In a heating device, a heater has first and second terminals. The first terminal is connectable to an alternating current source. The adjustment portion selectively establishes and disconnects a first connection between the second terminal and the alternating current source. The switching portion selectively establishes and disconnects a second connection between the heater and the alternating current source. The generating circuit has a third terminal connected to the alternating current source and a fourth terminal connected between the second terminal and the adjustment portion. The generating circuit generates a zero-cross signal of the alternating current source. The processor is configured to: adjust a connection period during which the adjustment portion establishes the first connection; detect a state of the adjustment portion in response to the zero-cross signal; and perform an error process when the detected state of the adjustment portion indicates that the adjustment portion cannot disconnect the first connection.

A technique for dealing with an abnormality in the power source of the heating device is well known. In such a heating device, when voltage of abnormal waveform, such as square wave or direct current, is input, there is a possibility that a triac (power distribution adjustment member), which controls the supply of power to a heater, goes out of control. In order to deal with this problem, the heating device is provided with a circuit to detect an abnormal waveform. When the abnormal waveform is detected, the heating device cuts off the supply of power to the heater by controlling a relay.

Heating device for detecting state of adjustment portion that adjusts period of connection with alternating current source


Disclosed is a master cylinder for brake systems including a cylinder body having a bore therein, a first and second piston installed in the bore to move forward and backward, and a first hydraulic pressure chamber and a second hydraulic pressure chamber, the first and second hydraulic pressure chambers being divided from each other in the bore. The master cylinder further includes a pressure regulating channel to connect the first hydraulic pressure chamber to second hydraulic pressure chamber to reduce pressure difference between the first hydraulic pressure chamber and the second hydraulic pressure chamber, and a flow control valve provided in the pressure regulating channel to open and close the pressure regulating channel according to the pressure difference between the first hydraulic pressure chamber and the second hydraulic pressure chamber. The first hydraulic pressure chamber is provided with a large hydraulic pressure chamber expanded to an inside of the cylinder body, and a small hydraulic pressure chamber smaller than the large hydraulic pressure chamber.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention relate to a master cylinder for brake systems which may improve brake feel.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a hydraulic brake system for vehicles, a master cylinder serves to generate hydraulic pressure and transfer the generated hydraulic pressure to a caliper brake installed at each wheel.
FIG. 1 shows a general tandem master cylinder. The master cylinder includes a first piston 3 and a second piston 4 installed in a bore 2 of a cylinder body 1 to be movable back and forth. The inside of the bore 2 is divided into a first hydraulic pressure chamber 5 and a second hydraulic pressure chamber 6 by the second piston 4. When the first piston 3 of the master cylinder moves forward, the first piston 3 applies pressure to the oil in the first hydraulic pressure chamber 5, and in turn the oil pressure in the first hydraulic pressure chamber 5 presses the second piston 4. Then, the second piston 4 applies pressure to the oil in the second hydraulic pressure chamber 6. Thereby, the oil in the first hydraulic pressure chamber 5 is supplied to the caliper brakes (not shown) of two wheels via a first oil discharge hole 7, and the oil in the second hydraulic pressure chamber 6 is supplied to the caliper brakes of the other two wheels via a second oil discharge hole 8.
The master cylinder is used for an F/R (front/rear) split-type vehicle or X-split (cross split)-type vehicle according to the brand or type of the vehicle. Here, the F/R-type split vehicle refers to a vehicle that controls hydraulic pressure supplied to the front wheels or the rear wheels, and the X-split-type vehicle refers to a vehicle which controls one of the front left wheel and the front right wheel and one of the rear left wheel and the rear right wheel. That is, the X-split-type vehicle controls the wheels in a cross manner that pairs one of the front wheels on one side with one of the rear wheels on the other side. The X-split type control is recently applied to a majority of vehicles since it allows one of the hydraulic chambers to produce braking pressure when the other hydraulic chamber malfunctions during braking operation, thereby securing driver safety.
Meanwhile, the caliper brake installed at each wheel serves to perform braking operation by pressing a disc rotating together with the wheel. However, if the caliper brake is arranged to increase the amount of rollback to reduce drag of the caliper which occurs during braking, an excessively large amount of hydraulic oil may be needed at the initial stage of braking, resulting in degradation of initial brake feel.
A structure to increase an initial flow rate, i.e., a structure to increase an initial flow rate in the first hydraulic pressure chamber, has been proposed to address the problems described above. However, this structure may cause pressure difference between the two hydraulic pressure chambers, resulting in difference in braking force among the wheels. Therefore, it may not be used for the X-split vehicle.


In a control apparatus for operating with program data, it is possible to alter the operation of a control circuit by rewriting the data of the program memory built in an LSI, with ease and at a low cost independently of the operation of the control circuit.

The present invention relates to a control apparatus. In particular, the invention relates to a control apparatus operated with program data and enabling control sequence to be altered with ease and at a low cost.
Generally, in order to realize complicated sequence control all with a hardware configuration, an exclusive circuit for each sequence is needed, causing the cost to rise. Therefore, if a general-purpose control circuit is operated with software, and different types of sequence control use this control circuit in common, a rise of cost can be prevented.
For example, an optical disc apparatus is disclosed in JP-A-188292/1998. In this publication, when a focus jump for moving the focal point of a laser beam between the recording layers of a disk is made, a DSP (Digital Signal Processor) (hereinafter referred to as a control apparatus), which operates with the program stored in a ROM (Read Only Memory), detects the moving speed of an optical pickup. When the moving speed is zero, a focus jump is made. This can realize a stable focus jump. Thus, an optical disc apparatus needs, in addition to a focus jump, various types of sequence control including a track jump for moving the focal point of a laser beam between the tracks, and it is necessary to reduce the cost. This example will be described with reference to the block diagram shown in FIG. 2.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of an optical disc apparatus, which includes a large-scale integration circuit (LSI) 1 and a system controller 6. The LSI 1 consists of a control circuit 2, a ROM 3, a parameter memory 4 and a servo circuit 5.
The control circuit 2 contains an accumulator and a timer, supplies program addresses to the ROM 3 and operates in accordance with the program data read from the ROM 3. The ROM 3 is a program memory in which program data is stored, and supplies the control circuit 2 with the program data according to the program addresses supplied from the control circuit 2. The control circuit 2 reads data from and writes data in the parameter memory 4, in which the parameters required for various types of sequence control are set up. The memories may be a SRAM (Static Random Access Memory) and a flip flop circuit. The servo circuit 5 is a servo block including an A/D converter, a compensation circuit, a D/A converter and a jump circuit. The A/D converter carries out analog-digital conversion of the focus error signals and the tracking error signals supplied from a head amplifier (not shown). The compensation circuit compensates a phase and a gain for the output from the A/D converter. The D/A converter carries out digital-analog conversion of the output signal from the compensation circuit. The jump circuit outputs a jump pulse. The servo circuit 5 is connected to the head amplifier and a driver (not shown) The system controller 6 sends a processing request to the control circuit 2, and receives from it a signal which indicates whether processing is completed or not.
The control circuit 2 is configured to operate in accordance with the program data output from the ROM 3, and the operation is programmable. The control circuit 2 constantly monitors a processing request from the system controller 6. If the system controller 6 outputs a processing request, the control circuit 2 operates in accordance with the request.
The sequence control of the servo circuit 5 is performed by the control circuit 2, which operates in accordance with the software stored in the ROM 3. This makes it possible to use a common hardware configuration even for different types of sequence control, thereby lowering the cost. The ROM 3 can reduce the manufacturing cost by using a mask ROM.
On the other hand, advanced semiconductor technology has made it possible to mount an analog circuit, a digital circuit, a memory circuit, etc. in a single LSI, making it possible to reduce the number of parts for the production of apparatus using LSIs and lower the electric power. However, if the ROM 3, which is a program memory, is mounted inside the LSI, the software cannot be rewritten. This cannot flexibly cope with problems on the sequence control and functional extension. If the software needs to be altered, the LSI must be remanufactured, which leads to an increase of a development term.
If the program memory is a SRAM, the software can be easily rewritten. However, this causes a cost rise because a SRAM is larger in circuit scale than a ROM.
Another ROM that can be rewritten is an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory). However, it is difficult to manufacture SDRAMs (Synchronous Dynamic Random Access Memories) and EEPROMs in the same manufacturing process by using the present LSI manufacturing technology. Consequently, EEPROMs are not suitable for LSIs for specific use (ASIC: Application Specific IC), in many of which SDRAMs are mounted.
If an RISC (Reduce Instruction Set Computer) type microcomputer with a simple circuit configuration is used for the control circuit 2, it is necessary to read program data for every clock. In this case, since the access speed of an SDRAM is slow compared with a SRAM and a ROM, the SDRAM is not suitable as a program memory of the RISC type microcomputer.
For the reasons stated above, it was difficult to rewrite the data in the program memory contained in the LSI with ease and at a low cost.
On the other hand, JP-A-182153/1998 discloses another technology which can revise a program easily. The revised program stored in an external EEPROM is beforehand downloaded to a RAM. The program that needs changing uses the data stored in the RAM, while the program that does not need changing uses the data stored in the ROM.
In JP-A-182153/1995, however, the following points were not considered. When there are two or more sub routines to be altered, the program to be downloaded may be larger than the memory size of the RAM. The publication cannot cope with the case. If the system is configured to alter one sub routine to be revised to run and then to download another sub routine to be revised next, the control circuit cannot perform other processing while the sub routine after the second is being downloaded because the control circuit is compelled to concentrate on downloading.
In the optical disc apparatus, the control circuit may perform various types of regular processing while waiting for the processing request from the system controller. This lessens hardware configurations. For example, while the focus servo is operating regularly, it is monitored whether the absolute value of a focus error signal is less than a predetermined voltage or not. When the absolute value becomes more than the predetermined voltage, the state is judged out of focus, and then, the interruption signal that indicates the state out of focus is output to the system controller. In this case, the cost can be reduced because there is no need for an additional comparison circuit that compares the focus error signal with the predetermined voltage.
However, if the download processing needs to be performed while the focus servo is operating regularly, the control circuit cannot detect the above-mentioned out-of-focus state. Thus, if the control circuit is configured to perform the download processing while the optical disk apparatus is operating, it becomes inconvenient for the regular processing to be performed.
JP-A-098119/1991 discloses a method of altering program data by choosing the output data from a RAM if a program address is a predetermined address. This method needs an address comparison circuit, and a cost rise is caused if the address width is large. Moreover, since this is a method of replacing one word to be altered with one revised word, the method cannot cope with the addition and deletion of programs.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Control apparatus for selectively operating with program data from two memories and having a system controller supplying program data and address for writing the data to the second memory

