Thermally stable ultra-hard compact constructions comprise a polycrystalline diamond body substantially free of a catalyst material, and a substrate that is joined thereto. The substrate can be ceramic, metallic, cermet and combinations thereof, and can be joined to the body by a braze material or other material that forms an attachment bond at high pressure/high temperature conditions. The body and substrate are specially formed having complementary interfacing surface features to facilitate providing an improved degree of attachment therebetween. The complementary surface features can in the form of openings and projections, e.g., one of the body or substrate can comprise one or more openings, and the other of the body or substrate can comprise one or more projections, disposed within or extending from respective interfacing surfaces. The complementary surface features operate to resist unwanted delamination between the body and substrate, thereby extending effective service life of the construction.

Ultra-hard materials such as polycrystalline diamond (PCD) and PCD elements formed therefrom are well known in the art. Conventional PCD is formed by combining diamond grains with a suitable solvent catalyst material to form a mixture. The mixture is subjected to processing conditions of extremely high pressure/high temperature, where the solvent catalyst material promotes desired intercrystalline diamond-to-diamond bonding between the grains, thereby forming a PCD structure. The resulting PCD structure produces enhanced properties of wear resistance and hardness, making PCD materials extremely useful in aggressive wear and cutting applications where high levels of wear resistance and hardness are desired.
Solvent catalyst materials typically used in forming conventional PCD include metals from Group VIII of the Periodic table, with cobalt (Co) being the most common. Conventional PCD can comprise from 85 to 95% by volume diamond and a remaining amount of the solvent catalyst material. The solvent catalyst material is present in the microstructure of the PCD material within interstices that exist between the bonded together diamond grains.
A problem known to exist with such conventional PCD materials is that they are vulnerable to thermal degradation during use that is caused by differential thermal expansion characteristics between the interstitial solvent catalyst material and the intercrystalline bonded diamond. Such differential thermal expansion is known to occur at temperatures of about 400° C., which can cause ruptures to occur in the diamond-to-diamond bonding that can result in the formation of cracks and chips in the PCD structure.
Another form of thermal degradation known to exist with conventional PCD materials is also related to the presence of the solvent metal catalyst in the interstitial regions and the adherence of the solvent metal catalyst to the diamond crystals. Specifically, the solvent metal catalyst is known to cause an undesired catalyzed phase transformation in diamond (converting it to carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, or graphite) with increasing temperature, thereby limiting practical use of the PCD material to about 750° C.
Attempts at addressing such unwanted forms of thermal degradation in conventional PCD are known in the art. Generally, these attempts have involved techniques aimed at treating the PCD body to provide an improved degree of thermal stability when compared to the conventional PCD materials discussed above. One known technique involves at least a two-stage process of first forming a conventional sintered PCD body, by combining diamond grains and a solvent catalyst material, such as cobalt, and subjecting the same to high pressure/high temperature process, and then subjecting the resulting PCD body to a suitable process for removing the solvent catalyst material therefrom.
This method produces a PCD body that is substantially free of the solvent catalyst material, hence is promoted as providing a PCD body having improved thermal stability, and is commonly referred to as thermally stable polycrystalline diamond (TSP). A problem, however, known to exist with such TSP is that it is difficult to achieve a good attachment with the substrate by brazing or the like, due largely to the lack of the solvent catalyst material within the body.
The existence of a strong attachment between the substrate and the TSP body is highly desired in a compact construction because it enables the compact to be readily adapted for use in many different wear, tooling, and/or cutting end use devices where it is simply impractical to directly attach the TSP body to the device. The difference in thermal expansion between the TSP body and the substrate, and the poor wettability of the TSP body diamond surface due to the substantial absence of solvent catalyst material, makes it very difficult to bond the TSP body to conventionally used substrates by conventional method, e.g., by brazing process. Accordingly, such TSP bodies must be attached or mounted directly to the end use wear, cutting and/or tooling device for use without the presence of an adjoining substrate.
When the TSP body is configured for use as a cutting element in a drill bit for subterranean drilling, the TSP body itself is mounted to the drill bit by mechanical or interference fit during manufacturing of the drill bit, which is labor intensive, time consuming, and which does not provide a most secure method of attachment.
It is, therefore, desired that an ultra-hard material construction be developed that includes an ultra-hard material body having improved thermal stability when compared to conventional PCD materials, and that accommodates the attachment of a substrate material to the ultra-hard material body so the resulting compact construction can be attached to an application device, such as a surface of a drill bit, by conventional method such as welding or brazing and the like.

Thermally stable ultra-hard material compact constructions


A method and apparatus for estimating the frequency of a periodic signal and for canceling the interference in a modem signal. Power line noise may interfere with electronic signals. Since power lines may be either 50 Hz or 60 Hz, depending on the country, frequency estimation of the periodic power line noise is necessary. Modem signals are received and autocorrelated in order to identify the periodic characteristics of the signal over time. Once the frequency is identified, the power line noise is modeled based on creating a circular buffer. Initially, the circular buffer is composed of scaled samples of one cycle of the fundamental frequency of the power line noise. Thereafter, samples are received, scaled, and combined with previous buffer values in order to update the buffer. In this manner, the buffer models the power line noise, so that the power line noise may be removed from the system.

The present invention relates to noise detection and, more particularly, to estimation and cancellation of noise in a system or device.
Electronic signals are often composed of a desired signal and noise. The noise may be considered anything undesirable that is included in the electronic signal. At times, the noise may interfere with the interpretation of the desired signal within the electronic signal. In order to interpret the desired signal with greater accuracy, the noise should be removed from, or reduced in, the electronic signal without significantly degrading the desired signal.
One example of a device that receives an electronic signal is a modem. A modem typically modulates information for transmission over a communication channel and demodulates signals received from the communication channel to recover information. Noise may corrupt the modulated signal, thereby degrading the desired signal, thereby requiring the use of noise reduction techniques to recover the desired signal. Other devices which are sensitive to noise include medical devices such as EKG monitors, audio systems, and industrial devices. For example, even though an electronic device is internally well-buffered, such as in the case of an EKG monitor, external power line noise can filter into the system, interrupting the desired signal. As another example, where a machining device has motion control as part of its feedback, the motion control may experience interference from power line noise due to the harsh environment of the machining device.
Moreover, some devices use power lines as the medium by which to send data. The interference from the power line in that instance may significantly interfere with the data communication. Further, other types of electronic signals, such as video signals, may experience a "hum" due to power line noise. In the case where the video signal must be precise, the "hum" may interfere with the video.
Noise in a system may be either periodic or non-periodic. One source of periodic noise is the interference from AC power lines. Power line noise is commonly either 50 Hz or 60 Hz, depending on the power convention for the particular country. This type of noise may effect an electronic device in various ways. A high speed modem, for example, may suffer from periodic power line interference from one of several sources. There could be power line noise carried on the phone line to which the modem is connected. There could also be noise from an insufficiently filtered power supply for either the modem itself or the host computer to which the modem is attached.
There are various approaches to reduce noise, and in particular periodic noise, on a system. Two known approaches involve filtering the noise. First, a simple high pass filter may be used. The filter is designed to pass frequencies in the range of the desired signal and to block other frequencies. Thus, this approach may not require that the filter be designed specifically for a known frequency (such as in the power line example of 50 Hz or 60 Hz). In the alternative, a narrow notch filter may be designed if one has a priori knowledge of the frequency of the periodic interference. Both of these approaches may be useful if the frequency of the periodic noise does not fall within the range of the desired signal.
In those instances that require knowledge of the frequency of noise, a method and apparatus may be required for determining the frequency of an interfering periodic signal. Techniques exist which are known in the art for estimating frequencies of periodic signals on a communication channel. These techniques often involve generating a power density spectrum from a data sequence, and then analyzing the spectrum to identify peaks. While these techniques are useful for analysis of an arbitrary spectrum, they may require a large amount of computation. It is desirable to minimize the computational demands of the noise reduction technique. Another known approach is to filter the data sequence using narrow bandpass filters, with one filter centered at each frequency in question, and then compare the amplitudes of the filter outputs. This may be simpler than generating the complete spectrum, but a simpler approach is still desirable.
Once the frequency of the periodic noise is determined, the noise should be reduced or eliminated. In the power line example, desired signals (audio, data communications, etc.) are often corrupted by periodic interference such as from 50/60 Hz power line noise. Various techniques for removing the interference from the signal have been developed, such as high-pass filtering, notch filtering, and adaptive noise cancellation techniques. These techniques are often inadequate for a number of reasons. First, the interference often contains harmonics that exist in the same frequency range as the signal, in which case high-pass filtering is not sufficient. Second, the frequency of the interfering signal may not be known exactly, in which case a notch filter is not acceptable. Third, adaptive noise cancellation techniques typically require a reference which consists of the interference alone without the signal. In many cases, such a reference is unavailable. Fourth, the noise cancellation techniques often treat the periodic noise and the non-periodic desired signal in the same manner causing, in many instances, the desired signal to degrade when attempting to eliminate the noise within the system. For example, a notch filter, which is set at 60 Hz, treats the periodic noise and any desired signal component at 60 Hz equally, so that the desired signal may also be degraded.
A high speed modem is one example of a device that may suffer from periodic interference. Such interference will likely have harmonics throughout the frequency range of the modulated signal. As a further complication, the frequency of the periodic interference may be known approximately but not exactly. In addition, there will typically not be an interference reference available. Accordingly it is desirable to have an improved frequency estimator and interference cancellation method and apparatus.

