The present invention relates to a process for removing antimony from hydrofluoric acid solutions which contain Ta/Nb and have an acidity of >18 N, by addition of a base metal reducing agent to the solution and heating at 40 to 60.degree. C. for 4 to 8 hours.

The present invention relates to a process for removing antimony from hydrofluoric acid solutions which contain Ta/Nb and have an acidity >18N.
When preparing Ta and Nb products by digestion with hydrofluoric acid and subsequent purification with MIBK, antimony (Sb) is an undesirable constituent because it cannot be removed from the process by this method. It is found mainly in the Ta product, but it is also found in unacceptable concentrations in Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5. The actual extent of contamination depends on the concentration in the raw material.
Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 and Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5 are being used to an increasing extent in high-tech fields such as optoelectronics, with the most stringent requirements placed on purity. That means that contamination with Sb has to be reduced to less than 5 ppm. However, the largest Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5 raw material deposits in the World, in Australia, contain a large amount of antimony. Low-antimony raw materials are steadily running out or are no longer obtainable. It is therefore becoming increasingly important to provide a method for removing the Sb. Raw materials with up to 500 ppm of Sb.sub.2 O.sub.5 are generally used in the fluoride process, wherein the antimony then appears at this order of magnitude in the resulting Ta.sub.2 O.sub.5. It is reduced to a tenth of this in Nb.sub.2 O.sub.5.
It is known that antimony in raw materials can be removed by pyrometallurgical processes, but these methods are not economically viable. Furthermore, it is known that Sb can be reduced in dilute mineral acids such as hydrochloric acid using base metals. This process is not known in the case of hydrofluoric acid, in particular at the concentrations which are conventionally produced during the digestion of Ta/Nb-containing raw materials. In this process, hydrofluoric acid concentrations of >18N are used. Under these conditions the antimony is retained in solution or redissolved. In trial examples, given below, relating to the solubility of Sb in HF-containing solutions, surprisingly, a solubility for metallic antimony was found which conflicts with indications of the known prior art.
Furthermore, the working-up of antimony-containing Ta/Nb ores is rendered difficult because antimony cannot be brought into solution by using mineral acids, with the exception of hydrofluoric acid. Thus separation via a chemical route, by means of fractionated dissolution using, different mineral acids, is not possible. The object of the invention is, therefore, to provide a process which enables antimony to be removed from strong hydrofluoric acid solutions before extraction with MIBK.

Process for removing antimony from hydrofluoric acid solutions which contain Ta/Nb


A method of data management for optimizing the patient outcome from the provision of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) is described. This method describes a process by which sets of dynamic cardiopulmonary dependent variables are measured during steady-state conditions, displayed, and translated into quantitative and qualitative measurements while the independent variables of CRT, device lead placement and atrial-ventricular and interventricular delay settings of bi-ventricular pacemaker systems, are altered by a physician. In combination with visual observation and computer-assisted ranking of the dependent variables, a physician can utilize the resulting information to render decisions on the optimal choice of the independent variables.

I. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), and more specifically, to a method for optimizing the patient outcome from such therapy. The disclosed method enables physicians to improve the process of implanting and programming biventricular pacemakers/ICDs.
II. Related Art
Biventricular pacing has been recently FDA approved as a new indication of pacemaker therapy for the "resynchronization" treatment of heart failure (HF) patients with wide QRS complex on ECG (ventricular dysynchrony) or abnormal ventricular activation. Although biventricular pacing has been shown to improve HF patient morbidity or their quality of life (QOL), there has been limited success in demonstrating its effect on HF patient mortality. Several problems exist in all phases of CRT:
Implantation: Lead placement on the left ventricle is very important to optimize the right ventricular to left ventricular activation sequence, in particular the activation sequence of the left ventricle (LV), in order to facilitate wall motion and ejection fraction of the ventricle. Currently, most LV electrodes are placed transvenously via the coronary sinus and great veins to a more distal and lateral-basal portion of the left ventricle. Some LV electrode positions may be more anterior or posterior. Echocardiography has been used to assess the degree of resynchronization with respect to the sequence and timing of segmental wall motion activation and stroke volume changes prior to and after implant of the biventricular pacemaker system. The use of echocardiographic measurements during implanting of the left ventricular lead/electrode is difficult to accomplish. Echo measurements are often difficult to duplicate due to positioning of the echo probe, the assessment of diastolic function itself, and are also dependent upon expensive equipment and the requisition of experienced echo stenographers. In addition, many pacemaker follow-up centers may not have readily available, a well trained echocardiography staff. Additionally, the need to enter into a draped, sterile field area of the patient during the implant procedure is problematic.
Delay Programming: Appropriate timing between atrial and ventricular contraction is necessary to optimize ventricular filling and stroke output. Pacemaker manufacturers provide only recommended values for atrial-ventricular (AV) and interventricular (RV-LV or VV) delays that are supported by case studies or clinical studies. These are deficient because they have not been supported by any activity or exercise hemodynamic and pulmonary measurements, other than, perhaps, echo assessment at rest. Aside from resting echo measurements, there does not exist a reliable and simple technique to acutely and chronically assess the efficacy of programmed AV and VV delays. In general, some other method or approach is needed to optimize the delay values on a "per-patient" basis without programming "guesstimate" values recommended by the various pacemaker manufacturers.

Method of optimizing patient outcome from cardiac resynchronization therapy


Method and apparatus for determining locations of static devices are disclosed. The method includes identifying a plurality of static devices, obtaining location measurements by the plurality of static devices at different times, and determining locations of the plurality of static devices using the location measurements obtained at the different times. The method of determining locations of the plurality of static devices includes determining a group location of the plurality of static devices based on GNSS pseudo range measurements contributed by the one or more static devices, where the group location is near a centroid of the plurality of static devices weighted by the number of GNSS pseudo range measurements contributed by each of the plurality of static devices. The method of determining locations of the plurality of static devices further includes sharing a common time reference among the plurality of static devices.

Femtocells, also known as home base stations, Home E-UTRAN Node Bs (HeNBs) and Home Node Bs (HNBs), are base stations designed to serve relatively small geographic areas and are widely deployed at various locations such as homes, offices, shops, apartments, etc. These home base stations are used to improve radio coverage, increase throughput, reduce load on a macro-cellular network, and/or provide other benefits for network operators and/or users. Unlike macro base stations that are carefully deployed at specific known locations and maintained by network operators, home base stations may be flexibly deployed in an unplanned manner at any location by users but typically use licensed radio frequencies of the network operators.
A femtocell may support communication for one or more User Equipments (UEs) within its coverage. It may be desirable to know the location of the femtocell and/or a UE communicating with the femtocell. For example, it may be necessary to know the location of the femtocell in order to ensure that it is authorized to operate at its current location (e.g., is within a geographic area for which an associated network operator has a license to use the radio frequencies supported by the femtocell). As another example, the user of a UE may place an emergency call using the femtocell. The location of the UE may then be approximated by the location of the femtocell and used to send emergency assistance to the user. There are many other scenarios in which knowledge of the location of a femtocell may be useful or necessary.
In some situations, determining femtocell positions inside buildings using assisted GPS (A-GPS) or assisted GNSS (A-GNSS) may be difficult or unreliable due to lack of enough satellite vehicle (SV) signals (typically 4 or more) of sufficient strength that need to be acquired and measured by each femtocell in order to locate it. This can typically be a problem when attempting to locate a collection of femtocells (for example 3GPP HeNBs or HNBs) within a building or building complex (e.g. office building, shopping mall, hospital, hotel, apartment complex) since many of the femtocells may be deep inside the building or building complex and unable to receive many if any GPS or GNSS SV signals.
Therefore, there is a need for a method and system for determining locations of femtocells that can address the above issues.

Distributed A-GNSS positioning of static devices


A main object of the present invention is to provide a lithium salt which can improve its lithium transference number when used as a supporting salt of an electrolyte solution or the like. To attain the object, the present invention provides a lithium salt comprising a chemical structure represented by the following general formula (1):

Conventionally, electrolyte solutions in which lithium salts are dissolved in nonaqueous solvents have been used as electrolyte solutions for lithium secondary batteries. As lithium salts, substances such as LiPF6 and LiBF4 are generally known. Further, development of lithium secondary batteries using various kinds of lithium salts has been actively conducted currently.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a lithium secondary battery wherein an imide series lithium salt represented by a formula: Li(CnX2n+1Y)2N ("X" is halogen, "n" is an integer from 1 to 4, and "Y" is a CO group or a SO2 group) is dissolved in a nonaqueous solvent. Further, Patent Document 2 discloses a lithium secondary battery wherein an imide series lithium salt represented by a formula: LiN(CmF2m+1SO2) (CnF2n+1SO2) ("m" and "n" are each an independent integer from 1 to 4) is dissolved in a nonaqueous solvent. However, these lithium salts have a problem that their Li ionic transference numbers are low because they have only one Li cation contained in their respective molecular structures.
On the other hand, Patent Document 3 discloses a lithium secondary battery using a nonaqueous solvent wherein one or both of LiPF6 or LiBF4, and at least one substance from Li3PO4, Li2 (OH)3 PO4, Li (CH3)2PO4, and Li2 (C2H5) PO4 are comprised as electrolytes. However, lithium phosphate salts having plural Li ions in their respective molecular structures as the case of Li3PO4 have a problem in general that their solubility to a solvent is low. Thus, it has been difficult to sufficiently improve their Li ionic transference number.    Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 7-85888    Patent Document 2: JP-A No. 2001-68154    Patent Document 3: JP-A No. 10-189043

Lithium salt and method for producing thereof

Abstract: in which R1 to R3 may be same or different from each other and denote a fluoroalkyl group, an alkyl group or a phenyl group.


