An actuator means for an electrical switch concealed in a housing and operated by a handle externally mounted to the cover thereof, whereby, upon closing the cover, the actuator automatically moves in a rectilinear direction to locate the toggle operating lever of the switch and rotatably moves the externally viewed handle to preposition it to indicate the energization state of the switch. Alternatively, the actuator permits operation of the switch by rotating the externally accessible handle. This invention is especially suited to circuit breaker switches contained in explosion-proof or hazardous location-rated enclosures.

The present invention relates generally to electrical switch enclosures, and more specifically to an actuator mechanism for such an enclosure that automatically locates and prepositions an externally viewed handle upon closing the enclosure cover to reflect the true operational state of the switch contained therein.
Switches for use in electrical circuits associated with machinery and other equipment are well known in the art. Used alone or in a group, they control the flow of electrical current. As disclosed by U.S. Pat. No. 3,284,731 issued to Nicol, they may take the form of a toggle switch with a lever that is manually operated between "on" and "off" positions to energize or deenergize the switch, thereby completing or interrupting the electrical circuit. They may likewise comprise a circuit breaker switch having a tripping mechanism that automatically interrupts the electrical circuit in response to an infrequent, abnormal condition like an overly high voltage, as taught by U.S. Pat. No. 2,560,628 issued to Brown, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,771,081 issued to Strobel.
Such switches are frequently placed in protective housings when used in explosive atmospheres or otherwise harsh environments. These housings are commonly cast from aluminum with one-half-inch-thick walls to prevent or contain explosions, moisture penetration, etc. A mating cover permits access to the switch mechanism contained therein. These switches normally feature a handle on the exterior of the enclosure that is operatively connected to the switch toggle lever contained inside the enclosure in order to permit operation of the switch without the need to remove the enclosure cover. In the case of explosion-proof or hazardous location-rated enclosures, such an externally operated switch may be a necessity.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,264,443 issued to Farina et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,287,514 issued to Bachman, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,422,238 issued to Rys et al. disclose designs for such an externally mounted handle that is operatively connected to the toggle switch inside the enclosure by an actuator rod. In the case of Farina, the handle and rod are simply moved toward or away from the enclosure side wall to move the toggle switch between the "on" and "off" positions. Bachman and Rys, by contrast, teach a structure by which rotational movement of the externally mounted handle is translated by an actuator mechanism into rectilinear movement of the toggle switch between the "on" and "off" positions. In both Farina and Bachman, however, the handle is mounted to the side of the enclosure, and the actuator mechanism is permanently connected to the toggle switch. Such a design, though, would be impossible for a cover-mounted handle in which the actuator mechanism must be readily detachable from the toggle switch in order to permit opening of the cover to provide access to the switch.
It is also known in the trade to provide an externally mounted handle on the cover of the enclosure. In U.S. Pat. No. 1,989,393 issued to Anderson, for example, a rectilinearly biased external handle engages the toggle switch mounted inside the enclosure, and moves in parallel therewith. U.S. Pat. No. 2,180,501 issued to Blood discloses a handle that is detachably connected to the toggle switch by means of a clip, and slid in a direction parallel with the operational direction of the toggle switch. U.S. Pat. No. 2,610,272 issued to Platz, by contrast, uses a rotary-mounted handle connected to an actuator mechanism that raises or lowers a movable contactor in a direction normal to the handle, thereby completing and interrupting the electrical circuit. U.S. Pat. No. 1,924,351 issued to Doddridge, U.S. Pat. No. 2,752,464 issued to Seeger, U.S. Pat. No. 4,612,424 issued to Clark et al., and U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,742,401 and 3,771,081 issued to Strobel use handles connected directly or indirectly to a clip or other mechanism that translates the resulting rotary motion of the handle into rectilinearly biased movement that operates the toggle switch. The EWP Panel Board sold by Appleton Electric Company, the assignee of the present invention, uses a similar mechanical principal. Upon reattaching the cover to the enclosure of such devices, however, the externally mounted handle will not necessarily reunite with the toggle switch without cumbersome and difficult operator alignment. Moreover, the handle position may be out of phase with the operational state of the toggle switch, thereby indicating that the switch is "off" when, in fact, it is energized, and creating a safety hazard to an unaware operator. The two parts may not become realigned once again until the handle is rotated successively over time to the "off" and "on" positions.

Self-locating, prepositioning actuator for an electrical switch enclosure


A crossbar useful for self-routing messages is described having a return network that can return all messages, or their headers, that encounter a busy node at the output. A system is described in which this crossbar with return network can operate as a building block. It is particularly well suited to systems where truly non-blocking networks are required.

As data transfer becomes more and more complex, the numbers of the messages which need to be transferred across a network from one location to another, or one area of a computing device to another, has grown remarkably. Accordingly, any system or subcomponent thereof which allows for ease of routing messages from any of a large number of inputs to any particular one of a large number of outputs is important. The invention described herein allows for the routing of such messages with very little overhead, at high speed.
The invention herein employs a return network, is capable of using different kinds of switches in the switching network, may operate in a broadcast mode, may reduce the number of switches necessary by using a Clos network or by reliance on busses and controllers, and uses a self-routing algorithm, eliminating the need for preprocessing overhead.
Self-routing algorithms use information contained in the message itself to route the message at the switch level to the desired location.
Prior self-routing algorithms such as the one described in the 1990 IEEE (Vol. 78, No. 1), entitled "Fast Packet Switch Architectures for Broad-Band Integrated Services Digital Networks", by Tobagi, do not indicate how these algorithms can actually operate, and do not describe how their operation can be accomplished when using a Clos-type network.
Clos networks are preferred for larger networks because they reduce the number of switches necessary to accomplish a N.times.N message switching system to a much smaller number than N.sup.2. See, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,696,000, issued to Payne, which refers to the Clos network and rearrangeable networks.
The invention described herein simplifies all these ideas.
The switches may be arranged in a standard crossbar network for small scale implementations, a Clos network or a variation of a Clos network using busses, and the types of switches and routings, dependent on the switch type used, may also vary depending on the implementation. As described in the detailed description, a preferred implementation employs a return network for all blocked messages that wish to address the same output node and returns them to the source or sending node. Due to the nature of the routing system itself and the construction of the switching network, essentially no overhead or preprocessing is required to route messages through the system described from the input nodes to the output nodes.

Crossbar with return net for scalable self-routing non-blocking message switching and routing system


An aquatic exercise device is adapted to be submerged in water, and moved through the water and/or rotated in the water to provide omni-directional and omni-rotational drag resistance. In one implementation, an aquatic exercise device includes a bar adapted to be grasped by one or two hands of a user, and a resistance mechanism attached to opposite ends of the bar. Each resistance mechanism includes a cuff and two or more fins extending outward from the cuff.

The following description relates in general to physical exercise and physical therapy, and more specifically to an apparatus and method for exercise and physical therapy in water.
Aquatic physical exercise has been found to be one of the best forms of exercise. Water supports an individual's body and alleviates most of the effects of gravity allowing the individual to exercise prescribed specific muscle groups without stressing other areas of the body. The reduced physical strain on these other area allows the individual to exercise for longer periods of time. The individual is also able to exercise longer due to a lower and more stabilized body temperature resulting from contact with the water. Strain on the heart, muscles and ligaments is minimized while the benefits of physical activity are maximized.
Accordingly, aquatics-based physical therapy is most noticeably gaining popular with the elderly, the obese, and the infirm, but still finds demand from people of all ranges of fitness and exercise regiment. There is a huge demand for an exercise modality which provides long-term health benefits and which can exist in the favorable environment of lower stress and freer movement. Conventional aquatic exercise devices and methods, however, are limited in several ways. For example, conventional devices do not offer uniform resistance when moved through the water. As a result, the devices feel awkward and unstable to the user. In addition, conventional aquatic devices include a single handle connected in an orientation that prohibits certain exercise motions. Further, conventional aquatic exercise devices do not provide the appropriate resistance training for enhancing performance in sporting activities. Conventional aquatic exercise devices, for example, do not target muscle groups for specific sports or activities such as golf, baseball, kayaking, or other activities that utilize a hand-held device such as, for example, a racket, bat, paddle, or club.
Therefore, there exists a need for an aquatic exercise device and method that provide uniform resistance for an increased range and variety of motions.


A mobile terminal with a guardianship function, includes: a first module, configured for collecting data related to use of the mobile terminal; a second module, configured for determining the use of the mobile terminal by analyzing the data collected by the first module; and a third module, configured for sending a short message informing the use of the mobile terminal determined by the second module. A method for performing the guardianship function at a mobile terminal is also provided. By using the mobile terminal and the method, a guardian is able to timely learn a ward's use of the mobile terminal, thus effectively monitoring the ward.