Abstract: For that purpose, the control apparatus includes a ROM, a SRAM, a means for writing data in the SRAM, a selection means for selecting the output from the ROM or the SRAM in accordance with the addresses supplied to the ROM and the SRAM, and a control means for outputting the addresses to the ROM and the SRAM and operating with the output from the selection means as program data.


The device includes a first optical connector, a second optical connector, a flexible substrate, a first electrical connector, a second electrical connector, a memory chip, and a clip. The first electrical connector is attached to the flexible substrate. The second electrical connector is attached to the flexible substrate. The memory chip is attached to the flexible substrate. A clip retains the first optical connector and the second optical connector adjacent to the flexible substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to hybrid connectors having optical and electrical connector portions. The invention more particularly concerns the management of a component or body, such as a hybrid connector, including the storage and updating of information related to events during the operational life of the component.
2. Discussion of the Background
Hybrid connectors are known the art. U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,715 discloses a hybrid connector having an optical connector portion conforming to the SC fiber optic connector standard and an electrical connector portion electrically associated with a small outline transistor. The small outline transistor contains an enhanced silicon serial number so as to uniquely identify the hybrid connector. The enhanced silicon serial number is placed on the small outline transistor by the manufacturer of the small outline transistor. The hybrid connector, once connected to a patch panel, facilitates remote system connectivity management and verification since the host device or patch panel reads the unique enhanced silicon serial number off of the small outline transistor and correlates the serial number to a specific hybrid connector via a table look-up. The end user or operator of the hybrid connector can only read what was deposited by the manufacturer in the memory of the small outline transistor. U.S. Pat. No. 5,473,715 is hereby incorporated herein by reference.
Experience has shown that a fiber optic cable can be inadvertently detached from the host device, or that the optical fiber within the fiber optic cable breaks and the fiber optic cable no longer transmits light energy to the host device. In such instances, a worker must go and look at the panel of the host device and determine which cable is no longer transmitting light signals to the host device either because the optical fiber is broken or the fiber optic cable is detached from the host device. When two or more fiber optic cables are malfunctioning, the worker's job becomes very burdensome and time consuming since there are hundreds of fiber optic cables to examine. Furthermore, a device or person is not receiving information conveyed by the malfunctioning fiber optic cable. Thus, organization of the cables, including the fiber optic cables and the copper based cables, in the vicinity of the panel is of great interest to the operators of the host devices.
Furthermore, in order to recoup the cost of the broken fiber optic cable, the operator of the system must look through paper work to verify if the broken fiber optic cable is still under warranty. Also, as part of the warranty process, the operator of the system may need to verify that the fiber optic cable was not used outside of its design parameters. Thus, the management of the fiber based system can be facilitated by being able to quickly find warranty documents related to components in the fiber based system, and to verify the use of the components.

Transceiver/fiber optic connector adaptor with patch cord ID reading capability


A clutch release bearing designed for error proof installation on a holding structure of a clutch fork in a clutch system includes a bearing assembly supported on a bearing carrier, and an inner flange extending radially outwardly from the bearing carrier. The clutch release bearing also includes an outer flange spaced from the inner flange, and secured to the bearing carrier. The outer flange is formed with a circular lip defining an installation safeguard to ensure reception and retention of the holding structure of the clutch fork only between the inner and outer flanges.

A typical motor vehicle clutch system and assembly includes a spring biased clutch pedal, a hydraulic release system or mechanical release system and a pivotally mounted bifurcated clutch fork provided with fork clips and spring clips engaged with a clutch release (throwout) bearing. The release bearing is selectably movable along a guide member, which can for example include a support tube and/or a quill, through which a rotatable transmission input shaft of a vehicle transmission extends. The input shaft projects through and is drivingly engaged with a rotatable flywheel and a clutch unit formed from a rotatable clutch disk and a rotatable pressure plate held in a clutch cover.
When a clutch system is engaged, the clutch disk is clamped against the flywheel and transfers power from the engine crankshaft to the transmission input shaft so as to create movement of the wheels when the motor vehicle is in a particular gear setting.
When it is desired to change gears in a manual transmission, the clutch pedal is depressed to actuate the master cylinder forcing fluid therefrom and into the slave cylinder which, in turn, causes movement of a slave cylinder rod against one end of the clutch fork of opposite to an end engaged with the release bearing. The clutch fork pivots and slides the release bearing along the guide member and into engagement with the diaphragm springs or release fingers of the pressure plate. Such engagement between the release bearing and the pressure plate removes pressure from the clutch disk allowing release to occur between the clutch disk and the friction surface of the flywheel. At this point, no power is transferred to the transmission and gear changes can be made. When the clutch system is reengaged, such as after a shift, the force from the diaphragm spring supplies enough force to reverse the disengagement process and raise the clutch pedal off the floor.
Through research and experimentation, the inventors of the present disclosure have discovered that original clutch equipment, such as the clutch release bearing, is extremely sensitive to installation errors. Known release bearings often include a generally circular collar with spaced apart flat outer and inner flanges extending radially outwardly from the outer surface of the collar. It has been found that these flat flanges allow an end user to incorrectly install a replacement release bearing which causes the clutch system to operate improperly, such as failure to shift, premature wear, excessive pedal effort and system failure.
Proper installation of the clutch bearing in a pocket of the clutch fork is established when both the spring clips and the fork clips are positioned between the outer and inner flanges of the release bearing collar and urged around the collar such that the spring clips frictionally engage the outer flange and the fork clips frictionally engage the inner flange. Improper installation of the release bearing on the fork occurs when the outer flange of the release bearing lies between the fork clips and the spring clips. If the clutch release bearing is not installed properly, the clutch system will not release correctly resulting in premature failure of the release bearing and damage to other parts of the vehicle drive system.
Accordingly, the present inventors have determined that it is desirable to provide a clutch release bearing which prevents placement of the outer flange into an open gap between the spring clips and the fork clips of the clutch fork. The inventors have also found that it is desirable to provide a clutch release bearing configured to permit entry and frictional engagement of the spring clips and the fork clips only between the outer and inner flanges of the clutch bearing, thus ensuring error proof installation of the release bearing in the clutch system.

Installation error proof clutch release bearing and method of installation in clutch fork


A strutless building module comprising a polygon having a plurality of inclined faces that converge at the module center, said module center having a center connector, said module further having sides that angle downwardly from their respective module faces and including a plurality of insertion holes passing entirely through the side, wherein adjoining modules may be connected by placing modules side-to-side and passing bolts through aligned insertion holes. The modules have an elevated center formed at the convergence of the inclined module faces. The method of assembling the inventive modules into a dome structure comprises erecting a boom-free hoist at the intended center of the dome, said hoist having a winch and cable apparatus; connecting an array of modules into a first lift; connecting said cable apparatus to the center connectors of each module; elevating the first lift; connecting modules to the underside of the modules comprising the first lift; and thereafter repeating this process until the desired dome is completed.

