An air monitoring system includes a tubing having a metallic inner layer and an outer jacket to provide optimal transport of air samples.

As is known in the art, there are various applications where air is transported through a tube or pipe for sampling or measurement purposes. For example, an air quality measure system may have remotely located sensors instead of at the sensed environment. In addition, a sensor may be used to sense several locations. For such systems, multiple tubes may be used to bring air samples from multiple locations to a centralized sensor(s). Centrally located air switches and/or solenoid valves may be used in these approaches to sequentially switch the air from these locations through the different tubes to the sensor to measure the air from multiple remote locations. These octopus-like or star-configured systems use considerable amounts of tubing. Another multiple-location sampling system known as a networked air sampling system uses a central 'backbone' tube with branches extending to various locations. Air solenoids can be remotely located proximate the multiple sampling locations. Air sampling systems can include remote and/or multiple-location air sampling through a tube or pipe for sampling locations in a building, outdoor air or ambient sampling, and sampling in smokestacks and exhaust air stacks. An exemplary air sampling system is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,125,710, which is incorporated herein by reference.
As known in the art, air sampling systems can use various types of tubing to transmit air samples or 'packets' to the appropriate sensor. One type of tubing is TEFLON tubing. However, TEFLON tubing is relatively expensive and has certain undesirable particle transport characteristics, such that it is a poor conductor and tends to establish a charge as an air sample passes through a tube of such material resulting in enhanced electrostatic deposition of particulate matter from the flow stream. Low or High Density Polyethylene (LDPE or HDPE) tubing, which is less expensive than TEFLON tubing, has been used with limited success. Although good for indoor air quality CO2 sensing, the LDPE or HDPE tubing absorbs and desorbs volatile organic compounds (VOCs) leading to inaccurate sensing results. This type of tubing is also poor for particle sensing applications since the plastic is an electrically poor conductor and can hold a charge resulting in relatively poor transport properties as a result of electrostatic deposition.
Some types of plastic tubing can be used for transporting particles. For example, one type of plastic tubing is known as "Bev-A-Line XX " tubing made by Thermoplastic Processes, Inc. of Stirling, N.J., can be used to perform air sampling with particle transport efficiencies that are an improvement over that possible with polyethylene tubing. However, "Bev-A-Line XX" tubing is quite expensive and absorbs VOCs.
While certain metal tubing may have desirable properties for transporting air samples, known metal tubing options may have certain drawbacks. For example, some metal tubing is rigid rendering it quite expensive to install, because of the labor involved with that process. While other metal tubing may be deformable so as to facilitate installation, the metal characteristics are not well suited for air sampling applications. One known tubing manufactured by Synflex of Mantua Ohio, a division of Saint-Gobain Performance Plastics, includes an aluminum-lined polyethylene tube (Type 1300 Synflex) to provide a stronger plastic tube with a higher burst resistance and pressure rating for high pressure pneumatic applications. The internal aluminum liner is also coated with an adhesive to help attach the aluminum inner tube together with the outer plastic jacket. It also has a plastic coating on the inner portion of the tube for added chemical resistance. However, such a tubing configuration is undesirable for use as an air-sampling medium. The inner coating attracts and traps particles and absorbs VOCs. In addition, even if the coating was not used the aluminum is reactive with many indoor contaminants. Due to its reactive nature, the aluminum tubing would not give accurate and reliable performance as an air sampling tubing. Further, the aluminum surface has an affinity to oxidize over time as it is exposed to ambient air conditions. The surface oxidation increases the roughness of the inside of the tube and can result in the release of particulate matter in the form of aluminum oxide, which can have a non-negligible impact on a given concentration of particulate matter being sampled via transport through the tubing.

Tubing for transporting air samples in an air monitoring system


The present invention relates to a method of controlling a variable damper in a vehicle wherein a rear-wheel variable damper can be controlled by estimating a vertical acceleration value of a rear wheel based on the fact that there is a certain time delay in a wheel motion between front and rear wheels due to the wheelbase and vehicle speed. To this end, the method of the present invention comprises the steps of (a) detecting vehicle body accelerations other than a desired vehicle body acceleration of a vehicle body; (b) calculating the desired vehicle body acceleration based on the other detected vehicle body accelerations according to a geometric rule; (c) calculating vehicle body vertical velocities by filtering the vehicle body accelerations to eliminate DC offsets therefrom and integrating the filtered accelerations; (d) detecting accelerations of front right/left vehicle wheels; (e) calculating front wheel vertical velocities by filtering the detected accelerations of the front right/left wheels to eliminate DC offsets therefrom and integrating the filtered accelerations, and then calculating accelerations of rear wheels by time delaying the accelerations of the front wheels by a time interval taken while a road input to the front wheel is delivered to the rear wheel at a vehicle speed; and (f) calculating damper velocities based on the calculated vehicle body vertical velocities and the calculated vehicle wheel vertical velocities. Accordingly, the Sky-hook determination can be more accurately made. Further, since it is not necessary to use all the four sensors, the number of parts of vehicles can be reduced when mass-producing the vehicles. Consequently, the selling prices for finished vehicles can be lowered, and thus, an unnecessary economical burden cannot be imposed on the consumers.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a method for controlling a variable damper in a vehicle, and more particularly, to a method for controlling a continuously variable damper for a vehicle wherein only a front-wheel G sensor can be used to estimate a vertical acceleration value of a rear wheel in a state where a rear-wheel G sensor is removed.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In general, a vehicle suspension system is an important device for connecting a vehicle axle and body and absorbing vibration or shock exerted from a road surface to a vehicle axle to prevent the shock from being transferred directly to the vehicle body. This device provides the following three major functions.
First, the vehicle suspension system provides a passenger with ride comfort by effectively eliminate an irregular input generated from a road surface while a vehicle is traveling. Second, an improved handling performance can be provided by controlling the shaking of a vehicle generated by the driving activity or road unevenness. Third, vehicle stability when a vehicle is cornering, braking and accelerating can be provided by keeping vertical load on a tire contact surface when the vehicle is traveling on an irregular road surface.
In order to detect a motion of a vehicle body, such a vehicle suspension system includes vertical and longitudinal acceleration sensors installed at positions on a vehicle body above respective wheels, ride height sensors installed at the vehicle body to detect the vertical displacement of the suspension system, and four G sensors installed at a variable damper to detect the vertical acceleration of the vehicle body and wheels. Further, the suspension system utilizes auxiliary signals including vehicle speed signals, braking signals, steering angle signals and the like in order to properly perform the suspension control.
In addition, in order to perform the suspension control, the MCU receives signals from the respective sensors in the suspension system, applies the received signals to a control algorithm to calculate a suspension force required in respective hydraulic cylinders, and then outputs voltage signals to a voltage amplifier for actuating pressure control valves.
In particular, the four respective G sensors of the variable damper (shown in FIG. 1) installed at the vehicle body and wheels among the components of the suspension system are sensors for implementing the Sky-hook control which corresponds to a basic principle used in a ride control of the continuous damping control system (CDS)
That is, the term 'Sky-hook' is used to illustrate the concept that a vehicle is mounted to a virtual sky over the vehicle by means of a damper having a fixed damping coefficient, but this concept cannot be actually implemented. Therefore, the substantially same vibration isolation effect as in the Sky-hook control can be achieved by employing a damper with a damping coefficient that can continuously vary according to the vehicle behavior.
As shown in FIG. 2, the vertical velocity Vs of a vehicle and the vertical velocity Vu of a wheel are required to achieve this vibration isolation effect. That is, the four G sensors capable of measuring the vertical velocity and acceleration are installed at the vehicle body and wheels, respectively, such that the desired respective vertical velocity can be obtained by integrating the signals received from the installed G sensors.
Therefore, in the case of the four, i.e. front/rear and left/right, G sensors installed at the vehicle body, their three points can be positioned on a single plane in a mathematical view. Thus, even though one sensor is eliminated, signals from only the other three G sensors can be used to estimate the vertical acceleration of the position where the G sensor is eliminated. Accordingly, it does not matter to the implementation of the Sky-hook control.
However, since the four, i.e. front/rear and left/right, G sensors installed at the vehicle wheel are subjected to an independent suspension mode and an independent motion, the four sensors cannot be positioned on a single plane. As a result, since all the four sensors should be used to implement the Sky-hook control, the number of parts of vehicles cannot be reduced when mass-producing the vehicles. Accordingly, there is a problem in that a cost for a finished vehicle will be increased and an unnecessary economical burden may thus be imposed on the consumer.

