A single-plate color solid-state image pickup apparatus constructed to prevent a color deviation, using as a color filter array, complementary color filters that are sequentially arranged in color filter columns in a horizontally repeating cycle of four pixels of first, second, third, and fourth, such that: first color-difference signals are obtained as modulated signals periodically in a certain number of pixels from xe2x80x9cfirst+secondxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cthird+fourthxe2x80x9d pixel columns; second color-difference signals are obtained as modulated signals periodically in the same pixel number as the first color-difference signals from xe2x80x9csecond+thirdxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cfourth+fifthxe2x80x9d pixel columns; and the first and second color-difference signals obtained from the pixel columns of xe2x80x9cthird+fourthxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cfourth+fifthxe2x80x9d are different in phase by 180 degrees from the first and second color-difference signals obtained from the pixel columns of xe2x80x9cfirst+secondxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9csecond+thirdxe2x80x9d.

The present invention relates to single-plate color solid-state image pickup apparatus in which the resolution characteristics of hue and luminance are not debased when all the pixels are read out and yet color generation can be performed by a single line where lines are skipped (thinned out) when read out.
Color filter array constructed as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C are known as using complementary color filters of the generally used type to produce color signals when all pixels of the image-pickup device are sequentially read out in a single-plate color solid-state image pickup apparatus. In this color filter array, four color filters Ye, Mg, Cy and G are arranged in the manner of a mosaic. FIG. 1A shows the signal processing mode for producing CR signal; FIG. 1B shows the signal processing mode for producing CB signal; and FIG. 1C shows the signal processing mode for producing YL signal. It should be noted that CR signal corresponds to (Rxe2x88x92Y) color-difference signal, CB to (Bxe2x88x92Y) color-difference signal, and YL to Y signal. Color signals (RGB) can be produced by combining these three signals. The numerals 1, 2, 3 and 4 in FIG. 1B correspond to Ye, Mg, Cy and G, respectively, representing their order of arrangement which may be considered as the like of the array shown in FIGS. 1A and 1C. The complementary color filters Ye, Mg and Cy are the filters for indicating the components of Ye=R+G, Mg=R+B and Cy=B+G, respectively. Further, the CR signal, CB signal and YL signal can be expressed as in the following equations (1), (2) and (3):
CR=(Ye+Mg)xe2x88x92(Cy+G)=2Rxe2x88x92Gxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(1)
CB=(Cy+Mg)xe2x88x92(Ye+G)=2Bxe2x88x92Gxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(2)
YL=Ye+Mg+Cy+G=2R+3G+2Bxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(3)
A description will now be given with respect to the mode of producing CR signal as shown in FIG. 1A. For the first pixel of the first line of FIG. 1A, CR signal of the first pixel can be produced by the signal processing of (Ye11+Mg21)xe2x88x92(Cy12+G22). CR signal of the second pixel is produced by the signal processing of (Ye13+Mg23)xe2x88x92(Cy12+G22). By sequentially forming CR signals of the pixels of third and after in a similar manner, all the CR signals for the first line can be provided onto the line. At the first pixel of the third line, CR signal of the first pixel can be produced in a similar manner as in the first line by the signal processing of (Ye32+Mg42)xe2x88x92(Cy31+G41). A similar signal processing can be performed for the second and third pixels of the third line and also for other odd-number lines to produce CR signals onto all the odd-number lines. CR signal of the even-number lines, for example of the first pixel of the second line, can be produced by interpolating between the CR signals of above and below, i.e., the first pixel of the first line and the first pixel of the third line. It should be noted that, in the figures, an interpolation for producing a signal is represented by its abbreviation xe2x80x9cINTxe2x80x9d and the direction of such interpolation is indicated by arrow. CR signals corresponding to other even-number lines can be also produced by vertically interpolating in a similar manner. Production is thus possible of the CR signals corresponding to all the pixels. Further, the CB signals and YL signals can be produced by performing signal processing as shown in FIGS. 1B and 1C.
Shown in FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a digital circuit for processing signal to produce CR, CB and YL signals, the operation of which will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C. First, addition of lines (vertical addition) is performed by adding together and averaging input signal SigIN and a signal obtained by delaying input signal SigIN by 1H (line). In particular, the line addition is sequentially performed for example as first line+second line, second line+third line. Next, to produce YL signal (FIG. 1C), signal A derived from such line addition and signal B derived from delaying of signal A by 1D (data) are added together and averaged to obtain a horizontally added signal which becomes YL signal.
To produce CR signal (FIG. 1A) and CB signal (FIG. 1B) signal (Axe2x88x92B) derived from subtraction from the line added signal A of signal B which is obtained by delaying signal A by 1D (data), and signal (Bxe2x88x92A) derived from the inverted subtraction thereof are alternately selected for each 1D (data). Thus obtained signal is CR/CB signal. The CR/CB becomes CR signal for the odd-number lines and CB signal for the even-number lines. Accordingly, a signal obtained by adding together and averaging (vertically interpolating) CR/CB signal and one derived from 2H-delay of CR/CB signal, and a signal obtained by delaying CR/CB signal by 1H can be alternately selected for each 1H to form CR signal and CB signal.
A description will be given below by way of FIG. 3 with respect to a known system for producing color signals by using a mixed complementary color filter when all pixels of the image-pickup device are sequentially read out similarly as the above. A mixed complementary color filter array is formed by arranging four color filters Wr, Gr, Gb and Wb in the manner of a mosaic as shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C. FIG. 3A shows the signal processing mode for producing CR signal; FIG. 3B shows the signal processing mode for producing CB signal; and FIG. 3C shows the signal processing mode for producing YL signal. It should be noted that a disclosure has been made in Japanese Patent Publication No.Hei-1-42192 with respect to the mixed complementary color filter.
The numerals 1, 2, 3 and 4 in FIG. 3B correspond to Wr, Gr, Gb and Wb, respectively, representing their order of arrangement which may be considered as the like of the array shown in FIGS. 3A and 3C. The mixed complementary color filters Wr, Gr, Gb and Wb are the filters possessing the components of Wr=Ye+Mg, Gr=Ye+G, Gb=Cy+G and Wb=Cy+Mg, respectively. Further, from Ye=R+G, Mg=R+B and Cy=B+G, the signals CR, CB and YL can be expressed by the following equations (4), (5) and (6):
CR=(Ye+Mg)xe2x88x92(Cy+G)=Wrxe2x88x92Gb=2Rxe2x88x92Gxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(4)
CB=(Cy+Mg)xe2x88x92(Ye+G)=Wbxe2x88x92Gr=2Bxe2x88x92Gxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(5)
YL=Ye+Mg+Cy+G=Wr+Gb=Wb+Gr=2R+3G+2Bxe2x80x83xe2x80x83(6)
A description will now be given with respect to the mode of producing CR signal as shown in FIG. 3A. For the first pixel of the first line of FIG. 3A, CR signal of the first pixel can be produced by the signal processing of (Wr11xe2x88x92Gb12). CR signal of the second pixel is produced by the signal processing of (Wr13xe2x88x92Gb12). By sequentially forming the CR signals of the pixels of third and after in a similar manner, all the CR signals of the first line can be provided onto the line. At the first pixel of the third line, CR signal of the first pixel can be produced in a similar manner as in the first line by the signal processing of (Wr32xe2x88x92Gb31). By performing a similar signal processing for the second and third pixels of the third line and also for other odd-number lines, CR signal can be provided onto all the odd-number lines. CR signal of the even-number lines, for example of the first pixel of the second line, can be produced by interpolating between the CR signals of above and below, i.e., the first pixel of the first line and the first pixel of the third line. The CR signals corresponding to other even-number lines can be also produced by vertical interpolation in a similar manner. Production is thus possible of the CR signals corresponding to all the pixels. Further, the CB signals and YL signals can be produced by performing signal processing as shown in FIGS. 3B and 3C.
Shown in FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a digital circuit for processing signal to produce CR, CB and YL signals when using the above-described mixed complementary filter array, the operation of which will be described below with reference to FIGS. 3A, 3B and 3C. This digital signal processing circuit omits the first line addition (vertical addition) processing part in the digital signal processing circuit of the case of forming color signals using the complementary color filter array shown in FIG. 2. First, to produce YL signal, a horizontally added signal is obtained by adding together and averaging input signal SigIN (signal A) and signal B derived from delaying of signal A by 1D (data). This becomes YL signal [FIG. 3C].
To produce CR signal (FIG. 3A) and CB signal (FIG. 3B) signal (Axe2x88x92B) derived from subtraction from input signal (SigIN)A of signal B which is obtained by delaying the signal A by 1D (data), and signal (Bxe2x88x92A) derived from the inverted subtraction thereof are alternately selected for each 1D (data). Thus obtained signal is CR/CB signal. The CR/CB becomes CR signal for the odd-number lines and CB signal for the even-number lines. Accordingly, a signal obtained by adding together and averaging (vertically interpolating) CR/CB signal and one derived from 2H-delay of CR/CB signal, and a signal obtained by delaying CR/CB signal by 1H can be alternately selected for each 1H to form CR signal and CB signal.
A description will be given below by way of FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C with respect to a conventional system for producing color signals by using RGB primary color filters when all pixels of the image-pickup device are sequentially read out similarly as-the above. An RGB primary color filter array as shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C is the color filter array of the so-called Bayer arrangement. FIG. 5A shows the processing mode for producing R signal; FIG. 5B shows the processing mode for producing B signal; and FIG. 5C shows the processing mode for producing G signal. The numerals 1, 2, 3 and 4 in FIG. 5B correspond to R, B, G and G, respectively, representing their order of arrangement which may be considered as the like of the array shown in FIGS. 5A and 5C.
A description will now be given with respect to the mode of producing R signal as shown in FIG. 5A. In the case of producing R signal, the signals corresponding to filters R11, R13, R31 and R33 are extracted in their unmodified state, and interpolations in right-and-left and in up-and-down directions are performed based on these R signals to produce all the R signals. B signals are produced also by performing a similar processing as shown-in FIG. 5B. G signals, too, are produced by performing similar interpolations as shown in FIG. 5C, though G filter outnumbers others. R, G, B signals can be produced by the above processing.
Shown in FIG. 6 is a block diagram of a digital circuit for processing signal to produce color signals using the above-described RGB primary color filter array, the operation of which will be described below with reference to FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C. First, to produce R signal (FIG. 5A) and B signal (FIG. 5B), interpolation between lines in up and down direction is possible by selecting for each 1H from a signal obtained by adding together and averaging input signal SigIN and signal derived from 2H-delay of SigIN, and a signal obtained by delaying the input signal SigIN by 1H. Thereby, R/G signal and B/G signal are formed. A signal obtained by adding together and averaging such R/G signal and signal derived from delaying of R/G signal by 2D (data), and a signal obtained by delaying R/G signal by 1D (data) are alternately selected for each 1D to produce R signal. Similarly, a signal obtained by adding together and averaging B/G signal and signal derived from delaying of B/G signal by 2D, and a signal obtained by delaying B/G signal by 1D are alternately selected for each 1D to produce B signal. In respect of G signal, a signal obtained by delaying input signal SigIN by 1H and 1D, and a signal obtained by adding together and averaging a signal obtained by adding together and averaging input signal SigIN and signal derived from 2H-delay of the input signal SigIN and a signal obtained by delaying such signal by 2D are alternately selected for each 1D to produce G signal.
