A telecommunications device comprises a transceiver (33); a radio link control entity (50); and, a radio link control (RLC) buffer memory (150). The transceiver (33) which enables the device to communicate over an air interface (32). The radio link control entity (50) forms uplink RLC protocol data units (PDUs) for transmission over the air interface (32) and receives downlink RLC protocol data units (PDUs) over the air interface (32). The radio link control (RLC) buffer memory (150) is configured to include a transmitter buffer for storing the uplink RLC protocol data units (PDUs) and a receiver buffer for storing the downlink RLC protocol data units (PDUs). The radio link control entity includes RLC reconfiguration logic means (200) which reconfigures at least one of a size of a transmitter buffer window and a size of a receiver buffer window. In performing the reconfiguration, the RLC reconfiguration logic means implements a strategy for handling at least one of (1) downlink RLC protocol data units (PDUs) which are outside a new receiver buffer window; and (2) uplink RLC protocol data units (PDUs) which are either outside a new transmitter window or whose receipt by the radio access network has not been positively acknowledged.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention pertains to wireless telecommunications, and particularly to method and apparatus for reconfiguration of radio link control (RLC) parameters during a connection.
2. Related Art and Other Considerations
In a typical cellular radio system, wireless user equipment units (UEs) communicate via a radio access network (RAN) to one or more core networks. The user equipment units (UEs) can be mobile stations such as mobile telephones ("cellular" telephones) and laptops with mobile termination, and thus can be, for example, portable, pocket, hand-held, computer-included, or car-mounted mobile devices which communicate voice and/or data with radio access network. Alternatively, the wireless user equipment units can be fixed wireless devices, e.g., fixed cellular devices/terminals which are part of a wireless local loop or the like.
The radio access network (RAN) covers a geographical area which is divided into cell areas, with each cell area being served by a base station. A cell is a geographical area where radio coverage is provided by the radio base station equipment at a base station site. Each cell is identified by a unique identity, which is broadcast in the cell. The base stations communicate over the air interface (e.g., radio frequencies) with the user equipment units (UE) within range of the base stations. In the radio access network, several base stations are typically connected (e.g., by landlines or microwave) to a radio network controller (RNC). The radio network controller, also sometimes termed a base station controller (BSC), supervises and coordinates various activities of the plural base stations connected thereto. The radio network controllers are typically connected to one or more core networks. The core network has various service domains, with an RNC having an interface to these domains.
One example of a radio access network is the Universal Mobile Telecommunications (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN). The UMTS is a third generation system which in some respects builds upon the radio access technology known as Global System for Mobile communications (GSM) developed in Europe. UTRAN is essentially a radio access network providing wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA) to user equipment units (UEs). The Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) has undertaken to evolve further the UTRAN and GSM-based radio access network technologies.
The Universal Mobile Telecommunications (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) accommodates both circuit switched and packet switched connections. There are several interfaces of interest in the UTRAN. The interface between the radio network controllers (RNCs) and the core network(s) is termed the "Iu" interface. The interface between a radio network controller (RNC) and its base stations (BSs) is termed the "Iub" interface. The interface between the user equipment unit (UE) and the base stations is known as the "air interface" or the "radio interface" or "Uu interface". An interface between radio network controllers (e.g., between a Serving RNC [SRNC] and a Drift RNC [DRNC]) is termed the "Iur" interface.
The radio network controller (RNC) controls the UTRAN. In fulfilling its control role, the RNC manages resources of the UTRAN. Such resources managed by the RNC include (among others) the downlink (DL) power transmitted by the base stations; the uplink (UL) interference perceived by the base stations; and the hardware situated at the base stations.
A UMTS Terrestrial Radio Access Network (UTRAN) responds to radio access service requests by allocating resources needed to support a communication with a user equipment unit (UE). A procedure for establishing a radio access bearer is described in Technical Specification 3GPP TS 25.931 v 5.1.0, which is incorporated herein by reference. A radio access bearer (RAB) is a logical connection with the user equipment unit (UE) through the UTRAN and over the radio air interface and corresponds to a single data stream. For example, one radio access bearer may support a speech connection, another bearer may support a video connection, and a third bearer may support a data packet connection. Each radio access bearer is associated with quality of service (QoS) parameters describing how the UTRAN should handle the data stream. Although the term "radio access bearer" is sometimes used for purposes of the following description, the invention applies to any type of "connection," and is not limited to logical connections like RABs, a particular type of physical connection, etc.
To initiate a radio access bearer service, a request is transmitted to the UTRAN for communication with a user equipment unit (UE). One or more parameters accompany the radio access bearer service request. When establishing each bearer, the UTRAN "maps" or allocates the radio access bearer to physical transport and radio channel resources through the UTRAN and over the radio air interface, respectively. The mapping is based on one or more parameters associated with the radio access bearer service request.
In the Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS), a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer with its RLC protocol is interposed between a higher layer (such as an Internet Protocol (IP) Layer) and a Medium Access Control (MAC) layer. Radio link control (RLC) is a protocol layer that has various uses. The radio link control (RLC) has several modes of operation, including the transparent mode, the unacknowledged mode, and the acknowledged mode (AM). The RLC PDUs used in AM mode are called AMD PDUs (for RLC PDUs carrying user data. The mode of operation is selected according to the requirements of the higher layer. The radio link control (RLC) is used both for data flows and also for signaling flows.
FIG. 1 shows a Radio Link Control (RLC) layer 10 which transmits RLC PDUs (Protocol Data Units) to, and receives RLC PDUs from, the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer 11. In the illustrative example of FIG. 1, the Medium Access Control (MAC) layer 11 functions as the "lower layer" relative to the RLC layer; the "higher layer" 12 can be a layer such as TCP/IP layer (e.g., IP layer). The Medium Access Control (MAC) layer 11 is responsible, e.g., for mapping between logical channels and transport channels, priority handling, and scheduling of data flows on transport channels.
A radio access bearer (RAB) is established for each service. For each radio access bearer at least one RLC entity is established in both the user equipment unit and in the UTRAN. In the case of AM RLC there is one entity established, in the case of UM and TM there may be one downlink and one uplink RLC entity (or only a single RLC entity in one direction.
FIG. 1, shows, for an AM mode, an RLC entity 10-UE is provided in a user equipment unit (UE) and a RLC entity 10-RAN is provided in the UTRAN. With respect to the lower layer (e.g., Medium Access Control (MAC) layer 11), each RLC entity has a transmitting side and a receiving side. With its RLC PDUs, the RLC protocol of the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer supports the in-sequence delivery of higher level Service Data Units (SDUs) (which, in the illustration of FIG. 1, are TCP/IP IP packets). The Radio Link Control (RLC) layer is described in more detail in 3GPP TS 25.322 V6.0.0 (2003-12), 3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; RLC Protocol Specification (Release 6), which is incorporated herein by reference.
Some limited code-type error recovery capability (e.g., convolutional coding) is provided over the air interface (i.e., radio interface). Over the air interface, such error, recovery is performed locally with a local retransmission protocol, wherein all data in a transmission buffer is cached until it has been successfully delivered. In this regard, for example, the Radio Link Control (RLC) protocol of the Radio Link Control (RLC) layer has its local retransmission protocol—the Automatic Repeat Request (ARQ) protocol.
Consider the scenario of a user equipment unit (UE) with UE reference class 384 kbps. According to Technical Specification 3GPP TS 25.306 v 5.70, which is incorporated herein by reference, typical RLC capabilities for this UE class feature 50 Kbyte UE memory and a maximum of six AM (acknowledge mode) RLC entities. Thus, this user equipment unit (UE) can potentially use three parallel packet switched (PS) RABs. But, for the sake of simplicity, in this present scenario assume that this user equipment unit (UE) operates with two simultaneous PS RABs, e.g. two parallel interactive RABs or one interactive and one streaming RAB.
For an RLC entity which operates in AM mode, a mechanism which functions like a sliding window is used to control the flow of RLC packet data units (PDUs). When the first PS RAB is setup for the user equipment unit (UE) of this scenario, the UTRAN can not yet know if a second (or even a third ) PS RAB will be setup in the future. So if the RLC window size of the first PS RAB can not be reduced when a subsequent RAB is setup, then the UTRAN must take into account the memory usage of other RABs that may potentially be setup in the future. For example, to allow, e.g., two parallel PS RABs, UTRAN can only allocate half of its available UE memory for the first PS RAB.
In this scenario, if only the first PS RAB were to be setup, UTRAN could possibly allocate the whole remaining memory for the first PS RAB, e.g. a window size 512 in downlink and 256 in uplink, resulting in a total memory usage of 42 kbyte. But without the ability to reconfigure RLC window size, such ample memory allocation for the first PS RAB cannot occur. This is because the potential memory usage of a second PS RAB needs to be considered at the outset when the first PS RAB is setup (regardless of whether the second PS RAB will ever actually be setup). As a result, the RLC memory for the first RS RAB (and thus the RLC window size for the first PS RAB) can only be configured to, e.g., 256 in downlink and 128 in uplink. Naturally, this results in reduced performance, particularly before the second PS RAB is setup (which may never occur).
Especially for higher data rates, e.g. 384 kbps, the RLC window size has a significant impact on the performance in terms of delay/throughput. Since two parallel PS RABs may only be used in a fraction of the PS connections, this implies that a large amount of the UE memory is unused for most UEs and the throughput for PS connections unnecessarily low. The performance reduction is even more acute when cases of three parallel PS RABs are considered: the UTRAN can only allocate one third of the available UE memory when setting up the first PS RAB.
On the other hand, if the RLC window size could effectively be reduced at reconfiguration, the UTRAN could possibly allocate the whole memory for the first PS RAB. Then, if a second PS RAB is later setup, the window sizes could be reconfigured to suit the number of simultaneous RABs.
As it turns out, RRC signalling standards currently nominally support reconfiguration of RLC parameters during a connection, e.g. with a RADIO BEARER RECONFIGURATION message. The reconfiguration of RLC window size is ostensibly supported according to Technical Specification 3GPP TS 25.331 v 3.17.0 section 188.8.131.52 and 22.214.171.124, which is incorporated herein by reference.
However, the actions related to such a reconfiguration, particularly a reduction of the RLC window size, are not explicitly specified, e.g., neither in the above-mentioned Technical Specification 3GPP TS 25.322 nor in Technical Specification 3GPP TS 25.331. v 3.17.0, both which are incorporated herein by reference. Moreover, when the window size is decreased the UE actions are not unambiguous and potentially very problematic.
What is needed, therefore, and an object of the present invention, is an effective technique for implementing a decrease of the RLC window size.


