In a multi-unit combinatorial auction, reverse auction, or exchange, a number of bids can be received, with each bid including one or more items and for each item a desired quantity thereof. Each bid also includes a price. A number of unique combinations of bids can be formed from the received bids, and the one combination of bids which represents the best value in terms of an auction setting, a reverse auction setting and/or an exchange setting can be determined. Thereafter, the bids forming this combination can be declared the winning bids of the auction, reverse auction or exchange.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates combinatorial auctions, reverse auctions and exchanges, and, more particularly, to determining which combination of bids in a combinatorial auction, reverse auction, or exchange has the most favorable exchange of value.
2. Description of Related
In sequential auctions, items are auctioned one at a time. If an agent has preferences over bundles (combinations of items), then bidding in such auctions is difficult. To determine one's valuation for an item, one needs to guess what items one will receive in later auctions. This requires speculation of what the others will bid in the future. This introduces uncertainty and computational cost, both of which reduce efficiency. Furthermore, in auctions with a reasonable number of items, the lookahead becomes intractable, and there is no easy way to bid rationally. Therefore, the future uncertainties of sequential auctions result in inefficiencies making it difficult for rational agents to bid.
An alternative to sequential auctioning of the interdependent items would be to open them all for auction in parallel. However, some of the same problems prevail. For example, when bidding for an item, the bidder does not know its valuation because it depends on which other items the bidder wins, which in turn depends on how others will bid (in sealed-bid auctions this is not known to the bidder, and in open-cry auctions it may become known only later). In parallel auctions, an additional difficulty arises: each bidder would like to wait until the end to see what the going prices will be. If each bidder plans to wait until the end, bidding will not commence. Therefore, parallel auctions also have future uncertainties that result in inefficiencies.
One solution to this problem is to allow bidders to place bids for combinations of individual items instead of only one individual item.
There are, however, situations involving the exchange of items for value in which there may exist synergies in the preferences for, not only, combinations of the items, but also for the quantity of each of the items. For example, an auctioneer holding items wishes to maximize the value obtained through the auction of the items. Bidders may have a willingness to exchange more value for combinations of items and/or selective quantities thereof than they would for individual elements and/or preset quantities thereof of the combination, if considered alone and aggregated. For example, if Q1, Q2, Q3, Q4 and Q5 are quantities, or units, of items A, B, C, D and E, respectively, and if a bidder wishes to acquire one-half of each of item A, item B, and item C, the bidder may have a greater willingness to acquire and pay for this combination then buying the whole of quantities Q1, Q2 and Q3 of items A, B and C. This may occur, for example, where the bidder has no use for the full quantity, or all the units, of a particular item, e.g., electricity markets, equities trading, FCC bandwidth auctions, transportation exchanges, pollution rights auctions, and auctions for airport landing slots. In addition, the bidder may have willingness to pay more than P1+P2+P3 for the full quantity Q1+Q2+Q3 of the three items A, B and C. This effect, which may be bidder-specific, may also be present in a reverse auction context where buyers are the auctioneers, for example, where portions of a construction contract are offered to be bid upon by construction contractors.
To the auctioneer, it is then desirable, to structure an auction to allow a bidder to bid for combinations of items and/or all or part of the quantities thereof, i.e., a multi-unit combinatorial auction, in order to gain the value of their synergies. Similarly, it is desirable for bidders to be able to bid on combinations of items and/or all or part of the quantities thereof. A bidder may be unwilling to bid more than the sum of his or her willingness to pay for all or part of the quantities available for each individual item and, thus, may have to forgo the opportunity to reap the synergistic gains. Alternatively, a bidder may be exposed to risk by overbidding in an eventually unsuccessful attempt to obtain a combination of items and/or all or part of the quantities available therefor.
Conventionally, practical implementations of the class of situations involving superadditive preferences, for example multi-unit combinatorial auctions, have proven difficult because of the complexity of considering numerous possible combinations of bids for items, especially where each bid includes one or more items and for each item a desired quantity thereof. (A special case of a multi-unit combinatorial auction, or exchange, occurs when each item thereof has only a quantity of one (1) associated therewith.) Given the complexity of the calculations, a computer or equivalent device is a virtual necessity to perform the task. Conventionally, computer-implemented methods of selecting winning bids in a multi-unit combinatorial auction involve representing the items, the quantities of each item and the price of each of a plurality of bids in a computer or equivalent and performing particular operations on this data to determine winning bids. However, conventional methods are impractical for many applications.
Winner determination in multi-unit combinatorial auctions means choosing which bids to accept that produce the most favorable exchange of value under the constraint that all or part of the available quantity of each item can be given out. However, presently, no effective means exist for testing all possible combination of bids received in a multi-unit combinatorial auction, reverse auction, or exchange, and for determining from each possible combination which combination of bids produces the most favorable exchange of value.

Branch on bid searching method and apparatus


A flash-type analog-to-digital converter (ADC) uses only 2.sup.n-m comparators coupled to the analog input line to generate a n-bit digital output signal. Each pair of these actual comparators are coupled, in parallel, to 2.sup.m pseudocomparators which provide values representing comparisons of the input signal value to respective reference values between the reference values used by the actual comparators. The output signals of each pair of actual comparators are combined in respectively different proportions at each of the pseudocomparators. In this manner, the output signals of the actual comparators are averaged to produce the interstitial comparison values. In one embodiment of the invention, the ADC is implemented in BiCMOS technology with a bipolar differential input stage and a CMOS latching comparator. Signals are distributed from the actual comparators to the pseudocomparators via a pair of resistive ladder networks. In other embodiments of the invention the ADC is implemented in CMOS technology and the pseudocomparators use ratioed transistor widths and ratioed capacitors to proportionally divide the output signals of the actual comparators in order to generate the interstitial output values. A final embodiment of the invention combines two averaging flash ADCs to form a novel subranging ADC.

A typical flash ADC uses 2.sup.n -1 comparators to generate n-bit digital values which represent an analog input signal sampled at instants determined by its clock signal. For example, a typical 8-bit ADC uses 2.sup.8 -1=255 comparators. A 10-bit ADC would use 2.sup.10 -1=1023 comparators. Each of these comparators is supplied with an analog input signal and one of 2.sup.n -1 evenly spaced reference values. Comparators having reference values which are less than the input signal value provide a first logic state, for example logic-high, to a decoder while comparators having reference values which are greater than the input signal provide a second logic state, for example logic-low. The decoder is a thermometer type or a priority encoder which translates the 2.sup.n -1 logic values provided by the respective comparators into an n-bit digital value.
Thus, in a flash ADC, the input signal is coupled to each of the 2.sup.n -1 comparators. Each of which presents a load impedance to the input signal. Even if the comparators are designed to have a relatively low input impedance, the sum of the input impedances of all of the comparators can create a significant load which must be driven by the input signal. The relatively large input impedance of comparator arrays having more than 255 comparators makes classic flash-type ADCs impractical for digital values having more than 8 bits. This is true whether the input impedance is resistive and capacitive, such as is found in bipolar circuitry, or primarily capacitive such as is found in metal-oxide-semiconductor (MOS) circuitry.
In addition, relatively large flash ADCs are subject to integral and differential linearity errors. Integral linearity errors usually occur during high-speed operation when the current drawn by the input comparators through the reference ladder network produces significant additional potential drops across the reference resistors. When the reference input ports of the comparators present significant capacitive loads, the amount of current drawn, and thus, the potential drops across the ladder network are proportional to the clock frequency. Differential linearity error is a measure of the error offset of the worst comparator in the array. This type of error may be caused by mismatched or faulty components in an individual comparator or by an individual reference potential which is either too large or too small and generally increases as the number of comparators increases and/or as the potential difference between successive reference levels decreases.
K. Kattmann et al., in "A Technique for Reducing Differential Non-Linearity Errors in Flash A/D Converters," 1991 IEEE International Solid State Circuits Conference, pages 170-171, describe a high-speed ADC which exhibits significantly reduced differential linearity errors. The ADC uses differential preamplifiers to generate output signals each representing a difference between the input signal and a reference value. The output terminals of the preamplifiers are coupled to adjacent preamplifiers by a network of resistors. The resistor network sums the outputs of the preamplifiers surrounding the one which is closest to balance to find an average balance point. If the output signal of the preamplifier nearest to balance is not consistent with this averaged balance point, the resistor network changes the current flow to that preamplifier to adjust its gain and, so, the value of its output signal. This configuration has been found to reduce differential non-linearity errors by adjusting the gains of erroneous differential amplifiers in a sense which tends to reduce the magnitude of their errors.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,928,103 entitled PARALLEL ANALOG-TO-DIGITAL CONVERTER USING 2.sup.(n-1) COMPARATORS describes an ADC which produces n-bit digital values using 2.sup.n /2 input comparators. Each of the input comparators has two complementary output signals. These signals are coupled to respective input ports of a latch which is configured to change state when the output signals of the preamplifier are equal. Signal values between any two reference values are decoded using latches which are coupled to respectively different output terminals of the preamplifiers associated with the two reference levels surrounding the level to be decoded. While this ADC design significantly reduces the loading of the input signal by requiring only 2.sup.n -1 comparators to generate n-bit digital values, no further reduction can be achieved by inserting additional latches between the adjacent preamplifier stages.

