A method and apparatus for displaying complex impedance and related physical characteristics of an object at a plurality of sinusoidal frequencies over a wide frequency range. Excitation signal waveforms are stored in digital form. Digital sampling and processing circuitry provide high noise immunity and accurate measurement at all impedance phase angles. The technique is particularly well-suited to the measurement of complex impedances in living biological tissue because the digital implementation results in highly accurate measurement values over a plurality of selectable frequencies within a wide sinusoidal frequency region. A novel adaptation of digital cross-correlation and convolution techniques is used to simultaneously display real and imaginary electrical impedance of living biological tissue at several selectable sinusoidal frequencies.

1. Field of the Invention
My invention relates generally to methods for measurement and display of complex sinusoidal impedance and, more specifically, to the display of complex sinusoidal electrical impedance in biological tissues at many frequencies.
2. Background of the Invention
The concept of a complex impedance for an object is well-known in the acoustical, electrical, and mechanical arts. An object impedance is usually defined as the ratio of a motivating excitation divided by a resulting object response at a single sinusoidal frequency, .omega.. For example, the complex mechanical impedance, Z, of a structure can be expressed as the ratio of a sinusoidal excitation force, F, to the resulting sinusoidal velocity, V, of the structure at the point of application of the excitation force, that is: EQU Z(.omega.)=F(.omega.,t)/V(.omega.,t)
The complex nature of such a driving point impedance arises from the time delay, d, of the peak sinusoidal velocity, V, with respect to the peak sinusoidal excitation force, F. This is commonly expressed in the following form: ##EQU1## Where: .omega.=angular sinusoidal frequency in radians/second, and
.omega.d=phase delay of V with respect to F in radians.
This concept of complex object impedance at a single sinusoidal frequency can be used to express a mechanical ratio of force to velocity, an acoustic ratio of pressure to displacement, an electrical ratio of voltage to current, a thermal ratio of temperature differential to heat flow, an electromagnetic ratio of electric field to magnetic field, and so forth as is well-known in the art.
The classical method known in the art for measuring and displaying values of complex object impedance requires the measurement of the response of the object to an applied excitation at a single sinusoidal frequency. For instance, the complex electrical impedance of an object can be determined by applying a sinusoidal voltage to the object and measuring the resultant sinusoidal current flow through the object. The electrical object impedance magnitude may then be determined as the ratio of the root-mean-square (RMS) voltage and current values and the object impedance phase angle may be determined as the delay in radians of the peak sinusoidal current with respect to the peak sinusoidal voltage. The real and imaginary components of the complex object impedance may be determined from impedance magnitude and phase angle according to: EQU Resistance=Re[Z]=R=.vertline.Z.vertline.cos.theta., where .theta.=.omega.d, EQU Reactance=Im[Z]=X=.vertline.Z.vertline.sin.theta., and EQU Impedance=Z=R+iX
A number of problems are known in the impedance measurement art that lead to errors and ambiguities when the values of complex object impedance are measured and displayed. The most significant problem arises from the requirement that the complex impedance be determined at a single sinusoidal frequency. The presence of other frequency components in the excitation and response signals lead to errors in the displayed complex impedance. Practitioners in the art have proposed analog filtering techniques and special excitation signal generation methods for minimizing the errors arising from such unwanted signal components. However, analog filter devices are subject to calibration errors, thermal drift and other problems, which introduce amplitude and phase errors in the excitation and response signals. These phase errors often become severe at high values of reactance (imaginary impedance) and can completely overwhelm the character of the complex impedance under measurement.
Other serious limitations to accurate complex impedance display are well-known in the art. High impedance magnitudes require the determination of a ratio between a large excitation signal and a very small response signal, leading to errors arising from the presence of noise in the small response signal. Practitioners propose the use of very high excitation signal amplitudes to overcome the effects of such noise, but high levels of excitation signal may damage or destroy the object to which the excitation signal is applied. This is especially problematic in cases where the object under measurement is living biological tissue.
Another problem arising from the single frequency nature of complex object impedance is the difficulty in measuring complex object impedance at several frequencies over a wide frequency range. Because signal filters are necessary to ensure sinusoidal purity, these filters must be retuned to permit impedance display at other sinusoidal frequencies. The range of frequencies over which analog filters can be retuned is very limited, often to a few octaves. Alternatively, individual signal filters can be provided for each measurement frequency, but this approach seriously limits the number of frequencies for which complex object impedance can be displayed in any particular situation.
The analog signal filtering and display components used in the art are subject to calibration drift resulting from thermal changes and variations in operating region. This problem leads to a requirement for frequent recalibration to minimize complex impedance display errors, thereby preventing the rapid and effective measurement of complex object impedance at several frequencies.
The use of balanced bridge impedance measurement techniques known in the art can overcome many of the deficiencies of the signal ratio measurement methods mentioned above. However, balanced bridge techniques require a well calibrated impedance standard and are limited in practical application to the determination and display of electrical impedances. Moreover, the standard analog bridge components are presumed to be linear with respect to signal amplitude, which is an inaccurate presumption in most applications. This presumption leads to errors in display of complex object impedance that arise with changes in excitation signal level. Finally, balanced bridge techniques are unsuitable for accurate complex impedance determination over a wide frequency range and, in fact, are often limited to a single sinusoidal calibration frequency at a single excitation signal amplitude.
Another problem well-known in the art arises from the effects of small errors in impedance phase angle at angle values approaching .pi./2 radians (90.degree.). At these phase angles, the tangent function approaches infinity and extremely small errors in phase angle cause extremely high errors in one or both of the complex impedance components. A number of clever techniques have been proposed by practitioners in the art to overcome this problem, but most rely on the thermal discrimination between real and imaginary electrical power flow in a circuit and are unsuitable for use over a range of frequencies or with nonelectrical impedance measurement.
Yet another problem with classical impedance measurement and display techniques is the difficulty in simultaneously determining impedance at widely separated frequencies. This problem arises when the object under measurement experiences changes in impedance properties as a result of the application of the excitation signal. An example of this is the well-known tendency of an object to increase in temperature in response to the application of an electrical voltage. When the complex object impedance is a function of object temperature, then the measurement of complex impedance at one frequency will heat the object and create errors in the measurement of complex impedance at another frequency because of the difficulty in measuring such impedances simultaneously. One solution is to use a plurality of impedance measurement and display devices to simultaneously measure complex object impedance at a plurality of sinusoidal frequencies, but this method is cumbersome and not practical for large numbers of measurement frequencies.
These and other related difficulties with accurate display of complex object impedance are exacerbated in the situation where the object of interest is living biological tissue. The measurement and display of complex electrical impedance in biological tissue has been of interest since the late 1800's By 1921 it had been well-supported that the living cell had a well-conducting interior surrounded by a relatively impermeable, poorly conducting membrane. In 1925, Fricke reported (Fricke, H., Mathematical Treatment of the Electrical Conductivity and Capacity of Disperse Systems, Phys. Rev. 26:678-681, 1925) that at low frequency (LF) currents, there was little conduction through the cell because of high membrane capacitance. Thus, Fricke argued that conduction occurs primarily in the extracellular fluid (ECF) compartment and, at a sufficiently high frequency (HF), the current is shunted through the cell membrane and conducts through both the ECF and intracellular fluid (ICF).
Knowledge of biological material properties has been obtained through complex impedance measurements across various cells, suspensions, fibers, eggs and tissues. Of primary significance were the discoveries of cell membrane capacitance, the beta dispersion region, the additional regions of dispersions for cell suspensions, and Maxwell's mixture theory for analyzing the impedance measurement data.
In general, all cells and tissues may be expected to show three major dispersion regions in relation to frequencies (.alpha., .beta. and .gamma.). Of particular interest is the central .beta.-dispersion region, which is explained by the dielectric capacity of the cell membranes. The .alpha. and .gamma. regions are attributed to a surface conductance and to intracellular components. The .beta. region can be expressed in either a simple or complex equivalent circuit orientation form, where parallel resistance (R.sub.P) reflects extracellular fluid (R.sub.ccw) and the series orientation corresponds to intracellular fluid resistance (R.sub.icw) and cell membrane capacitance (C.sub.M). The equivalent circuit used in the Maxwell analysis must give the semi-circular relation (impedance and admittance loci) between the real and imaginary components of the impedance as applied frequency is varied, according to Cole (Cole, K. S., Membrane, Ions and Impulses, University Press, Berkeley, 1968).
An early attempt to apply this concept was made by Thomassett (Thomassett, A., Bio-Electrical Properties of Tissues, Lyon Med. 209:1325-1352, 1963), who measured simple impedance at high (100 kHz) and low (1 kHz) frequency currents using a two-wire technique. The high correlations of high frequency impedance to total body water (TBW) and low frequency impedance to extracellular fluid gave further support to the membrane and dispersion theories. However, Thomassett's approach did not develop into a practical clinical method.
Using a four-wire configuration, Hoffer, et al. (Hoffer, E., Meador, C., Simpson, C., Correlation of Whole-Body Impedance with Total Body Water Volume, J. Appl. Physio. 17, 4:531-534, 1969) reported a high correlation between measured TBW and TBW estimated by Ht.sup.2 /Resistance at 100 kHz. However, Hoffer, et al. reported that their high standard deviations implied that further development was necessary to make the technique a practical clinical method.
A decade later, Nyboer, et al. (Nyboer, J., Liedtke, Reid, K., Gesert, W., Nontraumatic Electrical Detection of Total Body Water and Density in Man, Proceedings of the VI ICEBI, 381-384, 1983) found that measurements of electrical resistance at 50 kHz, combined with subject weight, height and age, could accurately determine body density (fat and lean) in human subjects These relationships were based on the assumption that a strong relationship must exist between Fat-Free Mass (FFM) and TBW estimated by impedance because FFM tissue is consistently hydrated. Following the Nyboer, et al. work, a tremendous amount of interest arose for the impedance method.
Since the Nyboer, et al. presentation, many practitioners have sought to validate the single frequency impedance method of estimating human body composition in various populations (Lukaski, H. C., Johnson, P. E., Bolonchuk, W. W., Lykken, G. I., Assessment of Fat-Free Mass Using Bioelectrical Impedance Measurements of the Human Body, Am. J. Clin. Nutr., 41:810-817, 1985; Segal, K., Van Loan, M., Fitzgerald, P., Hodgdon, J. A., Van Itallie, T. B., Lean Body Mass Estimation by Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis: a Four Site Cross-Validation Study, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 47:7-14, 1988; and Kushner, R., Kunigk, A., Alspaugh, M., Andronis, P., Leitch, C., Schoeller, D., Validation of Bioelectrical-Impedance Analysis as a Measurement of Change in Body Composition in Obesity, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 52:219-23, 1990). Results have been mostly positive for normal subjects but the predictions of FFM have been far less precise in the clinical and abnormal population groups. Although impedance data continued to correlate highly to TBW, the underlying assumption that FFM is consistently hydrated has recently been found to be incorrect (Deurenberg, P., Westtrate, J. A., Hautvast, J., Changes in Fat-Free Mass During Weight Loss Measured by Bioelectrical Impedance and by Densitometry, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 49:33-6, 1989). Furthermore, increased awareness of the usefulness of the multi-frequency measurements has led to a general belief that the single frequency method is too simplistic and limiting (Cohn, S., How Valid are Bioelectrical Impedance Measurements in Body Composition Studies?, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 42:889-890, 1985). Criticism was also raised over the clinical usefulness of TBW in view of frequently encountered fluid shifts between the ICW and ECW. Van Itallie, et al. (Van Itallie, T., Segal, K., Nutritional Assessment of Hospital Patients: New Methods and New Opportunities, Am. J. Hum. Bio 1:205-8, 1989) assert that a practical method of discerning the ICW from the extracellular fluid would offer much greater utility and could profoundly influence hospital patient care and diagnosis.
Recently, several practitioners (Lukaski, H. C., Bolonchuck, W. W., Estimation of Body Fluid Volumes Using Tetrapolar Bioelectrical Impedance Measurements, Aviat. Space Environ., Med Dec., 1163-69, 1988 and McDougall, D., Shizgal, H., Body Composition Measurements from Whole Body Resistance and Reactance, Surgical Forum, 36:43-44, 1986) have proposed using the reactive element in a complex single frequency (50 kHz) impedance measurement to accurately discriminate the extracellular from the cellular mass. However, the use of multi-frequency measurements of impedance remains the technique of choice (Boulier, A., Fricker, J., Thomassett, A. L., Apfelbaum, M., Fat-Free Mass Estimation by Two-Electrode Impedance Method, Am. J. Clin. Nutr. 52:581-5, 1990).
Several practitioners have continued to test the Thomassett technique (Jenin, P., Lenoir, J., Roullet, C., Thomassett, A., Ducrot, H., Determination of Body Fluid Compartments by Electrical Impedance Measurements, Aviat Space Environ. Med. 46:152-5, 1975; Settle, R. G., Foster, K. R., Epstein, B. R., Mullen, J. L., Nutritional Assessment: Whole Body Impedance and Body Fluid Compartments, Nutr. Cancer, 2:72-80, 1980; and Tedner, B. T., Equipment Using an Impedance Technique for Automatic Recording of Fluid-Volume Changes During Hemodialysis, Med. & Biol. Eng. & Comput. 21:285-290, 1983). These practitioners use the ratio of high to low frequency simple impedance to reflect fluid compartment volume, the normal and abnormal fluid ratio, and fluid compartment change. The major problem reported for this technique is that the simple HF/LF ratio is too simplistic because volume is not determined and the compartment actually affected is not identified, although a change in ratio does reflect a change in compartmental volume. Furthermore, practitioners note that the lack of two-frequency simple impedance instrumentation prevents further exploration of this approach.
Because living tissue is mainly affected by ECF at frequencies below the .beta.-dispersion region, and ECF, C.sub.M and ICF at frequencies above this region, Kanai, et al. (Kanai, H., Haeno, M., Sakamoto, K., Electrical Measurements of Fluid Distribution of Legs and Arms, Med. Prog. Tech. 12:159-170, 1987) Computed the component values of the human muscle tissue equivalent circuit model (R.sub.ecw, R.sub.kw, and C.sub.M) known in the art. By mathematically analyzing the complex impedance measurements at multiple frequencies, Kanai, et al. obtained information specific to the ECW and ICW. However, others have been unable to replicate this advanced approach because of the lack of necessary and appropriate complex impedance instrumentation.
Expanding the prior art human body composition model from a simple two-compartment (lean/fat) model to a more complex model including ICF and ECF, protein, mineral and fat, creates a clearly-felt need for new and improved assessment techniques. This need has been unmet, until now because of the lack of appropriate complex impedance instrumentation and the lack of the necessary degree of sophistication in the associated measurement and analysis methods. This situation has inhibited the progress of this promising technology.
Increased use of diuretic drugs, fluid monitoring difficulties in intensive care, and the shrinking cell mass and expanding ECF that accompany most systemic wasting diseases and malnutrition has led to a well-recognized need for effective multi-frequency bioimpedance instrumentation in support of the compartmental approach to body fluid assessment. These unresolved problems and deficiencies are clearly felt in the art and are solved by my invention in the manner described below.