Method for controlling variable damper in vehicle


Unstructured text is identified as larger than a threshold size. Named-entity recognition analysis is executed on the unstructured text. One or more anchor entities of the unstructured text are determined that each occur more than a threshold amount of times within the unstructured text. Two or more instances of the one or more anchor entities that are separated by at least a threshold amount of text of the unstructured text are identified. The unstructured text is partitioned into at least three sections. The unstructured text is partitioned at respective natural language demarcation points associated with each of the two or more instances such that each of the at least three sections is smaller than the threshold size. Separate coreference analyses are performed in parallel on each of the at least three sections.

Computers are increasingly being used for natural language processing (NLP) techniques, such as processing unstructured text into larger structured corpora. This unstructured text may include text for which the only known data is the incoming characters, and metadata such as parts-of-speech of various words, a topic of a sentence, or other syntactical or thematic elements of the unstructured text are unknown. A computer may use NLP techniques to determine some or all of this metadata. Part of this NLP analysis may include a coreference analysis. A coreference analysis may include an analysis to determine when multiple terms refer to the same concept or entity, such as "dad," "father," and "pop."

Preparing documents for coreference analysis

International Business Machines Corporation


System(s) and method(s) are provided to survey a confined area serviced by femto cell for power calibration. Building survey facilitates calibration of femto cell power to suit actual coverage conditions within the building. A femto access point (AP) is set to “calibration mode” while a “calibration call” is effected (e.g., by a subscriber) throughout the intended in-building coverage area. Wireless signal strength for macro and femto coverage is measured and employed to establish an optimal femto AP power. Building survey for power calibration affects operation of the both a building-based AP serving the femto cell and wireless devices, and enhances subscriber experience.

Femto cells—building-based wireless access points interfaced with a wired broadband network—are generally deployed to improve indoor wireless coverage provided by a wireless network operator. Femto cells typically operate in licensed portions of the electromagnetic spectrum, and generally offer plug-and-play installation; e.g., automatic configuration of femto access point. Improved indoor coverage includes stronger signal and improved reception (e.g., voice or data), ease of session or call initiation and session or call retention as well. Coverage improvements via femto cells can also mitigate customer attrition.
Coverage of a femto cell, or femto AP, is intended to be confined within the bounds of an indoor compound (e.g., a building with multiple floors), in order to mitigate interference among mobile stations covered by a macro cell and terminals covered by the femto AP. In addition, confined coverage can reduce cross-talk among terminals serviced by disparate, neighboring femto cells as well. Conventional femto cell power features generally employ relatively inaccurate information sources and mechanisms to identify and set an optimal power transmission power that ensures quality of service within a confined coverage area. For instance, one such mechanism is to specify a building material and number of floors in order to ascertain path loss. As another example, a power adjustment mechanism can rely on measuring the macro network signal strength to assess an adequate transmission power in a femto cell. In the foregoing power management examples, however, resulting transmission power typically (a) fails to adequately cover all areas within a building, or (b) leads to excessive outdoor coverage, interference and signaling activity, with ensuing poor quality of service and reduced wireless device battery life.

Location survey for power calibration in a femto cell


A cage 7b for a radial roller bearing is achieved that can be manufactured by axial draw molding, and in which end sections 12c that are provided on both sides of a non-continuous section 11a fit together so that relative displacement in the radial direction is possible, and so that relative displacement in the axial direction is not possible. A fitting section 13a where the end sections 12c, 12d fit together comprises an inside fitting piece 17 that is provided in the middle section in the axial direction of one end section 12c, and a pair of outside fitting pieces 18a, 18b that are provided in separated portions on both sides in the axial direction of the other end section 12d so as to not overlap each other with regard to the axial direction. When assembled in a radial roller bearing, by placing the inside fitting piece 17 in the portion between the outside fitting pieces 18a, 18b, the inside fitting piece 17 fits with the outside fitting pieces 18a, 18b in the axial direction without the fitting piece and the outside fitting pieces 18a, 18b overlapping in the radial direction.

Of the rotational support sections of various kinds of machinery, radial roller bearings such as the radial roller bearing 1 illustrated in FIG. 23 are assembled in portions where large radial loads are applied. This radial roller bearing 1 is constructed such that a plurality of rollers 6 that are provided between a cylindrical shaped outer-ring raceway 3, which is formed around the inner circumferential surface of an outer-diameter side member 2, and a cylindrical shaped inner-ring raceway 5, which is formed around the outer circumferential surface of a shaft 4 that is located on the inner-diameter side, are supported by a cage 7 so as to be able to roll freely. As combinations of an outer-diameter side member 2 and shaft 4, there is a combination of a housing, which does not rotate even during operation, and a rotating shaft, and a combination of a gear or roller, which rotates during operation, and a support shaft thereof. In this specification, radial needle bearings that use needles are also included as a radial roller bearing.
As illustrated in FIG. 24, the cage 7 is completely constructed into a cylindrical shape using a synthetic resin material. The cage 7 has a pair of circular ring shaped rim sections 8 that are arranged concentric with each other and separated from each other in the axial direction, and has a plurality of column sections 9 that are arranged intermittently in the circumferential direction and span between the rim sections 8. The portions that are surrounded on four sides by adjacent column sections 9 in the circumferential direction and the rim sections 8 form pockets 10 for supporting the rollers 6 so as to be able to roll freely. With the rollers 6 held inside the pockets 10 so as to be able to roll freely, this kind of cage 7 is provided between the inner circumferential surface of the outer-diameter side member 2 and the outer circumferential surface of the shaft 4 so as to be able to rotate relative to the outer-diameter side member 2 and shaft 4. This cage 7 rotates with respect to the outer-diameter side member 2 and shaft 4 together with the revolving motion of the rollers 6.
When assembling the radial roller bearing 1, in order to arrange the cage 7 around the inner-ring raceway 5, the cage 7 is inserted from the end section of the shaft 4, and moved in the axial direction until it surrounds the inner-ring raceway 5. Incidentally, in this case, of the outer circumferential surface of the shaft 4, when there is an obstacle such as an outward-facing flange section or the like that has an outer diameter dimension that is greater than the inner diameter dimension of the cage 7 in the middle portion in the axial direction between the end section of the shaft 4 and the inner-ring raceway 5, this obstacle is in the way, and it may not be possible to move the cage 7 to a position surrounding the inner-ring raceway 5.
Therefore, as a cage that is capable of eliminating this kind of trouble, there is a cage (split cage) having a non-continuous section in one location in the circumferential direction 1 such as disclosed in GB 1,352,909 (A), JP 2-089814 (A), and JP 54-111242 (U). FIG. 25 illustrates the cage 7a that is disclosed in GB 1,352,909 (A). This cage 7a is made of a synthetic resin and has a non-continuous section 11 at one location in the circumferential direction. Moreover, the end sections 12a, 12b that are separated by this non-continuous section 11 fit together with an uneven fit by way of fitting sections 13.
One set each, of an outer-diameter side fitting pieces 14a, 14b and inner-diameter side fitting pieces 15a, 15b that form fitting sections 13 is formed on each of the end sections 12a, 12b. More specifically, of one end section 12a, an outer-diameter side fitting piece 14a is formed on one half section in the axial direction of the outer-diameter side half section, and an inner-diameter side fitting piece 15a is formed on the other half section in the axial direction of the inner-diameter side half section. Moreover, of the other end section 12b, an outer-diameter side fitting piece 14b is formed on the other half section in the axial direction of the outer-diameter side half section, and an inner-diameter side fitting piece 15b is formed on the one half section in the axial direction of the inner-diameter side half section. Together with fitting the pair of outer-diameter side fitting pieces 14a, 14b and pair of inner-diameter side fitting pieces 15a, 15b together in the axial direction on the outer-diameter side half section and inner-diameter side half section of the fitting section 13, the outer-diameter side fitting pieces 14a, 14b and inner-diameter side fitting pieces 15a, 15b are fitted together in the radial direction on the one half section in the axial direction and the other half section in the axial direction of the fitting section 13. In the example in FIG. 25, the state in which the end sections 12a, 12b are not fitted together is illustrated, however, when the cage 7a is assembled in the radial roller bearing, the width of the non-continuous section 11 becomes narrow, and end sections 12a, 12b fit together.
Concave sections 16a, 16b are formed in the circumferential surface of the pair of rim sections 8a, 8b. More specifically, on the outer circumferential surface of one rim section 8a, concave sections 16a that are recessed inward in the radial direction are formed at portions that are aligned in the axial direction with the pockets 10, and on the inner circumferential surface of the other rim section 8b, concave sections 16b that are recessed outward in the radial direction are formed at portions that are aligned in the axial direction with the pockets 10.
This kind of cage 7a is formed by so-called axial draw molding in which synthetic resin is injected inside the cavity of an axial draw mold (mold tool) that is formed by a pair of split molds (mold tool elements), after which these split molds are separated in the axial direction. Therefore, when compared with the case of using radial draw molding, in which the mold is a complex mold which comprises a pair of mold elements that move in the axial direction and a plurality of mold elements that move in the radial direction, the manufacturing cost of the cage 7a is kept low in the axial draw molding. This axial draw molding is performed by moving a pair of split molds in the axial direction, so when removing the split molds, it is possible to prevent damage such as plastic deformation or bleaching from occurring in the stopper sections that are provided on the edge sections of the openings of the pockets for preventing the rollers from dropping out. Therefore, axial draw molding is preferably used in cases where the volume of the stopper sections is so large that so-called unreasonable removal work in which the mold elements are removed to the outer-diameter side by pressing and elastically expanding the stopper sections is difficult, or in cases where column sections are arranged in portion further on the outside in the radial direction than the pitch circle diameter of the rollers such that it is difficult to remove the mold elements to the outside in the radial direction.
In either case, in the case of the cage 7a, it is possible to expand the width of the non-continuous section 11 in the circumferential direction due to the elastic deformation of the cage 7a. Therefore, by expanding the width of this non-continuous section 11 wider than the outer-diameter dimension of the shaft 4 around which the cage 7a is assembled, it becomes possible to assemble the cage 7a around the shaft 4 by passing the shaft 4 through the non-continuous section 11 (between the end sections 12a, 12b). Moreover, even in the case where there is an obstacle in the middle portion in the axial direction between the end section of the shaft 4 and the inner-ring raceway 5, the cage 7a can be assembled by elastically expanding cage 7a enough to ride over the obstacle, and moving the cage 7a in the axial direction to where it surrounds the shaft 4.
Incidentally, in the case of the cage 7a having conventional construction, the end sections 12a, 12b that are both sides of the non-continuous section 11 fit together by way of the fitting sections 13 not only so that there is not relative displacement in the axial direction, but also so that there is no relative displacement in the radial direction. Therefore, during operation of the radial roller bearing, expansion of the diameter of the cage due to centrifugal force is prevented. Moreover, in this case, the outer-diameter side fitting pieces 14a, 14b and the inner-diameter side fitting pieces 15b, 15a are pressed in the radial direction, so it becomes easy for wear of these outer-diameter side fitting pieces 14a, 14b and inner-diameter side fitting pieces 15b, 15a to advance, and in the worst case, there is a possibility the pieces might break.
Moreover, during operation, the outer-diameter side fitting pieces 14a, 14b and inner-diameter side fitting pieces 15b, 15a are pressed in the radial direction, so the force required to cause relative displacement in the circumferential direction of the end sections 12a, 12b becomes large. Therefore, in the case when assembled in a radial roller bearing that is assembled in manual transmission or the like, there is the possibility of a problem in that the width of the non-continuous section 11 cannot be expanded or contracted smoothly, and thus it becomes impossible to sufficiently prevent fretting wear.
Construction in which the end section that are provided on both sides of the non-continuous section can displace relative to each other in the radial direction can be achieved comparatively easily by radial draw molding that is performed by using mold elements that move in the radial direction. However, as described above, in radial draw molding, the number of parts of the mold that is used in injection molding increases, so there is a problem in that the manufacturing cost increases.
Improvement examples of the construction of a fitting section are disclosed in JP 2-089814 (A) and JP 54-111242 (U), however, even in the construction in these cases, there is the possibility that the same problems as those in the construction disclosed in GB 1,352,909 (A) will occur. The related literature above is incorporated in this specification by reference.


