the surface of the sample. The pressure in the cell is increased stepwise over a plurality of pressure points. The sample is scanned at a plurality of locations with X-rays at each of the pressure points. Computed tomographic images of the sample are produced for each of the X-ray scans. The conformance of the jacket to the sample is determined from these computed tomographic images. From such conformance, a range of confining pressures is determined over which pore volume and pore compressibility of the sample are measured without being affected by improper conformance of the jacket to the surface of the sample. Also rock fracturing is determined from the pressure at which crushing of the sample destroys permeable channels within the sample and results in a permeability measurement that is lower than the actual permeability measurement.
Relative permeability plays a very important role in describing the fluid flow in oil and gas reservoirs. Two methods of measurement are practiced by industry; namely, steady-state and dynamic displacement. In each method a cylindrical core is saturated with water or brine, then oil flooded to irreducible water saturation. Subsequently, the core is water flooded or brine flooded and the pressure drop across the core is measured along with the oil and water or brine production. The average saturations within the core are determined from the overall material balance. The steady-state method requires lengthy measurement times because it requires stabilization of the fluid flow. The dynamic displacement method overcomes this, however, it suffers from capillary end effects. Hence the displacement method is generally only effective for high flow rates.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,672,840, issued to Cullick, discloses a method and system for determining fluid volumes of a two-phase effluent flow through a porous material in order to determine permeability characteristics. A two-phase flow condition is established through the porous material, such as a core sample taken from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir. One phase is a liquid hydrocarbon phase, the other an insoluble displacing liquid phase. After exiting the core sample, the two-phase fluid is collected in a container where it separates into an overlying fluid phase, such as an oil phase, and an underlying fluid phase, such as a water phase. A fluid level monitor is positioned in the container. When the air-fluid interface at the top of the overlying fluid phase rises to a first position in the upper portion of the container, drainage of the underlying fluid phase is initiated. The time is measured during which the fluid-fluid interface of the overlying and underlying fluid phases is lowered to a second position near the bottom of the container. The time is also measured during which the air-water interface of the top of the overlying fluid phase is lowered to the same second position near the bottom of the container. The volumes of each of the two fluid phases are determinable from the time measurements and the drainage flow rate of the fluid, such volumes being representative of fluid saturation in the core sample from which core sample permeability is thus determined.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,868,751, issued to Dogru et al., relates to a method for determining relative permeability of a core sample taken from a subterranean hydrocarbon-bearing reservoir. In the method disclosed therein pressure and fluid saturation are measured at a plurality of corresponding positions along the core before and during fluid flooding of the core. From these measurements the relative permeability of the reservoir is determined. At the start of the relative permeability measurement, the core is fully saturated with a known weight or volume of a saturating fluid, such as an oil or a brine. Dual energy X-ray CT scans are taken at a plurality of scan positions. Thereafter, the core saturation is altered through the core by flowing a displacing fluid, other than that with which the core is saturated, such as an oil, water or brine, and both saturation and pressure measurements made.
In desaturating the core sample to a state of irreducible saturation of the first fluid, dynamic displacement is often insufficient. This problem is especially acute in the case of gas displacing brine or water, since the viscosities and densities of the two fluids are widely disparate and tend to result in an incomplete initial displacement of the water to irreducible saturation. The sample must often be removed and the desaturation process completed with centrifugal force or by differential pressure across a preferentially water wet porous plate, then returned to the test apparatus for resumption of the experiment. The apparatus and method of the present invention allow the desaturation of the water-saturated sample through a preferentially water-wet ceramic porous plate during displacement with air or other gas while the sample remains in the relative permeability test apparatus, then routing the flow around the porous plate to allow determination of steady state relative permeability which requires that both fluids flow without restriction. The desaturation may be accomplished in several steps of differential pressure and waiting a sufficient time at each step for pressure and saturation equilibrium to occur. From these data, the capillary pressure response of the sample may be determined. U.S. Pat. No. 5,069,065 to E. S. Sprunt et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,948 to S. H. Collins et al. describe in detail such porous plate capillary pressure methods. The teachings of such patents are incorporated herein by reference.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new method and system for determining the relative permeability and capillary pressure of a subterranean reservoir by determining two-phase, steady-rate relative permeability and porous plate capillary pressure response characteristics of core samples obtained from such a reservoir.

