Enriching and balancing the acoustic spectrum radiated by a propeller by introducing a differential pitch angle on certain blades of the propeller. Modifying the acoustic spectrum makes it possible to render the propeller noise more pleasant to the human ear.

Reducing the noise of aircraft has represented for a few years now a substantial socio-economic challenge. Indeed, air traffic is constantly growing, whether in terms of the number of flights or by the size of the aircraft. This growth is however up against the harmonious integration of commercial aviation activity into the environment due to the noise pollution generated by the aircraft.
As such, the high sound levels emitted by the aircraft in take-off and approach phase are particularly inconveniencing for the citizens living close to airports and the authorities therefore are forcing aircraft manufacturers to reduce these noises.
On the other hand, the requirements of the passengers in terms of comfort are increasing, and the reduction of the engine noises in the cabin is a substantial factor in terms of improving this comfort.
Consequently, reducing acoustic emissions of aircraft is one of the priorities of aircraft manufacturers.
Reducing the noise of aircraft is however a scientific and technical challenge as the notion of noise entails complex phenomena which are still poorly known, such as psycho-acoustics which relates to the perception of noises by the human ear.
Noise is defined as any unpleasant and inconveniencing auditory sensation and any acoustic phenomenon producing this sensation.
The studies carried out in psycho-acoustics show that the sensation of the discomfort caused by a noise depends primarily on its purity, its intensity and its frequency.
The human auditory system is sensitive to frequencies ranging from 20 Hz to a maximum of about 20,000 Hz. However, it is known that the human ear does not have the same sensitivity for all of the audible frequencies and as such the relation between the perception of a pure noise and the intensity of this noise is not linear.
FIG. 1 shows as such isosonic curves of the human ear according to the standard ISO226:2003. These curves show a measurement of the sound pressure (in decibels A), according to the frequency, that a person perceives as a sound of the same level.
With regards to FIG. 1, it is observed that the human ear is less sensitive to the low frequencies. Consequently, the human brain accepts more easily, for the same amount of power, a low-frequency audible signal than a high- or medium-frequency audible signal. By way of example, a sound of 50 dB(A) and with a frequency of 1000 Hz produces an auditory sensation that is stronger than a sound of 50 dB(A) with a frequency of 100 Hz. Note in addition that the human ear is particularly sensitive to frequencies between 1000 Hz and 3000 Hz.
On the other hand, the human brain accepts more easily an audible signal emitted over a wide band of frequencies than pure or tonal noise. Indeed, studies carried out on many subjects show that the human ear perceives a sound as pleasant if the latter is comprised of a high number of frequencies.
Reducing the noise of an aircraft requires taking its motorisation into account: turboprop or turbojet.
In a turbojet, the various vaned wheels, such as the fan and the vaned wheels of the compressor or compressors, are ducted.
Many studies have been conducted in order to decrease the noises due to turbojet aircraft, which represent the majority of the world fleet. The noises emitted by the rotors of turbojets are particularly inconveniencing as their fundamental frequency is of a few thousand Hertz (of a magnitude of 1000-2000 Hz), frequencies to which the human ear is particularly sensible, as shown in FIG. 1.
As such, U.S. Pat. No. 5,966,525 relates to the acoustic radiation of a turbojet induced by geometrical imprecisions of the assembly of the vanes of its rotors. This additional source of noise is known under the name of Buzz Saw Noise (BSN).
Due to the fairing of the rotor, certain harmonics are propagated outside of the air duct wherein this rotor moves, while others are evanescent. The method described in this patent then consists in displacing the energy of the acoustic spectrum of the turbojet, and more particularly of its BSN component, in order to concentrate it in the non-propagative portion of the acoustic spectrum. For this purpose, the vanes of the rotor, having slight geometrical variations between them, are distributed regularly around the axis of the rotor and in a sinusoidal manner with a high period in order to concentrate the energy on harmonics of a low degree with an evanescent nature.
This technique, although it is effective, is however complex since it requires manufacturing different vanes, with slight geometrical variations.
The noise reduction techniques applied to turbojets cannot be applied to turboprops.
Indeed, the propeller of a turboprop is not ducted and as such all of the frequencies in the spectrum of its audible signal are transmitted. The same applies in the case of turbomachines with a couple of unducted contrarotating propellers, also referred to as "open rotor".
In addition, the rotating speeds of a propeller of a turboprop or of an "open rotor" are substantially less than those of a rotor of the vaned wheels of a turbojet. Indeed, the fundamental frequency of the acoustic spectrum radiated by a propeller of this type is of a few hundred Hertz in such a way that the techniques that can reduce the noise of it are very different.
The fundamental frequency of the acoustic spectrum radiated by a propeller is easily calculated. In the case of a conventional propeller with n blades rotating at a rotating speed R (rpm), the propeller returns to an initial state for a rotation of 1/n revolutions. The period of the acoustic phenomenon is given by:
                              T                                                              1                =                              (                          60              R                        )                    ·                      (                          1              /              n                        )                                              (        1        )
and the frequency of the acoustic phenomenon is:f1=1/T1=(R·n)/60  (2)
In particular, the fundamental frequency of acoustic radiation of a propeller with 6 blades is f=RPM/10 since the propeller returns to its initial state every 1/6 revolutions.
The traction of a propeller is a determining parameter on the level of noise in db(A) that it radiates. Indeed, an increase of the traction is equivalent to an increase in the load of the propeller inducing a noise referred to as "load" or dipolar noise.
The increase of the traction in transonic configuration also induces an increase in the intensity of the shocks on the blade, and therefore of the shock noise referred to as "quadrupole".
FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatical representation of the forces being exerted on an aerofoil of a propeller blade of an aircraft.
The traction vector T of the blade 1, directed according to the direction of the flight of the aircraft, is given by the projection of the total force Ft on the engine axis X, or axis of rotation of the propeller. The blade 1, of which the aerofoil is similar to that of an aircraft wing, has indeed a relative velocity W and is subjected to a lift force Fz, perpendicular to its relative velocity vector W and a drag force Fx, collinear to its relative velocity vector W.
The traction T delivered by a blade of a propeller is in particular linked to the pitch angle β of the blades by the intermediary of the angle of incidence α and of the angle φ that the relative velocity vector W of the aerofoil forms with the plane of rotation of the propeller Y. Indeed, the angles β, α and φ are linked by the following relationship:β=α+φ  (3)
Pitch angle means the angle between the chord of an aerofoil of a blade of the propeller and a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the propeller. The chord is defined as the segment connecting the leading edge with the trailing edge of the blade.
A propeller blade comprises a blade root by means of which the blade is fixed on the hub of the propeller, as well as an aerodynamic portion extending radially towards the exterior in relation to the axis of rotation of the propeller from the root of the blade. The aerodynamic portion comprises a plurality of aerofoils between its radially inner end, referred to as base of the blade and located nearby the root of the blade, and its radially outer end, referred to as blade tip.
In this description, the aerofoil chosen to define the pitch angle is the aerofoil of the base of the blade.
The pitch angle of the set of blades of a propeller can be modified during the flight, in a controlled manner or automatically, in order to modify the traction supplied by the propeller.
Certain tests have been carried out in order to reduce the noise of an aft rotor of a helicopter. One solution tested consists in designing a rotor wherein the distribution of the blades around the axis of rotation is not regular, in order to reduce the interaction noise of the rotor with its supports. However, such a system is relatively complex and fragile and cannot be applied to a turbomachine propeller without considerably increasing the mass and the maintenance costs of the latter. This type of solution is therefore not optimal in the framework of a large-scale commercial operation.

Propeller for an aircraft engine comprising means for reducing noise at middle and high frequencies and improving the acoustic perception


A microelectronic device structure includes a package flange with a body having a body upper surface, a substantially circular body interior sidewall defining an opening in the body upper surface, and a substantially circular inlay made of CVD diamond. The inlay is received into the substantially circular opening and has an inlay exterior sidewall which is adjacent to the body interior sidewall and is brazed thereto. The inlay has an inlay upper surface that is substantially coplanar with the body upper surface. A microelectronic device is affixed to the inlay upper surface.