Digital marks (so-called fingerprints and watermarks) serve two basic purposes: (1) Investigative: the owner reads a fingerprint to determine how the marked entity leaked; and (2) Legal: the owner must prove in court that (a) there is a watermark (a concealed copyright message), and (b) it is the owner's. The main difficulty of item (2) is that the first use of the watermark software reveals the watermarking method to the public so that hostile parties are equipped to remove or damage its watermarks. The invention uses tamper-resistant software encoding techniques to protect the digital mark extractor algorithm, frustrating the attacks of hostile parties in two ways: the resulting code is obscure (that is, its inner workings are incomprehensible; and chaotic (that is, a modification at any point will almost certainly produce a nonsense program.

In recent years, personal computers and digital communication systems have become pervasive in industrialized nations. As well, the speed and power of these systems are now at the point where any subject matter including images, audio, video and software can be stored, transferred and reproduced with ease. Because these systems are digital, the storage, transfer and reproduction can be performed flawlessly; each successive copy of a digital file may be made precisely the same as the original. This is in contrast to analogue systems used in the past, where the quality of each successive copy was poorer than the previous one, and all of the known storage media deteriorated overtime.
Obviously, this ability to copy and transfer digital data with virtually no loss in quality is having a great impact on the revenues of many digital rights holders, including music, movie and software producers. Many techniques for protecting the intellectual property rights of these digital content and software producers have been proposed but have had little success. One technique that has shown particular promise is that of "digital marks".
Digital marks such as "digital fingerprints" or "watermarks" are patterns of bits (i.e. 0's and 1's) inserted into a digital file, that can be used to identify the file's owner or originator. Unlike printed watermarks, which are intended to be somewhat visible, digital watermarks are designed to be invisible. The actual bits that make up the watermark are also scattered throughout the digital file so that they cannot be identified and manipulated by an attacker.
Digital marks generally serve two basic purposes (see, for example: Protecting ownership rights through digital watermarking, by H. Berghel and L. O'Gorman, 1996, IEEE Computer 29:7, pp. 101-103 and Attacks on copyright marking systems, by Fabien A. P. Petitcolas, Ross J. Anderson, and Markus G. Kuhn, 1998, 2nd Workshop on Information Hiding, LNCS vol. 1525 (isbn 3-540-65386-4), pp. 218-238):    1. Investigative: the owner reads a fingerprint (such as a concealed serial number) to determine how the marked entity (say, a picture in jpeg format) leaked. A trail of marked entities serves the owner in the same way that a trail of fingerprints serves a police detective; so that an owner can identify persons who have purloined the owner's property; and    2. Legal: the owner must prove in court that an infringed data file contains a watermark (a concealed copyright message), and that this watermark is the owner's.
The investigative need is the easier of the two needs to meet, since everything may be kept secret: the owner need reveal nothing about how the mark was applied, and legal proof is not required. That is, there is generally no need to justify the manner in which the thief was identified, since the owner is primarily interested in asserting legal rights over a marked entity in the thief's possession.
However, addressing the legal purpose is sufficiently difficult that some consider it infeasible against a resourceful, clever attacker (see, for example: Protecting digital media content, by Nasir Memon and Ping Wah Wong, 1998, Communications of the ACM 41:7, pp. 34-43).
Greatly exacerbating the difficulty of addressing the legal purpose above is the fact that the first use of a watermark extraction program in a courtroom, based on a particular watermarking method, reveals the watermarking method. After the first legal justification (and hence, revelation) of the method, hostile parties are equipped to remove or damage its watermarks on a permanent basis thereafter.
In order to provide legal watermarking the owner of the watermark would proceed roughly along the lines of the following:    1. employing a watermarking method, embodied in an "injector" implementation which applies the watermark to an owned item (possibly using a secret key) and an "extractor" implementation which reveals the watermark on an owned item (requiring the secret key, if one was used by the injector program);    2. keeping secret the keys (if any) used for watermarking owned items;    3. in court, demonstrating the watermark as follows:            a. revealing the algorithm, so it can be justified as legitimate;        b. loading the extractor and the impugned data/software file to be analysed, and having an agent of the court or a party trusted by the court apply the secret key (if any) to the extractor. Note that the key need not be revealed; and        c. demonstrating that the revelation of the watermark by the (now justified) extractor proves the owner's claim to be the rightful owner of the disputed item containing the watermark.This methodology may be implemented in two major variants:            1. either keeping the injector and extractor algorithms a secret until it is necessary to disclose them during a court proceeding; or    2. publishing the injector and extractor algorithms.
If the injector and extractor algorithms had been kept secure by the owner, then the public disclosure of these algorithms will reduce the level of security that has been enjoyed before the public disclosure. If the watermarking method had already been published, then the attacker would already have had sufficient information to permit compromise of the watermarks the algorithm applies.
There is therefore a need for a watermarking method which allows legal justification of a claim to ownership of a purloined, watermarked entity, without revealing to the world at large the algorithm by which the watermark is applied or revealed.

Method and system for sustainable digital watermarking


A drainage tray suitable for use with plant pots is configured to collect and drain away excess plant treating fluids, such as water, fertilizer and the like, that drain from the plant pot. The drainage tray has a base member with a bottom having a side wall extending generally vertically from its periphery to form a reservoir with a generally open top and closed bottom. A drainage orifice in the base member connects to a tubular member, such as a hose, to drain the excess fluids from the reservoir to a suitable disposal site away from the area of the potted plant. Support members and stabilizer members are used to facilitate use of the drainage tray. The drainage tray prevents the accumulation of fluid near a potted plant that can damage or stain the deck, floor, sidewalk or other support surface and/or cause persons to slip and fall.

A. Field of the Invention
The field of the present invention relates generally to apparatuses and systems for draining water away from potted plants. More specifically, the present invention relates to such apparatuses that are configured to receive and support standard plant pots that have a hole in the bottom of the plant pot to drain water from the plant. Even more specifically, the present invention relates to such apparatuses and systems that are adapted for the beneficial drainage of water away from a floor or deck where the potted plant is located.
B. Background
Many people place potted plants on or near a walkway, sidewalk, deck, floor, porch, patio or like places to improve the appearance of their home, office or business. Although plant pots come in a variety of different sizes and shapes, the vast majority of plant pots are configured in virtually the same way, that being a container having a hole or holes in or near the bottom of the pot as a drainage portal for the gravitational drainage of water from the plant. The drainage portals allow excess water, fertilizers, chemicals and other liquids (collectively the water and other liquids are referred to herein as "plant treating fluids") poured into the plant soil to advantageously drain out of the pot instead of building up in the pot and harming the plant (i.e., root rot and the like). While the addition of drainage portals to the standard plant pot has solved the problems associated with the build-up of plant treating fluids in the pot, it does create problems with regard to these fluids draining on the area where the potted plant is located. For instance, it is well known that these fluids can create falling hazards for people and animals moving on or across the area at or near where the pot is located (i.e. a sidewalk or deck). In addition, fluid draining from the plant pot can cause structural damage to the deck or other location where the plant pot sits. Even if the fluid does not directly cause damage, the water or the soil, fertilizer or chemicals carried by the water can stain the sidewalk, deck or other location where the potted plant is located. As is well known, these stains can be very difficult to remove.
Because of the problems with water draining directly on the location where the potted plant sits, most persons utilize a saucer-like plate or tray (i.e., a "pot tray") to catch and contain the plant treating fluids. The typical pot tray has an upstanding rim portion that keeps a certain amount of fluid from spilling out over the rim until it either evaporates away, is pulled back into the plant pot by capillary action or is manually removed (i.e., by emptying the fluid in a sink, on the ground or back into the potted plant). Generally, however, these fluids are not manually removed from the pot tray. As a result, it is not uncommon at all for fluid to be left standing in the pot tray for some time. If the water is there when the plant is watered again, the additional drainage fluid can cause the pot tray to overflow, resulting in spillage of fluid onto the deck or other surface, creating the very problems that were intended to be avoided by using the pot tray. Another problem with standing fluid being left in the pot tray is that it provides a breeding ground for bacteria, mosquitoes and other pests. At a time when mosquitoes are known to transmit the West Nile Virus and other diseases, people generally do not want to have standing, stagnated fluid suitable for breeding mosquitoes in areas where they or their children may be walking, sitting or playing. Even if mosquitoes are not a problem, the stagnated fluid, containing fertilizer and chemicals, can damage the pot, pot tray and/or result in undesirable smells emanating from the potted plant.
Due to the aforementioned problems, it has been known for some time that it is desirable to have a potted plant system that prevents fluid from spilling onto the area where the plant is located or accumulating in a pot tray. Various apparatuses and systems have been developed to facilitate drainage of fluid away from the potted plant. Most of these are passive in that they rely on the uptake of the fluid back into the plant pot by capillary action of the plant's root system. Unfortunately, this type of system does not prevent the spillage of fluid when there is too much for the underlying tray and, even when there is no spillage problem, the process is generally too slow to avoid the problems associated with standing fluid. Some systems rely on pumps or other devices to circulate the excess fluid back into the plant's soil, either at a planned interval or when the soil is measured to be dry enough to accept more water. Some of these apparatuses and systems have been the subject of patent applications. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,289,632 to Boling describes a plant drainage system that utilizes an apparatus that fits into or adjacent to the drainage portal at the bottom, underside of the plant pot. The apparatus requires a mechanism, such as blocks or a hole in the deck, to support the plant pot in a manner that allows for drainage through the bottom drainage portal. U.S. Pat. No. 5,125,184 to Anderson describes a jacketed nursery plant container assembly that utilizes an inner container for the plant, an exterior jacket surrounding the container and a base plate which supports the container above its bottom. One or more wicks extend through openings in the container to pull in water from the reservoir formed by the peripheral wall around the base plate. U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,239 to Helton and U.S. Pat. No. 5,052,149 to Johnson describe apparatuses and methods for capturing the drainage overflow resulting from the watering of hanging plants. U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,384 to Andrews describes a self-draining plant pot having filter assembly partially enclosed in a sidewall of the plant pot that drains the water down to a preselected level in the pot.
Although the prior art discloses a number of plant watering or drainage apparatuses, there are certain characteristics of the known apparatuses that limit their complete acceptance, usefulness and/or cost effectiveness. For instance, it is well known that the apparatuses that do not provide for the draining away of fluid from the plant pot or pot tray are subject to the aforementioned problems with regard to fluid spillage or standing fluid. In addition, the apparatuses that are configured to allow fluid to wick into the plant pot are not configured to drain the fluid away. Those apparatuses that do provide for plant pot drainage either do not, because of their configuration, completely drain away the fluid or require a non-attractive support mechanism or holes in the floor or deck upon which the plant pot rests in order to be effective. What is needed, therefore, is a combined plant pot drainage tray that substantially transports away the plant treating fluids that drain from a plant pot and which is adaptable to a variety of different sized and configured plant pots. The plant pot drainage tray should not require any modification to the floor, deck or other location where the plant pot is utilized and be configured to allow the owner or caretaker to move the plant pot and drainage tray as needed or desired. Preferably, such an apparatus should be relatively inexpensive to manufacture, simple to utilize and allow the owner/caretaker to relatively easily clean the drainage tray as may be necessary or desired.