The geodesic dome has long been used as the basic design principle in a number of structures, including both permanent and portable structures. Its modular design allows for the transportation and assembly of large structures on even marginally improved sites. However, the assembly of geodesic domes is not as simple or as streamlined as it might be. Currently, the construction of most large scale geodesic domes require either scaffolding, a supporting framework, a crane, swinging boom or other hoisting equipment, or some combination of this equipment, and the equipment itself requires its own assembly and disassembly. Furthermore, most dome assemblies entail the use of modules requiring a large number of connecting units including, for example, gussets, and connecting hubs and struts for the assembly of the individual triangular module sections or frame-wall sections.
Several solutions have been proposed to simplify and improve the construction of modular structures, including the design disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,092,810 to Sumner, which teaches a domical structure constructed by mating right-hand and left-hand versions of scalene triangular panels. The panels are secured at their overlapping edges to form an integral reinforcing structure that requires no supporting framework. It may be constructed upwardly from its base or downwardly from its top.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,287,690 to Berger, et al discloses a domed structure constructed from flat triangular panels having abutment surfaces at their sides having continuous interengaging means adapted to insertively mate with adjacent panels. It is constructed upwardly from its base.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,732,514 to Organ teaches a domical structure comprising preformed sub panels bent at the proper angles and having a series of flanges around their perimeter to allow the panels to be bolted together. The sub panels are formed into quarter sections that are bolted together in the field, along with floor sections to make a complete structure.
However, none of the foregoing designs or other known prior art disclose building modules, and more particularly a module having a center connecting device, specifically adapted for assembly in the top-down fashion. Additionally, none teaches a module including a disc member for containing wall-finishing materials within each building module prior to assembly into a structure. The present invention includes such structures and therefore represents an improvement over known portable dome structures and methods for constructing such structures.

Top-down method of assembling dome structures


Temperature of a printing medium 110 is sufficiently decreased by stopping the printing medium 110 in a discharge path, conveying the printing medium at a low speed, switching a conveyance path, or the like. If the temperature of the printing medium 110 can be sufficiently decreased, the thermochromism phenomenon is suppressed. As a result, it is possible to provide an image forming apparatus capable of achieving highly accurate color matching and color stability.

Types of image quality in image forming apparatuses include graininess, in-plane homogeneity for image, letter quality, and color reproducibility (including color stability), and the like for one page. Now that multicolor image forming apparatuses are commonly used, it is sometimes said that the most important image quality is color reproducibility. A person has memories of expected colors (especially of human skin, blue sky, metal, etc.) based on experience, and can feel uncomfortable if a color is out of an acceptable range thereof. Such colors are called memory colors, and the reproducibility thereof is considered to be more and more important when a photograph or the like is output. In regard to not only photographed images but also document images, the demand for color reproducibility (including stability) on on-demand image forming apparatuses is growing among users in offices who feel uncomfortable with difference in color from monitors, users in the field of graphic arts who pursue color reproducibility of CG images.
In order to fulfill the users' demand for color reproducibility, Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-086013 proposes an image forming apparatus for reading a patch image (measurement image) formed on a printing medium with a color sensor provided on a printing medium conveyance path. Compared with an off-line colorimetric value measurer that reads a patch image on a printing medium externally exhausted by an image forming apparatus, the invention disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-086013 has an advantage of its capability of automatically creating an ICC profile. "ICC" is an abbreviation of International Color Consortium. By a color management module (CMM) performing color conversion using the ICC profile, color matching can be achieved among a plurality of image forming apparatuses, or between an image forming apparatus and an image display apparatus.
However, with the invention of Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2004-086013, a problem of a phenomenon called "thermochromism", in which chromaticity of a measurement image to be a measurement target object changes due to temperature, is caused because the color sensor is arranged on the conveyance path in the vicinity of a fixing device. It is a phenomenon caused for the reason that a molecular structure that forms a color agent such as toner or ink changes due to "heat", or the like.
To measure a colorimetric value of a measurement image inside an image forming apparatus, the apparatus needs to be in a state after the color agent is put on a printing medium and color mixture is finished. With an image forming apparatus that uses ink as a color agent, it is necessary to measure the colorimetric value after heating and drying the ink with a dryer. With an image forming apparatus that uses toner as a color agent, it is necessary to measure the colorimetric value after mixing colors by heating and melting the toner with a fixing device. This is because a user, who demands for color matching accuracy or color stability, usually makes a judgment based on an image in a normal temperature environment. Accordingly, the color sensor needs to be arranged on a downstream side of the dryer or the fixing device in a sheet conveyance direction.
Meanwhile, to compactly configure an image forming apparatus, a length of a conveyance path from the dryer or the fixing device to the color sensor needs to be a minimum length. Accordingly, the sheet and the color agent heated by the dryer or the fixing device are conveyed to the color sensor without being cooled down to normal temperature. Further, the temperature of a printing medium becomes higher than normal temperature also because of rising temperature of internal components of the image forming apparatus, such as a printing medium conveyance guide, or the internal atmosphere.
As described above, in some cases an image forming apparatus internally provided with a color sensor is due to influence of thermochromism, and obtains a colorimetric value measurement result different from the chromaticity in a normal environment (in a normal temperature environment). There are also the cases where it is impossible to fulfill the color matching accuracy standard, which is an index of the color matching accuracy and color stability, and the reproducibility standard, which is a standard of stability, according to ISO 12647-7.


The window frame structure of the roof window is secured to the main frame structure within a predetermined range of the opening angle by means of a securing device comprising at least one torsion member. The torsion member is torsionally biased in the opening direction of the window and includes engagement means at a distance from the pivot axis for engagement with corresponding engagement means on the window frame structure. The securing device is automatically activated and deactivated during mounting and dismounting of the window frame from the main frame.

The present application claims the benefit of priority from Danish patent application No. PA 2001 00102 filed on Jan. 19, 2001.
This invention relates to skylights or roof windows comprising a main frame structure for stationary connection with supporting means of a roof structure, and a window frame structure carrying a glazing element, the main frame and window frame structures having respectively a plurality of members, each of which members extends in a longitudinal direction between a first and a second end; wherein said window frame structure is connected with the main frame structure by means of at least one hinge connection at a respective first member of the main frame and window frame structures to allow the window frame structure to be pivoted about a pivot axis parallel with the longitudinal direction of said first members with respect to the main frame structure to an opening angle, said hinge connection being disengageable to allow the window frame structure to be removed from the main frame structure, said at least one connection including at least one pair of first and second connecting members connected with the main frame and window frame structure, respectively, a securing device being provided for maintaining the engagement between the connecting members of said pairs within a predetermined range of the opening angle of the window frame structure.
For reasons of installation conditions, it is often desirable to install such windows in an inclined roof surface by initial securing of the main frame of the window, from which the glass-carrying window frame has been detached, to the roof supporting structure. Following this operation the window frame structure is hatched on to the main frame structure by bringing the connecting members of the window frame into engagement with the connecting members of the main frame. Evidently, it is essential that the window frame structure is properly secured against unintentional removal from the main frame structure.
In its most simple form such securing may be achieved by making the connection between the connecting members of the main frame structure and the window frame structure permanent following the initial engagement operation.
However, it is often desirable to retain the possibility of disengaging the connection between the window frame and the main frame, eg. for maintenance purposes.
WO 93/11332 discloses a window, in which securing means are provided for retaining the engagement between the connecting members of the window frame and the main frame, said means comprising a block which may be displaced in a groove in a side member of the window frame and which may serve partly as an anchoring element for a locking member fastened in the main frame structure of a fixed window, partly for releasable coupling with an operating member of a window operator in the case of an openable window. This solution suffers from the drawback that the securing means are dependent on a particular design of the operator in order to provide proper functioning.
In the window disclosed in WO 98/22685 the securing means are constituted by holding means fastened to the side members of the window frame structure at a comparatively short distance from the pivot axis. The holding means include blocks with part-cylindrical guide surfaces having an axis in the pivot axis of the hinge. Due to the position close to the pivot axis, these blocks are subjected to rather heavy load during opening of the window frame.
It is an object of the invention to provide a roof window in which the conditions with respect to initial mounting and subsequent dismounting of the window frame structure are improved even further.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a roof window which has a less complex design compared to prior art window designs.
These objects are met by the provision of a roof window of the initially stated kind, in which said securing device includes at least one torsion member positioned at a respective end of said first members of the main frame and window frame structures, said at least one torsion member being torsionally biased in the opening direction of the window frame structure with respect to the main frame structure and including engagement means for engagement with corresponding engagement means positioned at a distance from said pivot axis along a second window frame member adjacent said first member of the window frame structure within said predetermined range of the opening angle.
By the incorporation of a torsion member which follows the movement of the window frame structure during opening of the window within the predetermined range of the opening angle, in which the securing device is active, the activation and deactivation of the securing device is effected automatically. In addition to providing security against unintentional removal of the window frame, the torsion member assists the pivotal movement of the window frame structure from the closed position to a ventilating position.
In another aspect of the invention a securing device for maintaining the engagement between connecting members of a main frame structure and a window frame structure of an openable roof window within a predetermined range of the opening angle of the window frame structure is provided, said securing device including at least one torsion member to be connected with of the window, said at least one torsion member being torsionally biased in the opening direction of the window frame structure with respect to the main frame structure and including engagement means for engagement with corresponding engagement means to be positioned on the window frame structure.
Further details and advantages will readily be appreciated from the appended drawings and the detailed description to follow.