Generally, when emphasis is on the resolution in constructing the color filter array of a solid-state image pickup device in a single-plate color solid-state image pickup apparatus, one based on a color line-by-line sequential system such as the above-described color filter arrays is advantageous. However, since a greater number of pixels are used in constructing the recent solid-state image pickup apparatus such as those in the electronic cameras using CCD imaging device, the pixels thereof are subject to a skip readout and not all of them are read out except for the case of recording a still image. In particular, they are thinned out when read out to correspond for example to the performing of AE/AF operation and displaying of an image on a liquid crystal display unit which require a high-speed processing.
If, for example, every other line is simply thinned out when read out by applying a skip readout system to a single-plate color solid-state image pickup apparatus using a color filter array of the color line-by-line sequence system, it is impossible to obtain data consisting of a line-by-line sequence. For example, if a thinned-out readout is performed by omitting every other line when a complementary color filter array of the structure as shown in FIGS. 1A, 1B, 1C is employed, there is a case where only the components of CR signal can be extracted, as CR signal from the first line, CR signal from the third line and CR signal from the fifth line, too. In this case, CB signal cannot be extracted, resulting in a problem that color signals cannot be formed within one frame.
Such problem occurs also in the case of using the mixed complementary color filter array shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C, or using the primary color filter array shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C. In particular, CR signal and CB signal are alternately outputted for example in the order of CR, CB, CR, CB in the color signal forming method using the mixed complementary color filter array shown in FIGS. 3A, 3B, 3C. Similarly to the case of using the complementary color filter array, therefore, this results in only CR signal or only CB signal being outputted when a skip readout of every other line is performed, making it impossible to produce color signals within one frame. Further, in the case of using the primary color filter array shown in FIGS. 5A, 5B, 5C, a thinned-out readout of every other line may results in a state where only the components of R, G signals can be extracted as R, G from the first line, R, G from the third line and R, G from the fifth line, too. It becomes impossible to extract B signal and color signals cannot be formed within one frame.
In view of the above problems with the single-plate color solid-state image pickup apparatus using known color filter arrays, it is an object of the present invention to provide a single-plate solid-state color image pickup apparatus using a color filter array capable of deriving color signals from a single line in the case where lines are skipped (thinned out) when read out, without debasing the resolution characteristics of hue and luminance when all the pixels are read out.
In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a single-plate color solid-state image pickup apparatus including a solid-state image pickup-device having a plurality of pixels arrayed in horizontal and vertical directions, and a color filter array consisting of a plurality of color filters arrayed in horizontal and vertical directions correspondingly to the respective pixels of the solid-state image pickup device. The color filter array comprises complementary color filters, constructed by sequentially arranging color filter columns in horizontal direction in a repeating cycle of four pixels of first, second, third, and fourth. First color-difference signals are obtained as modulated signals periodically in a certain number of pixels from xe2x80x9cfirst+secondxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cthird+fourthxe2x80x9d pixel columns, and second color-difference signals are obtained as modulated signals periodically in the same pixel number as the first color-difference signals from xe2x80x9csecond+thirdxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cfourth+fifthxe2x80x9d pixel columns, wherein the first and second color-difference signals obtained from xe2x80x9cthird+fourthxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9cfourth+fifthxe2x80x9d pixel columns are different respectively in phase by 180 degrees from the first and second color-difference signals obtained from xe2x80x9cfirst+secondxe2x80x9d and xe2x80x9csecond+thirdxe2x80x9d pixel columns.
Further, in accordance with a second aspect of the invention, the single-plate color solid-state image pickup apparatus of the first aspect includes control means for driving and controlling said solid-state image pickup device, the control means having a drive function of the mode for recording a still image by extracting pixel signals of all the pixels by sequentially scanning said solid-state image pickup device and a drive function of the mode for recording a still image or for performing a dynamic image processing by extracting pixel signals of every n (n being an integer of 1 or greater) lines out of every m (m being an integer of 2 or greater) lines in the vertical direction from said solid-state image pickup device.
Furthermore, in accordance with a third aspect of the invention, the single-plate color solid-state image pickup apparatus of the second aspect, when performing the operation of recording a still image or processing a dynamic image by extracting pixel signals of n lines out of every m lines in the vertical direction from said solid-state image pickup device, is constructed to generate color signals by each single line by means of a row of color filters of 4-pixel repeating cycle of first, second, third and fourth in the horizontal direction.
By using a color filter array consisting of complementary color filters arranged as the above, the resolution characteristics of hue and luminance are not debased when all the pixels are read out without increasing the rate of operating clock, and color signals can be generated by a single line when lines are skipped in readout. It is therefore possible to avoid a deviation in colors no matter how the lines are skipped when read out.
In accordance with a fourth aspect of the present invention, there is provided a single-plate color solid-state image pickup apparatus including a solid-state image pickup device having a plurality of pixels arrayed in horizontal and vertical directions, and a color filter array consisting of a plurality of color filters arrayed in horizontal and vertical directions correspondingly to the respective pixels of the solid-state image pickup device. The color filter array comprises mixed complementary color filters, constructed by sequentially arranging color filter columns in horizontal direction in a repeating cycle of four pixels of first, second, third, and fourth. First color-difference signals are obtained as modulated signals periodically in a certain number of pixels from first and third pixel columns, and second color-difference signals are obtained as modulated signals periodically in the same pixel number as the first color-difference signals from second and fourth pixel columns, wherein the first and second color-difference signals obtained from third and fourth pixel columns are different respectively in phase by 180 degrees from the first and second color-difference signals obtained from first and second pixel columns.
Further, in accordance with a fifth aspect of the invention, the single-plate color solid-state image pickup apparatus of the fourth aspect includes control means for driving and controlling said solid-state image pickup device, the control means having a drive function of the mode for recording a still image by extracting pixel signals of all the pixels by sequentially scanning said solid-state image pickup device and a drive function of the mode for recording a still image or for performing a dynamic image processing by extracting pixel signals of every n (n being an integer of 1 or greater) lines out of every m (m being an integer of 2 or greater) lines in the vertical direction from said solid-state image pickup device.
Furthermore, in accordance with a sixth aspect of the invention, the single-plate color solid-state image pickup apparatus of the fifth aspect, when performing the operation of recording a still image or processing a dynamic image by extracting pixel signals of n lines out of every m lines in the vertical direction from said solid-state image pickup device, is constructed to generate color signals by each single line by means of a row of color filters of 4-pixel repeating cycle of first, second, third and fourth in the horizontal direction.
By using a color filter array consisting of mixed complementary color filters arranged as the above, the resolution characteristics of hue and luminance are not debased when all the pixels are read out. Since, furthermore, color signals can be generated by a single line when lines are skipped in readout, a deviation in colors is not caused no matter how the lines are skipped when read out. Further, human eyes are vested with a higher resolution in horizontal direction than in the vertical direction. Accordingly, the color line-by-line sequential system where luminance signal is generated by adding together pixels adjacent to each other in horizontal direction is disadvantageous in that it causes the resolution in horizontal direction to be degraded. In the above described fourth, fifth and sixth aspects of the present invention, however, the horizontal resolution can be improved comparing to that of using the mixed complementary color filters of the known color line-by-line sequential system, since pixels adjacent to each other in the vertical direction are added together to generate a luminance signal.
In accordance with a seventh aspect of the present invention, there is provided a single-plate color solid-state image pickup apparatus including a solid-state image pickup device having a plurality of pixels arrayed in horizontal and vertical directions, a color filter array consisting of color filters of three kinds different one another in spectral sensitivity, arrayed in horizontal and vertical directions correspondingly to the respective pixels of the solid-state image pickup device, and control means for driving and controlling the solid-state image pickup device, the control means having a drive function of the mode for recording a still image by extracting pixel signal of all the pixels through a sequential scan of the solid-state image pickup device and a drive function of the mode for recording a still image or processing a dynamic image by extracting pixel signals of every n (n being an integer of 1 or greater) lines out of every m (m being an integer of 2 or greater) lines in the vertical direction from the solid-state image pickup device. The color filter array is consisting of primary color filters, each row of the color filters being arranged in the order of the color filters of first, second, third and third in the horizontal direction, wherein the color filter row of n+1""th line is shifted by 2-pixel pitch in the horizontal direction in relation to the color filter row of n""th line.
Furthermore, in accordance with a eighth aspect of the invention, the single-plate color solid-state image pickup apparatus according to the seventh aspect of the invention, when performing the operation of recording a still image or processing a dynamic image by extracting pixel signals of n lines out of every m lines in the vertical direction from the solid-state image pickup device, is constructed to generate color singles by each single line by means of a row of color filters of 4-pixel repeating cycle of first, second, third and fourth in the horizontal direction.
By using a color filter array consisting of primary color filters arranged as the above, similarly to the cases of the above described first to sixth aspects, the resolution characteristics of hue and luminance are not debased when all the pixels are read out. Since, furthermore, color signals can be generated by a single line when lines are skipped in readout, deviation in colors is not caused no matter how the lines are skipped when read out.

