In a network node having a host system coupled to a network by an adapter, VC-specific congestion is detected and reported to the host system. The host memory includes rx slots or buffers, each corresponding to one of one or more supported slot types. Per-VC slots consumed counters are maintained to count slot consumption for each active VC. Free buffer FIFOs are maintained for each of the one or more slot types, which have a predetermined congestion threshold associated therewith. Entries in each free buffer FIFO correspond to an rx slot posted by the host system. When a new rx slot or buffer in host memory is to be allocated to an incoming cell received on a given VC, the slots consumed counter is compared to the predetermined congestion threshold. If they are equal, the VC is at threshold level and the incoming cell is discarded and a report is sent to the host system. If the slots consumed counter is below threshold, a new rx slot is allocated for the reception of the data and the slots consumed counter is incremented. If the VC is credit-based flow control enabled and the slots consumed counter is below threshold, a credit is returned. If the VC is credit-based flow control enabled and the slots consumed counter is greater than or equal to the threshold, the credit return is deferred until the counter falls below threshold.

In computer networks, end nodes communicate with each other by exchanging units of data, such as packets, over the network. Under various circumstances, it is possible for an end node in a computer network to become congested. This type of congestion refers to the near depletion of available buffer space in an end node host memory or network device, e.g., network adapter. Typically, host memory buffers are allocated for use by an adapter via a free buffer pool (i.e., pointers to the available buffers). When the end node becomes congested due to a shortage of available buffers for storing received packets and packets received from the network begin to build up at the network device, packet data loss is likely to occur.
Traditionally, end nodes in computer networks have employed various congestion control schemes to control and, if possible, to avoid congestion. In these schemes, network devices provide congestion information to the host system. In response, the host system takes steps to reduce the level of congestion.
In a cell-based network adapter, such as an ATM adapter, which performs packet reassembly on cells received from the network on a given virtual circuit (VC), the host system typically empties and reposts host memory buffers or slots on packet boundaries only. If many VCs are active simultaneously, with a high degree of interleaving on the physical link, and the packets being received are large in comparison to the size of the buffers (such that a single packet occupies many buffers), then there is the potential for a given VC over which a packet is being carried to consume buffer memory space at the expense of other packets and other simultaneously active VCs.
Also of concern is the problem of free buffer pool exhaustion. If the free buffer pool is allowed to become empty and the buffer memory is occupied by partially assembled packets, then reassembly deadlock will occur. Consequently, packet reassembly may not proceed until more buffers are provided via the free buffer pool or some partially assembled packets are discarded.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for a congestion control scheme that controls and avoids congestion on a per-VC basis, as well as minimizes the potential for reassembly deadlock to occur.

Method and apparatus for controlling congestion in a network node


A connector portion of a resolver stator includes a connecting portion to which a lead wire is connected and a guiding groove which guides the lead wire in an axial direction. The lead wire connected to the connecting portion is retained by the guiding groove and guided in the axial direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a connection structure between a resolver and a lead wire.
2. Background of the Related Art
A resolver is usually used in a brushless motor in order to detect a rotational position of a rotor magnet arranged in the brushless motor. The resolver includes a resolver stator having at an inner circumference thereof a plurality of teeth, and a resolver rotor arranged radially inwardly of the resolver stator. The resolver rotor arranged in a concentric manner with the rotor magnet rotates with the rotor magnet in a uniform manner.
An excitation winding or an output winding is wound around each tooth. When the resolver rotor rotates, its radial gap formed between the resolver stator will be modified causing a voltage generated by the output winding to be changed. The resolver detects the change in the voltage so as to detect the rotary portion of the rotor magnet within the brushless motor.
The excitation winding or the output winding wound around each tooth is connected to one end of a terminal member arranged at the resolver stator. The lead wire is connected to the other end of the terminal member. The lead wire connects an external control device and the resolver.
As described above, the lead wire is connected to the terminal member of the resolver. This connection, however, may be broken when a motor including such resolver is included in an automobile, or the like, which may be vibrated or shaken. That is, the lead wire, in particular the connection thereof with the terminal member, may be damaged due to an external force.
Needless to say, reliability is required of the connection between the terminal member and the lead wire. Also, it is required that the resolver be small in size due to a limited space in which the resolver will be arranged. That is, it is important that the resolver is designed to be small in size while providing a secure connection with the lead wire.
Conventionally, a resolver has been available in which, in order to have a reduced radial size, a terminal pin thereof and a lead wire extend in a direction along a rotational axis. However, the lead wire in such resolver will be guided in a circumferential direction and then guided in an axial direction of the stator. Therefore, when an external force in the circumferential direction is applied to the lead wire, the force may be conducted to a portion connecting the lead wire with the resolver.
In order to connect the lead wire to the resolver, a method in which a separate component is arranged therebetween has been available. However, this method will increase a production cost.


It is an object of the present invention to minimize any sensation of inadequate firmness and large changes in deceleration rate with respect to a change in a brake operation force when the force exceeds a boost limit point. A first correlation S1 when a brake operation force increases and a second correlation S2 after hysteresis is applied at the time of a decrease in the brake operation force are taken as relationships between a brake operation force F and a wheel cylinder pressure PWC in a state wherein an assist hydraulic pressure PA is not applied. An assist hydraulic pressure control section controls the assist hydraulic pressure PA so that when a brake operation force that exceeds a boost limit point T1 is applied, the assist hydraulic pressure PA is added, hysteresis is applied when the brake operation force decreases, the assist hydraulic pressure PA decreases, and the relationship between the wheel cylinder pressure PWC and the brake operation force F when the assist hydraulic pressure PA decreases to zero becomes the second correlation S2.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a braking control device having an assist hydraulic pressure control section that adds an assist hydraulic pressure to a master cylinder hydraulic pressure. The pressure is added on the application of a brake operation force that exceeds the boost limit point at which the booster device becomes unable to amplify the brake operation force at the prescribed boost ratio.
2. Description of the Related Art
With the above type of braking control device, the master cylinder generates the master cylinder hydraulic pressure as a result of the force produced as a result of the brake operation force being amplified by a booster device, and the master cylinder hydraulic pressure is applied to each wheel cylinder. However, when the applied brake operation force exceeds the boost limit point at which the booster device becomes unable to amplify the brake operation force at the prescribed boost ratio, the master cylinder hydraulic pressure is insufficient relative to the target wheel cylinder pressure.
Thus, when a brake operation force that exceeds the boost limit point is applied, the assist hydraulic pressure control section calculates an assist hydraulic pressure to be added to the master cylinder hydraulic pressure based on data detected by a brake operation force detection sensor, and the assist hydraulic pressure is added to the master cylinder hydraulic pressure (e.g., refer to patent document 1).
FIG. 7 shows a relationship between a brake operation force F and a wheel cylinder pressure PWC for a conventional braking control device. The change in a master cylinder hydraulic pressure PMC when a brake operation force that exceeds the boost limit point T1 is applied is represented by a dotted line in the drawing.
When a brake operation force that has not reached the boost limit point T1 is applied, the assist hydraulic pressure is not added. At this time, the relationship between the brake operation force and the wheel cylinder pressure has a first correlation S1 when the brake operation force is increasing, a second correlation S2 after hysteresis is applied when the brake operation force is decreasing, and an intermediate correlation S3 that connects between the first correlation S1 and second correlation S2. The intermediate correlation S3, for example, is configured so that the wheel cylinder pressure decreases more gradually than in the first correlation S1.
A configuration is produced whereby, when the brake operation force decreases during the first correlation S1, the wheel cylinder pressure decreases in the same relationship as the relationship of the decrease in wheel cylinder pressure with respect to the decrease in the brake operation amount in the intermediate correlation S3, whereupon the wheel cylinder pressure decreases based on the second correlation S2. A configuration is produced whereby, when the brake operation force increases during the second correlation S2, the wheel cylinder pressure is kept constant, whereupon the wheel cylinder pressure increases based on the first correlation S1.
When a brake operation force that exceeds the boost limit point T1 is applied, the assist hydraulic pressure control section first determines the target the wheel cylinder pressure PWC, calculates the assist hydraulic pressure PA based on the difference between the wheel cylinder pressure PWC and the master cylinder hydraulic pressure PMC that has been determined, and then adds this calculated assist hydraulic pressure PA. As regards control of the assist hydraulic pressure, when the brake operation force is increasing, the assist hydraulic pressure control section controls the assist hydraulic pressure based on a first correlation extension section S1a produced by an extension of the first correlation S1 so that the relationship between the brake operation force and the wheel cylinder pressure is kept in the first correlation S1. In addition, when the brake operation force is decreasing, as when the brake operation force is increasing, the assist hydraulic pressure control section controls the assist hydraulic pressure based on the first correlation extension section S1a produced by extension of the first correlation S1 so that the relationship between the brake operation force and the wheel cylinder pressure is kept in the first correlation S1.
[Patent document 1] JP (Kokai) 2006-192945
With the above conventional braking control device, the relationship between the brake operation force and the wheel cylinder pressure when the brake operation force switches from increasing to decreasing is different from when a brake operation force that exceeds the boost limit point T1 is applied when a brake operation force that is below the boost limit point T1 is applied. When a brake operation force that exceeds the boost limit point T1 is applied, the first correlation extension section S1a applies, whereas when a brake operation force that is below the boost limit point T1 is applied, the intermediate correlation S3 applies, with the wheel cylinder pressure decreasing more gradually than in the first correlation S1. Consequently, when the brake operation force switches from increasing to decreasing due to a fluctuation in the brake operation force or another reason, the wheel cylinder pressure varies more when a brake operation force that exceeds the boost limit point T1 is applied than when a brake operation force that is below the boost limit point T1 is applied. For this reason, when a brake operation force that exceeds the boost limit point T1 is applied, the wheel cylinder pressure tends to change more quickly with respect to changes in the brake operation force, and the firmness with respect to changes in brake operation force may be insufficient.
In addition, with conventional braking control devices, when the brake operation force decreases in a situation where a brake operation force exceeding the boost limit point T1 is applied, the relationship between the brake operation force and the wheel cylinder pressure will adhere to the first correlation extension section S1a until the assist hydraulic pressure is released, to the intermediate correlation S3 after the assist hydraulic pressure has been released, and to the second correlation S2 thereafter. Consequently, the relationship of the decrease in wheel cylinder pressure with respect to the decrease in brake operation force will change before and after the assist hydraulic pressure is released, and will also change after the assist hydraulic pressure has been released, which causes significant alteration. For this reason, the operator may experience an unpleasant sensation as a result of the significant changes in deceleration rate.