Apparatus and method for measuring relative permeability and capillary pressure of porous rock


In an approach, a processor, responsive to requesting to perform a plurality of applications including a first application and a second application, determines that the first application and the second application have been performed sequentially during a previous time period. A processor, responsive to determining that the first and second applications have been performed in sequence during the previous time period, obtains, a first set of database operations associated with the first application and a second set of database operations associated with the second application. A processors, responsive to determining that the first set of database operations and the second set of database operations are free of conflict, generates an execution schedule indicating that the first application and the second application are to be performed in parallel. A processors performs the plurality of applications based on the execution schedule.

The present disclosure relates to the field of computing, and more specifically, to parallel execution of applications.
With a rapid development of computer technology, people are more and more relying on the computing capabilities of computers for performing all kinds of tasks. For example, an employee of a bank may update a huge amount of data or transaction of the bank to a database through applications or programs on a computer. In some cases, some of the plurality of applications or programs may be independent of each other, and therefore can be executed in parallel. In some other cases, one application may be dependent on another application, and therefore cannot be performed until the other application is finished. An employee may, however, be unaware of whether some of the plurality of applications can be executed in parallel.

International Business Machines Corporation


A data processing system is disclosed which includes a first processor having an m-byte data width, an n-byte data bus, where n is less than m, and a second processor electrically coupled to the bus which performs bus transactions utilizing n-byte packets of data. An adaptor is electrically coupled between the first processor and the bus which converts n-byte packets of data input from the bus to m-byte packets of data, and converts m-byte packets of data input from the first processor to n-byte packets of data, thereby enabling the first processor to transmit data to and receive data from the bus utilizing m-byte packets of data. In a second aspect of the present invention, a method and system are provided for arbitrating between two bus masters having disparate bus acquisition protocols. In response to a second bus master asserting a bus request when a first bus master controls the bus, control of the bus is removed from the first bus master. Thereafter, in response to a signal transmitted from an arbitration control unit to the first bus master instructing the first bus master to terminate its bus transactions, control of the bus is granted to the second bus master. In response to the second bus master terminating its bus request, control of the bus is granted to the first bus master and a signal is transmitted from the arbitration control unit to the first bus master acknowledging the grant of control.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to a method and system for data processing and in particular to a method and system for interfacing an upgrade processor to a data processing system having a disparate data path width. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to a method and system for interfacing a upgrade processor which processes transactions in m-byte packets of data to a data processing system which performs transactions utilizing n-byte packets of data.
2. Description of the Related Art
Since the advent of personal computers, designers and manufacturers have sought to enhance the performance and prolong the useful life of their machines. One familiar technique which enhances both the performance and longevity of a personal computer is to upgrade the personal computer by installing an upgrade processor. Thus, if a user is satisfied with the performance of the other components within the personal computer system, the user may enjoy the enhanced performance of a new processor without the expense of replacing the remainder of the personal computer system. For example, as is well-known in the art, a user may upgrade a 486 personal computer operating at 33 MHz to a 66 MHz machine by replacing the standard 486 processor with a 486 DX2 processor.
Although it is advantageous for a user to be able to upgrade a personal computer in the above described manner, the requirement that the upgrade processor be compatible with the personal computer system can stifle innovation in processor architectures. In order to remain compatible with existing hardware and software, manufacturers often retain instruction sets and signaling protocols which may not provide optimal performance. For example, recent technological advances have made reduced instruction set (RISC) processors more advantageous than traditional complex instruction set (CISC) processors in many applications. When CPUs were much faster than memory, it was advantageous for processors to perform multiple operations per instruction since processors would otherwise waste cycle time waiting for the memory to deliver instructions. Now that CPU speed and memory access time have become more balanced, RISC architecture has become more feasible, assuming that the memory hierarchy is able to deliver one instruction plus data each cycle. Other recent advances in state-of-the-art processor architecture include the incorporation of on-chip interconnection and memory utilizing VLSI fabrication techniques and the increase of the data path width of processors from 32 to 64 bits. Although processors incorporating these advances in CPU technology provide greatly enhanced performance, they are not readily available for use as upgrade processors since they are often incompatible with existing computer systems.
It is known in the art to upgrade a personal computer system having a 32-bit processor and a 32-bit data bus with an 64-bit processor or a 32-bit processor with a 64-bit data path. In one technique, the 64-bit processor is directly connected to the 32-bit data bus and reads data in serial 32-bit packets. In a second upgrade system, the 64-bit processor is interfaced to two parallel 32-bit buses. As with the first technique, in the second, data is still input to the 64-bit processor in two 4-byte packets, rather than a true 8-byte format. With either interface technique, the computer system does not receive the full benefit of the enhanced performance of the 64-bit upgrade processor bus since processor cycle time is consumed by either additional bus cycles or internal data formatting. Consequently, it would be desirable to provide a method and system for efficiently interfacing a processor which performs transactions utilizing m-byte packets of data with a personal computer system which performs transactions utilizing n-byte packets of data where n<m.
A second issue that must be addressed when interfacing a upgrade processor to a personal computer system is the scheme employed to arbitrate between the upgrade processor and bus master devices within the personal computer system for ownership of the system bus. Determining an efficient arbitration scheme is complicated by the fact that the upgrade processor may have a different arbitration protocol from that of the personal computer system if their architectures are dissimilar. For example, some processor architectures, such as the x86 architecture, can utilize a uni-directional (asynchronous) bus acquisition protocol, in which the requesting bus master expects to receive control of the system bus after asserting a request signal. In other architectures, bus masters utilize a bi-directional handshake bus acquisition protocol in which both a request signal by a second bus master and an acknowledge signal from the arbiter are required before the second bus master assumes control of the bus from the first bus master. Prior art systems do not support interfacing upgrade processors in personal computer systems which have incompatible arbitration protocols. Consequently, it would be desirable to provide a method and system for interfacing an upgrade processor to a personal computer system which utilizes a dissimilar arbitration protocol.

