A method, network node and wireless device that use grants that restrict the set of LCHs that can be serviced using the grant are disclosed. According to one aspect, a method in a wireless device (WD) configured to communicate with a network node is provided. The method includes receiving from the network node, a first grant for uplink transmission of data, the first grant indicating that use of the first grant is restricted to logical channels (LCHs) of a first subset of LCHs of an LCH set, the first subset of LCHs configured to include fewer than all LCHs, such that there exists at least one LCH for which use of the first grant is not allowed. The method also includes selecting at least one LCH from the first subset of LCHs according to a priority of LCHs in the first subset of LCHs, the selected at least one LCH configured to provide data to be transmitted on the uplink according to the first grant.

In wireless communication systems there typically are a large amount of transmission parameters to be communicated between the communicating entities. Such communication entities may be a network node and a wireless device (WD).
Some transmission parameters are communicated using higher Open System Interconnect (OSI) layer signaling such as RRC (Radio Resource Control) signaling, while other transmission parameters are communicated using lower layer signaling such as DCI (Downlink Control Information) messages.
In Long Term Evolution (LTE) and New Radio (NR) a few examples of RRC configured transmission parameters include:                Power control configuration parameter;        CQI (Channel Quality Indicator) table definition, e.g., enable using 256 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM);        MCS (Modulation and Coding Scheme) table definition, e.g., enable using 256 QAM; and        CSI (Channel State Information) acquisition configuration including configuration for multiple CSI processes.
A few example transmission parameters indicated in DCI messages include:                TPC (Transmit Power Control) command, e.g., a command to change state of the power control instance;        CSI request, which indicates that the WD will transmit a CSI report. The CSI request may also indicate for which CSI processes the CSI request is for; and        MCS indicator specifying MCS in a downlink (DL) assignment or uplink (UL) grant to be used by the WD in reception and/or transmission.
A DCI is transmitted over a PDCCH (Physical Downlink Control Channel) and is blindly searched for by the WD. The search performed by the WD includes one or more decoding attempts performed based on a hypothetical PDCCH located in a pre-defined time-frequency location, called a search space entry. The set of time-frequency locations where a PDCCH may be received is called a search space. In New Radio (NR), the region of time-frequency resources in which a search space is defined is called a CORESET (Control Region Set) and can be flexibly configured. A WD can have several CORESETs configured.
In NR (and also in LTE Rel-15), support for URLLC (Ultra-Reliable Low-Latency Communication) services is contemplated. For URLLC services there are extreme latency and robustness requirements. The requirements on latency and robustness can be as low as 1 ms and 10−5, respectively.
NR supports two types of configured grants, Type 1 and Type 2. For Type 1, the WD is RRC configured with a grant that indicates all needed transmission parameters. For Type 2, the configured grant is partly RRC configured and partly signaled using OSI Layer 1 (L1). NR further supports two types of transmissions, Type A and Type B. For Type A, transmissions are slot-based, where a slot is defined as 14 orthogonal frequency division multiplexed (OFDM) symbols. Type B is non-slot-based. Type B transmissions are short transmissions that can start and end more flexibly than Type A transmissions.
For uplink (UL) grants, e.g., grants for communication from the WD to the network node, the WD multiplexes data from Logical Channels (LCHs). The multiplexing is performed in order of priority. Data is taken from high-priority LCHs first according to a prioritized bitrate of the LCH. If there is room for more data then data from lower-priority LCHs is also added according to their respective prioritized bit rates. For NR, the Logical Channel Prioritization (LCP) is controlled by RCC and mapping restrictions can be imposed on each logical channel according to Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Technical Standard (TS) 38.321, Section 184.108.40.206.1:                allowedSCS-List which sets the allowed Subcarrier Spacing(s) for transmission;        maxPUSCH-Duration which sets the maximum physical uplink shared channel (PUSCH) duration allowed for transmission;        configuredGrantTypelAllowed which sets whether a configured Grant Type 1 can be used for transmission; and        allowedServingCells which sets the allowed cell(s) for transmission.
The maxPUSCH-Duration for the LCH places a restriction on the LCH such that the LCH may not use a grant that indicates a PUSCH duration that is longer than the maxPUSCH-Duration. The allowedSCS-List parameter indicates the numerologies that are allowed for this LCH. If a grant is associated with a numerology with SCS (Sub-Carrier Spacing) K and K is not included in the allowedSCS-List parameter of a LCH, then data from this LCH may not be transmitted using the grant. The configuredGrantTypelAllowed parameter indicates whether the LCH may use a configured grant Type 1 or not.
The LCH restrictions using allowedSCS-List and maxPUSCH-Duration enable the NR base station (gNB) to control which LCHs can use a certain grant. As long as URLLC uses shorter transmissions than enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), or if URLLC and eMBB run different numerologies, the gNB can exercise control so that URLLC data may not be transmitted using a grant intended for eMBB. However, if eMBB and URLLC run simultaneously using a same transmission length and numerology, there may be no way to restrict an eMBB LCH to use a grant intended for URLLC.
When the same numerology and same transmissions lengths are used for eMBB and URLLC, then for a WD running URLLC traffic in one LCH and other traffic types (e.g., eMBB) in another LCH, the current multiplexing rules establish that, when a WD receives a grant, the WD may service the URLLC LCH first. If the grant allows room for more data, then the eMBB data may also be multiplexed using that grant. Due to the robustness requirements of URLLC being more demanding than for eMBB traffic, a grant transmitted to a WD intended for eMBB that is used for URLLC data may fail robustness requirements. Since NR supports scheduling requests (SR) indicating a set of LCH, there is a mechanism for WDs to indicate to a gNB if a grant suitable for eMBB or URLLC is requested. If eMBB is first to arrive in a WD buffer, the WD will transmit a SR indicating an "eMBB" request. The gNB will respond with a grant suitable for eMBB. When the WD receives the "eMBB" grant, URLLC data may also arrive. With current LCH restrictions, the WD may transmit URLLC data using the "eMBB" grant.
Another problem occurs for configured grant Type 2 where the WD is configured with a resource such that it may transmit data without receiving a DCI on the PDCCH. Due to the strict latency requirements for URLLC, a configured grant is beneficial to be used for URLLC. But if the WD has a configured grant and eMBB traffic arrives, the WD may transmit eMBB data on the configured grant resource. If the configured grant resource is a shared resource (shared between URLLC WDs) intended for URLLC traffic only, those eMBB transmissions may collide with other URLLC transmissions and those URLLC transmission may risk failing to meet the robustness and latency requirements.


