A hub unit for wheel is described, with an outer ring having two bearing tracks on its inner circumferential surface, and a hub having a wheel mount flange on the outer end side and an end portion on the axially vehicle center side. The hub has a first bearing track corresponding to the axially vehicle outer end side bearing track of the outer ring, and an inner ring element fitted on the end portion side of the hub. The inner ring element has on its outer circumference a second bearing track opposed to the axially vehicle center side bearing track of the outer ring, and is fixed on the end portion by plastically deforming the end portion of the hub radially outwardly. Rolling members are provided between the two bearing tracks of the outer ring and the first and second bearing tracks.

In hub units in which an inner ring element is fixed by caulking the vehicle center side end portion of the hub, the end portion to be caulked is plastically deformed by a caulking tool in such a way as to extend radially outwardly, so that the inner ring element is fastened and fixed by the plastically deformed portion thus swaged. In this process there is a risk that the inner ring element and/or the hub may be deformed to cause a change in the dimension of a track on the inner ring element or a deformation of the shape of the track surface, which can lead to deterioration in the performance of the hub unit.
To avoid deformation of the inner ring element, there has been proposed a technique in which an annular constraining jig is attached on the radially outer portion of the inner ring to suppress deformation of the inner ring (see for example Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-38005).
However, the constraining jig proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2000-38005 necessitates an operation of inserting it between the inner ring element and an outer ring, and in addition, that operation needs to be performed every time for every hub unit for wheel. This takes time and effort and leads to a decrease in the work efficiency and an increase in production cost.
In the caulking process according to a prior art disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,226,738, caulking operation is performed by gradually pressing a cylindrical portion to be caulked provided at the vehicle center side end of a hub using a metal mold for caulking. In the final step of the caulking operation just before completion, the metal mold strongly presses the end to be caulked of the hub in the axial direction, so that a force that tends to displace the hub radially outwardly toward the inner ring element is generated at the fitting portion of the inner ring element and the hub as a component force of the pressing force. Thus, the inner ring element receives a force in radially outward directions to deform. When such deformation is large, excessive pressure in the bearing and deformation of the track can occur, which can cause shortening of the life of the bearing, an increase in the torque or noise. In addition, there is the problem that the more securely the inner ring element and the hub are fixed together, the larger the deformation of the inner ring element toward radially outward directions will become.
An object of the present invention to minimize deformation of the inner ring element generated upon caulking as much as possible, and to provide a hub unit that does not suffer from deterioration in performance.
To achieve the above object, a hub unit for wheel according to a first aspect of the present invention comprises:
an outer ring having two bearing tracks on its inner circumferential surface;
a hub having a wheel mount flange on the axially vehicle outer end side and an end portion on the axially vehicle center side, the hub having, as a separate part or integrally on its outer circumference, a first bearing track corresponding to the axially vehicle outer end side bearing track of the outer ring;
an inner ring element fitted on the end portion side of the hub, the inner ring element having on its outer circumference a second bearing track opposed to the axially vehicle center side bearing track of the outer ring and being fixed on the end portion by plastically deforming the end portion of the hub radially outwardly; and
rolling members provided between the two bearing tracks of the outer ring and the first and second bearing tracks,
wherein the outer diameter of a plastically deforming portion of the end portion is made smaller than the diameter of the portion of the inner ring element that is fitted on the hub, the start point of the small diameter portion is arranged to be situated between the start point of a chamfered portion on the inner circumferential surface of the inner ring element and the vehicle center side end face of the inner ring element, and the end portion is plastically deformed radially outwardly to fasten and fix the inner ring element.
According to the hub unit for wheel according to the first aspect of the present invention, it is not necessary to use a constraining jig when effecting the plastically deforming process.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is possible to fasten and fix the inner ring element on the vehicle center side of the hub while minimizing deformation of the inner ring element as much as possible, and therefore shortening of the useful life of the bearing will not occur. In addition, the length over which the inner ring element is press-fitted on the end portion is shortened, whereby assembling is made easier.
To achieve the above object, a hub unit for wheel according to a second aspect of the present invention comprises:
an outer ring having two bearing tracks on its inner circumferential surface;
a hub having a wheel mount flange on the outer end side and an end portion on the axially vehicle center side, the hub having, as a separate part or integrally on its outer circumference, a first bearing track corresponding to the axially vehicle outer end side bearing track of the outer ring;
an inner ring element fitted on the end portion side of the hub, the inner ring element having on its outer circumference a second bearing track opposed to the axially vehicle center side bearing track of the outer ring and being fixed on the end portion by plastically deforming the end portion of the hub radially outwardly; and
rolling members provided between the two bearing tracks of the outer ring and the first and second bearing tracks,
wherein a continuous circumferential groove is provided on the inner circumferential surface of the inner ring element adjacent to a chamfered portion on the inner end portion of the inner circumferential surface.
By providing a continuous circumferential groove on the inner circumferential surface of the inner ring element adjacent to a chamfered portion of the inner ring element as per the above, when the portion to be caulked is strongly pressed in the axial direction by a metal mold in the final stage of the caulking process, a portion of the material of the hub expanding radially outwardly in the fitting portion of the inner ring element and the hub is evacuated into the circumferential groove of the inner ring element, whereby the expansion is prevented from affecting the inner ring element. As a result, it is possible to reduce the radially outward force acting on the inner ring element upon caulking and circumferential stress on the outer circumference of the inner ring element.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, not only the radially outward force acting on the inner ring element can be reduced by the above described effect, but the radially expanding material of the hub intrudes into the circumferential groove, whereby the intruding portion helps to prevent axial displacement of the inner ring element relative to the hub. In this way, it is possible to fix the inner ring element more strongly, and this is advantageous also in preventing pressure failure of the hub bearing apparatus for wheel and creeping that may occur at the fitting portion of the inner ring element on the hub.
Furthermore, in the second aspect of the present invention, since the main chamfered portion on the inner ring element is left unchanged, and the circumferential groove is formed on the inner circumferential surface of the inner ring element adjacent to the main chamfered portion, the circumferential groove is not open to the inner end face of the inner ring element. Therefore, from the early stage to the final stage of caulking, the amount of the material intruding into the groove is small, and the material of the hub including a cylindrical portion to be caulked gets into the groove when a strong axial force causes a radially outward strong force acting on the inner ring element in the final stage of caulking. Therefore, it is possible to relieve the effect of the aforementioned strong force. With such intrusion of the hub material into the circumferential groove, it is also possible to prevent axial displacement of the inner ring element relative to the hub. Furthermore, according to the second aspect of the present invention, troublesome machining such as knurling can be eliminated.
As per the above, in the hub unit for wheel according to the second aspect of the present invention, when the portion to be caulked is strongly pressed in the axial direction by a metal mold in the final stage of caulking, it is possible to evacuate the portion of the hub that expands radially outwardly, in the fitting portion of the inner ring element and the hub, into the circumferential groove provided on the inner circumferential surface of the inner ring element. Therefore it is possible to reduce the radially outward force acting on the inner ring element upon caulking and to reduce expansion and deformation of the inner ring element caused by caulking. Furthermore, it is possible to prevent axial displacement of the inner ring element relative to the hub and to prevent creeping or relative movement of inner ring element in the radial direction.


A multi-layer printed circuit board. The multi-layer printed circuit board includes a first winding, and a first via connected to the first winding. The first winding includes a first edge. The first edge defines a first footprint. The first footprint surrounds and is proximate an opening defined by the printed circuit board. At least a portion of the first via is between the first footprint and the opening.