This invention relates to microelectronic device structures, and, more particularly, to increasing the thermal conductivity of the package flange that supports the microelectronic device.
A microelectronic device typically has a large number of active and passive circuit elements formed in a semiconductor material, the unitary structure being termed a die or chip. The die is small in size and relatively fragile. It is therefore affixed to and supported on a support structure which includes a package flange and, optionally, a cover. The support structure physically supports and protects the die, and provides the points of electrical interconnection to the circuit elements on the die.
The removal of heat from microelectronic devices, particularly from those that process high-power signals, is often the limiting factor in their utilization. If a sufficient quantity of heat is not removed, the temperature of the microelectronic device rises and eventually exceeds its operating limits. In the usual case, the support structure provides a conductive heat flow path for removal of heat from the die. A number of different support materials and support structure designs have been developed to maximize the removal of heat from the microelectronic device and through the support structure.
Chemical vapor deposited (CVD) diamond has been identified as a particularly useful material of construction for the support structure, because of its high thermal conductivity. However, the CVD diamond is expensive, and usually constitutes only a portion of the support structure directly under the die of the microelectronic device. That is, the CVD diamond portion of the support structure is bonded to the remainder of the support structure, and the microelectronic device is mounted to the CVD diamond portion.
While this approach is operable, it has drawbacks. Differential thermal strains and stresses between the remainder of the support structure, the diamond portion of the support structure, and the microelectronic device die can adversely affect the operation of the microelectronic device and/or lead to debonding. The interface between the diamond and the remainder of the support structure constitutes a thermal impedance in the heat flow away from the microelectronic device, and a high-conductivity interface may be difficult to achieve in the case of diamond.
There is a need for an improved approach to heat removal from microelectronic device dies in package structures. The present invention fulfills this need, and further provides related advantages.
The present invention provides a microelectronic device structure having a package flange with improved thermal properties to remove heat from a supported electronic device. A composite diamond structure is used, but differential thermal strains and stresses are reduced as compared with prior approaches. Fabrication of the package flange with precision alignment is readily achieved.
In accordance with the invention, a microelectronic device structure comprises a package flange having a body with a body upper surface, a substantially circular body interior sidewall defining an opening in the body upper surface, and a substantially circular inlay comprising diamond, preferably chemical vapor deposited (CVD) diamond. The inlay is received into the substantially circular opening of the body upper surface, and the inlay has an inlay exterior sidewall that is adjacent to, and preferably contacting in places, the body interior sidewall. Preferably, the inlay has an inlay upper surface which is substantially coplanar with the body upper surface. In service, a microelectronic device is typically affixed to the inlay upper surface.
In one embodiment, the body comprises a planar shim and a planar base contacting and affixed to the shim. The body interior sidewall extends through the base but not through the shim. Preferably, the shim is copper and the base is copper-tungsten or Silvar(trademark) material.
To facilitate fabrication and minimize differential thermal strains and stresses, the inlay exterior sidewall is preferably tapered inwardly with increasing distance from an inlay upper surface. The inlay is press fit into the opening, and then the inlay exterior sidewall is affixed to the body interior sidewall with a joining material.
The present approach uses a circular diamond inlay, rather than a diamond inlay of another shape. The use of the circular inlay maximizes the sidewall surface area through which heat is conducted for any selected upper surface area. The circular shape also minimizes the thermal stresses in the relatively brittle inlay, due to the short moment arm to the inlay exterior sidewall and the relatively large shear volume in the inlay.
Because circular inner and outer sidewalls may usually be cut more accurately to precision tolerances than other shapes, and the inner sidewall may be reamed to a precise dimension, the present approach permits the fabrication of the body and the inlay more readily than if another shape were used. The result is more accurate alignment of the body and the inlay, and a closer planarity of the upper surfaces of the body and the inlay.
During assembly, the inlay is press fit into the opening of the body, producing radially inwardly directed compressive stresses in the body that hold the inlay in place during subsequent brazing. The inwardly directed compressive stresses in the shim aid in maintaining a good contact at the circular interface between the inlay and the shim.
In the preferred embodiment wherein the body has two layers, the shim of which is soft copper, the copper may be easily planarized after the press fitting and brazing. The copper shim is easily made planar by sanding or other comparable operation.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following more detailed description of the preferred embodiment, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the invention. The scope of the invention is not, however, limited to this preferred embodiment.

Microelectronic device structure utilizing a diamond inlay in a package flange


A recording head is configured to selectively eject ink droplets from nozzles. A head board is configured to control the recording head to operate based on a high-frequency signal outputted from a control board. A carriage is configured to move in a reciprocating manner, with the recording head and the head board mounted thereon. A belt-like cable connects the control board and the head board so that the high-frequency signal can be transmitted therebetween. The cable has such flexibility that the cable can change a posture following reciprocating movement of the carriage. The cable has a first surface facing in a thickness direction of the cable. The cable has a reflective layer at a part of each of both end portions of the first surface with respect to a longitudinal direction of the first surface. The reflective layer is configured to reflect an electromagnetic wave.

An inkjet recording apparatus is known that ejects ink droplets from a recording head to perform image recording on a recording medium such as recording paper. In the inkjet recording apparatus, the recording head is mounted on a carriage, and the recording head, the carriage, and the like constitute a recording section. A driving source such as a motor transmits driving force to the carriage so that the carriage moves reciprocatingly in a certain direction. While the carriage moves reciprocatingly, the recording head ejects ink droplets onto the recording medium. With this operation, an image is formed on the recording medium.


A folding structure (16) has a plurality of elongated posts (18), with a plurality of tubular truss members (20). A plurality of connectors (22) are affixed to the elongated posts (18) vertically and the tubular truss members (20) horizontally together to form a fully assembled collapsible enclosure, that can be unfolded into a four sided framework to be utilized when needed and then can be folded up into a compact package to be stored when not in use.

1. Field of the Invention
The instant invention relates generally to canopy supports and more specifically it relates to a folding structure. The folding structure is a collapsible fully assembled framework that can be unfolded into an enclosure when needed and then folded up into a compact size for storage.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Numerous canopy supports have been provided in prior art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,607,656 to Carter is illustrative of such prior art. This patent shows a quick-erect collapsible shelter having four or more telescoping legs. The present invention uses pivoting members for collapsing the structure and not telescoping members. While this unit may be suitable for the particular purpose to which it addresses, it would not be as suitable for the purposes of the present invention as heretofore described.


A rotary electric machine including a brush used to supply a field current to a field winding of a rotor, a brush holder holding the brush, a power circuit portion connected to a heat sink having fins, and a case covering the power circuit portion and the brush holder. An air passage is provided between the brush holder and the fins of the heat sink, and an opening is provided to the case so as to cover component members of the brush holder in a shape conforming to an outer peripheral portion of the brush holder, from which cooling air is allowed to pass through the air passage.

In the related art, for example, in a field winding rotary electric machine for vehicle, component members are being highly integrated due to downsizing of a rotary electric machine and upsizing of wiring members to meet the demands for improvement of fuel efficiency and a higher output.
Members forming a rotary electric machine are reduced in size and installed in a crammed fashion to meet the demand that the rotary electric machine be downsized, and clearances among the members are becoming smaller. In particular, wirings are becoming more complicated in a motor generator that includes an inverter portion formed of power semiconductor elements performing switching operations in the interior than in an alternator that uses a rectifier formed of diode elements. Accordingly, a degree of integration of component members in the interior of the rotary electric machine becomes higher.
Further, to meet the demand for a higher output, a current flowing to brushes that supply a field current to the power semiconductor elements and a field winding, a field winding portion provided to a rotor, and an armature winding portion provided to a stator is increasing and so is an amount of heat generated in the respective portions. Herein, there may be a need to upsize the members depending on magnitude of the current.
Also, a brush holder that holds the brush and protects the brush from foreign matter from the outside is attached to the brush. The brush holder is installed in the vicinity of a power circuit portion from its current path. For these reasons, arrangement density of component members is particularly high in the periphery of the power circuit portion and the brush portion.
However, the structure of the rotary electric machine allows foreign matter, such as dust, to readily enter the vicinity of the power portion and the brush holder. Although the rotary electric machine is installed inside the engine room of the vehicle, a member, such as a housing, is provided with a large number of openings for intake of cooling air. Foreign matter, such as dust and a corrosion product produced by salt water, coming inside from these openings enters the interior of the rotary electric machine.
In such cases, foreign matter, such as dust and a corrosion product produced by salt water, deposits in the vicinity of a heat sink connected to a power module and the brush holder and eventually clogs a ventilation path of cooling air or fins of the heat sink or causes a deficiency arising from a short circuit between current-passing members. Consequently, the rotary electric machine suffers a breakdown or an operational failure and cooling performance for the component members is deteriorated.
Also, in the rotary electric machine for vehicle, a field current is supplied from the brush to the field winding of the stator via a slip ring. In this instance, the brush slides while being pressed against the slip ring by a spring attached behind the brush. The brush and the slip ring generate heat caused by an electrical loss in the sliding portion, sliding friction, and electrical losses in their own current-passing paths. A pair of the slip ring and the brush is provided on each of a plus side and a minus side. Hence, in order to ensure electrical insulation between the plus side and the minus side, the brushes and the slip rings are generally covered with insulating resin or the like and retained. In addition, the brush holder storing the brush therein prevents entry of foreign matter and moisture from the outside and is also furnished with a function of discharging brush abrasion powder.
Hence, a slight clearance is provided to discharge brush abrasion powder. However, a percentage of cooling air generated by a cooling fan installed to the rotor and supplied to an abutting portion of the slip ring and the brush is small. Because of these factors, the slip rings and the brushes become hot particularly at the abutting portion.
For example, PTL 1 (JP-A-2006-166681) describes a rotary electric machine for vehicle. This rotary electric machine for vehicle has a power circuit portion formed of switching elements and a pair of inverter modules connected to the switching elements in parallel and a control circuit portion that controls the power circuit portion. With respect to a flow of cooling air generated by a centrifugal fan firmly attached to the rotor, the control circuit portion is installed upstream and the power circuit portion is separately installed downstream. The control circuit portion is provided with a through-hole so that the cooling air flows linearly by way of the power circuit portion.
Also, PTL 2 (JP-A-2004-274992) describes an idling stop control device. This control device includes switching elements directly fixed onto a heat sink of substantially a disc shape and a circuit board having a printed wiring layer fixed onto the heat sink. A control IC and the like are attached onto this circuit board. Double side-frame portions are attached along an entire outer periphery and an entire inner periphery of the heat sink. The heat sink is fixed to a rear-end outer wall of a bracket via the outer peripheral side-frame portion. A ring-like concave portion surrounded by the inner and outer peripheral side-frame portions of the heat sink is filled with resin. Owing to this structure, the switching elements, the circuit board, the control IC, and the like are readily protected from environmental factors, such as brine mud water. Hence, durability and reliability can be enhanced.
Also, the control device has a cooling structure by which a resin cover covering the heat sink is fixed to the bracket, and cooling air flowing in from air inlet holes provided to the resin cover flows into the bracket while cooling the heat sink and is blown off to the outside from the bracket after it cools the stator winding and the rotor winding.


