A configurable delay cell for an integrated circuit includes a CMOS inverter and first through fourth transistors. A drain of the third transistor is connected to a drain of the fourth transistor for generating an output signal. A connection between an output terminal of the CMOS inverter and a source of the first transistor, a connection between the output terminal of the CMOS inverter and a drain of the second transistor, and a connection between the source of the first transistor and the drain of the second transistor are configurable, using an electronic design automation (EDA) tool, for achieving first, second, third, fourth, and fifth delay values. The resulting delay value can be programmed by making changes only in one or more of the metal layers of the integrated circuit.

The present invention relates generally to integrated circuits, and, more particularly to a delay cell having a delay that can be configured by making changes in only the metal layers of the integrated circuit.
Integrated circuits (ICs) including system-on-chips (SoCs) integrate various digital as well as analog elements on a single chip. These elements may operate synchronously or asynchronously. Timing errors (also known as "timing violations") such as setup and hold time violations impair the operation of the synchronous elements causing the IC to function erratically. Thus, it is essential to identify the timing errors at the design stage, before fabricating the IC. In the design stage, the timing errors are corrected by adjusting delay values in the signal paths, typically by inserting buffers into the signal paths.
Timing closure is the process by which the IC design is iteratively modified to achieve the desired timing requirements. Timing analysis for achieving the desired timing requirements is performed by an electronic design automation (EDA) tool.
Spare delay cells are inserted into the signal paths of the IC design so that the delay values of the signal paths can be adjusted. Additional delay cells may be added to adjust the delay value of the signal paths based on the timing analysis. However, adjusting the delay value of the signal paths by inserting additional delay cells into the signal path or using the spare delay cells can lead to changes in placement and routing of the IC design. As a result, the placement and routing need to be re-performed, which requires many engineering hours and hence increases costs and impacts delivery.
A known technique to overcome the aforementioned problem is to insert configurable delay cells in the signal paths of the IC design. FIG. 1 is a schematic circuit diagram of a first conventional delay cell 100 including first and second buffers 102 and 104. The first delay cell 100 is configurable for achieving first and second delay values, where the second delay value is greater than the first delay value. The first buffer 102 includes first and second complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) inverters 106 and 108 and the second buffer 104 includes third and fourth CMOS inverters 110 and 112. Each of the first though fourth CMOS inverters 106-112 has an input terminal and an output terminal.
The first CMOS inverter 106 includes first and second transistors 114 and 116, where the first transistor 114 may be a p-channel metal-oxide semiconductor (PMOS) transistor and the second transistor 116 may be an n-channel MOS (NMOS) transistor.
The first transistor 114 has a source terminal for receiving a first supply voltage (referred to as "VDD") and a gate terminal connected to the input terminal of the first CMOS inverter 106 for receiving an input signal (referred to as "VIN"). The second transistor 116 has a source terminal for receiving a second supply voltage (referred to as "VSS"), a gate terminal connected to the input terminal of the first CMOS inverter 106 for receiving the input signal (VIN), and a drain terminal connected to a drain terminal of the first transistor 114 for generating an inverted input signal. The first CMOS inverter 106 receives the input signal (VIN) at its input terminal and generates the inverted input signal at its output terminal.
The second CMOS inverter 108 includes third and fourth transistors 118 and 120. The third CMOS inverter 110 includes fifth and sixth transistors 122 and 124, and the fourth CMOS inverter 112 includes seventh and eighth transistors 126 and 128. The third, fifth, and seventh transistors 118, 122, and 126 are PMOS transistors, and the fourth, sixth, and eighth transistors 120, 124, and 128 are NMOS transistors. The second, third, and fourth CMOS inverters 108, 110, and 112 are structurally and functionally similar to the first CMOS inverter 106.
The first and second CMOS inverters 106 and 108 are connected in series, i.e., the input terminal of the second CMOS inverter 108 is connected to the output terminal of the first CMOS inverter 106. Thus, the second CMOS inverter 108 outputs a delayed version of the input signal (VIN) at its output terminal. The third and fourth CMOS inverters 110 and 112 also are connected in series, i.e., the input terminal of the fourth CMOS inverter 112 is connected to the output terminal of the third CMOS inverter 110.
A connection between the output terminal of the second CMOS inverter 108 and the input terminal of the third CMOS inverter 110 is configurable for achieving the first and second delay values. The output terminal of the second CMOS inverter 108 is connected to the input terminal of the third CMOS inverter 110 for achieving the second delay value. The first delay cell 100 receives the input signal and outputs an output signal (referred to as "VOUT") that is a delayed version of the input signal (VIN).
During timing closure, if it is determined that an increase in the delay value of the signal path is required, then the output terminal of the second CMOS inverter 108 is connected to the input terminal of the third CMOS inverter 110 by modifying a layout of the IC design during the design stage using an EDA tool.
However, the first delay cell 100 includes at least 8 transistors so that the first delay cell 100 can be configured for achieving one of the two delay values as determined by timing requirements. When the delay cell 100 is configured for achieving the first delay value, leakage current flows through the third and fourth CMOS inverters 110 and 112 leading wasted power. Further, when the first delay cell 100 is configured for achieving the first delay value, the third and fourth CMOS inverters 110 and 112 are not used and hence, contribute to area overhead.
FIG. 2 illustrates a second conventional delay cell 200 that is configurable for achieving first and second delay values, where the second delay value is greater than the first delay value. The second delay cell 200 includes first through sixth transistors 202-212 where the first, second, and fifth transistors 202, 204, and 210 are PMOS transistors, and the third, fourth, and sixth transistors 206, 208, and 212 are NMOS transistors.
The first transistor 202 has a source terminal connected to a first supply voltage (VDD) and a gate terminal for receiving an input signal (VIN). The second transistor 204 has a source terminal connected to a drain terminal of the first transistor 202 and a gate terminal for receiving the input signal VIN. The third transistor 206 has a gate terminal for receiving the input signal VIN and a drain terminal connected to a drain terminal of the second transistor 204 for generating an inverted input signal ("VINV_IN"). The fourth transistor 208 has a drain terminal connected to a source terminal of the third transistor 206, a gate terminal for receiving the input signal VIN, and a source terminal for receiving a second supply voltage ("VSS").
The fifth transistor 210 has a source terminal for receiving the first supply voltage VDD, a gate terminal for receiving a control signal ("VCONTROL"), and a drain terminal connected to the drain terminal of the first transistor 202. Thus, the fifth transistor 210 is connected in parallel with the first transistor 202.
The sixth transistor 212 has a drain terminal connected to the drain terminal of the fourth transistor 208, a gate terminal for receiving an inverted control signal ("VINV_CONTROL"), and a source terminal for receiving the second supply voltage VSS. Thus, the sixth transistor 212 is connected in parallel with the fourth transistor 208.
When the control signal VCONTROL is low (i.e., logic low state), the fifth and sixth transistors 210 and 212 are enabled, which decreases the impedance of the second delay cell 200. Thus, the second delay cell 200 is configured for achieving the first delay value. When the control signal VCONTROL is high (i.e., logic high state), the fifth and sixth transistors 210 and 212 are disabled so the second delay cell 200 is configured for achieving the second delay value.
During timing closure, if it is determined that a decrease in the delay value of the signal path is required, then the fifth and sixth transistors 210 and 212 are enabled using an EDA tool.
However, the second delay cell 200 includes at least six transistors. When the second delay cell 200 is configured for achieving the first delay value by disabling the fifth and sixth transistors 210 and 212, leakage current flows through the fifth and sixth transistors 210 and 212 leading to wasted power. Further, when the second delay cell 200 is configured for achieving the first delay value, the fifth and sixth transistors 210 and 212 are not used and hence, contribute to area overhead.
Another known technique for adjusting delay value is to have a configurable source-drain connection for each transistor of a conventional delay cell (not shown). The source of a transistor is connected to the drain of the transistor by modifying the IC layout during the design stage using the EDA tool. However, the delay cell requires a large number of transistors for achieving a given number of delay values.
Yet another known technique of adjusting the delay value introduced by the delay cell is to change the channel lengths or widths of transistors of the delay cell for achieving various delay values. Increasing the width of a transistor decreases the delay value and decreasing the width of the transistor increases the delay value. Similarly, increasing the channel length of the transistor increases the delay value and decreasing the channel length of the transistor decreases the delay value. Further, the delay values can be adjusted by changing the threshold values of the transistors by controlling the amount of impurity in the channels of the transistors.
However, changes in the widths, lengths, or threshold voltages of transistors in the IC design are subject to process variations and hence, may not provide desired delay values. Thus, it is not desirable to change the widths, lengths, or threshold voltages to adjust the delay values of the delay cell.
It would be advantageous to have a delay cell that can be configured to achieve a desired delay value, uses fewer of transistors, and reduces area and power overheads.