Low complexity frequency estimator and interference cancellation method and device


A probe array comprises a plurality of probes immobilized at a plurality of matrix sites on a substrate for capturing a target substance, wherein the probes are sequentially synthesized at the matrix sites on the substrate until a desired length, the probes are different from each other, and a labeling compound is coupled to each terminus of the probes in a final step of the synthesis. The probe array of the invention allows sensitive and reliable detection of the target substance. A method of evaluating the amount of the fully synthesized probes at respective matrix sites is also provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a labeled probe array, a method for producing the labeled probe array, and an method for determining the amount of a target substance using the labeled probe array.
2. Related Background Art
Recently, for precise assessment of a target substance, it has been intensively studied a method using a plurality of probes disposed in an array on the surface of a substrate, called "probe array". A typical example is a so-called "DNA probe array" in which a plurality of DNA probes are disposed on a substrate. This DNA probe array is also referred to as a DNA chip. By using the DNA probe array, for example, the presence of a plurality of target genes can be analyzed at the level of base sequence.
Methods of making the probe array are roughly classified into two.
One is a method that synthesizes probes by sequential synthesis on a solid substrate, applicable to the probes being a substance that can be synthesized by chemical elongation and of which nucleotide or amino acid sequence has an important meaning, e.g., DNA, oligonucleotide, peptide nucleic acids (PNAs), proteins, and oligopeptides.
As an example of such a method, U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,966 discloses a method of synthesizing a DNA probe array on a substrate by using photolytic protection groups and photolithography. Alternatively, U.S. Pat. No. 5,474,796 discloses a method supplying nucleotide monomers by an ink jet process.
The other method is applicable, in addition to the above described substances, to the substances not chemically synthesizable, since this method is to supply probes that have been previously synthesized or prepared to the matrix sites of a probe-array substrate by the micro-dispensing method, pin transfer method, or ink jet process etc.
Since the second method uses probes which have been purified and of which quantity can be controlled, the purity of the probes are secured and the concentrations of the probes to be reacted with the substrate can be freely determined. Consequently, the final amounts of respective probes on the substrate surface can be assessed with a certain accuracy, to enhance the reliability of the target substance detection using the probe array. On the other hand, the second method requires previous synthesis of all kinds of probes for the probe array and it also requires to apply the probes to the substrate for reaction. Sometimes, several hundreds of thousands of probes may be required for a probe array. In that case, it will be considerably difficult to synthesize all probes beforehand.
On the other hand, according to the first method, necessary probes are synthesized on the substrate and then used for the reaction with the target substances, so that operations for immobilizing the previously synthesized or prepared probes onto the substrate can be omitted.
However, in order to improve the detection sensitivity or reliability of the first method, following points must be improved.
(1) The yield in each step of the sequential synthesis is not 100%, some times the final yield is as low as 5%. This directly leads to reduction in the sensitivity when the target substance is detected.
(2) For the same reason, both full length probes and shorter length probes are present at each matrix site of the probe array. This lowers the reliability in detecting a target substance.
(3) As a result of in situ synthesis on the substrate, the amount of the probe at each matrix site cannot be measured. This also lowers the reliability in detecting a target substance.
(4) As mentioned above, the synthetic yield in each step of sequential synthesis is not 100% and the synthetic yield varies depending on the steps and the matrix sites, so that the final amounts of respective probes vary broadly. This also lowers the reliability of the detection of a target substance.


A motor control circuit and associated techniques can drive an electric motor in a start-up mode of operation followed by a normal mode of operation. The motor control circuit and techniques can receive a selection signal provided by a user that can select one of a plurality of sets of parameter values that determine characteristics of drive signals applied to the motor during the start-up mode of operation. The motor control circuit and associated techniques can synchronize operation between the start-up mode of operation and the normal mode of operation.

Circuits to control and drive brushless DC (BLDC) electric motors are known. In some arrangements, the circuits provide a particular a ramp-up of the speed of the electric motor when the electric motor is first powered up. However, such circuits are only able to provide one particular predetermined type of ramp-up.
Some known electric motor drive circuits are described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,590,334, issued Sep. 15, 2009, U.S. Pat. No. 7,747,146, issued Jun. 29, 2010, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/271,723, filed Oct. 12, 2011, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/599,225, filed Aug. 30, 2012, and U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/599,234, filed Aug. 30, 2012, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entireties and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
A BLDC electric motor can be used in different applications. For example, the same BLDC electric motor can be used with different fan blade arrangements in different applications. Different types of BLDC electric motors can also exhibit different load behaviors versus speed.
Motor noise, vibration, and efficiency are influenced by a variety of characteristics.
For sensor-less motor drive arrangements (i.e., motor drivers that do not rely upon Hall Effect elements to sense position of the motor shaft), reliable start-up is an important part of the design. Some sensor-less motor drive arrangements rely upon so-called "back EMF," or simply "BEMF" generated on the motor windings to sense a position of a motor shaft. In order to sense the BEMF, the electric motor must be spinning at some minimum speed and drive signals to the electric motor must generally be turned off, and thus, BEMF is not conventionally used to sense motor position at the very beginning of a start-up of a motor.
Various methods have been used to start an electric motor. For example, a so-called "Trap Drive" arrangement has been used, in which motor windings of an electric motor are driven with trapezoidal (trap) drive signals through six states at a predetermined fixed rate during start-up. During start-up, in some embodiments, start-up motor current is controlled by pulse width modulation (PWM) of the trap drive signals, and in other embodiments, start-up motor current is controlled by current limiting of the trap drive signals. BEMF is checked during the start-up process and the commutation of the phases of the trap drive signals are synchronized with BEMF zero crossings.
After the electric motor is started with the above-described trap drive signals, in some embodiments, the motor control electronics continues to run the electronic motor with trap drive signals in a normal mode of operation.
One of the drawbacks of using the trap drive signals during start-up and/or during the normal mode of operation after start-up, is that the trap drive signals result in is audible noise from the electric motor due to vibrations. Even when the trap drive signals are used as an envelope for PWM drive signals with very low duty cycles and current levels, the noise can still be very prominent. For many applications, the noise is not acceptable.
Sine drives that result in sinusoidal currents in the motor windings are known. Sine drives are quieter than trap drives.
As described above, the BEMF signals are not available until the electric motor has achieved some minimum rotating speed. Thus, during start-up of the electric motor, a common method ramps up the motor slowly, without BEMF motor position information, and using a fixed and predetermined ramp-up rate and technique. However, different electric motors (e.g., motors with different inertial masses and coupled loads) require different motor drive signal start-up profiles.
A motor controller integrated circuit has only a limited number of pins. A motor controller integrated circuit must also be built for a low cost.
It would be desirable to provide a motor controller electronic circuit (either integrated or non-integrated) that uses a small number of pins, that is low cost (e.g., small silicon surface area), that can generate sine drive signals instead of trap drive signals for low noise, that can be used to drive a wide variety of types of electric motors, while providing a proper sine drive start-up profile synchronized with a sine drive normal mode of operation for each type of electric motor.

