A system for transmitting real-time data between an asynchronous network (104) and a synchronous network (106) is disclosed. A method (100) may include an ingress path (102) for transmitting data from an asynchronous system (104) to a synchronous system (106), and an egress path (108) for transmitting data from a synchronous system (106) to an asynchronous system (104). An ingress path (102) may include a packet receiver (110) and write to synchronous system (112) steps. An egress path (108) may include read from synchronous system (114), packetizer (116), and packet transmitter (118) steps.

Data communication networks may be generalized into at least two types: asynchronous and synchronous. Performance characteristics and transmission latencies in synchronous networks are understood, and in many cases predictable. However, many asynchronous networks can be easier and less expensive to deploy and maintain than typical synchronous networks. In light of the convergence of disparate networks, there arises a need to provide methods and systems for interconnecting asynchronous networks with synchronous networks. Asynchronous networks typically operate under well known protocols, including by not limited to, the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP), Internet Protocol (IP), User Datagram Protocol (UDP) to name but a few. A well known synchronous network approach includes time division multiplexing (TDM), which can allocate particular data channels to predetermined time slots.
One very particular application for interconnecting asynchronous and synchronous systems is the transmission of "real-time" traffic, for example voice data. Conventional voice data examples will now be described.
Conventionally, voice data remains separate from network data traffic. In particular, many enterprises may have a data network connecting a variety of workstations as well as a public branch exchange (PBX) for voice data. As data networks proliferate, it is becoming an increasingly desirable goal to integrate transmission of voice and data onto a converged network "backbone."
Transmitting data over a synchronous network, such as a time division multiplex (TDM) voice system, typically includes framing data. Frames are allocated portions of bandwidth, usually formed according to a time division multiplexing scheme. TDM arrangements may be less flexible than asynchronous approaches because time slots are allocated to particular streams. Thus once a time slot is allocated, it may not be used for another data stream until it has be re-allocated.
Another way to provide real time data can be transmitting such data over an asynchronous network. For example, voice data may be transmitted with a "voice over packet" system Voice over packet can take advantage of existing network structures. Further, as noted above, networks (including the Internet) continue to grow in size and in bandwidth, reducing the cost and/or increasing the feasibility of such systems.
Many networks can be "connectionless" networks. Connectionless networks can provide multiple possible paths between source and destination. Consequently, in some cases, voice transmitted over such networks may be more reliable as voice data can reach a destination even if some of the network nodes are not operational.
Data networks may take a variety of forms. As noted above, a data network may be a connectionless network, including the Internet. Further, a network may include portions that are overlaid and/or integrate connection-oriented legs. Such systems include Internet protocol (IP) over asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) and multiprotocol label switching (MPLS), or similar switching systems.
One possible drawback to transmitting voice data over connectionless networks, or networks having connectionless portions, can be the potential for different portions of the same voice stream arriving out of sequence. For example, a stream of voice data is typically broken down into samples and transmitted in a particular sequence over a network. However, while such samples can be transmitted in order, because packets may travel along different legs of a network, a sample may arrive out of order. Still further, it is possible for packets to be dropped. Thus, a voice sample may never arrive at a desired destination.
In voice over packet arrangements, voice data needs to be reassembled in the same order that it was transmitted with minimal latency. This can be difficult to achieve with many conventional approaches.
Various proposals for implementing voice over packet have been proposed. One general approach is the idea of a network "gateway." A network gateway can provide access to a network (such as the Internet) for a variety of conventional voice data sources (voice channels). As but one example, a network gateway can be an IP gateway that integrates a PBX with an IP network. In such an arrangement, users may make telephone calls that appear entirely conventional, but are in fact being transmitted over a data network.
One drawback associated with voice over packet can be the latency introduced by such approaches. Various sources may contribute to latency. A transmitting source introduces some delay in placing the voice into packet form. Typically the voice data can be digitized and/or compressed and then placed in packet form. Transmission of the voice over packet can also introduce latency. Routing from node to node, or along a switching path, can consume additional time. Finally, a receiving destination can introduce delay. Voice data can be extracted from a packet and then transmitted along an appropriate voice channel. Such packet processing can be conventionally accomplished on a channel-by-channel basis. That is, single packets may contain the voice data for a single voice channel.
According to one conventional approach, a network voice packet can be forwarded to a destination according to conventional protocols, such as the Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP). A destination can include conventional network hardware, such as a network interface card, which can receive the packet. A general purpose processor can then extract voice data within the packet (including any decoding/decompressing) and then play the voice data over sound card, or the like. Such computation steps can contribute significantly to latency.
According to another conventional approach, a network can include a network phone (such as an "IP Phone"). A network phone can have its own network address, and include packet processing and voice data processing hardware.
One conventional way to decrease latency is with more complex routers. In particular, some routers may be capable of giving particular packets precedence over others. As but one example, some packet headers can include a "type of service" or "quality of service" field. A network voice packet can be given higher precedence than other packets, thereby reducing latency when compared to other packets. A drawback to such approaches is that all routers/switches in the network must have such an advanced processing capability, and thus can be expensive to implement. Consequently, such an approach may be better suited for enterprise wide area networks (WANs), instead of a larger network structure such as the Internet.
Another approach can essentially reserve a route for a voice packet flow. One such approach is the Resource ReserVation Protocol (RSVP). RSVP, like the precedence approach noted above, can rely on more complex routers and thus be an expensive solution.
While the approaches described above can reduce latency for voice packet data, such approaches may be difficult and/or expensive to implement. Further, it is still desirable to reduce latency even more. Thus, further ways of decreasing latency in network voice packets could a valuable contribution to voice over packet.
While conventional packet forwarding of voice over a packet may provide adequate results, this may not always be the case. To help improve the processing of time dependent data, including voice data, a number of protocols have been proposed. One such protocol is the Real-Time Transport Protocol (RTP). An RTP header can provide sequence and timestamp information than may help assemble voice data once it has been received.
Another concern that may arise out of voice over packet is different possible voice data formats. Some formats may require different processing than others. Further, the processing of one voice format type may take longer and/or require more resources than other voice formats. For example, systems may have different vocoding techniques for digitizing speech for transmission in a packet, resulting in different size payloads representing speed samples.
Further, different packet formats may represent different numbers of data sources. As but two of the many possible examples, "multiplexed" packets, can contain data from multiple sources, while "simplex" packets, may contain voice data form a single source. With the advent of multiplexed and simplex packets, systems may have to be capable of accommodating both types of payloads.
Voice data can present a challenge to voice over packet systems. In particular, it can be a complex task to extract voice samples from a packet, and then arrangement such samples for playback. Multiplexed voice data may present a greater challenge in that multiple voice samples have to be extracted from a single packet payload.
Voice over packet systems are typically "asynchronous" in that voice data samples may arrive at varying time intervals and/or in varying order. This is in contrast to conventional "synchronous" voice systems, such as TDM systems, that reserve time slots for particular voice channels. An important issue arriving out of systems that seek to transfer voice data from an asynchronous system to a synchronous system can be variable network delay in voice data arriving from an asynchronous system (jitter).
Of course, it is understood that voice data represent but one of the many applications for interconnecting asynchronous and synchronous systems. A system for accounting for network jitter could have various other applications that transmit data from an asynchronous network to a synchronous network. Such alternative applications include, but are not limited to other non-voice data applications, including but not limited to video data and various other computing applications.
In light of the above, it would be desirable to arrive at a method that can receive data from an asynchronous network, and store such data for synchronous access by a synchronous network. Such a method could address various drawbacks to conventional approaches, and could be particularly valuable in voice over packet applications.

Media flow method for transferring real-time data between asynchronous and synchronous networks


A data storage device (DSD) with improved manufacturing method. The DSD includes a main printed circuit board (PCB) that includes a first PCB connector and a second PCB connector. The DSD also includes a first flash card mounted over the main PCB and including a flash memory and a flash card connector configured to connect to the first PCB connector, and a second flash card mounted over the main PCB and including a flash memory and a flash card connector configured to connect to the second PCB connector. The first flash card and the second flash card are mounted over the main PCB in a plane substantially parallel with the main PCB. The main PCB can be mounted to a base before connecting the first and second flash cards, or the first and second flash cards can be mounted to the main PCB before mounting to the base.

A data storage device (DSD), such as a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid state drive (SSD), or solid state hybrid drive (SSHD), may include a System-on-a-Chip (SoC) and flash memory on a single, main printed circuit board (PCB). Additional flash memory may be mounted on a separate flash card, which is connected to the main PCB. The flash card may be placed above the main PCB, attached through a connector.
In some configurations, the flash card may be connected to the main PCB through two connectors. The connectors may be misaligned due to mechanical component tolerances stacking up, and manufacturing variances. The connector misalignment may cause stress in the flash card.