A method for transferring power in an aircraft between an energy storage device and a power system. The method includes determining an amount of power required by the power system, determining a predetermined amount of power from a generator, comparing the power required by the power system to the predetermined power of the generator, and transferring power to the energy storage device from the power system or to the power system from the energy storage device based on the comparing.

This invention relates generally to transferring electrical power in an aircraft, more particularly to transferring power between an energy storage device in an electrical accumulator unit (EAU) and an electrical power system
Conventional aircraft power systems that provide power to electrical aircraft loads can suffer from a variety of deficiencies. For example, conventional aircraft power systems require the use of generators to produce power for an aircraft. These generators may be required to supply a very large amount of power over a short duration during a spike when a large surge of power is needed. For example, on average, an aircraft power system may draw about 60 kilowatts of power from a generator, but there may be times when the power system requires 130 kilowatts of power from the generator for a short period of time. Therefore, in order for a generator to be able to handle this large spike in power needed, conventional power systems require generators with a high rating. Unfortunately, generators with a high rating are not only more expensive than lower rated generators, they are also larger and heavier.
Some of the latest aircraft power systems also include electrical actuator loads for moving, for example, a surface of a plane such as a rudder. The use of electrical actuators on aircraft is expected to become more and more common in future aircraft designs. When an actuator motor is instructed to stop, the motor is de-accelerated. The de-acceleration of an actuator generates kinetic energy which is converted to electrical energy by the actuator and placed back onto the power system and therefore back to a generator. The resulting electrical power from this recovered kinetic energy is called regenerated power. Thus, because a generator cannot absorb this power, resisters are utilized to dissipate the kinetic energy that is returned from the actuator after de-acceleration. This creates heat, and because this heat is not utilized, the heat created by the resisters may cause problems with a cooling system on an aircraft.
Conventional aircraft power systems also include two battery supplies. One battery (e.g., a primary battery) acting as a primary energy storage device to an engine controller and a secondary battery acting as a backup to the primary battery. Thus, in an event of a failure or drainage of the primary battery, an engine controller draws power from the secondary battery to continue operation. However, the use of two batteries as part of a redundant system not only increases the overall weight of an aircraft, but can reduce the ability of the aircraft to carry additional payload.

System and method for transferring power between an aircraft power system and energy storage devices


A display includes a plurality of matrix areas. Each of the areas is operable to display one of plural indicias. A controller determines an occurrence of a win when predetermined indicias are stationarily arranged in the display so as to form a predetermined relative positional relationship at anywhere in the matrix areas.

The invention relates to a gaming machine, such as a skilled-stop type gaming machine, or a slot machine, and more particularly, to a gaming machine characterized in determination of occurrence of a win.
There has hitherto been known a gaming machine having a display in which area to be used for displaying a plurality of types of indicias (hereinafter, simply referred to as indicias) are arranged in a matrix pattern, wherein, when predetermined indicias are displayed as a predetermined combination in the display along, e.g., a horizontal line or a diagonal line, the gaming machine enters a status which is advantageous to a player.
The gaming machine of this type determines whether to enter a status advantageous to the player in consideration of two viewpoints: that is, "occurrence of a combination of predetermined symbols" and "positions where the predetermined symbols are stationarily displayed," in connection with a certain symbol acting as the indicia.
More specifically, a symbol-variable gaming machine (first related art) described in, e.g., Japanese Utility Model No. 3062079, effects setting of "positions where the predetermined symbols are stationarily displayed," wherein predetermined winning lines have been set beforehand, and one end of each of the winning lines is bent in a slanting direction.
A slot machine described in Japanese Utility Model No. 3056308 (second related art) is directed toward easing the "positions where the predetermined symbols are stationarily displayed" such that an "occurrence of a combination of predetermined symbols" is established so long as identical symbols appear on respective reels, thereby achieving a win regardless of the winning line. A gaming characteristic; that is, the player's expectation, is enhanced by increasing the chance of occurrence of a winning pattern.
As mentioned above, various improvements have been made in order to enhance the gaming characteristic for the player. According to the above-described first related art, a restriction in which predetermined winning lines have been set beforehand has contributed to an increase in the number of winning lines. In the meantime, the player encounters inconvenience of having to memorize winning patterns. Particularly, in the case of a large number of winning lines (BET lines) (6 to 30 lines), the player cannot memorize all the lines. Further, the player also encounters difficulty in intuitively ascertaining, within a short period of time, whether or not a win has arisen. Therefore, complexity of these BET lines is likely to result in a problem of arousing a feeling of repulsion in a player who is playing the game for the first time or a problem of the player being unable to understand the condition and being bewildered.
According to the second related art, the player does not need to memorize the BET lines such as those employed in the first related art; the only requirement is to display the same symbols anywhere on each of the respective reels. When identical symbols are displayed in spaced display regions, the player encounters greater difficulty in intuitively ascertaining, within a short period of time, whether or not a win has arisen, to a degree corresponding to the distance between the symbols. The larger the number of reels, the greater the difficulty. Under the condition that identical symbols must appear on all reels, the player's pleasure is spoiled if the symbol has failed to appear at one display area. Hence, such a condition forms a barrier to further enhancement of the gaming characteristic.

Gaming machine and method of controlling the same


The present invention relates to a method of determining the probability that a statistical model describes the driving style or usage of a vehicle observed. By identifying an appropriate statistical model, the driving style can be detected and vehicle operation can be optimized. The method may be applied to both hybrid and non-hybrid vehicles. The method may also be augmented to determine the most probable statistical model of the usage of the vehicle. This allows detection of driving styles that can be classified as urban, highway, aggressive, etc. For example, the augmented method can be used to distinguish between highway and urban driving with a very high certainty.

Among the goals for the development of hybrid electric vehicles are improvement of fuel economy and reduction of pollution emissions from automobiles. In designing a hybrid vehicle, fuel economy is maximized with optimized operations and control strategy. A statistical model of driving style can offer optimization of operations for both hybrid and non-hybrid vehicles.

Method for assessing models of vehicle driving style or vehicle usage model detector


Techniques involve managing a storage system. Along these lines, for each of a plurality of snapshots, a plurality of blocks referenced by the snapshot is determined. An evaluation score indicating an impact that deletion of the snapshot has on space release and data retention is determined based on at least one of: a reference count for the plurality of blocks, a size of a storage resource associated with the snapshot, and the number of blocks of the plurality of blocks that are referenced only once. At least one snapshot to be deleted is selected from the plurality of snapshots based on respective evaluation scores of the plurality of snapshots.

A snapshot is a state of a storage system or storage resource at a specific time point. Snapshot auto-deletion allows the snapshot to be automatically deleted when the storage space is approaching its full capacity, thereby releasing the space back to the storage system. The current auto-deletion policy is usually based on the creation time of the snapshot. The storage system allows the user to define a policy of automatically deleting snapshots from the earliest-created snapshot or the most recently created snapshot. However, these policies usually cannot match the user's needs. For example, in some cases, the user expects to release space as much as possible by deleting snapshots as few as possible. In some cases, the user desires to delete the snapshot with the highest degree of block sharing, so that the user might recover data from other snapshots after deleting a snapshot. Therefore, it is necessary to provide an improved solution for managing the storage system.