A method for the design of a vortex tube for energy separation, the vortex tube having a long tube with a diameter Do, a diaphragm closing one end of the tube having a hole with diameter d.sub.1 in the center, one or more tangential nozzles with a total area F piercing the tube just inside the diaphragm, and a throttling valve at the far end of the tube, wherein conventionally describing in terms of the relative parameters are as follows:. P=pressure ratio=gas pressure ahead of the vortex tube nozzles divided to gas pressure downstream the diaphragm PA1 .mu.=cold fraction=mass flow of cold gas divided by mass flow of the inlet gas PA1 s=relative area of the nozzles ##EQU1## d=relative diameter of diaphragm: d.sub.1 /Do and wherein P is between 5.0 or less and more than 1.0 and d is between approximately 0.4 and approximately 0.55 and .mu. is between 0.4 and approximately 0.65, then s is selected to be between 0.08 and approximately 0.12; and wherein P is between 5.0 and approximately 10.0 and d is between approximately 0.4 and approximately 0.55 and .mu. is between approximately 0.35 and 0.60, then s is selected to be between approximately 0.06 and 0.08.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention is concerned with vortex tubes. More particularly, the present invention relates to design and construction of vortex tubes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An early development in connection with vortex tubes is discussed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,952,281 to Ranque, which discloses a method for obtaining from a compressible fluid under pressure, a current of hot fluid and a current of cold fluid, whereby the initial fluid is transformed into two separate currents of different temperatures free of any mechanical assistance.
All of these results take place in an instrument having no moving parts and which is extremely compact in size and in some cases no larger than a pencil.
There is no universally accepted theoretical explanation of the energy separation phenomenon or the vortex effect. Nevertheless, there are many designers who have been working in the field of vortex design, who design vortex tubes based on previous experience and experimentation.
A conventional counterflow vortex tube comprises a tube with a diaphragm closing one end of the tube and a small hole in the center of the diaphragm, one or more tangential nozzles piercing the tube just inside the diaphragm, and a throttle valve at the far end of the slender tube.
A function of the counterflow vortex tube is to receive a flow of compressed gas through nozzles and to discharge a stream of cold, expanded gas through a small hole in the diaphragm, and a stream of hot, expanded gas through the valve.
The intensity of the energy exchange in the vortex tube is conventionally measured by the value of the enthalpy or the temperature differences of the "cold" .DELTA.T.sub.1 stream and of the "hot" .DELTA.T.sub.2 stream. EQU .DELTA.T.sub.1 =To-T.sub.1 EQU .DELTA.T.sub.2 =T.sub.2 -To (1)
where:
To=temperature of the gas ahead of the vortex tube inlet nozzles; PA1 T.sub.1 =temperature of the "cold" gas downstream from cold diaphragm; and PA1 T.sub.2 =temperature of the "hot" gas downstream from valve. PA1 Cp--gas specific heat; PA1 s--relative area of the vortex tube's nozzles which is defined as total area of all of the nozzles (F) divided by the area of the vortex tube in the nozzle cross section ##EQU4## where Do is the vortex tube diameter; d--relative diameter of the diaphragm which is defined as diaphragm diameter divided by vortex tube diameter Do; PA1 .mu.--cold fraction; PA1 P--relative pressure ratio which is defined as the gas pressure ahead of the vortex tube nozzles divided by gas pressure downstream of the diaphragm. PA1 P=pressure ratio=gas pressure ahead of the vortex tube nozzles divided to gas pressure downstream the diaphragm PA1 .mu.=cold fraction=mass flow of cold gas divided by mass flow of the inlet gas PA1 s=relative area of the nozzles ##EQU5## d=relative diameter of diaphragm=d.sub.1 /Do and wherein when P is 5.0 or less and more than 1.0 and d is between approximately 0.4 and approximately 0.55 and .mu. is between 0.4 and approximately 0.65, then s is selected to be between 0.08 and approximately 0.12; and