A method for treating fibrous sheet materials such as paper or paperboard containing polyamide resin as a wet strength agent which comprises reacting the fibrous materials with an enzyme to hydrolyze the resin and thereby improve repulping of the fibrous materials.

This invention relates to a method for repulping fibrous sheet materials such as paper or paperboard which contain wet strength agents. Specifically, the invention is directed to the repulping of paper and paperboard fibers which have been treated with polyamide wet strength resins.
Polyamides are widely used in the paper industry as wet strength agents for treating fibrous materials such as paper, paperboard, etc. However such polyamide resin-treated fibrous materials are very difficult to repulp because of the structural stability of the polyamide chain. Polyamides used as wet strength agents in paper and paperboard products are commonly derived from adipic acid and diethylenetriamine followed by cross-linking with epichlorohydrin. Examples of such polyamides include Kymene, Kymene 557 and Kymene AK manufactured by Hercules, Inc.; Cascamid C2, C25 and C1600 manufactured by Borden Chemical; and Disco Strength 5800 manufactured by Callaway Chemical.
Present methods for repulping fibrous materials containing polyamide wet strength resins require extreme conditions such as a pH of 10 or greater and temperatures of 160.degree. F. or more, or they require the presence of strong oxidizing agents.
Repulping fibers at high pH and high temperature is unsatisfactory for several reasons. Because papermaking machines are generally operated at a neutral or near neutral pH, if repulped fibers prepared at high pH are used to prepare recycled papers, a pH adjustment with acids would be required. High pH can cause damage to the repulped fiber and furthermore any adjustment of pH requires an additional step in the repulping method which is undesirable from an operational standpoint. Elevated temperatures are undesirable because they add increased energy costs to the method.
Other methods for repulping polyamide treated papers require the use of strong oxidizing agents to degrade the polyamides. Generally these other methods do not require the extreme operating conditions of high pH and high temperature, but such strong oxidizing agents may cause the formation and production of undesirable byproducts.
Melamine-formaldehyde polymers have also been employed as wet strength agents for fibrous materials. Fibers treated with melamine-formaldehyde resins do not generally show the difficulties associated with polyamides in the repulping of the fiber, however, questions associated with the safety of the use formaldehyde in making theses resins makes the use of melamine-formaldehyde resins undesirable. Efforts have been undertaken to design wet strength resins which are compatible with repulping operations, however, the resins which have been designed have not been completely satisfactory.
As a result of the difficulties encountered repulping papers containing polyamide wet strength agents, these papers are often not recycled. Therefore, a method is highly desirable wherein papers containing polyamide wet strength resins can be easily repulped.

Method for repulping fibrous materials containing crosslinked polyamide wet strength agents with enzyme


A method and apparatus for implementing fixed codebooks as a common module are provided. In the method of implementing fixed codebooks of a plurality of speech codecs as a common module, it is possible to include only a part excluding fixed codebooks in a communication terminal or communication system, support various speech codecs without using a chip with high price and high performance, and reduce a memory space that is occupied by the speech codecs by generating a track of a fixed codebook corresponding to a speech codec based on information on the speech codec among the plurality of speech codecs and selecting a codebook vector corresponding to a target signal among codebook vectors constructed with combinations of pulses represented by the generated track. In addition, it is possible to reduce processing complexity as compared with a case of embodying the common fixed codebook module in software by embodying the common fixed codebook module in hardware. In addition, it is possible to improve the entire voice processing performance by applying the latest fixed codebook searching algorithm only to the common fixed codebook, thereby easily applying the latest fixed codebook searching algorithm to the entire voice codec.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fixed codebooks of speech codecs, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for implementing fixed codebooks in a code excited linear prediction (hereinafter, referred to as CELP) structure and an algebraic codebook technique.
2. Description of the Related Art
The term "codec" is a compound word made up of the word "coder" for converting an analogue signal into a digital signal and "decoder" for converting a digital signal into an original analogue signal. A speech codec serves to convert an analogue voice signal into a digital signal composed of a relatively small amount of data, and transmits the digital signal to a distant place. The speech codec serves to convert a received digital signal into an analogue voice signal recognizable by a human being. Most speech codecs developed so far use algebraic codebooks as fixed codebooks. The entire structure of the algebraic codebooks is the same as a code excited linear prediction (CELP) structure. A technique obtained by combining the algebraic codebook technique with the CELP structure is referred to as an algebraic code excited linear prediction (hereinafter, referred to as ACELP) technique. Current speech codecs are the ACELP.
FIG. 1 illustrates an entire structure of an ACELP technique. As shown in FIG. 1, a speech codec with a general code excited linear prediction (CELP) structure 120 is constructed with three modules. A fixed codebook module 121 generates an excitation signal and transmits the generated excitation signal to an adaptive codebook module 122. The adaptive codebook module 122 functions as a human vocal chord. The adaptive codebook module 122 adds a pitch component to the excitation signal and transmits excitation signal to a linear predictive coding (LPC) synthesis module 123. The LPC synthesis module 123 generates a final voice signal by mimicking the shape of a human mouth by using a tenth all-poll filter in the case of a narrow band signal or a sixteenth all-poll filter in the case of a wide band signal. The aforementioned speech codec structure is referred to as the CELP structure 120. The ACELP technique was developed by combining an algebraic codebook technique 110, which is one of various algorithms of a fixed codebook, with the CELP structure 120. Hereinafter, when the algebraic codebook is exemplified, the algebraic codebook may be used as a term indicating a fixed codebook.
However, although a single technique such as ACELP is used, various speech codecs are used in connection with various systems, standardization groups, and available fields. Accordingly, a user has to use a device in which a plurality of speech codecs are embedded or has to use a plurality of devices accessible to various systems so as to access the various systems. For example, when a user has to access various systems such as code division multiple access 2000 (CDMA2000), wideband code division multiple access (WCDMA), and voice-over-Internet protocol (VoIP) systems by using one communication terminal, various speech codecs currently used or likely to be used in the near future, such as enhanced variable rate codecs (EVRCs), 13k qualcomm code excited linear predictive coding (13k-QCELP), adaptive multi-rate (AMR), adaptive multi-rate wideband (AMR-WB), G.729, G.729.1, and the like have to be embedded in a chip included in the communication terminal. Accordingly, a voice processing chip has to have high performance so as to include the various speech codecs. This increases the size and cost of the chip.
FIG. 2 is a graph showing a calculation amount ratio of each module of a speech codec. In general, a module that performs the largest amount of calculation is an algebraic codebook module. FIG. 2 illustrates complexity of each module measured by an encoder of an AMR-WB that is a standard codec of the third generation partnership project (3GPP) and a standard speech codec of the telecommunication standardization sector of the international telecommunication union (ITU-T). In FIG. 2, an amount of calculation performed by an algebraic codebook module 201 is greater than 54% of the total calculation amount. Accordingly, it is necessary to decrease the complexity of the fixed codebook that performs the largest amount of calculation in the calculation of the speech codec to which the ACELP technique is applied, when the various speech codecs are embedded in a chip.

