A system connecting and controlling gain and phase errors in a direct conversion receiver having a pair of signal channels carrying I and Q baseband signal components in a quadrature relationship. The system operates by treating all phase and gain errors as resident in the Q channel and thus describes an iterative process generating a plurality of intermediary signals that in turn incorporate a trigonometric product of the IF signal and the I and Q signal component to produce a pair of correction factors that ideally maintains a matched quadrature relationship between the two signal channels.

There are an increasing number of radio applications requiring communication over a wide frequency spectrum, for example, 30 to 400 megahertz. Radios having circuitry which performs conversion of the received AM signal directly to the audio signal, without first mixing down to an intermediate frequency ("IF"), are commonly referred to as direct conversion, or zero-IF receivers.
In a typical IQ direct conversion receiver, incoming RF communication signals are split into a pair of equal amplitude components which are in phase with each other. These RF components are then mixed with separate injection signals at approximately the same frequency as the communications signal but which are 90.degree. out-of-phase with each other. I and Q baseband signal components which are in quadrature are thereby generated. These signals are then independently filtered and amplified at audio frequencies on separate signal channels. The I and Q components formed as a result of the mixing process allow the signal to be conveniently demodulated upon being supplied to a suitable signal processing unit.
This architecture works well except that it is very difficult to achieve and maintain identical gain and exact phase quadrature between the signal channels and variations between the signal channels which commonly occur as a result of changes in temperature, frequency and other operational parameters result in gain and phase mismatches which produce distortion products in the output receiver. Gain mismatches of as little as 0.2 dB and phase mismatches of as little as 1.degree. can result in distortion products which can not ordinarily be reduced to less than 30 to 40 dB in practice and correspond to discrete tones which greatly limit the performance of the receiver.
Various solutions to the problems are well known in the prior art based upon the generation of new quadrature and phase signals independent of amplitude effects. By then approximating DC components for I and Q, the original I and Q baseband signals are corrected for gain and phase errors between the signal channels. An example of such technical solution is set forth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,099, incorporated herein by reference.
Unfortunately, the prior art solutions to improving direct conversion receiver processing are ineffective in processing single side band suppressed carrier signals. While the prior art double sideband suppressed carrier signal solutions are relatively simple, a need exists for similar discoveries applicable to single sideband situations.

System for correcting quadrature gain and phase errors in a direct conversion single sideband receiver independent of the character of the modulated signal


In one example, a circuit includes a voltage source, a pass module, a differential amplifier module, and a control module. The pass module is configured to electronically couple, using a channel having a resistance, the voltage source and a load and to modify the resistance of the channel based on a control signal. The differential amplifier module is configured to generate a differential signal based on a comparison of a voltage reference and a representation of a voltage at the load. The control signal is based on the differential signal. The control module is configured to generate the representation of the voltage at the load according to a transfer function. The transfer function includes a zero positioned substantially at a crossover frequency of the transfer function.

Linear voltage regulators may regulate an output voltage. For example, a linear voltage regulator may output a voltage of 5 volts using a supplied voltage of 10 volts. A low-dropout (LDO) regulator may regulate an output voltage that is close to a supplied voltage. For instance, an LDO regulator may output a voltage of 5 volts using a supplied voltage of 5.5 volts. In any case, it may be desirable for linear voltage regulators, such as LDO regulators, to have a high dynamic performance (e.g., quickly achieve a regulated voltage), no load stability (e.g., regulate the output voltage with a small load current or no load current), and have a low current consumption (e.g., low quiescent current).

Adaptive control for linear voltage regulator


A flow control device wherein an operating shaft having two valve bodies is actuated by a single stepping motor to control the flow rate of fluid flowing through at least two by-pass passages. A portion of the operating shaft is supported by a first bearing member located in a boundary portion between a casing with the stepping motor incorporated therein and an air dispensing housing, and the shaft portion of the operating shaft located between the two valve bodies is supported by a second bearing member disposed in the interior of the housing. The two valve bodies are centrally provided with axial holes, through which is inserted the operating shaft to fix the valve bodies replaceably. The second bearing member is formed in the shape of a bottomed cylinder having a flange portion at a free end of the cylindrical portion, and at this flange portion the second bearing member is held between the casing and the housing together with the first bearing member. And a valve seat which controls the flow rate of air in cooperation with one of the two valve elements is supported replaceably by the cylindrical portion of the second bearing member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a flow control device and more particularly to a flow control device for controlling the flow rate of air passing through a by-pass air passage in an intake system of an internal combustion engine.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Heretofore, in flow control devices of this type there has been used a stepping motor 10 as an actuator, as shown in FIG. 1. With forward and reverse rotations of a rotor 16 of the motor 10, a shaft 80 reciprocates along the axis thereof.
A front end portion of the shaft 80 is positioned within a by-pass air passage 81, and a valve body 82 is provided on the shaft. The valve body 82 moves in contact with or away from a valve seat 83 provided in the passage 81 in accordance with a reciprocating motion of the shaft 80. With this movement of the valve body 82, the flow path area of the passage 81 increases or decreases to control the amount of air to be supplied.
In the case where two or more by-pass passages are required for the internal combustion engine and the flow rate of air in these by-pass passages are required to control synchronously, it is necessary to provide a plurality of flow control devices in such a number as the number of by-pass passages.
Furthermore, in the case where each of the flow control devices has different operative features with each other, the time necessary to actuate the valve body of each of the flow control devices after an electric signal is fed to the stepping motor differs with each other, resulting in that synchronous actuation of all the flow control devices is deteriorated.


Provided are a process and apparatus for purifying a gas. In accordance with the process, the gas to be purified flows through a hollow dielectric tube. An electric field is created in the gas to be purified by a traveling electromagnetic wave which travels in the dielectric tube and creates, in the gas, an atmospheric-pressure plasma which is not in local thermodynamic equilibrium, for the purpose of dissociating impurities in the gas to form reactive compounds. The formed reactive compounds are reacted with a corresponding reactive material for eliminating the reactive compounds from the gas to be purified.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for purifying a gas, in particular a plasmagenic rare gas, intended for example for the purification of krypton and xenon containing tetrafluoromethane and methane, and a purification apparatus for implementing such a process.
2. Description of the Related Art
Rare gases are generally extracted from air by distillation. After distillation, they contain impurities that have to be extracted before they are used.
Thus, in the case of krypton and xenon, the impurities mainly consist of tetrafluoromethane (CF.sub.4) and methane (CH.sub.4) at levels which may be as high as several hundreds of parts per million by volume (ppmv). The commonest applications of these rare gases require high-purity products and the presence of these foreign molecules is an unacceptable drawback for these applications.
For example, krypton is widely used for the partial-vacuum filling of filament lamps. In this application, the very high temperature to which the tungsten filament in these lamps is heated is sufficient to cause dissociation of the tetrafluoromethane into highly corrosive fluorinated radicals, which causes rapid degradation of the filament by etching of the metal.
Furthermore, methane is also dissociated under these temperature conditions and generates unstable gaseous precursors which form carbon-containing solid deposits of a brownish appearance on the internal surface of the bulb.
As is known and for technical reasons, the purification of rare gases cannot be accomplished by distillation.
The purification techniques known hitherto are essentially based on thermal phenomena.
Such techniques allow CH.sub.4 to decompose and/or oxidize easily, but they are unsuitable for eliminating CF.sub.4, which is an extremely stable and barely reactive molecule.
Moreover, since the CF.sub.4 molecule does not react significantly with any solid or liquid medium at room temperature, the chemical conversion of CF.sub.4 requires very high reaction temperatures to be reached and a considerable enthalpy to be transferred to the gaseous medium.
If a combustion technique is used, very high flow rates of combustible gas, generally hydrogen, are required, which raises treatment-cost problems, safety problems and plant-constraint problems because of the heat released. Moreover, such a technique is not suitable for reducing already low impurity concentrations to a negligible level.
Another known purification technique is based on thermochemical decomposition by reaction over a suitable metal, for example zirconium. This technique is relatively effective and does not require a very large supply of combustible gas. However, it has many disadvantages, in particular because of the fact that it is not possible to purify gases with a high flow rate and that its implementation requires an apparatus which takes up a lot of room.
Furthermore, this technique requires quite a high operating temperature, for example about 900 to 1000.degree. C., and the beds of metals used are very expensive and have a limited lifetime.
For the reasons explained above, the purification of rare gases currently constitutes the main cause of limited efficiency of lines for producing these gases.

