A system and method for automatically selecting an encryption, or ciphering, algorithm in a cellular communication network is disclosed. A cellular communication network includes a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) connected to a Base Station Controller (BSC), which is connected to a Mobile services Switching Center (MSC). The BTS is adapted to implement one of at least two different encryption algorithms. The BSC includes a tabular database containing Mobile Country Codes (MCCs) and associated codes corresponding to the allowable encryption algorithm for the MCC. When the BTS is initialized, the BSC's processor retrieves from the tabular database the encryption algorithm code that corresponds to the country in which the BTS resides. This code is transmitted to the BTS, which selects an encryption algorithm based on the value of this code.

The present invention relates to a system and method for automatically selecting an encryption algorithm to comply with the requirements of a particular geographic jurisdiction, and more particularly to a system and method for selecting one of a plurality of encryption algorithms to implement on a Base Transceiver Station (BTS) based on the GSM Mobile Country Code parameter in the network's operating system software.
Public cellular communication networks (public land mobile networks) are commonly employed to provide voice and data communication to a plurality of subscribers drawn from the general population. For example, analog cellular radiotelephone systems, such as AMPS, ETACS, NMT-450, and NMT-900, have been deployed successfully throughout the world. Digital cellular radiotelephone systems such as IS-136 and IS-95 in North America, the Personal Digital Cellular (PDC) system in Japan and the pan-European GSM system have been introduced. Some of these systems, and others, are described, for example, in the book titled Cellular Radio Systems by Balston, et al., published by Artech House, Norwood, Mass., 1993.
Security, and particularly securing the communication channel between a remote terminal and a base station, is an issue common to all cellular networks, regardless of the channel access technique. Cellular communication systems employ security mechanisms to avoid cellular telephone fraud and to secure signaling and conversations from interception. The present invention relates to mechanisms for securing the communication channel between a remote terminal and a base station. While the present invention will be explained primarily with reference to GSM networks, principles of the present invention are fully applicable to networks that employ alternate channel access techniques, e.g., CDMA networks.
Referring to FIG. 1, there is illustrated a Public Land Mobile Network (PLMN), such as cellular network 10, in accordance with a GSM architecture. Cellular network 10 includes at least one, and preferably a plurality of areas 12, each with a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) 14 and an integrated Visitor Location Register (VLR) 16 therein. The MSC/VLR area 12, in turn, include a plurality of Location Areas (LA) 18, which are defined as that part of a given MSC/VLR area 12 in which a remote terminal 20 may move freely without having to send update location information to the MSC/VLR area 12 that controls LA 18. Each Location Area 12 is divided into a number of cells 22. Remote terminal 20 is the physical equipment, e.g., a car phone or other portable phone, used by mobile subscribers to communicate with the cellular network 10, each other and users outside the subscribed network, both wireline and wireless.
The MSC 14 is in communication with at least one Base Station Controller (BSC) 23, which, in turn, is in contact with at least one Base Transceiver Station (BTS) 24, which is the physical equipment, illustrated for simplicity as a radio tower, that provides radio coverage to the geographical area of the cell 22. It will be understood that the BSC 23 may be connected to several BTSs 24 and may be implemented as a stand-alone node or as integrated with the MSC 14. The BSC 23 and BTS 24 components are generally referred to as a Base Station System (BSS) 25.
Cellular network 10 includes a Home Location Register (HLR) 26, which is a database maintaining subscriber information, e.g., user profiles, current location information, International Mobile Subscriber Identity (IMSI) numbers, and other administrative information. The HLR 26 may be co-located with a given MSC 14, an integral part of the MSC 14 or service multiple MSCs 14.
The VLR 16 is a database containing information about all of the remote terminals 20 currently located within the MSC/VLR area 12. If a remote terminal 20 roams into a new MSC/VLR area 12, the VLR 16 connected to that MSC 14 will request data about that remote terminal 20 from the HLR database 26, and will inform the HLR 26 of the current location of the remote terminal 20. Accordingly, if a call is placed from the remote terminal 20, the local VLR 16 will have the information necessary to identify and authenticate remote terminal 20 without launching an inquiry to the HLR 26. In this manner, the VLR and HLR databases 16 and 26, respectively, contain various subscriber information associated with a given remote terminal 20.
Various security features of GSM networks are detailed in GSM Recommendations 02.09, "Security Aspects," 02.17, "Subscriber Identity Modules," 03.20, "Security Related Network Functions," and 03.21, "Security Related Algorithms". Security in GSM consists of the following aspects: subscriber identity authentication, subscriber identity confidentiality, signaling data confidentiality, and user data confidentiality. The present invention is primarily concerned with securing user data confidentiality, and particularly concerned with encryption algorithms for encrypting data transmitted across an air interface between a BTS and a remote terminal.
GSM networks encipher, i.e., encrypt, voice and data transmitted on the communication channel between a remote terminal and a BTS. Voice and data communications between a remote terminal and the network are encrypted through use of an encryption algorithm, referred to in GSM as A5. Encrypted communication is initiated by an encryption mode request command from the GSM network. Upon receipt of this command, the mobile station begins encryption and decryption of data using the A5 encryption algorithm and an encryption key (Kc). Presently, GSM offers two different A5 encryption algorithms: A5/1 and A5/2, which is a weaker version of the A5/1 algorithm.
Many countries consider encryption technology a matter of national security, and regulate the importation and exportation of encryption technology. Some governments forbid network operators from encrypting signals transmitted within their jurisdiction. Other governments permit a weak form of encryption (e.g., A5/2), but prohibit a strong form of encryption (e.g., A5/1). Many governments require communication equipment providers and network operators to certify, under penalty of law, that their equipment complies with the requirements.
Accommodating the various governmental restrictions on encryption technology raises technical issues for cellular network equipment providers and network operators. Equipment providers can produce different product configurations to comply with various different encryption restrictions imposed by different governments. However, this is an inefficient use of design, manufacturing, distribution, and training resources.
Accordingly, there is a need for network systems and methods that comply with the encryption restrictions of various different governments. To promote efficient use of resources, there is a need for network systems capable of implementing one of two or more different encryption algorithms, and automatically selecting one of the encryption algorithms, to comply with a governmental restriction.

Base transceiver station automatic encryption handling


A power take-off unit for a transaxle is provided with a unique double enveloping worm/worm gear transmission which has a ratio of the number of gear teeth on the worm gear to the number of threads on the worm which is low. The worm/worm gear transmission is more compact than conventional bevel gear systems which have typically been used in power take-off unit applications. The worm and worm gear transmission of the present invention also is quieter in operation and has a higher torque capacity than standard bevel gears of comparable size.

Many four-wheel drive vehicles are equipped with a transfer unit which distributes motive power from the powertrain to the front and rear axles in order to drive all of the wheels. For example, in front-wheel drive vehicles, a power take-off unit (PTU) is used to transfer power from the transaxle to the rear driveline. One known type of PTU includes a transfer shaft driven by the transaxle and an intermediate shaft which is driven by the transfer shaft. Typically, the intermediate shaft is provided with a bevel gear which meshingly engages a second bevel gear mounted on the PTU output shaft which drives the rear driveline. A, problem with current bevel-type transfer units is that the bevel gears are large and can generate undesirable noise.
Accordingly, it is desirable in the art of vehicle powertrains to provide an alternative to current transfer units which are smaller and quieter than current designs.
Worm gearsets, otherwise referred to as worm/worm gear transmissions, are known in the mechanical power transmission field. The worm gear is driven by the rotation of the worm with which it meshes. The rotational speed of the associated shaft of the worm gear is a function of the number of teeth on the worm gear and the number of threads on the worm. The worm may be single or multiple threaded. Conventional worm/worm gear transmissions have a worm gear with at least 24 teeth. In particular, the American National Standard "Design of Industrial Double-Enveloping Wormgears" (ANSI/AGMA-6030-C87) recommends 24 as the minimum number of gear teeth. Furthermore, the enveloping angle of known worm gears for one revolution of the thread of the worm is not more than 15 degrees. Moreover, standard double enveloping worm/worm gear transmissions have been used only for ratios of five and more. Due to such high ratios, it has been considered impractical to use the worm gear as the driven member and the worm as the driving member to transfer power from the worm gear to the worm.