Image pickup apparatus with non-debased hue and luminance when reading all pixels and color generation performed by single lines when reading skipped lines


Methods and apparatus for starting an internal combustion engine are disclosed. One of the disclosed apparatus includes an electric starter operatively coupled to the internal combustion engine and an energy storage device for supplying the starter with power. The apparatus is also provided with a sensor for detecting a temperature of the internal combustion engine and a consumer control device associated with a consumer of electrical power. The apparatus is further provided with a power flow controller which controls the consumer control device such that a portion of the energy stored in the energy storage device is delivered to the consumer of electrical power before the electric starter is supplied with power. The portion of the energy has a size which is dependent upon the sensed temperature. The size of the portion is smaller at low temperatures than at high temperatures. In some embodiments, the power flow controller uses the sensed temperature to supplement the energy drawn from the short-term accumulator with energy from the long-term accumulator to ensure the starter is provided with sufficient energy to start the internal combustion engine.

It is known that an internal combustion engine can be started with energy stored in one or more capacitors. In such arrangements, the energy required for starting is supplied to the capacitor from a vehicle battery (with 12 volts or 24 volts). The energy from the battery is brought to a higher voltage level by means of a high-positioning DC/DC converter and stored in the capacitor(s). Such starter systems are known, for example, from SU 1,265,388 A1 (MOSC AUTOMECH), as well as from EP 0 390 398 A1 (ISUZU).
In simpler systems, the capacitor(s) lie at the same voltage level as the vehicle battery, (i.e., no high positioner is connected between the capacitor(s) and the battery). Examples of such simpler systems are offered by DE 41 35 025 A1 (MAGNETI MARELLI), and U.S. Pat. No. 5,041,776 (ISUZU). In all of the aforementioned systems, the battery is separated from the starter motor during the starting process. All of the energy used for starting is, therefore, drawn from the capacitor accumulator(s).
JP 02175350 A (ISUZU) and JP 02175351 A (ISUZU) describe simple systems of the second-named type (i.e., the simple systems that do not include a voltage converter). However, in these disclosures, the battery and the precharged capacitor are connected in parallel during the starting process, so that both energy storage devices (i.e., accumulators) contribute to the starting process.
It is also known from EP 0 403 051 A1 (ISUZU) that a capacitor used to store starting energy can be charged only up to a certain variable voltage level. This maximum voltage level depends on the temperature of the engine coolant.
In addition to the above proposals which concern the use of capacitors as accumulators for storing and supplying starting energy to an electric starter, there are also proposals for using capacitors for other applications, (for example, as accumulators for storing energy required for electrical heating). EP 0 533 037 B1 (MAGNETI MARELLI) discloses electrical catalyst heating and EP 0 420 379 B1 discloses an electrical glow unit for a diesel engine, in which the heating energy is kept ready in a capacitor.
Finally, electrical systems with a starter battery and a vehicle battery are known from WO93/11003 (BOSCH) and EP 0 688 698 A2 (BMW et al.). In these arrangements, the starter battery and vehicle battery are charged together, but are separated during the stating process. In the last-named publication, the two batteries are connected via a control unit that controls the charging process.
Known starter systems employing capacitors guarantee reliable starting, even under very cold conditions. They also permit smaller layout of the ordinary vehicle battery, which, in itself, is less suited for short-term discharging during starting.


A magnetoresistive element for a dual element read head should exhibit uniform current density for proper biasing and Barkhausen noise limiting. Each element is a thin film MR layer normal to the magnetic media. Each element includes a front edge parallel with the magnetic media surface. A back edge, longer than the front edge, is opposite the front edge. Conductors through which current enters and exits the MR layer are adjacent to either end of the back edge.

Information is written onto a magnetic medium by magnetizing elements within the medium. These magnetized elements produce a magnetic field which can be detected and converted to an electrical signal by a read head as the magnetic media passes by the read head. A common type of read head for carrying out this conversion is the magnetoresistive (MR) read head.
A simple MR head consists of a thin film of magnetoresistive material, such as Permalloy, between two insulating layers. When the MR layer is formed, a magnetic field is typically applied in a direction parallel to the plane of the thin layer. Thus, the MR layer exhibits a uniaxial anisotropy with an easy-axis of magnetization parallel to the direction of the applied field. If an external magnetic field, such as from the magnetic medium, is applied normal to the easy-axis, the magnetization direction of the MR layer will rotate away from the easy-axis and towards the direction of the applied magnetic field. This magnetization rotation causes a change in resistance in the MR layer. When no external field is applied, the resistance is greatest. The resistance decreases with increasing applied field. For practical geometries of the MR layer, resistance as a function of applied field traces a bell-shaped curve. The MR head is often biased with an applied current such that a zero magnitude applied field results in a resistance near an inflection point on the resistance curve. Thus, small changes about a zero magnitude applied external field result in nearly linear changes in resistance.
To accommodate increasing densities of data stored on magnetic media, the geometries of read heads continue to shrink. One difficulty encountered is the increasing effect of Barkhausen noise. As the width of the MR layer is narrowed, the MR layer tends to split into magnetic domains, resulting in demagnetization. In the presence of an increasing externally applied field, the domain walls can make sudden movements, causing jumps in the output signal. Two methods exist to reduce or eliminate Barkhausen noise. The first is to increase the effective length of the MR layer. Lengthening the MR layer reduces the effect of demagnetization at the ends and, hence, results in a greater retention of a single magnetic domain. The main difficulty with this technique is that the resulting increase in read head size is contrary to the need for increased data density on magnetic tapes. The second technique uses a small magnetic field in the direction of the easy-axis to induce a single domain state in the MR layer. An implementation of this method uses permanent magnets placed over the ends of the MR layer. These magnets strongly pin the domains of the MR layer under the magnets and create a weak longitudinal magnetic field in the MR layer between the covered ends. Difficulties with this implementation include complex geometries and additional processing steps required to implement the additional permanent magnetic.
In addition to Barkhausen noise, cross-sensitivities to other parameters, such as temperature asperity noise, feed through noise, drive noise, and the like, can affect the performance of the MR head. A dual active element MR read head minimizes cross-sensitivities. The dual active element MR head includes two MR layers in parallel separated by an insulating layer. Two additional insulating layers, one on each end of the structure, insulate the MR layers from surrounding materials. The two MR layers are connected in parallel to a source current such that current flows in the same direction through both layers. The fringe field produced by the current flowing through each MR layer biases the adjacent layer. Hence, an externally applied magnetic field produces an increase in resistance of one MR layer and a corresponding decrease in resistance of the other MR layer. A differential amplifier with an input connected to each MR layer converts these changes in resistance to an output voltage. Environmental changes to both MR layers, such as changes in temperature, appear as common mode inputs to the differential amplifier and, hence, are rejected.
The current is supplied to each MR layer through conductors. The conductors are typically constructed from metal such as gold or copper to reduce lead resistance and, hence, increase signal amplitude. Low conductivity metals are susceptible to one or more of corrosion, wear, and abrasion. This is particularly true when the magnetic media is tape, which comes into contact with and abrades the read head surface. Therefore, the conductors are typically connected at the side of the MR layer opposite from the exposed surface of the read head. One problem created by conductors connected to the MR layer back edge is the creation of two right angle bends in the current path through the MR layer. The resulting current path has a distinctly nonuniform current density near regions where current enters and exits the MR layer. Also, the right angle bends in the current path result in areas of low current density in the corners opposite where the conductors join the MR layer in the rectangularly shaped MR layers. These low current density regions generate very low fields and, hence, are more susceptible to domain formation and resulting Barkhausen noise.
What is needed is a dual active element MR read head with reduced Barkhausen noise susceptibility. The read head should have MR layers with a more uniform biasing than present designs. The read head should have a simple construction which is inexpensive to manufacture and which is compatible with existing thin film designs.