Memory card placement within a solid state drive


The present invention provides a color image processing device and a color image processing method which is In order to perform natural and excellent sharpness processing to image data, the color image processing device of invention comprises: a color space converter (1) for converting image signals (RGB) to luminance signals (L), first chromaticity signals (C1) and second chromaticity signals (C2); a luminance signal correcting unit for correcting the luminance signal (L) of a target pixel based on an average luminance signal (LA) obtained from the luminance signals of the target pixel and predetermined pixels surrounding the target pixel and the saturation signal (S) of the target pixel; a chromaticity signal correcting unit for correcting the first chromaticity signal (C1) and the second chromaticity signal (C2) of the target pixel based on the first and second average chromaticity signals (C1A, C2A) obtained from the chromaticity signals of the target pixel and the predetermined pixels surrounding the target pixel, the saturation signal (S) of the target pixel, the average saturation signal (SA) obtained from the saturation signals of the target pixel and the predetermined pixels surrounding the target pixel, and a hue difference signal (DC); and a color space inverter (15) for inverting the corrected luminance signal (L′), the corrected first chromaticity signal (C1′) and the corrected second chromaticity signal (C2′) of the target pixel to image signals (R′G′B′).

In order to perform sharpness processing to a color space represented by luminance and color components, such as a CIELAB color space, a CIELUV color space and a YCbCr color space, conventional image processing devices determine the correction value for the luminance component according to the saturation value of the pixel, and at the same time correct the color component. In this manner, problems such as color turbidity after the correction are solved.
As a conventional technique of an image processing device, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 2000-175046 (Related Art 1) discloses an image processing method and an image processing device for noise reduction and sharpness enhancement of a digital image.
The image processing device described in Related Art 1 is provided with a sharpness processor, a smoothing processor, an edge/noise-mixed component extractor, an edge detector, a noise region weighting factor operator, a noise component identifier and an output image operator.
The sharpness processor performs sharpness enhancement to the original image data to sharpen the image and the noise included in the image, thereby generating sharpness-enhanced image data. The smoothing processor smoothes the original image data to generate a smoothed image data. The edge/noise-mixed component extractor subtracts the smoothed image data from the sharpness-enhanced image data to generate an edge/noise-mixed object image data including both of the sharpness-enhanced edge of the object image and the sharpness-enhanced noise. The edge detector detects the edge of the original image data to obtain weighting data of the edge region for identifying the edge and noise regions of the object image. The noise region weighting factor operator obtains weighting data of the noise region from the obtained weighting data of the edge region. The noise component identifier multiplies the edge/noise-mixed object image data by the noise region weighting data to obtain noise data for each color in the noise region, calculates color correlation of the noise data for each color, obtain black-and-white noise components and color noise components present in all colors based on the obtained color correlation components and multiply both of the obtained black-and-white noise components and color noise components by their reduction factor, thereby obtaining a black-and-white noise reduction component and a color noise reduction component. The output image operator selectively removes the black-and-white noise reduction component and the color noise reduction component from the sharpness-enhanced image data to reduce the noise, thereby generating a processed image that retains sharpness enhancement in the image edge region.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 2000-175047 (Related Art 2) discloses an image processing method and an image processing device for noise reduction and sharpness enhancement of a digital image.
The image processing device described in Related Art 2 is provided with a sharpness processor, a smoothing processor, an edge/granularity-mixed component extractor, an edge detector, a granularity region weighting factor operator, a granularity component identifier and an output image operator.
The sharpness processor performs sharpness enhancement to the original image data to sharpen the image as well as the granularity or the noise included in the image, thereby generating sharpness-enhanced image data. The smoothing processor performs smoothing process to the original image data to generate a smoothed image data. The edge/granularity-mixed component extractor subtracts the smoothed image data from the sharpness-enhanced image data to generate an edge/granularity-mixed object image data that includes both of the edge of the sharpness-enhanced object image and the sharpness-enhanced granularity. The edge detector detects the edge of the original image data to obtain weighting data of the edge region for identifying the object image edge region and the granularity region. The granularity region weighting factor operator obtains weighting data of the granularity region from the obtained weighting data of the edge region. The granularity component identifier multiplies the edge/granularity-mixed object image data by the granularity region weighting data to obtain granularity data for each color in the granularity region, calculates, based on the granularity data of each color, a local granularity factor indicating the spatial size and the magnitude of a change in density of the granularity, identify and separate black-and-white granularity components and pigment granularity components, and multiply both of the obtained black-and-white granularity component and the pigment granularity component by their reduction factor, thereby obtaining a black-and-white granularity reduction component and a pigment granularity reduction component. The output image operator selectively removes the black-and-white granularity reduction component and the pigment granularity reduction component from the sharpness-enhanced image data to reduce granularity, thereby generating a processed image that retains sharpness enhancement in the image edge region.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 2000-278542 (Related Art 3) discloses an image processing device which is capable of natural edge enhancement between colors that have little difference in lightness and densities.
The image processing device described in Related Art 3 processes and outputs color image information input from a certain image input device. The image processing device is provided with a color difference information extracting means, a color difference edge detecting means, a color difference enhancement level calculating means and a color difference enhancement correcting means. The color difference information extracting means extracts color difference information from the color image information. The color difference edge detecting means detects a color difference edge from the color difference information extracted by the color difference information extracting means, thereby calculating the color difference edge value at the color difference edge. The color difference enhancement level calculating means calculates a color difference enhancement level based on the color difference edge value calculated by the color difference edge detecting means. The color difference enhancement correcting means performs enhancement correction to the color difference information based on the color difference enhancement level calculated by the color difference enhancement level calculating means.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 9-284560 (Related Art 4) discloses a sharpness processing device which is capable of providing an excellently-sharpened printed matter at a low cost.
The sharpness processing device described in Related Art 4 performs sharpness processing to an input image signal. The device is provided with a storing means, a selecting means, a processing means and an outputting means. The storing means stores a plurality of values corresponding to a plurality of image display conditions as parameters for sharpness processing. The selecting means selects a particular value from the plurality of parameters according to a particular image display condition selected among the plurality of image display conditions. The processing means performs sharpness processing to the input image signal in accordance with the particular value. The outputting means outputs an output image signal resulting from the sharpness processing to an image displaying means that is appropriate for the particular image display condition. The sharpness processor described in Related Art 4 is characterized in that the plurality of parameters give substantially equal sharpness presentations for the plurality of image display conditions.
Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 10-42152 (Related Art 5) discloses an image processing device and method in which a circuit configuration required for edge enhancement correction is simplified.
The image processor described in Related Art 5, which performs sharpness correction to an input image signal, is provided with an extracting means, an edge value extracting means, a saturation extracting means, a dividing means and an edge enhancement means. The extracting means extracts a lightness signal and a chromaticity signal from of the input image signal. The edge value extracting means extracts an edge value based on the lightness signal. The saturation extracting means extracts a saturation component based on the chromaticity signal. The dividing means divides the enhancement level of the edge portion, which is based on the edge value extracted by the edge value extracting means, for a lightness signal and a chromaticity signal according to the saturation component extracted by the saturation extracting means. The edge enhancement means corrects the lightness signal and the chromaticity signal by the enhancement levels of the edge portion divided by the dividing means.
From Japanese Patent No. 2906975 (Related Art 6), a color image processing method and device which can reduce an image noise caused by edge enhancement processing and which can perform visually natural edge enhancement are known.
The image processing device described in Related Art 6 is provided with an edge detecting means for obtaining an edge value signal from a luminance signal of a luminance/chromaticity-separated signal, an edge enhancement means for enhancing an edge portion in an image represented by the luminance signal, a smoothing means for smoothing the luminance signal, a saturation detecting means for detecting a saturation signal of the image based on the chromaticity signal of the luminance/chromaticity-separated signal, a means for converting luminance by mixing the output from the edge enhancement means and the output from the smoothing means based on the edge value signal detected by the edge detecting means, and means for converting chromaticity of the chromaticity signal corresponding to compression or expansion of saturation using the output from the edge detecting means and the output from the saturation detecting means.
In order to correct color components, conventional image processing devices perform sharpness processing to the color components by extracting and using an edge value based on the changing point (edge) of the lightness (characteristic) of the image through edge detection of the luminance component. In this case, sharpness processing cannot be performed in a satisfactory manner when values of the luminance components at an edge portion of a letter or a line are generally equal but values of the color components are entirely different. For example, when a yellow letter or a yellow line is on a white background, conventional image processing devices cannot sufficiently cope with the difference of any of luminance, saturation and hue components of the pixels in the color image since the luminance of white and yellow colors are generally equal.

Color image processing device and color image processing method


A cart for transporting cargo is provided having a first extendable member having a roller coupled to the bottom end of the first extendable member and a connection point on the first extendable member proximate to the roller. The cart also has a second extendable member having a roller coupled to the bottom end of the second extendable member and a connection point on the second extendable member proximate to the roller. The cart has a handle having a linkage that is coupled to the top ends of each of the first and second extendable members. One or more bands may be coupled to the connecting point of the first or second member and to a securing point located at any point between the ends of a member so as to secure the cargo in a position against the first and second members.