A safety guard apparatus for an elevator machine having a brake and a sheave for engaging one or more hoist ropes rotatably driven by the elevator machine, the safety guard apparatus consisting of a sheave guard including a front sheave wall, a back sheave wall and a pair of oppositely disposed side sheave walls defining a generally rectangular structure adapted for substantially enclosing the sheave of the elevator machine, and a cover guard releasably secured to the sheave guard and including a front cover wall, a back cover wall and a top cover wall through which the one or more hoist ropes and the sheave can be viewed. The safety guard apparatus further including a hoist rope guard releaseably secured to at least one of the pair of oppositely disposed side sheave walls of the sheave guard, wherein the hoist rope guard including a lower portion pivotally coupled to a upper portion for substantially enclosing the one or more hoist ropes extending from the sheave.

A wide variety of elevator machines, including traction and pneumatic machinery, may be employed to cause an elevator car to ascend and descend within an elevator shaft. Commonly, an elevator machine includes a grooved sheave which drivingly engages a plurality of hoist ropes attached at a first end to the elevator car and at a second end to a counterweight. The traction or friction between the sheave and the hoist ropes causes the elevator car to ascend and descend in the elevator shaft when an electric motor coupled to the sheave is activated. When in use, the frictional and rotational engagement of the hoist ropes within the grooved sheave creates dangerous nip points into which individuals may become entangled. In order to minimize the risk of entanglement, elevator machines are commonly located in a separate machine room proximate to the elevator shaft. Nevertheless, the unguarded state of the elevator machine within these machine rooms can still pose a significant risk of injury to individuals having access to the room, including elevator service personnel, emergency personnel, and caretakers. Although considerable advancements have been made to ensure the safety of the individuals traveling within the elevator car, few advances have been made to improve the safety conditions for elevator service personnel and other individuals having access to the elevator machine.
Accordingly, there is a need for a safety guard apparatus for an elevator machine which is adapted to enclose the mechanical components of the elevator machine. There is also a need for a safety guard for an elevator machine which enables an individual to observe the operation and condition of the elevator machine without the risk of entanglement. There is a further need for a safety guard apparatus for an elevator machine which is adapted to enable an individual to selectively access one or more components of the elevator machine which require servicing while concealing other one or more components of the elevator machine which do not require servicing or which pose a hazard to the individual.


A system and method for generating an approximated position signal that is updated and output at a rate higher than a base rate of actual position signals measured using a position transducer. The actual position signals are determined and/or stored by a transducer signal processing circuit at discrete time intervals. The approximated position signals are generated by a high frequency estimated position generating circuit. A rate of incrementing the approximated position signals is adjusted for use during the next discrete time interval by an error correction feedback loop, based on a difference between certain approximated and actual position values. The accuracy of the system may be further improved by utilizing a latch signal to ensure that the approximated and actual position values that are compared by the error feedback loop correspond to the same time.

Various position encoders for sensing linear, rotary or angular movement are currently available. These encoders are generally based on either inductive transducers, capacitive transducers, optical systems, or magnetic scales. In general, an encoder may comprise a transducer with a readhead and a scale. The readhead may comprise a transducer element and some transducer electronics. The transducer outputs signals vary as a function of the position of the readhead relative to the scale along a measuring axis. The transducer electronics outputs the signals to a signal processor or processes the signals internally before outputting modified signals indicative of the position of the readhead relative to the scale. It is also common for an encoder system to include an interface electronics separate from the readhead, and to interpolate or otherwise processes the transducer signals in the interface electronics before outputting modified signals indicative of the position of the readhead relative to the scale to an external host system such as a motion control system or data acquisition system.
Optical position encoders, both rotary and linear, use optical detectors to sense position. The optical elements in some of these types of encoders have been designed to produce electronic output signals in phase quadrature. In certain types of these systems, an optical readhead outputs two continuous analog sine wave signals that vary in the amplitude relationship between their phase quadrature signals as the position changes. The scale pitch λ0 of an optical scale is the fundamental wavelength of the optical position encoder system. In one common type of example optical encoder, the scale pitch λ0 may be in the range of 20 to 40 micrometers. In such systems the analog quadrature signals are frequently connected to an electronic signal interpolation device. The output of this device is typically two digital quadrature signals derived from the two continuous analog sine wave signals. These digital quadrature signals are then in a form suitable for use by subsequent digital processing electronics that determine and/or accumulate position changes of the optical encoder. In another type of traditional optical detector, the interpolating electronics may be incorporated inside the readhead.
In such optical encoder systems the analog signals are produced from the optical transducer signals, and the digital signals are created by the interpolation electronics. The analog sine waves have the scale pitch λ0 An example of the most simple type of interpolation is commonly referred to as 4X interpolation. In this case, the analog quadrature signals have been changed into digital quadrature waveforms with the same pitch or wavelength λ0. The term 4X is used because for each wavelength traversed, there are 4 edges, or transitions, of the digital signals. The subsequent electronics are capable of detecting these 4 edges, and thus can detect or record the optical encoder position with a resolution of R1=λ0/4. As an example of a more advanced type of interpolation, the relationship between the analog signals may be interpolated by an extra factor of 4. In this case, the subsequent electronics can record the position with a resolution of R2=λ0/16. In general, in certain example systems interpolation electronics of this type have interpolation factors ranging from 4 to 400, or more.
The nature of the optical systems described above are such that the analog waveforms from the position transducer are continuous with position and time. There are no interruptions in such analog. Because of the continuous nature of these signals, the subsequent interpolating electronics generally continuously derives and outputs the corresponding interpolated digital output signals by continuously processing the continuous analog waveforms.
In contrast, U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,005,387, 6,049,204 6,400,138 and 6,329,813, each incorporated by reference in their entireties, disclose incremental and absolute inductive position transducers, or encoders, that operate on a sampled basis. In such encoders, the absolute position is sampled and/or determined on an intermittent or periodic basis, where the sample period in some systems is typically in the range of 100–200 microseconds or more. At times between the discrete position samples, no new position information is available. Such "interrupted" or "sampled" signals are not conventional in many motion control systems and are not familiar to many users of position encoders. Accordingly, it is not easy for some users to implement such encoders in various applications. For example, in order to be compatible with existing control systems, in various applications the output from such "position sampling" inductive devices would preferably be in the form of continuous digital quadrature signals similar to those of the traditional optical position encoders. However, it is more difficult to create accurate two phase, continuous digital quadrature signals from the sampled signals of such inductive encoders and the like than from continuous analog signals, such as those from an optical encoder, or the like.
The present invention is directed to providing a system and method that overcome the foregoing and other disadvantages limiting the use of position sampled inductive encoders and the like. More specifically, the present invention is directed to a system and method for generating position outputs at a higher rate than the native underlying sample rate of such position sampled encoders, for example, in the form of continuous incremental quadrature signals.