The improved structures of floorboard include a groove located in the underside of the floorboard, and a fixing block having a flange dimensioned to fit into the groove of the floorboard. The fixing block has a bottom portion intended to anchor in the cement foundation. The fixing block can be made to join with an elastic floor frame fastened to the cement floor. The floorboard can be conveniently and economically fastened to the cement foundation in various forms by means of the fixing block which is detachably fastened to the floorboard.

The present invention relates to a floorboard, and more particularly to a floorboard so designed as to facilitate quick installation and easy fitting of such floorboard.
The current trend of interior decoration is such that the old-fashioned indoor floors, such as a cement floor, a plastic floor, a ceramic floor and so forth, are gradually replaced by a high-quality and handsome wood floor or wooden floor. Accordingly, the methods used to furnish the floor have been so improved as to meet the requirements of the modern construction technology. The current methods of furnishing the floor include: 1. the floorboards are adhered to the ground directly; 2. the ground is furnished with the corner boards onto which the floorboards are nailed; 3. the ground is furnished with the corner boards onto which the plywoods are nailed before the floorboards are finally furnished. Such methods as described above have shortcomings, which are further expounded explicitly hereinafter.
The first method described above is fast and economical. However, the floorboards and the ground are not securely fastened and centered. The adhesive used in this method is subjected to the moisture which is often responsible for the adhesive to lose its adhesion. In addition, the aging adhesive tends to peel off the floorboards having inconsistent coefficients of contraction and expansion.
The second method of employing the corner boards may serve to overcome the shortcomings of the first method described above. However, the second method is defective in that the floorboards must be of appropriate length, and that the cost of furnishing such floor is relatively high, and further that such floor tends to make noise when walked on, and still further that the open space between the floor and the ceiling is made smaller in view of the fact that the floor level is raised by the corner boards onto which the floorboards are nailed.
The third method described above is costly. However, the floorboards of shorter length may be used in this method, because the floorboards are attached to the plywoods which in turn are nailed to the corner boards. In addition, the floor furnished by the third method also tends to make noise when walked on.


The invention relates to an apparatus for electrolytic purification, comprising:                (a) a pressure vessel having at least one access opening, at least one fluid flow inlet, and at least one fluid flow outlet, wherein the fluid flow inlet and fluid flow outlet are in fluid communication with a chamber inside the pressure vessel;        (b) an removable electrode assembly, at least a portion of which is disposed within the chamber inside the pressure vessel, comprising:                    a plurality of substantially parallel spaced planar electrodes,            an electrical coupling between the electrode plates and a voltage source, and            a radially extending circumferential sealing plate substantially normal to the planes of the electrodes, disposed near the electrical coupling, adapted to prevent fluid flow from the chamber to the electrical coupling;                        (c) a removable locking ring, comprising:                    a proximal portion adapted to removably attach to the access opening of the pressure vessel and retain the radially extending circumferential sealing plate of the electrode assembly against the pressure vessel access opening.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to an apparatus for purifying water by electrolytic purification, wherein the electrode used to create the electrolytic reaction is easily replaceable.
2. Description of the Related Art
Electrolytic purification of water has been carried out for some time. The process involves the purification of water that is saline, i.e., that has some concentration of halide ion in it. For instance, in many swimming pools in Australia, where electrolytic purification of pool water is currently more popular than in the United States, a slight salinity level is achieved by dissolution of quantities of sodium chloride into the pool water. The water, with its dissolved halide ion, is passed through an electrolytic cell. The halide ions are oxidized by electrolysis to form hypohalic acid, hypohalite ions, or both (believed to occur through the intermediate of molecular halogen), which have known utility in disinfecting water (and whose use is typically known as "chlorinating" the water). In addition, the electrolysis reaction converts water into hydrogen and oxygen; some of the oxygen is converted further into ozone, which also has a disinfecting effect on the pool water.
Electrolytic purification is desirable because it is safe, effective, and for applications such as swimming pools, hot tubs, spas, etc., it eliminates much of the need for the pool owner or operator to handle chemicals and monitor water chemistry. The salinity levels necessary to achieve effective chlorination levels are typically well below the organoleptic thresholds in humans, and the primary chemical required to be handled by the operator is a simple alkali metal halide salt. In addition, operation of the electrolytic cell is comparatively easy, and requires little attention beyond ensuring the proper current and voltage levels are set, and maintaining the correct salinity levels in the water.
One of the disadvantages associated with electrolytic purification is the cost of the electrolytic cell, as well as the cost of replacement electrodes, which can corrode, become fouled with scale and the like or otherwise become inactivated over time. These costs are primarily driven by the size of the electrodes, which are typically constructed from titanium coated with platinum or ruthenium. Electrodes having a surface area sufficient to generate adequate chlorine levels represent a significant portion of the cost of installing and maintaining an electrolytic purification system. In addition, electrolytic cell life is limited due to the current density through the cell over time.
One approach to minimizing these issues is to combine electrolytic purification with other purification techniques, as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,761,827. However, many pools and spas continue to use electrolytic purification as the sole or primary purification technique. For these systems, eventually the electrode will corrode to the point where replacement is desirable and necessary. There remains a need in the art for an electrolytic purification system wherein the electrode cartridge is easily replaceable, where replacement will not compromise the water-tight, pressure resistant nature of the system, and where good electrical connections are obtained with the replacement cartridge.

Replaceable chlorinator electrode assembly


In a high voltage generator including a flyback transformer having a low-voltage coil and a high-voltage coil, a first switching element is disposed in a current path between a drive power source, the low-voltage coil and ground. The first switching element is turned on and off so as to charge and discharge a resonance capacitor, thereby generating flyback pulses. An output voltage of the high-voltage coil is detected. A peak value of the flyback pulse is controlled based on the detected output voltage so as to stabilize the output voltage of the high-voltage coil. A second switching element is located in the current path between the drive power source, the low-voltage coil and ground. The second switching element is turned on the moment the first switching element is turned off, thereby transferring electrical energy stored in the low-voltage coil to the resonance capacitor. After the transfer of the electric energy, a charging capacitor is charged by an inverse current flowing from the resonance capacitor to the drive power source.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a high voltage generator which boots flyback pulses (collector pulses) so as to obtain a high voltage to be supplied to an anode of a cathode ray tube.
2. Description of the Related Art
Usually, a high voltage generator supplies a high voltage in the order of tens of kilovolts, to an anode of a cathode ray tube in a television receiver, a display, or the like. The high voltage generator obtains such a high voltage by boosting and rectifying flyback pulses generated in a horizontal output circuit. A flyback transformer is used to boost the flyback pulses.
There is currently available a high voltage generator which includes a deflection yoke unit at a low-voltage coil side of the flyback transformer. In this arrangement, flyback pulses are used to obtain a sawtooth deflection current to be applied to the deflection yoke unit.
Such a high voltage generator often suffers from a problem that correction of the high output voltage adversely affects the operation of a circuit in the deflection yoke unit. Specifically, a voltage is applied to compensate for a drop in the high voltage so as to stabilize the high voltage, which adversely affects the deflection yoke circuit.
Recently, there has been proposed a circuit configuration in which the high voltage generator and the deflection yoke circuit are independent of each other so as to prevent interference between them. In such a configuration, the flyback pulses are generated in synchronization with the period of a horizontal deflection current from a horizontal output circuit.
FIG. 16 of the accompanying drawings shows one example of the foregoing high voltage generators. This circuit is disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Hei 2-222374 corresponding to U.S. Pat. No. 5,019,953, and generates flyback pulses in synchronization with horizontal drive signals HD of a horizontal output circuit, rectifying the flyback pulses so as to obtain a high output voltage.
In the circuit, a peak value of the flyback pulses boosted by the flyback transformer is controlled by controlling the on-time of a transistor 1. Assume that an on-time 1a is changed to an on-time 1b (as shown in FIG. 17(b)), i.e. the on-time 1a is lengthened. In this case, a collector current of an output transistor 4 flowing during an off-time of the transistor 1 (i.e. a closed loop current flowing via a diode 2, a low-voltage coil of the flyback transformer and the output transistor 4 and returning to the diode 2) becomes large as shown in FIG. 17(c), so that the peak value of the flyback pulses applied to the low-voltage coil also becomes large as shown in FIG. 17(a). On the contrary, when the on-time of the transistor 1 is shortened from 1a to 1c as shown in FIG. 17(b), a small collector current flows via the transistor 4 during the off-time of the transistor 1 (as shown in FIG. 17(c)), thereby leading to a reduced peak value of the flyback pulses (as shown in FIG. 17(a)).
Therefore, the peak value of the flyback (collector) pulses depends upon the on-period of the pulse signal to be applied to the base of the transistor 1. The on-period of the pulse signal is determined by the timing to turn off the transistor 1.
As described above, the high voltage generator boosts the collector pulses in the flyback transformer, and rectifies them in a rectifier so as to obtain a high output voltage. The generated high output voltage is detected by a high output voltage detecting circuit. Then, the on-time of the pulse control signal is controlled based on the detected results, thereby stabilizing the high voltage by compensating for a drop therein.
However, a large amount energy is required for the flyback operation, which means that a large collector current flows through the transistor 4. The large collector current is consumed by element such as the diode 2, the low-voltage coil of the flyback transformer and the transistor 4 in the closed loop and is transformed to the heat. Therefore, this closed loop current may be one of the factors which reduces the circuit efficiency.
The transistor 1 is switched on and off during the scanning operation of the television receiver or display unit. Noises caused by the switching of the transistor 1 may distort a raster appearing on the screen of television receiver or display unit.
When compensating for the voltage drop, the generator circuit conventionally operates to reduce the output voltage as compared with the voltage before the compensation, so that an input voltage at a power source +B and a boost ratio of the flyback transformer have to be large. This means that electronic components in the generator circuit are subject to a large load.