Method and system for interfacing an upgrade processor to a data processing system

International Business Machines Corporation


Various embodiments of the invention include an intubating stylette device and related methods of using such a device. In some cases, the stylette includes: a handle member having a base and a tip extending from the base, the handle for engaging a hand of an operator; a control member coupled to the tip of the handle member, the control member including at least one actuation member sized to engage with a finger from the hand of the operator; and a tube member coupled to the control member, the tube member including a tip that is movable between at least two positions when the at least one actuation member is moved from a first position to a second position.

Endotracheal intubation is a medical procedure in which a tube is placed through a patient's mouth and into the patient's trachea to create an artificial air passage for breathing. Typically, an endotracheal tube is used on a patient undergoing surgery to provide for the administration of anesthesia, when ventilation of the lungs is necessary, or when a patient is somehow injured and has lost the ability to breath independently (e.g., in an emergency-type setting).
As is known in the art, in the human anatomy, the epiglottis sits over the glottis opening to the larynx to prevent ingested material (e.g., food) from entering the trachea during eating. In order to insert an endotracheal tube into the trachea, the epiglottis is displaced from the glottal opening. During a conventional intubation procedure, the patient is positioned horizontally, their head is tilted back, and the mouth is opened as widely as possible. The laryngoscope is then inserted through the mouth and into the throat, and used to displace the tongue and epiglottis so that the glottis is exposed. The patient's larynx may then be seen through the mouth (or via a video display when using a video laryngoscope). The endotracheal tube is then inserted, through the mouth along the blade of the laryngoscope, and into the glottis and trachea. The endotracheal tube can accommodate a stylette, which is used to aid in inserting the endotracheal tube into the patient's trachea.
In emergency-type settings, this intubation procedure may be performed by individuals with varying levels of medical experience and skill (e.g., emergency medical technicians (EMTs), paramedics, physicians in training, emergency room physicians, etc.). Because these individuals may lack skill and experience in performing these intubation procedures, the failure rate of such procedures can be relatively high (e.g., resulting in damage to the patient's trachea or other tissue, or more serious consequences such as brain damage and death).
Further, in the non-emergency setting, such as when administering anesthesia, endotracheal intubation can be difficult when a patient's throat and/or trachea region is somehow obstructed, or the anatomic path from the mouth to the trachea is tortuous. Conventional intubation devices and techniques may cause damage to tissue within the patient's airway (throat) and/or the trachea region. Damage to the airway can lead to swelling and possibly bleeding, which makes intubation even more challenging, e.g., with multiple attempts.

Intubating stylette device and related methods


Provided is an Al alloy film for semiconductor devices, which has excellent heat resistance and is suppressed in the generation of hillocks even in cases where the Al alloy film is exposed to high temperatures, and which has low electrical resistivity as a film. The present invention relates to an Al alloy film for semiconductor devices, which is characterized by satisfying all of the features (a)-(c) described below after being subjected to a heat treatment wherein the Al alloy film is held at 500° C. for 30 minutes and by having a film thickness from 500 nm to 5 μm. (a) The maximum grain diameter of the Al matrix is 800 nm or less. (b) The hillock density is less than 1×109 pieces/m2. (c) The electrical resistivity is 10 μΩcm or less.