Embodiments of two-cycle crankcase compression direct injected internal combustion engines that permit good firing and effective stratification, particularly at low speed, low load conditions. The engine defines a combustion chamber having a recess with a projection extending into the center of the recess and against which fuel is injected by a fuel injector as the piston approaches top dead center at idle. The spark plug firing is initiated prior to completion of the fuel injection.

This invention relates to a direct fuel injection system for an internal combustion engine and method of operating such a system and particularly to a direct cylinder fuel injection type two-cycle internal combustion engine and method in which it is operated.
The advantages of direct cylinder injection are well known. Basically, by employing direct cylinder fuel injection with an internal combustion engine it is possible to obtain increases in fuel economy and exhaust emission control. The reason for this is that it is substantially easier to obtain fuel stratification with direct injection systems and fuel stratification can achieve the aforenoted results. However, one difficulty with providing for fuel stratification in the combustion chamber is that it must be ensured that the stoichiometric fuel patch is at the spark gap at the time it is fired. This is a considerable problem, particularly at low speeds and low loads.
A form of combustion chamber has been proposed that will improve fuel stratification and in which a recess or bowl. is formed in the head of the piston and a projection extends into this recess. The concept of employing a projection into the recess is that the fuel is desired to be sprayed in proximity to this projection and this will ensure vaporization of the fuel. However, with this type of arrangement it is difficult to ensure that the vaporized fuel will be around the gap of the spark plug at the time it is fired. The reason for this is that it is normally the practice to spray the fuel into the cylinder at a time well before top dead center and the fuel charge can easily be dispersed out of the recess into the remainder of the combustion chamber to form a mixture that is too lean for firing or, alternatively, not juxtaposed to the spark gap at the time the spark plug is fired. With the previously proposed type of arrangement it has been necessary to delay the start of firing of the spark plug in relation to the total time of fuel injection from the fuel injection valve. This is done so as to permit the fuel evaporated from the projection to reach the spark plug at the time when the spark plug is fired. This system has been utilized with four cycle engines.
However, the application of this type of principle to a two cycle engine gives rise to problems which cannot be solved with the type of arrangement applied to four cycle engines. In a two cycle engine, the temperature within the combustion chamber after compression is higher and the temperature of the head of the piston is also higher. Thus, fuel that is injected evaporates faster than with a four cycle engine and the kinetic energy created by its evaporation and expansion rapidly dissipates. Because of this, the mixture which has been sprayed against the projection in the combustion chamber can readily dissipate before it reaches the spark plug and also the loss of kinetic energy can result in incomplete combustion. In addition, two cycle engines require good scavenging and the scavenging action can disturb the fuel stratification.
Because of the aforenoted situations, it is extremely important when applying direct cylinder injection to a two cycle engine that employs a projection on the head of the piston to improve stratification to place the spark plug gap as close as possible to the piston projection.
It is, therefore, a principal object of this invention to provide an improved direct cylinder injection system for an internal combustion engine that achieves fuel stratification and ensures firing, even under low load, low speed conditions.
It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved method of operating a direct fuel injected engine to achieve these results.
It is a still further object of this invention to provide an improved combustion chamber arrangement for a two cycle internal combustion engine wherein the spark plug gap is positioned in close proximity to a projection on the cylinder head against which the fuel is injected.

Cylinder fuel injection type two-cycle internal combustion engine


Systems and methods for mitigating intermodulation distortion in a receiver include receiving, at processing electronics, a radio frequency signal. An envelope of the received signal is detected to form a rectified envelope signal. A portion of the envelope signal attributable to intermodulation distortion may be isolated from the envelope signal. The isolated distortion may be used to reduce the gain of the received radio frequency signal.

The present disclosure relates generally to radio frequency receivers. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to mitigating the effects of intermodulation distortion in a radio frequency receiver, such as a wideband receiver.
The use of wideband signals has increased considerably in recent years across a number of different industries. For example, wideband signals are often employed in communication systems to support higher data rates since wideband signals afford greater bandwidths over that of narrowband signals. Communication technologies such as spread spectrum techniques also utilize wideband signals to accomplish secure communications. In another example, wideband signals may be used in radar systems to afford greater degrees of precision over narrowband radar systems.
One troublesome source of distortion in a wideband system is intermodulation distortion. Ever-present and inescapable non-linearities in a wideband system may cause the generation of additional spurious signals. These non-linearities, while generally small, may exist even in the so-called linear range of an amplifier and well below the saturation point of the amplifier. Typically, a single signal at an off-channel frequency can be filtered out at the intermediate frequency and will not "spill over" on-channel, so long as the signal level does not exceed the saturation point of the circuitry of the system. In some cases, however, two or more signals at off-channel frequencies can generate a third frequency, a spurious signal that falls on-channel, resulting in intermodulation distortion.
Intermodulation distortion is particularly detrimental in wideband systems over that of narrowband systems. First, nearly all wideband systems utilize only a small number of channel assignments. Multiple off-channel signals generating intermodulation distortion are likely to produce a signal that falls on a desired channel used by the system. Second, many long distance wideband receivers utilize high gain amplifiers in their front ends to achieve the very low noise figures needed for link closure. Consequently, such receivers may go into compression at low input levels leading to intermodulation distortion generation at low input signal levels. Accordingly, applicant has discovered that there may be a need for systems and methods that mitigate intermodulation distortion in a radio receiver, such as a wideband receiver.