This invention relates, in part, to macrolide compounds, actinomycete strains for producing them, and pharmaceutical compositions containing them.

In one aspect, this invention relates to neuroprotective and neuroregenerative compositions and derivatives and analogs thereof. More specifically, the invention relates to actinomycete strains for production of the neuroprotective and neuroregenerative compositions, pharmaceutical compositions containing the neuroprotective and neuroregenerative compositions and analogs, methods of making the neuroprotective and neuroregenerative compositions and methods of use thereof.
Immunophilins are proteins found in the immune systems and nervous systems of various cell types, e.g., bacteria, yeast, and a number of different types of mammalian cells. Classes of immunophilins include cyclophilins and FK506-binding proteins (e.g., FKBPs). Cyclosporin A is a macrolide immunophilin ligand that binds to cyclophilins. Other macrolide immunophilin ligands, such as meridamycin, FK506, and rapamycin, are understood to bind to FKBPs.
One way to describe intracellular functions of immunophilins is by identification of their enzymatic activity. Functions of FKBPs, for example, can be described in terms of their rotamase (i.e., petidy-prolyl cis-trans isomerase) activity.
FK506 and rapamycin are immunosuppressive immunophilin ligands. Meridamycin, on the other hand, is non-immunosuppressive. Salituro, et al., Tetrahedron Letters, Vol. 36, No. 7, 997–1000 (1995). In fact, meridamycin is an antagonist of both FK506 and rapamycin. (WO 94/18207).
Other non-immunosuppressive immunophilins are described by Steiner et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,500,843) who discuss using neurotrophic pipecolic acid derivative compounds having an affinity for FKBP-type immunophilins as inhibitors of the enzyme activity associated with immunophilin proteins, and particularly inhibitors of peptidyl-prolyl isomerase or rotamase enzyme activity to stimulate or promote neuronal growth or regeneration.
Meridamycin has been identified for uses such as an antidote for an overdose of macrophilin-binding-immunosuppressants such as FK506 or rapamycin, a steroid potentiator, and/or an anti-infective agent for infections or infectious diseases caused by organisms producing MIP (macrophage infectivity potentiator) or Mip-like factors. (WO 94/18207). In addition, meridamycin may be useful in the treatment of inflammatory/hyperproliferative skin diseases. (WO 94/18207).
It is desirable to find compounds that are neurotrophic, e.g., neuroprotective and/or neuroregenerative. A need exists in the art to provide compounds, and therapeutic drugs comprising such compounds.

Macrolides and methods for producing same


Systems and methods for a dimmable user interface. A user interface is simultaneously displayed with video content or other data in the same window of a display device. The user interface has a level of transparency that is user adjustable. The user can thus make the user interface either more or less visible with respect to the video content. At the same time, the video content is correspondingly made less or more visible. Each item included in the user interface may also have a level of transparency that can be adjusted independently of the level of transparency of the user interface.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a dimmable user interface. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems, methods and computer program products for selectively dimming a user interface to allow for simultaneous display of the user interface with other content and more particularly to simultaneously displaying the user interface and a television program in the same window.
2. Background and Relevant Art
Today, people are able to access and surf the Internet using, for example, a television set and a set top box. These set top boxes typically require minimal computer knowledge yet they provide users with many of the same advantages that are attainable over traditional computers. A user can send and receive email messages, engage in instant messaging, chat, and surf the web using a set top box coupled with a display device such as a television set.
By connecting to the Internet through a computer or other processing device such as a set top box, users are able to perform many different functions. A user, for example, can check the traffic reports, view the latest news developments, print articles, shop, order tickets, listen to radio stations, view movie trailers, and the like. Users are often only restricted to the speed of their connection with the Internet.
Set top boxes, however, are not limited to providing users with access to the Internet. Some set top boxes, for instance, have the ability to digitally record television programs, which gives users flexibility regarding the television programs that they view. Programs are often recorded using electronic program guide (EPG) data that can be searched and viewed by the user. Once a program is identified from the EPG data, the set top box can be instructed to record that program. In addition to recording programs, set top boxes also permit users to set reminders, quickly retrieve recorded programs, fast forward through recorded programs, and other features that provide users with control over what they want to watch on the television set.
Another advantage of some set top boxes is the ability to let users directly interact with certain, enabled programs. For example, users may be able to participate with their favorite game shows, see local weather conditions during the weather forecast, access sports statistics during sporting events, research breaking news stories during the news hour, and the like while watching television. Set top boxes combine television programming with Internet data to provide more informative and entertaining television.
In spite of all the advantages provided by of set top boxes, providing interactive television is not without problems. Generally stated, the screen area of display devices becomes a scare resource when it is shared between multiple applications. In other words, the ability to display television programs and other content such as Internet data including interactive content must be balanced on the screen of the television set. This problem is significant because most people enjoy the advantages and functionality provided by set top boxes and do not want to turn those features off in order to watch a television program on a full screen.
Displaying data or other content associated with interactive television or with other set top box applications simultaneously with a television program limits the space that is available for displaying the television program. In other words, the television picture is minimized into a defined window and that small window is surrounded with interactive television controls or other content. As more interactive controls or content are added to the screen, the size of the television window will necessarily become smaller. At some threshold, the television window will still be visible, but watching television may not be enjoyable for the user. In this case, the user is faced with a choice. The user will either watch television in a small window or forego some of the advantages provided by the user interface that surrounds the small window.
Another approach is to provide a translucent overlay on top of a full screen television window that appears and disappears at the user's direction. In this case, the user's ability to view television is often distracted by the translucent overlay. Alternatively, the user can turn the overlay off and thus lose the advantages of interactive television, for example. For example, a user may be watching a sporting event while the overlay displays data related to other events. If the user turns the overlay off, then the user will not be able to interact with the sporting event. Alternatively, the overlay may interfere with the user's enjoyment and view of the current television program.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


An optical disc drive apparatus may include an optical pickup that moves along a transportation shaft provided along a radial direction of an optical disc and picks up reflected light after emitting an optical beam via an objective lens to the optical disc; a drive section that controls the objective lens to adjust an angle of the optical beam; an angular velocity detection section that detects an angular velocity around the transportation shaft; storage means for storing coefficients from which the skew of the optical disc around a virtual axis perpendicular to the transportation shaft is calculated using the angular velocity; a skew estimation section that calculates a skew estimate value by multiplying the coefficient by the angular velocity; and a drive signal generation section that generates a drive signal based on the skew estimate value to enable the drive section to adjust the angle of the optical beam.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical disc drive apparatus and servo control method for optical disc drive apparatus, and is preferably applied to an optical disc drive apparatus that supports a high density recording optical disc such as "Blu-ray Disc (Registered Trademark)", for example.
2. Description of Related Art
An optical disc drive apparatus rotates an optical disc at high speed to record or reproduce information from the optical disc. Since the optical disc drive apparatus precisely performs a focus control and a tracking control for an optical pickup, a laser light from the optical pickup is precisely emitted to a track on a signal recording surface of the optical disc.
Some optical disc drive apparatuses are designed to emit, from the optical pickup, the laser light to the signal recording surface of the optical disc at an appropriate angle. Accordingly, its tilt actuator performs a tilt control to correct the angular displacement of an objective lens of the optical pickup with respect to the optical disc.
For example, Patent Document 1 (see Jpn. Pat. Laid-open Publication No. 2002-92919 [Page 4]) discloses an optical disc drive apparatus which performs a tilt control: The optical disc drive apparatus detects the acceleration of an external force against its body and then detects a radial tilt based on a distance from the center of the optical disc to a point where the laser light is emitted, a rotation speed of the optical disc and the acceleration.