Electronic circuit and method for synchronizing electric motor drive signals between a start-up mode of operation and a normal mode of operation


A rotating control system includes a member having at least one clevis defined by a pair of clevis arms disposed in a clevis plane, the at least one clevis having an axis of symmetry disposed in the clevis plane midway between the pair of clevis arms, a shaft member pivotally coupled between the pair of clevis arms, the shaft member having a shaft axis, the shaft axis disposed axially along the shaft member, and an anti-rotation device for limiting a rotation of the shaft member about the shaft axis, the anti-rotation device having a plurality of flanges configured to couple to the clevis arms of the member, the flanges extending from a surface of a base member, the anti-rotation device having at least one restraining member that protrudes toward the shaft member for limiting the axial rotation of the shaft member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present application relates generally to anti-rotation devices used to prevent wear in the rotating control systems of helicopters and tilt rotor aircraft and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for limiting the rotation of an actuator rod used to manipulate the non-rotating swashplate of a swashplate system.
2. Description of Related Art
Tilt rotor aircraft are hybrids between traditional helicopters and traditional propeller driven aircraft. Typical tilt rotor aircraft have fixed wings that terminate with convertible tilt rotor assemblies that house the engines and transmissions that drive the rotors. Tilt rotor aircraft are convertible from a helicopter mode, in which the tilt rotor aircraft can take-off, hover, and land like a helicopter; to an airplane mode, in which the tilt rotor aircraft can fly forward like a fixed-wing aircraft.
Helicopters and tilt rotor aircraft use rotating control systems. A rotating control system typically consists of a rotating swashplate and a non-rotating swashplate connected by a bearing system. The rotating swashplate tracks the movements of the non-rotating swashplate, and the angle of the main rotor blades are adjusted accordingly. The non-rotating swashplate is manipulated by the pilot by way of hydraulic actuators. Each actuator rod is attached to one of several clevises of the non-rotating swashplate at a spherical bearing. The spherical bearing is held in place by a bearing housing at the end of the actuator rod.
The spherical bearing permits rotational misalignment of the actuator in all axes. The misalignment of the spherical bearing is determined and controlled by inputs from the flight control system. Rotation of the actuator about its own longitudinal axis is not restricted, nor can it be limited or controlled by inputs from the flight control system. Because of this condition, the bearing housing is able to rotate within the clevis such that it comes into contact with an inner surface of the clevis. Such contact causes wear resulting in structural damage to both the clevis arms and the bearing housing. Since the clevis arms are integral to the non-rotating swashplate, damage to the clevis arms compromises the structural integrity of the non-rotating swashplate. Damage to the non-rotating swashplate causes a hazardous condition that could cause a pilot to loose control of the helicopter or aircraft. Devices have been inserted into the clevis to limit excessive rotation of the actuator. Such devices have caused premature wear and damage to the bearing housings from the introduction of debris, thereby compromising the structural integrity of the actuator.
Due to the flight-critical nature of the non-rotating swashplate and actuator, there has been a desire to minimize wear and damage to the clevis arms and bearing housing. The solution to the problem in the past has been to install wear pads between the bearing housing and the clevis arms. This approach does protect the clevis but does not protect the bearing housing, which is worn because of contact with the pads. An additional problem is that the wear pads may require frequent replacement, resulting in added costs and aircraft down time.
Although great strides have been made in anti-rotation devices, considerable shortcomings remain.
While the system and method of the present application is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and are herein described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the description herein of specific embodiments is not intended to limit the application to the particular embodiment disclosed, but on the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the process of the present application as defined by the appended claims.

Rotor system anti-rotation wear protector


A portable electronic device contains a memory having first to third memory areas and a CPU. A plurality of identification number data is stored in the first memory area. The portable electronic device receives identification number data from an external device. The CPU verifies the identification number data received by this device with the identification number data stored in the first memory area. Verification results are then stored in the second memory area. The portable electronic device also receives instruction data from the external device. Control data corresponding to the instruction data and representing a plurality of identifiers are stored in the third memory area. Each identifier indicates whether or not identification number verification is required and whether complete or partial identification number verification is required. The CPU then refers to the verification results stored in the second memory area in accordance with the control data stored in the third memory area after the instruction data has been received. Finally, the CPU executes the instruction data in response to the verification results.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a portable electronic device such as an IC card and a method for processing data therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, IC cards have been developed as new portable data memory media. A card normally contains IC chips having, for example control elements such as, non-volatile data memories and CPUs. This type of IC card selectively executes the input and output of required data by the control element accessing the data memory in response to instruction data inputted from outside. In the current invention, the data memory is divided into a plurality of data areas, and is designed to selectively access the subject area.
In a prior art IC card, whether or not verification of an ID (identification) number is required for each of the plurality of data areas is set for the data memory data area within the data area. Thus, a key is applied for setting the ID number verification state for the card-manufacturer, the card-issuer and the card-holder. For example, in the case of a relevant data area being only available for the card-issuer, if the card-issuer's ID number is verified and instruction data is inputted, processing of that instruction data is executed. However, when instruction data is inputted by anyone other than the card-issuer, response data to the effect that execution conditions are not in order is outputted externally, and processing of the instruction data is not executed. That is, if instruction data is inputted by the card holder, for instance, response data to the effect that execution conditions are not in order is outputted externally. Under these conditions, it is possible for a card-holder to guess the instruction data which would be executed if inputted by the card-manufacturer or card-issuer. Thus, if the card-holder is aware of the card-issure's or card-manufacturer's ID number, there is a danger that the execution of the instruction data will be performed. This can occur if the card-holder inputs instruction data based on the card-issuer's or card-manufacturer's ID number.
When instruction data which is undefined or not available is inputted by, for instance, the card-holder, response data signifying `undefined instruction data` is outputted externally. It is possible for the card-holder to guess that only instruction data excepting the ID number is undefined. Thus, there is danger of that defined or available instruction data can be guessed by the card-holder based on any instruction data which is inputted by the card-holder.
Thus, there is the possibility that the available instruction data will become identified, and therefore, there is a problem of poor security.

Portable electronic device and a method for processing data therefore


A data transmission system for transmitting a data file from a server to a client device includes a processor, a memory and a network interface device. The memory includes a user space and a kernel space. The data file is stored in the kernel space. The processor receives a transmission request from the client device for transmitting the data file. The processor maps a set of virtual addresses corresponding to the data file to the user space as a mapped data file, and stores a set of physical addresses corresponding to the set of virtual addresses in a set of meta-buffers of a socket created in the user space. The network interface device retrieves the data file from the kernel space based on the set of physical addresses from the set of meta-buffers, and transmits the data file to the client device.