Further developments heretofore were concerned with the design and construction of vortex tubes as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,208,229 to Fulton, which is primarily concerned with the design and construction of vortex tubes capable of emitting colder and hotter streams of gas.
The problems indicated by Fulton still exist, and it is still desirable to develop and design vortex tubes capable of operating with sufficient efficiency and economy which would make it possible to revolutionize portions of such technological fields as refrigeration, air conditioning, cryogenics, instrumentation, and controls.
The efficiency or excellence of the vortex tube in performing its function is measured by how little gas pressure it requires and how much temperature difference it produces for a given cold fraction. (Cold fraction=mass flow of cold gas divided by mass flow of inlet gas.) A thermodynamic formulation of the problem of optimizing the design of the counterflow vortex tube is that given the kind of gas, its pressure, temperature, and rate of flow, and a certain cold fraction to be delivered at a certain lower pressure, there exists a combination of geometric dimensions of all the parts of the vortex tube such that the cold gas will be delivered at the lowest possible temperature.
According to Fulton, the optimization problem may be solved only by performing a very large number of parametric experiments where one dimension and another are changed step by step and the gas temperatures measured.
Fulton taught that at least fifteen important dimensions exist which can be taken into consideration in the design for a vortex tube. This poses a problem of such intricacy that to achieve a thorough optimization even for one operating condition, it is very tedious and expensive. Should any condition be changed, a new optimization is required. For this reason, it is believed that research is likely to continue on vortex tubes indefinitely.
I have also worked on vortex tube design, prior to my invention, and developed a vortex tube using the then conventional experimental methods and designed a vortex tube having the features, as disclosed in the Soviet publication/monograph published by the Gas Industry, pertaining to Natural Gas, Gas Condensate, Field and Plant Treatment. The publication title is: "Vortex Tube Application In The Layout Natural Gas Field Treatment", Number 5 of 1979.
A development was based on a parametrical definition of the cold temperature differences which was offered in the above-noted Soviet publication. ##EQU2##
A hot temperature difference is easily calculated from energy balance: ##EQU3## where: W--velocity of the gas in the vortex tube nozzles;
That is, according to (2), the vortex effect is a function of the some few vortex tube variable operational and design parameters.
The total length of the vortex tube Lo, that is, a distance between a tangential nozzle cross section and a throttling valve at the far end of the tube is not a vortex tube variable parameter. It was disclosed in the Soviet publication/monograph that efficiency of the vortex tube may be obtained using the "long" that is Lo/Do approximately 20, vortex tube. The vortex tube having Lo/Do ratio less approximately than 20 is inefficient. Increase of the Lo/Do ratio over approximately 20 is irrelevant (has no effect) to the temperature differences value.
In the experimental study which was set, due to complexity of the theoretical solution relations of (2), some "step by step" changes of the parameters were performed. It was found that, while changing the value of the "s" parameter for any fixed pressure ratio P (P .ltoreq.4) and, having .mu. and d parameters unchangeable (.mu.=0.5; d=0.5), then an efficient vortex tube was obtained with value of the relative area of the nozzles equal 0.1 (s=0.1).

