The present invention discloses a method for molding complex and intricately shaped high density monolithic carbon, carbon-carbon, graphite, and thermoplastic composites using gelcasting technology. The method comprising a polymeric carbon precursor, a solvent, a dispersant, an anti-foaming agent, a monomer system, and an initiator system. The components are combined to form a suspension which is poured into a mold and heat-treated to form a thermoplastic part. The thermoplastic part can then be further densified and heat-treated to produce a high density carbon or graphite composite. The present invention also discloses the products derived from this method.

Not Applicable.
The invention relates to densified carbon and graphite composites, and their method of manufacture. In particular, the invention relates to a method of manufacturing carbon and graphite composites using a gelcasting process.
Products constructed from carbon and/or graphite composites possess high thermal conductivity, significant heat capacity and excellent friction and wear properties. Because of these characteristics, such composites are often used in speciality applications ranging from the heat shields on the leading edges of the Shuttle Orbiter to exit cones for rocket engines. More commonly, however, these composites are used as frictional materials in the braking systems for military and large commercial aircraft where their unique characteristics provide significantly improved braking performance.
The manufacture of carbon and graphite composites is a lengthy process, and generally involves several cycles of densification and carbonization under substantially high pressure levels. The typical process begins by preparing a carbon preform using a hand lay-up of woven carbon fiber fabric or by hot pressing a mixture of chopped carbon fibers and resin. The preform is then densified by repeated liquid impregnation with pitch or resin, or by carbon vapor infiltration. Following densification, the preform is carbonized or graphitized by heating the preform to temperatures in excess of 600xc2x0 C. and as high as 3000xc2x0 C., as described by K. J. Huttinger, xe2x80x9cTheoretical and Practical Aspects of Liquid-Phase Pyrolysis as a Basis of the Carbon Matrix of CFRC,xe2x80x9d in Carbon Fibers, Filaments and Composites, 301, 301-326 (Figueiredo ed., Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston 1990), and Brian Rand, xe2x80x9cMatrix Precursors for Carbon-Carbon Composites,xe2x80x9d in Essentials of Carbon-Carbon Composites, supra at 67-102. This densification/carbonization process is repeated until the desired density is achieved (normally 1.8 g/cc). Typically, the complete process requires up to five densification/carbonization cycles over a 6 to 9 month period. As such, products containing carbon or graphite composites tend to carry an extremely high cost.
Other methods of producing carbon or graphite composites have recently been developed so as to avoid the high costs and time expense associated with their manufacture. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,556,704, Prevorsek, et al., discloses a method for manufacturing carbon-carbon composites by hot pressing a mixture of carbon fiber and carbon precursor material. Essential to this process is the application of a uniaxial compressive force and a lateral restraining force to the mixture during the heating process. The compressive force is generated by a conventional press apparatus, while the lateral restraining force is generated by a hydraulic piston arrangement. Ultimately, the application of these pressure forces, along with other densification/carbonization processes, results in a high density plate or rod structure.
The recently developed methods, however, are limited in that they require the use of a hot press and thus only allow the production of objects maintaining certain shapes suitable for extrusion or hot pressing, i.e., rods or plates. The manufacturer is therefore required to machine the resulting billet to achieve any product having a complex shape or structural feature, such as a threaded part or a turbine rotor. The additional machining, in turn, consumes more time and increases the final cost of the product.
The high cost of carbon and graphite composites has so for restricted their use to aircraft brakes and other relatively cost insensitive and/or performance driven applications. The benefits of these composites, however, may be readily transferred to the commercial sector if the cost of their manufacture was substantially reduced. For example, commercial applications may include clutch and braking systems for heavy trucks, or railroad locomotives and rail cars. The military may also find numerous applications in brakes and clutches on its fighting vehicles, such as tanks, armored cars, and self propelled artillery.
Affordable graphite or carbon objects having highly complex shapes are also desirable. These shapes may include the intricate designs of a turbine blade or a product having a threaded part. Current methods of manufacture, however, are unable to readily produce such objects. An ideal solution to this problem would include a new method which allows the casting of carbon and graphite composites in a mold such as that used in gelcasting technology.
Gelcasting is a traditional process for producing ceramic components having complex or intricate designs. Specifically, gelcasting is a method of molding ceramic powders into wet xe2x80x9cgreenxe2x80x9d products wherein a monomer solution serves as a binder vehicle, and its controlled polymerization in solution is used as a setting mechanism. The resulting green product is of exceptionally high strength and is typically dried to remove water. After drying, the product is normally heated further to burn off the polymer and is sometimes subsequently fired to sinter the product to a higher density.
Gelcasting methods are well known in the art and are described in Janney, U.S. Pat. No. 4,894,194, Janney et al, U.S. Pat. No. 5,028,362, and Janney et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,145,908; A. C. Young et al. xe2x80x9cGelcasting of Alumina,xe2x80x9d J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 74 [3] 612-18 (1991); (describing the gelcasting of ceramics such as alumina) Mark A. Janney et al. xe2x80x9cGelcast Tooling: Net Shape Casting and Green Machining,xe2x80x9d in Materials and Manufacturing Processes, (1997) (describing the use of a water-based gelcasting system to form parts using H13 tool steel powder); S. D. Nunn et al., xe2x80x9cGelcasting of Silicon Compositions for SRBSN,xe2x80x9d Ceram. trans., 62, 255-62 (1996) (describing the use of an alcohol-based gelcasting system and a water-based gelcasting system to form parts using silicon powder); M. A. Janney, xe2x80x9cGelcasting Superalloy Powders,xe2x80x9d in P/M in Aerospace, Defense and Demanding Applications, 1995 (Metals Powder Industries Federation, Princeton, N.J., 1995) (describing the use of a water-based gelcasting system to form parts), which are all incorporated herein by reference.
The typical gelcasting process involves the formation of a slurry mixture including ceramic powder, a dispersant for the ceramic powder, and a monomer solution. The monomer solution includes one or more monomers, a free-radical initiator, and an aqueous solvent. Upon its combination, the slurry mixture is transferred to a mold where it is heat-treated at a temperature and for period of time sufficient to polymerize the monomer(s) and form a firm polymer-water gel matrix. The resulting green product is then heat-treated further to achieve a final ceramic product.
With a modification and refinement of the gelcasting process it is possible to extend gelcasting technology to the manufacture of carbon and graphite products. Accordingly, the limitations related to current methods for fabricating graphite and carbon composites can be virtually eliminated.
It is an object of this invention to provide a method, and a product of that method, for manufacturing carbonaceous preforms using gelcasting technology.
It is another object of this invention to provide a method, and a product of that method, for manufacturing high density carbon and graphite composites using gelcast technology.
It is another object of this invention to provide gelcasting compositions, and methods of gelcasting, which allow the production of high density carbon and graphite composites.
It is another object of this invention to provide a method of manufacturing high density carbon and graphite composites having complex and intricate shapes.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a method of manufacturing high density carbon and graphite composites, which is less time consuming and results in an affordable product.
It is still yet another object of this invention to provide a method, and a product of that method, for manufacturing high density carbon and graphite composites using mesophase pitch powder or other polymer precursors without having an oxidative stabilization step.
These and other objects are accomplished by the present invention. The present invention is summarized in that it provides a novel method of manufacturing high density carbon and graphite composites utilizing a gelcasting method which allows the production of articles having complex and intricate shapes. Specifically, the present invention discloses a method for manufacturing high density carbon and graphite composites from a gelcast suspension comprising a polymeric carbon precursor, a solvent, a dispersant, an anti-foaming agent, a monomer system which is soluble in the solvent, and an initiator system. The suspension is formed by combining a volume of the polymeric carbon precursor with an appropriate volume of the solvent, the monomer system, the dispersant and the anti-foaming agent. The initiator solution is then mixed into the suspension and the suspension poured into a mold where it is heat polymerized to form a thermoplastic part. The thermoplastic part can then be further densified and heat-treated to produce a high density carbon or graphite composite.
In one embodiment of the present invention, the gelcast suspension is supplemented with additives to modify and enhance the properties of the composite material.
One advantage of the present invention is that it provides a method for manufacturing carbon or graphite composites which do not require the use of a hot press.
Another advantage of the present invention is that it provides a method for manufacturing carbon or graphite composites, or net shaped fiber (or particulate) reinforced polymeric parts, without the requirement of an oxidative stabilization step.
Yet another advantage of the invention is that it provides a method for manufacturing complex and intricately shaped thermoplastic parts which, when heat-treated, are further developed into near net-shaped monolithic carbon, carbon-carbon, or graphite parts, having superior physical characteristics.
Still yet another advantage is that the present invention provides a more affordable process for manufacturing carbon or graphite composites in a shorter period of time.
These and other objects and advantages of the invention are readily understood in view of the following figures and detailed description.