Power measuring reference signals from a plurality of base stations are transmitted with a predetermined electric power. These reference signals transmitted from the base stations are received by a mobile station. The propagation loss of each base station is detected in response to a reception power of the received reference signal. When the mobile station issues a communication request, the mobile station connects to a communication network between it and a base station with the detected smallest propagation loss. Then, a ratio between the reception power of the reference signal transmitted from the base station connected with the communication network and reception powers of the reference signals transmitted from all other base stations using the same frequency band as that of the base station connected with the communication network is detected and the value of the detected ratio is transmitted to the base station. Then, the base station controls the transmission power of the communication network based on the value of this ratio.

The present invention relates to a cellular-phone system applicable to a mobile communication system such as a radiotelephone system.
Heretofore, there has been developed a communication system called a cellular-phone system for making radio communication possible between a base station and a mobile station such as mobile telephone or portable telephone.
As shown in FIG. 1, a plurality of base stations BS01, BS02, BS03, . . . are located at a predetermined interval (e.g., at an interval of several kilometers) within a service area. When a mobile station MS existing within the service area communicates with a base station, the mobile station MS receives signals from base stations and judges on the basis of the received signals a most suitable base station (generally, base station located at the nearest position). Then, the mobile station MS supplies a network connection request signal to this base station to set a radio communication network between it and the most suitable base station, thereby making a communication with a called person via the base station connected between it and the communication network.
In the case of the above cellular-phone system, a base station side adjusts a power of a transmission signal in response to a communication state with the mobile station connected to the base station via a communication network. Specifically, the base station side detects a reception level of a signal transmitted from the mobile station. If the detected reception level is high, then the base station lowers the transmission power. If the detected reception level is low, then the base station raises the transmission power. As a consequence, the reception level on the mobile station side can be made relatively constant. Therefore, it can be expected that the communication state can be held constant regardless of the distance between the mobile station and the base station.
In actual practice, however, the reception signal at the mobile station is interfered with by a signal from another base station so that, even when the transmission power is controlled as described above, it is impossible to improve a transmission characteristic considerably. Specifically, if the reception level at the base station, for example, is high, then the transmission power is lowered. In the reception state at the base station, there is then the large possibility that a received signal will be interfered with by some waves on the basis of the state of the transmission line. When the transmission power is lowered, a reception rate of interference wave is increased and a reception state at the mobile station is degraded. There is then the large possibility that a signal from the base station will not be received accurately.
Conversely, if the reception level at the base station is low, then the transmission output is raised. However, if the transmission power of the base station is raised, then such raised transmission power becomes a disturbing wave in the adjacent area of another base station, which the becomes a large interference source for hindering the other base station from making a communication.
FIGS. 2A and 2B are diagrams showing the changes of channel interference ratio (hereinafter simply referred to as CIR) obtained when a transmission power is controlled in the base station. FIG. 2A shows measured results of the change of CIR obtained when the transmission power is not controlled in the base station. FIG. 2B shows measured results of the change of CIR obtained when the transmission power is not changed in response to the reception level.
When the transmission power is not controlled as shown in FIG. 2A, study of transmission power distribution on the right-hand side of FIG. 2A reveals that the transmission power is constant, whereas the channel interference ratio (CIR) is distributed in a wide range. Accordingly, if the transmission power is controlled, there are then many mobile stations which cannot receive a transmission signal due to a large channel interference ratio.
When the transmission power is changed in response to the reception level as shown in FIG. 2B, the transmission power on the right-hand side is largely distributed before and after the reference level and a distribution range of the channel interference ratio (CIR) shown on the left-hand side is narrowed to some extent. Therefore, study of FIG. 2B shows that a reception state could be improved to a certain extent. However, although the transmission power is controlled as described above, the distribution range of the channel interference ratio (CIR) is still large so that there are many mobile stations which cannot receive a transmission signal satisfactorily.
To solve the aforesaid problems, it is proposed to prevent an interference by extending a length in which base stations using the same frequency are located, i.e., enlarging a so-called frequency re-use size. Specifically, when the base stations are located in the state shown in FIG. 1, base stations BS01, BS11, BS21, BS31 and BS41 (base stations shown by open circles in FIG. 1) use the same frequency band (first frequency band) for communication, base stations BS02, BS12, BS22, BS32 and BS42 (base stations shown by open triangles in FIG. 1) use the same frequency band (second frequency band) for communication, and base stations BS03, BS13, BS23, BS33 and BS43 (base stations shown by open squares in FIG. 1) use the same frequency band (third frequency band) for communication, i.e., there are prepared base stations of frequency bands which are used in communications of three kinds in total. In this case, three-frequency band base stations using the first, second and third frequency bands constitute one re-use size R.
When the mobile station MS receives a channel of the first frequency band, there is the large possibility that the mobile station MS will be able to communicate with the nearest base station BS01 most satisfactorily. However, in this case, the mobile station MS receives signals from other base stations BS11, BS21, BS31, BS41 each using the same frequency band for communication. As a result, the signals from these base stations BS11, BS21, BS31, BS41 become interference waves.
In order to lower the level of the interference wave, it is proposed to increase the scale of the re-use size R by increasing the kinds of the frequency bands used and by increasing the number of base stations composing one re-use size R (the number of base stations using different frequency bands). If the re-use size R is increased in scale as described above, then this cellular-phone system uses many more frequencies. As a consequence, the efficiency at which the cellular-phone system uses the frequencies is lowered.
Since the dynamic range of the reception level at the base station reaches several 10s of decibels, if the transmission power from the base station is controlled by the level proportional to such dynamic range, then reception waves with considerably different level ratios exist in the carriers. There is then the disadvantage that an adjacent channel interference ratio on the reception side is increased.

Method of and apparatus for acquiring strength information from received signals transmitted by a plurality of base stations and for transmitting a signal thereof


Techniques related to a low-power, low-memory multiply and accumulate (MAC) unit are described. In an example, the MAC unit performs a MAC operation that represents a multiplication of numbers. At least the bit representation of one number is compressed based on a quantization and a clustering of quantization values, whereby index bits are used instead of the actual bit representation. The index bits are loaded in an index buffer and a bit representation of another number is loaded in an input buffer. The index bits are used in a lookup to determine whether the corresponding bit representation and shift operations are applied to the input buffer based on this bit representation, followed by accumulation operations.

At a hardware level of a processor, a value for a variable can be quantized and the quantization can be represented by a sequence of bits. Further, multiply and accumulate (MAC) operations can be used based on the bit representations.
In deep neural network (DNN) applications (e.g., image processing, video recognition), quantizations may be used to represent values used by a DNN. Generally, the most computationally intensive operations in the training and inference of the DNN are the MAC operations. In computing, especially at digital signal processor (DSP) levels, a MAC operation can compute the product of two numbers and add that product to an accumulator. The hardware unit that performs the operation is known as a MAC unit. The MAC operation modifies an accumulator a: a←a+(b*c). When floating-point numbers are used in the MAC operation, it might be performed with two roundings (typical in many DSPs) or with a single rounding. The DNN can use millions to billions of floating-point weights, and hence the floating-point MAC operation consumes a significant amount of power. This becomes a critical issue when DNNs are deployed to an edge device or an Internet of Things (IoT) device, such as a cellphone, a solid-state drive (SSD), or a camera, which has limited memory footprint and power budget.

Low-power, low-memory multiply and accumulate (MAC) unit


A camshaft assembly comprising an outer shaft, an inner shaft received within the outer shaft, and a bushing disposed about the inner shaft, the bushing having an outer surface defining at least one longitudinal groove extending at least partially along a length of the bushing, wherein the longitudinal groove cooperates with the outer shaft to define a fluid passage.