Method, device, and computer readable storage medium for managing storage system


A fluid flow tester for measuring minute volumes of fluid and for calibrating medical devices, such as intravenous infusion pumps, includes a plurality of valves and associated conduits which direct fluid from the device being tested to a transparent vertical column. A plurality of sensors, each including a light emitting diode and a light detector, are arranged along the axial length of the column at a predetermined spacing between adjacent sensors. Fluid from the device being tested is directed through the flow tester by the valves and associated conduits into the column where it rises. The meniscus of the fluid rising in the column is detected by the sensors. The sensors provide signals to a microcontroller which calculates the time that it takes for the fluid to pass each sensor. Knowing this timing and the volume of the column, the flow rate of the fluid may be calculated by the microcontroller.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a precision testing instrument capable of performing multiple tests, and more specifically, a precision testing instrument capable of performing fluid measurements.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various fluid delivery systems, specifically fluid delivery systems designed to administer precise amounts of fluid and/or medication to individuals, require constant calibrations and accuracy tests to ensure safety and functionality. Particularly, intravenous (IV) infusion devices, also known as IV pumps, require calibration at set time periods to verify that the device is functioning properly.
More specifically, medical infusion pumps are designed to deliver over time preset volumes of medicine or intravenous fluids to patients. In most cases, the flow can be preset anywhere from about 1 milliliter per hour to about 1000 milliliters per hour. It is extremely important to check the performance, such as flow rate, delivered volume and occlusion pressure, of these infusion pumps. Although several calibration instruments are currently available, many of them are inaccurate and time consuming to use to make measurements at such low flow rates.
As mentioned above, various tests are performed on these devices, in particular, pressure tests, volume delivery tests, and flow rate evaluation. Conventionally, these tests are performed by trained technicians. This often requires the device to be taken out of service and either shipped to a testing site or moved to a laboratory. The testing process can incorporate various devices including computers and inline flow meters. Conventional methods of performing these tests include using differential pressure readings or occlusion sensing. Both of these methods are time consuming as it is difficult to get an accurate calibration based upon the small rates and the testing devices' design. For example, the Infutest 2000™ manufactured by Datrend Systems Inc. (Canada) injects a bubble into the flow of fluid and tracks the movement of the bubble. The IDA4 Plus Multi-Channel Infusion Device manufactured by Fluke Corporation is a differential pressure flow meter. Both of these devices are relatively slow and require relatively large volumes of fluid for flow measurement.


A solid particulate composition including, based on the total weight of the composition, a) 20 to 95 wt. % of at least one water-soluble carrier material selected from hydrous salts of which the water vapor partial pressure corresponds, at a specific temperature in the range from 30 to 100° C., to the H2O partial pressure of the saturated solution of salt; b) 0.1 to 20 wt. % fragrance; and c) 0.1 to 30 wt. % of at least one textile-care compound. The invention further relates to the use and a method for the preparation of a solid particulate composition.

When using washing and cleaning agents, the consumer not only aims to wash the objects to be treated, but also wishes that after treatment, for example after washing, the treated objects, such as textiles, have a pleasant smell. For this reason in particular, most commercially available washing and cleaning agents contain fragrances.
Fragrances are often used in the form of fragrance particles, either as an integral component of a washing or cleaning agent, or metered into the washing drum right at the beginning of a wash cycle in a separate form. In this way, the consumer can control the fragrancing of the laundry to be washed by means of individual metering. One product format which enables the separate metering of fragrances is the fragrance pastille.
The main constituent of such fragrance pastilles known in the prior art is typically a water-soluble or at least water-dispersible carrier polymer, such as polyethylene glycol (PEG), which is used as a vehicle for the integrated fragrances and which dissolves more or less completely in the wash liquor during the washing process, so as to release the fragrances contained and optionally other components into the wash liquor. For the preparation of the known fragrance pastilles, a melt is produced from the carrier polymer, which melt contains the remaining ingredients or these are then added, and the resulting melt is then fed to a shaping process, in the course of which it cools, solidifies and assumes the desired shape.
The known products have the disadvantage that the polymer materials used, in particular PEG, have delayed solubility, which can lead to residues on the laundry or in the washing machine, in particular in the case of short wash cycles, low temperature or other unfavorable conditions.
Furthermore, the fragrance pastilles described in the prior art generally have no additional function, i.e. they are generally used exclusively for fragrancing. From the perspective of the consumer, a second or third function is desirable in addition to fragrancing. Textile care is a particularly relevant second function in connection with fragrance pastilles.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


A device for fastening an add-on part (23) and a support part (24) at a distance from each other has a mounting nut (1) comprising an internal thread (9) of a first direction of thread, a compensating bush (5) comprising an external thread (8) that is adjusted to the internal thread (9), and a fastening screw (26), wherein its screw shaft (25) is configured having an external thread (27) of a second direction of thread opposite of the first direction of thread. The compensating bush (5) is configured having an internal sleeve (13) comprising a head section (15) having an arrangement of reinforcement zones (17) and adaptation zones (18), wherein the reinforcement zones (17) have a larger resistance than the adaptation zones (18) as opposed to an expansion directed radially outward. In this manner, relatively low tightening torques, as well as a relatively large variability in the material selection, are achieved even with relatively large tolerances between the diameters of the channel section of the compensating bush and the screw shaft.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a device for fastening an add-on part and a support part at a distance from each other.
2. Description of the Related Art
One device is known from U.S. Pat. No. 6,357,953 B1. The prior device for securing an add-on part and a support part in spaced-apart relation comprises a mounting nut that is fixedly connectable to the support part and has an internal thread of a first pitch direction. Also provided is a compensating bush having an external thread that mates with the internal thread of the mounting nut, said compensating bush being screwable into the mounting nut.

Device for fastening an add-on part and a support part at a distance from each other


A non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell which achieves satisfactory low temperature characteristics and high safety against overcharging in combination. The cell includes a lithium-containing cathode, an anode capable of doping and undoping lithium, a non-aqueous electrolyte and a separator. The separator is made up by a plurality of layers of a porous material or materials presenting micro-sized pores. The layers of the porous material or materials is formed of micro-porous separator materials representing different combinations of the porosity, melting point or material/compositions.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell having a cathode, an anode, a non-aqueous electrolyte and a separator. More particularly, it relates to a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell in which a separator is of a multi-layer structure having two or more layers.
2. Description of Related Art
Recently, variegated portable electronic equipment, such as camera built-in type VTR (video tape recorder), portable telephone sets or lap top computers, have made their debut and, with remarkable progress in the electronic technology, small-sized lightweight versions of these electronic equipment have been realized one after another. As a portable power supply for these electronic equipment, researches and developments for improving the energy density of the cells, in particular the secondary cells, as portable power sources for these electronic equipment, are going on briskly.
Of these, lithium ion secondary cell, for example, is thought to be promising because this cell is able to develop a higher energy density than that achievable with a nickel cadmium cell as a conventional aqueous electrolyte secondary cell. As the separator for the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell, such as lithium secondary cell, a polyolefin micro-porous film, as typified by high molecular polypropylene or high molecular polypropylene, is widely used.
It should be noted that, when the temperature of the non-aqueous electrolyte cell becomes higher than a preset temperature to reach a shutdown temperature, the polyolefin micro-porous film, used as a separator for the non-aqueous electrolyte cell, is fused to stop the numerous pores to obstruct lithium ion migration to forcibly halt the cell reaction, as a result of which the inner temperature of the cell is prevented from rising to maintain the safety of the non-aqueous electrolyte cell.
There are micro-irregularities of several μm in the surface of a plate of the lithium cell. Thus, if a polyolefin based porous film, liable to be torn, is built into the lithium cell as a separator for the cell, there is a risk that the film is damaged by the micro-irregularities on the plate surface to cause electrical shorting.
Although it has been proposed to use two sorts of porous films having different values of mechanical strength to improve the film strength, this approach cannot be said to give sufficient results.
It should be noted that, as the polyolefin micro-porous film, used in this non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell, such a film having the average pore diameter on the order of 1 to 0.05 μm and a porosity on the order of 45%, is widely used, depending on the material used. With the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell, in which the separator has these micro-sized pores, lithium ions can be migrated across the cathode and the anode in charging/discharging the cell.
On the other hand, when the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell is overcharged such that the inner temperature of the cell is raised, this polyolefin micro-porous film exhibits a so-called shutdown effect in which the cell undergoes an endothermic reaction and is thereby melted, with the micro-sized pores being then closed to cause the current to cease to flow.
However, when the value of the porosity of the separator, comprised of a polyolefin micro-porous film, is high, there is a certain time lag until separator pores are completely blocked since the separation reaches the shutdown temperature. Thus, there is a possibility that inner temperature in the cell is further raised during this time interval, with the separator being melted and flowing out on reaching its meltdown temperature. In such case, there is a possibility of electrical shorting in the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell due to physical contact between the cathode and the anode.
So, the porosity of the separator is desirably set to a lower value. However, in this case, lithium ions are hardly movable across the cathode and the anode during charging/discharging of the non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell, with the result that its low temperature characteristics are deteriorated.
Thus, there has as yet not been established a non-aqueous electrolyte secondary cell having optimum low temperature characteristics and high safety against over-charging.
On the other hand, if a micro-sized-pore polyolefin film having a low melting point is used as a separator, it is poor in physical strength against e.g., punching, piercing, thus raising the inferiority fraction in manufacturing the cells.