A surgical fastener having a first and a second end for securing at least two surfaces together. The surgical fastener has a first configuration where the fastener is coupled to a restraining device that holds the fastener and a second configuration wherein the fastener is released from said restraining device. The second configuration has a substantially spiral shape and is spring biased along an axis perpendicular to the surfaces that it is securing. The surgical fastener also includes a rib that extends along the longitudinal axis of the fastener.

An aneurysm is a ballooning of the wall of an artery resulting from the weakening of the artery due to disease or other conditions. Left untreated, the aneurysm will frequently rupture, resulting in loss of blood through the rupture and death.
Aortic aneurysms are the most common form of arterial aneurysm and are life threatening. The aorta is the main artery which supplies blood to the circulatory system. The aorta arises from the left ventricle of the heart, passes upward and bends over behind the heart, and passes down through the thorax and abdomen. Among other arterial vessels branching off the aorta along its path, the abdominal aorta supplies two side vessels to the kidneys, the renal arteries. Below the level of the renal arteries, the abdominal aorta continues to about the level of the fourth lumbar vertebrae (or the navel), where it divides into the iliac arteries. The iliac arteries, in turn, supply blood to the lower extremities and perineal region.
It is common for an aortic aneurysm to occur in that portion of the abdominal aorta between the renal arteries and the iliac arteries. This portion of the abdominal aorta is particularly susceptible to weakening, resulting in an aortic aneurysm. Such an aneurysm is often located near the iliac arteries. An aortic aneurysm larger than about 5 cm in diameter in this section of the aorta is ominous. Left untreated, the aneurysm may rupture, resulting in rapid, and usually fatal, hemorrhaging. Typically, a surgical procedure is not performed on aneurysms smaller than 5 cm as no statistical benefit exists to do so.
Aneurysms in the abdominal aorta are associated with a particularly high mortality rate; accordingly, current medical standards call for urgent operative repair. Abdominal surgery, however, results in substantial stress to the body. Although the mortality rate for an aortic aneurysm is extremely high, there is also considerable mortality and morbidity associated with open surgical intervention to repair an aortic aneurysm. This intervention involves penetrating the abdominal wall to the location of the aneurysm to reinforce or replace the diseased section of the abdominal wall (i.e., abdominal aorta). A prosthetic device, typically a synthetic tube graft, is used for this purpose. The graft serves to exclude the aneurysm from the circulatory system, thus relieving pressure and stress on the weakened section of the aorta at the aneurysm.
Repair of an aortic aneurysm by surgical means is a major operative procedure. Substantial morbidity accompanies the procedure, resulting in a protracted recovery period. Further, the procedure entails a substantial risk of mortality. While surgical intervention may be indicated and the surgery carries attendant risk, certain patients may not be able to tolerate the stress of intra-abdominal surgery. It is, therefore, desirable to reduce the mortality and morbidity associated with intra-abdominal surgical intervention.
In recent years, methods have been developed to attempt to treat an abdominal aortic aneurysm without the attendant risks of intra-abdominal surgical intervention. Although techniques have been developed that may reduce the stress, morbidity, and risk of mortality associated with surgical intervention to repair aortic aneurysms, none of the prior art systems that have been developed effectively treat the aneurysm and exclude the affected section of aorta from the pressures and stresses associated with circulation. None of the devices disclosed in the references provide a reliable and quick means to reinforce an aneurysmal artery, and none of the devices disclosed provide a surgical fastener possessing the advantages of the fastener of the present invention. In addition, all of the prior references require a sufficiently large section of healthy aorta abutting the aneurysm to ensure attachment of the graft. The proximal aortic neck (i.e., above the aneurysm) is usually sufficient to support a graft's attachment means. However, when an aneurysm is located near the iliac arteries, there may be an ill-defined neck or no neck below the aneurysm. Such an ill-defined neck would have an insufficient amount of healthy aortic tissue to which to successfully attach a graft. Furthermore, much of the abdominal aortic wall may be calcified making it extremely difficult to attach a graft thereto.
One of the problems associated with current surgical fasteners is that these fasteners are difficult to insert and advance during surgical procedures because these fasteners lack adequate support. Additionally, current fasteners often result is excess bleeding. There is a need to develop a fastener that is easier to advance and curtails the amount of bleeding during surgical procedures. None of the prior art systems provide a surgical fastener that achieves the advantages of the present invention.
Additional advantages of various embodiments of the invention are set forth, in part, in the description that follows and, in part, will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art from the description and/or from the practice of the invention.


A method, data storage device and computer program product for having multiple users share a single data storage device securely. A data storage device, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) key, is plugged into a computing device. A USB controller of the USB key recognizes the computing device and creates an account for the user. The created account is associated with the user as well as associated with the computing device. Data uploaded to the USB key by the user is then associated with the created account. Only that user will be able to view that data on his/her computing device (computing device associated with the created account) unless the user indicates to share that data with other users. Such a process may be repeated each time the USB key is plugged into a different computing device thereby creating multiple accounts associated with multiple computing devices and users.

Data storage devices, such as a Universal Serial Bus (USB) flash drive (also referred to as a "USB key"), are becoming increasingly popular devices for storing, backing-up and transferring computer files. Currently, all the information on the USB key can be made available to any user upon providing the appropriate authentication, such as a password. As a result, multiple users cannot each securely store information on the same USB key with different authentication parameters (e.g., passwords). Furthermore, multiple users cannot securely store information on the same USB key that may be available to other designated users. For example, if user #1 desires to securely store information that may be made available to user #2 and user #3 and if user #4 desires to securely store information that may be made available to user #5 and user #6, then user #1 and user #4 would need to use their own USB keys.
Consequently, multiple users cannot currently share a single USB key securely whereby each user has their files uploaded to the USB key that will be securely available to that particular user and to other users designated by the user if the user so chooses. By not being able to allow multiple users to share a USB key securely, the usefulness of the USB key is lessened.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Multi-user universal serial bus (USB) key with customizable file sharing permissions

International Business Machines Corporation


A system and a method for performing programmable analytics on network data are described. A data layer constructs flow behavior information based on information present within headers of data packets flowing across one or more network devices configured in a computer network. An inline heuristics layer performs one or more inline heuristic operations on the flow behavior information to obtain aggregate statistical information. An integrated analytics layer performs one or more analytical operations on the flow behavior information to obtain network insights. A presentation layer filters and plots information obtained from the data layer, the inline heuristics layer, and the integrated analytics layer, based on a user input.

A computer network is established by connecting several network devices. These network devices include network switch, router, bridge, repeater, and hub. Each of these network devices is programmed to receive data from a source device and forward data with another network device present along a network path, to provide the data to an intended receiver. In packet switched networks, the data is forwarded in form of data packets, which may travel through the network devices present in the computer network. Performance of the network devices change over time, and thus certain configuration changes are required to be made in them.

System and method for performing programmable analytics on network data

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


A first fuel value (FL_Signal) indicative of the quantity of fuel presently in a fuel tank (34) and a second fuel value (FL_LOW_THLD) representing a quantity of fuel in the tank at which a maximum Injection Control Pressure (ICP) limit should be changed are processed by a processor (22). When the result of the processing discloses that the second fuel value is less than the first fuel value, the maximum ICP limit is reduced from a greater value (ICPC_NORMAL_LMX) to a lesser value (ICPC_FL_LMX).