Method of designing a vortex tube for energy separation


Integrated circuits, wafer level integrated III-V device and CMOS driver device packages, and methods for fabricating products with integrated III-V devices and silicon-based driver devices are provided. In an embodiment, an integrated circuit includes a semiconductor substrate, a plurality of transistors overlying the semiconductor substrate, and an interlayer dielectric layer overlying the plurality of transistors with a metallization layer disposed within the interlayer dielectric layer. The plurality of transistors and the metallization layer form a gate driver circuit. The integrated circuit further includes a plurality of vias disposed through the interlayer dielectric layer, a gate driver electrode coupled to the gate driver circuit, a III-V device electrode overlying and coupled to the gate driver electrode, and a III-V device overlying and coupled to the III-V device electrode.

Group III-V semiconductor devices are semiconductor devices formed from compounds with at least one group III element (IUPAC group 13) and at least one group V element (IUPAC group 15). Group III elements include boron, aluminum, gallium, indium, and thallium. Group V elements include nitrogen, phosphorus, arsenic, antimony, and bismuth. Currently, nitrogen is the most commonly used group V element in semiconductor devices.
Group III-V semiconductor compounds, such as gallium nitride (GaN) and its related alloys, are known to be well suited for the formation of optical devices. The large bandgap and high electron saturation velocity of the group III-V semiconductor compounds also make them excellent candidates for applications in high temperature and high-speed power electronics. For example, GaN is frequently used in forming diodes and transistors including light-emitting diodes (LEDs), laser diodes, and UV photodetectors. GaN devices are particularly suited for use in power devices that are required to provide high current capability, such as radiofrequency (RF) amplification, high voltage power amplification, and optoelectronics.
However, it is difficult to obtain GaN bulk crystals due to the high equilibrium pressure of nitrogen at typical growth temperatures. To form GaN devices, GaN is commonly deposited epitaxially on silicon having a (111) crystal orientation. However, silicon (111) substrates suffer from interface traps and are not suitable for the formation of complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) devices. Therefore, GaN device fabrication and CMOS device fabrication are not commonly integrated over a common substrate.
To form integrated circuits with GaN devices and CMOS devices, CMOS devices are typically formed on a first substrate, such as a silicon (100) substrate and GaN devices are formed on a second substrate, such as a silicon (111) substrate. The GaN devices and CMOS devices are then connected together using various approaches including assembling the GaN and CMOS devices in separate semiconductor packages and connecting them on a printed circuit board, assembling the GaN and CMOS devices into a single package and connecting them via the package conductive materials and/or wire bonds, or using layer transfer techniques to physically couple the CMOS devices in their substrate and the GaN devices in their substrate. In the latter approach, electrical interconnects between GaN devices and CMOS devices can be formed using back-end-of-line (BEOL) semiconductor processes, such as the formation of multiple levels of dielectric layers and metal interconnection layers.
Because GaN semiconductor compounds are excellent candidates for applications in high temperature and high-speed power electronics, a significant amount of heat is generated at the GaN devices. Thus, the ability to remove heat generated in the GaN die limits the maximum power capability of the application. When a GaN device is integrated with a CMOS device, the interlayer dielectric (ILD) layers of the CMOS device act as a thermal barrier to the removal of heat. Moreover, the interface between the CMOS device and its underlying package or printed circuit board (PCB) further inhibits heat removal.
Accordingly, it is desirable to provide group III-V devices and CMOS compatible integration schemes that allow for increased operating speeds and temperatures. Also, it is desirable to provide group III-V devices and CMOS compatible integration schemes that increase the removal of heat from the group III-V devices. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and this background.

Integrated III-V device and driver device packages with improved heat removal and methods for fabricating the same


Therapeutic compositions for the treatment of infectious diseases are disclosed. These compositions comprise xanthones and xanthone derivatives, such as 2,3,4,5,6-pentahydroxyxanthone. Also disclosed are methods for the treatment of infectious diseases using such compounds.

Protozoan parasites cause diseases such as malaria, trypanosomiasis, Chagas' disease, leishmaniasis, giardiasis, and amoebiasis. These and other protozoan parasite diseases have historically occurred in tropical and sub-tropical areas where they cause widespread damage to human populations. Although they receive little attention in the Western world, protozoan diseases affect more people worldwide than diseases brought on by any other biological cause (Heyneman, 1988).
The global importance of just one parasitic protozoan disease, malaria, can be appreciated by considering that historically, roughly half of all people who have lived and died have died of malaria. Today, malaria remains the most destructive single infectious disease in the developing world. It is responsible for more human energy loss, more debilitation, more loss of work capacity, and more economic damage than any other human ailment facing the world today (Heyneman, 1988). The World Health organization estimates that 1 to 2 million deaths are caused by malaria each year in Africa alone; most of these are children under the age of five (World Health organization, 1991). In addition, over 300 million people worldwide are believed to be chronically infected, and each year nearly one third of these individuals will suffer acute manifestations of the disease.
Today, the pathologic capacity of protozoa is being increasingly demonstrated in the Western world among the victims of AIDS (Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome). AIDS depletes the immune system of affected individuals; this allows opportunistic agents which would be defeated by an active immune system to infect AIDS patients. Several protozoa have emerged as important opportunistic infections in AIDS patients including Cryptosporidium parvum, Entamoeba histolytica, Giardia lamblia, Pneumocystis carinii (which may be a fungal or protozoal pathogen), and Toxoplasmosis gondii.
Despite the prevalence and significance of protozoan infections, therapy for these diseases is generally poor or in need of improvement. Many chemotherapeutic agents used to treat protozoan infections are non-specific cytotoxins that are highly toxic and cause severe side effects in patients. However, these drugs are used because there are no better alternatives. For example, giardiasis and amoebiasis are treated using metronidazole (a nitroimidazole), but the use of this drug is clouded by its mutagenic potential (Campbell, 1986) and its adverse interaction with alcohol. For trypanosomiasis and leishmaniasis standard therapies (suramin, melarsoprol, and pentavalent antimonials) are dangerously toxic, occasionally fatal, and often ineffective (Mebrahtu, 1989; Grogl et al., 1992). Other drugs are becoming ineffective due to emerging resistance. In the case of malaria, effective therapy has previously been provided by chloroquine but its efficacy is now threatened by the rapid emergence of drug resistant strains of Plasmodium falciparum, the causative agent for the most severe, often fatal, form of the disease (Cowman, 1990). Other protozoal infections such as cryptosporidiosis or Chagas' disease have no proven curative agent.
The present invention is directed to new antiparasitic agents and methods of using known compounds as anti-parasitic agents. The invention is also directed to compounds with broad-spectrum anti-microbial activity.