Gelcasting polymeric precursors for producing net-shaped graphites


A liquid phase diffusion bonding method for dissimilar metal sheets by allowing a galvanized steel sheet and an aluminum alloy sheet to come into close contact with each other and pressing both sheets by using a first mold of a liquid phase diffusion bonding apparatus and a second mold of the same; and heating the sheets at approximately the same heat-up rate and at approximately the same temperature to perform liquid phase diffusion bonding of the sheets by using induction heat generated by applying high frequency currents to a first high frequency induction heating coil provided on the first mold and a second high frequency induction heating coil provided on the second mold. The first high frequency induction heating coil and the second high frequency induction heating coil are positioned to sandwich the sheets at predetermined distances from the sheets, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus enabling two dissimilar metal sheets with different physical properties to be bonded together by liquid phase diffusion bonding. Specifically, the present invention relates to a liquid phase diffusion bonding technique enabled to ensure sufficient bonding strength for a short period of time without using inert gas.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is widely known that, where dissimilar metal materials such as iron and aluminum are welded together, an intermetallic compound is generated at the bonding interface, resulting in insufficient bonding strength.
An example of means for boding such dissimilar metal materials is a liquid phase diffusion bonding method which ensures predetermined bonding strength. (See Joining of An Iron Pipe to An Aluminum Pipe by Zinc Plating, Quarterly Journal of the Japan Welding Society, Vol. 18, No. 4, pp. 572–579, 2000.)
The method described in the above document is as follows: an iron pipe with a tapered end is electro-plated with zinc; the iron pipe is inserted into an aluminum pipe and heated to predetermined temperature; and the iron pipe is further pushed into the aluminum pipe so that the pipes are bonded together by liquid phase diffusion.
This liquid phase diffusion bonding has the following mechanism. First, the iron pipe and the aluminum pipe are heated up over 381° C. (the eutectic temperature of zinc and aluminum), and the iron pipe is inserted into the aluminum pipe. When the iron pipe is inserted into the aluminum pipe, the end of the aluminum pipe is rubbed against the iron pipe so the new surfaces of both pipes come into contact with each other, thus aluminum and zinc react forming an eutectic liquid. This eutectic liquid accelerates a diffusion reaction of aluminum, zinc and iron, so that the pipes are bonded.
Another example of means for bonding dissimilar metal materials is to press two or more heated dissimilar metal sheets by using a pressure roller to bond them together. This bonding method is employed in manufacturing cladding material.

Liquid phase diffusion bonding method for dissimilar metal sheets and liquid phase diffusion bonding apparatus for the same


A user-specific model of muscular activity can be used to control an external device based on muscular activity within a limb of a user. The user-specific model of muscular activity can include single movements and corresponding one or more primary muscle patterns. New single movements can be added to the user-specific model of muscular activity can be by a system that includes a processor by receiving user-specific EMG signals (including one or more EMG patterns that indicate a single movement); decomposing the user-specific EMG signals into the one or more EMG patterns in EMG feature space that indicate the single movement; and updating the user-specific model of muscular activity to include the single movement and corresponding one or more primary muscle patterns based on the one or more EMG patterns in EMG feature space.

Prosthetic hands can mechanically mimic a human hand; however, most prosthetic hands are unable to match the degrees of freedom (DoF) or ease of movement achievable with a normal human hand. Commercial prosthetics do not typically exceed two DoF, and those commercial prosthetics that do exceed two DoF are expensive and face a large attrition rate with 10-35% of users abandoning prosthetic devices. This attrition rate is thought to be due to the lack of sensory feedback required for closed loop control or poor feed-forward control. Moreover, commercial devices lack the ability to continuously and proportionally control a practicable number of prosthetic movements based on user intent.

Determining intended user movement to control an external device


The new blueberry plant variety ‘FC11-164’ is provided. ‘FC11-164’ is a commercial variety for hand and machine harvest fresh market. The new blueberry plant originated from open pollination of ‘ZF06-168’ (female parent) and an unknown male parent. ‘FC11-164’ is characterized for its upright growth habit, exhibits a high leaf length to width ratio, and produces a long leaf internode length.

The present invention relates to the discovery of a new and distinct cultivar blueberry plant (Vaccinium corymbosum L.), referred to as 'FC11-164,' as herein described and illustrated. The new blueberry plant variety 'FC11-164' is a commercial variety.
Pedigree and History: The new blueberry plant originated from an open pollination cross of 'ZF06-168' (female parent, not patented) by an unknown male parent. The open pollination cross that produced 'FC11-164' was completed at Lowell, Oreg., USA in 2008. The new variety of 'FC11-164' was planted in 2009 in Lowell, Oreg. and selected in 2011.
'FC11-164' has been found to undergo asexual propagation in Lowell, Oreg. since 2012 by a number of routes, such as in vitro propagation. Asexual propagation techniques in Lowell, Oreg., such as in vitro propagation, have shown that the characteristics of the new variety are homogenous, stable, and strictly transmissible by such asexual propagation from one generation to another. Accordingly, the new variety undergoes asexual propagation in a true-to-type manner.


The invention provides processes for the recovery of a catalyst which are to be applied to the reactions wherein boron trifluoride or a complex thereof is used as the catalyst, that is, (I) a process for the recovery of a catalyst which comprises using as the reaction solvent a solvent containing a hydrofluorocarbon compound and/or an oxygenic hydrofluorocarbon compound and, after the completion of the reaction, separating the reaction solvent from the reaction mixture; and (II) a process for the recovery of a catalyst which comprises extracting boron trifluoride or a complex thereof from the reaction mixture after the completion of the reaction by using a hydrofluorocarbon compound and/or an oxygenic hydrofluorocarbon compound as the extracting solvent. According to the processes, boron trifluoride or complexes thereof used as catalyst can be easily separated from the reaction mixtures and re-used.

Boron trifluoride or a boron trifluoride complex consisting of boron trifluoride and a complexing agent (ligand) is well known as a so-called Friedel-Crafts catalyst and has excellent catalyst performance of suppressing side reactions and promoting only main reactions effectively as compared with AlCl3, FeCl3, sulfuric acid and the like. Therefore, boron trifluoride and its various complexes are industrially used widely as a catalyst in various chemical reactions such as alkylation, isomerization, polymerization, dimerization, condensation, addition, decomposition, dehydration, etc.
Main industrial use of boron trifluoride includes a catalyst in manufacturing ethylbenzene by gas phase alkylation from ethylene and benzene. Alkylbenzenes used for synthetic detergents or anti-oxidants are manufactured by liquid phase alkylation reaction of olefins and aromatics, where boron trifluoride or its complexes is also used as the catalyst in the manufacture.
Furthermore, boron trifluoride or its complexes is also used as a polymerization catalyst in manufacturing petroleum resins and chromane-indene resins, which are widely used in the fields such as adhesives and printing ink, and when this catalyst is used, it has the effect that there is less deterioration of a product and corrosion of equipment. As mentioned above, boron trifluoride or its complexes is a catalyst provided for various uses as a manufacturing catalyst in chemical industry.
A catalyst comprising boron trifluoride or a boron trifluoride complex consisting of boron trifluoride and a complexing agent is used, depending on the reaction of interest, in the form of boron trifluoride alone or a complex in which various compounds are coordinated to boron trifluoride at an appropriate ratio. It is general that boron trifluoride is deactivated to separate a reaction product and a catalyst after completion of the reaction in which boron trifluoride or its catalyst is used. For separation of the reaction product and the catalyst, a process of washing the reaction product by adding water to the reaction solution to deactivate boron trifluoride and a process of washing the reaction product after neutralizing the reaction solution by basic aqueous solutions such as ammonia, sodium hydroxide, and lime are usually adopted.
However, since the waste water containing fluorides or boron, composed of a hydrate of boron trifluoride or a neutralized product of boron trifluoride in high concentrations, is discharged in the washing process or the neutralizing process, it is recently desired to take measures for removal of the waste water containing fluorides or boron in consideration of the problem of environmental pollution. In particular, since it is difficult by the present technology for waste-water treatment to remove boron easily, and since it is costly to remove boron completely, it is desired to remove boron at a low cost. Furthermore, since boron trifluoride is expensive, it is expected to recover and reuse the removed boron trifluoride.
In the condensation reaction of olefin using boron trifluoride or boron trifluoride complexes as a catalyst, even if the reaction product solution is allowed to stand, the boron trifluoride complex is almost dissolved in the reaction product or forms an emulsion, and hence it is difficult to completely separate the reaction product and the boron trifluoride complex catalyst. Therefore, boron trifluoride is removed from the reaction product by washing with water or a basic aqueous solution. However, if water or the basic solution is added to the boron trifluoride complex, the boron trifluoride catalyst forms a water complex such as BF3.(H2O)n or a boron trifluoride salt, and cannot be repeatedly used as a catalyst without change. Although a process of separating the catalyst layer and the reaction product using a complex of BF3 with phosphoric acid, acetic acid or phenol is also disclosed (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. Heisei02(1990)-45429 (p1–6)), the reaction proceeds only slowly unless the catalyst concentration is 10% or more. Moreover, separation of the reaction product and the catalyst is inadequate and the amount of the catalyst that can be reused is limited. Moreover, since the catalyst acts as a Broensted acid, side reactions such as isomerization occur, and consequently the aforementioned process of separation cannot be adopted particularly for the condensation dimerization reaction of olefin.
Conventionally, there is disclosed a process for the recovery of boron trifluoride, wherein the reaction product solution containing boron trifluoride or a boron trifluoride complex is contacted with calcium fluoride (CaF2) at the temperature of 200° C. or less, the generated calcium tetrafluoroborate (Ca(BF4)2) is heated at the temperature between 100 and 600° C., and boron trifluoride is recovered by obtaining boron trifluoride and calcium fluoride (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-109313 (p1–9)).
Similarly, there is disclosed a process for the recovery of boron trifluoride by generating tetrafluoroborate using a fluoride such as lithium fluoride, strontium fluoride, and barium fluoride and heating at the temperature between 100 and 600° C. (for example, refer to Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-128522 (p1–9), Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-135402 (p1–9), and Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2000-135403 (p1–9)).
However, in the reaction using boron trifluoride as a catalyst, it is necessary to react at low temperature below room temperature in many cases. Moreover, when the temperature is raised to around 100° C. after completion of the reaction, at which tetrafluoroborate is synthesized advantageously, a side reaction occurs and causes decrease in the yield or lowering of the quality of a reaction product of interest. The complex is hardly formed below room temperature. Moreover, decomposition reaction by heating at high temperature is not desirable from a viewpoint of energy saving.
Moreover, there is a problem that, when the reaction product solution is viscous, it is difficult to separate the reaction product completely from borates such as calcium tetrafluoroborate, which takes time and effort.
A process for the recovery of boron trifluoride complexes is also disclosed, wherein the boron trifluoride complex is precipitated and separated from a nonconducting fluid by applying direct current and/or alternating voltage to the nonconducting fluid in which boron trifluoride is dispersed and/or dissolved and subsequent warming of the separated complex (for example, refer to Japanese unexamined patent publication (Kokai) No. 2001-104805 (p1–11)).
However, in this process for the recovery, it is necessary to continue to apply a voltage of several hundreds of volts from an external power supply for 30 minutes or more after completion of the reaction. Since the reaction proceeds further and a side reaction occurs if the voltage supply is continued, a process for stopping the reaction is required. There is also a problem that the boron trifluoride complex dissolved in the reaction mixture is not always separated. In addition, it was necessary to provide an electric equipment system, and it was difficult to completely separate the boron trifluoride complex by this recovery process.