Camshaft phasing mechanisms allow selective adjustment of valve timing for internal combustion engines by selectively advancing or retarding the positions at least some of the lobes on a camshaft, thereby allowing associated valve movements to occur either earlier or later in the combustion cycle. For example, engines may operate more efficiently or effectively during one set of operating conditions when the valve timing is advanced, i.e., such that a valve(s) movement occurs earlier during the combustion cycle. Additionally, it may be desirable during a second set of operating conditions to retard the valve timing, i.e., such that a valve(s) movement occurs later during the combustion cycle. Adjusting the relative positions of at least some of the lobes on a camshaft allows internal combustion engines to operate with improved fuel economy, torque, and emissions.
Camshaft phasing mechanisms typically may be selectively positioned between at least two different settings ranging from fully advanced to fully retarded positions. Some systems employ oil pressure resulting from engine operation to selectively actuate phasing mechanisms during engine operation. These systems rely upon oil pressure to maintain a desired cam position and the resulting timing of a given valve. As a result, when engine operation ceases and oil pressure is lost the cam phasing mechanism may default to a position at either extreme of the phasing range, i.e., a fully advanced or fully retarded position. When the engine is subsequently started again, the valve will necessarily be in the default position for at least a short period of time, e.g., until engine oil pressure rises sufficiently to allow use of the phasing system. However, this may result in non-ideal engine start conditions. More specifically, at engine startup and especially during a cold temperature startup, it may be more desirable to have the camshaft positioned at a position in between the fully advanced and fully retarded position. There have been subsequent attempts at achieving an intermediate position, however proposed systems are complex and there is still a need for a cam phasing system that offers a sufficient degree of control over cam phasing when oil pressure may not be available, e.g., during engine startup conditions. Moreover, camshafts used in adjustable valve phasing systems that are hydraulically actuated may require one or more fluid passages in order to provide hydraulic pressure to selectively advance or retard timing of a cam lobe. Known examples of such camshafts rely upon fluid passages that are machined in the shaft or another part of the cam phaser. Forming such passages in these components can be costly and time-consuming.
Accordingly, there is a need for a camshaft assembly for a variable valve timing system that addresses the above problems.

Camshaft assembly and intermediate cam phasing position


A knife is provided. The knife comprises a handle and a blade configured to pivot with respect to the handle between an open position wherein a cutting edge of the blade is exposed and a closed position wherein the cutting edge of the blade is disposed within the handle, the blade including an abutting surface. The knife may further comprise a locking assembly configured to releasably lock the blade in the open position, the locking assembly comprising a biased, rotatable member having a canted surface for engaging a corresponding surface on the blade, wherein the canted surface and the corresponding surface are configured to secure the blade relative to the handle in the open position.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to hand tools, and more specifically to a folding knife having a blade lock and release mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventional folding knives have various locks for locking the blade in the open position. For example, a conventional "lock back" style of folding knife provides for the blade to be locked in the open position, and the blade is released by depressing a lever into a cutout in the rear of the handle. However, this arrangement requires substantial repositioning of the entire knife in the user's hand in order to provide access and leverage for depressing the lever.
Furthermore, conventional folding knives do not necessarily lock the blade in the closed position. Thus, the knife may inadvertently open at inopportune times, presenting a hazard to the user.

Side blade lock and release mechanism for use with a knife


In a control information receiving method, a second device receives m control channels from a first device. Control information carried on the m control channels corresponds to a same hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) process and is consecutive control information of the HARQ process, control information carried on each of the m control channels includes false alarm indication information, and m is a positive integer greater than or equal to 2. The second device determines, based on a combined state of false alarm indication information carried on the m control channels, whether there is a false alarm in control information carried on at least one of the m control channels.

As communications technologies develop, a long term evolution (LTE) system is more widely applied. In the LTE system, each time of uplink or downlink transmission is performed in a unit of subframes. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a frame structure of an existing subframe. Before downlink data transmission (to be specific, before a network device sends downlink data to a terminal device), the network device needs to send downlink control information (DCI) to the terminal device in the first few symbols of a subframe, to notify scheduling information of the current data transmission, including a used time-frequency resource, a used modulation and coding scheme, and the like. After obtaining the DCI through blind detection, the terminal device correctly receives and demodulates the downlink data based on the time-frequency resource, the modulation and coding scheme, and other information that are indicated in the DCI.
In an existing LTE system, a 16-bit cyclic redundancy check (CRC) code is carried in each piece of DCI. The terminal device performs a CRC check each time of blind detection. If the CRC check succeeds, the terminal device considers that the DCI is sent by the network device to the terminal device, and then obtains content of the DCI through demodulation. There is a specific false alarm (to be specific, some other signals are incorrectly considered as DCI sent by the network device to the terminal device) probability in the CRC check.
Because a false alarm may occur on the terminal device, the network device and the terminal device have different interpretations on control information. Consequently, the terminal device cannot perform an operation such as data demodulation according to an instruction of the network device.

Control information sending method, control information receiving method, network device, and terminal device


Embodiments include a method and noise cancelling system for cancelling noise in a vehicle by operating at least one noise cancelling means in a first mode of operation to output a noise cancelling signal; receiving at least one input indicative of a state of the vehicle; determining if noise cancelling error conditions are present based on the at least one received input indicative of a state of the vehicle; and operating at least one noise cancelling means in a second mode of operation if noise cancelling error conditions are determined as present.

Noise, especially within a vehicle cabin, may be distracting or tiring for the occupants of the vehicle. Passive measures are commonly used to reduce noise within vehicle cabins. These measures comprise installing materials to dampen noise in the vehicle. However, such measures are bulky, add weight and have limited efficacy compared to active noise cancellation. Active noise cancellation involves the generation of a sound wave that cancels the sound wave associated with the undesirable cabin noise. The cancelling of the undesirable sound wave makes the vehicle cabin quieter for occupants of the vehicle.
It is an aim of at least certain embodiments of the present invention to at least mitigate one or more of the disadvantages of the prior art.

Method and system for reducing noise in a vehicle


A sliding mechanism includes a first plate (32) having a sliding slot (322) and a control slot (325) defined therein. The sliding slot and the control slot having a certain angle therebetween and communicating with each other. A second plate (38) is longitudinally slidably connected to the first plate. The second plate including a sliding member (381) formed on a surface thereof facing the first plate. The sliding member engages with the sliding slot and includes an elastic positioning assembly (389). A control assembly (34) is slidably received in the control slot. A main elastic member (36) has one end thereof being fixed to one end of the sliding slot, the other end thereof being fixed with the sliding member. A portable electronic device (100) using the sliding mechanism is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to sliding mechanisms and, particularly, to a portable electronic device with two or more housings configured with a sliding mechanism such that one housing is allowed to slide with respect to another housing in a longitudinal direction.
2. Description of related art
Portable electronic devices have been increasingly widely used with a multiplicity of functions. A mobile phone is exemplified as a portable electronic device that provides wireless communication services to its subscriber while wirelessly communicating with its base station. Rapid development in the field of information and telecommunication business has made it possible for mobile users to use a variety of functions and types of mobile phones available on the market. These mobile phones are generally classified into three or more types of handsets, such as, e.g., a bar-type handset, a flip-type handset with a flip cover, and a foldable handset with a folding mechanism adapted to be opened and closed about a main body at a given angle.
The sliding type of mobile handset has recently become more widely used. The sliding-type design typically includes two housings in which one housing is slidably opened or closed with respect to the other housing. However, these sliding type mobile handsets do not yet offer a variety of different designs, and for this reason, its users may feel some inconvenience in that they have to manually slide one housing with respect to the other housing in order to open or close it.
Thus, there is room for improvement within the art.

Sliding mechanism and portable electronic device using the same

Shenzhen Futaihong Precision Industry Co., Ltd.


A method of making a derivatized aminoglycoside includes reacting an aminoglycoside with at least 2 equivalents of a divalent metal ion in an aprotic solvent to complex two neighboring amino group and hydroxyl group pairs; reacting the non-complexed amino groups with a protecting reagent to provide protecting groups; removing the divalent metal ion to provide two unprotected amino groups; reacting one of the unprotected amino groups with a reactive substance containing an linker, a carrier, or a label; and removing the protecting groups. This method can be used to produce novel compounds and reagents.