Method and apparatus for displaying multi-frequency bio-impedance


The IR baffles placed between the window and the electrode of a longitudinal discharge laser improve laser performance by intercepting off-axis IR radiation from the laser and in doing so reduce window heating and subsequent optical distortion of the laser beam.

The present invention relates to improved heat flow control in longitudinal discharge lasers, and more particularly, it relates to improved infrared heat flow control in metal vapor lasers.
Longitudinal discharge lasers have a number of uses. Specifically for metal vapor lasers, applications are known in uranium isotope separation using copper vapor and in the medical field using gold vapor. Other metal vapor laser media include lead and barium. An example of the use of copper vapor lasers to pump dye lasers for uranium isotope separation is describes in UCRL-88040 on Atomic Vapor Laser Isotope Separation by James I. Davis. This paper describes work done as of the Fall of 1982 with individual copper vapor laser pumped dye laser oscillators run over 1,000 hours in accumulated time. This lifetime test not only illustrates that copper vapor lasers act usefully as dye laser pump sources, but also that copper vapor laser lifetime is an important issue for atomic vapor laser isotope separation. Since the copper vapor lasers had to be stopped several times to replenish the copper supply, the copper vapor laser design employed in the 1,000 hour life test differs from the design needed for an isotope separation plant.
In the past, infrared radiation from the walls of a longitudinal discharge laser was not well controlled as it propagated past the electrode toward the window. Not only could infrared (IR) radiation travel directly down the laser axis and hit the window, but also IR radiation could strike the walls of the tube surrounding the laser and reflect to subsequently hit the window. Two examples showing the unobstructed path for IR radiation between the electrode and the window are U.S. Pat. No. 3,654,567 (FIGS. 1 and 2) and U.S. Pat. No. 4,247,830 (FIG. 1). In each case IR radiation emerging from the central discharge region of the laser past the electrode is free to hit the window directly or after reflection.
IR radiation striking the windows of a longitudinal discharge laser causes problems if the windows are made of a material which significantly absorbs in the infrared. A typical window material is quartz, which is an IR radiation absorber. The IR radiation striking the windows is then absorbed in part by the windows. This absorption causes heating of the window. As window material gets hotter, its index of refraction changes. Also, there can be some warping of the window. The effect is a focusing of the laser beam as if the window had turned into a very long focal length lens. This focusing can reduce the laser power emerging from a train of laser amplifiers by up to one half. A choice of non-IR absorbing materials for windows leads to other problems, so a reduction in window heating effects in IR absorbing materials, such as quartz is desired.

