An apparatus for adjusting the air pressure in a vehicle tire is provided. The apparatus includes an air source, a manifold, a transducer, a valve, and a controller. The valve includes a valve seat with a first and a second chamber and a piston which is movable reciprocally with the valve body between the two chambers. The valve also includes a poppet that is movable between the two chambers relative to the piston with a wobbling action. The piston is connected to the valve body by a deformable diaphragm.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method and apparatus for monitoring and controlling air pressure in pneumatic vehicle tires. More particularly, the invention concerns an improved apparatus for automatically checking tire pressure, checking for tire and system leaks, and for controllably inflating and deflating the tires as conditions warrant.
2. Discussion of the Invention
Various types of systems have been suggested in the past for controllably inflating and deflating vehicle tires during vehicle operation. Such systems typically include a source of air under pressure and controls for selectively increasing or decreasing an existing tire pressure, and for checking to determine the existing tire pressure for each tire. The ability to selectively increase or decrease tire pressure is desirable in connection with optimizing the operation of the vehicle under widely changing conditions including weather, vehicle load, terrain, and vehicle speed. Is also desirable to provide adaptability for isolating the air under pressure in each vehicle tire from the remainder of the system so that a problem such as a leak in one tire does not affect the air pressure in the other tires. Further, in connection with such a tire isolating feature, an air line from the system's source of air under pressure extends to a vehicle tire generally through the fixed axle upon which the tire and its associated wheel assembly are rotatably mounted and across a sealing arrangement between the fixed and rotating parts. The tire isolating valve is preferably between the sealing arrangement and tire so that the sealing arrangement is not subjected to system air under pressure other than at times of operation of the system to accomplish inflation, deflation or pressure checking.
Problems encountered in connection with prior art systems of the foregoing character, have included the inability to detect flat tires and to accurately obtain a predetermined desired tire pressure during inflation or deflation. Other problems have included the inability to achieve inflation or deflation from one tire pressure to another with accuracy and within a reasonable time period, and the inability to provide a system which is efficient in operation both from the standpoint of minimizing operator involvement and of obtaining both the required accuracy and the achievement of rapid inflating and deflating rates. A further problem with the prior art systems is to effectively prevent system failure due to contamination by rubber, dust and other contaminates routinely encountered during vehicle operation.
Efforts to improve accuracy have included the use of complex flow control valves and very slow flow rates of air between the source of air and the vehicle tires. However, such efforts undesirably result in the inability to achieve tire inflating or deflating within a reasonable time period. Moreover, complex flow control valves or valve arrangements are undesirably expensive both to manufacture and to maintain.
One of the most successful pressure monitoring systems ever devised is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,782,878, issued to the present inventor. While this system was vastly superior to the prior art systems which preceded it, the system was not able to achieve the high levels of precision and control required in many applications as, for example, in certain military applications. Additionally, because the system was primarily analog based, the severe size and weight limitations required in many end-use applications made it inherently unable to provide the flexibility, versatility and accuracy desired.
For example, one aspect of the earlier system which contributed to a lesser degree of accuracy than is achievable by the present system is the fact that measurement of tire pressure in the earlier system was, of necessity, made immediately after the primary control valves were closed and before the system could fully stabilize. This requirement for measurement of the tire pressure prematurely and while the system was in flux resulted because the earlier system had no provision for stabilizing the system pressure prior to processing the transducer output signal. The prior system also lacked the important tire pressure equalizing feature which is present in the invention presently to be described. Absence of this feature further contributed to a lesser degree of overall accuracy.
Another important feature which is present in the present system but was lacking in the prior system relates to the ability of the apparatus of the present invention to detect both a flat tire and any system leakage. Such a feature is highly desirable if not mandatory from a vehicle safety standpoint.
Also absent in the prior system was the ability to properly accommodate high levels of particulate contamination. Field experience has shown that vehicles that are operated with variable tire pressure generate substantial rubber dust in the tires when the tire side walls are folding and unfolding. In fact, it is quite common to generate between one and two cups of this dust between tire changes. This pneumatic valve dust travels to the tire isolating valves and their operating mechanisms causing them to jam or stick. This serious problem is effectively solved in the apparatus of the present invention through a unique electronic modulation of all of the pneumatic valves. This modulation is of a character to create a controlled jarring action at the valves which effectively prevents valve poppet sticking and jamming due to particulate contamination.
There is also no provision in the prior art system for a variable inflate or deflate orifice which comprises an important element of reduction in inflate or deflate times optimized to the application and the apparatus. In the present device, modulation of all pneumatic valves provides the effect of a variable orifice and the frequency of modulation as controlled by the software programs of the system is utilized to achieve optimization.
In addition to providing superior accuracy, greater versatility, the ability to detect system leaks and the ability to accommodate high levels of particulate system, it will become apparent from the description which follows that the apparatus of the present invention also overcomes numerous other drawbacks found in the prior art systems.

Apparatus for repeatable adjustment of tire pressure


Described herein are methods, systems, apparatuses and products for simulating events utilizing authentic event information. One aspect provides receiving event data associated with one or more real-world events at one or more event data software modules being executed on a computing device; and formatting the event data via the one or more event data software modules into a form utilized by one or more video game applications operable on the computing device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Video game user experiences have become incredibly sophisticated and life-like. Recent developments now allow users to manipulate game elements through physical movement, instead of by just pressing a button on a game controller. Compared to predecessor systems, game system graphics and data processing allow for more realistic visual environments than previously possible. In addition, certain game system controller devices provide haptic effects, including producing vibrations responsive to certain game events, such as hitting a baseball or colliding with an object. As a result, users expect increasingly immersive and realistic game play environments.
Recent developments in video game systems have opened up a new world of immersive game play. A prominent advance was the ability of users to interact with game environments through movement captured and analyzed by motion detecting input devices. For example, a user playing a baseball video game may now hit a baseball by physically swinging his arms in a motion mimicking a real-life baseball swing. In comparison, traditional game systems were limited to game controllers that could only swing a bat at a baseball through mere button presses. Exemplary systems that allow for motion game play include the Nintendo WII, Microsoft XBOX 360 KINECT, and Sony PLAYSTATION Move systems. WII is a registered trademark of Nintendo. XBOX and KINECT are registered trademarks of Microsoft Corporation. PLAYSTATION is a registered trademark of Sony Computer Entertainment, Inc. Other advances in video game development include life-like graphics, haptic output, audio capture, and multi-player games wherein remote players interact in a common virtual environment. As a result of these developments, game system users are increasingly demanding more realistic and life-like game experiences and content.

Simulated sports events utilizing authentic event information


A mechanism for imprinting an image on film is disclosed. The mechanism is simple, compact and inexpensive. The mechanism fits onto a camera's film door on most modern cameras, providing an interchangeable, universal system. Symbols on preprinted tapes are imprinted on film and may record the date, time, picture number or other information on photographs.

