Method and apparatus for detecting and correcting memory storage data errors in a system utilizing parity error detection. An error detected in the memory storage device results in a parity error being reported, thereby causing the corresponding address location to be deactivated. Once deactivated, no further reading or writing is performed at that address location for a predetermined time period. The parity error reporting and address deactivation is accomplished without an access time penalty and requires a reduced number of I/O pins.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to general purpose digital data processing systems, and more particularly, to such systems having second level cache memories with error recovery mechanisms.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In most general purpose digital computers, it is desirable to have a computer storage system which may detect, correct and dynamically remove a single-bit error without any penalty in performance. Single-bit errors are a predominant failure mode for static random access memories (SRAMs) and dynamic random access memories (DRAMs), especially those that have high densities which are currently used in large computer memories. With minimum feature sizes of less than 0.5 microns, single-bit errors are more likely to occur. Sources of contamination such as dust are proportionately increased in size relative to the individual transistors of high density SRAMs and DRAMs and are more likely to cause latent defects resulting in single-bit errors. In addition, as the minimum feature size shrinks, manufacturing tolerances become limiting thus making latent defects more likely to occur. The single-bit error recovery mechanism must be able to efficiently detect and correct these errors.
To minimize the impact on system performance, it is desirable that the single-bit error recovery mechanism be able to operate without system software intervention. If system software intervention is necessary, performance may suffer as additional data accesses to main memory may be required. In some applications, for example when errors reside in cache memory rather than main memory, it may not be necessary to perform error correction immediately, as long as the corrupted data is not passed to main memory before the error is corrected. It is still necessary, however, that the single-bit error recovery mechanism be able to remove or disable a single-bit error from the computing system in order to prevent single-bit failures from accumulating and eventually corrupting the main memory or leading to multiple bit errors. It is known that multiple bit errors may be difficult to detect and correct.
In multi-processor systems, the single-bit error recovery mechanisms may operate in conjunction with multi-segmented second level cache. In multi-processor systems, multiple requestors may request access to the same shared memory resource. Typically, the cache memory addressing is divided into segments, wherein the segments are mapped contiguously throughout the cache address space. Each of the multiple requestors may request access to the same memory segment simultaneously. Requests that are not able to be serviced immediately must be queued until they can be processed by a memory controller that manages the requests. Once requests are serviced, correction of any single-bit errors detected may result in additional delays in order to correct the error.
One approach which has been used to detect and correct single bit errors is to generate extra bits called check bits, which are stored with the data when writing information into a memory storage location. These extra check bits, along with the data stored in memory, form a code. The resulting code typically has a hamming distance of at least 3 for single-bit error correction. A disadvantage of this approach is that an additional clock cycle may be required to generate the check bits prior to writing the corresponding word and check bits to a memory storage location. Likewise, during a read operation, an additional clock cycle may be required to check the parity of the read data prior to providing the read word to the requester. To minimize the impact on both read and write access times, the memory may be operated in a pipeline fashion. The read data and check bits must be read from the memory and temporarily stored in a register. The read data and check bits read from memory are passed to a syndrome generator. The syndrome generator regenerates the check bits based on the read data, and compares the regenerated check bits with the stored check bits. The result of this comparison is the syndrome value. If no fault is detected, the syndrome value is typically zero. If a single-bit fault is detected, the syndrome value is typically non-zero, and may identify the bit position in which the error occurred. The syndrome value must be passed to a decoder which creates a master bit vector based on the syndrome value. The master bit vector may then be presented to correction logic, which may toggle the appropriate data bit from the uncorrected read register to provide a corrected read data word. The data is then passed to a corrected read register where an error report may be generated. A limitation of this approach is that an additional clock cycle may be required to complete the correction for each read access of the memory in order to regenerate the check bits and perform the comparison. This additional clock cycle may be required whether or not the data requires correction. In summary, this approach requires additional clock cycles for both read and write operations which may result in penalties in access time performance.

Second level cache having instruction cache parity error control


A method for obtaining virtual path identifier, virtual channel identifier, and encapsulation values in an asynchronous transfer mode access device for a network using either non-static or static internet protocol address assignments and asynchronous transfer mode adaptation layer 5. In the non-static environment, a plurality of discovery packets are generated, but in the static environment, a plurality of address resolution protocol packets are generated. Headers are added to the plurality of packets, such that a first set of packets, each packet including a logical link control header, and a second set of packets, each packet including a virtual channel multiplexed header, are realized. The first and second sets of packets are encapsulated and then transmitted to a central office. It is determined if a valid response packet has been received to any of the transmitted packets, and a virtual path identifier/virtual channel identifier pair value and encapsulation value are established, based upon a virtual path identifier/virtual channel identifier pair value and encapsulation value of the received valid response. The established virtual path identifier/virtual channel identifier pair value and encapsulation value are utilized for transferring data between the asynchronous transfer mode access device and a central office.

Conventional asynchronous transfer mode access devices used for obtaining a broadband connection to the internet must be configured to use the specific packet encapsulation method required by the provider of the broadband connection service before use. This complication results in either increased manufacturing costs for the access devices if the configuration is done at the factory or more costly customer service if the configuration must be done at the customer's site
FIG. 1 illustrates how a conventional access device (30 and 40) is connected to the internet 60. End user's computer equipment (10, 11, 12, 21, 22, or 23) is connected to an asynchronous transfer mode access device (30 or 40) using direct connection or a local network (15 or 25). Before the asynchronous transfer mode access device (30 or 40) can provide a connection to the internet 60, it must be configured to meet the packet encapsulation, Virtual Path Identifier, and virtual Channel Identifier requirements of the equipment in the central office 50. Once the asynchronous transfer mode access device (30 or 40) is configured, data communication over a phone line, cable line, microwave transmission, radio-frequency, or other communication channel (35 or 45) can proceed.
The equipment in the central office 50 manages data flow to and from the asynchronous transfer mode access devices (30 and 40). The equipment in the central office 50 also manages data flow to and from the internet 60 using its own internet connection 55, routing the information back to the correct individual end user's computer equipment (10, 11, 12, 21, 22, or 23).
Although conventional methods for automatically configuring the asynchronous transfer mode access devices (30 and 40) when the asynchronous transfer mode access devices are installed has been proposed. These methods are complicated in that they require changes in the central office 50 as well as in the asynchronous transfer mode access devices (30 and 40). The required changes in the central office to implement the methods are barriers to market acceptance.
Another method for configuring the asynchronous transfer mode access devices is described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,636,505, entitled "Method For Service Provisioning A Broadband Modem." The entire content of U.S. Pat. No. 6,636,505 is hereby incorporated by reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,636,505 discloses a way for multiple internet service providers to be serviced by one network service provider, requiring special software to reside on the end user's computer equipment. The network service provider must implement a special configuration to support the method. Although this method provide a way to configure asynchronous transfer mode access devices, the method fails to address the problem of the need for special configuration of the central office, which, as noted above, is a barrier to market acceptance.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a method of automatically configuring an access device without requiring special changes to the configuration of the central office. Moreover, it is desirable to provide a method that eliminates the need for the end user to configure the virtual path identifiers, virtual channel identifiers, and asynchronous transfer mode adaptation layer 5 encapsulation on asynchronous transfer mode based network access devices to enable the data transfer to and from a central office gateway.
It is further desirable to provide a method that eliminates the need for the end user to configure the virtual path identifiers, virtual channel identifiers, and asynchronous transfer mode adaptation layer 5 encapsulation on asynchronous transfer mode based network access devices to enable the data transfer to and from a central office for networks that use static internet protocol address assignments.
Also, it is desirable to provide a method that eliminates the need for the end user to configure the virtual path identifiers, virtual channel identifiers, and asynchronous transfer mode adaptation layer 5 encapsulation on asynchronous transfer mode based network access devices to enable the data transfer to and from a central office for networks that use non-static internet protocol address assignments.

Auto configuration for asynchronous transfer mode based access device


Disclosed herein are embodiments of a tray for transporting a plurality of horticultural containers. The tray comprises: a plurality of connected container receiving pockets each having a bottom portion and an open distal portion opposite the bottom portion and sized to receive a horticultural container; and a plurality of tabs projecting into at least one of the pockets, each of the plurality of tabs including an upper end connected to the pocket below the open distal portion and extending downward at an angle to position a free distal end into the pocket with a bias against outward radial displacement.