System and method for generating a high speed estimated position output for a position encoder


Embodiments of the invention relate to hybrid address translation. An aspect of the invention includes receiving a first address, the first address referencing a location in a first address space. The computer searches a segment lookaside buffer (SLB) for a SLB entry corresponding to the first address; the SLB entry comprising a type field and an address field and determines whether a value of the type field in the SLB entry indicates a hashed page table (HPT) search or a radix tree search. Based on determining that the value of the type field indicates the HPT search, a HPT is searched to determine a second address, the second address comprising a translation of the first address into a second address space; and based on determining that the value of the type field indicates the radix tree search, a radix tree is searched to determine the second address.

The present invention relates generally to computing systems, and more specifically, to computer addressing techniques.
In today's computer systems, the system memory is managed by the operating system, and is allocated to different software applications as needed. The different software applications may run in one or more partitions, and the one or more partitions may run different operating systems (OSs). Virtual memory techniques may be used in such a computer system to share the physical memory of the computing system among many processes and applications. The software applications therefore deal with effective addresses in a virtual memory space, which allow the applications to read, write, and execute when required, without being concerned with the actual physical memory locations where the operations are taking place. The applications rely on the operating system that underlies each application to perform the mapping from the effective address used by the application to a physical address in the computer memory. Address translation is the mechanism by which effective addresses that reference virtual memory are translated into real memory addresses. Address translation is a complex procedure that, if not implemented well, can end up on the critical path that determines the clock cycle of the processor.
When the CPU requests an effective address, the system first checks an effective-to-real address translation (ERAT) cache to determine a real address corresponding to the effective address. If the effective address is not in the ERAT cache, various other caches, including a segment lookaside buffer (SLB) and a translation lookaside buffer (TLB) may be checked to determine the real address corresponding to the effective address. The ERAT cache, SLB, and TLB hold data regarding translations for recently used effective addresses and are searched to provide necessary information for the address translation process. However, if the effective address is in none of these caches, an additional page table search must be performed in order to determine the correct translation of the effective address.

International Business Machines Corporation


A gas suspension member includes a first section and a second section. The first section includes an end wall and a side wall that at least partially form an inner chamber. An opening is formed through the end wall. A connector fitting is embedded within a cover wall that extends across the opening. The end wall has a first flexural stiffness and the cover wall has a second flexural stiffness that is greater than the first flexural stiffness of the end wall. A gas suspension assembly includes a first spring device used in combination with the gas suspension member. A method of forming a gas suspension member is also disclosed.

The subject matter of the present disclosure broadly relates to the art of suspension systems and, more particularly, to a gas suspension member adapted to interconnect with a gas transmission line as well as a method of forming such a gas suspension member.
The subject matter of the present disclosure finds particular application in association with gas suspension members used on suspension systems of vehicles, and will be discussed herein with particular reference thereto. However, it will be appreciated that the subject gas suspension member and method are equally applicable for use in other applications and environments, and are not intended to be in any way limited to use in the applications discussed herein, which are merely exemplary.
Gas suspension members having an inlet for connecting a gas transmission line are generally well known. One example of such a gas suspension member is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,145,894 to Myers, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Gas suspension members have been commonly used in a wide variety of applications, such as vehicle suspension systems, for example, with great success. Gas suspension members for vehicle suspension systems are available in a wide variety of types, styles and configurations, including those with rigid end members as well as designs with flexible end walls. Though numerous advantages exist with the regard to the use of gas suspension members in vehicle suspension systems, there are also areas for improvement, such as reducing maintenance or increasing the ease of installation, for example.
One such opportunity for improvement exists in gas suspension members that have flexible end walls. Vehicle suspension systems by their very nature are designed to permit dynamic movement between various portions and components of the vehicle. As such, it is common for parts associated therewith to be repeatedly flexed or stressed. Gas suspension members are one example of such parts, and those having flexible end walls are typically well adapted for such flexing action.
Connection of such fluid suspension members to a fluid supply is typically accomplished through a fitting installed on the end wall of the fluid suspension member, as is shown in the Myers '894 patent, for example. The fitting, which is commonly made from metal, forms a fluid-tight seal with the flexible end wall on which it is installed. Repeated flexing of the end wall, however, can, in some cases, cause the flexible material surrounding the fitting to become separated from the connector fitting. This typically compromises the seal around the connector fitting, resulting in pressurized gas loss, which can reduce performance and/or efficiency of the suspension system among other problems.
One significant source of separation is caused by inflation-induced stresses along the flexible wall on which the fitting is installed. That is, the opposing end walls of the gas suspension member become somewhat crowned or dome-shaped due to the pressure within the gas suspension member. The nature of the deflection and the typical positioning of the fitting on the end wall can cause any forces that would otherwise act to seal against the fitting to be overcome. This can undesirably result the loss of integrity of the fluid-tight seal formed around the fitting.
Various arrangements have been employed to improve the interconnection between the connector fitting and the flexible end wall. One method has been to mold the connector fitting into the part during the manufacture of the flexible wall. Unfortunately, the mechanical properties of the wall material alone have been found to be insufficient to consistently withstand the separation stresses discussed above. As such, even with residual compressive stresses attributable to the over-molding process, this connection method has not been successful on a consistent basis. Another method that has been used to improve the interconnection between the connector fitting and the surrounding flexible material includes the use of adhesive. Though this arrangement significantly strengthens the interconnection between the connector fitting and the flexible wall, the adhesive and process of applying the same cause undesirable increases in manufacturing costs among other disadvantages.
Another example of a gas suspension member that has been successful in improving the interconnection between a connector fitting and the flexible end wall is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,270,317 to Leonard, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Broadly speaking, the '317 patent discloses an arrangement in which a groove is formed along the flexible end wall of the gas suspension member adjacent a portion of the end wall that sealingly engages the connector fitting. This arrangement permits the end wall to flex while the transmission of separation-causing forces to the portion of the end wall that sealingly engages the connector fitting is minimized or at least reduced.
Notwithstanding the success of the arrangement in the '317 patent as well as that of other known devices, it is remains desirable to pursue the development of gas suspension members and methods of manufacturing the same that further contribute to the art of gas spring devices.

Firestone Industrial Products Company, LLC


Methods for solid phase synthesis of N-alkyl amides comprise reductive amination of carbonyl compounds using a reducing agent and an amine-containing linker bound to a solid support. The methods afford high yields of linker-bound, monoalkylated amines, and subsequent coupling with acid derivatives provide derivatized N-substituted amides in excellent yields after cleavage from the solid-phase. Compositions useful in solid phase synthesis are also described.

Combinatorial chemistry has become a powerful tool for drug discovery in the pharmaceutical and biotechnology industries. Generally speaking, combinatorial chemistry is defined as the repetitive and systematic covalent attachment of different structural moieties to one another to produce a mixture of numerous distinct molecular entities or target molecules (i.e., combinatorial libraries); desired target molecules include peptides, oligonucleotides, and small organic molecules. Frequently, combinatorial chemistry is utilized to generate a group of structurally related analogs which can then be evaluated to establish structure-activity relationships (SAR) and to optimize biological potency. See, e.g., M. A. Gallop et al., J. Med. Chem., 37:1233-1248 (1994)!.
Solid supports (e.g., polystyrene resin beads and silica chips) and, concomitantly, solid phase synthesis techniques are routinely utilized in generating combinatorial libraries. Unfortunately, presently used techniques are associated with several limitations that restrict their efficiency and widespread application. One major limitation is the difficulty of producing target molecules that, following cleavage from the solid support, provide diverse functional groups at the carboxamide of the target molecules.
Researchers have had some recent successes in the development of chemical techniques that allow the production of a target molecule with particular functional groups at the carboxamide terminus following cleavage from the support. One such success relates to the generation of target molecules bearing sulfonamide functional groups. Previously, the use of linkers possessing a sulfur atom anchoring the target molecule to the resin (e.g., the so-called "safety-catch" linker see, e.g., G. W. Kenner et al., J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun. 636 (1971)!) yielded only an acid or amide following cleavage of the sulfonyl peptide. C. Gennari et aL, Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 34:1763 (1995)!. However, new techniques involving the coupling of sulfonyl chlorides to an amino functionalized resin afford target molecules possessing a sulfonamide group at the carboxamide terminus of the molecules after cleavage. K. A. Beaver et al., Tetrahedron Letters 37(8):1145-48 (1996)!.
Despite recent developments in the field of solid-phase organic synthesis applications see, e.g., Y. Han et al., J. Org. Chem. 61:6226-6339 (1996); T. L. Boehm et al., J. Org. Chem, 61:6498-6499 (1996)!, there is presently no efficient technique for producing target molecules possessing an N-alkyl amide (e.g., RCONHR') at the carboxamide termini of the molecules following cleavage from the solid support. Indeed, the only method routinely used for the solid-phase synthesis of N-alkyl amides involves the aminolysis of resin-bound esters. However, this procedure requires an excess of amine for the aminolysis step see, e.g., A. F. Abdel-Magid et al., J. Org. Chem. 61:3849-3862 (1996)!, necessitating a subsequent purification procedure. Moreover, when utilizing this procedure, the target molecule must be anchored to the solid phase by an ester linkage rather than an amide linkage; unfortunately, the acid- and base- sensitivity of the ester limits the types of chemistry which can be used to modify the tethered target molecule.
Rink's amide resin has been extensively used for the solid-phase synthesis of peptide fragments, as it affords carboxamide primary amides (RCONH.sub.2) upon cleavage from a substituted benzyhydryl amine linked to a polystyrene resin. H. Rink, Tetrahedron Letters 28:3787-3790 (1987)!. Although the Rink amide resin is useful for the synthesis of primary amides see, e.g., G. C. Look et al., Tetrahedron Letters 36:2937-2940 (1995)!, there are no reported methods for the direct alkylation of the Rink amide resin or amine resin to facilitate the incorporation of a secondary amide, thus yielding concomitant diversity at the resin-bound position.
Resin-bound amines distinct from Rink's amine resin have been alkylated by a reductive amination procedure. For example, Mokotoff et al. J. Med. Chem. 35:4696-4703 (1992)! reported the reaction of benzhydrylamine (BHA) resins directly with Boc-leucinal (in DMF containing 1% acetic acid), followed by reduction utilizing a solution of sodium cyanoborohydride (in DMF containing 1% acetic acid). However, the Mokotoff et al. procedure does not efficiently render N-alkylated amides in appreciable yields.
What is needed are methods and compositions for generating molecules containing a nitrogen-substituted amide at their amide termini (ie., that end of the molecules bound to the support) upon cleavage from a solid support. Such methods and compositions should allow for the production in high yields of target molecules with particular functional groups at their amide (e.g., carboxamide) termini.