Aminoglycosides are a family of highly potent, broad-spectrum antibiotics which can be used to treat infections caused by gram-negative as well as gram-positive bacteria. However, these antbiotics have a narrow therapeutic index and are potentially nephrotoxic and ototoxic. (M. Jolley, et al., Clin. Chem. 27(7), 1190-1197 (1981); U.S. Pat. No. 5,079,234.) Consequently, it is desirable for patients treated with aminoglycosides to be under close clinical observation to guide the safe therapeutic use of these antibiotics. An effective tool in the guidance is the monitoring of aminoglycoside concentration in the biological fluid of a treated patient, and there is a continuing effort to improve the performance and sensitivity of assays for aminoglycoside antibiotics.
In testing for analytes such as drug molecules (including aminoglycosides), immunoassays, particularly competitive binding immunoassays, have proven to be especially advantageous. In competitive binding immunoassays, an analyte in a biological sample competes with a labeled reagent, also known as an analyte analog or tracer, for a limited number of receptor binding sites on antibodies specific for the analyte and analyte analog. Enzymes such as β-galactosidase and peroxidase, fluorescent molecules such as fluorescein compounds, radioactive compounds such as 125I, and microparticles are common labeling substances used in tracers. The concentration of analyte in the sample determines the amount of analyte analog which will bind to the antibody. The amount of analyte analog that will bind is inversely proportional to the concentration of analyte in the sample, because the analyte and the analyte analog each bind to the antibody in proportion to their respective concentrations. The amount of free or bound analyte analog can then be determined by methods appropriate to the particular label being used.
The modification of aminoglycosides for use as well defined tracers in immunoassays can be problematic. The synthesis of aminoglycoside tracers typically yields a mixture of products, rather than site-specific derivatives due to the presence of multiple amino (N—H) functionalities (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,849,599; 4,816,391; 4,328,311; Mallams, J. C. S. Perkins I, 1981,2186-2208.) The desired product is difficult to separate from the mixture and cannot typically be characterized as a single product. This uncertainty leads to poor reproducibility of the synthesis and consequently to variations in product quality. Also, any further manipulations or modifications of the product are difficult, since the presence of unwanted products (side products) may interfere with the desired product. Variations in product quality can cause the analysis to have different characteristics for different batches of the tracer, thus requiring the user to calibrate the analysis each time a different batch of tracer is used.
It is thus desirable to provide aminoglycoside derivatives which can be easily isolated as pure, single products. It is also desirable to be able to modify the aminoglycosides to increase their utility under a wider variety of assay conditions.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Site-specific aminoglycoside derivatives for use in immunodiagnostic assays


A rack with platforms for mounting electronic equipment is suspended by elastic straps within a frame. The frame is resiliently supported on legs that are attached only by means of elastic cords, which are configured to absorb shock, particularly horizontal shock.

This invention relates to shock and vibration mounting for electronic equipment, and more particularly to an improved suspension involving elastic material under tension.
Shock and vibration are perennial concerns in mounting equipment, particularly electronic playback devices such as compact disk players. These problems are acute for those who use compact disk players for public gatherings, at which music is generally loud, a pause capability is essential, and where people may accidently bump the furniture on which the equipment is placed. The resulting shock is particularly severe in horizontal displacement.
Most resilient mounting systems depend on compression of elastic material for supporting vulnerable equipment. For example, Dryden (1964) discloses a vibration damping, system using springs and gas pressure for use in space vehicles. Some damping systems target a particular kind of motion; for example, a patent by Ilmer (1962) compensates for turning of a rotor assembly. An elaborate damping medium is disclosed by Cooper et al. (1984); a turntable floats in liquid, held in position by magnetic repulsion. Pettus (1925) discloses use of springs under tension for mounting an automotive tail light assembly, which reduces shock but does not provide damping. However, none of these anticipate the simple configuration of stretched rubber suspension members of the present invention.
One object of this invention is a suspension for electronic playback equipment using economical rubber straps to absorb shock and vibration. Another object is two levels of shock absorbing suspension: one between a rack and an outer frame, and another between the frame and each supporting leg. Still another object is a suspension that absorbs severe horizontal shock in particular.


A control device of a hybrid drive unit, wherein an output member is connected to a first prime mover, and wherein a second prime mover capable of outputting at least one of a positive torque and a negative torque is connected through a transmission to said output member, comprising: a running restriction judger for judging that a running control of at least one of said first prime mover and said second prime mover is restricted, and a shift point changer for changing a shift point, in which a decision of a gear shift of said transmission is to be satisfied when the running restriction judger judges that the running control is restricted, different from the shift point of a case in which the running control is not restricted.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a hybrid drive unit provided with two kinds of prime movers as a power source for driving a vehicle, and more particularly, to a control device for a hybrid drive unit, wherein a second prime mover is connected through a transmission to an output member, to which a power is transmitted from a first prime mover.
2. Related Art
An example of a control device of hybrid drive unit of this kind is disclosed in JP-A-2002-225578. In this publication, there is described the hybrid drive unit, in which an engine and a first motor generator are connected to each other through a synthesizing/distributing mechanism composed of a single pinion type planetary gear mechanism while an output member is connected to the synthesizing/distributing mechanism in a torque transmittable manner, and in which a second motor generator is connected to the output member through a gear shift mechanism.
According to the hybrid drive unit described in this publication, therefore, a torque synthesized from an output torque of an engine and a torque of the first motor generator in accordance with a gear ratio of the single pinion type planetary gear mechanism appears on an output shaft, and an engine speed can be controlled by the first motor generator. Therefore, it is possible for the engine to be driven for the optimum fuel consumption thereby to improve a fuel consumption of a vehicle. Moreover, the torque can be applied to the output shaft, by generating an electric power (i.e., regeneration of energy) by the first motor generator so as to drive the second motor generator by the electric power generated, when the engine is being driven at the optimum fuel consumption. Therefore, sufficient driving force can be obtained without deteriorating the fuel consumption. Moreover, the torque outputted by the second motor generator can be raised and transmitted to the output shaft, by having an gear ratio to be set by the transmission greater than "1". And in case the gear ratio is reduced (e.g., in case the transmission is set in a high speed stage), a speed of the second motor generator can be decreased so that the second motor generator can be changed into a low power type or a small size type.
The aforementioned hybrid drive unit is so-called "mechanical distribution type", and the same type of the hybrid drive unit is disclosed in JP-A-2000-295709. The unit disclosed in this publication is so constructed as to control the torque of individual motor generator when the gear shift is executed by the transmission.
Also, a motor-driven vehicle, in which the output torque of the electric motor is transmitted through the transmission to the output shaft is disclosed in JP-A-6-319210. In the vehicle disclosed in this publication, the torque of the electric motor and an apply pressure of the clutch at the shifting time is controlled with judging the situation at the shifting time.
In JP-A-2000-295720, moreover, there is described a so-called "series type hybrid drive unit", in which a electric generator is driven by the engine, and in which the electric motor is driven by an electric power generated by the electric generator. In this device, the gear shift is inhibited in case of driving on a downhill having a gradient steeper than the predetermined value.
In JP-A-9-9414, still moreover, there is described a hybrid drive unit, which is constructed to change a shift point on the basis of a remaining amount SOC (i.e., State of Charge) of the battery. Also, in JP-A-9-233606, there is described a hybrid drive unit, in which the vehicle is driven by the motor with reducing the gear ratio in the case the charging amount SOC remains sufficiently, and in which the vehicle is driven by the engine with greatening the gear ratio in the case the charging amount SOC does not remains sufficiently, on the contrary.
In the aforementioned so-called "mechanical distribution type" hybrid drive unit, as described in JP-A-225578, the second motor generator is connected through the transmission to the output shaft. Therefore, in case that the gear shift is made under the state where the second motor generator is controlling the run into a power mode or a regenerative mode, a transmission torque by the transmission falls during the shifting operation. As a result of this, the output shaft torque is changed and it may cause shocks. On the other hand, this hybrid drive unit is constructed to synthesize the output torque of the engine and the torque of the first motor generator by a planetary gear mechanism, as they are outputted, so that the output shaft torque can be controlled by the first motor generator. Therefore, it is considerable to control the first motor generator thereby to suppress or prevent such torque change at the shifting time by the transmission.
Since the first motor generator and the engine are connected through the planetary gear mechanism, as thus far described, the torque which acts on the engine as a reaction is changed when, for example, the torque of the first motor generator is changed in order to raise the output shaft torque. The engine does not output the torque when the vehicle is driven by the torque of the second motor generator with the engine being halted. Therefore, in case that the torque of the first motor generator is changed so as to suppress the reduction of the output shaft torque at the shifting time in the transmission, the torque to rotate the engine backward may act on the engine. Because it is not preferable for the engine to be rotated backward, after all, it is not possible to suppress the reduction of the output shaft torque as might otherwise accompany the gear shift in the transmission, when the vehicle is running in so-called "EV run" in which the vehicle is run by the torque of the second motor generator.
On the other hand, aforementioned first motor generator and second motor generator can perform as either the electric motor or the electric generator, so that the fall of the output shaft torque can be suppressed by controlling the torque of those motor generators variedly at the shifting time in the transmission, when the vehicle runs with using those motor generators. However, in case of raising a positive torque, which is to be outputted by any of those motor generators, the output of an accumulator device such as the battery has to be raised. In order to raise a negative torque, on the contrary, it is necessary for the accumulator device to accept the generated electric power.
Specifically, the accumulator device participates in the torque control by the motor generator, but a capacity of the accumulator device is limited. Therefore, the accumulator device cannot drive the motor generator or raise the output torque thereof, when the stored amount of electricity (charging amount) is low. When the stored amount of electricity (charging amount) is almost full, on the contrary, the accumulator device cannot accept the electric power so that the negative torque by the regenerative control of the motor generator cannot be raised. This kind of restriction on the control of the motor generator caused by the accumulator device may arise not only from the stored amount of electricity (charging amount), but also from the temperature etc. After all, the control of the motor generator is restricted according to the situation of the accumulator device functioning as an energy source of the motor generator, even if there is no trouble on the motor generator. As a result, the change of the output shaft torque at the shifting time in the transmission cannot be suppressed, and this makes it probable that the deterioration in the shocks cannot be prevented.