A known electronic engine control system comprises a processor-based engine controller that processes data from various sources to develop control data for controlling certain functions of the engine, including fueling of the engine by injection of fuel into engine combustion chambers. Control of engine fueling involves several factors. One is the quantity of fuel injected during an injection. Another is the timing of an injection. Consequently, the control system must set both the quantity of fuel injected and the time at which the injection occurs during an engine operating cycle.
A known diesel engine that powers a motor vehicle has an oil pump that delivers oil under pressure to an oil rail serving electric-actuated fuel injectors that use oil from the oil rail to force injections of fuel. Fuel under pressure is supplied to the fuel injectors via a fuel rail.
The pressure in the oil rail is sometimes referred to as injection control pressure, or ICP, and that pressure is under the control of an appropriate ICP control strategy that is an element of the overall engine control strategy implemented in the engine control system. ICP is a factor in controlling the quantity of fuel injected during an injection.
Examples of fuel systems containing fuel injectors that utilize ICP oil to force fuel into engine combustion chambers via plungers are found in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,460,329; 5,597,118; 5,722,373; and 6,029,628.
A representative HEUI fuel injector has a plunger that is displaced within an internal pumping chamber by oil at ICP from an oil rail when a normally closed control valve in the injector opens in response to a signal from the engine controller to inject fuel into a combustion chamber. The oil acts via the plunger to amplify the fuel pressure in the pumping chamber to a magnitude large enough to force a normally closed valve at an outlet of the fuel injector to open. When the latter valve opens, the amplified fuel pressure forces fuel through the outlet and into the combustion chamber.
The injection is terminated by terminating the signal that caused the control valve to open. When that happens, the valve at the fuel injector outlet returns to normally closed condition, and fuel flows from the fuel rail to refill the pumping chamber, forcing the plunger to retract in the process.
Because ICP in the oil rail is a significant factor in controlling the quantity of fuel injected during an injection, the ability to accurately control ICP is of obvious importance in an engine control strategy. Control of ICP is typically somewhat complicated because changing engine conditions can act in ways that tend to change ICP. Various strategies exist for controlling ICP, such as the one described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,850,832.
When a fuel-injected diesel engine is being operated at high speed and high load, the fuel injectors operate near or at the limit of their capability where the frequency of operation and the quantity of fuel injected per injection are near or at their maximums. Consequently, full recharging of a fuel injector after the termination of an injection requires that a maximum, or near maximum, quantity of fuel flow into the pumping chamber within a minimum, or near minimum, amount of time.

High pressure oil limit based on fuel level to protect fuel injectors

International Engine Intellectual Property Company, LLC


There is provided a light emitting diode apparatus for operation with varying input electrical sources. The apparatus comprises an array of light emitting diodes to produce light, and a variable input power supply adapted to provide an electrical supply of predetermined value to the light emitting diodes from a varying electric signal provided by varying input electrical sources. In one embodiment, the light emitting diode apparatus is for use as a replacement of a fluorescent tube in an existing fluorescent fixture. In another embodiment, the light emitting diode apparatus is for use with connection to conventional AC voltage sources used throughout the world.

A fluorescent lamp is a gas-discharge lamp that uses electricity to excite mercury vapor or other rare earth gases included in a fluorescent tube. The excited atoms produce shortwave ultraviolet light or shortwave radiation that then causes a phosphor to fluoresce, producing visible light. A fluorescent lamp converts electrical power into useful light more efficiently than an incandescent lamp. Lower energy cost typically offsets the higher initial cost of the lamp. Fluorescent lamp fixtures are more costly, in part, because they must include a ballast used to power the fluorescent lamp so as to regulate the flow of current through the anode and cathode of the fluorescent lamp.
While large fluorescent lamps have been mostly used in commercial or institutional buildings, Compact Fluorescent Lamps (CFLs), or Compact Fluorescent Tubes (CFTs), are now also available in the same popular sizes as incandescent lamps and are used as an energy-saving alternative in homes. Compared to general service incandescent lamps or High-Intensity Discharge (HID) lamps, CFLs use less power for a similar light intensity and have a longer rated life. Like all fluorescent lamps, CFLs contain mercury, or non ROHS (Removal Of Hazardous Substances) compliant materials which complicates their disposal. CFLs also radiate a different light spectrum from that of incandescent lamps. Improved phosphor formulations have improved the subjective color of the light emitted by CFLs such that some sources rate the best "soft white" CFLs as subjectively similar in color to standard incandescent lamps or HID lamps.
Recently, the application of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) in residential, commercial, industrial and institutional illumination has become more and more popular. Compared to common fluorescent or HID lamps, for example, LEDs are more durable in nature, consume less power, have longer lamp life, emit generous amounts of light, produce less heat, offer a wider range of light colors and are environmentally friendly.
One drawback, however, is that existing LEDs are not capable of operating with variable inputs such as varying frequency, current, voltage and magnetic fields. For example, the ballasts used in fluorescent lamp fixtures to power fluorescent lamps have variable outputs. The output of fluorescent lamp ballasts varies widely in voltage, frequency, and current, dependant on the make and model. LEDs operate at a precise voltage and precise current flow. Any electrical energy source will require conditioning to establish the correct DC voltage for the LED array. A power supply which can receive a wide range of voltage, frequency and electrical waveforms and convert this to a precise output voltage, is required to operate LEDs correctly.
In order to provide a LED-based replacement to traditional fluorescent lamps in common fluorescent lamp fixtures, the limited operation of existing LEDs with respect to their power supplies requires that existing fluorescent lamp fixtures be retrofitted. Retrofitting a fluorescent lamp fixture with existing LEDs entails the removal of the existing ballast and rewiring of the fixture with either an external electrical supply or a direct (AC or DC) voltage to the LEDs, via a power supply. Retrofitting a fluorescent lamp fixture requires in most cases the services of an electrician to meet or adhere to local, provincial, state, and/or federal building codes. A direct bulb replacement, i.e.
without the need of a retrofit, of common fluorescent lamps is therefore not possible with existing LED technology.