Insulated-gate (MOS) type semiconductor devices, such as IGBT (insulated gate bipolar transistor) and power MOSFET (power metal-oxide semiconductor field-effect transistor) are widely used for power device which control large electric power.
A configuration of a general IGBT is explained here by referring to FIG. 1. A collector electrode is connected to a p-type collector layer. An n-type base layer is fabricated on the collector layer. In the upper region of the n-type base layer, a p-type body region is fabricated. Within the body region, an n-type emitter layer is fabricated. A region of the n-type base layer configured in between two emitter layer is a channel region. On top of the channel region, a gate insulating film and a gate electrode are fabricated. On the emitter layer, an emitter electrode is fabricated. These n-type and p-type regions may be fabricated by including elements such as P (phosphorus) and B (boron) in the substrate comprising Si and other material. The n-type and p-type regions may alternatively fabricated by ion-implantation of P, As (arsenic), and B at certain dose amount, acceleration voltage, and implantation angle prescribed for each of the regions, followed by activation heat treatment at temperatures and durations predetermined for each of the regions.
Metal wires and ribbons which are connected with external terminal are connected to upper surface of the emitter electrodes of IGBT. Collector electrodes are directly fixed and connected to circuit board through soldering layer.
In an IGBT with a p-type channel region, an inversion layer is formed in the channel region by applying positive bias to the gate electrode while applying negative and positive bias onto emitter electrode and backside electrode, respectively. An emitter layer and an n-type base layer are electrically connected with each other through the inversion layer. As a result, an electrical current drifts to the collector electrode.
Al-based films such as, for example, pure Al and Al—Si alloy are used for the emitter electrode.
In the process of fabricating the IGBT, ion implantation is carried out to form a collector layer from the back side of the substrate after fabricating an emitter electrode. Subsequently, activation of the implanted ions is promoted by carrying out a heat treatment at 450° C. or lower. Thermal stress by such heat treatment is thus induced to the aforementioned emitter electrode and other portions of the device. Thermal stress is further induced to the aforementioned electrode and other portions of the device in actual operation environment for IGBT which is repeatedly subjected to a temperature range from approximately 250° C. to 350° C.
In cases such as the temperature of the heat treatment exceeds 450° C. in the device fabrication process, and the device is repeatedly subjected to a temperature range from 250° C. to 350° C., the Al-based film constituting the electrode is deteriorated by the formation of so-called hillock which is unusual geometry of surface projection, anomalous deposition of added alloy elements, and inter-diffusion of atoms across the interface of adjacent films. Therefore, the heat treatment temperature has been restricted to 450° C. or lower. The device has also been compelled to be operated at low temperatures.
Patent literature 1, for example, describes a heat treatment at 800° C. to 950° C. for the purpose of activation of the collector layer. The heat treatment at such high temperatures, however, is restricted before fabrication of an interconnection. Once the interconnection is fabricated, the heat treatment is carried out up to about 450° C., and no description is found in the literature referring to heat treatment at higher temperatures. The heat resistance in an actual operation environment is not evaluated at all.


A system and method for controlling a vehicle with a sequence of vehicle events. A user interface allows the recording of vehicle functions that are being manually executed. After the vehicle functions are entered, they can be saved as a sequence and named appropriately. Once saved, the operator can choose to edit the sequence functions or distances to make adjustments or shift the entire sequence in time. The saved sequence can be executed at a certain distance relative to a boundary being crossed by the machine. The boundaries themselves may be pre-defined in the system, and the system can determine when the boundary is crossed based on real-time GPS position and speed measurements from the vehicle. Error distances can also be measured on the ground to determine what type of sequence shift is needed for fine-tuning. As the vehicle speed is adjusted, the sequence can be continually tuned to allow the sequence to execute accurately in a variety of operations.

This section is intended to provide a background or context to the invention that is recited in the claims. The description herein may include concepts that could be pursued, but are not necessarily ones that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, what is described in this section is not prior art to the description and claims in this application and is not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Conventional agricultural combines include a header leading the combine, having a forward gathering portion and a feederhouse portion which contains elements for processing crop material and/or transferring the crop material from the gathering portion to the body of the combine. In the body of the combine, the grain is separated from the chaff and straw, collected, and thereafter unloaded via an auger. Such combines have a variety of designs.
When pulling into or out of headlands with a machine, there are several activities that need to occur in rapid succession. These activities include, but are not limited to, raising and/or lowering an implement, raising and/or lowering a hitch, extending or retracting marker arms, turn power take-off shaft (PTO) on or off, turning a planter on and/or off, changing ground speed, etc. These activities are both tedious and repetitive, yet these tasks need to be performed frequently, and often before and after each turn. Furthermore, these operations are manual operations which are prone to inaccuracies due to the timing of the operator and the time required to perform each operation.
Although a number of systems exist that permit an operator to initiate the "automatic" playback of functions by pushing a button or actuating a similar mechanism, the operator is still required to determine on his or her own when to hit the button. Often, the operator must make this decision by watching to see when a boundary is crossed or is being approached. However, field boundaries are often difficult to identify due to dust or other factors, making it difficult to know precisely when certain operations should be performed or when a button should be pushed to begin an automated process. In fact, it has been observed that button push timing variation has a standard deviation of almost 200 msec. This amount of variation does not allow for precision work (i.e., in the range of +/−30″) at typical planting speeds (about 4-7 mph) and therefore would result in errors exceeding +/−4 ft at these speeds.