A work machine includes an engine for driving a primary working unit. At least one hydraulically powered auxiliary working unit is powered by a hydraulic pump. The engine and an electric motor both provide power to the hydraulic pump via a planetary gear set which sums the power inputs from the engine and the electric motor. The pump speed of the hydraulic pump is thereby decoupled from the engine speed of the engine.

Work machines of this type may for example include wheeled loaders, backhoes, skid steer machines, and other machines in which the hydraulically powered auxiliary working unit is capable of heavily loading the engine and may be used simultaneously while accelerating or decelerating the drive train of the machine.
In the example of a wheeled loader, the primary working unit may be the wheels which propel the wheeled loader across a ground surface, and the hydraulically powered auxiliary working unit may include the lifting arm which lifts a bucket or fork for engaging loads to be lifted, moved and unloaded by the wheeled loader. Traditionally the wheeled loader includes a hydraulic pump driven by the engine to generate the hydraulic power for the hydraulically powered auxiliary working unit. With such an arrangement, if additional hydraulic power is needed the engine speed is increased to increase the speed of the hydraulic pump and thus increase the hydraulic power available to the auxiliary working unit.
One disadvantage of such an arrangement is that the engine speed necessary to provide the needed hydraulic power may be higher than is currently needed to power the primary working unit, thus leading to inefficient operation of the engine.

Method to decouple engine speed from hydraulic pump speed through an electric motor driven variator


The invention concerns compositions and methods for the diagnosis and treatment of neoplastic cell growth and proliferation in mammals, including humans. The invention is based upon the identification of an ADAM8 gene that is amplified in the genome of tumor cells. Such gene amplification is associated with the overexpression of the gene product as compared to normal cells of the same tissue type and contributes to tumorigenesis. Accordingly, the ADAM8 protein encoded by the amplified gene is a useful target for the diagnosis and/or treatment (including prevention) of certain cancers, and acts as a predictor of the prognosis of tumor treatment.

Malignant tumors (cancers) are the second leading cause of death in the United States, after heart disease (Boring et al., CA Cancel J. Clin. 43:7 [993]).
Cancer is characterized by an increase in the number of abnormal, or neoplastic, cells derived from a normal tissue which proliferate to form a tumor mass, the invasion of adjacent tissues by these neoplastic tumor cells, and the generation of malignant cells which eventually spread via the blood or lymphatic system to regional lymph nodes and to distant sites (metastasis). In a cancerous state, a cell proliferates under conditions in which normal cells would not grow. Cancer manifests itself in a wide variety of forms, characterized by different degrees of invasiveness and aggressiveness.
Alteration of gene expression is intimately related to the uncontrolled cell growth and de-differentiation which are a common feature of all cancers. The genomes of certain well studied tumors have been found to show decreased expression of recessive genes, usually referred to as tumor suppression genes, which would normally function to prevent malignant cell growth, and/or overexpression of certain dominant genes, such as oncogenes, that act to promote malignant growth. Each of these genetic changes appears to be responsible for importing some of the traits that, in aggregate, represent the full neoplastic phenotype (Hunter, Cell 64:1129 [1991] and Bishop, Cell 64:235–248 [1991]).
A well known mechanism of gene (e.g. oncogene) overexpression in cancer cells is gene amplification. This is a process where in the chromosome of the ancestral cell multiple copies of a particular gene are produced. The process involves unscheduled replication of the region of chromosome comprising the gene, followed by recombination of the replicated segments back into the chromosome (Alitalo et al., Adv. Cancer Res. 47:235–281 [1986]). It is believed that the overexpression of the gene parallels gene amplification, i.e. is proportionate to the number of copies made.
Proto-oncogenes that encode growth factors and growth factor receptors have been identified to play important roles in the pathogenesis of various human malignancies, including breast cancer. For example, it has been found that the human ErbB2 gene (erbB2, also known as her2, or c-erbB-2), which encodes a 185-kd transmembrane glycoprotein receptor (p185HER2; HER2) related to the epidermal growth factor receptor EGFR), is overexpressed in about 25% to 30% of human breast cancer (Slamon et al., Science 235:177–182 [1987]; Slamon et al., Science 244:707–712 [1989]).
It has been reported that gene amplification of a proto-oncogene is an event typically involved in the more malignant forms of cancer, and could act as a predictor of clinical outcome (Schwab et al., Genes Chromosomes Cancer 1:181–193 [1990]; Alitalo et al., supra). Thus, erbB2 overexpression is commonly regarded as a predictor of a poor prognosis, especially in patients with primary disease that involves axillary lymph nodes (Slamon et al., [1987] and [1989], supra; Ravdin and Chamness, Gene 159:19–27 [1995]; and Hynes and Stern, Biochim Biophys Acta 1198:165–184 [1994]), and has been linked to sensitivity and/or resistance to hormone therapy and chemotherapeutic regimens, including CMF (cyclophosphamide, methotrexate, and fluoruracil) and anthracyclines (Baselga et al., Oncology 11 (3 Suppl 1):43–48 [1997]). However, despite the association of erbB2 overexpression with poor prognosis, the odds of HER2-positive patients responding clinically to treatment with taxanes were greater than three times those of HER2-negative patients (Ibid). A recombinant humanized anti-ErbB2 (anti-HER2) monoclonal antibody (a humanized version of the murine anti-ErbB2 antibody 4D5, referred to as rhuMAb HER2 or Herceptin™) has been clinically active in patients with ErbB2-overexpressing metastatic breast cancers that had received extensive prior anticancer therapy. (Baselga et al., J. Clin. Oncol. 14:737–744 [1996]).
Murine ADAM8 (also known as MS2 and mCD156) was initially cloned from macrophages and macrophage cell lines and described as a cell surface antigen. (Yoshida, S., et al (1990) Intl Immunology 2:585–591). Although not initially recognized, mADAM8 has a structure resembling the metalloproteinase domain of hemorahagic snake venom proteins on the amino-terminal side of a cysteine-rich region and may play a role in tissue infiltration of myelomonocytic cells. (Higuchi, Y. et al (1996) Tissue Antigens 48:423; Kataoka, M. et al (1997) J. Biol Chem 29:18209–18215) Human ADAM8 (hADAM8, also known as hCD156) has been cloned and the corresponding gene mapped to chromosome 10q26.3. hADAM8 exhibits 61.7% homology with mADAM8 and displays disintegrin and metalloproteinase domains. (Yoshiyama, K. et al (1997) Genomics 41:56–62). It has also been reported that an ADAM8 peptide enhanced tolerance induction in a rat model of generalized autoimmunity of the nervous system. (Schluesener, H. (1998) J Neuroimmunology 87:197–202).
WO 9740072 describes ADAM12 proteins and uses thereof.
In light of the above, there is obvious interest in identifying novel methods and compositions which are useful for diagnosing and treating tumors which are associated with gene amplification.

Compositions and methods for the treatment of tumors


A system and method for searching content and user interface for presenting results of the search are provided, wherein visual elements representing the content are distributed in three dimensions on a display, with the various axes representing criteria that relate to a central starting point of the search and the proximity to the central point indicating the degree of relevance. The outer bounds of the display contain a large amount of varied material of various types to allow a user to select content of a different type, with the content at the periphery of the display being essentially random and representing little or no link to the starting point of the search. Any displayed element may be selected, as a source for a next level search, in which case content relationships will be re-drawn, with the selected content used as the center point for a next level search.