Processes for the recovery and recycling of boron trifluoride or complexes thereof


Methods, systems, and devices for user device authentication are described. In some systems, an application server may host a secure application utilizing user device verification. A proxy server may perform a certificate challenge with a user device to determine whether the user device is authorized to access the application, and may transmit a login request and authentication information to the application server based on the result of the challenge. The application server may determine whether the certificate challenge was successful, and may verify whether the proxy server is a valid proxy for the application. If these validations are successful, the application server may transmit an authorization message (e.g., an encrypted ticket) to the user device for a login procedure. The user device may send a login request with the authorization message directly to the application server (e.g., without further tunneling through the proxy) to initiate a login procedure.

A cloud platform (i.e., a computing platform for cloud computing) may be employed by many users to store, manage, and process data using a shared network of remote servers. Users may develop applications on the cloud platform to handle the storage, management, and processing of data. In some cases, the cloud platform may utilize a multi-tenant database system. Users may access the cloud platform using various user devices (e.g., desktop computers, laptops, smartphones, tablets, or other computing systems, etc.).
In one example, the cloud platform may support customer relationship management (CRM) solutions. This may include support for sales, service, marketing, community, analytics, applications, and the Internet of Things. A user may utilize the cloud platform to help manage contacts of the user. For example, managing contacts of the user may include analyzing data, storing and preparing communications, and tracking opportunities and sales.
In some cases, the cloud platform may support secure applications, where a user attempting to access a secure application may need to input valid user credentials using a valid user device. However, validating the user device at an application server may result in security risks and problems of scale. For example, even allowing an unauthorized user device to display an application login screen may help an unauthorized user determine how to access the application without valid credentials or a valid device. Additionally, implementing user device authentication at each application server running a secure application within a system (e.g., a multi-tenant database system) may introduce large amounts of overhead and redundancy into the system.


A voltage controlled oscillator (VCO) is tunable over a wide frequency range while exhibiting low phase noise by dynamically switching between two or more voltage/frequency operating curves. Reference voltages establish switching thresholds for each operating curve. A control circuit compares the VCO tuning voltage to the reference threshold voltages, and based on that comparison and its previous outputs, generates switching signals effective to selectively couple and decouple one or more frequency altering devices to the VCO.

The present invention relates generally to the field of voltage controlled oscillators, and specifically to a method of automatically tuning a voltage controlled oscillator over a wide frequency range.
Wireless radio communications systems transmit voice and other data between fixed transceivers and mobile radio communications terminals via the propagation of radio frequency (RF) electromagnetic waves. Essential to the functionality of such a wireless communication system is the stable and accurate generation of oscillating electrical signals. One circuit widely used to generate such oscillating signals is a phase-lock loop (PLL). A PLL is an electrical circuit that generates an oscillating output signal that has a constant phase relationship with an oscillating input signal. By utilizing a highly stable and accurate source, such as a crystal oscillator, to generate the oscillating input signal, and various frequency multipliers and dividers, a stable and accurate oscillating output signal can be generated across a range of frequencies.
A critical component of a typical PLL is a Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO). The VCO generates an oscillating signal at its output, the frequency of which is responsive to a voltage level applied at its input. In the PLL, the voltage input, referred to herein as the tuning voltage, is a function of the phase/frequency error between the output of the VCO and the desired oscillating signal. The VCO thus generates an oscillating signal at a frequency that varies over a finite range, corresponding to variations in the tuning voltage over a corresponding finite range. The specific parameters of this voltage/frequency relationship depend upon the design of the VCO, the values of electrical components that comprise the VCO, ambient temperature, and other effects as are widely known in the electronics arts. Ideally, if plotted on a voltage/frequency axis, the relationship would define a generally linear curve with positive slope, i.e., an increase or decrease in the tuning voltage causes a corresponding increase or decrease in the frequency of the oscillating signal generated by the VCO. Such a voltage/frequency curve is referred to herein as an operating curve of the VCO.
To expand the frequency range of a VCO, it is known to selectively couple frequency altering components, such as for example capacitors, varactors, FET transistors, and the like, to the resonant circuit in the VCO. This alters the range of frequencies generated in response to the tuning voltage, in effect establishing a new operating curve for the VCO. For example, it is known to couple various capacitors to a VCO via a programmable switching matrix such that, by selectively configuring the switches, a plurality of overlapping frequency ranges for the VCO may be selected. This ensures that the VCO may be calibrated to compensate for deviations in operating its frequency range due to manufacturing process variations or other parasitic effects, by choosing a VCO operating curve to encompass the desired range of VCO operation. This calibration, also known as VCO trimming, generally occurs in the factory upon manufacture of the integrated circuit containing the VCO, such as for example, by burning fuses or by programming a particular value in a register, the contents of which control the switches connecting the transistors to the VCO oscillator.
Factory tuning of a VCO to a particular operating curve is a time-consuming, and thus costly, part of the manufacturing process. Additionally, once thus tuned, the VCO is limited to a single, finite range of operation, as it is restricted to a single operating curve.
The present invention entails a self-tuning voltage controlled oscillator circuit. The VCO produces an oscillating signal at its output, the frequency of which is responsive to a tuning voltage its input. At least one frequency altering device is selectively coupled to the VCO and is operative to alter the relationship of the tuning voltage to the VCO output frequency, thereby establishing at least two operating curves describing the relationship of the VCO tuning voltage to the VCO output frequency. The VCO is switched between the operating curves by a control circuit. In one aspect of the invention, the control circuit monitors the tuning voltage and generates outputs operative to selectively couple the frequency altering device(s) to the VCO based only on the value of the tuning voltage. In another aspect, the control circuit receives a plurality of reference voltages establishing a plurality of switching thresholds and outputs switching signals based on a comparison of the VCO tuning voltage to the plurality of switching thresholds, and on its previous outputs.


Each swirl passages of the needle guide and fuel swirl member of a fuel injector has a longer and wider entrance portion and a shorter and narrower exit portion to allow only the latter portion, not the former portion, to perform a metering function. Production of swirl passages is facilitated and more consistent metering results.