System and method for controlling a vehicle with a sequence of vehicle events


A display device may include a first subpixel electrode; a first roof layer; a first liquid crystal layer disposed between the first subpixel electrode and the first roof layer; and a first support member overlapping a first end portion of the first roof layer in a first direction. The display device may further include a second subpixel electrode immediately neighboring the first subpixel electrode; a second roof layer; a second liquid crystal layer disposed between the second subpixel electrode and the second roof layer; and a second support member overlapping a first end portion of the second roof layer in the first direction. The first end portion of the first roof layer and the first end portion of the second roof layer may be disposed between a second end portion of the first roof layer and a second end portion of the second roof layer.

(a) Technical Field
The present invention relates to a display device and a manufacturing method thereof.
(b) Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display typically includes two field generating electrodes, such as a pixel electrode and a common electrode, and a liquid crystal layer interposed therebetween. The field generating electrodes may generate an electric field in the liquid crystal layer to determine an orientation of liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer for controlling transmission of incident light, thereby displaying images.
A conventional liquid crystal display typically requires a thin film transistor array panel and an opposite panel. The thin film transistor array panel may include a gate line (configured for transferring a gate signal), and a data line (configured for transferring a data signal), a thin film transistor connected to the gate line and the data line, and a pixel electrode connected to the thin film transistor. The opposite panel may include a light blocking member, a color filter, and a common electrode. In some cases, the light blocking member, the color filter, and the common electrode may be included in the thin film transistor array panel.
Each of the thin film transistor array panel and the opposite panel may require at least one substrate. The two substrates may undesirably contribute to the weight, the manufacturing cost, and/or the manufacturing time of the liquid crystal display.
The above information disclosed in this Background section is for enhancement of understanding of the background of the invention. The Background section may contain information that does not form the prior art that is already known in this country to a person of ordinary skill in the art.

Display device having roof layers and manufacturing method of the display device


A driver circuit. In one embodiment, the driver circuit includes a plurality of pull-up circuits and a plurality of pull-down circuits. The driver circuit also includes control logic that is coupled to activate/deactivate the pull-up and pull-down circuits. The driver circuit may perform emphasized signal transmissions having a voltage swing of a first magnitude or de-emphasized signal transmissions having a voltage swing of a second magnitude, wherein the first magnitude is greater than the second magnitude. The control logic is further configured to activate and/or deactivate pull-up and/or pull-down circuits such that the driver circuit output impedance in the emphasized mode is substantially equal to the output impedance in the de-emphasized mode.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to electronic circuits, and more particularly, driver circuits in digital systems.
2. Description of the Related Art
The signaling conventions used in a digital system may to a large extent determine its reliability, speed, and power consumption. Careful design of signaling conventions is particularly important to ensure data integrity in high-speed digital systems.
One signaling technique that has been developed to ensure data integrity in high-speed digital systems is known as equalization (and may be alternately referred to as pre-emphasis or de-emphasis). Using the technique of pre-emphasis, different drive strengths of signals for a given logic level may be used during certain transitions. FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate the difference between a traditional signaling convention and one using the technique of equalization. FIG. 1A is a timing diagram illustrating transitions between logic high and logic low voltage levels. The logic high and logic low voltage levels remain substantially the same throughout. The voltage level after a logic level transition (either high-to-low or low-to-high) is substantially the same as for a subsequent cycle where no transition occurred.
In contrast, FIG. 1B is a timing diagram illustrating signal transmissions in which the technique of equalization is used. In this particular example, the voltage levels of a logic high signal or a logic low signal are greater in magnitude on a cycle immediately following a transition. On those cycles subsequent to a transition where no further transition occurs, the voltage for that particular logic level is less in magnitude. Thus, for this particular example, there are effectively two voltage levels for each of logic high and logic low states: the emphasized level that signals are driven to on the low-to-high and high-to-low transitions, and the non-emphasized levels (which may also be referred to as a de-emphasized level) that signals are driven to when no logic level transition occurs from the previous cycle. This technique may be particularly useful for combating negative effects such as high frequency dependent loss which manifests itself as data dependent jitter or intersymbol interference (ISI).
Another important factor in designing a signaling convention is the design of the driver circuits which transmit digital signals. In particular, designing a driver circuit with a controlled, pre-determined output impedance is important to counter negative transmission line effects (e.g., reflections) that may otherwise occur if the output impedance is not controlled. Driver circuits designed for voltage-mode signaling typically have a very low output impedance, while driver circuits designed for current-mode signaling typically have a very high output impedance. Source terminated signaling requires that the output impedance of a driver circuit be matched to a transmission line to which it is coupled. Current mode driver circuits in parallel with a terminating resistor are underterminated. Current mode driver circuits are currently preferred by many designers, since they do not require the accurate voltage references required by voltage mode drivers. However, power consumption by current mode driver circuits may be significantly greater than that of voltage mode driver circuits, since a current mode driver circuit must source a greater amount of current into the shunt terminating resistor as well as the load to allow for a given logic voltage swing in comparison to a voltage mode driver circuit.
As noted above, voltage-mode driver circuits typically have low output impedance, and this impedance must be carefully matched to the transmission line coupled to the driver circuit. The necessity for accurate impedance matching between a driver circuit and a transmission line may make it difficult to design a voltage mode driver circuit configured to implement the technique of equalization, since output impedance must be controlled and matched for both emphasized and non-emphasized signal transmissions.