LED lamp with variable input power supply


A mobile communication system in which various access methods may be selected according to the user's priority. In the mobile communication system, each of a mobile station and radio base stations has a radio processor, which has TDMA, CDMA and FDMA communication units. The CDMA communication unit comprises channel coders each for performing a primary modulation to a transmitting signal, spread-spectrum code generators for respectively generating different spread-spectrum signals, a clock generator/controller for controlling the generation of chip clocks to control the generation of the spread-spectrum codes, oscillators for setting different carrier frequencies to outputs calculated as products, and a CPU for generally controlling various parts or elements to control the assignment of a CDMA signal or a TDMA signal to an arbitrary time slot transmitted from the TDMA communication unit. The radio processor transmits different signals of different access methods existing in each time slot of the same frame different signals.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a mobile communication system which includes a mobile station, a radio base station and an exchange system and which can cope with a radio communication system applying variable access methods, modulation methods and transmission methods. More particularly the invention relates to a mobile communication system which includes a mobile station, a radio base station and an exchange and which realizes roaming and handover between systems using different access methods.
2. Description of the Related Art
There is currently known a mobile communication system connected wirelessly between an automobile communication apparatus or a portable mobile communication apparatus (hereinafter called "mobile station") and a radio base station of a private communication system or a public communication system. The radio base station is connected to an exchange.
As multiple access methods, there are a Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) method, a Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA) method, and a Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA) method.
As modulation methods, there are digital modulation methods such as a Gaussian Minimum Shift Keying (GMSK), a .pi./4-quarter differential phase shift keying (.pi./4-QDPSK), a 16-value quadrature amplitude modulation (16QAM), and a multi-subcarrier 16-value quadrature amplitude modulation (M16QAM). In addition, as the modulation method, there are analog modulation methods (e.g., an FM modulation method).
Further, in order to realize bidirectional communication, a Time Division Duplex (TDD) method, which has a time-divided transmission and reception, and a Frequency Division Duplex (FDD) method, which has a frequency-divided transmission and reception, are utilized.
FIGS. 127 through 129 are explanatory views of conventional multiple access methods shown in Electric Information Communication Handbook (page 2449, satellite communication system, the fourth section, issued Mar. 30, 1988). FIG. 127 shows a classification of the multiple access methods. FIG. 128 shows characteristics of the multiple access methods. FIG. 132 shows one example of transmission volume of the multiple access methods in case of satellite communication system.
The FDMA method is a multiple access method which divides a frequency band for transmitting and receiving signals. The TDMA method is a multiple access method which divides time for transmitting and receiving signals with a common frequency. The CDMA method is a multiple access method, in which a specific code is used to identify a communication channel. In the CDMA method, in case of transmitting signals, the specific code is allocated to each communication channel and the spread-spectrum is carried out for the same frequency carrier as the one for receiving being modulated by the code. On the receiving side, the communication channel is identified by applying a code synchronization. The CDMA method may be referred to as a spread spectrum multiple access method. The FDMA method has an advantage in that an antenna, a power amplifier, and a common carrier adapter of the land station are more simplified, compared to the TDMA method. On the other hand, the FDMA method has a disadvantage in that linearity is required in a repeater. in the CDMA method, the transmission capacity of each repeater is rather small, compared to that in the FDMA method or the TDMA method. This is due to the fact that enough gain cannot be obtained because the bandwidth of the repeater, which is installed communication satellite, is narrow and the number of channels is limited because of interference noise between carrier waves. In an automobile communication system requiring no relay, however, since there is no limit in process gain due to the narrow band of large-output relays, the CDMA method can increase the transmission capacity. Further, because of the CDMA method uses a specific code, it is excellent in keeping the communication secret and in interference-proof.
As related art, the following technical documents are identified:
1. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 6-120886, for "Mobile Communication System", filed Oct. 5, 1992. Inventors: Takahashi and Uchida. PA1 2. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 6-216836, for "Mobile Communication System", filed Jan. 20, 1993. Inventors: Uchida and Kimura. PA1 3. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 7-154859, for "Mobile Station, Exchange and Mobile Communication System", filed Nov. 29, 1993. Inventors: Uchida and Mimura. PA1 4. WO 90/13212, for "Digital Radio Communication System and Two-Way Radio". Applicant: Motorola. PA1 5. U.S. Pat. No. 5,260,967, for CDMA/TDMA Spread Spectrum Communications System and Method", filed Jan. 13, 1992 by D. L. Schilling and assigned to IDC Inc. PA1 6. U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,266, for "Adaptive Power Control for a Spread Spectrum Communications System and Method", filed Nov. 19, 1991 by D. L. Schilling and assigned to IDC Inc. discloses a mobile station which receives the spread spectrum electric wave from one land station and has a transmitter to transmit the second spread-spectrum signal corresponding to a strength of the receiving signal (AGC (Auto Gain Control) signal). PA1 7. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. Hei 5-145470, for "Multiple Access Mobile Communication System". filed Nov. 18, 1991 by NTT (Inventors: Hata Seiji, et al) discloses a system which is characterized in that the electric wave of the CDMA method of different time slots is assigned to each of the different sector cells. PA1 8. U.S. Pat. No. 5,345,467, for CDMA Cellular Hand-Off Apparatus and Method", filed Oct. 8, 1992 by G. R. Lomp, et al and assigned to IDC Inc. discloses the mobile station which received the first spread spectrum electric wave from the first land station provides another correlation receiver, such as a matching filter, to receive the second spread-spectrum signal from the second land station. PA1 9. U.S. Pat. No. 5,311,542, for "Spread Spectrum Communication System", filed Oct. 9, 1992 by Kenneth C. Eder and assigned to Honeywell Inc. discloses a system in which time multiplication is performed for the plural time division Information having preambles and then the spread-spectrum is then performed. PA1 10. U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,672, for Spread Spectrum Communication System", filed Mar. 1, 1993 by M. Sumiya, et al and assigned to KDD Co. discloses a system in which the land station transmits plural spread-spectrum electric waves and has a plurality of transmitters whose transmitting frequencies are different each other. PA1 11. WO 94/21056, for "Random Access Communication Method by Use of CDMA and System for Mobile Stations which Use the Method", filed Mar. 5, 1993 by NTT Docomo (Inventors: Umeda, et al) describes that "spread-spectrum code selection is performed by each burst" in claim 19 and subsequent claims and shows "multiple random access" in FIGS. 9 and 14. PA1 12. WO 93/19537, for "Bidirectional Communication Method in Cellular System, filed Mar. 3, 1995 by ERICSSON. PA1 13. WO 93/03558, for "Communication System with Channel Selection", filed Feb. 18, 1993 by MOTOROLA PA1 14. EP 471656, for "Cellular Mobile Radio Telephone System Reliability Enhancement", filed Feb. 19, 1992 by ERICSSON. PA1 15. EP 209185, for "Free-channel Search for Cellular Mobile Radio having Mobile Station Comparing Common-channel Reception with Interference Threshold and Identifying Interfering Fixed Station", filed Jan. 21, 1987 by PHILIP.
In each of the above three documents, only one type of multiple access method is employed in the mobile communication system. Further, only one type of modulation method is employed in the communication system.
The invention disclosed in this Motorola patent may be considered as based on the same problem as the present invention.
This U.S. Patent discloses a system in which time division multiple access (TDMA) is carried out for the synchronization code and plural data and then the spread-spectrum is performed with a chip code. According to claims 52 and 56 of the U.S. Patent, the TDMA is carried out for the spread-spectrum-processed-synchronization-code and the combined-spread-spectrum signals.
Patent Family JP62015941 filed Jan. 24, 1987.
FIG. 130 of the accompanying drawings shows a conventional correlator to be used on the receiving side of the CDMA method. In FIG. 130, a portion indicated by dotted lines is an envelope correlation network for detecting the correlation between the spread-spectrum code and the received signal. The correlator forms a noncoherent delay-lock loop using the envelope correlation network and Judges the correlation with the received spread-spectrum code using the formed loop.
However, in the conventional mobile communication system, there was a problem that the user could not select the most suitable access method among various access methods. Even if any of the foregoing related art publications proposes any similar means, it is totally silent about a more detailed configuration and method in order to realize it.
For example, the above publication 5 is silent about a time multiplication of the information of the constantly divided time slot of the TDMA method in which the spread-spectrum is not performed and the information in which the spread-spectrum is performed. It still silent that the information in which the spread-spectrum is performed by CDMA method is divided by a definite time section.
Further, in the above publication 6, two sets of receivers and transmitters are required in the mobile station when two information channels of the CDMA method are simultaneously set between two land stations and one mobile station in order to realize the seamless hand-off.
In the above publication 7, it is not realized that the electric wave of the CDMA method is set to be the same time slot of the TDMA method.
In the above publication 8, two sets of receivers, such as correlation receivers, and two sets of transmitters are required in the mobile station when two information channels of the CDMA method are simultaneously set between two land stations and one mobile station in order to realize the seamless hand-off.
In the above publication 9, compared to the above publication 5, it is new only in that the time division information has preamble.
In the above publication 10, two sets of receivers, such as correlation receivers, and two sets of transmitters are required in the mobile station when two information channels of the CDMA method are simultaneously set between two land stations and one mobile station in order to realize the seamless hand-off.
The above publication 11 is totally silent about the coexistence of the TDMA method and the CDMA method, the coexistence of different data rates, the coexistence of different chip rates, the sharing of the time frame configuration of the TDMA method and the CDMA method, and the shoring of the channel configuration of the TDMA method and the CDMA method.

Mobile communication system using various multiple access methods


A method for data communication of bus users of an open automation system such that any bus user with an individual and interactive communication may be connected provides for a communication controller (KC) made up of at least one freely-programmable communication-ALU (RPA, TPA, PEA), with several commands being encoded on a command code for the communication-ALU optimized for particular communication functions, and logic function blocks (FI, Z, V, CRC) are arranged in parallel in the communication ALU (RPA, TPA), which carry out particular communication functions, the communication functions not being definitively defined but rather being formed on the basis of the freely-programmable and communication function optimized communication ALUs (RPA, TPA, PEA), wherein several commands are carried out in a system cycle and transitions between various networks can be carried out.