From issued patents such as commonly assigned U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,805,837 and 5,170,945, it is known to provide swirl passages in a needle guide and fuel swirl member that is located immediately above the valve seat. These passages are typically drilled holes that are skewed to the axis of the fuel injector and arranged circumferentially around the valve needle. Fuel passing through the swirl passages exits with outward velocity and solid-body swirl. The two components of velocity create a hollow cone with high shear and Raleigh instabilities that tear the fluid sheets into small particles. The drilled swirl holes are usually of a very high L/D (length to diameter) ratio in order to assure that the fluid is directed correctly and is of sufficiently high velocity to impart the desired swirling motion.
In a high-pressure injector that is used to directly inject gasoline into an engine cylinder, such swirl passages pose several problems. The first involves manufacturing in a mass-production setting. The twist drills required for drilling the long slender passages are relatively fragile because they too must be long and slender, and the drilling itself is conducted at a compound angle to the injector axis. These factors tend to make the process difficult, time-consuming, and expensive.
A lack of precision of such drillings may also adversely affect the fuel flow. For example, if a drilled hole is used as a metering orifice to control flow rate, it will be sensitive to surface finish, drilling length, drilling diameter, entrance and exit conditions, burrs, and fluid viscosity. Inability to consistently secure full process control over the drillings during production is apt to lead to inconsistent metering performance in finished injectors.
Another concern in such a fuel injector is the effect of deposits that may build up on the wall of a swirl passage. Since a swirl passage is small and the drilled surface area is large in comparison to the flow area through the swirl passage, the flow rate will be sensitive to accumulation of deposits on the swirl passage wall. While all gasoline fuel injectors are subject to some extent to accumulations of varnish due to the composition of typical gasolines, a direct gasoline injector is apt to be more sensitive than say a port injector because its nozzle is exposed to the combustion chamber and hence to higher temperatures that encourage varnish formation.
One more concern is the strong dependence of flow rate on the viscosity of fluid. A long slender drilling is quite sensitive to viscosity which is in turn highly temperature sensitive. In an application where a flow orifice may experience temperatures anywhere from about -40 degrees C. to over 500 degrees C., temperature sensitivity becomes an important issue for associated calibration hardware and software.
The present invention proposes to make the swirl passage in stepped fashion, with a larger portion at the entrance and a very short portion of appropriate metering diameter at the point of discharge to the swirl space. Although U.S. Pat. No. 4,805,837 shows a stepped construction, such stepped construction comprises a long narrow portion at the entrance and a short wider portion at the exit.
A construction for a swirl passage in accordance with the present invention reduces the dependence of flow on the quality of the whole swirl passage since the larger drilling at the entrance will not be the restricting part of the swirl passage. The resulting implication is that less precision, and hence less expense, will be associated with the larger entrance portion. For example, the larger portion of the swirl passage can be made by a less costly process such as coring a metal injection molded part, a high-speed drilling process, or EDM. The shorter, smaller portion that performs the metering can then be created more quickly and easily (since far less material is being removed) with more accurate processes such as laser machining, precision drilling, or even punching. The resulting short metering portion has several advantages. It is well known that short sharp edged orifices are relatively insensitive to viscosity variations, eliminating the temperature calibration shifts that may plague long drilling. Since the long section no longer performs a metering function, accumulation of deposits on its wall no longer significantly affects the flow rate through the swirl passage. The shorter portion is, or is equivalent to, a sharp-edged orifice, providing minimal surface area for deposit build-up. Experience with port injectors indicates a self-cleaning effect for such an orifice because any deposit build-up on it will be inherently weak, and while still small, will break off, to be carried away by entrainment with the passing flow. This self-cleaning effect makes calibration much more stable over the life of the fuel injector. Flow variation due to production tolerances is also less because there is less area over which variations can affect flow.
One more advantage is that calibration may be varied to a certain extent during the course of the mass-production process. With a stepped swirl passage according to the present invention, the relative lengths of the two different-sized portions of the swirl passage may be varied to vary the flow to some extent. For example, the depth of the larger portion may be changed before the smaller hole is created without interrupting the manufacturing process in order to change the size of a twist drill, as would be necessary with a non-stepped swirl passage. Such drilled non-stepped swirl passages can be changed only by changing the twist drill used to machine them. Since such twist drills are typically available only in finite increments of diameter, it is unlikely that the process using them can be trimmed as well as with the disclosed stepped construction process.
The foregoing features, advantages, and benefits of the invention, along with additional ones, will be seen in the ensuing description and claims which should be considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The drawings disclose a presently preferred embodiment of the invention according to the best mode contemplated at this time for carrying out the invention.


This invention is directed to a process, computer program and apparatus for displaying an assembly of objects of a product lifecycle management database. The method according to the invention aims at providing an access to the database, selecting the assembly of objects in the database, identifying a plurality of viewpoints on said assembly, retrieving from the database a set of objects of said assembly according to the plurality of identified viewpoints, computing a model of said assembly for all the retrieved objects of the set of objects, and displaying a view of the model, any displayed views being computed locally starting from the objects retrieved at the retrieving step.

A number of systems and solutions are offered on the market for the design of parts or assemblies of parts, such as the one provided by DASSAULT SYSTEMES under the trademark CATIA. These so-called computer-aided design (CAD) systems allow a user to construct, manipulate and view complex three-dimensional (3D) models of objects or assemblies of objects. CAD systems provide a representation of modeled objects using edges or lines, in certain cases with faces. Lines or edges may be represented in various manners, e.g. non-uniform rational B-splines (NURBS). These CAD systems manage parts or assemblies of parts as modeled objects, which are essentially specifications of geometry. Specifically, CAD files contain specifications, from which a geometry is generated, and from geometry a representation is generated. Specifications, geometry and representation may be stored in a single CAD file or multiple ones. CAD systems include graphic tools for representing the modeled objects to the designers; these tools are dedicated to the display of complex objects—the typical size of a file representing an object in a CAD system being in the range of a Mega-byte for part, and an assembly may comprise thousands of parts. A CAD system manages models of objects, which are stored in electronic files.
There also exists product life cycle management (PLM) solutions, such as the suite of products provided by DASSAULT SYSTEMES under the trademarks CATIA, ENOVIA and DELMIA; these solutions provide an engineering hub, which organizes product engineering knowledge, a manufacturing hub, which manages manufacturing engineering knowledge, and an enterprise hub which enables enterprise integrations and connections into both the engineering and manufacturing hubs. All together the systems delivers an open object model linking products, processes, resources to enable dynamic, knowledge-based product creation and decision support that drives optimized product definition, manufacturing preparation, production and service.
Such PLM solutions comprise a relational database of products. A database is usually defined as a collection of data (typically data and relations between the data) organized for rapid search and retrieval. Databases are structured to facilitate storage, retrieval, modification, and deletion of data in conjunction with various data-processing operations. Databases generally consist of a file or set of files that can be broken down into records, each of which consists of one or more fields. Fields are the basic units of data storage. Users retrieve database information primarily through queries. Using keywords and sorting commands, users can search, rearrange, group, and select the field in many records to retrieve or create reports on particular aggregates of data according to the rules of the database management system being used.
Using PLM solutions, a basic need of a user is to visualize a complex product made of thousand objects/parts and this, possibly according to different views or different viewpoints (virtual camera). The user may notably modify the viewpoint while viewing the modeled product being displayed, e.g. a sales engineer may whish to show an overview of a product to his customers.
The standard solution to this problem is to load in the client computer memory the whole model stored on the PLM database and corresponding to the assembly of said objects, including a three dimensional graphic representation of the model and all the information on said objects such as geometry, constraints . . . , but also hyperlinks to other objects. Thus, selection of individual parts is possible. However, in the field of PLM/CAD, the critical problem is that the global amount of visualization data is too large to fit in the client computer memory or at least too large for enabling a rapid display. Thus, due to the typical size of a file representing a CAD product (a product such as an airplane is likely to contain millions of parts, representing several giga-octets of memory), the rendering time of a view of said product may be cripplingly long. Furthermore, loading the whole model and/or selecting individual parts is not always necessary for a user, e.g. the sales engineer solely needs to show to his customers an overview of the product.
Another solution consists in navigating in a PLM database without loading the whole model. In this case, a viewpoint on a view of objects to be rendered is identified. Then, the view is rendered according to the identified viewpoint. To this aim, a plurality of locations in the view are determined, which are for example obtained according to a grid. Next, the database is queried and modeled objects are identified according to said locations. Typically, rays passing through the viewpoint and the locations are cast, and modeled objects intersecting the rays are identified. Meanwhile, the modeled objects identified are incrementally displayed in the graphical user interface so as to render a three dimensional view of the modeled objects.
However, this solution presents several drawbacks. First, the whole process must be repeated for each new viewpoint. When several new viewpoints are selected by the user on the client computer, the PLM database is queried several times, and resources (memory, CPU . . . ) of the server hosting the PLM database are continuously used, which can lead to a depletion of available resources of the server. Consequently, the responses to the queries cannot be provided in time, and as a result, the three dimensional view of the modeled objects cannot be displayed. Therefore, the visual navigation around the model, that is, the visualization of the model according to several successive viewpoints, is not user-friendly as the display of successive views lags; the transition between two views is not immediate or quasi-immediate. The visual navigation thus lacks of fluidity and ergonomics, and is time consuming for the user. Moreover, even if a new selected viewpoint was previously selected, the whole process has still to be repeated. Indeed, resources of the client computer are limited, e.g. the memory of the client is cleared as a new view is displayed.
Incidentally, the client computer of the user may be in communication through a product data management (PDM) system via a computer network such as a Local Area Network (LAN) or a Wide Area Network (WAN). Such a situation may occur when a sales engineer located outside of his office wishes to show a product (e.g. a 3D model) to a customer. Requests performed by the client computer pass over the network, and responses provided by the PDM system are also transported by the network. Again, the repetition of the whole process involves a huge consumption of the resources of the PDM system, but also a large consumption of the network bandwidth. As a result, the network is congested, and others networks parameters such as latency, delay, jitter, packet dropping probability, queuing delay, bit error rate are degraded. The network is overwhelmed and its overall performances strongly decrease.
Thus, according to the limitations of the existing solutions shortly discussed above, there is a need for an improved solution for displaying an assembly of objects of a product lifecycle management database, which decreases computation and/or network resources required to provide the display.