Optical disc drive apparatus and servo control method for optical disc drive apparatus


A method, for repairing a discrepant weld in a workpiece arrangement including at least two workpieces, comprising positioning a mechanical intermediary adjacent the discrepant weld and inserting the intermediary through the discrepant weld and into at least a distal workpiece of the two workpieces, wherein upon insertion, a proximate surface of the intermediary is exposed at a proximate side of the workpiece arrangement. The method further includes delivering weld energy to the intermediary. The intermediary is configured, and the weld energy provided, so that energy passes through the intermediary in a pre-determined manner. Energy passing through the intermediary in the pre-determined manner generates heat in material of the workpieces causing the material to melt at an arrangement interface. The method further comprises allowing or causing the material melted to cool, wherein the melted material, when cooled, forms and/or strengthens a robust joint connecting the workpieces.

In automotive manufacturing, polymeric composites are being used increasingly due to favorable characteristics including being lightweight, highly-conformable or shapeable, strong, and durable. Some composites are further colorable and can be finished to have most any desired texture or finish.
Increased use in automobiles includes, for instance, in instrument and door panels, lamps, air ducts, steering wheels, upholstery, truck beds or other vehicle storage compartments, upholstery, external parts, and even engine components. Regarding engine components, and other under-the-hood (or, UTH) applications, for instance, polymers are configured, and being developed continuously, that can withstand environments being hot and/or chemically-aggressive.
Regarding external parts, such as fenders, polymers are being developed to have online paintability and high heat and chemical resistance over longer periods of time.
Many other potential uses for polymers and, particularly polymeric composites, in automotive applications continue to be developed.
With this trend, finding ways to efficiently and effectively join polymer components is becoming progressively important. Compression molding and post-mold joining techniques—e.g., ultrasonic welding—are being used more commonly, for instance.
In ultrasonic welding, two workpieces are joined, wherein one or both includes a polymeric composite or other polymer. With reference to the figures, and more particularly the first figure, FIG. 1 shows schematically a conventional ultrasonic welding arrangement for joining two workpieces 102, 104 using a welding tool 106.
The tool 106 includes multiple parts, such as an arm 108 and an ultrasonic vibration applicator, or horn 110. The arm 108 is connected to other components, such as a pneumatic or servo actuator (not shown in detail) for controlling vertical displacement of the horn 110.
For welding, components of the tooling 106 are moved to a proximate workpiece 102 of the two workpieces as indicated by arrow 112.
For the ultrasound technique, the workpieces 102, 104 are held together between the horn 110 and an under structure 114, such as an anvil. The pieces 102, 104 are maintained under pressure while ultrasonic vibrations are applied to pieces for the welding.
The vibrations create frictional heat, initially at faying interfaces (i.e., tool-to-workpiece, workpiece-to-workpiece), and then intermocular friction in the composite material, causing the material to melt. When the melting occurs at the interface 116, the workpieces are joined there by molecular bonds (e.g., fusion or covalent bonds) of the molten material.
Sometimes, flawed, or discrepant welds are formed. A discrepant weld, generally, is any weld differing undesirably from a target weld configuration. A common flaw is that a weld is undersized, or otherwise less robust than desired. In one scenario, a discrepant weld can, for instance, not reach the inter-piece interface 116 as needed for joining the workpieces 102, 104 together robustly.
In another scenario, a discrepant weld reaches the inter-part interface 116, but does not bridge the interface 116 as needed for joining the 102, 104 workpieces together robustly.
In the example of FIG. 3, the weld 202 barely reaches the interface 116, and does not connect robustly to the distal workpiece 104.
FIG. 2 shows a subsequent stage 200 of the arrangement wherein the horn 110 provides welding energy 202—e.g., high-frequency (HF) acoustic vibrations—to the workpieces 102, 104. As with the downward force 112 indicated in FIG. 1, a downward force 206 may be applied in connection with the operation of FIG. 2. A molten workpiece material nugget 204 begins to form, in response to the heating adjacent the horn 110, as the vibration is transmitted from the horn into the workpiece 102.
FIG. 3 shows the arrangement, after the erred welding in which the insufficient, or discrepant, weld 300 is formed. There are many factors that can contribute to the weld 300 being insufficient. For instance, workpiece material may be contaminated, one or both of the workpieces may be overly-thick, one or both workpieces may be improperly positioned or not held robustly and so moving (due, e.g., to improper or malfunctioning fixture), improper process variables [e.g., frequency, amplitude, clamping force, or time (e.g., insufficient time)], and/or other conditions may be present.
FIG. 3 shows the weld horn 106 being withdrawn from the newly completed, but insufficient, weld 300.
FIG. 4 shows an example sufficient, desired, weld 400. The weld 400 bridges the inter-piece gap 116 significantly, joining the pieces 102, 104 robustly.
With continued reference to the discrepant weld 300 (FIG. 3), an attempt to simply re-weld the weld 300, using the same tooling and process, would be ineffective at least because sufficient frictional heat will likely not be able to be generated again at the same faying interfaces of the workpiece, as modified, for re-welding. More particularly, the workpiece structure, especially at a surface or perimeter of the previously-welded zone, would have become too constraint to generate sufficient welding heat again.
Attempting to repair a weld 300 by adding additional welds around it is also usually not practical due to limited space, material, time, and energy, as well as for cosmetic considerations.
A surely undesirable alternative is to scrap the workpieces 102, 104 in which the discrepant weld 300 is formed.
Hypothetically, some workpieces improperly joined could be recycled, somehow, but resources would need to be dedicated to determining whether parts can be recycled, recycling the parts that can be, and handling the parts that cannot.
Yet another alternative is conventional mechanical fastening of the workpieces 102, 104 together instead of welding, or after a partial weld has been identified. The workpieces can be screwed together, or connected by nuts and bolts, for instance. These connections have shortcomings including possible lack of durability and mechanical strength. The connection may not be robust due to the fastener connecting to already insufficient joint material. Another shortcoming is that the fastener may need to be threaded in order to maintain connection to the workpiece material over time, and the threading may be insufficient for connecting to some materials, such as metal or polymeric composites.

Apparatus and methods for repairing discrepant welds using a specially-designed mechanical intermediary


The guide head for heavy rolls includes a bracket, a nonrotatable trunnion formed with three parts each having a respective outer surface, a rotatable hollow guide formed with a an annular surface, a radial bearing spaced radially inwardly from the inner surface of the guide and forming therewith a an annular clearance receiving an elastic O-ring capable of deforming under the load mounted on the guide.

Guide heads are used in winding machines for winding or unwinding of winding rolls consisting of paper or cardboard webs, for holding the winding rolls during winding or unwinding operation. Two guide heads, freely rotatably or drivably supported in the winding machine (e.g in winding brackets) are introduced on each side into the winding core of the winding roll.
If the winding rolls are not supported during winding and unwinding, e.g. by a support or bearing cylinder, in the case of particularly heavy winding rolls the intrinsic weight of the roll can cause the bending of the cores, which are usually made of cardboard, in the area between the two guide heads, causing roll defects. In this case the roll turns slightly eccentrically in the core area, resulting in restoring forces during rotation, which lead to displacements in the wound-up layers. These displacements in the wound-up layers can cause bursting or crinkling in the core area.
From DE 25 26 497-B1 a generic grip head mounted to the end of a drivable shaft is known, which consists of a guide part and a torque-transmitting part. The guide part comprises a hub nonrotatably connected to the shaft end, with a cylindrical, slightly spherical surface, surrounded by a bearing sleeve. At its one end close to the shaft end, the bearing sleeve has circumferentially distributed axial slots in order to be able to perform inclinations, so that its peripheral surface can follow the flexing of the winding core. The second part nonrotatably connected to the guide part comprises a segmented sleeve with multiple axial slots and with pressure elements, pushing the segments radially to the outside when the segmented sleeve is rotated, so that torque can be transmitted. With respect to the second part, the first part has radial play and can be inclined, so that it can adjust to the alignment of the core. Due to the adjustment of the two parts to the flexing of the winding core, the strain exerted on the ends of the winding core is reduced.
This grip head of a very expensive construction with radially expanding grip segments is designed for the transmission of torque. The guide part is nonrotatably mounted on the driven shaft, which for this reason requires an expensive pivoting support arrangement in the winding machine.