Home entertainment systems, including television and media centers, are converging with the Internet and providing access to a large number of available sources of content, such as video, movies, TV programs, music, etc. This expansion in the number of available sources necessitates a new strategy for navigating a media interface associated with such systems and making content selections.
The large number of possible content sources creates an interface challenge that has not yet been successfully solved in the field of home media entertainment. This challenge involves successfully presenting users with a large number of elements (programs, sources, etc.) without the need to tediously navigate through multiple display pages or hierarchies of content.
Further, most existing search paradigms make an assumption that the user knows what they are looking for when they start, whereas often, a mechanism to allow a process of discovery and cross linkage is more desirable or appropriate.
The information bottleneck in conventional media guide interfaces is largely the result of the limits to user awareness. If users cannot see all of the possible choices at one time, or are forced to spend inordinate amounts of time and effort in order to gain awareness of the same, then it is likely that opportunities will be missed. In addition, the notion of a workable, largely graphical search paradigm remains elusive.
The present disclosure is directed towards overcoming these drawbacks.

System, method and user interface for content search


A flow regulating valve subassembly includes a main valve configured as a seat valve and a valve piston. The valve piston is acted upon via a first end face by the pressure of a first working connection and via an annular surface of the valve piston by the pressure of a second working connection in the opening direction. The valve piston is also acted upon in the closing direction via a second end face by the pressure of the higher-pressure working connection. An adjustable throttle is formed between a housing of the main valve and the valve piston. The throttle has a cross section that changes continuously during displacement of the valve piston and connects the higher-pressure working connection to the second end face. A pilot control valve arrangement is configured to control a control line which connects the second end face to the lower-pressure working connection.

The disclosure relates to a flow regulating valve subassembly.
A control valve subassembly of this type is known from U.S. Pat. No. 4,779,836. It comprises a housing 1, in which a valve piston 13 is accommodated linearly movably. Provided on the housing are a first and a second working connection 2; 3 which are connected to one another via a valve seat on the housing. The valve seat can be closed by the valve piston by means of a first end face 14, while the opposite second end face 16, acting in the closing direction, of the valve piston 13 delimits, together with the housing, a valve space 17. Between the housing and the valve piston, an adjustable throttle 18 is provided, the throttle cross section of which changes continuously during displacement of the valve piston 13. For this purpose, notches 18 which run in the direction of the valve piston axis and the depth of which changes continuously are provided on the circular-cylindrical outer circumferential surface of the valve piston 13. The notches 18 are designed such that, when the valve piston 13 sealingly closes the valve seat, a residual throttle cross section remains, so that there is always a fluid connection between the first working connection 2 and the valve space 17.
In the stationary state of the valve subassembly, the position of the valve piston 13 is set such that the force which the pressure in the valve space 17 exerts upon the second end face 16 is equal to the force which the pressures of the first and of the second working connection 2, 3 exert in the opening direction upon the valve piston 13. The pressure of the first working connection 2 acts in this case upon a central circular surface 14, while the pressure of the second working connection 3 acts upon a surrounding annular surface 15. The circular surface 14 and the annular surface 15 are delimited with respect to one another by the valve seat.
The pressure in the valve space 17 arises from the pressure of the first working connection 2, reduced by the amount of the pressure drop in the throttle 18 to which the fluid is delivered via the duct 19 arranged in the valve piston 13. The pressure drop of the throttle 18 arises from the volume flow which flows via the throttle 18. This volume flow is equal to the control volume flow which flows out of the valve space 17 via a pilot control valve 26 to the second working connection 2. The variable 5 throttle cross section, which increases essentially in proportion to the opening of the valve piston 13, has the effect that the said control volume flow is proportional to the main volume flow which flows from the first working connection 2 to the second working connection 3. Since the control volume flow is markedly lower than the main volume flow, the present valve subassembly is a volume flow intensifier. For the sake of completeness, reference may also be made of the nonreturn valves 21; 22; 27; 28 which enable the valve subassembly also to be operated with an opposite main flow direction, that is to say from the second working connection 3 to the first working connection 2.
The pilot control valve 26 is often activated electrically, a desirable operating behavior of the flow regulating valve subassembly being one in which the main volume flow depends solely on the activation signal of the pilot control valve 26, so that a volume flow actuator is obtained. However, this is only approximately the case, since the control volume flow depends not only on the position of the pilot control valve 26, but also on the pressure drop at the pilot control valve 26, this pressure drop depending, in turn, on the pressure of the first working connection 2.
This dependence can be compensated via pressure sensors which have to be of highly accurate design and are consequently costly.
Furthermore, this effect can be eliminated partially by load compensation of the pilot control valve by means of a pressure balance. The flow regulating valve subassembly nevertheless is still dependent upon the pressures in the working connections.
The object of the present disclosure is to provide a flow regulating valve subassembly in which accurate determination of the main volume flow is always made possible.


The present invention relates to a state of charge (SOC) compensation method for a vehicle using electrical energy, and a battery management system using the SOC compensation method. To determine the SOC of the battery, charge and discharge current of the battery is used to calculate a first SOC of the battery and a first corresponding voltage, a rheobasic voltage is calculated, an integration error corresponding to a difference between the first voltage and the rheobasic voltage is calculated, a SOC compensation factor is added to the first SOC when the integration error is greater than a first threshold value, and a SOC compensation factor is subtracted from the first SOC when the integration error is less than a second threshold value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a battery management system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a state of charge (SOC) compensation method for compensating an SOC of a battery used for a vehicle using electrical energy, and a battery management system using the SOC compensation method.
2. Description of the Related Art
Vehicles using an internal combustion engine of gasoline or heavy oil have caused serious air pollution. To reduce air pollution, various recent efforts for developing electric or hybrid vehicles have been made.
An electric vehicle uses a battery motor operating with electrical energy output by a battery. The electric vehicle mainly uses a battery including a battery pack formed from multiple rechargeable/dischargeable secondary cells. Therefore, it has no emission gases and less noise.
A hybrid vehicle commonly refers to a gasoline-electric hybrid vehicle that uses gasoline to power an internal-combustion engine and an electric battery to power an electric motor. Recently, hybrid vehicles using both an internal-combustion engine and fuel cells and hybrid vehicles using both a battery and fuel cells have been developed. The fuel cells directly obtain electrical energy by generating a chemical reaction while hydrogen and oxygen are continuously provided.
A vehicle using electrical energy charges a battery with residual power from operating an electric generator when power output from the engine is greater than the power needed for driving the vehicle. In turn, when output from the engine is low, the vehicle operates a motor by using battery power to output power. During this time, the battery is discharged.
Since battery performance directly affects a vehicle using electrical energy, good performance is required from each battery cell. Also, it is required to provide a battery management system for measuring voltage and current of the overall battery to efficiently manage charging/discharging operations of each battery cell.
Accordingly, a conventional battery management system (BMS) detects voltage, current, and temperature of a rechargeable battery to estimate the SOC of the battery, and controls the SOC to optimize fuel consumption efficiency.
To perform a stable power assist operation for driving a motor used in a vehicle during acceleration of the vehicle and a stable energy recovery operation (regenerative braking) during deceleration of the vehicle, the BMS controls the SOC level of the battery. The SOC level is controlled to prevent overcharging the battery when the SOC level approaches 70%, and to prevent over-discharge of the battery when the SOC level approaches 50%. That is, the BMS controls the SOC level to be within a range between 50% and 70%.
To control the SOC level, it is required to have a substantially accurate estimate of the SOC level of the charged and discharged battery.
Conventional methods for estimating the SOC level are classified into an SOC estimation method using an integrated current and an SOC estimation method using an open circuit voltage (OCV). In the SOC estimation method using the integrated current, a charge and discharge current value is measured, a value obtained by multiplying the measured current value by a charging efficiency is integrated over a predetermined duration of time to calculate an integrated charging capacity of the battery, and the SOC level is estimated based on the integrated charging capacity. The charge and discharge current is the current generated by the battery during the time the battery is being charged or during the time it is being discharged.
In the SOC estimation method using the OCV, a pair of data including the charge and discharge current and a rechargeable battery terminal voltage corresponding to the charge and discharge current are measured and stored. A line is fitted to the pairs of data that include the voltage V versus the current I using a least square method of curve fitting. The voltage value V0 corresponding to a current value 0, in other words the V intercept of the V-I line, is calculated as an OCV corresponding to the current 0. Finally, the SOC level is estimated based on the OCV of the battery.
However, in the SOC estimation method using the integrated current method, since the charging efficiency required for integrating the current value depends on the SOC level, current value, and temperature, it is difficult to detect the charging efficiency adapted to various conditions. It is also difficult to calculate a self-discharge state when the battery is not being used.
Further, with passing time, a difference between true and estimated values of the SOC is increased in the SOC estimation method using the integrated current, and the SOC level may not be accurately estimated.

Method for compensating state of charge of battery and battery management system using the same


A system and method for determining the position of objects in a radiation room for radiation therapy comprises several room lasers arranged in the radiation room, each of which is designed for patient positioning to project at least one laser line onto the surface of a patient located on a patient table in the radiation room. At least one camera detects at least one laser line projected onto the surface of the patient by at least one of the room lasers, and an evaluation and control apparatus determines the coordinate points along the laser line projected onto the surface of patient during a radiation procedure based on measurement values detected by the camera through a real-time triangulation process and compares them with target coordinate points. The coordinate points determined during the radiation procedure may be saved for documentation of the radiation procedure.