Process for purifying a gas and apparatus for the implementation of such a process

L'Air Liquide, Societe Anonyme pour l'Etude et l'Exploitation des Procedes Georges Claude


A bearing apparatus including inner and outer rings and balls interposed therebetween, the apparatus being characterized in that it comprises:

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an improved bearing preferable for sustaining the rotational portion such as a spindle motor for office automation equipments like computers and peripheral devices thereof.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The bearing apparatus is used for sustaining a rotational portion such as a motor for driving a magnetic disk or disks or sustaining a pivotal swing arm portion of a hard disk drive as peripheral devices for computers. As shown in FIG. 20 the bearing usually includes a pair of single row type ball bearings. A spacer 34 is interposed between outer rings 32b, 33b of upper and lower ball bearings 32, 33 having inner rings 32a, 33a fit and attached to a shaft 31. The reference numerals 32c, 33c depict balls, and 35 depicts ball retainers.
In order for the bearing apparatus to sustain a rotational load or a pivotal load with sufficient stiffness and to secure a rotational accuracy or a pivotal accuracy, the inner rings 32a, 33a are applied predetermined pressure (hereinafter pre-load) and secured to the shaft by adhesion under ambient temperature.
However, upon an increase in the temperature of the bearing from ambient temperature under the effect of the frictional heat generated by the rotational operation or the pivotal operation of the bearing itself or the effect of heat supplied from outside the bearing, components of the bearing expand respectively into different dimensions. In case of the ball bearing 32 and 33 of the bearing apparatus, the order of an amount of the relation of expansion of the components in the radial direction is:
the outer ring greater than the inner ring greater than balls.
There is a following relationship between the radial clearance and the dimension of each components of the bearing. (radial clearance)=[inner diameter of the outer racewayxe2x88x92(2xc3x97diameter of each ball+outer diameter of the inner raceway)]
In this connection, upon an increase in temperature from the ambient temperature, an amount of enlargement of the inner diameter of the outer raceway will be larger than the enlargement of the outer diameter of the inner raceway formed around the inner ring, and the clearance between the two raceways will also be enlarged. Whereas an amount of the enlargement of the balls is small relative to the inner and outer raceways so that the radial clearance will be enlarged upon an increase in the temperature from the ambient temperature. The enlargement of the radial clearance will cause a range of a predetermined characteristic oscillation frequency to vary upon rotation of the bearing apparatus, and in some cases there results a resonance with other components of the equipment into which the bearing apparatus is incorporated.
When the bearing apparatus of the prior art of the above described structure is used in the rotating portion of a motor for driving a hard disk drive, sometimes accuracy of writing or reading data is hampered by an unacceptable level of vibration of the drive caused by resonance with the other component, such as a swing arm portion, a chassis or a baseplate. There is also a possibility for generating noises caused by the vibration, and reducing the quietness of the drive.
Provided that the difference of the amount of thermal expansion between the clearance of the inner and outer rings and the balls is further increased, a clearance is defined between the balls and the raceways of the inner and outer rings, and the rotational inaccuracy of a hub of the motor and the run out of the surface of the magnetic disk or disks due to the rotational run out of the hub of the motor is increased. This effect will deteriorate the reliability of the hard disk drive.
Although the balls are usually made of steel material, ceramic material may also be used for enhancing the durability thereof. In such a case, the above mentioned problem caused by the difference of the amount of thermal expansion between components will become more serious, since the amount of thermal expansion of the ceramic material is further lower (about {fraction (1/10)}) than that of the iron material used for the inner and outer rings.
Accordingly the object of the present invention is to provide a bearing wherein an appropriate radial clearance is maintained and thus the predetermined pre-load is applied constantly to the balls even if the components of the bearing expand by an increase in temperature from the ambient temperature thereof. The purpose of the present invention is to provide a bearing apparatus capable of sustaining high rotational accuracy or high pivotal accuracy and long life even upon increases of temperature from ambient temperature.
In order to achieve the purpose of the present invention, a bearing apparatus according to a first aspect of the present invention is formed by a plurality of balls arranged between an inner and an outer ring, and a ring made of a material with a lower factor of linear expansion than the outer ring material is press fitted around the outer ring.
A compound bearing appratus in accordance with the second aspect of the present invention comprises
a shaft to which an inner ring is fit slidably, a cylindrical outer ring member surrounding the shaft, a plurality of balls of a first row interposed between a first inner raceway formed on an outer periphery of the inner ring and a first outer raceway formed on an inner periphery of the outer ring member, a plurality of balls of a second row interposed between a second inner raceway formed directly on an outer periphery of the shaft and a second outer raceway formed on the inner periphery of the outer ring member, the bearing apparatus being characterized in that it comprises:
a low expansion ring press fit around the outer periphery of the outer ring member, wherein the low expansion ring is made of a material with a lower factor of linear thermal expansion than a material of the outer ring member, and the inner ring is secured on the shaft with applying a reasonable amount of pre-load thereon.
A compound bearing apparatus in accordance with the third aspect of the present invention comprises
a stepped shaft having a larger diameter shaft portion and a reduced diameter shaft portion, an inner ring fit slidably around the reduced diameter shaft portion of the stepped shaft, and a cylindrical outer ring member surrounding the shaft, a plurality of balls of a first row interposed between a first inner raceway formed on an outer periphery of the inner ring and a first outer raceway formed on an inner periphery of the outer ring member, and a plurality of balls of a second row interposed between a second inner raceway formed directly on an outer periphery of the larger diameter shaft portion of the stepped shaft and a second outer raceway formed on an inner periphery of the outer ring member, the bearing apparatus being characterized in that it comprises:
a low expansion ring press fit around the outer periphery of the outer ring member, wherein the low expansion ring is made of a material with a lower factor of linear thermal expansion than a material of the outer ring member, and the inner ring is secured on the shaft with applying a reasonable amount of pre-load thereon.
The balls are made of ceramic material and the low expansion ring is also made of ceramic material.

Abstract: a low expansion ring press fit around the outer periphery of the outer ring, wherein the low expansion ring is made of a material with lower factor of linear thermal expansion than the outer ring material.


It is of the type comprising a body of vertical axis and arranged at least partially in the tank, an interior partition being mounted in the body and delimiting a passageway for the liquid and a chamber to house a float, a valve mounted above the passageway and the float chamber, the valve being capable of moving between an open position and a closed position, and a valve seat, the said float being moved vertically by the rise of the liquid in the tank and acting on the valve via operating means comprising an operating rod, the lower end of which is secured to the float, the other end of the operating rod comprises a ball moving in a groove formed in part of the valve.

The present invention relates to a fill limiter for a liquid storage tank.
It is known practice for an underground or overground storage tank intended to contain a liquid to be fitted with a fill limiter, the function of which is to interrupt the filling of the tank when the liquid in the said tank reaches a predetermined level, so as to prevent overflow which would be harmful to the environment of the tank. This is especially sought after when the tank that is to be filled is located at a filling station delivering hydrocarbon fuels of various types.
Limiters with the simplest structure comprise a body, a valve mounted in the said body and able to move between an open position corresponding to the filling of the tank and a closed position corresponding to the interruption of the filling of the said tank; a float, connected to the said valve, accompanies the rise of the liquid in the tank so as to close the valve when the liquid in the tank reaches a predetermined level.
Numerous improvements have been made to limiters according to whether the storage tanks are fitted with manholes or inlet orifices for positioning limiters inside the storage tank.
In U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,289,490 and 1,689,066, limiters comprise a tube body equipped with an internal partition for delimiting two adjacent chambers placed side by side, one of the chambers acting as a passage for the liquid intended to fill the tank and the other housing a float which is connected to a valve capable of moving from an open position corresponding to a low liquid level in the tank, below the float, to a closed position corresponding to a high liquid level in the tank, the liquid still being below the shut-off valve. The re-opening of the valve in this prior art is still performed manually. What is more, and this is a serious disadvantage, there is no possibility of re-opening the valve when the official performing the filling operation does not interrupt filling while the valve is in the closed position.
Other limiters have recently been proposed. Such limiters are described, for example, in French Patent No. 89/16604, European Patent No. 0,312,320 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,667,711.
Each one of the limiters described in these patents comprises a float which is connected to the valve in such a way that as the liquid in the tank rises it is moved away from the body of the limiter. When the limiter is introduced into the tank inlet orifice, the float is housed at least partially in the body so as to reduce the size of the limiter.
However, such limiters, because the float travel is on the outside of the body, are not able to allow the tank to be completely filled. This is because it is necessary to keep a minimum space between the upper wall of the tank and the maximum raised position of the float.
FR-B-2,675,476 describes a fill limiter comprising a float moving vertically in a chamber formed in the body of the limiter, a valve which can move between a vertical open position and a horizontal closed position, the float being connected to the valve by means of a linkage which collaborates with a pawl for retaining the valve in the vertical open position, a deflector consisting of inclined blades being arranged above and a certain distance away from the valve. There is a return spring for returning the valve to the vertical open position when the force exerted by the column of liquid on the said valve is lower than the return force exerted by the spring.
The main drawback of this limiter lies in the complexity of the valve-operating means mounted between this valve and the float. What is more, it is necessary to precisely determine the distance separating the free end of the rod connected to the float from the pawl which catches on the valve. Now, too short a distance leads to untimely closure of the valve when the fluid has not reached the desired level in the tank; too great a distance leads to late closure of the valve.
Another drawback lies in the fact that it is necessary to design the valve return spring to be relatively weak so as to allow the valve to close for low deliveries of fluid, for example up to 15 m.sup.3. However, in this case, the re-opening of the valve becomes difficult because of the weakness of the return spring.