An anti-lock brake control system capable of performing optimal control of braking hydraulic pressure in a motor vehicle having four wheels while preventing brake application from being released by setting an optimal pseudo vehicle speed by effectively making use of the wheel speeds of four wheels in arithmetic determination of a pseudo vehicle speed on a wheel basis. The anti-lock brake control system includes wheel speed detector (101a to 101d) for detecting rotation speeds of four wheels, respectively, reference wheel speed arithmetic calculators (102a to 102d) for setting limits on the wheel speed of the wheels in consideration of positional relations of the wheels relative to one wheel of concern to thereby determine a reference wheel speed, and pseudo vehicle speed arithmetic calculators (103a to 103d) for arithmetically determining the pseudo vehicle speed on the basis of the reference wheel speed.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an anti-lock brake control system for controlling braking hydraulic pressure for brake application to a plurality of wheels of a motor vehicle on a wheel-by-wheel basis. More particularly, the invention is concerned with an anti-lock brake control system for arithmetically determining a pseudo vehicle speed on the basis of wheel rotation speeds corrected in consideration of operating states of the individual wheels.
2. Description of Related Art
As a hitherto known system for arithmetically determining a pseudo vehicle speed, there may be mentioned, by way of example, a slip control system for a motor vehicle which is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 329009/1994 (JP-A-6-329009) and which includes a wheel speed detecting means for detecting wheel speeds of individual wheels, a pseudo vehicle speed arithmetic means for calculating a pseudo vehicle speed on the basis of the wheel speeds detected by the wheel speed detecting means, and a brake application pressure regulating means for decreasing or lowering the brake application pressure applied to the wheel when the rotation speed thereof falls within a predetermined slip or skid range (indicating locked state of the wheel), to thereby prevent the wheel from being locked and allow the stopping distance to be shortened to a possible minimum.
For having better understanding of the invention, the background art thereof will be reviewed in some detail by referring to FIG. 18 of the accompanying drawings which shows in a flow chart a conventional method of arithmetically determining a pseudo vehicle speed. Referring to the figure, wheel speeds Vfr, Vfl, Vrr and Vrl of a front right wheel, front left wheel, rear right wheel and a rear left wheel, respectively, of a motor vehicle are arithmetically determined by wheel speed detecting devices (not shown) in a step S91 Subsequently, in a step S92, a first pseudo vehicle speed Vr1 is arithmetically determined on the basis of a higher one of the wheel speeds of the front left wheel and the rear left wheel In a succeeding step S93, a second pseudo vehicle speed Vr2 is calculated on the basis of a higher one of the wheel speeds of the front right wheel and the rear right wheel. Additionally, a third pseudo vehicle speed Vr3 is determined on the basis of the highest one of the wheel speeds of all the four wheels in a step S94
Subsequently, the third pseudo vehicle speed Vr3 is corrected by using a value obtained by subtracting a correcting quantity k (k>0) from the third pseudo vehicle speed Vr3 in a step 95, where the correcting value k represents a value which corresponds to a difference in the rotation speed between the wheels located at inner and outer sides, respectively, as viewed in a turning direction when the motor vehicle is turned. In a step S96, the first pseudo vehicle speed Vr1 and the third pseudo vehicle speed Vr3 corrected are compared with each other to thereby determine the higher pseudo vehicle speed as the left-side pseudo vehicle speed Vrfl.
Similarly, the second pseudo vehicle speed Vr2 is compared with the third pseudo vehicle speed Vr3 corrected in the manner mentioned above, to thereby determine the higher pseudo vehicle speed as the right-side pseudo vehicle speed Vrfr. On the basis of the two pseudo vehicle speeds Vrfl and Vrfr as obtained, magnitudes of slips of the two wheels located at the left side of the motor vehicle, as viewed forwardly in the moving direction of the motor vehicle, are arithmetically determined on the basis of the left-side pseudo vehicle speed and the relevant wheel speeds. Similarly, magnitudes of slips of the two wheels located at the right side are calculated on the basis of the right-side pseudo vehicle speed Vrfr and the relevant wheel speeds.
As is apparent from the above description, according to the pseudo vehicle speed calculating method adopted in the conventional slip control apparatus for the motor vehicle known heretofore, the right-side pseudo vehicle speed is so selected or determined as to be at least equal to or higher than the higher one of the wheel speeds of the right-side front and rear wheels. Similarly, the left-side pseudo vehicle speed is so selected as to be higher than or at least equal to the higher one of the wheel speeds of the left-side front and rear wheels.
Under the circumstances, in the case of a motor vehicle in which the driving wheels are operatively coupled to an internal combustion engine by means of a drive shaft so that driving torque is transmitted to each driving wheel from the engine, there may occur such situation that the wheel speed becomes higher than the actual vehicle speed. Furthermore, when the rotation speed of one of the right and left driving wheels operatively coupled to each other by means of a differential mechanism such as a differential gear decreases or sinks steeply, then the rotation speed of the other wheel hops or increases steeply, which may possibly result in the wheel speed increasing beyond the vehicle speed.
For the reasons mentioned above, the pseudo vehicle speed may also increase beyond the actual vehicle speed when the speed of the first wheel increases or rises steeply. Consequently, when the pseudo vehicle speed is arithmetically determined on the basis of the steeply increased wheel speed, the pseudo vehicle speed as calculated increases steeply as well. Additionally, the pseudo vehicle speed determined for the wheel located at the same side or in a same row as the wheel whose speed increase steeply will equally increases. Consequently, when the slip is determined on the basis of the pseudo vehicle speed mentioned above, magnitude of the slip or skid as determined tends to become greater than the actual slip (skid).
Furthermore, when a steering handle of the motor vehicle is rotated over a wide angular range at a high rate while applying the brake upon turning of the motor vehicle, there may arise difference in the rotation speed between the front wheel and the rear wheel which are located at the outer side as viewed in the turning direction of the motor vehicle. Besides, because the pseudo vehicle speed is the same for both the front wheel and the rear wheel when the motor vehicle runs at a speed equal to the pseudo vehicle speed, magnitude of the slip as calculated becomes greater than that of the slip actually taking place.
As will now be appreciated from the above, when the pseudo vehicle speed is higher than the wheel speed of the individual wheels and thus when the magnitude of the slip or skid which is equivalent to the difference between the pseudo vehicle speed as calculated and the wheel speed is greater than that of the slip or skid actually occurring, the braking hydraulic pressure tends to be reduced excessively upon brake operation in an effort to prevent the slip from becoming large, which in turn means that the brake performance of the motor vehicle is degraded, giving rise to a problem that the stopping distance of the motor vehicle increases undesirably

Anti-lock brake control system for motor vehicle


A cartridge (1) for controlled brewing of loose-leaf tea in a cup, comprising an infusion chamber (2) for containing loose tea leaves (3) and infusing a liquid with substances from the tea leaves to brew tea. A chamber wall (20) impervious to the liquid defines the infusion chamber. In the chamber wall is a passage (21) between the infusion chamber and an exterior (5) thereof. The passage has an open state in which the infusion chamber is in liquid communication with the exterior, to transport the substances from the infusion chamber into liquid in the exterior during brewing tea. In a close state the infusion chamber inside is closed off from liquid in the exterior to stop a concentration of the substances in the liquid in the exterior from increasing. A manual control manually controllable by a human-being allows to bring the passage from the open state into the closed state.