This invention relates to a data or symbol imprinting mechanism to be used in a camera. The mechanism allows a camera user to imprint the date or time or other information on film. The mechanism is simple, compact and inexpensive.
Symbol imprinting mechanisms have long been used in cameras to record information on photographs. The camera user can use symbol imprinting mechanisms to record, on the film, information such as the date or time a photograph was taken. Mechanisms used before differ in construction but they commonly suffer from similar drawbacks and disadvantages.
The newest symbol imprinting mechanisms have been electronic. They offer flexibility in what symbol is imprinted on the film as their chief advantage. The electronic mechanism, however, suffers from being complex. This complexity requires the camera housing to be specialized and can cause the camera to be sensitive to dropping or rough handling. This complexity and requirement for a specialized housing greatly adds to the expense of these mechanisms; for many camera users the expense of the electronic mechanism is prohibitive.
Mechanical mechanisms are also used. Like the electronic mechanisms, the mechanisms that have been designed suffer from certain drawbacks and disadvantages. One of the chief drawbacks is the requirement for the camera housing to be specialized. Holes, attachments for the components, and space have all been required in the past with these mechanisms. This leads to larger, more complex and heavier cameras. Size, and an often corresponding increase in weight, is a great inconvenience to camera users. Requiring the design of a completely new camera housing, along with their complex design, often makes these old mechanical mechanisms expensive. They are also often sensitive to jarring and rough handling because of their complexity.
Mechanical mechanisms that have been used in the past also often suffer from producing a poor imprint on the film. The imprinted symbol is often inaccurately exposed on the film giving a sloppy and sometimes blurred result. This is due to a lack of precision in the mechanical mechanism itself. Some mechanical mechanisms also waste film by imprinting a symbol onto a useful portion of the film instead of the very top or bottom. Other mechanical mechanisms are inflexible as to the variety of symbols that can be imprinted and do not offer the user the opportunity to change the available symbols or sets of symbols.
Another disadvantage of mechanical mechanisms that have been used to imprint symbols on film is a lack of simplicity and ease of use for the camera user. Often it is complicated and hard to verify exactly what symbol will be imprinted on the film in these mechanisms.
For both electronic and mechanical mechanisms that have been used a common drawback or disadvantage has been the use of a complicated optical system as part of the mechanism for imprinting symbols on film. The complexity adds to the camera's size, weight, expense and sensitivity to jarring or rough handling.
An alternative to relying on an optical system is to use light from the camera lens. This often decreases the quality of the final photograph, defeating the purpose behind taking the picture.
A recent development in the manufacturing, marketing and use of cameras has created new problems with the existing mechanisms for imprinting symbols on film. The recent development is the disposable camera which is used once and then discarded. These disposable cameras must be made relatively inexpensively. To market a disposable camera with a mechanism for imprinting symbols, an inexpensive mechanism must be available.
Therefore, from the discussion above on the limitations found in the prior art, it would be desirable to have a simple, lightweight, compact and inexpensive mechanism for imprinting symbols on film that does not have the drawbacks and limitations of the mechanisms used in the past.


On a transparent substrate of a coordinate input device are formed a plurality of first wirings formed on a light transmitting substrate to extend in parallel in a first direction, and a plurality of second wirings extending in a second direction perpendicular to the first direction. Each of the second wirings is removed at the intersection with the first wiring to form intermittent divided sections. A flexible electrode is also formed on the substrate to bring two adjacent divided sections of the second wiring into an electrical contact with each other, and faces the first wiring located between the divided section, with a free space defined therebetween. When an external pressure is applied toward the first wiring, the flexible electrode, which is connected to the second wiring, is deformed so as to be brought into an electrical contact with the corresponding first electrode. The light transmitting substrate is arranged to face a counter substrate of a liquid crystal display device.

The present invention relates to a coordinate input device capable of detecting the coordinates of a point to which pressure is applied by a writing pen or a finger, and to an input display apparatus including the particular coordinate input device.
Known coordinate input devices of this kind include, for example, a pressure sensitive type device in which the coordinates are detected on the basis of pressure applied by a writing pen or a finger, and an electrostatic coupling type or electromagnetic coupling type device in which an electrostatic coupling or electromagnetic induction between a writing pen and an electrode is utilized. These coordinate input devices are used in combination with display devices such as a liquid crystal display device to form input display apparatuses capable of input and display of information.
Known input display apparatuses include a type that a transparent coordinate input device is arranged on the front surface of a display device, and another type that a transparent coordinate input device is arranged on the back surface of a display device. The coordinate input device used in the input display apparatus of the former type includes the pressure sensitive type device, electrostatic coupling type device and electromagnetic coupling type device. On the other hand, the electromagnetic coupling type coordinate input device is used in the input display apparatus of the latter device.
In manufacturing the input display apparatus having an integral structure of a coordinate input device and a display device, it is necessary to employ the step of bonding the coordinate input device to the display device. In the bonding step, it is difficult to align accurately the coordinate input device with the display device, with the result that a positional deviation tends to take place between the display device and the coordinate input device. For eliminating the positional deviation, it is necessary to correct the electrical circuit for each input display device product, leading to an increased manufacturing cost of the input display apparatus.
It should also be noted that, in bonding the coordinate input device directly to the display device, an interference band is generated by uneven gaps between the two devices, leading to a marked deterioration in the display performance of the input display apparatus. To overcome this difficulty, it is necessary to provide a gap of about 1 mm between the two devices. As a result, the display surface of the display device is made apart from the input surface of the coordinate input device by a distance equal to sum of the thickness of the coordinate input device and the gap provided between the coordinate input device and the display device, giving rise to generation of parallax between the display position and the coordinate input position depending on the viewing direction of the user. In addition, the presence of the gap between the two devices makes it difficult to decrease the thickness of the module consisting of the coordinate input device and the display device.
Further, in the input display apparatus of the former type, the reduction of transmittance caused by the coordinate input device remains to be a serious problem to be solved. Particularly, in an apparatus using a reflection type liquid crystal display device, the ambient light passes through the coordinate input device twice, leading to a further reduction of the transmittance. For example, a pressure sensitive type coordinate input device comprises in general two flexible substrates each having a transparent electrode formed thereon. These two flexible substrates are arranged to face each other with spacers disposed therebetween so as to provide a predetermined free space between the two. In an input display apparatus having the particular coordinate input device of the pressure sensitive type arranged on the front surface of a liquid crystal display device, both a counter electrode of the liquid crystal display device and two transparent electrodes of the coordinate input device are arranged in the optical path. In addition, a gap is defined between the coordinate input device and the liquid crystal display device. It follows that the light transmittance is markedly lowered, making it difficult to achieve display of images of a high brightness.
As described above, in an integral structure having a coordinate input device and a display device, a positional deviation takes place in the bonding step of these devices, leading to reduction in the input accuracy. Also, a positional deviation between these devices in the thickness direction brings about parallax between the display position and the coordinate input position depending on the viewing angle. Further, the coordinate input device, which is of a laminate structure comprising a plurality of films, is low in its light transmittance. It follows that the quality of the image displayed by the input display apparatus utilizing the coordinate input device is lowered, particularly where a reflection type liquid crystal display device is used in combination with the coordinate input device.

Coordinate input device and input display apparatus including the input device


The invention relates to controlling a semiconductor processing system. Among other things, the invention relates to a run-to-run controller to create virtual modules to control a multi-pass process performed by a multi-chamber tool during the processing of a semiconductor wafer.

Processing tools used in the semiconductor industry have developed into complex processing systems having a number of associated process modules. Due at least in part to this development trend, the dividing line between the tool control systems and the factory control systems are becoming increasingly blurred. The factory system can allow the tool control system to control certain segments of the process sequence. This can create new opportunities for tailored control and optimization of segments of the process sequence on a lot-to-lot basis or even on a wafer-to-wafer basis, but new challenges can also be created. If the factory control system cedes control over the wafers to the tool platform, then it also must cede direct knowledge of what actually happens to the wafers to the same platform. As a result, a new architecture should be created for the integration of the tool platform with the factory control system. The new architecture would require the tool platform to report what happened to the wafers including recipes, measured data, events, exceptions, etc. The new architecture must require the factory system to set up a framework to be followed by the tool platform, including process limits, allowable conditions, and required response to exceptions.
In addition, multi-module tools need to interface with factory systems that adhere to Semiconductor Equipment and Materials International (SEMI) standards.
Data from multiple events performed in a particular module, which need to be reported to the factory system, can be written by the controller of the tool platform or by the factory system controllers upon a subsequent visit of the wafer to the same module. One limitation of this arrangement is that recipes cannot be associated with the physical module, because the physical module is used more than once. Moreover, the physical module may perform different operations.
One way to resolve this problem is to find a way for the factory and tool information systems to deal with multiple passes to the same module in a multi-chamber process tool. In addition, for a multi-chamber system having the problem of establishing routing that may be different for each wafer (wafer sampling) and/or establishing a dynamic routing which is determined by the tool (again including wafer sampling), a secondary solution is required. In particular, demand has developed for an information systems architecture that is able to function when each module samples the wafers differently, when the wafers can make more that one pass through a physical module, and when the tool can change the sequence or sampling.
For semiconductor processing, it is well-established that feedforward controllers may be used in the fabrication of semiconductor integrated circuits by semiconductor manufacturing facilities (fabs). Until recently, wafers were treated as a batch or a lot and the same processing was performed on each of the wafers in the lot. The size of the lot varies depending on the manufacturing practices of the fab but is typically limited to a maximum of 25 wafers. Measurements were routinely made on a few wafers in the lot and adjustments were made to the processing based on these sample measurements. This method of control which is based on sample measurements on the current lot and process recipe adjustments for ensuing lots is called lot-to-lot control (L2L). The process models and information necessary to modify the process recipes for L2L control were stored and the computations were performed at the fab level. Recently, manufacturers of semiconductor processing equipment (SPE) have included the ability to measure each wafer immediately before and after processing is performed. The capability to measure each wafer on the processing tool is called integrated metrology (IM). IM, in turn, enabled the ability to measure and adjust the process recipe at the wafer-to-wafer (W2W) level. Because of the high volume of data collected and the short period of time between the measurements and subsequent processing of the wafer, it may be necessary to provide the ability to perform wafer-to-wafer (W2W) control at the tool rather than at the fab level.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Wafer-to-wafer control using virtual modules