Occasions arise when assistance in transporting objects, such as boxes and things, may be more easily accomplished by devices such as dollys and hand trucks. These types of devices increase the load capacity that a typical person can transport in one trip, thereby improving efficiency of the transport process. However, most dollys and hand trucks are large, heavy, and cumbersome, so these types of devices are typically intended for use in a limited area, such as a warehouse, or in association with a delivery truck. By contrast, these types of devices typically are not configured or even suitable for personal transport and use in multiple environments.
For at least that reason (among others), smaller and more portable carts may be better suited for personal use in certain situations, such as airports, office buildings, etc. There, more personalized carts are typically configured with a fold-down ledge or base for holding the cargo against the vertical portion of the cart, which typically includes a handle, upon which the user pulls or pushes the cart. These types of devices oftentimes also include an extendable handle in the vertical section so that when fully extended and folded-down, the device somewhat resembles the dolly described above.
These smaller types of carts also typically include a matrix of metal frameworking and cross members to provide additional support and/or stability to the cart. The additional frame-working and cross members are typically in the plane of the vertical or base sections so that the cart may be collapsed as compactly as possible.
Additionally, these devices typically include a pair of wheels on an axle at or near the center radius of the fold-down base. If not on an axle, the wheels are typically secured to the frame of the device and rely on the other cross-members of the cart to maintain a preconfigured separation between the two separate vertical sides of the cart.
However, even as compactly designed as such carts may be, these carts are still cumbersome and can be difficult to manipulate even in the collapsed position. Based in part on the fixed construction of these types of carts, most designs are collapsible to a size storable in, as a nonlimiting example, an overhead compartment on a commercial airplane. However, even this size means that the cart is essentially a piece of luggage itself even when collapsed. So when the cart is maintained in the collapsed position, the user typically has to carry the cart or place it in larger containers, which oftentimes is not practical or even defeats the purpose of having the cart in the first place.
Therefore, a heretofore unaddressed need exists to overcome the problems and deficiencies described above.


A flow rate adjustment method for a variable geometry turbocharger may include steps as follows. An adjustment apparatus drives an actuator to an abutment position where a power transmission member abuts a stopper. The apparatus acquires the abutment position opening amount based on an opening detection sensor's signal. The apparatus drives the actuator until the detection amount attains a pre-set amount, moving the power transmission member to a temporary control position. The apparatus acquires a temporary control position flow rate. It is acquired when an adjustment gas inflow apparatus causes the adjustment gas to flow into an exhaust turbine, and a flow rate measurement sensor measures the flow rate of the adjustment gas. The apparatus obtains a correction amount based on a difference between the temporary control position flow rate and a real control position flow rate, which is a proper flow rate corresponding to the pre-set amount.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a variable geometry turbocharger having a variable nozzle configured to adjust opening of a flow path for exhaust gas.
2. Description of the Related Art
Turbochargers are disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2010-270631, Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-38964, and Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication 2002-256877. The turbocharger utilizes exhaust gas in order to rotate a turbine and supercharge intake air. This helps to improve the output characteristics of an engine. A variable nozzle is provided in a flow path communicating between an inflow inlet for exhaust gas and an exhaust turbine. The variable nozzle is driven by an actuator according to the RPM of the engine, the amount of exhaust gas, etc., for adjusting an opening of the flow path. As a result, nevertheless there is low rotation in the engine, and the amount of exhaust gas is small, the flow velocity of the exhaust gas can be increased. In this way, it is possible to secure an appropriate turbine RPM, so as to provide an appropriate supercharging pressure.
It should be noted, however, that the turbocharger, in which a driving force is transmitted from the actuator to the variable nozzle, involves a large number of components. Thus, an error is generated in the opening of the variable nozzle due to dimensional errors and mounting errors of the components.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2010-270631 discloses a variable geometry turbocharger. The variable geometry turbocharger has a torque control means for controlling the output torque of an internal combustion engine. The torque control means has a learning means. The learning means learns the turbocharger individual differences based on the condition of the supercharging pressure. The learning means performs learning such that when the change in the supercharging pressure in a transient stage of the turbocharger is larger than a standard amount, the initial value of the torque control value increases. This helps to suppress the generation of an inadvertent difference in torque level. The learning means performs learning such that when the change in the supercharging pressure in the transient stage is smaller than a standard amount, the initial value of the torque control value decreases. In this way, unnecessary torque control is avoided.
It should be noted, however, that the learning means performs learning after the operation in the transient stage of the turbocharger. Thus, until the learning is completed, there is the possibility of a difference in torque level due to the turbocharger individual differences being generated.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-38964 discloses a method of mounting a turbocharger with a variable nozzle vane. By this method, it is possible to attach a plurality of variable nozzles easily and securely. By this method, it is possible to achieve a reduction in variable nozzle mounting errors. However, since the number of power transmission members transmitting drive force from the actuator to the variable nozzle is large, it is not easy to sufficiently lower the dimensional and mounting errors of these members.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2002-256877 discloses a nozzle opening regulation apparatus of a variable nozzle mechanism and a method of manufacturing the same. The apparatus or the manufacturing method helps to simplify the opening and closing of the variable nozzle. Thus, it is possible to reduce the assembly man-hours, adjustment operation man-hours, assembly cost, and adjustment operation cost of the variable nozzle mechanism. It is possible to simplify the structure for setting the fully open position and fully closed position, thus achieving a reduction in component cost. However, the number of power transmission members for transmitting the driving force from the actuator to the variable nozzle is rather large. Thus, it is not easy to sufficiently reduce the dimensional and mounting errors of these members.
Thus, there has been a need for a variable geometry turbocharger capable of sufficiently reducing the errors mentioned above.

Variable geometry turbocharger and flow rate adjustment method for the same


A dryer has complex angled surfaces and a plurality of grip elements thereon. The angled surfaces have varying angles of inclination relative to a base of the dryer vane and the characteristics of the grip elements vary in relation to the angle of inclination of the surface portions upon which they are disposed. The grip elements may protrude from the vane surfaces and the height of the grip elements may vary in relation to the varying angle of inclination of the surfaces. Taller grip elements may be provided on the less inclined surfaces and shorter grip elements may be provided on the more inclined surfaces.

Automatic laundry dryers generally employ a horizontally oriented, front load rotatable dryer drum for tumbling laundry during a drying process in which air, typically heated air, is introduced into the drum. The tumbling allows for the laundry to be sufficiently exposed to the air flow and also reduces wrinkling. Conventional dryer drums contain baffles or vanes on the interior of the drum which aid in tumbling the laundry. During rotation of the dryer drum, the vanes contact the laundry and lift it to help ensure that the laundry is tumbled. Most dryer drums have vanes with straight linear configurations oriented in alignment with the rotation axis of the drum. Dryer drums, having vanes which direct clothes in the axial direction of the dryer drum have also been proposed, such as for improving air flow or to facilitate unloading. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 6,698,107 to Song et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 3,364,588 to Ziegler. Such vanes generally are disposed at an angle skewed relative to the rotational axis of the dryer drum, so that the skewed face of the vane can direct the clothes axially. Mounting the vanes in a skewed manner may be more difficult than mounting the vanes in alignment with the rotation axis. Further, if the drum is installed in the dryer backwards, then the vanes would direct clothes in a direction opposite of the intended direction. Additionally, having a skewed vane configuration differing substantially in appearance from the vanes present in a matching front load washer may be less preferable to a consumer than if the vanes are similarly configured and oriented. Therefore, it would be advantageous to provide a dryer vane that can move the clothes axially without requiring a skewed mount of the vane while still ensuring that the laundry is tumbled efficiently.


There is provided a method for measuring a temperature using a thermistor with which it is possible to precisely measure a temperature above a thermoelectric device by using a thermistor disposed on the thermoelectric device in a module for controlling a temperature of a component arranged on the thermoelectric device by using the thermoelectric device. In the method for measuring a temperature using a thermistor, by electrically connecting the thermistor to an electrode pin through a thermoelectric device or a bridge sub-mount mounted on the thermoelectric device when electrically connecting a top surface of the thermistor and the electrode pin, it is possible to suppress direct heat exchange between the thermistor and the electrode pin. Further, it is possible to effectively suppress heat exchange between the thermistor and a package lid by internal gas of a package by covering the thermistor with a polymer material, such as an epoxy having low thermal transmittance. As a result, it is possible to allow the thermistor to precisely measure the temperature of the thermoelectric device.