The United States of America as represented by the United States Department of Energy


A weighted interleaving system (10) is used for correlated channel coding. The weighted interleaving system (10) includes a weighted interleaver (12) having a pseudo-random demultiplexer (18), a first branch (28), a second branch (30), a third branch (32) and a pseudo-random multiplexer (38). The pseudo-random demultiplexer (18) receives input data bits at an input (20) and randomly distributes the input data bits to first (22), second (24) and third (26) outputs of the pseudo-random demultiplexer (18). The first branch (28) in communication with the first output (22) delays the transmission of the input data bits routed to it by a minimum delay. The second branch (30) in communication with the second output (24) delays the transmission of the input data bits routed to it by a delay uniform in probability from the minimum delay to a maximum delay. The third branch (32) in communication with the third output (26) delays the transmission of the input data bits routed to it by the maximum delay. The pseudo-random multiplexer (38) combines the input data bits received in its first (40), second (42) and third (44) inputs and routes the input data bits to an output (46).

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to an interleaver for use in communication systems and, more particularly, to a weighted interleaving system for correlated channel coding.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Communication systems are increasingly expected to be capacity efficient and heavy demands are currently required on many different types of digital communication channels. With many of these communication channels, a relatively large amount of bit errors may occur in a relatively short period of time within a sequence of transmitted bits. Errors occurring in this manner are generally referred to as burst errors, and thus, such communication channels are typically referred to as bursty or fading channels.
Traditional coding methods for communication systems operating through a bursty or fading channel often employ some form of interleaving in order to make the communication system more reliable. As is known in the art, interleaving attempts to spread the effect of burst errors in time such that the bit errors are decorrelated and separated from one another. This repositioning of error bits tends to separate the error bits so that they can be processed in conjunction with an encoding and decoding communication system. A convolutional or block decoder is able to tolerate up to some fraction of its input bits degraded or erased, known as the decoder's erasure threshold, and still provide acceptable performance, measured by bit error probability. The purpose of the conventional interleaver is thus to reduce the probability that the decoder's erasure threshold is exceeded.
Conventional uniform interleavers have an input-to-output delay distribution that is uniform in probability over an interval from 0 seconds to a maximum delay or length of the interleaver. When optimizing the performance of a conventional uniform interleaver, the only major trade involving the interleaver is its delay or length. If the interleaver is much longer than the correlation time of the channel, which is generally defined as the separation time at which fading probabilities become uncorrelated, the probability of a burst error at the output of the interleaver is small. The maximum delay or length of the interleaver is thus generally related to the fade correlation time of the channel. Although a uniform interleaver is not necessarily optimized for a particular channel, it is generally effective when the maximum delay or length is chosen to be much larger than the fade correlation time of the channel. As the fade correlation time becomes longer, it is generally not feasible to make a uniform interleaver of sufficient delay or length to provide adequate decorrelation of the faded information. With longer delays or interleaver length, a delay in data acquisition occurs. Such an information delay degrades the quality of real time signals especially in two-way voice communications. Consequently, long uniform interleavers are not well-suited to systems that require fast acquisition.
What is needed then is a weighted interleaving system for correlated channel coding which is chosen to minimize expected correlation between deinterleaver output bits without suffering from the disadvantages associated with conventional uniform interleavers. This will, in turn, increase data acquisition time; increase quality of real time signals; decrease the probability that the average erasure fraction exceeds the decoder's threshold; remove the restriction of a uniform interleaver delay; and match the length and shape of the interleaver to channel correlation statistics. It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide such a weighted interleaver system for correlated channel coding.

Weighted interleaving for correlated channel coding


Embodiments relate to vector processing in an active memory device. An aspect includes a method for vector processing in an active memory device that includes memory and a processing element. The method includes decoding, in the processing element, an instruction including a plurality of sub-instructions to execute in parallel. An iteration count to repeat execution of the sub-instructions in parallel is determined. Based on the iteration count, execution of the sub-instructions in parallel is repeated for multiple iterations by the processing element. Multiple locations in the memory are accessed in parallel based on the execution of the sub-instructions.

The present invention relates generally to computer memory, and more particularly to vector processing in an active memory device.
Computer systems often require a considerable amount of high speed memory, such as random access memory (RAM), to hold information, such as data and programs, when a computer is powered and operational. Memory device demands have continued to grow as computer systems have increased performance and complexity.
Communication from a main processor to locations on memory devices can involve relatively long data access times and latency. The time it takes for the main processor to access memory can be, for example, several hundred cycles, including time to realize the data is not in cache (for memory reads), time to traverse from a processor core of the main processor to I/O, across a module or other packaging, arbitration time to establish a channel to memory in a multi-processor/shared memory system, and time to get the data into or out of a memory cell.

Vector processing in an active memory device

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A device for clamping the trailing edge of a printing plate in a plate cylinder of a rotary printing machine includes a torsion bar disposed in a cylinder gap formed in the plate cylinder and extending in axial direction thereof, clamping elements affixed to the torsion bar and cooperating with holding elements for clamping the printing plate, and actuators provided on both sides of the plate cylinder for stretching the printing plate in axial direction. The torsion bar is of bipartite construction, and the actuators, respectively, are mounted so as to be displaceable axially independently of one another.

The invention relates to a device for clamping the trailing edge of a printing plate in a plate cylinder of a rotary printing machine, including a torsion bar disposed in a cylinder gap extending in the longitudinal direction of the plate cylinder, and braced against cheeks of the plate cylinder, clamping elements cooperating with holding elements affixed to the torsion bar, for clamping the printing plate, and an actuator provided on the torsion bar for stretching the printing plate in axial direction, the torsion bar being rotatably mounted in a support bearing at the center of the cylinder.
A conventional embodiment of this type is disclosed in the published German Patent Document DE 42 44 279 A1, wherein a printing plate, when clamped, is adjustable to changes in the printing image by stretching the substrate to be processed. With this known construction, the trailing edge of the printing plate, as viewed in axial direction, can be stretched towards both sides from a support bearing arranged at the center. In addition, in this heretofore known construction, it is possible to stretch only one or the other side, so that in the event of a single-sided application of ink to the printing substrate, a matching or adjusted stretching of the trailing edge of the plate can be performed.
In practice, the problem often occurs that the printing plate has to be compressed small amounts in the end region thereof. This option is not provided in the devices heretofore known in the prior art.
It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a device for clamping the trailing edge of a printing plate in a plate cylinder of a rotary printing press with which, in addition to stretching the trailing edge of the printing plate, end compression is also possible.
With the foregoing and other objects in view, there is provided, in accordance with the invention, a device for clamping the trailing edge of a printing plate in a plate cylinder of a rotary printing machine, comprising a torsion bar disposed in a cylinder gap formed in the plate cylinder and extending in axial direction thereof, clamping elements affixed to the torsion bar and cooperating with holding elements for clamping the printing plate, and actuators provided on both sides of the plate cylinder for stretching the printing plate in axial direction, the torsion bar being of bipartite construction, and the actuators, respectively, being mounted so as to be displaceable axially independently of one another.
In accordance with another feature of the invention, each of the actuators is a hollow screw.
In accordance with a further feature of the invention, the clamping device includes a cup spring arranged between each of the actuators, respectively, and the torsion bar.
In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the hollow screw is formed with a through bore for accommodating the torsion bar free of contact therein.
In accordance with an additional feature of the invention, the hollow screw is formed with an external thread cooperating with a threaded bore formed in a cheek of the plate cylinder.
In accordance with yet another feature of the invention, the clamping device includes roller bearings wherein the torsion bar is rotatably and axially adjustably mounted.
In accordance with a concomitant feature of the invention, the torsion bar has a torsionally weak construction, and the clamping elements are individually affixed to the torsion bar.
An advantage of the invention is, in particular, that the trailing edge of the printing plate can be manipulated in many ways. For example, it is possible to stretch or to compress the printing plate in specific regions.
In an advantageous embodiment of the invention, a hollow screw, respectively braced against one of the cylinder cheeks, is provided as an actuator for applying axial actuating forces in both axial directions, and a spring, preferably a cup spring, arranged between the hollow screw and the actuating shaft, eliminates play resulting from production operations from the printing-plate stretching and compressing device.
Other features, which are considered as characteristic for the invention, are set forth in the appended claims.
Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied in a device for clamping the trailing edge of a printing plate in a plate cylinder of a rotary printing machine, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the claims.
The construction and method of operation of the invention, however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best understood from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Device for clamping the trailing edge of a printing plate in a plate cylinder of a rotary printing machine


A suturing device for placing a continuous suture line between anchor knots is disclosed. The device has a cannula and first and second sutures. Each suture has a slide end, a distal loop, and a slip knot securing the distal loop to the slide end. The sutures are threaded through the cannula. One of the sutures has a stay end extending from the slip knot, and a needle attached to this stay end. The device is particularly adapted to place a continuous suture line during endoscopic surgical procedures.