This application is related, generally and in various embodiments, to a multi-layer printed circuit board. For applications requiring increased device densities, it is well known in the art to use multi-layer printed circuit boards to minimize the footprint required by the printed circuit board. As the area allotted for the footprint decreases, the spacing between components decreases and the difficulty of meeting various isolation requirements becomes more difficult. For many circuit board layouts designed to meet the space and isolation requirements, the layouts often experience undesired hot spots and termination losses that lead to premature board failure.
Examples of such layouts are shown in FIGS. 1A-D and 2A-E. FIGS. 1A-D illustrate an exploded view of layers of a multi-layer printed circuit board 10. The printed circuit board 10 includes a first layer 12, a second layer 14, a third layer 16, and a fourth layer 18. The printed circuit board 10 also includes a first via 20, a second via 22, and a third via 24. The printed circuit board 10 further includes a first winding 26 and defines an opening 28. The opening 28 is configured to receive a magnetic core therein.
Referring to FIG. 1A, a first turn of the first winding 26 starts at the lower left portion of the first layer 12, winds around the opening 28 in a counter-clockwise direction, and connects to the first via 20, which extends from the first layer 12 to the second layer 14. As shown in FIG. 1A, the first winding 26 is arranged to maintain a certain minimum distance from the opening 28. The first winding 26 is also arranged to maintain a certain minimum distance from the second via 22 and to maintain a certain minimum distance from the third via 24. Due to limitations of the packaging area available on the first layer 12, the cross-sectional area of the first winding 26 is noticeably reduced proximate the second via 22 to maintain the desired minimum distance between the first winding 26 and the second via 22 and noticeably reduced proximate the third via 24 to maintain the desired minimum distance between the first winding 26 and the third via 24.
Referring to FIG. 1B, a second turn of the first winding 26 arranged on the second layer 14 starts at the first via 20, winds around the opening 28 in a counter-clockwise direction, and connects to the second via 22, which extends from the second layer 14 to the third layer 16. As shown in FIG. 1B, the first winding 26 is arranged to maintain a certain minimum distance from the opening 28. The first winding 26 is also arranged to maintain a certain minimum distance from the third via 24. Due to limitations of the packaging area available on the second layer 14, the cross-sectional area of the first winding 26 is noticeably reduced proximate the third via 24 to maintain the desired minimum distance between the first winding 26 and the third via 24.
Referring to FIG. 1C, a third turn of the first winding 26 arranged on the third layer 16 starts at the second via 22, winds around the opening 28 in counter-clockwise direction, and connects to the third via 24, which extends from the third layer 16 to the fourth layer 18. As shown in FIG. 1C, the first winding 26 is arranged to maintain a certain minimum distance from the opening 28. The first winding 26 is also arranged to maintain a certain minimum distance from the first via 20. Due to limitations of the packaging area available on the third layer 16, the cross-sectional area of the first winding 26 is noticeably reduced proximate the first via 20 to maintain the desired minimum distance between the first winding 26 and the first via 20.
Referring to FIG. 1D, a fourth turn of the first winding 26 arranged on the fourth layer 18 starts at the third via 24, winds around the opening 28 in a counter-clockwise direction, and ends at the lower left edge of the fourth layer 18. As shown in FIG. 1D, the first winding 26 is arranged to maintain a certain minimum distance from the opening 28. The first winding 26 is also arranged to maintain a certain minimum distance from the first via 20 and to maintain a certain minimum distance from the second via 22. Due to limitations of the packaging area available on the fourth layer 18, the cross-sectional area of the first winding 26 is noticeably reduced proximate the first via 20 to maintain the desired minimum distance between the first winding 26 and the first via 20 and noticeably reduced proximate the second via 22 to maintain the desired minimum distance between the first winding 26 and the second via 22.
The reduction or necking down of the cross-sectional area of the first winding 26 proximate the first via 20, the second via 22, or the third via 24 can easily result in undesirable hot spots and termination losses that lead to premature failure.
FIGS. 2A-2E illustrate an exploded view of layers a multi-layer printed circuit board 30. The printed circuit board 30 is similar to the printed circuit board 10, but also includes a fifth layer 32 and a second winding 34 arranged on the fifth layer 32. Referring to FIG. 2E, the terminations of the second winding 32 are located at the lower right portion of the fifth layer 32. Similar to the first winding 26, the second winding 34 is arranged to maintain a certain minimum distance from the opening 28. The second winding 34 is also arranged to maintain a certain minimum distance from the first via 20 and to maintain a certain minimum distance from the third via 24. Due to limitations of the packaging area available on the fifth layer 32, the cross-sectional area of the second winding 34 is noticeably reduced proximate the first via 20 to maintain the desired minimum distance between the second winding 34 and the first via 20 and noticeably reduced proximate the third via 24 to maintain the desired minimum distance between the second winding 34 and the third via 24. The reduction or necking down of the cross-sectional area of the second winding 34 proximate the first via 20 or the third via 24 can also easily result in undesirable hot spots and termination losses that lead to premature failure.

Printed circuit board and device including same


A lighting system for providing uniform bright lighting of products within in a glass door refrigerated cabinet. The lighting system has a frame member with an angled wing extending therefrom that wraps around a side edge of a light-transmitting optical shield, and a LED lighting strip positioned between the frame member and the optical shield. The LED lighting strip has a plurality of spaced-apart LED lights mounted therealong with a coined reflective facet optic mounted around each LED light. The angled wing(s) reflects light emitted laterally outwards from the at least one LED lighting strip such that the light can be re-directed to evenly illuminate products in a refrigerated cabinet. The angled wing(s) also protects a user's fingers from cracking the plastic optical shield which can become brittle in the cool or cold temperatures of the refrigerated cabinet.

Refrigerated product display cabinets having front glass doors have been in use in grocery and convenience stores for many years. Unfortunately, properly illuminating the interiors of these cabinets has been somewhat challenging for various reasons. For example, it is desired to provide a bright and even illumination across the products without casting shadows on the products. Another problem is that the lighting systems that have been used in the past also needed to be protected such that the customer's hands (or the product that the customer is holding onto with their hands) does not simply bump into and damage the lighting system. This problem was especially difficult in the case of long fluorescent tube cabinet lighting which can be quite fragile and easily broken. Fluorescent tube lighting therefore has its drawbacks.
Incandescent lights have also been installed in refrigerated cabinets. Unfortunately, these smaller "spot"-type light sources tend to provide very uneven lighting and often cast shadows. Shadows are a particular problem when the customer's hands are moving around in the cabinet looking over the products. As a result, it can become somewhat difficult to easily read product labels. As such, incandescent lights are also not desirable.
What is instead desired is a system that first provides sufficiently bright lighting on the products such that it is easy to read the product labels. Moreover, it is most desirable to be able to read product labels without even having to open the glass front door of the cabinet. In addition, it is also important to still provide a sufficiently diffuse lighting across the products such that both glare on the product labels is minimized, and shadows are avoided (to make reading the product labels easier). Reliance on a light coming from only a few "spot"-type lights (i.e.: illumination by sending light from only a few directions) is specifically to be avoided.
Yet another problem with lights in refrigerated cabinets in particular is that the operating temperatures in which the lighting system runs are quite cool or even cold. As such, plastic lighting system components (such as plastic shields hanging over the lights) tend to become brittle at these colder temperatures and can chip off and injure a customer's hands (or injure the hands of a worker initially loading the products into the refrigerated cabinet).
Therefore, what is instead desired is a lighting system which operates well at cooler temperatures, yet provides excellent lighting and is inherently safe (i.e.: it provides protection for the hands of the customer or worker stocking the cabinet).
As will be shown, the present system advantageously meets the above requirements, providing excellent lighting at low temperatures while also protecting customer's hands.

LED illumination system for the interior of a refrigerated product display cabinet


A plasma heating apparatus for heating a workpiece includes a chamber of sufficient size to receive a workpiece therein and a source of a reduced gas pressure within the chamber of from about 0.01 to about 100 millitorr. The plasma heating apparatus further includes a plasma source of an enveloping plasma. Optionally, a workpiece voltage may be applied between the workpiece and the wall of the chamber, and a source of a reactive gas can be provided to backfill the chamber, and radiant heaters can be provided to independently heat portions of the workpiece. In operation, the plasma source produces a plasma that surrounds and heats the workpiece. The plasma and the heating of the workpiece are tailored to achieve controllably uniform or nonuniform heat treatment and/or surface treatment of the workpiece. The apparatus can be used to heat treat the workpiece in vacuum, or a reactive gas such as a gaseous source of nitrogen, carbon, or boron can be backfilled into the chamber to alter the surface chemistry of the workpiece.

This invention relates to the heat treatment of workpieces, and, more particularly, to plasma processing of workpieces for reactive or nonreactive heat treatment.
Many materials such as metals and ceramics are heat treated during manufacturing operations. The heat treatment is typically accomplished by heating a workpiece to elevated temperature and holding the workpiece at that temperature for a period of time. The heat treatment may involve heating to a single temperature, or more complex processing such as a series of heating and cooling steps. The heat treatment may also involve one large workpiece, or many smaller workpieces.
The heat treatment of the workpiece(s) is accomplished for any of a variety of reasons. The microstructure and thence properties of many metallic alloys can be varied by heat treatment. Ceramic pieces processed from powders can be sintered to increase their densities and thence improve their strength properties. These types of processing can be accomplished in vacuum or an inert atmosphere. The heat treatment can also involve processing in a reactive gas such as a source of nitrogen or carbon. Such processing introduces an element from the reactive gas into the surface of the workpiece(s) so as to modify its surface properties but not its interior properties. Many combinations of these treatments, and many other treatments, are possible.
The apparatus used to perform a heat treatment must heat the workpiece(s) and, in the situations of interest here, also must control the atmosphere surrounding the workpiece(s) as the heat treating is performed. One well-established approach involves placing the workpiece(s) into a chamber in which the atmosphere can be controlled, and surrounding the chamber with a heater such as a resistance or inductive heater. Such processing apparatus has been available for many years.
More recently, plasma processing of workpiece(s) has been developed to accomplish heat treating more quickly and efficiently than alternative approaches. A plasma composed of equal numbers of electrons and ions is produced and contacted to the workpiece(s). Each workpiece is heated by the energy transferred to it from the electrons, the ions, or the electrons and ions together that are in the plasma. The heat treatment can be conducted in an inert-gas plasma or in a reactive-gas plasma, resulting in the deposition of an ionic species at the surface of each workpiece that alters its surface properties. Cooling may be accomplished by forced or non-forced quenching.
The various methods available for plasma processing are operable, but have drawbacks or disadvantages. Some lack precise controllability or are relatively inefficient. Others produce a plasma that cannot be tailored to uniformly or controllably non-uniformly, as desired, envelop the workpiece(s), resulting in uneven processing of the workpiece(s). Still others do not allow for independent control of plasma production and heat treatment, or produce a high density plasma. Others operate at too high a gas pressure to allow for rapid heat treatment.
There is a need for a plasma processing method and apparatus that can be used to nonreactively or reactively heat treat workpiece(s) and overcomes these disadvantages or limitations. The present invention fulfills these needs, and further provides related advantages.