A mining machine comprising a vehicle body having forward and rearward ends, the vehicle body being movable along a mine floor, a cutter head mounted on the forward end of the vehicle body, and a position sensing and control apparatus including first and second generally vertical, generally parallel surfaces on the vehicle body, an off-board light source emitting a light beam that strikes the surfaces, an imaging device for imaging both of the plates in a single image, and a computer receiving the single image from the camera, the computer using the single image to determine at least one of the roll, yaw and lateral offset of the machine.

The invention relates to mining machines. More particularly, the invention relates to continuous mining machines, and to methods and apparatus for controlling such machines.
It is known to use a laser to control mining machinery. See, for example, Anderson, D. L., "Framework for Autonomous Navigation of a Continuous Mining Machine: Face Navigation,"(USBM IC 9214, 1989), which describes a laser-based heading control system built by the U.S. Bureau of Mines. This system uses substantial infrastructure, and the method of extracting heading is quite different from the system described below.
There are also multiple examples of guidance and mapping of underground mining vehicles using inertial sensors and scanning laser range finders. See, for example, Makela, H. et al., "Navigation System for LHD machines," Intelligent Autonomous Vehicles, 1995; Scheding, S. et al., "Experiments in autonomous underground guidance," Proceedings of 1997 ICRA, 1995; Shaffer, Gary, "Two dimensional Mapping of expansive unknown areas," PhD. Thesis, Carnegie-Mellon University, 1995.

Miner guidance using laser and image analysis


A component building assembly is disclosed comprising a plurality of panels each having an inner and an outer skin with insulation interposed therebetween. The inner and outer skin of each of the panels extend beyond the insulation creating panel grooves about the perimeter of the panel. The insulation preferably comprises a substantially rigid foam insulation such as foam polystyrene, foam polyurethane or the like. The outer skin may comprise wood, aluminum or plastic, whereas the inner skin may be metallic, plasterboard, plastic or wood. A first support stud is secured to a slab or a horizontal joist. A first interpanel stud extends upwardly from the first support stud. A first panel is mounted with the panel grooves of adjoining ends at least partially receiving the first support stud and the first interpanel stud. A second interpanel stud is secured to extend upwardly from the first support stud and within a panel groove of the first panel. A second panel is mounted with the panel grooves of adjoining ends at least partially receiving the first support stud and the second interpanel stud. A third interpanel stud is secured to the first support stud and within the panel groove of the second panel. A second support stud is mounted in the top panel groove of the first and second panels and is secured to the interpanel studs to lock the panels between the studs while concealing the studs within the panel grooves. The foregoing abstract is merely a resume of one general application, is not a complete discussion of all principles of operation or applications, and is not to be construed as a limitation on the scope of the claimed subject matter.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to component building systems and parts therefore incorporating panels with grooves for cooperation with joists and studs for construction of buildings such as houses and the like. More specifically, the invention relates to a type of prefabricated construction which permits the easy construction of windows, doors and walls through the use of studs, panels and joists wherein the joists and studs are concealed within grooves within the panels.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various patents have been granted on the construction of buildings with prefabricated wall elements. Generally these systems are complicated and cumbersome requiring a large variety of parts and panel elements. It is a prime object of most prefabricated building structures to reduce the number of individual parts and also reduce the construction site assembly time. It is reasoned that assembly within a manufacturing plant can be performed simpler, more efficiently and more economically than the same assembly performed on the construction site. This reasoning is based on the availability of large machines and semi-skilled labor within a manufacturing plant versus the portable machines and tradeworkers required for construction site assembly.
Unfortunately, most of the prior art systems have not reached popularity for one of several reasons. In many cases, the prefabricated building structures did not allow for variation of the floor plan to suit the requirements of the purchaser. These systems were generally too rigid and inflexible to make small modifications of the window or door placement within a building structure. As a result, construction site modification substantially increased the cost of the building structure and little if any gain was achieved by the building system.
Other prior art building systems which overcame the inflexibility of the building component system had the disadvantage of having the appearance of a "prefabricated building". The undesirable "prefabricated" appearance is one of the primary reasons component construction has not obtained widespread use. In theory, a prefabricated building structure should be stronger and more durable than a similar structure erected on the building site. Unfortunately, this reality has not come into being due to the "prefabricated" appearance of the existing prior art component building systems.
In my prior application, Ser. No. 723,809, filed Sept. 16, 1976, now U.S. Pat. No. 4,071,984 I disclosed a building structure incorporating prefabricated panels with grooved pillars and joists for assembling and supporting the panels in the construction of a building. This building structure was very versatile and was easily adapted to modification by the purchaser of the building. In addition, the building was well insulated and strong and durable. The only disadvantage of my prior building system is the exposure of the grooved pillars and joists which was objectional to some purchasers.
Therefor it is an object of this invention to provide an apparatus which overcomes the aforementioned inadequacies of the prior art devices and provides an improvement which is a significant contribution to the advancement of the building art.
Another object of this invention is to provide a component building system wherein the outer skin of each of the panels extends slightly beyond the inner skin for insuring proper mating of the outer skin of adjacent panels upon erection of the building structure thereby eliminatng the need for trim strips or exposed joints on the outer surface of the building.
Another object of this invention is to provide a component building system having a plurality of panels each having an inner and an outer skin with insulation means interposed therebetween. The inner and outer skins extend beyond the terminal ends of the insulation creating panel grooves about the perimeter of the panel. The panel grooves receive support and interpanel studs to lock the panels between the studs while concealing the studs within the panel grooves.
Another object of this invention is to provide a component building system wherein the panels may comprise solid wall panels, wall panels having windows, floor panels, wall panels having doors, or roof panels. Each of the panels is secured to the studs after assembly of the house through the use of a nail air hammer or the like. Accordingly, final nailing is not undertaken until the house is completely square.
Another object of this invention is to provide a component building system wherein the outer skin of each of the panels extends slightly beyond the inner skin for insuring proper mating of the outer skin of adjacent panels upon erection of the building structure thereby eliminating the need for trim strips or exposed joints on the outer surface of the building.
Another object of this invention is to provide a component building system incorporating metallic straps which encompass support studs and are secured to opposed sides of interpanel studs for locking the building into a permanent structure.
Other objects and a fuller understanding of this invention may be had by referring to the summary of the invention, the description and the claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

House assembly with prefabricated elements


Safety apparatus for use with a trailer of the type having brakes is shown. If the latch mechanism on the trailer hitch is not properly closed, the brakes on the trailer are engaged thereby preventing the trailer from being towed. In addition, a warning device, such as a audible alarm and/or a light, signals the operator of the unlatched condition of the trailer hitch. If the latch mechanism becomes disengaged while the trailer is being towed, the warning device signals the operator and the brakes are engaged to stop the trailer. In a preferred embodiment actuation of the brakes is delayed to allow the operator time to stop the vehicle. The apparatus of the present invention may conveniently be mounted on the trailer so that it will be functional with any towing vehicle.