Systems and techniques for processing signals include, in at least one aspect, a method including: receiving an input signal having an associated carrier frequency; multiplying the input signal to produce a multiplied signal; filtering the multiplied signal to produce a high frequency component of the multiplied signal; delaying the multiplied signal to produce a delayed signal; and combining the high frequency component of the multiplied signal with the delayed signal to produce a scaling factor for use in detecting at least one of multiple signal bitstreams associated with the input signal.

Public broadcast of radio is an important source of information and entertainment for people all over the world. The transmission of radio programs is based on analog technology, typically using amplitude modulation (AM), frequency modulation (FM), and stereophonic FM (also referred to as FM stereo). In an analog FM system, an analog signal may be encoded into a carrier wave by variation of its instantaneous frequency in accordance with the input analog signal.
FM stereo was introduced to create a more natural listening experience. Rather than a single signal including all of the audio information, stereo transmission involves separate left (L) and right (R) signals. The received and processed L and R signals are sent to different speakers, reproducing (at least partially) the spatial location of the source of a sound.
There are two systems for transmission of FM stereo defined by the International Telecommunications Union (ITU): the stereophonic multiplex signal system and the pilot tone system. In the pilot tone system (according to the ITU standard), suppressed-carrier amplitude modulation is used to modulate stereophonic information onto a higher frequency, and that information can be combined with mono-compatible information in the baseband to form a composite signal that is then frequency modulated to the appropriate program channel. To detect the stereo signal, the carrier that modulates the stereophonic information needs to be recovered.

Digital carrier-recovery scheme for FM stereo detection


A steerable sheath for use with one of several optical catheters is provided to be positioned in a passageway leading to a body cavity of a patient for observation and/or treatment. The apparatus includes an elongated, deformable, hollow body having a distal end and a proximal end. An optical catheter is removably extendable through the body and has a distal end which is alignable with the distal end of the body and a proximal end extendable outwardly beyond the proximal end of the body. An articulatable hollow, cylindrical member is provided within the sheath body at the distal end thereof and extends along the sheath body for a short distance toward the proximal end. A first generally cylindrical yoke is pivotally mounted about an axis at the proximal end of the sheath body. The proximal ends of a first pair of wires which extend longitudinally within the sheath body from the distal end thereof to the proximal end are attached to the first yoke and offset 90.degree. from the first yoke axis. A first knob is connected to the first yoke for rotating it back and forth about the first yoke axis to alternately push and pull the first pair of wires to steer the cylindrical member in an appropriate direction. A method is also contemplated using the apparatus in conducting an investigation and/or operative procedure.

Most fiber optic endoscopes on the market today are made in a conventional manner wherein they include an elongated body or shaft containing both image fibers and light carrying fibers. The endoscope may also have additional passageways for irrigation and/or for conducting operative or investigative procedures. Sometimes it also will be provided with a steering mechanism for pointing the distal end thereof. Most optical endoscopes are configured in a shape to do one specific examination. For example, one may be a flexible cysto-urethroscope for examination of the lower genitourinary tract. Another may be a bronchoscope for looking into the respiratory tract. Still another may be a flexible hysteroscope for looking into the uterus. Once any of these devices is manufactured, it is locked into that configuration and generally can only be used for the purpose for which it was constructed. In other words, it is not adaptable for other types of examinations. An exception to this is that in rare instances one may use a flexible hysteroscope for looking into the bladder. This is done only because the regular scope is broken or unavailable, or done by mistake. There also is a device now available for looking the nasal sinuses. This is a small flexible scope which has an eyepiece, a steering mechanism for changing direction of the device to allow its manipulation into a sinus opening and a light connector. However, it cannot be used for any other purpose.
Because of the necessity for providing a variety of types and styles of endoscopes, the cost invested in endoscopes can be quite high, inasmuch as they are not interchangeable.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,975,785 to Sheldon discloses an endoscope with spaced segments interconnected by two pairs of cables located on opposite sides of the segments. Each pair of cables has distal ends which extend around pulleys mounted on a common shaft which is attached to a handle for rotating the shaft. The rotation of the shaft will cause one of the pairs of cables to be shortened and the other to be lengthened so as to bend the distal end of the endoscope in the desired direction. With the two pairs of cables and control means, the endoscope can be bent in any desired direction.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,266,059 to Stelle discloses a prestressed, articulated joint having pivotal segments which are moved by cables. Associated springs prestress the joint.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,572,325 to Bazell et al., discloses an endoscope with spaced annular segments having control cables extending from the distal end to the proximal end where the cables are connected to a wobble plate which is pivoted to lengthen and shorten the cables to create appropriate bending of the endoscope.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,605,725 to Bentoy discloses a non-circular catheter having a flexible catheter tip with control members extending along the length of the catheter for controlling the angle of the tip. The control means extend from the proximal end of the catheter and are designed for rapid connection to a control mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,610,231 to Takahashi discloses an endoscope with a stiff central stay and cables which connect to rotatable elements at the proximal end of the endoscope to alternately lengthen and shorten the cables to deflect the distal end of the endoscope in any direction desired. Again, two pairs of cables are provided which are lengthened and shortened together as an appropriate control mechanism is manipulated.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,799,151 to Fukaumi et al., discloses an endoscope with sections that are pivoted together in series and have wires which can be lengthened and shortened for manipulation of the endoscope to cause bending in any desired direction.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,499,895 to Takayama discloses an endoscope with wires that are lengthened and shortened by means of a motor which rotates in response to movement of a control lever.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,223 to Brewer discloses a flexible catheter having a plurality of electrical conductors wrapped about an inner tubular body. An insulating layer surrounds the conductors. Rigid non-conductive rings are adhesively secured at axially spaced locations along the distal end of the probe. A plurality of shape memory titanium-nickel wires extend between adjacent pairs of rings and are electrically connected to a control device and power source. Low current pulses are selectively provided by the control device through one or more of the wires to effect contraction of the heater wires to thereby cause the distal end of the probe to bend in a desired direction.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,069 to Umeda discloses a guidable endoscope made up of a plurality of articulated tubular members which have passage means for guide wires along the inner portion thereof through which manipulating wires extend for bending the endoscope in a desired direction and position.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,998,916 to Hammerslag et al. discloses a steerable guide wire or catheter for coronary angioplasty applications. A floppy steerable tip is provided on a steering region at the distal end of the implement and a control device at the proximal end, connected by means of a plurality of axially movable deflection wires, extends through the implement. Manipulation of a control permits deflection of the steering region through a full 360.degree. range of motion about the axis of the catheter.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,005,558 to Aomori discloses an endoscope which has an operating body formed as a flexible insertion tube having a bendable tube part with wires for bending the bending tube part by operating a control knob. The bending tube part includes ring link members which are tubular and are connected by flexible connections at upper and lower or left and right sides thereof, alternately to connect the ring link members with one another in series.
Although each of the previously described devices are suitable for their intended purpose, each is rather complex and not of sufficiently simple construction so as to be disposable after each use. In other words, these devices are of unitary construction, housing both the catheter and steering mechanism in one apparatus, and are very expensive. As pointed out above, separate endoscopic devices must be provided for different procedures. Thus, a very expensive endoscope with a steerable device is required for each endoscopic procedure creating a very high cost in maintaining separate endoscopic instruments for all of the various uses contemplated. Also, since the sheath is relatively inexpensive compared to the cost of many catheters, if the sheath cannot be adequately sterilized to prevent the transfer of disease from one patient to another, it can be thrown away after each use.

Steerable sheath for use with selected removable optical catheter


A survey marker having a rod with a pointed tip and a shank extending therefrom composed of a rod or rebar material. A head extending from a distal end of the rod opposite the point may include means for retaining a survey flag, means for engaging a drive tool, and means for alignment.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to survey markers.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventional survey indicators consist of plates, spikes, posts, or rods driven in, placed, or attached to natural geographic structures such as rocks or trees. Most permanent markers are formed of concrete posts or the like utilizing a plate or disk having the requisite markings and indicators affixed to or molded therein.
The surveyor usually surveys the tract of property to obtain the boundaries and uses temporary markers, such as pins or pegs having indicia or markings thereon. At a later time the surveyor or some other person must return to the numerous survey reference point cites and affix a more permanent marker at the site.
Permanent markers now used in the industry such as concrete post are heavy and difficult to carry and require a vehicle to transport them to the marker sites. Sometimes the vehicles cannot be driven close to the marker site and the difficult and time consuming task falls upon the surveying team to move the marker to the site. Moreover, these concrete markers are dangerous to walk around or over, or to mow over once vegetation such as grass crops or weeds hide them over time.
None of the above known types of survey markers, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed in the instant application.