Roof window with an improved securing device


A tubing counter for counting coiled tubing inserted into a well includes an outer housing having a through passage for receiving the coiled tubing therethrough. In some embodiments, pressure rated connectors at both of the ends of the outer housing sealably connect the outer housing in series between the coiled tubing injector head and the outer casing of the well. A plurality of counting wheels are rotatably supported within the outer housing for rolling engagement along coiled tubing inserted through the outer housing while a counting mechanism records a number of rotations of each counting wheel independently of the other wheels to minimize counting errors. Locating the counter below the injector head and below the tubing stripper ensures that the tubing is cleaner and less likely to slip in contact with the counting wheels while also accounting for stretching of the tubing for more accurate measurement.

In the field of oil and gas production various activities related to wells involve the insertion of coiled tubing into the wells. Coiled tubing is typically dispended from a roll supported on a rig which inserts the tubing into the casing of the well by a coiled tubing injector head supported above the casing. When inserting the tubing, it is desirable to count the length of tubing being inserted so as to know the depth of insertion of the bottom end of the tubing.
Various types of counters are known for strand material, including cable or tubing and the like. Typical counters make use of wheels which roll along the strand material as it is dispensed. Examples of counters are found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,457,071 to Alphonso, U.S. Pat. No. 4,205,447 to Smith, U.S. Pat. No. 4,577,410 to Ritter and U.S. Pat. No. 4,481,714 to Nelson. Known systems which are suited for coiled tubing, are generally required to be installed in conjunction with the injector head or be positioned thereabove.
When counters are connected above the injector head, the counters are prone to errors due slippage on the tubing which is dirty and exposed to the environment. These counters are therefore typically unable to account for the errors due to slippage between the counting wheel and the tubing upon which the counting wheel is riding. Also, these counters are simply transported on the exterior of trucks in a manner such that they are exposed to various abuse during use and transport. Furthermore, positioning of the counter above the injector head does not take into consideration how much the tubing stretches and accordingly these types of counters are also inaccurate in addition to requiring considerable maintenance.
Counters which are supported in conjunction with the injector head typically rely on a mechanical connection to the components of the injector head which may be subject to failure due to the complexity of the mechanisms required. These types of counters are also unable to accommodate for stretch of the tubing suspended below the injector head and accordingly are also inaccurate.


A passenger vehicle door latch assembly includes inhibiting means for preventing accidental setting of the latch to locked condition while the door is open. A resiliently loaded plunger is guided in fixed structure between a blocking position at which a head or other stop formation of the plunger prevents shifting of an element of a locking mechanism to its locked position and a free position at which locking can take place. The plunger co-acts with a face of a claw or other latch formation or with a face of a pawl or other retention element whenever the latter formation or element are not in their door securing relationship so preventing movement of the plunger from the blocking position until the door is closed.

In order to reduce the likelihood of the vehicle keys becoming locked inside the vehicle it is common to provide at least one of the door latches on a vehicle with an inhibiting arrangement preventing the mechanism being set into the locked condition before latching has taken place i.e. while the door is open.
It is known from DE-A-2340301 to provide a latch assembly having a said inhibiting arrangement in which an inhibiting member linked to lock mechanism of the assembly is guided for movement between a blocking position at which it prevents shifting of said mechanism from unlocked to locked condition and a free position allowing said shifting to take place, said member being positioned to co-act with a relatively movable face of a latch formation of the assembly whereby the member abuts said face to prevent its displacement from the blocking position whenever that formation is not at a position at which it holds the associated door latched.
The object of the invention is to provide a latch assembly having locking mechanism with an inhibit arrangement which is simple, effective and reliable in operation; which is economical to manufacture and assemble; and which also functions in indexing or assisting the indexing of the locking mechanism so that it is more positively displaced and urged fully to its locked and unlocked conditions when not so inhibited.


An improved cattle feeding system and shelter to maintain cattle in their thermo neutral zone. The shelter has a building foundation frame extending upwardly from the ground with an awning frame extending upwardly from the foundation frame and over it. This allows for an awning to be placed over the shelter frame to at least partially enclose it. The awning has a portion which is optionally opened to the south and optionally opened to the north to selectively allow air ventilation or catching the warmth of a southern sun exposure it also defines a chimney in the roof area and draft gap in the north wall. The awning also has a portion that can extend outwardly to the south, as well as retract. Vertically extendable and retractable awning closures are over the east and west ends of the frame to form selective entrances and exits. The entire system is built on a partial cement floor and a deep bedded area on a limestone pack and is of a configuration which enhances cleanliness inside of the shelter. The Drover's Alley allows cattle to be sorted and moved inside the shelter and to be restrained on the bedding pack while concrete alley is scraped.