Method and apparatus for plasma processing a workpiece in an enveloping plasma


An instrument for inserting a flexible intraocular lens or other flexible membrane into an eye which includes a compressor for laterally compressing the lens into a small cross-sectional configuration to pass the lens through a narrow incision. The compressor includes retainers along the interior of the inserter to maintain the side edges of the lens in a substantially planar orientation during compression. The retainers preferably extend through the inserter to hold the lens during advancement toward the eye to prevent an uncontrolled rotation of the lens. A haptic guide may be placed through the distal end of the inserter to properly position the leading loop haptic of the lens.

The present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for inserting a flexible intraocular lens or other flexible membrane into an eye.
The natural crystalline lens of the eye plays a primary role in focusing light onto the retina for proper vision. However, vision through the natural lens may become impaired due to an injury, or due to the formation of a cataract caused by aging or disease. To restore vision, the natural lens is typically replaced with an artificial lens. An artificial lens may also be implanted to make a refractive correction.
Many surgical procedures have been developed for removing the natural lens. Typically, a slender implement is inserted through a small incision in the eye to contact the natural lens. The implement includes a cutting tip that is ultrasonically vibrated to emulsify the lens. The emulsified fragments of the lens are then aspirated out of the eye through a passage provided in the cutting tip. The slender nature of the implement enables extraction of the lens through a small incision in the eye. The use of a small incision over other procedures requiring a large incision can lessen the trauma and complications experienced during the surgery and postoperatively.
Because the incision required to remove the lens is small, the development of intraocular implants to replace the lens has been in the direction of flexible implants that do not require any enlargement of the incision. An intraocular lens commonly includes a generally disk shaped optic which focuses Light on the retina and an outwardly extending haptic portion for proper positioning of the optic within the eye. The flexible nature of the lens enables the lens to be folded and compressed so as to occupy a smaller cross-sectional area for passage through the narrow incision and into the eye. Once inserted through the incision, the lens is permitted to expand to its original size and shape.
A number of devices have been developed to insert a flexible intraocular lens through a small incision in the eye. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,681,102 to Bartell uses a hinged cartridge which closes about a lens to fold the lens into a narrower configuration. The cartridge is placed into an inserter mechanism which advances the folded lens into the eye. The inserter, however, requires several components to be manipulated and assembled during the operation. U.S. Pat. No. 5,275,604 to Rheinish et al. pushes the lens through a narrowing lumen formed with grooves which act to fold the lens into a smaller size as it is pushed toward the eye. The manufacture of spiraling grooves in a tapering lumen is difficult if not impossible to accomplish in a practical manner. In U.S. Pat. No. 5,304,182 to Rheinish et al., a curling member is shifted laterally to fold the lens into a size small enough to pass through the narrow incision. However, no locking arrangement is provided to ensure completely closing of the curling member.
Moreover, while these devices function to reduce the cross-sectional size of the lens for insertion into the eye, they all require the opposing side edges of the lens to be folded over on themselves in order to fit through the narrow incision. As a result, the lens must swing open within the eye to regain its original shape and size. Such unfolding causes the lens, and particularly the haptics, to be swung in an arc, and thus risks damaging the interior of the eye.
As the lens is released into the eye, the resiliency of the lens causes the lens to open and resume its natural shape. However, the folding and pressing of the lens needed to pass the lens through the small incision places a significant amount of inward pressure on the lens. As a result, the lens is frequently discharged from the inserter with considerable force and velocity. This forceful, uncontrolled release of the lens also places the interior of the eye at risk of being injured.
Further, many inserters do not maintain control of the orientation of the lens as the lens is advanced into the eye. Consequently, the lens may rotate or turn about a longitudinal axis as it is pushed through the inserter. Most lenses, however, are made to be set within the eye in a specific orientation. Accordingly, such turning of the lens can result in the lens being placed in the eye in an improper orientation.
The present invention pertains to a method and apparatus for inserting a flexible intraocular lens or other flexible membrane into an eye without the above-noted risks associated with inserter devices of the past. More specifically, the present inserter maintains the substantially planar orientation of the opposing side edges of the lens as the lens is laterally compressed into a smaller cross-sectional configuration for insertion through a narrow incision in the eye. Since the side edges of the lens are not folded over on themselves during compression, the lens does not swing open within the eye in order to regain its original shape. As a result, the risk of a part of the lens striking and injuring an interior portion of the eye after release of the lens from the inserter is reduced.
In the preferred construction, retainers in the form of troughs are formed along the interior of the inserter to receive and maintain the side edges of the lens in a substantially planar orientation during compression. The troughs further extend through the inserter to hold the lens during advancement toward the eye to prevent an uncontrolled rotation of the lens. In this way, the lens is assured of being discharged in its proper orientation.
In another aspect of the invention, the inserter permits the lens to expand prior to its release into the eye. In this way, the resilient force which works to expand the compressed lens is dissipated prior to the lens being discharged from the inserter. The lens can thus be implanted into the eye in a controlled manner.

Method and apparatus for inserting a flexible membrane into an eye


A new basis vector search process that directly results in an optimal linear weighting for a VSELP (Vector Sum Excited Linear Prediction) coder, thus avoiding the need to perform an extensive search. In the present invention, the conventional search process is replaced by a direct formula, thus avoiding the time consuming searching procedure. Using a simple mathematical relationship, the process of filtering the basis signals with an impulse response filter h(n) every subframe is avoided. A simple theorem has been developed to reduce the computation involved in carrying out the filtering of the basis signals with h(n), and is referred to as the switching convolution theorem. As a result, the computation time necessary to produce the optimal weighting is reduced by a factor of from 3 to 4, while maintaining the output quality of the coder. The new apparatus and method are based upon a set of equations that includes several experimentally justified assumptions. The apparatus and method have been implemented successfully for use in a digital cellular telephone. The present invention reduces of the complexity of VSELP coders while maintaining voice quality comparable to conventional full-search coders.

The present invention generally relates to digital cellular communication systems, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for determining the excitation signal in vector sum excited linear prediction (VSELP) coders used in such systems.
The present invention addresses the code search process that is the heart of all voice coders based upon CELP (code excited linear prediction) processing, and in particular a subgroup of the CELP coder known as a VSELP (vector sum excited linear prediction) coder. The voice coder selected recently as the standard for the digital cellular telecommunication (IS-54) specification is based upon this VSELP process. The IS-54 standard is officially known as the EIA/TIA Interim Standard, "Cellular System Dual-Mode Mobile Station--Base Station Compatibility Standard," published by the Electronic Industries Association.
The only known search method employing VSELP coding is based upon a Motorola code search routine as is stated in the IS-54 standard for the dual mode digital cellular communication system specification. The disadvantage of this method is its extensive computation time, which requires a fast, relatively expensive processor to implement.
The computation power needed to implement a conventional coder is about 25 Mips for the transmitter. This is mainly due to the conventional code search process that takes up about 47% of the computational time. The main goal in this search is to derive a signal that is a linear combination of a set of basis signals. In order to find the optimal weighting of the basis signals, the conventional search process scans all the possible weightings and a linear combination of weightings satisfying a certain criteria is selected.
More particularly, speech is modeled as an output of a periodic signal (pitch) that excites a cascade of filters that shape the spectrum. This model is the basis of the coding algorithm. It consists of three analysis stages: in the first, a model of the current speech frame is derived. This model is based upon the common linear prediction method, wherein a set of parameters is derived to minimize the error between the model and the signal. The first stage is followed by a second analysis procedure wherein the pitch period (or lag) is estimated. A residual signal, which is the error between the model and the real signal is then derived. The residual signal serves as an input to the third stage, wherein an analysis by synthesis approach is used to select, from a given codebook of residuals, the best one that matches that residual signal. The index of the selected residual is then transmitted along with the linear prediction parameters and the pitch lag. Since both the transmitter and receiver use an identical codebook, the residual is reconstructed, exciting a cascade of synthesis filters whose paramters are the linear prediction coefficients. The output of the filters is the reconstructed speech.
The standard approach assumes that all possible excitation signals (residuals) are derived by combining two signals f.sub.1 (n) and f.sub.2 (n). Each one of these signals is comprised of a linear combination of 7 basis signals, where the coefficients of the linear combination are constrained to be +1 or -1. The two signals excite the synthesis filters resulting an output voice which is hopefully a best replica of the original voice signal. By saying "best" what is meant is that no audible degradation is noticed. This is accomplished by weighting the error to be minimized with a weighting filter w(z) that takes into account the perceptual mechanism of hearing. Assuming a subframe of N samples long the general form of the error to be minimized in order to find f.sub.1 (n) and f.sub.2 (n) is: ##EQU1## and the signals q.sub.m (n) are the basis signals V.sub.m (n) and .gamma. is a gain factor. In addition, the signals are decorrelated. In every subframe, the optimization of the equation for E is done twice since two sets of basis signals are selected. Consequently, two sets of basis signals are convolved (each set consists of 7 signals, 40 samples long) with a recursive filter h(n) having length 10. This imposes a heavy load on the processor.
In order to find the optimal signal f.sub.I (n) all combinations of .theta..sub.m (2.sup.7 combinations) are computed and the best one is found. Since, for each word of 7 bits there is an optimal gain term .gamma. as well, the resulting search procedure requires additional computational resources.
The main goal in this search is to derive a signal that is a linear combination of a set of basis signals. In order to find the optimal weighting of the basis signals, the conventional search process scans all the possible weightings and a linear combination of weightings satisfying a certain criteria is selected.
Therefore, it is an objective of the present invention to provide a processing apparatus and method which reduces the complexity of conventional VSELP coders while maintaining voice quality, and thus improves the processing performance of such VSELP coders.