It has become common practice to transport cargo by way of a trailer which is towed behind a motor vehicle, such as a car or a truck. Due to the hazards associated with this means of transporting cargo, most states have adopted provisions, as part of their vehicle codes, which govern the methods and hardware used in connection with such towing. In addition, voluntary organizations, such as the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE), and equipment manufacturers have adopted standards for improving the safety of towing cargo.
The most common type of trailer hitch in use today is composed of two basic components: a ball member mounted to the rear of the towing vehicle, and a mating socket member connected to the forward end of the towed trailer. Once the socket has been placed or seated on the ball member, a latch mechanism is actuated to securely couple the two together. Once the latch mechanism is actuated or closed in this manner, the socket will not become separated from the ball member. In addition to the primary attachment described, an electrical connection is usually made between the towing vehicle and the trailer to allow brake lights, turn signals, etc., mounted on the trailer to be activated from the towing vehicle. The ball and socket coupling, when attached together, provides maneuverability between the trailer and the towing vehicle to accommodate turning and uneven terrain.
Trailer hitches of this sort can fail for a number of reasons. Perhaps the most common causes of failure all relate, in one way or another, to the latch mechanism. These include failure of the latching mechanism, failure of the operator to properly actuate the latching mechanism, or failure of the operator to latch the coupling at all. As noted, if the latch is not properly secured or becomes open during transit the ball/socket coupling is subject to failure. Failure of the coupling can result in the separation of the trailer from the towing vehicle, usually with no warning to the operator, which can be extremely dangerous, resulting in the loss of a life and/or a valuable trailer and its cargo.
Certain trailers, particularly those of larger size, have electrically activated brakes which can be operated by the driver once electrical connection is made with the towing vehicle. The trailer brakes are activated simultaneously with the brakes on the towing vehicle and are controlled by the brake pedal. However, the braking force applied by the electrical trailer brakes is not dependent on the force applied to the brake pedal of the towing vehicle. Rather, the trailer brakes are either "on" or "off", but the level of braking force applied when they are turned "on" may be set manually, using a rheostat or similar control device, to be a set proportion of the total possible braking force of the trailer brakes. In this manner, the operator may adjust the braking force of the trailer brakes for varying loads.
In addition, the vehicle codes of most states require certain trailers to have safety braking systems, which are powered when the trailer becomes separated from the towing vehicle and electrical connection between the trailer and towing vehicle is broken. In most cases, these safety braking systems are powered by stand-by batteries located on the trailer as is described in greater detail below. Likewise, due to the frequency and severity of accidents resulting from separation of a trailer hitch coupling, most state vehicle codes require the use of safety chains to maintain connection between the trailer and the towing vehicle in the event of an uncoupling of the trailer hitch. While safety chains provide an added measure of protection, it is hard to control a trailer which is being towed only by chains, and accidents are common even when safety chains are used. Moreover, safety chains frequently break. For trailers having electrical brakes, there is normally a safety pull cable which is released after the chains break to activate the trailer brakes.
As described, a typical trailer with brakes has four connections with the towing vehicle: the primary ball/socket connection; the electrical connection for transmitting electrical signals to the trailer's brake lights, turn signals, brakes, etc.; safety chains connecting the trailer to the towing vehicle as a back-up safety system; and a breakaway cord attached to a switch to activate the trailer brakes. The breakaway cord is a pull-cable, longer than the safety chains, which is connected to an electrical switch controlling the trailer's electrical brakes. Ideally, if the ball and socket connection fails, the chains will prevent the trailer from disengaging entirely from the towing vehicle. However, if the chains break, then the breakaway cord is pulled, and the trailer brakes, typically powered by a twelve volt auxiliary dry cell battery on the trailer, are engaged to stop the trailer. The prior art devices rely on this braking system to slow the trailer to a stop; however, the unfortunate reality is that the battery on the trailer which controls the brakes is often dead or discharged, and therefore the brakes do not function in the intended manner in an emergency. Since the battery on board the trailer used to power the brakes is there solely for emergency purposes, trailer owners quite often neglect to periodically replace it.
The prior art describes various safety devices designed to detect the uncoupling of the trailer hitch and to alert the operator. Examples of prior art safety devices are described in Engle, U.S. Pat. No. 4,593,264; Gehman, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,627,633; and Ellis, et al., U.S. Pat. No. 3,792,432. The devices shown in these patents have the objective of warning the operator, usually by sounding an alarm, when the coupling has disengaged. Nonetheless, there are drawbacks to each of the devices shown. These devices are also limited in their usefulness, in that none of them prevent the coupling failure in the first place.
All of the prior art devices known to the inventors are activated only when the socket member actually separates from the ball member. Some of the devices in the aforementioned patents have specially designed, non-standard ball members with an electrical switch inside the ball, which is activated when the ball and socket separate. Other devices have an external switch activated by the socket member lifting off of the ball member. Thus, these devices will not warn the operator if the coupling is not secure, for example, if the latch has not been properly closed. Also, these prior art devices will not detect an unlatched coupler until the trailer has separated from the towing vehicle, which may be too late to prevent an accident.
Known prior art trailer hitch safety devices are mounted on the towing vehicle, rather than the trailer. Accordingly, if another towing vehicle lacking the specialized apparatus shown in the patent is used to tow the trailer, there will be no safety system present. Thus, the valuable cargo which may have prompted the purchase of the safety device may be unprotected if any other towing vehicle is used. It is noted that the use of different towing vehicles is common.
Known prior art devices also do not prevent the movement of an improperly secured trailer. All of the devices in the aforementioned patents merely warn the operator that the trailer is not coupled to the towing vehicle; none of them apply the trailer brakes to prevent the trailer from being towed when the coupling is not secured.
With these deficiencies of the prior art in mind, it is an object of the present invention to detect and notify the operator when the latching mechanism of a trailer hitch is not properly engaged.
It is also an object of this invention to notify the operator when the latching mechanism of the socket member becomes disengaged while being used, so that warning is given before the hitch becomes uncoupled.
Another object of the present invention is to activate the trailer brakes, using power from the towing vehicle, when the latching mechanism is not properly engaged, so that the trailer is prevented from moving if the connection is not secure.
Yet another object of the present invention is to activate the trailer brakes after a predetermined time period whenever the coupling fails while the trailer is being towed to stop the trailer as well as the towing vehicle.
It is also an object of the present invention to position the safety system of the present invention on the trailer, such that the trailer is protected regardless of the vehicle being used to tow it.


The present invention is directed to a bracket for use in a metal stud wall having internal bridging members for tying the metal studs and bridging members together. The bracket is an L shaped bracket having a leg for overlying the bridging member joined to an upright for overlying the metal stud. The outside corners of the leg and upright of the L shaped bracket are truncated so that the bracket may be inserted within the channel of a metal stud and rotated to the proper position for attaching to the bridging member and metal stud.

Metal studs for use in constructing partition walls are becoming more prevalent. The metal studs have a generally C shaped cross section and are utilized in a manner similar to wooden studs for constructing partition walls. The metal studs are typically arranged vertically and tied together at the top and bottom by U shaped channel members which act as top and bottom plates for the stud wall. Stud walls which are subjected to wind and or axial loads such as is found if the stud wall forms the exterior wall or is a load bearing wall, require lateral support to provide resistance to rotation and minor axis bending under wind and axial loads.
The lateral support for the metal stud walls is generally provided by installing bridging members which tie the metal studs together at points intermediate the ends of the studs. These bridging members may be either metal strapping attached to the outside flanges of the studs or may be internal bridging members installed through openings provided in the web in the metal stud. In order to transfer the support provided by the internal bridging members to the metal studs, the bridging members are physically tied to the metal stud. In most installations, L shaped brackets are provided to transfer the support provided by the interior bridging members to the edges of the metal studs. These L shaped brackets are attached to the metal stud and the bridging member with the leg of the bracket being fastened to the interior bridging member and the upright of the L shaped bracket being attached to the metal stud. Where the bracket is installed on the outside of the web of the stud, it is a simple matter for the installer to lay the bracket in place and attach it to the bridging member and to the stud. If for some reason however, the bracket must be installed on the interior of the stud within the C channel, the bracket must be inserted into the interior of the stud at the top or bottom and slid to the proper position. As this must be accomplished before the stud is attached to the top track, it can increase the erection time necessary for the wall especially if the installer has to disconnect the stud from one of the tracks in order to install the bracket. There thus remains a need for a simple to install bracket for bridging members and metal studs which can be easily installed on either side of the web of the stud.

Bracket and bridging member for metal stud wall


A user evaluation of distributed content comprising an Evaluation Program (EP) that creates a user session when a user accesses distributed content is stored. The user evaluation is saved with other information such as the time and date of the evaluation, the user's personal information, and the navigation path the user used to access the distributed content page. The EP records the user's navigation of the distributed content in the user session. The EP gives the user the opportunity to rate distributed content. The EP saves the user's evaluation with the user session data and external stimuli data. The EP closes the user session when the user leaves the distributed content. The EP reopens the user session when the user returns to the distributed content.

Distributed content is a general term used to describe electronic media that is distributed to end users. Examples of distributed content include webpages, websites, dynamically generated content, cellular telephones using wireless application protocol (WAP) to serve content on the cellular telephone screen, and so forth. Other examples of distributed content are known to persons of ordinary skill in the art. Because there is a high demand for adapting distributed content to the end users' needs, distributed content administrators (administrators) need high-quality feedback on the distributed content pages they administer. Due to the anonymity of distributed content users (users), reliable user feedback regarding the distributed content pages can be difficult to obtain.
One of the problems associated with obtaining user evaluations of distributed content is that users do not give consistent feedback. Often, a user will only give feedback when the user has had a particularly difficult time navigating the distributed content. While these types of comments are useful to administrators in removing distributed content that is difficult to use, such comments do not convey information regarding other distributed content end users have viewed. Therefore, a need exists for a method for a user to obtain user evaluations of all of the administered distributed content.
A second problem associated with user evaluation of distributed content is that the user is sometimes presented with a single user evaluation form or survey to use in evaluating a plurality of distributed content pages. When a user evaluates a plurality of distributed content pages on a single survey, the user tends to remember more information about the most recently navigated pages and less information about the first pages. Thus, the survey does not adequately represent the user's evaluation of the entire distributed content, but rather the user's evaluation of the distributed content pages immediately preceding the survey. A survey that weighs the user's evaluation of more recently navigated content is called a back-loaded survey. Back-loaded surveys are not preferable because they do not adequately reflect the user's qualitative experience of the entire distributed content. Therefore, a need exists for a method of capturing a user's evaluation of distributed content in which the user's evaluation evenly reflects the user's experience in navigation of the entire set of distributed content.
A third problem associated with user evaluation of distributed content is that the survey is sometimes presented before the user has completed his navigation of the distributed content. When the survey is placed at the end of the user's navigation of the distributed content (i.e. after user selection of service, payment, and receipt of the confirmation number), users frequently do not complete the survey. Rather than complete the survey, the majority of users choose to close the distributed content application. In order to increase the number of completed surveys, administrators position the survey so that it appears before the user has completed his navigation of the distributed content (i.e. after user selection of services but prior to payment). When a survey is completed prior to conclusion of the user navigation of the distributed content, the evaluation is said to be front-loaded. Front-loaded evaluations are not preferable because they do not capture a complete picture of the user's evaluation of the distributed content. Therefore, a need exists for a method of capturing a user's evaluation of distributed content after the user has completed his navigation of the distributed content.
In addition to the disadvantages discussed above, surveys also have another disadvantage: the survey is a standard document applied to a wide variety of distributed content users. In other words, the surveys cannot be configured for specific users in the United States, Mexico, Asia, or Europe. The prior art surveys also cannot differentiate users who view one version or type of the distributed content from users who view another version or type of distributed content. If a survey were able to differentiate between different types of users and the distributed content they view or use, then the survey could be customized for each type of user. Customizing the survey to each type of user would make the responses in the survey more meaningful. Therefore, a need exists for a method for surveying distributed content users in which the survey can be configured according to the characteristics and navigation experiences of individual users or groups of users.
In addition to the disadvantages associated with surveys, it is preferable to track the external stimuli presented to the user. External stimuli are data useful to distributed content administrators, but not directly related to the user's evaluation of the distributed content. One example of an external stimulus is the medium by which the user accessed the distributed content. Possible medium sources include the World Wide Web, email, telephone, television, and so forth. Another example of an external stimulus is the tactic used to contact or market to the user. Persons of ordinary skill in the art have developed a technique for tracking marketing tactics by assigning a unique ID to each message provided to a user. The ability to store the external stimuli data with the user survey would make the user surveys more meaningful to distributed content administrators. Therefore, a need exists for a method for surveying distributed content in which the external stimuli presented to the user is captured in conjunction with the user evaluation.
Consequently, a need exists in the art for an improved method for user evaluation of distributed content. A need exists for a method in which the user can identify the distributed content that is difficult to use and distributed content that is easy to use. A need exists for a method of capturing a user's evaluation of distributed content in which the user's evaluation evenly reflects the user's experience in navigation of the entire distributed content. A need exists for a method of capturing a user's evaluation of distributed content after the user has completed his navigation of the distributed content. A need extends to a method for surveying distributed content users in which the survey can be configured for individual users. Finally, a need exists for a method for surveying distributed content in which the external stimuli presented to the user is captured in conjunction with the user evaluation.