Horticultural growing containers, such as flower pots, are commonly filled and seeded in mass quantities at nurseries during large scale plant propagation operations. At the beginning stages of propagation, the containers can be loaded into trays configured to hold and arrange multiple containers. The loaded trays can serve as an efficient means for organizing, filling and seeding the containers at the nursery, for transporting containers with grown plants to retail centers, and for ultimately displaying the plants to consumers.
The trays can not only be utilized throughout the course of filling, planting, transportation and display of the containers, but can also, after being emptied of containers by retail consumers, be returned from the retail center to the nursery for re-use. However, the nursery may wish to re-use the tray with a different sized container. In addition, there may be substantial dimensional variation between commercially available containers, even among those of a certain size classification. Therefore, consumers of the trays may want trays configured to securely hold multiple different sized containers.

Tray for transporting horticultural containers


A digital image storage and management system for automatically generating distinct recorded media volumes by recording selected data thereon includes a combination of computer hardware and software components that are configured to operably receive and act upon user-defined commands delivered to the computer via a graphical user interface, which may be coupled to the computer through an external network. The hardware and software combination in the computer direct robotics to manipulate distinct recordable media volumes into and out from respective media recording drives. Data retrieved from local or distributed databases by the computer according to specific user-defined commands is compiled into discreet associated data sets and recorded onto one or more recordable media volumes. The computer also automatically creates a pre-defined association with the particular data set for cataloging purposes. The computer may also automatically direct a printing device to generate and install graphics onto a printable surface of the recorded media volume, which graphics may be uniquely associated with the data set recorded thereon.

Modern hospitals have implemented networks of various digital modalities such as a magnetic resonance (MR), computed tomography (CT), digital radiography, and ultrasound devices. These modalities, referred to as input imaging devices, produce vast numbers of diagnostic quality digital medical images. In order to more easily manage such images many hospitals are implementing a network of specialized equipment and components designed to support medical radiological imaging commonly referred to as a Picture Archiving and Communicating System (PACS). A PACS allows a radiologist to easily manage the large volume of digital medical images including archiving, retrieving, exchanging, displaying and manipulating images and associated reports. For example, when a patient is imaged by a medical modality, a series of digital images, referred to as a "series", is generated, captured and archived. A radiologist typically dictates a report that is later transcribed into some type of text document. A radiologist can easily and quickly retrieve the patient's series, or any previous series, and display the series on a display station for viewing. Furthermore, the retrieved study or series can be forwarded to another radiologist, perhaps located at a remote hospital. By easing the burden of managing digital medical images, PACS are expected to improve patient care and the efficiency of the radiology department. Furthermore, by integrating PACS with a Hospital Information Management System (HIS), patient information can be coupled with the study, thereby improving the efficiency of the hospital as a whole.
In order to facilitate archival and retrieval of medical images, a PACS typically incorporates a short-term storage device having a plurality of short-term storage media, such as RAID, NAS, OR SAN, which are typically rewritable media, and a long-term storage device having a plurality of long-term storage media, such as a tape or optical device archiving device capable of managing an automated or manual library of volumes. As new images and associated reports are generated from the various medical modalities, the system stores the images on the short-term storage device using a "best-fit" approach. In this manner, the system distributes the images across the plurality of short-term storage media in order to minimize wasted storage space. Thus, each image in a patient's series may be stored on unique media in order to most efficiently manage storage space. A central database maintains the location of each image. If a radiologist does not request a patient's series for a period of time, the system automatically moves the corresponding images to the long-term (near-line) storage device and updates the database. The PACS distributes the images of the series across the long-term storage media to minimize wasted storage space. When, for example, a radiologist or a radiology technician (i.e., a user) requests a particular patient's series, the system accesses the database to determine the current location of the patient's images and reports. If the desired images reside on long-term storage media within the long-term storage device, the PACS automatically retrieves the images and moves them to the short-term storage device.
Although the best-fit archival scheme typically used by a PACS provides the benefits discussed above, it also has many shortcomings. For example, because the best-fit method distributes images across a plurality of media, it does not readily allow patient records to be physically archived to a shelf or an off-site storage facility. When a radiologist requests images for a particular patient, the hospital staff may have to physically retrieve several media from archive. Even if all the necessary long-term storage media is currently loaded into the long-term storage device, the device must independently initialize each long-term storage medium for access. Thus, in certain scenarios, the best-fit method can greatly increase archive retrieval time, thus compromising the efficiency of the archival system and increasing the cost thereof. For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need for a digital image management system which reduces access time and which requires less intervention by system administrators.

Digital image storage and management system


A hardness testing apparatus has an indenter shaft having an indenter at a top thereof, a force motor for moving the indenter shaft in its axial direction and applying a predetermined test force to a sample through the indenter, an external force detection section for detecting an external force applied from outside of the hardness testing apparatus to the indenter shaft when the indenter shaft is moved by the force motor, and an external force adjustment and control section for controlling the force motor to apply the predetermined test force to the sample while deadening the external force detected by the external force detection section.