Currently, various portable mobile terminals become more and more popular. A guardian usually has to equip a ward with a mobile terminal, e.g., a cell phone, so as to conveniently keep touch with the ward who may be a minor, an unconscious aged or any other people unable to make judgment independently. When needing to know the ward's situation or being eager to contact the ward, the guardian has no choice but to call or send a short message to the ward on his own initiative, and sometimes has to do so for so many times. So it is troublesome for the guardian to monitor the ward's use of the mobile terminal.
In addition, the guardian wants the ward to be honest when he makes a phone call or sends a short message to the ward to learn the ward's condition, but quite often things will not turn out the way he wished. For example, parents want to know if their child is playing a game, but usually they cannot get the veracious information from the child by calling him, and cannot remotely control the game function of the portable device of the child. In addition, once one of the following situations occurs, such as the mobile terminal not being in the service area, or having been switched off, or being lack of power supply, usually the guardian cannot learn such situations in advance and will fail to reach the ward, and can not perform the guardianship effectively.
Currently, in order to locate a ward in real time, the ward can be equipped with a Global positioning system (GPS) terminal device, with which the ward can be precisely located. This mechanism can provide a guardianship function, however owing to the high price and too much service charge, the OPS terminal device is not suited for ordinary people and is difficult to be popularized.

Mobile terminal and a method for implementing the guardianship function


A polymeric fluorescent substance exhibiting fluorescence in the solid state, having a polystyrene reduced number-average molecular weight of 1×103 to 1×108, and comprising one or more repeating units of formula (1) and one or more repeating units of formula (8),—Ar1—(CR1═CR2)n—  (1)—Ar2—(CR36═CR37)n—  (8)wherein Ar1 represents a specific arylene or a divalent heterocyclic compound group, and Ar2 represent an arylene or a divalent heterocyclic compound group other than Ar1. By using the polymeric fluorescent substance, a high performance polymer LED can easily be obtained.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a polymeric fluorescent substance and more specifically a polymer light-emitting device using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Differing from low molecular weight materials, light emitting materials having higher molecular weight (polymeric fluorescent substances) have a merit that they can be dissolved in a solvent, and can form a light emitting layer by a coating method, and various substances have been studied. For example, J. Mater. Sci. Mater. Ele., 11, p. 111 (2000) describes polymers containing unsubstituted naphthalene and fluorene.
An object of the present invention is to provide: a polymeric fluorescent substance comprising a condensed aromatic ring such as naphthalene and an arylene group such as fluorene, and manifesting strong fluorescence; and a polymer LED of high performance which can be driven at lower voltage with high efficiency, using this polymeric fluorescent substance.

Polymeric fluorescent substance and polymer light-emitting device using the same


A constant power mechanical transmission with seamless, ripple free, infinitely variable torque multiplying outputs comprises an input shaft and an output shaft. The input shaft is coupled to a pair of oscillating levers whereby rotation of the input shaft causes oscillation of the oscillating levers in opposite directions. The oscillating levers are linked to the output shaft with one-way clutches in order to cause rotation of the shaft upon movement of the oscillating levers. The rotational speed of the output shaft can be infinitely varied by changing the throw of the oscillating levers.

1. Technical Field
This invention relates to mechanical apparatus for changing the speed and torque of the output shaft of a prime mover relative to its input shaft. More specifically, this invention is directed to an apparatus for providing up to an infinite number of seamless, ripple free changes of speed and torque from a power source such as a gas or diesel engine, an electric motor, a jet engine, a steam engine, the crank of a bicycle, or the like.
2. Background Art
Historically, significant efforts have been directed to the provision of transmission assemblies adapted for changing the speed and torque of a power source. Many of these assemblies have involved the use of ratchet drives, eccentrically-oriented cam assemblies, and variable length lever arms. Representative of past efforts in this regard are the structures disclosed in the following issued patents: U.S. Pat. No. 629,389; U.S. Pat. No. 3,803,931; U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,830; U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,085; U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,570; U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,155.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 629,389 discloses a bicycle in which it is stated, "The gear may be changed by substituting larger or smaller pulleys." Thus, one would have to get off the bike, take out his tool kit, take-off the pulleys and attach new and different pulleys to change gear ratios. Furthermore, U.S. Pat. No. 629,389 is a one speed transmission.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,936,155 discloses a transmission to provide constant power, speed changing and torque multiplication. The invention utilizes "a variable throw cam and cam follower system to provide ripple free output speeds and wide ranging torques." The cam follower wheel makes point contact with said cam. With this configuration, the cam follower of the present transmission makes line contact with the cam, thus limiting torque and power capacity.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,803,931 discloses "a variable speed transmission device comprises an output shaft rotated from a first eccentric member through unidirectional couplings", thus rippled output speeds.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,085, "The cam is tapered from one end to the other to permit the gear ratio of the transmission to be varied in infinite increments by adjusting the position of the cam relative to the followers." Power must pass the power through a tiny point of contact greatly limiting the power capacity of the transmission.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,839, "A bicycle having pivoted level pedal system (1, 2, 45) and lever arm length or gear ratio (speed) change devices (3, 4, 5, 6)" is disclosed.
The device of U.S. Pat. No. 4,630,839 does not provide any means for removing ripple and, therefore, cannot provide seamless, ripple free outputs.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,570 utilizes eccentrics 14 and 25 which it refers to as cams. The eccentrics 14 and 25 cannot provide ripple free outputs. Furthermore, the transmission of U.S. Pat. No. 6,068,570 does not provide means to produce an infinite number of output speeds.
Thus, it would be advantageous to provide an infinitely variable torque multiplying, substantially constant power mechanical transmission that produces ripple free outputs, requires fewer components to assemble, is easier to manufacture, is adaptable to any prime mover providing ease of shifting, allows power shifting under load, can provide compression braking and can handle substantially more power and torque than prior art transmissions.


Provided is a thermal-insulated multi-walled pipe for superconducting power transmission that highly prevents intrusion of external heat due to radiation and has excellent thermal insulation property without using a superinsulation and can be produced easily. A thermal-insulated multi-walled pipe for superconducting power transmission comprises: a superconducting cable; and a multi-walled pipe that houses the superconducting cable, wherein the multi-walled pipe is composed of a plurality of straight pipes, and at least one of the plurality of straight pipes has, at a surface thereof, a coating layer containing a metal powder.

Superconductivity is a phenomenon in which, when a metal, an alloy, or the like is cooled, its electric resistance rapidly decreases to zero at a specific temperature. Applications of superconductivity are studied in various fields. In particular, superconducting power transmission, i.e., power transmission using a cable in a superconducting state, is proceeding toward practical utilization as a power transmission method with no power loss during power transmission.
In superconducting power transmission, to maintain a cable in a superconducting state, the cable needs to be constantly cooled. Hence, the use of a thermal-insulated multi-walled pipe is proposed. In the thermal-insulated multi-walled pipe, a cable of a superconducting material is placed in the innermost pipe (inner pipe) of the multi-walled pipe, and a coolant such as liquid nitrogen is flown into the inner pipe. Here, in the case where a large amount of heat intrudes the thermal-insulated multi-walled pipe from the external environment of the thermal-insulated multi-walled pipe, a larger cooling unit is required in order to maintain the superconducting state, and the running cost increases. Various measures are therefore taken to prevent intrusion of external heat in the thermal-insulated multi-walled pipe.
First, a vacuum insulation layer is provided by decompressing the space between adjacent two pipes (inner pipe and outer pipe) of the plurality of pipes constituting the multi-walled pipe. By providing the vacuum insulation layer, the intrusion of heat through the air in the pipe can be prevented.
Further, a spacer made of a low thermal conductive material such as a resin is placed between the adjacent two pipes, as described in JP 2007-080649 A (PTL 1). By providing the spacer, the adjacent pipes are kept from being in direct contact with each other, and thus intrusion of external heat from the contact portion by thermal conduction can be prevented.
By use of the vacuum insulation layer and the spacer together, both heat intrusion through the air and through direct contact between pipes can be prevented. However, it is known that heat intrusion into the thermal-insulated multi-walled pipe is caused not only by these factors but also by radiation of far-infrared rays or the like.
A known method of reducing heat intrusion due to radiation is a method using a thermal insulator called a superinsulation (SI). A superinsulation is also referred to as multilayer insulation (MLI), and, for example, has a structure in which aluminum vapor-deposited resin films are stacked. By covering the surface of the inner pipe with this superinsulation, heat intrusion due to radiation from outside can be prevented.
The use of the superinsulation, however, has the following problems. First, when laying the thermal-insulated multi-walled pipe for superconducting power transmission for actual power transmission, welding and cutting are usually performed in order to adjust the length of the thermal-insulated multi-walled pipe. Sparks emitted during such operation ignite the superinsulation, and cause fire or damage the thermal-insulated multi-walled pipe for superconducting power transmission. Moreover, in the case of forming the vacuum insulation layer by decompressing the space where the superinsulation is located, the time required for the decompression increases due to "gas components" derived from the gas present in the superinsulation, which is a multilayer film, and from water and organic material adsorbed to the film.
In view of this, PTL 1 proposes providing a metal coating at the surfaces of the pipes constituting the thermal-insulated multi-walled pipe, instead of the superinsulation. The use of the metal coating can prevent intrusion of external heat due to radiation.

Thermal-insulated multi-walled pipe for superconducting power transmission


Aspects of data re-direction are described, which can include software-defined networking (SDN) data re-direction operations. Some aspects include data re-direction operations performed by one or more virtualized network functions. In some aspects, a network router decodes an indication of a handover of a user equipment (UE) from a first end point (EP) to a second EP, based on the indication, the router can update a relocation table including the UE identifier, an identifier of the first EP, and an identifier of the second EP. The router can receive a data packet for the UE, configured for transmission to the first EP, and modify the data packet, based on the relocation table, for rerouting to the second EP. In some aspects, the router can decode handover prediction information, including an indication of a predicted future geographic location of the UE, and update the relocation table based on the handover prediction information.