The present invention primarily relates to a method for data communication, in particular for coupling bus users of an open automation systems, and a freely programmable communication processor according to the independent claims. Furthermore the present invention relates to a method for data communication, in particular for D11 configuration, and an apparatus with a flexible communication structure, in particular a programmable controller. Finally the present invention relates to a method and a device for data communication, in particular for synchronization of communicating among each other bus users of an automation system with distributed control functions over a serial data bus.
Already for a longer time in the control and automation technology field busses and Ethernet are used, in particular the extension regarding Real-Time Ethernet for data communication between individual units being involved in controlling a process. Examples for known field busses are CAN-Bus, profibus, modbus, DeviceNet or Interbus. The communication of the units is carried on the field bus/Ethernet on the basis of specified protocols. In order to comply with demands for open systems for networking, it is necessary to provide simple and low-cost systems for networking in order to make industrial appliances capable for networking. This demand is particularly important with respect to coupling drive components, such as between drive controls, power units and transmitters in NC machine tools and robots, regarding which a plurality of interpolating axles have to be operated synchronously. In times of increasing networking of most different technical systems the demand for standardized structures in the industry grows accordingly.
One example for this requirement is the field bus according to the so-called Actuator-Sensor-Interface-standard, in short ASI-standard. This field bus concept is specifically designed for making binary sensors or actuators directly bus-capable, which could not be obtained with other field bus systems up to now. An automation system consists of hardware components being connectable to said bus system, in particular motors, sensors, actuators, inter alia—that is the process environment—which by acting together with one or more superior controls constitute an automatic production process. The bus master then takes over all tasks being necessary for the processing of the bus operation. As a rule the bus master is separated from the actual control unit for controlling the hardware components.
In order to easily obtain an open and flexible operating mode of the system, wherein the hardware components may be exchanged without changing the control programs, in DE 198 50 469 A1 an automation system and a method for accessing the functionality of hardware components is disclosed, wherein as a mapping of the current functionality of hardware components these provide a system connection unit with function objects each, wherein the function objects are provided for accessing the functionality of the hardware components over the bus system. In order to implement the hardware components as "plug and play" modules it is necessary to provide a special function block directly placed in the hardware component, on which the function objects are operable giving access to the functionality of the hardware components. This special function block is implemented in the form of the system connection unit. This system connection unit is coupled to a bus system of the automation system such that for example communication data can be transmitted from a management system to the hardware component as well as from and to all further components coupled to the bus system. By the system connection unit thus it is possible to substitute or to add, etc., hardware components without changing existing structures of the automation system. Furthermore special node elements, which were required up to now between the management system and the hardware components, can be left out. For a network transition the system connection unit provides a memory for storing protocols required between both bus systems. Thus in a very simple way a network transition between ETHERNET (data transfer rate 10 Mbit/s), in particular the FAST ETHERNET (data transfer rate 100 Mbit/s—standard IEEE Std. 802.3-1998), and the profibus may be obtained. The embedding of the system connection units assigned to the hardware components in their environment may be designed such, that the function objects comprise at least one first function object for generating a minimal functionality of one hardware component, at least one second function object for interconnecting function objects and at least one third function object for listing function objects provided in the system processing unit and/or in removed system processing units and/or in removed computers. The particular function of the function objects is to enumerate, i.e. to enquire the functionality sum of the system. For example the function objects are designed as so-called DCOM-objects (Distributed Component Object Model) or as so-called OLE-objects (Object Linking and Embedding). Furthermore the system connection unit provides a runtime-system as well as a protocol-processing unit (Profibus, UDP/IP, RPC). Therefore the system connection unit represents a standard module, which has to provide protocols specified for the field bus, and which is often quite complex and therefore relatively expensive.
In order to allow a fail-safe communication of units involved in a safety-critical process, wherein at the same time the use of standard modules as bus masters is permitted, in DE 199 28 517 C2 a management system is disclosed, wherein the bus master is connected to the field bus separately from a first control unit and a signal unit, wherein the first control unit is arranged upstream of a signal unit with respect to a circulation direction of the telegram traffic, and wherein the first control unit provides means to substitute telegram data being addressed to the signal unit with fail-safe telegram data. It is then possible to connect said first control unit as a simple bus user, i.e. without a bus master functionality, to the field bus. Furthermore the control system provides a second control unit to control non-safety-critical processes, being connected to said field bus separately from said first control unit. Apart from other already known components the second control unit provides a micro controller as well as a master-protocol-chip. In the present case the master-protocol-chip provides a bus master functionality for an interbus and is named "bus master". Such master-protocol-chips are obtainable as standard modules from different manufacturers. A communication module contained in the first control unit provides a slave-protocol-chip being connected to the field bus on the input side via a first bus interface and via a second bus interface on the output side. The protocol chip corresponds to the protocol chips contained in signal units, which connect safety-relevant devices to the field bus as bus users. In order to provide a slave-to-slave communication between bus users in a field bus with sequentially circulating telegram traffic, wherein no bus user has a bus master functionality, the protocol chip of a bus user, which intends to send data to other bus users, will be supplemented with a transmitting memory and if applicable with a receive memory. The operating principle of the circulating telegram traffic is accordingly based on the arranged in the same way slave-protocol-chip in each bus user, often named as "Serial Microprocessor Interface" (SUPI). Because of using a standard module obtainable from different manufacturers, the cost for a control system may be kept low; altogether the cost for the bus master and the signal units, which have to provide specified protocols for the field bus, are complex and relatively high.
A similar solution is disclosed in DE 299 07 909 U1 with respect to a tracking system implemented in a production system based on plug-in boards. In detail each plug-in board provides a microprocessor, a memory unit storing process data and being connected to said microprocessor, a sensor bus interface (RS 485) and a field bus interface (RS 485) both being connected to said microprocessor, a service interface (RS-232) for connection to a modem and an interface (ISA-bus interface) for connecting the microprocessor to a host computer. The integrated field-bus interface, or the sensor bus interface, each provide an ISO-interface and a field bus data processor (SPC 3), in the present example a profibus-data-processor. A machine control is optionally connected to the plug-in board via the integrated profibus interface or to sensor-electronic units via an II/O-box. The intelligent sensor-electronic-units each allow the supply of one sensor, the collection of sensor data, the pre-processing of measuring signals (signal filtering, signal amplification, etc.) and the simple signal analysis (digital filtering, collecting peak values, etc.). Therefore an intelligent sensor-electronic-unit implies being a module providing an own micro-controller, filter, amplifier, power supply and a sensor bus interface. The sensor-electronic-unit may be newly parameterized via the plug-in board before each processing. This concerns for example the amplification factors, the filtering values and the clearing of several input signals to one sum signal. By the profibus interface the monitoring may be synchronized to the processing operation. Via so-called automated setting routines the monitoring system may be easily implemented in the production appliance. The automated setting routines for example perform the speech perception on the controller and the connected to it speech switching, the recognition of the sensors on the sensor bus and the automatic configuration of the amplification and filter values. The inputs and outputs of the programmable logic controller (SPS) are assigned automatically and the time of a real time clock on the plug-in board will be automatically coordinated with the time of the host computer. The plug-in board allows to monitor for example up to four sensor channels, wherein for the sensor bus interface a data rate up to 460.8 kBaud, at the same time having a high interference immunity, may be obtained with the communication processor. Preferably the microprocessor of the plug-in board processes data in Hamming code with a Hamming distance of 4 and carries out the encoding and decoding. Between the microprocessor and the ISA-interface towards the host computer an address decoder is included carrying out the encoding and decoding of address and memory accesses in a PC in a per se known way. The power supply of the plug-in board is carried out via the ISA-interface, across which the communication to the host computer is carried out as well. Because the plug-in board has its own processor being in charge of the monitoring, the CPU of the host computer shall not be reserved for processing power. A real-time capable sensor bus protocol is defined for the communication with the sensor-electronic-units. Thus the enquiry of the measuring data as well as the controlling and parameterizing of the sensors with defined response times is made possible. The monitoring data are processed in a cycle of 10 ms and the pre-processing of sensor data allows a scan frequency below 1 ms. Thus a response time below 1 ms may be guaranteed for a collision monitoring. Beside the synchronization data also process specific axle signals can be transmitted via the field—or the profibus in a preferable way like torques, motor currents and axle speeds. The protocol allows for example the enquiry of up to eight different axles. Via the field bus the required control data can also be directly delivered out of the control core of the machine control to the microprocessor of the plug-in board. In this case no specific sensor technology is needed and the sensor bus interface on the plug-in board may be left out. Via the service interface all settings, software updates as well as process visualization may be carried out. In case said service interface is designed as a modem interface then teleservice and telediagnostic service functionalities are available via a modem. Accordingly the system becomes fully operable and parameterizable under remote control. The visualization of process data may be performed by a program on the host computer (controller, industry-PC). As the plug-in boards and the intelligent sensor-electronic-units, which have to provide protocols specified for the field bus, are complex and relatively expensive this may be deemed a disadvantage again.