Method and apparatus for implementing fixed codebooks of speech codecs as common module


A terminal applicator (10) is disclosed having a shut height adjustment mechanisms (68, 120) for controlling the shut height (102, 220) of both the terminal barrel crimping bar (26) and the insulation crimping bar (28). The mechanism includes upper and lower ramp members (126, 128) having opposed ramp surfaces (140), the lower ramp member being attached to the tooling ram (40) and the upper ramp member being rotationally coupled to the ram. By incrementally rotating the upper ramp member (128), the relative spacing between a press ram (222) and the tooling ram (40) can be adjusted, thereby changing the shut height (220) of the barrel crimping bar (26). A cam (72) is rotationally coupled to the tooling ram (40) at right angles to the axis (24) of the upper and lower ramp members (126, 128). The cam has a series of flat surfaces (98), each of which is a different distance from its center of rotation (79). Each flat surface is positionable in abutting engagement with the top surface (70) of the insulation tab crimping bar (28) for adjusting its shut height (102).

Terminal applicators which are used in conjunction with a press for attaching terminals to the ends of wires usually include a frame; a tooling ram slidingly coupled to the frame, crimping tooling attached to the tooling ram and the frame, a terminal feed mechanism, and a terminal guide track. An example of such a terminal applicator is disclosed in United U.S. Pat. No. 5,481,796 which issued Jan. 9, 1996 to Quinn. The applicator of the '796 patent is held in a press which has a press ram that is coupled to the applicator tooling ram and drives it through its working stroke to attach the terminal to the end of the wire. These applicators are designed, as much as possible, to be universal in that they will accommodate a wide range of terminals. Because there are many different types of terminals and a variety of different sizes, each having its own specific crimp height for a high quality crimped connection, the mechanism for controlling the crimp height must be able to adjust the applicator to a wide variety of shut height spacings. The shut height adjusting mechanism which controls crimp height, as shown in the '796 patent, includes a pair of rotatable discs that are interposed between the tooling ram and the press ram. The upper disc includes four pairs of raised portions that are positionable so that only two at a time are in engagement with the press ram. Each pair of raised portions are of a different height so that by positioning a desired pair in alignment with the press ram, the shut height of the terminal barrel crimping bar can be set to a desired value. Similarly, the lower disc included eight raised portions, any one of which can be positioned in engagement with the top of the insulation tab crimping bar. Each of these raised portions are of a different height so that by positioning a desired one in alignment with the top of the insulation tab crimping bar, the shut height of the crimping bar can be set to a desired value. However, since only four different barrel shut heights and eight different insulation tab shut heights can be accommodated with a particular pair of discs, sets of discs having raised portions of different height must be provided. These disc sets are expensive and require that the applicator be taken out of service while the discs are changed. To increase the adjusting capacity of the upper disc a single disc was developed having removable buttons of selected thicknesses instead of the raised portions. Such a structure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,323,634 which issued Jun. 28, 1994 to Wolfe, et al By changing only the buttons the shut height of the barrel crimping bar can be changed to any desired value. However, this still required that a large number of different sized buttons be maintained on hand. Further, the insulation tab crimping bar was still limited to the eight different raised portions for its shut height adjustment.
What is needed is an adjusting mechanism that will permit a large number of different shut height spacings for both the barrel crimping bar and the insulation tab crimping bar without the need to change parts or to take the applicator out of service while making the adjustment.

Shut height adjustment mechanism for a terminal applicator


An introducer for use in the insertion of an airway comprises a bendable plastics channel which extends from the teeth and is curved to lie against the hard palate. The introducer protects delicate tissue and guides the airway during insertion. A flange and a finger grip projects from the airway where its protrudes from the mouth.

This invention relates to medico-surgical devices for facilitating insertion of a tube or similar device to the pharynx.
The invention is more particularly concerned with devices for facilitating the insertion of tubes or the like into the pharynx of a patient.
It is common practice to use an airway known as a laryngeal mask for the administration of anaesthetic and ventilation gases to a patient. These airways comprise a tube with a mask or cuff at one end, the tube being inserted in the patient's mouth so that one end is located in the hypopharynx and so that the mask forms a seal in this region with the surrounding tissue. Laryngeal masks have several advantages over endotracheal tubes which are longer and seal with the trachea below the vocal folds. One problem, however, with laryngeal masks is that insertion can cause trauma to the pharyngeal wall. This is because the tip of the mask has a tendency to stick in the pharynx as a result of the sharp turn it has to negotiate before it seats itself in the hypopharynx. These problems have been reported in, for example, Anaesthesia 1989; 44: 703 by van Heerden and Kirrage. Although the risk of damage can be reduced by ensuring that the head of the patient is correctly positioned during insertion, where the anaesthetist is not completely familiar with the correct technique, there is still an associated risk of trauma. Blood is often seen on the laryngeal mask when it is removed, even when the anaesthetist is experienced in the technique.

Morriston, Swansea, West Glamorgan, SA6 6NL


An improved wobble plate type variable displacement compressor compressing the refrigerant gas with pistons and discharges the gas from a discharge chamber is disclosed. The piston stroke is adjusted according to the tilt angle of the wobble plate which is varied by the magnitude of the inner pressure of the crank case. The first passage connects a suction chamber to the crank case for transferring the pressure of the crank case to the suction chamber. The second passage connects the crank case to the discharge chamber for transferring the pressure of the discharge chamber to the crank case via a restriction when the difference between the pressures and within the discharge chamber and the crank case is in excess of the predetermined value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to variable displacement compressors. More particularly, the invention relates to an improved mechanism for controlling the inclination angle of the wobble plate according to the pressure difference a crank case and a suction chamber, so as to properly control the compression displacement.
2. Related Art Statement
In conventional variable displacement compressors, a refrigerant gas is sucked into a suction chamber, and is compressed in a cylinder bore. It is then discharged through a discharge port which is formed in a discharge chamber. The compression displacement is controlled by the inclination angle of a wobble plate. The refrigerant gas is also used to adjust the internal pressure in each one of the associated chambers. As the refrigerant gas is discharged into a crank case from the discharge chamber, the internal pressure in the crank case is caused to raise. In contrast, the refrigerant gas in the crank case is discharged into the suction chamber, in order to reduce the internal pressure in the crank case, for de-pressurizing the crank case. The internal pressure in the suction chamber and the crank case act on a piston, which is supported by the wobble plate, and the inclination angle of the wobble plate is caused to vary accordingly. As the pressure in the crank case is caused to rise, the inclination angle of the wobble plate is caused to decrease accordingly, and the compression displacement of the compressor is also decreased. On the other hand, as the internal pressure in the crank case is caused to drop, the inclination angle of the wobble plate is increased, and the compression displacement of the compressor is also increased.
FIG. 7 illustrates such a conventional compressor. In this compressor, a support member 101 is integrally rotatable and secured to a drive shaft 100. An elongated hole 108 is formed in the supporting member 101. The elongated hole 108 serves as a guide for slidably holding a link pin 109. A drive plate 102 is integrally rotated with respect to the support member 101, and is inclined according to the sliding movement of the link pin 109, along the elongated hole 108. A wobble plate 103 is coupled with the drive plate 102. The wobble plate 103 does not rotate synchronously with the drive plate 102, via a stopper 104. As the wobble plate 103 is caused to swing, due to the rotational movement of the drive plate 102, the wobble plate 103 drives a plurality of pistons 105, to reciprocate in the circumferential direction, in order to compress the refrigerant gas.
The internal pressure Pc in the crank case 106 acts on the rear surface of the piston 105, and the internal pressure Ps in the suction chamber 107 acts on the front surface thereof. The force applied on the piston 105 is transmitted to the wobble plate 103, and is then transmitted to the drive plate 102. The link pin 109 is caused to slide along the elongated hole 108 under the force applied on the drive plate 102. Therefore, the inclination angle of the drive plate 102 will be shifted. The inclination angle of the wobble plate 103 is accordingly varied with respect to the difference between the internal pressure on the both chambers 106 and 107. Therefore, the inclination angle of the wobble plate 103, which determines the piston stroke, is set appropriately by controlling the compressed displacement of the compressor.
As illustrated in FIG. 8, a passage 112 interconnects the crank case 106 and the discharge chamber 110. A throttle 111 is disposed in the passage 112, for preventing pressure leakage from the crank case 106 to the discharge chamber 110. Therefore, the internal pressure in the crank case 106 is not allowed to drop suddenly. Consequently, the inclination angle of the wobble plate 103, which determines the piston stroke, is appropriately maintained by controlling the compressed displacement of the compressor.
In this design, the compressor has the throttle 111 between the crank case 106 and the discharge chamber 110, and both chambers 106 and 110 are interconnected by the passage 112. The refrigerant gas leaking from the discharge chamber 110 into the crank case 106 cannot be completely eliminated. As a result, its cooling ability is decreased and its power loss is increased.
To achieve the foregoing objects, Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 62-191673 discloses a conventional compressor. As illustrated in FIG. 9, the compressor has a switch valve 117 which selects an appropriate passage between a first and second passages 114 and 115, which interconnect the crank case 106 and the suction chamber 107, respectively, as well as between a third passage 116 which interconnects the crank case 106 and the discharge chamber 110, for closing the selected passage. The switch valve 117 is caused to switch based on the force corresponding to the pressure in the discharge chamber 110 and the suction chamber 107.
When the internal pressure Pd in the discharge chamber 110 is higher than the predetermined value (the value is set based on a normal operation of the compressor with normal load), the switch valve 117 is shifted to close the second and third passages 115 and 116. Therefore, even when the compressor is operated under maximum compression displacement, the pressure leakage from the discharge chamber 107 into the crank case 106 is prevented by the third passage 116, which is provided in the crank case 106. Thus, if the internal pressure in the suction chamber 107 were caused to drop below the predetermined value, a switch valve 117, which is disposed in the first passage 114, is activated to close the first passage 114. When the internal pressure in the suction chamber 107 is higher than the predetermined value, the switch valve 117 is activated to open the first passage 114, so as to maintain the appropriate internal pressure Ps in the crank case 106.
When the internal pressure Pd in the discharge chamber 110 is smaller than the predetermined value (the compressor is operated under low load), the switch valve 117 is shifted to close the first passage 114, and to open the second and third passages 115 and 116. A throttle 118 is disposed in the second passage 115. The throttle 118 causes the pressure in the crank case 106 through the suction chamber 107 and the second passage 115, to be lower than that in the discharge chamber 110 through the crank case 106 and the third passage 116. The inclination angle of the wobble plate 103 is shifted by the predetermined value in order to prevent the compression displacement to be deceased.
In the compressor described above, the objective is to keep the internal pressure generally constant in the crank case 106, when the compressor is operated at the maximum displacement. Therefore, when the internal pressure in the discharge chamber 110 is increased beyond the predetermined value, the third passage 116 is caused to close temporarily. As a result, the discharge chamber 110 and the crank case 106 are isolated from each other even if the compressor were not operated at the maximum displacement. The increase of the internal pressure in the crank case 106 is based on the blow-by gas, alone. This causes the response time for decreasing the magnitude of the inclination angle of the wobble plate 103 to be lowered.

Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho


A substrate processing apparatus including a frame, a first SCARA arm connected to the frame, including an end effector, configured to extend and retract along a first radial axis; a second SCARA arm connected to the frame, including an end effector, configured to extend and retract along a second radial axis, the SCARA arms having a common shoulder axis of rotation; and a drive section coupled to the SCARA arms is configured to independently extend each SCARA arm along a respective radial axis and rotate each SCARA arm about the common shoulder axis of rotation where the first radial axis is angled relative to the second radial axis and the end effector of a respective arm is aligned with a respective radial axis, wherein each end effector is configured to hold at least one substrate and the end effectors are located on a common transfer plane.

1. Field
The aspects of the disclosed embodiment generally relate to substrate processing tools and, more particularly, to substrate transport apparatus.
2. Brief Description of Related Developments
Generally in substrate processing systems the rotation of arms of transfer robots with multiple arms are linked to one another so as one arm rotates the other arm(s) rotates as well. The end effectors of the transfer robots are generally located in different planes so that a fast swap (e.g. one end effector radially passes over/under the other end effector so that as one substrate is removed from a holding station another substrate is substantially simultaneously placed at the holding station) of substrates to and from holding locations generally occurs using either a Z axis capability of the transfer robot or holding station.
It would be advantageous to decouple the rotation of the arms of substrate transfer robots so that each arm is capable of independent operation.


Device comprising an electric power converter circuit for converting electric energy. The converter circuit comprises a switch arrangement with two or more controllable electric switches connected in a switching configuration and controlled so as to provide a current drive of electric energy from an associated electric source connected to a set of input terminals. This is obtained by the two or more electric switches being connected and controlled to short-circuit the input terminals during a part of a switching period. Further, a low pass filter with a capacitor and an inductor are provided to low pass the output from the switch arrangement and designed such that a high impedance at a frequency range below the switching frequency is obtained, seen from the output terminals. Switches implemented by normally-on-devices are preferred, e.g. in the form of a JFET. The converter circuit may be in different configurations such as half bridge buck, full bridge buck, half bridge boost, or full bridge boost. A current driven conversion is advantageous for high efficient energy conversion from current sources such as solar cells or where a voltage source is connected through long cables, e.g. powerline cables for long distance transmission of electric energy. In many applications the total size of filter components (capacitors and inductors) can be reduced compared to voltage driven topologies. One application is an audio amplifier arranged to drive a loudspeaker.

Traditional power stages of power converters are driven by one or more DC or AC voltage sources. Thus, such converters for providing a regulated electric output are typically based on switching circuits with electric switches configured in a voltage driven topology. Such swithcing circuits are used in many applications, e.g. switch mode power supplies, and they are often implemented with electric switches in the form of MOSFETs.
Normally, power stages convert the input voltage to a regulated output voltage. However, in a few cases, the input voltage is converted into a regulated output current. This is used in some audio power amplifiers which can be designed with a current output to drive a loudspeaker.
However, solar cells, i.e. electric sources converting light into electric energy, can be regarded as current sources. This applies also to AC powerlines, i.e. transport of electric energy in long cables, or in general to applications where an electric source is connected to a converter or a load via cables that can be considered to be long due to the combination of a high AC frequency, a high current level, and long connecting cables. Thus, in practice electric sources in the form of current sources are not that rare, even though typical converters are designed based on the assumption that the electric source can be considered to be a voltage source.
Typically, circuits for converting electric energy from a solar cell, i.e. a current source are configured to receive power from a voltage source, and thus a capacitor across the input terminals is required to initially convert the current from the solar cell to a voltage which is then used to drive the converter circuit. The required extra capacitor increases costs, comprises reliability and lifetime, and due to the required capacitance, it occupies a significant space compared to the other components needed to implement the switching circuit. Finally, the extra capacitor reduces the total power conversion efficiency that can be obtained.

Method and device for current driven electric energy conversion


Disclosed is a method and system for certifying product authenticity using physical feature information including digitized surface fingerprint and blockchain, each of which manages certification information, packaged by binding together unique product information and physical feature information including surface feature of a product as a unique product feature, based on a distributed ledger of a blockchain to reliably determine whether the product is authentic or not in various ways. The authenticity certification information is packaged as a unique product feature by binding a serial number of the product for which the certification information is generated, together with physical feature information of the product, including image-based surface fingerprint. The authenticity certification information is stored in the blockchain. Determination on authenticity is made by comparing the identification information and the physical feature information with the authenticity certification information stored in the blockchain.