Averaging flash analog-to-digital converter

Industrial Technology Research Institute


A convertible roof system uses composite roof rail(s). The composite roof rail can have portions that are made of differing materials. The composite roof rail can use universal connecting pieces for the ends of the roof rail. Adjacent composite roof rails can be formed about a connector that couples the adjacent roof rails together.

This invention pertains generally to convertible roof systems for automotive vehicles and more specifically to a composite roof rail used in the convertible roof system.
Traditional soft-top convertible roofs for automotive vehicles typically employ a top stack mechanism that is operable between extended (raised) and retracted (stowed) positions. The top stack mechanism typically employs three, four or five roof bows, having an inverted U-shape spanning transversely across the vehicle for supporting a vinyl, canvas or polyester fabric pliable roof cover. A number one roof bow is mounted to a pair of front roof rails and is typically latched to the stationary front header panel of the automotive vehicle body disposed above the front windshield. A number two bow is typically mounted to a pair of center roof rails which are pivotally connected to the front roof rails. Furthermore, the number three, four and any additional optional roof bows are commonly mounted to a pair of rear roof rails which are pivotally coupled to the center roof rails. The roof cover can also have a hard or rigid portion along with the pliable portion. For example, reference should be made to U.S. Pat. No. 5,429,409 entitled "Convertible Top," which is incorporated by reference herein. Most traditional convertible roofs are stowed in a boot well or stowage compartment that is located aft of a passenger compartment in the vehicle. A boot or tonneau cover is then used to cover the boot well and conceal the convertible roof from view and/or protect the stowed roof from the environment.
The roof rails in the top stack mechanism are typically made of a die cast aluminum or magnesium alloy or steel. These roof rails can be heavy and/or expensive to make. Each roof rail is typically made separately and adjacent roof rails are later pivotally coupled together to form a portion of the top stack mechanism. Each of the roof rails is specifically designed for the particular application or automotive vehicle on which the top stack mechanism is employed.
In accordance with the present invention, the preferred embodiment of a convertible roof system uses a top stack mechanism that includes at least one composite roof rail that is made from different materials. The use of differing materials for the composite roof rail can provide for a less expensive roof rail with an improved strength to weight functionality. When a polymeric material is utilized, the polymeric portion of the composite roof rail can be injection molded or extruded thus providing a simple manufacture of the composite roof rail. The use of a polymeric material also facilitates the contouring of the exterior shape of the composite roof rail and can include the integration of a trim garnish feature on the interior and a seal retaining feature on the exterior of the composite roof rail thereby simplifying construction and minimizing the number of parts.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, a convertible roof system for an automotive vehicle includes a top stack mechanism that utilizes at least one composite roof rail that is formed of at least two different members that are attached together. The use of two different members facilitates one of the members being designed to withstand the stresses and strains in forming a portion of a coupling joint that couples the composite roof rail to another component of the top stack mechanism. The other member can then be designed to provide a desired exterior profile of the composite roof rail while reducing the weight and cost of the roof rail. The composite roof rail allows for the use of universal connecting pieces for the roof rail. A central portion of the roof rail is designed specifically for the application on which the convertible roof system is to be utilized while the end or connecting portions of the composite roof rail are selected from a group of universal roof rails. The universal connecting portion of the roof rail is chosen to provide a desired movement of the roof rail relative to the other components of the top stack mechanism to which it is coupled. The use of universal connecting pieces is advantageous by reducing the tooling costs associated with designing connecting pieces specific for each roof rail for each automotive vehicle upon which a convertible roof system is desired to be utilized.
In still another aspect of the present invention, the convertible roof system uses as top stack mechanism wherein first and second roof rails are formed around a connector that pivotally couples the first and second roof rails together. The two roof rails and connector can be produced in a common or single mold that is designed for the two roof rails and the connector. The molding of the two roof rails around the connector that pivotally couples them together is advantageous over the typical convertible roof systems in that the roof rails are removed from the mold already pivotally coupled together thereby simplifying the assembly of a top stack mechanism.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention.


A method of calibrating a sensor unit having a sensor for providing a sensor output in response to a stimulus and a microprocessor for correcting the sensor output including the steps of subjecting the sensor unit to the stimulus and varying the stimulus to obtain outputs from the sensor unit microprocessor and from a reference sensor unit in response to the stimulus, comparing the output values to derive correction data therefrom, and storing the correction data in the microprocessor for use in subsequently correcting the sensor unit output.

Sensors are at the present time manufactured by micro-machining, using proven semi-conductor processing techniques to sculpt patterns onto thin pieces of silicon in order to create microscopic sensors for sensing pressure, heat, acceleration, flow or sound. Because they are made using processes adaptable to large scale manufacturing, the cost of such sensors is limited by testing and assembly requirements, rather than by manufacturing costs.
Small pressure transducers offered the first large scale market for this technology and, for this reason, development work has tended to be concentrated on such transducers. Pressure transducers have therefore been built using these techniques for over a decade, and have established mass markets in the military, aerospace, transportation and medical fields. Specialist sensors, such as accelerometers, mass flow devices and mechanical vales, have, however, been developed in the laboratory. Recently, in anticipation of the automotive market's need for engine knock sensors, smart suspensions and air bags, prototype runs of accelerometers have been made to validate the techniques and processes involved.
However, although their costs of manufacture are low, prior art micro-machined sensors have significant cost components, which are related to both their calibration and to the interfaces to the computers which they are associated.
Thus, a prior art calibrated micro-machined accelerometer transducer provided with interface electronics may cost, for example, $140.00. Of this amount, the cost of the transducer may well be less than $5.00, and the balance of the cost is made up by the costs of calibration, documentation and marketing expenses.
In fact, a major difficulty in producing a low cost accelerometer at high volume lies in the calibration of the accelerometer, which is required to provide a usable product.
At the present time, when an accelerometer has been manufactured, it is given a functional test. Devices which pass this test must then be mounted on an additional circuit board, containing amplifiers, power regulators and compensation circuitry, and must then be calibrated and "adjusted" to meet specifications. This is a time-consuming manual operation, which very substantially increases the price. If the accelerometer cannot be brought to specification, the circuit board must be reworked.
The result of all this work is a transducer which is similar to a laboratory device, which still cannot be directly interfaced to a computer and which requires still more circuitry and consequential expense and calibration time to become useful.
As will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art, micro-machined sensors develop output values which vary from true sensed inputs in linearity and offset and due to temperature and other effects.
It is, of course, possible to ascertain the value of an input stimulus to the sensor either by employing a reference sensor device or by employing a known stimulus, such as the gravitational field of the earth. Provided that a means is available to calculate the differences between reference values ascertained in this way and the output values of the sensor and its associated circuitry, it is possible to generate a correction table or function, i.e. a plurality of correction values, which can be utilized to provide a more accurate representation of the true sensed input.
The present invention arises from a realization that the determination of these correction values normally requires more processing power than can be contained in the circuitry associated with the sensor and that the correction values need to be provided to such circuitry in a form in which they can be stored and used to continuously correct the output values of the sensor in use.

Calibrated sensor systems and methods of manufacturing same


The present invention is a fiber channel switch employing a distributed queuing algorithm for interconnecting a plurality of devices (workstations, supercomputer, peripherals) through their associated node ports (N.sub.-- ports) and employs a fabric having a shared memory coupled to a plurality of fabric ports (F.sub.-- ports) through a bi-directional bus over which memory addresses, frame data and communications commands are transmitted. Each F.sub.-- port includes a port controller employing a distributed queuing algorithm associated with a control network for communicating commands between the ports related to when and where frame transfers should be made, wherein the bi-directional bus provides an independent data network for access to the shared memory such that frames can be transferred to and from the shared memory in response to port controller commands.