Process, program and apparatus for displaying an assembly of objects of a PLM database


Cloud migration may be performed by identifying applications that are currently operating in the enterprise and performing certain determinations as to whether those applications are proper candidates for the migration to the cloud. One example method of operation may provide identifying at least one application operating on an enterprise network, retrieving current usage data of the at least one application, comparing the current usage data of the at least one application to a threshold amount of usage data to determine whether the application has exceeded the threshold amount of usage data. Next, the creation of an instance process may be performed on an entity operating outside the enterprise network and the application may be operated via the instance process and otherwise terminated in the enterprise network to alleviate resources.

Conventionally, cloud computing is an outsourced and often-time remote enterprise function that does not easily integrate into the working models of an existing computing platform, network or other enterprise configuration.
Currently, traditional enterprise networks may include various nodes that contribute to an overall business process or processes. The network nodes may include both physical and cloud-based machines. Enterprise networks may include cloud computing machines and physical hosts, which are required to provide an allocation of resources.
Enterprise networks may also include cloud resources/machines and physical host devices which are required to provide an allocation of resources. Physical hosts may include hardware devices that provide certain services, such as physical storage, which may be converted to cloud storage and allocated to corresponding cloud machines or cloud spaces (e.g., virtual cloud machines) depending on the anticipated requirements of an observed use of such cloud functions. The balance between actual physical storage and physical processing and allocated cloud storage and cloud processing usage may be optimized by monitoring and identifying the activities and functions performed in the enterprise network environment.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Dynamic resource allocation of cloud instances and enterprise application migration to cloud architecture


Methods and apparatus for immunizing dynamic random access memory (DRAM) modules in the data processing system against data loss from transitions that occur with memory mode switching during the scan operation and permitting normal operations to be performed on the memory modules regardless of the state of the system clocks.

Regardless of size, most digital data processing systems consist of a combinational logic network and bi-stable latch elements. The combinational logic network contains hundreds or even thousands of logic gates, such as AND and OR gates, that perform the required decision-making functions. The latches surround the combinational logic and serve as memory elements to temporarily store the input data, output data and control information.
The state of the processing system is defined by the state of all of its latches. Usually, the state of the system changes at the occurrence of each clock pulse from the clocking system. The state of the system is determined by the state of the input latches, the state of the control latches, the state of the output latches and the structure of the combinational logic network at the occurrence of each clock pulse.
A data processing system may be designed with a scan technique to provide better fault isolation so that faults in the latches are independently ascertainable from faults in the associated combinational logic. In this case, the latches are modified to function like parallel-load, serial-shift registers connected end to end. This allows reconfiguring of the latches into one extensive serial shift register for test purposes.
When so configured, a select signal is used to shift the latches to a scan mode for testing from a non-scan mode. When the latches are in the scan mode, the latches are provided with a test input signal with a serial data test pattern. The last of the latches in the serial test configuration has a test output signal representative of the serial data test pattern passing through the latches in the scan mode.
A serious problem with the implementation of the scan technique is the corruption of data stored in the DRAM's of the memory modules in the memory system when the scanning mode is initiated. This is because the latches associated with control of the DRAM's are run through an arbitrary number of transitions during scan, and their outputs can corrupt the stored data in the DRAM's if the DRAM's are not isolated from these latches during scan.
Furthermore, because of the necessity to refresh the DRAM's periodically to preserve their contents, a clock must be used to control the refresh cycles. It is desirable to single step the memory controller, or run it in bursts, during scanning operations. However, if the data processing system clock is used for this purpose, it cannot be stopped, single stepped or run in bursts of cycles without interrupting the DRAM refresh cycles.
Consequently, the scanning operation cannot be conducted on a single step basis to first scan in a test pattern, single step to system clock, and then scan out the result without interrupting the DRAM refresh cycles, if the refresh cycles are timed by the system clock. This is because the memory controller is synchronized with the system clock, and it expects an uninterrupted flow of clock pulses when controlling the DRAM's. If the system clock is single stepped, this involves stopping the system clock, and the long intervals possible between clock pulses translate to large interruptions in the timing of the control signals to the DRAM's resulting in an improperly executed refresh cycle.
Similarly, it is often desirable to run a sequence of single steps, the first of which is scanned in, then a burst of clock pulses comprising the desired number of clock cycles is applied and then the result is scanned out. As in the single step case, the memory controller expects an uninterrupted flow of clock pulses, so if the burst is not long enough, then again an improperly executed refresh cycle occurs.
Because it is important that the memory controller be synchronized to the system clock during normal operation, it is not possible to simply run the memory controller on its own asynchronous clock all the time to alleviate the DRAM refresh cycle problem.
In addition to refreshing the DRAM's, it may also be desired, while single stepping or bursting the system clocks, to perform normal operations such as write and read operations to the DRAM's. Since control of these normal operations also requires an uninterrupted flow of system clock pulses, similar problems arise as described above.

Method and apparatus for performing diagnosis scanning of a memory unit regardless of the state of the system clock and without affecting the store data


Methods and apparatus' are disclosed for the simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of biomass providing for the compartmentalization of the saccharification process and the fermentation process resulting in decreased enzymatic end-product inhibition.

Biomass (cellulosic and lignocellulosic) feedstocks and wastes, such as agricultural residues, wood, forestry wastes, sludge from paper manufacture, and municipal and industrial solid wastes, provide a potentially large renewable feedstock for the production of chemicals, plastics, fuels and feeds. Cellulosic and lignocellulosic feedstocks and wastes, composed of carbohydrate polymers comprising cellulose, hemicellulose and pectins, are generally treated by a variety of chemical, mechanical and enzymatic (enzymatic saccharification) means to release primarily hexose and pentose sugars, which can then be converted by microorganisms to useful products.
Enzymatic saccharification of biomass results in accumulation of cellobiose and glucose in the saccharification vessel producing end-product inhibition of exocellulases, slowing the rate of cellulose hydrolysis. Also produced is xylobiose which produces feedback inhibition of xylanases, slowing the rate of hemicellulose hydrolysis. The slowing of the rate of glucan and xylan hydrolysis may be partially relieved by the addition of higher concentrations of enzyme, however, this solution increases the cost of the process.
Previous methods to address the end-product inhibition during enzymatic saccharification include: use of simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF; Takagi, M., et al., In: Process Bioconversion Symposium, 551-571, 1977) wherein the two steps of saccharification and fermentation were combined.
Combining the two process steps in SSF during biofuel production has a lower capital cost and the presence of the biofuel product lowers the risk of fermentation contamination (Wyman, C. E., et al., Biomass Bioenergy, 3: 301-307, 1992). In addition, in this method the formed glucose is consumed by the fermenting microorganism, relieving the end-product inhibition of both β-glucosidase and cellobiohydrolase enzymes. Formation of cellobiose from cellulose as well as its hydrolysis to glucose is thereby accelerated, increasing the rate of conversion of cellulose to glucose. Another approach to relieving glucose end-product inhibition was described in (WO 2006/101832) wherein the reversible conversion of glucose to fructose and xylose to xylulose partially relieved the end-product inhibition.
Klei et al., (Biotechnol. Bioeng. Symp. (1981) 11 Symp. Biotechnol. Energy Prod. Conserve., 3rd, 593-601) discussed use of immobilized β-glucosidase from Aspergillus phoenicis in hollow fiber ultrafiltration membrane cartridges, used as enzyme reactors, whereby hydrolysis of cellobiose occurred. This system was also used for circulation of cellulases from Trichoderma reesei during saccharification of cellulose. Application of hollow fiber membranes allows continuous processing of cellulose and significantly reduces cellulase requirements.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,220,721, simultaneous saccharification and fermentation was performed by reusable endoglucanase and cellobiohydrolase enzymes adsorbed to a solid support.
CN101173306 describes combined enzymatic hydrolysis and continuous fermentation for acetone and butanol manufacturing from steam-exploded straw in a hollow fiber membrane reactor. It was indicated that the cellulase enzyme used for enzymatic hydrolysis of the straw could be recycled using the membrane reactor for high efficiency and low cost.
Methods described above have each partially improved the saccharification process and minimally relieved the end-product inhibition during saccharification.
The methods disclosed in the art notwithstanding, more efficient methods are needed to address the problem of end-product inhibition of enzymatic saccharification during simultaneous saccharification and fermentation.