An improved quadrature bandpass ΔΣ converter includes a loop filter, an ADC responsive to the loop filter, and a first feedback DAC responsive to the ADC; a first summing circuit is responsive to the first DAC and an analog input for providing an input to the loop filter; a second feedback DAC is responsive to the ADC for providing an input to the loop filter; the loop filter includes a plurality of signal resonators, at least one image resonator, a second summing circuit, and a feed forward circuit connecting at least two of the resonators to the second summing circuit for reducing the quantization noise from the ADC; the image resonator is responsive to the second DAC for reducing the image quantization noise.

In ΔΣ converters, noise shaping is used to lower the quantization noise in the signal band. In quadrature ΔΣ bandpass converters, imperfect matching causes image noise to be reflected into the signal band and so it too must be addressed. In feedback ΔΣ quadrature converters, a cascade of signal resonators is followed by an image resonator which creates the image notch to address the reflected image noise problem. Recently, feed forward ΔΣ quadrature converters have been preferred because of superior dynamic range, lower power requirements and less signal distortion. However, attempts to apply the usual resonator ordering of the feedback architecture to the feed forward architecture have resulted in some problems. For example, the placement of the image resonator as the last resonator results in the converter being impractically sensitive to coefficient errors. This is so because in the feed forward approach the input to the image resonator is the output of the last signal resonator, and, the energy in this signal near the image frequency is small, owing to the accumulated attenuation of the signal resonators at the image frequency, whereas in the previous feedback approach the image frequency energy applied to the image resonator is not limited by propagation through the signal resonators. In the feedback approach, the energy at the signal frequency gets attenuated by the image resonator. However, since there is only one image resonator, the problem is less severe. Moving the image resonator to an earlier stage of the cascaded resonators increases the impact of the quadrature errors on subsequent stages.


An easy-to-manufacture wide-band antenna arrangement and a kitchen appliance including this antenna arrangement are provided. A resonating part of the antenna arrangement has a flat shape, its outer edges have an elliptical curvature and a coaxial cable is located at a feed in a slit in the middle of the resonating plate. The resonating plate is parallel to a ground plane, and together those parts form a planar inverted-F antenna. Such an antenna is useful in combination with a kitchen hob and sensor applications that wirelessly communicate with the kitchen hob, e.g. for improving cooking results.

Recently, automation has been making more and more inroads into household appliances. In kitchen environments, e.g. ovens, dishwashers, microwaves, more or less sophisticated temperature and time control mechanisms have already been established and are known in the art. More recently, the field of sensor applications in kitchen environments has shifted into focus.
The use of sensors in the field of food preparation and recipe control is becoming more and more interesting. In connection with the availability of online recipes and the huge variety of spices, sensors could facilitate the preparation of sophisticated food dishes in various styles for the average consumer. In kitchen environments the presence of high temperatures as well as hot or greasy fluids is the rule. Thus, there arises the problem as to how to provide an easy way of communicating with various sensors and devices.
Meanwhile, due to the presence of mobile applications and Smartphones, the customer is used to all sorts of wireless communication. On the other hand, the market responds to this market situation by providing wireless standards of all sorts and for all kind of applications. Thus, a preferred way of communicating in a household, and particularly in a kitchen environment, is the wireless way.
In this context, however, the need arises to provide technically simple and robust communication solutions. It is thus a prerogative that antennas used for wireless communication in a household should be capable of wideband transmission/reception and of technically simple construction as well as easy to manufacture.
As indicated above, wireless applications are common in the art, and thus antennas of all sorts are also known in the art.
One example is described in EP 1837950 A2. This European patent application is about multi-level and space-filling ground planes for miniature and multi-band antennas. It shows a planar inverted-F antenna (PIFA) in which ground planes of various sorts are possible. A characteristic feature of these ground planes is that they have slits or holes or cut-out structures in them. The disclosed structures are said to control the return loss bandwidth, gain, radiation efficiency and frequency performance. Further, such a ground plane is said to be able to be reduced in comparison to those antennas with solid ground planes.
No further related prior art is known.
The present invention is based on the problem to improve the communication situation in a household environment, and in particular to provide a simple and efficient antenna for household appliances, especially for kitchen appliances.
This problem is solved by an antenna arrangement according to claim 1 and by a kitchen appliance according to claim 14. Further developments of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

Antenna arrangement and kitchen apparatus


The present invention refers to an industrial process and system that is efficient and advantageous for inactivation of liquid wastes contaminated by mutagenic, genotoxic and/or teratogenic substances arising from high potency APIs production using inactivation chemical agents and excluding ozone, heat or UV light source.

The industrial liquid wastes constituted of waste water and/or solvent solutions contaminated by mutagenic, genotoxic and/or teratogenic substances are hazardous wastes that should be treated with particular care in order to avoid their spread in the environment.
The liquid wastes containing these hazardous substances are usually disposed by incineration, in which occurs complete degradation of toxic organic compounds and generating carbon dioxide and water. However, incineration is a very expensive method to treat liquid wastes, especially water, which requires expensive and sophisticated equipment and, in addition, is a destructive method that does not allow solvent or water recovery.
Inactivation is a pre-treatment for chemical and pharmaceutical industry liquid wastes contaminated with mutagenic, genotoxic and/or teratogenic substances. Inactivation is to treat the contaminated liquid waste with heat, ultraviolet light, chemical agents or other agents in order to convert the hazardous substance into a less toxic substance, eliminating the teratogenic, mutagenic and genotoxic activity of industrial wastes before going to secondary treatments. By inactivation and reduction of total organic carbon, industrial solvents can be recovered by distillation, and the water can be used again or even returned to the environment.
Heat and ultraviolet light treatment are not general and efficient methods to inactivate an organic compound as the molecule must be very sensitive to temperature and luminosity, respectively.
Ozone is a method that can be used for inactivation, however it is not considered as an efficient one for any kind of compounds. Beside this, it usually needs expensive technologies, such as specific sensors, ozone generator and neutralizer to compose the system. In addition, ozone has a very high-volume limitation, as it needs a large column to achieve bubbling ozone for inactivation.
These processes present technical and/or economic results that are not always satisfactory. In addition, in many cases, the use of these techniques has been shown to be inadequate and/or infeasible, especially when there is a large volume of contaminated waste, either also because the inactivation is not complete and/or inactivation time is high.
The chemical treatment is considered a general method because it is possible to find an appropriate inactivation agent for each compound, so it is efficient for every kind of contaminated solutions and solvents containing mutagenic, genotoxic and/or teratogenic compounds. Beside this, there are no volume limitation since a tank with appropriate volume can be used to carry out the chemical reaction. The inactivation chemical agents are not expensive, the process can be easily controlled and it is a non-destructive method.
However, industrial inactivation is very challenging, since it needs a plant that considers the specific inactivation of that hazardous substance, as well as the contaminated solution or solvent that can be flammable and/or explosive. In addition, features such as contaminant concentrations, time and materials for pipelines, tanks and utilities should be rigorously evaluated to plan a viable and economic system.
Fernández et al. describe an industrial inactivation system for wastewater originating from cytostatic production, such as 5-fluorouracil, methotrexate, doxorubicin and cytarabine, using ozone as oxidation agent [L. A. Fernández, E. Veliz, I. Hernández, C. Pérez, L. Garcia Vivó, S. Padrón, R. Pérez Rey, M. Bataller. Pharmaceutical Wastewater Ozonation at Industrial Scale. 17th Ozone World Congress, Strasbourg, France. August 2005]. In such system, 1200 liters of wastewater need to be inactivated, but the inactivation column has only 350 liters, which means that, although the inactivation is fast for molecules exemplified above, the process needs to be repeated 3 or 4 times to inactivate all waste.
The document WO2010046510 describes a cytostatic and pharmaceutical waste treatment for organic molecule inactivation and an equipment to carry out this process. The equipment includes two different and independent parts: solid waste reduction mill and treatment plant. The technology mentions two oxidation steps, one of then simultaneously to milling and another after the liquid waste extraction. However, there are no details about the oxidation process for hazardous substances inactivation.
The document WO2014100177 describes a compact system and a method for pharmaceutical waste treatment at lab scale. The system is proposed to be placed close to the disposal of pharmaceutical wastes, for example, under a skin of laboratory or hospital, so, it is not feasible for industrial application. This technology is intended to small waste volumes and involves longer APIs inactivation.
Despite the approaches of the state of the art, it appears that there is a need for an industrial system for inactivation of large volumes of liquid wastes contaminated by genotoxic, mutagenic and/or teratogenic substances arising from high potency APIs production, as described and claimed herein.

Industrial process and system for the inactivation of liquid waste

CRISTALIA PRODUTOS QUIMICOS FARMACEUTICOS LTDA.