In wireless networks, a client often requests data while moving in between geographic regions that are serviced by different infrastructure end points. In such cases, network entities may respond to the data requests by sending data transmissions to incorrect end points. For example, if a client has moved since requesting data, the network entity may incorrectly send the data transmission to the client's previous location. Re-requesting data transmissions after an endpoint timeout or forwarding to a new endpoint location can have performance and quality implications, adding latency and bandwidth cost to the network. For example, measurements at service providers have shown that as much as 50% of interface data can comprise forwarding traffic to handle client endpoint switches. A solution is needed for addressing this problem without requiring substantial changes to the standards.

Software-defined networking data re-direction


The present invention enables fast reconfiguration of paths associated with bufferless core nodes in a network where any two edge nodes may interconnect through a core node. In order to enhance network agility and performance, edge nodes associated with a core node are separated into a plurality of groups based on, for example, round-trip delay from the core node. This separates the short-haul paths from the long haul paths, thereby enabling the short-haul paths to be configured more frequently than the long-haul paths. It is preferable that the periods be set such that each additional period is an integer multiple of the previous one. This allows for simultaneous configuration of groups of paths. Although the methods and apparatus of the present invention are most effective for bufferless optical switches, they are still effective for electronic switches which may be bufferless or equipped with input data buffers.

A topic of widespread interest is the design of a high-capacity wide-coverage controllable and scalable data network. The need for consumption and exchange of information is evidenced by the popularity of the Internet. The demand for information distribution is likely to increase significantly as a result of future network performance improvements. Also, it can be argued that there is a suppressed demand for new services and information transfer at a much higher rate than what today's multi-terabits per second Internet can bear. It is widely accepted that the Next-Generation Internet will be structured using an optical-core interconnecting electronic edge nodes, such as intelligent routers.
A brief description of conventional network architecture and adaptive network reconfiguration is provided below. FIG. 1 illustrates a data network 100 having a large number, possibly several thousands, of edge nodes 120, with each edge node comprising a source node, to be referenced as 120A, and a sink node, to be referenced as 120B. The source node 120A and the sink node 120B of an edge node 120 share memory and control. Where a distinction between the source-node part 120A and the sink-node part 120B of an edge node is not necessary, either may be referenced simply as an edge node 120. The edge nodes 120 may be interconnected through a core stage that comprises at least one core node 140. An edge node that establishes a path through a core node is said to subtend to the core node. An edge node may subtend to some or all of the core nodes 140 of a network 100. When an edge node subtends to two or more core nodes, it selects a core node 140 to establish a path to a given destination edge node according to some merit criterion, such as propagation delay. The edge nodes sending data traffic through a core node are said to be subtending edge nodes of the core node. The edge nodes 120 may, in addition, be interconnected directly by links of static capacity. The capacity of the network is determined by the capacities of the edge nodes 120 and the core nodes 140. The links interconnecting the edge nodes to core nodes or to other edge nodes are preferably wavelength division multiplexed (WDM) links. In the network of FIG. 1, a link from a source node 120A to a core node 140 is hereinafter called an upstream link and a link from a core node to a sink node 120B is called a downstream link. A channel in an upstream link is called an upstream channel and a channel in a downstream link is called a downstream channel.
Reconfiguration of a core node, that receives requests from subtending source nodes to increase path capacities to specified destination sink nodes, generally requires that the core node ensure the availability of sufficient uncommitted capacity to each destination sink node specified in the requests. The admission of a capacity-increase request is determined according to one of two admission policies. According to the first admission policy, the core node ensures the availability of sufficient capacity on the downstream link to a destination sink node but need not consult the sink node. According to the second admission policy, the destination sink node must be consulted. The term 'reconfiguration latency' of an edge node 120 with respect to a given core node 140 is defined herein as the minimum time required to realize a path-capacity-increment request that has been accepted by an admission control process. The reconfiguration latency of an edge node with respect to a core node can be selected as the sum of the interval of time, E1, required by a core-node controller to compute a reconfiguration schedule, and an interval of time, E2, determined as the total of the round-trip propagation delay between the edge node 120 and the core node 140 and the time required by the edge node to modify its internal switching pattern to correspond to a new schedule that the edge node receives from the core node. Alternatively, the reconfiguration latency can be defined as the larger of E2 and E2. The use of the former selection, i.e., the sum of E2 and E2, simplifies time coordination. The term "configuration period" refers to the interval between successive reconfigurations of a core node. The configuration period, with respect to a given core node, must at least equal the largest reconfiguration latency for all edge nodes subtending to the core node.
FIG. 2 illustrates the main components of an edge node 120 of FIG. 1 which participate in the scheduling process in preparation for a reconfiguration. An edge node controller 210 exchanges control signals with a plurality of input-port controllers 220 and a plurality of output-port controllers 230. The edge controller 210 computes a data-transfer schedule and communicates the schedule to the input-port controllers 220 which controls the transfer of data from input ports (not illustrated in FIG. 2) to output ports (not illustrated) through a switching fabric 240 according to the schedule. This enables contention-free transfer of data from the input ports to the output ports of the edge node. The input-port controllers 220 and the output-port controllers 230 may exchange control data directly through an inter-port link 250. Alternatively, the edge controller 210, the input port controllers 220 and the output port controllers 230 may exchange control data over one or more communication buses (not illustrated) provided within the edge node 120.
The switching fabric 240 need not be symmetrical, i.e., the number of input ports need not equal the number of output ports. The inequality can be adapted to traffic distribution, traffic asymmetry, and multi-casting wherein a data stream from a single source is sent to multiple sinks.
To handle traffic of diverse characteristics, several switching modes can coexist in the same network. These switching modes may include link-switching, channel-band switching, single-channel switching, time division multiplexed (TDM) switching, and burst-switching.
The network control is preferably exercised primarily at the edge nodes 120. A simple core structure is essential for realizing a high-capacity high performance network in which the core connectivity can be adapted according to spatial traffic variation, thus yielding an agile network. In an agile network, time locking of edge nodes 120 to core nodes 140 is generally required to enable adaptive reconfiguration. Time locking enables time coordination of the switching functions at the edge nodes 120 and core nodes 140. Without time locking, a large time guard, of the order of several milliseconds, would be needed between successive configuration updates. Even without reconfiguration, time locking is required in the TDM mode to align the time frames at the input ports of each bufferless core node, and in the burst-switching mode to enable efficient burst transfer across the core node. This process of time-coordination is detailed in Applicant's copending U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/054,509, filed on Nov. 13, 2001 and titled "Time-Coordination in a Burst-Switching Network".
A parameter of interest in network design is the adjacency of an edge node, which is defined herein as the number of sink nodes that a source node can reach directly or through the network core without switching at an intermediate edge node. In the case where the adjacency is less than the number of sink nodes, the sink nodes that cannot be reached directly from a source node through the core can be reached through tandem switching at intermediate edge nodes. This generally requires that the source node and sink node of each intermediate edge node share the same data memory, which is a common practice in the art.
Switching Mode and Granularity
A network may provide different switching granularities associated with different switching modes including link switching, channel-band switching, single-channel switching, TDM switching, and burst switching.
In the link-switching mode, the entire signal in any of the fiber links from a source node is switched in the core. The core does not inspect the signal carried by any fiber link. It simply directs the link's signal from one fiber link to another. Due to this very coarse granularity, a source node having L upstream fiber links can reach at most L sink nodes.
In the channel-band switching mode, instead of switching the entire signal of a fiber link in unison, the signals in selected channel bands (wavelength bands) can be switched from a source node to a sink node. If the wavelength channels in a link are grouped into B channel bands, then the total number of channel bands from the source node to the core is L×B, which is also the adjacency of the source node.
In the single-channel switching mode, each wavelength channel can be routed independently leading to an adjacency of L×W, where W is the number of wavelength channels carried by a fiber link. This increases the required control effort at the core nodes but reduces the mean number of hops per traffic stream.
In the TDM switching mode, which requires fast-switching core nodes, the data carried on each channel (wavelength) can be organized in a repetitive TDM frame having a predefined number of time slots with a predefined length (bytes) for each time slot. Each time slot has a spatial attribute, typically a data-stream identifier. A data stream is normally defined by its source node, sink node, and a designated network path. A time slot can also be unused, having a null attribute. A TDM frame is used repetitively, but the spatial attributes of some or all of the time slots can change with time. The increased adjacency realized by the use of TDM can eliminate, or significantly reduce, the need for tandem switching through intermediate edge nodes.
FIG. 3 illustrates a reconfiguration process of a TDM core node where, at an input port of a switching fabric of a core node 140, a TDM frame 320 of 16 time slots contains data destined to five output ports labeled A to E with corresponding time-slot allocations per TDM frame of 2, 3, 5, 2, and, 4 respectively. After reconfiguration, the numbers of time-slot allocations to the five output ports, in TDM frame 340, change to 3, 4, 4, 5, and 0, respectively. The time slots allocated for a given output port are preferably evenly spaced in the TDM frame.
In the TDM case, each source node can allocate time slots to any sink node in any of its channels during each TDM frame period. The number of time slots per TDM frame allocated by a source node to any sink node is determined and rounded-up to the nearest integer. The core directs the data in each time slot to an associated destination sink node. Each core node is made aware of the spatial attributes of each time slot in the time-slotted frame in each channel to which it is connected. Suppose a source node has L×W channels connected to the core. If each time frame has S time slots, then the data transferred from a source node to the sink nodes would be segmented in L×W×S time slots for each TDM frame period. These time slots are totally independent, in the sense that each can be routed independently. Thus, the adjacency of a source node can be increased significantly. For example, if L=8, W=40, and S=256, then the data within each of 81920 time slots can be switched independently to different destinations. If the number, N, of edge nodes (sink nodes) is only 2000, for example, then the ratio of the number of time slots to the number of edge nodes is more than 40, and the adjacency of each source node is, therefore, the entire network.
In the burst-switching mode, data bursts of variable sizes are transferred from source to sink. Burst switching is a form of packet switching in which the packet size is sufficiently large to deserve a better treatment than what a packet gets in current IP networks. Burst switching requires fast switching elements in the core. A detailed description of burst switching is given in the aforementioned U.S. patent application, Ser. No. 10/054,509, titled "Time-Coordination in a Burst-Switching Network".
Time coordination is critical in the TDM mode in order to align the time frames at each bufferless core node, and in the burst-switching mode to allow uninterrupted transfer of bursts.
Time coordination, as will be detailed below, is feasible only between a core node and its subtending edge nodes.
Individual Connection Admission Versus Core Reconfiguration
An alternative to individual-connection setup is to setup paths of adaptive capacity for pairs of edge nodes. Establishing paths of adaptive capacity for edge-node pairs offers the advantage of fast connection setup because the admission of a connection is determined only by the respective source node and sink node. With a sink node having a high-capacity data buffer, the connection admission may be determined solely by the source node. To realize simple connection setup without adversely affecting network efficiency, the edge-to-edge paths may adapt their capacities to time-varying traffic levels. The path-capacity unit can be a wavelength channel (typically modulated at 10 Gb/s) in channel switching or a time-slot in a wavelength channel in TDM switching. The latter requires fast-switching core nodes as mentioned earlier.
An agile network is characterized as a network that has paths of adaptive capacities from source nodes to respective sink nodes. The capacity of a path is determined as a number of channels, for channel-switched paths, or a number of time-slots per TDM frame, if channels are time shared and switched in the TDM mode.
Accepting a connection requires examining a route set and selecting a route having a sufficient free capacity. A route set comprises selected candidate routes for an edge-node pair. The capacities of already established paths are adapted to traffic variation. The capacity of a path can be increased by signaling to gain admission from each node along the path. A path-capacity decrement is also signaled so that the nodes along the path can release committed capacity.
In a conventional scheme of establishing new paths, or modifying the capacities of existing paths, requests for capacity modification are processed one at a time. During the connection-setup time, resources are held in an idle state until the respective source node is given permission to start data transmission. The connection-setup period includes round-trip propagation delay and processing delay along intermediate nodes. If the mean holding time of a connection is relatively small, i.e., if connections are created frequently, or their capacity allocations are modified frequently, the idle time of transmission-links can be relatively significant. For example, if connections are created or modified every one second, a setup period of 100 milliseconds, for example, results in a relative capacity loss of 0.1. In addition, in an admission system based on individual connection setup, a significant mean vacancy of transmission links is required to reduce connection-request blocking.
In another scheme, requests for establishing new paths or capacity modification of existing paths are processed periodically where a core node can be reconfigured at designated instants, and each respective edge node is reconfigured at an instant that is determined to suit the core-configuration time. The minimum interval between successive reconfigurations is dictated primarily by the round-trip delay between a core node and the edge nodes. In a network of wide coverage, the round-trip delay between a core node and its adjacent edge nodes can vary significantly, for example between a fraction of a millisecond and a hundred milliseconds. Scheduling the reconfiguration of a core node to suit the highest round-trip delay can result in reduced network agility.
Therefore, there is a need for a method of path-capacity adaptation that takes into account the disparity in propagation delays between the edge nodes and the core nodes. In particular, a method is needed whereby the pace of reconfiguration of a core node is adapted so that a core node reconfigures more frequently to satisfy requests from close edge nodes without disturbing paths from distant edge nodes.