Conventionally, companies have employed advanced approaches in order to guarantee that a product is authentic (genuine) and to prevent fake or counterfeit products from being manufactured or distributed, e.g. attaching, engraving, coloring or printing infrared/ultraviolet/visible fluorescent pigment, far-infrared patterns, NFC chips, serial numbers, bar codes and RFID tags on products, as a mark indicating that this product is authentic.
However nowadays, certification marks, such as infrared/ultraviolet/visible fluorescent pigment, far-infrared patterns, NFC chips, serial numbers, bar codes and RFID tags, can easily copied or duplicated due to the technology development, thus they do not meet reliability requirements for guaranteeing the product integrity. On the contrary, there is a serious problem that those certification marks may be copied and used to deceive the consumers into believing that the products are not fake nor pony.
Anti-copying approach has been suggested that certificates or guarantees are recorded in the tamper-proof blockchain and provided as being verifiable via the blockchain. Specifically, the blockchain certification has been attracting attention since it is very useful in a case where individual authenticity should be guaranteed, for example, expensive luxuries, arts or antiques, or in a case of online wholesale, retail or auction markets. However, in such a case, only the certificates and guarantees can be protected by the tamper-proof blockchain.
For example, if a wholesaler purchases a product and receives an anti-counterfeit guarantee via the distributed ledger, he/she can intentionally and maliciously make a copy and sell the copy to a third party with the guarantee received for the purchased product; in such a case, the consumer would verify that the guarantee is not fake via the blockchain and believe the product is also genuine. In other words, the consumer cannot find whether the product is genuine or counterfeited. In such a case, the blockchain-based reliable certificate (guarantee) can be abused to illegally increase the value of counterfeited products, like other conventional certification marks.
Another approach has been attempted that a product image is provided accompanying with a physical or electrical certificate or guarantee in order to verify the product authenticity, but shape or color can be easily distorted due to shooting angle or environment and thus consistency would be compromised. Using a simple image is legally limited to verify the product validation.
Korean Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 10-2007-00104425 (published on Oct. 25, 2007, titled "Product Authenticity Validation System") discloses a system and method for verifying the authenticity of a product, in which an unique identifier is provided to a consumer in association with a product of which authenticity is to be verified. The consumer can contact verification center and transmits the unique identifier. Records stored in the database are checked to determine if the unique identifier is genuine and if the unique identifier has been previously transmitted. If the unique identifier is not genuine or has been previously transmitted, the consumer is informed that the product may be counterfeit. If the unique identifier is genuine and has not been previously transmitted the consumer is informed that the product is authentic. A flowchart showing a process of product authenticity verification is illustrated in FIG. 1.
Korean Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 10-2011-0034625 (published on Apr. 5, 2011, titled "System and Method for Certifying Genuine Article Using Maker") and 10-2012-0115183 (published on Oct. 17, 2012, titled "System and Method for Certifying Genuine Article Using Maker) respectively discloses a system and method for certifying genuine articles, in which a maker image obtained by imaging a marker on an article and a certification number is received from a mobile terminal. It is determined whether the marker is genuine or not based on the received combination of the maker and the certification number, and the determination result is provided to the mobile terminal. A flowchart showing a process for certifying genuine articles is illustrated in FIG. 2.
As stated above, a certification number, verification card or maker is used in the conventional technologies for retrieving and recording the product information in the database, and determining whether the product is authentic or not. Therefore, the anti-counterfeit solution has not been found yet in the case where the certification number, verification card or maker is forged and attached to the counterfeited product before the genuine product is launched and sold in the market. If the fake is sold first and registered in the database, the genuine product may be wrongfully accused of the pony.
FIGS. 3A to 3D show the physical appearances of four products with the same design. As understood from the drawings, they are all authentic products; however, by enlarging and comparing the same parts of the four products, it is confirmed that they have different position information such as the position coordinates, angles, gaps, and distances of specific surface points. Such differences can be found in dozens in the single product. As physical appearance cannot be used as a reference for distinguishing genuine products from fake ones, it is extremely difficult for the examiner to visually determine whether the product is authentic based on the physical features since there are replicas elaborately manufactured with the same materials and the same serial numbers as those of the genuine products.
The four products shown in FIGS. 3A to 3D have the different serial numbers, but authenticity verification is not affected even if those number can be randomly reattached to other products. In the conventional approach of building a database with serial numbers, it is determined whether the product is authentic or not only based on with or without the serial number. That is, counterfeited products cannot be prevented if they steal the serial numbers.
As stated above, the product authenticity verification only with the certification marks, such as infrared/ultraviolet/visible fluorescent pigment, far-infrared patterns, NFC chips, serial numbers, bar codes and RFID tags, is not sufficiently reliable.
Another approach has been suggested that the company captures precise images of specific positions on the product with a special precision camera according to its own criteria. The manager selects feature points on the precision image, measures accurate distance and angle between the points, and stores in association with the serial number, thereby generating and storing the certification information in the database. When the consumer visits a store or head office, having such a special camera, with a product of which authenticity is to be verified, a position at which the certification information has been generation is found and imaged. Determination whether the product is authentic (product integrity) is made by selecting the specific position designated by the manager and confirming that the distance and angle between the points are accurate.
However, such a method has still problems that the criteria for selecting the product's shooting location are not clearly defined, and errors may occur upon selecting the specific point again, and the certification is not easily conducted since the special precision camera is required which accurately measure the actual distance with a tolerance of several to tens of micrometers without distortion.
Therefore, demand for improved method and system for certifying product authenticity is increasing, each of which is capable of efficiently extracting, storing and confirming information enabling the reliable product authenticity verification, and of determining whether the product is authentic or not in various ways.

Method and system for certifying product authenticity using physical feature information including digitized surface fingerprint and blockchain


To accurately measure a frequency characteristic of a waveform generating apparatus, provided is a measurement apparatus that measures a frequency characteristic of a waveform generating apparatus generating a signal having a waveform corresponding to waveform data, comprising a control section that causes a plurality of sine wave signals having different frequencies to be sequentially output from the waveform generating apparatus; a measuring section that measures each of the sine wave signals output from the waveform generating apparatus; and a calculating section that calculates a frequency characteristic of the waveform generating apparatus based on the measurement results of the measuring section. The control section causes trigger signals to be output from the waveform generating apparatus and causes the sine wave signals to be output in synchronization with the trigger signals, and the measuring section measures a phase of each sine wave signal with the corresponding trigger signal as a reference.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to a measurement apparatus and a measurement method.
2. Related Art
A known waveform generator generates a signal having a waveform that corresponds to waveform data and a known digitizer acquires waveform data indicating the waveform of a signal input thereto. Conventionally, such a waveform generator and digitizer generate and acquire a signal having a frequency that is approximately from tens of megahertz to hundreds of megahertz.    Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-117349    Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2008-286699
However, in recent years, waveform generators and digitizers have been developed that generate and acquire signals having a frequency from several gigahertz to tens of gigahertz. Such a waveform generator and digitizer used for high frequency signals include internal circuits with frequency characteristics that greatly affect the accuracy of the generated signal and of the acquired signal. Accordingly, the waveform generator and digitizer must be calibrated by measuring the frequency characteristics of the internal circuits in advance.
A method for measuring the frequency characteristic of a waveform generator includes causing a square wave, for example, to be generated from the waveform generator under measurement and acquiring the waveform by using a digitizer serving as a reference, i.e. a digitizer having a flat frequency characteristic. The frequency characteristic of the waveform generator under measurement is calculated based on the waveform data acquired by the digitizer serving as a reference and the waveform data indicating the waveform of the signal generated by the waveform generator.
Furthermore, a method for measuring a frequency characteristic of a digitizer includes causing a square wave, for example, to be generated from a waveform generator serving as a reference, i.e. a waveform generator having a flat frequency characteristic, and acquiring the waveform by using the digitizer under measurement. The frequency characteristic of the digitizer under measurement is calculated based on the waveform data acquired by the digitizer under measurement and the waveform data indicating the waveform of the signal generated by the waveform generator.
However, the frequency component of a square wave has a power that decreases as the frequency increases. Accordingly, when using the methods described above, there is a large error in the frequency characteristic in the high frequency band.

Measurement apparatus and measurement method


Vacuum pumping apparatus includes a pump frame, a stationary scroll element secured to the pump frame, the stationary scroll element including a stationary scroll blade, an orbiting scroll element including an orbiting scroll blade intermeshed with the stationary scroll blade, a motor secured to the pump frame, and a crankshaft coupled between the motor and the orbiting scroll element for producing orbiting movement of the orbiting scroll blade relative to the stationary scroll blade when the motor is energized. The crankshaft includes a first component having a first coefficient of thermal expansion and a second component having a second coefficient of thermal expansion.

Scroll devices are well-known in the field of vacuum pumps and compressors. In a scroll device, a movable spiral blade orbits with respect to a fixed spiral blade. The movable spiral blade is connected to an eccentric drive mechanism. The configuration of the scroll blades and their relative motion traps one or more volumes or "pockets" of a gas between the blades and moves the gas through the device. Most applications apply rotary power to pump the gas through the device. Oil-lubricated scroll devices are widely used as refrigerant compressors. Other applications include expanders, which operate in reverse from a compressor, and vacuum pumps. Scroll pumps have not been widely adopted for use as vacuum pumps, mainly because the cost of manufacturing a scroll pump is significantly higher than a comparably sized, oil-lubricated vane pump. Dry scroll pumps have been used in applications where oil contamination is unacceptable. A high displacement rate scroll pump is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,616,015, issued Apr. 1, 1997 to Liepert.
A scroll pump includes stationary and orbiting scroll elements, and a drive mechanism. The stationary and orbiting scroll elements each include a scroll plate and a spiral scroll blade extending from the scroll plate. The scroll blades are intermeshed together to define interblade pockets. The drive mechanism produces orbiting motion of the orbiting scroll element relative to the stationary scroll element so as to cause the interblade pockets to move toward the pump outlet.
Careful design of the scroll pump is required to provide the close spacing needed for an acceptable compression ratio and yet avoid undesired contact between the scroll blades during operation. Thermal expansion causes component dimensions to vary, both axially and radially. Thus, thermal performance must be considered. Tip seals are typically utilized between the tip of each scroll blade and the adjacent scroll plate. The tip seals may be resilient to accommodate dimensional variations resulting from thermal expansion. The thermal performance of the scroll pump is complicated by the fact that some elements, such as the motor and the crankshaft, can experience significant heating during operation, while other components, such as the external housing, may experience little heating. Further, the scroll pump may be required to operate over a range of temperatures.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,382,754, issued May 10, 1983 to Shaffer et al., discloses a scroll-type apparatus wherein the scroll elements are formed with varying thicknesses along the lengths thereof to accommodate a difference in thermal expansion between the innermost and outermost zones of the apparatus. U.S. Pat. No. 4,490,099, issued Dec. 25, 1984 to Terauchi et al., discloses a scroll-type apparatus wherein the scroll blades are thicker near the center to avoid being affected by dimensional errors of the scroll blades or by thermal expansion. U.S. Pat. No. 4,773,835, issued Sep. 27, 1988 to Machida et al., discloses a scroll-type pump wherein a curve of the scroll blade is offset inwardly or outwardly relative to a set curve so as to prevent formation of a gap between the blades due to thermal expansion of the scroll blades. These patents are directed to the problem of radial expansion but do not address the issue of axial expansion in a scroll-type pump.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved scroll-type pumping apparatus and methods.