The present invention relates to a hardness testing apparatus in which a hardness of a sample is measured by forming a dimple on the surface of the sample.
In a first earlier development, a hardness testing apparatus is used. In this apparatus, a load is applied to the surface of a sample by an indenter to form a dimple on the surface of the sample, and a hardness of the sample is measured.
For example, a hardness testing apparatus 500 shown in FIG. 25 is known (for example, refer to FIG. 2 of Published Japanese Patent Application (Tokkaihei) No. H10-132722).
As shown in FIG. 25, the hardness testing apparatus 500 has an indenter shaft unit 510 having an indenter shaft 502 and a load applying mechanism 530 for applying a predetermined load to the indenter shaft 502. An indenter 501 is arranged on the top of the indenter shaft 502 to form a dimple in a sample S mounted on a sample stand 555.
The indenter shaft unit 510 is placed above the sample stand 555 and has a supporting frame 503 arranged on a body (not shown) of the testing apparatus 500, a supporting spring 504 arranged on an indenter shaft support 503a which stands on the supporting frame 503, a motion plate 507 elastically supported by the supporting frame 503 through a plate spring 505 and a return spring 506, a push bar 508 arranged on the supporting frame 503 so as to be movable in the upper and lower directions, the indenter shaft 502 and the like. A lower end 508a of the push bar 508 comes in contact with an external end 507b of the motion plate 507. An upper end 502a of the indenter shaft 502 is attached to the supporting spring 504, and a contact member 502b of the indenter shaft 502 is supported by a shaft receiver 507a of the motion plate 507 placed below the indenter shaft 502.
The load applying mechanism 530 has a dead weight member 570 arranged above the indenter shaft unit 510 and a control lever 520.
The control lever 520 is supported by a rotational shaft 521 at the almost center of the control lever 520 so as to rotate around the body of the testing apparatus. A pressing member 522 is arranged on one end 520a of the control lever 520 to push down the upper end of the pushing bar 508 of the indenter shaft unit 510. A roller 524 being rotatably contacted with an eccentric cam 523 is attached to the other end 520b of the control lever 520. The control lever 520 extends from the rotational shaft 521 toward a position above the indenter shaft unit 510 and extends above the indenter shaft 502, and the end 520a of the control lever 520 pushes down the pushing bar 508 at an upper position of the pushing bar 508. A hole 520c extending in the vertical direction is formed in the control lever 520 at a position placed above the indenter shaft 502 of the control lever 520.
The dead weight member 570 has a plurality of dead weights 571, a load shaft 572 vertically extending in the center of the dead weight member 570, and a casing 573 covering the dead weights 571. A lower portion of the load shaft 572 penetrates through the hole 520c of the control lever 520 and extends downward, and a lower end 572a of the load shaft 572 is arranged so as to be opposite to an upper end 502a of the indenter shaft 502. A pin 574 projects from the load shaft 572 and comes in contact with the control lever 520 from its upper side.
In the above configuration of the hardness testing apparatus 500, the control lever 520 is rotated with the rotation of the eccentric cam 523 to push down the push bar 508 of the indenter shaft unit 510 or to release the push-down of the push bar 508. When the push bar 508 is pushed down, the supporting frame 503 (motion plate 507) is pushed down. The control lever 520 lowers the position of the dead weight member 570 to apply a predetermined load to the indenter shaft 502.
When the hardness test is performed by using the hardness testing apparatus 500, the sample S is mounted on the sample stand 555 placed below the indenter shaft 502 in the body of the hardness testing apparatus 500, and the position of the indenter shaft 502 is lowered by rotating the eccentric cam 523 and lowering the position of the dead weight member 570. When the position of the indenter shaft 502 is lowered so as to make the top of the indenter 501 come in contact with the sample S, the indenter shaft 502 is released from the shaft receiver 507a of the motion plate 507. Thereafter, the dead weight member 570 applies a predetermined load (weight of the dead weights 571; test force, for example, from almost 98 mN to 20N) to the indenter shaft 502, and a dimple is formed in the sample S by the indenter 501. After formation of the dimple, the control lever 520 is rotated in the direction reverse to that in the formation of the dimple to heighten the position of the supporting frame 503 (motion plate 507) and to move the indenter shaft 502 upward, and the indenter shaft 502 departs from the sample S. Therefore, the size of the dimple or the like is measured by observing the dimple formed in the sample S with a microscope (not shown) or the like, and a hardness of the sample S is determined.
However, in case of the Application No. H10-132722, when the test force is output from the dead weights 571 of the dead weight member 570 arranged in the hardness testing apparatus 500 so as to make the hardness testing apparatus 500 form the dimple in the sample S, a problem arises in that a repulsion force of both the supporting spring 504 and the return spring 506 elastically supporting the indenter shaft 502 acts to deaden the test force.
That is, in the hardness testing apparatus 500, the action force (repulsion force) influences the test force output based on the dead weights 571 of the dead weight member 570, and the hardness test is performed at a test force slightly different from the substantial test force.
Further, in the case of Application No. H10-132722, because the test force required to form the dimple in the sample S is output by the dead weight member 570 of the hardness testing apparatus 500, the test force is discretely output according to each dead weight 571 in the range based on the dead weights 571 of the dead weight member 570.
In a second earlier development, in a hardness testing apparatus 540 schematically shown in FIG. 26A, an indenter shaft 544 having an indenter 543 at the top thereof is elastically supported to a body 542 of the testing apparatus through supporting springs 545. A predetermined force F is applied to the indenter shaft 544 in its axial direction to push the indenter 543 to a sample, and a dimple is formed in the sample. A hardness of the sample is measured according to the shape of the dimple (for example, refer to Published Japanese Patent Application (Tokkaihei) No. H11-37915).
However, in the case of Application No. H11-37915, as shown in FIG. 26A, even though the force F is applied to the indenter shaft 544 in its axial direction, the shaft axis of the indenter shaft 544 sometimes slightly deviates in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the indenter shaft 544 because of warps of the supporting springs 545. When the shaft axis of the indenter shaft 544 deviates, as shown in FIG. 26B, flaws generated by the dragging of the indenter 543 along the surface of the sample are sometimes formed in the dimple. Therefore, the flaws sometimes prevent the correct recognition of the shape of the dimple, and a problem arises in that a hardness of the sample sometimes cannot be measured with high accuracy.
In a third earlier development, a hardness testing apparatus disclosed in Published Japanese Patent Application (Tokkai) No. 2003-161684 has an indenter supporting bar having an indenter at the top thereof, a supporting mechanism for movably supporting the indenter supporting bar, and an actuator for driving the indenter supporting bar in its axial direction.
The supporting mechanism has two plate springs supporting the top and bottom of the indenter supporting bar respectively and formed in an E shape. The plate springs are arranged at upper and lower positions of the indenter supporting bar respectively and extend parallel to each other in the same direction as each other. Open ends of both side spring portions in each plate spring are fixed to a fixed frame, and an open end of the central spring portion each plate spring is fixed to the indenter supporting bar supporting the indenter.
When a predetermined force is applied to the indenter supporting bar in an axial direction the indenter supporting bar, the side spring portions and the central spring portions of the plate springs are deformed. Circular motions of the side spring portions and the central spring portions in the plate springs arranged in parallel to each other cancel each other out with the deformation of the plate springs, and the indenter supporting bar can straight move. Therefore, the indenter always faces the surface of the sample without changing the direction of the indenter, and the indenter performs only straight movement.
However, in the above-described configuration of the supporting mechanism, when the moving speed of the indenter supporting bar is increased, the indenter supporting bar vibrates at its characteristic frequency due to the action force applied from the actuator to the indenter supporting bar, and the indenter violently collides with the sample. Therefore, a problem arises in that a hardness of the sample is erroneously measured.
Further, when the indenter supporting bar vibrates due to disturbance, the indenter supporting bar vibrates in the upper and lower directions at its characteristic frequency. As a result, the load applied to the sample is changed due to the influence of vibration of disturbance. Therefore, another problem arises in that a hardness of the sample is erroneously measured in the test of a low hardness of a film or the like.
Moreover, when the force is applied to the indenter supporting bar, the two upper and lower plate springs are independently moved. Therefore, the indenter supporting bar slightly deviates in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the bar, and the dimple formed by the indenter is deformed. As a result, another problem arises in that a hardness of the sample is erroneously measured.
In the hardness testing apparatus disclosed in Application No. 2003-161684, when the two upper and lower plate springs composing the supporting mechanism are connected to each other by a connecting member, movement of indenter supporting bar further can be made straight in the axial direction of the bar.
However, in this hardness testing apparatus, when the indenter reaches the surface of the sample while applying a predetermined force to the indenter supporting bar, the two plate springs are further warped as compared with in the before-test of the hardness.
Therefore, when vibration of disturbance occurs in the connecting member of the plate springs, the indenter supporting bar sometimes slightly deviates in the direction perpendicular to the axial direction of the bar, and the dimple formed by the indenter is deformed. Therefore, a problem arises in that a hardness of the sample is erroneously measured.
In a fourth earlier development, Vickers hardness testing apparatus is known as a hardness testing apparatus (for example, refer to Published Japanese Patent Application (Tokkai) No. 2000-292333). In this apparatus, the size (for example, length between predetermined points of dimple (length of diagonal line)) of a dimple formed by pushing an indenter to a sample at a predetermined force is measured, and a hardness of the sample is calculated. The Vickers hardness testing apparatus has an indenter for forming the dimple in the sample and an objective lens for displaying an enlarged image of the dimple formed by the indenter on a monitor. Normally, a plurality of objective lenses are prepared to measure dimples having various sizes.
When a user daily performs the hardness test of a fixed type of sample, it is easy to assume a hardness of the sample by user's experience. Therefore, the user determines an optimum objective lens according to information relating to the size of the dimple, a test force is set by user's experience to push the indenter to the sample according to the assumed hardness of the sample, and the hardness test is performed.
In the Vickers hardness testing apparatus of Application No. 2000-292333, to display the image of the dimple at its optimum size on the monitor, it is required to select an objective lens having a magnification optimum to the size of the dimple. However, because the selection of the objective lens based on the size of the dimple is performed by user's experience, the user requires a certain degree of skill.
Further, when the test force set by user's experience is not appropriate, a dimple having a size considerably far from the expected size is formed in the sample. Therefore, the image of the dimple cannot be displayed at the optimum size on the monitor, and a problem arises in that the hardness test cannot be accurately performed.


There is provided a vessel storing cryogenic fluid having a passive thermodynamic venting system for effectively and reliably transferring heat in a reduced-gravity environment. The storage vessel has a storage tank for holding the cryogenic fluid under pressure. The storage vessel is compartmentalized using a screen trap so that the heat exchanger of the venting system extends through a compartment which includes only the liquid phase of the cryogenic fluid. A screen gallery, screen trap and vane assembly cooperate to separate the gas and the liquid phases of the cryogenic fluid. The thermodynamic venting system includes a throttle device for reducing the temperature of cryogenic fluid. A conduit in contact with heat exchange elements transfers heat from the liquid phase of the cryogenic fluid to a relief valve for venting the heat external of the storage tank.