Multi-phase adaptive network configuration


A clamp for clamping a cylindrically shaped structure within a hollow cylindrical structure includes means to maintain the angular and axial position of the structures fixed while the clamp is tightened.

A clamp can be defined as a tool for holding one or more components firmly in place. As such, clamps are used for a multitude of applications in various industries. For example, hose clamps can be used for attaching one cylindrically shaped object, e.g. a hose, onto another cylindrically shaped object, e.g. a hose fitting or nib. The tightening of the hose clamp is typically afforded by a screw thread pattern within a band of the clamp and a captive screw turning and interacting with the thread pattern.
Another example of a clamp designed to attach one cylindrical shaped component to another cylindrical shaped component includes a hollow tube with internal diameter threads to be tightened onto a threaded shaft. The hollow tube typically has an axially oriented slot at the threaded end, the slot extending radically through the wall of the tube. The slot provides for relatively easy turning of the tube onto the threaded shaft until a desired position between the two is reached. The slot also allows for the hollow tube sidewall to be tightened upon and collapse onto the threaded shaft.
Heretofore clamps have not allowed a user to manipulate the hollow tube with internal diameter threads on the threaded shaft and simultaneously maintain the clamp in a fixed radial or angular position. As such, each time an adjustment is made between the hollow tube and the shaft, the clamp has to be realigned before tightening. Therefore, there is a need for an improved clamp that can tighten around a hollow cylindrical shaped structure placed over a smaller cylindrical shaped structure while maintaining the cylindrical shaped structures in a fixed angular relationship.


The invention concerns a method which consists in using a single-piece casing (1), without break; then for a first cleaning process, in cutting the casing (1) between the zone (4) containing the filter and the zone (6) containing the other element; then in cleaning the part containing the particle filter; and in assembling once more the two parts, so that the global dimensions of the casing (1) are substantially unchanged.

Assemblies for filtering particles and regenerating by post-combustion on a catalyst comprise, on the one hand, a particle filter and, on the other hand, a post-combustion catalyst, those two elements being located in a single metal casing having an upstream inlet opening for receiving the gases coming from the engine and a downstream opening for discharging the gases after filtration and regeneration by post-combustion. In general, the particle filter is placed downstream of the post-combustion catalyst in the casing, so that the gases coming from the engine first pass through the post-combustion catalyst before arriving at the particle filter.
After some time in use, it is necessary to clean the particle filter of the combustion residues, especially the residues of fuel additives, which accumulate on the filter. This cleaning operation is carried out especially by spraying water and air, which enables the residues to be detached and dissolved. If this cleaning operation is carried out in the casing assembly comprising the post-combustion catalyst and the particle filter, there is a risk that the post-combustion catalyst will be damaged. Furthermore, the cleaning quality is not optimum.
In order to avoid damage to the post-combustion catalyst and in order to clean the particle filter only, it is known to manufacture the casing in two successive portions, the one containing the particle filter and the other the post-combustion catalyst, the two portions being assembled one on each side of a separation plane by assembly means, such as a system of flanges welded to the surface of each of the two portions of the casing. It is thus possible to separate the two portions in order to clean the portion containing the particle filter.
Since it is absolutely necessary to maintain complete sealing at the site of the separation, it is necessary to use solid flanges clamping between them a seal placed between the flanges. The securing of the flanges necessitates the use of a large number of screws with nuts, all of which measures increase the cost and the radial space requirement of the assembly.
The present invention proposes to overcome those disadvantages.