The present invention generally relates to computer networks, and, more particularly, to a data transmission system in a computer network.
A computer network is a group of computing devices interconnected by a transmission medium. The computer network facilitates exchange of information between the computing devices. The computer network includes two types of the computing devices, namely, client devices and servers. Servers contain multiple resources that are shared with other computing devices in the computer network, such as data files that store information that is exchanged between the computing devices. The client devices access the resources provided by the servers.
A server has a memory that stores data files to be transmitted and boot code for booting a server operating system (OS), examples of which include Linux©, Windows©, and Macintosh© OSs. The memory includes multiple physical addresses at which the data files and the boot code are stored. For example, the boot code may be stored in a secure partition of the memory that cannot be overwritten. The server also includes a processor that retrieves the boot code from the memory and then executes it.
The server OS enables execution of multiple user processes. These user processes provide multiple services to a client device connected to the server, such as a file transfer service for transmitting data files, e-mail, and a web browser. The server OS further enables execution of a kernel that acts as an interface between the user processes and the processor and the memory, where the processor controls access of the user processes to the memory by way of the kernel.
To provide access to the physical addresses of the memory, the server OS utilizes a virtual address space that includes multiple virtual addresses that correspond to the physical addresses. To protect data files from malicious programs that may affect user processes and to provide fault tolerance during processing, the virtual address space is divided into two spaces, a kernel space that includes a first set of virtual addresses, and a user space that includes a second set of virtual addresses. The data files are stored at the physical addresses corresponding to the kernel space. The kernel space is reserved for kernel services and system calls generated by the kernel. The user space is reserved for user processes. The user processes request a kernel service using a system call. When the processor executes a system call, the processor is in a kernel mode. When the processor executes user processes, the processor is in a user mode. Therefore, when user processes such as file transfer services are executed, the data files are transmitted from the kernel space of the server to the client device via the computer network.
FIG. 1A illustrates a schematic block diagram of a conventional server 102 for transmitting a data file to a client device (not shown) in a computer network (not shown) by generating read and write system calls. The server 102 includes a processor 104, a memory 106, and a network interface device 108. The processor 104 includes a system memory 110, and the network interface device 108 includes a direct memory access (DMA) system 112. The memory 106 has a user space 114 and a kernel space 116. The kernel space 116 includes a kernel buffer 118 and a socket 120, and the user space 114 includes a user buffer 122.
The processor 104, the memory 106, and the network interface device 108 are interconnected with a system bus (not shown). The DMA system 112 is connected to the client device via the computer network for transmitting the data file.
Initially, the processor 104 operates in a user mode and executes a file transfer service, where the server 102 receives a transmission request from the client device. In response, the processor 104 identifies the data file stored in a secondary memory (not shown) of the server 102, retrieves the data file from the secondary memory, and stores the data file in to the kernel buffer 118. Subsequently, the file transfer service generates a read system call. The processor 104 then transitions from the user mode to the kernel mode to execute the read system call. The processor 104 copies the content of the kernel buffer 118 to the user buffer 122 based on the read system call. The processor 104 then transitions from the kernel mode and to the user mode. To initiate transmission of the data file by way of the DMA system 112, the file transfer service generates a write system call to store the data file in the socket 120. The processor 104 then transitions from the user mode to the kernel mode to execute the write system call. The processor 104 copies the content of the user buffer 122 to the socket 120 based on the write system call. The DMA system 112 retrieves the data file from the socket 120 and transmits it to the client device via the computer network.
FIG. 1B illustrates transitions of the processor 104 between the user and kernel modes when the processor 104 generates read and write system calls. Here, the processor 104 undergoes transitions between the user and kernel modes four times during the transmission of the data file by executing read and write system calls.
FIG. 2A is a schematic block diagram of another conventional server 202 that can transmit a data file to a client device (not shown) in a computer network (not shown) using a SENDFILE system call. The server 202 includes a processor 204, a memory 206, and a network interface device 208. The processor 204 includes a system memory 210. The network interface device 208 includes a direct memory access (DMA) system 212. The memory 106 has a user space 214 and a kernel space 216, and the kernel space 216 includes a kernel buffer 218 and a socket 220.
The processor 204, the memory 206, and the network interface device 208 are interconnected by a system bus (not shown). The DMA system 212 is connected to the client device via the computer network for transmitting the data file.
Initially, the processor 204 operates in a user mode and executes a file transfer service. The server 202 receives a transmission request from the client device via the computer network for transmitting the data file. In response, the processor 204 identifies the data file stored in a secondary memory (not shown) of the server 202, retrieves the data file from the secondary memory, and stores it in the kernel buffer 218. Subsequently, the file transfer service generates the SENDFILE system call. The processor 204 then transitions from the user mode to the kernel mode to execute the SENDFILE system call. The processor 204 copies the contents of the kernel buffer 218 to the socket 220 based on the SENDFILE system call, and then transitions from the kernel mode back to the user mode. The DMA system 212 retrieves the data file from the socket 220 and transmits it to the client device via the computer network.
FIG. 2B illustrates transitions of the processor 204 between the user and kernel modes when the processor 204 generates the SENDFILE system call. Here, the processor 204 undergoes transitions between the user and kernel modes just two times by using the SENDFILE system call.
FIG. 3A is a schematic block diagram of yet another conventional server 302 for transmitting a data file to a client device (not shown) in a computer network (not shown) by generating memory map and write system calls. The memory map system call is also referred to as an MMAP system call. The server 302 includes a processor 304, a memory 306, and a network interface device 308. The processor 304 includes a system memory 310. The network interface device 308 includes a direct memory access (DMA) system 312. The memory 306 includes a user space 314 and a kernel space 316, and the kernel space 316 includes a kernel buffer 318 and a socket 320, while the user space 314 has a user buffer 322.
The processor 304, memory 306, and network interface device 308 are interconnected with a system bus (not shown). The DMA system 312 is connected to the client device via the computer network.
Initially, the processor 304 operates in a user mode and executes a file transfer service, and the server 302 then receives a transmission request from the client device. In response to the transmission request, the processor 304 identifies the data file stored in a secondary memory (not shown) of the server 302, retrieves the data file from the secondary memory, and stores it in the kernel buffer 318. Subsequently, the file transfer service generates the MMAP system call. The processor 304 then transitions from the user mode to kernel mode to execute the MMAP system call. The processor 304 stores a set of virtual addresses corresponding to the data file in to the user buffer 322 based on the MMAP system call. The processor 304 then transitions from the kernel mode back to the user mode. To initiate transmission of the data file using the DMA system 312, the file transfer service generates a write system call to store the data file in the socket 320. The processor 304 then transitions from the user mode to the kernel mode to execute the write system call. The processor 304 copies the content of the user buffer 322 to the socket 320 based on the write system call, thereby storing the set of virtual addresses in the socket 320. The DMA system 312 receives the virtual addresses from the socket 320 and determines a set of corresponding physical addresses by referring to a translation look-aside buffer (TLB) (not shown) stored in the system memory 310. The TLB is a cache memory used to translate a virtual address into a corresponding physical address. The DMA system 312 then retrieves the data file from the kernel buffer 318 based on the set of physical addresses and transmits the data file to the client device via the computer network.
FIG. 3B illustrates transitions of the processor 304 between the user and kernel modes when the processor 304 generates the MMAP and write system calls. Here, the processor 304 undergoes four transitions between the user and kernel modes during the transmission of the data file by executing the MMAP and write system calls.
In the aforementioned conventional systems for transmitting the data file, one or more than one copies of the data file are created in the memory. A large number of server processing cycles are used for creating the data file copies within the server. The efficiency of the server is directly dependent on the number of processing cycles available for performing user processes. When the server uses a large number of processing cycles for creating data file copies, the number of processing cycles available for user processes is reduced, thereby resulting in reduced performance. Further, the data file copies consume large spaces in the memory. Since the server operates on a finite physical memory size, the large spaces occupied by the data file copies cause a reduction in the memory available for other user processes, thus also affecting server performance.
The above-described methods cause the processor to transition between the user and kernel modes multiple times. A large number of processing cycles are wasted by these transitions. The use of the TLB to execute the SENDFILE system call may result in a TLB miss, which is when a requested virtual address is not present in the TLB. Hence, the conventional data transmission systems discussed above suffer from inefficiency and it would be advantageous to have a more efficient data transmission system and/or one that requires less memory space.


A wiper support shaft supports a wiper, which wipes a windshield glass. The wiper support shaft projects outward through an opening of a cowl louver that is placed on a vehicle front side of the windshield glass. A four-bar linkage drives the wiper support shaft to move the wiper support shaft in the opening of the cowl louver in such a manner that a wiping range of the wiper, which is installed to the wiper support shaft, changes on the windshield glass. A covering member is supported by the wiper support shaft at a location inside the cowl louver to limit direct viewing of the four-bar linkage through the opening of the cowl louver.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a wiper system for a vehicle.
2. Description of Related Art
In a case of a wiper system disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 2002-225679 (corresponding to US2002/0100137A1), a wiper support shaft supports a wiper and is movable in a width direction of a vehicle through use of a four-bar linkage.
Specifically, the wiper support shaft, which projects outward through an elongated hole of a cowl louver located on a vehicle front side of a windshield glass, is driven to move along the elongated hole of the cowl louver. With this structure, even in a case where a length of a wiper blade of the wiper is increased to increase a wiping area on the windshield glass, interference of a distal end portion of the wiper blade with an A-pillar of the vehicle can be limited by moving the wiper support shaft at a lower return position of the wiper.
However, it is required to increase an open area of the elongated hole to enable the movement of the wiper support shaft in the width direction of the vehicle. Therefore, a drive mechanism or the like of a main body of the wiper system can be directly viewed through the elongated hole (opening), and thereby the outer appearance of the entire system may possibly be deteriorated.


The invention relates to a method for heating a catalytic converter which is arranged in the exhaust-gas path of an internal combustion engine with direct injection and spark ignition. In the method, a first fuel injection takes place in the intake stroke (E), whereas a second fuel injection begins in the combustion stroke after top dead center and prior to the spark ignition of the air/fuel mix. It is preferable for the second fuel injection to continue beyond the ignition instant until the pressure in the combustion chamber reaches the fuel injection pressure.