A casing spacer that fits around a carrier pipe at various intervals along the length of the carrier pipe for the purpose of positioning the carrier pipe within a casing pipe. The casing spacer is equipped with roller assemblies on the outside surface of the casing spacer. The roller assemblies are protected by guards to help the roller assemblies avoid obstacles that may exist on the inner surface of the casing pipe.

The term "carrier pipe" describes a conduit used to transport fluids from one place to another. Carrier pipes can be used to transport a wide range of fluids, including petroleum products, chemicals, gases, water, and waste streams. Carrier pipes are typically, but not always, installed underground (under roads, railways, canals, rivers, etc.) where they can be exposed to dynamic and static loads, corrosive elements, vibrations, and other stressful forces. To prevent these stressful forces from damaging carrier pipes and to prolong the serviceability of carrier pipes, they are often installed inside a casing pipe.
A casing pipe is a conduit in which a carrier pipe or a plurality of carrier pipes is/are installed. A casing pipe typically has an inner diameter long enough to create an annulus between the inside surface of the casing pipe and the outside surface of the carrier pipe (or plurality of carrier pipes) installed inside the casing pipe.
When a carrier pipe or plurality of carrier pipes is/are installed inside a casing pipe, it is often desirable to maintain the carrier pipe or plurality of carrier pipes at a desired position or alignment within the casing pipe and along the length of the casing pipe. In the case of gravity flow lines, it is desirable to maintain the carrier pipe at a desired grade or position within the casing pipe and along the length of the casing pipe. Casing spacers have been invented for these purposes. Casing spacers typically fit around a carrier pipe at various intervals along the length of the carrier pipe and serve the purpose of positioning the carrier pipe within the casing pipe. In addition, casing spacers serve the purpose of electrically isolating the carrier pipe from the casing pipe to eliminate galvanic corrosion between two dissimilar metals. Where a plurality of carrier pipes is installed inside the casing pipe, casing spacers serve the purpose of electrically isolating each carrier pipe from the other carrier pipes and the casing pipe. Different types of casing spacers are equipped to support a single carrier pipe or a plurality of carrier pipes.
In the case of a single carrier pipe, a conventional casing spacer typically includes a band that is secured around the carrier pipe. Typically, a plurality of risers or supports are attached to the band. The plurality of risers or supports extend outward from the surface of the band. In the case of a plurality of carrier pipes, a conventional casing spacer is commonly a sheet of material having multiple holes and cutouts in which the plurality of carrier pipes are placed. In all cases, the casing spacers are typically placed at desired locations along the length of the carrier pipe or plurality of carrier pipes to support the carrier pipe or plurality of carrier pipes along the length of the casing pipe.
In a typical installation of a carrier pipe or a plurality of carrier pipes into a casing pipe, the string of carrier pipes or plurality of carrier pipes are either pushed or pulled into the casing pipe. Some casing spacers are equipped with rollers to make it easier to push or pull the carrier pipe into the casing pipe. Sometimes, obstacles on the inner surface of the casing pipe can make it difficult or prevent the rollers from continuing to roll along the length of the casing pipe, or can damage the rollers as they roll along the length of the casing pipe. The present invention is designed to make it easier for the rollers to overcome obstacles and continue rolling along the length of the casing pipe.

Casing spacer with roller assembly guards


A switch mode power supply in which a control loop responsive to an input signal representative of the power supply output to provide a compensated error signal; and a PWM signal generator responsive to the compensated error signal to generate a variable duty cycle drive signal for the drive circuit having a selectable repetition rate. The control loop is implemented by digital circuitry, and the PWM signal generator is implemented by analog circuitry.

Switched power supplies have numerous applications in electronic devices, lighting, and motor drives, and several basic types are well known to those skilled in the art. As the art of switched power supplies has developed, the various system components were first implemented as analog circuits.
FIG. 1 illustrates in simplified form, the general architecture of a single phase analog switched power supply 100. For consistency of description, the topology shown is that of the synchronous buck converter, but again, it is to be understood that the context is for illustrative purposes only.
The exemplary device 100 includes a high-side switch 105, a low-side switch 110 connected to the high-side switch at a switch node 115, an output inductor 120 connected to the switch node 115, and an output capacitor 125 connected to the output inductor 120. High and low-side switches 105 and 110 may be power MOSFETS, IGBTS, or other bipolar transistors or other suitable devices which can be switched between a highly conductive state and a substantially non-conductive state.
The DC power is provided to a DC bus 150 from an AC source through a suitable rectification circuit (not shown) of any conventional type well known to those skilled in the art.
In operation, gate drive signals for the high-side and low-side switches 105 and 110 are provided at 140 and 145 respectively by a control circuit 130 to produce a desired output voltage across a load 135, which might, for example, be an electronic device such as a computer or an electric motor. For this purpose, control circuit 130 includes logic circuits which control the on and off times (duty cycle) of the switches.
Duty cycle control is customarily provided by pulse width modulation derived from a repetitive triangular waveform which is compared to an error signal to generate PWM duty cycle pulses which are provided to a suitable gate drive circuit.
To meet the load current demand while providing adequately regulated voltage, a suitable feedback regulation loop 155 is provided by which signals representing relevant operating parameters such a load current or output voltage are transferred to control circuit 130. Control circuit 130 utilizes these signals to provide compensation, filtering, or other signal processing, and to control the switching times of switches 105 and 110.
The illustrated configuration and its manner of operation are well known to those skilled in the art, and further description will be omitted in the interest of brevity.
Where the current demand of the load exceeds what can conveniently be provided by the circuit of FIG. 1, or for powering large industrial motors, multiple circuits can be combined as illustrated at 200 in FIG. 2. Here, multiple output phases 205a, 205b, . . . , 205n feed load 135 through separate inductors 215a, etc. and output capacitor 125. When the load is a multi-phase motor, each phase 205a, 205b, . . . 205n one of the phase windings of the motor through a separate LC circuit.
Control of the power supply is provided by a suitable multi-phase control circuit 210, and a feedback circuit (not shown) of any suitable design, as will be understood by those skilled in the art.
Although switched power supplies implemented using analog technology are in widespread use, numerous advantages of digital implementation over analog for test and measurement, machine control, motor control, and communication are now recognized. Among these are intelligent fault resolution, accurate timing, unit-to-unit repeatability, lack of component drift over time and temperature, firmware design control, and accuracy of implementing complex functions. As these became well known, the application of digital techniques to power supply design to began to receive serious consideration.
FIG. 3 illustrates the architecture of a switched PWM power supply (again in the exemplary context of a synchronous buck converter) implemented using digital technology. Here, the switching is performed by high and low side switches 302 and 304 (shown as MOSFETS) connected between a positive DC bus 308 and ground 310 or, depending on the application, positive and negative DC busses. A common node 306 between the switches is connected through an inductor 312 to an output capacitor 314 to drive a load 316.
A gate drive unit 318 which includes a dead time control circuit 364 and gate drivers 366 and 368, as well as any other conventional or desired circuitry, receives PWM duty cycle control signals at terminal 320 from the PWM logic generally denoted at 322, and described more fully below.
In a digitally implemented switched power supply, the control loop may typically include one or more sensors (not shown), outputs of which are provided on a signaling path 354, and are digitized in an A/D converter 352 of any conventional or desired design. The output of A/D converter 352 is provided over a signal bus 356 to a digital conditioning unit 358. This may be implemented as a programmed microprocessor, a digital signal processor, an ASIC, or in any other suitable or desired manner to provide digital filtering, and compensation according any suitable or desired compensation algorithm customarily employed in analog or digital switching power supply control loops including, but not limited to non-linear control functions or lookup tables. This creates an error "signal" in the form of a numeric representation of the compensated feedback signal on a signal bus 360.
The numerical error information on signal bus 360 is applied directly to digital logic unit 322 which generates the PWM gate drive signals for switches 302 and 304. Logic unit 322 includes a down counter 362 and a master clock 324 connected to drive counter 362, and to set a latching circuit 326 through a divider circuit 328. A reset signal for latch 326 is provided by the underflow or "borrow" output of counter 362. The latch reset output, in turn, provides a cycle start signal to counter 362 to load the error signal on bus 360. The output of latch circuit 326 is used to generate the PWM duty cycle pulses which are provided to the gate drive circuit 318 described above.
As illustrated, 8 bit logic is employed. Master clock 324 runs at 256 Mhz whereby down counter 362 is clocked at 256 Mhz. Divider 328 provides a divide by 256 function whereby a 1 Mhz signal is provided to set PWM latch 326.
Adoption of digital control techniques for motor drive, lighting, and other low frequency switching applications has progressed well, but adoption of digital control for high frequency switching power supply design has been slow due to high cost, despite the potential benefits.
Also, an inherent limitation with digital implementation exists when power supplies are operated simultaneously at high switching frequencies to accommodate rapid load transients, and with high accuracy to provide good output voltage stability. This problem is caused by the fact that any increments in pulse width for a true digital PWM can be no shorter than the main clock frequency. Consider, for example, a PWM system driven by a 100 Mhz clock, for which the minimum pulse width change is 10 ns. For a 1 Mhz PWM frequency, the switching interval pulse width is on the order of 100 ns, so individual duty cycle step changes (10 ns) can only be 10% of the switching interval. In most instances, this simply can not yield the required accuracy. Even if the PWM frequency can be reduced to 100 Khz, the step change is only 1%, which is inadequate for many power supplies.
Thus a need clearly exists for digital power supply implementation which provides the benefits of digital technology without the above described limitation.