Xanthone analogs for the treatment of infectious diseases


In a relay terminal A for relaying packet communication between a destination terminal C located outside a service area of a base station Z, and the base station Z, a contribution to relaying is measured and the measurement result is transmitted to a billing server SA configured to store an information communication charge of the relay terminal A, whereby it becomes feasible to give the relay terminal an incentive.

An ad hoc network in a radio system is normally a network consisting of only radio terminals without intervention of a base station and, for communication with a radio terminal existing in a zone outside a reach of radio waves, i.e., in an uncommunicable zone, packets are transported via radio terminals existing between the source and destination terminals, up to the destination, thereby securing communication.
Therefore, the radio terminals in the ad hoc network have the relaying function and share their own resources for communication of other terminals. This ad hoc network is essentially a self-supporting system like LAN and system for easily constructing a network to secure a communication area.
In recent years, however, studies are under way on applying the technology of such an ad hoc network to the public systems.
The application of the ad hoc network to the public services is mainly to supplement service areas. It is not economical in terms of capital investment to cover all the areas up to sites to which radio waves are hard to reach, e.g., behind buildings. The application of the ad hoc network technology can implement transfer from the system in which the network is entirely in charge of the area covering function, to the system in which some radio terminals supplementally contribute to the function.
Techniques of controlling transport routes on the ad hoc network have actively been studied as the most important technology for implementing this system.
In the ad hoc network, where a radio terminal moves, or where the communication quality heavily degrades, a variety of controls become necessary: for example, it becomes necessary to change a transport route from the source radio terminal to the destination radio terminal to another, to notify relay radio terminals of a forwarding address, and so on. Techniques for these controls can be settled by use of the technologies in wireless LAN, though there is the difference in that communication is conducted via the base station in the public system, and a number of proposals have been made in practice (e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 11-289349 and others).

Relay terminal, base station, charging server, communication system, charging method, program computer data signal, and storage medium


A method for processing speech data packets passed between a plurality of devices in a conversation is disclosed. The method associates priorities with each of the devices in the conversation and processes speech data packets received from the devices according to the priorities. Devices in the conversation are identified, a priority for each device is determined, and the priority for each device is associated with speech data packets transmitted from the device. The priorities may change during the conversation. If more than one speech data packet is received in a time window, the speech data packet with high priority is transmitted. Speech data packets that are not transmitted may be deleted or buffered. If a device is not assigned a priority, a low priority is assigned to speech data packets transmitted from the device.

Generally described, an Internet telephony system provides an opportunity for users to have a call connection with enhanced calling features compared to a conventional Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN)-based telephony system. In a typical Internet telephony system, often referred to as Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP), audio information is processed into a sequence of data blocks, called packets, for communications utilizing an Internet Protocol (IP) data network. During a VoIP call conversation, the digitized voice is converted into small frames of voice data and a voice data packet is assembled by adding an IP header to the frame of voice data that is transmitted and received.
VoIP technology has been favored because of its flexibility and portability of communications, ability to establish and control multimedia communication, and the like. VoIP technology will likely continue to gain favor because of its ability to provide enhanced calling features and advanced services which the traditional telephony technology has not been able to provide. However, current VoIP approaches may not provide a systematic way for a conversation participant, e.g., a manager, to be heard first or exclusively when more than one participant in a conversation, e.g., a conference call, speaks at the same time.

Selective voice switching of multiparty communications


A phase locked loop has a digitally controlled oscillator (DCO) for generating a DCO output signal (fOSC), a clock divider coupled to the DCO and receiving the DCO output signal and outputting a feedback clock signal (fN), and a phase frequency detector (PFD) coupled to the DCO and controlling the DCO by a DCO control signal (dCNTL). The PFD has a first input for receiving the feedback clock signal (fN), a second input for receiving a reference clock signal (fREF), and comprises a frequency detection stage (FD) adapted to calculate a frequency difference between the feedback clock signal (fN) and the reference clock signal (fREF) in a frequency detection mode and to adjust the DCO control signal based on said frequency difference, a phase detection (PD) stage for calculating a phase error between the feedback clock signal and the reference clock signal in a phase detection mode, and a switch for switching between the frequency detection mode and the phase detection mode upon the frequency of the feedback clock signal reaching a predetermined value.