Mainframes, super computers, mass storage systems, workstations and very high resolution display subsystems are frequently connected together to facilitate file and print sharing. Common networks and channels used for these types of connections oftentimes introduce communications bottle necking, especially in cases where the data is in a large file format typical of graphically-based applications.
There are two basic types of data communications connections between processors, and between a processor and peripherals. A "channel" provides a direct or switched point-to-point connection between communicating devices. The channel's primary task is merely to transport data at the highest possible data rate with the least amount of delay. Channels typically perform simple error correction in hardware. A "network," by contrast, is an aggregation of distributed nodes (e.g., workstations, mass storage units) with its own protocol that supports interaction among these nodes. Typically, each node contends for the transmission medium, and each node must be capable of recognizing error conditions on the network and must provide the error management required to recover from the error conditions
One type of communications interconnect that has been developed is Fibre Channel. The Fibre channel protocol was developed and adopted as the American National Standard for Information Systems (ANSI). See Fibre Channel Physical and Signaling Interface, Revision 4.2, American National Standard for Information Systems (ANSI) (1993) for a detailed discussion of the fibre channel standard. Briefly, fibre channel is a switched protocol that allows concurrent communication among workstations, super computers and various peripherals. The total network bandwidth provided by fibre channel is on the order of a terabit per second. Fibre channel is capable of transmitting frames at rates exceeding 1 gigabit per second in both directions simultaneously. It is also able to transport commands and data according to existing protocols such as Internet protocol (IP), small computer system interface (SCSI), high performance parallel interface (HIPPI) and intelligent peripheral interface (IPI) over both optical fiber and copper cable.
FIG. 1 illustrates a variable-length frame 11 as described by the Fibre Channel standard. The variable-length frame 11 comprises a 4-byte start-of-frame (SOF) indicator 12, which is a particular binary sequence indicative of the beginning of the frame 11. The SOF indicator 12 is followed by a 24-byte header 14, which generally specifies, among other things, the frame source address and destination address as well as whether the frame 11 is either control information or actual data. The header 14 is followed by a field of variable-length data 16. The length of the data 16 is 0 to 2112 bytes. The data 16 is followed successively by a 4-byte CRC (cyclical redundancy check) code 17 for error detection, and by a 4 byte end-of-frame (EOF) indicator 18. The frame 11 of FIG. 1 is much more flexible than a fixed frame and provides for higher performance by accommodating the specific needs of specific applications.
FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of a representative fibre channel architecture in a fibre channel network 100. A workstation 120, a mainframe 122 and a super computer 124 are interconnected with various subsystems (e.g., a tape subsystem 126, a disk subsystem 128, and a display subsystem 130) via a fibre channel fabric 110 (i.e. fibre channel switch). The fabric 110 is an entity that interconnects various node-ports (N.sub.-- ports) 140 and their associated workstations, mainframes and peripherals attached to the fabric 110 through the F.sub.-- ports 142. The essential function of the fabric 110 is to receive frames of data from a source N.sub.-- port and, using a first protocol, route the frames to a destination N.sub.-- port. In a preferred embodiment, the first protocol is the fibre channel protocol. Other protocols, such as the asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) could be used without departing from the scope of the present invention.
Essentially, the fibre channel is a channel-network hybrid, containing enough network features to provide the needed connectivity, distance and protocol multiplexing, and enough channel features to retain simplicity, repeatable performance and reliable delivery. Fibre channel allows for an active, intelligent interconnection scheme, known as a "fabric," or fibre channel switch to connect devices. The fabric includes a plurality of fabric-ports (F.sub.-- ports) that provide for interconnection and frame transfer between a plurality of node-ports (N.sub.-- ports) attached to associated devices that may include workstations, super computers and/or peripherals. The fabric has the capability of routing frames based upon information contained within the frames. The N.sub.-- port manages the simple point-to-point connection between itself and the fabric. The type of N.sub.-- port and associated device dictates the rate that the N.sub.-- port transmits and receives data to and from the fabric. Transmission is isolated from the control protocol so that different topologies (e.g., point-to-point links, rings, multidrop buses, cross point switches) can be implemented.
The Fibre Channel industry standard also provides for several different types of data transfers. A class 1 transfer requires circuit switching, i.e., a reserved data path through the network switch, and generally involves the transfer of more than one frame, oftentimes numerous frames, between two identified network elements. In contrast, a class 2 transfer requires allocation of a path through the network switch for each transfer of a single frame from one network element to another.
Frame switching for class 2 transfers is more difficult to implement than class 1 circuit switching as frame switching requires a memory mechanism for temporarily storing incoming frames in a source queue prior to their routing to a destination port, or a destination queue at a destination port. A memory mechanism typically includes numerous input/output (I/O) connections with associated support circuitry and queuing logic. Additional complexity and hardware is required when channels carrying data at different bit rates are to be interfaced.
It is known to employ centralized queuing that is inherently slow as a common block of logic must be employed for all routing decisions within the switch.
It is also known to employ distributed source queuing which has apparent disadvantages when the frame at the head of the queue is destined to a port that is already forwarding a frame such that the path is blocked and the frame cannot be transferred. Alternatively, it is known to employ distributed destination queuing, which has the apparent disadvantage of a large destination queue at each port as it is possible for all frames within the switch to be simultaneously queued to the same destination port.
Another disadvantage of distributed destination queuing is apparent when the frame at the end of the head of the queue is sourced from a port that is already forwarding a frame such that the path is blocked and the frame cannot be transferred.
Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry for new and improved systems for implementing the Fibre Channel industry standard for class 2 transfers on fiber optic networks with much higher performance and flexibility than presently existing systems. Particularly, there is a significant need for a method and apparatus that combines both distributed source and destination queuing in a high performance memory based switch.
A need also exists to implement distributed queues between the source and destination ports, requiring the lower queue storage resources of source queuing, but providing the high throughput of destination queuing and avoiding "head-of-line" blocking of either source or destination queuing.
It would be desirable and of considerable advantage to provide a Fibre channel switch that provides for efficient transfer of queuing information between Fibre channel ports, especially if the new switch provided an improvement in any of the following areas: increased bandwidth, decreased no-load latency and increased throughput under load (due to parallelism of distributed queuing).
It will be apparent from the foregoing that there is still a need for a High-Bandwidth memory-based switch employing distributed queuing that differs from that employed in existing centralized Fibre Channel switch architectures.

Fiber channel switch employing distributed queuing


A drill bit for drilling a borehole in an earth formation. The drill bit has a central longitudinal axis and may be operated by applying at least a rotary motion about the central longitudinal axis and optionally applying longitudinal reciprocal movement to the drill bit so as to exert a percussive force on the borehole bottom. The drill bit has a surface provided with a plurality of shear cutters having a rake surface arranged to induce a scraping movement along the borehole bottom upon application of the rotary motion. The rake surface, during operation, faces the direction of rotation at a back-rake angle of less than 90°, wherein the backrake angle is defined as the angle included between the projection of a line perpendicular to the rake surface on a plane defined by the central longitudinal axis and the direction of the tangential velocity component of the shear cutter and a plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis. One or more of the shear cutters is provided with a pre-cut flat impact surface essentially parallel to the plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis.

A drilling system comprising a percussive shearing drill bit is known and described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,253,864. FIG. 4 of said US patent depicts a percussive shearing bit having a unitary body, a means for attachment to a drill string, and a plurality of blades housing a plurality of shear cutting elements. Fluid outlets are situated on the head of the unitary body between the blades. The blades consist of a series of receptacles to house the shear cutting elements and a shelf that runs along each blade before the cutting elements. The shelf serves to direct cuttings away from the operative surface of the bit.
In operation, the known percussive shearing drill bit is rotated about its longitudinal axis shearing off the rock formation as the drill bit rotates. A hammer simultaneously impacts the bit thereby providing an additional percussive drilling force. The shear cutting elements have been specially designed to withstand the unusual stresses induced by combined percussive/shear drilling, in that a distal portion of the shear cutter has been rounded to prevent large localised stresses in the cutters. Thus in the shear cutting elements a compromise is found for both shearing and axial cutting.
The known drilling system has been found to suffer from the risk of stick-slip torsional vibrating during drilling of certain types of earth formations. When this occurs, the bit is captured to a standstill into the earth formation while the drill string is twisted by the surface rotary drive until it abruptly releases with relatively high rotational speed. Such a stick-slip torsional vibration repeats periodically and the high rotational speed associated with the stick-slip torsional vibration can severly damage the cutters on the drill bit.

Drill bit, system, and method for drilling a borehole in an earth formation


A lamp for a vehicle, and more particularly, a lamp for a vehicle capable of forming a suitable light irradiation pattern and improving chromatic aberration so as to prevent light blindness is provided. In particular, the lamp includes a light source unit including at least one light source, a shield unit configured to block a part of the light irradiated from the light source unit by one or more light blocking portions formed to have an outer circumferential end (curved end) toward an optical axis of the light source unit, and a lens unit configured to irradiate the light passing through the shield unit to the outside.