A thermoelectric device is a device that adjusts a temperature of a component arranged on the thermoelectric device by current flowing through the thermoelectric device. Such a thermoelectric device can be manufactured in a very small size. Since mechanical properties such as compression or expansion of gas are not changed when the component is cooled and heated, the thermoelectric device is widely adopted to adjust a temperature of a small component. For example, in an optical communication field, a wavelength of a semiconductor laser used for optical communication depends on a temperature of the semiconductor laser.
In recent years, in a DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexing) scheme used for optical communication, light having a frequency interval of 100 GHz is used, and such a frequency interval has a wavelength interval of about 0.8 nm at a wavelength band of 1.55 μm. In contrast, in a DFB-LD (Distributed Feedback Laser Diode) used for optical communication, when a temperature of a semiconductor laser diode chip is changed by about 1° C., a laser light beam released from the semiconductor laser is changed by about 0.1 nm. Accordingly, in general, when a temperature of the DFB-LD is changed by about 8° C., a wavelength of light released from the laser corresponds to another channel of the DWDM to cause communication crosstalk. Therefore, in the DWDM, the temperature of the semiconductor laser needs to be very precisely adjusted.
The thermoelectric device has been successfully used to control the temperature of the DFB-LD chip. In order to control a temperature above the thermoelectric device by using the thermoelectric device, it is required that a device called a thermistor is first mounted on the thermoelectric device and a temperature of the thermoelectric device is measured.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional thermistor. A conventional thermistor 100 is a device having characteristics in which a resistance value is varied depending on a temperature, and typically has a rectangular shape whose bottom is wide. A metal thin film is coated on top and bottom surfaces of the thermistor 100 to be able to be electrically connected to an external electrode. The thermistor 100 is a device that measures a temperature of a bottom on which the thermistor is mounted. The thermistor is configured to measure a temperature of the thermistor 100 by connecting the metal thin film deposited on the top and bottom surfaces of the thermistor 100 of FIG. 1 to the external electrode and measuring a resistance of the thermistor 100 which is varied depending on a temperature.
FIG. 2 shows a method for connecting the thermistor having the shape shown in FIG. 1 to the external electrode. Since the thermistor 100 having the shape shown in FIG. 1 needs to allow the bottom surface on which the metal thin film is deposited to be attached to a substrate to be measured, the bottom surface of the thermistor 100 having the shape shown in FIG. 1 is attached onto a sub-mount 600 in which metal is deposited on a top surface by using a material having electrical conductivity, and then one metal electric wire 310 is extracted from the top surface of the thermistor 100 to be electrically connected to the external electrode. Further, the other metal electric wire 320 is extracted from the top surface of the sub-mount 600 that is electrically connected to the bottom surface of the thermistor 100 to be electrically connected to the external electrode. By doing this, the resistance of the thermistor 100 is measured. In this way, FIG. 2 illustrates that two electric wires 310 and 320 are extracted from the top surface of the thermistor 100 and the top surface of the sub-mount 600 that is electrically connected to the thermistor 100.
FIG. 3 is an internal configuration diagram of a laser diode package and illustrates a state in which the thermistor is attached to a TO (Transistor Outline) type laser diode package including a thermoelectric device in order to measure a temperature of a top surface of the thermoelectric device. In the laser diode package, the thermistor 100 is disposed on a thermoelectric device 200, the top surface of the thermistor 100 is connected to an electrode pin 410 through the metal electric wire 310, and the top surface of the sub-mount 600 onto which the thermistor 100 is attached is connected to an electrode pin 420 through the metal electric wire 320. By doing this, a lower electrode of the thermistor 100 is connected to the external electrode. Reference numeral 400 denotes the electrode pins protruding downward through the laser diode package.
In the shape shown in FIG. 3, temperatures of the electrode pins 410 and 420 of the laser diode package are not adjusted, and only a temperature of the top surface of the thermoelectric device 200 is adjusted by a direction and magnitude of current flowing in the thermoelectric device 200. Accordingly, when an external temperature of the laser diode package is changed, the temperatures of the electrode pins 410 and 420 of the laser diode package are changed depending on the external temperature.
FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view showing a state in which the laser diode package of FIG. 3 is covered by a package lid to complete the package. In FIG. 4, in order to accurately control the temperature of the top surface of the thermoelectric device 200 by using the thermistor 100 and the thermoelectric device 200, the thermistor 100 needs to accurately measure the temperature of the top surface of the thermoelectric device 200. However, as shown in FIG. 3, the thermistor 100 is directly connected to the electrode pin 410 having a temperature which is approximate to an external environment temperature and is different from the temperature of the top surface of the thermoelectric device 200 through the metal electric wire 310, so that an error occurs in measuring the temperature of the top surface of the thermoelectric device 200 by the thermistor 100. Such a phenomenon causes a severe error when the thermistor 100 has a very small size and a length of the metal electric wire 310 between the electrode pin 410 and the thermistor 100 is short. Further, since a temperature of a package lid 700 of FIG. 4 is also the same as the external environment temperature, an error is caused in measuring the temperature of the thermistor 100 due to thermal convection and thermal radiation from the package lid 700.
As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, when the conventional TO type laser diode package is manufactured such that the top surface of the thermistor 100 is directly connected to the electrode pin 410 and the thermistor 100 is exposed to internal gas of the package, a measurement error of about 0.04° C. is caused in the thermistor 100 when the external environment temperature is changed by 1° C. Such a measurement error means that the temperature of the top surface of the internal thermoelectric device 200 is changed by about 5° C. when the external environment temperature is changed by about 125° C., and the measurement error of such a degree becomes a factor by which it is difficult to precisely adjust a wavelength of a laser diode to an extent capable of being applied to a DWDM.

Method for measuring temperature using a thermistor


A packaging structure for an optical sensor with drill holes formed directly below an underfill layer includes a substrate having a plurality of drill holes, a plurality of vias, a plurality of traces, a plurality of gold wires, an underfill layer, a die having a plurality of bonding pads, and a container for isolating the die from the ambient atmosphere. The plurality of vias are formed within the plurality of drill holes and the plurality of bonding fingers are formed on the substrate. The plurality of traces formed on the substrate couple the plurality of bonding fingers to the plurality of the vias. The plurality of gold wires couple the plurality of bonding pads to the plurality of bonding fingers. The underfill layer is formed between the die and the substrate for die attachment, wherein the plurality of the drill holes are formed below the underfill layer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a packaging structure, and more particularly, to a packaging structure for an optical sensor.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The packaging of an integrated circuit (IC) is to provide connections between the die, the packaging structure and the circuit board. The IC packaging also provides a suitable operating environment for the IC's operation. The main purposes of the IC packaging are:
(1) power transmission;
(2) signal transmission, including the external signals and the internal electronic signals;
(3) heat dissipation, including structural and material heat dissipation;
(4) circuit protection.
In addition to the above-mentioned purposes, manufacturing costs and stability of an IC package also need to be taken into considerations.
To achieve the purpose of signal transmission in a packaging design for an optical sensor, a substrate with drill holes is used in a packaging method called leadless chip carrier (LCC), as illustrated in FIG. 1. FIG. 1 is a diagram of a prior art packaging structure 100. In other common packaging methods, such as dual-in-line package (DIP) or small outline package (SOP), the pins are formed along the two sides of the die. Unlike those methods, in the LCC technology the pins are formed around the four sides of the die. Therefore the LCC technology offers more pins than DIP and SOP, usually ranging from 20 to 96 pins. To accommodate this four-sided pin layout, in the LCC technology a special substrate with drill holes formed at the four sides of the substrate is required, as illustrated in FIG. 1. These drill holes result in a substrate material usage lower than 70%, with the result that the substrate cost contributes a large part of the overall packaging cost.
Another common packaging method is called land grid array (LGA), as illustrated in FIG. 2. FIG. 2 is a diagram of another prior art packaging structure 200. In the packaging structure 200, a die 20 is coupled to a plurality of bonding fingers 14 by a plurality of gold wires 18 in a die bond process. A plurality of traces 16 are disposed on a substrate 12, coupling the bonding fingers 14 to a circuit board 24 through a plurality of vias 26 formed within a plurality of drill holes 210 for transmitting signals. In the LGA technology in FIG. 2, the plurality of drill holes 210 are made in the inner part of the substrate 12. Based on different chip designs and pin layouts, there are many types of substrates with drill holes formed in their inner parts available.
The packaging structure 100 and the packaging structure have one thing in common; that is, both packaging structures include a cavity structure 34. The packaging process of an optical sensor includes a sealing process, which is performed at an elevated temperature and which thus produces moisture. To prevent the moisture from entering the cavity structure 34 through the drill holes during the sealing process and the reliability tests, another "plug-in" process has to be included in producing the prior art packaging structures 100 and 200, which thus increases the manufacturing cost.

Packaging structure with a plurality of drill holes formed directly below an underfill layer


A number of embodiments of induction systems for outboard motors wherein the induction system can be tuned to provide good performance under high low speed by utilizing two plenum chambers and a control for controlling the effective length of the intake passage serving the combustion chamber. Both inline and V-type embodiments are disclosed.