Solutions for the preparation of hot beverages are known, as well as the preparation of hot beverages. However, although proposals have been made in the prior art until today no solutions for the preparation of loose leaf tea have been made available on the market and the proposed solutions are unsatisfactory. This also applies to the preparation of other beverages.
For example, United States patent application publication US20060226147 discloses a disposable lid for a cup which provides for use of a beverage bag unit comprising a beverage bag and a drawstring connected to the beverage bag. The lid comprises a flange for attachment to a cup and a body unit comprising a body section including an aperture through which the drawstring is slideable, and at least one wing member operable to allow a user to squeeze and/or hold the beverage bag when in a raised position.
However, to control the strength of the tea the bag has to be removed from the cup. This is cumbersome and results in a messy situation where the user is confronted with a wet beverage bag. Although the beverage can be squeezed out of the beverage bag to prevent dripping, still the beverage bag will be wet after taking out and thus risks a messy situation.

Cartridge, assembly and cup for preparing loose leaf tea and method of preparing tea


Provided is a sputtering target containing 0.05 at % or more of Bi, and having a total content of metal oxides of from 10 vol % to 70 vol %, the balance containing at least Ru.

A magnetic recording medium such as a perpendicular magnetic recording medium that records magnetism in a direction perpendicular to a recording surface may be formed of a plurality of layers comprised of a recording layer including an upper recording layer and a lower recording layer, and other layers. Each of these layers is sputtered on a substrate using a sputtering target corresponding to each layer to form each film sequentially, in which a sputtering target having metal phases comprised of metals mainly based on Co and oxide phases containing a certain metal oxide may be used. Examples of such a sputtering target include those described in Patent Documents 1 to 4.
Here, a recent recording layer employs a so-called ECC (Exchange-Coupled Composite) medium in which a ferromagnetic oxide layer based on Co and containing an oxide and an exchange-coupled control layer using a granular film based on Co and Ru or based on Ru and containing an oxide are alternately formed. In order to improve separation between magnetic particles in the recording layer, an onset layer of a granular film which is nonmagnetic, based on Co and Ru or Ru and contains an oxide is also used between an intermediate layer based on Ru and a lowermost portion of the recording layer using a ferromagnetic layer based on Co and containing an oxide. Such layers are described in Patent Documents 1 to 4, for example. The granular film used for these exchange coupled control layer and onset layer requires characteristics of promoting higher crystal orientation of the magnetic particles in the ferromagnetic oxide layer formed on an upper portion of the granular layer and good separation between the magnetic particles.
As used herein, the ferromagnetic oxide layer refers to a layer having a saturation magnetization of about 400 emu/cc or more at room temperature, and the exchange coupled control layer and the onset layer refer to layers having a saturation magnetization of about 300 emu/cc or less at room temperature (see Patent Document 3).
Such layers are generally formed by a sputtering target obtained by further adding a metal oxide such as SiO2, TiO2 and B2O3 to a material based Co and Ru or Ru and containing a non-magnetic metal such as Pt and Cr, in order to provide improved magnetic orientation of the CoPt magnetic grains in the ferromagnetic oxide layer formed on the upper portion while making it non-magnetic. Also, a recording layer capable of maintaining high-density recording bits is formed by simultaneously sputtering metal oxides such as SiO2, TiO2, and B2O3 and filling magnetic inter-particles with the sputtering metal oxides to form a so-called granular structure, thereby weakening exchange coupling between the magnetic particles.

Sputtering target, granular film and perpendicular magnetic recording medium


A method according to one embodiment may include communicating, by an expander device, with at least one initiator engine using at least a first communication protocol and at least one target storage device using at least a second communication protocol. The method of this embodiment may also include translating, by the expander device, between first commands transmitted using the first communication protocol and second commands transmitted using the second communication protocol. Of course, many alternatives, variations, and modifications are possible without departing from this embodiment.

In one conventional data storage arrangement, a computer node includes a host bus adapter (HBA). The HBA communicates with a data storage system via one or more communication links using a communication protocol associated with the one or more links. Target devices in the data storage system may include devices that communicate using different communication protocols. In at least one conventional data storage arrangement, a communication protocol used by the HBA is incompatible with one or more target storage devices, and thus, the target storage device may not be able to fully take advantage of the communications protocol offered by the HBA. Thus, conventional data storage systems may limit the number of device types capable of taking advantage of the communications protocol offered by the HBA.
Although the following Detailed Description will proceed with reference being made to illustrative embodiments, many alternatives, modifications, and variations thereof will be apparent to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended that the claimed subject matter be viewed broadly, and be defined only as set forth in the accompanying claims.

Expander device capable of communication protocol translation


A sprayer of an elongated shape receives a desired liquid from an outside urce and spray-applies the liquid onto a fiber in response to motivating force provided by pressurized gas. The unsprayed, virgin fiber enters the sprayer through an inlet hole, is sprayed on with the liquid as it travels the width of the sprayer and exits the sprayer as a sprayed fiber through an exit hole. The pressure of the motivating gas can be varied to provide the optimum jettisoning force for a selected liquid, taking into consideration the viscosity, volatility and other pertinent characteristics of the liquid.

In the Fiber Optic Guided Missile (FOG-M) and other Fiber Optic Guided Vehicles (FOG-V'S), the fiber optic dispenser is a critical component. The fiber optic dispenser, once fabricated, must be able to retain its original, wound configuration during the storage period prior to actual use which period can be as long as 10 years. Application of adhesive on the fiber as it is wound onto the bobbin helps keep the fiber in its wound configuration during the storage period and makes subsequent payout smooth.
Current state-of-the-art adhesive application technology used for FOG-M/FOG-V fiber dispenser fabrication includes manual over-spray, squirt stream/flooding, on-line fiber die coating, off-line pre-applied coating and hybrid fiber coating. However, each of these processes has some limitations that affect fabrication parameters, automation capability and subsequent dispenser performance. A few of the major limitations are: inconsistent flow-rate control due to operator dependence and flow irregularity which result in inconsistent adhesive coating on the fiber, requirement for high percentage of solvent dilution for adhesive application and the difficulty of dressing crossover patterns during winding.

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army


A magnetic induction thermal heat unit, capable of producing heat by magnetic field, inducing direct agitation and friction, at the molecular level within a ferrous magnetic or semi-magnetic substrate. The substrate is specifically designed to capitalize on storing the heat generated and then transferring the heat generated to a subsequent device that requires or uses heat as its primary energy source. The system can use both a combination of induction heated substrates that are ferrous or magnetic in various configurations. The substrates can also be joined or bonded to non-magnetic or ferrous materials such as aluminum or copper as a conductive heat path to a heat pipe system where a transfer of thermal energy occurs. Additionally, convective and resultant radiant heat from the magnetic induction system can be directed back into the cumulative total of heat energy produced. The major objective ultimately being able to produce a greater degree of efficiency per given watt of electricity beyond what is currently available with current technology.

Conventional heat sources presently use radiant, resistive, infra red, quartz and other sources of energy similar in nature using electrical current produced or procured from standard residential or commercial electrical power distribution sources, or from fossil-fueled heat sources or burners. An exemplary conventional system supplies current through a resistive material to heat the material. Air or other convective medium is then used to transfer the heat from the resistive material to a remote location of interest. Such systems are extremely inefficient as there is substantial loss in heating the resistive material and transporting the heat convectively to the remote location.
Induction heating uses a magnetically conductive material, such as a ferrous metal, metal compound, or metal alloy, by inducting circulating currents within the material (the receptor) using an alternating magnetic field. An exemplary conventional induction heating system is for cook oven surfaces that directly heat the cookware within the magnetic field produced by an alternating current supplied to a ferrous metal pan positioned on the cook surface. These however require special cookware. Typically, magnetic induction devices are single purpose systems built specifically for an identified application where a single heating parameter is specified. Also, since the heated material must be within the magnetic field created by an alternating magnetic field to generate heat, these systems require substantial space at the location of generating heat. These systems therefore are typically limited to larger heating systems where heat is provided in a limited and immediate space.

Magnetic induction heat engine and heat pipe delivery system and methods of producing and delivering heat


Described herein is a content management system that tokenizes and stores documents using a number of different tokenization settings or schemes. These tokenization settings help ensure that documents, and content associated with the documents, are tokenized in a similar manner regardless of the language of the content contained within the document.