Compartmentalized simultaneous saccharification and fermentation of biomass


In order to prevent a person handling a defibrillator during manufacture and in conjunction with implantation of the defibrillator from receiving an electrical shock due to a fault, a protective arrangement is provided for the defibrillator. This protective arrangement is in the form of a plug part detachably connectable to the defibrillator housing and having terminal pins engaging into the connecting sockets of the defibrillator which is present for receiving the electrode leads. The terminal pins produce an electrically conductive connection in the sockets and are directly connected to one another inside the plug part via an electrical resistor. In case of a fault, the high-voltage energy generated between the connecting sockets is harmlessly absorbed in the resistor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a protective arrangement for an implantable defibrillator of the type having jacks or sockets for the electrical and mechanical connection of electrode leads to the housing.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As is known, implantable defibrillators contain a high-voltage generator arranged in the housing of the defibrillator, which generates a high-voltage pulse at the connecting jacks or sockets on demand. This pulse is then delivered to the heart to be defibrillated via lead terminating electrodes disposed at or in the proximity of the heart. The demand for delivering a high-voltage output pulse can ensue automatically after evaluating mensurationally acquired physiological parameters that indicate a fibrillation condition of the heart or can ensue proceeding extracorporeally outside via a programming device, for example for testing purposes.
In order to prevent a person handling the defibrillator during manufacture, and later in conjunction with the implantation of the defibrillator, from receiving an electrical shock due to some kind of fault, a protective arrangement is disclosed herein for an implantable defibrillator of the type described above which includes a plug part, with terminal pins, that is detachably connectable to the defibrillator housing, these terminal pins being insertable into the connecting sockets while producing an electrically conductive connection and being directly connected to one another via an electrical resistor inside the plug part.
A generally similar plug part for a heart pacemaker is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,830,005, however, in that known plug a resistor is arranged between the terminal pins in series with a magnetic switch, the magnetic switch being capable of being closed for testing purposes with an external testing magnet. This known plug thus does not represent protection against high-voltage but is instead for simulating the heart impedance using the resistor in order to be able to test the heart pacemaker for functionability before an implantation. A high-voltage protection is not achieved with this known arrangement because the magnetic switch is not opened in the normal case.
An arrangement is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,998,542 composed of a resistor cascade with a glow lamp as a display element for testing the output energy of defibrillators. This known test circuit has contact surfaces against which the electrodes of the defibrillator are planarly applied in order to subsequently trigger the output of a high-voltage pulse by the defibrillator. Again, no high-voltage protection whatsoever is provided.

Protective arrangement for an implantable defibrillator


The present invention provides a physical water treatment (PWT) method and apparatus to treat liquid coolants. Electrodes (22, 24) are provided in a coolant stream (21), and an alternating voltage is applied across the electrodes (22, 24) to produce an electric field through the coolant. The alternating voltage creates an oscillating electric field in the coolant that promotes the collision of dissolved mineral ions. The ions collide to form seed particles that precipitate out of solution. Bulk precipitation of seed particles decreases the availability of ions in solution which can crystallize on heat transfer surfaces. The seed particles adhere to additional ions that separate out of solution and form larger particles that may be removed from the coolant stream (21) using a variety of treatment measures. In addition to precipitating mineral ions, the electric field may be applied to destroy bacteria, algae and microorganisms that accumulate in the coolant stream (21).

Containers and conduits that store or transport liquids often accumulate mineral deposits from minerals present in the liquid. For example, Ca++ ions combine with HCO3− ions to form CaCO3 particles. Mineral deposits form in liquids in a variety of ways. Some mineral ions combine in the liquid stream and form particles that settle onto surfaces in the form of a soft loose sludge. This is sometimes called particulate fouling. In other instances, ions come out of solution at a heat transfer surface and form hard crystalline deposits or scaling that binds to the heat transfer surface. This latter phenomenon is often referred to as crystallization or precipitation fouling.
Scaling can create significant problems in heat exchangers and other equipment that have hot surfaces in contact with liquid. The solubility of mineral compounds in water, such as CaCO3, decreases as the water increases in temperature. This is sometimes referred to as inverse solubility. As a result, when water enters a heat exchanger and increases in temperature, dissolved mineral ions in the water come out of solution at the heat transfer surface where the water is the hottest. The calcium ions adhere directly to the heat transfer surface as they react with HCO3− ions. In the case of calcium ions, the reaction is:Ca+++2HCO3→CaCO3+H2CO3→CaCO3+H2O+CO2↑.As the reaction of CaCO3 occurs on the heat transfer surface, the CaCO3 particles bind to the heat transfer surface to form scale. Excessive scaling can damage heat exchangers and reduce the rate of heat transfer through the heat transfer surface. In extreme cases, scaling will permanently damage equipment.
Mineral deposits in fluid conduits and equipment require periodic removal. Brush punching tools that have a coarse scrubbing surface are adequate to remove softer mineral deposits formed by particulate fouling. However, brush punching is not effective to remove scaling caused by crystallization fouling, and additional cleaning measures must be used. For example, chemical cleaning with acid solutions is often used in conjunction with brush punching to remove hardened scale from heat transfer surfaces. These techniques are time consuming and labor intensive, requiring the equipment to be shut down for significant periods of time.
In the present state of the art, physical water treatment (PWT) methods are used to reduce scaling in heat transfer equipment. These methods use a variety of mechanisms, including permanent magnets, solenoid-coils, pressure drop devices, and vortex flow devices. Although these methods employ different technologies, they are all used to promote bulk precipitation of mineral particles at locations away from heat transfer surfaces. This reduces the dissolved concentration of mineral ions that enters the heat exchanger, reducing the potential for scale formation in the heat exchanger. In the case of calcium ions, PWT methods enhance molecular attraction of Ca++ with HCO 3− ions to precipitate CaCO3 particles in water.
In PWT methods, the aim is to encourage the formation of soft sludge through particulate fouling, and prevent hardened deposits formed by crystallization fouling. Mineral ions are precipitated out of solution away from heat transfer surfaces to form seed particles in the bulk liquid. This reduces the concentration of ions entering the heat exchanger, and thereby decreases the potential for scaling on the heat transfer surfaces. As seed particles enter the heat exchanger, they attract additional mineral ions that come out of solution as the water temperature increases. The seed particles combine with the ions to form relatively large particles that can be easily removed from the liquid stream. Particles that settle out of the liquid form a soft sludge through particulate fouling. This sludge may be easily removed by punch brushing, or by scouring in areas having a higher water velocity.
In many prior art PWT methods, an electrical field is employed to encourage the attraction of Ca++ ions and HCO3− ions toward one another. One or more elements are placed on the exterior of a pipe or container, out of contact with the water, to generate an indirect electrical field in the water. Indirect electric fields have limited effectiveness in reducing scale, because they generally do not provide a strong enough electric field in the water to efficiently induce bulk precipitation. For example, it is known to surround a water carrying conduit with a solenoid coil driven by an alternating polarity in a square-wave current signal to induce a pulsating (reversing) electric field within the water. The electric field in the water is governed by Faraday s Law. According to Faraday s law, the electric field E is described by:∫E·ds=−δ/δt∫B·dA where E is an induced electric field vector, s is a line vector in the electric field, B is a magnetic field strength vector, and A is the cross sectional area of the solenoid coil. In this arrangement, an induced electric field is produced within the water, but the field typically has a limited electric field strength. When the solenoid is driven by a square-wave voltage signal having a voltage of 12 volts, 5 amperes peak, and a frequency of 500 Hz, the electric field strength is not more than about 5 mV/cm.
Under Faraday s law, the strength of the induced electric field depends on the solenoid coil diameter. The electric field strength induced in the water generally decreases as the diameter of the pipe increases. Therefore, to provide adequate field strength in larger pipes, larger solenoid coil diameters must be used, thereby increasing material and energy costs.
The strength of the induced electric field is also dependent on the frequency of the signal. Bulk precipitation generally becomes more efficient with higher frequencies (i.e. frequencies greater than 3,000 Hz). However, self-induction in the solenoid system increases with frequency under Faraday s law, negating any benefit gained from the increased frequency. In practice, the frequency in the solenoid-coil system is limited to 500 to 3,000 Hz. Since it is not efficient to use high frequencies in large pipe applications (i.e., greater than 6 inch diameter), solenoid-coil systems are not desirable. From the foregoing, it is apparent that existing PWT methods that utilize indirect electrical fields for the reduction of scaling leave something to be desired.