International Business Machines Corporation


To provide a solution by which adjustment of the depth display of the image can be easily carried out by the user at will in a technique for forming a 3-D image from plural images, from the plural feed images, one feed image is extracted as the reference feed image, with an object recognition process being carried out to extract the object region having the prescribed characteristic features. The reference feed image IL is displayed on the display unit 108 together with the markers MK indicating the object regions, and the user selects one object region. A region that is similar in image content with the selected region is detected from each other feed image, with the images being shifted so that the regions overlap each other.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an image processing apparatus and an image processing method that form a 3-D viewable synthetic image from plural feed images. In particular, the invention relates to processing for forming a 3-D viewable synthetic image by the combination with a lenticular lens.
2. Background Technology
As a scheme for the 3-D display of images, the method that exploits the parallax of vision by two eyes has been adopted in practical applications. For example, for a lenticular image, from the plural images taken from views being different, rectangular images are cut out, with a parallax-attached synthetic image being formed as these rectangular images are arranged side by side sequentially corresponding to the configuration of the views. As the synthetic image is presented via a lenticular lens, there is a parallax between the images that reach the left eye and the right eye, respectively, so that the object can be viewed in 3-D.
Schemes that automatically form the lenticular image or some other 3-D viewable synthetic image from the plural feed images taken from different views have been proposed (for example, see Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2004-104329 (for example, FIG. 8) (Patent Document 1) and Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2004-129186 (for example, FIG. 7) (Patent Document 2) are examples of the related art.

Image processing apparatus for forming synthetic image and image processing method for forming synthetic image


A heater controller for allocating heaters to cool a thermal chamber of a scientific instrument evaporates cryogenic liquid to produce a coolant gas. The gas is injected into a chamber to cool a sample disposal therein. The controller allocates low-capacity heaters in compliance with IEC guidelines to prevent problems generally associated with switching of large current loads, such as heaters. In one embodiment, heaters are activated so as to avoid jump discontinuities by effectively averaging the power delivered by the heaters. A second embodiment reduces complexity by essentially disregarding the problem of the jump discontinuity. A third embodiment groups the heaters according to a binary grouping scheme. The heater controller of the present invention can be used to control temperature according to a user supplied temperature profile.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cooling a scientific instrument using cryogenic liquids. More specifically, the present invention relates to a heater control system that generates a coolant gas by boiling a cryogenic liquid to cool a sample disposed in a thermal chamber of an instrument.
2. Related Art
Scientific instruments are often used to study the properties of materials at low temperatures. One method for achieving the low temperatures is to evaporate a coolant gas from cryogenic fluid. This is accomplished using heaters immersed in the cryogenic fluid. The coolant gas is subsequently injected into the instrument to achieve the desired low temperatures. The amount of cooling is determined by the amount of cryogenic fluid evaporated to produce the coolant gas. The greater the amount of heat generated by the heaters, the greater the among of coolant gas produced, and correspondingly, the greater the cooling effect. The amount of heat generated by the heaters is determined by the amount of alternating electrical current supplied to the heaters.
It is well known in the art to use a triode AC switch (triac) to control the supply of alternating electrical current to heaters, lights, and other such devices. A triac produces current for a fraction of the time according to the application pulses to a triac activation gate. It can be used in two different modes, phase angle firing and time proportioning. In the phase angle firing mode, the triac activation gate pulses are controlled so that the triac conducts during a portion of each AC half cycle and is left off for the remainder of each half cycle. The current delivered is a function of the fraction of the cycle that the triac conducts. In the time proportioning made, the triac is switched on for an entire cycle. However, the triac is only switched on a fraction of the total number of available power cycles. The current delivered is proportional to the fraction of the available power cycles that the triac conducts.
There are significant problems associated with switching large current, such as those required for heaters. One problem is the disturbance to nearby electronic circuits caused by the switching. For example, lights may flicker as the large currents are switched in and out. Moreover, phase angle firing creates harmonics on an AC power supply which can cause noise bursts that adversely affect other electronic equipment on the same supply. Because of these undesirable effects, regulatory agencies such as the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) have imposed limits on how rapidly the loads may be controlled using switching devices such as triacs. However, because triacs are simple, inexpensive and reliable devices, they are widely used.
Thus, there is a need for a controller that can control switching of load in an IEC compliant manner, while delivering sufficient power that is required in more power intensive applications such as heater controllers. For example, such a controller is desirable to provide current to heaters in thermal analysis instrumentation that provide desired cooling environments for low temperature studies.

System and method for heater control for evaporation of cryogenic fluids for cooling scientific instruments


An air diffuser for attachment to a handheld hairdryer includes a diffuser neck and an angled diffuser head. The diffuser neck is provided with air vents. If a back pressure builds up in the diffuser with a consequent risk of overheating the hairdryer, then air escapes through the vents relieving the back pressure. In the absence of a back pressure substantially all of the air flows along the diffuser and out through the mouth of the diffuser.

The present invention relates to air diffusers for hairdryers.
Handheld warm air hairdryers generally produce a narrow stream of warm air. If it is desired to produce a more even distribution of the warm air, then an air diffuser may be fitted to the barrel of the hairdryer for this purpose.
Most conventional air diffusers suffer from the disadvantage that they are awkward to use. In particular, the combined hairdryer and diffuser is substantially longer than the hairdryer alone and is difficult to manipulate especially when drying hair on the crown of the head or hair at the back of the head.
A diffuser which attempts to overcome the above problem consists of a diffuser neck and diffuser head, the diffuser neck being attachable co-axially to the barrel of the hairdryer, and the diffuser head being at an angle to the diffuser neck. This diffuser is much easier to manipulate. In particular, when drying for example hair on the crown of the head, the user can hold the hairdryer to one side of his head, and is not obliged to stretch his arms up to directly above the crown of his head.
However, the diffuser with the angled head is inefficient, the inefficiency arising as follows. Air from the hairdryer is driven along the diffuser neck, enters the angled diffuser head, and is then deflected by the internal surface of the diffuser head out through the diffuser mouth. The long path which the air travels, together with the deflection of the air in the diffuser head and consequent turbulence, gives rise to a risk of back pressure and overheating in the hairdryer. To overcome this problem, a number of vents are provided in the diffuser head, so that a proportion of the air driven along the neck flows directly out through the vents, thus reducing the possibility of back pressure. This proportion of heated air is therefore wasted.
An object of the present invention is to provide an air diffuser which is easy to manipulate and efficient in operation.
The present invention provides an air diffuser for attachment to a handheld hairdryer, comprising a diffuser neck, an angled diffuser head, and air vents to prevent back pressure and overheating, characterized in that the air vents are provided in the diffuser neck.
As hair is driven along the diffuser neck, if no back pressure builds up then substantially all of the air flows to the diffuser head and out through the diffuser mouth to dry the hair. However, if a back pressure builds up this will cause air to be vented through the air vents in the neck, thereby eliminating the risk o overheating. The air vents therefore come into play only as required.