In order to reduce the costs of future developments of modem communication systems, it is necessary to adapt existing circuits to new silicon processes and higher clock rates with as little effort as possible. With ever increasing clock speeds, it is necessary to build ever higher frequency clock generation circuits for handling clock distribution and synchronization. One example of an application of such circuits is in transmitters and receivers in gigabit Ethernet systems. As digital logic can be adapted more easily to new processes and higher clock rates than analog circuits, there is a general tendency to use digital circuits. Also, analog circuits drift, e.g., as a function of aging and temperature. All digital phase locked loops (ADPLL) are generally suggested to overcome these problems. Yet, known digital PLLs fail to provide a sufficiently quick response (locking) and long term stability.


An electric rotating machine includes a case, a stator, a rotor and an oil. The stator is comprised of a stator core and a coil. The oil has a volume resistivity ranging from 102 to 109 Ωcm and is reserved in a bottom part of the case. The coil is partially immersed in the oil.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electric rotating machine, and particularly to an electric rotating machine using an oil with which deterioration in insulation performance due to discharge can be reduced.
2. Description of the Background Art
Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 8-261152 discloses an electrically-driven compressor of hermetically-sealed type. This electrically-driven sealed-type compressor includes a sealed vessel, a stator, a rotor, a crankshaft, and a lubricating oil. The lubricating oil is stored in a bottom part of the sealed vessel. One end of the crankshaft is immersed in the lubricating oil.
The rotor is fixed to the crankshaft. The stator is provided around the periphery of the rotor. The stator includes a coil, and one of the two coil-ends of the coil is in contact with the lubricating oil.
The crankshaft has a hollow structure. A pump member for raising the lubricating oil is contained in the hollow inner part of the end of the crankshaft that is immersed in the lubricating oil. The pump member thus raises the lubricating oil by rotations of the crankshaft. The lubricating oil raised by the pump member is lifted through the crankshaft by centrifugal force generated by the rotations.
The lifted lubricating oil is applied, in the form of drops, through a hole in the other end of the crankshaft to cool a coil end of the stator for example and returned to the bottom part of the sealed vessel.
With the electrically-driven sealed-type compressor, as discussed above, the lubricating oil stored in the bottom part of the sealed vessel is circulated to cool the coil end for example.
When the lubricating oil is used for cooling the coil end, however, a difference in dielectric constant between an insulating material covering the coil and the lubricating oil causes intermittent changes in electric-field intensity, resulting in discharge on the interface therebetween to possibly cause damage to the insulating material.

Electric rotating machine capable of reducing performance deterioration due to discharge


An apparatus and method of managing negative incidence of an airfoil are provided. The apparatus includes a first row of stationary turbine main vanes and a second row of auxiliary vanes extending radially inwardly from a stationary casing of the turbine proximate the adjacent leading edge of the main vane. The apparatus also includes a flow channel defined between a pressure side of an auxiliary vane of the second row of auxiliary vanes and a suction side of an adjacent main vane of the row of stationary turbine main vanes.

The field of the disclosure relates generally to gas turbine engines and, more particularly, to a method and system for managing negative incidence in turbine stator vanes using auxiliary airfoils.
At least some known gas turbine engines, such as, for example, variable cycle engines or adaptive cycle engines, are configured to operate efficiently under mixed flight conditions, such as subsonic, transonic and supersonic, and can effectively change the operating parameters of the compressors and/or turbines in a controlled way. During the wide range of operational conditions, turbine stator airfoils or vanes may operate at negative incidence, which can result in highly three dimensional separated flows on the pressure surface of the vanes of the turbine stator. The operation of turbine vanes at negative incidence in variable cycle engines can result in conditions that could adversely affect engine performance, efficiency, and/or operability or could shorten the life expectancy of the airfoils.
One condition of operating at a negative incidence or operating at a negative incidence that exceeds a certain threshold is a bluff body type separation of the flow from the surface of the airfoil. Such separation may introduce an undesirable vibratory mode to the airfoil or downstream airfoils. Additionally, the separation may cause a significant loss in turbine and/or engine overall performance.

Method and system for leading edge auxiliary turbine vanes


An electric motor driven blower assembly provides for a complete air cooling duct running from the inside of the blower housing to the motor at the back of the housing. A vertical cooling tube on the scroll housing is mated to an open, moldable trough in the motor cover across a sealing projection on a vibration gasket. The seal of the vertical tube through the gasket provides a right angle turn in the cooling duct, providing a complete cooling duct while still allowing all parts to be easily molded.