The present invention relates generally to a cattle feeding system and to a shelter used in that system to create a controlled environment that protects the beef animal from environmental extremes. It also is a system which minimizes pollution risks.
Conventional open cattle feedlots have fence-line feed bunks and a concrete apron in front of the bunk for the cattle to stand on while eating; but, the rest of the dirt feedlot is open to the sun, wind, snow, rain and resulting mud and wind chill. Conventional systems do not protect the beef animal from extreme weather stresses. The associated stresses from the conventional beef system lead to decreased feed efficiency, lower weight-gains, disease development, and higher death loss. In addition, the conventional system is more labor intensive, because the mud lots must be repeatedly scraped and dirt mounds built in an attempt to keep the animals out of the snow and mud. The feed bunks are in the open and unprotected from snow and rain. Snow and spoiled wet feed must be repeatedly scooped out of the bunk to keep the bunk dry. This increases labor expense.
A larger concern for conventional cattle feeding systems is the potential for polluting the environment with manure runoff from the open lots after a rain or snow melt. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is enforcing new rules to prevent the pollution of streams and ditches next to conventional cattle feedlots and is requiring expensive containment basins or lagoons to be built to prevent run off from open feedlots. The result of lagoons and containment basins is the creation of an odor problem from the breakdown of the liquid manure that is contained in them. Consequently, the solution to water pollution creates air pollution. This trade off of one type of pollution for another is not acceptable.
As a result of many of these difficulties the cattle feeding business has moved away from the Midwest farm belt for among other reasons, in order to avoid the weather extremes since it is known that these weather extremes cause energy expenditure by the cattle and therefore decrease feed efficiency. For example, research at Kansas State University and the University of Nebraska has found that cattle that are in mud have wet hair and they are out of their thermo neutral temperature zone and thus have significantly lower rates of gain and poorer feed efficiency. Thermo neutral zone, as used herein, refers to a dry air area in for example a barn, that is within the range of 80° F. to 19° F. with the animals having dry hair. Within this range there is 15% better weight gain and feed efficiency. Disease is also notably lacking.
By way of example of the importance of the thermo neutral zone, as a general rule for every 4-8 inches of mud, weight gain is slowed by 14% and feed efficiency decreased by 13%. Severe conditions with mud 8-12 inches deep will decrease the gain and feed efficiency by 25% or more. In some instances cattle weight gain and feed efficiency has been cut in half by extreme muddy conditions.
In situations where the hair coat becomes wet cattle lose the ability to insulate themselves and as a result their maintenance requirements increase dramatically. Wind chill from the strong prevailing northwest winds also dramatically increases the animal's energy requirements.
The thermo neutral temperature zone is known to be the area or range of temperatures for maximum weight gain and feed efficiency. It also is the range of greatest comfort for cattle.
If the Midwest wishes to reestablish itself as the center for cattle feeding and finishing, there is a need for a successful structure that will maintain the cattle with dry hair generally within their thermo neutral temperature zone, i.e., between 80° F. on the upper end and 19° F. on the lower end. If the animals have wet hair the lower end thermal neutral zone temperature raises from 19° F. to 60° F. which dramatically increases energy requirements.
Certain types of systems have been developed in the past in an attempt to control climate and environment for cattle feeding systems. See for example, Slack, U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,191, which relates to a light and climate control system for prestressed fabric structures of the type having a plurality of arches in order to create certain zones within the shelter of controlled environment. There is, however, no control of feeding or design to eliminate or minimize manure and air pollution or is there adjustability to weather extremes. Bunger, U.S. Pat. No. 4,222,347, relates to a more permanent animal shelter for large scale feed operations involving a specifically designed roof and louver section with ventilation areas and use of interior feeding troughs. This too does nothing to eliminate some of the water and air pollution risk, nor does it allow flexibility of change in shelter structure to reflect change in environmental condition. It can therefore be seen by these two examples alone that there is a continuing need for improvement in large cattle feeding systems and shelters used in those systems to create a controlled environment depending upon the weather conditions, and to minimize pollution risk of both liquid and air pollution.
In the past, many types of structures have been suggested for increased efficiency. However the structure must not only work to maintain the cattle within the thermo neutral temperature range in dry comfortable air, but it also must be economical to build. For example, a 300-head barn that is of a conventional mono-slope barn construction runs about $700/head. A slatted floor confinement barn runs about $1,000/head for the same size herd. The present units of this invention, depending upon whether the farmer builds them himself or has help, range from $230/head for a 300-head barn to $330/head. Nearly half as much as conventional mono-slope barn at their very highest. Moreover they are more efficient than either mono-slope barns or slatted floors at maintaining dry air and a temperature in the thermo neutral zone.
A primary objective of the present invention is to develop a beef system that may be used to feed cattle in a controlled environment within their thermo neutral zone without the associated pollution of water and air that conventional cattle feeding systems create with their manure runoff.
Another objective of the present invention is to develop such a system which allows the walls of the shelter to be modified from opened to closed to partially closed positions and from positions providing shade protection to no shade protection, all in order to appropriately respond to seasonal climate changes as needed for the comfort of the cattle dwelling within the shelter.
A yet further objective of the present invention is to provide a cattle feeding system and a shelter which can be built relatively inexpensively in comparison with other units presently available commercially but which provides variable climate adjustments to maintain dry air, and herd cleanliness and comfort.
Simulating cattle feeding in a controlled environment is not an easy endeavor. Particularly in the Mid-West climates, which may typically range from winter wind chills approaching −35° F. to summer heat indexes of +114° F. Accordingly, it is a further objective of the present invention to provide a controlled environment that will modify the extreme weather fluctuations to a thermo neutral environment where the beef animal can thrive.
Open cattle feedlots are further complicated with humane animal husbandry criteria, such as providing access to bedding to provide a dry comfortable area for the cattle to lie on and to be protected from the sun, cold, wind, rain and mud. Accordingly, an even further objective of the present invention is to provide a cattle-feeding system that incorporates general humane, on farm husbandry standards for cattle.
Open cattle feedlots are often used by large commercial feedlots. These large feedlots are not typically inclined to use a controlled environment. A family farmer who owns the cattle, depends upon the farm for his/her livelihood, and provides the daily physical labor to manage the cattle and farm operation; such a person is more likely to adopt controlled environment, humane on-farm husbandry. Accordingly, it is a still further objective of the present invention to provide a cattle-feeding system, which may be easily adapted for a family farm, so that the family farm may generate a good and profitable livelihood.
Conventional cattle feeding systems usually have several hundred cattle in a pen and may not have adequate bunk and water space so that cattle, a herd animal, can all have easy access to water and feed. Accordingly, yet another objective of the present invention is to provide adequate space requirements for cattle if they are not in an open feedlot area but in an enclosed building structure. The present system generally provides 40 square feet per animal, with the feed bunk and water included, which is double the space of many current confined feeding systems on slatted floors.
It is a further objective to provide a system and shelter having a planned gated space area that allows a drover's alley so that the cattle can be conveniently penned in one area and the drover's alley cleaned easily all at once by simply moving a skid loader or appropriate working tool down through the shelter. Thereafter the drover's alley gates are opened and the cattle then allowed free access again to the drover's alley and the feeding area bunks.
A yet further objective of the present invention is to provide a shelter that has a north facing wall air gap that works in combination with the chimney vent space down through the roof middle (the long axis of the shelter known as a Chimney Vent or split) function together to keep air flowing up and out of the shelter that is therefore dry and avoids the efficiency bad weight gain affects (weight loss) of the adverse weather and high relative humidity.
Put simply, the shelter and system of the present invention provides the most cattle comfort, and the greatest feed efficiency and weight gain at the lowest cost. This is one of the most important objectives of the invention.
These and other objectives will become apparent from the following detailed written description of the invention, including the preferred embodiment and best mode of the invention.

Cattle feeding system and shelter to create a controlled environment within the thermal neutral zone


Compounds of Formula I, and their N-oxides and agriculturally suitable salts, are disclosed which are useful for controlling undesired vegetation ##STR1## wherein Q, X, A, B, R.sup.1 through R.sup.3, m, p, q, r, and s are as defined in the disclosure.. Also disclosed are compositions containing the compounds of Formula I and a method for controlling undesired vegetation which involves contacting the vegetation or its environment with an effective amount of a compound of Formula I.

This invention relates to certain heterotricyclic compounds, their N-oxides, agriculturally suitable salts and compositions, and methods of their use for controlling undesirable vegetation.
The control of undesired vegetation is extremely important in achieving high crop efficiency. Achievement of selective control of the growth of weeds especially in such useful crops as rice, soybean, sugar beet, corn (maize), potato, wheat, barley, tomato and plantation crops, among others, is very desirable. Unchecked weed growth in such useful crops can cause significant reduction in productivity and thereby result in increased costs to the consumer. The control of undesired vegetation in noncrop areas is also important. Many products are commercially available for these purposes, but the need continues for new compounds which are more effective, less costly, less toxic, environmentally safer or have different modes of action.
WO 94/04524 discloses herbicidal cyclohexanedione derivatives of Formula i as herbicides: ##STR2##
wherein, inter alia,
R.sub.1 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl; PA1 R.sub.2 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl; PA1 R.sub.3 -R.sub.5 are H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkyl; and PA1 n is 0, 1 or 2. PA1 X is O, S(O).sub.n, N(C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkyl), N, CH or CH.sub.2 optionally substituted with 1-2 C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkyl; PA1 A is O or S(O).sub.n ; PA1 B is S(O).sub.n ; PA1 each R.sup.1 is independently C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 haloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 haloalkoxy, S(O).sub.n R.sup.17, SO.sub.2 N(R.sup.13).sub.2, halogen, cyano or nitro; PA1 each R.sup.2 is independently C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl; PA1 each R.sup.3 is independently C.sub.1 -C.sub.2 alkyl; PA1 R.sup.4 is OR.sup.14, SH, S(O).sub.n R.sup.17, halogen or NR.sup.15 R.sup.16 ; or R.sup.4 is phenylthio or phenylsulfonyl, each optionally substituted with C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl, halogen, cyano or nitro; PA1 each R.sup.5 is independently H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 alkenyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 alkynyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkoxy, formyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkoxycarbonyl, --CH.sub.2 (C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkoxy), --CH(C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkoxy).sub.2, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkylthio, cyano or halogen; or when two R.sup.5 are attached to the same carbon atom, then said R.sup.5 pair can be taken together to form --OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O--, --OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 O--, --SCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 S--or --SCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 S--, each group optionally substituted with 1-4 CH.sub.3 ; PA1 R.sup.6 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 haloalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkoxyalkyl, formyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkylcarbonyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkylaminocarbonyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.7 dialkylaminocarbonyl or SO.sub.2 R.sup.17 ; or R.sup.6 is phenyl, benzyl, benzoyl, --CH.sub.2 C(O)phenyl or phenylsulfonyl, each optionally substituted on the phenyl ring with C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl, halogen, cyano, or nitro; PA1 R.sup.7 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 haloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 alkenyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 alkynyl or --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OR.sup.13 ; or R.sup.7 is phenyl or benzyl, each optionally substituted on the phenyl ring with C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl, halogen, cyano or nitro; PA1 R.sup.8 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 haloalkyl, halogen, cyano or nitro; PA1 R.sup.9 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 haloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 cycloalkyl or C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 halocycloalkyl; PA1 R.sup.10 is H, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 haloalkoxycarbonyl, CO.sub.2 H or cyano; PA1 R.sup.11 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 haloalkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 halocycloalkyl or C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 cycloalkyl optionally substituted with 1-4 C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl; PA1 R.sup.12 is cyano, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkylcarbonyl, S(O).sub.n R.sup.16 or C(O)NR.sup.15 R.sup.16 ; each R.sup.13 is independently H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl; PA1 R.sup.14 is H, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 haloalkyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkoxyalkyl, formyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkylcarbonyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkoxycarbonyl, C(O)NR.sup.15 R.sup.16 or SO.sub.2 R.sup.17 ; or R.sup.14 is phenyl, benzyl, benzoyl, --CH.sub.2 C(O)phenyl or phenylsulfonyl, each optionally substituted on the phenyl ring with C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 alkyl, halogen, cyano or nitro; PA1 R.sup.15 is H or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl; PA1 R.sup.16 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkoxy; or PA1 R.sup.15 and R.sup.16 can be taken together as --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --, --CH.sub.2 or --CH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 OCH.sub.2 CH.sub.2 --; PA1 R.sup.17 is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 alkyl or C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 haloalkyl; PA1 m is 0, 1 or 2; PA1 each n is independently 0, 1 or 2; PA1 p is 0, 1 or 2; PA1 q is 1 or 2; PA1 r is 0, 1,2or 3; and PA1 s is 0, 1,2,3or 4; PA1 provided that when m is 0 then X is other than N or CH; and PA1 wherein the dashed line in Formula I signifies either a single or double bond. PA1 Preferred 1. Compounds of Formula I above, and N-oxides and agriculturally suitable salts thereof, wherein: PA1 Preferred 2. Compounds of Preferred 1 wherein: PA1 Preferred 3. Compounds of Preferred 2 wherein: PA1 Preferred 4. Compounds of Preferred 2 wherein: PA1 L is a leaving group such as C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 alkoxy (e.g., OC.sub.2 H.sub.5) or N,N-dialkylamino (e.g., dimethyl amino) R.sup.10a is H, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 alkoxycarbonyl, C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 haloalkoxycarbonyl or CONH.sub.2
The heterotricyclic compounds of the present invention are not disclosed in this publication.