Disclosed is a memory device in which the state of the memory may be set by a mechanical action, with or without mains power present. The memory state may be detected by a microcontroller. The state for the memory device may be reset by a microcontroller. The microcontroller may be external to an apparatus containing the memory device, adjacent to or within the apparatus.

Non-volatile memory systems that maintain the state of a memory are known. However, electrical power is typically required to change the state of the memory. Devices having identifying or other data, such as operational parameters, stored in memory may be connected to a network. A computer connected to the network may read the device data from the memory, and perform an operation, such as registering the device in the network, using the identifying or other data. The computer may store send data to the device memory. The stored data may include proprietary data or particular operational parameters that may affect the performance of the connected device. The device memory requires power to be applied whenever data is to be read or whenever data is being written to the memory. As a result, power must constantly be applied to the device. If the device has non-volatile memory, when the device is disconnected from the network it may have proprietary data stored in the device. If the device is connected to another network, the network may access the proprietary data, or alternatively, be unable to recognize the device due to the changed operating parameters or other changed data stored in the device memory.

System for automatic decommissioning of network participants based on pressure applied to compression element within the device


A pulse width modulation (PWM) structure enabling regulated duty cycle includes a DC power supply unit, a signal generating unit, a voltage-dividing resistor unit, a reference voltage unit, and a comparing unit. When the DC power supply unit supplies a voltage signal to the voltage-dividing resistor unit, the latter receives the voltage signal and sets voltage levels before sending the voltage signal to the signal generating unit, so that a waveform signal generated by the signal generating unit regulates its voltage levels according to the received voltage signal before sending the waveform signal to the comparing unit. The comparing unit receives and compares the signals from the signal generating unit and the reference voltage unit, and outputs a comparison signal for driving a fan motor to operate, so that the finally output signal is substantially linear and smooth.

The pulse width modulation (PWM) is a very effective technique for controlling an analog circuit utilizing digital output of a microprocessor, and is widely applied in many different fields from measuring, communication, to power control and conversion.
Please refer to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3A, which shows a conventional PWM circuit applied to a fan motor (not shown). The PWM circuit includes a direct current (DC) power supply unit 110, a voltage-dividing resistor unit 120, a comparing unit 130, and a signal generating unit 140.
The DC power supply unit 110 is a variable DC voltage source Vin of 2 to 5 volts, for example, for supplying a voltage source to the voltage-dividing resistor unit 120.
The voltage-dividing resistor unit 120 includes a first resistor element R7 and a second resistor element R8, and a first node voltage Vr coupled to and between the first and the second resistor element R7 and R8. The voltage-dividing resistor unit 120 has a voltage value that varies with the voltage value supplied by the DC power supply unit 110.
The signal generating unit 140 may be a triangular-wave generator 141 for generating a triangular-wave signal. The triangular-wave signal has fixed high level VH and low level LV, which do not vary with changes in the voltage value of the DC power supply unit 110.
The comparing unit 130 may be a comparator 131 for receiving and comparing the signals from the signal generating 140 and the voltage-dividing resistor unit 120, and outputting a pulse width modulated (PWM) signal.
When the variable DC power source Vin supplies a voltage source of 2 to 5 volts, for example, to the voltage-dividing resistor unit 120, the latter calculates using a formula based on the voltage-divider theorem to derive the voltage signal to be sent to the comparing unit 130. Meanwhile, when the triangular-wave signal generated by the signal generating unit 140 is also sent to the comparing unit 130, the comparing unit 130 compares the voltage signal and the triangular-wave signal and outputs a PWM signal to drive the fan motor (not shown) to operate. FIG. 2 is a voltage-speed curve for the conventional PWM circuit of FIG. 1. As can be clearly seen from FIG. 2, the voltage-speed curve T1 is a non-smooth curve including a breaking point P.
Please refer to FIGS. 3A, 3B, and 3C, which are applied circuit diagram, waveform graph, and duty cycle-voltage curve for an embodiment of the conventional PWM circuit of FIG. 1. It is already known that the high level HV and the low level LV of the triangular-wave generator 141 is set to 2V and 1V, respectively, and the first resistor element R7 is set to 10KΩ. Given that the duty cycle of the PWM signal is 50% and the variable DC voltage source Vin is 2V; then, the first node voltage Vr may be calculated using the following formula:
            50            %        =                            VH          -          Vr                          VH          -          VL                    =                                                  2              -              Vr                                      2              -              1                                ⇒          Vr                =                  1.5                                                              V                          Vr    =                            Vin          ×                                    R                                                                                8                                      (                                                R                                                                                7                                +                                  R                                                                                8                                            )                                      ⇒        1.5            =                                    2            ×                                          R                                                                                8                                            (                                                      10                                                                                K                                    +                                      R                                                                                8                                                  )                                              ⇒                      R                                                                          8                          =                  30                                                              K                                                              Ω                    From the above calculations, it is derived that the first node voltage Vr is 1.5V, and the second resistor element R8 is 30KΩ.
Alternatively, given that the duty cycle of the PWM signal is 100%, and the variable DC voltage source Vin is 5V; then, the first node voltage Vr may be derived using the following formula:
  Vr  =                    Vin        ×                              R                                                                          8                                (                                          R                                                                                7                            +                              R                                                                                8                                      )                              ⇒      Vr        =                            5          ×                                    30                                                                                K                                                      10                                                                                K                            +                              30                                                                                K                                                    ⇒        Vr            =              3.75                                                  V            Therefore, when the variable DC voltage source Vin is 5V, the first node voltage Vr is 3.75V. On the other hand, given that when the first node voltage is 2V to just reach the high level VH, then the variable DC voltage source Vin may be calculated using the following formula:
  Vr  =                    Vin        ×                              R                                                                          8                                (                                          R                                                                                7                            +                              R                                                                                8                                      )                              ⇒      2        =                            Vin          ×                                    30                                                                                K                                      (                                                10                                                                                K                                +                                  30                                                                                K                                            )                                      ⇒        Vin            =              2.67                                                  V            FIG. 3C is a duty cycle-voltage curve plotted according to the values obtained from the above calculations. As can be seen from FIG. 3C, the duty cycle-voltage curve D1 starts extending upward at a point corresponding to the duty cycle of 50% and the variable DC voltage source Vin of 2V until the curve reaches the point corresponding to the variable DC voltage source Vin of 2.67V. Then, the duty cycle-voltage curve D1 stably extends horizontally until it reaches the point corresponding to the variable DC voltage source Vin of 5V. As can be clearly seen from FIG. 3C, the duty cycle-voltage curve D1 is a non-smooth curve.
Therefore, the conventional PWM circuit has the following disadvantages: (1) it has a non-smooth duty cycle-voltage curve, which makes the conventional PWM circuit unstable; and (2) it has a non-smooth voltage-speed curve, which makes the conventional PWM circuit unstable.
It is therefore tried by the inventor to develop an improved PWM structure to overcome the problems existed in the conventional PWM circuit.

Pulse width modulation structure enabling regulated duty cycle


The invention relates to a device for a valve train for changing the lift of gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine, having a camshaft rotatably mounted in a housing, which camshaft consists of an arrangement of, in succession coaxially from the inside to the outside, at least one push rod, at least one carrier shaft and at least one cam unit provided with at least two different cams and at least one thrust pin, and the cam shaft is surrounded at least partially by at least one shift gate mounted non-rotatably and axially movably in the housing. At least one change-over pin and at least one support pin are immovably connected to the push rod, wherein the change-over pin and the support pin extend in openings at least right through the carrier shaft and the change-over pin can be brought into operative contact with at least one switching contour on the shift gate and the support pin can be brought into operative contact with at least one support contour on the shift gate.