The present invention relates to a lamp for a vehicle, and more particularly, to a lamp for a vehicle capable of forming a suitable light irradiation pattern and improving chromatic aberration so as to prevent light blindness.
In general, a vehicle is provided with various lamps for illuminating various areas around and within the vehicle. These lamps allow a driver to easily identify objects within the periphery of the vehicle when the vehicle is driven at night, and provide a signal function that informs other drivers or persons around the vehicle of a driving state of the vehicle.
For example, a head lamp, a fog lamp, and the like are mainly provided for the purpose of providing light, and a turn signal lamp, a tail lamp, a brake lamp, a side marker, and the like are provided for the purpose of signaling. In addition, installation references and standards for the lamps for a vehicle are legislated by regulations so that the lamp for a vehicle may sufficiently perform each of the functions.
Recently, there has been a trend toward using light emitting diodes as a light source within vehicle lamps in order to simplify the complicated configurations of the lamps or process steps, and to overcome problems in terms of extending the lifespan of the lamp using the characteristics of the light emitting diode or the amount of space that the lamp takes up by using a small sized light emitting diode.
Lamp in a vehicle are typically provided with a shield in order to block a part of the light irradiated from a light source toward the front side of the light source so as to prevent light blindness, while still forming a light irradiation pattern capable of securing a sufficient visual field.
In addition, vehicular lamps often use an aspherical lens that has various curvatures in accordance with an irradiation range of the light. As such, a spectrum phenomenon may occur in accordance with a material or a curvature of the aspherical lens. For example, the spectrum phenomenon is relatively increased when a curvature of the aspherical lens is large or the aspherical lens is made of a plastic material.
Therefore, a method is required which forms a light irradiation pattern suitable for vehicle vehicular lamp that prevents a spectrum phenomenon form occurring due to the aspherical lens.


A coin discriminating apparatus includes a magnetic sensor for detecting magnetic properties of a coin being transported and producing magnetic data of the coin, an optical sensor for producing optical data of the coin, a reference optical data memory for storing reference optical data of an obverse surface and a reverse surface of coins of each denomination, a reference magnetic data memory for storing reference magnetic data of an obverse surface and a reverse surface of coins of each denomination to be discriminated, a first coin discriminator for comparing optical data of the coin produced by the optical sensor with reference optical data of an obverse surface and a reverse surface of coins of each denomination and determining whether or not the coin is acceptable and the denomination of the coin, and a second coin discriminator for reading from the reference magnetic data memory magnetic reference data selected depending upon whether reference optical data of the obverse surface of a coin of a certain denomination or those of the reverse surface of the coin of the denomination were used when the first coin discriminator determined the coin to be acceptable and the denomination of the coin based thereon and comparing them with the magnetic data produced by the magnetic sensor, thereby finally discriminating whether or not the coin is acceptable and the denomination of the coin. According to the thus constituted coin discriminating apparatus, it is possible to accurately discriminate a counterfeit coin even when optical data acquired from the counterfeit coin such as diameter data and surface pattern data thereof coincide with those of genuine coins of a certain denomination and when the magnetic data acquired from the counterfeit coin are similar to those of coins of the denomination.

The present invention relates to a coin discriminating apparatus and, in particular, to a coin discriminating apparatus for accurately discriminating a counterfeit coin even when optical data acquired from the counterfeit coin such as diameter data and surface pattern data thereof coincide with those of genuine coins of a certain denomination and when the magnetic data acquired from the counterfeit coin are similar to those of coins of the denomination.
Japanese Patent Application Laid Open No. 8-36661 discloses a coin discriminating apparatus in which magnetic data indicating magnetic properties of coins are produced by a magnetic sensor and coin optical data, i.e. diameter data and surface pattern data, are produced based on image data produced by an optical sensor, thereby discriminating whether a coin is acceptable and the denomination of a coin when the coin is discriminated to be acceptable in accordance with the magnetic data, the diameter data and the surface pattern data of the coin.
However, only a single kind of reference magnetic data are assigned to each denomination of coins in this coin discriminating apparatus. Therefore, in the case where optical data acquired from a counterfeit coin, such as diameter data and surface pattern data thereof, coincide with those acquired from coins of a certain denomination and when the magnetic data acquired from the counterfeit coin are similar with those of coins of the denomination, it is difficult to accurately discriminate the counterfeit coin.
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a coin discriminating apparatus capable of accurately discriminating a counterfeit coin even when optical data acquired from the counterfeit coin such as diameter data and surface pattern data thereof coincide with those of genuine coins of a certain denomination and when the magnetic data acquired from the counterfeit coin are similar to those of coins of the denomination.
The above and other objects of the present invention can be accomplished by a coin discriminating apparatus comprising magnetic sensor means for detecting magnetic properties of a coin being transported and producing magnetic data of the coin, optical sensor means for producing optical data of the coin, reference optical data storing means for storing reference optical data of an obverse surface and a reverse surface of coins of each denomination, reference magnetic data storing means for storing reference magnetic data of an obverse surface and a reverse surface of coins of each denomination to be discriminated, first coin discriminating means for comparing optical data of the coin produced by the optical sensor means with reference optical data of an obverse surface and a reverse surface of coins of each denomination and determining whether or not the coin is acceptable and the denomination of the coin, and second coin discriminating means for reading from the reference magnetic data storing means magnetic reference data selected depending upon whether reference optical data of the obverse surface of a coin of a certain denomination or those of the reverse surface of the coin of the denomination were used when the first coin discriminating means determined the coin to be acceptable and the denomination of the coin based thereon and comparing them with the magnetic data produced by the magnetic sensor means, thereby finally discriminating whether or not the coin is acceptable and the denomination of the coin.
The present invention is based on the findings that magnetic data of a coin detected by a reflection type magnetic sensor in which a transmitting coil and a receiving coil are on the same side of the coin differ, depending upon whether the obverse surface of the coin or the reverse surface thereof has been detected, according to the raised and depressed patterns of the obverse surface and the reverse surface of the coin, that magnetic data of a coin detected by a transmission type magnetic sensor in which a transmitting coil and a receiving coil are on the different sides of the coin differ depending upon the distance between the transmitting coil and the coin, and that the magnetic data of the coin are therefore different, depending upon whether the obverse surface or the reverse surface of the coin has been detected, according to the raised and depressed patterns of the obverse surface and the reverse surface of the coin.
According to the present invention, whether or not a coin is acceptable and the denomination of the coin are detected by the first coin discriminating means and the second coin discriminating means reads from the reference magnetic data storing means magnetic reference data selected depending upon whether reference optical data of the obverse surface of a coin of a certain denomination or those of the reverse surface of the coin of the denomination were used when the first coin discriminating means determined the coin to be acceptable and the denomination of the coin based thereon and compares them with the magnetic data produced by the magnetic sensor means, thereby finally discriminating whether or not the coin is acceptable and the denomination of the coin. Therefore, it is possible to accurately discriminate a counterfeit coin even when optical data of the counterfeit coin, such as diameter data and surface pattern data thereof, coincide with those of coins of a certain denomination and when the magnetic data acquired from the counterfeit coin are similar to those of coins of the denomination.
In a preferred aspect of the present invention, the magnetic sensor means comprises at least one transmitting coil and receiving coil pair and the members of the at least one transmitting coil and receiving coil pair are disposed on the same side of a coin being transported.
In another preferred aspect of the present invention, the magnetic sensor means comprises at least one transmitting coil and receiving coil pair and the members of the at least one transmitting coil and receiving coil pair are disposed on the different sides of a coin being transported.
In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the optical sensor means comprises a light source for emitting light toward one surface of the coin and light receiving means for photoelectrically receiving light emitted from the light source and reflected by the one surface of the coin and producing image pattern data of the one surface of the coin.
In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the image pattern data include data relating to diameter of the coin and pattern data and the reference optical data include reference data relating to diameters of coins of each denomination to be discriminated and reference pattern data of obverse surfaces and reverse surfaces of coins of each denomination and the coin discriminating apparatus further includes pattern data storing means for storing image pattern data.
In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the first coin discriminating means is adapted for comparing the data relating to diameter of the coin stored in the pattern data storing means and the reference data relating to diameter of coins of each denomination stored in the reference optical data storing means, thereby determining the denomination of the coin, reading the reference pattern data of obverse surfaces and reverse surfaces of coins of each denomination from the reference optical data storing means and comparing them with image pattern data of the coin stored in the pattern data storing means, thereby discriminating whether or not the coin is acceptable and the denomination of the coin, and the second coin discriminating means is adapted for reading from the reference magnetic data storing means magnetic reference data selected depending upon whether reference pattern data of the obverse surface of a coin of a certain denomination or those of the reverse surface of the coin of the denomination were used when the first coin discriminating means determined the coin to be acceptable and the denomination of the coin based thereon and comparing them with the magnetic data produced by the magnetic sensor means, thereby finally discriminating whether or not the coin is acceptable and the denomination of the coin.
In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the optical sensor means comprises a first light source for emitting light toward one surface of the coin, first light receiving means for photoelectrically receiving light emitted from the first light source and reflected by the one surface of the coin and producing image pattern data of the one surface of the coin, first pattern data storing means for storing the image pattern data of the one surface of the coin produced by the first light receiving means, a second light source for emitting light toward the other surface of the coin, second light receiving means for photoelectrically receiving light emitted from the second light source and reflected by the other surface of the coin and producing image pattern data of the other surface of the coin, and second pattern data storing means for storing the image pattern data of the other surface of the coin produced by the second light receiving means, the reference optical data storing means being adapted for storing reference pattern data of obverse surfaces and reverse surfaces of coins of each denomination, the first coin discriminating means includes first discriminating means for comparing the image pattern data of the one surface of the coin stored in the first pattern data storing means with the reference pattern data of obverse surfaces and reverse surfaces of coins of each denomination stored in the reference optical data storing means and determining whether or not the coin is acceptable and the denomination of the coin, second discriminating means for comparing the image pattern data of the other surface of the coin stored in the second pattern data storing means with the reference pattern data of obverse surfaces and reverse surfaces of coins of each denomination stored in the reference optical data storing means and determining whether or not the coin is acceptable and the denomination of the coin, and third discriminating means for determining whether or not the coin is acceptable and the denomination of the coin based on the results of discrimination made by the first discriminating means and the second discriminating means, the second coin discriminating means is adapted for reading from the reference magnetic data storing means reference magnetic data which correspond to the denomination of coin discriminated by the third discriminating means and which correspond to the coin surface used by whichever of the first discriminating means and the second discriminating means discriminated the denomination of the coin based on the image pattern data of a surface on the side of the transmitting coil of the magnetic sensor, and comparing them with the magnetic data of the coin produced by the magnetic sensor, thereby finally discriminating whether or not the coin is acceptable and the denomination of the coin.
According to this further preferred aspect of the present invention, the first coin discriminating means includes first discriminating means for comparing the image pattern data of the one surface of the coin stored in the first pattern data storing means with the reference pattern data of obverse surfaces and reverse surfaces of coins of each denomination stored in the reference optical data storing means and determining whether or not the coin is acceptable and the denomination of the coin, second discriminating means for comparing the image pattern data of the other surface of the coin stored in the second pattern data storing means with the reference pattern data of obverse surfaces and reverse surfaces of coins of each denomination stored in the reference optical data storing means and determining whether or not the coin is acceptable and the denomination of the coin, and third discriminating means for determining whether or not the coin is acceptable and the denomination of the coin based on the results of discrimination made by the first discriminating means and the second discriminating means, and since the first coin discriminating means determines whether or not the coin is acceptable and the denomination of the coin based on the image pattern data of both surfaces of the coin and the second coin discriminating means reads the reference magnetic data of a coin from the reference magnetic data memory based on the denomination of the coin determined by the third discriminating means, the second coin discriminating means can discriminate whether or not the coin is acceptable and the denomination of the coin based on the reference magnetic data of a proper denomination and it is possible to improve the coin discriminating efficiency. Further, since the second coin discriminating means reads, based on the image pattern data of the surface of the coin on the side of the transmitting coil of the magnetic sensor, reference magnetic data of a surface of a coin corresponding to the coin surface used by whichever of the first discriminating means or the second discriminating means discriminated the denomination of the coin, thereby discriminating whether or not the coin is acceptable and the denomination of the coin, it is possible to accurately discriminate a counterfeit coin even when optical data acquired from the counterfeit coin, such as diameter data and surface pattern data thereof, coincide with those of coins of a certain denomination and when the magnetic data of the counterfeit coin are similar to those of coins of the denomination.
In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the image pattern data include data relating to coin diameter and pattern data and the reference optical data include reference data relating to diameters of coins of all denominations and reference pattern data of obverse surfaces and reverse surfaces of coins of all denominations.
In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the first discriminating means is adapted for comparing the data relating to coin diameter stored in the first pattern data storing means with reference data relating to diameters of coins of all denominations stored in the reference optical data storing means, thereby determining the denomination of the coin, reading the reference pattern data of an obverse surface and a reverse surface of a coin of the thus determined denomination from the reference optical data storing means and comparing them with image pattern data stored in the first pattern data storing means, thereby discriminating whether or not the coin is acceptable and the denomination of the coin, and the second coin discriminating means is adapted for comparing the data relating to coin diameter stored in the second pattern data storing means with reference data relating to diameters of coins of all denominations stored in the reference optical data storing means, thereby determining the denomination of the coin, reading the reference pattern data of an obverse surface and a reverse surface of a coin of the thus determined denomination from the reference optical data storing means and comparing them with the image pattern data stored in the second pattern data storing means, thereby discriminating whether or not the coin is acceptable and the denomination of the coin.
In a further preferred aspect of the present invention, the third discriminating means is adapted for discriminating that the coin is unacceptable when at least one of the first discriminating means and the second discriminating means determines that the coin is unacceptable, discriminating that the coin is unacceptable when the denomination of the coin determined by the first discriminating means and the denomination of the coin determined by the second discriminating means do not coincide with each other, and discriminating that the denomination of the coin coincides with the denomination determined by the first discriminating means and the second discriminating means when the denomination of the coin determined by the first discriminating means and the denomination of the coin determined by the second discriminating means coincide with each other, thereby outputting the denomination to the second coin discriminating means.
The above and other objects and features of the present invention will become apparent from the following description made with reference to the accompanying drawings.