Furthermore in DE 198 31 405 A1 a control system with a personal computer is disclosed, which provides for processing a control program at least one PC-processor, one program memory and one data storage and which provides a communication processor for the connection to a field bus, to which sensors and/or actuators for controlling a process may be connected. For the communication on the field bus a plug-in board is inserted in the PC, which is connected to an internal PCI-bus, which provides data-, control- and address lines. Via a PCI-bus connection and the internal bus the PC-processor communicates with the components of the plug-in board. The communication processor is arranged on the plug-in board and automatically carries out a cyclic data transfer on the field bus after a corresponding parameterization of the PC-processor and mainly consists of an ASIC. The communication processor is operable as a master on a field bus with cyclic data transfer like the PROFIBUS DP and functions as clock source when collecting process data. Further a memory is provided in which process data delivered on the field bus are stored. This memory then stores a current process map, which the PC-processor may access at any time. In order to relieve the PC-processor of the polling of incoming process data or of monitoring the field bus, a control unit is provided. The control unit may be implemented through a hardware circuit being parameterisable, but also through an expansion of the communication processor program in form of a software solution. The hardware circuit then comprises a small RAM being embedded in the address space of the PC-processor and therefore may be directly addressed by the PC-processor and a programmable logic module, which according to a corresponding parameterization stored on the RAM monitors the cyclic data transfer on the field bus and/or incoming data on the field bus. When starting the control program in the program memory the PC processor accesses the RAM and sets the corresponding bits therein, thus determining the function of the control unit as required. By this parameterization it may be determined for example in which cases the control unit has to generate an interrupt, which is transmitted via the PCI-bus connection and on the PCI-bus to the PC-processor. Thus it may be determined, in which cases the PC-processor shall be prompted by the control program to further process data received on the field bus. In case of active process control the communication processor as a master continually polls all users on the field bus, for example sensors like a flow meter or a level meter converter, actuators like supply or discharge valves in a tank, which are operated as slaves. In case the communication processor read in process data of a slave, it intends to store those in the memory cells of the memory provided for the individual process data. The logic block of the control unit reviews by the address of the write access, if an interrupt has to be generated in case of a change of the individual process data. This review can easily be carried out, because the process data of each slave are stored at fixed memory locations within the memory. If an interrupt has to be generated in case of a particular data change, a data comparator implemented within the logic block compares data put on the bus by the communication processor with previous process data, which previously have been read out of the memory by the logic block. Because the comparison of currently received data to previous process data as well as the interrupt-generation is carried out by a control unit implemented in hardware-form thus a very quick response of the control system to the change of process data is possible in a favorable way. The disadvantage again is that the communication processor and the control unit, which have to provide specified protocols for the field bus, are complex and therefore relatively expensive.
The use of (Fast)-Ethernet transfer technology is also known regarding the networking of different communication systems. For example in DE 100 47 925 A1 a method for the real-time communication between several network users within a communication system with Ethernet-physics is disclosed, wherein a master unit and one or more slave units communicate among each other by transmitted over the network telegrams, a cyclical exchange of telegrams takes place with equidistant sampling points, wherein each slave unit is synchronized to the master unit by a shared time basis and an access control for the transmit and receive mode between the network users is performed by a time slot-access method. In the automation technology the demands on the performance of communication systems are particularly high, for example regarding the coupling of driving components. The data transfer time, in the control loop taken into account as lag time, is an especially important parameter when exchanging data between transmitters, power units and a driving control. The smaller this lag time the higher a dynamic volume can be obtained by the control system. Because in the automation technology a highly accurate compliance with real-time conditions is required as well as a high data transfer safety, the standardized transmitting layer 2 (telegram frame and access method) of the (Fast)-Ethernet, which does not comply with these demands, shall be defined completely new by a new telegram frame and a new access control and with this the Ethernet-physics is used as a basis for a real-time communication between, for example, driving components. The communication between the control unit and the transmitters and the power units as well as the connection to a motion control can then be implemented. In order to obtain a cyclical data transfer with same sampling times, a shared time basis for the master and all slaves is implemented. The synchronization of the slaves to the master is carried out by specifically marked up, time wise defined telegrams of the master sent to the slaves and individually parameterized timing registers within the slaves. The user data can be transmitted on a telegram frame, which provides—beside the slave addressing and the telegram length information—the securing of the data integrity by, for example, a CRC-check sum and further security-related data ranges. An application processor may not only evaluate the data on the telegram frame, but also by a communication block, thus providing a second initiating channel. Although the applied transfer technology according to the Ethernet-standard in principle only permits point-to-point-connections, the establishment of networks can be obtained by using network nodes (so-called HUBs) as used in (Fast)-Ethernet-networks, wherein several or each network user has a switch unit to establish a network node, which serves for the transmission of the telegrams in the direction of another master unit or further slave units. Then also hierarchical networks with point-to-point-connections with Ethernet-physics connected via network nodes can be established for the realization of a real time communication within larger network topologies. This is also useful for a networking or coupling of a distributed driving system, wherein a first communication system comprises a numeric motion control as a master unit and at least one control unit as a slave unit, wherein each control unit serves as a master unit of a further communication system, which provides at least one power unit to drive a motor and an assigned transmitter system as slave units. Via Fast Ethernet-line drivers within each network user and possible network nodes the telegrams reach the particular protocol components, which process the telegram protocol and in which the time slot access method is implemented. If the protocol component is independent from a microprocessor of the slave-application (the actual power unit), particular application events may be initiated by the control-bits of the telegram frame within the slave without requiring the assigned to the slave microprocessor or corresponding software. This corresponds to a second initiating channel like it may be required for particular security-related applications (i.e. emergency stop, etc.)
In DE 100 04 425 A1 a network with a plurality of network users, for example sensors and actuators, is disclosed, which are connected among each other over the network for the data transfer. In order to obtain an improved precision of the clock synchronization, the first telegram comprises a corrected by a transmission time delay time of a first network user, and a second network user is designed such that it measures the time delay since reception of the first telegram and to correct the time received in the first telegram by the lead time and the reception time delay. If the second network user is furthermore designed such that it is able to send a second telegram for clock synchronization to a third network user, which contains a received time corrected by the lead time and the delay between reception of the first telegram and sending of the second telegram, thus an iterative re-sending of always corrected clock times from network user to network user is feasible. Furthermore start and end of the lead time of a telegram can be defined as the point of time, at which a characteristic field of a telegram with a defined spacing from the telegram beginning leaves a Media-Independent-interface of the first network user, or enters into a Media-Independent-interface of a second network user. Measuring the transmission time delay, lead-time and reception time delay not depending on the length of each telegram may be advantageously. If the network components comply with the Ethernet-, Fast-Ethernet- or Gigabit-Ethernet-specifications, the type-field of the telegram can be used advantageously as a characteristic field of the telegram. A network user, in particular a field device, can be provided with several ports, in particular four ports, for the connection to further network components. Then an interface, a so-called microprocessor-interface, can be provided for the connection of the ports with a network user internal processor bus and a control unit, a so-called switch-control, which initiates a telegram re-direction between the ports and the microprocessor-interface. This has the advantage that network users, in particular field devices, can be interconnected in a linear structure as usually done by field bus users. A separate switch, like required in a star-shaped structure, is not necessary. The integration of switch-functions within the network users has the advantage that in particular regarding Ethernet the CSMA/CD-access control can be deactivated and the network obtains a deterministic behavior. With this the range of applications of network users and the network is extended to those applications, where real-time behavior is required. A gateway for coupling network areas of different physics and with different protocols is not necessary. The communication with application-specific switch units of network users is performed by a microprocessor bus, to which a RAM, a microprocessor and a microprocessor-interface are connected. Task of the microprocessor is to process application programs and communication functions, for example the processing of TCP/IP. A further task may be the management of transmission and receptions lists of telegrams of a different priority within an external RAM. Furthermore four Ethernet-controllers are arranged in an ASIC of the communication interface. Each of those Ethernet-controller enters the data bytes of a fully received telegram into a reception list within the RAM through a multiplexer, a DMA-controller, which is also called a DMA 2-control, and the microprocessor-interface. The microprocessor accesses the reception list and evaluates the received data according to an application program. The microprocessor-interface forms the essential interface between the Ethernet-controllers and the microprocessor bus. It controls and arbitrates the write and read accesses, which are carried out through the DMA-controller or the DMA-controller on the RAM. If DMA-requests of both DMA-controllers are sent, the microprocessor-interface decides on the access rights of both DMA-channels. The microprocessor can further write parameter-registers via the microprocessor-interface, which serve for the operation of the communication interface of the network user. A device of the Ethernet-controllers, named as Transmit-Control, comprises a control unit, which performs the transmission of telegrams, repetitions, transmission abortion, etc. It forms the interface between the internal controller cycle and the transmit cycle. For storing a transmit-status-information for low-prior and high-prior telegrams a transmit-status-register is provided in this device. If a telegram has been sent fail-safe via the port, a corresponding interrupt will be generated. The Media Independent Interface (MII) integrates the MAC-sublayer of layer 2 according to the seven-layer-model, i.e. the data-link-layer. This forms an interface to a block for the physical data transfer. Further the MI comprises a transmit-function-block as well as a receive-function-block. In addition a MAC-control-block, an address filter, a statistical counter and a host-interface are integrated. Control and configuration data can be transmitted to the block via the MII and status information can be read from it.