Scroll pump with controlled axial thermal expansion


The present invention relates to a mass polymerized rubber-modified polymeric composition comprising a continuous matrix phase of a polymer of a monovinylidene aromatic monomer, and optionally, an ethylenically unsaturated nitrile monomer, and rubber particles produced from a functionalized diene rubber.

The present invention relates to rubber modified polymers obtained from vinyl aromatic monomers.
Rubber modified polymers, such as high impact polystyrene (HIPS) and acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene (ABS), are typically produced by mass polymerizing styrene or styrene/acrylonitrile in the presence of dissolved rubber. ABS is more typically produced using an emulsion polymerization process which produces small rubber particles and high gloss products, but with increased conversion costs.
In the preparation of rubber modified polymers, the rubber particle size and morphology play an important role in controlling the physical properties of the final product. The final rubber particle size can be determined by a number of different parameters including shear, viscosity, and interfacial tension. Increased shear after phase inversion can be used to reduce particle size, however this adds expense and complexity to the process. The final rubber particle size can also be influenced by the viscosity ratio of the disperse phase/continuous phase, and the viscosity of the continuous phase polymer. Sizing readily occurs when the viscosity ratio is between 0.2 and 1; and with higher viscosity of the continuous phase, the greater the ease of particle breakup. The rubber phase viscosity is determined by the rubber level and by the solution viscosity of the rubber. Additionally, grafting and crosslinking of the rubber will increase rubber viscosity. Interfacial surface tension will also influence rubber particle size and morphology, wherein a reduction of the interfacial tension can be achieved by utilizing the compatible block rubbers or by grafting to make compatible rubbers in-situ. Compatible block rubbers are characterized by having a block miscible with the continuous phase and a block miscible with the discontinuous phase. A reduction of the interfacial tension will facilitate the sizing process thereby increasing the flexibility. In HIPS compositions, compatible rubbers include styrene-butadiene block rubbers. In ABS compositions, styrene-butadiene block rubbers are not compatible since polystyrene is not miscible with the SAN continuous phase. SAN-butadiene block rubbers are compatible with ABS, but are not commercially available. Therefore in ABS polymer compositions, compatible block copolymers have to be produced in situ via grafting. The use of functionalized rubbers has been investigated in order to make such compatible block rubbers in-situ in both HIPS and ABS processes due to the economic advantage.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,721,320 by Priddy et al. discloses a free radical polymerization in the presence of a functionalized diene rubber having a stable free radical group such that a vinylaromatic-diene block or copolymer-diene rubber is formed. However, Priddy refers to the production of transparent HIPS and ABS, wherein the rubber particle size is very small (0.1 micron), which is insufficient for many high impact applications.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,262,179 by Atochem discloses a process for producing vinyl aromatic polymers in the presence of a stable free radical. However, the resultant product has a very wide rubber particle size distribution, with a large average rubber particle size, which can is negatively affect physical properties, such as gloss.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,255,402 by Atochem discloses a process of polymerizing at least one vinyl aromatic monomer in the presence of a rubber comprising a group which generates a stable free radical. However, this process utilizes a wide variety of rubbers, including those having high solution viscosity, which can negatively affect physical properties, for example, gloss, of the polymer.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,255,448 by Atochem discloses a process for the polymerization of at least one monomer in the presence of a stable free radical having substitution in the beta position. However, these beta substituted stable free radicals can have increased cost and may not be used in anionic coupling due to the reactivity of the substituent.
WO 99/62975 by Atochem discloses a process using a stable free radical and an initiator. This process also utilizes high viscosity rubbers which can negatively affect gloss and other physical properties.
WO 01/74908 by BASF discloses a method of polymerization in the presence of a stable free radical and a thiol compound. U.S. Pat. No. 4,581,429 discloses the use of alkoxy amines (>N—O—X) in controlled radical polymerization, wherein the alkoxy amine forms a free radical (X.) which is suitable as a free radical initiator and a stable free radical (>N—O.). However, this method does not include the production of rubber modified polymers.
Therefore, there remains a need for an efficient and cost effective mass process for achieving the rubber particle size, distribution and morphology desired, utilizing in-situ produced block rubbers which offer enhanced physical properties and efficient processing.

High gloss rubber modified monovinylidene aromatic polymers produced by a mass polymerization process


The sensor device (100; 200) for a device (10) for weathering or lightfastness testing of samples comprises a sensor housing (110) which is adapted to be arranged in a weathering chamber (1) of the device (10) in the same manner as a sample (3), and an air mass sensor (120; 220) which comprises a sensor element (120.2; 220.2) and is attached to the sensor housing (110) in such a manner that the sensor element (120.2; 220.2) is adapted to be mounted on the sensor housing (110.2; 220.2) and attached to the sensor housing (110) such that the sensor element (120.2; 220.2) is exposed in the same manner as a sample (3) to an air flow prevailing in the weathering chamber (1).

In devices for artificial weathering, an evaluation of the weather-related ageing behavior of a sample, in particular of a flat material sample, is carried out, the sample being exposed to artificial weathering. For this purpose, such devices usually have a weathering chamber in which mounting means for mounting the specimens to be exposed and a radiation source for exposing the specimens to radiation, in particular UV radiation, are arranged.
In such devices for artificial weathering or lightfastness testing of material samples, the service life of materials that are constantly exposed to natural weather conditions in their application and thus deteriorate under climatic influences such as sunlight, solar heat, humidity and the like is usually to be estimated. In order to obtain a good simulation of the natural weather conditions, it is advantageous if the spectral energy distribution of the light generated in the device corresponds as closely as possible to that of the natural solar radiation, for which reason xenon gas discharge lamps can be used as radiation sources in such devices. In addition, a timely accelerated ageing test of the materials is essentially achieved by irradiation of the specimens with a light intensity which is strongly intensified compared to the natural conditions, whereby the ageing of the specimens is accelerated. Thus, after a relatively short time, a statement can be made about the long-term ageing behavior of a material sample.
It is an object of the present disclosure to provide an improved device for weathering or lightfastness testing of samples, in particular one with improved sensor technology, and a corresponding sensor device. This object is solved by the features of the independent patent claims. Advantageous further embodiments and forms of implementation are provided in the subclaims.

Sensor device with an air mass sensor for a weathering device


An engine control system and method maintains an optimum exhaust fuel to air ratio in an internal combustion engine. A secondary air injection (SAI) pressure is measured in an SAI system. The SAI pressure measurement is converted into an SAI flow value. A fuel compensation value is obtained based on the SAI flow value. Fuel delivery is compensated to the engine based on the fuel compensation value. In a second embodiment, the fuel compensation value is obtained based on the SAI pressure measurement. Fuel delivery is compensated to the engine based on the fuel compensation value. In a third embodiment, a primary flow value is calculated at an air intake of the engine. A fuel compensation value is calculated based on the SAI flow and primary flow values. Fuel delivery to the engine is compensated based on the fuel compensation value.

It is known to use a catalytic converter in the exhaust gas flow path of a motor vehicle with an internal combustion engine. The catalytic converter includes a substrate with a coating of a catalyst material that catalyzes the oxidation of hydrocarbon molecules and carbon monoxide molecules as well as the reduction of nitrogen oxides emitted in the vehicle exhaust gas. The catalyst performs efficiently when the catalyst is above a minimum temperature to stimulate the desired oxidation and the exhaust gas has the proper fuel to air ratio (F/A).
It is desirable to optimize the fuel to air ratio delivered to the engine for performance as well as emissions control. Emissions control is increasingly difficult at startup because a higher fraction of delivered fuel remains unburned and is subsequently exhausted, and the catalyst has not reached its operating temperature. Methods have been employed to reduce exhaust emissions and increase catalytic converter performance including increasing engine speed at idle, retarding ignition timing and/or reducing delivered fuel. These methods however have been known to have drawbacks. For instance, increasing idle speed reduces fuel economy and may increase engine noise and vibration. In addition, ignition retard and fuel reduction may cause a rough idle.
One method for improving catalytic converter performance during startup is by utilizing a secondary air injection (SAI) system. The output of an SAI pump is disposed in the exhaust system upstream of the catalytic converter and is used to inject air into the exhaust to react with unburned and partially burned fuel from the engine in order to heat up the catalyst. Because of SAI pump flow variation however, it is difficult to provide the optimal exhaust fuel to air ratio from one vehicle to another, over various engine operating and environmental conditions, and as the pump performance degrades with age. That is, the secondary air injected into the exhaust may not yield the optimal exhaust F/A entering the catalytic converter on a consistent basis.

Fuel control compensation for secondary air system flow variation


Techniques are disclosed for determining a preferred hashing algorithm for load balancing physical interface utilization in a network device, such as a switch, configured with a port-channel architecture. While a current hashing algorithm is being applied to network traffic flows, a forwarding engine of the network device retrieves snapshot data of each flow and evaluates the flows against other hashing algorithms. The forwarding engine, for each hashing algorithm result, calculates statistical measures, such as mean, variance, and coefficient of variation. These measures are used to determine the preferred hashing algorithm to subsequently be applied. Once determined, the networking device may notify a user (e.g., a system administrator) of the algorithm.