A large proportion of the emissions from an internal combustion engine are formed before the catalytic converter has reached its operating temperature during a cold start. Therefore, to be able to comply with the increasingly stringent emission regulations for motor vehicles, it is desirable for a catalytic converter to be heated as quickly as possible.
In this respect, EP 1 108 873 B1 discloses a method for heating a catalytic converter which is arranged in the exhaust-gas path of an internal combustion engine with direct injection and spark ignition, with a first fuel injection taking place in the compression stroke before top dead center of the respective piston, the air/fuel mix which is formed being spark-ignited and a second, postinjection of fuel being carried out between approx. 25° and 100° after top dead center. Furthermore, the postinjection brings the initially still lean air/fuel mix up to stoichiometric or rich (enriched) ratios.
The inventors herein have recognized an improved method for quickly heating a catalytic converter. Accordingly, a method for heating a catalytic converter which is arranged in the exhaust-gas path of an internal combustion engine with direct injection and spark ignition, includes a first fuel injection taking place before top dead center; and a second fuel injection taking place in the combustion stroke after top dead center, wherein the second fuel injection begins prior to ignition of the fuel.
The method according to the invention can be used in particular to heat a catalytic converter which is arranged in the exhaust-gas path of an internal combustion engine with direct injection and spark ignition. Heating of this type is required, for example, during an engine cold start in order for the operating temperature of the catalytic converter to be reached as quickly as possible and therefore for the removal of harmful emissions from the exhaust gases to be effected as quickly as possible. In the method, the injection of the fuel into the respective combustion chambers of the internal combustion engine is divided into at least two individual injections, a first fuel injection taking place before the piston reaches top dead center at the end of the compression stroke. Furthermore, a second fuel injection takes place after the piston has moved beyond top dead center and is therefore in the combustion stroke (also known as the expansion or working stroke). According to the invention, the second fuel injection is to begin prior to ignition of the fuel. An advantage of this invention is that it allows the combustion of the fuel to be very strongly delayed, with a high utilization of the fuel, which in turn correspondingly increases the exhaust gas temperature and therefore heats the catalytic converter quickly. The second fuel injection, which has commenced prior to the spark ignition, during the combustion stroke generates a region within the fuel chamber which has an enriched air/fuel mix which is readily ignited and causes the combustion to rapidly progress into the remaining regions of the combustion chamber, in which the typically lean air/fuel mix from the first injection operation is located. It has been found that this effect advantageously occurs substantially independently of the design of the combustion chamber. For example, the cylinder head may be designed in a conventional way, and the top side of the piston may be flat, concavely recessed or elevated in the shape of a roof. Accordingly, the fuel can be transported from the fuel injector to the spark plug by one or a combination of the methods known for this purpose, i.e. with guidance by the walls of the combustion chamber ("wall-guided"), by turbulence within the combustion chamber ("air-guided") or by the shape and direction of the fuel jet ("jet-guided").
The first fuel injection preferably takes place as early as during the intake stroke of the associated piston, i.e. when the piston is moving from the (previous) top dead center to the bottom dead center and in the process draws in fresh air through the open intake valve. The incoming flow of air leads to the formation of considerable turbulence, which brings about a good distribution of the fuel from the first injection.
In the first injection, the quantity of fuel is preferably such that it leads to the formation of a lean air/fuel mix in the associated combustion chamber. With a lean mix of this type, the risk of spontaneous ignition is ruled out or minimized. The first fuel injection may preferably comprise between 50% and 80% of the total quantity of fuel injected in the corresponding working stroke of the respective piston.
In a preferred embodiment of the method, the ignition of the fuel takes place between approx. 10° and 40°, preferably between approx. 25° and 30° after top dead center of the piston, in the combustion stroke. The result of such a delayed ignition is that the exhaust gases from the combustion are at a high temperature, the heat quantity which is contained in the exhaust gas being approximately proportional to the extent to which the ignition is delayed.
In another advantageous embodiment of the method, the second fuel injection begins between 0° and approx. 40°, preferably between 0° and approx. 25°, after top dead center of the corresponding piston in the combustion stroke. The second injection may optionally also end again within the angle ranges mentioned.
According to another embodiment, the second fuel injection extends beyond the instant of ignition of the air/fuel mix.
It is advantageous for the composition of the air/fuel mix, as seen over a working stroke of a piston, to be lean on average (in terms of time and space, i.e. within the combustion chamber), in order to achieve optimum utilization of fuel.
The invention also relates to an internal combustion engine with a catalytic converter arranged in the exhaust-gas path. The internal combustion engine has at least one cylinder, which includes a piston, a fuel injector for the direct injection of fuel, and an ignition device for the spark ignition of the fuel. A controller is connected to the fuel injector and the ignition device and, if appropriate, further actuators and/or suitable sensors, in order to control the instants and quantitative proportions of fuel injections as well as the instants of ignition. The controller can control the fuel injector in such a way that a first fuel injection takes place before top dead center of the associated piston and a second fuel injection begins in the combustion stroke after top dead center and before ignition of the fuel.
In a preferred embodiment of the internal combustion engine, the system further includes at least one pressure sensor coupled to one of its combustion chambers for measuring the combustion pressure in this combustion chamber. In this case, the engine controller is preferably designed to terminate the second fuel injection when the measured pressure in the combustion chamber exceeds a predetermined threshold value. Said threshold value in this case typically corresponds to the fuel injection pressure which the fuel injector provides or the maximum fuel injection pressure which it can provide, minus a safety margin to account for any tolerances.
The above advantages and other advantages, and features of the present invention will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, and from the claims.

Method for assisting with heating a catalytic converter of an internal combustion engine


Compounds having beta-2 adrenergic agonist activity and the use of these compounds in controlling intraocular pressure are disclosed. The compounds are believed to be useful in controlling intraocular pressure by increasing the outflow of aqueous humor. The compounds are considered to be less likely to cause cardiovascular side effects and various other side effects associated with stimulation of beta-1 receptors, relative to epinephrine.

The present invention relates to the fields of medicinal chemistry and ophthalmology. More specifically, this invention is directed to the provision of certain novel organic molecules which have an agonistic effect on beta-2 ("B.sub.2 ") adrenergic receptors. The physiological effect of the subject compounds is useful in the treatment of various conditions, particularly glaucoma. The invention is therefore also directed to the provision of methods of treatment which employ one or more of the subject compounds and corresponding pharmaceutical compositions.
Glaucoma is a progressive disease which leads to optic nerve damage, and, ultimately, partial or total loss of vision. The causes of this disease have been the subject of extensive studies for many years, but are still not fully understood. The principal symptom of the disease is an elevated pressure within the eye caused by excess intraocular fluid (i.e., "aqueous humor").
The reasons why the excess fluid accumulates are not fully understood. It is known that the elevated intraocular pressure ("IOP") can be at least partially controlled by administering drugs which affect either the production of aqueous humor within the eye or the flow of aqueous humor out of the eye. The glaucoma therapies currently available primarily involve the use of drugs which act to reduce production of aqueous humor by the ciliary body of the eye. These therapies have been generally effective in the majority of patients. However, it is not always possible to control chronic elevations of IOP by reducing the amount of aqueous humor production, particularly in cases where obstructed outflow of aqueous humor is contributing to the excess fluid level and consequent elevation of IOP. Moreover, the reduction of aqueous humor production creates a risk that the avascular tissues of the eye, particularly the lens and the cornea, will be damaged due to an inadequate supply of nutrients and/or hydration caused by the reduced production of aqueous humor. The possible use of agents which increase the outflow of aqueous humor to control IOP has therefore been a topic of great interest to scientists engaged in glaucoma research.
The compounds of the present invention share some common structural characteristics with epinephrine, which is a well-known compound having both B.sub.1 and B.sub.2 agonist activity. Epinephrine has been widely used as a vasoconstrictor, cardiac stimulant and bronchodilator for many years. The use of epinephrine and related sympathomimetic compounds (e.g. phenylephrine, norepinephrine and dipivaloyl epinephrine) in ophthalmology is also well known. These compounds have been used both alone and in combination with other types of drugs to control IOP in glaucoma patients. While the precise mechanisms of physiological action are not totally understood, it is believed that the compounds help to control IOP by both reducing the production of aqueous humor through an action on the ciliary body of the eye and increasing the outflow of aqueous through an action on the trabecular meshwork.
Although epinephrine and the related compounds mentioned above have been a very useful and important part of the ophthalmologist's drug arsenal for many years, there are practical limitations of the utility of these compounds. For example, the ability of the compounds to control chronic or extreme elevations of intraocular pressure is limited. Moreover, the compounds stimulate both B.sub.1 and B.sub.2 adrenergic receptors. As a result, the use of the compounds to control intraocular pressure may produce undesirable stimulation of receptors in other tissues within the body, such as the tissues of the cardiovascular system. This stimulation of the cardiovascular system may cause significant side effects, such as a marked increase in blood pressure, tachycardia and arrythmia. These side effects are particularly troublesome in elderly patients, who frequently are already afflicted with high blood pressure or other cardiovascular abnormalities.
In view of the foregoing, there is a need for an improved therapy which provides for more potent control of elevated IOP. There is also a need for a therapy which controls elevated IOP without causing significant side effects in other systems of the body, particularly the cardiovasculature system. A therapy which controls IOP by means of increasing the outflow of aqueous humor, without adversely affecting the normal production of aqueous humor, is also highly desirable.

B.sub.2 adrenegic agonists and use thereof in the treatment of glaucoma


Some demonstrative embodiments include devices, systems and/or methods of establishing a wireless beamformed link. For example, an apparatus may include a wireless communication controller to control a first wireless communication device to communicate millimeter-wave (mmWave) signals with a second wireless communication device over a mmWave frequency band, the mmWave signals including signals transmitted according to a plurality of different transmit (Tx) beamforming settings, the wireless communication controller is to control the first wireless communication device to communicate feedback information, which is based on the mmWave signals, over a non-mmWave frequency band, and to control the first wireless communication device to establish with the second wireless communication device a beamformed link over the mmWave frequency band, the beamformed link using a Tx beamforming setting, which is determined based on the feedback information.