Hybrid digital-analog switched power supply


An automated apparatus for the simultaneous filling of precise quantities of viscous liquid material to a plurality of containers in a sanitary environment, including a sanitary pump for delivering under pressure the viscous liquid material to a viscous liquid material manifold, a pump pulsation dampening assembly for dampening any pulsating output produced by the sanitary pump, and a plurality of fill valves for simultaneously dispensing a precise amount of viscous liquid material to the containers during a filling operation.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an automated apparatus for the high-speed delivery of precisely measurable quantities of a variety of viscous liquid materials having varying characteristics to a plurality of containers in a sanitary environment.
2. Description of the Related Art
A wide variety of sanitary filling operations, especially in the pharmaceutical and food processing industries require high-speed fluid metering systems capable of delivering precisely measured quantities of viscous liquid materials at accurate flow rates to various locations and in a sanitary manner. Typical filling operations involve a delivery apparatus for delivering viscous liquid material to a viscous liquid material manifold, and a plurality of fill heads adapted to simultaneously dispense the viscous liquid material into a batch or plurality of empty vessels (i.e., bottles, containers or the like) to a plurality of fill heads.
Modern sanitary filling operations require high speed operations involving pressure having ranges of 400 pounds per square inch (psi) or greater and pumping cycles in the range of about 20–200 cycles per minute and preferably 60–160 cycles per minute to provide constant flow. Accordingly, in such operations, precise and accurate delivery of the viscous liquid material is critical.
Moreover, such sanitary filling operations must meet the performance requirements established by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), which require that machines used to fill containers with liquid food or drug materials must be sterilizable, and readily cleaned of liquid materials which might be trapped in cavities within machine parts, and thereby providing a growth media for microbes. Accordingly, a goal in the design and construction of in-line filling machines for liquid food materials is that to provide an attachment as well as components suitable for cleaning-in-place (CIP) operations.
Heretofore, pump delivery systems that pump viscous liquid materials to various sources in precise and accurate flow rates are difficult to achieve due to the pulsing, surging, or hydraulic shock generated by the output of the pump mechanism. Such pulsing, surging or otherwise hydraulic shock is undesirable since it typically results in hydraulic hammer in process lines, large pressure fluctuations, excessive wear and increased cost of maintenance of pumps and instruments, inaccurate flow rates during delivery operations, which results in increased material costs and time. Moreover, conventional fill heads do not permit adjustable regulation of the flow rate of the viscous liquid material during filling operations at a point between the inlet to the fill head and the fill head chamber. Such fill heads also lack adjustable regulation of the flow rate in accordance with physical characteristics such as density, viscosity, compressibility and pump pressure of the viscous liquid material being dispensed. Such fill heads also permit turbulent flow during filing operations that thereby result in the dispensing of imprecise amounts of viscous liquid material.
What is presently needed is an apparatus that is equipped for high pressure and high-speed fluid metering and pumping (i.e., pressure ranges of 400 pounds psi or greater and pumping cycles in the range of about 20–200 cycles per minute and preferably 60–160 cycles per minute) in delivering precise measured quantities of viscous liquid materials at accurate flow rates. Such an apparatus should also be adaptable for use in sanitary filling operations and also include a pump pulsation dampening assembly that also meets the cleaning-in-place standards required by the FDA. Such an apparatus should also be adaptable to automatically monitor and adjust the air-to-liquid ratio inside a pump pulsation dampening assembly in response to the duration and intensity of the pulsating fluid flow from the pump mechanism. Such an apparatus should also accommodate varying viscosities of the metered viscous liquid material in addition to variations in compressibility due to the location of each fill valve relative to the fill station which receives the viscous liquid material from the fluid manifold as well as various parameters involved during a filling operation.

Apparatus for the simultaneous filling of precise amounts of viscous liquid material in a sanitary environment


A thin-film device for a wavelength-tunable semiconductor laser. The device includes a cavity between a high-reflectivity facet and an anti-reflection facet designed to emit a laser light of a wavelength in a tunable range determined by two Vernier-ring resonators with a joint-free-spectral-range between a first wavelength and a second wavelength. The device further includes a film including multiple pairs of a first layer and a second layer sequentially stacking to an outer side of the high-reflectivity facet. Each layer in each pair has one unit of respective optical thickness except one first or second layer in one pair having a larger optical thickness. The film is configured to produce inner reflectivity of the laser light from the high-reflectivity facet at least >90% for wavelengths in the tunable range starting from the first wavelength but at least <50% for wavelengths in a 25 nm range around the second wavelength.

The present invention relates to optical telecommunication techniques. More particularly, the present invention provides a thin-film filter for a wavelength tunable laser gain chip based on silicon photonics, a tunable filter having the same, and a silicon photonics system having the same.
Over the last few decades, the use of communication networks exploded. In the early days Internet, popular applications were limited to emails, bulletin board, and mostly informational and text-based web page surfing, and the amount of data transferred was usually relatively small. Today, Internet and mobile applications demand a huge amount of bandwidth for transferring photo, video, music, and other multimedia files. For example, a social network like Facebook processes more than 500 TB of data daily. With such high demands on data and data transfer, existing data communication systems need to be improved to address these needs.
40-Gbit/s and then 100-Gbit/s data rates wide-band DWDM (Dense Wavelength Division Multiplexed) optical transmission over existing single-mode fiber is a target for the next generation of fiber-optic communication networks. Chip-scale wide-band wavelength-tunable lasers have been of interest for many applications such as wide-band DWDM communication and wavelength-steered light detection and ranging (LIDAR) sensing. More recently, optical components are being integrated on silicon (Si) substrates for fabricating large-scale photonic integrated circuits that co-exist with micro-electronic chips. a whole range of photonic components, including filters, (de)multiplexers, splitters, modulators, and photodetectors, have been demonstrated, mostly in the silicon-on-insulator (SOI) platform. The SOI platform is especially suited for standard DWDM communication bands at 1300 nm and 1550 nm, as silicon (n=3.48) and its oxide SiO2 (n=1.44) are both transparent, and form high-index contrast, high-confinement waveguides ideally suited for medium to high-integration silicon photonics integrated circuits (SPICs).
Wavelength tunable semiconductor lasers in silicon photonics platform have been implemented as fundamental elements for many optical fiber communications applications including coherent optical transmission with increasing spectral efficiency. A variety of spectrally efficient modulation formats such as M-ary phase shift keying (PSK) and quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) without relying upon a rather complicated optical phase-locked loop. In addition, since the phase information is preserved after detection, we can realize electrical post-processing functions such as compensation for chromatic dispersion and polarization-mode dispersion in the digital domain. However, technical challenges exist, such as making the Vernier ring in small size in silicon photonics substrate for enlarging the free-spectral-range with sufficient side-mode suppression ratio, for making polarization-independent wavelength-tunable lasers as well as integrating them to form a coherent system in a compact silicon photonics platform. Therefore, improved techniques and methods are desired.


Disclosed is a process for preparing Li.sub.2 O--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 ceramic sintered bodies. Lithium fluoride powder is added to a calcined Li.sub.2 O--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 powder prepared by sol-gel process as sintering agent. The resulting powder mixture is compressed into a molded article and sintered at a temperature of 950.degree.-1250.degree. C. to obtain the sintered bodies of the invention. The sintered bodies according to the present invention have a relative density of 97.9% and a thermal expansion coefficient of 10.sup.-7 /.degree.C. magnitude.