Space vehicles, such as re-useable launch vehicles (RLV), often carry cryogenic fluids, such as liquid hydrogen (LH.sub.2) and liquid oxygen (LO.sub.2), into outer space for use during a mission, either as a propellant or for power generation. The storage and management of cryogenic liquids in space poses two primary problems to fluid-system designers. Firstly, due to the low-temperatures of liquid hydrogen (LH.sub.2) and liquid oxygen (LO.sub.2) heat is continuously transferred through the walls of the storage vessel into the fluid, such as during the space vehicle's orbital coast. This heat transfer can cause the liquid cryogen to boil, thus creating a gas phase and increasing the pressure inside the storage vessel. Accordingly, storage vessels are vented when the pressure reaches a predetermined level in order to maintain the structural integrity of the vessel.
The second problem involves the acquisition of a single-phase fluid from the storage vessel upon demand for use by the space vehicle. In an RLV, liquid propellants are required in orbit by the orbital maneuvering system (OMS) engines, and by the gaseous propellant supply system (GPSS) for circularization of the RLV's orbit, RLV orbital maneuvering, DC-power generation and hydraulic operations. It is therefore important to have the ability to withdraw only the liquid phase from the storage vessel on demand until the fluid has been entirely depleted. On Earth, where gravity is significant, the liquid is generally in a known location within the vessel, namely, settled against the vessel's bottom with the gas phase thereabove. In a reduced-gravity environment, however, the absence of a significant gravitational force means that the liquid and gas phases are generally free to move about inside the vessel. In other words, the liquid phase could be "floating" about the vessel distant from the liquid acquisition valves. Accordingly, fluid movement under reduced-gravity conditions hinders acquisition and withdrawal of a stored cryogenic liquid for use by the vehicle.
Such movement can also interfere with the vessel's vent operation. The vent system is most efficient if only the gas phase is vented from the vessel. Expulsion of liquid propellants through a conventional vessel vent system unnecessarily wastes the cryogenic liquid without significantly reducing the pressure inside the storage vessel.
An RLV low-gravity cryogenic propellant storage system is thus expected to supply liquid propellants to OMS engines during orbital burns and supply liquid propellants to the GPSS throughout the mission. The propellant system should also minimize propellant boil-off and venting of the storage vessel so as not to waste propellant and prevent venting of liquid-phase propellants. It is also desirable to minimize and damp sloshing of the propellant during flight.
In seeking better vessels for storing cryogenic fluids in low gravity, several storage tanks have been suggested. One such example of a cryogenic storage tank is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,412,851 to Laine which discloses a cryostat for cooling instrumentation and the like on a space craft. The cryostat is a closed storage vessel having a tubular phase separator, centrally located within the vessel, for exchanging heat with the cryogenic fluid stored therein. The phase separator consists of single tubular member having an inlet end and an outlet end. In between the inlet end and the outlet end, there is a system of two constriction sections and two obturators for withdrawing cryogenic fluid from inside the vessel in a controlled fashion. A first constriction section cools the cryogenic fluid and then isolates the fluid in a transfer chamber delimited by the obturators to allow for heat exchange between the cryogenic fluid inside the vessel and the fluid inside the transfer chamber. The obturators operate in a cyclic fashion to fill the transfer chamber, and then subsequently, expel gas from inside the chamber through the outlet end of the phase separator. The gas phase and liquid phase of the cryogenic fluid are allowed to circulate freely within the vessel relative to the transfer chamber.
Another example of a cryogenic storage tank is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,398,515 to Lak which discloses a cryogenic storage vessel having an active circulating heat transfer system for thermally destratifying both the liquid and gaseous cryogenic fluid stored in the vessel through forced convection mixing. The heat transfer system consists of a recirculation pump for circulating cryogenic fluid from inside the vessel through a spray injection system. Additionally, part of the flow from the recirculation pump may be directed through a flow control external expansion orifice for reducing the temperature of the fluid. The fluid is then directed to an internal heat exchanger of concentric tube design having an inner tube containing the spray injection flow and the outer tube containing either a parallel flow or spiral-type heat exchanger. Use of a recirculation pump in combination with a plurality of valves is expensive and creates an active system whereby fluid flow through the heat exchanger is dependent upon the reliability of the pump and valve system. It is desirable to create a passive heat transfer system for cryogenic vessels which is not reliant on an external pump.
Thus, there is a need for an improved cryogenic storage vessel for reduced-gravity environments. Such a storage vessel must be capable of effectively cooling the cryogenic fluid inside the vessel with improved heat transfer and minimal waste and also be capable of acquiring a substantially liquid phase fluid on demand for use by external devices. In addition, such a storage vessel should not be reliant on the use of an external pump and would preferably incorporate a passive heat transfer system.

Passive low gravity cryogenic storage vessel


The present invention provides an electric power steering apparatus for controlling a motor based on a current command value calculated from a steering assist command value calculated based on a steering torque generated in a steering shaft and from a current detection value of the motor which gives a steering mechanism a steering assist force. In order to realize ideal road information sensitivity and steering feeling in frequency region at the same time, the electric power steering apparatus comprises a torque filter for processing a torque signal, an SAT estimating function, and an SAT filter for signal-processing SAT information from the SAT estimating function, and the electric power steering apparatus also comprises a control system with two degree of freedom which is capable of independently designing frequency characteristics of steering feeling and road information sensitivity.

The electric power steering apparatus for assist-load energizing the steering apparatus of a car or a vehicle with rotation force of a motor is designed to assist-load energize a steering shaft or a rack shaft with a driving force of the motor by a transmission mechanism such as a gear or a belt through a speed reducer. In such a conventional electric power steering apparatus, feedback control of motor current is performed to precisely generate assist torque (steering assist torque). The feedback control is for adjusting voltage to be applied to the motor such as to reduce a difference between a current command value and a motor current detection value, and the voltage to be applied to the motor is generally conducted by adjusting a duty ratio of a PWM (pulse width modulation) control.
A general structure of the electric power steering apparatus will be explained with reference to FIG. 7. A column shaft 2 of a steering wheel 1 is connected to a tie rod 6 of a running wheel through a speed reducing gear 3, universal joints 4a and 4b and a pinion rack mechanism 5. The column shaft 2 is provided with a torque sensor 10 for detecting the steering torque of the steering wheel 1. A motor 20 for assisting the steering torque of the steering wheel 1 is connected to the column shaft 2 through the speed reducing gear 3. Electricity is supplied to a control unit 30 which controls the power steering apparatus from the battery 14 through an ignition key 11 and a relay 13. The control unit 30 calculates a steering assist command value I of assist command based on the steering torque T detected by the torque sensor 10 and based on vehicle speed V detected by the vehicle speed sensor 12, and the control unit 30 controls current to be supplied to the motor 20 based on the calculated steering assist command value I.
The control unit 30 mainly comprises a CPU (including MPU also), and general functions of the control unit 30 executed by program in the CPU are shown in FIG. 8. For example, a phase compensator 31 is not a phase compensator as independent hardware, but is a phase compensating function executed by the CPU.
The functions and operation of the control unit 30 will be explained. The steering torque T which is detected and inputted by the torque sensor 10 is compensated in phase by the phase compensator 31 for enhancing the safety of the steering system. The steering torque TA which was compensated in phase is input to a steering assist command value calculating element 32. The vehicle speed V detected by the vehicle speed sensor 12 is also input to the steering assist command value calculating element 32. The steering assist command value calculating element 32 determines the steering assist command value I which is a control target value of current to be supplied to the motor 20 based on the input steering torque TA and vehicle speed V. The steering assist command value I is input to a subtracter 30A and is also input to a differentiation compensator 34 of a feedforward system for enhancing the response speed. A deviation (I-i) of the subtracter 30A is input to a proportion calculating element 35 and is also input to an integration calculating element 36 for improving the characteristics of the feedback system. The output of the differentiation compensator 34 and outputs of the proportion calculating element 35 and the integration calculating element 36 are added and input to an adder 30B. A current control value E which is a result of addition in the adder 30B is input to a motor drive circuit 37 as a motor driving signal. The current i of the motor 20 is detected by a motor current detection circuit 38 and is fed back to the subtracter 30A.
In such a conventional electric power steering apparatus, in order to make full use of the flexibility in design thereof and to obtain stable and comfortable steering feeling, it is proposed to design the transmitting characteristics of the steering feeling and the road information sensitivity in the frequency region (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2001-334948). That is, the complementary sensitivity function with respect to frequency of the control apparatus is set a value approaching "1" in a band where there exists disturbance to be suppressed, and is set to a value approaching zero in a band where there exists disturbance to be transmitted. This is because that under the definition of the complementary sensitivity function, when the function is "1", this means that the disturbance is suppressed, and when the function is zero, this means that the disturbance is not suppressed at all and is transmitted.
It is conceived that the steering feeling and the road information sensitivity can be used as indices of performance evaluation in the electric power steering apparatus. However, the conventional electric power steering apparatus has a problem that since the transmitting characteristics representing these two indices have mutual subordinative relation, it is difficult to design a control system which satisfies the two indices at the same time. That is, since the steering feeling and the road information sensitivity have the mutual subordinative relation, the steering feeling and the road information sensitivity can not be designed independently, and it is difficult to design a control apparatus which satisfies the ideal steering feeling and road information sensitivity at the same time.
The present invention has been accomplished in view of the above circumferences, and it is an object of the invention to provide an electric power steering apparatus comprising a control system with two degree of freedom which is capable of independently designing the steering feeling and road information sensitivity for realizing ideal steering feeling and road information sensitivity at the same time in a frequency region.

Control device for motorized power steering device


The present disclosure relates to a personalized fashion generation system that synthesizes user-customized images using deep learning techniques based on visually-aware user preferences. In particular, the personalized fashion generation system employs an image generative adversarial neural network and a personalized preference network to synthesize new fashion items that are individually customized for a user. Additionally, the personalized fashion generation system can modify existing fashion items to tailor the fashion items to a user's tastes and preferences.