Typical automotive heating, ventilation and air conditioning modules (HVAC modules) include an electric driven centrifugal fan that spins within a scroll housing to pull unconditioned air from outside (or inside) the vehicle and blow it toward and through a series of heat exchangers and air flow control valves before introduction into the passenger cabin. While the projecting electric motor shaft turns the centrifugal flower, it's main body and heat producing coils are encased within a motor holding that is bolted to the back of the scroll housing, and not directly exposed to any cooling air flow. A cooling air flow for the motor is desirable for motor durability. A conventional motor cooling means often seen in production is a simple tube that runs from an air inlet opening at a high air pressure point within the scroll housing, outside of the housing and around to and through the back of the motor cover, so as to feed a constant cooling air stream to the motor. The cooling tube, though effective, represents an extra part and assembly step, with the consequent extra cost. A cooling tube of this basic type may be seen in U.S. Pat. No. 6,034,451, FIG. 2.
In order to eliminate the extra part, at least some portion of the cooling tube has been molded integrally into the motor cover itself. An inherent problem with the molding operation, however, at least with a simple mold that has no movable cores, is that any duct so formed will inevitably be left open on one side, and will need to be closed off by some other operation and part. This is especially true at the "elbow" of the duct, that is, that portion of the duct that turns the corner and moves radially inwardly toward the back of the motor cover. A known method of so "closing off" and completing the otherwise open duct, while still maintaining moldability of the motor cover as a whole, is shown in FIG. 1. There, a molded motor cover A has an integral, trough shaped duct B, to the end of which is molded an extra flap C, attached by an integral hinge D. Flap C can be folded back over the end of integral duct B, closing off the end thereof while leaving a rectangular window E (in flap C) open. When motor cover A is then bolted to the back of the non illustrated fan scroll, window E can be abutted with another duct formed in the scroll housing to complete a cooling air path from inside the scroll housing, through the window E and ultimately to the motor housing. A drawback of this structure, beyond the extra assembly step of folding over the flap C, is that the abutment of the duct to window E is one of hard plastic to hard plastic, with relatively little tolerance for molding or assembly irregularities at the direct interface.

Electric motor driven blower assembly with integral motor cooling duct


An organic compound is represented by general formula (1) below:

An electrochromic phenomenon (EC phenomenon) is a phenomenon in which a reversible electrochemical reaction (oxidation-reduction reaction) induced upon application of voltage changes the light absorption range of a material and thus the material is colored or decolored. An electrochemically colored/decolored device that uses such an EC phenomenon is referred to as an electrochromic device (EC device) and is promising for application as a light-controlling device with varying light transmittance. An organic EC device in which an electrochromic (EC) low-molecular-weight organic material that exhibits an electrochromic phenomenon is colored/decolored in a solution state is known to have advantages of a sufficient contrast ratio in a colored state and high transmittance in a decolored state.
PTL 1 discloses that a phenazine derivative is used as an anode EC material and a bipyridine derivative such as a viologen derivative is used as a cathode EC material. PTL 1 also discloses examples of the structure of a bipyridine derivative having electrochromism.
PTL 2 discloses an organic compound of a pyridine derivative that is colored in a reduction state. PTL 2 also discloses an electrochromic device that is colored in cyan, magenta, or yellow.
PTL 3 discloses an electrochromic device including various viologen derivatives colored in a reduction state.

Organic compound, electrochromic device, electrochromic apparatus, optical filter, image pickup apparatus, lens unit, and window member

Abstract: where X1 and X2 are each independently selected from the group consisting of an alkyl group, an aryl group, and an aralkyl group;        R11 to R16 are each independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an alkoxy group, an aryl group, a heterocyclic group, and a halogen atom; R21 and R22 are each independently selected from the group consisting of a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group, an aryl group, and an aralkyl group; and A1− and A2− each independently represent a monovalent anion.


Apparatus are provided for a stacked cascode current source. An apparatus is provided for an electrical device comprising an input node and an output node. A first transistor stack is coupled to the input node. The first transistor stack includes a first transistor and a second transistor. A drain terminal and a gate terminal of the first transistor are coupled to the input node. A drain terminal of the second transistor is coupled to a source terminal of the first transistor and a gate terminal of the second transistor is coupled to the input node. A second transistor stack coupled to the first transistor stack and the output node to create a current mirror for the first transistor stack.

It is well known that many circuits rely on signal currents appearing at high impedance nodes in current sources. An ideal current source provides constant current irrespective of voltage across it, although in practice, such an ideal current source is approximated. The output impedance of such current sources may limit circuit performance parameters such as circuit gain, linearity, stability, etc. Often, transistors such as MOSFETs are used to provide high output impedance at a node in a circuit. Ideally, the MOSFET current should vary only slightly with the applied drain-to-source voltage. However, as transistors are made smaller and operating voltages are reduced, the sensitivity of the MOSFET current to the drain voltage increases.
To counteract the resulting decrease in output resistance, circuits are made more complex, either by requiring more devices, or by feedback circuitry. A cascode current source exhibits high output impedance by stacking the output devices in series. While such circuits are suitable for many low voltage applications, the high output impedance is accompanied by a reduction in the operating voltage range. For example, the voltage across the output transistors (e.g., the output voltage) may swing to a low voltage potential, thereby reducing the drain-to-source voltage of the transistors. This causes the transistors to leave the saturation region and significantly reduces the output impedance, which becomes dependent on the output voltage. Thus, the output voltage range capable of sustaining a high output impedance at the output is limited. Furthermore, the operating voltage on the input side must exceed the sum of the threshold voltages for the transistors in order to allow current to flow. Thus, in order to accommodate lower operating voltages, transistors would need to be removed from the circuit, thereby reducing the output impedance.
Another known approach utilizes level shifters in a feedback loop to extend the operating voltage range of the cascode current source. While this technique does improve operating voltage range, it may not be suitable in certain applications. For example, this technique may result in a low drain-to-source voltage at the lower of the two stacked output transistors. Thus, while the output impedance of the circuit is enhanced by the upper transistor, the overall output impedance may be significantly reduced compared to a traditional cascode structure. Furthermore, additional devices such as level shifters, amplifiers, and the like contribute to undesirable effects such as noise, longer settling time, increased power consumption, and inaccuracies associated with component matching.