This invention relates to an outboard motor and more particularly to an improved induction system for an outboard motor.
As is well known, the engine in an outboard motor is required to operate over a wide variety of engine speeds and engine loads. This presents a significant problem in connection with the design of many components, particularly the induction system. An induction system for an internal combustion engine generally is a compromise between obtaining good performance under low and mid-range conditions, and maximum power output. However, because of the particular utilization of outboard motors, it is desirable that they provide good torque curves at both low and mid-range speeds, and also at high speeds. Hence, the conventional induction systems utilized for outboards have had to compromise between these two dissimilar goals.
It has been proposed in automotive engines to employ so-called dual or split induction systems that provide optimum tuning under two widely spaced engine speed and load conditions. However, this generally involves the use of complicated induction systems and ones which are too bulky to admit themselves to utilization in outboard motors. In an outboard motor, as is well known, the engine generally operates so that its output shaft rotates about a vertically-extending axis. The engine must be quite compact since it is shrouded by a protective cowling.
It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide an improved induction system for an outboard motor.
It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improved, compact induction system for an outboard motor that can be tuned to provide better performance over a wide range of engine speeds and loads.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a compound, tuned induction system for an outboard motor.


Provided is a hybrid passive optical network (PON) system. The hybrid PON system of wavelength division multiplexing (WDM)/time division multiplexing (TDM) may include an optical line terminal (OLT) and an optical network unit (ONU). The OLT and the ONU may transmit a signal based on wavelength reuse using a seed light source and a reflective modulator. The light source may include a seed light source having a single wavelength, two seed light sources having different wavelength bands, and a light source having a wavelength tunable characteristic.

1. Field of the Invention
Exemplary embodiments of the present invention relate to a network architecture of a high-speed optical network system, and in particular, to a hybrid wavelength division multiplexing (WDM)/time division multiplexing (TDM) passive optical network (PON) system using an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)-based optical modem as a main method of transfer.
2. Discussion of the Background
A passive optical network (PON) is mainly built from a passive device having low power consumption, and uses an optical fiber as a main transmission medium. The PON may maximize a physical transmission bandwidth, and may ensure economical maintenance and repair, from a perspective of a service provider, due to the use of a passive device as a subscriber distributing means. Also, the PON has an advantage of being able to receive various existing multilevel modulated signals for improving a transmission bandwidth. Here, the PON corresponds to a most powerful candidate for a future optical subscriber network.
To date, research has been mainly directed to develop an optical transmitter and an optical receiver configured to enable transmission and reception across an optical link for upstream and downstream transmissions in an effort to commercialize usage of a PON. An optical transmitter and an optical receiver used in a conventional PON may enable upstream and downstream transmissions using a relatively expensive optical device, for example, a laser diode, an external modulator, and the like. For these reasons, upgrading of a system to meet additional bandwidth requirements is usually achieved in an aspect of hardware, which may impose an economical burden on a subscriber and may be an obstruction to system expansion and network re-construction and dynamic resource allocation for traffic control for efficient use of transmission resources.
In particular, a simple increase in a physical bandwidth of an optical transmitter and an optical receiver with increasing bandwidth required per subscriber may result in chromatic dispersion or polarization mode dispersion, and as a result, additional physical layer compensation technologies need to be provided, as well as development of a light source or an optical modulator allowing fast modulation. These additional technologies may result in a high capital expenditure.
To resolve the preceding issues, studies on an orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM)-based PON are being actively conducted in Europe and the U.S.A. to implement long-distance high-capacity transmission. Studies associated with an OFDM-based PON are generally centered on high-capacity transmission, for example, a maximum convergence bandwidth of 40 gigabits per second (Gbps) or more and long-distance, for example, 60 kilometers (km) and point-to-multipoint architecture, for example, a maximum of 64 points.
In general, a PON architecture has been implemented and developed through the use of two technologies including a time division multiplexing (TDM)-PON technology allowing upstream and downstream transmissions by allocating a time frame to each subscriber, and a wavelength division multiplexing (WDM)-PON technology allowing upstream and downstream transmissions by allocating a predefined specific wavelength to each subscriber.
Currently, a TDM-PON technology has a maximum upstream and downstream convergence bandwidth of 10 Gbps, and in a case of 64 points, has an average bandwidth per subscriber of about 150 megabits per second (Mbps). The TDM-PON technology has an advantage of adaptively responding to a change in bandwidth required per subscriber since the TDM-PON technology provides a dynamic bandwidth allocation function, but has a disadvantage of having to change optical transmitter and optical receiver hardware when a maximum convergence bandwidth is increased.
Conversely, a WDM-PON technology currently has an average bandwidth of about 1 Gbps per subscriber and, in principle, may have a maximum convergence bandwidth of up to 40 Gbps. However, a WDM-PON technology has disadvantages of lower network flexibility and a higher average installation cost per subscriber than a TDM-PON technology in that a bandwidth provided to each subscriber is determined based on a wavelength and a physical bandwidth limit of a light source allowing fast modulation. Also, an issue associated with additional physical layer compensation technologies for providing a high-speed bandwidth per wavelength will be happened.

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


Provided are systems, methods and computer program code for transmitting vehicle data to remote monitoring systems using a low bandwidth protocol.

Autonomous or semi-autonomous vehicles rely on a substantial amount of sensor and other vehicle data to understand the road, the state of the vehicle and the state of the environment around the vehicle. It would be desirable to provide this data to remote systems so that the remote systems could assist in monitoring or interacting with the vehicles while in operation. Unfortunately, many vehicles, such as long-haul trucks, often traverse rural stretches of road with poor connectivity making it difficult to reliably transmit vehicle or sensor data to remote systems.

Low bandwidth protocol for streaming sensor data


A retractable writing instrument has a push-to-extend, push-to-retract operating mechanism assembled for life as a single module which is removeable from a body of the writing instrument. A prehensile member is connected to the operating mechanism and is moveable axially for displacing the writing tip of the cartridge between its extended and retracted positions. The prehensile member has resilient parts adapted for grasping the end of the cartridge inserted through an aperture in the operating mechanism module and pressed into a cavity in the prehensile member, thereby allowing users to readily replace the cartridge without the risk of releasing small easily-lost components of the operating mechanism.

Replacing an ink cartridge (or a pencil cartridge) in a retractable writing instrument having push-to-extend, push-to-retract operating mechanism typically involves unscrewing the two parts forming the body of the pen for access to the cartridge enclosed therein. A number of small components, such as a plunger, rotary ratchet and a helical compression spring, typically come loose or must be removed during this operation. The compression spring may be mounted about the cartridge, with opposing ends abutting a stop on the cartridge and the body respectively, requiring it to be placed about the replacement cartridge, before the rest of the components are carefully re-installed. U.S. Pat. No. 4,991,988 describes a pen with these features. It will therefore be understood that there is a need for an improved retractable writing instrument of this type, which allows users to more readily replace the cartridge without the risk of releasing small easily-lost components. It is an object of the present invention address this need or more generally to provide an improved retractable writing instrument.


A level-shifting latch circuit for coupling a first circuit in a first voltage domain with a second circuit in a second voltage domain, includes an input node to receive an input signal provided by the first circuit, and an output node to output a level-shifted signal, corresponding with the input signal. The level-shifting latch circuit also includes a first latch, having a first node and a second node, for storing the input signal in the first voltage domain, and a second latch, having a third node and a fourth node, for storing the input signal in the second voltage domain. In addition, the level-shifting circuit also includes a first switching element which provides a path to transfer a low voltage at the first node to the third node, and a second switching element which provides a path to transfer a low voltage at the second node to the fourth node.

The present disclosure relates to electronic latch circuits, and more specifically, to a voltage level-shifting electronic latch circuit.
Electronic circuits can operate on a range of supply voltages. For example, a supply voltage (VDD) may be 3.3V in a certain application, and may be 1.0V in another application. Digital circuits may respond to logic values represented by certain ranges of voltages (logic threshold voltages) within their operating voltage range. A certain family of logic circuits, for example, can respond to voltages that are above 66% of the circuit's supply voltage as a logic "1". The same family of logic circuits can respond to voltages that below 33% of the circuit's supply voltage as logic "0". Consequently, two different families of digital logic circuits that have different supply voltages may define their logic thresholds ranges using different voltage levels. A first logic circuit from a family that uses a first logic threshold range can have a need to communicate with a second logic circuit from a family that uses a second, different logic threshold range. Accordingly, a circuit at the interface between the first and second logic circuits that shifts the voltage levels used by one circuit to the voltages levels used by the other circuit enables the two circuits to communicate.
A latch is an electronic circuit that can be used to store a piece of electronic information (e.g. a logic value). The latch circuit captures or latches on to one of two stable states based on the input of one or more input/control signals. A latch circuit can maintain the latched state even after the input/control signals are removed. An electronic latch may be constructed from pairs of cross coupled inverters.
Logic circuits may use complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) transistors. CMOS transistors include n-channel field effect transistors (NFET) and p-channel field effect transistors (PFET).