Transmit based equalization using a voltage mode driver


Structural repair of cracks and other defects in superalloy components, such as steam or gas turbine blades in stationary or aero gas turbines, are performed by heating the blade substrate to an isothermal hold temperature below the substrate's incipient melting point and filling the crack with molten superalloy filler material. The molten filler solidifies into a casting and bonds with the component substrate at the isothermal hold temperature. Heat treatment processes are completed, so that the former crack is filled with cast superalloy material having identical or similar structural properties as the adjoining substrate superalloy material. The casting repair method may be utilized universally for all types of superalloy component defects, including those previously repaired by cosmetic, lower strength welding or brazing methods.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to structural repair of defects in advanced superalloy components. In some embodiments, the invention relates to repair of cracks or other defects in superalloy turbine blades that are used in steam or gas turbines (industrial or aero), by filling the crack with molten superalloy filler, in a manner that does not significantly reduce mechanical structural or material properties of the superalloy blade substrate. The molten filler superalloy solidifies into a cast in place patch of filler superalloy.
2. Description of the Prior Art
"Structural" repair of gas turbine or other superalloy components is commonly recognized as replacing damaged material with matching alloy material and achieving mechanical properties, such as strength, that are close to the original manufacture component specifications (e.g., seventy percent ultimate tensile strength of the original specification). For example, it is preferable to perform structural repairs on turbine blades that have experienced cracks, so that risk of further crack growth is reduced, and the blades are restored to original material structural and dimensional specifications.
Structural repair of nickel and cobalt based superalloy material that is used to manufacture turbine components, such as cast turbine blades, is challenging, due to the metallurgical properties of the finished blade material. For example, a superalloy having more than 6% by weight percentage aggregate aluminum or titanium content, such as CM247 or DS247 alloy, is more susceptible to strain age cracking when subjected to high-temperature welding than a lower aluminum-titanium content X-750 superalloy. The finished turbine blade alloys are typically strengthened during post casting heat treatments, which render them difficult on which to perform subsequent structural repair welding. Currently used welding processes for superalloy structural fabrication or repair generally involve substantial melting of the substrate adjoining the weld preparation, and complete melting of the welding rod or other filler material added. When a blade constructed of such a material is welded with rods of the same or similar alloy, the blade is susceptible to solidification (aka liquation) cracking within and proximate to the weld, and/or strain age (aka reheat) cracking during subsequent heat treatment, processes intended to restore the superalloy original strength and other material properties comparable to a new component.
In comparison to structural repair, "cosmetic" repair of superalloys is recognized as replacing damaged material with unmatching alloy material of lesser structural property specifications, where the localized original structural performance is not needed. For example, cosmetic repair may be used in order to restore the repaired component's original profile geometry. As noted above, it is desirable to perform structural repairs on surface cracks in order to reduce their likelihood of subsequent spreading when the component is returned to service. Conversely, an example of cosmetic repair is for filling surface pits (as opposed to structural cracks) on a turbine blade airfoil in order to restore its original aerodynamic profile, where the material properties of the blade's localized exterior surface is not critical for structural integrity of the entire blade. Cosmetic repair is often achieved by using oxidation resistant weld or braze alloys of lower strength than the blade body superalloy substrate, but having higher ductility and lower application temperature that does not negatively impact the superalloy substrate's material properties.
Given the shortcomings of superalloy structural repair welding, often the only commercially acceptable solution is to scrap damaged turbine blades that require structural repair, because past experience has shown limited success of such structural repairs. Thus repairs have been limited to those that have in the past been proven to be performed successfully by cosmetic welding, employing more ductile welding rod filler materials with reduced structural strength. In circumstances where structural welding repairs are successfully performed, cosmetic welding repairs are often performed on blade portions that do not need structural repairs. This required two different repair modes to be used on the same blade.
Thus, a need exists in the art for a method for performing structural repairs on surfaces of superalloy components, such as turbine blades, so structurally damaging cracks and other surface defects can be repaired.
Another need exists in the art to increase successful rates of structural repairs on surfaces of superalloy components, such as turbine blades, so that damaged blade scrap rates can be reduced.
Yet another need exists in the art for a method for performing structural repairs of superalloy components, such as turbine blades, with proven, repeatable repair techniques and post-repair heat treatment procedures that do not require complex welding.
Another need also exists in the art for a universal method for performing repairs of superalloy components, such as turbine blades that can be used for repair of all blade defects.