A data transfer device to read the data distributed and stored to a plurality of disk devices by striping and to generate and transfer the stream data, comprises a disk controller connected to said disk device for data reading/writing, a stream data generation controller connected to the disk controller via a first exclusive bus to instruct reading of unit data as pieces of stream data and to generate the stream data from the read unit data for output, a communication controller connected to the stream data generation controller via a second exclusive bus to transfer the stream data output from the stream data generation controller to a predetermined external processor, a general controller to control the stream data generation controller and the communication controller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a data transfer device to read the data stored in a disk device and transfer them to processors, and particularly relates to a data transfer device which transfers the data distributed and stored in a plurality of disk devices by striping.
2. Description of the Related Art
In some systems such as those for multimedia requiring transfer of a large amount of data at a high speed, the data transfer device to execute the data transfer must have a high data transfer performance.
An example of such multimedia systems is a time-varying image data supply system which handles time-varying images. The object of a time-varying image supply system is to supply a plurality of time-varying images stored in the storage unit such as a disk device to a plurality of processors. Accordingly, the major operation of the time-varying image supply system is to read time-varying images from the storage media. Therefore, a time-varying image supply system comprises a data transfer device called a video server.
Since the data handled in this kind of systems have quite a large size, they are compressed before being stored in disk devices having magnetic disks or optical disks as storage media. The data transfer device mounted on such a system has a processor and a storage unit, as well as an input/output controller connected to them. Usually, it has a plurality of input/output controllers each connected with a disk device. Thus, the data transfer device reads the data in parallel from the disk devices connected to a plurality of input/output controllers, lays them in the correct order, and then sends them to an external interface (network, for example) at a certain transfer rate.
FIG. 6 shows an configuration example of this kind of conventional data transfer device.
As shown in the figure, a data transfer device 100 comprises a plurality of disk controllers 20 and a plurality of communication controllers 60 connected by an input/output bus 150 as well as a processor 110 and a storage unit 120 connected by a system bus 140, and the input/output bus 150 and the system bus 140 are connected via a bus controller 130. In addition, the disk controllers 20 are connected to a plurality of disk devices 90 in one-to-one correspondence.
The time-varying image supply system configured as above firstly reads time-varying image and sound data from the disk device 90 and writes them to the storage unit 120 in the data processor 100, and then sends the data written in the storage unit 120 to the external processors. When there are a plurality of time-varying image and sound data for transfer, they are coordinated for their order and timing of reading.
The processing to read data out of the disk device 90 and write them to the storage unit 120 is executed by the processor 110 and the input/output controller under its control. The processing to send the data written to the storage unit 120 to the network is executed by the processor 110 and the communication controller under its control. In addition to data read/write processing for the storage unit 120, the processor 110 coordinates the data reading from the disk device 90 and data sending to the network, administrates the storage area allocation in the storage unit 120, and controls the flow for each piece of data in a group.
Note that data are distributed and stored in a plurality of disk devices by striping technology in a system required to transfer a large amount of data at a high speed such as a time-varying image supply system. As shown in FIG. 5, the data are divided into units of a certain size so that the units are allocated to the disk devices 90 in a coordinated order for storage.
Data are read in parallel from the disk devices 90. The stream data units read from the disk devices 90 are sent through the disk controller 20 and, via the bus controller 130, stored to the storage unit 120. In the storage unit 120, stream data is generated as entire information comprising a series of data with the unit data laid out in the correct order. The generated stream data is, via the bus controller 130 again, transferred to an external processor by the communication controllers 60.
Thus, in a conventional data transfer device, a series of data transfer processes include the use of the input/output bus 150 and the system bus 140 twice for each before the data is read from the disk device 80 and transferred to an external processor. It is anticipated that conflict among stream data occurs in the input/output bus 150 and the system bus 140. To prevent such conflict of stream data, the input/output bus 150 is required to have a sufficiently higher transfer speed than that for the interface with the disk devices 90. In addition, the system bus 140 is also used for execution of processing by the processor 110 and is required to have an even higher transfer speed than the input/output bus 150.
As described above, a conventional data transfer device reads data from the disk device and stores all of them to the storage unit incorporated in the data transfer device and then reads out the stream data as a bulk from that storage unit to transfer them to an external processor. Therefore, there is a drawback that it requires much time to generate the stream data.
In addition, data passes through the system bus, the bus controller and the input/output bus for data transfer from the disk device to the storage unit and that from the storage unit to an external processor. This means that a high load is imposed on these buses, which results in a low throughput in stream data sending.
Besides, the performance of the input/output bus and the system bus is fixed for each data transfer device in a conventional data transfer device. Thus, when it is necessary to increase the number of the disk devices for a larger disk capacity, the data transfer performance is limited by the performance of the input/output bus and the system bus.
Further, the processor incorporated in the data transfer device executes various processing for disk control and input/output control for network. If the number of accesses to the disk device increases, the processor capability would be insufficient and result in performance for the entire system.

Data transfer device for transfer of data distributed and stored by striping


A communication system is disclosed including a backbone network, a moving vehicle further including a vehicle selection unit, an array of base stations connected to the backbone network, and a station selection unit provided to the array of base stations. The moving vehicle transmits upstream data to the array of base stations using an upstream signal frequency uniquely allocated to the moving vehicle, the upstream data being addressed to the backbone network. The station selection unit, if the upstream data is received redundantly, discards the redundantly-received upstream data, and transfers the upstream data to the backbone network. The array of base stations transmits downstream data received from the backbone network to the moving vehicle using a downstream signal frequency common to the array of base stations. The vehicle selection unit selects the downstream data addressed to the moving vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a communication system, and more particularly, to a system for enabling a high-speed moving vehicle such as a train or an automobile to communicated with a base station.
2. Description of the Related Art
The communication between moving trains and automobiles is conventionally supported by leakage coaxial cable and sky wave. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 2002-33694, for example, discloses a wireless communication system that enables a moving vehicle to stably communicate with a base station, the system withstanding fading, shadowing, and phase noise. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Application No. 2001-204066, for example, discloses a system that enables a moving vehicle to communicate with a series of base stations arranged along a road.
The leakage coaxial cable is used for the communication between, for example, a super express train and the base station, and provides stable communication. The bandwidth of the leakage coaxial cable, however, is not wide enough to support high-speed communication. For this reason, it is rather difficult to provide passengers with better communication environment and to support smooth communication between staff on board and ground staff.
In addition, conventional wireless LAN technology requires high-speed handing over. That is, a moving vehicle at high speed needs to be handed over quickly from base station to base station. The high-speed handing over often fails due to various obstacles, which results in, for example, disconnection of the communication.

System for enabling a high-speed moving vehicle to communicate with base stations


A clock distribution circuit for suitably generating, transmitting, and receiving clock signals used in circuits that are configured with the same circuit topology is provided. The clock distribution circuit has a transmission buffer circuit that transmits a clock signal and an amplitude amplification buffer circuit that amplifies the amplitude of cross-coupling connections inserted in parallel with the transmission buffer circuit on a transmission path for the clock signal. Wherein the number of transistors having the same conductivity type as the transistors of a differing conductivity type of the transmission buffer circuit and that of the transistors of a differing conductivity type of the amplitude amplification buffer circuit are the same. At least one transistor is provided as a bias adjustment transistor for adjusting bias in each of the transmission buffer circuit and the amplitude amplification buffer circuit, respectively, and bias adjustments are made simultaneously.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a circuit which generates and distributes high-speed and high-accuracy clock signals for analog circuits and digital circuits. In particular, the present invention relates to a technology for a high-speed interface circuit, a processor, and a clock distribution circuit that requires high-frequency clock signals.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, multiple-stage buffer transmission is the most commonly employed clock signal distribution method wherein transmission is performed by connecting buffers in multiple stages. The multiple-stage buffer transmission method is widely used to provide clock signals with the desired amplitude and common-mode voltage to a circuit requiring clock signals under various process conditions.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a conventional clock signal distribution configuration. In the example configuration, a clock signal with relatively large amplitude, generated in a VCO (voltage-controlled oscillator) 72 within a PLL (phase-locked loop) 71 is transmitted to a circuit 76 through inverters 75 in a clock tree. The PLL 71 comprises a block to which a reference clock signal and a reproduction clock signal are input and the corresponding phase and frequency are detected., a block for comparing the results thereof, and a PFD/CP/LP circuit 74 having a loop filter for generating VCO control voltage and the like. The PLL 71 further comprises an N divider 73. The clock signal generated in the PLL 71 is provided to a plurality of inverters 75 in the next stage (B-stage) via a CMOS (complementary metal-oxide semiconductor) inverter 75 (A-stage). The attributes of each inverter 75 in the B-stage are mutually equal and the lengths of wiring to each inverter 75 are also mutually equal. The output clock signal output, wherein the signal is converted to normal rotation by the inverters 75 in B-stage and outputted, is configured to be mutually equal to the gate delay time. In addition, the output clock signal output is also configured to be mutually equal to the gate delay time in the path of the output clock signal in the C-stage and D-stage.
Therefore, the output clock signals are outputted respectively from each inverter 75 to the corresponding output terminal. The differences in the timing of clock skew of the output clock signals are suppressed and the phases of the output clock signals match each other. Subsequently, the signals are provided to each output clock signal load circuit 76.
However, the load capacity which can be driven by a single inverter 75 is limited, and therefore clock signals are handled by the clock distribution circuit and the like according to the load capacity to provide with clock signals in integrated circuits which perform digital signal processing by clock synchronization and the like. Although not shown, in order to increase the number of outputs in clock distribution circuits such as this, three inverters are further provided respectively in the latter stage of the inverter, and in addition, corresponding inverters for phase adjustment are provided in the earlier stage or the latter stage. In this way, a method for outputting a lot of clock signals with reduced clock skew to the load circuit 76 respectively is proposed.
Japanese Patent Publication No. 7-161185 describes, a proposal is made for realizing high-speed data transmission with low power consumption when the input of the receiver circuit only changes slowly and the operation speed becomes slow when the wiring for data transmission becomes long in a data transmission circuit.
In addition, according to Japanese Patent Publication No. 2004-317910, a signal transmission circuit in a liquid crystal display device which enables high-speed signal transmission without increasing wiring area or power consumption even when the wiring has a high resistance, such as aluminum wiring on a glass substrate, is proposed.
According to Japanese Patent Publication No. 3265181, a clock distribution circuit which reduces clock skew attributed to fluctuations in the transmission delay time of a clock signal due to wiring and reduces internal delay of the clock signal attributed to increase in wiring resistance due to miniaturization of the process, even when the wiring lengths are the same, is proposed.
However, there is a problem in that the number of stages in the clock tree increases and the internal delay of the clock signal within the integrated circuit 76 increases with the increase in the circuit size of the integrated circuit 76 to which the clock signal is input, and the circuit becomes unsuitable for high-speed operations.
In addition, in conventional circuits using multiple-stage inverters, buffers, etc, the signals do not reach full amplitude during transmission due to insufficient bandwidth in the transmission circuit and the like. Therefore, there is a problem in that the common-mode voltage of the clock signal is not stable.
In addition, with regards to voltage and amplitude, it is necessary to consider: 1) the output voltage amplitude and common-mode voltage of the circuit generating the clock signal (in this case, VCO); 2) the voltage amplitude and common-mode voltage facilitating transmission in the circuit transmitting the clock signal; and 3) the voltage amplitude and common-mode voltage desired by the circuit receiving the clock signal.
Thus, because the operating speeds of the clock generating circuit and the circuit receiving the clock signal increase when the frequency of the clock signal increases, the accuracy of the operation timing of the circuit must be increased. Thus, although the importance of fulfilling the three conditions above increases, the distribution of the clock signal becomes more difficult due to insufficient bandwidth in the circuit. In addition, according to Patent References 1 to 3, the foregoing issues are not resolved by configuring the clock distribution circuit with the same transistor (such as MOSFET) configuration (topology).