Valve train devices that have a mechanism for changing the lift of gas exchange valves are already known. The invention is based on a valve train, in which the gas exchange valves, in particular inlet valves and outlet valves of an internal combustion engine, are directly or indirectly actuated by means of a camshaft. Cams that are adjacent on the camshaft and have different cam shapes, which cams are combined to form a cam unit, are provided to change the valve lift. By means of an axial movement of the cam units on the camshaft, one cam of the cam group in each case is made to engage with the corresponding gas exchange valve and the lift of the gas exchange valves is produced in accordance with the cam shape. A push rod, which runs parallel to the camshaft, with corresponding elements for engagement on the cam units, is provided to move the cam units.
A valve train for gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine with a movable cam carrier having a continuous groove running over the periphery emerges from the published application DE 10 2007 061 353 A1. The cam carrier is non-rotatably but axially movably mounted on a camshaft and has a plurality of axially spaced-apart cams with different cam elevations, which are combined to form a cam group for the respective gas exchange valve. An engagement element, which carries out a lift in the axial direction according to the course of the continuous groove, engages continuously in the continuous groove. The engagement element can be locked in specific positions, so the cam carrier is forced to carry out an axial movement to thus change over between the cams to drive a gas exchange valve.
However, the system described requires a great deal of installation space, so it is only possible to use it in internal combustion engines with adequate cylinder spacing. Furthermore, an actuator is necessary to lock the engagement element for each movable cam carrier, said actuator having to be activated at the correct time.
The published application DE 10 2009 030 373 A1 describes a valve train for an internal combustion engine with a variable lift gas exchange valve actuation. The cam shaft of the valve train comprises a carrier shaft and a cam piece, which is non-rotatably but axially movable thereon. The cam piece contains cam groups of directly adjacent cams with different elevations. A gate is provided at the end of the cam piece in order to axially move the cam piece in relation to the carrier shaft by coupling in an actuating element. The cam piece revolving with the carrier shaft is mounted in a camshaft bearing.
The adjusting gate on the cam piece is arranged outside the cam shaft bearing, so additional axial installation space is produced for each cam piece. A separate actuating element is required for each adjustment direction. As a result, two actuators are used for each cylinder of the internal combustion engine. This increased control outlay and component outlay in conjunction with the space requirement is a main drawback of the device.
A valve train with variable lift gas exchange valve actuation emerges from the published application D10 2010 013 216 A1. The valve train consists of a camshaft, which is constructed from a carrier shaft and cam pieces mounted non-rotatably but axially movably thereon. A cam group of directly adjacent cams with different elevations and an axial gate is located on the cam piece. The cam piece is also provided with a bearing journal and mounted thereby in a cam shaft bearing. The bearing journal on the adjacent axial gate are overlapped by the camshaft bearing, so the actuating element is positioned on the camshaft bearing to move the cam piece and runs radially through the bearing point to engage in the axial gate.
As the axial gate and also the bearing journal are overlapped by the camshaft bearing, the bearing point has to be particularly wide to provide the required bearing face in accordance with the bearing loads. This leads to an increased installation space requirement. The system can only be used in internal combustion engines with adequately large valve spacing or cylinder spacing. Moreover, an actuating element is also required in each case in this system for each cam piece. This stands in the way of the current development aim of compact internal combustion engines.
A changeable valve train of an internal combustion engine is described in the published application DE 10 2007 022 145 A1. The camshaft of the valve train comprises a drive shaft with at least one cam piece non-rotatably but axially movably arranged thereon with a group of axially adjacent cams. The cams have different cam elevations here. The cam piece is radially supported together with the drive shaft and with an additional bearing bush coaxially mounted on the cam piece in a cam shaft bearing point. The additional bearing bush is axially movable together with the cam piece in relation to the camshaft bearing point and the drive shaft, the bearing bush being secured against rotation in the camshaft bearing point. The cam piece and the bearing bush are thus accordingly arranged coaxially one above the other on the drive shaft and mounted in the camshaft bearing point. A pin is positioned in the bearing bush parallel to the rotational axis of the drive shaft, said pin carrying out an oscillating movement by means of a guide introduced in the revolving cam piece with an axial lift. To initiate a switching process, the pin is briefly axially fixed by a fixing mechanism at the corresponding point. As a result, the cam piece is supported on the fixed pin. The cam piece is forced to carry out an axial movement and a switching process is initiated.
The complex control and the component outlay connected therewith are to be mentioned as the drawback of this device for changing the lift. A separate fixing mechanism, which has to initiate a switching process at the right time, has to be provided for each changeover device of a cam piece. The pin moreover leads to high loads in the guide groove during the switching process. Furthermore, a high degree of wear is to be expected on the pin as the pin has to be clamped for each switching process.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,407 A describes an adjusting device for a camshaft, with which the camshaft can be axially moved. Owing to the movement of the camshaft, different cams with different cam elevations can be positioned to actuate the gas exchange valves. An axial gate, with which an axial movement in the two directions is made possible, is provided to move the camshaft. For this purpose, the gate has two contours running mirror-symmetrically over the periphery, each of the two contours producing the lift required for the adjustment to adjust the camshaft. Provided between the two contours is a region, in which the adjusting pin that is permanently engaged can be positioned without contact with one of the two peripheral contours. To initiate a switching process, the adjusting pin is moved in the axial direction and fixed in order to come into contact with one of the two contours and to initiate the axial adjustment of the camshaft in the corresponding direction.
The camshafts and the cams positioned thereon of modern internal combustion engines with a plurality of cylinders do not, however, allow a simultaneous adjustment of the cams nor, therefore, a movement of the entire camshaft as no overlapping of the cam base circles is produced between the various cylinders. Moreover, the gate causes an enlargement of the overall length of the camshaft.
A valve train for gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine is known from the published application DE 10 2009 039 733 A1, in which a cam unit with a plurality of different can tracks arranged next to one another is non-rotatably and axially movably mounted on a camshaft and the cam unit can be axially moved by an adjusting means. The adjusting means comprises an adjusting element movably mounted within the camshaft to transmit the adjusting movement to the cam unit. For this purpose, the adjusting element has, on its periphery, a running track profile, which cooperates with a coupling element, the coupling element furthermore being connected by a recess in the camshaft to the cam unit. An axial movement of the cam unit on the camshaft is brought about by a movement of the adjusting element relative to the camshaft. It is described as a configuration variant that the adjusting element is rotatably mounted in the camshaft and that the running track profile substantially extends in the peripheral direction on the adjusting element. The change between two cam tracks on the cam unit to actuate the gas exchange valves is achieved by an axial offset in the running track profile, which is produced by a relative rotation of the adjusting element in relation to the camshaft.

Device for a valve train for changing the lift of gas exchange valves of an internal combustion engine