The present disclosure provides, for example, a lidar ranging method. The method may include calling a sequencer to generate a preset sequence with the sequencer. The method may also include determining a pulse transmission interval of double pulses according to the preset sequence and a preset value. The method may further include transmitting a probing signal to an object to be ranged according to the pulse transmission interval of the double pulses. The method may additionally include receiving, from the object to be ranged, an echo signal returned according to the probing signal. The method may also include extracting a valid echo signal from the echo signal. The method may further include calculating a distance from the object to be ranged according to a time difference between the valid echo signal and the probing signal.

At present, a lidar transmits a probing signal to an object to be ranged, receives an echo signal reflected from the object to be ranged, and calculates a distance between the object to be ranged and the lidar according to a time difference between the echo signal and the probing signal. When a plurality of vehicles each equipped with a lidar of the same type operate in the same area at the same time, lidars equipped on each vehicle may receive probing signals transmitted from lidars equipped on other vehicles, resulting in interference among these lidars. For example, a probing signal transmitted by a first lidar is reflected by an object to be ranged, and then is detected by a second lidar which in turn generates an echo signal; as such, interference to the second lidar by the first lidar occurs.

Lidar ranging method, device, computer apparatus and storage medium


A self-timed RAM (2) having a two-phase read and write operating cycles which comprise a precharge phase and a discharge phase and which is clocked by a clock signal. The self-timed RAM comprises control means (18, 20, 24, 22, 26, 28, 30) for initiating and controlling the precharge phase followed by the discharge phase in response to a first transition of the clock signal. The self-timed RAM further comprises logic means (30, ERRFLG) which determines when either phase of the two-phase operating cycle has not been completed before the next first transition of the clock signal and in response thereto activates an error indicating means (ERRFLG) to indicate that an error may have occurred during the RAM operating cycle. A controlling system of the RAM can then determine that an error may have occurred during the RAM operating cycle by checking the error indicating means (ERRFLG).

For a RAM to function correctly, two primary requirements must be fulfilled: during a read operation stored data must not be inadvertently altered due to a malfunction either in the RAM controlling system or in the RAM itself; and after a write operation, the RAM must indicate to the controlling system if the operation was completed successfully or not. In many applications, insufficient time is available to verify each individual write operation of a given data word in a given memory location, with a subsequent read of the data in the same memory location.
The correct functioning of RAM can be disturbed by electrical noise and this is particularly true for a RAM operating in a noisy environment, such as inside a television set or beside an engine.
The electrical noise may be produced by several different sources: for example, the clock duty cycle may change significantly from the ideal case of 50%, the clock frequency may change, parasitic spikes may appear on the clock signal and the power supply voltage may drop momentarily. In television sets for example, such affects can arise from the electrical discharge phenomenon known as `flashover` and may also arise from parasitic coupling in the Integrated Circuit (IC) packaging including the RAM or from other parts of the same IC. The electrical noise can disturb the operation of the RAM to the extent that write and read operations are not completed.
In conventional RAM, correct operation is usually dependent on the quality of the incoming clock signal. In particular, the duration of the clock HIGH and LOW periods must be sufficiently long to ensure problem-free operation. The generation of electrical noise due to for example a drop in the power supply voltage, or ground bounce resulting from parasitic coupling or inductive coupling will affect the clock signal which can cause the RAM cycle period to slow down to the extent that information cannot be read or written sufficiently quickly so that the read and write operations are not completed.
A known solution which attempts to overcome these problems is to use a self-timing function in a RAM. Self-timed RAMs are well known in the art and are particularly useful in high speed computers (i.e. with cache memory) where the goal is to minimise the overall system cycle time.
The read and write cycles in the self-timed RAM are both triggered by either a rising or falling clock edge. Thus, a departure of the clock duty cycle from 50% does not disturb the function of the RAM, assuming the clock frequency is within the specified limits. This is because once the RAM cycle has been initiated by a rising or falling clock edge, it continues until completion independently of the falling or rising clock edge respectively.
Thus, electrical noise due to changes in the clock duty cycle do not disturb the function of the self-timed RAM. However, the function of self-timed RAM can still be affected by electrical noise arising due to drops in power supply voltage and/or clock frequency changes and as discussed above such noise can cause read and write cycles to be incompleted.
One way to check whether a read or write cycle has been completed is to verify all of the memory locations to check if they contain the correct data. However, a complete check of the RAM requires a significant period of time which is unacceptable in some applications, such as in high speed computers and in systems which function in real-time such as television sets.
Accordingly, the invention seeks to provide an improved self-timed RAM in which the above problems of the prior art are mitigated.

Random access memories (RAM) and more particularly to self-timed RAMS


A method of scheduling and sub-channelization is provided for a wireless network such as an OFDMA network. Distributed coordination is applied across sectors, such neighboring sectors will tend to schedule cell-edge users at the same time, while sub-channelizing to different portions of the full frequency band available for forward link transmissions. This tendency is achieved by dividing each sector's users into user classes which depend upon forward link channel quality. Each user class is assigned a different set of priorities for use of available timeslots and subcarriers.

It is a common problem in wireless communications that users situated relatively far from the base station that serves them are generally most susceptible to interference from neighboring base stations and to signal attenuation. As a consequence, such users may experience relatively low signal-to-interference-and-noise ratios (SINRs).
Below, we will refer to the relatively distant users as "cell-edge users" or as users with "poor geometry." It will be understood that when one user is said to be more "distant" from the base station than another, what is meant does not depend solely on geographical distance, but also to susceptibility to other factors leading to attenuation and interference.
Various strategies may be used to keep the error rates at an acceptable level in the data received by such relatively distant users. Such strategies typically involve some sacrifice of spectral efficiency in order to keep error rates low. For example, coding rates may be reduced, or sub-channelization techniques may be employed to concentrate power in a limited portion of the full available frequency band.
It is typical of such strategies that they are implemented independently by the various base stations. However, coordination across cells or across sectors may improve efficiencies achieved with strategies such as sub-channelization. There remains a need for appropriate approaches to coordination of this kind.

Interference-reducing method of forward link scheduling for wireless networks


A charging system includes an alternator body, rotor coil and stator windings. A bridge rectifier is positioned within the alternator body and connected to the stator windings for rectifying the electrical output from the stator windings. The rectifier includes a positive and negative heat sinks each having a top surface and spaced from each other with cooling fins on an outer surface of each heat sink. A plurality of diodes are positioned at each top surface of positive and negative heat sinks. A terminal assembly interconnects respective pairs of positive and negative diodes. At least one pair of interconnected positive and negative diodes are positioned offset from each other at an angle to provide a maximum surface area for the cooling fins.