This invention relates to a suturing device for joining severed bodily tissue, particularly one adapted for endoscopic surgical procedures.
One of the truly great advances in recent years to reduce the invasiveness of surgical procedures is endoscopic surgery. Endoscopic surgery involves the use of an endoscope, which is an instrument permitting the visual inspection and magnification of any cavity of the body. The endoscope is inserted through a tube, conventionally referred to as a cannula, after puncture of a hole into the soft tissue protecting the body cavity. The hole is made with a trocar, which is a sharp-pointed instrument. The trocar includes an obturator, or cutting implement, which is slidably and removably disposed within a trocar cannula. The obturator will puncture a hole in the tissue equal in size to the inner diameter of the trocar cannula. After puncture, the obturator can be slidably withdrawn from the trocar cannula. The surgeon can then perform diagnostic and therapeutic procedures at the surgical site with the aid of specialized instrumentation designed to fit through the trocar cannula and additional trocar cannulas providing openings into the desired body cavity as may be required.
In many surgical procedures, suturing is required to close wounds. The severed tissue often requires several stitches to join the severed tissue along the length of the laceration. The stitches require an anchor knot at the beginning and end of the line of stitches for proper support during the healing period. As the reader will readily appreciate, it is difficult to tie knots endoscopically. Accordingly, numerous devices have been proposed to accomplish this task or similar tasks. See, for example, the 1991 package insert for the product sold by Ethicon, Inc., which insert is entitled "ENDOKNOT Suture Made With Chromic Gut"; European Patent Application 477,020, published Mar. 25, 1992; U.S. Pat. No. 5,129,912; U.S. Pat. No. 5,144,961; and U.S. Pat. No. 2,012,776.
All of the devices described in these references use a cannula for insertion through a trocar, to which is attached a suture configuration maneuverable for the placement of a knot. For example, the suture may have a pre-loop formation which only requires tightening to secure the knot. The most recent device is described in copending application Ser. No. 947,662, filed Sep. 18, 1992, which has a cannula with a beveled tip for easily maneuvering and rotating the pre-loop suture formation.
Unfortunately, the devices described in the art have a major drawback. While these devices make it easier to tie an anchor knot, more features are needed for suturing. This is because in addition to the placement of anchor knots, several stitches need to be placed to make a continuous suture line for joining the severed tissue along the length of the laceration. Although the described devices eliminate the need for manually tying knots extracorporeally (outside the body), and are designed to easily position the suture formation, nothing is provided for placing a continuous line of stitches when the device is positioned at the location of the severed bodily tissue.
In view of the significant deficiency of the art, an endoscopic suturing device which is designed not only to avoid manually tying knots extracorporeally but also to place several secure stitches in a continuous suture line, would be highly desired within the medical community.


A method of manufacturing a semiconductor device includes (a) fixing a cover onto a semiconductor substrate so as to place a surface of the cover that includes a portion defining a first opening, face to face on a surface of the semiconductor substrate that includes an electrode and (b) applying an adhesive to the inside of the first opening.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a semiconductor device, a method of manufacturing the same, a cover for a semiconductor device and electronic equipment.
2. Description of Related Art
It is well known that an optical chip that includes an optical unit such as a light receiver should be sealed with a cover on the surface thereof having the optical unit. In sealing the optical chip, a space is left between the optical unit and the cover. When manufacturing a plurality of optical chips by dicing a substrate such as a wafer, substrate shavings resulting from dicing or other wastes may be attached to the optical unit and sealed together without removing the wastes like shavings. It is also noted that the cover should be mounted horizontally to the optical unit, since the cover fixed in a tilted position on the optical unit may result in distortion of an optical axis.
The present invention aims to enhance the reliability of products having a semiconductor device.

Semiconductor device, method of manufacturing the same, cover for semiconductor device, and electronic equipment


A data processing system is described that employs data packets which include at least static and dynamic fields, the static fields containing information that often remains constant during a multi-packet communication interval and the dynamic fields containing information that changes for each packet. Many packets also include a user-data fields. A compression method is described which comprises: reformatting each data packet by associating its static fields with a first packet region and its dynamic fields with a second packet region. The process then assembles a static table that includes static information from at least an initial data packet's first packet region. It then identifies static field information in a subsequent data packet's first packet region that is common to the information in the static table. Such common information is encoded so as to reduce its data length. The common static information is then replaced in the modified data packet with the encoded common static information and the modified data packet is then transmitted. A similar action occurs with respect to user-data information. A single dictionary table is created for all packet headers, while separate dictionary tables are created for each user-data portion of a packet-type experienced in the communication network thereby enabling better compression.

Data transferred over communication links between commercial computer systems generally contains significant redundancy. A number of mechanisms and procedures exist for lessening the redundancy and for creating substantially more efficient use of the transmission bandwidth. The term "data compression" refers to any process that converts data in a first given format into a second format having fewer bits than the original. Data compression systems are particularly effective if the original data contains substantial redundancy, such as symbols or strings of symbols which repetitively appear with high frequency.
Preferred data compression methods are transparent in that the application computer programmer is not aware of the existence of the compression method, except in system performance manifestations. As a result, decompressed data is an exact replica of the input data and the compression apparatus is given no special program information. So long as the transmission protocols are constant in the communication network, transparent compression can be readily accomplished. However, once various protocols and data formats find their way into a network, effective data compression becomes much more complex.
Such systems can be found today in wide area networks (WAN's), which interconnect pluralities of Local Area Networks (LAN's). In general, internal LAN interconnections occur over wide bandwidth, hard-wired or optical interconnects that alleviate the requirements for data compression. By contrast, most WAN's employ the telephone network for LAN interconnection purposes, and, as a result, are significantly bandwidth-limited.
There are a number of general purpose data compression procedures described in the prior art. A popular compression method, known as "Huffman" encoding translates fixed-size pieces of input data into variable-length symbols. The procedure assigns codes to input symbols such that each code length, in bits, is approximately log.sub.2 (symbol probability), where symbol probability is the relative frequency of occurrence of a given symbol, expressed as a probability. Huffman encoding exhibits a number of limitations. The bit-run size of input symbols is limited by the size of the translation table needed for compression. The decompression process is complex, and it is also necessary to know the frequency distribution for the group of possible input symbols.
A further type of encoding is known as "run-length" encoding and causes sequences of identical characters to be encoded as a count field appended to an identifier of the repeated character. While this approach is effective in graphical images, it has virtually no value in text and has moderate value for data files.
Recently, a method termed "adaptive" compression has appeared and has become, in various configurations, widely used. Algorithms for adaptive compression have been published by J. Ziv and A. Lempel, in "A Universal Algorithm For Sequential Data Compression", IEEE Transactions, Information Theory, Vol. IT-23, No. May 3, 1977, pp. 337-343 and in "Compression of Individual Sequences Via Variable-Rate Coding", IEEE Transactions on Information Theory, Vol. IT-24, No. 5, September, 1978, pp. 5306.
The Lempel-Ziv algorithm converts variable length strings of input symbols into fixed-length (or predictable length) codes. The symbol strings are selected so that all have almost equal probability of occurrence. Consequently, strings of frequently occurring symbols will contain more symbols than a string having infrequent symbols. This form of compression is effective at exploiting character frequency redundancy, character repetitions, and high usage pattern redundancy.
One of the first algorithms published by Lempel-Ziv (typically referenced to as LZ77) maintains a history buffer of the last N characters from the input data stream (typically 4,096) and encodes the output data stream as a sequence of symbols. If the character string is not found in the history buffer, it is encoded as a zero, followed by the unencoded eight bit character, resulting in a nine bit code. "Unencoded" in this sense means the eight bit binary character which corresponds to the alpha-numeric character. If a character or stream of characters is found in the buffer, the stream is encoded as a 1, followed by an index and length in the dictionary. This thereby enables the receiving end to reconstruct, from its copy of the buffer, the transmitted data.
More recently, a modification to a subsequent Lempel-Ziv data compression technique (LZ 78) published by T. Welch, has become known as the LZW algorithm. The LZW algorithm converts strings of varying lengths from an input data stream to fixed-length, or predictable length codes, typically 12 bits in length. The premise of the algorithm is that frequently occurring strings contain more characters than infrequently occurring strings.
Initially an LZW dictionary or code table is empty, except for the first 256 character positions which contain basic alpha-numeric single character entries. A new entry is created whenever a previously unseen string is encountered. The compressor searches the input stream to determine the longest match to a string stored in the dictionary. Each stored string comprises a prefix string and an extension character. Each string has a code signal associated with it. A string is stored in the string table by, at least implicitly, storing the code signal for the string. When a longest match between an input data character stream and a stored stream is determined, the code signal for the longest match is transmitted as the "compressed" code signal and a new string is stored in the string table. The prefix of the new string is the longest match of string characters and the suffix is an extension character which is the next data character from the input data that resulted in the longest match. Thus, as each compression occurs, the string lengths are increased by the addition of the extension character. Additional details of this algorithm can be found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,558,302 to T.A. Welch, and in an article by Welch entitled "A Technique For High-Performance Data Compression" IEEE Computer, June 1984, pp. 8-19.
While the LZW data compression algorithm is widely used, it does exhibit a number of shortcomings. For instance, during early stages in the construction of the dictionary, many data fragments (i.e. character lengths of 2, 3, or 4) will occupy large parts of the available dictionary storage. Thus, the amounts of compression available will be limited by the available strings. Often, in lieu of compressing the data, it will actually expand the data being transmitted. For instance, when only a single character is found to match, as will be the case in the early stages of dictionary construction, the outputting of a 12 bit code for an 8 bit input character will result in a 50% increase in data.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a data compression method particularly adapted for use with packetized data.
It is another object of this invention to provide an improved data compression method which avoids the accumulation of short data strings in the compression dictionary.
It is still another object of this invention to provide a data compression method that accommodates a plurality of protocols employing different type packets.
Yet another object of this invention is to provide an altered method of operation for the LZW compression algorithm that enables the attainment of improved compression results.