Isothermal structural repair of superalloy components including turbine blades


An object positioning device and method for positioning an object in a desired position relative to another object. In one aspect, the invention provides a device for aligning hitching components used in coupling a trailer to a towing vehicle. The invention also provides an apparatus for positioning an object upheld by a-base over a supporting surface, comprising a plurality of independently adjustable plumb devices associated with the base. This object positioning apparatus is beneficial in adjusting the verticality of a target supported over the coupling on a trailer used in the trailer hitch alignment device of the present invention.

I. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to object positioning aids, and in particular to an optically guided system for aligning hitching components used in coupling a trailer to a towing vehicle.
II. Description of the Prior Art
Maneuvering a towing vehicle into position for coupling with a trailer can be a difficult and time consuming endeavor. This task typically requires the driver of the towing vehicle to estimate the distance between the hitching components. Often, the driver must repeatedly leave the towing vehicle to gauge the orientation of the hitch relative to the coupling unit on the trailer. Even with another person's assistance, this exercise can be a frustrating and divisive chore. In either case, success usually is achieved by trial and error. Even worse, failed attempts to successfully align the hitching components can cause damage to trunks, tailgates and plastic bumpers.
Numerous trailer hitching guides are known in the art. Examples range from alignment guides of telescoping rods to systems comprising proximity sensors with LED displays. Many of the simpler, less expensive devices can be inaccurate or easily compromised by inclement weather. More complex systems can be costly and cumbersome. Few, if any, are universally applicable to a wide variety of styles and sizes of hitching components and road conditions. For example, some devices can be ineffective in rough terrain or on an incline.
A number of trailer hitching systems comprise targeted light beams. One system utilizes a pair of light beams positioned on a towing vehicle and directed toward a target on a trailer. The light beams are in contrasting colors and are angled relative to the longitudinal axis of the towing vehicle. In order to determine whether the hitching components are in proper alignment for engagement, both of the light beams must intersect at a point on the target, creating a third colored light. This system requires the driver to focus simultaneously on two moving light beams while maneuvering the vehicle to cause the beams to intersect each other at a point. Moreover, problems with depth perception or color blindness could further increase the difficulty of using this system.
Accordingly, a need exists for a trailer hitch alignment system which is accurate, inexpensive and easy to use. There is a need for a durable, sturdy device which can withstand adverse weather conditions. Needs also exist for trailer hitch positioning devices which are useful in any terrain and/or which are compatible with a wide range of coupling units. The present invention satisfies these needs as well as others and overcomes the deficiencies of the prior art.


A carbonylation catalytic system comprises (A) a combination of (A1) a Group VIII metal source of Periodic Table of the Elements (e.g., palladium, palladium chloride) supported on a carrier, (A2) a ligand such as triphenylphosphine and (A3) an acid such as an alkylsulfonic acid, or (B) a combination of (B1) the Group VIII metal source except for palladium (e.g., a platinum compound), (B2) a ligand such as triphenylphosphine and (B3) an electron donative compound having an electron donability .DELTA..nu.D of not less than 2 (for instance, an amine such as a heterocyclic tertiary amine). The catalytic system (B) may further comprise (B4) an acid such as methanesulfonic acid. In the presence of the catalytic system (A) or (B), an acetylenic or olefinic unsaturated compound is allowed to react with carbon monoxide and a nucleophilic compound having an active hydrogen such as water, an alcohol and a carboxylic acid in a liquid phase to give an unsaturated or saturated carboxylic acid or an ester thereof with high transformation rate and selectivity.