Control device of hybrid drive unit and control method thereof


Method and apparatus for accurately collecting and promptly reporting information in connection with the redemption of manufacturer coupons are provided. The method includes the collection of information from a retailer point-of-sale system, and the examination of redeemed coupons. Where matches between product sales, discounts to consumers and redeemed coupons can be made, payment to the retailer of discounts extended to consumers in exchange for manufacturer authorized coupons is immediately made following such verification. In addition, information concerning the redemption of coupons is made available to manufacturers to enable them to adjust promotions to achieve the desired marketing effect. The apparatus of the present invention may comprise a central processing unit and attached peripherals capable of interfacing with a retailer point-of-sale system and downloading information from the point-of-sale system, together with secure storage for holding coupons that are to be verified by the apparatus.

The present application relates to systems for tracking customer purchase transactions. In particular, the present invention relates to systems for accurately tracking the use of coupons redeemed by consumers, and for promptly reimbursing retailers for discounts extended to consumers in exchange for coupons presented to the retailer.
Coupons are typically distributed to consumers by consumer packaged goods manufacturers (PGM) as a marketing tool to encourage consumers to purchase their products. The coupons are distributed to consumers through any one of a number of different channels, including through newspapers as freestanding insert (FSI) coupons, advertising circulars, direct mailings, e-mail, and the Internet. To redeem a coupon, a consumer must generally present the coupon in connection with the purchase of a product identified on the coupon at a retail establishment. The retailer, upon receiving the coupon, will deduct the face value of the coupon from the total amount owed by the consumer. The retailer generally does not receive reimbursement for the discount extended to the consumer until the redeemed coupon has been subjected to a lengthy retailer redemption verification process.
In order to verify the legitimacy of discounts extended to consumers by retailers, product manufacturers generally require retailers to provide them with the original redeemed coupons in support of invoices seeking reimbursement. Accordingly, retailers typically bundle together redeemed coupons and ship them to third party clearinghouses, which sort the redeemed coupons by product manufacturer. The sorted coupons, together with the retailer invoices, are then shipped to a manufacturer""s agent. The manufacturer""s agent, which in some instances may be associated with a clearinghouse, attempts to determine whether the invoice amount is supported by the redeemed coupons. In addition, the manufacturer""s agent typically examines the redeemed coupons for evidence of fraud, which may be indicated by a large number of evenly cut coupons or by counterfeit coupons. The manufacturer""s agent then may issue a check to the retailer through the clearinghouse as reimbursement for the value of the coupons verified by the agent as genuine. Any invoiced amount that is not adequately supported by the provided original coupons will not be paid by the manufacturer or its agent. Retailers often respond to such xe2x80x9cchargebacksxe2x80x9d by deducting the amount of the chargeback from amounts paid to the product manufacturers for products delivered to the retailer. Where a check is issued for the retailer, it is generally not received until six to eight weeks after the original discount was extended to the consumer by the retailer. Accordingly, the redemption of manufacturer coupons requires retailers to forego receipt of full value for items purchased using a coupon for a significant period of time.
In addition to the significant time delays involved in the processing of coupons using traditional methods, such methods are also vulnerable to fraud and do not provide product manufacturers with timely marketing data. For instance, there is no way for a manufacturer to precisely determine whether the redemption of a coupon was accompanied by a bona fide product sale. This is because traditional methods of coupon redemption do not correlate a specific product sale to each specific redeemed coupon at the time of redemption at the store. The redeemed coupons are not segregated according to the store at which they were redeemed and there is no accurate data that correlates coupons and sales of products. Instead, manufacturers have only a general idea of the volume of product sales expected for particular retail chains. Accordingly, fraud can usually only be detected by product manufacturers if it is carried out on a large scale. Additionally, product manufacturers do not receive timely or accurate marketing data using traditional coupon redemption and verification methods. This is because coupons are often bundled together by retail chain rather than by a particular retail outlet. In addition, the manufacturer receives no information regarding the date and place of redemption, or regarding the precise products or product configuration purchased in connection with the redemption of the coupon.
For the above stated reasons, it would be beneficial, as supported by the Joint Industry Coupon Council (JICC), to enhance the redemption of coupons, particularly providing for prompt reimbursement to retailers for discounts extended by them to consumers. Furthermore, it would be advantageous to provide the issuers of coupons with accurate and timely information concerning the circumstances of the coupon redemption and to enable the issuer to verify the validity of coupon redemptions. In addition, it would be advantageous to provide such a method and apparatus that can be implemented at an acceptable cost and that is operated by a third party who is trustworthy and reliable.
In accordance with the present invention, a system for accurately tracking the use of coupons and for promptly reimbursing retailers for discounts extended in exchange for such coupons is provided. The disclosed system generally includes a coupon redemption subsystem interconnected to a point-of-sale (POS) subsystem by a communications channel. In one embodiment, a passive tap from the POS controller is employed. The system can record the same transactions as the retailer does. A transaction log is generated that enables the system to provide coupon information and product UPC information. The POS subsystem can include a main computer or server of the retailer that commonly communicates with a number of check-out stations at which products are purchased, such as grocery items offered by a supermarket retailer. Each check-out station includes a cash drawer or electronic cash register (ECR), together with a product scanner. The product scanner reads the UPC (universal product code) on the product as part of the check-out procedure. In general, the coupon redemption subsystem is adapted to interface with this point-of-sale subsystem to receive information regarding the sale of products and any associated discounts (e.g. coupons being redeemed) from the point-of-sale subsystem. In addition, the coupon redemption subsystem is adapted to store information associated with redeemed coupons and to attempt to match that information to product sale and discount information downloaded from the point-of-sale subsystem.
In operation, information regarding product sales and discounts is entered into the point-of-sale subsystem by retailer personnel. Coupons redeemed in connection with consumer transactions are collected by the retailerpersonnel. According to one embodiment of the present invention, the redeemed coupons are input and stored in a secure container (e.g. a safe or lock box) that is not accessible to retailer personnel.
A suitable number of such redeemed coupons are collected by the retailer. The suitable number is based on a plurality of different customer transactions with the retailer typically occurring throughout a day, week or other acceptable time interval. After being collected and placed in the secure container, coupon verification personnel, preferably a third party not affiliated with the retailer, remove the coupons and cause coupon information to be input into the coupon redemption subsystem. The coupon information is input using a reader, scanner, or other coupon information input device that is separate and different from the scanner or input device of the point-of-sale subsystem. This information is also stored in the coupon redemption subsystem. Information regarding product sales and discounts extended by the retailer to consumers in connection with product sales is downloaded from the point-of-sale subsystem to the coupon redemption subsystem. The download may occur as an automatic transfer of files at periodic intervals including real time or substantially real time, or as a transfer of files prior to the verification of coupon redemptions by the coupon verification personnel. This download may occur over the communications channel, or may be accomplished by transferring a removable storage medium from the point-of-sale subsystem to the coupon redemption subsystem. In yet a further alternative, information from the point-of-sale subsystem may be transferred to the coupon redemption subsystem in real time.
After the information relating to redeemed coupons has been entered into the coupon redemption subsystem, and sales information has been downloaded from the point-of-sale subsystem, the coupon redemption subsystem establishes matches between the redeemed coupons and product sales. In connection with those coupons for which a match is successfully made, payment is made to the retailer in the amount of the face value of the coupon. Payment may be made to the retailer by check, electronic funds transfer, or other mutually acceptable payment. According to one embodiment, payment is made by a check printed using the coupon redemption subsystem before the coupon verification personnel leave the retailer premises. With respect to making of the payment of coupons that have been properly redeemed and verified, such payment is usually made within three days and preferably within one day (e.g., same day) of a proper coupon being redeemed by the retailer. Coupons not cleared or unverified may later be cleared for payment, although such payment is made after a considerably longer period of time. In no event is such a payment for verified coupons made more than ten days from the redemption of that coupon which is being reimbursed. In that regard, a single payment to the retailer typically handles or covers a significant number of redeemed coupons that are a result of coupon transactions with a number of different customers. For example, the payment to the retailer can cover coupon redemptions involving at least ten different customers. Prior to or concurrent with payment to the retailer, ownership of such redeemed coupons is transferred from the retailer to the coupon verification personnel so that ownership rights in the reimbursed coupons can pass to this third party from the retailer before these coupons are allowed to be transferred or moved from the retailer""s facility.
Information collected concerning the redemption of coupons is provided to both the retailer and the product manufacturers whose coupons have been redeemed. In particular, the retailer is provided with a summary of coupons redeemed including product information represented by the bar code, in connection with all product manufacturers and the particular product associated with the redemption. Each product manufacturer is provided with information concerning the redemption of coupons it has authorized and correlated with sales of its products. This information may include the location, date and time of the product sales, and where available, information concerning the individual consumer. This information may be made available to the manufacturer over a computer network, such as the Internet, and may be made available in substantially real time.
Additional advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following discussion, particularly when taken together with the accompanying drawings.