Mitigating intermodulation distortion in a receiver


A method of making a curved sensor is described. The method involves projecting portions of a curved three dimensional structure such as a hemisphere onto a two dimensional substrate in an outline pattern. The outline pattern typically serves as a perimeter of a sensor. After forming a sensor in the shape of the outline pattern, the two dimensional substrate is flexed to form a three dimensional sensor structure.

Image sensors have largely replaced film in imaging systems. Typical image sensors, such as charge coupled device (CCD) arrays and CMOS imagers are typically based on crystalline silicon substrates and are thus almost perfectly flat. However, flat image sensors can only handle light coming in from a narrow field of view. In order to widen the field of view, complicated, delicate and expensive lens systems are used to focus the light from a wider area onto the flat sensor. However, such lenses add weight and add significantly to imaging system expense.
Forming a curved image sensor has long been proposed as a means of creating wide angle imaging systems using relatively simple and light lens systems, because the focal plane of a simple light lens system generally forms a spherical section. Curved image sensors have other applications, including robotic sensor systems. However, forming a curved sensor has proven to be logistically difficult. Many semiconductor processes, such as photolithographic processes, are not easily adapted to implementation on a curved surface. In addition, when excessive stress is applied to crystalline sensor structures, sensor cracking may result.
Thus an effective inexpensive method of forming a curved, hemispherical shaped image sensor is needed.


An apparatus for retrieving soft objects, the apparatus comprising a storage section, a gathering section, a rim and an elongated handle. The storage section is shaped like an open basket on its side and having a top and a bottom. The gathering section extends from the bottom of the storage section, comprises two barrier regions separated by a retaining region, and has a leading edge. The rim is attached at least to the leading edge. The handle projects upward from the top of the storage section at such an angle to permit a raking motion when collecting objects. Also a method for gathering soft objects on the ground including the steps of rotating handle of above apparatus to place its bottom on the ground, pulling the apparatus over fruit-laden ground, and rotating handle so bottom is on top to move the objects elsewhere.

Shovels and rakes have been around for many decades but none are suitable for gathering objects that are easily damaged. Such objects include fruit of many types.
Shovels require a scooping and lifting action that is unsatisfactory for several reasons. The scooping and lifting action places excessive strain on the back of a person doing the shoveling. In addition, the shovel often has a shallow storage area. Also, the gathering area is generally flat, permitting round-like objects to inadvertently leave the scoop when the shovel is repeatedly used to gather the objects before transferring them elsewhere.
Rakes require a pulling action that is unsatisfactory for different reasons. While a pulling action to concentrate objects causes less strain on a person's back, a person must then stoop to pick up the objects or do another step such as transfer them in to a basket for carrying.
Rakes with storage sections are known but also have problems. The raking motion is less stressful on a person's back as mentioned above. However, the known devices have specific uses such as for gathering hard objects such as, for example, clams or golf balls. These devices generally are unsuitable for gathering round-like soft objects such as, for example, apples, oranges, peaches and other fruit. The fruit easily spills out if the device is used repeatedly to gather more fruit before the device is used to transfer the fruit to another location. Also, the gathering area generally has exposed tines suitable for digging in sand, dirt or other surfaces. These tines can also damage soft objects such as fruit.
There is a need for an apparatus for gathering soft, round-like objects such as fruit without adversely damaging the objects and rendering them less useful.


Disclosed are materials comprising a fiber material and an agent having at least one having improved tensile strength, in particular wet tensile strength, vis-à-vis fiber materials known from the art. While these fiber materials may be of use in various fields, in particular household products, hygiene products and the like, these fiber materials are of particular use in wound treatment. Also disclosed is a method for producing these materials.

Fiber materials, in particular fiber materials that are capable to absorb and retain a liquid (fluid), are useful in a variety of applications, including as carrier substrates, household products, hygiene products and in wound treatment. The area of wound treatment poses particular challenges to fiber materials, since not only is adequate fluid management required, but also integrity of the overall product containing the fiber, in particular during application, use and removal. The fiber material, just as the overall wound care product, must also be sterile, safe to use in contact with bodily fluids and, ideally, comfortable to wear for the patient.
US 2013/0323195 discloses high performance fiber materials, as well as an associated method of production. The document further discloses the use of such fibers or fibrous structures as carrier materials, hygiene products, cosmetic products and bandages or wound dressings, containing such fibers or fibrous structures.
An alternative approach to obtain a wound care product, which is not based on modifying the properties of a fiber material, is realized in Geliperm (Geistlich Pharma AG), which is a hydrogel sheet that consists of two different interlaced polymers, i.e. an agar gel and a polyacrylamide. The hydrated sheet form contains about 96% water, 1% agar, and 3% polyacrylamide, whereas the dry sheet form differs from the hydrated form that 35% glycerol are added so that the sheet can rapidly absorb water (see: "Surgical Dessings and Wound Management", by Stephan Thomas, Medetec, 2010).
In order to improve or modify properties of fiber materials used in these applications, various approaches have been pursued in the art to physically and/or chemically treat/modify a given fiber material. According to the art, these modifications primarily focus on improving the handling properties of the fiber material.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 2,273,636 discloses regenerated cellulose products, obtained from aqueous cellulose solutions, which are treated with glycerol derivatives for the purpose of impregnating or softening. In particular, solutions containing 1.5% glycerol-monomethylerther and 1.5% triacetine are described for the purpose of softening of regenerated cellulose products, resulting in soft and elastic cellulose-foils having reduced hygroscopic behavior.
In wound care, fiber materials that are capable of absorbing and retaining fluids are generally preferred over other conceivable substrate materials, already for reasons of improved wound exudate management. Fiber materials that are capable to form gels when coming in contact with a fluid, i.e. can take up fluid, are particularly preferred.
However, wetness and/or swelling (gelling) of the fiber material, and hence the wound care product associated therewith, may lead to problems regarding the stability/integrity of the wound care product, in particular the fiber material component thereof. For example, the overall wound care product may disassociate, either between layers/films and/or within a layer/film. Therefore, fiber materials, in particular gel forming fiber materials should ideally maintain their integrity during use, including during dressing changes, in order to avoid disintegration, decrease in performance and/or the potential that residuals of the dressing remain in the wound.

Fiber materials with improved properties for use in wound treatment


A method of forming an opening through a substrate includes defining an area on a first surface of the substrate where the opening is to be formed, the area having a center region flanked by edge regions. A top layer having a substantially closed space located over the area is formed on the first surface. Structure for promoting etching of the center region is provided, and the first surface of the substrate is etched in the area. In one embodiment, the method can fabricate an inkjet printhead having a substrate having an ink feed hole formed therethrough and an orifice plate formed thereon. A plurality of particle tolerance elements located over a center region of the ink feed hole promoted etching during the fabrication of the printhead.

This invention relates generally to forming openings in substrates and more particularly to using such techniques to fabricate inkjet printheads.
Inkjet printheads are one of the many types of articles fabricated on silicon wafer substrates using photolithography techniques. A printhead is a drop-generating device having a plurality of nozzles or orifices through which drops of ink are selectively ejected. Ejection of an ink drop through a nozzle is accomplished using any suitable ejection mechanism, such as thermal bubble or piezoelectric pressure wave. One common architecture for a thermal inkjet printhead has a plurality of thin film resistors provided on a semiconductor substrate. An orifice plate is deposited over the thin film layer on the substrate. The orifice plate defines firing chambers about each of the resistors, a nozzle corresponding to each firing chamber, and an ink feed channel fluidly connected to each firing chamber. Ink is provided through an ink feed hole or slot formed in the substrate and flows through the ink feed channels to the firing chambers. Actuation of the resistor by a "fire signal" causes ink in the corresponding firing chamber to be heated and expelled through the corresponding nozzle.
Fabricating such inkjet printheads generally comprises forming an orifice plate on the frontside of a silicon wafer substrate and then forming an ink feed hole in the substrate. One known operation for forming ink feed holes comprises a hybrid laser micromachining and wet chemical etch slotting process. In this hybrid slotting process, a laser micromachining operation makes hardmask openings in a backside oxide layer and then laser micromachines blind trenches in the hardmask openings. The laser trenches must be machined to a specified depth, within a given margin. Next, a wet chemical etch process completes the ink feed holes by etching from both the backside and frontside to meet the final critical dimension (FCD).
While generally providing satisfactory results, this hybrid slotting process does experience occasional yield defects. One common yield defect seen with this process is the so-called "under-etch" defect in which insufficient etching occurs and the ink feed hole fails to meet its final critical dimension (FCD). A major contributor to the under-etch defect is poor frontside etching in the center region of the ink feed hole. Because the frontside etching occurs in the substantially closed chambers formed by the orifice plate, the hydrogen produced by the chemical reaction does not have space to escape and therefore impedes the etching process. Thus, frontside etch only initiates and etches along the edges of the ink feed hole, and the center region experiences minimal etching. As a result, it takes longer for the frontside and backside etches to meet and break through, thereby resulting in more under-etch defects.
Another common yield defect seen with this hybrid process is "laser punch-through" of the orifice plate. That is, breaking through the frontside of the substrate while laser micromachining the backside trench and damaging the orifice plate. The major contributor to laser punch-through of the orifice plate is the laser trench depth being targeted too deep and with small margin. In other words, to achieve desired etching, the backside trench is machined very deep, and thus very close to the frontside of the substrate, which can result in occasional punch through to the orifice plate.