IAV GMBH INGENIEURGESELLSCHAFT AUTO UND VERKEHR


A method, computer program product, and data processing system for establishing high-availability of network resources through automatic failover, while cooperating with existing telecommunications equipment management and other systems is disclosed. Events are filtered through a series of software modules, each having a particular role to play with respect to the event. External systems may register with a “Notification Dispatcher” module, included within the series of modules, to receive notifications when particular events occur. In this way, conflicts between the high-availability system and other systems are avoided through well-defined sharing of information and delegation of responsibilities. Other modules may include “Resource Agents” and a “Resource Agent Adapter” for performing monitoring and control functions with respect to individual resources through a unified interface, a “Node Failover Manager” for actually performing an automatic failover, and a “Failover Rules Engine” for intelligently deciding when a given resource should experience a failover.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates generally to providing high availability of resources within a managed network. More specifically, the present invention is directed toward providing a high availability mechanism that is capable of operating in cooperation with telecommunications equipment management software running on an Operations, Administration, Maintenance, and Procedures (OAM&P) processor complex.
2. Description of Related Art
The management of a computer network is not a simple task. Today's networks are complex beasts. As organizations move more and more toward high-connectivity, large networks containing a wide variety of hardware and software systems connected in bewildering topologies have begun to emerge. As networks become more complex, their upkeep becomes increasingly difficult. In the telecommunications domain Operations, Administration, Maintenance and Procedures (OAM&P) systems are software and hardware systems designed to assist network support personnel in the management of such network elements.
An OAM&P system will typically include what is known as a telecommunications equipment management (TEM) subsystem. An TEM subsystem monitors the state of network equipment and handles equipment provisioning for field replaceable units (FRUs). Field replaceable units are units of equipment that can be replaced in the event of a failure.
While TEM assists human support personnel in handling equipment failures, in mission-critical applications, such as telephone communications, waiting for a support person to take care of a problem may be unacceptable. High-availability (HA) systems address this need by providing "failover" of failed resources. "Failover" means automatically switching from the failed resource to a backup or redundant resource. A "resource," in this context, may be a hardware component or software component—essentially anything that is capable of failing.
CLUSTER SERVER™, produced by Veritas Software Corporation of Mountain View, Calif., is one example of an HA system that is commercially available. CLUSTER SERVER™ monitors groups of resources controlled by "clusters" of computer systems. In the event of a failure in a resource, CLUSTER SERVER™ can deactivate the resource and replace it with another "backup" resource (i.e., it performs a failover of the resource). CLUSTER SERVER™ is capable of monitoring a number of disparate resources concurrently and is sensitive to dependencies between resources. If necessary, CLUSTER SERVER™ can deactivate multiple resources in the correct order, when dependencies between the resources require it.
CLUSTER SERVER™ and HA systems, in general, may overlap in their responsibilities with TEM systems. Because both HA systems and TEM systems monitor the status of network resources and take action in response to the status of those resources, conflicts may arise between an HA system and TEM system operating on the same network. For example, when a resource is being removed from service using the TEM system and unbeknownst to the HA system, the HA system may attempt an unwanted failover.
A need exists, therefore, for a system that can provide configurable HA features, while cooperating with existing TEM systems to avoid conflicts.

High availability system for network elements


This application describes a variety of approaches for generating high voltage sinusoidal signals whose output voltage can be adjusted rapidly, without introducing high-frequency artifacts on the output. When these approaches are used, stronger electric fields can be applied to the tumor for a higher percentage of time, which can increase the efficacy of TTFields therapy. In some embodiments, this is accomplished by preventing adjustments to a DC power source during times when the output of that DC power source is powering the output signal. In some embodiments, this is accomplished by synchronizing the operation of an AC voltage generator and an electronic switch that is connected to the output of the AC voltage generator.

Using TTFields therapy to treat tumors is described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,805,201. TTFields therapy makes use of high voltage sinusoidal signals. Originally, these high voltage sinusoidal signals were obtained by generating a low amplitude signal with a function generator, amplifying the low-voltage signal into a high-voltage signal using a linear amplifier, and subsequently applying the high-voltage signal to a set of electrodes (also referred to as transducer arrays) positioned on the patient's body. U.S. Pat. No. 9,910,453 describes an alternative approach for generating the high voltage sinusoidal signals that are applied to the transducer arrays, and this alternative approach provides dramatically improved efficiency with respect to the original linear amplifier approach.

High voltage, high efficiency sine wave generator that prevents spikes during amplitude adjustments and switching of channels


An electronic package and method of making same wherein the package includes a first substrate (e.g., printed circuit board), a second, flexible circuitized substrate (e.g., polyimide dielectric with conductors thereon) having a semiconductor device (chip) electrically coupled thereto. The outer portions of the flexible circuitized substrate are wrapped about the frame which in turn includes portions thereof which serve to spacedly position the wrapped flexible substrate with respect to the first substrate such that conductors on both substrates may be precisely aligned and electrically coupled in a permanent manner. A method of assembling the invention, including the use of a vacuum head and appropriate heat thermodes, is also defined.

Electronic packages of the variety described above are known in the art, with examples defined in detail in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,849,856 (Funari et al), 4,914,551 (Anschel et al), 5,003,429 (Baker et al) and 5,009,393 (Bentlage et al), all of which are assigned to the same assignee as the present invention. As defined therein, these packages may include a chip electrically coupled to one side of a flexible circuit member which is typically of a dielectric, e.g., polyimide, having at least one layer of circuitry, e.g., copper, thereon. Such a chip may be coupled, electrically, to the flexible circuit member's circuitry using solder, one well known technique currently used by the assignee of the present invention and referred to as a controlled collapse chip connection (a/k/a C4) procedure. The flexible circuit (a/k/a tape) may then be coupled electrically to respective circuitry, e.g., copper pads or lines, formed on the top surface of a printed circuit board or the like. Such boards, usually comprised of several layers of dielectric material, e.g., fiberglass-reinforced epoxy resin, interspersed with various conductor levels, e.g., power, signal and/or ground planes, are known in the art and further definition is not believed necessary. Finally, such packages typically utilize a heat sink member which is thermally coupled to the chip to enhance heat removal from the completed package during operation. Such a heat sink usually comprises a metallic, e.g., aluminum, element located atop the board with appropriate "feet" firmly oriented on the board's upper surface externally of the aforementioned flexible circuit. The heat-generating chip may be thermally coupled to the heat sink using an appropriate thermal adhesive, several of which are known in the art. To further promote heat removal, the heat sink typically includes appropriate fins or the like at designated locations thereon.
It is known in package assemblies of the type defined above to electrically couple the outer leads of the flexible circuit to the respective conductors on the circuit board using solder. In one known technique for soldering such leads, the dielectric material of the flexible circuit member is removed (etched away) along the flexible circuit's periphery to expose the terminal ends of the outer lead conductors. Solder is applied to the board's conductors and the outer leads are aligned therewith and positioned on the solder. Heat is then applied, e.g., using a thermode structure, to effect the solder bond between respective pairs of conductors (flexible circuit and board). Such a form of connection requires that each of the relatively small terminal ends of the outer leads be substantially entirely free of dielectric, which has proven to be an expensive and time-consuming process, typically involving etching of the dielectric material using known etchants. Use of acids and caustics at elevated temperatures during such processing may also prove undesirable from an environmental standpoint.
The electronic package and method of making same in accordance with the teachings of the instant invention eliminate the need for such dielectric removal (and thus the need for an etching or the like process at this stage), while still assuring precise orientation and electrical coupling (e.g., soldering) of the flexible circuit's outer lead conductors to respective conductors on the package's circuit board structure. The invention is capable of being readily implemented at reduced cost, and is also adaptable to mass production techniques for packaging structures.
It is believe that such an electronic package assembly and method of making same would constitute a significant advancement in the art.

Electronic package and method of making same

International Business Machines Corporation


A frequency error calculator circuit calculates the frequency error in a basic clock based on the basic clock and on a reference clock having a frequency higher than the basic clock. An operation clock generator circuit outputs an operation clock whose error has been corrected based on the frequency error calculated by the frequency error calculator circuit. An ON/OFF control circuit outputs an ON/OFF control signal that specifies the calculation timing that the frequency error calculator circuit calculates the frequency error of the basic clock based on the frequency error calculated by the frequency error calculator circuit.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor device and to a clock correction method.
Many information devices contain a crystal oscillator (mainly a tuning fork crystal oscillator). The tuning fork crystal oscillator has an oscillator frequency for example of 32.768 kHz. Frequency dividing the 32.768 kHz frequency by 215 gives a frequency of 1 Hz. The output clock for the oscillator circuit containing the tuning fork crystal oscillator is therefore utilized as an operation clock called the RTC (Real Time Clock or Real Time Counter).
The RTC just as the name implies, is a circuit for counting the time. Once operation has started the RTC therefore continues operating until the supply of electrical power is cut off. To continuously perform this type of operation the RTC must operate at low-power consumption.
However, this tuning fork crystal oscillator having a frequency of 32.768 kHz generally has temperature characteristics exhibiting a negative quadratic curve. More specifically, this tuning fork crystal oscillator has negative quadratic characteristics that peak at the normal temperature (around 25 degrees). This tuning fork crystal oscillator has a frequency deviation of approximately −100 ppm (parts per million) in the temperature vicinity of −40 degrees and 90 degrees. For example at a frequency deviation of −100 ppm, this error is equivalent to a daily error of 8.64 seconds which is not satisfactory in terms of clock precision. So in order to attain a high-precision of oscillator frequency (typically approximately ±10 ppm), the output clock (pulse) that is output from the oscillator circuit with the internal tuning fork crystal oscillator must be corrected.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-315121 discloses an RTC circuit having a simple structure that performs time correction. The RTC circuit contains an oscillator to oscillate at a basic clock (frequency for example of 32.768 kHz), and generate a frequency-divided signal from sub-dividing the basic clock. At the same time, a reference clock ┘ having a higher speed and higher precision than the basic clock is utilized to calculate the frequency error of the basic clock output from the oscillator. The oscillator having this correction function within the RTC utilizes the frequency-divided signal as a clock and adds a fixed value to the frequency error to output the cumulative value's MSB (most significant bit) as the correction clock. The frequency error is cumulatively summed during generation of the correction clock and the frequency error is corrected by changing the clock state at the time when the cumulative value was reflected to the above described MSB.
Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-222486 discloses a clock device for performing time correction at low-power consumption. This clock device performs error correction of the crystal oscillator by utilizing a clock signal output from a crystal oscillator to measure the time differential (frequency error) between the reference 1PPS signal output from the GPS receiver, and the 1PPS signal generated based on the signal output from the crystal oscillator. However, the correction accuracy of this clock device is unsatisfactory since the error is calculated and corrected based on the clock signal output from the crystal oscillator for correction.