Prompt coupon reimbursement after coupon redemption


An injection device, in some embodiments an autoinjector, which includes a housing, an actuating sleeve carried by the device to be movable relative to the housing and which can be placed at a point of injection in a position of insertion, an injection needle extendable from the end of the injection device when the injection device is in the position of insertion and moveable into the interior of the injection device, and an actuating cam arranged in an axially fixed manner relative to the injection needle and engageable in a locking recess when the injection device is in the position of insertion to prevent the injection needle from being moved into the interior of the injection device, said actuation cam being releasable from engagement with the locking recess by the actuating sleeve, thereby releasing the injection needle for movement into the injection device.

The present invention relates to devices for injecting, administering, infusing, delivering or dispensing a substance, and to methods of making and using such devices. More particularly, it relates to injection devices for administering a liquid product such as a medicinal substance or a medicament and, more particularly, to an injection device and a method of moving or retracting a needle associated with the injection device from a piercing position in a controlled manner.
A known utilization or method of use of injection devices, including automatic injectors, is for a needle to be injected in a patient by a mechanism of the device, after which the product is administered to the patient through the needle. After the product has been successfully dispensed, the needle is covered and/or pulled back into the injection device.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,387,078 discloses an injection device in which a needle firstly effects a piercing movement with the aid of a driving spring and the product is then dispensed by the urging of the driving spring. As the driving spring moves forward, a return spring is simultaneously tensed. Immediately on reaching the end position of a dispensing movement, the driving spring is uncoupled from the return spring so that the return spring immediately retracts or moves the needle back into the housing. As this happens, it may be that the medicament is not or has not been completely injected into the patient's tissue and a small amount is lost. This is annoying, especially in the case of expensive drugs. The amount that is lost can also lead to problems with respect to the actual dose administered.

Injection device with controlled needle retraction


For integrated handling of cooling liquids and combustion gases with the greatest avoidance of external piping, an arrangement to be attached to a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine includes a housing having a body and a cover separated along a parting plane. Inside the housing a passage for conveying intake air has an intake air cooler and intake pipes connecting thereto. Adjacent to a partition in the housing, a heat exchanger for engine cooling water is mounted in a cooler chamber which, like the passage, is covered by a housing cover.

This invention relates to arrangements for integrated handling of liquid and gaseous media for internal combustion engines.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,187,678, an arrangement for integrated handling of liquid and gaseous media includes a housing, which is generally of unipartite configuration, mounted on a cylinder head of an internal combustion engine. In this arrangement, a passage for combustion air for the engine extends in a lengthwise direction adjacent to a housing wall facing the engine. A tube bank heat exchanger is arranged inside the housing, adjacent to the outside wall opposite the housing wall.
This arrangement and the associated internal combustion engine are specially designed for marine use. For this purpose, the housing has a connection flange at one end for a turbocharger which forces compressed combustion air into the passage. The combustion air passage has openings through which the intake air passes directly into corresponding openings of intake passages in the cylinder head of the engine.
In a lower portion of the housing, a liquid cooled exhaust gas manifold is connected to exhaust passages of the cylinder head. The engine coolant, which in this case is fresh water, passes from the cylinder head of the engine into this housing portion where it cools the exhaust gas duct and the turbocharger. Depending on the coolant temperature, the engine coolant passes either through the heat exchanger or through a bypass. The heat exchanger conducts seawater in countercurrent flow to the engine coolant. On the side of the engine opposite from the foregoing arrangement, a sea water inlet supplies sea water to an engine oil cooler, then to a transmission oil cooler, and then to an intake air cooler. Consequently, the compressed intake air passes from the turbocharger on the other side of the engine through an intake air line to the intake air cooler and then back into the passage carrying combustion air.
This arrangement is essentially a unipartite housing in integrated form in which the cooling fluid for the engine is conveyed separately from the sea water and in which the compressed intake air is conveyed and the exhaust line is cooled by the engine coolant. However, this arrangement requires the internal combustion engine to have a comparatively large number of pipes or lines to carry the liquid and gaseous media, resulting in a correspondingly large cost for fittings and seals.
The German publication MTZ (Motortechnische Zeitschrift) 57 (1996, No. 10), discloses, at pages 540-546, an internal combustion engine specially designed for marine propulsion which is provided with a V-shaped array of cylinders. At one end of this engine a so-called "service block" includes a cooling water compensation and storage tank and several thermostats and short-circuit passages, as well as oil filters. Below the service block is a plate-type heat exchanger for cooling the engine coolant with sea water. In this arrangement, the service block and the heat exchanger add considerably to the structural length of the internal combustion engine.

Arrangement for integrated handling of liquid and gaseous media for an internal combustion engine


A transceiver includes a receive circuit configured to receive an incoming signal and recover a reference signal at a reference frequency from the incoming signal. The incoming signal is a wireless packet. A first oscillator generates a signal at a set of predetermined frequencies. A first phase lock loop (PLL) interfaced with the first oscillator. The first PLL is configured to adjust a first oscillator frequency of the first oscillator based on an incoming frequency of the incoming signal using the reference frequency. A transmit circuit includes a second oscillator configured to generate a carrier signal at a predetermined frequency and a modulator configured to modulate data over the carrier signal at the predetermined frequency. The transmit circuit includes a second PLL interfaced with the second oscillator that sets the second oscillator to generate the carrier signal at the predetermined frequency using the reference signal. The transmit circuit transmits the modulated carrier signal.

Wireless transceivers traditionally perform local oscillator calibration using an external crystal oscillator that adds significant size and cost to a system. Most wireless transceivers or radios need a crystal oscillator to operate in order to keep track of the timing so that the radio can communicate at the exact frequency necessary. However, crystal oscillators are bulky, heavy, and expensive. Removing the crystal oscillator enables a true single-chip radio, but an alternate means for calibrating the local oscillator is required. Integrated references like on-chip LC or relaxation oscillators are either high power or have PVT sensitivity too high for wireless standards.
Multiple crystal-less radios attempt to address this challenge. In one example, the crystal oscillator is replaced with an FBAR resonator, which is still not fully-integrated. In another example, a reference clock is recovered from a received signal but takes too long to lock and are thus highly susceptible to interference. In a further example, an open-loop LC oscillator is used to reduce power but has insufficient frequency accuracy for wireless standards.
This section provides background information related to the present disclosure which is not necessarily prior art.

Systems and methods for a crystal-less bluetooth low energy transceiver

THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN


A system, method, and computer-readable medium for tracking manufacturing steps comprising: tracking kinetic movements of an assembler over a period of time to provide kinetic tracking information, the kinetic movements comprising product assembly movements; storing the kinetic tracking information in a kinetic tracking information repository; identifying a defect in an item manufactured during the period of time; and, analyzing the kinetic tracking information to determine whether the kinetic movements of the assembler contributed to the defect.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to the field of computers and similar technologies, and in particular to software utilized in this field. Still more particularly, it relates to a method, system and computer-usable medium for kinetic tracking in manufacturing to predict and prevent defects.
Description of the Related Art
It is known to communicate with and control many devices via the Internet. This communication and control is often referred to as the Internet of Things (IoT) and the devices are referred to as IoT devices. The IoT allows devices to be sensed and controlled remotely as well as to provide information based upon the type of IoT device across existing network infrastructure.
In many manufacturing environments, manual manufacturing steps (i.e., steps manually performed by an individual) can be prone to errors such as when the individual is tired or distracted and does not properly complete the manufacturing step (i.e., does not adhere to correct procedures). With many manufacturing environments, it can be difficult to correlate poor manufacturing techniques with poor product quality. With many manufacturing environments, it can be difficult to prevent or minimize manufacturing detects of products.

Kinetic tracking in manufacturing to predict and prevent defects

International Business Machines Corporation


A transmission-type display device, in which a viewing angle thereof is enhanced, comprises: an panel comprising a first substrate where TFTs are formed and a second substrate facing the first substrate; a first retardation film and a first polarizing plate which adhere sequentially to an external surface of the first substrate; and a second retardation film and a second polarizing plate which adhere sequentially to an external surface of the second substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device, and more particularly, to a transmission-type display device which uses a retardation film to enhance viewing angle.
2. Description of the Related Art
A liquid crystal display ("LCD") device includes an LCD panel comprising a thin film transistor ("TFT") substrate where TFTs are formed, a color filter substrate where color filters are formed, and a liquid crystal layer interposed between both substrates. The LCD panel does not emit light by itself, therefore a backlight unit is provided behind the TFT substrate to irradiate light. Further, polarizing plates adhere to external surfaces of both substrates, respectively, of which transmitting axes of the respective polarizing plates are perpendicular to each other.
The LCD device displays screen images by using an index of refraction anisotropy of the liquid crystal layer. Liquid crystal molecules of the liquid crystal layer rotate relative to an optic axis depending on an applied voltage. Accordingly, transmissivity of light through the liquid crystal layer may be adjusted by controlling a phase difference of light.
The liquid crystal molecules have birefringence that have an index of refraction of a major axis that is different from that of a minor axis. Due to the birefringence, an amount of light and a characteristic of color may vary depending on a position from which a user watches the LCD device, such as from the front or the lateral side. Accordingly, modification of contrast ratio, color shift, gray inversion, or the like may be generated in the LCD device using the liquid crystal molecules.
As display devices having a panel rotatable at 90 degrees for small-size mobile products have been developed, the viewing angle of the LCD device becomes more important. In a twisted nematic ("TN") mode LCD device, the viewing angle from right and left sides is good while the gray inversion of the upper side and the lower side is problem. If the TN mode LCD device uses a wide view film, the viewing angle becomes wider while the gray inversion in the lower side and a diagonal direction is not easily removed.
A vertical alignment ("VA") mode LCD device has been developed to improve the viewing angle and response time, which are problems in the TN mode LCD device. The VA mode LCD device includes an electrode patterned vertical alignment ("PVA") or a pixel divided into multi-domain vertical alignment ("MVA") to enhance the viewing angle. However, both the PVA and MVA involve a complex process of manufacture.