An automotive glazing system includes a closure structure having a storage space for a moveable glazing panel which is slidably housed within the closure structure. A deployable air deflector mounted to a sash portion of the closure structure is moveable between a stowed position which the entirety of the air deflector is inboard of the glazing panel, and a deployed position in which the free end of the air deflector extends laterally outboard of the outermost part of the sash.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a system for mitigating wind buffeting associated with the use of drop glass in vehicle closure panels such as quarter panels and doors.
2. Disclosure Information
Automotive wind deflectors have been the subject of a good deal of inventive attention. U.S. Pat. No. 1,917,093; U.S. Pat. No. 2,281,840; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,608,926 all disclose various wind deflectors which in one fashion or another redirect air passing by a moving vehicle. None of these prior art deflectors deploys automatically when a glazing panel or window is lowered within a vehicle door or quarter panel. All of these known deflectors require that the deflector be placed and moved into a deployed configuration by a motorist if redirection is desired. Moreover, known deflectors do not serve to eliminate an annoying condition caused by either high or low frequency air flow into and out of a passenger compartment of the vehicle through the side windows of the vehicle. Such air flow may cause a high or low frequency throbbing noise which is objectionable to many motorists.
A wind excitation suppressor according to present invention is self-deploying and prevents the wind throb cited above by re-directing the air flow so as to reduce the high or low frequency inflow and outflow which would otherwise occur.

Automotive glazing system with deployable wind excitation suppressor


A shifting device for a multi-gear manual transmission, in particular a gearwheel variable-speed transmission of a vehicle, with a gearshift shaft that can be axially and rotationally moved. A shift gate can be selected by axial movement of the shaft and a gear in the shift gate is engaged by rotation movement of the shaft. A locking device communicates with the gearshift shaft and increases a selection force when selecting a shift gate having a reverse gear. A spring arrangement includes a first spring element, which acts during the selection of a shift gate with two forward gears, and the second spring element acts, together with the locking device, during the selection of the shift gate with the reverse gear.