Embodiments of the invention provide fiber mat facers, ceiling panels, and method of manufacturing the same. A fiber mat facer may include a non-woven web of fibers having a first group of fibers with an average fiber diameter from about 6 μm to about 20 μm and a second group of fibers with an average fiber diameter from about 0.5 μm to about 5 μm. The fiber mat facer may also include a binder to bond together the non-woven web of fibers into the fiber mat. The binder may include a water repellant additive. The binder and/or fiber mat facer may further include an additive that enhances the opacity of the fiber mat facer. The fiber mat facer may also include a paint applied to an outer surface of the facer. The paint may include an additive that enhances the visual appeal of the facer and/or ceiling panel.

The present invention generally provides fiber mat facers that may be coupled with a ceiling panel to enhance the visual appeal of the ceiling panel, and more specifically provides fiber mat facers of various compositions described herein that enhance the visual appeal of the facers and, thus, the ceiling panels.
Facer products made of mats of bonded fibers are often attached to ceiling panels to enhance the aesthetic appeal, strength, sag resistance, and/or flame resistance of the ceiling panels. The ceiling panels are then often installed in suspended ceilings by inserting the ceiling panels into frames of the suspended ceiling. The facer products are attached to the side of the ceiling panel facing the room's interior so as to enhance the aesthetic appearance of the room. Since the ceiling panels will be used for perhaps many years and continually viewed during that period of time, it is important that the facer products attached to the ceiling panels be durable and provide long lasting visual appeal. Accordingly, there is a constant need for improved facer products that may be attached to ceiling panels that provide long lasting visual appeal.


Disclosed are systems and methods for countering a cyber-attack on computing devices by means of which users are interacting with services, which store personal data on the users. Data is collected about the services with which the users are interacting by means of the devices, as well as data about the devices themselves. The collected data is analyzed to detect when a cyber-attack on the devices is occurring as a result of a data breach of personal data on users from the online service. A cluster of the computing devices of different users of the online service experiencing the same cyber attack is identified. Attack vectors are identified based on the characteristics of the cyber attack experienced by the computing devices in the cluster. Actions are selected for countering the cyber-attack based on the identified attack vector and are sent to the devices of all users of the corresponding cluster.

At present, the service sector has expanded significantly thanks to information technologies (IT). Large service providers provide both IT support and ordinary services with the use of IT (such as email services or social networks, purchases and payments via the Internet). Most companies have an infrastructure which uses IT services, wherein the data of users is often stored in databases in this infrastructure. With the use of such databases, a fitness club for example may notify users as to events or discounts, and also inform users about their subscriptions coming to an end or receive feedback from the users as to the quality of the services provided.
Along with the diversity of IT services at present, the number of malicious cyber attacks on them from hackers is also steadily growing. In event of a successful attack, the hackers gain access to the personal data of the users, which may cause financial or mental harm to the user. On one hand, the registration of users with services is necessary (at least to prevent cases of misconduct). On the other hand, each service contains a database storing data of the users making use of that service, and therefore the data may become accessible as a result of a successful attack on that service.
So-called targeted attacks are frequently carried out on such services. Targeted attacks are directed attacks against a specific service provider, company, organization or government agency. The developers of security applications offer solutions for countering such attacks. For example, the known systems for countering targeted attacks classify the security events associated with a particular company, identify a targeted attack, and take steps to counter such an attack.
However, it is practically impossible to prevent all leakage of data about the users from such services. As a result of database leaks in the event of a successful attack, the users of the service frequently come up against subsequent attacks on their devices, such as intrusive calls, spam emails and SMS messages, malicious files, and phishing links. It should be noted that in this case the attack is not explicitly related to the device model or the type of operating system, since the users of the service are related in fact by the service, and not by any specific hardware or software.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

System and method for determining actions to counter a cyber attack on computing devices based on attack vectors


Embodiments of the present invention provide a tonal analysis method including the steps of parsing notes of a musical score to generate a time-ordered plurality of sonorities; confirming a plurality of tonal centers each having a tone; accounting a chord of a sonority for a confirmed tonal center to determine whether the chord of the sonority is a functional symbol of the confirmed tonal center; and identifying a tonally stable region of the musical score for a confirmed tonal center, then accounting the chord of each sonority in a tonally stable region as a functional symbol of that tonal center. Embodiments of the present invention provide a non-transitory computer-readable medium which stores the output of the tonal analysis method as sonority data structures associated with theory line entry data structures.

The present invention generally relates to music theory. More particularly, the present invention relates to a system and method for algorithmic tonal analysis and musical notation search.
Tonal analysis is an element of the field of music theory and musical analysis. While a written musical score represents the musical notes that make up a musical work, music theory provides an explanatory framework for musical organization, patterns, and structure that have not been explicitly written into the score. Analysis of a musical score relies on principles of music theory to identify characteristics of the written musical notes that convey concepts such as chords, harmonies, and tones.
In musical performance, notes may be performed by instruments or voices, and each set of notes played by a particular instrument or voice constitutes a part. A chord refers to a set of musical notes sounded together, and harmony refers to the use of chords and their constituent notes in conjunction to produce a desired musical effect. Notes and chords may have particular roles or functions in producing a desired harmonic progression, and knowledge of these functions informs how a note or chord should be played by a musician. A note which is not a part of a chord may be referred to as a non-harmonic tone, though it may still play a role in the overall harmony of a musical work.
The human skill of musical analysis is learned over a course of years of music education to understand the underlying principles of music theory, as well as extensive practice to be able to apply this knowledge to a musical score on a first impression. Whereas the form of the elements of a musical score, such as the identity of each individual chord, may be determined by routine examination of the notes and intervals written in a musical score, the function of those same elements is not readily apparent. A variety of functional theories may be possible to explain the function of each chord of a musical score, but not all such theories can be correct. The manual analysis of functional theories may, consequently, be time-consuming and fallible in practice.
Moreover, the education of musical analysis skills requires students to be tested in the application of imparted knowledge and principles. By known methods of teaching musical analysis, students must manually write down compositions and the results of functional analysis of compositions, and present these solutions to instructors for manual review. The instructor must review both the compositions presented to the student and any compositions and analysis results written by the student, analyze both, and compare results to determine errors. No systematic procedure for such comparison has been developed.

Automatic tonal analysis of musical scores


A loading car for receiving, conveying and discharging bulk material onto a bulk material freight car comprises an elongated machine frame end and undercarriages supporting the machine frame on a track for mobility therealong in an operating direction. An inclined, elongated conveyor band arrangement for the bulk material is mounted on the machine frame and has a lower receiving end including a hopper arranged to receive bulk material for upward conveyance by the conveyor band arrangement, and a drive is provided for vertically adjusting the rear undercarriage relative to the machine frame.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a loading car for receiving, conveying and discharging bulk material onto a bulk material freight car, which comprises an elongated machine frame, undercarriages supporting the machine frame on a track for mobility therealong in an operating direction, and an inclined, elongated conveyor band arrangement for the bulk material, the conveyor band arrangement being mounted on the machine frame and having a lower receiving end including a hopper arranged to receive bulk material for upward conveyance by the conveyor band arrangement.
2. Description of the Prior Art
German Democratic Republic patent No. 95,026 discloses a loading car comprising a machine frame supported by undercarriages on a track and an inclined, elongated conveyor band having a lower receiving end arranged to receive bulk material for upward conveyance. Hoppers are mounted above the lower receiving end and below the upper discharge end of the conveyor band. The hopper mounted below the conveyor band discharge end is vertically spaced sufficiently from the machine frame to permit a car on the machine frame to be driven under this hopper for being loaded with the bulk material discharged therefrom. This arrangement requires the car to be loaded, for example a power shovel, to be lifted onto the machine frame and cannot be used for loading a vehicle running on the same track as the loading car.
German patent No. 2,751,858 discloses an apparatus for excavating ballast. This apparatus comprises a machine frame supported for mobility on a track and a power shovel arranged on the rear end of the machine frame for excavating ballast and sub-soil after the track ties have been removed. An inclined conveyor band arrangement having a lower receiving end is mounted on the machine frame for receiving the ballast and sub-soil from the power shovel and for conveying it upwardly. This lower conveyor arrangement receiving end is supported on the track and has a special hopper with a displaceable end wall for discharging the bulk material received from the power shovel to the conveyor band. The structure of this apparatus is quite complicated.
Austrian patent No. 361,978 discloses a car designed to climb steep hills. It comprises a first frame supported on undercarriages and a second frame pivoted to the first frame for pivoting about a transverse axis. A vertical adjustment drive connects the second frame to the first frame for raising the second frame from the first frame by pivoting about the transverse axis.
Published European patent applications Nos. 206,590 and 368,046 disclose track-bound freight cars for bulk material, which comprise inclined conveyor bands for conveying the bulk material.