International Business Machines Corporation


A mop having a handle and a base plate. The base plate has a lower surface configured to lie on a surface to be cleaned, and extends in a plane defined by a lateral direction and a longitudinal direction that is perpendicular to the lateral direction. The base plate is elongated in the lateral direction and includes a rigid central region that is connected to the handle, a flexing region, and a stepping region. The flexing region is made with an elastomeric material, and is connected at an inboard edge to a lateral end of the central region and extends to an outboard edge. The stepping region is connected to the outboard edge of the flexing region, and includes a generally flat upper surface configured to be stepped on by a user's foot.

Spray Mops are simple cleaning tools that have gained favor by consumers following a recent trend in the popularity of hard floor surfaces (e.g., tile, wood, stone, marble, linoleum etc.) within the housing market. Early hard floor cleaning tools typically comprised a string mop, rag mop, or sponge mop that was used in conjunction with a separate bucket of cleaning solution. Such devices are still in use today, and can be effective, but they are often considered cumbersome to use.
The foregoing mopping devices have been replaced in the marketplace with increasing frequency by flat mops having a flat base plate mounted to a long handle, with a removable cleaning pad attached to the base plate. Such cleaning pads have included traditional woven fabrics (e.g., string or a knit fabric), sponges, nonwoven fabrics made of polymers, wood pulp, or the like, and the like. Woven and sponge mop pads are generally considered to be reusable, whereas nonwoven pads are often considered to be "disposable" because they are difficult or impossible to effectively clean for multiple reuses.
Flat mops may be used with a separate supply of cleaning fluid (water, detergent or the like), but some are equipped as a "spray mop" having a built-in fluid deposition system including a spray nozzle attached either to the base plate or the handle, a vessel filled with liquid cleaning fluid, and mechanism to control the flow of cleaning fluid. Such mechanisms have included, among other things, manually- and electrically-operated pumps, and gravity-operated systems controlled by a valve. The spray frequency and duration are controlled by the user using a hand trigger located on or close to the handle grip. Once the vessel is filled with the cleaning solution of choice and the cleaning pad is installed, the user places the base plate on the target surface (typically a floor) and energizes the spray system by squeezing the hand trigger or other mechanism to wet the surface. Once the surface is wetted, the user moves the spray mop pad across the wet surface in forward/aft or left/right directions to wick up the cleaning solution and apply a light downward force to transfer the dirt from the floor to the (now wet) pad.
The base plate of a flat mop typically has a large surface (e.g., ˜400 mm wideט100 mm deep). The large surface area provided by the base plate and underlying pad provides a large cleaning path, which reduces the time required to clean large areas and provides a significant transfer surface to pick up dirt and liquid. However, the force applied by the user is spread across the total area of the pad (e.g., ˜40,000 mm2 in the above example), which is good for covering large areas, but hinders the cleaning result and efficiency when attempting to clean stubborn dirt because it is not possible to focus a large cleaning force on strongly-adhering dirt. Ethnographic observations reveal that users of flat mops address stubborn dirt in a variety of ways. Some users apply more cleaning solution (which is potentially wasteful), and others simply endure the many passes required with the cleaning pad (which is time consuming). Other users apply a greater amount of force to the stain using their sock-covered foot or a separate abrasive pad. Still others attempt to apply more force by moving one or both hands lower on the handle. In any event, these approaches are not considered to be true solutions to the problem of cleaning stubborn dirt, because they can be inconvenient and inefficient to the user.
Some existing flat mop designs attempt to address the issue of cleaning stubborn dirt by adding a scrub brush to the mop. For example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,892,415 and 7,225,495 and U.S. Publication No. 2012/0195674 (all of which are incorporated herein by reference) show mops having a scrub brush mounted on the head adjacent the sponge or cleaning pad. However, these devices all require the user to flip the mop head to perform the scrubbing operation, which can be an awkward and inconvenient movement. Furthermore, the device in the aforementioned publication uses a pivoting joint between the handle and the base plate, which may increase the difficulty of holding the device with the scrub brush facing towards the floor. Other devices, such as the mops shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,779,501 and 8,166,597, have a scrubbing region built into the center of the base plate, which is activating by increasing the downward force on the mop handle. With these devices, it can be difficult or impossible to tell when the scrubbing region is actually moved into contact with the floor, because there is no separate control to operate it. Also, some of these devices sacrifice a portion of the main cleaning pad to make room for the scrubbing region.
There exists a need to provide alternative solutions to the problems of cleaning stubborn dirt using flat mops, spray mops, and the like.


A torque converter comprises a converter housing that has a plurality of connection areas on one axial side. The converter housing is connectable in rotation-proof fashion relative to a crank shaft at connection points located in the connection areas. The converter housing has a plurality of radially extending hollows arranged in the circumferential direction at a distance from each other on the aforementioned axial side. A first distance between one of the hollows and the hollow directly adjacent to it in one circumferential direction is different from a second distance between the one of the hollows and the hollow directly adjacent to it in the other opposing circumferential direction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a torque converter for arrangement in a motor vehicle between an internal combustion engine and an automatic transmission, including a converter housing that has a plurality of connection areas on one axial side of the converter housing. The converter housing is connectable in a rotation-proof fashion to a crank shaft or to a component securely attached or attachable thereto by coupling elements positioned in the connection areas. The connector housing also includes and a plurality of substantially radially extending hollows arranged at a distance from each other in the circumferential direction.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the type of torque converters that are the subject of the present invention, a converter housing is connectable to a crank shaft of an internal combustion engine or to a flex plate or other component connectable with the crank shaft, and also carries a pump wheel. A turbine wheel is arranged inside the converter housing so as to be rotatable relative to the pump wheel. The converter housing also forms a fluid space in which a working fluid is held. The working fluid transmits torque between the pump wheel and the turbine wheel.
During operation of this type of torque converter, very great pressures of the working fluid are produced. Therefore, care must be taken to ensure that the converter housing is not deformed by the working fluid overpressure exerted on it from the inside. Furthermore, in constructing the converter housing, it is important to ensure that coupling elements are attached to the converter housing on the axial side on which the torque converter is to be connected to the crank shaft. Torque converters according to the prior art have converter housings with hollows extending radially outward from the radial inside on the axial sides of the converter housing intended for connection to the internal combustion engine. The hollows are arranged symmetrically relative to the rotational axis to allow the thinnest possible metal sheets to be used in manufacturing the torque converter housing. Generally, there are six hollows which run from a radially inner area to a radially outer area of the converter housing at an angular distance of 60.degree. to each other. These hollows ensure sufficient rigidity of the converter housing when relatively thin materials are used. For connecting to the crank shaft or to a flex plate or other component attached in rotation-proof manner to the crank shaft, coupling elements are welded to the converter housing, for example, in the areas between the individual hollows. The coupling elements have threaded openings. Screw bolts that penetrate corresponding openings in the crank shaft or other component are threaded into the threaded opening of the coupling elements.
A problem with the prior art converter housings is that because there are, for example, six hollows, a like number of coupling elements must be provided and then connected to the converter housing either in the areas between the individual hollows or directly in the hollows themselves. To guarantee true running, the coupling elements attached to the converter housing must be distributed symmetrically. When six hollows are provided, the single alternative is to provide three coupling elements at an angular distance of 120.degree.. However, when three coupling elements are provided, the forces that result from torque transmission in the areas where the individual coupling elements are attached to the converter housing become very large and may lead to deformation of the converter housing.


Described herein are techniques for transmitting data to an offline Internet of Things (IoT) device using a transient device. The techniques including a method comprising receiving, at a transient device in a first location that is communicatively coupled to a base station by a first network at a first time, a first portion of a plurality of portions of data for delivery to an offline IoT device. The method further including connecting the transient device in a second location to the offline IoT device using a short-range network at a second time after the first time. The method further including transferring the first portion of the plurality of portions of data from the transient device to the offline IoT device using the short-range network.

The present disclosure relates to offline devices, and, more specifically, to providing data to, and collecting data from, offline devices.
The Internet of Things (IoT) extends Internet connectivity into electronic devices such as consumer electronics, sensors, and embedded systems. IoT devices are typically configured to retain network connectivity with a base station (or one another) in order to share data. However, some IoT devices lack network connectivity due to their placement relative to network access points and network range capabilities. For example, IoT devices for providing content to, or collecting data from, remote, rural, and/or underdeveloped areas can have limited or no network connectivity. In these situations, the IoT devices can be referred to as offline IoT devices insofar as they lack constant (or even intermittent) network connectivity with one another or with a base station. In such situations, it is challenging to maintain software on the offline IoT devices, provide content to the offline IoT devices, and/or collect data from the offline IoT devices.


The present invention discloses methods useful in the preparation of immunostimulatory vaccines which include as one of their components, activated antigen presenting cells which are characterized by having an ability to stimulate a therapeutic T cells response in vivo.