Catalytic systems and technologies for carbonylation of an acetylenic or olefinic unsaturated compound have been proposed. Typical carbonylation reactions include a method which comprises allowing an acetylenic or olefinic unsaturated compound to react with carbon monoxide and a nucleophilic compound. In this method, a carbonylation catalyst comprises a Group VIII metal source of Periodic Table of the Elements and a phosphine which is a typical ligand.
EP-A1-106379, EP-A1-235864, EP-A1-274795 and EP-A1-279447 disclose catalytic systems for carbonylation comprising a palladium compound, a triarylphosphine and a proton acid and methods for carbonylation of an acetylenic unsaturated compound and an olefinic compound with the use of such catalytic systems.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 29212/1993 (JP-B-5-29212), Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 176549/1986 (JP-A-61-176549), Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 72649/1987 (JP-A-62-72649) and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 154646/1988 (JP-A-63-154646) disclose carbonylation catalytic systems comprising a bivalent palladium compound, an organic phosphine and a proton acid, and methods for carbonylation of an acetylenic unsaturated compound and an olefinic compound by using the catalytic systems. The Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 154646/1988 (JP-A-63-154646) describes that a homogeneous compound is rather preferred as the palladium compound than a heterogeneous compound and that a phosphine having a heterocyclic group is used as the organic phosphine and, as an inert solvent, N-methylpyrrolidone is preferred.
Further, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 215851/1992 (JP-A-4-215851) discloses a catalytic system for carbonylation which comprises a Group VIII metal source of Periodic Table of the Elements, a phosphine substituted with an aromatic substitute containing an imino-nitrogen atom, a proton source and an anion source of an alkylsulfonic acid, and a method for carbonylation of an acetylenic unsaturated compound and an olefinic compound using the catalytic system. Moreover, Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 21852/1992 (JP-A-4-21852) discloses a catalytic system comprising a Group VIII metal source, a phosphine having an imino-nitrogen atom-containing aromatic substituent, a proton source and an anion source of an alkylsulfonic acid, and a method of carbonylation of an acetylenic or olefinic unsaturated compound with the use of the catalytic system. There is described in these literatures, JP-A-4-215851 and JP-A-4-215852, that as the Group VIII metal source of Periodic Table of the Elements, a compound containing the Group VIII metal, specifically a palladium compound is rather preferred than an element in a metallic state.
According to these technologies, a methacrylic acid ester, for example, can be obtained from methylacetylene, carbon monoxide and an alcohol without using sulfuric acid in a large quantity. Therefore, these technologies are superior to the acetone-cyanohydrin method for a production of a methacrylic acid ester in a point that a methacrylic acid ester can be produced without exhausting industrial wastes such as waste sulfuric acid.
The catalytic systems used in the methods have, however, a significant disadvantage that they have a short catalyst life although having an initial activity to a certain extent, and thus they are not suitable as a catalyst for commercial use. By way of illustration, in carbonylation of an acetylenic unsaturated compound, use of a heterogeneous catalytic system comprising a catalytic component in a metallic state such as palladium black as the catalytic system results in not so much high catalytic activity and causes a significant decrease of the catalytic activity in a short period. When a homogeneous catalytic system containing a palladium compound such as palladium chloride is used as the catalytic system, the palladium compound is reduced in the course of the reaction to precipitate as a metallic simple substance in the reaction system, and a ligand such as an organic phosphine is oxidized which results in a decreased catalytic activity.
In fact, a practical use of a palladium compound as a component of the above-mentioned catalytic system in a carbonylation reaction results in metalation of palladium to rapidly precipitate or dispose in the reaction mixture and thus in decrease of the catalytic activity and reaction rate for carbonylation.
Further, as set forth in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 215852/1992 (JP-A-4-215852), when a catalytic system comprising a Group VIII element and an triarylphosphine as base components is incorporated with a tertiary amine, the catalytic properties of the catalyst is quite decreased in a carbonylation of an olefin. Therefore, in the method using a tertiary amine such as pyridine as described in the Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 215852/1992 (JP-A-4-215852), a phosphine having an aromatic substituent containing an imino-nitrogen atom (e.g., bisphenyl-2-pyridylphosphine) is required to be used as the phosphine, and components for the catalytic system are remarkably restricted. Moreover, the catalytic system comprising a palladium compound as the catalytic component shows insufficient catalytic activity.

Catalytic systems and methods for carbonylation