Method of forming openings in substrates and inkjet printheads fabricated thereby

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An improved cutting device including a mechanism for selectively guarding the edge of a cutting blade. According to various embodiments, a sliding mechanism is operatively connected to a blade guard, wherein the translational movement of the sliding mechanism causes a corresponding rotational movement of the blade guard. When the blade guard is in an extended position, the edge of the cutting blade is not exposed, thereby preventing a user from accidentally cut by the blade. Various embodiments also provide for an improved blade replacement system. According to various embodiments, a locking member is capable of lifting the cutting blade without the user having to touch the blade itself.

This section is intended to provide a background or context to the invention that is recited in the claims. The description herein may include concepts that could be pursued, but are not necessarily ones that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, what is described in this section is not prior art to the description and claims in this application and is not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Handheld rotary cutters are commonly used to cut layers of fabric, cardboard, paper, vellum or other materials. Rotary cutters typically include a body with a handle attached thereto for gripping by a user. A generally circular head includes a surface to which a substantially circular cutting blade is attached.
Although a variety of conventional handheld rotary cutters are available, many such cutters possess a number of drawbacks. For example, in order to remove and/or attach a cutting blade to the cutter, a user must often directly touch a portion of the cutting blade. This is undesirable since it poses a safety hazard. Additionally, because it is often desirable in some rotary cutters to "store" the cutting blade when not in use (i.e., so that a user is not accidentally injured by the blade when the device is being transported, for example), a mechanism is needed to easily and securely move the blade from an "in use" position to a "storage" position and vice versa. However, such mechanisms can also result in the blade moving to a small extent during use, since the mechanism to which the blade is operatively connected inherently may have a certain amount of "give" or looseness. This can result in the rotary cutter operating at a less than desirable level.


A load sharing method for a parallel computer system having a computer group including a plurality of computers and an operation management mechanism which is a computer for managing the operation of the computer group. The method shares a load for executing a plurality of kinds of work processes to the plurality of computers in the computer group, and includes the steps of setting resource utilization target values by work for the plurality of computers in the computer group; collecting resource utilization states by work for the plurality of computers in the computer group to thereby inform the operation management mechanism of the resource utilization states; selecting a computer to execute a newly requested work process from the plurality of computers in the computer group on the basis of the differences between resource utilization target parameter values by work in the plurality of computers in the computer group and current values of a parameter indicating the reporting resource utilization states by work; and executing, in the selected computer, the newly requested work process

The present invention relates to a load sharing control method for controlling load sharing in a parallel computer system, and particularly to an effective technique to be applied to a load sharing control method for sharing a multiple of kinds of jobs or sessions among a plurality of computers in a parallel computer system with good balance to improve processing speed and guarantee of the turn-around time of jobs.
As main jobs or sessions executed in a conventional computer system, there are jobs or sessions performed by batch process, online process and TSS (timesharing system) process. The jobs, sessions or transactions are hereinafter referred to as "works". In order to operate these works efficiently in one computer system, the order of priority for execution of the works is set by parameters
On the other hand, the idea of executing a plurality of works in a parallel computer system having a plurality of computers connected in parallel has been proposed to increase the amount of works to be executed. Upon such a background, some methods or apparatuses have been proposed as load sharing control methods or load sharing control apparatuses each used in a parallel computer system for sharing a load among a plurality of computers executing a plurality of works.
JP-A-3-19035 discloses a job execution multiplicity control system in which the job execution multiplicity of a job execution queue as a whole is adjusted to attain increased speed of a batch job while the computer system is in operation.
In brief, the job execution multiplicity control system comprises a number-of-jobs recognition means for recognizing the number of currently running jobs from the job execution queue as a whole, a job execution multiplicity recognition means for making the computer system recognize designated job execution multiplicity, and a job control means for controlling job extraction.
JP-A-5-197682 discloses an online job dynamic load control system in which the lowering of online response can be prevented effectively even in the case where dynamic load in online transaction increases.
In brief, the dynamic load control system comprises a load state recognition means for measuring load on a central computer at predetermined timing to recognize the state of load, and a starting control means for changing/controlling the processing multiplicity of sessions to be executed only when the measured value of load exceeds a predetermined value.
Further, JP-A-3-257654 discloses a load sharing system using session multiplicity in which sessions re assigned to processors in a range of session largest multiplicity to thereby reduce an overhead of a load sharing process per se to improve efficiency of a computer system as a whole.
In brief, when the number of currently operating sessions on a multiplicity information table for storing the session largest multiplicity and the number of currently operating sessions correspondingly to the respective processors does not exceed the largest multiplicity, a session requested to be started is assigned to and started by one of the processors which is determined correspondingly to the session largest multiplicity
Further, JP-A-6-19861 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,504,894) discloses a transaction processing server path setting mechanism in which response time of online transaction is set by a user by the job class so that the transaction is shared to achieve the response time.
In brief, in a multiprocessor transaction processing system, a transaction is classified into a plurality of classes in accordance with the processing time required therefor, target response time is set by the class and load on each transaction processing server is adjusted so that response performance becomes best in relation between the target response time and actual processing time with respect to all the classes.
As a result of study of the aforementioned prior art references, the present inventors have found the following problems.
That is, in the load sharing control method disclosed in the first-mentioned prior art reference, the load sharing control method is carried out in only one utilization mode in which one kind of works are executed. Accordingly, there is a problem that load sharing adapted to other utilization modes in which a plurality of kinds of works are executed by batch process, online process, TSS process, etc. cannot be carried out.
Further, in the load sharing control method according to the aforementioned prior art, in order to make it possible to share load in accordance with the utilization mode for executing a plurality of kinds of works, load sharing in accordance with an operation mode is carried out in a manner so that the number of initiators (the number of sessions), which indicates multiplicity and which is defined in each sub-system for executing a specific one kind of works is set so as to be different from the number of initiators in another sub-system
It is however required that a plurality of sub-systems for executing a specific kind of work processes are required to take charge of other kinds of works correspondingly to the characteristic thereof to hereby attain the increase in processing speed.

Load balancing for a parallel computer system by employing resource utilization target values and states


A door member comprising a frame having a first side and a second side, opposite the first side, a core positioned within the frame, and a molded skin attached to the first side of the frame. The skin is prepared from a molding compound which, when molded, has a shrinkage of between about xe2x88x920.0003 to about +0.0015. The molding compound comprises a resin system comprising a curable polyester resin, a co-curable unsaturated monomer, and at least two low profile additives. The molding compound also comprises at least about 30 percent by weight, based on the weight of the molding compound, of filler material, and fibrous reinforcement in an amount of less than about 35 weight percent, based on the weight of the molding compound.