Franz Plasser Bahnbaumaschinen-Industriegesellschaft m.b.H.


A micromechanical functional apparatus, particularly a loudspeaker apparatus, includes a substrate having a top and an underside and at least one circuit chip mounted on the underside in a first cavity. The apparatus further includes a micromechanical functional arrangement, particularly a loudspeaker arrangement, having a plurality of micromechanical loudspeakers mounted on the top in a second cavity. A covering device is mounted above the micromechanical functional arrangement on the top. An appropriate method is implemented to manufacture the micromechanical functional apparatus.

The disclosure relates to a micromechanical functional apparatus, particularly a loudspeaker apparatus, and to an appropriate method of manufacture.
Although it is actually possible to use any micromechanical functional apparatuses, the present disclosure and the underlying problems are explained with reference to silicon-based micromechanical loudspeaker apparatuses.
In comparison with microphone or pressure sensor packages, which need to provide media access to the diaphragm, a front volume and possibly a back volume in a small installation space, a package for MEMS loudspeaker apparatuses should provide a suitable acoustic window, in particular.
MEMS-based loudspeakers usually consist of a relatively large MEMS chip which has an arrangement of individual loudspeakers having respective diaphragms, wherein the respective diaphragms can be deflected on both sides by adjacently arranged perforated electrodes.
DE 10 2005 055 478 A1 discloses a micromechanical structure for receiving and/or producing acoustic signals in a medium which at least partially surrounds the structure. The structure has a diaphragm which is essentially closed and which essentially forms a first side of the structure, and also a mating element and a closed substrate which is provided on a second side, which is opposite the first side. The mating element is provided between the diaphragm and the substrate.

Micromechanical functional apparatus, particularly a loudspeaker apparatus, and appropriate method of manufacture


A front-loading washing machine includes a tub having a rear wall, an at least approximately horizontally disposed shaft, a laundry drum mounted overhung on the shaft, and a rigid supporting part fitted to the rear wall. A drive device for the washing machine includes a flat-type motor fitted to the rear wall for directly driving the shaft. The motor has a rotor formed entirely of magnetizable steel and a stator connected on the rigid supporting part or to the rear wall of the tub. The rotor has a hub encompassing and centrally fastened on an outer end of the shaft, a multiplicity of openings between the hub and a peripheral part, and a bell-like flange on the peripheral part pointing toward the tub. The stator has a central bearing sleeve for the shaft and for the hub and it has exciter windings. Laminate stacks are distributed on the stator for receiving the windings. The stacks are outwardly opposed by the flange with an air gap. The direct drive device for the drum provides good capability of cooling the windings with ambient air, so that the flat, slowly rotating motor cannot overheat during proper operation when dimensioned according to requirements. In addition, the motor can be fully preassembled at its manufacturer's plant.

Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a drive device for a front-loading washing machine having a laundry drum, the laundry drum is mounted overhung on an at least approximately horizontally disposed shaft within a bearing sleeve of a rigid supporting part fitted to a rear wall of a tub, and the laundry drum is directly driven by a flat-type motor which is likewise fitted to the rear wall of the tub.
Such drive devices are disclosed in German Published, Non-prosecuted Patent Applications DE 39 27 426 A1 and DE 43 41 832 A1, wherein the stator of the motor, which is constructed as a commutatorless external-rotor DC motor, is fastened directly on the bearing sleeve of the rigid supporting part. The shaft is mounted in the bearing sleeve and its outer end is connected in a torsionally resistant manner to the rotor of the motor. In that case, the rotor is a so-called external rotor which engages over the stator windings in the form of a pot and carries poles constructed as permanent magnets. In the automatic washing machine according to German Published, Non-prosecuted patent Application DE 43 41 832 A1, the motor is additionally surrounded by an insulating hood which damps noises radiated from the motor directly to the surrounding atmosphere.
The known drive devices encapsulate the stator, which is exposed to considerable temperature loading as a result of Joule heat in its windings, by a rotor configured in the form of a pot (and additionally by the sound-insulating hood in the case of German Published, Non-prosecuted patent Application DE 43 41 832 A1) to such a great extent that any cooling of the motor at all is lost. That is also reinforced primarily by the fact that such a direct-drive motor can scarcely cool itself by the rotating rotor due to its necessarily low intrinsic speeds of rotation. Therefore, in practice the known drive devices can be used only when they are protected against rapid overheating through the use of external cooling.
In addition, the known drive devices cannot be supplied to the washing machine manufacturer's plant as an already fully assembled motor. Their stators and rotors have to be delivered separately and assembled with one another for the first time at the washing machine factory. As a rule, special assembling equipment for completing motor assemblies is not present and is also not desired in a washing machine factory. Therefore, it is probable that the completion of the stator assembly, which is initially to be connected to the tub system, by the external rotor assembly will regularly only take place in an inaccurate manner. Extremely stringent requirements are made of the maintenance of a small air gap between the stator and rotor poles, with the air gap always being of the same size in each specimen, as far as possible. Stringent requirements are also made of the centered mounting, and those requirements cannot be satisfied in the case of the above-mentioned assembly in a washing machine factory. Therefore, in practice the known drive devices can only be used to a very limited extent.

Drive device for a front-loading washing machine


A game is executed in a normal round, in a first-type free round, and in a second-type free round. The normal round is executed with a first symbol set including a plurality of symbols. The first-type free round is executed with a second symbol set that includes at least one first symbol in addition to the symbols in the first symbol set. The second-type free round is executed with a third symbol set that includes at least one second symbol in addition to the symbols in the first symbol set, the at least one second symbol being different from the at least one first symbol.

(a) Field
The present invention generally relates to a gaming machine and a gaming method.
(b) Description of the Related Art
A conventional gaming machine includes a display arranged with a plurality of symbols. The gaming machine rearranges the symbols in a unit game, and awards a payout to a player according to the combination of rearranged symbols (for example, United State Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0058067 and United State Patent Application Publication No. 2008/0058072). The player can start another unit game after one unit game ends.
However, in the conventional gaming machine, although the unit games are repeatedly executed, there is continuity of the unit games. Since the conventional gaming machine does not provide the continuity of the unit games, it is difficult to attract a player's interest in a game.


An electrosurgical bipolar RF generator apparatus includes a bipolar electrode. An aperiodic sequence of uniform width bursts of a high frequency signal are electronically synthesized. Substantially identical decaying amplitude envelopes are impressed on the bursts of the high frequency signal. Each of the envelopes has a predetermined rate of change from a preselected initial amplitude. The impressed bursts of the high frequency signal are applied to the electrode. The electrical apparatus operates in a cut mode or a coagulation mode. The apparatus includes a power supply for providing a variable DC voltage, a short circuit detect circuit for detecting a short circuit at the bipolar electrode, and an open circuit detector for detecting an open circuit at the bipolar electrode.

The present invention is directed to a bipolar RF generator for an electrosurgical cutter/coagulator system and, more particularly, to a bipolar RF generator for producing a cutting waveform or a coagulating waveform having an aperiodic sequence of damped RF bursts.
Most electrosurgical systems which are employed to cut or coagulate tissue are based on the theory of molecular resonance. When living tissue is resonated within a given range of frequencies, typically 250 KHz to 16 MHz, the molecules within the tissue resonate and cause the tissue to be destroyed. The energy provided to cut the tissue is normally transmitted in the form of a controlled sinusoidal wave which causes relatively constant destruction to the tissue.
When tissue is to be coagulated, it is preferable that the tissue be resonated to a point where tissue destruction is initiated, but that the tissue destruction be controlled or limited. Most prior art systems generate a damped sinusoidal wave which causes tissue destruction to commence, but allows the tissue to anneal resulting in tissue coagulation.
Many prior art coagulators use periodic damped sinusoidal waves to coagulate the tissue. However, there is a strong tendency for a second resonant frequency to develop as the damped sinusoidal waves overlap. This produces an uncontrolled sinusoidal signal which could ultimately destroy the tissue.
There is a need for an RF generator which transmits bursts of frequencies aperiodically to form damped sinusoidal waves. It would also be beneficial to be able to shift the time domain over which the frequency bursts occur to prevent the repetition of frequency patterns from occurring in future frequency bursts.