Unified collection of content analytic data

International Business Machines Corporation


A method for patterning a substrate is disclosed. The method includes applying a first directed self-assembly (DSA) patterning process that defines a first patterned layer on top of the substrate. The pattern of the first patterned layer is to be transferred into the substrate. The method also includes applying a planarizing layer on top of the first patterned layer. The method further includes applying a second DSA patterning process that defines a second patterned layer on top of the planarizing layer, thereby not patterning the planarizing layer. A pattern of the second patterned layer is to be transferred into the substrate. Projections of the pattern of the second patterned layer and the pattern of the first patterned layer on the substrate have no overlap. Additionally, the method includes transferring the patterns defined by the first patterned layer and the second patterned layer into the substrate.

Directed Self Assembly (DSA) is a rapidly maturing technology for advanced patterning for semi-conductor applications. DSA is based on the self-assembling properties of block copolymer (BCP) materials. It offers a low-cost route to very dense and regular patterns. It is expected that DSA will need to be combined with traditional lithography techniques.
Several approaches for DSA have been proposed to define regular line/space patterns, line/space patterns with some irregular nature, regular hexagonal hole patterns, or more irregular and sparser hole patterns. DSA can thus be regarded as a "chemical resolution enhancement technique". Among all DSA morphologies, the cylindrical structures have attracted significant attention, due to the potential to achieve sub-20 nm contact holes on a sub-40 nm pitch, which exceeds the capability of any current single patterning lithography.
Specifically, in templated DSA, a grapho-epitaxy flow, a trench-like pre-pattern (or "template") is printed by conventional lithography. In this confined template, the BCP material allows a cylindrical phase separation which results in sub-resolution hole patterns. The configuration of holes within each template depends on the shape and size of the particular template and the BCP periodicity. Templated DSA is mainly considered for application in via mask levels. The technique has a relatively feasible path for implementation with existing design flows. It has the potential to replace a multiple patterning method in which multiple exposures per layer will be needed in expense of edge placement errors, increasing tool and production costs.
The most critical challenges that need to be understood and controlled include CD and pattern placement accuracy, low defectivity, and how to implement DSA as a patterning method.
In J. Bekaert, J. Doise, R. Gronheid, J. Ryckaert, G Vandenberghe, G Fenger, Y. J. Her, and Y. Cao, "N7 logic via patterning using templated DSA: implementation aspects", Proc. SPIE 9658, Photomask Japan 2015: Photomask and Next-Generation Lithography Mask Technology XXII, 965804 (Jul. 9, 2015); doi:10.1117/12.2196524, paragraph 4, a demonstration is disclosed of a double DSA patterning scheme.
For Logic N7 technology node and beyond, it is known that more than a single template DSA process is required in order to meet the complex high density and small pitch requirement. When double or multiple template pre-pattern trenches overlap each other to achieve small pitch, the next (e.g., 2nd) template DSA process can be influenced or jeopardized by any of the previous (e.g., 1st) template DSA contact holes. A similar problem can arise when performing pillar patterning. For instance, openings or pillar structures resulting from a first DSA process may appear in the pre-pattern trenches of the second DSA process, jeopardizing the success of the second DSA process.
There exists a need in industry for improved double or multiple DSA patterning processes.

Method for patterning a substrate involving directed self-assembly

KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN, KU LEUVEN R&D


An object of the invention is to reduce an offset voltage to realize a small occupying area in a comparator using MOS type transistors. The invention is characterized in that impurities are introduced into channel areas of MOS type transistors, and mobility of the MOS type transistor on a load side is smaller than mobility of the MOS type transistor on a differential side, and a mutual conductance gm of the MOS type transistor on the load side is smaller than a mutual conductance gm of the MOS type transistor on the differential side.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and more particularly relates to a comparator circuit formed using a MOS type transistor.
A comparator circuit formed using a MOS type transistor has conventionally been widely used. There is known a comparator having a MOS type transistor with a wide channel width and a long channel length to obtain a comparator having a small offset voltage.
However, in the conventional comparator circuit formed using the MOS type transistor, increasing the channel width and the channel length of the MOS type transistor is generally done to reduce the offset voltage. Therefore, a problem exists in which the area of the comparator is increased.
An object of the present invention is to provide a comparator having a small offset voltage and occupying a small area, which nobody has been able to achieve with a conventional comparator using a MOS type transistor.

Comparator having reduced offset voltage


An object-oriented middleware framework for use in a network having a plurality of hosts including a first host having an associated first memory and first processor; and a second host having an associated second memory and second processor. The object-oriented middleware framework includes an Originator Command Container instantiating a Command by executing computer programming code stored in the first memory using the first processor. The framework also includes an Invocator Command Container, remote from the Originator Command Container and its associated first host where the instantiated Command is invoked, locally by executing computer programming code stored in the second memory using the second processor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an object oriented middleware framework for use in a distributed computing system such as an enterprise computing system.
2. Description of Related Art
In a distributed computing system components constituting an application are physically located on different computers connected by a network. A middleware framework or architecture is used to establish a communication, access a remote application and exchange data without having knowledge of its low level technical operating details. Thus, the middleware framework acts as an intermediary to enable access to a remote application without having knowledge of the network protocol.
A procedure is a section of code that can be called from other parts of the same, albeit a larger, program. The concept of a remote procedure call (RPC) occurs when a procedure is invoked by another program, often running elsewhere on a network. Traditional RPC denotes a coupled form of distributed computing. In other words, procedure calls are innately synchronous, based on a request-reply protocol wherein the calling program blocks or waits until the procedure is complete. This applies to both local and remote calls, but what distinguishes one case from the other is the issue of availability. Given an operational network the "presence" of the procedure is assumed by the caller at the time of the call, which is generally safe if the procedure is local. However, the outcome of a call made to an unavailable remote procedure is circumstantial. A performance problem will only yield a slow response which delays the caller; however, a system or network failure will produce an error condition resulting in the loss of the call. Failed procedure calls need to be resubmitted as they are not subject to transactional control.
One type of middleware is message-oriented middleware (MOM) that enables communication between software applications much like e-mail systems do for users. Messages may be passed in either a point-to-point or a publish-subscribe fashion. In the former case, a message produced by an application is consumed by exactly one other application, while for the latter, a message may be consumed by none, one or multiple applications. It is somewhat common, albeit dependent upon the implementation of a specific MOM provider (e.g., WebSphere MQ or Active MQ) that messaging occurs in a store-and-forward manner based on the premise of message queuing. The queuing is a device that holds and distributes messages. Messages are retained in the queue until one or more recipients have collected them. The queue acts as a physical intermediary, which effectively decouples the sender from the recipient of the message. Message queues help to ensure that messages are not lost, even if the receivers are momentarily unavailable (e.g., due to network disconnection).
Message queuing systems may connect senders and receivers in several ways. In a peer-to-peer topology a single sender is connected to a single receiver via a single queue. Alternatively, in a hub-and-spoke more complex interactions are provided such as one-to-many or many-to-many wherein the message is distributed to all receivers who have previously indicated interest in the topic by registering as subscribers with a common broker. Typically, message queuing systems enable the interconnection of multiple physical queues into one logical queue, with one queue manager on the sender side and another on the receiver side, providing improved decoupling between sender and receiver.
Another type of middleware is referred to as object-oriented middleware (OOM) which is based on object oriented programming (OOP) and manipulation at the distributed network level. The concept of OOP has emerged as an alternative to the conventional modular programming styles based on procedure or function calls. The field of OOP is grounded in the reuse of successful design techniques. A coherent and flexible enterprise system is, by and large, associated with the adoption of design patterns, i.e., a collection of documented approaches to applied object-oriented principles discovered through practice. Distributed objects are supported by an Object Request Broker (ORB) which manages the communication and data exchange with remote objects across a network. Some examples of more commonly employed ORB implementations include CORBA (the Common Object Request Broker Architecture)(universally applicable to multiple platforms and programming languages), Microsoft's Distributed Common Object Model (DCOM)(restricted to Microsoft platforms) and Java's Remote Method Invocation (RMI)(restricted to Java platforms). CORBA, DCOM and RMI employ object servers which conduct the instantiation process for their hosted objects. Invocation occurs in response to requests from client applications typically residing elsewhere on the network. Accordingly, conventional ORBs support instantiation and invocation at the same host.
It is desirable to develop an object oriented middleware framework with substantially greater flexibility in which invocation of a Command occurs locally but remotely from instantiation.