Recent years have seen a rapid increase in the use of computing devices in the area of fashion. Indeed, it is now commonplace for individuals and businesses to use computing devices to design, share, make, sell, and manage fashion items such as articles of clothing and accessories. Moreover, modern computing devices have enabled a large selection of fashion items to users desiring to buy, view, or follow these fashion items.
With the increase in the availability of fashion items comes the challenge of identifying and providing users with personalized recommendations. For at least the reasons provided below, conventional recommendation systems struggle in the area and domain of personalized fashion recommendation. As one example, conventional systems rely on semantics rather than visual signals to determine what is 'fashionable.' However, like fashion items themselves, fashion semantics are very complex and varied. For example, in some cases, the same semantics describe different fashion features. In other cases, different semantics describe the same fashion feature.
Compounding the issue of semantic complexity, conventional systems struggle with fashion recommendations as fashion trends are tremendously diverse and each user can have unique fashion preferences. Furthermore, fashion trends also change relatively quickly. Similarly, a user's personal preferences can also frequently change to match or clash with fashion trends. The constant shift in trends, styles, and preferences introduces further difficulties and issues into conventional systems attempting to provide users with personalized fashion recommendations.
Because semantic data with fashion items can be sparse and unreliable, some conventional systems have attempted to provide users with fashion recommendations based on preferences of similar users. For example, these conventional systems group a user with co-users and provides common fashion item recommendations based on shared characteristics of the group rather than the user's personal preference. However, these conventional systems do not provide recommendations personalized for the individual user. Indeed, unlike other products, fashion preferences, tastes, and styles are highly specialized and unique to users.
In addition to struggling to provide personalized fashion recommendations, conventional systems are limited to recommended fashion items in a listing or catalog of fashion items. Indeed, even the best conventional systems can only recommend which existing fashion item a user might prefer. However, conventional systems cannot automatically design and create new fashion items or even modify existing fashion items to uniquely match a user's fashion tastes and preferences. Such a complex and sophisticated system that creates fashion items based on visually-aware cues from a user does not yet exist.
Overall, when trying to recommend fashion items, conventional systems often waste computing resources by inefficiently attempting to gather and analyze data in an attempt to provide users with personalized recommendations. As a result, conventional systems fail to efficiently analyze and provide accurate personalized fashion recommendation results to users. Furthermore, the inflexibility of these systems prevents them from creating new fashion items or modifying existing fashion items to better suit the tastes and preferences of individual users.
These and other problems exist with regard to analyzing, providing, designing, creating, and modifying personalized fashion items for users using existing systems and methods.

Generating user-customized items using a visually-aware image generation network

THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA


A method and system for the minimization of conflicting activities with respect to an object stored within a data processing system are disclosed. An object within a data processing system may be the subject of multiple activities by users of that system. A temporary record of all current activities with respect to an object is stored within a state mask which has been established in association with that object. Thereafter, prior to permitting a proposed activity, the state mask is utilized to automatically determine if the proposed activity represents a conflict with an existing activity.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to the field of data processing systems and in particular to the field of minimizing conflicting activities with respect to an object stored within a data processing system. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to the field of automatically determining if a proposed activity represents a conflict with an existing activity with respect to an object stored within a data processing system by utilizing an established state mask.
2. Description of the Related Art
Graphical user interfaces are well known in the art. Users may select a particular activity for the data processing system to perform utilizing input devices such as a keyboard or a "mouse." These particular activities such as "print document" or "select a document" may be represented to the user in the form of function keys graphically displayed on the computer display screen and selected by striking a particular key on the keyboard, or as icons to be selected utilizing a graphical pointing device such as a "mouse". A pointer on the display screen represents the current location of the "mouse." By moving the "mouse", a user may move the pointer around within the computer display screen.
Icons may also be graphical representations of a particular activity to be performed. For example, the "select a document" activity may be graphically represented by a graphic representation of a filing cabinet. A user may select this activity by moving the "mouse" to position the pointer over the graphic representation of the filing cabinet. The user may then "click" the "mouse" button twice to indicate a selection of a particular graphic representation.
A filing cabinet, as displayed by a graphical user interface, may contain multiple "drawers" each including multiple "files." The "files" are organized in the "drawers" of the filing cabinet by a user in a manner similar to that utilized in a real world filing system. A user may place multiple copies of a particular file in multiple drawers of the same filing cabinet, or in multiple drawers of different filing cabinets. Each file thus graphically depicted is represented by a separate icon. If the same file is graphically represented in two different filing cabinets, each filing cabinet will include a separate icon which graphically represents the file. Therefore, two file icons may appear on the display screen for a single file object.
A problem may arise if a user attempts to perform an activity on one icon which graphically represents a file and then attempts to perform a conflicting activity on another icon which graphically represents the same file. For example, a user may have stored a single document as "File 1" in two different filing cabinets. The user may select "File 1" from filing cabinet 1 and attempt to print that file, and then select "File 1" from filing cabinet 2 and attempt to shred that file. An attempt to print and shred the same file, at the same time, are clearly conflicting activities and may produce an unpredictable result.
Therefore, it should be obvious that a need exists for an improved method and system whereby conflicting activities are minimized with respect to an object stored within a data processing system.

Method and system for the minimization of conflicting activities with respect to an object stored within a data processing system

International Business Machines Corporation


A water-color ink with which a high print quality can be obtained on ordinary paper, recycled paper or coated paper, and which has excellent storage stability. The water-color ink includes at least a color material and 2-butyl-2-ethyl-1,3-propanediol.

The present invention relates to a water-color ink which provides high print quality on ordinary paper, recycled paper and coated paper, and which has excellent storage stability.
Inkjet recording is a method of recording letters and graphics on the surface of a recording medium by discharging ink as droplets from a fine nozzle. Inkjet recording systems which are in practical use include a method of converting an electrical signal into a mechanical signal using an electrostrictive element to intermittently discharge ink stored in a nozzle head part and record letters and symbols on the surface of a recording medium, and a method of rapidly heating that part of the ink stored in a nozzle head part which is closest to the ejection part to produce bubbles, and intermittently discharging the ink by means of the volume expansion caused by the bubbles to record letters and symbols on the surface of a recording medium.
Properties required of the inks used in such inkjet recording include absence of bleeding and good drying of the print on the paper which is the recording medium, the ability to print uniformly on a variety of recording medium surfaces, and absence of mixing of adjacent colors in multicolor printing including color printing.
In conventional inks and most inks which use pigments in particular, means of have been studied and put into practice of controlling wetting of the paper surface by the ink primarily by controlling permeability, and of ensuring print quality by confining the ink drops to near the paper surface.
However, with inks which are designed to control wetting of the paper there is a large difference in bleeding depending on the kind of paper, and in the case of recycled paper consisting of a mixture of various paper components in particular bleeding occurs due to differences in the wetting properties of the ink with respect to those different components. Moreover, with such inks it takes time for the print to dry, raising the issue of mixing of adjacent colors in the case of color printing and other multicolor printing, and in the case of inks which use pigments as coloring materials the pigments remain on the surface of the paper or the like, detracting from abrasion resistance.
To resolve such issues, efforts are being made to improve permeability of the ink into the paper, and research is being done into adding diethylene glycol monobutyl ether (U.S. Pat. No. 5,156,675, Specifications), adding Surfynol 465 (Nisshin Chemical), adding an acetylene glycol surfactant (U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,502, Specifications), or adding both diethylene glycol monobutyl ether and Surfynol 465 (U.S. Pat. No. 5,196,056, Specifications). The use of diethylene glycol ethers in inks is also being studied (U.S. Pat. No. 2,083,372, Specifications).
In the case of inks which use pigments, because it is generally difficult to improve the permeability of the ink while maintaining the dispersion stability of the pigment the selection of penetrating agents is small, and examples of a glycol ether combined with a pigment have heretofore included triethylene glycol monomethyl ether (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. S56-147861) and ethers of ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol or triethylene glycol (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. H9-111165) used with pigments.
However, conventional water-color inks have unsatisfactory print quality, with frequent bleeding when printed on ordinary paper such as PPC paper, and color density and color development have also been inadequate. Conventional dispersions have also been unstable, and adsorption-desorption is likely to occur in the presence of surfactants, glycol ethers and other substances with hydrophilic and hydrophobic parts, detracting from the storage stability of such water-color inks. In order to reduce bleeding in the paper ordinary water-color inks have required substances with hydrophilic parts and hydrophobic parts, such as surfactants and glycol ethers. Inks which lack these substances have inadequate permeability in paper, so for purposes of uniform printing the type of paper is limited, and the printed image is often adversely affected.
Moreover, when the sort of additives (acetylene glycol, acetylene alcohol or silicon surfactants, di(tri)ethylene glycol monobutyl ether, (di)propylene glycol monobutyl ether or 1,2-alkylene glycol or mixtures of these) used in the present invention are used in conventional dispersions long-term storage stability is not obtained, and because the ink has poor re-solubility the ink has been likely to dry and clog the nozzle of the ink jet head or the pen tip or the like of the writing instrument.
Moreover, in the case of pigments dispersed by such dispersants a dispersant residue remains in the ink, with the problem that the dispersant is released from the pigment without contributing sufficiently to dispersion and viscosity is increased. This high viscosity means that there are limits on the amount added to pigments and other coloring materials, and adequate image quality is not obtained particularly on ordinary paper.