A system for providing electric creep in a manual transmission vehicle having an accelerator pedal, a brake pedal, and an engine uses an electric motor configured to provide creep torque to a transmission output shaft when the manual transmission is in neutral, the electric creep mode is activated and the engine is auto-stopped. The system may provide forward or reverse creep torque. The system may cancel the electric creep in response to a vehicle door opening, a driver unbuckling a seatbelt, or depressing the accelerator pedal or the clutch pedal, or shifting the manual transmission out of neutral.

One of the considerable benefits of an automatic transmission is the ability to creep forward in heavy traffic by simply releasing the foot brake. In contrast, a manual transmission vehicle has to be eased gently forward under control from the accelerator, brake and clutch pedals, which quickly becomes tiresome for the driver and is not efficient from the perspective of the fuel economy.
The issue of fuel economy under such conditions has been addressed by the introduction of engine start-stop technology which typically requires the transmission to be in neutral for the engine to stop in vehicles having a manual transmission. As a result, in a manual transmission vehicle with start-stop technology, the user not only has to control forward motion with accelerator, brake and clutch, but also has to shift to neutral when the vehicle stops. The repeated shifting from neutral to first gear, the repeated stopping and starting of the engine and the requirement to operate accelerator, brake and clutch combine to create an unsatisfactory experience for the driver.
In addition, hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) typically have multiple power sources, i.e. an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. The role of the electric motor differs depending on the type of hybrid vehicle.

Electric creep torque control in vehicles having a manual/mechanical transmission


A scraper for removing debris from the floor of an animal stall is provided with a first motorized drum, a second motorized drum, a cable extending between the first and second drums, a scraper and a switch tripper carried by the cable. The switch tripper actuates a switch in communication with the first motorized drum to stop and reverse direction of the scraper and cable.

Various scraper devices have heretofore been utilized for the clean up of cattle stalls and barns. Typically such devices employ some type of scraper blade. With conventional blades, however, clean up efficiency is reduced by the fact that if a straight blade encounters an irregularity in the floor surface, a one piece blade is caused to rise up and thus leave areas which are not scraped clean.
One type of scraper assembly is shown in U.S. Pat. No. 4,243,137 wherein a pair of scraper blades are hingedly connected to a frame. However, to allow the blades to move vertically the device of that patent requires that the blades be formed of several components which are loosely bolted together, thus reducing the ability to maintain downwardly directed scraping forces.
A need has existed for improved scraper devices for use in cleaning up of animal manure from floor surfaces that enable improved cleanup of floor surfaces that are characterized by various surface irregularities.


In a connector with a terminal stopper attached according to the invention, a terminal stopper to be fitted in the rear of a connector housing is provided with a guide bar, a connector housing is provided with an introduction section and the terminal stopper is fitted into the connector housing by inserting the guide bar in the introduction section.. The connector with the terminal stopper attached of the present invention allows an easy and exact insertion of the terminal stopper into the connector housing, thereby securely stopping terminal fittings and is excellent in workability when assembled and has superior reliability.

A means integrally disposing flexible stopper arms on the internal wall of terminal accommodating chambers of a connector housing and connecting the flexible stopper arms to terminal fittings to be inserted is generally used to stop the terminal fittings and to prevent them from coming off afterward. And, there is another proposal fitting a terminal stopper at the rear of the connector housing so as to cooperate with or to work instead of the above flexible stopper arms to secure the prevention of late coming off of the terminal fittings.
As shown in a conventional example of FIG. 6, when inserting and stopping terminal fittings in a connector provided with the above terminal stopper, a terminal fitting c to which an electrical wire w is connected is inserted into a terminal accommodating chamber of a connector housing under the condition that a terminal stopper b is temporarily inserted into the rear of the connector housing, thereby the terminal stopper b is inserted into a predetermined position.
When the terminal fitting c is incompletely inserted, the terminal stopper b is not fitted into an appropriate position. If the connector housing `a` is inserted into a connector housing accommodating section e of a relay box d as shown in FIG. 7 under this condition, the incomplete insertion of the terminal fitting c and the terminal stopper b is not apparent. As a result, if a trouble is caused in a circuit, lots of time and labor are needed to detect the troubled part and repair it.

Connector with terminal stopper attached and method for inserting and stopping terminal fittings using same


This invention is directed to modified alkyd resins containing free hydroxyl groups, said alkyd resins being prepared by reacting glycide and/or glycerol with alkyd resins having acid numbers of from about 30 to 180 until the acid number is from about 5 to 35. The invention is also directed to the use of the modified alkyd resins as lacquer binders.

It is known that due to their predominantly hydrophobic molecular structure, fatty acid-modified alkyd resins are insoluble in water and can be used as coating materials only when dissolved in organic solvents. For the development of environmentally acceptable lacquer systems, many attempts have been made in past years to modify lacquer binders to become emulsifiable in water, dilutable with water, or soluble in water. To achieve this, the hydrophobic alkyd resin must then be made sufficiently hydrophilic that it can be applied from an aqueous medium while, at the same time, the hydrophobic nature of the alkyd resin residue furnishes a lacquer coating that is as water-resistant as possible.
A known method for hydrophilation is the introduction of numerous carboxyl groups into alkyd resins, which polycarboxyl alkyd resins can then become water-soluble as amine salts. However, such anionically hydrophilized lacquer systems do not constitute a satisfactory solution to the problem of providing suitable binders because they contain relatively large quantities of volatile amines and, often, auxiliary organic solvents. In addition, due to the anionic nature of the binder, the lacquer film is sensitive to water and, in particular, to alkaline media.
Furthermore, it would be expected that use of aqueous emulsions or dispersions of alkyd resins would make a more favorable solution of the problem possible. Organic solvents would, for the most part, be unnecessary, and the component of volatile amines could be kept small. However, the stabilization of such emulsions is primarily achieved by condensing polyethylene glycol chains. The polyethylene glycol chains are disadvantageous because, on the one hand, the resulting lacquer coatings lack stability to water since the hydrophilic chains remain unchanged in the lacquer film, and because, on the other hand, the emulsions are characterized by typical lack of stability and insufficient degree of dispersion. Thus, there has been no major practical use of such alkyd resin emulsions.
Applicants have surprisingly found that the described disadvantages can be overcome. They have found that alkyd resins particular fatty acid modified alkyd resins can be prepared that, on the one hand, are easily dispersible in water or will form a practically clear solution without requiring major amounts of amines and that, on the other hand, keep the sensitivity of the hardened lacquer films to water as low as possible.

Modified alkyd resins and their use as lacquer binders


A door lock device which comprises a structural base body by which a latch plate and a control mechanism for the latch plate are operatively carried; and a cover plate attached to the structural base body in a manner to cover the latch plate. The cover plate includes larger and smaller flat portions which are mutually intersected and the cover plate has an enclosed aperture which extends between the larger and smaller flat portions and through which the latch plate is exposed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates in general to door lock devices, and more particularly to door lock devices of a type which generally comprises a latch plate operatively held by a structural base body, and an apertured cover plate attached to the body having the latch plate exposed through the aperture thereof, so that when a striker is led into the aperture, the striker is caught or latched by the latch plate.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Hitherto, various door lock devices have been proposed and put into practical use particularly in the field of motor vehicles. Widely used are of a type which comprises a latch plate operatively held by a structural base body secured to a door, and an apertured cover plate attached to the body in a manner to expose the latch plate through the aperture thereof, so that when a striker secured to a vehicle body is led into the aperture, the striker is caught or latched by the latch plate. For reinforcing the structural base body, the cover plate is usually constructed of steel plate.
Some of the cover plates used in such conventional door lock devices are shaped flat and have a generally U-shaped structure (or horse shoe structure) for defining the aperture therein.
However, due to the flat and U-shaped structure of the cover plate, the flexural strength of the same in the direction to cross the aperture is poor. This means that the mechanical strength fo the structural base body to which such cover plate is secured is also poor. Thus, when an abnormally large impact force is applied to the lock device by the striker due to sudden closing of the door or the like, it tends to occur that the structural base body of the lock device is damaged. Although increasing the thickness of the structure base body may solve such drawback, the increase in thickness induces a bulky and heavy construction of the door lock device.


An electrolytic solution for a power storage device, the electrolytic solution containing water as a solvent, wherein an amount of the solvent is greater than 4 mol and not greater than 15 mol with respect to 1 mol of an alkali metal salt.