Method for cleaning and regenerating a particle filter in a filter assembly, assembly therefor and elements for said assembly


To provide a compact imaging optical system in which occurrence of an asymmetrical aberration is reduced and the optical performance is not deteriorated significantly by constituting the system by off-axial reflection surfaces, and an image reading apparatus using the same. The imaging optical system of the present invention is characterized in that, in the imaging optical system for imaging image information of an object surface on a line sensor, all of a plurality of reflection surfaces existing in an optical path from the original surface to the line sensor are off-axial reflecting surfaces.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an imaging optical system and an image reading apparatus using the same. The present invention is particularly preferable in reading a monochrome image or a color scanner, a digital copier, a facsimile, or the like, which uses an imaging optical element with various kinds of aberrations corrected in good balance, including a plurality of small off-axial reflecting surfaces having high resolution.
2. Related Background Art
Up to now, a flat-bed type image scanner has been proposed, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 3-113961 as an image reading apparatus (image scanner) for reading image information on an original surface.
The flat-bed type image scanner has an imaging lens and a line sensor fixed therein and moves only a reflection mirror, thereby subjecting the original surface to slit exposure scanning to read the image information.
In recent years, a carriage integral type scanning system has often been employed, which integrates a mirror, an imaging lens, a line sensor, and the like in order to realize simplification of an apparatus structure, and scans an original surface.
FIG. 9 is a schematic main part view of a conventional image reading apparatus of a carriage integral type scanning system. In FIG. 9, light flux irradiated from an illumination light source 1 directly illuminates an original 8 mounted on an original table glass 2, an optical path of a reflected light flux from the original 8 is folded inside a carriage 6 via first reflection mirror 3a, second, reflection mirror 3b, and third reflection mirror 3c in order, and the light flux is focused on a surface of a line sensor 5 by an imaging lens (imaging optical system) 4. Then, the carriage 6 is moved in a direction of an arrow A (sub-scanning direction) shown in FIG. 9 by a sub-scanning motor 7, whereby image information of the original 8 is read. The line sensor 5 in FIG. 9 is constituted by arranging a plurality of light receiving elements in a one-dimensional direction (main-scanning direction).
FIG. 10 is an explanatory view of a basic structure of the image reading apparatus of FIG. 9.
In the figure, reference numeral 4 denotes an imaging optical system; 5R, 5G, and 5B, line sensors for reading colors R (red), G (green), and B (blue), respectively, of the line sensor 5; and 8R, 8G, and 8B, reading areas on an original surface corresponding to the line sensors 5R, 5G, and 5B, respectively. The carriage 6 is scanning a stationary original surface in the image reading apparatus shown in FIG. 9. However, carriage scanning is equivalent to a state in which the line sensor 5 and the imaging lens 4 are stationary and the original surface 8 is moving as shown in FIG. 10. By scanning the original surface, an identical part can be read by the line sensors of different colors with a certain time interval. In the above-mentioned structure, in the case in which the imaging lens 4 consists of an ordinary refraction system, an axial chromatic aberration and a chromatic aberration of magnification occur. Thus, defocus or positional deviation occur in line images to be formed on the line sensors 5B and 5R as compared with the reference line sensor 5G. Therefore, when respective color images are superimposed to reproduce an original image, blur or deviation is conspicuous in a resulting image. That is, in the case in which performances of a high aperture ratio and a high resolution are required, the requirement cannot be met.
On the other hand, recently, it has been clarified that, even in a decentered optical system, it is possible to establish an optical system in which aberrations are corrected sufficiently by introducing the concept of a reference axis to make constituent surfaces thereof asymmetry and aspherical. For example, a designing method of the optical system is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 9-5650 and examples of the design are disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 8-292371 and 8-292372.
Such a decentered optical system is called an off-axial optical system (an optical system which is, when a reference axis along a light beam passing through a center of an image and a center of a pupil is assumed, defined as an optical system including a curved surface whose surface normal line at a crossing point with a reference axis of a constituent surface is not on the reference axis (off-axial curved surface). In this case, the reference axis has a bent shape). With this off-axial optical system, since constituent surfaces thereof are generally decentered and eclipse never occurs even on a reflection surface, it is easy to establish an optical system which uses a reflection surface. In addition, the off-axial optical system has such characteristics that an optical path can be drawn around relatively freely and an integral type optical system is easily manufactured with a technique for integrally molding constituent surfaces.
On the other hand, an image reading apparatus such as a digital copier has not been constituted by an integral type optical system yet because a high resolution and a high speed are required for such an image reading apparatus. Since an imaging lens required in the image reading apparatus needs to be bright and have a high resolution, it is difficult to increase an angle of view in order to secure an optical performance. If the angle of view is small, the resultant optical path length increases.
On the other hand, in the case in which a color image is read, as the resolution of the imaging lens becomes higher, the optical performance is adversely affected by a difference of imaging positions for respective colors due to a chromatic aberration or by a chromatic aberration such as color shift in a screen.
On the other hand, it is required to increase brightness (Fno and transmissivity) of an imaging optical system as the reading speed of an image becomes high. However, since a reflectance on a mirror is poor compared with a transmissivity of a lens of a coated refraction system, in the case in which a large number of mirrors are used in order to fold a long optical path, light from an illuminated original cannot be guided to a line sensor efficiently.
On the other hand, in the case in which an integral type optical system is constituted by a technique for integrally molding off-axial constituent surfaces with glass or plastics, the accuracy of a surface or the tolerance of an interval between surfaces has to be made extremely strict in order to prevent deterioration of the performance due to a manufacturing error of each off-axial constituent surface, which causes increase in manufacturing costs.

Imaging optical system and image reading apparatus


The present invention relates to an electronic ballast for driving a fluorescent lamp or the like, and more particularly to a new topology ballast that has only one switch in its oscillating part. The new ballast is an improvement over the conventional half-bridge structure, having a reduced number and size of key components, as compared to conventional designs.

The present invention relates to an electronic ballast for driving a fluorescent lamp or the like, and more particularly to a new topology ballast that has only one switch in its oscillating part.
FIG. 1 is a simplified schematic diagram of a conventional ballast circuit. As shown, the PFC (power factor correction) stage receives and rectifies AC power with power factor correction. Two switches M1 and M2, which are power MOS devices in this example, are connected in series to form a half bridge and are so controlled as to apply an oscillating voltage to a LC resonant tank circuit to drive the lamp.
It would be desirable to improve upon the conventional half-bridge structure, by reducing the number and size of key components, as compared to conventional designs.

Simplified electronic ballast circuit and method of operation


An automated classroom which integrates sources of video instructional materials, such as TV, CATV, VCR, video disk players, closed circuit TV, and the like, with sources of computer-based instructional materials is disclosed. Modulated video sources are converted to baseband and applied, along with baseband video sources, to a multichannel modulator or headend. The headend drives a local video network (LVN) which couples to a plurality of student workstations and to an instructor workstation. In addition a local area network (LAN) couples to the student workstations, the instructor workstation, and to a file server. Each of the instructor and student workstations includes a computer, a monitor control unit (MCU), a video display, and an audio transducer. The workstation computers couple to the LAN and the workstation MCU's couple to the LVN. A curriculum delivery system (CDS), located on the file server, causes computer-based instructional materials to be transferred from the file server through the LAN to selected ones of the student workstations, in which case such student MCU's route computer-based video and audio to their associated video displays and audio transducers. Additionally, under the control of the CDS through student computers and student MCU's, video instructional materials from the LVN may be displayed on video displays and audio transducers of selected ones of the student workstations. As a result of this system, student learning is interactive, individualized, and personalized in a multi-media environment.

Conventionally, the bulk of instructional materials presented to students in a classroom environment has been presented by a teacher. Educators generally recognize that this conventional technique suffers many drawbacks which hinder a student's education. For example, all students in a single classroom receive the same instructional materials, and a conventional curriculum structures such common instructional materials for a hypothetical average student. The teacher typically modifies the instructional materials to compensate for differences between the teacher's actual students and the hypothetical student. Nevertheless, a large portion of the students are poorly served by the receipt of instructional materials which are beneath such students' levels of development, skill, learning, and education in the subject matter being taught. And, another large portion of the students are poorly served by the receipt of instructional materials which are above such students' levels of development in the subject matter being taught. Consequently, many students are frustrated at the instructional information they receive for one reason or another, and their education suffers as a result.
Other drawbacks to the conventional instructional material delivery techniques hinder a student's education. For example, a particular teachers' experience with the subject matter being taught may handicap the educational process. Generally speaking, education suffers when a teacher with less experience in a particular subject is required to present the instructional materials when compared to a teacher who has more experience.
Moreover, conventional techniques are severely limited for students who are visual learners as to the degree of visualization which may be presented in connection with instructional materials. Specifically, the more pictures and graphical representations, the more detail provided in such pictures and graphical representations, and the more realistic the presentation of such pictures and graphical representations, the more effective the educational process becomes. However, the limited number of static pictures or graphical representations contained in typical textbooks, when augmented by conventional chalkboard drawings falls far short of the degree of visualization needed to effectively present instructional materials in many subjects and for many students.
Limited solutions to each of these problems are known. For example, interactive computer-based software tutorial or training systems have been devised in which individual students may receive instructional materials via a computer. Such systems permit a student to receive the instructional materials which are appropriate for the student's level of expertise and to progress at the individual student's rate. When each student in a classroom has a computer programmed with a software training system, each student can receive his or her own individual lessons, and the instructional materials of those lessons can be especially tailored for each student. However, prior art computerized classroom systems are inadequate for teachers because they often fail to provide a controlling system which adequately manages the distribution and operation of instructional materials. For example, many conventional computerized classroom systems do not have the flexibility to pull together information from a variety of sources and manage this variety of instructional material. Teachers must therefore spend an undesirable amount of effort and time assimilating data rather than attending to teaching duties.
Moreover, modern classrooms are beginning to increase the use of educational video tapes, laser video disks, VHF and UHF TV, "live" video via camcorders, closed circuit TV, satellite TV, and CATV to augment instructional materials provided by a teacher. Such video resources provide improved visualization of the concepts being taught. As a result, the educational process improves to a limited degree. In addition, such resources are typically prepared and produced for wide dissemination. Typically, such resources are prepared by those who fully understand the subject matter presented and have a good feel for presenting the instructional materials in an understandable way. Thus, the educational process is enhanced. However, prior art video resource systems typically present their instructional materials to an entire classroom in a single setting or to one group of students physically located near a video machine. Consequently, such materials are not individualized for each student's needs but to a group's need. Moreover, such materials cannot be incorporated into an individual lesson with computer-based instructional materials.