Antigen presenting cells (APCs) play a central role in the initiation and expansion of cellular immune responses to cancer and virus infected cells. Foreign antigens are processed by APCs, which then interact with T lymphocytes or other effector cells. Part of the interaction pathway is via co-stimulatory molecules and ligands on APC and T cell surfaces. Currently, numerous clinical trials have been undertaken to test the feasibility and efficacy using antigen presenting cells (APCs) for therapeutic purposes. There are many types of APCs [1,2]. Different types of APCs differ in the origin, concentration in circulation, and the capacity to present antigens (Steinman, et al., Ann. Rev. Immunol. 9: 271 (1991); Caux et al., Immunol Today. 16(1):2-4 (1995); Hart and Mckenzie, Int Rev Immunol. 6(2-3):127-38 (1990); Austyn, Immunology 62(2):161-70 (1987)). The goal of vaccine therapy is to collect APCs or precursors, activate the cells using tumor antigen(s), and infuse the antigen-loaded cells to stimulate a T-cell immune in the patients that is sufficiently potent to cause regression of tumor. APCs have limited capability to kill tumor cells directly, but they can stimulate effector cells such as cytotoxic T cells and natural killer cells to destroy tumor cells. The most common procedure involves harvesting of immature APCs from blood, culturing ex vivo to activate the cells against tumor antigens, and infusing the activated cells to the same patient. Compositions and processes for ex vivo culture of APCs are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,121,044, incorporated herein by reference.
Blood APCs have several processing characteristics that make them ideal for development of commercial APC-based vaccines. They require only short-time culture (approximately 1 to 2 days) compared to the 7 days or more for APCs derived from monocytes or stem cells, and they do not require cytokines such as IL-4 or GM-CSF for maturation. Both of these characteristics make blood APCs substantially less complex and expensive to produce [3].
Two general processes occur during preparation of ex vivo antigen-loaded APCs for immunotherapy: (1) antigen processing; and (2) APC maturation. The first step in preparing a APC-based vaccine from blood APCs is to harvest immature blood APCs by methods known in the art such as by a standard mononuclear cell leukapheresis. Immature APCs effectively take up and process antigen, but are ineffective at presenting antigen to T cells because they lack cell surface costimulatory molecules and the capacity to secrete immunomodulatory cytokines that are essential to optimize T-cell activation. Thus, immature APCs must mature or become activated before they can effectively stimulate a T-cell-mediated immune response. Accordingly, immature APCs are cultured with an antigen under conditions to yield activated APCs. Various means for antigen delivery are disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,976,546 and 6,210,662, incorporated herein by reference. After the activated APCs are washed to remove any unprocessed antigen, the activated APCs are subjected to a series of quality control tests including a determination of the potency of the APCs. The potency of dendritic cells is typically measured by their capacity to activate T cells and induce T cell proliferation. Activation can be monitored by upregulation of cell surface markers such as CD40, CD54, CD80and CD86 or by increased functional potency using such assays as allogenic mixed lymphocyte reactions (alloMLR).
Current methods of measuring the potency of the APCs utilize five to seven day bioassays which do not provide for "real-time" assessment of product potency. Accordingly, there is a need for techniques for the rapid identification of the potency of activated APCs that have the ability to elicit an immune response. This will, in turn, ensure that sufficient therapeutic quantities of active cells are infused into the patients, which is of importance in the design of therapeutic strategies in relation to disease such as cancer.

Method for determining potency of antigenic presenting cell based vaccines


A metallic structural panel having a plurality of internal passages separated by supporting ribs and its method of fabrication. The fabrication assembly of the metallic structural panel is essentially comprised of a housing defining an internal cavity, a plurality of internal tubes, a means for segregating the internal cavity into a pressurized and an evacuation section and a means for establishing a pressure differential between the pressurized and evacuation sections. The metallic structural panel is superplastically formed and diffusion bonded such that independent passages are formed between supporting ribs within the internal cavity of the housing. Embodiments of the fabrication assembly for manufacturing metallic structural panel are also provided which produced a curved structural panel. These embodiments utilize a curved housing along with either curved end plates or curved internal tubes, depending on whether the supporting ribs are desired to be straight or curved, respectively. If enhanced heat transfer is desired, there is provided an additional embodiment which incorporates a network of cooling tubes.

The present invention relates generally to the production of superplastically formed, metal alloy structures and more particularly to the production of metallic structural panels superplastically formed from metal tubes contained within and diffusion bonded to a metallic pan, and the associated methods for producing such structures.
Superplasticity is the characteristic demonstrated by certain metals to develop unusually high tensile elongations with minimum necking when deformed within a limited temperature and strain rate range. This characteristic, peculiar to certain metal and metal alloys, has been known in the art as applied to the production of complex shapes. It is further known that at these same superplastic forming temperatures, the same materials can be diffusion bonded with the application of pressure at contacting surfaces.
The prior art relating to superplastic forming of metallic sandwich structures, as well as metallic structural panels, is exemplified by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,217,397 and 4,304,821 (hereinafter the '397 and the '821 patents, respectively), both of which issued to Hayase et al. The disclosure of both the '397 and '821 patents are hereby incorporated by reference. The '397 patent discloses a four sheet metallic sandwich structure, while the '821 patent discloses the corresponding method of fabricating the structure disclosed in the '397 patent.
The '397 patent discloses a metallic sandwich structure in which metal worksheets are joined by an intermittent weld. The joined sheets are thereafter sealed by a continuous weld to form an expandable envelope. Following the placement of the joined sheets in a limiting structure, inert gas pressure is applied to the interior of the joined sheets as well as the interior of other worksheets if other worksheets are utilized so that the structure diffusion bonds to itself or other worksheets. The core configuration of the structure is determined by the intermittent weld pattern. Face sheets may by formed for the sandwich structure from one sheet of the joined sheets or by additional sheets which may be inserted in the limiting fixture prior to the envelope's expansion such that the envelope will be expanded against and diffusion bonded to the inserted face sheets.
The metallic sandwich structure disclosed by the '397 patent and its method of preparation disclosed by the '821 patent are of limited utility in several areas. For example, in many applications it is desirable to introduce coolant to the interior of a metallic sandwich structure to absorb the heat which has built up within the structure. However, the complex series of intermittent welds which join the interior metal worksheets restrict the ability of coolant to flow through the structure in any controlled manner. While it is possible to design a metal sandwich structure as disclosed in the '397 patent which does permit controlled coolant flow, it is an onerous task as the series of intermittent welds are necessarily interconnected in order to have an even pressure distribution upon fabrication. This interconnection of the intermittent welds results in multiple paths for coolant flow and ultimately uneven heat extraction.
The metallic sandwich structure disclosed by the '397 patent is also limited in the type of shapes which it may form and the thickness of the resulting structure. The structure of the '397 patent has not been suitable for tightly rounded shapes, such as the leading edge of an aircraft which requires a small radius of curvature. For the '397 patent to be utilized for highly curved structures, the weld nugget line of the structure must be placed in the center of the curve for best results. However, locating this weld nugget line in the curve's centerline is a difficult alignment process and may be virtually impossible with some potential weld configurations.
Additionally, the metal sandwich structure of the '397 patent is not easily manufacturable in thicknesses of less than one-half inch or greater than four inches. For structures which must be greater than four inches in width, the metal sheets forming the structure tend to be stretched too far and become thinned out. The resulting sandwich structure is therefore weak or may not form the pattern which was anticipated by the intermittent weld pattern. Alternatively, for thin structures less than one-half inch, a typical sandwich structure formed from four sheets may not diffusion bond as completely as desired. For example, the joined sheets in the region of an intermittent weld will expand upon the application of increased pressure and may not form tightly enough to one another near the weld so as to bond to the interior two sheets. Thus, the resulting sandwich structure may not be as unified or as strong as desired.
It would be desirable to develop a metallic structural panel through which coolant could flow to provide enhanced heat transfer capabilities. It would also be desirable for the metallic structural panel to be capable of being formed in shapes with complex curvatures and shapes requiring small radii of curvature. Furthermore, it would be desirable if the metallic structural panel were capable of being fabricated in both very thin and thick widths.

Metallic structural panel and method of fabrication


An application may be hosted for utilization by a remote computing platform. User interface (UI) elements of a UI generated by the hosted application may be identified. Proxy UI elements may be generated. Each of the proxy UI elements may correspond to one or more of the identified UI elements. A transcript of an audio sample may be processed. The audio sample may comprise an utterance of a user of the remote computing platform. The transcript of the audio sample may comprise at least one word corresponding to one or more of the proxy UI elements. A functionality of the hosted application may be invoked. The invoked functionality may correspond to one or more of the UI elements corresponding to the one or more of the proxy UI elements.