Automatic trend analysis is provided on a dataset. Upon selection of a data cell or chart point within a data representation, a trend chart is automatically generated in order to demonstrate how the data within the selection trends over time. The system may automatically configure the trend chart based on the metadata of a data source associated with a selected data such that no input or configuration is needed by a user. The system may identify the time hierarchies and other data attributes included in the metadata of the data source associated with a selected data cell and may automatically configure the axis settings and the trend lines according to metadata of the data source. The trend chart may also be configured to display multiple trend lines for comparing multiple data set trends over a specified time period.

Spreadsheet applications, database applications, and other similar data reporting applications may be used for collecting and displaying data, and the data may be collected and displayed in a variety of data representation methods, including data summarization tables, charts, graphs and other data reporting tables. Data representations may contain a multi-dimensional data set or data source in which the dataset is defined by multiple values and/or data attributes. Trend analysis is a commonly used analysis technique for analyzing the data contained in a data representation in order to determine how particular data trends over time. Trend analysis may provide insight into how a particular set of data has performed in the past and how it may be expected to perform in the future.
In existing data representations such as data summarization tables, generating a trend chart for performing trend analysis can be a cumbersome and complicated process. Manually generating a trend chart for trend analysis may require a user to be proficient in multidimensional data sources and advanced data representation techniques in order to structure a data summarization table to generate a trend chart. A user needs to be further familiar with how to restructure the dataset query and apply appropriate filters to configure the dataset and generate a trend chart for the dataset. Trend analysis of data may be under-utilized since only advanced users may be able to generate and configure complicated trend charts for analyzing datasets.


A field emission display (FED) and a driving method thereof. The FED of the present invention sequentially applies a selection signal to second electrodes through a scan driver, a data signal to a first group of first electrodes through a first data driver, and a data signal to a second group of the first electrodes through a second data driver. In this way, data lines are divided into data lines in the upper side of the screen and data lines in the lower side of the screen and are then separately driven, thereby preventing a non-uniform brightness of the upper and lower sides of the screen caused by a resistance component of the data lines.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a field emission display (FED) and a driving method thereof.
(b) Description of the Related Art
The flat panel display (FPD), which is an image pick-up device using cold cathode electrons as an electron emission source, has its quality greatly dependent upon characteristics such as the material of an electron emission region, or the structure.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a general FED. FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the general FED shown in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, the general FED includes emitter 30 formed on rear substrate 1 as a source of electrons 60; cathode electrode 10 and gate electrode 20 for emitting electrons from emitter 30; and phosphorous surface 50 formed with red (R), green (G), and blue (B) phosphors and anode electrode 40 on the one side of front substrate 2 opposing rear substrate 1. The FED of this structure forms an electric field around the emitter using the voltage difference between the cathode and gate electrodes to emit electrons from the emitter and makes the emitted electrons collide with the phosphorous surface for light emission to realize a defined image.
Here, the cathode and gate electrodes are used as scan and data electrodes, respectively. Alternatively, the cathode and gate electrodes may be used as data and scan electrodes, respectively.
The FED is driven by the passive matrix method that involves light emission of pixels by a potential difference (between gate and cathode electrodes) caused by the driving pulses applied to a scan driver for driving horizontal scan electrodes and a data driver for driving vertical data electrodes. Furthermore, the gray scale is represented according to the overlapping width of the two driving pulses.
The FED applies a data signal only in one direction of the screen in applying data pulses to data lines, which include a resistance component to increase a voltage drop in the lower side of the screen. This voltage drop affects the brightness of the image because the FED uses the potential difference between gate and cathode electrodes for light emission. Accordingly, the left bottom of the screen having a high voltage drop relative to the right top appears dark, so that uniform brightness of the panel is not provided and the screen can appear rough and blotched.

Field emission display and driving method thereof


Disclosed is an apparatus for passing solid objects for use in a robotic tool changing system. The apparatus comprises a housing mounted on either a master assembly or a tool assembly. A tubular member is disposed in the housing and defines a passage through which solid objects can pass. The tubular member includes a head portion at one end and a stem portion at the other end that is connected to a solid objects feed tube. Means are provided for retaining the tubular member in the opening in the housing for movement relative to the housing during the coupling and uncoupling of the master and tool assemblies to accommodate misalignment of the master and tool assemblies. Another apparatus is disclosed for passing solid objects from a source to a work tool. The apparatus comprises first and second housings mounted on a master assembly and tool assembly, each housing tubular members. A robotic tool changing system is also provided for exchanging tools on an end of a robot arm, including a tool for attaching fasteners from a fastener source transported through feed tubes connected to the stem portions of the tubular members. The tubular members can move relative to the longitudinal axis of the respective housings and rotate freely about the axis when in contact with an arcuate bearing surface that partially defines the opening in the housing. Contact faces of the tubular members are formed to allow relative movement of the tubular members when the tubular members are engaged.