Multimedia distribution system for instructional materials


An automatic control system provides control of an automotive system in a vehicle based on at least one piece of control provision determination information. The automatic control system includes an information acquisition unit for acquiring the control provision determination information, and determines provision of the control for the automotive system based on predetermined criteria. The criteria defines when and how the query of control provision is conducted by the automatic control system.

In recent years, various vehicular systems and/or devices such as an automatic headlight control system, an automatic wiper control system and the like are controlled by an automatic control system. For example, the automatic headlight control system detects brightness around a vehicle by using a sensor, and turns on a headlight when degrees of the brightness fall under a predetermined value. The automatic wiper control system is, for another example, coupled with a rain sensor that detects wetting on a windshield for an automatic turn on/off operation upon detecting the wetting.
Yet another example of the automatic control system is an agent system. For example, Japanese Patent Document JP-A-2000-186942 discloses the agent system that is equipped with a display unit for displaying an agent represented by a messenger or an animal in a cartoon fashion. A user of the agent system, e.g., a driver of the vehicle or an occupant of the vehicle, is queried whether he/she desires a control of the vehicular system or the device when the user has a dialog with the agent system. The agent system controls the vehicular system when it determines, based on the dialog with the user, that the control of the vehicular system is desired by the user.
The agent system in the above disclosure asks the user, "Do you want to turn on the light ?" "Do you want to have a navigation to a restaurant ?" or similar kind of questions. When the proposal for controlling the vehicular system from the agent system is affirmatively confirmed by the user with a reply of a word such as "YES" or the like, the agent system automatically provides a control for the vehicular system such as the automatic headlight control system, a navigation system, or the like.
However, provision of the control based on a sensor signal from, for example, a light sensor or the like sometimes causes inconvenience and uncomfortableness to the user because of the discrepancy between the user's needs for the control and the content of the control based on the sensor signal. In this case, the agent system may have control provision standard that is stricter than a current one for providing the same control. That is, the light may be turned on when the degrees of brightness around the vehicle become lower than the current standard. However, the stricter control provision standard may also cause inconvenience, when user feels that the agent system fails to turn on the light at an appropriate degree of brightness/darkness.
On the other hand, the provision of the control always satisfies the user when the automatic control system determines the provision of the control based on the query for the user prior to the provision of the control. That is, the probability of a suitable control provision will be improved while unnecessary provision of the control is suppressed. However, the user may be embarrass by the query from the agent system when the user thinks that the provision of the control is rightful without question. That is, the user may regard the query is unnecessary and annoying.


The present invention is directed to systems and methods for detecting biological and chemical species in liquid and gaseous phase. The systems and methods utilize carbon nanotubes to enhance sensitivity and selectivity towards the reacting species by decreasing interference and detecting a wide range of concentrations.

Nanobiosensor
Biosensors are devices, which incorporate a biological element (e.g., enzyme, antibody) to detect chemical, biological and organic species. Biosensors have potential applications including, but not limited to, extreme environments (Dong et al., Electroanalysis, 15, 157, 2003), detection of food and pathogenic bacteria (Ivnitski et al., Electroanalysis, 12, 317, 2000), glucose monitoring (Wang, Electroanalysis 13, 983, 2001) and the food industry.
Conventional sensing electrodes (e.g., gold, platinum, glass, carbon) that have been used to immobilize biological enzymes have shown limited sensitivity and selectivity. In addition, sensor performance has been limited due to possible interfering compounds.
Most electrochemical biosensors operate in the liquid phase. There are instances where the analyte may be in the gaseous form and the electrochemical biosensor would be unable to detect the gaseous species. The performance of the liquid electrolyte sensors are limited by saturation of the analyte in the liquid phase, electrode corrosion and other operation problems including the requirement of continuous stirring to ensure the effective interaction of the analyte with the sensing element.
Aligned carbon nanotubes grown in situ are useful in electrochemical biosensing applications but the difficulties in achieving reproducibility severely limits their use in such applications. High manufacturing costs associated with producing aligned nanotubes further limit their commercialization.
There have been previous reports of electrochemical gas biosensors using ionic conducting films like nafion and tetrabutylammonium toluene-4-sulphonate (TBATS) for the detection of hydrogen peroxide and phenol vapors (Saini et al., Biosensors and Bioelectronics 10, 945, 1995; EP0585113A2), which use specific enzymatic reactions. However, these sensors used an enzyme (horseradish peroxidase) and a mediator (potassium hexacyanoferrate (II)) for sensing hydrogen peroxide with enzyme mediator gels. The "drop and dry" process of the mediator, gel and enzymes did not yield a high sensitive and selective detection. There have been reports about biosensors using a thick film electrochemical device with an insulating substrate for the determination of ethanol vapors using alcohol dehydrogenase enzyme which also involved the "drop and dry" process (EP634488A2).
CNT-TFT
Chemical sensors are devices that detect chemical and biological species based upon an interaction between two molecules. These sensors can be used to detect various analytes in gas, liquid and solid phases. Sensors can be manufactured to operate in ambient or extreme environmental conditions. When optimized, chemical sensors can detect very low levels of a desired analyte, however, the drawback is usually the large amount of support equipment. This equipment usually prevents the sensors from being portable.
Conventional sensors can be made using a wide variety of techniques, each specific to the desired detectable analyte. A suitable technique would focus on the interactions between two molecules that result in signal generation. The signal produced could be light emission, electron transfer or other physical change. Every sensor needs a method of transduction, i.e., converting the chemical event to a measurable output signal.
Current methods of detection have limited selectivity when operating at the limits of detection. At these extremes of performance, separating a signal from the surrounding noise becomes extremely difficult. One method for increasing this signal to noise ratio is to have internal amplification of the desired signal. Internal amplification prevents additional noise being introduced into a detection system through outside electronics. A simple way to achieve amplification is to build the detector using transistor architecture. This architecture can take advantage of the inherent gain associated with a semiconducting material.
Carbon nanotube (CNT) transistors have been known for several years. (Tan et al., Nature, 1998 (393) 49, Martel et al., Appl. Phys. Lett. 1998 (73) 2447). Many examples of these devices rely on a single CNT placed between electrodes. These devices are difficult to prepare, requiring tedious placement of electrodes with respect to CNT position. These are advanced techniques that require highly specialized instrumentation including electron microscopes and electron beam writing. The use of this instrumentation required for characterization and fabrication prevents this from being a manufacturable technique.

Nanobiosensor and carbon nanotube thin film transistors


The present disclosure pertains to multimodal dual displays. A display apparatus comprises a first electronic display, a second electronic display, and a display attachment including a first region configured to attach to the first electronic display, a second region configured to attach to the second electronic display, and an intermediate region configured to change a distance between the first electronic display and the second electronic display. At least one releasable fastener is configured to releasably couple a first edge of the first electronic display to a second edge of the second electronic display. A second set of releasable fasteners is configured to releasably couple a third edge of the first electronic display to a fourth edge of the second electronic display when regions of the display attachment releasably detach from the displays, enabling the displays to rotate to achieve a different configuration and orientation with a different combined aspect ratio.

The present disclosure relates to electronic display technology and in particular to dual display configurations.
Many computing devices include a display screen in order to present information to the user. Many users prefer displays to be larger or have a higher resolution in order to suit their intended use cases. However, displays that are larger and higher resolution may have disproportionally greater costs compared to smaller displays and displays with lower resolution. For this reason, some users opt for a multi-display configuration (e.g., dual-display, triple-display, etc.), which can provide a similar display size and/or resolution at reduced costs compared to single-display options. Some users prefer smaller multi-display devices over larger single display devices because they are more portable, as the displays can be layered on top of each other to provide a smaller package compared to a single larger display. However, such portable multi-display devices may provide hinges or other elements between the displays, creating a gap between the screens that may be detrimental to the user's experience.


A monitoring device for monitoring an array (4) of electrical units, in particular an array of high capacity light emitting diodes (LEDs) (4.1-4.12). The electrical units are connected in series and driven by a constant electric current (I). The monitoring device has a bypass means (4.1a-4.12a) for each electrical unit (4.1-4.12), operable to bypass the respective electrical unit in case of a disconnection of the respective electrical unit, and an evaluation unit (3) connected in parallel with the array (4) of electrical units, said evaluation unit (3) being adapted to determine a total voltage (UT) of the array (4) of electrical units and to output a control signal (CS) indicative of a function status of the array (4) of electrical units in accordance with a value of the total voltage (UT) relative to a predetermined threshold value (VREF). Thus is provided an electric circuitry which allows an easy and reliable detection of a malfunction of the array of electrical units, e.g. due to failure of individual LEDs because of short circuits and/or disconnection, while ensuring a continued operation of the array in case of only minor problems. The monitoring device can advantageously be used in signalling devices, in particular for railway signalling purposes.