A port-channel architecture, such as EtherChannel, aggregates multiple physical Ethernet links into one logical Ethernet link to provide increased bandwidth and redundancy between switches, routers, and servers. Traffic may be balanced across the physical links using different algorithms. For example, a hashing algorithm may rely on characteristics of a traffic flow, such as source IP address, destination IP address, source MAC address, destination MAC address, etc., to assign a given flow to an interface of a port-channel. Typically, a forwarding engine on a network device running the port-channel supports one hashing algorithm. The algorithm evaluates a hash function, and the forwarding engine routes the channel traffic to the corresponding physical links based on the result.
However, hashing algorithms do not consider available bandwidth as a factor in load balancing traffic. For instance, a hashing algorithm may generate an identical hash result for two different flows. For example, consider a hashing algorithm that calculates an XOR of the source IP address and the destination IP address for each flow. Further, assume a first flow has a source IP address of 220.127.116.11 and a destination IP address of 188.8.131.52. The resulting hash after the XOR operation is 3, which may map to a physical link. However, if a second flow has a source IP address of 126.96.36.199 and a destination IP address of 220.127.116.11, the resulting hash for the second flow is also 3, which maps to the same physical link. As a result, the forwarding engine routes the two flows through the same physical link. Hashing under this algorithm may lead to uneven load sharing, underutilized bandwidth in other links, and dropped packets in the links where percentage utilization has reached 100%. More generally, the performance of an algorithm for assigning flows to interfaces in a port-channel can vary depending on the flows that actually occur.

Method and apparatus for distributing EtherChannel load based on variance


An evaporative emissions control system for small internal combustion engines includes a control valve associated with a fuel line and with a vent line which each connect the fuel tank to the carburetor. When the engine is not running, the control valve automatically closes the vent line and the fuel line, thereby trapping fuel vapors within the fuel tank and vent line and preventing the supply of liquid fuel to the carburetor. Upon engine start up, actuation of a bail assembly or vacuum produced within the carburetor causes the control valve to open the vent line and the fuel line, venting fuel vapors from the fuel tank through the fuel line to the carburetor for consumption by the engine, and opening the supply of liquid fuel from the fuel tank to the carburetor. Also, the present evaporative emissions control system may be used in conjunction with one or more fuel tank sealing and venting assemblies, which prevent the escape of fuel vapors from the fuel tank into the atmosphere, yet which allow fluid exchange in a closed manner between the fuel tank and carburetor.

1. Field of the Invention.
The present invention relates to small internal combustion engines of the type used with lawnmowers, lawn tractors, and other utility implements. In particular, the present invention relates to emissions control systems for such engines.
2. Description of the Related Art.
Small internal combustion engines of the type used with lawnmowers, lawn tractors, and other small utility implements typically include an intake system including a carburetor attached to the engine which mixes liquid fuel with atmospheric air to form a fuel/air mixture which is drawn into the engine for combustion.
One known type of carburetor includes a fuel bowl containing a supply of liquid fuel therein which is drawn into the throat of the carburetor to mix with atmospheric air. A float within the fuel bowl actuates a valve which meters liquid fuel into the fuel bowl from a fuel tank. In another known type of carburetor, a diaphragm pump attached to the crankcase of the engine is actuated by pressure pulses within the engine to pump fuel from a fuel tank into a fuel chamber within the carburetor, from which the fuel is drawn into the throat of the carburetor to mix with atmospheric air. The foregoing carburetors are usually vented to the atmosphere such that the pressure within the fuel bowl or fuel chamber is at atmospheric pressure.
In each of the foregoing arrangements, the carburetor is attached via a fuel line to a fuel tank, which stores a quantity of liquid fuel therein. The fuel tank includes a filler neck through which fuel may be filled into the fuel tank, and a fuel tank cap is attached to the filler neck to close the fuel tank. The fuel tank cap usually includes venting structure therein for allowing any pressurized fuel vapors within the fuel tank to vent through the fuel tank cap to the atmosphere. Also, the venting structure allows atmospheric air to enter the fuel tank from the atmosphere as necessary to displace volume within the fuel tank as the fuel within the fuel tank is consumed by the engine.
A problem with the existing intake and fuel supply systems of such small internal combustion engines is that fuel vapors may escape therefrom into the atmosphere, such as from the carburetor or from the fuel tank.
What is needed is a fuel supply system for small internal combustion engines which prevents the escape of fuel vapors into the atmosphere, thereby controlling and/or substantially eliminating fuel vapor emissions from such engines.

Emissions control system for small internal combustion engines


An exemplary flat panel display (200) includes a display body (21) and a height adjusting member (23). The height adjusting member includes a supporting member (25) and a base (26). The supporting member includes a slider (30) and a sidewall (272). The slider is attached to the display body, and the slider abuts against but is slidable up and down along the sidewall. The slider is configured to be adjustable to vary an amount of friction between the slider and the sidewall such that a height of the display body is adjustable by applying external force to the display body and moving the display body to a new height.

Flat panel displays are widely used due to their advantages such as portability, low power consumption, and low radiation.
FIG. 6 is a rear, isometric view of a conventional flat panel display. The flat panel display 100 includes a display body 11, a supporting member 12, and a base 13. The supporting member 12 is integrally formed with the base 13, and is configured for supporting the display body 11. The display body 11 is engaged with the supporting member 12 via a pivot axis 14, such that the display body 11 can be rotated about the pivot axis 14.
It is widely held that a healthy position for a user to view a screen of the display body 11 is such that a horizontal centerline of the display body 11 is slightly below a horizontal line of sight of the user. In the flat panel display 100, however, a height of the display body 11 is determined by a size of the supporting member 12, and is essentially not adjustable. If the height of the display body 11 is not suitable for a particular user, he or she may have to resort to adjusting a height of his or her chair so as to obtain a healthy viewing position. This can be troublesome and time-consuming for the user.
It is, therefore, desired to provide a flat panel display that can overcome the above-described deficiencies.

Flat panel display having height adjusting member


A PWM power regulator device has a processor, an input interface circuit, a zero phase detecting circuit and a thyristor. The input interface circuit is connected to a PWM output terminal of an external digital control circuit and the processor. The processor calculates a period and duty cycle of a PWM signal from the PWM output terminal and then outputs a triggering signal to the thyristor. The thyristor is triggered at different conduct angle according to the triggering signal and the triggering signal is determined by the processor according to the PWM signal. Therefore, the power regulator device is directly connected to the PWM output terminal of the digital control circuit without digital to analog converter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a power regulator device, and more particularly a power regulator device that adjusts voltage of a power supplied to a load according to a pulse width modulation (hereinafter PWM) signal from an external digital control circuit.
2. Description of the Related Art
The resistor is connected to a power source of a load in serial so as to adjust the voltage of the power supplied to the load. However, the resistor consumes large power for the load. When a thyristor is developed, the thyristor is applied in a power circuit of the load to adjust the voltage of the power supplied to the load. Therefore, the power consumption is wildly decreased. At present, the thyristor is commonly applied in the power circuit of a fan, a heater, an elevator, or a crane etc. equipments.
With reference to FIG. 3, the heater (30) has a digital control circuit (31) for adjusting heating temperature, a power regulator unit (40) and a heating unit (32). Since a voltage of a power source of the digital control circuit (31) is smaller than that of the heating unit (32), the digital control circuit (31) is connected to the power circuit of the heating unit (32) through the power regulator unit (40). The power regulator unit (40) has a thyristor, and the thyristor is connected to the power source (33) of the heating unit (32) in serial. Therefore, when the digital control circuit (31) triggers different conduct angles of the thyristor, the voltage of the power supplied to the heating unit (32) is adjusted to increase or decrease.
In general, the power regulator unit (40) is an analog circuit, so the digital control circuit (31) has to output an analog signal to trigger the thyristor. Therefore, the heater (30) requires a digital to analog converter (DAC) (50) with high cost. The DAC (50) is connected between the digital control circuit (31) and the power regulator unit (40) and precisely converts the digital signal from digital control circuit (31) to the analog signal. The analog signal triggers the thyristor. Then, the digital control circuit (31) triggers the thyristor through the DAC (50).
With reference to FIG. 4, a functional diagram of another heater (30) is similar to the heater in FIG. 3, but the DAC (50) is directly designed in the digital control circuit (31a) so the control circuit (31a) outputs the analog signal to the power regulator unit (40). Therefore, the digital control circuit (31a) directly triggers the thyristor of the power regulator unit (40) to adjust the voltage of the power supplied to the heating unit (32).
Based on the foregoing description, the current equipments usually have the digital control circuits to control various functions of the equipments. The digital control circuit triggers the thyristor through the DAC. The cost of the digital control circuit will be increased.
To overcome the shortcomings, the present invention provides a PWM power regulator device to mitigate or obviate the aforementioned problems.