A rear console box in accordance with the present invention is for a vehicle. The vehicle includes a floor, seat rows on the floor, and an aisle between the seat rows. The rear console box is disposed in the aisle. The rear console box includes a console box body, a hinge configured to connect the console box body with respect to the floor and thereby allow the console box body to pivot between a horizontal position and a raised position. The horizontal position is in the aisle and is substantially horizontal relative to the floor. The raised position is outside the aisle and in front of the aisle. The rear console box also includes a support member configured to extend between the console box body and the floor. The support member supports the console box body and thereby holds the raised position of the console box body.

A known vehicle has a rear console box disposed in an interior floor and in an aisle between seat rows. Such a rear console box is used as a storage space for, for example, small articles. Since the rear console box is disposed in the aisle, the rear console box may obstruct, for example, movement of a passenger in the aisle. One of solving means for the problem is to raise the rear console box toward the front of the vehicle and thereby open the space in the aisle. An art similar to this type of the rear console box is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Utility Model Application Publication No. 61-175055. In the art, an armrest is raised toward the front of the vehicle to make a space in the center of the vehicle.
In the art, a stopper belt of the armrest is hung on a ceiling to hold the raised position of the armrest. However, the stopper belt passed between the armrest and the ceiling provides bad appearance. Moreover, it is uneasy to use.


An electricity generating utilizing rotatable arm having a permanent magnet that is consisted in rotation by an intermittently activated magnetic coil. The rotating arm is fixed to a pair of rotors that turn relative to a stator. The rotor includes a plurality of permanent magnets that interact with a plurality of electrical coils of the stator to produce electrical current.

The present invention relates to a novel and useful electricity generating apparatus.
The generation of electrical power is of utmost important in the modern world. Since the invention of the dynamo electrical power using this technology has been the dominant method throughout the world. For example, generators which rotate conductors or magnetic fields in a relative fashion are used to essentially convert mechanical energy into electrical energy. Such generators are also motivated by hydraulic force, steam produce by fossil fuel, and the like. Also electrical energy could be generated through mechanical rotation dynamos using wind and tidal sources. To a lesser extent, solar cells directly convert ultraviolet light into an electrical power using crystalline structures such as those of silicon, germanium, and the like.
As an alternative to electrical power plants, many systems have been proposed to generated electrical power in a similar manner. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,798,090 teaches the generation of electricity by multiple magnets located an axis which interact with electrical coils to produce current.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,810,083 and PCT Application WO93/05566 describe accelerating motors which use the interaction of magnets and coils in combination with pendulums.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,924,123, 5,818,132, and 6,172,426 show linear generators in which conductors are moved in a linear direction relative to coils in which electrical energy is generated.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,696,413 describes an electrical generator which shows a generator coil that slides over a pole core connected to a float member. The float member obtains movement from waves in a body of water.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,347,186 and Japanese Patent abstract 58200191 describe pendulum electrical generators which employ a permanent magnet that interacts with a coil to create an electrical current.
An electricity generating apparatus which is simple and reliable would be a notable advance in the field of power generation.


In one aspect, a pump is provided comprising a motor configured to rotate a shaft that is operably coupled to an impeller. The impeller is housed within a fluid chamber having an inlet and a discharge in fluid communication with the inlet. The fluid chamber further includes an outlet in a top portion thereof for venting air within the fluid chamber when the impeller is rotated by the motor. In other forms, a pump assembly is provided with an internal float switch integrated into the pump housing.

Pumps are commonly made having a volute, an impeller within the volute, a motor connected to the impeller, and a discharge in the volute for discharging water drawn into the volute by the impeller.
There are multiple types of pumps including top suction and bottom suction pumps. These pumps include fluid chambers such as volutes with inlets on the top (e.g., top suction pumps) or the bottom (e.g., bottom suction pumps) and an outlet to expel fluid from. Rotation of the impeller draws water through the inlet and also creates air flow and air bubbles within the volute. As a result, if not properly vented, a bottom suction pump may suffer from air lock.
Accordingly, a need exists for a pump assembly that prevents the pump from being air locked.
Elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and have not necessarily been drawn to scale or to include all features, options or attachments. For example, the dimensions and/or relative positioning of some of the elements in the figures may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various embodiments of the present invention. Also, common but well-understood elements that are useful or necessary in a commercially feasible embodiment are often not depicted in order to facilitate a less obstructed view of these various embodiments of the present invention. Certain actions and/or steps may be described or depicted in a particular order of occurrence while those skilled in the art will understand that such specificity with respect to sequence is not actually required. The terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary technical meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions by persons skilled in the technical field as set forth above except where different specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein.


A device for determining an occupancy rate of a conveying means is provided. The device comprises an adjusting means for adjusting at least one detecting means such that the at least one detecting means detects, after detecting the freight conveyed by the conveying means, the conveying means without conveyed freight, or such that the at least one detecting means detects, after detecting the conveying means without conveyed freight, the freight conveyed by the conveying means, and a determining means for determining a current occupancy rate of the conveying means on the basis of the position of the at least one detecting means, which was adjusted by the adjusting means.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device and a method for determining an occupancy rate of conveying means, which conveys in particular containers in a container treatment installation.
Description of the Prior Art
In conveying means for conveying containers in a container treatment installation, several containers can be conveyed side by side in a conveying direction. The conveying means is occupied completely or only in part with containers depending on the velocity of means, like a labeling means, a filling means etc., which are positioned upstream. It is advantageous to regulate, depending on the occupancy rate of the conveying means, the velocity of means, like for example a cleaning means, a packaging means, etc., which are positioned downstream. Therewith, an automatic control and regulation of the container treatment installation can be realized with the smallest possible action of operators.
WO 2008/116546 A2 shows a method for observing, controlling and optimizing of filling installations for food, in particular for beverage bottles. The method is used for observing installations or machines. Herein, an optoelectronic identification system in the form of an electronic camera is deployed to gain the necessary control data. The optical identification systems can be used for observing the occupancy rate of buffer tables.
A disadvantage of such optical identification systems lies in that the camera systems get to its limits in the processing of container surfaces which are not cooperative. Thereby, a stabile detection of the occupancy rate is not ensured.
For solving these problems, it would be conceivable to replace the camera systems by other sensors. However, the available sensors have a high complexity level. This is apparent especially because of a high individual adjustment effort for different container types, which is realized by specific software. This makes a device for detecting the occupancy rate of the conveying means more costly. In addition, stand still periods of the container treatment installation will occur in the operation of the device for detecting the occupancy rate of the conveying means because of the adjusting works necessary in case a new container type is to be conveyed by the conveying means. This instant raises the operating costs of the conveying means and the container treatment installation.

Device and apparatus for determining an occupancy rate of conveying means


Embodiments of the invention relate to a circuit for an active diode, a method for operating an active diode, and, based thereon, an integrated active diode system, a rectifier, and a system for voltage conversion and/or regulation, comprising at least one transistor by which a current defined as positive from a first connection to a second connection of the transistor can be controlled, and at least one measuring/control circuit (for determining the current by means of which the at least one transistor can be switched on for currents under and at most up to a predetermined, non-positive threshold value (i1<=ith<=0), and can otherwise be switched off.

Diodes have long since been used for supplying electric and especially electronic devices with electric energy.
In the applications mentioned, diodes can be used for controlling the energy flow to the consumers mentioned. Diodes, on the one hand, permit a current flow in their flow direction, i.e., from their anode to their cathode, in a preferably unhindered manner, namely with a loss of power, i.e., a voltage drop across the diode which is as small as possible. On the other hand, the diodes also minimize the current flow in the reverse direction, i.e., from their cathode to their anode.

Circuit for an active diode and method for operating an active diode


A step assembly that is specifically adapted to assist pets in reaching and/or descending from elevated surfaces is provided. The step assembly has two sidewalls having a plurality of openings in which pegs formed on the sides of individual treads and risers are engaged. The pegs are removably insertable into the openings and include protrusions which create an interference fit upon insertion. Because the treads, risers and side walls are joined by interlocking pegs and openings, the step assembly can be flat packed for shipping, and is easily assembled and disassembled for transportation and/or cleaning.