Semiconductor device and clock correction method


In one embodiment, a theater ride system includes a processor, a center platform, actuation arms, and maneuverable seating areas. Each maneuverable seating area of at least a first subset of the maneuverable seating areas is coupled to a respective portion of the center platform via a respective actuator arm of the actuation arms. The processor is configured to control the actuator arms to position the maneuverable seating areas in a uniform theater configuration such that each of the maneuverable seating areas is adjacent to at least one other of the maneuverable seating areas and the center platform to resemble stationary seating sections of a theater at a beginning of a show, move the maneuverable seating areas into different configurations during the show, and position the maneuverable seating areas in the uniform theater configuration near an end of the show.

Theaters used for shows in amusement parks, carnivals, and the like, generally include areas designated for seating of patrons and areas designated for performances of actors/participants in the shows. These areas are generally in fixed positions and it is now recognized that the fixed nature of the seating in such theatres provides patrons with limited views and limited interaction with aspects of related shows.

System and method for a moving puzzle theater


A method of estimating the instantaneous crop yield ŷ2(t) at time t in a field, during harvesting with a harvesting machine that operates by cutting and/or controlling the crop and has a crop mass flow sensor that measures the mass flow rate of crop processed by the machine at a location remote from that at which the harvesting machine cuts the crop and generates a signal {dot over ({circumflex over (m)}out(t) indicative thereof, including the steps of: generating a mass flow rate signal {dot over ({circumflex over (m)}out(t) using the sensor;generating an area rate signal ŝ(t) indicative of time domain variations in the area of the field harvested per time unit;filtering the area rate signal ŝ(t) using a function P(s) representative of the dynamics of the harvesting machine to generate a filtered area rate signal ŝ2(t); andusing the filtered area rate signal ŝ2(t) for deriving from the mass flow rate signal {dot over ({circumflex over (m)}out(t) a yield per area unit ŷ2(t).

Other kinds of harvesting machines, such as beet or potato harvesters, dig roots and tubers from the soil. Balers collect hay that has been previously cut using a mower or reaper; and flax harvesters pull flax from the ground. In some countries wheat crops are cut and left to day on a field before being collected by a combine harvester equipped with a draper header.
In a combine harvester, cut ears of crop are conveyed inside the machine, where grains are separated from the remainder of the biological matter therewith in a threshing mechanism.
The resulting, cleaned grains are conveyed to a clean grain tank within the combine harvester while short pieces of straw, chaff, tailings, husks, dust, etc. (herein "secondary products") are returned to the field.
Such terms are used principally throughout this specification for convenience and it should be understood that these terms are not intended to be limiting. Thus "grain" refers to that part of the crop which is threshed and separated from the discardable part of the crop material which is referred to as "straw". Incompletely threshed ears are known as "tailings". Also, the terms "forward", "rearward", "upper", "lower", "left", "right", etc. when used in connection with the combine harvester and/or components thereof, are determined with reference to the combine harvester in its normal operational condition and may refer either to the direction of forward operative travel of the combine harvester or to the direction of normal material flow through components thereof. These terms should not be construed as limiting.
Not all the ears of corn are completely threshed in the threshing mechanisms so a combine harvester typically includes both a forward grain path (i.e. the normal path between its cutter bar and the clean grain tank); and a return path, that is a physical feedback path via which incompletely threshed ears are recycled to the start of the threshing process for re-threshing.
In recent years it has become increasingly important to be able to log the yield of a crop-producing field, with high accuracy.
One of the many reasons for which such logging is desirable is that a farmer may wish to know which parts of a field produce a high crop yield; and which parts a low yield. The farmer can then use a yield map of the field, made by storing in digital form yield data logged at the time of harvesting the field, to control e.g. a computer controlled fertiliser spreader attached to a tractor in order to improve the fertility of the low yield portions. The yield map may also be used e.g. for identifying field portions where intensified weed control is required.
Since agrochemicals usually constitute an important cost factor it is important for economic reasons that the farmer sprays no more of a field than is necessary.
Correct dosing of different parts of a field is also important for environmental reasons. For example, some agrochemicals actually reduce soil fertility if they are applied in too high a concentration; and of course farmers perpetually seek to minimise rainwater run-off of agrochemicals into drainage channels and thence into the local environment.
A combine harvester is in principle ideal for logging field yield data since it travels about the field while it harvests crop, thereby facilitating contemporaneous logging of site-specific yield data.
However various inherent features of combine harvester designs render the yield data logged during harvesting less accurate than they might otherwise be.
One significant factor is that it is neither possible nor desirable to log crop yields at the cutter bar of the combine harvester. This is partly because the width over which the cutter bar cuts crop makes it impossible to log all of the crop without seriously impeding the flow of crop and thereby reducing the work rate of the harvesting machine. Also, of course, the locality of the cutter bar is a harsh environment. Consequently the output signals of cutter bar-mounted transducers are likely to include considerable noise.
Furthermore it is of course much more valuable to know the yield of grains, as opposed to the yield of grains plus secondary harvesting products commonly referred to as material other than grain ("MOG" herein). The former kind of yield data is not obtainable at the cutter bar because at that stage no separation of grains from the MOG occurs.
For these and other reasons the harvested crop yield is measured in a combine harvester using a grain mass flow rate sensor located at the end of the forward grain path, beyond the branch that defines the return path.
Measuring the grain yield at such a location in a combine harvester is less accurate than it might be, for the following reasons:    1. There is a time delay of Δt seconds, wherein typically 9≦Δt≦20s, between cutting of crop at the cutter bar and the cleaned grain impacting the mass flow sensor;    2. The dynamics of the forward and return grain paths introduce noise that must be eliminated from any model used for estimating the true crop yield from a grain mass flow sensor output.
There are presently two main approaches to the calculation of yield estimates from the output signal of the grain mass flow sensor.
The so-called "Classical Approach" to yield mapping systems derives the yield from the formula:
                                          y            ^                                          (            t            )                          =                                                                              m                  .                                ^                                                          (                t                )                                                                                v                  ^                                                                  (                  t                  )                                            *                                                w                  ^                                                                  (                  t                  )                                                              =                                                                      m                  .                                ^                                                          (                t                )                                                                    s                ^                                                          (                t                )                                                                        (        1        )
Wherein ŷ(t) is the derived yield ratio (kg/m2), {dot over ({circumflex over (m)}out(t) is the measured mass flowrate (kg/s) derived from the output signal from the mass flow rate sensor; {circumflex over (v)}(t) is the forward speed (m/s) of the combine harvester, determined using e.g. a radar Doppler sensor or equivalent device; and ŵ(t) or working width is the effective width (m) of the cutter bar of the harvester, i.e. the width of the cutter bar section actually engaging and cutting the crop. The speed and width factors may be combined into a single estimated surface rate ŝ(t) (m2/s).
The yield result for each instant cannot be related directly to the location where the combine harvester was at the time of the yield measurement. As noted hereinabove, there is a substantial time delay between the moment the grain stalks are cut and the moment the threshed grain passes through the mass flow rate sensor. This delay depends on the type of harvester and on the location of the sensor.
Accordingly the mass flow rate signal at time t(x) is divided by the speed and cutter bar working width values at the time t(x−Δt). The resulting yield estimate is allocated to the location of the combine at time t(x−Δt), when the collected data are stored in a memory device or used to generate a field yield map.
The classical system does not take account of the filtering or smoothening action resulting from the threshing process. A step change in the rate of ingestion of crop into the inlet of the header (e.g. when entering a field) does not result in a sharp step function at the mass flow rate sensor. There is some "smearing" effect.
It has therefore previously been proposed to model the estimated grain yield ŷ1(t) at time instant t by a technique (referred to herein as "Inverse Dynamics" filtering) involving filtering the grain mass flow sensor output signal with the inverse of a function P(s) that models the dynamics of the forward and return grain paths.
Such a technique has been found to model well the changes in grain feed rate that derive from changes in the field conditions encountered by the combine harvester. However the available output signal contains much high frequency noise, so it is also necessary to apply a low pass filter to the signal. Depending on the choice of cut-off frequency of the low pass filter, much valuable data may be lost during the low pass filtering, with the result that, overall, inverse dynamics filtering tends to underestimate the true grain yield under certain circumstances. Furthermore, the function P(s) itself presents some low-pass characteristics, such that the inverse function tends to exaggerate the influence of random variations of the output signal. Hence, the use of "Inverse Dynamics" does not necessarily provide a true picture of the actual field rates.