Lithium ion secondary batteries have been widely used as batteries for mobile phones and electric vehicles, since lithium ion secondary batteries have high theoretical energy densities as compared to conventional secondary batteries. In conventional lithium ion secondary batteries, an organic solvent-based electrolytic solution that does not decompose even at a voltage of approximately 4 V is used in order to achieve a high energy density. As such an organic solvent, typically, ethylene carbonate, diethyl carbonate, etc. are mainly used (Patent Literature 1).
However, an organic solvent is generally combustible, and thus ensuring safety particularly in large-sized secondary batteries for vehicles and power storage is an important issue. In addition, the ionic conductivity of an organic solvent solution is very low as compared to that of an aqueous solution, so that rapid charging/discharging characteristics of the organic solvent solution are not sufficient, which is a problem. Meanwhile, in view of such a problem, research has been conducted for aqueous lithium ion secondary batteries in which an aqueous solution is used as an electrolytic solution. However, water theoretically decomposes at a voltage of 1.23 V, and thus an aqueous lithium ion secondary battery that stably operates even at a high voltage that is not less than this voltage has not been achieved.
Capacitors are power storage devices which store or release charge by adsorption or elimination of ions in an electrolytic solution with respect to an electrode surface. Capacitors are roughly categorized into: organic solvent-type capacitors in which an organic solvent and a quaternary ammonium salt or the like are used for an electrolytic solution; and aqueous capacitors in which water is used as the solvent of an electrolytic solution.
The amount of charge that is stored in a capacitor is represented as a product of capacitance and voltage. Regarding an aqueous capacitor, the upper limit of the voltage is limited due to the withstand voltage of water, and thus studies for increasing the capacitance are generally conducted in order to increase the amount of charge.
As a matter of fact, Patent Literature 2 discloses a technique of an aqueous capacitor to optimize the pore size and the specific surface area of activated carbon to be used for an electrode of a capacitor, thereby increasing capacitance.
However, since the withstand voltage of water is low as described above, putting an aqueous capacitor that stably operates at a high voltage to practical use has been difficult.

Aqueous electrolytic solution for power storage device and power storage device including said aqueous electrolytic solution


In one embodiment a medical device comprising an interface, a portable component and a controller is provided. The interface is configured for receiving identification data of a user, the portable component is configured for storing configuration data and the controller is configured for retrieving the configuration data based on the identification data and for configuring the medical device based on the configuration data.

A medical device is typically configured in preparation for a medical procedure. Medical devices require certain inputs before the medical procedure can be performed. For example, patient data (e.g., name, age, sex, etc.), medical procedure data (e.g. type of the medical procedure, body part, etc.), medical device settings (e.g., power, duration, etc.), confirmation of a user's (such as a medical staff's) preferred settings, service personnel inputs (e.g., calibration and maintenance records, software updates) and other such inputs.
Medical device inputs are typically performed via a user interface such as a keyboard and a mouse and/or file transports through a USB port, Ethernet, a printer, CD, floppy disk, etc. In other words, inputs are manually captured via the interface and originate as recorded entries by the user. The manually captured inputs have the disadvantage of requiring additional manual steps prior to or during the medical procedure, thus requiring additional time and resources to perform. This may result in a possibility for error in inputting the information into the medical device, as well as a concurrent delay in performing the medical procedure caused by manual entry of the data. The flow of the medical procedure is thus disrupted and the efficiency and time-management of the user (such as a surgeon) is reduced.
The user such as a surgeon and/or a medical staff often have specific preferences regarding the operation of a medical device during a given medical procedure particularly when the medical device is providing information related to or part of a medical workflow. User-specific configuration data being configuration data specific to the user can be used to customize the user experience when such data is available. An example of the user specific configuration data includes a particular sequence of GUI screen layouts that each contain a specific subset of information from an otherwise broader set of available information, such as particular sets of instrument tracking display types, that are of particular interest at different medical workflow steps. Another example of the user specific configuration data includes configurably applied rules or parameters for switching the medical workflow steps. The user specific configuration data facilitates customization of the medical device and thereby improves visibility of each particular information subset, reduces screen clutter, and reduces the required system interaction by the user, which is of particular value in the sterile and time-critical medical procedure setting.
Further, there may be multiple users for a single medical device, and therefore differentiation of the users is desired in order to select an appropriate configuration data for each user. Moreover, differentiation of user type is also of interest, as there may be general workflow differences that can be realized for different sets of users. For example, a medical workflow for a service user may be different from a general workflow for a clinical user. In addition, in order to add customizations for new users, and/or to modify data and/or add new data for existing users, the user specific configuration data is to be manually transported into the medical device.
Therefore, a need exists for a system and method for configuring a medical device that can provide the user specific configuration data to the medical device to reduce the user's interaction with the medical device thereby facilitating the user to carry out the medical procedure.

System and method for configuring a medical device


An apparatus for relaying microwave field intensity in a microwave cavity. In some embodiments, the apparatus comprises a microwave transparent substrate with at least one Radio Frequency (RF) detector that is capable of detecting a microwave field and generating a signal associated with a field intensity of the detected microwave field and a transmitter that receives the signal associated with the detected microwave field from the RF detector and transmits or stores information about the detected microwave field intensity. In some embodiments, the apparatus relays the microwave intensity via a wired, wireless, or optical transmitter located in proximity of the RF detector.

Microwaves are used, for example, in semiconductor processing to anneal, clean, cure, and degas. The microwaves can be used to process a single wafer and/or multiple wafers in a batch. The microwaves are generated and a waveguide is used to transmit the microwaves into a cavity. The cavity and any wafer supports or other structures inside the cavity affect the distribution of the microwaves. Standing waves can be formed in the cavity or the microwave distribution could be non-uniform. Both standing waves and non-uniformity will have a negative effect on the processing of the wafer in the cavity.
Accordingly, the inventors have developed an improved microwave detector and method of detecting microwaves in a cavity.

Methods and apparatus for detecting microwave fields in a cavity


A process for temporarily fastening the flaps of shoe uppers for a lasting step includes aligning pairs of opposed eyelets of the flaps, propelling one of a pair of substantially parallel legs of each of a plurality of generally U or H shaped fastening element through respective pairs of the aligned opposed eyelets and positioning the thus prepared upper on a last for a lasting operation. The substantially parallel legs of the fastening elements serve to maintain the flaps in connected relationship and are readily removed from the eyelets by severing of a bridge element which extends between and connects the legs.

The present invention relates generally to the manufacture of lasted shoes and more particularly to an improved manner of temporarily fastening the flaps of uppers, provided with opposed rows of eyelets, for the lasting operation.
It has been conventional in the field of shoe manufacturing to fasten the uppers of the shoe to the sole in a lasting operation during which time the uppers are positioned over a last for attachment to the shoe sole in a predetermined configuration depending upon style considerations. During the lasting step the uppers are stretched over the last and are subjected to various stresses which, unless adequately compensated for, commonly result in a lasted shoe in which such uppers are deformed so that they do not possess the intended shape. Thus, the carefully created aesthetic appearance of the shoe will not have been attained. Further, unless the uppers are maintained in proper relationship to the sole during the lasting operation there is the possibility of improper securement of the sole to the upper and the consequent production of a defective shoe.
In the manufacture of lasted shoes of the type in which the uppers comprise a pair of flaps having respective sets of eyelets by means of which the shoe is laced over the instep of the foot the flaps are temporarily fastened during the lasting step. In this manner the correct relationship between upper and sole and the configuration for the uppers can be maintained during lasting. In this connection it has been conventional to fasten the flaps in such correct relative position by the use of temporary lacing or twine or through the use of various other fastening devices. The following patents disclose representative prior techniques and devices for maintaining the uppers in correct position during the lasting operation:
U.S. Pat. No. 234,488 issued Nov. 16, 1880 to McKay & Fairfield PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 657,852 issued Sept. 11, 1900 to E. E. Canedy PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 688,297 issued Dec. 10, 1901 to W. E. Ellis PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 3,131,490 issued May 5, 1964 to T. C. Rowen
Although the expedients adopted by the prior art, such as exemplified by the disclosures in the aforesaid patents, have proven to be generally satisfactory insofar as maintenance of the uppers in proper positional relationship is concerned, they have, by and large, failed to alleviate the bottleneck thus created at the end of the production line. In many instances use of temporary lacing has necessitated resort to manual labor in connection with the fastening and/or unfastening of the flaps of the uppers leading to varying degrees of slowdowns on the production line. Even the use of relatively expensive machinery, particularly with forms of fastening devices other than temporary lacing, has failed to clear the production line of the bottleneck immediately prior to and subsequent to the lasting operation attributable to the fastening and unfastening of the flaps of the uppers. There has, therefore, been an ongoing need for an expeditious and inexpensive manner of effecting the temporary fastening and then the unfastening of the upper flaps prior to and subsequent to the lasting operation.

Calle Chama, Qta. Tony, Colinas de Bello Monte


Embodiments herein relate to methods and devices for handling access priority of a wireless device in a wireless network. In particular, embodiments herein relate to a method performed by a wireless network access node for managing/handling access priority associated with a wireless device, which wireless device is requesting access to the wireless network is provided. The method comprises receiving from a mobility management node a message comprising Quality of Service, QoS, information associated with the wireless device; determining access priority related information associated with the wireless device based on the received QoS information; and transmitting the access priority related information associated with the wireless device to the wireless device. Further, embodiments herein relate to corresponding methods for handling access priority associated with a wireless device performed in a wireless device, and in a wireless network, respectively.