Contained command invocation middleware framework


The present invention provides a solid drawing composition comprising barium sulfate, the composition further comprising, as a barium dissolving inhibitor, at least one of (a) alkali metal sulfate, (b) beryllium sulfate, magnesium sulfate, calcium sulfate or strontium sulfate, (c) aluminum sulfate, (d) zinc sulfate, and (e) a double salt of said sulfates (a) to (d).

Solid drawing compositions such as crayons, oil pastels, plastic crayons, colored pencils and the like generally comprise a wax, an extender pigment, a coloring pigment, a concentration adjuster, etc. Among these components, the extender pigment, concentration adjuster and the like may contain a predetermined amount of barium sulfate which enables the components to exhibit their functions effectively.
However, in recent years, standards for safety of toys have been altered in Europe and the U.S. to tighten control. Consequently pigments and like materials containing specific soluble heavy metals have been legally regulated. Since such heavy metals include barium, the use of barium lake and like pigments is restricted. The control is strict especially in Europe. For example, under European Standards EN 71, the detected value of barium as measured by the prescribed method shall not exceed 500 ppm.
At present, barium sulfate is not controlled under said regulation. However, the barium sulfate used as an extender pigment or as a concentration adjuster for a coloring pigment is slightly dissolved out so that a detected value of barium may exceed the prescribed level of 500 ppm, thereby posing a safety problem.
On the other hand, currently, no material is superior to barium sulfate as an additive for an extender pigment, concentration adjuster and the like, and it is difficult to find out a substitute for barium sulfate.


A print mechanism for a wire printer has a robust single-turn closed-loop transformer secondary winding as the moving part for driving a print wire into and out of a print position. Each secondary winding threads a transformer core on which is wound a multi-turn primary winding. A stack of such secondary windings, arranged with print wires in a closely spaced print row across the stack is supported in a static magnetic field produced by a magnetic assembly. Energization of a selected primary winding induces a large current flow in its associated secondary winding which reacts with the static magnetic field to drive the associated print wire into the print position. In one embodiment, the stack of secondary windings are all mounted on a single pivot and each secondary winding swings about the pivot as a whole upon energization of its associated primary winding. In another embodiment each secondary winding of the stack is formed so as to be elastically deformable whereby the portion of the secondary winding carrying the print wire is deflected into the print position under energization of its associated primary winding.

Electromagnetic drivers or actuators forming a part of a wire print mechanism are energized to actuate each wire as needed to form the desired character. The actuators generally comprise an electromagnet solenoid, for example, having its armature fastened to an associated wire, the energization of which produces longitudinal movement of the wire in its guide. Such a wire print mechanism is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,627,096, which is assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.
The principle limitation of this type of wire print mechanism is the maximum repetition rate at which the print wire can be fired at the paper in a controlled way. The maximum acceleration of the wire is limited by the ratio of the applied force to the mass of the moving parts. This ratio is bounded in that there is a limit to the energy that can be imparted to such an assembly by the magnetic circuit without generating an unacceptable increase in heat or causing the occurrence of physical distortion. In addition, the wire, after having been fired, bounces off the platen and returns to its original location retaining a significant proportion of the energy imparted to it. This energy must be dissipated and the wire brought to rest before it can be fired again, or resonant conditions may be set up. The problem is alleviated to some extent by the use of return springs and mechanical dampers. Finally, the build-up of current in the energizing winding is delayed by the inductance of the winding and a further limitation on speed is imposed.

International Business Machines Corporation


A tankless electric water heater system including a heating chamber having an inlet at a first end and an outlet at a second end, a heating element connected to the heating chamber, a first temperature sensor disposed near the first end of the heating chamber, a second temperature sensor disposed near the second end of the heating chamber, a flow sensor configured to detect a flow of water and disposed near the heating chamber, and a controller connected to the first and second temperature sensors, the flow sensor, and the heating element. The controller is configured to have a set point temperature, to detect temperature and flow data from the first and second temperature sensors, and the flow sensor, and to provide as output a power setting to the heating element.

Water heating is a thermodynamic process that uses an energy source to heat water above its initial temperature. Typical domestic uses of hot water include cooking, cleaning, bathing, and space heating.
Water can be heated in vessels known as water heaters, tanks, kettles, cauldrons, pots, or coppers. A metal vessel that heats a batch of water does not produce a continual supply of heated water at a preset temperature. The water temperature varies based on the consumption rate, becoming cooler over time and as flow increases, and the vessel is depleted.


Various embodiments implementing a multi-fabric mixed-signal electronic system design spanning across multiple design fabrics with electrical and/or thermal analysis awareness. A schematic design may be extracted from and a power delivery network (PDN) model may be determined from a plurality of layouts in multiple design fabrics in a multi-fabric design environment platform. A PDN-aware, multi-fabric full system schematic may be constructed by assembling the PDN model and the schematic design into the PDN-aware, multi-fabric full system schematic. For a schematic generated for a circuit block of interest, chip power models may be determined for the remaining portion of the multi-fabric mixed-signal electronic system design, and the PDN-aware, multi-fabric full system schematic may be updated by accounting for the chip power models. The circuit block of interest may then be electrically and/or thermally analyzed within the context of the remaining portion.

In conventional electronic designs, the integrated circuits (ICs), the IC packaging, and the printed circuit boards are often developed and designed independently. Modern electronic designs often require or desire developing the integrated circuit, the their respective packaging, and the printed circuit board (PCB) incorporating multiple packaged integrated circuits in a multi-fabric environment. That is, one designer may need or desire to design in the context of the others. For example, an integrated circuit designer may need or desire to implement the integrated circuit design in view of the contexts of the packaging fabric as well as the printed circuit board fabric.
Similarly, a printed circuit board designer may need or desire to implement or tune the printed circuit design in the context of the packaging design fabric and/or the integrated circuit design fabric. As a practical example where an advanced package is to be integrated into a printed circuit board (PCB) for an electronic product that is driven by cost considerations and performance. In conventional approaches, while device placement and assignment decisions made solely in the context of the chip may yield the ideal chip-level design, these device placement and assignment decisions could nevertheless result in missing the cost or performance goals for the end consumer product. In these convention approaches, the chip-level placement usually dictates, for example, the bump and ball assignments in the downstream fabrics that may result in excessive coupling in, for example, the interfaces and a complex routing scheme that requires additional layers in the package and/or PCB substrates.
A power distribution network (or power delivery network or PDN) includes the circuit components, traces, and/or metal structures that deliver power not only to the device under test but also to various other devices in an entire electronic design including one or more packaged integrated circuits, cells, discrete circuit components, and traces. Although early rail analyses and power grid implementations and optimizations may provide reasonably accurate results, IC packages and the printed circuit board itself may often cause additional drop in the power distribution network before the supplied power enters the power grid of integrated circuits or cells.
Furthermore, a power distribution network for a system under test may be loaded by the entire system, and such a load by the entire system may impact power delivery to individual integrated circuits and cells. Conventional I/O (input/output) drop analyses often assume an ideal voltage on all the power pads of an integrated circuit. This assumption is far from reality where voltages on different power pads of an integrated circuit may not necessarily be the same, much less having the same ideal voltage, due to, for example, lack of system symmetry, the dissipation within the power distribution network, consumption by other circuit components, etc.
With mixed-signal electronic designs, the voltage drop (IR drop) of an analog block or die needs system driven simulations. This system driven simulation that needs the visibility of the complete circuit of at least the analog block or die is in sharp contrast with digital dies or cells that may operate and be analyzed with test vectors. Conventional approaches require manual construction of the system under test to simulate the system including analog or mixed-signal dies. Some of these approaches also perform a single analog die electro-migration and/or IR-drop (EMIR) analysis by assuming ideal voltages at the pads of the single analog or mixed-signal die and require manual stitching between, for example, an IC package and the PDN model interface for the analog die. For example, conventional approaches require manual stitching between the Vdd pad of an IC die and the corresponding supply in the PDN model. These approaches often fail to accommodate the power consumption or dissipation of the package—PCB interface power distribution network in the power consumption or dissipation of the entire system. Moreover, these conventional approach are often, if not always, performed at non-schematic levels.
In addition to the imprecise or inaccurate power consumption and/or power dissipation results, conventional thermal analyses of a system often do not account for Joule heating of surrounding circuit components. Some approaches even use power dissipation data of various circuit components from data sheets that are generated for worst-case scenarios. Some approaches uses root mean square (RMS) or average power dissipation data and thus cannot capture transient or instantaneous thermal behavior. Many conventional approaches also fail to account for capacitances and inductors in thermal analyses.
Therefore, there exists a need for methods and apparatuses for implementing a multi-fabric mixed-signal electronic design spanning across multiple design fabrics with electrical and thermal analysis awareness.