The present invention relates to a process for the preparation of a Li.sub.2 O--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --SiO.sub.2 (LAS) ceramic sintered body, and in particular to a process for preparing a ceramic LAS sintered body by adding lithium fluoride to a calcined LAS ceramic powder as sintering agent and sintering at a temperature of 950.degree. C.-1250.degree. C.
Li.sub.2 O--Al.sub.2 O.sub.3 --n SiO.sub.2 ceramics (n is 2,4, 6 and 8 where n=2 is eucryptite, n=4 is spodumene, n=6 is lithium orthoclase and n=8 is petalite), due to having very low thermal expansion coefficient, have been widely used as thermal shock-resistant ceramics in high temperature applications to prevent the cracks originated from thermal shocks. Among them, .beta.-spodumene with a zero-approaching thermal expansion coefficient, 9.times.10.sup.-7 /.degree.C., and superior mechanical strength, chemical resistance and dimensional stability, has been applied in the manufacture of components of heat exchangers, frames of microwave ovens, and base plates of electromagnetic furnaces etc.
Conventionally, low thermal expansion coefficient ceramic materials, like LAS ceramic materials, are fabricated by glass-forming technique, a technique traditionally used in the manufacture of glass-ceramics. This technique includes melting the raw material at a temperature of above 1500.degree. C., fabricating the molten material into desired shapes and heat treating the shaped ceramics. The homogeneity of the produced ceramics usually is not satisfactory, and the scale of energy consumed in melting is high. Furthermore, in the manufacture of some high performance products, in particular multiple-component ceramic products, the products manufactured by glass-forming technique cannot meet the desired requirements.
In recent years, sol-gel processing has been widely used in the manufacture of ceramics because of inherent advantages compared to conventional processing. For example, the high surface area of dried gels can result in very high reactivity which permits low temperature processing. By starting with well mixed solutions or sols, chemical homogeneity even on the molecular scale can be obtained. However, the gels prepared by the sol-gel processes can shrink non-uniformly during the drying and calcinating, resulting in partial collapse, hardening and agglomeration of the gels. Accordingly, grinding or ball milling of the dried gels is necessary. This however will inevitably reduce the purity and the forming property of the resulting powders, render the sintered bodies porous, undensified, and thus affect the mechanical properties of the final products.
A technical report entitled "Preparation of .beta.-spodumene powder by sol-gel process and properties of sintered bodies" (Hidehiko Kobayashi et al Journal of Ceramic Soc. Japan, 98(7), 1990, 703) discloses a .beta.-spodumene powder prepared from alumina sol, silica sol, and lithium nitrate solution by sol-gel process.
Sintered bodies are then obtained from the powder. The relative density of the sintered bodies was 96% when sintered at a temperature of 1000.degree.-1100.degree. C. The average thermal expansion coefficient of the sintered bodies was 1.4.times.10.sup.-6 /.degree.C. The porosity of the sintered bodies was still high and the pore size was about 1-10 .mu.m.

Process for the preparation of LAS ceramic sintered bodies


This invention relates to an obstacle sensing apparatus for a self-propelled cleaning robot which is capable of accurately sensing the position of an obstacle without the influence of ultrasonic directivity, and which comprises mounting members (22) disposed at both sides of the front portion of a body(11) of the robot; each made of a three-sided plate including a central portion facing forwardly of the body(11), one side portion bent at an angle of 90.degree. relative to the central portion, and one side portion inclined at an angle of 45.degree. relative to the central portion; ultrasonic distance-measuring means disposed in each portion of each mounting member(22) and an ultrasonic distance-measuring circuit (27) to which the ultrasonic elements are connected; and control means for judging presence and absence of an obstacle on the basis of the output of the ultrasonic distance-measuring means, thereby controlling the direction of travel of the body(11).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an obstacle sensing apparatus for a self-propelled cleaning robot, and more particularly to an improved arrangement of ultrasonic elements, which minimize the influence of ultrasonic directivity during cleaning operations of the self-propelled cleaning robot, thereby precisely sensing a position of an obstacle.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Generally, a self-propelled cleaning robot is of the type as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3 of the accompanying drawings, which comprises a body 1, driving and steering means 2 for moving the body, combined driving and steering wheels 3, auxiliary wheels 4, a power source, i.e., a battery 5, travel direction determining means 6, mounting members 9 disposed at both sides of the front portion of the body 1 and each made of a three-sided plate having a forwardly facing central portion and right and left side portions inclined inwardly at an angle of 45.degree. relative to the central portion, ultrasonic distance-measuring means including three ultrasonic elements 7a, 7b, 7c disposed at each mounting member 9 and ultrasonic distance-measuring circuits 8, 8, 8 connected one to each of the ultrasonic elements, and obstacle discriminating means for judging presence and absence of an obstacle on the basis of the output of the ultrasonic distance-measuring means.
Operation of the self-propelled cleaning robot thus constructed will now be explained with reference to FIGS. 4 to 7.
First, when the gleaning robot travels in a juxtaposed manner along a left side wall 100 from position P.sub.1 to position P.sub.s as shown in FIG. 4, the driving and steering means 2 is operated by the travel direction determining means 6 to control the posture of the body 1 in such a manner that if the ultrasonic element 7a of the ultrasonic distance-measuring means facing the side wall 100 senses the side wall which gives obstacle information as shown in FIG. 5, the body is turned to the right, otherwise the body is turned to the left. In this manner, the robot travels along the side wall 100 in the direction of travel of P.sub.1 to P.sub.s, while maintaining a parallel relationship to the side wall in response to sensing of the side wall (i.e., the obstacle) by the ultrasonic element 7a.
Then, when the robot has reached the position P.sub.s, as shown in FIG. 6, and the ultrasonic element 7c facing forwardly detects a new side wall 101 perpendicular to the left side wall 100, the robot first stops traveling, and the driving and steering wheels 3 are turned to the right by an angle of 90.degree. by the travel direction determining means 6 to turn the body to a position in which the left side ultrasonic element 7c cannot detect any side walls. Thus, the body 1 is positioned parallel to the new side wall 101, as shown in FIG. 6, and thus can again begin to travel along the new side wall. From this position, as shown in FIG. 4, the robot travels toward position P.sub.4 while keeping a parallel relationship to the new side wall in the same manner as the travel from P.sub.1 to P.sub.s as described above. Here, similar parts are denoted by similar numerals and actions of the respective constituent elements are not described further because the actions are the same as those in the travel from P.sub.1 to P.sub.s.
FIG. 7 is an explanatory view shoving sensing areas of the ultrasonic elements in operation of the ultrasonic distance-measuring means of the self-propelled cleaning robot according to the prior art. During traveling of the robot, when the ultrasonic distance-measuring means operates, the central ultrasonic element 7b can detect an obstacle existing within the range of about.+-.L.sub.l (about.+-.15 cm) from the central axis of the element. Further, each of the ultrasonic elements 7a, 7c disposed at the inclined side portions of each mounting member 9 can detect an obstacle existing within the range of the interior distance of L.sub.l from the central axis of the element of the mounting member 9 and a perpendicular line W.sub.l or W.sub.s passing through the center of the right or left ultrasonic element 7a or 7c) from the central axis. Therefore, the ultrasonic distance-measuring means can detect the obstacle within the range of 90.degree. which is the angle that the right side inclined portion of the mounting member 9 makes with the left side inclined portion of the member. Each of the ultrasonic elements 7a, 7b, 7c used for the detection of the obstacle is of the horn type.
The prior art cleaning robot as described above is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication HEI 2-24142 (the applicant: Matsushita Electric Company), the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
In the ultrasonic elements applied in the prior art cleaning robot as discussed above, the intensity of a sonic wave is highest in the forward direction, but becomes weaker in both lateral directions because of ultrasonic directivity. As used herein, the term "ultrasonic directivity" means that since an ultrasonic wave does not have a straight traveling property, its sensitivity varies depending upon direction, so that precise distance determination may not be accomplished.
More specifically, since an ultrasonic signal has greater amplitude at a short distance and less amplitude at a long distance, as shown in FIG. 8, when the ultrasonic wave is emitted, without being directed to an obstacle as indicated by arrow A (assuming that the obstacle is located in the distance beyond the sensing area of the ultrasonic element), the ultrasonic element 7c is affected by the ultrasonic wave of greater amplitude from the ultrasonic element 7a that is, from the ultrasonic directivity as indicated by arrow B. Accordingly, the cleaning robot may mistakenly determine the distance of the obstacle as being closer than the actual distance. As a result, during traveling, a malfunction of the robot or a breakdown of the robot due to a collision with the wall may take place.

Obstacle sensing apparatus for a self-propelled cleaning robot