A document to be stored in a content management system may include content in multiple languages. For example, the first part of the document may be in English, a second part of the document may be in Japanese, and a third part of the document may be in Chinese and so on. However, current content management systems are only able to tokenize the document using a single language (e.g., English). Thus, when this document is tokenized, the content that is not in English may be excluded from the tokenization or may be tokenized using an English language tokenization scheme. However, when an English language tokenization scheme is used on different languages, content in the different languages may not be tokenized the same way across all other documents containing the different languages and in a way that is consistent with a query. Thus, when a search is performed, this particular document may not be found due to the non-consistent way the non-English languages within the document were tokenized with the English language tokenization scheme.
Additionally, a document in a content management system may also be associated with various metadata fields. These metadata fields may also include content in different languages. In other cases, the metadata fields may include or contain symbols, numbers and/or punctuation that is specific to a particular language. The metadata fields associated with the document may also be tokenized using a tokenization scheme that does not recognize these symbols, numbers and/or punctuation. As such, these metadata fields may be tokenized in a non-consistent manner across a number of different documents. In such cases, when a search is performed, this document may not be found due to the non-consistency of the tokenization scheme.
It is with respect to these and other general considerations that examples have been described. Also, although relatively specific problems have been discussed, it should be understood that the examples should not be limited to solving the specific problems identified in the background.

Multi-lingual tokenization of documents and associated queries


An x-ray computed tomography apparatus with electronic scanning of a ring-shaped anode has a solenoid coil for space-charge compensation which allows access to the anode. The solenoid coil is constructed of multiple parts so that a connector part can be released from a base part and the anode is thereby made accessible.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to an x-ray computed tomography apparatus of the type having an elongated anode that is scanned by an electron beam for generating a traveling x-ray beam, this electron beam being generated by an electron gun, wherein the electron beam is deflected onto and guided along the anode by a magnet arrangement.
2. Description of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 5,548,630 discloses an x-ray computed tomography apparatus of the above general type.
An x-ray computed tomography apparatus with electronic scanning of an annular anode is also disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,247,556.
Given a low space requirement, such computed tomography apparatuses enable an especially fast scanning of an examination subject because the focus is electronically guided around the anode. A static guidance field that holds the electrons on the predetermined circular orbit and a dynamic kick field that deflects the electrons onto the ring anode in the desired location are required for guidance and deflection of the electron beam.
Solenoid focusing can be provided so that the electron beam is kept constant in cross-section and so that a constant focal spot is achieved along the ring anode, this solenoid focusing being effected by a solenoid coil arranged along the ring-shaped path for the electron beam. This solenoid coil surrounds the ring anode.

X-ray computed tomography apparatus with electronic scanning of a ring-shaped anode


A method and apparatus utilizes an exception handler to implement LOAD and STORE instructions for moving data between a peripheral device and CPU registers. TLB entries for peripheral devices are flagged invalid during initialization and an exception handler occurs when LOAD or STORE instructions are executed by the CPU. The exception handler programs a data mover to perform the LOAD or STORE instruction so that the CPU will not hang up in the event that the peripheral device does not respond thereby avoiding reset of the SOC by the watchdog timer.

A modern System-on-a Chip (SOC), such as the Broadcom BCM1125H, include a CPU, memory controller, data mover, and other components that were previously implemented as separate devices and interconnected on printed circuit boards. While SOCs provide many advantages, they also make debugging certain error conditions difficult.
One example of an error condition is a non-responsive peripheral device that causes the CPU to hang up waiting for a response. Many systems use a watchdog timer to guard against bad devices hanging up the CPU and against other error conditions. If a device does not respond within a time-out period the watchdog timer resets the CPU and, after reset, a diagnostic routine, such as a bootstrap handler, diagnoses the problem, fetching the address of the failed peripheral device from the memory controller. With an SOC, such as the Broadcom chip, the watchdog timer resets the entire SOC, including the memory controller, making debugging very difficult since address information of the bad device has been lost.
The challenges in the field of debugging and error recovery continue to increase with demands for more and better techniques having greater flexibility and adaptability. Therefore, a need has arisen for a new system and method for debugging and error recovery in an SOC.
In accordance with the present invention, a system and method for debugging and error recovery for use with an SOC is provided that addresses disadvantages and problems associated with previously developed systems and methods.

Method and apparatus for utilizing an exception handler to avoid hanging up a CPU when a peripheral device does not respond

Abstract: If the peripheral device does not respond before an exception handler timer expires an error is indicated by the exception handler.


Methods and devices are provided for shunting fluid to treat hydrocephalous, and in particular for treating normal pressure hydrocephalous, or Alzheimer's, Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH), or any other condition in which it is necessary to drain and/or cleanse CSF. The methods and devices utilize a shunt having an inlet port, and outlet port, and a flow control component for controlling fluid flow from the inlet port to the outlet port. The shunt can be implanted at a location along or within a patient's spinal column. In one exemplary embodiment, an inlet port of a shunt can be implanted within the subarachnoid space, and an outlet port of a shunt can be implanted at a drainage site. In certain exemplary embodiments, the cerebrospinal fluid is drained into the epidural space.

Many conditions benefit from shunting, removal, or cleansing of CSF, including hydrocephalus, pseudotumor cerebri (Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, IIH), and Alzheimer's disease. Hydrocephalus, for example, is a condition afflicting patients who are unable to regulate cerebrospinal fluid flow through their body's own natural pathways. Produced by the ventricular system, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is normally absorbed by the body's venous system. In a patient suffering from hydrocephalus, the cerebrospinal fluid is not absorbed in this manner, but instead accumulates in the ventricles of the patient's brain and can lead to serious medical conditions.
Hydrocephalus exists in two forms: communicating (non-obstructive hydrocephalus) caused by inadequate absorption of CSF when the ventricular pathways are not obstructed; and non-communicating (obstructive hydrocephalus) caused by blockage in the ventricular pathways through which CSF flows. Hydrocephalus can also be either congenital, where the condition is present at birth or detected soon thereafter, or acquired, where the condition is acquired as the result of infection, head trauma, brain tumors, cysts, etc. Normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH) is a type of communicating (non-obstructive) hydrocephalous that occurs in adults, usually older adults. The drainage of CSF is blocked gradually, and the excess fluid builds up slowly. With NPH it is believed that the ventricles enlarge to handle the increased volume of the CSF, and the compression of the brain from within by the fluid-filled ventricles destroys or damages brain tissue causing some of the symptoms. Unlike other types of Hydrocephalus that typically result in increased pressure in the head when too much CSF accumulates, NPH shows little to no increased pressure, thus leading to the name "Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus."
NPH can be treated by draining the excess fluid from the ventricular system to another area of the patient's body, such as the abdomen or vascular system, where it can be reabsorbed into the bloodstream. A drainage system, commonly referred to as a shunt, is often used to carry out the transfer of fluid. It consists of a system of catheters with a flow control component to control fluid drainage and prevent back-flow. In order to install the shunt, typically a scalp incision is made and a small hole is drilled in the skull. Current shunts used to treat NPH are inserted surgically so that the upper end is in communication with the ventricular system. Since NPH is non-obstructive, the upper end or proximal catheter of the shunt can be placed either in the ventricles (ventricular catheter) or in the sub-arachnoid space at the level of the lumbar spinal column (lumbar catheter). The lower end or distal catheter of the shunt can lead into the abdomen (ventriculo-peritoneal shunt), wherein it passes into the bloodstream. There are several other body cavities available for distal drainage of a shunt. When shunts were first introduced, a one-way valve drained spinal fluid directly into the right atrium of the heart via the jugular vein (ventriculoatrial shunt). Vascular shunts functioned very well, but they were prone to multiple problems including early and late infection, as well as rare, potentially fatal heart failure due to blockage of blood vessels within the lungs by particles of blood clot flaking off the shunt's catheter tip. The use of the heart has been largely abandoned as an initial choice because of these problems but it remains a viable second option when infection or surgery has rendered the abdominal cavity unaccommodating of the distal shunt catheter. The chest cavity is another cavity which can be used as a backup to the abdominal cavity (ventriculopleural shunt). The catheter is placed inside the rib cage between its inner lining and the outer lining of the lungs. Occasionally, this cavity cannot resorb the CSF rapidly and the lung becomes compressed by the excess CSF resulting in difficulty in breathing. The catheter must be moved to a different cavity is such cases. Rarely, the catheter can rest on the diaphragm (the muscle at the base of the lungs used for breathing), causing irritation and hiccups.
While shunts were a major medical breakthrough, there are problems that still remain unsolved in the treatment of hydrocephalus, including shunt obstruction, infection, and overdrainage. Shunted NPH only has a success rate of about 50%. These same problems also exist with other conditions which are treated by CSF diversion, such as pseudotumor cerebri.
Accordingly, there remains a need for improved methods and devices for draining CSF to treat hydrocephalous, pseudotumor cerebri (IIH), or any other condition in which it is necessary to drain and/or cleanse CSF, potentially including Alzheimer's Disease.