The present invention is directed to a door member, and more specifically, to a door member having compression molded fiberglass door skins.
Door members have been manufactured from solid wood slabs for many years. However, solid wood door members have many disadvantages. For instance, solid wood door members can experience significant dimensional changes with variations in temperature and humidity. This can result in cracking and splitting. Also, maintenance of finishes is crucial to preventing degradation of the wood materials. In response, many consumers began using doors manufactured from more durable and dimensionally stable materials.
Recent engineering changes in wood doors have made use of laminated wood materials and thin surface veneers in an attempt to overcome the disadvantages associated with solid wood door members. However, new problems with delamination of the veneers, substrate dimensional changes, as well as continuing finishing maintenance are compounded by increased costs of wood products. This has resulted in door member products that lack consumer acceptance. Thus, the market shares of solid and laminated wood entry doors have continued to decrease.
Steel doors, which superseded wood doors in the market place, hold the majority share of the market, due mostly in part to their low cost relative to wood doors. Steel doors also have the advantage over doors made of solid and laminated wood materials of having greater insulation efficiency. Steel doors, however, have many undesirable characteristics. For instance, steel doors dent readily during construction and homeowner use. Moreover, the surfaces of the steel doors rust, especially when in service at houses in relative close proximity to salt water, and feel cold to the touch during cold weather conditions.
Fiberglass door members comprising fiberglass reinforced compression molded skins have recently become a door member product that has acquired consumer acceptance. Manufacture of these door members is known in the art; for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,550,540; 4,720,951; and 5,537,789, which are incorporated herein by reference. Fiberglass door members typically comprise a door-shaped wooden frame member, a polymeric foam-type core positioned within the frame member, a first fiberglass reinforced compression molded door skin secured to a first side of the frame member, and a second fiberglass reinforced compression molded door skin secured to a second side, opposite the first side, of the frame member. The fiberglass reinforced compression molded door skins are prepared from a molding compound.
The fiberglass door members compare favorably to wood material doors in that they are less expensive than wood material doors. Moreover, fiberglass door members overcome the cracking, splitting, delaminating veneers and poor insulating efficiency associated with wood doors. Furthermore, these fiberglass door members compare favorably to steel doors in that they resist the denting, rusting and do not have the cold feel associated with steel doors. However, these fiberglass door members have, up until now, not been able to be made to have an exterior surface as smooth as steel doors or sanded wood doors.
Steel door exterior surfaces are relatively smooth and produce the appearance of a smooth exterior surface when painted. Wood doors, while having relatively coarse exterior surfaces, are sandable, before being painted, to produce the appearance of a smooth exterior surface when painted. The molded door skins of the prior art fiberglass door members have been molded to have exterior surfaces which have a very coarse wood grain pattern to simulate the appearance of a wood door when stained. However, these prior art fiberglass door members, when painted, have the appearance of a painted, unsanded, relatively coarse wood door member.
Many consumers do not find the appearance of such painted fiberglass door members aesthetically pleasing. Since, the exterior surface of a fiberglass door member cannot be sanded to produce a smooth surface, these consumers purchase wood doors or steel doors if they desire a painted door having a relatively smooth appearance. An apparent solution might seem to be to mold the door skins in a mold having smooth faces to produce door skins having smooth exterior surfaces. However, this has not proven to be a solution because the prior art molding compounds are not capable of producing a surface smooth enough to simulate painted steel or sanded wood doors, when painted, due to surface variations created in the molding process caused by shrinkage of the molded part.
Accordingly, it is believed that if a fiberglass door member could be manufactured to simulated steel door members and sanded wood members, when painted, that certain consumer preference for steel door or wood members would shift to fiberglass door members. Thus, there is a need for a fiberglass door member that has a smooth enough surface to simulate steel and wood door members when painted.
The present invention is a door member comprising a frame having a first side and a second side, opposite the first side, a core positioned within the frame, and a molded skin attached to the frame. The skin is prepared from a molding compound which, when molded, has a shrinkage of between about xe2x88x920.0003 to about +0.0015. The molding compound comprises a resin system comprising a curable polyester resin, a co-curable unsaturated monomer, and at least two low profile additives. The molding compound further includes at least about 30 percent by weight, based on the weight of the molding compound, of filler material, and less than about 35 weight percent, based on the weight of the molding compound, of fibrous reinforcement.
An object of the present invention is to provide a fiberglass door member that has a smooth enough surface to simulate steel and wood door members when painted.
Another object of the present invention is to provide compression molded fiberglass door skins having a relatively low shrinkage when molded.
These and other objects of the present invention will become more apparent from a reading of the specification in conjunction with the drawings.


A sensor array for non-destructively monitoring a structure to detect a critical structural event. The sensor array includes at least one discrete AE sensor node for producing an electrical signal in response to a structural event and at least one shear wave sensor assembly. The shear wave sensor assembly includes at least one shear wave sensor. A gate module is connected to the at least one discrete AE sensor node and to the at least one shear wave sensor assembly, whereby the gate module is adapted to pass through the electrical signal from the at least one discrete AE sensor node in response to a pre-determined signal from the at least one shear wave sensor assembly. The sensor array may further include a signal processing module for receiving and processing the discrete AE sensor output signal. In addition, a data collection system may be located downstream of the signal processing module.

The performance of modern-day military helicopters, missiles, tanks, aircraft and other static or dynamic structures is critically dependent on the reliability of advanced composite materials and heterogeneous armor materials. There has been a reluctance to deploy such high performance materials in critical structural applications because of their susceptibility to in-service damage. The damage occurring in these materials may be difficult to track and can propagate quickly during operation of the vehicle or structure, resulting in the loss of the entire vehicle.
Conventional non-destructive evaluation techniques are labor intensive, expensive, error prone, and unworkable for efficient integration into composite and heterogeneous structures. Autonomous integrated Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) techniques are a revolutionary concept in the maintenance of structures. SHM techniques continuously monitor the condition of a structure. Various approaches for SHM under development use piezoceramic (Lead zirconate titanate (Pb[ZrxTi1-x]O3 0≦x≦1), also called PZT,) sensors and actuators that require separate wiring connections for each sensor and actuator element, storage of pre-damage data for each sensor, and instrumentation for active generation and sensing of diagnostic signals. When the structural geometry is complex—e.g., either the structure has varying thickness, curvature, ribs, joints or heterogeneous materials, or damage is located near boundaries of the structure—it becomes difficult to detect small damage using SHM methods. In addition, the number of sensor circuits and computations required increases the overall complexity and cost of the structure.
One approach to this problem is to integrate many fiber-optic strain gauges directly within the structural material. An optical fiber with twenty or more Bragg gratings can measure static and dynamic strains at discrete locations on the structure. An optical analyzer can multiplex over each fiber and each grating to measure strains at a large number of points on a structure. This approach is being implemented on bridges, pressure tanks and other structures. However, fiber optic sensors have limitations when applied to monitoring complex composite structures where damage can occur anywhere on the structure and in any direction. For example, discrete strain measurements can miss damage because the measurement is very localized at the fiber/grating. In addition, an optical analyzer using multiplexing and multiple connections is expensive; measurements are not simultaneous and the frequency bandwidth may be too low to sense Acoustic Emission (AE) signals.
AE sensors are presently suitable for detection of damage at "hot spots." The use of AE measurements for SHM of large structures may have certain advantages since it is a passive sensing technique. Passive sensing methods are simpler and may be more practical than using active interrogation methods. However, present passive acoustic emission and monitoring techniques require bulky instrumentation with numerous channels, long connections, and centralized data analysis. It may be impractical to embed these systems on the structure to operate in the field. Another limitation is that AE waveforms from such sensors are too complicated for purposes of source characterization.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,399,939 issued Jun. 4, 2002 to Sudaresan et al. discloses a sensor array wherein the number of sensors and instrumentation channels required was reduced, by an order of magnitude, while retaining the sensitivity in the high frequency range to detect incipient damage in the structure. The disclosure of this patent and its cited references is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,075,424 issued Jul. 11, 2006 to Sudaresan et al. discloses a sensor array wherein only one channel of AE instrumentation is required for locating the AE source within a region since the output on a timed scale is used to calculate the location of the critical structural event. The disclosure of this patent and its cited references is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/271,156, filed Nov. 10, 2005 to Sudaresan et al. discloses sensor assemblies for non-destructively monitoring a structure to detect a structural event. The disclosure of this patent application and its cited references is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/449,935 filed Mar. 7, 2011 to Sudaresan discloses techniques for identifying source type and the presence of the shear wave, the contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Thus, there remains a need for a new and improved system for non-destructively monitoring a structure to detect a critical structural event using a sensor array including acoustic emission sensors while, at the same time, includes shear wave sensors which are adapted to prevent false positives of critical structural events.


A pressure sensor is provided with a housing which has an opening portion for communicating an interior of the housing with an exterior, and a pressure detecting unit which has a detection surface for detecting a pressure applied thereto through the opening and is arranged in the housing. One of a perimeter of the detection surface and that of the opening portion has a protrusion portion which protrudes toward other of the perimeters. The other of the perimeters has a groove, into which a tip of the protrusion portion is inserted. A seal member is arranged between the groove and the protrusion portion, to seal therebetween and buffer stress caused by relative displacement between the housing and the pressure detecting unit.