In distributed automation systems, for example in the sphere of drive technology, specific data must be received by specific users at a particular point of time (i.e. real-time critical data) and must be processed by the recipients. According to JEC 61491, EN61491 SERCOS interface-technical abstract (http://www.sercos.de/deutsch/index deutsch.htm) a successful real-time critical data transfer of the mentioned kind can be provided in distributed automation systems. From the automation technology synchronous, clocked communication systems with equidistance-features are known as, for example, disclosed in DE 101 40 861 A1 for a system and a method for transmitting data between data networks. In detail the first data network provides first means for the data transfer in at least one first transmission cycle, wherein said first transmission cycle is divided into one first range for the transmission of real-time critical data and a second range for the transmission of non real-time critical data. The second data network provides second means for the data transfer in at least one second transmission cycle, wherein said second transmission cycle is divided into a third range for the transmission of real-time critical data and a fourth range for the transmission of non-real-time critical data. For the coupling of data networks with the same or different communication protocols, for example, Ethernet-data-networks, in particular isochrone real-time Ethernet-communication systems, with PROFIBUS-data networks or isochrone real-time Ethernet data networks with SERCOS-data networks and/or FIREWIRE-data networks or PROFIBUS-data networks and/or FIREWIRE-data networks with SERCOS-data networks, finally a coupling unit (Router) is provided for transmitting real-time critical data from the first range to the third range. The possibility to be able to transmit real-time critical data from one data network to another, is used for transmitting cycle-synchronization-telegrams from one clock source of one data network to the other data network, in order to also synchronize local relative clocks by the cycle-synchronization-telegrams in the other data network. Therefore the different data networks have own clock sources each. Because of the cycle synchronization across data networks in each data network user a relative clock can be implemented, which represents an unambiguous time across the system. Based on this basic mechanism events in both communication systems can be collected with a shared time-related understanding or time-related switch-events can be initiated in the own or the other data network. The accuracy of the relative clock corresponds at least to the accuracy of one transmission cycle. The router may then be designed as a discrete device or as an integral part of one user of one of the data networks, wherein also the routing of acyclic, demand controlled communication, for example Remote Procedure Calls (RCP), between the data networks is feasible and the corresponding communication may be carried out with proprietary and/or open protocols.
Automation components (i.e. controllers, drives) in general have an interface to a cyclically clocked communication system. One process level of the automation component (fast-cycle, for example position control in a controller, speed and torque control of a drive) is synchronized to the communication cycle, through which the communication cycle is determined. Other algorithms of the automation component running slower (slow-cycle, for example temperature control) may only communicate with other components via this communication cycle as well (for example binary switch for fans, pumps), even if a slower cycle would be sufficient. By using just one communication cycle for transferring all information across the system high demands arise with respect to the bandwidth of the transmission path. Accordingly for each process or automation level the system components use just one communication system or one communication cycle (fast-cycle) for communication, all relevant information being transmitted in the given cycle. Data, required only in a slow-cycle, can be transmitted gradedly by additional protocols to limit the bandwidth requirements. In DE 101 47 421 A1 a method is disclosed wherein a second user in a switchable data network controls one first user in a switchable data network, wherein the control loop can be closed over the switchable data network. For this purpose the communication between users of the switchable data network is provided via one or more point-to-point connections within synchronized to one another transmission cycles. For the communication of actual and ideal values, or of correcting variables over the data network the real-time-capable band of a transmission cycle is used and the communication of required for the control data telegrams is carried out within determined time windows. Further also a guide value may be transmitted over the switchable data network, which is generated by one of the users of the data network for one or several users of the data network. This could be, for example, the collection of an actual value of an axle, i.e. of a so-called master axle, of a facility. Based on this actual value the particular user generates a guide value, which serves for controlling so-called slave-axles. The functionality of such a control, for example a programmable logic controller, a motion-control system or a numerical control may also be integrated in a drive. Apart from the coupling of an input/output-station to a control unit also a relative clock may be generated within one user. The relative clock is generated by a master clock and cyclically distributed within the network thus implementing the same set of time in all users involved in the network. The time basis for the relative clock is then given by the synchronous transmission cycles and/or subdivision of transmission cycles into time slots. Based on this shared time, events may be collected with time stamps (for example edge identification of digital I/Os) or switching processes (for example switching of digital/analog outputs) may be marked with time stamps and the switching output may be processed based on this shared relative time. Within the real-time communication several communication cycles are potentially provided in order to implement different "quality of services", like for example: 1 ms-cycle for sync connections (guide value via bus), speed target-/position target-/I/O-interface for time-sensitive axles, fast I/O-coupling or 4 ms-cycle for non-time-sensitive axles (frequency converter, simple positioning axles), application data for example: emergency-stop-control, shared shifting register (product pursuit), driving (for example modes of operation) in distributed systems, instruction of new drilling operations (for example drill depth) of automatic drilling machines or asynchronous and/or event-controlled cycle for projection-data and -events or data and routines for error handling and diagnosis.
In order to provide a method for making up a communication system for industry automation based on Ethernet having an essentially determinable communication behavior, response times in the lower ms-range and low cost regarding the communication nodes, finally in DE 100 55 066 A1 a method for multidirectional exchange of information between users (for example programmable controllers) is disclosed. Dependent on the size of the sent Ethernet-data-packet (telegram) it will be subdivided into several smaller packets (short telegrams) and at least one control information will be added to each packet, said smaller packets will be transmitted to their target in several cycles and if applicable will be put back together to the original Ethernet-data-packet by means of the control information. All telegrams, the length of which is longer than the length of the short telegrams, will be subdivided and all short telegrams have the same fixed length. Source and target of the short telegram, no matter whether subdivided or not, independent of in how many short telegrams it was subdivided, and the current number of the short telegram can be learned from the control information. For the multidirectional exchange of information between users (for example programmable controllers), wherein a user may be assigned to an industrial domain switch (IDS), which is connected to the IDS via an Ethernet-connection, the IDS are structured as a network via a connection in conformity with Ethernet and each IDS obtains a time wise determined transmission right controlled by a determined, cyclic framework. When starting the system or restarting it (Power On or Reset) the assignment of a transmission right will be negotiated between the IDS via a management function by management telegrams, regarding which the IDS recognize that those are management telegrams. The entire control logic of the IDS may be integrated into a high-integrated electronic component.
As shown by the foregoing description of the present state-of-the-art, in the automation technology various interfaces with their physical characteristics and transmission protocols are defined for the communication between individual devices and are standardized according to international specifications or become established as industry standards. These systems are generally called field bus systems, wherein also Ethernet-based technologies belong to those. The interfaces are made up in form of dedicated communication-controllers, partly with CPU as integrated circuits (communication-processor) as shown for example in DE 198 31 405 (ASIC: ASPC2), DE 299 07 909 (ASIC: SPC3), DE 199 28 517 C2 (ASIC: SUPI), DE 100 04 425 A1. As well the entire interface is often designed as an exchangeable module, comprising a connector, physical interface, dedicated communication-controller, microprocessor with memory and transfer logic to the CPU of the programmable controller, as a rule a Dual-port Memory. This module realizes exactly one specific transmission protocol and has to be specifically developed in its entirety to comply with this requirement. As a rule the communication-processor comprises only one specific communication-controller for a specific field bus system, however in the meantime circuits are available, which comprise several of these dedicated communication controllers, as it is disclosed in the U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/780,979 for a communication-controller according to the CAN-standard and a communication-controller according to the Ethernet-standard. As a rule then specific hardware and software components are required together with some expensive components particularly adapted to communication requirements, like HUB and line drivers, Ethernet-controllers, Media Independent Interface for the connection to another network (public data network, other LAN or a host system), field bus interfaces or sensor bus-interface, in particular Serial Peripheral Interface with Master- or Slave-protocol-chips, as well as the conversion of corresponding network-access-protocols, for example CSMA/CD (Carrier Sense Multiple Access/Collision Detection), Token-Passing (binary pattern as authorization mark) or TCP/IP (Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol) in for the field bus specified protocols. Almost no attention is paid to the development of such a circuit or a communication interface permitting an individual and comfortable matching of communication functions independent of a specific field bus system. As a rule the communication-controller implements only one specific field bus system for the communication of the usual SPS-function blocks, wherein for example drives are synchronized to each other via fast, deterministic and jitter-free communication connections. This is carried out by detecting a specific data or event in the communication controller, which initiates the downstream CPU by an interrupt to execute the synchronous drive functions, like measuring the position or the output of the correcting variables. This method has the disadvantage that the accuracy of the synchronization is decisively affected by the interrupt-latencies of the CPU, in particular when using operating systems, which block the interrupts for specific periods of time. Therefore in practice low-cost methods and communication interfaces are missing for an automation system operable in real-time, which ensures an individual, in particular automatically adjustable, interactive communication or allows a simple exchangeability or function blocks for an automation system operable in real-time, which also without additional hardware-function modules and without costly adaptation of interfaces establish quick and economically demanding automation solutions. In particular this is important, because the telecommunication and computer industry, in particular in the sphere of automation and drive technology, can be deemed very progressive and innovative industries, which very quickly pick up improvements and simplifications and implement those.
Object of the invention is to design a method for data communication of bus users of an open automation system such that the connection of an optional number of bus users to an individual, interactive communication may be permitted. Further objects are to provide exchangeability of parts of the apparatus or to provide an automatic and highly accurate synchronization.