Described herein are peptides and variants and mutants thereof capable of interacting with TEAD, disrupting the HIPPO pathway, or modulating the activity or function of TEAD interactions in a cell. Pharmaceutical compositions and uses of peptides, as well as methods of designing and manufacturing such peptides, to treat cancer, tumor, or any other disease/condition associated with a dysregulated HIPPO pathway or uncontrolled cell growth are also described herein.

Cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide, with more than 90% of all cancer-related deaths caused by metastasis. The HIPPO signaling pathway is important for cell growth, cell contact inhibition, and organogenesis. If the HIPPO pathway is disrupted, oncogenes can be left unchecked, causing overexpression of downstream genes that favor cell proliferation, tumor progression, and metastasis. As such, there is need for inhibitors of the HIPPO pathway with high affinity and specificity so that unchecked oncogenes can be suppressed. Such HIPPO pathway modulators, including inhibitors, can be used to prevent or treat cancers, tumor progression, metastasis, or other disease or condition associated with a dysregulated HIPPO pathway.

Peptide compositions and methods of use thereof for disrupting TEAD interactions


A filter medium comprising a microporous polyvinylidene fluoride membrane and a polymer containing positively charged quaternary ammonium groups covalently bonded to the membrane, and a method of using the filter medium to treat a composition, particularly a biological or pharmaceutical composition such as an ophthalmic composition.

Microporous membranes are well-known in the art. Such membranes have been used to ultrapurify water for use in making semiconductors, to filter paint compositions, to purify pharmaceuticals, and to perform a number of other widely divergent functions. Microporous membranes can have pore sizes ranging from about 0.01 to over 10 .mu.m; thus, they are suitable for removing particles of a variety of sizes.
Filters are typically used to remove suspended contaminants from fluids to provide for the passage of the clarified fluid (filtrate). A filter can achieve fluid clarification by different mechanisms. Suspended contaminants can be removed through mechanical sieving wherein particles larger than the pore rating of the filter medium are removed from the fluid. With this mechanism, filtration efficiency is essentially controlled by the size of the contaminant relative to the pore diameter of the filter medium.
Another mechanism by which a filter can achieve fluid clarification is through adsorption of suspended contaminants onto the filter surface. Removal of contaminants by this mechanism is controlled by the surface characteristics of the suspended contaminants and by the filter medium itself. Conventional filter media, however, adsorb many different particles without discretion. This often is undesirable in that many filtering applications require certain compounds to remain in the filtrate instead of adsorbing onto the surface of the filter medium. For example, in the filtering of pharmaceutical and biological compositions to remove contaminants, it is typically undesirable to remove preservatives, bacteriostats, and the like from the composition.
In the filtering of compositions, many different materials have been used to prepare filter media. Of particular usefulness have been polymers such as polyamides, polyesters, polyolefins, and the like. Many of the polymers which provide desirable structural characteristics, such as polyolefins, however, are hydrophobic and are not well-suited for filtering aqueous media at low fluid pressures. In order to render such filter media more suitable for aqueous filtration, techniques have been developed to render the surfaces of the filter media hydrophilic. For example, a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane, which is inherently hydrophobic, may be treated with a strong alkali solution in combination with an oxidizing agent to render it hydrophilic. It is believed, in this particular technique, that the base liberates hydrogen fluoride, and the oxidizing agent introduces a polar group onto the backbone of the PVDF, rendering the surface hydrophilic. This method has the disadvantage, however, of causing the filter medium to have a high affinity for positively charged preservatives, bacteriostats, and the like in fluids treated with the filter medium, thereby retaining such species rather then desirably passing them through with the filtrate.
Attempts at ameliorating such disadvantages have not met with success. For example, an excess number of positively charged quaternary ammonium compounds have been affixed by ionic bonds to a PVDF filter medium in order to reduce the affinity of positively charged preservatives, bacteriostats, and the like for the PVDF filter medium. This filter medium, however, has the drawback that the quaternary ammonium compounds are susceptible to leaching out, thereby rendering such a filter medium unsuitable in applications where the amount of extractables is to be kept to a minimum.
Other filter media have been disclosed as useful in the removal of bacterial endotoxins and heparin from blood. These filter media are comprised of a substrate matrix to which has been bonded quaternary ammonium compounds. The substrate matrix may be prepared from any suitable material, such as a polyamide, polyester, polyolefin, polysulfone, polyarylene oxide, polyarylene sulfide, and unsaturated nitriles. Many of these filter media, however, are not well-suited for applications in which one desires positively charged species such as preservatives, bacteriostats, and the like to pass through the filter medium and remain in the filtrate. For example, polyamides treated with quaternary ammonium compounds undesirably retain such positively charged species.
An important industrial use of microporous filter media is in the manufacture of pharmaceutical and biological compositions, such as ophthalmic solutions. Ophthalmic solutions for contact lenses and medicinal eye treatments typically contain a small amount (approx 0.01%) of preservatives such as benzalkonium chloride (BAK), quaternary ammonium compounds, and the like. During filtration, these preservatives adsorb onto the surface of a conventional filter medium to various extents, thereby decreasing the concentration of the preservatives in the filtrate to undesirable and/or unknown levels. Such adsorption represents a significant drawback to conventional filter media.
Thus, notwithstanding the wide variety of microporous filter media known in the art, there exists a need for a hydrophilic filter medium that is suitable for use in pharmaceutical and biological applications in which filtration of compositions is required to remove impurities such as bacteria while allowing for the passage of desirable positively charged species such as BAK along with the filtrate. The present invention provides such as a filter medium.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a microporous filter medium that is hydrophilic and is thus suitable for filtering aqueous media without the application of substantial pressure. It is another object of the present invention to provide a filter medium that has a positively charged surface with minimal susceptibility to the extraction of the agent that renders the membrane positively charged. It is a further object of the present invention to provide a filter medium that is suitable for filtering pharmaceutical and biological compositions such as ophthalmic solutions wherein desirable positively charged species such as BAK pass through the filter medium and are present in the filtrate.
These and other objects and advantages of the present invention, as well as additional inventive features, will be apparent from the description of the invention provided herein.

Positively charged polyvinylidene fluoride membrane