Method and apparatus for determining the excitation signal in VSELP coders


The invention describes a process for the manufacture of a gas diffusion electrode involving preparing a powder mixture containing at least a catalyst and a binder, applying the powder mixture to an electrically conducting support, and pressing the powder mixture with the electrically conducting support.

It is known from DE 3 710 168 A and EP 297 377 A to manufacture gas diffusion electrodes by first rolling a dry powder mixture, containing a catalyst and a binder and optionally other constituents, to form a sheet material, and then applying the latter to an electrically conducting support by rolling. Apart from its mechanical function, the support also serves to carry current into and out of the gas diffusion electrode. The mechanical support can be, e.g., a metal gauze or a non-woven or woven metal fabric. The sheet material can be applied to the support, e.g., by pressing or rolling.
One disadvantage of these processes is that they require two operating steps. In a first operating step the powder mixture, containing a catalyst, a binder and optionally other constituents, is pressed to form a sheet material, and in a second operating step the latter is pressed with the support. Another disadvantage is that, during the pressing of the sheet material with the support, the catalytically active sheet material is again subjected to a high mechanical stress. This has an adverse effect on the pore system of the catalytically active layer of the gas diffusion electrode, consequently impairing the electrode's electrochemical activity It is known from DE 101 30 441 A to avoid destruction of the pore system during pressing by filling the powder mixture with a liquid.
According to DE 101 48 599 A the forces during pressing of the sheet material with the support must be adjusted very precisely in order to avoid damaging the sheet material. It is therefore difficult to produce an optimal pore structure.
The magnitude of the force during pressing of the powder mixture has to be chosen so as to produce a sheet material of adequate mechanical stability. Likewise, during pressing of the sheet material with the support, the magnitude of the force has to be chosen so as to produce a sufficiently strong bond (clamping) between the sheet material and the support. If the pressing force is too small, the sheet material can easily separate from the support while the gas diffusion electrode is in use, e.g., in an electrolysis cell. Also, if the pressing force is too small, the electrical contact produced between the sheet material and the support may be inadequate. This creates an additional resistance, thereby increasing the electrolysis voltage.
Another disadvantage of the processes known from the state of the art is that only single-layer gas diffusion electrodes can be manufactured. A single-layer gas diffusion electrode is understood as meaning an electrode having one catalytically active layer. However, gas diffusion electrodes can also have a multilayer structure, i.e., contain several layers. In this case, the layers can have different properties, e.g. different hydrophobic, hydrophilic or electrical properties. Multilayer gas diffusion electrodes cannot be manufactured by the processes known in the art because pressing is incapable of bonding several layers to one another and to the electrically conducting support with sufficient rigidity.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Process for the manufacture of gas diffusion electrodes


A resistor network digital-to-analog converter (DAC) subdivides each sampling clock cycle of the DAC into a number of phases. For at least one bit input of the DAC associated with a desired input resistor weight, the input bit value is sampled at each phase. Each of those sampled values is then applied to a respective resistor branch, the parallel set of resistor branches forming the parallel equivalent of the desired input resistor weight for that bit input. Such application may be, for example, via a slew-rate controlled driver, to smooth transient edges in the generated analog output signal. The resulting analog signal experiences reduced reconstruction errors at a higher frequency while consuming less power than a comparable oversampling DAC. Shifting reconstruction errors to higher frequencies relaxes downstream filtering requirements, which simplifies analog signal filtering and allows, for example, the use of current-mode low pass filters.

Digital-to-analog converters convert digital words into analog values, such as analog voltage values or analog current values. When the digital word consists of n bits, the corresponding analog value may be generated by applying progressive power of two weightings to each of the n bits.
Conventional resistor network digital-to-analog converters use a network of resistor stages to apply the progressive weightings to each bit. Known resistor network digital-to-analog converters include, for example, binary weighted digital-to-analog converters and R/2R ladder digital-to-analog converters. These conventional resistor network digital-to-analog converters sample each bit at a reconstruction clock frequency, fs, and apply those sampled bit values to progressively weighted resistor stages. Each of these stages, however, introduces reconstruction error into the analog output signal in the form of both static error and transient error (e.g. noise spikes).
Increasing fs has the advantage of moving these reconstruction errors introduced by the resistor network to a higher frequency, thereby relaxing the design requirements for filtering out those reconstruction errors. This increase, however, results in the digital-to-analog converter consuming more power. The higher power consumption may be unacceptable in low power applications, such as mobile communication devices.

Low power linear interpolation digital-to-analog conversion


An apparatus and method for detecting a wobble signal read from an optical disc. The wobble signal detection apparatus comprises an analog/digital (A/D) converter for A/D-converting an analog wobble signal, read from the optical disc and then band pass filtered, a slope detector for detecting a slope of the A/D-converted wobble signal according to a variation thereof, and a wobble signal detector for detecting a peak point of the A/D-converted wobble signal using the detected wobble signal slope, and detecting/outputting a square-wave wobble signal with a high level or low level transition at the detected peak point. The slope detector calculates variations of data values of the A/D-converted wobble signal sampled within a predetermined period on the basis of predetermined different weights, accumulates the calculated values and detects the slope of the A/D-converted wobble signal on the basis of the accumulated value. The predetermined period is an interval where at least two wobble signal data samples are obtained. Therefore, a stable wobble signal can be detected even though a low-frequency fluctuation component and DC offset component are introduced into the analog wobble signal read from the optical disc or the analog wobble signal varies in amplitude.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for detecting a wobble signal read from an optical disc such as a writable compact disc (CD) or digital versatile disc (DVD).
2. Description of the Related Art
It is common that a writable optical disc, such as a digital versatile disc-random access memory (DVD-RAM) or digital versatile disc-re-writable (DVD-RW), has grooves formed along spiral or concentric tracks. Here, portions of the optical disc other than the grooves are typically called lands. Data can be recorded on only any one or both of each groove and each land according to a writing method. A specific variation is applied to a wall of each groove in a groove formation process, and a specific frequency signal is generated based on the specific variation in a recording/reproduction process, so it can be used as auxiliary clock means. Here, the specific variation is called a wobble and the specific frequency signal is called a wobble signal.
FIG. 1 shows the construction of a conventional apparatus for detecting a wobble signal read from an optical disc. As shown in this drawing, the conventional wobble signal detection apparatus comprises a band pass filter (BPF) 10 for filtering a push-pull signal, or an analog wobble signal, read from a writable optical disc, for example, a DVD-RW at a predetermined frequency band to remove a high-frequency noise component, a direct current (DC) offset component, etc. therefrom. An analog/digital (A/D) converter (ADC) 11 is provided to A/D-convert an output analog wobble signal of the predetermined frequency band from the band pass filter 10 to output a digital wobble signal. A wobble signal detector 12 acts to slice the A/D-converted digital wobble signal on the basis of a predetermined reference level, for example, a zero level to detect/output a square-wave wobble signal. A wobble phase locked loop (PLL) 100 is provided to output a wobble PLL clock synchronized with the square-wave wobble signal. FIG. 2 shows measured waveforms of the filtered wobble signal from the band pass filter 10, the sliced wobble signal from the wobble signal detector 12 and the PLL clock from the wobble phase locked loop 100.
The conventional wobble signal detection apparatus further comprises a bit detector 16 for detecting/converting the square-wave wobble signal into a stream of bits having values of 1 or 0, using the wobble PLL clock. A synchronous (Sync) detector 17 acts to detect a synchronous pattern placed in the square-wave wobble signal from the bit stream and generate and output a synchronous signal corresponding to the detected synchronous pattern. An address decoder 18 is provided to decode a physical address of the optical disc from the bit stream on the basis of the synchronous signal.
The wobble PLL 100 includes a phase error detector 13 for detecting a phase error at a point of time that the A/D-converted wobble signal crosses a zero point from positive to negative, namely, a negative zero crossing point (referred to hereinafter as 'NZCP') as shown in FIG. 3. A time count value that determines an oscillating frequency of a digital controlled oscillator (DCO) 15 in the wobble PLL 100, for example, a free down time count value, is always corrected with the phase error detected at the NZCP.
At this time, in a case (lead case) where the phase of the PLL clock, which is generated by the digital controlled oscillator 15, is ahead of that of the A/D-converted wobble signal, the phase error detector 13 detects/generates a positive phase error as shown in FIG. 3 and outputs the generated phase error to a loop filter 14 in the wobble PLL 100. The loop filter 14 then corrects a time count value for determination of a clock frequency of the digital controlled oscillator 15 into a smaller value according to the positive phase error.
On the other hand, in a case (lag case) where the phase of the PLL clock generated by the digital controlled oscillator 15 is behind that of the A/D-converted wobble signal, the phase error detector 13 detects/generates a negative phase error as shown in FIG. 3 and outputs the generated phase error to the loop filter 14, which then corrects the time count for determination of the clock frequency of the digital controlled oscillator 15 into a larger value according to the negative phase error.
As a result, the wobble PLL 100 continuously performs a phase error correction operation for synchronization of the PLL clock with the wobble signal by detecting a phase error at the NZCP and correcting the time count for determination of the clock frequency of the digital controlled oscillator 15 on the basis of the detected phase error.
However, recently, as the optical disc becomes higher in recording density, recording tracks thereof have denser pitches, resulting in a greater crosstalk effect caused by a wobble signal of an adjacent track. This greater crosstalk effect makes the output wobble signal from the band pass filter 10 very small in signal to noise (S/N) ratio, so a stable wobble signal cannot be detected by the conventional wobble signal detection apparatus.
In addition, provided that a tracking servo and focusing servo are unstable or a surface vibration of the optical disc, etc. occur, a low-frequency fluctuation component and DC offset component will be introduced into the output wobble signal from the band pass filter 10 or the wobble signal will vary in amplitude. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, in the case {circle around (1)} where a stable wobble signal with a constant amplitude is outputted from the band pass filter 10, a stable wobble signal {circle around (4)} is normally detected by the wobble signal detector 12. Alternatively, in the case {circle around (2)} where a low-frequency fluctuation component and DC offset component are contained in the output wobble signal from the band pass filter 10, or in the case {circle around (3)} where the output wobble signal from the band pass filter 10 has a varying amplitude and DC offset component, an abnormal wobble signal {circle around (5)} or {circle around (6)} is detected by the wobble signal detector 12. Consequently, the wobble phase locked loop cannot normally perform the phase error correction operation.