The present invention relates generally to portable steps that are light-weight, easy to assemble and disassemble, flat shippable, and in particular, to portable steps suitable for use by domestic animals in the home, such as small or medium sized dogs, to allow access to various elevated surfaces, for example, a sofa or a bed.
Domestic animals frequently have difficulty moving safely and comfortably between various elevations. Small pets may not be physically able to reach higher elevations because of their overall size. Further, as pets age and develop health problems, they also may have difficulty reaching elevated surfaces that they were once able to reach, such as couches, chairs, sofas, and beds.
When a pet is not able to reach an elevation by themselves because of size or age, they must instead receive assistance from their owners or have access to an assisting structure. Pet owners are not always available, or in some cases, are incapable of lifting a pet to an elevated surface due to physical limitations. Further, lifting a pet is not always desirable as many pets do not like to be held or lifted.
While devices such as ramps and steps are known, they are often heavy or bulky, making them difficult to transport and manipulate once assembled. Alternatively, these devices are not sturdy enough for use by larger pets as well as being generally difficult to assemble and disassemble for transportation or cleaning purposes.
Therefore, it would be desirable to have a stair assembly which was constructed of a light-weight material and could be easily assembled and/or broken down for transportation or cleaning. It would be further desirable to provide a stair assembly that is specifically adapted for use by pets to prevent slipping and allows for comfortable and confident usage.


A keyboard apparatus for an electronic musical instrument having white keys and black keys capable of providing a satisfactory tactile impression, having a satisfactory appearance, and suppressing a difference in tactile impression between when the white keys are played and when the black keys are played. Each white key has a base portion and an upper plate portion fixed to an upper surface of the base portion, and each black key has a key main body portion. The upper plate portion is formed by a porous member having sweat-absorbability and made of a material comprised of an AS resin mixed with stone powder and a white-colored colorant. Each black key is made of the same material as that of the upper plate portion, except for a colorant mixed therein.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a keyboard apparatus for an electronic musical instrument, in which white keys and black keys are supported by a key support member for pivotal motion.
2. Description of the Related Art
Heretofore, ivory and ebony wood have been said to be the best raw materials for white keys and for black keys of a keyboard apparatus for an electronic musical instrument. However, especially ivory can no longer be practically used because of exhaustion of resources and for preservation of resources. As an ivory substitute for white keys, a so-called artificial ivory has been developed which is excellent in sweat-absorbability, surface hardness, friction coefficient, etc. (see, Japanese Patent Publication No. 06-031938).
An ebony-wood substitute as a raw material for black keys has also been researched. However, there has been a consistent assumption that ebony wood is the best material for black keys, and the research is still focused to find a material having properties closely similar to those of ebony wood.
The reason why ivory and ebony wood were used for white keys and black keys is considered that they were selected from a variety of materials available in the desired amount from the natural world. However, from the viewpoint of touch feeling (tactile impression at fingers) during performance, these natural materials do not always mean the most excellent materials. In deed, recent developments of highly advanced artificial materials indicates that fundamental rethinking should be done beyond the traditional idea of material selection.
It is considered that touch feeling, which is a property of keys required to achieve the desired performance, should be the same between the white keys and the black keys. Nevertheless, ivory or ivory-like material differs in material from ebony wood or ebony-wood-like material, and as a result, touch feeling is not completely the same between the white keys and the black keys.
Under the assumption that the restriction on color selection that white keys and black keys must be respectively colored white and black is to be accepted, the use of white keys and black keys made of the same material does not pose a problem but is rather advantageous in improving the uniformity of touch feeling between the white keys and the black keys.
In the case of using an artificial material such as artificial ivory for white keys, the resultant white keys have an artificial appearance, posing a problem of failing to provide an upgraded appearance.
Moreover, in the case using an artificial material only for upper faces of the keys, a problem is caused that the tactile impression differs between when a glissando is played and when a normal performance is performed.

Keyboard apparatus for electronic musical instrument


The present invention includes a wireless communication method and device comprising a one-to-one exchange of wireless electronic device identifications or unique profile IDs between a sending and a receiving party who are both registered users of the electronic business/personal card service and further comprising upload of the wireless electronic identifications to a data server computer system wherein said system matches said identifications with those of registered users and said computer system displays information about the user associated with each identification.

The traditional way of exchanging information between parties who are in the same physical location is by the physical exchange of business or contact cards. An individual who is actively engaged in any sort of social or business networking will end up being encumbered by numerous business cards carrying no more than names, addresses and phone numbers and no other way of actively assessing the business or social compatibility of the card provider and there is no active tie to the party's online profile.
Where parties are not in the same physical location, on-line dating and social networking constitute internet-facilitated modalities for meeting persons particularly in social engagements.
In on-line dating, members complete anonymous user profiles that are kept in a central database. Users can then search the central database to further their social interests. Upon identifying compatible social interests, messages are exchanged via the intermediation of the service provider.
In social-networking services, users fill out profile information that is stored in a central database. Those profiles are associated with other users in an internodal network arrangement where each user is linked to one or more third-parties through another user with which they have a pre-existing personal or business relationship. Users employ various search criteria to identify a subset of other users whom they may be interested in meeting and are generally allowed to contact or view the profiles of only those users with whom they are connected to through this internodal networking environment.
The key limitation of both on-line dating and social networking services is that both are online dominated and do not tie in to a user's day to day interaction with the offline universe. In other words, cyber world contact precedes real world contact and there is always the danger that the cyber profile is overly embellished and at marked variance with the real world profile.
US Published Application 2005/0174975 deals with a wireless communication methodology wherein real world contact coincides with cyber world contact whereby a user could access information about a specific unknown person in their general location in order to decide whether potential compatibilities (either business or personal) may exist between them. In US 2005/0174975, a methodology is described whereby a user broadcasts a search for compatible social or business interests in their general physical vicinity, receives and electronically reviews information about a potential contact within his/her vicinity and initiates contact by sending the user's profile back to the potential contact, whereupon it is hoped that real world contact will then ensue. The drawback to this system is that the user spends their time broadcasting and sifting through a myriad of online social protocols, using intelligent devices having image and data display capabilities rather than spending valuable time making the far more profitable flesh to flesh contact.
There is therefore a need for a wireless internet-facilitated networking device and methods of use thereof wherein the real world contact precedes cyber world contact in both social and business intercourse. For socially or professionally active individuals who meet other social or business interests all the time, exchange of cards is often the most convenient way to perpetuate that contact. Even then, business cards as it were, carry very little information, often have no pictures, and remain bland and faceless long after the contact has faded from memory. In social situations in particular, cards are not often available resulting in the inconvenience of locating pen and paper or such. Further, there is often the need to revisit and reassess the social or business compatibility of a contact in a more dynamical setting.

Electronic business/personal card and method of use thereof


Curler exercise apparatus includes first and second frames pivotally mounted to each other at a pivot junction proximate a user's extremity joint for exercising extremity muscles against the bias of a biasing member coupled between the frames.

The invention relates to exercise apparatus, and more particularly to curler exercise apparatus for exercising a user's extremity muscles at a pivot joint, for example an arm curler.
Various exercise apparatus are known for exercising a user's extremity muscles at a pivot joint, including for strengthening the bicep muscles of the arm. The present invention provides a simple, inexpensive and effective curler exerciser.


An apparatus comprises a gauze layer comprising a gauze material, a first area, a gauze first side and a gauze second side. The gauze first side is configured to at least contact and cover a user's eyelid area where the gauze material mitigates irritation of the user's skin. A paper layer comprises a paper material, a paper first side and a paper second side. The paper first side comprises an adhesive area being configured to extend beyond the first area for removably joining to the user's skin. A tape layer comprises an opaque flexible material, a third area, a tape first side and a tape second side. The tape first side comprises an adhesive. The third area is at least as large as the first area. The gauze layer, the paper layer and the tape layer are combined to form a sleep mask.