Method, system, and computer program product for implementing a multi-fabric mixed-signal design spanning across multiple design fabrics with electrical and thermal analysis awareness


A high voltage differential amplifier including an input differential pair of low voltage transistors, a sense differential pair of low voltage transistors, first and second high voltage transistors, a low voltage bias transistor, a cascaded pair of low voltage transistors, and an output pair of high voltage transistors. The sense differential pair has a pair of control terminals that detect a common mode voltage of the differential input signal, and establishes a sense node which follows the common mode voltage. The first high voltage device is coupled to the sense node to establish bias node voltage levels which track the common mode voltage, including an output bias node biasing the output pair and a cascade bias node biasing the cascaded pair. In this manner, the terminals of the low voltage devices slide up or down with the common mode voltage and are protected from high voltage levels.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to amplifiers, and more particularly to a high voltage differential amplifier implemented using low voltage devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
Server computer systems and the like are often used to support multiple users and/or execute important functions. For many such applications, it is desired that the server remain active to provide continuous and uninterrupted service even during maintenance operations. Maintenance includes repairs, exchanges, upgrades, etc., which should be performed without shutting down the server. Electronic "hot plug" or "hot swap" technology has been developed to meet this need. Hot plug devices and controllers allow boards, disk drives, and other peripherals to be removed and replaced without shutting down system power. Hot plug devices and controllers offer one or more of a variety of features, including electronic circuit breakers, fault isolation, over-current protection, current regulation, UV and over-voltage protection, soft-start functions, fault reporting, etc. Hot plug devices and controllers must be capable of safely switching the voltage levels employed by the underlying computers and peripheral devices while system power is active.
Semiconductor processes continue to develop and have led to smaller feature sizes, higher yields and thus significantly reduced costs. Technological advances have decreased the semiconductor process platforms to sub-micron levels, including the 0.13 micron devices and more recent 90 nanometer (nm) devices. One particular technology is Bipolar Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor (BiCMOS) in which bipolar type devices are implemented using CMOS processes. BiCMOS is a merger of bipolar and CMOS technologies in the same substrate. This merger combines the small feature size of CMOS (which is very advantageous for digital circuits) and substantially all the advantages of bipolar in analog circuits. The advantages include higher precision, good transconductance, good matching and thus low off-set voltages at differential amplifiers, etc. These features make BiCMOS the ideal technology for mixed-signal VLSI (very large scale integration) applications.
It is desired to use the improved semiconductor processes to implement hot plug devices and controllers. Yet hot plug devices and controllers must be capable of switching all voltage levels of the peripheral devices. Although the voltage levels required for signal processing devices and the like have enabled decreased voltage levels from 5 volts (V) to 3.3 V and 2.5 V and even lower, peripheral devices often include older technologies and/or high power devices, which employ higher voltage levels such as 12 V or more. One disadvantage of the newer technologies operable at lower voltage levels is the concomitant reduced level of breakdown voltage. BiCMOS devices, for example, have a breakdown voltage at or near the 6 V level, which are incapable of switching higher voltage levels.
Another technology, called double diffused metal oxide semiconductor (DMOS), is available for high voltage and/or high power applications. A DMOS transistor essentially is a special type of MOS transistor manufactured by making an additional lightly doped diffusion on the drain side of the transistor. The additional diffusion causes the effective channel length to be shorter than drawn length. The additional diffusion increases conductivity so that the DMOS transistor has a lower "on" resistance. The additional, lightly doped region in the channel causes the drain-to-source breakdown voltage to increase, so that it can withstand higher voltages (20–30 V) before it breaks down. Thus, a DMOS transistor can handle larger currents for a given gate voltage, which makes it very suitable for switching applications. DMOS transistors are high voltage devices that are suitable to be used as switches or cascading devices, but are not suitable for signal processing amplification.
It is desired to employ the newer technologies for hot plug devices and components, while also supporting the necessary functions of switching higher voltages levels including 12 V or more.

High voltage differential amplifier using low voltage devices


An alarm system comprises of a closed circuit includes an alarm cord connected to a DC power source, a disconnect signal detector having an inverter circuit and a thyristor and a push-button switch. An alarm generator produces an alarm sound by the detection signal from the disconnect signal detector. A first charging-discharging circuit is connected to the DC power source through a first transistor which is turned on when the push-button switch is depressed, and a first Schmitt trigger circuit transmits a connect signal to the disconnect signal detector only for a time period set by the first charging-discharging circuit. The Schmitt trigger circuit transmits a disconnect signal to the disconnect signal detector after the setting period determined by the first charging-discharging circuit. A second charging-discharging circuit is connected to the DC power source through a second transistor to be turned on when the push-button switch is depressed, and a second Schmitt trigger circuit transmits a signal to cause the alarm generator to produce the alarm sound to indicate the start of alarm cancellation only for a time period set by the second charging-discharging circuit. The first and the second charging-discharging circuits constituting the timers can be energized by the current flowing through the first and the second transistors, respectively. The period of time of the cancellation mode and the period of time producing the alarm cancellation start sound at the time of the cancellation are set by the first and the second charging-discharging circuits, respectively.

The present invention relates to an alarm system wherein an alarm cord is attached to items to be guarded, such as goods displayed at a store front, or doors or windows, so that an alarm sound can be produced by a disconnection detection signal when the alarm cord is disconnected.
The present applicant has previously proposed another similar alarm system (refer to Utility Model Publication No. 63-47988 in Japan). The alarm system has a composition as is shown in FIG. 2 and the following functions.
The alarm process will be reviewed first. Alarm cord 6 is passed through, for example, the grips 4a, 4b and 4c sequentially with both ends of the cord connected to power source terminal 11 to apply DC voltage Vcc to closed circuit 11 consisting of the alarm cord 6, high resistor 8, protective resistor 9 and LED 10, whereby the alarm system is set to the alarm mode. In this case, the value of the DC voltage Vcc is small, but the value of the high resistor 8 is as large as several M.OMEGA., so that the alarm current is as low as 2-6 .mu.A, and the LED 10 remains unlit. Also, in this alarm mode, both the connection terminals 3 and 7 are at H-level, and thus the output side of inverter circuit 47 is a L-level, and thyristor 48 is left turned off. Inverter circuit 47 is included in a disconnect signal detector 12.
If anyone attempting to steal some goods disconnects the alarm cord 6 or connector 5, this causes the alarm current to be interrupted to cause the level of connection terminal 7 to be changed to L-level whereas the level of the output side of inverter circuit 47 is caused to be changed to H-level to turn on thyristor 48. This causes the output side of the inverter circuit 53 to be set to H-level, whereby the H-level signal is inputted to the alarm generator 21 through diode 54 to drive the first and second oscillation circuits 27 and 33 and transistor 56. This then causes the vibrator (buzzer) 34 of piezoelectric element to be actuated to give an alarm to the store clerks, etc. In this case, even if the disconnected alarm cord 6 or the connecter 5 is reconnected in haste to set the gate of the thyristor to the L-level, the thyristor continues to remain turned on to keep the H-level signal being transmitted to the alarm generator 21, and so the vibrator 34 is kept operating to continue alarming. The current to the thyristor 48 is discontinued only when a movable member 51 of momentary non-locking switch 52 is depressed to cause the movable member to come into contact with constantly opened contact 55, since this causes the thyristor 48 to be turned off to stop the alarm sound.
Secondly, the process of the alarm cancellation necessary when disconnecting the connector 5 to deliver the goods to the customer will be reviewed. First, the movable member of the momentary non-locking switch 52 has to be depressed lightly and released quickly. This causes the movable member 51 of the momentary non-locking switch 52 to contact the constantly opened contact 55, whereby DC voltage Vcc is applied to a charging-discharging circuit 39 of an alarm cancellation signal generator 35 to cause capacitor 38 to charge instantaneously and the movable member 51 to return automatically to the constantly closed contact 49. When the charge of the capacitor 38 is discharged, the partial voltage at both ends of resistor 37, one of discharge resistors 36 and 37 connected in series, actuates the alarm generator 21 through diode 46 in order to indicate the start of cancellation for a short period of time t' (ex. t'=2-3 seconds) only while the partial voltage is at H-level.
Also, at the time of the discharging of the capacitor 38, the output side of Schmitt trigger circuit 45 is set to H-level during a period t (ex. t=4-10 seconds>t') through which the voltage across the discharge capacitors 36 and 37 is at H-level, whereby LED 10 is lit to indicate that the alarm is cancelled, and the output side of the inverter circuit 47 in disconnect signal detector 12 is kept at L-level. Thus, during the period t' regardless of whether the alarm cord 6 is disconnected or not, the thyristor 48 is kept turned off, and so the alarm generator 21 will not be actuated.
Thus, the connector 5 should be disconnected to remove the article 4a, and the connector 5 should be reconnected. After this step, any special resetting operation is not required, since with the expiration of the time period t' the level of the output side of the Schmitt trigger circuit changes to L-level from H-level to restore the alarm state automatically. As explained previously, the vibrator 34 will not be actuated so long as the article 4a is removed and the alarm cord is reconnected during the time period t set by the capacitor 38 and the resistor 36 and 37 of the charging-discharging circuit 39. However, if the alarm cord 6 is not reconnected during the time period t' the vibrator 34 will be actuated. If the vibrator 34 is actuated, the movable member 51 of the momentary non-locking switch 52 should be caused to come into contact with the constantly opened contact 55 by being depressed so that the thyristor is turned off to stop the alarm sound.
As explained in the above, even if disconnecting the article 4a from the alarm cord 6 is delayed, and the alarm sound is produced as a result, the alarm sound can be stopped by operating the momentary non-locking switch, and the cancellation time t can be reset. Thus, even when the alarm sound is started because of delay in disconnecting the article 4a or by error, the alarm sound can be stopped immediately by operating the momentary non-locking switch 52.
When the cancellation time t has elapsed, the level of the cancellation signal outputted from the alarm cancellation signal generator 35 changes to L-level, and the signal is inputted to the gate of the thyristor 48 through the inverter circuit 47 to turn on the thyristor 48. As a result, the level of the signal on the anode side of the thyristor 48 becomes L-level, and the level of the signal becomes H-level in the inverter circuit 53. Then, the signal is inputted to the alarm generator 21 through switching diode 54 to restart the alarm sound. In this case, once the alarm sound is started, it continues, even if the alarm cord 6 and the connector 5 are reconnected, unless the thyristor 48 is turned off.
The alarm system described in the foregoing is capable enough to accomplish its object, but it has been learned that the alarm system still has the following points to be improved for its better performance.
Using the momentary non-locking switch directly for charging the charging-discharging circuit causes a large current to flow through the momentary non-locking switch, thereby requiring the use of large and more durable switches.
Using only one charging-discharging circuit for setting the time t' whereby the start of the alarm cancellation to be indicated and also for setting the time t (>t') whereby the state of the alarm cancellation is to be indicated causes the instabilities of the times for setting t and t'.