Apparatus and method for detecting wobble signal read from optical disc


A fastening member 30 of a battery terminal 10 has a core wire covering member 32 formed by bending a pair of protecting members 32a which extend from the root portion of a wire barrel 31. The core wire covering member 32 is between the connecting portion 20 and the usual wire barrel portion 31, and is approximately rectangular when seen in cross-section. A clamp bolt 50 and nut 51 are tightened by means of a spanner or the like, thereby attaching the battery terminal 10 to a battery post P. The covering member 32 ensures that the end of the core wire or loose strands of the core wire do not interfere with the tightening operation or become caught on the operator's hand or on a tool. The wire covering members 33, 34 may include inspection apertures 33c, 34b.

An example of a conventional battery terminal is shown in FIG. 10 and FIG. 11. This terminal 1 has long and short fastening members 2,3 formed by bending a metal strip into a hair-pin shape so that the fastening members 2 and 3 face each other. The bent portion is formed into a circular connecting member 4 to accommodate a battery post P. The connecting member 4 is fixed to the battery post P by passing a bolt 5 through the fastening members 2 and 3 and fastening the bolt 5 by means of a nut 6. Further, the anterior end of one of the fastening members 2 is provided with a wire barrel 2a into which a core wire S of an electric wire W is crimped, as illustrated.
In the conventional battery terminal 1 described above, the end of the core wire S needs to extend slightly from the wire barrel 2a in order to effect its connection with the battery terminal 1 with certainty. This extreme end interferes with an operator's hand movements when the nut 6 is rotated by means of a spanner or the like during the attachment or removal operation. Moreover, when the wire core S strikes against the spanner or the like, the constituent wires splay out, and thus increases the likelihood of interference, and potential injury to the hand of an operator.
The present invention has been developed after taking the above problems into account, and aims at providing a battery terminal having superior manageability by precluding interference with the operator's hands, a spanner or the like.

Battery terminal with core wire end cover


A system and method is provided for allowing seamless auditing compliance and investigations of privileged account access and activities. Account access information and privileged activity information may be stored in a central data repository. The central data repository may be queried to determine who was granted access to a privileged account, the timeframe that the access was granted, and/or what actions were performed by the user who was granted access.

Organizations face increased pressure of maintaining regulatory and/or corporate policy compliance. Many policies (for example, SOX, PCI, GLBA, etc.) require strict management of privileged (typically administrative) accounts. This management includes who has access to these accounts, the purpose for which these accounts are being used and the auditing of the administrative activities while the account was being used. Compliance auditors will ask for proof that these activities are being retained for a certain period of time, actively monitored and acted upon if out of compliance. Thus, an organization may be required to keep track of who is accessing certain system resources and what activities they are performing. However, access to sensitive activities such as modifying configuration files at a system resource is oftentimes restricted to a particular group of physical users such as IT administrators having root access. Typically, such users may login as a privileged user such as the root user using a password dedicated to the root user account. Because more than one physical user may login as the privileged user, it may be difficult to identify the physical user who performed particular activities while logged in as the privileged user. When faced with many hundreds or thousands of servers and millions of administrative/privileged transactions per day this becomes a daunting task for any organization.

Privileged activity monitoring through privileged user password management and log management systems


A motion sensor assembly may include a cover plate configured to be mounted to an electrical box. The cover plate may include a front surface configured to face away from the electrical box and a rear surface opposite the front surface. The cover plate may further include an aperture configured to receive a toggle or rocker type switch. A motion sensor may be coupled to the cover plate. A power source and processor may be operably coupled to the motion sensor. Furthermore, the processor may be operably coupled to a communication device.

There are many existing types of motion sensors that are available for security applications, including for example ceiling-mounted passive infrared sensors. Such sensors are typically hard-wired into a security system using a multi-conductor cable, which provides power to the sensor and carries a signal indicating the presence of motion back to a central alarm panel. Some variations of existing sensors include a lamp which illuminates the area in response to detected motion. Still further variations of existing sensors include battery powered sensors which indicate the presence of motion using a radio frequency signal carried over-the-air from the sensor to an alarm panel, or to a relay which enables a lamp to be actuated in response to detected motion.

Sensors for detecting presence, occupancy, and/or motion and related systems and methods


A parking brake system for a vehicle includes an at least partially bistable valve unit to generate a control pressure for controlling at least one function of the parking brake system, and a relay valve which receives the control pressure from the valve unit and either pressurizes or bleeds at least one spring-loaded cylinder according to the control pressure. The valve unit is integrated into a first module integrated into a compressed air supply unit, and the relay valve is arranged in a second module which is arranged at a distance from the first module and the compressed air production system.

The invention relates to a parking brake system for a vehicle, including an at least partially bistable valve unit for generating a control pressure for the pilot control of at least one function of the parking brake system, and a relay valve which receives the control pressure from the valve unit and pressurizes or vents at least one spring brake cylinder as a function of the control pressure.
Parking brake systems of the above-described type are very common, particularly in commercial vehicles, where a compressed air-operated parking brake system is often provided to supplement a compressed air-operated service brake. Such parking brake systems usually include a valve unit (potentially having a plurality of individual valves), which may be electrically activated, for example, and generate different control pressures, and a relay valve, which pressurizes or bleeds (vents) the spring brake cylinders as a function of one of the control pressures. In order to facilitate the assembly of all components, all integral parts of the parking brake system are combined in a single sub-assembly, a so-called parking brake module, it being not altogether unusual for reasons of space and efficiency to integrate the parking brake module into the compressed air supply unit.
One disadvantage to such a high degree of integration of the compressed air generation system and the parking brake module is the amount of labor that needs to be expended for repairs in the event of a defect.
The object of the invention, therefore, is to at least partially solve this problem.
This, and other, objects are achieved according to the invention by a parking brake system for a vehicle, including an at least partially bistable valve unit for generating a control pressure for the pilot control of at least one function of the parking brake system, and a relay valve, which receives the control pressure from the valve unit and pressurizes or vents at least one spring brake cylinder as a function of the control pressure. The valve unit is integrated into a first module, which is integrated into a compressed air supply unit, and that the relay valve is arranged in a second module, which is arranged at an interval from the first module and the compressed air supply unit. Separating the parking brake system or, more particularly, the parking brake module into two separate modules, a first module being integrated into the compressed air supply unit and a second module being arranged at an interval from the first module and the compressed air supply unit, ensures easy replacement at least of the second module, which is not integrated into the compressed air supply unit. In this way it is possible, in particular, to replace the relay valve, which is exposed to great stresses, without additional assembly effort.
The first module advantageously includes a trailer control connection, which can be activated by a solenoid valve for performing a test function of a trailer parking brake. To generate a control pressure on the control connection, only a small volume of air is generally needed, for which reason the load acting on the valve generating it is low. An integration into the compressed air supply unit by arranging the relevant solenoid valve in the first module is therefore advantageous.
It is especially preferred if the solenoid valve can be activated with pulse width modulation, in order to provide an anti-jackknife braking function on the trailer control connection. The facility for pulse width-modulated activation allows a continuous pressure modulation on the trailer control connection, affording a graduated braking action of the trailer parking brake. This in turn allows a braking of the vehicle with connected trailer independently of the service brake.
It is also feasible to provide a pressure sensor integrated into the first module for regulating the pressure of a trailer control. The closing of the pressure regulating circuit by a pressure sensor integrated into the first module allows monitoring of the control pressure present on the trailer control connection for little outlay.
In particular, the at least partially bistable valve unit may include a bistable solenoid valve, in order to avoid unwanted closing or opening of the parking brake in the event of a defect. This increases the vehicle safety in general, since a sudden opening of the parking brake system while a vehicle is stationary is excluded in exactly the same way as a sudden closing of the parking brake system while a vehicle is in motion.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

KNORR-BREMSE Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH


Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) concentrating systems and other equipment from various manufacturers may be tracked and monitored with a single DSL tracking tool. The DSL tracking tool functions as part of a system of computing devices and databases with various user interfaces. The DSL tracking tool can perform analyses and generate reports about DSL devices, DSL sites, DSL concentrating systems, and routers to aid service providers in provisioning and maintaining DSL equipment.

Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) concentrating systems have several capacity sensitive aspects that are monitored to ensure that capacity limits are not reached unexpectedly. While the various DSL concentrating systems available from various manufacturers may provide reporting capabilities, the data is not consistently reported. There is no common access or common report format. In addition, some capacity issues cannot be managed by the DSL concentrating systems and must be handled by external tracking systems.
For a company to successfully monitor thousands of concentrating devices provided by different manufacturers serving millions of customers, a monitoring system is needed that can provide a uniform set of information with a uniform set of procedures.

Digital subscriber line (DSL) tracking system


An automatic sandwich maker designed to automate the process of preparing sandwiches, including hamburgers, is included. This automated sandwich maker is designed for use in commercial kitchens, including small commercial kitchens, such as fast-food kitchens. The apparatus and method for automatically making sandwiches overcomes the drawbacks and limitations of the prior art. The individual sandwich process can be controlled by communications interface with a point of sales system. The inventive apparatus and method reduces manpower requirements for restaurants, provides enhanced ingredient control, and improves overall product quality.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates generally to the preparation of food products and, more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to preparing sandwiches consisting of an upper bread piece, a lower bread piece, and various food materials therebetween, the various food materials including patties, meats, vegetables, condiments, sauces and the like.
2. Background Art
Sandwiches, including hamburgers, are popular food items and are in high demand at restaurants. Despite an additional high demand that sandwich preparation be fast and reliable, most sandwich preparation at conventional restaurants is performed manually.
While a variety of automated sandwich makers exists which may advantageously provide for the automatic preparation of sandwiches, these prior art systems lack the desirability adequate for widespread incorporation by restaurants. Problems with prior art systems include a lack of consistent portion control, a lack of desirable controls systems, and an overall large size of the prior art machines and systems. Generally, prior art systems do not possess the logistical or economical feasibility sufficient to merit incorporation by a majority of restaurants.
What is desired therefore is an apparatus with a compact footprint, the apparatus being capable of automating at least part of the sandwich-making process in a consistent, reliable manner. Also desired is a method for making sandwiches using a combination of automatic and manual means. Indeed, a combination of characteristics has been found advantageous in providing the desired apparatus and/or method for making sandwiches.


The invention relates to a method of closing an access side of a flexible packaging using a planar closure (15) made of plastic, the closure (15) comprising a slot (20) delimited by limb parts (215) and extending between the circumference of the closure and an opening (10), said method comprising the step of introducing the access side of the flexible packaging into the opening (10) of the closure (15) and the method comprising a subsequent step in which the slot (20) is at least partially sealed by means of a seal (30), which connects the limb parts (215) to one another, without substantially deforming the closure.

The invention relates to a method of closing an access side of a flexible packaging using a planar closure made of plastic, the closure comprising a receiving opening for receiving and retaining the access side of the flexible packaging, as well as a slot delimited by limb parts of the closure and extending between the circumference of the closure and the receiving opening, said method comprising the step of introducing the access side of the flexible packaging into the opening of the closure.

Method of closing a flexible packaging, a device for this purpose and a closed flexible packaging


A technique is disclosed for determining capacitive, inductive, and resistive components of power line impedance via a portable line impedance measurement system. The measurement system includes a circuit that switches a burden resistor between power line conductors to cause a droop in a voltage waveform. The voltage waveform is sampled prior to inclusion of the resistor in the circuit, as well as after to identify the droop. The short circuit between the power lines is then removed by opening the circuit and a first effective capacitance in the test circuitry causes a resonant ring due to the inductive component of the power line impedance. The process is repeated a second time with a second effective load capacitance enabled in the test circuitry to cause a second resonant ring. Based upon the frequency of the rings and the voltage measurements, the individual impedance components of power line impedance can be computed.

The present invention relates generally to the field of monitors and measurement devices for electrical power. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention relate to techniques for determining impedance parameters of electrical power, particularly power distributed via a power distribution grid.
A wide range of applications exists for power monitors and devices capable of determining parameters of electrical power. For example, in many applications unwanted conditions can arise in loads, distribution equipment and lines, the severity of which is a function of the line impedance. For example, the line impedance is a precursor to calculating short circuit current, arc current, available energy, and other important features of electrical power. Because these currents and energies can flow or be released during a fault condition or other unwanted, or even desired situations, knowing the power line impedance is of considerable importance.
Various methods exist in the art for calculating or attempting to determine power line impedance. For example, impedance can be computed based upon nameplate information on certain equipment, in addition to knowledge of the physical and electrical characteristics of distribution components. Transformers, for example, typically carry nameplate information regarding impedance as a percentage value. Knowledge of the size and length of electrical conductors, and the characteristics of other intermediate components between the transformer and a load can be used to calculate or estimate the impedance at particular points in a system. However, such techniques are highly imprecise, and rely upon some degree of estimation as to the actual characteristics of the components and transmission lines.
Techniques have also been developed for directly measuring impedance of power lines. Such techniques have permitted some degree of knowledge of the power line impedance, but are still somewhat imprecise or incomplete. For example, known techniques do not typically permit measurement of the capacitive, inductive, and resistive components of the power line impedance. While one of these components may generally dominate the impedance measurement, all of these components are important for determining the actual characteristics of the current and energy that can be released by the power line, particularly during transient periods such as faults. This is especially relevant when the line impedance includes power factor correction capacitors or other parasitic capacitances that may significantly affect the line impedance reading if not properly determined or compensated for.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for improved techniques for measuring and determining impedance of power sources. There is a particular need for a technique and system that would permit accurate measurement of power line impedance, including capacitance, inductive, and resistive components thereof, or at least compensation for certain of these.

Portable line impedance measurement method and system


A contact plug for a fluid-tight plug connection is described, which is provided with shielding, in which a contact support is received. The shielding and the contact support are placed inside a housing. The shielding has a sleeve, which is provided with a shoulder.

The invention relates to a coupler or a contact plug for a fluid-tight plug connection, having a shielding in which a contact support is received, wherein the shielding and the contact support are placed inside a housing.
Such a coupler, or such a contact, plug, are known from German Patent Application 197 23 684. The plug connection described therein is preferably intended for employment in measuring and environmental technologies. As a result of this, the plug connection must be designed to be fluid-tight. A further demand made on the plug connection consists in that it must be simple to produce and simple to operate for a user.
Moreover, in case of an accident, for example if the open coupler comes into contact with a fluid, or under other corresponding environmental conditions, no fluid should penetrate into the interior of the coupler.
It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a fluid-tight plug connection which is further improved in respect to its manufacture and operation. The plug connection, or the coupler in particular, should be fluid-tight also in case of the mentioned accidents.
In connection with a coupler or a contact plug of the type mentioned at the outset, this object is attained in accordance with the invention by means of the characterizing features of the independent claims.
A limit stop for a component which is to be inserted into the coupler or the contact plug is provided by the shoulder in accordance with the invention, which is present in the sleeve. By means of this it is achieved that the position of the inserted component is exactly defined by the shoulder.
It is particularly advantageous if the shoulder is intended as a limit stop for a glass tube or the like. As already mentioned, the installed position of the glass tube in the contact plug or the coupler is exactly defined by this. Moreover, by means of this it is achieved that the window in the sleeve, which is arranged below the shoulder, can in no way be hidden by the glass tube. Because of this, the window can always be used for soldering the electrical cables which are to be connected through the window.
A solid and lasting connection between the two sleeves is achieved in a particularly simple manner by press-fitting them together in accordance with the invention. In this case this connection can be made constructively simple and cost-effectively.
It is particularly practical if the press-fit forms an electrical connection. By means of this it is achieved that the two sleeves form a shielding in a simple manner. No additional separate shielding is therefore required.
In a particularly advantageous manner it is achieved by means of the electrically conductive layer on the sleeve the sleeve can be used as shielding. Therefore no elaborate component for producing the shielding is required, the electrical layer in accordance with the invention on the sleeve is sufficient.
It is particularly advantageous if the sleeve is made of plastic or the like. In this way the sleeve can be produced particularly simply and cost-effectively, without its use as shielding being prevented by this. Thus, a plastic component with a shielding effect is made available by means of the invention.
Further characteristics, application options and advantages of the invention ensue from the following description of exemplary embodiments of the invention, which are represented in the drawing figures. Here, all described or represented characteristics, either by themselves or in any combination, constitute the subject of the invention, regardless of their combination in the claims or their dependencies, as well as independently of their wording, or representation, in the description, or in the drawings.