The invention is based on a priority application EP 05292232.5 which is hereby incorporated by reference.
The invention relates to a monitoring device for monitoring an array of electrical units, in particular an array of high capacity light emitting diodes (LEDs), connected in series and driven by a constant electric current.
The invention also relates to a signalling device, comprising an array of lighting units, in particular high capacity light emitting diodes (LEDs), connected in series, and a constant current source coupled to the array of lighting units for driving the lighting units.
Additionally, the invention relates to a use of the above-mentioned signalling device. For railway signalling purposes, conventional signalling lamps (e.g., 12 VAC, 35 W) are being replaced by arrays of high capacity light emitting diodes (LEDs; e.g., 4 V per diode, 350 mA current) in connection with special mirror/lens systems. A major advantage of using LEDs instead of conventional lamps resides in their superior durability which entails an increased cost-effectiveness of operation.
However, in particular when employing LED arrays of the above-mentioned type for signalling purposes, for instance in railway systems, some kind of electric circuitry has to be provided which allows an easy and reliable detection of a malfunction of the LED array, e.g. due to failure of individual LEDs because of short circuits and/or disconnection, while ensuring a continued operation of the LED array in case of only minor problems, e.g. failure of only one diode in an array of twelve.

Monitoring device for an array of electrical units

Alcatel Transport Solution Deutschland GmbH


A power conversion apparatus includes serially connected arms U and X, serially connected arms V and Y, serially connected arms W and Z, and a capacitor, the pairs of serially connected arms and the capacitor all connected in parallel to one another. The input-side arms U and X and the output-side arms W and Z are subjected to PWM control so that the arms W and Z are controlled to have a voltage that is lower than that of the arms U and X, thereby providing a step down operation. A step up operation also can be provided by an opposite relation in which the arms W and Z are controlled to have a voltage that is higher than that of the arms U and X, thereby to expand the range within which the output voltage is controlled with the effect of reducing distortion.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a switching-type power conversion apparatus, which, for example, may be used for a constant voltage/constant frequency power source apparatus or a power compensation apparatus.
2. Prior Art
With regard to this type of power source, various efforts have been made to improve the apparatus efficiency for the purpose of reducing wasteful consumption of power or better handling generated heat. One example of a effort frequently undertaken to reduce the switching loss of a power semiconductor switching element (e.g., an insulating-gate type bipolar transistor (IGBT)) generally used for this type of power source (the loss occurring at the time at which this type of switching element is turned on or off due to the fact that this type of switching element is not an ideal switch), is to reduce as much as possible the number of switching times. This type of constant voltage power source has also been required to output a constant target voltage, thus requiring a power compensation apparatus to control the output voltage. Thus, this type of power source must be able to change an input voltage to output the target voltage at an output terminal.
FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate an example of this type of power source, which is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2521345 (pp. 3–4, FIG. 1). In the power source shown in FIG. 3A, the serially connected arms V and Y are driven with a pulse synchronized with the inverse of the phase of the input voltage Vin to reduce the frequency with which voltage is switched when compared with a case of a pulse-width modulation (PWM) converter in which switching is performed with a frequency sufficiently higher than a power source frequency, thereby providing a conversion with a high efficiency.
In this case, serially connected arms W and Z are operated as shown in FIG. 3A as a PWM converter switched with a frequency sufficiently higher than a power source frequency that the full bridge converter composed of serially connected arms V and Y and serially connected arms W and Z is operated as an inverter, thereby providing an output having a sinusoidal waveform. Although FIG. 3B schematically shows the serially connected arms W and Z having pulses with a constant interval, in actuality, these pulse widths are increased or decreased depending on a signal waveform subjected to PWM modulation. Then, a DC voltage that is a source of an output voltage is rectified by a full bridge converter by the combination of the input-side arms U and X and the arms V and Y, and thus the DC voltage is equal to or lower than the peak of input voltage.
As a result, this type of converter is limited to providing a step down operation for making the output voltage lower than the input voltage or an operation for providing an input voltage equal to the output voltage. Specifically, there is a limitation that this converter cannot provide a step up operation for making the output voltage higher than the input voltage. The reason that the input side operates as a diode bridge is that the pulse pattern created by the arms V and Y shown in FIG. 3B fires the diode with the timing at which the elements V and Y receive a firing signal. Consequently, the circuit as shown in FIG. 4A can be operated in a similar manner. The output waveforms Vout are also similarly provided in FIG. 3B and FIG. 4B.
FIGS. 5A–5C illustrate another example of this type of power source, which is shown in Japanese Patent Publication No. 3185846 (pp. 5–8, FIG. 2). When the input voltage is relatively close to a voltage to be outputted in the circuit shown in FIG. 5A, a pulse synchronized with the power source as shown in FIG. 5B is used to operate the arms U and X and the arms W and Z. However, when the input voltage is reduced, the pulse pattern as shown in FIG. 5C and a voltage command pattern are used for the operation.


This invention describes a method for using self-synchronized (also known as self-driven), synchronous rectifiers in converters employing high output voltages or conversely, in converters with wide input voltage ranges.

A power converter is a power processing circuit that converts an input power waveform, sometimes with, sometimes without, a DC component, to a DC output. A classic AC to DC converter comprises a transformer with a primary side and a secondary side with a rectifying circuit of varying complexity on the secondary side. In the past, most such rectifying circuits used diodes, either singly or in combination, on the secondary side. A more complicated combination that was frequently used in prior art was a half wave or a full wave bridge rectification circuit. Following the rectification part of the circuit was a circuit portion devoted to filtering out the residual AC components, thereby smoothing and regulating the DC output. A DC to DC converter adds a switching function to the primary side of the circuit to enable the transformer to step the output voltage up or down.
The advent of more modern solid state devices made it possible to increase the sophistication of conversion and rectification circuits. In particular, the development of certain types of metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors (MOSFETs) enabled the development of synchronous rectifying circuits, namely those that use the gating function of a MOSFET instead of a diode to turn current on and off in portions of a secondary circuit. In particular, enhancement-type MOSFETs act as very effective rectifiers when the gate is zero- or reverse-biased during the portion of the cycle in which the secondary current would flow in the reverse direction, but allow current flow when the gate is forward biased.
Self-synchronized rectifiers are MOSFET rectifiers having gate terminals that are driven directly or indirectly by the voltage from a winding of the power transformer in order to provide the rectification of the output of the transformer. Typically, synchronous rectifiers have been used in converters with low output voltages, less than 5 volts, as the gate drive voltages needed to drive the gates of the MOSFET synchronous rectifiers are easily obtainable from the output of the power transformer. This method of driving synchronous rectifiers, shown in FIG. 1, is widely described in the prior art. FIG. 2 shows voltages at relevant points in such a prior art circuit.
As higher converter efficiencies are constantly sought, it has been desired to provide the benefits of synchronous rectification in converters with either higher output voltages or wider input voltage ranges. A problem therefore arises as to how to effectively drive the gates of the MOSFET when the voltages provided by the output of the transformer on higher output voltage converters typically exceed the maximum MOSFET gate drive specification. Likewise, in a power converter that has a wide input voltage range, the voltage applied to the primary of the transformer will have a large range. As a result, the voltage at the output of the secondary of the transformer will also have a large range. Since most MOSFETs have a limitation that the peak voltage at the gate must be typically 20 volts or less, in such circuits the output side voltage will be too large to drive the gates of MOSFET synchronous rectifiers.
Inventors have tried various solutions to these and other problems with prior art MOSFET rectifying circuits. For example, Meyer, et al., Published U.S. Patent Application No. 2004/0240243 A1, published Dec. 2, 2004 describes a method for predicting the proper MOSFET gate drive timing by sensing the diode drop across the synchronous MOSFET and by utilizing a complex algorithm to compute the optimum gate drive timing. This approach incorporates an integrated circuit (IC) component to the design along with its associated cost and complexity. Meyer does not disclose self-driven synchronous MOSFET gate timing.
Other inventors have devised methods for dealing with the voltage-range limitations of prior art self-synchronized drivers and rectifiers. A good example is Bowman, et al., U.S. Reissue Patent No. RE37,5 10 E, reissue date Jan. 15, 2002 (reissue of U.S. Pat. No. 5,590,032, issued Dec. 36, 1996). The Bowman circuit, however, has the drawback of requiring an extra winding on the transformer. On converters that utilize wound magnetics (transformers whose windings are wound using magnet wire) the addition of an extra winding is not too severe an imposition. However, most of today's high-performance DC-DC converters utilize planar magnetics (magnetics that use printed circuit board (PCB) traces as windings).
With planar magnetics, the addition of more windings usually means the addition of another layer to the printed circuit board. Since the board typically is the largest cost component of a DC-DC converter, reducing the number of layers and complexity of the board reduces the cost of the board and thus the cost of the converter.
Even if a planar design is achieved that does not require an extra layer to the circuit board, such a design will still cut into the amount of space available for the power winding, and reduce the copper available to the power winding. Since most of today's DC-DC converters operate at high output currents, cutting into the amount of copper available to the power winding reduces the converter efficiency.
Mao, et al., Published U.S. patent application Ser. No. 2002/0110005 A1, published Aug. 15, 2002, describes a circuit similar to that of Bowman, et al. The Mao, et al. circuit is an effective means of driving the gates of MOSFETs at higher voltages, but it too requires additional windings (in this case two additional windings) on the transformer.
Diallo, et al, U.S. Pat. No. 6,707,650 B2 issued Mar. 16, 2004, demonstrates most clearly the need for the current invention. In the Diallo circuit, as the output voltages of the transformer get larger, the gate drive voltages to the MOSFET gets larger until it exceeds the maximum level. Diallo, et al. attempt to solve this problem by sizing the capacitor (Items 13 and 16 in FIG. 2A of the '650 patent) in series with the gate of the MOSFET such that it forms a capacitive divider with the intrinsic internal capacitance of the synchronous MOSFET. However, as MOSFET gate capacitances are on the order of 1000 to 5000 pF, in order to divide the drive voltage in half, a series capacitor equal to the intrinsic MOSFET gate capacitance would have to be used.
The current state of the art in the power converter industry is to use increased switching frequencies, typically greater than 500 kHz, in order to reduce the size of the magnetics. The trend is also to reduce the MOSFET intrinsic gate capacitance in order to reduce the MOSFET switching times, thereby improving switching efficiency. Unfortunately, the impedance of a 1000 to 5000 pF capacitor at the frequencies (>350 kHz) at which most modern DC to DC converters are run would turn the synchronous MOSFETs on so slowly as such to render them highly inefficient. Therefore, Diallo's method of driving a MOSFET is mostly appropriate on older lower frequency (<100 kHz) converters that utilize large synchronous MOSFTETs (with correspondingly large intrinsic capacitance), so that the series gate capacitor may also be large.
It is an object of this invention to provide a simple, cost-effective, self-driven converter circuit for driving the gates of synchronous MOSFETs that is simpler and cheaper to implement in today's high density, planar magnetic, DC-DC converters. It is a further object of this invention to provide a self-synchronized synchronous drive circuit capable of producing high voltage outputs. It is yet a further object of this invention to provide such a circuit in which MOSFET gate timing is achieved by sensing the secondary of the DC-DC converter's output transformer. It is a further object of the invention to provide such a circuit in which MOSFET gate timing is achieved by sensing the secondary of the DC-DC converters output transformer without including a complex integrated circuit. It is yet a further object of this invention to provide a circuit that can be utilized at virtually any switching frequency and with any output voltage from the secondary of the power transformer.