A method includes: determining, by the computing device, an activity associated with a physical object in a physical environment, the physical object being a physical object about which a user lacks knowledge; retrieving, by the computing device and from a digital library, a digital object that is associated with the activity; personalizing, by the computing device, the digital object, the personalizing being based on feedback from prior interactions of the user with the digital object; generating, by the computing device, an augmented reality activity including the determined activity, the augmented reality activity comprising a reactive association between the personalized digital object and the physical object; and generating, by the computing device, an augmented reality animation that comprises the augmented reality activity, the physical object, and the personalized digital object.

Aspects of the present invention relate generally to augmented reality (AR) systems and, more particularly, to personalizing a digital object that is produced in reaction to a particular physical entity.
An augmented reality (AR) animation can include one or more physical objects in a physical environment and one or more digital objects (also referred to as virtual objects, AR objects, mixed reality objects). A user can, through the use of an AR device such as, for example, an AR headset, interact with the digital object. The AR animation shows the digital object, as manipulated by the user, superimposed on the physical environment. In some cases, the physical object can be manipulated by the user to interact with the digital object. For example, a user can pick up and physically move a physical marker to interact with a digital writing board.

Personalized reactive augmented reality association

International Business Machines Corporation


A honeycomb substrate includes an inner body having an inner skin and an array of inner webs defining an array of inner cells within the inner skin. The honeycomb substrate further includes an outer body having an outer skin formed concentric with the inner skin and an array of outer webs defining an array of triangle cells between the inner skin and the outer skin. The triangle cells are oriented along a radial direction with respect to a center of the inner body. An extrusion assembly for forming the honeycomb substrate includes an inner cell forming die, an outer cell forming die, and a skin forming mask, all mounted coaxially. An outer skin slot formed between the outer cell forming die and the skin forming mask is in communication with feedholes in the inner cell forming die through an opening in the outer cell forming die.

The invention relates generally to honeycomb substrates and particularly to a method of enhancing the isostatic strength of a honeycomb substrate having cells defined by thin webs.
Honeycomb substrates are widely used as catalyst carriers for purification of exhaust gases from internal combustion engines. A typical honeycomb substrate has a columnar body, the cross-sectional shape of which is typically round or oval. An array of parallel, straight channels is formed in the columnar body to allow passage of gases through the honeycomb substrate. The channels run axially along the length of the columnar body. The cross-section of the channels can be of any arbitrary shape, such as triangle, square, and hexagon. For automotive applications, the cross-section of the channels is frequently square because square channels are easier to manufacture. The channel walls may be coated with a porous washcoat containing an active catalyst. Alternatively, the active catalyst may be incorporated directly into the channel walls. In operation, exhaust gases flow into the channels and are converted into less noxious components in the presence of the active catalyst prior to exiting the honeycomb substrate. For illustration purposes, FIG. 1 shows a cross-section of a typical prior-art honeycomb substrate 100 having an array of square cells (or channels) 102 defined by an array of square webs (or cell walls) 104 and bounded by a skin (or peripheral wall) 106. Typically, the skin 106 has a circular or elliptical profile.
A honeycomb substrate is typically wrapped in a mat and inserted in a metal can prior to use in an automotive application. When the honeycomb substrate is inserted in a can, the forces required to restrain the honeycomb substrate within the can are uniformly distributed along the periphery of the honeycomb substrate, perpendicular to the skin of the honeycomb substrate. These forces have the greatest impact for the honeycomb substrate with square cells when applied at the 45° positions to the square webs, i.e., when applied in a direction along the diagonals of the square webs, as shown by the arrows in FIG. 1. When loaded at this angle, the webs cannot function as columns under compression, and the honeycomb substrate is less rigid. In this state, the webs are subjected to high deflections, which generate bending moments and undesirable tensile stresses in the honeycomb substrate. Typically, the honeycomb substrate is made of ceramic, a material that is inherently weak in tension. Hence, the tensile stress levels determine the strength of the canned ceramic honeycomb substrate.
In an effort to meet stringent automotive emission requirements, it has been necessary to reduce the thermal mass in the central region of the honeycomb substrate while increasing the geometric surface area and open frontal area of the honeycomb substrate. The thermal mass in the central region has been reduced and the geometric surface area has been increased by increasing the number of cells in the honeycomb substrate. At the same time, the thickness of the webs in the honeycomb substrate has been significantly reduced to increase the open frontal area of the honeycomb substrate and limit the back-pressure in the honeycomb substrate to an acceptable limit. Although reduction in web thickness has improved emissions performance, it has also resulted in marked reduction in the isostatic strength of the honeycomb substrate, making the honeycomb substrate more susceptible to damage during canning and lowering the thermal and mechanical durability of the honeycomb substrate in the application.
Various methods have been proposed for improving the isostatic strength of ceramic honeycomb substrates with thin webs. Some of these methods include increasing the cell density at a region near the periphery of the honeycomb substrate, thickening the webs at a region near the periphery of the honeycomb substrate, and using additives to strengthen the skin of the honeycomb substrate. One approach to increasing the cell density near the periphery of the honeycomb substrate involves subdividing the square cells near the periphery of the honeycomb substrate into smaller square cells or triangle cells. One method for increasing the thickness of the webs near the periphery of the honeycomb substrate includes rounding the square cells near the periphery of the honeycomb substrate. While these approaches can improve the isostatic strength of the honeycomb substrate, they can also yield undesirable results such as increase in pressure loss across the honeycomb substrate and/or reduction in thermal shock strength of the honeycomb substrate.
From the foregoing, there is desired a method of increasing the isostatic strength of a honeycomb substrate in all directions without adversely impacting the performance of the honeycomb substrate.

Extrusion die for making a double-skin honeycomb substrate


An apparatus to detect arc is presented. The apparatus includes a fiber sensor to detect characteristics of an arc flash and a processor to process at least two characteristics of the arc flash. The processor is further configured to generate an arc fault signal. A protective device is configured to mitigate the arc flash based on the arc fault signal.

The invention generally relates to arc flash detection, particularly to arc detection using multiple parameters of an arc flash.
Electric power circuits and switchgear have conductors separated by insulation. Air space often serves as part or all of this insulation in some areas. If the conductors are too close to each other or voltage exceeds the insulation level, an arc can occur between conductors. Air or any other insulation (gas, solid, or liquid) between conductors can become ionized, making the insulation conductive thereby enabling an arcing event. Arc event induces temperatures that can reach as high as 20,000° C., vaporizing conductors and adjacent materials, and releasing an explosive energy that destroys surrounding circuits.
Arc flash is the result of a rapid energy release due to an arcing fault between phase-phase, phase-neutral, or phase-ground. An arc flash can produce high heat, intense light, pressure waves, and sound/shock waves similar to that of an explosion. However, the arc fault current is usually much less in magnitude as compared to short circuit current, and hence delayed or no tripping of circuit breakers is expected unless the breakers are selected to handle an arc fault condition. Typically, arc flash mitigation techniques use standard fuses and circuit breakers. However, such techniques have slow response times and are not fast enough to mitigate an arc flash.
One other technique to mitigate arc fault is to detect specific characteristics of the arcing event such as light. Optical sensors detect light within an enclosure and determine the occurrence of the arc flash event. However, such a method of light detection may lead to erroneous arc detection when stray light or light from other sources is detected. Further, such methods do not provide location of the arcing event. Other techniques include implementing pressure sensors within the enclosure to detect arc flash induced pressure change. Such methods, however, result in delayed detection as pressure build-up takes a significant amount of time after the actual arc flash has occurred. Early detection of the arc flash from pressure sensor may also be limit by bandwidth and sensitivity thereby not capturing the arcing event that is beyond the pressure sensor response range.
There is a need for improved arc flash prevention mechanism that has an improved response time and avoid false alarm.