Coupling or plug for a liquid impervious plug connection

Endress + Hauser Conducta Gesellschaft fur Mess xe2x80x94 und Regeltechnik mbH + Co.


An example turbomachine system includes a first variable outer air seal including at least one channel. The first variable outer air seal configured to selectively communicate a fluid in response to movement of a second variable outer air seal relative to the first variable outer air seal. An example fluid control method includes selectively covering a channel inlet using a variable outer air seal to control flow through the channel.

This disclosure relates to a blade outer air seal (BOAS) assembly for a turbomachine and, more particularly, to a BOAS assembly having segments that are moved relative to each other to selectively communicate fluid.
Turbomachines, such as gas turbine engines, typically include a fan section, a compression section, a combustion section, and a turbine section. Turbomachines may employ a geared architecture connecting portions of the compression section to the fan section.
BOAS circumscribe arrays of blades in the compression section, turbine section, or both. Turbomachines have developed passive and active systems for controlling clearances of the gap between the outer air seal and the tip of the turbine blade. Significant and varied thermal energy levels may be concentrated in these areas. Cooling these areas is often difficult. Specific and dedicated components are used to provide flow and cooling, which adds weight and cost.


A cache device for the caching of data and specifically for the identification of stale data or a thrashing event within the cache device is described. Further a cache device for the prioritization of cached data in the cache device during a thrashing event as well as stale cached data in the cache device are described. Methods associated with the use of the caching device for the caching of data and for the identification of data in a thrashing event or the identification of stale cached data are also described.

Storage devices or cache devices allow data to be stored in a system to allow for faster and more efficient access to the data in the future. As data is stored in a storage or cache device, if the data is not accessed over a period of time the data will become stale. In some cases, data that will need to be cached in a cache device will be larger than the capacity for the cache device. In these cases, the cache device may begin to cache data as well as remove older data, which will need to be recached, creating a continuous cycle of caching and discarding the same data is called thrashing.

Method to throttle rate of data caching for improved I/O performance

Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.


A mat intended to be placed in proximity to a litter box so that a pet exiting the litter box will walk over the mat with the result that particles of litter temporarily adhering to the feet of the pet will be dislodged through interaction with the structure of the mat, the dislodged litter particles being collectible in medially disposed channels formed in the mat which facilitate pouring of the particles back into the litter box. The litter mat is structurally configured and formed of a material that facilitates cleaning of the mat.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to mat structures useful not only as flooring for animal caging but also as surfaces locatable in the vicinity of a pet litter box and on which a pet exiting the box will walk over the mat structure to dislodge litter particles from the pet's paws, the dislodged litter particles being collectible on the mat structure for return to the litter box. The mat structures of the invention also find utility in other use environments for facilitating dislodgement of debris from the feet of users walking over or contacting surfaces of the mat structures.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Pets commonly trained to use litter boxes include cats, ferrets, rabbits, guinea pigs, hamsters and the like, litter boxes usually containing absorbent, fine granular particles typically formed of clay or other mineral matter, organic materials such as leaf mulch, wheat by-products and other cellulosic materials and synthetic materials formed into fine granules. Unavoidably, these fine-grained particles tend to adhere to or become lodged within various portions of a pet's paws such as between the digits, on the pads of the paws or on or in fur or hair surrounding the paws. On exiting a litter box after use, the pet invariably carries litter particles various distances from the litter box with the result that the particles dislodge in environmental spaces remote from the litter box and particularly on and in rugs and the like in living areas, thereby creating unpleasant and potentially unhealthy conditions.
Solutions to this problem have previously been addressed such as by placement of mats in proximity to a litter box in an egress path, these mats being variously formed of materials such as "artificial turf", rug-like swatches formed of fibrous materials used either with or without rubber-like coatings or of natural or synthetic elastomeric materials having tread surfaces variously formed such as with elongated raised elements such as fibrous "tufts". As one example, Link et al, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,386,143, disclose a litter mat intended for disposition next to a litter box and having upper surfaces formed of spaced, triangular-in-section ridges, the apices of which contact a pet's paws to facilitate dislodgement of litter particles onto the mat rather than on flooring surfaces remote from the litter box. According to Link et al, litter particles dislodged from a pet's paws and held between the ridges can be recycled. Ebert, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,797,352, discloses a litter mat intended for disposition next to a litter box, the litter mat having a tread surface formed of angled and parallel ridges intended to facilitate removal of litter particles from a pet's paws by deformation of the ridges, litter particles being held in elongated channels between the ridges for return to the litter box or for other recycle. Marr, in U.S. Pat. No. 3,726,255, and Semenuk, in U.S. Pat. No. Des. 383,253, disclose flooring for animal caging having openings formed in resilient matting capable of trapping granular and other waste particles.
The prior art has failed to provide a litter mat or flooring for animal caging that is suitably amenable to a pet's need to walk on a relatively familiar, comfortable surface and which is configured to passively dislodge litter particles and the like from the pet's paws through not only contact between the paws and structure formed on tread surfaces but also due to flexure of the mat caused by the weight of the pet, the structure of the present mat being so configured for such functions while providing a familiar surface on which the pet chooses to walk on rather than jump over. Litter particles dislodged from the pet by the cooperative interaction of the present mat and the pet are trapped by the mat structure in preferred embodiments and are collectible centrally of the mat for ease of return of the particles to a litter box. The present litter mat is further configured from particular materials that facilitate cleaning by a simple water spray or by dislodgment of dried waste by flexure of the mat. The present litter mat therefore finds solutions to long-felt needs in the art.


A waterproof structure is achieved by inserting a covered electric wire 40 obtained by covering an outer periphery of a conductor portion 41 with a cover portion 42 made of a resin into an electric wire inserting hole 28 of a connector main body 21 inserted to a terminal receiving chamber 24 in a state of being connected to a terminal received in a terminal receiving chamber 24 of the connector main body 21 and welding the cover portion 42 and the electric wire inserting hole 28 in accordance with a ultrasonic oscillation and a pressurization from an outer side. The connector main body 21 has a weld depth setting portion 47 for setting a weld depth, whereby an excessive welding is prevented.