Charging system (CS) alternators are used in large numbers of vehicles and have numerical designations denoting the outside diameter in millimeters of the stator coil. For example, a CS-144 alternator has a stator outside diameter of about 144 millimeters. This CS number can be used to compare relative size and amperes output of different alternators. The CS-144 type alternator, for example, is typically a large case alternator that fits many large or heavy duty General Motors vehicles and Hummers. The CS-144 alternator can come in different output levels, for example, 190 amps and 210 amps. This alternator usually includes rotor windings forming a rotor coil and mounted on a rotor shaft, a stator coil, double sealed ball bearings, contoured rotor segments, an internal fan, long life brushes, high temperature insulation, and a high capacity and rugged bridge rectifier mounted adjacent a rear cover of the alternator body. A fan is mounted next to a pulley in the front section of the alternator and draws air through rear air vents in a rear cover and through front air vents for cooling the alternator components. An internal fan is typically mounted on a rotor shaft and also draws air through a slip ring and frame assembly to aid in cooling the rectifier bridge, any regulator device positioned in the alternator body and the rear bearing. The air is expelled through air vents at the "pulley" or front end.
Many of these types of alternators use a high capacity and rugged bridge rectifier having positive and negative heat sinks that are spaced adjacent to each other and forming a gap therebetween. Button diodes are soldered on respective sides of the heat sink facing each other. Insulating spaces having terminals of a terminal assembly and/or lead frame are positioned between the positive and negative heat sinks and interconnect the button diodes to complete the rectifier circuit.
Although the CS-144 alternators and their bridge rectifiers as described usually form a robust alternator, the button diodes sometimes fail when a shear force such as created by excessive vehicle or other vibration, is applied to any solder joint securing the button diodes to the sides of the heat sink. Even without any added shear force applied to a solder joint, the joint could fail because of excess heat.
Some prior bridge rectifiers for CS-144 and similar alternators have used press fitted diodes in their designs, but the configuration of the cooling fins on the heat sinks, the location of the press fitted diodes relative to the overall configuration of the heat sinks, or the generally small configuration of the cooling fins have not been advantageous. Overheating has sometimes occurred because of inadequate heat sink cooling.

Bridge rectifier for charging system alternator


A fan driving circuit with temperature compensation comprises a power input end, a power output end connected with a fan motor, a first transistor arranged between the power input end and the power output end, a signal adjuster connected with the first transistor and connected with a signal generating circuit, a second transistor connected with the signal adjuster, and a feedback unit. The feedback unit comprises a first resistor and a second resistor connected in series, and a compensation bypass connected in parallel with the first resistor or the second resistor, wherein the compensation bypass comprises a thermistor, a resistance of the thermistor changes along with the temperature and changes a magnitude of a feedback current which is provided to the second transistor, so as to compensate a change of a common emitter current gain in the second transistor generated by the temperature.

Transistor components all have operating characteristics that vary depending on different operating environment. Referring to FIG. 1, it is a graph showing variation of common emitter current gain (also named hFE or β) of a transistor component at different temperatures. It is clear from FIG. 1 that the higher the operating environment temperature of the transistor component, the higher the common emitter current gain will be.
In the current fan control technology, although a plurality of technologies provide technical solutions for changing a rotating speed of a fan aiming at the ambient temperature, such as Taiwan patent number 1686541 and the like, the emphasis of the technologies is that the rotating speed of the fan is required to be increased when the ambient temperature is increased, and characteristic changes generated by the transistor component are ignored, so that the fan control is not expected.

Fan driving circuit with temperature compensation


A water vapor cleaning system includes a vapor-producing chamber in communication with a water source, e.g. a hot water line, of an existing plumbing system. The vapor-producing device includes a vapor exit. The cleaning system includes a nozzle having an inlet, an outlet, and a valve selectively allowing or denying fluid communication between the inlet and outlet. The nozzle includes an actuator for selection between allowing or denying fluid communication. The nozzle is connected to the vapor-producing chamber with tubing. The nozzle also includes a vacuum device for suctioning items or blowing air through the tubing. A selector switch on the nozzle facilitates selection between steaming, vacuuming, blowing, soaping, and rinsing modes. A set of nozzle accessories are included for cleaning various types of surfaces.

This invention relates generally to cleaning devices and, more particularly, to a vapor cleaning system connectible to an existing residential or commercial plumbing system for cleaning, sanitizing, and deodorizing a surface without using chemicals.
Steam cleaning is a very effective means for cleaning and the benefits are numerous. The concept of vapor cleaning is desirable in that non-planar surfaces and areas having obstructions are cleaned effectively with heated or highly pressurized water vapor. In other words, steam cleaning is an optimal choice on surfaces with cracks, crevices, and other hard to reach places. Another benefit is that steam cleaning can be done with very little moisture such that there are no watery messes left behind. Cleaning can be accomplished without buckets, mops, or gloves. Further, cleaning with steam avoids use of toxic chemicals and the resulting fumes, which are both significant health benefits and an economic savings.
Steam cleaners have traditionally involved an upright unit that may be pushed around a room or a floor unit that may be pulled to a desired location. These units also typically include a limited volume water reservoir that is filled prior to use. The intended purpose of these units is usually for the cleaning of floors or carpets. While assumably effective for their intended purposes, these devices are not effective for cleaning surface areas that have a variety of different surface types or areas not accessible to traditional steam cleaners.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a water vapor cleaning system connectable to an existing water supply for cleaning selected surfaces using a limited volume of moisture, heat, and electricity and without using cleaning chemicals and without leaving a watery mess behind. Further, it would be desirable to have a water vapor cleaning system having interchangeable accessories for specifically cleaning different types of surfaces. In addition, it would be desirable to have a water vapor cleaning system that may be hand-held for comfortably cleaning surfaces in the proximity of a water supply, whether the system is connected to a kitchen sink, bathroom water supply, or commercial water supply.


An improved trimaran is provided. The trimaran includes a main section, multiple floats, a sail assembly and a set of beams that are used to removably position the floats a certain distance from the main section. The center section includes a centerboard or daggerboard assembly, steering assembly, cockpit area, bulkhead areas and mast receiving area. The controls for the centerboard assembly and steering assembly are centrally located in the front portion of the cockpit area and the cockpit area is positioned between the bulkhead areas. The trimaran is designed to have a car-like steering configuration and in one embodiment interchangeable beams to vary the width of the trimaran, depending on whether the user wishes to sail the trimaran or transport it to another location by for example, loading it on a trailer. In another embodiment having removable beams, the beams have adjustable settings so that the height of the floats relative to the center section can be varied.

Multi-hull sailboats have been in use worldwide for centuries. Multi-hull sailboats include sailboats with two hulls which are now referred to as catamarans and sailboats with three hulls which are now referred to as trimarans. Trimarans typically comprise a main hull and two side floats or pontoons positioned one on each side of, and a distance from, the main hull to improve the stability of the sailboat.
While there are a variety of multi-hull sailboat designs commercially available, there are some inadequately addressed problems. Many of these problems stem from the fact that the width of most multi-hull sailboats is quite large compared to that of single hull boats. Although this increased width improves their stability in water, it makes them difficult to maneuver and transport by trailer or the like from one location to another when taken out of the water.
Another problem is that most multi-hull sailboats cannot be disassembled and those that can be disassembled cannot be disassembled quickly and easily.
A further problem is that multi-hull sailboats take up considerable space at piers and docks.
A still further problem with multi-hull sailboats is that smaller designs, such as those under twenty feet in length, do not provide any real or comfortable seating arrangements for the users and there is limited or no storage areas which can result in belongings being lost overboard.
Another problem, which is applicable to sailboats in general, and to multi-hull boats as well, is that they can be difficult to learn how to sail.

Trimarans with removable beams configurations and steering wheel assemblies


An internal spoke nipple for a bicycle rim that is positioned internal to the rim and can be pivoted for alignment with various spoke angles. The internal spoke nipple is adapted to be positioned within an aero or deep V-shaped rim. The spoke nipple includes a cupped shaped base portion and a stem portion. The cupped base portion allows the internal spoke nipple to automatically align with the angle of the attached spoke, eliminating undesirable lateral forces on the spoke. The internal spoke nipple further comprises a fully threaded central bore that is adapted to engage and retain the spoke. The stem portion includes a plurality flat side walls that are adapted to accept a spoke wrench, to allow for adjustment of spoke tension.

The present invention relates to spoke nipples and more specifically bicycle spoke nipples used to attach the spoke of the wheel to the rim of the bicycle. A bicycle wheel typically includes a hub, a plurality of spoke nipples, a plurality of spokes extending outwardly from the hub and an annular rim coupled to the outer ends of the spokes for supporting an inner tube and a tire. The annular rim includes a plurality of spoke attachment portions in the form of openings for retaining outer ends of spokes therein. The plulrality of spoke nipples are positioned within the openings and extend outwardly from the interior surface and are directed toward the hub. The outer ends of the spokes and are arranged to engage the spoke nipples. The hub includes a pair of hub flanges. Each hub flange includes a plurality of spoke attachment openings. The inner ends of the spokes are received in the spoke attachment openings. The inner ends of the spokes include a head portion adapted to be retained by the spoke attachment openings. Prior art spoke nipple arrangements can create undue stress on the spokes at the point where the spokes enter the nipples causing spoke failure, as well as undesirable wind drag for the rider.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description, the accompanying drawings and the appended claims.