In manual shift transmissions with a central gearshift lever shaft various components in the transmission are involved in producing selection and shifting forces. In particular, these components serve to assist the driver of the vehicle to move the gearshift lever in the shift gates in accordance with the gearshift diagram and at the same time, by virtue of this support, to avoid any damage to transmission components. The vehicle's driver should be able to sense which shift gate he is currently in with the gearshift lever. In this, particular attention should be paid to the transition into shift gates in which particularly low transmission ratios are engaged or in which the ratio for the reverse gear is engaged. If too low a transmission ratio or the reverse gear were to be engaged without the conditions of the vehicle being appropriate for this, especially because the speed is too low or a driving direction reversal is initiated without the vehicle first having come to rest, then the shifting devices and in particular the synchronization devices could be damaged. Also, by virtue of their structure frictional losses occur during the interaction of individual components, which in unfavorable cases can lead to a reduction of driving comfort.
To avoid undesired shift processes it must be possible to prevent the mechanical shift process by impeding the movement of the gearshift lever or at least making it more difficult. For example, a shift into a reverse gear should not be allowed if the vehicle is moving in the forward direction at more than an acceptable speed. To ensure this, barriers or stops are provided in the shifting device, which cannot be overcome or only so with substantial difficulty if the driver of the vehicle tries to move to the shift position in the gearshift diagram of the vehicle which contains the reverse gear.
From automotive technology gearshift actuating devices for selecting a shift gate and engaging a gear step in a transmission, in particular a manual change-speed transmission, are well enough known. To select a desired shift gate the driver can actuate a gearshift lever which can be coupled to a gearshift shaft by a gearshift linkage. By moving the gearshift shaft longitudinally the desired shift gate can be selected and by corresponding rotational movement of the gearshift shaft a gear can be engaged in the shift gate selected. In addition a shifting link is provided, which suitably translates the longitudinal and rotational movements of the gearshift shaft and guides the gearshift rails and shift operating means so as to engage a desired gear.
A shift locking device known from automotive technology comprises a spring-loaded locking pin with securing means. With this solution it can happen that when shifting into reverse, the shift gate containing the reverse gear is selected erroneously and an attempt is made to engage it, with resulting clashing noises from the clutch teeth. For example particularly hard locking means can be used to secure against slipping out of the reverse gear, but this makes it more difficult to engage the reverse gear even when this shift is desired.
DE 199 60 194 A1 discloses a device for producing restoring forces or higher selection forces on a gearshift shaft. The device comprises a guiding element, a pre-stress element, a stop, an abutment plate and at least three spring elements. By means of the spring elements different selection forces or different restoring forces can be produced for different selector positions. However, such a device correspondingly increases the structural fitting space needed in the axial direction of the gearshift shaft. Furthermore the device consists of numerous individual parts some of which are quite expensive and complicated to produce, since for example the guiding element must have corresponding guide-tracks.
From DE 102 51 351 A1 a shifting device is known, which comprises a gearshift shaft, a stop abutment for movement of the gearshift shaft in a shift gate with a reverse gear step, and an indicator device for the reverse gear position of the gearshift shaft. A locking element is provided, which enables both the stop and the actuation of the indicator device. The locking element comprises a tappet-rod and a spring element that acts on the tappet-rod. The locking device is arranged so that the tappet-rod engages in a recess of the gearshift shaft. The tappet-rod and the recess of the gearshift shaft have inclined faces that correspond with one another. When the inclined face of the gearshift shaft comes in contact with the inclined face of the tappet-rod, the stop for movement of the gearshift shaft in the shift gate with the reverse gear is produced.
For selecting the shift gate with the reverse gear two types of shift operation are distinguished, namely static and dynamic selection.
In static selection of the shift gate with the reverse gear, the inclined face of the gearshift shaft recess is already in contact with the inclined face of the tappet-rod before the shift gate with the reverse gear is selected. By means of the gearshift lever the driver of the vehicle exerts a force on the gearshift shaft, whereby the static friction between the tappet-rod and the gearshift shaft is overcome and the gearshift shaft moves in the direction of the shift gate with the reverse gear. During this the tappet-rod is pushed against the spring element of the locking device. Thus, in static selection of the shift gate with the reverse gear large friction forces (static friction) are active and a large selection force is therefore needed.
In dynamic selection of the shift gate with the reverse gear the inclined face of the gearshift shaft recess is not yet in contact with the inclined face of the tappet-rod before the shift gate with the reverse gear has been selected. By means of the gearshift lever the driver of the vehicle exerts a force on the gearshift shaft, moving it in the direction of the shift gate with the reverse gear. During this, the inclined face of the gearshift shaft recess encounters the inclined face of the tappet-rod while in motion, and the tappet-rod is pushed against the spring element of the locking device. But when the inclined faces of the gearshift shaft recess and the tappet-rod come in contact while in motion, the force required to overcome the stop effect is much smaller because the sliding friction between the gearshift shaft and the tappet-rod is substantially less than the static friction during static selection of the shift gate with the reverse gear. Thus, dynamic selection of the shift gate with the reverse gear requires a much smaller selection force than static selection of the shift gate with the reverse gear.
A disadvantage of such a device is that the difference between the selection forces needed for static and for dynamic selection of the shift gate with the reverse gear is fairly large, and this has an adverse effect on selection comfort.

Shifting device for a manual transmission of a vehicle


A method for sorting out false indications of a knocking condition in combustion engines, and in a close loop manner influencing the control measures initiated in order to cease the knocking condition, which method includes obtaining an ionization signal characteristic of the ionization during a combustion with the aid of a gap biased by a measuring voltage and arranged in the combustion chamber. A knocking condition is detected from the determined intensity of the knock characteristic frequency content (KI) filtered out from the ionization signal. An integrated value (CQ) of the ionization signal is also used in order to influence knock control measures. Knock control measures are initiated at a first spontaneous knocking condition only if also the integrated value (CQ) from a combustion experiencing a knocking condition is increased in relation to a preceding non-knocking combustion (CQ.sub.REF.sbsb.--.sub.NORM). Further, the speed of return (KT.sub.STEP, Ign.sub.RET.sbsb.--.sub.STEP) back to ideal basic control data is accelerated, dependent on the degree of reduction of the integrated value (.DELTA.CQ.sub.REL), following a correction of basic control data initiated in order to cease the knocking condition.

The present invention relates to a method for knock control in combustion.
Several knock detection methods for combustion engines are known.
Conventional methods use an accelerometer type of sensor, which sensor is mounted on the cylinder housing of the engine. By analyzing the frequency signal emitted from these sensors the typical frequencies for a knocking condition could be detected. When the intensity within the frequency range typical for a knocking conditions exceeds a certain level, then a knocking condition is established.
The disadvantage with this type of system is that other kind of vibrations, mechanical engine noise, road noise etc. , could have an impact upon the sensor output signal, and thus cause incorrect indications of a knocking condition.
In another method for knock detection a biased measuring gap is arranged within the combustion chamber. Ionization takes place within the combustion chamber during combustion, and the current developed in the measuring gap is representative for the combustion process. Similar to accelerometer type of sensors a knocking condition could be established by filtering out the superposed frequency in the ionization current typical for a knocking condition. This could be made using a system where the ordinary spark plug is used as the measuring gap, and where a substantially constant measuring voltage is applied in the grounded connection of the secondary winding of the ignition coil, as shown for example in EP,C,188.180 (=U.S. Pat. No. 4,648,367).
Knock detection using frequency analysis of the ionization current has the advantage that knock detection is not affected by mechanical engine noise, and if the ordinary spark plug is used as the measuring gap then no additional sensor on the engine is needed. Different detailed solutions for ionization current detected knock are further shown in:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,263,452, where the level of an extracted frequency component a certain time after ignition spark generation is used in order to establish a knocking condition; PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,547, where ignition timing control is initiated to find optimum timing, until a knocking condition is detected via ionization current; and PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,790, where the superposed frequency of the ionization current is detected in the primary winding of the ignition coil.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,220,821 a method is shown where any ion current detected knock is ignored if the ion current amplitude is too low or is fluctuating. This sorting out of incorrect indications of a knocking condition, if based upon frequency analysis of the ionization current, is insensible for incorrect indications of a knocking condition developed during operating conditions when the ionization current in its normal state is stable and exceeds an acceptable signal level. This method could mainly sort out incorrect indications for a knocking condition during specific operating conditions when the ionization current is low or fluctuating, for example at low rpms and low load, respectively at other unstable operating conditions at lean or by EGR diluted air fuel mixtures.

Method for knock control in combustion engines


The present invention includes a method for providing ground fault protection to a generator. The method includes determining the existing state of the generator and second, determining the updated alarm or trip conditions of a relay connected to the generator in view of the existing state of the generator. This includes estimating a ratio of the magnitude of the 3rd harmonic neutral voltage to the magnitude of the 3rd harmonic terminal voltage of a generator, along with calculating the residual 3rd harmonic voltage from the estimated 3rd harmonic ratio. From this, a comparison is made between the energy of the residual voltage with a fractional energy of the 3rd harmonic neutral voltage. Based on this comparison, an alarm or trip condition is signaled when the energy of the residual voltage is greater than the fractional energy of the 3rd harmonic neutral voltage. The invention further includes adaptive relays and systems utilizing the adaptive relays, along with methods of producing power using the adaptive relays.

Synchronous generators operate within electrical systems to provide uninterrupted power to consumers. A variety of methods are used to protect the generator and thereby the electrical system from internal and external faults. Internal faults in the generator, such as stator winding ground faults, are an important concern to generation utilities worldwide.
One known system and method for 100% stator ground fault protection uses generator 3rd harmonic voltages. In this system and method, operating data from an in-use generator and the larger electrical system are collected and analyzed to set fixed settings into a relay in order to provide stator ground fault protection. These fixed relay settings determine when the relay is to trip or issue an alarm. The fixed relay settings must include extra tolerances (margins) to allow for normal 3rd harmonic voltage variations that occur while operating generators and electrical systems. Moreover, this solution cannot detect stator ground faults in an off-line generator prior to being connected to the electrical system because operating data is required to set the fixed relay settings.
Another known system and method utilizes sub-harmonic voltage injection. However, sub-harmonic voltage injection requires additional equipment to be placed into service, which requires field commissioning. And yet the system and method still require fixed relay settings. Furthermore, the total capacitance-to-ground of the generator stator windings, bus work, and delta-connected transformer windings of the unit transformer windings must be known to ensure the relay settings are correctly determined. Due to higher cost and maintenance of the added equipment, this solution is less attractive compared to the first solution. However, in contrast to the first solution, this solution can detect stator ground faults in an off-line generator prior to being connected to the electrical system.
In addition, known 100% stator ground fault protection systems and methods using 3rd harmonic voltages lack security at low power factors and during unusual power system conditions. Security means the degree of certainty that a protective relay will operate correctly for normal operating conditions of protected equipment. This lack of security causes false tripping or false alarms for the relays and leads to shutdown of the generator, which in turn leads to a costly loss of production and costly testing of the generator. Hence, it is desirable to develop a secure, low-cost stator ground fault protection methods, devices, and systems.
The present invention overcomes one or more of these problems.