This invention relates to methods and systems for conducting market research, product research, or advertising research. More particularly, travelers are presented with a product and asked to provide feedback regarding the product by completing a survey. Answers to the survey are entered via an input device. Survey answer data is stored in a storage device along with demographic information relating to the traveler and the data is stored. In exchange for completing product research travelers may receive carrier specific rewards or a discount on the cost of travel. Data collected from travelers is collected and sold to corporate sponsors.

Rising fuel costs have increased the cost of air travel and caused airlines to cut costs and seek new revenue streams in order to achieve profitability. For example, most airlines have stopped providing free meals to passengers and instead sell snacks, meals, and beverages. Airlines add fuel surcharges to ticket prices and charge travelers extra for checking luggage and for aisle or window seats. Many of these new profitability measures, and especially the checked baggage charge, have been unpopular with air travelers.
Conducting market and product research is often costly, inefficient, intrusive, and largely a negative experience for participants and product brands. Consumers dislike telemarketers calling their homes. Mail surveys are lengthy, cumbersome, boring and easily disregarded by recipients. Over time, response rates to mail and telemarketer surveys have eroded. Conducting face to face focus groups is highly costly and time consuming. Conducting a face to face survey requires identifying willing participants for the study and then compensating participants. Conducting market and product research on-line was supposed to avoid the problems with mail, telemarketer, and face to face research. Foremost, on-line research can be conducted quickly and inexpensively. However, results from on-line surveys often do not replicate against the same on-line survey or surveys conducted using other methodology. The lack of replication casts doubts on the reliability, validity, and veracity of on-line surveys.

Methods and systems for conducting research on an airplane


An athletic shoe is provided having a plurality of interchangeable soles which may be attached or removed by a push-button spring release mechanism located on the heel. This push-button element, when actuated, permits the interchangeable sole to be removed or attached. In the preferred embodiment, this push-button element causes a pair of flexible spring type capture elements to flex, permitting a pin member located on the sole to either be inserted or withdrawn. The shoe and sole have a plurality of other novel interfitting elements and mechanisms which permit the sole to be securely affixed to the shoe as well as prevent any movement of the sole with respect to the shoe. Shoe soles may be provided which have a variety of cleats, treads or other designs which may be utilized for diverse uses such as sport or leisure. By utilizing the invention, one may employ one shoe for a variety of athletic or other activities by simply attaching the desired sole.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to athletic shoes, and more particularly, to an athletic shoe with a plurality of attachable soles, where the soles may be quickly and easily attached. A push-button mechanism is provided which is especially adapted to effect the release and attachment of the soles.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Athletic shoes are often provided with cleats depending from the underside of the sole to prevent the shoe from slipping on a surface of the ground. One example of such a shoe is a golf shoe, which includes the aforementioned cleated elements. The cleated elements do provide stability while on the golf course, as the cleats engage the soft, penetrable surface of the ground. However, when the player leaves the course or field, the shoes must be removed before the player can walk with ease on a hard surface such as asphalt, concrete, or on a floor of a dwelling or commercial establishment. Without removal of the cleated shoes, the player may slip, disfigure the floor, or damage the cleats, it has also become common for golf courses to require golfers to not wear metal type cleats thus causing the golfer to carry an additional set of shoes to accommodate the various regulations. Various means have been employed in the past to solve this problem. Complex mechanisms for the withdraw of the cleats into the shoe have been proposed. Also, flexible elements which have a plurality of cleat receiving apertures, for covering the cleats have also been employed.
In a broader sense, the expense of shoes for the athletically minded individual is great. A different pair of shoes may currently be required for golf, soccer, running, walking, cycling, bowling, boating and other sport and leisure activities. This would incur a great expense. By employing the current invention, one may select and attach a sole to a shoe for any given activity through the use of a shoe which has a means to attach or exchange any of a plurality of soles. This would permit the user to more affordably participate in any of a variety of sports or leisure activities. In this manner, one could fulfill the requirements of an athlete without having to buy many expensive sports shoes.
Thus, while the prior art indicates it to be well known to use means to cover or withdraw the cleats, the provision of a cleated sole which may be easily removed and replaced by a walking shoe sole has not been contemplated. Nor does the prior art described above teach or suggest a push-button mechanism located in the heel of the shoe which, when actuated, permits the quick and efficient removal of the cleated sole and subsequent attachment of a shoe sole or visa versa. The push-button, located on the rear of the midsole, when actuated, causes a pair of flexible spring type elements to flex, permitting a pin member located on the sole to either be inserted or withdrawn. The shoe and sole have a plurality of other interfitting elements and mechanisms which permit the sole to be securely affixed to the shoe. Other soles may be provided which have a variety of treads, cleats and designs which may be utilized for other diverse uses. Tread designs may be configured to be applicable to any sport. These soles may be simply attached to the shoe to fit the desired activity. By utilizing the invention, the user may employ one shoe for a variety of athletic or other activities. If a sole is damaged or worn it is simply replaced with another. Other advantages of the present invention over the prior art also will be rendered evident.


A price display system for a store includes spread spectrum radio broadcasting of UPC and price data from a transmitter in the store to a large number of receivers. Each receiver is connected to one or more LCD displays attached to the store shelves, and each receiver provides the relevant information to each of the connected displays. The displays and receivers are battery powered.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a system for the display of prices associated with merchandise in a store and in particular to an electronics systems which allows the prices associated with any item in the store not only to be displayed but to be changed from time to time as frequently as desired.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In stores, items are typically placed on shelves above a label showing the price of the item and perhaps a price per unit quantity such as weight or volume. To change prices, an employee must walk the aisles of the store, removing the old price labels and placing new price labels in the price label slots on the shelves. This takes time and is expensive. Moreover, employees make mistakes and prices cannot be changed rapidly to reflect special sales or the desire of the management to change prices on goods to respond to local marketing conditions.
Various approaches have been taken to deal with this problem. Thus, one system includes an electronic display in which prices are transmitted from a central terminal to the various displays Each display is identified by the UPC code associated with the product, the price of which is carried in a particular display. Thus should the store wish to change the price on a given product, the UPC code of that product is transmitted, followed by the new price. The particular display coded to receive the transmitted UPC code then will respond to the receipt of the UPC code and change the price displayed on the label to the new price. Typically the electronic display module associated with a particular product contains its own receiver which is capable of receiving the UPC code and the new price and then sending back to the transmitter station a signal indicating that it has received the new code and changed the price in response thereto.
This system has the significant drawback that the receivers are expensive, take up space, and use electric power. Also, the need to provide so many receivers leads to use of simple unsophisticated receivers to keep the cost of the system down; this results in a degraded communications capability.

System for display of prices and related method