Some wireless communication systems may communicate over the Millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency band, e.g., the 60 GHz Frequency band. The mmWave frequency band has a few major distinctive features in comparison with lower frequency bands, e.g., the frequency bands of 2.4-5 GHz. For example, the mmWave frequency band may have a propagation loss greater than the propagation loss in the lower frequency bands, and may have Quasi-optical propagation properties.
A mmWave communication system may use high-gain directional antennas to compensate for large path loss and/or employ beamsteering techniques. Design of appropriate antenna system and/or further signal processing may be an important aspect of mmWave communication system development.
Multi-element phased antenna arrays may be used, for example, for creation of a directional antenna pattern. A phased antenna array may form a directive antenna pattern or a directional beam, which may be steered by setting appropriate signal phases at the antenna elements.
A beamforming training procedure may be performed between two wireless communication devices to establish a wireless beamformed link between the two devices to communicate high-throughout data.
The beamforming training procedure may steer the directional beam of each of the two devices, such that the directional beam is directed towards the other device, for example, to enable high-throughput communication between the two devices.
The beamforming training procedure may require a relatively large amount of time and may consume a large amount of power.

Apparatus, system and method of establishing a wireless beamformed link


Brake modulators for parking brake systems of work vehicles are provided. A brake modulator includes a housing defining a fluid chamber, an auxiliary chamber, a fluid inlet channel, and a fluid outlet channel. The brake modulator further includes a piston disposed within the housing between the fluid chamber and the auxiliary chamber. The piston is movable between a first position wherein the fluid chamber has a first volume and a second position wherein the fluid chamber has a second volume greater than the first volume. The brake modulator further includes a biasing element providing a biasing force on the piston towards the first position, a rod extending between a first end disposed within the housing and a second end disposed exterior to the housing, and a handle connected to the second end of the rod. The rod is manually actuatable to move the piston between the first and second positions.

Typically, work vehicles, such as tractors and other agricultural vehicles, have a mechanical transmission such as a continuously variable transmission (CVT) or a power shift transmission (PST). Conventionally, each type of transmission utilizes a parking brake in order to maintain the vehicle in a parked or stopped condition when the vehicle is placed in park or when performing a hill holding operation. In addition, the parking brake may also be used to reduce the speed of the work vehicle, such as when the work vehicle experiences a loss of functionality (e.g., loss of electrical power and/or hydraulic pressure).
In many instances, conventional parking brakes for work vehicle transmissions are configured to be engaged and disengaged via an electric actuator (e.g., a solenoid activated actuator). Unfortunately, several disadvantages are typically associated with the use of electric actuators for engaging and disengaging parking brakes. Specifically, the electric actuators typically present mounting challenges within the work vehicle, since the actuator is often mounted at a location that is significantly spaced apart from the transmission. In addition, operation of an electric actuator requires the use of complex computer logic to ensure that the associated parking brake is engaged and disengaged at the appropriate time. However, even despite the use of complex computer logic, system faults (e.g., short circuits, etc.) may often result in the electric actuator being unintentionally commanded to engage the parking brake, which can cause significant damage to the brake itself or to the transmission as a whole when the vehicle is still in motion.
More recently, hydraulic brake actuators have been utilized to engage and disengage parking brakes of work vehicle transmissions. Typically, a piston of a hydraulic actuator is moved linearly due to selective increases and decreases in hydraulic fluid within a housing of the hydraulic actuator. A rod connected to the piston is also moved linearly, and this rod is connected via a suitable mechanical linkage to the parking brake. The parking brake is selectively engaged and disengaged as a result of the movement of the piston.
In many cases, a decrease in the hydraulic fluid within a chamber of the housing causes engagement of the parking brake. This allows the parking brake to act as an automatic emergency brake if hydraulic fluid pressure is lost. A loss in such pressure will result in a decrease in the hydraulic fluid within the chamber and a corresponding engagement of the parking brake. However, this automatic emergency brake functionality has a number of disadvantages. For example, once the parking brake has been engaged in cases wherein hydraulic fluid pressure is lost, it cannot be disengaged without repair to the hydraulic fluid supply or use of, for example, an independent pump to re-pressurize the line. Further, engagement of the parking brake in such situations is immediate, resulting in immediate and rapid deceleration of the work vehicle. This can cause injury to the user of the work vehicle and damage to the work vehicle itself.
Accordingly, improved parking brake systems are desired in the art. In particular, parking brake systems which allow for selective engagement and disengagement in emergency situations, and which allow for brake modulation during braking events, would be advantageous.

Brake modulator for parking brake system of a work vehicle


A method and system constructs a socio-technical network representing design and development processes. In one aspect, a network of inter-personal interactions comprising at least a plurality of nodes representing actors in design and development process is established; an artifacts network comprising at least a plurality of nodes representing a plurality of heterogeneous artifact types is established; one or more relationships between the nodes in the network of inter-personal interactions are determined; one or more relationships between the nodes of the artifacts network are determined; and one or more relationships between the nodes in the network of inter-personal interactions and the nodes of the artifacts network are determined.

Any non-trivial design and development projects require the enactment of an intensely collaborative process, which makes such design and development an eminent socio-technical activity. For that reason, understanding and measuring how people are organized and interact with each other when they work on design and development projects and perform worker-intensive design activities is an important step in improving productivity of the design or development processes. Applicable projects may include but are not limited to software design and development project, hardware or system design and development projects.
In M. E. Conway, "How Do Committees invent?" Datamation, 14(4):28-31, April 1968, it has been observed that some form of correlation exists between the structure of a product and the layout of the organization that produces that product (Conway's Law).
D. L. Parnas, "On the Criteria to be Used in Decomposing Systems into Modules", Communications of the ACM, 15(12):1053-1058, December 1972, observed that in a software project the subdivision of development responsibility tends to influence and induce the modularization of the software product at least as strongly as functional decomposition.
Recently, a number of researchers have tried to investigate upon the aforementioned observations. The state of the art includes some works that employ techniques borrowed from Social Network Analysis (SNA) to plot visualizations and quantitatively measure properties of a network depicting the inter-personal interactions within an organization involved in the design and development of a software product. However the properties of such a network of inter-personal interactions seem insufficient to capture and explain the complex phenomena occurring in a software project, unless they are situated with respect to the technical work being done. For that reason a few other works couple SNA with general graph analysis capabilities, which are applied to a given representation of the software. For example, various works describe the networks obtained by carrying out inter-artifact relationships that can be obtained by performing static analysis of program code artifacts: see for example Cleidson de Souza et al., "From Technical Dependencies to Social Dependencies", 2004. Orlena Gotel et al., "Contribution Structures", 1995, instead, focus on the dependencies between requirement specification artifacts. Some others focus on the relationships between technical tasks carried out by people in the context of the software design and development process: see for example Marcelo Cataldo et al. "Identification of Coordination Requirements: Implications for the Design of Collaboration and Awareness Tools", Computer Supported cooperative Work '06, Nov. 4-8, 2006.
The existing works, however, take into account only one particular aspect of the multi-faced software design and development process, in connection with the organization undertaking it. Therefore, an improved methodology and a generic framework to aid the understanding of design and development is desirable. It would be also desirable that said methodology and framework take into consideration multiple relationships among a variety of diverse objects and entities involved in such design and development process.

Method and system for understanding social organization in a design and development process

International Business Machines Corporation


A deskew circuit utilizing a coarse delay adjustment and fine delay adjustment centers the received data in a proper data window and aligns the data for proper sampling. In one scheme, bit state transitions of a training sequence for SPI-4 protocol is used to adjust delays to align the transition points.

Data transfer between a data transmitter and a data receiver entail problems associated with proper timing of data arrival at the receiver input. In some applications, the received data may be misaligned with the clock signal, so that the data timing is skewed, which may result in incorrect data being sampled by the receiver. The problem may be inherent in the system, such as when trace length on the board are not of uniform length for the input lines and the clock signal. In other instances, the skew between the data and clock timing may be designed into a specification as a permitted tolerance, so that the designer may need to adjust for the skew at the receiver end.
The System Packet Interface Level 4 (SPI-4) protocol specification allows for some skew between the various data and clock pairs. Although this loose tolerance reduces the system complexity, each SPI-4 receiver is required to implement some deskew logic to recover the timing. A variety of deskew techniques may be implemented and some implementations achieve the deskew by some sort of averaging algorithm at the pad level.
The described embodiments of the invention address the deskew of SPI-4 interface, as well as other data transfer interfaces.