Self-synchronized high voltage synchronous rectifier and drive


A one-dimensional nanostructure multi-port coupler (100, 300, 400, 600) is provided for use in an RF device (700). The coupler (100, 300, 400, 600) includes a first plurality of one-dimensional nanostructures (102) aligned substantially in a first direction (110) and coupled between the input (103) and first output (103′), and a second plurality of one-dimensional nanostructures (104) substantially aligned in a second direction (112), coupled to a second output (105), and disposed contiguous to the first plurality of one-dimensional nanostructures (102). The first and second plurality of one-dimensional nanostructures (102, 104) may comprise first and second contiguous planes. The amount of RF energy coupled may be controlled by varying the width, density, diameter, and type of one of the plurality of one-dimensional nanostructures (102, 104) versus the other. The amount of RF energy coupled may also be controlled by varying the angle between the first and second plurality of one-dimensional nanostructures (102, 104) and by disposing a dielectric material (132) therebetween.

RF devices conventionally employ couplers for sampling an RF signal combining signals asymmetrically for line monitoring, power measurements, and load source isolators. Couplers comprise three basic types of devices: unidirectional, bidirectional, and dual directional.
Unidirectional RF couplers are four-port devices with a main line having an input and an output, and a coupled line with a terminated input and a coupled output. The power passing to the output on the main line is combined with the coupled output, but the coupled output is isolated from the main line output. Any reflected power from the main line output is coupled to the termination.
Bidirectional RF couplers are similar to unidirectional couplers, but do not provide termination on the fourth port (coupled input). Main line power is coupled to the forward output of secondary line and reflected power is coupled to the reflected output. For isolation to be achieved, coupled outputs must be obtained through well-matched terminations at each port.
Dual directional RF couplers are four-port devices that have two unidirectional couplers. They can be connected back-to-back in series, with the main line output of the forward coupler connected to the output of the second coupler; or integrated into one device with a single main line and two secondary lines. Integration in a single device provides several advantages, including a shorter or more compact unit. In addition, since there is only one main line, insertion loss is reduced and high isolation is more easily attained.
Selecting RF couplers requires an analysis of performance specifications. Continuous wave (CW) average power measures one-way transmissions through the main line under matched load conditions. Coupling is the ratio of the power measured at the output port relative to that measured at the forward coupled port. Directivity is the ratio of the power measured at the reverse coupled port relative to that measured at the forward coupled port when the output port is ideally terminated. Insertion loss is the total RF power transmission loss resulting from the insertion of a device in a transmission line. It is defined as the ratio of signal power at the output of the inserted device to the signal power at the input of the inserted device. Coupling, directivity, and insertion loss are all measured in decibels (dB). Voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR) is a unitless ratio ranging from 1 to infinity that expresses the amount of reflected energy at the input of the device. A value of 1 indicates that all of the energy passes through. Any other value indicates that a portion of the energy is reflected. Other performance specifications for RF couplers include frequency range, return loss, and reflected power.
These known couplers, including for example adjacent strip lines, require well controlled gaps that require complex manufacturing techniques. Known mult-port couplers include multiple strip lines spaced around a ring. Contamination between the gaps may contribute to poor efficiency of the coupling.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide a multi-port coupler for use in an RF device that does not require controlled gaps between adjacent conductors. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.

RF system having a one-dimensional nanostructure multi-port coupler


An apparatus and method for optically characterizing the reflection and transmission properties of a sample with a beam of light having a small diameter on a surface of the sample over a broadband of wavelengths, from 190 nm to 1100 nm. Reflective optical components, including off-axis parabolic mirrors with a collimated incident or reflected broadband beam of light, minimize non-chromatic aberration. The apparatus and method further disclose an optical light path that can be focused by adjusting the position of an off-axis parabolic mirror and a planar mirror.

Advances in microelectronics necessitate components with ever smaller critical dimensions. Manufacturing such components requires the use of shorter wavelengths of light in the lithography processes employed in component fabrication. This, in turn, has lead to a need to measure the optical characteristics of samples such as, among other, photolithographic masks and fabricated components over a broad range or band of wavelengths including the UV. Typically, in these measurements the cross-sectional diameter of a beam of light focused on the sample is large enough to spatially average the optical characteristic being measured yet small enough to resolve spatial variations across the sample. As the critical dimensions have decreased so too has the required diameter of the beam of light on the sample. It is now desirable to have a diameter of less than 100 micron.
As with many engineering problems, the design of an optical system to measure the optical characteristics of such a sample represents a tradeoff. For example, when illuminating the beam of light with the broadband of wavelengths from a light source onto a surface of the sample, it is desirable to have a small spot size but not a diffraction limited spot. In addition, this should be accomplished in an optically efficient manner. There is, therefore, a tradeoff in this regard between a need for optical components with a low f-number (for higher optical efficiency) and a need for optical components with a high f-number (for a small spot size over a practical depth of field with minimal aberration and angles of incidence) and thus a small cone of rays corresponding to the beam of light that is used in the optical system, i.e., the useful light. Similar design tradeoffs occur in the collection and illumination on a detector of the beam of light reflected from the sample and the beam of light transmitted through the sample.
The need to operate over the broadband of wavelengths is a further design constraint for many optical components because they are subject to a variety of effects such as chromatic aberration and absorption. For refractive optical components these effects become pronounced as the wavelengths approach the UV. There exist optical systems based on refractive optical components in the prior art that operate over a broadband of wavelengths with a small diameter of the beam of light on the sample. In these systems, attempts are made to compensate for chromatic aberration and absorption effects. However, this adds expense and complexity to these optical systems.
Reflective optical components are a suitable solution to this technical challenge. A wide variety of components are available including mirrors with non-spherical shape, such as an off-axis paraboloid shape, henceforth called an off-axis parabolic mirror. However, non-spherical shaped mirrors can add expense to the optical system, especially when such mirrors are manufactured by diamond turning. Optical systems including torroidal, spherical and elliptical mirrors are disclosed in the prior art. For examples, see U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,910,842, 6,583,877 and 6,128,085.
In addition, many prior art broadband optical systems combine refractive and reflective optical components. However, such catadioptric systems do not avoid the complexity and expense needed to overcome the chromatic aberration and absorption issues associated with refractive optical components.
Furthermore, when different samples are characterized, the beam of light in the optical system will need to be focused on the sample to correct for effects such as varying surface topography. Such an adjustment is problematic if the adjustment of the position of certain optical components in the optical system necessitates the adjustment of the position of many other optical components, since this can easily lead to misalignment. A preferred solution would allow the beam of light to be focused on the sample by adjusting a minimum number of components in the optical system or a simple assembly of components. Furthermore, such a preferred solution would be a sufficiently compact and simple optical system that a single light source could be used to optically characterize the reflection and transmission properties of the sample.
There is a continued need, therefore, for a compact optical system for optical characterization of a sample, which operates over a broadband of wavelengths with a small diameter of the beam of light on the sample and which employs reflective optics with a minimum number of optical components such that advantageous components such as off-axis parabolic mirrors can be used. There is also a need for such an optical system that can be focused by adjusting the position of the minimum number of optical components or a simple assembly of components.

Apparatus and method for optical characterization of a sample over a broadband of wavelengths with a small spot size