Method for data communication of bus users in an open automation system

Hilscher Gesellschaft für Systemautomation mbH


An air deflector (10) is attached to a roof of a cab (2). A rear edge portion (12) of the air deflector has a configuration identical with an upper part of a vertical front face (4) of a van body (3) or a configuration closely resembling the upper part thereof, as viewed from the front. A marker lamp (40) is located on a ridge portion (32) of the air deflector in proximity to the rear edge portion. An upper surface (41) and a side surface (43) of the marker lamp are formed to continue an upper face (31) and a side face (33) of the air deflector, and a ridge portion (42) of the marker lamp is in alignment with the ridge portion of the air deflector. The air deflector can ensure visibility of the marker lamps, while preventing the flow of air from impinging on the upper corner areas of the front face of the van body, whereby the aerodynamic performance of the vehicle is improved.

A cab style of a cab-over-engine truck affects automobile performances, such as a fuel consumption ratio. From an aspect of improvement of aerodynamic characteristics in a driving condition of the vehicle, various kinds of researches or studies have been carried out for long years, with respect to configurations of cabs or flush surface contours of vehicle bodies for reducing the air resistance, devices for reducing the air resistance, or the like. An excessively angled or inclined front-windshield results in reduction of an internal space of the cab, and therefore, in this kind of researches or studies, attempts have been made to improve the aerodynamic characteristics, based on square configurations of the cab.
An air deflector is known in the art, as a device reducing the air resistance for improving the aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle in its driving condition. Such an air deflector is also called, a wind deflector or a drag-foiler. This kind of air deflector is disclosed in, for instance, Japanese patent laid-open publication No. 11-115828, Japanese patent publication No. 3309603, or Japanese utility-model publication No. 2547461. As disclosed in these publications, the air deflector is attached onto a roof of a cab of a cab-over-engine truck so as to reduce the air resistance during driving for improving its aerodynamic characteristics.
FIGS. 8A and 8B are a front elevational view and a partial side elevational view exemplifying an arrangement of a cab-over-engine truck provided with a conventional air deflector.
As shown in FIGS. 8A and 8B, a truck 51 is provided with an air deflector 55 and a gap sealing member 56. The air deflector 55 is mounted on a roof of the cab 52. The gap sealing member 56 is arranged to close a gap formed between a cab 52 and a van body 53. The air deflector 55 eliminates a stepped formation or a difference in level between the roof of the cab 52 and a vertical front face 54 of the van body 53, so that a flow of air, as indicated by an arrow A, is regulated and smoothly deflected by the air deflector 55. In a driving condition of the vehicle, the flow of air A is directed from a front face of the cab 52 along top and side faces of the van body 53 toward the rear of the vehicle. Further, the gap sealing member 56 eliminates the gap and a stepped formation between side faces of the cab 52 and the front face 54 to some extent. Similarly to the air deflector 55, the member 56 also causes the flow of air A to be regulated and smoothly deflected, so that the flow A is directed along the side faces of the van body 53. In the cab-over-engine truck provided with the air deflector 55 and the gap sealing member 56, effects of regulation and deflection of the airflow A are to be obtained by the air deflector 55 and the member 56, and therefore, the air resistance acting on the vehicle in its driving condition can be reduced. In general, it is considered that improvement of the aerodynamic characteristics by the air deflector 55 and the member 56 allows the fuel consumption ratio to be reduced by a few per cent.
However, right and left marker lamps 57 in a pair are installed on upper corners of the vertical front face 54, in a case of a vehicle provided with a box-type van body, such as a dry van body or wing body. The marker lamp 57 is mainly intended to function as a target or indication for recognizing positional relation between oncoming vehicles. Therefore, the devices for reducing the air resistance, such as the air deflector 55 and the gap sealing member 56, have to be designed to ensure visibility of the marker lamps 57, and the positions and configurations of such devices should be so set as to prevent the markers from being concealed. That is, the device for reducing the air resistance, such as the air deflector, cannot conceal the upper corner areas of the front face 54 against the flow of air A, but it can be merely designed to cover the upper part of the front face 54 except for the corner areas. Therefore, the flow of air A impinges on the corner areas of the front face 54 during driving, so that abrupt direction change or turbulence of the airflow A is caused. This results in increase of the air resistance and inferiority of the aerodynamic performance of the vehicle.


The present invention relates to an ink composition for a 3D printing support, comprising an amine-containing monomer and a curing agent. According to the present invention, an ink composition for a 3D printing support, which retains an excellent jetting property, is well dissolved in water after being photo-cured to be easily removed, and has less curing contraction and excellent storage stability, can be provided.

A 3D printer is a printer that imprints a specific stuff three-dimensionally, and it is a device that can create a real object in a three-dimensional space as printing a three-dimensional design on a paper. Like the principle of printing a 2D image on a paper by jetting an ink onto the surface of the paper after a digitalized file is transferred to an inkjet printer, a 2D printer only moves front to back (x-axis) and left to right (y-axis), but the 3D printer adds an up-and-down (z-axis) motion to this to make a three-dimensional article based on the imputted 3D design.
When making a sculpture by this 3D printer, the sculpture of a bridge shape or a shape of floating in the air needs a support material. The support material should have a good supporting function when forming the sculpture and also should be well removed later.
Thus, a support ink which can be used in an inkjet type 3D printer is required, but the existing support ink had a problem that it needs a complicated removal process such as removing the support part manually or removing the support part one by one through a water jet method. For example, Korean Patent Publication No. 2013-0141561 discloses a support material for supporting shape when manufacturing an inkjet photo-shaped article, but in this case, there are problems that it takes much time and effort to remove the support part, it is difficult to remove completely, and contraction of the support is happened.
Thus, in order to solve these problems, studies for an ink which can be photo-cured and also removed by a simple method such as shaking in water after being cured or sonication are needed.

Ink composition for 3D printing support and 3D printing manufacturing method using the same


An active magnetic antenna with a ferrite core having a winding is provided, forming a frame magnetic antenna which is connected with a low-noise transistor, to amplify a signal of the frame magnetic antenna. A base of the transistor is connected directly to one contact of the winding, and a second contact of the winding is capable of shifting a voltage of the base of the transistor. The impedance of the frame magnetic antenna is adjusted as a complex conjugate with an impedance of the base of the transistor of the low-noise amplifier, and the winding eliminates its own resonances.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to radio devices, and in particular, to an antenna with an active magnetic type antenna with a ferrite core for use in compact media digital radio receivers, for receiving Digital Video Broadcasting (DVB) and radio broadcasting signals, including Digital Multimedia Broadcasting (DMB) in VHF and UHF wave lengths.
2. Description of the Related Art
Digital broadcasting standards, such as DVB and DMB, are being developed, with digital broadcasting networks progressively replacing analog TV and radio in the VHF and UHF frequency bands.
An overwhelming majority of small digital multimedia receivers use a telescopic antenna as their basic antenna. This antenna type is well known and widely used for receiving TV signals and for receiving FM signals in handheld receivers.
Although telescopic antennas are somewhat compact in size in a transportation mode, telescopic antennas have a rather long length in an operating mode. For radio receivers operating at VHF frequency band, e.g. VHF III 170-240 MHz band, now used for the Terrestrial Digital Multimedia Broadcast (T-DMB) standard in several countries, the broadcasting wavelength is too long, and an optimum antenna size can reach up to 450 mm, which is unacceptable from the point of view of a user of a small sized handheld device.
A significant shortcoming of telescopic antennas built in to small-sized multimedia receivers is a mechanical unreliability when in a forward position. The various proposed constructional solutions are equally imperfect from the point of view of large length in the radio signal reception mode, and they easily break during use.
Conventional devices that concern construction of ferrite antennas include Russian Federation Patent Application No. 2006122799, disclosing a ferrite antenna containing a pump oscillator, a ferrite core with first and second reception coils fixedly connected, and a first condenser parallel to the reception coils. The Russian Federation Patent Application discloses a coil independent from a ferrite core with a first output connected to a point on the first and second reception coils. The Russian Federation Patent Application further discloses a semi-conductor diode having an anode connected to a second output of the coil, the transistor having a collector connected to a cathode of the semi-conductor diode, and an emitter of the semi-conductor diode connected to a common point, the coil connected to the pump oscillator and magneto-connected with the coil of inductance. The Russian Federation Patent Application further discloses the switching circuit consisting of the resistor, whose first output is connected to the first output of the coil of inductance, and its second output is connected to the base of the transistor, and the second condenser located between base of the transistor and the common point. However, the device disclosed by the Russian Federation Patent Application increases the complexity of adjustment.
A conventional device having an active magnetic antenna with a ferrite core is described in Pub. No. US 2007/0222695 A1, filed by Steven Jay Davis, the contents of which is incorporated herein by reference. This U.S. Publication conceptually represents the main concept of the electric scheme of this active antenna with the ferrite core, as shown in FIG. 1.
In FIG. 1, a ferrite core 1 of the magnetic antenna operates in conjunction with a winding 2 (Lant) of the frame magnetic antenna and an LC resonance circuit 3 formed by a second winding of the antenna and a variable capacity condenser for antenna resonance trimming, and a Low Noise Amplifier (LNA). As shown in FIG. 1, an antenna having as a main component a ferrite core 1 is provided with windings forming a frame magnetic antenna, with a first winding 2 connected directly to a base 5 of an LNA transistor, making a first resonant contour in a point of a high-frequency feed of the antenna together with a parasitic capacity of base capacitor Cp.
A resonant LC capacitor of resonance circuit 3, magnetically connected to capacitor Cp, contains a second winding and tuning condenser, providing a two-resonant scheme of the antenna, as used in the majority of compact receivers to allow reception the narrow-band antenna for pre-selection of an operating frequency or frequency adjustment of a radio channel.
The frequency band of this antenna is defined by reconstructing contour 3 and a contour 2 of the high-frequency feed of the antenna in good quality, and reconstructing parameters of the transistor 5 and a coefficient of connection between them in good quality. The antenna described in FIG. 1 has an operating bandwidth of about 10-20 kHz at a half-power level and consequently can be used in analog AM radio receivers for reception of long, middle and short radio waves. For digital channel reception such as DMB or DVB, an antenna's operating frequency bandwidth should be not less than 6-8 MHz. The shortcomings of conventional antennas increase when it is necessary to match all frequency bands. For example, using the T-DMB standard, matching will be 66 MHz from 174 Mhz up to 240 MHz, and 392 MHz bandwidth will used for a DVB-Handheld (DVB-H) standard of 470 Mhz-862 MHz. For so wide operating frequency bandwidth (more than 30%) the antennas which will meet that requirement can be arranged as Ultra-Wide Band (UWB).
Further, a mathematical simulation of the two-resonance circuit solution described above by HFSS™ software demonstrated that there are no improvements in antenna gain compared to a non-resonance ferrite core antenna, with an operating bandwidth determined by antenna gain suppression out of the resonance zone and all attempts to expand the antenna's operating frequency bandwidth are for antenna gain degradation only.
Among the problems solved by present invention is providing a more compact active magnetic antenna having a ferrite core with increased sensitivity, capable of accepting a broadband digital signal without conceding beneficial large telescopic antenna characteristics.

Active magnetic antenna with ferrite core