Radiation therapy of patients for cancer treatment takes place in radiation rooms. Tumors are thereby irradiated with ionizing radiation by means of radiation devices. The correct positioning of the patient is decisive so that the ionizing radiation hits the tumor optimally. In a computed tomography (CT) room that is separate from the radiation room, the area to be irradiated is localized based on CT images and markings are applied to the patient's body, based on which the patient is then positioned in the radiation room. For this, so-called room lasers are arranged in the radiation room. Room lasers are laser projectors arranged permanently on the ceiling or wall in the radiation room, which generate one or two light arrays. At least three room lasers may be installed, which are pointed at the isocenter of the radiation device. Based on the markings applied to the patient's body and by means of the room lasers, the patient is aligned for the radiation through a suitable moving of a patient table. In particular, the markings applied to the patient's body are brought to overlap with the laser crosses aligned with the isocenter of the radiation device. For the purpose of positioning, only a small area of the respectively projected laser lines around the laser cross is used. Due to the expansion of the light arrays, other objects in the radiation room besides the patient are normally also illuminated by the room lasers.
A device for monitoring the position of a patient receiving radiation is known from DE 103 42 202 A1, in which two or more distance measuring devices measure the distance to respectively one point on the skin of the patient. An evaluation apparatus determines from at least two distance values whether the position of the patient has changed with respect to an initial position. So-called off-axis triangulation can be used for the distance measurement. Another device for capturing the position of an object located in a radiation room is known from DE 297 24 767 U1. A collision of components of the medical apparatus, for example a radiation transmitter, with other objects located in the room should thereby be avoided. A triangulating 3D technique can be used. This known device is also structurally complex since the light transmitters and cameras used for the measurements must also be housed in the radiation room.

System and method for determining the position of objects in a radiation room for radiation therapy


A method of determining particle size distributions in the range of from about 0.03 to 10 .mu.m by measuring the spectral light extinction during sedimentation of particles suspended in a transparent liquid in a centrifugal field. The light transmissions through the suspension of light of different wavelengths are measured in response to the settling time and the particle size distribution is determined from the light transmissions measured. No knowledge of the optical data of the particles is needed. The integral equation to be solved for that purpose is given. A wide particle size range can be covered precisely within short times of analysis.

Methods and apparatus devised to determine particle size distributions by photosedimentation have been known for a long time. With them, the settling velocity (rate) of the particles suspended in the transparent liquid is the measure of the particle size. Sedimentation, in principle, can be effected in the gravitational field or in the centrifugal field. The attenuation of a light beam through the suspension is the measure of quantity, i.e. the amount of particles in a size fraction or class.
Two different sedimentation procedures are currently applied. In the case of the superimposed layer technique (line start technique) at the beginning of the analysis a layer of a concentrated suspension is superimposed over a body of clear liquid. In the case of the suspension technique the suspension is mixed uniformly at the start of the analysis.
With the suspension technique, having made transmission measurements T(t) in a photocentrifuge in response to the settling time (t), the particle size distribution q.sub.3 (x) can be calculated by numerical solution of the integral equation ##EQU1## wherein K(.pi.x/.lambda.) is the extinction function dependent on the material,
.rho..sub.f is the density of the suspension liquid, PA1 .eta. is the viscosity of the suspension liquid, PA1 .rho..sub.s is the density of the solids particles, PA1 c is a constant, PA1 .omega. is the number of revolutions of the centrifuge per unit of time, PA1 r is the inner radius of the cuvette, PA1 R is the radius at which the transmission measurement is made. PA1 .rho..sub.f is the density of the suspension liquid, PA1 .eta. is the viscosity of the suspension liquid, PA1 .rho..sub.s is the density of the solids particles, PA1 c is a constant, PA1 .omega. is the number of revolutions of the centrifuge per time unit, PA1 r is the inner radius of the cuvette, PA1 R is the radius at which the transmission measurement is made. PA1 q.sub.3 (x) from K(.alpha.) and .PHI.(.lambda..sub.i,x)=K(.pi.x/.lambda..sub.i) q.sub.3 (x).
The extinction function K must be known in order to be able to calculate the particle size distribution q.sub.3 (x). It belongs to the state of the art to either assume the extinction function K to be constant, or to calculate the extinction function according to the Mie theory. The first choice results in great errors when particles are small as against the light wavelength. The second possibility exists only with spherical particles of which the optical data of the material are known, which is not so in most cases. Only rarely are spherical particles given.
A method is known for photosedimentation under gravitation where the particles travel along straight, parallel paths. It is referred to as spectral photosedimentation with which the extinction function can be determined experimentally during the analysis. To that end, the analysis must be undertaken with light of different wavelengths (R. Weichert, Preprints of papers to be presented at the Fourth Particle Size Analysis Conference, Loughborough University of Technology, England, 21-24 Sep. 1981, pages 28 to 35).
The method of spectral photosedimentation analysis so far could not be applied in a centrifugal field because the particles are not moving along parallel paths, a condition for the spectral photosedimentation in the gravitational field.

Method of and an apparatus for determining particle size distributions by measuring the spectral light extinction during sedimentation


Disclosed is a parking assist device (100) including a parking assist control unit (5) that performs parking assist for a host vehicle (1) by using a first sensor (4) for parking assist disposed in the host vehicle (1), and a guide display control unit (25) that causes a display device (20) to display a guide display based on a first effective detection range (AL, AR) of the first sensor (4) in a state in which the guide display is superimposed on a front view with respect to the host vehicle (1).

Conventionally, a parking assist device that performs parking assist for a vehicle by using sensors disposed in the vehicle has been developed (for example, refer to Patent Literature 1 or Patent Literature 2). The parking assist device of Patent Literature 1 determines a parking space of a host vehicle by using an ultrasonic sensor, and displays this parking space while superimposing the parking space on a photographed image of an area in the rear of the host vehicle. The parking assist device of Patent Literature 2 calculates a desired value of a steering angle by using an ultrasonic sensor, and performs so-called "automatic parking".


A method of checking a large and/or replicated databases includes forming a position sensitive checksum for each entry of the database to be used in the check. The checksums are then exclusive Ored with one another to form a first database checksum. Periodically, the checksums are again created from each of the entries of the check and a second database checksum formed and compared to the first for a match that indicate checked entries of the database have not changed. In another embodiment, a modification to one of the check entries may be provided, accompanied by a master checksum indicative of what the first checksum should be after the entry is modified. The database entry is modified, and a position checksum value for the entry as modified is created. The checksum value for the modified entry, and for the entry before the modification, are exclusive OR with the first checksum value, and that result compared with the master checksum to ensure that the modification was properly made and that the database remains credible.

The present invention relates generally to computing systems in which there are kept a number of replicated databases, and in particular to a method for comparing the databases quickly and efficiently.
Of the many approaches to fault tolerant computing available today, one seems likely to be around for some time. That approach is to provide a computing environment comprising multiple processor units so that if one processing unit fails, another is available to takeover. One example of this approach can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,817,091 which teaches a multiple processor system in which a processor unit of the system that is detected as having failed, will have the tasks of that failed processor unit taken over by a backup processor unit (or processor units).
This multiple processor system, with the advent of a novel communication network (described U.S. Pat. No. 5,574,849), has been extended to a multiple processing system in which groups of processor units are communicatively interconnected to form a "cluster." Each group (sometimes referred to as a "node") of processor units forms a distributed processing system that provides multiple processing power and some modicum of fault tolerance in that the load of a failed processor unit can be taken up by the other processor units of the group or node. The cluster arrangement, in turn, provides additional fault tolerance by providing backup nodes of processor units should one of the nodes fail.
In such a clustered environment, as well as other environments, it is required to provide each node with information concerning the cluster (e.g., the location of processor units, peripheral units, etc.), its use, its users, and the like. Often kept in a database of one sort or another, the amount of this information can be quite large. This leads to problems when the databases of each node need to be checked, such as when a periodic check needs to be made to ensure the integrity of the database and the information it contains, or to ensure that changes to the database were made correctly. Such checks, however, can be very time consuming, and tend to impose a significant burden on system resources, particularly if such checks are frequently required. If the checks require communication between two nodes across a communication path, the amount of communication can be significant and create a bottleneck.
Thus, it can be seen that a way to check the integrity of databases in a quick, efficient, and trusted manner would benefit the overall performance of a multiple processor system using replicated databases of information. Resources needed elsewhere need be used for only the short time the check is conducted.

Method of comparing replicated databases using checksum information


A manual control for controlling the release of a latching mechanism of a piece of motion furniture including a housing to be mounted on the furniture, a lever to be pivotally mounted within the housing, a spring positioned between the lever and housing to urge the lever toward its inactive position, means on the lever to support the spring on the lever during mounting of the lever within the housing and allow release of one end of the spring to engage the housing, a cable sheath structure, an arcuate recess on the lever and having means to connect one end of the cable to the lever, means restricting entry of the cable into said arcuate recess to avoid undesired release of the cable therefrom, means on the housing for receiving one end of the cable sheath, the lever having a handle portion which is sufficiently large to limit the entry of more than the first joint of fingers into the housing below the lever handle, such handle portion having sufficient area on its outer surface to allow a logo to be embossed thereon, and a fixture, such as a Ping-Pong ball, to position in the housing recess under the lever handle to retain it a short distance from its inactive position during connection of the opposite ends of the cable and sheath to the chair latching mechanism to provide the desired amount of overtravel to avoid having to adjust the position of the end of the cable.