The present invention relates to a waterproof connector for waterproofing a covered electric wire.
A waterproof connector for waterproofing a covered electric wire is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 10-241782. A waterproof connector 1 has a waterproof construction structured such that a covered electric wire 3 introduced from a housing 2 is covered in such a manner as to be held between two separated waterproof members 4 and 5 and the waterproof members 4 and 5 in a covered state are supported by two separated covers 6 and 7 integrally formed with the housing 2, as shown in FIG. 1. The housing 2 has a guide portion 8 protruding forward so as to form a small rectangular column at an end surface thereof, as shown in FIG. 2. A guide hole 9 opening to a front end surface thereof and communicating with an inner portion of the housing 2 are punched in the guide portion 8. The covered electric wire 3 is structured such as to be outward introduced through the guide hole 9, as shown in FIG. 3. The covered electric wire 3 is constituted by a conductor portion 3a and a cover portion 3b for covering the conductor portion 3a, and the cover portion 3b is made of a resin. Further, the waterproof members 4 and 5 respectively have electric wire receiving grooves 12 and 13 partitioned by ribs 10 and 11 in sides of opposing surfaces to each other, and these electric wire receiving grooves 12 and 13 are provided in correspondence to the guide hole 9. The waterproof members 4 and 5 are respectively integrally formed with the covers 6 and 7, and the covers 6 and 7 including the waterproof members 4 and 5 and the housing 2 can be welded with each other in accordance a ultrasonic oscillation under pressure, and are formed by a resin having a compatibility with the cover portion 3b of the covered electric wire 3.
The waterproof connector 1 is assembled by at first engaging a terminal (not shown) connected to the covered electric wire 3 within the housing 2 and guiding the covered electric wire 3 outward from the guide hole 9. Next, the covered electric wire 3 is fitted to each of the electric wire receiving grooves 12 and 13 of the waterproof members 4 and 5, and the ribs 10 and 11 are faced to each other, whereby the covers 6 and 7 are faced to each other along a vertical direction. Due to the facing, both side ribs 6a and 7a of the covers 6 and 7 are opposed to each other, and inner surfaces 6b and 7b in a rear end side are opposed to an outer peripheral surface 8a of the guide portion 8. With keeping this state, as shown in FIG. 3, a ultrasonic oscillation is applied while pressurizing by a horn 14 from an upper portion of the upper cover 6 in a state of being mounted on a table (not shown). Due to the ultrasonic oscillation, the inner surfaces 6b and 7b in the rear end side of the covers 6 and 7 are welded to the outer peripheral surface 8a of the guide portion 8 so as to be integrally formed with the housing 2, the corresponding ribs 10 and 11 of the waterproof members 4 and 5 are welded so as to be integrally formed, and the connecting portion between the electric wire receiving grooves 12 and 13 of the waterproof members 4 and 5 and the cover portion 3b of the covered electric wire 3 is welded so as to be integrally formed with the covered electric wire, whereby it is possible to obtain a waterproof structure.
However, in the waterproof connector provided with the conventional waterproof construction mentioned above, a welding depth of the covers 6 and 7 including the waterproof members 4 and 5 is not set. Accordingly, there is a case that an excessive welding is performed at a time of welding in accordance with the ultrasonic oscillation and the pressurization. When the excessive welding is performed, there is a case that a sealing performance can not be obtained and there is a problem that a sufficient waterproof property can not be secured. Further, in the conventional waterproof connector, at a time of welding in accordance with the ultrasonic oscillation and the pressurization, there is a case that the resin leaks out to outer portions in both right and left sides of the welded resin covers 6 and 7 from the welded surface thereof, as shown by reference symbol S in FIG. 4. Accordingly, there is a problem that an outer appearance of the waterproof connector is deteriorated by the leaked out resin being hardened.
The present invention has been achieved by paying attention to the problems mentioned above, and an object of the present invention is to provide a waterproof connector which can prevent an excessive welding and can prevent a welded resin from leaking out.
In order to achieve the object mentioned above, a first aspect of the invention provides a waterproof connector having a waterproof structure. This is achieved by inserting a covered electric wire obtained by covering an outer periphery of a conductor portion with a cover portion made of a resin into an electric wire inserting hole defined by wire receiving grooves of a connector main body. The connector main body is inserted into a terminal receiving chamber and the cover portion and the surfaces of the electric wire receiving grooves are welded together in accordance with an ultrasonic oscillation and a pressurization from an outer side. Additionally, a weld depth setting portion for setting a weld depth at a time of welding in accordance with the ultrasonic oscillation and the pressurization is provided in the connector main body.
Further, a second aspect of the invention provides a waterproof connector according to the first aspect, wherein the connector main body is provided with an electric wire receiving table having a side wall including a weld line portion, and an electric wire receiving groove, and a cover having a side wall portion including a weld line portion welded to the weld line portion of the connector main body and a cover surface portion including an electric wire receiving groove forming the electric wire Inserting hole by being aligned with the electric wire receiving groove, the cover being covered over the electric wire receiving table, the weld depth setting portion is constituted by a receiving portion provided in one of the electric wire receiving table and the cover, and a contact portion provided in the other of said electric wire receiving table and said cover, and the receiving portion and the contact portion are brought into contact with each other, whereby the weld depth is set.
Further, a third aspect of the invention provides a waterproof connector according to the second aspect, wherein the contact portion is provided in the outer surface side of the side wall portion in the cover surface portion of the cover, and the receiving portion is provided in the outer surface side of the side wall portion in the electric wire receiving table.
Further, a fourth aspect of the invention provides a waterproof connector according to the third aspect, wherein the contact portion is constituted by the outer wall portion provided in the outer surface side of the side wall portion in the cover surface portion of the cover, and the receiving portion is constituted by a rib provided in a substantially center portion in a vertical direction of the outer surface side of the side wall portion in the electric wire receiving table.
In accordance with these inventions, it is possible to securely achieve the object of the invention described in the first aspect.
A fifth aspect of the invention provides a waterproof connector according to the first aspect, wherein the connector main body is provided with an electric wire receiving table having a side wall including a weld line portion, and an electric wire receiving groove, and a cover having a side wall portion including a weld line portion welded to the weld line portion and a cover surface portion including an electric wire receiving groove forming the electric wire inserting hole by being aligned with the electric wire receiving groove, the cover being covered over the electric wire receiving table, the weld depth setting portion is constituted by a rib having a weld depth setting line portion provided in a substantially center portion in a vertical direction of an outer surface side of a side wall portion in the electric wire receiving table, and an outer wall portion having a setting line portion provided in an outer surface side of a side wall portion in the cover surface portion and brought into contact with the weld depth setting line portion, and the outer wall portion is provided so as to protrude in a direction of thickness of the cover from the weld surface in which the weld line portions are welded to each other.
In accordance with the present invention, the respective weld line portions and the weld depth setting line portions are faced to each other by covering the cover over the electric wire receiving table. In accordance with the ultrasonic oscillation, the weld line portions are welded to each other, however, since the outer wall portion protrudes outward in the direction of the thickness of the cover from the weld surface of the weld line portion, the ultrasonic oscillation is not transmitted to the weld depth setting line portion, and the oscillation is fine even when being transmitted, so that the weld depth setting line portions are not welded to each other. Further, since the weld depth setting line portion of the outer wall portion in the cover side is brought into contact with the weld depth setting line portion of the rib in the electric wire receiving table side, it is possible to prevent the weld line portions from being excessively welded, so that the cover and the electric wire receiving table can be firmly combined and the waterproof property can be secured. Further, in accordance with the present invention, since the electric wire inserting hole is separated into the electric wire receiving groove in the electric wire receiving table side and the electric wire receiving groove in the cover side, it is possible to easily insert the covered electric wire into the electric wire inserting hole.
A sixth aspect of the invention provides a waterproof connector according to the first aspect, wherein the weld depth setting portion is a weld resin leakage preventing portion for preventing the resin weld in the weld line portion from leaking outward from the connector main body at a time of welding in accordance with the ultrasonic oscillation and the pressurization.
A seventh aspect of the invention provides a waterproof connector according to the fifth aspect, wherein the weld depth setting portion is a weld resin leakage preventing portion for preventing the resin weld in the weld line portion from leaking outward from the connector main body at a time of welding in accordance with the ultrasonic oscillation and the pressurization.
In accordance with these inventions, since the outer wall portion of the cover protrudes outward in the direction of the thickness of the cover from the weld surface of the weld line portion, it is possible to prevent the resin weld in the weld line portion from leaking outward from the connector main body at a time of welding in accordance with the ultrasonic oscillation and the pressurization. Accordingly, since the outer appearance of the welded waterproof connector is not deteriorated, it is possible to keep a good outer appearance.


A detergent composition with excellent color care properties. The detergent composition comprises a dendritic macromolecule.

There is a tendency during the laundering of fabrics for coloured fabrics to release dye into the wash solution. This is a most persistent and troublesome problem as this released dye can then be transferred onto other fabrics. A fabric treatment composition comprising an agent which could prevent the transfer of dye would therefore prove useful.
EP 462 806 (Unilever) discloses a domestic treatment of a fabric with a cationic dye fixing agent to reduce the amount of dye released from the fabric. Suitable cationic dye fixing agents include the dimethyldialkyl ammonium chloride polymer.
GB 1 368 400 (Procter & Gamble) discloses dye-transfer-inhibiting compositions which comprise a peroxygen compound combined with rather complex ketone or aldehyde compounds. Formulations of this type are not very effective.
Other compositions having dye-transfer inhibitory effects are disclosed in EP-A-0 024 367 (Unilever), which discloses the activation of organic peracids with bromide ions and EP-A-0 024 368 (Unilever) which discloses a system comprising an organic peracid precursor and a bromide activator.
The main drawback of these compositions is that they exert a rather strong direct fabric bleaching effect, tending to cause fading of the coloured fabrics.
Surfactant containing dye transfer inhibiting compositions are disclosed in EP-A-0 587 550 (Procter & Gamble). The dye transfer inhibition agent is a polymer selected from polyamine N oxide containing polymers. EP-A-0 327 927 (Procter & Gamble) describes a granular detergent additive comprising water-soluble polymeric compounds based on N-vinylpyrrolidone and/or N-vinylimidazole and/or N-vinyloxazolidine and cationic compounds.
The present invention is based on the discovery that dye transfer can be further prevented by the use of certain macromolecular compounds not previously used in detergent compositions.

Lever Brothers Company, Division of Conopco, Inc.


A video decoding/decoding method and apparatus according to the present disclosure may obtain a transform coefficient of a current block, obtain an inverse-quantized transform coefficient by performing inverse-quantization on a transform coefficient based on a quantization-related parameter of an adaptation parameter set, and reconstruct a residual block of a current block based on an inverse-quantized transform coefficient.

As a demand for high-resolution and high-definition video has recently increased, a need for a high-efficiency video compression technology for next-generation video services has emerged. Based on this need, ISO/IEC MPEG and ITU-T VCEG, which jointly standardized H.264/AVC and HEVC video compression standards, formed JVET (Joint Video Exploration Team) and conducted research and exploration to establish a new video compression standard from October 2015. In April 2018, a new video compression standardization was started with an evaluation of a responses to a new video compression standard CfP (Call for Proposal).
In a video compression technique, a block division structure means a unit that performs encoding and decoding, and a unit to which major encoding and decoding techniques such as prediction and transformation are applied. As video compression technology develops, the size of blocks for encoding and decoding is gradually increasing, and more various division types are supported as a block division type. In addition, video compression is performed using not only units for encoding and decoding, but also units subdivided according to the role of blocks.
In the HEVC standard, video encoding and decoding are performed using a unit block subdivided according to a quad-tree type block division structure and a role for prediction and transformation. In addition to the quad-tree type block division structure, various types of block division structures such as QTBT (Quad Tree plus Binary Tree) in the form of combining a quad-tree and a binary-tree, and MTT (Multi-Type Tree) in which a triple-tree is combined therewith have been proposed to improve video coding efficiency. Through the support of various block sizes and various types of block division structures, one picture is divided into multiple blocks, and information in units of coding units such as a coding mode, motion information, and intra prediction direction information corresponding to each block is expressed in various ways, so the number of bits expressing this is increasing significantly.

Method and apparatus for coding image using adaptation parameter set