Generally, a vehicle is provided with a passenger protecting system for protecting passengers in a collision of the vehicle. The passenger protecting system has, for example, an airbag device for deploying an airbag to protect the head portion or the like of the passenger, and/or a pre-tensioner device for taking up a slack of a seat belt of the vehicle.
The airbag device and the pre-tensioner device are controlled by a control unit such as an ECU. The ECU performs a determination of a vehicle collision based on signals from sensors mounted to the vehicle, and actuates the airbag device and the pre-tensioner device when the vehicle collision is determined.
It is desirable for the passenger protecting system to protect the passenger not only from a vehicle collision in the vehicle traveling direction (i.e., vehicle front-rear direction), but also from a side collision of the vehicle which causes a vehicle-width-direction impact on the vehicle. For example, as disclosed in JP-2-249740A, the airbag device for protecting the passenger from the side collision of the vehicle is provided with a side airbag, which can be deployed according to detection signals of a pressure sensor. The pressure sensor detects the variation of an inner pressure of the vehicle door.
As shown in FIG. 4, a pressure sensor 1 for detecting the side collision has a substantially hollow case 2 and a circuit assembly 3 which is fixedly housed in the case 2. The case 2 is provided with an air passage 22 for communicating the interior of the case 2 with the exterior. The pressure sensor 1 which is required to have a high watertightness performance is provided with a rubber packing 7 between the case 2 and a sensing unit 31 (for detecting pressure) of the circuit assembly 3. Thus, water is restricted from intruding upon the case 2 except the surface of the sensing unit 31, by the rubber packing 7 arranged between the circuit assembly 3 and the case 2. Therefore, a malfunction due to a wetting of a circuit board 30 is restricted.
However, because the pressure sensor 1 is provided with the rubber packing 7 for sealing, it is necessary for the circuit board 30, the pressure detecting unit 31 and the housing 2 of the pressure sensor 1 to be provided with high dimension accuracy. Therefore, the manufacture cost is increased.
Moreover, the pressure sensor 1 is constructed in such a manner that the case 2 and the pressure detecting unit 31 mounted to the circuit board 30 press against the rubber packing 7. That is, the stress pressing the rubber packing 7 is transferred to a coupling part between the circuit board 30 and the pressure detecting unit 31. Therefore, it is difficult to maintain the reliability of the sensing unit 31, the electrical connection portion and the circuit elements of the pressure sensor 1.
Furthermore, in order to improve the watertightness performance and restrict the malfunction due to stress concentration, the pressure sensor 1 is provided with a potting member 8 which is constructed by an injection of a potting material to support the circuit assembly 3 and the circuit board 30. Thus, the manufacture cost is further increased.


Technologies are provided in example embodiments for analyzing an encrypted network flow. The technologies include monitoring the encrypted network flow between a first node and a second node, the network flow initiated from the first node; duplicating the encrypted network flow to form a copy of the encrypted network flow; decrypting the copy of the encrypted network flow using a shared secret, the shared secret associated with the first node and the second node; and scanning the network flow copy for targeted data.

The field of network security has become increasingly important in today's society. The Internet has enabled interconnection of different computer networks all over the world. However, the Internet has also presented many opportunities for malicious operators to exploit these networks. Certain types of malicious software (e.g., bots) can be configured to receive commands from a remote operator once the software has infected a host computer. The software can be instructed to perform any number of malicious actions, such as sending out spam or malicious emails from the host computer, stealing sensitive information from a business or individual associated with the host computer, propagating to other host computers, and/or assisting with distributed denial of service attacks. In addition, the malicious operator can sell or otherwise give access to other malicious operators, thereby escalating the exploitation of the host computers. Thus, the ability to effectively protect and maintain stable computers and systems continues to present significant challenges for component manufacturers, system designers, and network operators.
Enterprise environments deploy numerous network management tools, including firewalls, network intrusion detection/prevention (NIDS/NIPS) systems, traffic shapers, and other systems. A number of these systems rely on inspection of network traffic in order to provide a wide array of services, including the detection/prevention of malware propagation, ensuring corporate intellectual property is not leaked outside well defined enterprise boundaries, as well as general auditing and network management functions. Network traffic may also be encrypted using protocols such as Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)/Transport Layer Security (TLS).

Encrypted data inspection in a network environment


A fluid control system that includes a fluid manifold having a plurality of manifold bodies fastened to each other end-to-end so as to form at least first and second passages extending continuously through the manifold and each of the bodies. A plurality of solenoid valves are each mounted on a side of an associated body with valve ports opening into the body to the fluid passage(s) that extend through the manifold. An electrical connection arrangement is mounted at one end of the manifold for receiving control signals from an external source. A plurality of circuitboards are disposed one within the second passage of each body, with each of the circuitboards including male and female connectors at opposed ends for connecting the circuitboards in series with each other to the electrical connection arrangement at the end of the manifold. A third connector on each circuitboard extends laterally from the circuitboard for connection to the solenoid valve mounted on the side of the associated manifold body.

Solenoid valve systems for controlling flow of hydraulic or pneumatic fluid have been used in automated manufacturing equipment, production lines and numerous industrial applications. A plurality of solenoid valves typically are mounted on a manifold having a plurality of passages for supplying fluid to the valves and providing passages for connecting fluid couplings to various outlet ports of each valve. Each solenoid of each valve typically is separately electrically wired to an electronic system for controlling operation of the several solenoids and valves. The controller may be located at a position remote from the manifold assembly, requiring a multiplicity of extended conductor lengths for individual connection to the valve solenoids.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,522,431 discloses an improved solenoid valve manifold system in which each solenoid is mounted on one side face of a manifold module. The several modules are mounted end-to-end to form a manifold with interconnected through-passages for feeding fluid to and from the several valves. Each manifold module has a terminal block and valve control electronics for hard-wire connection to input/output connectors at the ends of the manifold, and for connection to the associated valve solenoid(s). Although the modular manifold system so disclosed addresses and overcomes problems theretofore extant in the art, further improvements remain desirable. In particular, the manifold system disclosed in the noted patent requires extensive interconnection by hard-wiring, greatly increasing the cost and complexity of manufacture, field installation and repair.
It is therefore a general object of the present invention to provide a solenoid valve control system that is constructed of interchangeable modular components, that is readily adapted for use in a variety of applications having differing input and output requirements and specifications, and that requires little or no hard-wiring within the modular manifold itself. Another and related object of the present invention is to provide a solenoid valve fluid control system of the described character that is versatile in design, and economical to assemble, install and repair.
A fluid control system in accordance with the present invention includes a fluid manifold having a plurality of manifold bodies fastened to each other end-to-end so as to form one or more fluid passages extending through the manifold. A solenoid valve is mounted on a side of at least one of the manifold bodies with fluid ports opening into the manifold body to the fluid passages extending therethrough. An electrical input/output connection is mounted at one end of the manifold for receiving control signals from an external source. A circuitboard arrangement extends within the manifold from the input/output connection and has conductors printed thereon for connecting the input/output connection to the solenoids of the various valves.
Each of the manifold bodies in the preferred embodiments of the invention includes a passage that extends in assembly through the entire manifold offset from the fluid passages and through which the circuitboard arrangement extends for connection to the various solenoid valves. Both the circuitboard passage and the fluid passages comprise through-passage segments in each of the manifold bodies that align with each other when the bodies are assembled end-to-end to form the manifold. The circuitboard arrangement preferably comprises a plurality of individual circuitboards disposed one within each of the manifold bodies, the various circuitboards being electrically interconnected in series. Each of the circuitboards includes complimentary  complementary male and female electrical connectors at opposed ends for connecting the boards in series, and a third connector along one lateral side disposed in assembly adjacent to the side of the manifold body on which the solenoid valve is mounted for making electrical connection from the circuitboard to the valve solenoid. This electrical interconnection is made through an opening in the side of the manifold body that is sealed by the electrical interconnection to the valve solenoid. The circuitboards in the preferred embodiments of the invention are provided in two forms, one providing a single output for lateral connection to a single-solenoid valve, and the other providing dual outputs for lateral connection to a dual-solenoid valve. The conductors printed on the circuitboards are arranged such that the output or outputs to the solenoid valve are always taken from the same connection terminal(s) at the upstream connector, with the remaining connector terminals being interconnected in such a way that the control signals for the remaining solenoid valves on the manifold are sequentially presented at the selected terminal (s) of the connectors.
The solenoid valves in the preferred embodiments of the invention comprise a valve body having a spool for selectively controlling flow of fluid through the valve body from and to the manifold, and from and to the output ports on each manifold body. A solenoid is mounted on one end of the valve body, and has an actuator operatively coupled to the valve spool. A valve control circuitboard is sandwiched between the solenoid and the valve body. The valve circuitboard has a first valve connector for interconnection with the third connector on the circuitboard in the underlying manifold body, and a second connector for connection to the coil of the solenoid in such a way that mounting of the solenoid onto the valve body automatically implements electrical connection to the valve control circuitboard. In implementations in which dual-solenoid valves are employed, with solenoids being mounted on opposed ends of the valve body, a solenoid interconnection extends through the valve body at a position offset from the valve spool for interconnecting the second solenoid with the solenoid control circuitboard. Fluid control means, such as a pressure regulator or a velocity controller, may be mounted between the solenoid valve and the corresponding manifold body side face. Electrical connection between the third connector of the circuitboard within the manifold body and the solenoid control board sandwiched between the solenoid and the control body is made by a valve interconnection circuitboard that extends through the fluid controller.
The manifold bodies carry screws for releasably fastening the manifold bodies end-to-end to form the manifold assembly. These screws have an externally threaded male end and an internally threaded female end for receiving the male end of a screw in the adjacent manifold body. The screws have a central portion of reduced diameter that is captured by a web within the manifold body. The manifold bodies preferably are of identical construction, and the manifold body assemblies preferably are provided in two forms, one for use in conjunction with a single-solenoid valve and the other for use in conjunction with a dual-solenoid valve. The third connectors on the circuitboards for making connection to the valve solenoids preferably are color-coded to distinguish between single-solenoid and dual-solenoid manifold bodies.
The electrical input/output connection at one end of the manifold preferably comprises an input/output circuitboard assembly contained within an appropriate end housing assembly. These end housing assemblies may be provided in differing forms having standardized input/output connectors and/or standardized communication protocol. The input/output circuitry may include valve drivers for supplying valve control signals to the valve solenoids by means of the series-connected circuitboards within each of the several manifold bodies.