The present invention provides a base station 100 for receiving vehicle control information and/or traffic state information from a vehicle control unit 400, preferably connected to the base station 100. The base station comprises a base band unit 101, and at least one interface 102, wherein the base band unit 101 is connected to the at least one interface 102, and wherein the at least one interface 102 is configured to communicate with at least one application processing unit 103 for processing the vehicle control information and/or the traffic state information in the at least one application processing unit 103, and to receive a result of the processing from the at least one application processing unit 103. The base station 100 is further configured to forward the result of the processing to the vehicle control unit 400.

In current vehicle technology, vehicle control information or traffic state information is processed by vehicle electronics, e.g. by one or more vehicle control units, that are permanently integrated in the vehicle. In the conventional solutions, the vehicle control information and the traffic state information include any information regarding sensors, actors and user interfaces connected to the vehicle or information regarding traffic condition that is e.g. provided by public radio broadcasting and received by the vehicle. Typical applications and services that process the vehicle control information and/or the traffic state information in the vehicle are e.g. systems for vehicle navigation, driving assistance, entertainment or communication, as well as any other system or unit that processes the vehicle control information and/or the traffic state information. The life-cycle of vehicles and in particular of conventional vehicle electronics typically includes a development period of at least 3 years, a manufacturing period of minimum 5 years and an operation period of 10 years or more. The vehicle electronics are commonly designed during the development period of the vehicle, and are permanently integrated in the vehicle. Hence, the overall expected service time of the vehicle electronics is high, and gives rise to the problem of how to adapt the vehicle electronics to higher processing capabilities demanded by new applications and services that are developed during the life-cycle of the vehicle.
This problem is even more severe, considering that the applications and services being processed by the vehicle electronics can be updated to new applications and services during the life-cycle of the vehicle, while it is very difficult to adapt the processing capability of the vehicle electronics to the requirements of the new applications and services during the life-cycle of the vehicle.
The rapid development of new applications and services and the resulting gain of processing capability demanded by the new applications and services require a way to more easily expand the processing capability of processing technology in the car electronics. The new applications and services e.g. require processing technology that is renewed according to a life-cycle of typically less than 5 years from the beginning of the development period until the end of life of the processing technology.
Because of the differing typical product life-cycles of the vehicle electronics on the one hand side and the processing technology required by the new applications and services on the other hand side, a mismatch between the different life-cycles can be observed.
With an increasing number of vehicles being connected to communication networks, e.g. the internet, by means of wireless communication technologies such as e.g. GSM, UMTS or LTE, conventional solutions enable in-vehicle applications and services to send requests to and receive corresponding results from applications and services provided by third parties by means of the communication networks. Hence, vehicles can outsource the processing of information from the vehicle electronics to applications and services which are provided by means of communication networks. However, the information that can be outsourced for processing, and the applications and services that can be provided by means of the communication networks, are very limited for the following reasons.
The applications and services that can be provided to the vehicles by means of the communication networks are typically located in a datacenter connected to the communication networks. Network segments connecting the vehicles and the datacenters are typically associated with some uncertainty regarding availability, reliability, information security, and transmission time. As the applications and services provided by means of the communication networks are located in the datacenter, and are typically shared with other users of the datacenter, the processing capabilities provided by the datacenter are also difficult to predict. Additionally, the datacenter is located far away from the vehicles, which results in a long network path connecting the datacenter and the vehicles that is prone to the above mentioned uncertainties. While parameters such as availability, reliability, information security, transmission time and processing capabilities, provided in the way as described above, may be sufficient for most mobile computing scenarios (which require e.g. a reliability of 99.9%), there is no solution known in conventional solutions, for which said parameters are sufficient to comply with vehicle industry standards (which typically require e.g. a reliability of 99.999%), and in turn would enable to outsource the processing of the vehicle control information and/or the traffic state information from the vehicle electronics to the communication networks.
Another problem of the conventional solutions is that due to the above described uncertainties regarding information transmission, the vehicle control information and the traffic state information collected by one vehicle cannot be shared with other vehicles, in order to e.g. improve operating parameters of the other vehicles, such as energy consumption or shock absorber configuration, in real time.
Hence, to adapt the vehicle electronics to the higher processing capabilities demanded by new applications and services during the life-cycle of a vehicle, and to improve sharing of the vehicle control information and/or the traffic state information, among different vehicles, particularly the need arises for a way to provide processing capabilities by means of communication networks in a reliable, secure and rapid way, located geographically closer to the vehicles.

Base station for receiving and processing vehicle control information and/or traffic state information


A foamable composition comprising: a) at least one anionic surfactant chosen from a salt of an alkyl sulfate and a salt of an alkyl ether sulfate in an amount of about 0.01 to about 1% by weight of the composition: b) at least one glycol ether in an amount of about 0.1 to about 1.5% by weight of the composition; c) at least one alcohol in an amount of about 2 to about 6% by weight of the composition; and d) water. Also, a foamable composition comprising: a) at least one anionic surfactant chosen from a salt of an alkyl sulfate and a salt of an alkyl ether sulfate; b) at least one glycol ether; c) at least one alcohol: and d) water, wherein the composition has a run down time of greater than about 15 seconds on a vertical glass surface across a distance of 10 cm.

Hard surface cleaners are usually mostly water that include cleaning materials, fragrance, and color. Hard Surface cleaners are usually sprayed onto a surface and then wiped to clean the surface. Because hard surface cleaners are mostly water, they will drip when applied to vertical surfaces because of gravity.
This requires a person to quickly wipe the surface before the hard surface cleaner drips down the surface to be cleaned. The dripping of the hard surface cleaner does not allow for a longer residence time of the hard surface cleaner on the surface to effect more cleaning. It would be desirable to have a hard surface cleaner that could remain in place when applied to a surface.

Foaming hard surface cleaner comprising a surfactant/solvent/dispersant mixture


To reduce the number of subcarriers used for the transmission of reference symbols by base stations in an OFDM based cellular telecommunications network, the level of data for transmission from the base station to at least one subscriber station is determined and, when traffic levels are low and/or where the mobile station is unable to make efficient use of the full bandwidth, reference symbol data is transmitted from the base station using a number of the subcarriers less than the total number of subcarriers available. Thus the reference symbol frequency spread—the bandwidth between the lowest frequency subcarrier and the highest frequency subcarrier being used to transmit reference symbols—is made dependent upon the determined level of data for transmission.

The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has developed standards for a cellular communications system, referred to as Long Term Evolution (LTE). LTE is based on transmission using Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexed (OFDM) signals.
An OFDM signal comprises a plurality of subcarriers, each of which is modulated to carry a transmission symbol. Data for transmission is divided into a plurality of parallel streams, one for each subcarrier. The transmission symbol for each subcarrier is generated by modulating the data using a conventional modulation scheme. Advantageously, OFDM simplifies channel equalisation, by adapting the modulation scheme applied to each sub carrier according to the narrowband propagation conditions for that subcarrier.
In cellular systems, such as LTE, a mobile station estimates the downlink radio channel in order to coherently demodulate information transmitted to it from the base station. In LTE, the base station inserts reference symbols (RS) into the OFDM signal that it transmits. These are used for channel estimation by the mobile stations. At least one cell-specific reference symbol is transmitted by a base station in a given time period.
3GPP standard TS 36.211 Release 9 defines the transmission of reference symbols in the downlink. The reference symbols are transmitted over the full downlink channel bandwidth for the cell covered by the base station. Mobile stations measure the reference symbols transmitted by the base station providing them with service. They additionally measure the reference symbols transmitted by other base stations. This is useful for handover purposes, when moving between cells covered by different base stations.
A mobile station can also use the reference symbols to estimate the channel for resource blocks (that is, transmission symbols allocated to a specific subcarrier) that are not being used to receive data. This information is reported to the base station and typically used by it to schedule downlink resources optimally to mobile stations.
When there is insufficient data to fill the capacity of the OFDM downlink signal, it is desirable to improve the efficiency of the transmission without reducing the link quality for any subscriber stations.

Resource allocation in an OFDM communication system