The present invention relates to an improved manually actuated control for releasing the position of elements of motion furniture, such as a recliner chair.
Prior to the present invention, manual controls have ranged from handles positioned between an arm and an adjacent seat cushion or on the exterior of the arm. Normally such handles can either move the components of the chair or move a cable in a sheath with the lever installed in the arm. The arm is connected to a suitable portion of a mechanism which may be a latch which maintains the chair in its upright position until released or other suitable mechanism coacting with the chair components for controlling their position.
U. S. Pat. No. 5,056,862 discloses a recessed lever actuator for a recliner mechanism which includes a housing with a lever pivotally mounted therein which are mounted in an opening in the arm of the chair. The lever is connected to a cable sheath structure which extends to lock links which secure the chair mechanism from movement until released by actuation of the lever. The handle of the lever is a generally flat structure having a central opening therethrough and connects to the lever body which is pivotally mounted therein and is spring biased to its position with the handle within the upper portion of the housing.
U. S. Pat. No. 5,107,720 discloses a flexible cable and sheath combination connecting to a latch mechanism from an actuator installed in the outside portion of the arm. The actuator includes a housing having a recess into which the lever is inserted and a pin which pivots the lever to the housing. The lever includes two positions to which the cable may be secured and the housing has two positions to which the cable sheath may be secured. The torsion spring which resists the movement of the lever is installed so that lever movement tends to unwind the spring rather than the preferred winding of the spring and the torsion spring is wound around a shaft on which the lever is mounted and between the lever and the housing. This and other prior patents have a problem of not protecting the fingers of the person in the chair, particularly at a time which the person returns the leg rest to its retracted position. This can cause the individuals fingers to be trapped therein. Further the amount of travel and the mechanical advantage of such prior devices are able to do the job but such prior devices could be more efficient if their mechanical advantage and length of travel were increased. With overtravel a cable system does not require the end position of the cable sheath at the latch mechanism to be adjustable as shown in FIG. 3 of U. S. Pat. No. 5,107,720 which discloses a slotted sheath connection. One disadvantage of prior systems is that the cable is maintained under tension at all times which is undesirable for the cable and sheath structure and other control head components, especially if a component is made of a plastic subject to creep.
Similar manual actuators have been used in the automobile industry to release the automobile door for opening. An example of one type of car door structure is shown in the Fukumoto U.S. Pat. No. 4,580,822.


A decoy is described using a photographic decoy image on at least one surface of a relatively flat decoy body. The photographic image includes a low glare coating to minimize reflection. The body is preferably formed of a weatherproof plastic material. The preferred material is polyethylene and an alternate material is ABS plastic. Either the preferred or alternate material may be co-extruded with a darkened core layer of recycled, reground material and light colored surface areas of virgin material. The surfaces are treated, preferably by a corona discharge treating system, to produce a printable surface area. A four color printing process is used to transfer the photographic images of the animals onto the treated surface. Ultraviolet inks are used for this purpose. A fifth coat of transparent ultraviolet ink mixed with fine silica is used to produce an extremely low reflective surface on the image. A stake is fitted through appropriate stake receiving apertures for upright forms of the present decoy body. The stake includes a notch and detent for releasably securing the decoy to the stake.

Animal decoys have been used for centuries for attracting various animals into the range of hunting instruments. The most recognized form of decoy is the duck or goose decoy formed in three dimensions and painted to closely resemble the selected animal. However, decoys have been used for many different animals through the years, and have also been developed in two dimensions as silhouettes.
The advantage of substantially two-dimensional silhouette decoys is that a great number can be easily carried to a particular site and placed about in a quick and efficient manner. They are also easy to store and transport.
A disadvantage of prior two-dimensional silhouettes is that the typical coating on the board surfaces does not accurately represent the animal to be decoyed. This is due to the overall difficulty presented in producing an exact likeness of the animal, including colors.
Another difficulty is that the usual screening process is economical only in a limited number of colors so both the visual image and its color are not technically accurate.
A still further difficulty with the prior two-dimensional decoy arrangements is reflectivity of the surfaces. Surface reflection has long been recognized as a drawback, especially with the large flat surfaces presented on two-dimensional decoys. Reflection is easily detected by animals and thus gives sufficient cause for the animal to move on to a different area. Reflectivity therefore detracts from the intent of the decoy to attract animals.
Another difficulty with prior two-dimensional decoys is cost. Original artwork is costly and subsequent screening processes are also expensive.
The above problems are recognized to a limited degree in U.S. Pat. No. 4,845,872 granted in 1989 to Anderson. This patent discloses a water fowl decoy constructed of sheet material and having a painted coating thereon. The sheet body is provided with a roughened surface texture and may be painted or printed with a flat, low-glare paint to reduce reflectivity.
From the above, it can be seen that while two-dimensional decoys represent certain desirable characteristics, it has remained a problem to provide such decoys with low reflectivity along the relatively flat surfaces of the decoy bodies, while accurately representing the likeness of the animal on the decoy surface.
The present invention, therefore, has for an object, to provide a decoy or an animal decoy having a close likeness of an animal thereon.
A further object is to provide such a decoy with an extremely low surface reflectivity to avoid alerting the decoyed animal.
A still further object is to provide such a decoy that includes a stake support arrangement that will securely mount the decoy against unintentional removal. These and still further objects and advantages will become apparent upon reading the following description which, taken with the accompanying drawings, disclose a preferred form of the present invention.


An X-ray therapy system with equipment for reducing risk that the radiation applied to a patient is other than what is intended. A radiation check is made in which a signal indicative of the radiation to be applied is compared with a reference signal, and/or a configuration check is made using sensors to automatically sense the applicator being used to apply the radiation to the patient.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a radiation system for treating patients with certain skin conditions, such as skin cancer; and more particularly, it relates to a low energy or superficial x-ray radiation therapy system equipped with x-ray filters for regulating the characteristics of the radiation.
2. Discussion of Related Art
So-called superficial x-rays are low energy x-rays useful for treating certain disease conditions occurring typically just below the skin, conditions such as skin cancers and dermatological disorders. A superficial radiation therapy system includes an X-ray tube and a filter so as to deliver most of the radiation at or just below the skin surface. In superficial radiation therapy treatment, an X-ray dose is provided to a patient by providing X-rays at a desired energy and at a desired intensity for a desired time, and by situating the patient at a desired distance from the X-ray tube. Commercially available superficial x-ray therapy systems, such as PHILIPS RT.-100, THERAPAX 150 and GULMAY D3150, have a radiation assembly with several adjustable voltages (in kilovolts), i.e. the voltage between the cathode and the anode of the X-ray tube, and corresponding current (in milliamps). For example the PHILIPS RT-100 has settings of 10/8, 20/10, 30/10, 37/10, 45/10, 55/10 70/10, 85/8, and 100/8 kV/mA. The skin area of the patient to receive the X-ray dose is typically situated a distance of from 10 cm to 25 cm from a focal spot within the X-ray tube. The skin area is positioned relative to the X-ray tube using what is called an applicator, which attaches to a housing for the X-ray tube.
A control panel is used to indicate the desired X-ray energy and intensity level, based on a periodic calibration of the radiation therapy system usually performed from time to time by a health physicist.
In providing an X-ray dose to a patient, as mentioned above a filter is normally used. It is often made with a metal such as copper or aluminum. Some low energy radiation is absorbed in the filter plate, and the radiation passing through the filter has a narrower spectrum. In existing superficial radiation treatment systems such as PHILIPS RT-100, there are as many as nine filters in varying materials and thickness, each is used for one particular voltage/current setting of the x-ray tube. A user (i.e. an operator of the X-ray therapy system) sets up a filter according to the X-ray tube setting by inserting a filter plate. An incorrect insertion of a filter can result in improper radiation level—i.e. a rate of irradiation, in e.g. roentgens per unit time—and also radiation that is shifted in its average energy, and so can lead to an improper dose being delivered to the patient.
The radiation dose provided by the X-ray tube can also vary from what is intended even if the filtering is as intended and even if the last calibration was performed correctly, because the characteristics of the X-ray tube can change over time due to normal wear and tear, and due to environmental factors (e.g. temperature cycling or changes), or the X-ray tube can simply malfunction.
The actual delivered radiation level should typically be within about 5% of the intended radiation level (in e.g. roentgens per unit time), and if it is determined that the actual radiation level differs by more than about 5%, the radiation therapy system must usually be serviced because such a difference can cause the therapy to be either ineffective (if the level is too low by more than 5%) or even unnecessarily harmful (if the level is too high).
What is needed is a simple way to check the radiation level before treating a patient. Since the radiation level depends on the radiation level provided by the radiation assembly (including any filtering) and also the applicator being used, the radiation level should be checked, and the applicator identity should be confirmed.

Radiation therapy system with risk mitigation