In digital radio technology, information channels describing the properties of the associated performance channel(s) are included in the broadcast band. The digital radio determines when selected signal groups are present in the information channels. Upon identification of a selected signal group, the digital radio automatically reconfigures itself into a user-determined configuration for processing the performance channel. By way of specific example, the user can determine that the equalization of the performance channel for selected musical formats and/or selected artists.

At the present time in digital radios, a multiplicity of formats for broadcast band transmission is in use. The common factor is the inclusion, in a transmitted signal of at least one digitally modulated channel in the transmitted channel. Referring to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a digital radio 10, according to the prior art, is shown. The digital radio 10 includes an antenna unit 5. The antenna unit can be a part of the digital radio 10 or can be coupled to the digital radio by a conducting element. The signals picked up by the antenna 5 are applied to the receiver unit/down-converter unit 101. The output signals of the receiver unit/down-converter unit 101 are modulated signals having an intermediate frequency. The receiver unit/down-converter unit 101 applies the intermediate frequency signals to analog-to-digital converter unit 102. The analog-to-digital converter 102 converts the digitally-encoded signal carriers and the analog-encoded signal carriers to digital serial data. The output signals from the analog-to-digital converter are applied to the demodulator unit/processor unit 103. The demodulator unit/processor unit 103 demodulates and decodes both the analog and digital transmitted signal content. The analog and digital signal channel signals are applied to the demodulator unit/processing unit 103 together, but are demodulated and processed separately in the unit 103. The demodulator unit/processing unit 103 exchanges program and data signals with the memory unit 104. The processing unit 103, in response to a user input and the program stored in memory unit 104, processes the signals received from the analog-to-digital converter unit 102. For example, a decompression algorithm can be applied to the received signals. The processed signals from the demodulator unit/processing unit 103 are applied to digital to analog converter unit 105. The output signals from the digital to analog converter are applied through amplifying units 109 through 110 to speaker unit 107 through 108, respectively.
As will be clear to those skilled in the art, the foregoing description is meant to be illustrative rather than comprehensive. Part of the problem resides in the fact that at the present time, the format of the digital radio broadcast band has not been standardized. As indicated above, the definition of a digital radio broadcast band includes the requirement that at least one of the channels within the broadcast band is encoded digitally. The remaining channels can be encoded with analog and/or digital encoding. Typically, the broadcast band includes a performance channel, the contents of which are applied to the digital radio's speakers for the user. In addition, generally, at least one digital channel, referred hereinafter as the information channel, includes the identification of the properties of an associated performance band or performance bands. The properties can include an identification of the performance piece, the principal artists, the category or categories best identifying the piece, the type of performance pieces broadcast in the transmission band, etc. In some implementations, the performance channel(s) is (are) combined with the information channel(s). The properties of the associated performance channel(s) can be presented to the user as audio or visual information permitting the user to make a choice that can be entered manually in the digital radio.
The entry of the user input alters the configuration of the digital radio. When the information channel identifies a category of material broadcast over this band or the category of an associated performance piece, the user can use a technique generally referred to as equalization to enhance the performance. In equalization, the frequency spectrum of the demodulated and decoded performance piece is divided into a plurality of frequency bands. The amplification of the frequency bands is selected for each frequency region to enhance the performance, for the user, for that particular category of performance piece. The user can be provided with controls so the equalization can be performed for each performance piece or for a plurality of similar performance pieces.
A need has therefore been felt for apparatus and an associated method having the feature that the information band of a digital radio broadcast band can used to control automatically the reproduction of the performance channel. It would be a further feature of the present invention to provide for apparatus monitoring the information channel of a digital radio broadcast band. It would be a still further feature of the apparatus and associated method to provide a digital radio that is automatically reconfigured in response to a selected signal group in the information channel of a digital signal broadcast band. It would be still further feature of the apparatus and associated method to control automatically and selectively the relative amplitudes of predetermined frequency ranges of demodulated, decoded performance channels.

Apparatus and method for automatic performance control in a digital radio


A method and apparatus for non-invasively determining the concentration of a substance in blood, such as glucose, include a sample portion arranged for contacting an eye region of a user to obtain a tear fluid sample, a sensor in communication with the sample portion for generating a signal related to the tear substance concentration, and a processor in communication with the sensor for determining a blood substance concentration corresponding to the tear substance concentration.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for non-invasive monitoring of blood substances, particularly glucose, using self-sampled tears.
2. Background Art
The measurement of glucose in blood plasma is perhaps the most important physiologic analyte measurement in medicine, as diabetes has immense public health implications. Diabetes is a leading cause of disability and death, affecting approximately seventeen million Americans. The total annual cost of treating diabetes and its complications in the United States is in excess of $150 billion, a large part of the total national expenditure for health care.
The medical management of diabetes by tight glycemic (blood glucose) control can minimize its devastating kidney, ocular, neurological, and vascular complications, as documented in the National Institutes of Health-sponsored Diabetes Control and Complications Trial. However, the trial resulted in a three-fold increase in hypoglycemic incidents. Of great concern to diabetologists in their care of these patients is hypoglycemia awareness because of its serious risk for morbidity and mortality.
Tight glycemic control requires frequent measurement by the patient of his/her blood glucose levels, which typically requires a "finger stick" to obtain a blood sample up to eight times daily. This procedure is painful and inconvenient for even the most compliant patients, such that limited patient compliance with self-testing is a significant problem in the medical management of this disease. Accordingly, the need for a non-invasive approach to diabetes management is universally recognized to achieve the goal of involving patients in a proactive way in their glycemic control, both in monitoring blood glucose and in insulin delivery.
The tremendous need for a reliable, cost-effective method of non-invasive blood glucose measurement for diabetes management has stimulated hundreds of analytic approaches. The invasiveness of these approaches extends from implanted sensors through a range of less, to minimally, to non-invasive methods. Minimally invasive methods include chemical or spectroscopic measurement of interstitial fluid from the skin obtained by reverse iontophoretic, electroosmotic, or thermal microporation sampling. Among the other technologically sophisticated approaches to glucose measurement are spectroscopy (transcutaneous infrared, fluorescence lifetime, pulsed laser photoacoustic, and far infrared), analysis of breath, optical measurements of the aqueous humor of the eye, polarimetry, and radio wave impedance. Some of these methods have worked well in controlled laboratory testing, but in practice other chemical species, tissue optics, variations in temperature, and other factors have confounded the measurement. For all spectroscopic approaches, the major problem is the need for frequent calibration, as infrared absorption bands for various chemicals in blood or interstitial fluid can overlap significantly and are influenced by temperature and hydrogen bonding effects.
The concentration of low molecular weight analytes, like glucose, in blood plasma is correlated with the levels found in lacrimal fluid, or tears. While a number of methods for measuring this analyte have been applied to tears, two main factors have prevented the practical use of measuring tear glucose concentration as a means for self-monitoring blood glucose concentration: 1) the low level of glucose in tears, reported in a recent study (see Chen et al., J Cap Elec 1996; 5:243–248) to be approximately 1/25 the level in blood, and 2) the small volume of tear fluid as compared with blood that is readily available for analysis. In the aforementioned Chen study, glucose concentration in microliter samples of human tears obtained with capillary tubes was determined by capillary electrophoresis (CE) with laser-induced fluorescence (LIF), a sophisticated method limited to research chemistry laboratories because of its technical complexity.
Currently, no practical, entirely non-invasive system and method exists for patients to self-monitor their blood glucose with the level of accuracy and responsiveness required.

Method and apparatus for non-invasive monitoring of blood substances using self-sampled tears


Itineraries may be recommended using rider context information relating to a rider. The rider context information may be obtained from various sources. Location information including an origin and a destination may obtained. A set of itineraries may be generated based on the rider context information. Each itinerary may include at least one mode of transportation to allow the rider to travel from the origin to the destination. Each itinerary in the set of itineraries may be ranked based on the rider context information.

Ride sharing platforms may match drivers of personal cars or taxis with riders to provide on-demand transportation services. Two common goals of ride sharing platforms are to improve user experience and increase user engagement. The user experience may be improved and the user engagement may be increased by recommending a set of itineraries to the rider.

Method and system for recommending multi-modal itineraries

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