The following background information may present examples of specific aspects of the prior art (e.g., without limitation, approaches, facts, or common wisdom) that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon. It is believed that some individuals may suffer from low quality of sleep and potential myriad related health problems due to exposure to light while sleeping or attempting to sleep. This problem may be mismanaged due to lack of understanding of how sensitive the human body's circadian rhythm, or sleep-wake cycle, can be to even minimal amounts of light.
The following is an example of a specific aspect in the prior art that, while expected to be helpful to further educate the reader as to additional aspects of the prior art, is not to be construed as limiting the present invention, or any embodiments thereof, to anything stated or implied therein or inferred thereupon. By way of educational background, an aspect of the prior art generally useful to be aware of is that some devices are currently available for shielding a user's eyes from light such as, but not limited to, sleep masks. Prior art sleep masks are typically made of cloth or synthetic fiber and are generally intended for more than one use. Current sleep masks are often held in place with elastic bands or straps that wrap behind the head and attach with means such as, but not limited to, hook and loop material, snaps, buttons, etc. Often, the materials used in these currently available sleep masks do not completely block out all light and therefore may not replicate the effects of a completely dark environment, which may be needed for restful sleep. Also, skin and/or scalp irritation may be caused by single use or repeat use due to materials used in the mask or by the bands or straps that hold the mask on a user's head. Furthermore, an uncomfortable sensation of pressure on the face or head may result from the tension created by the elastic bands or straps behind the head. These bands or straps may also alter the contact point of the head with the sleeping surface, for example, without limitation, a pillow, mattress, or chair.
In view of the foregoing, it is clear that these traditional techniques are not perfect and leave room for more optimal approaches.
Unless otherwise indicated illustrations in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Technology is disclosed for managing data in a distributed file system (“the technology”). The technology can gather metadata information associated with the data stored within a first file system, store the metadata information in association with a data identifier within a second file system, retrieve the stored metadata information using the data identifier from within the second file system and locate and retrieve the data associated with the metadata information from within first file system.

Distributed data processing systems may be used to process and analyze large datasets. One such framework used to efficiently process and analyze large datasets is Hadoop, which provides data storage services to clients using a Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) and data processing services though a cluster of commodity computers or nodes. The HDFS executes on the cluster of computers (also called as compute nodes or processing nodes) to enable client access to the data in the form of logical constructs organized as blocks, e.g., HDFS blocks. The compute nodes operate mostly independently, to achieve or provide results toward a common goal.
In many enterprise data networks, a mix of different distributed file systems are being used to manage the data stored within the networks. For instance, many enterprise data networks use Network File System (NFS) to provide data storage services to clients while using HDFS with Hadoop to provide data processing services for the stored data. In such networks, to perform data analytics on the stored data using Hadoop, a new HDFS cluster needs to be created by copying (or moving) data stored within NFS into the new HDFS cluster. The newly created HDFS cluster requires not only dedicated infrastructure (e.g., compute nodes, storage devices, etc.), but also explicit copy management to ensure all the copies of a given data within the network remain same. Further, in such networks, any data analytics on the data stored within NFS can only be performed after the copying (or moving) completes and the data is fully available at the new HDFS cluster.
Thus, prior distributed file systems lack efficient data management techniques. There exists a need for efficient data management techniques that addresses at least some of the issues raised above.


A method of forming a mesh by a moulding a link element around other link elements to form a mesh in which the interlinking link elements are formed as continuous unjoined loops by a moulding process. An apparatus for forming a mesh including a plurality of first cavities for accommodating first link elements and a plurality of second cavities for forming interlinking link elements. The method and apparatus allow the continuous production of mesh formed of a range of materials including plastics materials.

Mesh formed of interlinking link elements is best known in the form of chain mail. Chain mail has traditionally been formed by interconnecting closed metal rings with open metal rings and then closing the open rings by a process such as mechanical deformation, welding etc. In another method split rings formed of spring steel or some other resilient material are used as the interlinking link members and are temporarily opened using a tool, such as pliers, to enable interconnection to other link members. In recent times mesh has been formed from plastics material by joining closed rings with open rings and then mechanically fastening, welding or gluing the open rings closed.
It has been time-consuming, labourious and expensive to manufacture chain mail/mesh using traditional methods. Chain mail/mesh including unclosed link elements can only be exposed to limited forces before link elements fail. Where the interlinking link elements are closed the joint may detract from the appearance of the finished mesh. Such methods have also limited the materials that may be utilised in the manufacturing of mesh and have limited the practical size of link elements.
Whilst there have been complex apparatus for forming mesh by folding sections of wire, to date there has been no automated process for the continuous and economic production of chain mail/mesh for mass-market applications.

Mesh and methods and apparatus for forming and using mesh


An image forming apparatus includes an endless belt type transfer member configured to carry an image formed with developer of a plurality of colors, a drive roller configured to drive the transfer member by rotating while contacting the transfer member, a first detection unit configured to detect a mark provided on the transfer member, a second detection unit configured to detect the mark at a position different from the position of the first detection unit in a conveyance direction of the transfer member, and a correction unit configured to correct a conveyance speed of the transfer member using a difference between respective times at which the first and second detection units detect the mark. The first and second detection units are located such that an interval between respective positions at which the first and second detection units detect the mark is an integral multiple of a perimeter of the drive roller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an image forming apparatus and an image forming method that are capable of accurately detecting the conveyance speed of an intermediate transfer belt.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, in an image forming apparatus, it is desirable to form an image at a desired position on a sheet. In the case of a color image forming apparatus that can form images of a plurality of colors, images of a plurality of colors are superposed on one another to form a color image. Accordingly, in order to reduce color misregistration, it is desirable to match the image formation positions of images of a plurality of colors. In an intermediate transfer type color image forming apparatus, toner images of a plurality of colors are formed on respective photosensitive drums. The toner images are sequentially transferred onto an intermediate transfer belt, and the multicolor images on the intermediate transfer belt are collectively transferred and fixed on a sheet, so that a color image can be obtained.
In such an intermediate transfer type color image forming apparatus, it is necessary to accurately superpose toner images of respective colors formed on the photosensitive drums on the intermediate transfer belt. However, if the speed of the intermediate transfer belt varies, misregistration of toner images of respective colors may occur. To solve the problem, techniques to detect the speed of an intermediate transfer belt and to correct the operating state of an apparatus have been proposed.
For example, Japanese Patent No. 3344614 discusses a technique to separately dispose two sensors with some distance in a conveyance direction of an intermediate transfer belt. The two sensors detect a mark, and, based on a time interval of the detection of the mark, the conveyance speed of the intermediate transfer belt is detected. Based on the detected conveyance speed, the driving speed of the intermediate transfer belt is controlled such that the conveyance speed becomes constant.
Further, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2005-156877, two sensors detect a mark at some time intervals. Based on the time intervals, the conveyance speed of an intermediate transfer belt is detected, and the conveyance speed obtained after the correction of color misregistration is stored. Then, a correction is performed to match the subsequent conveyance speed of the intermediate transfer belt with the stored conveyance speed.
However, the above-described techniques do not mention a specific value and reason about the interval of two sensors for detecting the conveyance speed of the intermediate transfer belt. In the case where the conveyance speed of an intermediate transfer belt is detected using one mark provided on the intermediate transfer belt and two sensors separately disposed with a distance in a conveyance direction, if the distance between the two sensors is not appropriately managed, a large speed detection error may occur.

Image forming apparatus with intermediate transfer belt speed detection unit


A torsional vibration damper (10) and a hydrodynamic torque converter device (1). The converter device has a converter torus (18) which is configured by an impeller (12), a turbine wheel (14) and a stator (16), and a converter lockup clutch (20). The torsional vibration damper (10) has at least one first energy accumulating device (28) with one ere or more first energy accumulators (68) (e.g. coil spring or bow spring), at least one first wall (92) radially supporting the at least one first energy accumulator (68), where a rolling body device (98) (e.g. a rolling gear) is interposed between the at least one first wall (92) and the at least first energy accumulator (68) (e.g. coil spring or bow spring).

A hydrodynamic torque converter device comprising a torsion vibration damper and a converter torus formed by a pump shell, a turbine shell and a stator shell, and which comprises a converter lockup clutch, is shown in FIG. 2 of German Patent No. DE 199 20 542 A1. According to this known embodiment, the torsion vibration damper comprises a first energy accumulator means, which comprises several first energy accumulators respectively configured as arc springs, and a second energy accumulator means, which is disposed, with reference to the radial direction of the rotation axis of the torsion vibration damper, radially within the first energy accumulator means, and which comprises several second energy accumulators. The first energy accumulators are thus inserted into wear protection shells.
German Patent No. DE 102 09 838 A1 discloses a rotation- or torsion vibration damper with exactly one energy accumulator means, which comprises at least one first energy accumulator formed by a coil spring. With reference to the radial direction of the rotation axis of the torsion vibration damper, a wall thus extends on the radial exterior of the at least one first energy accumulator, at which the at least one first energy accumulator can be radially supported. In order to avoid particularly high friction between the at least one first energy accumulator, slider shoes are used, which are supported towards the radial exterior at the wall, and which are slid onto at least one radially exterior portion of at least one winding of the at least one energy accumulator.

Torsional vibration damper and hydrodynamic torque converter device for an automotive drive train