Remote applications and/or remote desktops are widely utilized for both consumer and enterprise applications. Consumers prefer remote applications or desktops because they offer a secure and simple alternative to local customized installations, which may prove technically demanding or vulnerable to malicious software. Enterprise administrators often opt for remote applications or desktops over local installations due to their scalability, security, and platform-agnostic accessibility.
Speech recognition technology is playing an increasingly prominent role in modern software applications. As speech recognition technology has improved in accuracy, hardware manufacturers have leveraged its increasing precision to downsize hardware platforms, for example, by removing alternative input devices (e.g., keyboards and touch devices) that were once commonplace. Moreover, certain applications are particularly well suited for speech recognition, for example, applications which will be utilized by users who will likely need to have their hands free to perform other tasks (e.g., in the medical or dental context).
Accordingly, a need exists for speech recognition support for remote applications and desktops.

Speech recognition support for remote applications and desktops


The present invention provides methods and devices for closing two overlapping layers of tissue in a mammalian heart, for example a patent foramen ovale (PFO). The closure devices may take a number of different forms and may be retrievable. In some embodiments, the closure devices may be delivered with a catheter capable of puncturing mammalian tissue.

A patent foramen ovale (PFO) as shown in FIG. 1, is a persistent, one-way, usually flap-like opening in the wall between the right atrium 10 and left atrium 12 of the heart. Since left atrial (LA) pressure is normally higher than right atrial (RA) pressure, the flap typically stays closed. Under certain conditions, however, RA pressure can exceed LA pressure creating the possibility for right to left shunting that can allow blood clots to enter the systemic circulation. In utero, the foramen ovale serves as a physiologic conduit for right-to-left shunting. After birth, with the establishment of pulmonary circulation, the increased left atrial blood flow and pressure results in functional closure of the foramen ovale. This functional closure is subsequently followed by anatomical closure of the two over-lapping layers of tissue: septum primum 14 and septum secundum 16. However, a PFO has been shown to persist in a number of adults.
The cause of ischemic stroke remains cryptogenic (of unknown origin) in approximately 40% of cases. Especially in young patients, paradoxical embolism via a PFO is considered in the diagnosis. While there is currently no proof for a cause-effect relationship, many studies have confirmed a strong association between the presence of a PFO and the risk for paradoxical embolism or stroke. In addition, there is good evidence that patients with PFO and paradoxical embolism are at increased risk for future, recurrent cerebrovascular events.
The presence of a PFO has no therapeutic consequence in otherwise healthy adults. In contrast, patients suffering a stroke or transient ischemic attack (TIA) in the presence of a PFO and without another cause of ischemic stroke are considered for prophylactic medical therapy to reduce the risk of a recurrent embolic event. These patients are commonly treated with oral anticoagulants, which have the potential for adverse side effects, such as hemorrhaging, hematoma, and interactions with a variety of other drugs.
In certain cases, such as when anticoagulation is contraindicated, surgery may be used to close the PFO. To suture a PFO closed requires attachment of septum secundum to septum primum with either an interrupted or a continuous stitch, which is the common way a surgeon shuts the PFO under direct visualization.
Nonsurgical closure of PFOs has become possible with the advent of umbrella devices and a variety of other similar mechanical closure designs, developed initially for percutaneous closure of atrial septal defects (ASD). These devices allow patients to avoid the potential side effects often associated with anticoagulation therapies.
Currently available designs of septal closure devices, however, present such drawbacks as technical complexity of implantation procedure, high complication rates (thrombus, fractures, conduction system disturbances, perforations, residual leaks), high septal profile, large masses of foreign material, and lack of anatomic conformability especially to the PFO flap-like anatomy, as most were originally designed to close ASD's, which are true holes. Additionally, some septal closure devices are complex to manufacture, which can result in lack of consistency in product performance.

Patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure method and device


Disclosed is a covering/lid assembly having a first compartment, a second compartment, or both. Each compartment will comprise a top side and a bottom side, the bottom side of the compartment comprising a frangible material. The first or second compartment may comprise a first material or a second material. The first or second material may comprise a flocculated red blood cell coagulant, or a red blood cell flocculent. The material within a compartment may be selectively released upon compressing a dimple and/or button located directly above the first and/or second compartment. A collection and/or biological waste management and disposal system is presented, comprising a lid/covering assembly as described and a collection container. The lid may include a perimeter having a threaded and/or snap-on assembly suitable for securely attaching the lid to a collection canister. The collection canister may comprise a red blood cell flocculent coating.

The containment and management of waste and other materials with potentially biohazardous materials, such as blood, requires careful handling. The presence of blood in fluids and other materials, such as materials generated during processing and/or procedures with animal and/or human bodies and/or corpses (e.g., surgery, taxidermy, corpse handling, processing and/or management (mortuary, morgue, hospital, veterinary office, taxidermy), tissue banks), requires that procedures and equipment be utilized to minimize contact and/or spillage generally of the fluid and/or waste. The problem of fluid/waste spilling and contact creates significant risk of exposing a patient, attending clinical personnel, and a surrounding surgical environment to blood contaminants. Existing collection vessels/containers used in materials collection and disposal do not effectively control for liquid/waste contaminant exposure, due at least in part to the fluid state in which any blood present in the collected material exists.
Containers for collecting biologically hazardous materials, particularly those materials collected from surgical procedures, may include a lid that includes a port that must be manually opened by a user, and manually emptied by the user, in order to dispose of the liquid waste contents. This procedure creates risk of contaminating the user performing the disposal activity, risk of contaminating others within the immediate area where the contents are being disposed of, and risk of contaminating the area in general where the procedure is being performed. Safer disposal methods for handling and discarding liquid or semi-liquid waste materials are needed, especially in the medical arts, to guard against these potential and significant health safety risks and/or other hazards.
The liquidity of a collected material is associated, at least in part, with the liquid state in which any blood in the material remains for several hours under standard room temperature and collection conditions. Any blood present may remain in a liquid state for much longer time periods, depending on what other materials are present. Techniques for quickly and easily reducing the liquidity of collected material, particularly biohazardous materials, remain largely underdeveloped to meet current needs.
Blister packaging sub-assemblies or "blister packs", have been used for convenient packaging of a variety of consumer products, such as chewing gum, throat lozenges, certain medications, and the like. As used in this sense, a "blister pack" is understood to relate to a pre-formed plastic and/or foil packaging used for small consumer product goods, foods and pharmaceuticals. (chewing gum, etc.). The blister pack typically will provide a cavity or pocket created with a formable web or an aluminum foil or plastic on one side, and a paperboard or other less conformable back wall or seal on the other side. The product may be easily expelled and retrieved by a user by exerting force on the back wall to expel the product through the aluminum foil or plastic compartment, and into a users' hand, for example. In typical blister packs, the content of a blister pack "chamber" compartment will be released upon a user applying direct force against the back wall of the "pack", with the back wall remaining intact.
Generally, upon exerting a direct pressure to the back wall of the blister pack, the weakest part of the front wall or encasing layer of the blister "pack" assembly will be thrust out of the compartment, as the front wall material is perforated by the product contained in the "pack" compartment. When pressure is applied to the blister, the backing seal ruptures, and the contents of the blister are ejected through the tear in the backing seal.
Blister pack units are described in German patent application DE10343668A1, which relates to a leak-tight blister pack for medication. In another example, German patent application DE202007003050U1 relates to a blister pack for a liquid substance that is released into the external environment by diffusion.
The medical arts remain in need of improved devices, materials and methods for handling and safely managing the disposal of liquid or semi-liquid materials having blood or blood components, and that avoid and/or minimize user contact.

Covering assembly with coagulant compartment and uses thereof in a blood monitoring/management system


A method is provided that includes displaying a user interface including at least one menu item using at least one of first image data or second image data, receiving a signal related to the at least one menu item, and changing a spacing of the first image data and the second image data displayed on a screen in response to the received signal such that a change of depth of the menu item is perceived by a viewer.

1. Field
Embodiments of the present invention may relate to a method for displaying a three-dimensional (3D) User Interface (UI) and an apparatus for processing an image signal. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention may relate to a 3D UI displaying method and apparatus for indicating an item selected from a hierarchical 3D UI with an increased visibility.
2. Background
Along with growth of digital broadcasting, digital contents have been increased in amount and diversified, as compared to analog broadcasting.
While most digital contents are a two-dimensional (2D) content, more and more 3D content has been produced to allow a viewer to enjoy a 3D effect and a sense of reality. It is expected from this trend of 3D content will be enjoyed through a receiver at home.
A User Interface (UI) for assessing and controlling a broadcast receiver and contents may be used to form a two-dimensional (2D) UI. However, if a viewer selects a 3D content or a 3D mode, the viewer may feel confusion or an inconvenience because of the provided 2D UI.
When 2D content coexists with 3D content in received contents, a receiver may not identify and indicate the 3D contents when providing information about content to a viewer. Therefore, if the viewer selects 3D contents based on the contents information provided by the receiver without knowing that they are 3D contents, the viewer may view broken and/or flickering images.

Method for displaying three-dimensional user interface