Internal spoke nipple with variable spoke angles


In a controller integrated circuit, which controls the operation of a peripheral storage device, a transfer monitoring circuit that facilitates the monitoring of successful transfers from outside the controller integrated circuit. The circuit includes a counter circuit that counts the number of successful transfers, a value storing register, a comparison circuit to compare the counter value to the value stored in the register and generate a result. The transfer monitoring circuit speeds up the operation of the controller integrated circuit especially during recovery from error conditions. The monitoring circuit also allows for a more optimal use of a look-ahead cache.

The present invention relates generally to peripheral storage devices and, more particularly, to techniques for monitoring the transfer of data between a host system and a hard disk drive or other peripheral storage device.
Computer systems commonly include one or more peripheral storage devices that are used to store and/or provide access to data. One common type of peripheral storage device is a hard disk drive. Other types of peripheral storage devices include tape drives, CD drives (both read-only and read/write), and DVD devices.
The most basic parts of a hard disk drive include at least one platter or xe2x80x9cdiskxe2x80x9d that is rotated, an actuator that moves a transducer to various locations over the disk, and electrical circuitry that is used to write and read data to and from the disk. The disk drive also includes circuitry for encoding data so that data can be successfully retrieved from and written to the disk surface. The circuitry for encoding the data and circuitry that is used to perform the read and write operations on the disk are usually in a controller. The controller can be made as an integrated circuit placed within the hard disk drive. A disk drive microprocessor (xe2x80x9cmicroprocessorxe2x80x9d) can be either embedded within or external to the controller integrated circuit.
The microprocessor controls most of the operations of the disk drive by configuring and monitoring the operation of the controller. For example, a host computer can initiate an operation by sending the controller a read command. The microprocessor recognizes the command and sets up registers in the controller to perform the read operation. The data is then read from the disk into a buffer. When a minimum amount of data is in the buffer the microprocessor sets up the controller to send the data from the buffer to the host.
Data is commonly read from or written onto the hard disk using a parallel processing scheme. The parallel processing method allows the disk controller to simultaneously read data, check for errors, and correct errors. This parallel processing is sometimes referred to as pipelining. For example, while one sector is read by a module, a second sector can be error checked by another module, and a third sector can be corrected in a third module. It can be seen that, with a parallel writing and reading method, several different operations on different sectors can take place at the same time. If an error is detected by any of the operations, it can be difficult and time consuming to determine which sector generated the error condition. Algorithms and decision trees are sometimes used to track the propagation of sectors through the error detection units to determine which sector is operated on at any given time. The processing power required to keep track of the sectors in such a pipelining reading and writing scheme slows down the operation of the disk drive. Therefore it would be an advantage over prior disk drive systems to enable a disk drive to determine which data has been properly read or written without using complicated algorithms.
Certain unique problems are encountered when a disk drive system employs look ahead caching to speed up the transfer of data from the disk to the buffer. Look ahead caching is a method that uses the observation that once a sector is read it is likely that the sectors following it will also be read, since data is usually stored and read in sequential order. Therefore, when a request for a sector read is made, the look ahead cache will read additional sectors following the requested sector up to a certain number of sectors depending on the size of the cache. In this manner, requests for reading sectors that follow the first sector read will be processed by accessing the cache, thereby providing a shorter seek time for disk read operations. A complication arises when the disk controller receives a read request for a sector that is out of sequence with the earlier sectors. At this time, instead of transferring data from the cache, the data will have to be read from the physical media since the requested sector was not read into the cache. The microprocessor has to interrupt the reading of the sequential sectors into the cache and setup the controller to access the requested sector area on the physical media. If the next request following the out of order sector request is again within the sequence, the microprocessor commonly does not have any way of knowing whether the sector has been read into the cache. Instead of servicing the request from the cache, the microprocessor will have to set up the controller to access the data on the physical media to ensure data integrity. Therefore, it would be an improvement over prior systems for the microprocessor to be able to easily and rapidly determine how many sectors were properly read during an operation to prevent the microprocessor from reading the same sector twice.
The present invention overcomes the above problems by providing a tracking circuit that allows the microprocessor to efficiently monitor the number of successful sector transfers. The circuit is preferably incorporated within a disk drive controller. The circuit includes a counter that monitors the number of successful sector transfers during the present disk access. In a preferred embodiment, a successful transfer during a read operation is defined as a successful application of all error correction protocols for the sector, or data segment, transferred; and a successful transfer during a write operation is defined as the successful placement of a sector, or data segment, on the physical disk platter. The circuit also includes a programmable target register that can be programmed by the microprocessor with a target value for the number of sectors transferred. A comparator is used to compare the value from the counter to that in the target register. When the number of requested sector transfers has taken place, the comparator output is used to notify the processor that the target has been reached. The result of the comparison can be communicated to the microprocessor by, for example, an interrupt or a bit that is set in a microprocessor readable register. The microprocessor may additionally or alternatively be permitted to directly read the contents of the counter or write values to the counter.
The method of the present invention includes the steps of, on a disk access sequence, tracking successful transfers of sectors to the disk and to the buffer, incrementing a counter when a sector is successfully transferred, comparing the output of the counter to a value from a programmable register, and generating a result bit from the comparator.
The present invention provides the ability to track the number of completed sector transfers to ensure that the operation has completed successfully before the data can be further manipulated or extracted. The method of the present invention provides the advantage of allowing the microprocessor to efficiently determine, when an error condition arises, how many sectors have been read or written successfully, thereby eliminating the need to reinitiate the entire disk access sequence. The method of the present invention also enables the microprocessor to determine how many sectors were read into a look ahead cache, thereby providing for a better use of the cache.
In one embodiment, the present invention offers the additional advantage of allowing the microprocessor to read the output of the sector counter directly. Further, the microprocessor can also change the value in the target register once a target is reached to set a new target value. In the alternative, multiple programmable registers can be provided within the tracking circuit to allow the microprocessor to trace several points during the transfer of sectors. The present invention also increases data reliability by generating the successful sector read/write signal only once the data is actually available on the proper unit for reading or writing.
Although the invention is preferably embodied within a hard disk controller, it will be appreciated that the invention can be used within controllers of other types of peripheral storage devices, including tape drives, flash memory drives, and optical drives.

Circuit and method for monitoring sector transfers to and from storage medium


An RF module includes a multi-layered substrate. A base-band IC, a memory IC, a quartz oscillator and surface-mount components are mounted on the upper surface of the multi-layered substrate. A metallic cap also is attached to the upper surface of the multi-layered substrate. A cavity is formed in the lower surface of the multi-layered substrate substantially at the center thereof. A first RF-IC and a second RF-IC are embedded in the cavity. Wiring patterns for providing connections between the base-band IC and the memory IC, through-holes, RF passive components, and the shield ground electrode pattern are disposed inside of the multi-layered substrate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an RF module and, more particularly, to an RF module that includes ICs such as an RF-IC, a base-band IC, and a memory IC mounted on a substrate, and which is used, for example, in a mobile communication terminal.
2. Description of the Related Art
RF modules have been developed and used in mobile communication terminals. Such an RF module typically has components such as an RF-IC, a base-band IC, a memory IC and a quartz oscillator, which are mounted on a single-layered printed circuit board.
A conventional RF module that does not include an antenna typically has approximate dimensions of 33 mm long, 17 mm wide and 3.65 mm thick. Another RF module, which has a built-in antenna on the substrate, typically has approximate dimensions of 32 mm long, 15 mm wide and 2.9 mm thick is also available. These RF modules are too large to be mounted in, for example, a portable phone.


A flexible display apparatus is disclosed. In one aspect, the apparatus includes a flexible display panel including a first surface, a second surface facing the first surface, and a side surface that connects the first surface and the second surface. The apparatus also includes a passivation layer that is disposed on at least one of the first surface, the second surface, and the side surface of the display panel and includes a viscoelastic fluid and a vessel unit that contains the viscoelastic fluid therein.

1. Field
The described technology generally relates to a flexible display apparatus and a method of manufacturing the flexible display apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Display apparatuses generally include televisions (TVs), computer monitors, personal digital assistants (PDAs), tablet computers and smartphones which are increasingly in demand, and these display apparatuses display an image corresponding to a signal input by an external device.
A flat panel display module with high image quality, such as an organic light-emitting display panel, a liquid crystal display (LCD) panel, a plasma display panel (PDP), or the like, is used in display apparatuses.
Recently, flexible displays which can be manufactured to be lightweight and thin and have high portability have been developed. However, in order to manufacture a flexible display device, a thin substrate needs to be employed, and thus, the manufactured flexible display is vulnerable to an external impact.

Flexible display apparatus and method of manufacturing the same