In a wireless network or a radio communications network, wireless devices, also known as mobile stations, terminals and/or user equipments, UEs, communicate via a Radio Access Network, RAN, with one or more core networks. The radio access network covers a geographical area which may be divided into cell areas, with each cell area being served by a base station, e.g. a wireless access network node or a radio base station, RBS, node, which in some networks may also be called, for example, a "eNB", "NodeB" or "eNodeB". A cell may be a geographical area where radio coverage is provided by the radio base station at a base station site or an antenna site in case the antenna and the radio base station are not collocated. Each cell may be identified by an identity within the local radio area, which is broadcast in the cell. Another identity identifying the cell uniquely in the whole mobile network is also broadcasted in the cell. One base station may have one or more cells. A cell may be downlink and/or uplink cell. The base stations communicate over the air interface operating on radio frequencies with the user equipment within range of the base stations.
A Universal Mobile Telecommunications System, UMTS, is a third generation mobile communication system, which evolved from the second generation, 2G, Global System for Mobile Communications, GSM. The UMTS terrestrial radio access network, UTRAN, is essentially a RAN using wideband code division multiple access, WCDMA, and/or High Speed Packet Access, HSPA, for user equipment. In a forum known as the Third Generation Partnership Project, 3GPP, telecommunications suppliers propose and agree upon standards for third generation networks and UTRAN specifically, and investigate enhanced data rate and radio capacity. In some versions of the RAN as e.g. in UMTS, several base stations may be connected, e.g., by landlines or microwave, to a controller node, such as a radio network controller, RNC, or a base station controller, BSC, which supervises and coordinates various activities of the plural base stations connected thereto. The RNCs are typically connected to one or more core networks.
Specifications for the Evolved Packet System, EPS, have been completed within the 3rd Generation Partnership Project, 3GPP, and this work continues in the coming 3GPP releases. The EPS comprises the Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network, E-UTRAN, also known as the Long Term Evolution, LTE, radio access, and the Evolved Packet Core, EPC, also known as System Architecture Evolution, SAE, core network. E-UTRAN/LTE is a variant of a 3GPP radio access technology wherein the radio base station nodes are directly connected to the EPC core network rather than to RNCs. In general, in E-UTRAN/LTE the functions of a RNC are distributed between the radio base stations nodes, e.g. eNodeBs in LTE, and the core network. As such, the Radio Access Network, RAN, of an EPS has an essentially flat rather than hierarchical architecture comprising radio base station nodes without reporting to RNCs.
In a 3GPP system and in particular in an EPC/LTE system, access control and Radio Resource Management, RRM, are two mechanisms used in a sequence to prioritize a UE ability to send and receive data over the radio interface. In both mechanisms the success of the wireless device request depends on the load in RAN, specifically in the eNB, and the priority given when handling the UE request.
The Access Control mechanism refers to the ability to control how the UE to connect to the wireless access network node. This involves, for example in LTE access networks, a UE transmitting a Radio Resource Control, RRC, connection request to the eNB as part of the RRC connection establishment procedure. Examples of the methods used for access control are Access Class Barring, ACB, Extended Access Class Barring, EAB, and Application specific Congestion control for Data Communication, ACDC. In general, the priority used in the methods for access control is represented by access classes, such as in ACB and EAB, or by categories, such as in ACDC, both hardcoded in the USIM card holding subscriber information.
Once the UE has connected to the wireless access network node and gained access, RRM in RAN based on authorized QoS, e.g. Scheduling and Admission Control, refers to the decisions made by eNB, to serve the UE based on available RAN resources.
In 3GPP LTE Release 13, so called Suspend/Resume procedures are specified. The procedures provide for the RAN to instruct the UE to go to idle mode while storing the Contexts in the UE and in RAN. The UE requests to resume the Context, if it desires to transmit or if it is paged. Thus, RAN may execute admission control at the Resume request of the UE based on the stored context priority derived from the detailed QoS profiles authorized by the Core Network.
For instance, at an Attach or at a Service Request, access class barring (or similar mechanism) precedes a connection establishment. However, for access class barring, prioritization is not based on the authorized QoS of the core network. For the eNB on the other hand a detailed QoS profile is not available until the later phases of the procedures, which results in a reservation of the RAN resources until a full examination of the QoS info based on the Initial Context Setup message is completed. This can potentially end up with a release of the UE, if request is less important. Since the success of a UE request depends on a positive outcome of both access and admission control, in a high load situation, a UE may be prioritized during access control and later be denied to be admitted to resources by admission control, leading to a temporary waste of the resources. Alternatively, a UE that would be admitted by admission control may not be prioritized during access control, resulting in a poor quality of experience for prioritized connections.
Therefore, there is a need for improved handling/management of wireless network resources.

Methods and devices for managing access priority of a wireless device


A planetary gear train includes first, second, third and fourth planetary gear sets, first rotating body including first sun gear, second rotating body including first planet carrier, third rotating body including first ring gear and third and fourth sun gears, fourth rotating body including second sun gear, fifth rotating body including second planet carrier, sixth rotating body including second ring gear and third planet carrier, seventh rotating body including third ring gear and fourth planet carrier, an eighth rotating body including fourth ring gear, first clutch variably connecting the first and fourth rotating bodies, second clutch variably connecting the second and fourth rotating bodies, third clutch variably connecting the third and fifth rotating bodies, fourth clutch variably connecting the fifth and eighth rotating bodies, first brake variably connecting the first rotating body and the transmission housing, and second brake variably connecting the eighth rotating body and the transmission housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an automatic transmission for a vehicle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle that may improve power delivery performance and reduce fuel consumption.
2. Description of Related Art
Increase of gas price may be factor that drives competition for enhancement of fuel consumption.
For an engine, research is made for weight reduction and enhancement of fuel consumption by down-sizing, and for an automatic transmission, research is made for achieving drivability and fuel consumption competitiveness by achieving more multi-stage of the transmission.
However, when an automatic transmission has more shift stages, it requires more number of parts and may deteriorate installability, weight, efficiency, etc.
Thus, in order to effectively achieve enhancement of fuel consumption by achieving more shift-stages, it is important to develop a planetary gear train that may become more efficient with less number of employed parts.
In this regard, an eight speed or nine speed automatic transmission is recently realized, and a planetary gear train of even more speeds is under investigation.
The information disclosed in this Background of the Invention section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.

Planetary gear train of an automatic transmission for a vehicle


Methods for obtaining network services on a mobile communication device may include attaching the mobile communication device to a first network associated with a first subscription supported by a first profile stored on an embedded universal integrated circuit card (eUICC) on the mobile communication device, caching, in memory on the mobile communication device, the first profile corresponding to the first subscription, deactivating the first subscription of the eUICC on the mobile communication device without detaching from the first network, caching, in memory on the mobile communication device, a second profile stored on the eUICC corresponding to a second subscription, activating the first subscription of the eUICC, and monitoring for paging indicators directed to the second subscription utilizing the cached second profile.

Some designs of mobile communication devices—such as smart phones, tablet computers, and laptop computers—contain an embedded Universal Integrated Circuit Card (eUICC), multiple Universal Integrated Circuit Cards (UICCs), or multiple Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) cards that store user identity information for multiple subscriptions that enable users to access multiple separate mobile telephony networks. eUICC is the name given to a UICC capable of supporting remote provisioning of network subscription information. An eUICC may be removable or implemented within memory of mobile communication devices.
The information stored in an eUICC may enable mobile communication devices to communicate with a variety of different types of mobile telephony networks. Examples of mobile telephony networks include Third Generation (3G), Fourth Generation (4G), Long Term Evolution (LTE), Time Division Multiple Access (TDMA), Code Division Multiple Access (CDMA), CDMA 2000, Wideband CDMA (WCDMA), Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), Single-Carrier Radio Transmission Technology (1×RTT), and Universal Mobile Telecommunications Systems (UMTS). Each subscription enabled by an eUICC or SIM may utilize a particular radio access technology (RAT) to communicate with its respective network.

Obtaining multiple subscription services from an embedded universal integrated circuit card


A solution is provided for tuning the frequency of a torsional mode of interest of a rotating body (such as a generator rotor torsional mode) by adding a detuner to act as an undamped torsional vibration absorber. The detuner may be coupled to an overhung shaft extending from the rotating body. The detuner may be modular, therefore weight can be added or subtracted easily from the detuner in order to adjust the stiffness and/or inertia of the overhung shaft. This change in stiffness and/or inertia yields a torsional frequency of oscillation in the overhung shaft substantially similar to the natural frequency of the torsional mode of interest of the rotating body, therefore forcing the frequency of the torsional mode of interest of the rotating body above or below its torsional natural frequency.

Rotating bodies, such as rotors, are used in many different types of mechanical and electrical elements, including generators, motors and other similar devices. These rotating bodies have multiple torsional natural frequency modes and for a variety of reasons, including stress, fatigue, performance, etc., it is desirable to keep these frequency modes within certain ranges. For example, generators, or other mechanical elements including a rotating body, typically have at least one torsional natural frequency mode close to twice a line frequency. If this frequency mode becomes too close to twice a line frequency and becomes excited, it can cause failure of elements in a coupled body, such as the last stage buckets in a coupled turbine.
Currently, the frequency of a rotating body torsional mode can be shifted by changes in either inertia or torsional stiffness that directly impact the frequency of the rotating body mode of interest, i.e., by adding or removing large shrunk-on rings. Therefore, the current method for tuning the frequency of a rotating body torsional mode that is operating at or near a torsional natural frequency requires, minimally, decoupling the rotor from the prime mover and exposing the rotor to allow the installation/removal of enclosure rings over the coupling. These are large, high strength and expensive rings. If this method does not provide a significant enough shift in the torsional natural frequency mode then the rotating body, or components in the coupling, need to be machined to remove stiffness or inertia depending on the scenario. Machining is generally not easily reversible if the modifications do not work because it typically requires an on-site lathe or completely removing the generator from the field and sending it to a service shop for machining. Each of these steps would add significant expense to the solution and could cause an extension in the outage if extensive work was required.
These current methods for tuning the frequency of a rotor torsional mode are further undesirable because they do not target just the torsional frequency, or vibration, of the rotor modes. Instead, the current methods of adding mass, i.e., rings as discussed above, can affect the frequency of other objects connected to the rotating body which can result in unacceptable stress levels or unwanted lateral frequency changes.