Method, hardware, device, computer program, and apparatus for positioning mobile devices in unmapped locations based on motion sensor and radio frequency measurements are described. A reference radio signal is received from a transmitter with an unknown absolute position and a reference range measurement is calculated. Mobile device motion sensor data is used to estimate a relative position of the mobile device. A sample radio signal is received from a transmitter with an unknown absolute position and a sample range measurement is calculated. The reference range measurement and the sample range measurement are compared. The estimated motion sensor based position is adjusted according to the result of the comparison.

Mobile devices may be equipped with satellite based navigation systems for determining position and providing navigation assistance. A global navigation satellite system (GNSS) such as, for example, the Global Positioning System (GPS) may send timing signals used by mobile devices to estimate the position of the mobile device. However, in some situations mobile devices may be unable to receive the satellite timing signals. For example, when a mobile device is indoors, in a canyon, in the shadow of tall buildings, or other environment that may block satellite signals. In such circumstances, sensor equipped mobile devices can perform pedestrian dead reckoning (PDR) to estimate the mobile device's position. However, accuracy is limited by magnetic disturbances inside structures, sensor precision, and other unknown variables such as device position, bias, and differences in stride. Additionally, PDR error from use of mobile device sensor data is typically magnified over time as every new positioning error is compounded with previous errors.
As an alternative to GNSS or PDR, mobile devices may determine positions by leveraging a predetermined reference map containing WiFi access point locations. The mobile device can determine its position by trilateration (i.e., referencing at least three separate WiFi access points) of WiFi signal strength and/or ranging to known values within the predetermined map. However, WiFi location information and predetermined reference maps may not always be available or reliable. Therefore, there is a need for a standalone, real-time positioning system run on the mobile device.

Method and apparatus for real-time, mobile-based positioning according to sensor and radio frequency measurements


Disclosed herein is a tool for cutting or crimping a tensioned cable in a medical procedure. The tool comprises a cable forming assembly that is coupled with an inner shaft. The cable forming assembly comprises a cable former. The tool additionally comprises a central channel, which extends through the inner shaft, an outer tube within which the inner shaft is positioned, and the cable forming assembly along an entire length of each one of the inner shaft, the outer tube, and the cable forming assembly. The central channel is configured to receive and support the tensioned cable in-line with the tool. The cable former is actuatable to cut or crimp the tensioned cable when the tensioned cable passes through the central channel. Translational movement of the outer tube along the inner shaft in an engagement direction actuates the cable former to cut or crimp the tensioned cable.

Various medical procedures utilize cables or conventional sutures to secure damaged skeletal tissue or soft tissue. Tissues, such as bones or soft-tissues, that have been fragmented, fractured, broken, torn, pulled, stretched, or otherwise damaged need to be set and held in specific orientations in order to properly heal. Cables or conventional sutures may be useful for stabilizing or connecting torn tissue back together or for facilitating holding bone fragments in place. For example, cerclage cables or conventional sutures can be wrapped around or lie adjacent to bone for fracture reduction, fracture fixation, and crack propagation prevention.
Conventional tools and procedures for cutting or crimping cables or conventional sutures in medical surgeries are generally time-consuming, complex, and usually involve multiple in-situ steps that are difficult to perform. Moreover, such conventional tools require lateral access to the cable, which can be difficult and may require an enlargement of an incision of the body. Additionally, conventional tools that cut or crimp cables do not allow for flush cutting or crimping of the cable relative to a washer, or other component, used to secure the cable to tissue.

Tool for cutting or crimping cable in a medical procedure


A coolant through spindle device is disclosed, including a rotating joint member secured to the rear end of the spindle for conducting coolant into the spindle, the coolant being conducted through a separate coolant passage inside the spindle to the nozzles formed on a cutting tool to be sprayed out thereof so as to fully cool down and lubricate the cutting point thereof, increase machining precision and cutting rate, and prolong service life of the cutting tool. Moreover, by using a switching collar to provide separated coolant passage and pressurized air passage, no residual coolant can follow the pressurized air jet into the tapper hole of the spindle to contaminate the tapper hole.

Conventional machine tools comprise a circulation of coolant to cool down the cutting tool and the work piece. However, since the coolant is sprayed toward the work piece from the outside, penetration of the coolant into the interface between the work piece and the cutting edge of the tool is very limited so that no direct cooling and lubrication can be achieved in such conventional machine tools and to provide a sufficient cooling and lubrication with the coolant, the cutting tool should be frequently withdrawn for cooling and lubrication. This slows down the cutting operation. Besides, due to the poor cooling and lubrication that can be achieved in the conventional machine tools, the service life of the cutting tool is substantially shortened.
Recently, to overcome such deficiencies, there was developed a coolant through spindle device which uses a single flow passage for conveyance of both pressurized air and coolant so that residual coolant may remain on the tapper hole formed at the front end of the spindle. This may make dirt, soil and other contaminations or even a small amount of the cutting chips adhere to the inside of the tapper hole and thus causing damages to the spindle itself and the precision thereof.

Industrial Technology Research Institute


In general, in one aspect, the disclosure describes a system including multiple programmable processing units, a dedicated hardware multiplier, and at least one bus connecting the multiple processing units and multiplier.

Cryptography can protect data from unwanted access. Cryptography typically involves mathematical operations on data (encryption) that makes the original data (plaintext) unintelligible (ciphertext). Reverse mathematical operations (decryption) restore the original data from the ciphertext. Typically, decryption relies on additional data such as a cryptographic key. A cryptographic key is data that controls how a cryptography algorithm processes the plaintext. In other words, different keys generally cause the same algorithm to output different ciphertext for the same plaintext. Absent a needed decryption key, restoring the original data is, at best, an extremely time consuming mathematical challenge.
Cryptography is used in a variety of situations. For example, a document on a computer may be encrypted so that only authorized users of the document can decrypt and access the document's contents. Similarly, cryptography is often used to encrypt the contents of packets traveling across a public network. While malicious users may intercept these packets, these malicious users access only the ciphertext rather than the plaintext being protected.
Cryptography covers a wide variety of applications beyond encrypting and decrypting data. For example, cryptography is often used in authentication (i.e., reliably determining the identity of a communicating agent), the generation of digital signatures, and so forth.
Current cryptographic techniques rely heavily on intensive mathematical operations. For example, many schemes involve the multiplication of very large numbers. For instance, many schemes use a type of modular arithmetic known as modular exponentiation which involves raising a large number to some power and reducing it with respect to a modulus (i.e., the remainder when divided by given modulus). The mathematical operations required by cryptographic schemes can consume considerable processor resources. For example, a processor of a networked computer participating in a secure connection may devote a significant portion of its computation power on encryption and decryption tasks, leaving less processor resources for other operations.

System and method for cryptography processing units and multiplier


An arrangement for improving the cooling performance of an engine by suitably arranging an exhaust pipe and a valve mechanism with respect to the inclined direction of a cylinder block. A cylinder block is inclined in the rightward or leftward direction of a vehicle body, and an exhaust pipe and a valve mechanism are disposed along the inclined side wall of the cylinder block. The opposed side wall of the cylinder block, which has a large space in the vertical direction and exerts a large effect on the cooling performance of the engine, is less susceptible to thermal effects from the exhaust pipe and the valve mechanism, to thereby improve the cooling performance of the entire engine.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power unit for a saddle-seat vehicle, and more particularly, to power unit for a saddle-seat vehicle in which a cylinder block is inclined rightwardly or leftwardly, and an exhaust pipe is disposed in proximity to the inclined side wall of the cylinder block.
2. Description of the Background Art
A power unit for a saddle-seat vehicle has been disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 7-195949. In a saddle-seat vehicle which often travels off road, an exhaust pipe is disposed along a side wall of a cylinder block to prevent the exhaust pipe from striking obstacles and irregularities in the ground. In the background art vehicle disclosed in the above-described document, an exhaust pipe is disposed on a left side wall of a cylinder block inclined in the leftward direction of a vehicle body. In a saddle-seat vehicle in which a cylinder block in inclined, for example, in the leftward direction of the vehicle body as described in the above document, the right side wall of the cylinder block has a large space in the vertical direction and more air circulates therepast, so that the right side wall exhibits superior cooling ability as compared with the left side wall which has a small space in the vertical direction and circulates less air.
Accordingly, in the case where an exhaust pipe is disposed along the left side which has poor cooling ability, the right side wall of the cylinder block which has high cooling ability and exerts a large effect on the cooling performance of the engine, is less susceptible to thermal effects from the exhaust pipe, to thereby improve the cooling performance of the entire engine.
The above-described background art vehicle, however, is disadvantageous in that since push rods of a valve mechanism are disposed in the right side wall of the cylinder block opposite to the exhaust pipe, the cooling effect produced by the right side wall of the cylinder block which has a large effect on the cooling performance of the engine, is obstructed by a space for enclosing the push rods, and the cooling performance of the entire engine is not fully achieved.