Methods for providing generator stator winding ground fault protection


Systems for attaching a plurality of wood products are provided. In a first type of system, a first wood product has a first chemical compound applied to a surface of the first wood product. A second wood product has a second chemical compound applied to a surface of the second wood product. An adduct is formed when the first chemical compound contacts the second chemical compound wherein the first wood product becomes adhered to the second wood product. In a second type of system, a pressure sensitive and/or anaerobic adhesive is placed on at least one of the wood products prior to assembly. The compounds/adhesives have an open assembly time greater than or approximately equal to 24 hours.

It is common practice for buildings and/or residential structures to be comprised of discrete structural building materials, such as framing members and sheet goods. The building materials are typically connected by use of mechanical fasteners, such as nails, screws, staples. Other mechanical fasteners that may be used are plates, anchors, hangers, bolts, split rings and clips or the like. Adhesives are also used in combination with mechanical fasteners to help connect certain types of building materials. For example, liquid construction adhesives are commonly utilized in joist-to-subfloor panel connections to improve the strength and durability of these joints. In some cases, liquid construction adhesives are used in tongue-and-groove joints between adjacent subfloor panels. In other cases, certain liquid construction adhesives are applied to the interior face of wall studs prior to installation of interior sheetrock. The use of adhesives at the stud-to-sheetrock interface allows the builder to reduce the number of mechanical fasteners. The result may be an interior wall with fewer surface defects. In all of these cases, the construction adhesive is applied to the building material during the construction process.
In spite of the advantages associated with construction adhesives, their usage is somewhat limited, due in part to the difficulty and time required to apply them to building materials during the construction process. Although it is important for connections between building materials to be strong and highly durable, it is also important to have connections that are easy and relatively quick to assemble. In most cases, construction adhesives are applied to building materials at a job site with a manual dispensing device that is commonly referred to as a caulking gun. This device is relatively slow and labor intensive. In cold or freezing weather there is a tendency for the viscosity of liquid construction adhesives to increase, which makes them even more difficult to apply with a manual caulking gun. Thus, some builders choose not to use construction adhesives because of the time and difficulty associated with their use.
Conventional construction adhesives generally are designed to be applied to building materials at a specific spread rate, and for the joint to be closed within a certain period of "open assembly time". The "open-assembly-time" is the time between adhesive application to one or both substrates and the closing of the joint by mating with the corresponding substrate. Long "open-assembly-times" can result in partial or complete solidification of the applied adhesive prior to contact with the corresponding substrate in the joint. When this occurs the adhesive might not contribute anything to the strength of the joint, and in many cases it will obstruct the fit of the joint. Unfortunately, many builders or installers struggle to adhere to these requirements during the construction process, and the resulting joint strength and durability are less than that which was anticipated.
One specific example of a failure mode involves the application of adhesives to substrates in relatively hot, dry weather in a work environment requiring relatively long "open-assembly-times". Another failure mode associated with conventional construction adhesives relates to their use on building materials that are wet from exposure to rain or snow. It has been discovered that most known construction adhesives yield weaker joints when they are applied to wet building materials. Yet another failure mode relates to incomplete or non-uniform adhesive application rates. In this situation at least some portion of the joint substrate receives an insufficient amount of adhesive. Accordingly, there is a need for building materials that can be assembled without the application of construction adhesives at the job site, and yet yield high-strength, durable joints, even when assembled under adverse weather conditions.


An aspect of the present invention relates to a method of manufacturing hexagonal ferrite magnetic powder. The method of manufacturing hexagonal ferrite magnetic powder comprises wet processing hexagonal ferrite magnetic particles obtained following acid treatment in a water-based solvent to prepare an aqueous magnetic liquid satisfying relation (1) relative to an isoelectric point of the hexagonal ferrite magnetic particles: pH0−pH*≧2.5, wherein, pH0 denotes the isoelectric point of the hexagonal ferrite magnetic particles and pH* denotes a pH of the aqueous magnetic liquid, which is a value of equal to or greater than 2.0, adding a surface-modifying agent comprising an alkyl group and a functional group that becomes an anionic group in the aqueous magnetic liquid to the aqueous magnetic liquid to subject the hexagonal ferrite magnetic particles to a surface-modifying treatment, and removing the water-based solvent following the surface-modifying treatment to obtain hexagonal ferrite magnetic particles.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing hexagonal ferrite magnetic powder, and more particularly, to a method of manufacturing hexagonal ferrite magnetic powder which can readily achieve a highly-dispersed state in a magnetic layer-forming coating material of a magnetic recording medium.
The present invention further relates to a magnetic recording medium having a magnetic layer comprising hexagonal ferrite magnetic powder obtained by the above manufacturing method, and to a method of manufacturing the same.
Discussion of the Background
In recent years, the means of rapidly transmitting information have undergone considerable development, permitting the transmission of data and images containing immense amounts of information. With this improvement in data transmission technology has come the demand for higher density recording in recording media and recording and reproduction devices for recording, reproducing, and storing information. The high dispersion of microparticulate magnetic powder and increased smoothing of the surface of the magnetic layer to reduce spacing loss are known to be effective ways of achieving good electromagnetic characteristics in the high-density recording region.
Reference 1, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (KOKAI) No. 2004-30828, which is expressly incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, for example, proposes a method of increasing the dispersibility of magnetic powder by wet dispersing hexagonal ferrite magnetic powder along with a surface treatment agent with a pKa of 1 to 4. In Reference 1, the surface treatment agent is a strong acid with a lower pKa than that of the fatty acids employed in the magnetic layer, causing adsorption to the magnetic particle surface and enhancing dispersion.
In the method specifically described in Examples of Reference 1, during the preparation of hexagonal ferrite magnetic particles by the glass crystallization method, microcrystals that are obtained by removing the glass component by acid treatment are washed with water and then subjected to the above wet dispersion. Following wet dispersion, the magnetic powder settles out in an aqueous slurry, and is collected by concentration, dehydration, and drying. Since a considerable load is then required to pulverize the magnetic powder thus solidified and to disperse it in microparticulate form, there is a risk of the magnetic powder being damaged by the dispersion medium.

Method of manufacturing magnetic recording medium


The present invention provides for a stent for treatment and prevention of arterial stenosis and re-stenosis. The stent for intraluminal placement within an artery and subsequent expansion for implantation in a patient comprises of a main body portion having a first end and a second end, for defining a passage for flow of blood there-through, the main body portion having an inner lumen surface and an outer lumen surface, the outer lumen surface coming into contact with the endothelium and delivering a drug composition on the outer lumen surface directly only to the endothelium for providing cell surface antithrombotic activity, wherein the anticoagulation activity in the blood plasma of a patient is not appreciably increased.

This invention relates to stents for maintaining flow through arterial vasculature while serving as drug delivery vehicles. The invention has particular reference to stents comprising compounds useful for the treatment and prevention of restenosis, increase in cell surface antithrombotic activity, and reduced inflammatory responses from the body of the patient receiving the stent.
Commonly used methods of treating cardiovascular disease includes angioplasty or atherectomy. While these methods are successful in relieving the symptoms of cardiovascular disease, the procedure produces a high rate of arterial re-closure or restenosis. Various methods of preventing restenosis have been tested, however, these methods have met with varying degrees of success.
Since restenosis can begin immediately after the angioplasty or atherectomy procedure and can continue for months post procedure, it is desirable to provide a device and method capable of providing the sustained delivery of a medicating composition to inhibit restenosis and to reduce the inflammatory response and effect, including an increase in cell surface anti-thrombotic activity of the endothelium.
An acceptable method of sustained long term drug delivery employs metal stents coated with a bioabsorbable synthetic polymer that have also been used to deliver medicament. However, most such metal stents are thrombogenic and being a "foreign body" stimulates the host's inflammatory response.
Preferably, such a stent should be minimally inflammatory, non-thromboginic, biologically compatible and capable of sustained drug delivery to the endothelium and provide for increased cell surface antithrombotic effect without increasing the risk of the patient becoming a "bleeder" or to be at appreciably increased risk of hemorrhaging either due to internal or external injury.

Stent for delivery of drugs to the endothelium


An image forming apparatus includes: a hard disc drive storing a database including image formation authority of a registered user and a remaining available amount and ID information for specifying the remaining available amount of the database to be updated based on processing detail data serving as data indicating processing details of the image forming apparatus; an image forming device; an auxiliary storage device storing processing management data including the processing detail data; and a controller managing details of processing performed by the image forming device. After ending of processing performed by the registered user, the controller uses the processing management data stored in the auxiliary storage device to update the remaining available amount specified by use of the ID information and deletes the processing management data from the auxiliary storage device in response to completion of the update.