The present invention relates generally to an apparatus for transferring solid objects through a robotic tool changer, and more particularly to an apparatus for transferring solid objects through a stud welding tool changer for use in a robotic tool changing system.
Stud welding and riveting are becoming more prevalent as the preferred fastening method used to build products from sheets of metal, particularly in automobile body manufacturing. When these processes are automated, a fastener, such as a xe2x80x9cstudxe2x80x9d or rivet, is fed through a flexible hollow tube by means of air pressure and delivered to a gun which then attaches the fastener to the metal sheet.
When industrial robots are used, for example in a stud welding application, a robot is programmed to position a welding gun to the desired weld location and to automatically produce stud welds without the need for an operator. During the manufacturing process, it may become necessary to exchange stud welding guns to obtain a different weld, attach different size fasteners or due to system failure or periodic maintenance. Gun exchanges are accomplished automatically using a robotic tool changing system.
A robotic tool changing system provides the means for a robot or other automatic machine to easily exchange tools as required for different jobs. The tool changing system is made up of two primary assemblies, a master assembly and a tool assembly. The master assembly is attached to the arm of the robot while the tool assembly is attached to various tools to be used by the robot. The tools and associated tool assemblies are positioned in stands within the working range of the robot. When effecting a tool change, the robot is programmed to place a tool on the end of the robot arm into the stand, remove the master assembly from the tool assembly and tool, and then accurately align the master assembly relative to a different tool assembly mounted on an appropriate tool in the stand and couple the master assembly to the tool assembly. All of the system resource and utility lines interface through the adapter assemblies. Thus, when the adapter assemblies are coupled together, they provide mechanical, electrical, pneumatic and, other service and signal connections between a source connected to the master assembly and the tool attached to the tool assembly.
Robotic tool changing systems designed for interchanging stud welding guns must transfer a stud between the master assembly and the tooling adapter assembly. Generally, this is accomplished by attaching a feed tube from a source of fasteners to a cylindrical conduit in the master assembly and a feed tube from a cylindrical conduit in the tool assembly to the gun. The cylindrical conduits slip together, one within the other, when the master and tool assemblies are coupled together thereby forming a continuous passage through the adapter assemblies for passing fasteners.
Conventional robotic tool changing systems have deficiencies related to the repetitive positioning accuracy of the master and tool assemblies. While the robot movements are designed to be very precise, the reality of the production line environment and the manufacturing tolerances of the various parts of the system can lead to misalignment of the tool position in the stand. Moreover, the tool assemblies and associated tools may not be the same and yet they must mate to the same master. For example, if the stud welding operation requires that a different size stud be passed, a bigger different gun must be picked up. As a result, the master and tool assemblies are designed so that the assemblies do not have to be exactly aligned, horizontally and angularly, for coupling. To facilitate self-alignment during coupling, the master and tool assemblies are often provided with locating or guide pins having conical forward ends and guide holes, respectively. The diameter of the guide holes is greater than the diameter of the pin ends so that, when the adapter assemblies come together, the pins at least partially engage in the guide holes to bring the assemblies into alignment upon coupling.
Nevertheless, slight misalignment is unsatisfactory in stud welding applications where the cylindrical ends of the stud feed conduits through the master and tool adapter assemblies must interengage. Even a small misalignment of the assemblies can cause the two cylindrical mating surfaces to jam during coupling and uncoupling of the adapter assemblies.
The effect of misalignment can be reduced by minimizing the distance between the stud feed tube conduits and the central axis of the master and tool assemblies. However, the stud tube is usually made from semi-rigid plastic which requires bends to have a significant radius. This requirement weighs in favor of locating the stud feed conduits as far as possible from the tool changer axis. Further, even when the assemblies are successfully coupled, substantial strain is placed at the rigid connection of the feed tube and the tool changer assemblies which renders this area of the tube prone to premature failure.
For the foregoing reasons, there is a need for an apparatus for transferring solid objects in a robotic tool changing system which couples smoothly even when there is misalignment of the master and tool assemblies. The new solids transferring apparatus should allow location at a selected distance from the axis of the tool changer. The new tool change system should also minimize strain on the feed tube at the connection of the assemblies.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for transferring solid objects through a robotic tool changer which accommodates misalignment of the master and tool assemblies.
A further object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for transferring solid objects through a robotic tool changer which smoothly couple and uncouple during tool changes even if the master and tool assemblies are misaligned.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus for transferring solid objects through a robotic tool changer which may be located a selected distance from the central axis of the tool changer to maximize allowable bend radius of the feed tube. A related object is provide an apparatus for transferring solid objects through a robotic tool changer which has some compliance when the master and tool assemblies are coupled for relieving strain on the feed tube at the connection and increasing the life of the feed tube.
According to the present invention, an apparatus for passing solid objects is provided for use in a robotic tool changing system. The apparatus comprises a housing adapted to be mounted on either of the master assembly or the tool assembly. A tubular member is disposed in the housing and defines a passage for permitting solid objects to pass through. The tubular member includes a head portion at one end and a stem portion at the other end. The head portion of the tubular member has a planar face and a rounded side surface extending from the face to the stem portion and the stem portion is adapted to be connected to a solid objects feed tube. Means are provided for retaining the tubular member in the opening in the housing for movement relative to the housing during the coupling and uncoupling of the master and tool assemblies to accommodate misalignment of the master and tool assemblies.
Also according to the present invention, an apparatus is disposed between a work tool and an instrumentality controlling the work tool for passing solid objects from a source to the work tool in a robotic tool changing system. The apparatus comprises first and second housings adapted to be mounted on the master assembly and tool assembly. Tubular members are disposed in each housing. Each tubular member defines a passage for permitting solid objects to pass through the tubular members. The tubular members include a head portion at one end and a stem portion at the other end. Each the head portion has a planar face and a rounded side surface extending from the face to the stem portion, and each of the stem portions are adapted to be connected to a solid object feed tube. Means are provided for retaining the tubular members in the openings in the housings for movement relative to the housing during the coupling and uncoupling of the master and tool assemblies to accommodate misalignment of the assemblies. Coupling of the master assembly to the tool assembly causes the planar faces of the tubular members to engage for defining a passageway for passing solid objects through the tubular members.
Further according to the present invention, a robotic tool changing system is provided for exchanging tools on an end of a robot arm, including a tool for attaching fasteners from a source of fasteners. The system comprises a master assembly for attaching to the end of the robot arm, a tool assembly for attaching to the fastener attaching tool and means for operatively coupling the tool assembly to the master assembly. Housings are mounted on the master assembly and tool assembly, each of the housings having an opening therethrough. Tubular members defining a passage for permitting fasteners to pass through the tubular members are disposed in the housings. The tubular members include a head portion at one end and a stem portion at the other end. The head portions have a planar face and a rounded side surface extending from the face to the stem portion. The tubular members are retained in the openings in the housings for movement relative to the housings during the coupling and uncoupling of the master and tool assemblies to accommodate misalignment of the assemblies. Feed tubes are connected to the stem portions of the tubular members for transporting fasteners from a source of fasteners to the first tubular member and from the second tubular member to the fastener attaching tool. Coupling of the tool assembly to the master assembly causes the planar face of the first tubular member to operatively engage the planar face of the second tubular member for defining a conduit through the tubular members to allow a fastener to be transported from the source of fasteners through the conduit and feed tube to the fastener attaching tool.
A feature of the new apparatus for passing solid objects is an arcuate bearing surface partially defining the opening in the housing for mating contact with the arcuate outer surface of the head portion of the tubular members. When engaged, the tubular members can move relative to the central longitudinal axis of the housings and rotate freely about the axis when in contact with the bearing surface. In addition, the contact faces of the tubular members are formed to allow relative movement of the tubular members when the tubular members are engaged. A portion of the stem portion of each tubular member extends from the opening at one end of the housings and has an annular groove. One embodiment of the retaining means comprises a snap ring disposed in the groove, the diameter of the snap ring being larger than the diameter of the opening in the one end of the housing. The groove is positioned for allowing relative axial movement of the tubular member in the housing.
The apparatus for passing solid objects of the present invention also features means for sealing the engaged contact faces of the tubular members and passageway against fluid leakage. In one embodiment, the sealing means comprises an o-ring disposed in the contact face of one of the tubular members around the opening to the passage in the tubular member. When the tubular members are engaged, the o-ring forms a raised seat configured to engage the contact face of the other tubular member and thereby form a fluid tight seal at the contact faces. Means are provided for biasing at least one of the tubular members against the other for generating contact pressure between the contact faces.
The present invention thus provides for a robotic tool changing system an apparatus for transferring solid objects which couples and uncouples smoothly even when there is misalignment of the master and tool assemblies. As a result, the solid objects transfer apparatus may be located a selected distance from the axis of the tool changer. Moreover, the coupled transfer apparatus has axial and rotational degrees of freedom that adds compliance at the feed tube connection thereby reducing strain on the connection at the assemblies.


The present invention is a method, system and apparatus for generating parameterized installation scripts to accommodate the installation of multiple databases sharing similar physical constructs. The method of the invention can include the step of creating a database which can achieve the foregoing stated advantages of the present invention, a parameterized description of a physical data model can be first combined with a set of database specific properties to produce a physical database. A parameterized description of a logical data model can be second combined with the set of database specific properties to generate a logical model for the physical database. The first combining step can include the step of creating at least one bufferpool in the physical database as specified by the properties. Also, the first combining step can include the step of creating at least one tablespace in the physical database as specified by the properties.

1. Statement of the Technical Field
The present invention relates to the field of data modeling, and more particularly to the creation and installation of a database.
2. Description of the Related Art
Data represents a significant aspect of the conventional data processing application. A strong and well-architected data structure can facilitate the design of diverse processing, user interface, reporting and statistical analysis tools. Equally as significant, the business requirements of a data processing application dictate the purpose of the application. The most elegant and technologically advanced application will fail its user base if the application does not meet the specified business requirements. Logical data modeling addresses both important aspects of data processing application design.
Database creation and installation generally starts with logical data modeling, followed by physical design and installation. From an application point of view, the logical data model can include those business entities, their relationships, and processes as dictated by business policy and processes. From a database technology perspective, the logical data model is the database language specification of the objects defined within the database. That is, the logical data model defines entities in terms of database objects such as tables, views, columns, data types, constraints, triggers, access privileges, and the like. Importantly, the logical data model itself is not a database.
In comparison to the logical data model, the physical database design is the physical realization of the logical data model. The physical database design can include physical database specifications, for instance database size and location, data creation, updating, and loading details, and data access mechanisms. For example, container lists or drive specifications determine where the data can exist within the database, while page size and disk striping specifications determine how the data is to be inserted on disk. The physical characteristics also determine how system resources are to be used. For example, a buffer pool definition can specify how much memory is to be allocated by the database for data caching and retrieval.
Conventional software development tools have been created which can facilitate the creation both of a logical data model for a database, and for the translation of the logical data model into a physical database design. Many conventional software development tools further can generate database installation scripts for automating the installation of a physical database based upon a logical data model and a physical database design. Using more advanced data modeling tools, not only can the physical structuring of a database be established, but also embedded logic such as stored procedures and triggers further can be incorporated into the database.
Notably, the most advanced of software development tools configured for data modeling and database creation can generate installation scripts based upon the specification of a logical data model and a physical database schema. In this regard, these advanced software development tools can scale the installation of a single database from a single database server to a vast enterprise incorporating scores of database servers and server farms. Moreover, as the number of database designers increases in a data processing application design effort, advanced data modeling tools can coordinate the collaborative effort. Still, even the most advanced data modeling tools lack the functionality for generating installation scripts for more complex scenarios such as where multiple databases sharing similar physical database specifications are to be installed in one or multiple database servers.

Framework for shared physical models in a multi-database installation

International Business Machines Corporation


A system includes a power panel actuation system configured to translate a power panel within a panel connection rack. The power panel actuation system includes an input shaft and a plurality of cams coupled to the input shaft, wherein the plurality of cams is configured to engage with the power panel upon rotation of the input shaft, and the plurality of cams is configured to linearly translate the power panel within the panel connection rack.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to electrical systems, and more specifically, to systems and methods to actuate one or more power panels.
Power panels may contain various electrical components, such as circuit breakers and transfer switches, which connect a power source to a load. These electrical components enable the panel to selectively route electrical current from the power source to the load. For example, a transfer switch may selectively connect the load to a first power source or a second power source. When the first power source is unavailable, the transfer switch may open or close to connect the load to the second power source. Periodic maintenance of the power panel and its components may be desirable in order to maintain the operability of the power panel. To this end, it may be desirable to move, actuate, and/or separate the power panel in order to position the power panel for efficient maintenance. Unfortunately, movement of the power panel may result in rotation or tilting of the panel, thereby decreasing the efficiency of this movement.

System and method for actuation of power panel