Detuner for tuning torsional mode of a rotating body


The present invention provides a radio wave transmission cover having superior design and radio wave transmissibility. The radio wave transmission cover includes a front side member (1), a rear side member (5) and a connection layer (6). The front side member (1) and the rear side member (5) are formed separately and are integrated with each other by the connection layer (6). Furthermore, the distance between the front side member (1) and the rear side member (5) in the front-to-rear direction ranges from 0.01 mm to 0.4 mm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a radio wave transmission cover, which is provided in front of a radar device for vehicles, and a method of manufacturing the radio wave transmission cover.
2. Description of the Related Art
Adaptive cruise controls (A.C.C.) are techniques, which measure the distance or a relative speed between a subject vehicle and a preceding vehicle, which is in front of the subject vehicle, using a sensor provided in the front end of the subject vehicle, and control a throttle or brake depending on the resultant data to accelerate or decelerate the subject vehicle, thus controlling a vehicle-to-vehicle distance. Recently, such Adaptive-cruise-controls have attracted considerable attention as a core technique for constructing an intelligent transportation system (ITS), which aims to reduce the incidence of traffic jams and accidents.
Typically, laser radar or millimeter wave (extremely high frequency wave) radar is used as the sensor for adaptive cruise controls. For example, millimeter wave radar transmits a millimeter wave, which has a frequency ranging from 30 GHz to 300 GHz and a wavelength ranging from 1 mm to 10 mm, to an object, and receives the millimeter wave, which has been reflected by the object. From this principle, the millimeter wave radar measures the distance or the relative speed between a subject vehicle and a preceding vehicle using the difference between the transmitted wave and the received wave.
Generally, radar devices for vehicles are disposed behind front grills of the vehicles. Such a front grill is uneven in thickness and is made of metal, or has metal-plated layers on the surfaces thereof, thus impeding the travel of radio waves. To overcome this problem, a technique in which a window part is provided in the front grill at a position corresponding to the front end of the radar device and a radio wave transmission cover made of resin is inserted into the window part has been proposed.
The radio wave transmission cover typically has a design layer for expressing various designs. The design layer is a relatively thin layer, which is formed through vapor deposition of metal or transferring of a film. Hence, it is required to cover each of the front surface and the rear surface of the thin design layer with a reinforcing resin layer (for example, refer to Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication NO. 2000-159039 and Japanese Laid Open Patent Publication NO. 2002-135030). FIG. 13 is a view schematically showing a representative example of a conventional radio wave transmission cover. Below, this conventional radio wave transmission cover will be explained with reference to FIG. 13.
To manufacture the radio wave transmission cover, in which front and rear surfaces of a design layer 103 are respectively covered with reinforcing resin layers 102 and 105, the first reinforcing resin layer 102 is first formed, thereafter, the design layer 103 is formed on the resin layer 102 through a vapor deposition, transferring or printing process. Subsequently, the second reinforcing resin layer 105 is formed on the design layer 103, thus completing the radio wave transmission cover.
However, in the conventional technique, because the design layer 103 is relatively thin, when the radio wave transmission cover is manufactured through an injection molding process, the design layer 103 may be deformed by the injection pressure, with which resin is injected to form the resin layer 105 on the design layer 103. Particularly, as shown in FIG. 13, there is the possibility of major deformation of a portion of the design layer 103 around an injection gate 170 of an injection mold 107. As such, if the design layer 103 is deformed, the design of the radio wave transmission cover suffers.
Meanwhile, a radio wave transmission cover may be manufactured by a method in which two reinforcing resin layers 102 and 105 are formed separately and are adhered to each other to form an integrated structure. However, in this case, an adhesive having the same (or almost the same) relative permittivity as that of the two reinforcing resin layers is required in order to adhere the two reinforcing resin layers to each other. If the relative permittivity of the adhesive differs greatly from the relative permittivity of the two reinforcing resin layers, the radio wave transmission loss of the radio wave transmission cover is increased, in other words, the radio wave transmissibility of the radio wave transmission cover is markedly reduced. Typically, polycarbonate or AES is mainly used as material for the reinforcing resin layers. However, the relative permittivity of a typical adhesive does not correspond to the relative permittivity of the above-mentioned resin. Hence, the method in which two reinforcing resin layers are formed separately and are adhered to each other such that they are integrated with each other is problematic in that it is difficult to ensure superior radio wave transmissibility of the radio wave transmission cover.
Furthermore, in the case where two reinforcing resin layers are formed separately, an air layer is formed in a gap between the reinforcing two reinforcing resin layers in the front-to-rear direction (hereinafter, referred to simply as a gap). If the gap is relatively large, the air layer formed between the two reinforcing resin layers is thick. Because the relative permittivity of air differs from the relative permittivity of the two reinforcing resin layers, if the air layer is relatively thick, the radio wave transmissibility is markedly reduced. Therefore, there is a disadvantage in that, if the gap between the two reinforcing resin layers is relatively large, the radio wave transmission cover has poor radio wave transmissibility.
Meanwhile, if the gap between the two reinforcing resin layers is excessively small, when the radio wave transmission cover expands or contracts at high or low temperatures, the two reinforcing resin layers may come into contact with each other. In the case where the design layer is provided between the two reinforcing resin layers and the radio wave transmission cover is configured such that the design thereof is determined by the design layer, if the design layer is damaged by the interference between the two reinforcing resin layers, the design of the radio wave transmission cover may suffer.
To prevent the two reinforcing resin layers from interfering with each other, it is preferable that the linear expansion coefficients of the two reinforcing resin layers and the adhesive match each other. As such, to obtain a radio wave transmission cover having superior radio wave transmissibility, the relative permittivities of the two reinforcing resin layers and the adhesive must match each other, and the linear expansion coefficients of the two reinforcing resin layers and the adhesive must also match each other. However, these characteristics cannot be easily realized. Therefore, it is very difficult to ensure superior radio wave transmissibility of the radio wave transmission cover.

Radio wave transmission cover and method of manufacturing radio wave transmission cover


Full-length cDNA clones have been isolated encoding purified augmenter of liver regeneration (ALR) polypeptides prepared from the cytosol of livers from weanling rats and from humans. The full-length clone from the rat is a 1226 bp cDNA containing an 81 bp 5'-untranslated region, a 594 bp coding region and a 551 bp 3'-untranslated region. The coding region encodes three proteins with estimated molecular weights of 15,081, 20,193 and 22,835. The full-length clone from the human consists of a 727 bp cDNA containing a 4 bp 5'-untranslated region, a 615 bp coding region and a 108 bp 3'-untranslated region, including the termination codon TAG and the poly (A) region. The 615 bp coding region encodes four proteins, human ALR-V1, ALR-V2, ALR-V3 and ALR, having estimated molecular weights of 23,448, 20,834, 20,703 and 15,028, respectively.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an augmenter of liver regeneration (designated as ALR), novel polypeptides possessing a physiological activity enabling in vivo stimulation of DNA synthesis of hepatocytes, nucleic acid molecules encoding for such polypeptides, recombinant expression vectors, transformants and methods for production of such polypeptides.
2. Description of the Related Art

Mammalian augmenter of liver regeneration and variants thereof


Embodiments of the present disclosure relates to communication over a network comprising network slices. According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, there provide a method performed by a network node. The method comprises: informing, in response to determination that user traffic of at least one user equipment needs to be redirected from a first network slice to a second network slice, a control plane function node supporting the first network slice of a redirecting user traffic request. Compared with the second network slice, a way of handling a control plane and/or user plane for communication services in the second network slice is different from that in the first network slice. In the other aspects of the present disclosure, there also provides methods for communication by a control plane function node and by a user equipment and corresponding apparatuses.

This section is intended to provide a background to the various embodiments of the invention that are described in this disclosure. The description herein may include concepts that could be pursued, but are not necessarily ones that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated herein, what is described in this section is not prior art to the description and/or claims of this disclosure and is not admitted to be prior art by the mere inclusion in this section.
Diverse applications or services are supposed to be provided by the next generation mobile networks, such as the 5th Generation (5G) networks. It is expected that 5G networks will support emerging use cases with a high variety of applications and variability of their performance attributes, from delay-sensitive video applications to ultra-low latency, from high speed entertainment applications in a vehicle to mobility on demand for connected objects, and from best effort applications to reliable and ultra-reliable ones such as health and safety. Furthermore, diverse use cases will be delivered across a wide range of devices (e.g., smartphones, wearable devices, vehicle-mounted devices, Machine-Type Communications (MTC)) and across a fully heterogeneous environment.
Different use cases may put different requirements to future networks. For example, acceptable interruption time, reliability and availability, acceptable latency, data rate, as well as cost per user. It would be quite difficult or cost impossible to deploy a common network to fulfill such extremely diverse requirements. To resolve the problem, the concept of network slices is proposed to fulfill diverse requirements from various use cases. A network slice may support the communication services of a particular connection type with a specific way of handling control plane and user plane for the services. It is expected that there would be many different type of network slices for different usage in the networks. At same time, from practical business perspective, due to resource restriction or business limitation, it is possible that certain type of network slice is not available in certain area or at certain time while it may be available in another area or another time. In different area or different operators, different network slice services may be provided.
Therefore, there is a need to provide solutions for redistributing user traffic between network slices.