A fuel cell includes: a membrane electrolyte assembly which includes a polymer electrolyte membrane and a pair of catalyst electrodes between which the polymer electrolyte membrane is held and separators between which the membrane electrolyte assembly is held. The first separator includes first gas flow channels and second gas flow channels which are adjacent to the first gas flow channels, the first and second gas flow channels supplying an oxidizing gas or a fuel gas to the membrane electrolyte assembly. The first and second gas flow channels are parallel to each other and are alternately arranged, the first gas flow channels are larger in cross sectional area than the second gas flow channels. The second separator includes first gas flow channels parallel to the first and second gas flow channels of the first separator, and second gas flow channels which are adjacent to the first gas flow channels, the first and second gas flow channels supplying an oxidizing gas or a fuel to the membrane electrolyte assembly. The first and second gas flow channels are parallel to each other and are alternately arranged and the oxidizing gas or fuel gas supplied in the first and second gas flow channels of the first separator flows in an opposite direction to the oxidizing gas or fuel gas supplied in the first and second gas flow channels of the second separator.

Fuel cells generally consist of a polymer electrolyte membrane which selectively transports protons and of a pair of catalyst electrodes (fuel electrode and air electrode) between which the polymer electrolyte membrane is held. Fuel cells with this configuration are capable of continuous electric energy production by using a fuel gas, a gas containing hydrogen, supplied to the fuel electrode as well as an oxidizing gas, a gas containing oxygen, supplied to the air electrode.
The polymer electrolyte membrane consists of electrolyte which includes a polymer ion exchange membrane such as sulfonic group-containing fluorine resin ion exchange membrane or hydrocarbon resin ion exchange membrane. The polymer electrolyte member needs to contain a given amount of water for ion transport capability.
The catalyst electrode includes a catalyst layer and a gas diffusion layer. The catalyst layer contacts the polymer electrolyte membrane and promotes redox reactions in the catalyst electrode. The gas diffusion layer is located on the opposite side of the catalyst layer from the polymer electrolyte membrane and exhibits air permeability and electric conductivity. Moreover, the gas diffusion layer includes a carbon coat layer and a gas diffusion base layer. The carbon coat layer contacts the catalyst layer for improving the contact reliability between the gas diffusion layer and catalyst layer. The gas diffusion base layer diffuses therein supplied gas for uniform gas transport to the catalyst layer. The catalyst layer of the fuel electrode contains, for example, platinum or platinum-ruthenium alloy. The catalyst layer of the air electrode contains, for example, platinum or platinum-cobalt alloy. An assembled stack of a polymer electrolyte membrane and a pair of catalyst electrodes each including a catalyst layer, a carbon coat layer and a gas diffusion base layer is referred to as a membrane electrode assembly (hereinafter "MEA").
MEAs may be electrically connected in series by stacking them atop each other. Conductive separators are interposed between the MEAs to avoid possible mixing between fuel and oxidizing gases as well as to establish electrical connection between the MEAs.
The separators are of two types: a fuel electrode separator which contacts the fuel electrode; and an air electrode separator which contacts the air electrode. The fuel electrode separator includes fuel gas flow channels through which a fuel gas is supplied to the MEA, and the air electrode separator includes oxidizing gas flow channels through which an oxidizing gas is supplied to the MEA.
As described above, the polymer electrolyte membrane needs to contain a given amount of water in order to offer ion transport capability. Thus, the gas is generally pre-humidified to ensure sufficient water content in the fuel cell. However, a humidifier for reaction gases does not contribute to electricity generation. Moreover, it requires an installation space. Thus, successful development of fuel cells that require no humidifiers is expected to lead to downsized fuel cell systems for overall cost reduction.
Moreover, if fuel cells requiring no humidifier can be developed, energy loss by such a humidifier can be avoided and therefore overall electricity generation efficiency increases. There has therefore been a continuing need in the art for the development of fuel cells capable of maintaining electricity generation efficiency even when supplying less- or non-humidified reaction gases.
Methods are known by which water generated during the operation of the fuel cell is kept within the fuel cell to ensure a given amount of water in the fuel cell without having to humidify reaction gases (see, e.g., Patent Document 1).
The fuel cell disclosed by Patent Document 1 is so configured that the oxidizing gas supplied in the oxidizing gas flow channels and the fuel gas supplied in the fuel gas flow channels are made to flow in opposite directions, and a coolant flow channel is provided above the oxidizing gas outlet for partial cooling of the oxidizing gas outlet.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view illustrating a fuel cell disclosed by Patent Document 1. The fuel cell includes MEA 1 and a pair of air electrode separator 2 and fuel electrode separator between which MEA 1 is held. Air electrode separator 2 includes oxidizing gas flow channels 8, and fuel electrode separator 3 includes fuel gas flow channels 16.
As shown in FIG. 1, oxidizing gas and fuel gas flow in opposite directions. Moreover, coolant flow channel 15 is provided above oxidizing gas outlet 10, thereby cooling the oxidizing gas flowing near gas outlet 10. Cooling the oxidizing gas flowing near gas outlet 10 causes condensation of moisture in the gas, whereby water in the oxidizing gas can be recovered. In this way water generated in the fuel cell can be retained in the fuel cell.
In the fuel cell disclosed by Patent Document 1, all of the oxidizing gas flow channels are made uniform in width and depth for uniform distribution of oxidizing gas in the fuel cell.
Technologies are presented by which gas flooding is avoided by appropriately increasing or decreasing the cross sectional areas of the reaction gas flow channels provided in the separators along their lengths (see, e.g., Patent Document 2).
Technologies are also known by which curling of metal separators, which are made of stamped metal plate and include multiple gas flow channels formed therein, is reduced by using different flow channel volumes for adjacent gas flow channels (see, e.g., Patent Document 3).
Technologies are also known by which the reaction gas distribution is made uniform in the fuel cell by controlling the respective volumes of gas flow channels in the separators (see, e.g., Patent Document 4).
[Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-249243
[Patent Document 2] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2006-114387
[Patent Document 3] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-32578
[Patent Document 4] U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0105001

PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.


A texture compositing apparatus and method for combining multiple independent texture colors in a variety of ways in a single execution pass using a single texture compositing unit (TCU) per texture. The TCU receives a control signal, a blend factor, a local data signal(C.sub.local /A.sub.local) and an output data signal (C.sub.in /A.sub.in) generated by another TCU, the local data signal and the output data signal represent a texture color in a RGBA format. Based upon the control signal, the TCU can generate an output signal based on a variety of functions. The outputs that can be generated include but are not limited to: (1) zero; (2) one; (3) C.sub.in ; (4) C.sub.local ; (5) C.sub.in +C.sub.local ; (6) C.sub.in -C.sub.local ; (7) C.sub.in *C.sub.local ; (8) C.sub.in *C.sub.local +A.sub.local ; (9) C.sub.in *A.sub.local +C.sub.local ; (10) (C.sub.in -C.sub.local)* F.sub.blend +C.sub.local ; and (11) (C.sub.in -C.sub.local)*(1-F.sub.blend)+C.sub.local. Another feature of the invention is that multiple TCUs can be serially coupled to enable additional texture colors to be combined in a single execution path.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of image processing, and more particularly to an apparatus for combining texel images to generate graphics images.
2. Description of Background Art
Recent advances in computer performance has enabled graphics systems to provide more realistic graphical images using personal computers and home video game computers. In such graphics systems, some procedure must be implemented to "render" or draw graphics primitives to the screen of the system. "Graphics primitives" are a basic component of a graphics picture, such as a polygon, e.g., a triangle, or a vector. All graphics pictures are formed with combinations of these graphic primitives. Many procedures may be utilized to perform graphics primitives rendering.
Conventional graphics systems perform these graphics rendering procedures using a frame buffer. A frame buffer generally comprises a plurality of computer memory chips that store information concerning pixel activation on the system's display screen. Generally, the frame buffer includes all of the graphics data information that will be written onto the screen.
Early graphics systems displayed images representing objects having extremely smooth surfaces. That is, textures, bumps, scratches, or other surface features were not modeled. In order to improve the quality of the image, texture mapping was developed to model the complexity of real world surface images. In general, texture mapping is the mapping of an image or function onto a surface in three dimensions. Texture mapping is a relatively efficient technique for creating the appearance of a complex image without the tedium and computational cost of rendering three dimensional detail that might be found on a surface of an object.
Many parameters have been texture mapped in conventional systems. Some of these parameters include surface color, specular reflection, normal vector perturbation, specularity, transparency, diffuse reflections, and shadows. In texture mapping, a source image known as the "texture" is mapped onto a surface in three dimensional space. The three dimensional surface is then mapped to the destination image, that is typically a graphics display screen. Examples of the texture of an object include the gravel on a highway or scuff marks on a wooden surface.
In conventional systems a texture is frequently combined with either a constant color or an iterated color. That is, in conventional systems multiple texture colors are not combined in a single execution pass. Examples of the types of combinations or functions available in conventional systems between the texture and the constant color or the iterated color include a multiply function, an addition function, and a subtraction function. In some conventional systems each of these functions are performed in a separate chip, in other conventional systems these functions are performed in parallel using multiple chips. In such conventional systems, having chips capable of performing a single function is an inefficient use of space. In addition, having functions performed in parallel, e.g., trilinear mipmapping, is expensive because memory is not used efficiently. For example, in order to implement trilinear mipmapping in a conventional system using parallel processing, a single mipmap is stored multiple times, i.e., once in each chip. Trilinear mipmapping is described in greater detail below.
What is needed is a graphical system that (1) permits texture images to be combined with other texture images and (2) is scalable, that is, multiple texture combine units can be serially coupled such that many texture images can be combined in a single execution pass, where each texture combine unit is capable of creating a new texture image by combining two input texture images.