The present invention discloses a method for the prevention of atherosclerosis, its genesis, progression and restenosis in human patients undergoing treatments for arterial lesions such as PTA or atherectomy, and which may be accompanied by stent implantation. Further, the treatment method disclosed has applicability in all stages of atherosclerosis in which monocytes play a role. The compound utilized in the present method as the active agent is a 2-halo-2′-deoxyadenosine such as 2-chloro-deoxyadenosine (2-CdA). The treatment method of the present invention includes the administration of 14 doses of 2-CdA in the amount of 0.12 mg/kg. One dose is given intravenously before the coronary intervention, another is given intravenously after the intervention and the remaining twelve doses are given subcutaneously at weekly intervals over a subsequent three month period.

Arteriosclerosis, the group of diseases characterized by plaque deposition and gradual blockage of blood flow in arterial vessels, may result in ischemia of the heart, brain or extremities, resulting in infarction and sometimes death. Over 2,000,000 vascular interventions are performed each year worldwide with over 800,000 of these being performed in the United States. Since about 1977, blocked arteries have been treated using a balloon catheter. This procedure, known as percutaneous transluminal angioplasty (PTA), involves the insertion of a catheter into the lumen of a blocked artery and the inflation of an attached balloon to open the artery (both coronary and non-coronary vessels). Another catheter procedure, commonly known as atherectomy, opens a blocked artery by grinding or cutting plaque deposits and suctioning the deposits from the artery. More recently, metal structures called stents have been placed in the affected artery to keep the previously blocked artery open after PTA or atherectomy treatment. Presently, over 70% of persons currently treated for arterial lesions have implanted stents.
It is fortunate that over 90% of coronary interventions are successful in opening the blocked artery. However, the later renarrowing of the opened artery, (i.e. restenosis) remains a significant problem. Unfortunately, within six months after a first PTA or atherectomy treatment, restenosis occurs in about 30% to 50% of patients. When restenosis occurs, either another PTA or atherectomy treatment is performed, and another stent is implanted, or bypass surgery is performed. After a second catheter procedure, restenosis occurs in about 60% of patients, who then must undergo yet another catheter procedure or submit to bypass surgery.
Though many details of restenosis remain unclear, the general consensus is that angioplasty and stenting, either individually or collectively, cause a stretch and tear injury to the arterial wall which results in an inflammation that leads to the activation of multiple cell lines. In particular, there is concern for the monocyte/macrophage line. Specifically, it is known that monocytes will migrate to the area of an arterial injury. There, they are differentiate into tissue macrophages and secrete cytokines and growth factors which cause the migration and proliferation of smooth muscle cells into the area. This results in excessive tissue growth or restenosis.
Not surprisingly, efforts have been taken to prevent restenosis. For example, medications such as calcium channel blockers, corticosteroids, antiplatelet agents, fish oils, lovastatin and anticoagulants have been tried in attempts to prevent restenosis. Heretofore, however, these efforts have been generally unsuccessful. Radiation therapy has been shown to reduce restenosis, but radiation therapy is generally impractical because it is time consuming, requires specialized equipment, specialized personnel, and is often difficult to arrange. Some immunosuppressants, on the other hand, show promise.
It is known that the immunosuppressant medication 2-chloro-deoxyadenosine (2-CdA) is selectively toxic to monocytes, and is effective in lowering monocyte levels in humans. Presently, this medication (2-CdA) has been FDA approved for use in the treatment of hairy cell leukemia, and also has activity in cutaneous T-cell lymphoma, myeloid leukemias, chronic lymphocytic leukemia, Langerhans cell histiocytosis and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Additionally, FDA approval has been sought for treatment of multiple sclerosis. As a new and useful application, the present invention discloses a method of preventing restenosis by administering a therapeutically effective dose of 2-CdA.
In light of the above, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method for preventing a restenosis in the vasculature of a patient which promotes a systemic suppression to the inflammation response that provokes a restenosis. Another object of the present invention is to provide a method for preventing a restenosis in the vasculature of a patient which uses a medication that can be administered orally, subcutaneously, intravenously, intramuscularly, or topically. Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a method for preventing restenosis in the vasculature of a patient which minimizes adverse side effects and, thus, is minimally intrusive into a patient's life style and quality of life. It is still another object of the present invention to provide a method for preventing a restenosis in the vasculature of a patient which uses a medication that is relatively easy to administer, is effective for its intended purpose, and is comparatively cost effective.

Method for preventing restenosis using a substituted adenine derivative


A saw blade is stamped with a circumferential edge. At least one deep gullet and shoulder are formed in the circumferential edge. Likewise, a tooth pocket is formed in the circumferential edge. The tooth pocket is defined by a wall, generally radial to circle, on the shoulder, and a shelf substantially perpendicular to the wall. A tooth is secured, ordinarily by brazing, in the pocket such that the thickness of the tooth is substantially equal to the depth of the shelf and the face of the tooth is continuous with the gullet. The tooth may be brazed along its entire lateral edge such that resultant forces in the tooth are transmitted to the body of the blade. After the tooth is positioned into the tooth pocket, the tooth, as well as a projection of the blade shoulder, are ground off so that the tooth and shoulder are flush with one another. Thus, the tooth longitudinal edge is in complete contact with the shoulder wall maximizing its strength.

Present construction techniques in the housing construction industry involve building single and multiplefamily homes with single-piece wood components like 2.times.4's, 2.times.6's and 2.times.10-inch fur and sheet stock, 4.times.8 foot in plywood and oriented-strandboard lumber. As opposed to pre-fabricated sections, all components are shipped to the homesite and assembled in a "stick-built" fashion using steel nails, screws and staples.
Crews who specialize in the specific phase of housing construction called "framing" do their work after the foundation is laid and before the house is roofed and sided. A typical 2500 square foot house can be framed in three days by a 5-person crew, working at a very fast pace. The typical activities done during the framing phase include working non-stop measuring and sawing wood, nailing wall sections, erecting the frames in place, and trimming at any time at several locations within the house. In addition to the fast work pace, the framing crews must use poor quality lumber and deal with nailing inaccuracies.
Field research reveals that about 90.degree. of the sawing is done with a seven and one-quarter inch hand-held circular saw. The framer is not given the high-quality wood and wood materials that a cabinet or furniture-maker uses, nor is he or she concerned with doing the finished trim, where the cuts must be smooth and accurate. The framer has two major user-perceived needs. One, of course, is speed; the other is how long a given saw blade will last. The latter condition occurs when the framer notices that it takes more and more effort or bias to get the saw blade through the lumber. This is the signal for the framer to replace the blade (which is now perceived as no longer being "sharp") with a new one. To date, the old blades are not resharpened, because blades sold for this type of work are usually priced so low that it is not cost-effective for the construction company to resharpen the blades, or damage to the teeth is too severe.
It has been discovered that "edge wear" is neither the only, nor the primary condition that increases the likelihood that a given blade will feel like it has lost its "sharpness". Two significant factors with equal or greater impact on blade life is "tooth loss" and "breakage". These phenomena occur when the teeth encounter foreign matter in the wood, or a particularly stressful cutting application and the cutting edge is severely broken, or the tooth is removed completely. Therefore, the unchipped edges of the carbide teeth may remain sharp (have little edge wear), but the user nevertheless perceives that the saw blade has lost its "sharpness".
Unfortunately, the framer will probably have to use low-cost framing materials, which include dirty and gummy wood, and wood with loose nails and loose staples. When a carbide tooth, which is necessarily made of material much harder and more brittle than the steel of the saw blade itself, encounters these foreign materials, it is likely to chip or be torn off. However, it has been discovered that the very changes which one would consider to reduce chipping will also cause the tip to lose edge sharpness. Accordingly, the problem that the present invention addresses is this: how to minimize the likelihood that tooth damage will cause a given blade to require an unacceptable user bias force, while nevertheless maximizing the probability that the same blade will track the edge sharpness of a conventional carbide tipped blade.
If a blade can exhibit a significant drop in tooth damage, it will last longer in this most demanding of home construction environments.