Method and apparatus for communication over network slices in wireless communication systems


The invention provides a pressure relief device for aerosol containers that may be subject to high internal pressures. The pressure relief device is a small plug formed of a rubber material. The plug has first and second bores extending inwardly from each end and defining between them a thin integral diaphragm separating the bores. A groove extends circumferentially around the device, and one end of the device is tapered so that it can be forced into a hole in the bottom of an aerosol container. The area and thickness of the diaphragm can be varied to control the pressure at which the diaphragm will rupture to relieve excess pressures in the container. The rupturable diaphragm is protected from damage during the insertion process, and when the container is on store shelves, by being located near the center of the device, protected by the bores on each side of the diaphragm.

Aerosol containers have long presented a risk of explosion if over-pressures occur in the containers. Such explosions may occur when the container is subjected to high temperatures, e.g. when it is left in a very hot place, or when it is being disposed of or recycled.
If an explosion occurs when the container is left in a hot location such as an unattended automobile, this can cause considerable property damage. If an explosion occurs when the container is being incinerated, this can cause personal injury. For this reason, before aerosol containers are melted to reuse their metal, they are usually punctured. However, the spikes in the puncturing machines can miss a container, and if a pressurized container explodes in the molten metal in a furnace, the risk of injury and damage is particularly severe.
For the above and other reasons, various attempts have been made to provide pressure relief devices for aerosol containers. Typical such attempts are shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,405,838 issued Oct. 15, 1968 to Preisendanz, U.S. Pat. No. 3,815,534 issued Jun. 11, 1974 to Kneusel, and U.S. Pat. No. 3,913,614 issued Oct. 21, 1975 to Speck.
The above identified attempts to provide aerosol container pressure relief devices have not in general been particularly successful. Their disadvantages include complexity, high cost of implementation, and difficulty in providing a narrow, precise range of pressures in which the relief device will vent.
The pressure relief device shown in the Kneusel patent has been used in some commercial aerosol containers. In this device, a pattern of lines is scored on the bottom of the aerosol container. The lines intersect at a common point to form a spoke-like design. The score lines weaken the bottom of the container, and the depth and number of lines determine the pressure at which the bottom will rupture. This arrangement obviously requires precise manufacturing operations to score the bottom of each container. Such operations are costly, difficult to perform, and are subject to imperfections which can affect the pressure at which the bottom of the container will rupture.
Recent developments have provided aerosol propellants that are considered more environmentally safe than previously, one such propellent being known as Propellent-22. While this propellent is preferable environmentally, it operates at a higher pressure than previous conventional propellants and has a steeper pressure/temperature curve (i.e. its pressure increases more steeply with temperature). This creates an increased risk of explosion unless a suitable pressure relief device is used.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pressure relief device that is simple, inexpensive to manufacture, and which can be installed relatively easily and inexpensively in aerosol and other pressurized containers. The device of the invention may be designed to provide accurate pressure relief at a desired pressure range.


A micromechanical micromotion amplifier has an integrated structure formed primarily of silicon and comprises a plurality of long slender flexible beams which are connected in a predetermined manner. The beams are released from a silicon substrate for movement with respect to fixed points of reference upon the substrate. Each beam thereby has a fixed end and a relatively moveable free end. Compressive axial force induced by axial movement, applied to the moveable end of a beam, will cause that beam to deform or buckle. Buckling occurs transversely in-plane due to a high aspect ratio profile of each beam. The amount of lateral or transverse movement of a beam due to buckling is relatively large in relation to the applied axial force or axial movement which causes it. By arranging these beams in cooperating perpendicular pairs as micromotion amplifier stages, an input axial force/movement applied to the moveable free end of a first beam generates a transverse motion or buckling movement of that beam.

The present invention relates in general to micromechanical motion amplifiers and more particularly, to integrated micromechanical structures wherein a small amount of driving force or motion translates through the device to produce a relatively large motion in a direction transverse to the driving motion. In such devices, relatively thin, elongate beams are designed to buckle in response to an applied axial compressive force induced by axial motion. The motion produced by the deformation or buckling is an order of magnitude greater than the applied axial motion which causes it. Thus, micromotion amplifiers may be provided.
Such prior art devices exhibit a limited amount of output and are thereby constrained with respect to a maximum amount of sensitivity with which they may operate. It follows that such devices are necessarily greatly limited in their application as sensors. Accordingly, there has been a long felt need for integrated micromotion amplification apparatus in which the amount of output deflection and hence sensitivity, is not limited or constrained by a single beam. In accordance with the present invention, the need for increased sensitivity in a micromotion device, is fulfilled by a micromotion amplifier wherein the ultimate output deflection or buckling, and hence overall sensitivity, is predetermined by the additive effect of assembling buckling beams in cooperating pairs or stages.


Provided is an information processing apparatus including a receiving section that receives a captured image of a video communication partner from a communication destination apparatus and a control section that controls a display of the received captured image on a display section. The control section executes image processing to display the captured image such that a line of sight of a communication partner appearing in the captured image appears to point towards a user looking at the display section, on a basis of information indicating that the communication partner appearing in the captured image is looking at the user being displayed on the communication destination apparatus.

Due to recent developments in communication technology, videoconferencing systems that connect remote locations by video and audio have been proposed. Specifically, for example, a display apparatus, a camera, a microphone, and a speaker are provided in each location, whereby video and audio acquired at one location are transmitted to the other location in real time, and output from the display apparatus and the speaker.
In a face-to-face conversation such as videoconferencing, if the lines of sight of the viewer and the partner on the display screen are not aligned, a sense of presence and the like is lost, and the efficiency of the conference or the like falls. For this reason, display apparatus with integrated cameras that achieve line-of-sight alignment have been variously proposed. For example, Patent Literature 1 below describes a videoconferencing system with line-of-sight alignment that installs a camera behind the screen using a half-mirror or the like. Also, Patent Literature 2 below describes a method of securing a camera in the center of a display screen.

Information processing apparatus and information processing method


Cylinder for rubber mixing mill, consisting of a hollow cylinder 1 and two flange-journals 2, 3 and driven by a hydraulic motor 21 with a hollow shaft. The hollow cylinder has longitudinal channels 4 provided with solid rods 8 fastened in the two flanges. The temperature regulation of the cylinder is provided by a crossed dual circuit. The temperature regulating fluid circulates in longitudinal channels 4 then cools the inner wall 19 of the hollow cylinder before being evacuated along the axis of the cylinder.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to machines that are used in the making of rubber mixtures.
2. Description of the Related Art
Most of the raw materials used in the rubber industry are solids which exhibit very irregular physical properties (balls of latex, isoprene plates, pellets of additives, powdered carbon black) and their unit masses, for example, vary from about a hundred kilograms to a few micrograms. Before being able to shape these products with accuracy, it is necessary to mix them thoroughly and make them plastic. These operations are successively performed in mixing mills of two types: (1) internal mixers which are closed and where two rotors having complementary shapes mix the rubbers and their fillers (such as carbon black); and (2) roller mixing mills consisting of rotating cylinders with parallel axes, between which the mixtures of products are made to pass several times in succession to homogenize them and change their physical properties (rheology, elasticity, etc.).
When the mixtures get to roller mixing mills, they must be rapidly cooled. Further, the material temperature must be regulated during the homogenization process.
The cylinders of current roller mixing mills are bulky parts which, with or without a central channel, can weigh 7 tons. Their length including journals exceeds 2 meters, and their diameter is on the order of 700 mm. The cylinders have numerous longitudinal channels (parallel to the cylinder axis) drilled from end to end and connected at their ends (see for example patent DE 23 15 669) to make possible a circulation of the temperature regulating liquid from one of the journals.


A bidirectional power converter array has overall voltage feedback, an error signal generator, and plural bidirectional power converter modules. Each module of the array includes a series inductor and local feedback based upon the inductor current. Each module also has a resistive current sensor, providing wideband local feedback. A low-pass filter is coupled to the current sensing resistor to reduce switching noise. The low-pass filter also reduces the bandwidth of the local feedback signal, so interactions with the overall feedback occur, which may result in instability. A winding transformer-coupled to the series inductor generates AC signal representing high-frequency components of the inductor current, relatively free of switching noise. The AC current sample is added to the low-frequency components derived from the resistor and low-pass filter, to form a low-noise local feedback signal, with sufficient bandwidth to reduce unwanted interactions with the overall system feedback. The feedback signals may be currents summed at a node. The combination of overall voltage feedback which is converted to local current feedback in each module allows modules to be paralleled without any adjustments to the system or to the individual modules.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,143,282, issued Mar. 6, 1979 in the name of Berard, Jr., et al., describes a bilateral or bidirectional power converter described as being for use in a spacecraft application, in which a common inductor is switched under the control of a pulse-width modulator, so as to operate in a buck mode when coupling power from a high-voltage electrical source to a low-voltage electrical source, and to operate in a boost mode when coupling power from the low-voltage source to the high-voltage source. The increasingly stringent power requirements being placed upon spacecraft, in conjunction with reliability and cost considerations, makes it imperative to find some way to manifest a spacecraft power system which is at once inexpensive, and capable of operation at widely varying load levels on different spacecraft.

Bidirectional power converter modules, and power system using paralleled modules