Texture compositing apparatus and method


A system may instantiate a control panel view that is useable to monitor and control an audio-related device operable in an audio system. A product plugin that corresponds to an audio-related device may receive and analyze the components of an audio node structure received from the audio-related device. The product plugin is configured to store one or more predefined control panel views that are associated with one or more of the components. The product plugin is also configured to instantiate the predefined control panel views that correspond to the components. If the product plugin determines that all of the components are not represented, one or more user interface aspects can be integrated into one or more of the control panel views prior to instantiation. Alternatively, a generic control panel view can be generated.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to audio systems, and more particularly, to a system for instantiating control panel views of audio-related equipment.
2. Related Art
Use of an audio system to amplify audio signals is well known. Typically, an audio system operates to amplify an audio signal with an amplifier and drive one or more loudspeakers. Such audio systems can range from relatively simple configurations having only a few components, such as in a retail clothing store, to large complex systems, such as those used in a concert hall performance.
Configuration of an audio system usually involves the physical placement and interconnection of the devices that make up the audio system. In addition, some of the devices, such as an amplifier and mixers, typically include user configurable settings. The settings may be configured at the preference of the user to achieve the desired audio system performance. As the size and complexity of an audio system increases, the amount of interconnections and settings may also increase. In addition, the devices in the audio system may become more geographically dispersed. Accordingly, operation, maintenance and troubleshooting of the system may become more challenging. This is especially true in audio systems that are repeatedly disassembled and re-assembled in various configurations, such as in the case of sound system for a touring musical group.
Pre-configured communication between devices in such a sound system is possible. In addition, a pre-configured site specific user interface may be included to communicate with certain pre-specified site specific devices. The pre-configured user interface can include customized display screens that display the functionality of one or more devices in the audio system. Due to the customized and pre-configured nature of the user interface, replacement of an old device for a new device in the system and/or addition of new devices in the system requires additional site specific configuration of the user interface.
Not only does such a site specific configuration require software programmers to write additional software code, but also requires coordinated and carefully planned system outages, software upgrades and startup re-verification whenever changes to the audio device configuration of the audio system occur. In addition, due to the need to add and/or modify software code whenever the audio system configuration is changed, the potential for software debugging and unwanted system downtime is an ever present concern. Further, unexpected hardware failures that result in an "on the fly" replacement with a similar device that includes different functionality than the failed device can result in lack of the capability to view, modify and/or control the new device until on site software programming to add the new device is completed and implemented.

Harman International Industries, Incorporated


A method and system allows for the deployment of security policies into the higher layers of the OSI model. Specifically, it allows for the establishment of security policies at layer 4 and higher, by monitoring authentication flows and using these flows as the basis for establishing security policies which then can be used as a basis for assessing the operation of the network.

Host computers, including servers and client computers, are typically interconnected to form computer networks. A computer network, and more generally a communications network, is a group of devices or network entities that are interconnected by one or more segments of transmission media on which communications are exchanged between those network entities. The communications can be transmitted electrically, including wireless links, or optically. The computer networks typically further comprise separate network communications devices, such as routers, switches, bridges, access points, and hubs, for transmitting and relaying the communications between the network entities, through the network's mesh.
Computer networks are typically classified by their size or by the type of entity that owns the network. Often, business organizations maintain large computer networks. These computer networks are referred to as enterprise networks. Enterprise networks are typically connected to other enterprise networks or home networks via service provider and public networks.
At the enterprise, service provider, and public network scale, network management systems are used to monitor and manage the networks. These systems can exist as stand-alone, dedicated systems or be embedded in network communications devices such as routers and switches. One specific example is NetFlow technology offered by Cisco Systems. Other tools include special-purpose systems, such as firewalls, that are typically used to manage the communications at boundaries between the networks.
Both firewalls and network management systems allow the network administrator to apply security policies. Policies are typically used to govern or dictate how entities are allowed to communicate over the network. These policies can be applied to entities individually, by setting operating parameters of devices separately. Policy-based management systems have simplified configuration of devices by allowing administrators to define a policy and apply this policy across groups of network entities, generally.
A policy is a collection of rules. A rule can, for example, govern what traffic a particular firewall ignores or prevents/blocks. Other rules can govern whether a given address or device can access a particular service or network resource. The rules can also be applied by routers that decide whether to forward packets from or to a particular address.
Unfortunately, these policy-based management systems have limitations in the types of policies that can be defined and/or implemented, being typically limited to lower layers of the communications stack.
The process for abstracting the dataflow between the network entities is typically articulated in the context of the OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) model communications stack. The lowest layer describes physical layer functions such as the transmission of bits over the communication medium, activation/deactivation of the physical connection, use of idle conditions, control bit generation/detection, start and stop, and zero bit insertion. These functions are requested by data link layer functions, which control the transmission of packets over a logical communications link. Other data link functions include establishing/releasing logical connections, error detection, correction, and recovery, in conjunction with the delimiting of transmitted packets.
At the next higher level of abstraction is the network layer. Functions here include the transfer of data units or packets between two transport entities. Further, at this layer, routing through the network is determined, including segmenting or combining packets into smaller and larger data units, the establishment, maintenance, and relinquishment of end-to-end logical circuits, and the detection and recovery from errors. Network management activities often take place at the network layer and data link layer.
Then, the transport layer functions to handle the transmission of complete messages between network entities. At this layer, sessions between the network entities are established and then taken down. This layer ensures the correct sequence of packets, partition, and combination of messages into packets, and the control of data flow to avoid network overload.
The session layer organizes and synchronizes the dialog that takes place between applications running on network entities. This provides a one-to-one correspondence between a session connection and a presentation connection at a given time. It provides for session continuity, even when transport connections may fail.
Finally, at the two highest levels of abstraction, the presentation layer provides independence from differences between data presentations, such as encryption, by translating from application to network format, and back; and the application layer supports application and end user processes. However, user authentication and privacy are also considered and any constraints on data syntax are identified. At this layer, communication is application-specific.
Network security policies typically control the relatively low layers in the OSI model, such that the policies' rules usually govern the operation of the data link and network layers, only. In case of a firewall, a policy defines types of network communications through the firewall that are authorized and types of network accesses that are unauthorized, typically based on media access control (MAC) and internet protocol (IP) addresses. Administrators define a policy for access between external systems to the enterprise network and the network entities on the network and then use the firewall to enforce that policy.
Recently, systems have been proposed and deployed that enable automatic definition of policies. For example, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,359,930, entitled "System and Method for Managing Computer Networks", issued Apr. 15, 2008, by Jackson et al., traffic in a computer network is monitored. The collected flow information is then used to create a network policy for hosts on the network. This is done automatically by the system, which arranges the hosts into hierarchical clusters, based upon similarity values that are determined by the system.
More recently, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,596,807, issued Sep. 29, 2009, entitled "Method and System for Reducing Scope of Self-Propagating Attack Code in Network", by Ptacek et al., systems for establishing a pervasive policy have been proposed. These systems rely on the deployment of firewall or firewall-like devices to compartmentalize the enterprise or service provider network. This allows for the tracking of communications through the network, at the enterprise or service provider scope, and, by using previously defined policies, the selective closing down of communications between the compartments to confront or mitigate network attacks, while allowing authorized communications to continue.
In contrast, authentication security systems employ higher layers in the OSI stack. These typically run on the network entities themselves. They function to ensure that someone or something is, in fact, who or what it is claiming to be.
One example is a protocol referred to TACACS. This acronym stands for Terminal Access Controller Access Control System. It is an authentication protocol that was developed by the Defense Data Network (DDN) community. It provides for remote access authentication and related services, such as event logging. User passwords are administered in a central database, rather than on individual routers or server computers, for example. This provides for a scalable network security solution.
Another authentication protocol is Remote Authentication Dial-In User Server/Service (RADIUS). It has been commonly deployed in dial-up networks and is used by many network access server (NAS) vendors. This authentication program allows the NAS to offload user administration to a central server.
Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) and the Active Directory® authentication system are systems used by networking systems produced by the Microsoft Corporation. These protocols and tool replaced an older system referred as Network Basic Input/Output System (NETBIOS), which includes authentication functions as part of NETBIOS communications suite.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for authentication event security policy generation