This disclosure relates to an image forming apparatus, an image forming method, and a computer-readable non-transitory recording medium storing an image forming program.
Image forming apparatuses are typically equipped with a hard disc drive as a storage device. The hard disc drive is used for various applications such as media serving as install destinations of an operating system or an application and a BOX function. The hard disc drive is also used as a storage region for storing scanned image data upon copying. Consequently, for example, even upon interruption of copy operation such as jam recovery or power failure, it is possible to continue the copy operation while avoiding page missing, which can be achieved through automatic reprinting by use of the scanned image data stored in the hard disc drive. Image forming apparatuses are also typically equipped with an automatic document feeder, realizing large-volume copying at a high speed.

Image forming apparatus forming image on image forming medium, image forming method, and computer-readable non-transitory recording medium storing image forming program


A driving device of a light source includes an arc sensing unit and an inverter. The light source includes a lamp having a first terminal and a second terminal. The arc sensing unit extracts a high frequency component from a voltage applied to the light source and generates an arc sensing signal in response to the high frequency component. The inverter controls the light source in response to the sensing signal.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device and a driving device of a light source for the display device.
(b) Description of Related Art
Display devices used for monitors of computers and television sets generally include self-emitting display devices such as organic light emitting displays (OLEDs), vacuum fluorescent displays (VFDs), field emission displays (FEDs), and plasma display panels (PDPs), and non-emitting display devices such as liquid crystal display devices (LCDs) requiring external light source.
An LCD device includes two panels provided with field-generating electrodes and a liquid crystal (LC) layer having dielectric anisotropy disposed between the two panels. The field-generating electrodes are supplied with voltages to generate an electric field across the LC layer, and a light transmittance of the LC layer varies in response to a strength of the electric field, which can be controlled by the voltages supplied. Accordingly, images are displayed by adjusting the voltages supplied.
Light for an LCD device is provided, for example, by an artificial light source provided with the LCD device or by a natural light source. Lamps disposed at the LCD device are an example of the artificial light source. When employing the lamps, a brightness on a screen of the LCD device is usually changed by adjusting a ratio of on and off durations of the lamps or by adjusting a current flowing through the lamps.
The artificial light source, which may be part of a backlight assembly, is often implemented as a plurality of fluorescent lamps such as CCFL (cold cathode fluorescent lamp) and EEFL (external electrode fluorescent lamp) driven by an inverter. The inverter converts a DC voltage into an AC voltage and applies the AC voltage to the lamps to turn the lamps on. The inverter adjusts luminance of the lamps based on a luminance control signal, which is provided to control a luminance of the LCD device. In addition, the inverter controls voltages applied to the lamps based on currents of the lamps.
When the fluorescent lamps are employed as the lamps for the LCD device, the inverter applies a high voltage to the lamps for initial lighting. Thus, if a terminal of the lamp supplied with the high voltage has poor insulation or contact resistance between the terminal of the lamp and a terminal of the inverter, an arc may be generated, which exerts a bad influence on operation of the backlight assembly and may cause a fire in the inverter.
To prevent arc generation, a human inspector inspects a connection state between the lamp and the inverter after manufacturing the inverter. In addition, a separate arc sensing unit may be used, which stops operation of the inverter if an arc is generated.
However, though a manufactured inverter passes a visual inspection by the inspector, the connection state may become poor during subsequent carrying or using of the inverter, thereby creating conditions that allow arc generation. Thus, the arc sensing unit is used to provide continuing protection against arc generation.
Unfortunately, in a conventional arc sensing unit, it is difficult to distinguish between noise components included among normal control signals and arcs. Thus, the conventional arc sensing unit may turn off the lamps in response to the noise components, thereby decreasing a reliability of the inverter.
Therefore, a need exists for a display device that can includes an arc sensing unit able to distinguish between noise and arcs.

Display device and driving device of light source for display device


Systems and techniques for identifying abnormal exhaust valve performance of an internal combustion engine may include receiving exhaust passage temperature signals from a plurality of exhaust passage temperature sensors, each exhaust passage being fluidly connected to one or more exhaust valves of the internal combustion engine, the exhaust passage temperature signals being indicative of respective exhaust passage temperatures. The method may further include comparing one or more of the exhaust passage temperatures, identifying a caution exhaust passage temperature, from one or more of the exhaust passage temperatures, that deviates from one or more of the other one or more exhaust passage temperatures, and outputting an abnormal exhaust valve performance indication based on identifying the caution exhaust passage temperature.

Internal combustion engines create harsh, high-temperature environments that can change the properties of engine components over time. High-performance engines, including natural gas engines, diesel engines, and dual fuel engines (engines capable of combusting both natural gas and diesel fuel), operate at particularly high temperatures. Engine valves, such as exhaust valves, necessarily operate in these high temperature environments. Over time, such valves can experience deteriorating performance as a result of carbon buildup, tolerance changes, flaking of material, or the like. Existing systems for determining such abnormal performance often do so after a component failure. Such component failures can be costly and often render a given engine inoperable for an extensive amount of time.
An exemplary fault condition detection system is disclosed in UK Patent No. 2,383,639 to Lewandowski et al. (the '639 patent). The system described in the '639 patent determines temperature values of air in an intake manifold. Dramatic variance in these temperature values, can be identified to determine that an intake valve failure has occurred. While the system disclosed in the '639 patent may be useful for intake manifolds, it is not helpful for detecting failure in other internal combustion engine components such as exhaust valves or during conditions such as low engine power modes.
The disclosed method and system may solve one or more of the problems set forth above and/or other problems in the art. The scope of the current disclosure, however, is defined by the attached claims, and not by the ability to solve any specific problem.

Method and system for identifying abnormal valve performance in an internal combustion engine


A programmable logic unit circuit comprising a data memory circuit, a combinational logic circuit supplied with at least two input signals, two input select circuits for, based on the stored data in the data memory circuit, selecting the two input signals supplied to the combinational logic circuit from more than two input signals, a clock-synchronized circuit for supplying the output signal from the combinational logic circuit in synchronization with a clock signal, and a 3-state-output type output select circuit for selecting either the output signal of the combinational logic circuit or the output signal of the clock-synchronized circuit, depending on the stored data in the data memory circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit, and more particularly to a programmable logic unit circuit and a programmable logic circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
There are various techniques developed to realize circuits fulfilling users' requirements using semiconductor integrated technology. A gate array is one of the most useful integrated circuits. Gate arrays, as commonly known, are integrated circuits that realize desired logic circuits by previously forming transistors in wafers and then selectively connecting those transistors with suitable metallization patterns. The connection of transistors through metal wiring is made by manufactures, almost at the last stage of the manufacturing processes of integrated circuits. This makes it possible to offer the product to the users very quickly.
However, a user may normally have to wait for several days to several weeks before he receives the product after having ordered it, since the manufacturer first receives the circuit information from the user, forms a mask pattern for metal wiring layers based on the circuit information, and then forms the integrated circuit using the mask. Should the user have given the wrong circuit information to the manufacturer by mistake, the produced integrated circuits cannot be used. To correct the error, it is necessary to design a new integrated circuit from scratch
A field programmable gate array (FPGA) has been developed to eliminate this problem. FPGAs allow the user himself to program them to realize the desired circuit without presenting the circuit information to the manufacturer. One of the features of gate arrays is that a selective metal wiring provides a desired logic circuit, as described earlier. By previously forming many wires and internal switches in an integrated circuit and then selectively connecting them through the internal switches, it is possible for the integrated circuit to emulate the same function as a conventional gate array.
One of such FPGAs is disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,706,216 and 4,758,985. Specifically, the former discloses a unit circuit that is constructed of a memory circuit consisting of shift registers, a combinational logic circuit, a temporary storage circuit (a D flip-flop), and select circuits. The latter discloses a unit circuit that is constructed of a memory circuit consisting of shift registers, a combinational logic circuit, a temporary storage circuit (a D flip-flop), and select circuits. It also discloses a circuit configuration of these circuit units arranged in matrix form.
What should be kept in mind in developing such FPGAs is the size of the unit circuit and the design of the program memory circuit.
The above-described FPGA unit circuit provides a wide variety of combinational logic circuits and it has the state of the unit circuit's internal nodes requires more circuits, which would increase the size further. A larger-scale unit circuit has the advantage of realizing more types of circuits with a single unit, but has the disadvantage of being less suitable for integrating a number of unit circuits due to a corresponding increase in the circuit area. In addition, if the desired logic circuit is a simple combinational logic circuit, the number of unused circuits in the unit circuit exceeds that of operating circuits, resulting in a lot of waste.
On the other hand, in the shift registers of a memory circuit, serial data transfer takes a long time to send a large volume of data. In addition, when part of the data in the memory circuit needs to be rewritten, or part of the data needs to be read, all of the data has to be transferred again.

Configurable logic element with independently clocked outputs and node observation circuitry