A method of increasing a polymerization reaction rate of a base monomer composition that has slow free-radical polymerization kinetics. The method comprises combining an effective amount of a nanogel to the base monomer composition to form a monomer-nanogel mixture having a polymerization reaction rate that is greater than the polymerization reaction rate of the base monomer composition when subjected to an identical free-radical polymerization reaction conducted under identical conditions. The base monomer composition comprises one or more slow-kinetic monomers with slow free radical polymerization kinetics in which <25% of the double bonds are converted within the first 10 mintes of said reaction. The nanogel is soluble in the base monomer composition. The nanogel is derived from a nanogel-forming monomer mixture that comprises: at least one monovinyl monomer; at least one divinyl monomer; a chain transfer agent; and an initiator.

Poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) is one of the most extensively used thermoplastics in the world in applications that range from construction materials to consumer electronics and medical devices. PMMA and other linear polymers such as n-butyl acrylate, isobornyl acrylate, etc. are typically mass-produced via the free radical polymerization of a monomer. In the case of PPMA, the monomer is methyl methacrylate (MMA) using a thermal initiator such as 2,2′-azobis(2-methylpropionitrile) (AIBN) or peroxide-based initiators. To produce optical quality organic glass (such as in PLEXIGLAS™) bulk polymerization of the monomer MMA and cell casting is used. Typically, a partially polymerized slurry of "MMA syrup" (MMA with dissolved PMMA, used to increase the viscosity and aid in processing) is cast between panes of float-glass and submerged in heated water to cure at temperatures ≤40° C. to avoid formation of bubbles from boiling of monomer due to exothermic polymerization. The polymerization of methacrylate groups is generally slow, and the curing process for PMMA can take in excess of 10 hours, making the process extremely energy intensive. To decrease the cure time, often a mixture of MMA and a Prepolymer of PMMA is utilized.
While a thermally initiated cure of MMA to PMMA is the established method for industrial manufacture, the slow reaction kinetics of MMA to PMMA is a disadvantage that limits or excludes its usage in applications such as dental materials and modern manufacturing methods such as 3D printing. The extremely energy intensive and inefficient polymerization kinetics of MMA to PMMA can take upwards of 10 hours and has led to alternative, efficient cure mechanisms for MMA to be explored. Over the past decade, the photoinitiation of MMA to PMMA via free radical polymerization of functional molecules upon irradiation with ultraviolet or visible light has tested and used in limited applications. In addition to the spatial and temporal control ("cure on command") afforded by photoinitiating reactions, the intense near-UV radiation required to initiate the reaction can be efficiently produced using light emitting diode (LED) arrays at the appropriate wavelength (e.g. 405 nm for GaN LEDs). Using radical photoinitiators rather than thermo-initiators could greatly reduce the amount of energy required to polymerize PMMA and has the potential to extend the range of applications in which PMMA can be utilized. However, the limiting factor in both thermal- and photo-initiated polymerization of PMMA is the intrinsically slow reaction kinetics of the methacrylate polymerization. To date, improving the phopolymerization kinetics of MMA has had limited success. Additives and composite are known to increase the polymerization kinetics, but the efficiency is attained usually at the expense of desirable mechanical properties.
The limiting factor in both thermal and photo-initiated polymerization of PMMA, however, remains the intrinsically slow reaction kinetics of the methacrylate polymerization. To date, there has been limited success in improving the photopolymerization kinetics of MMA (Charlot, 2014). Different comonomer additives and composite are known to increase the polymerization rate, but usually at the expense of desirable mechanical properties.
Thus, a need still exists for increasing the polymerization reaction of rates of slow-kinetic polymers such as PMMA without detrimentally affecting other physical properties of the base polymer (e.g., mechanical and/or optical properties).

Control of polymer network structures via nanogels

THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO, A BODY CORPORATE


A subsurface drainage assembly for directing fluid drainage from a surface including a plurality of drain structure panels linked together in a manner that permits movement of one drain structure panel relative to the adjacent drain structure panel. The drain structure panels have a laterally extensive backing grid and a plurality of spaced apart support members projecting therefrom. The support members have at least one fluid flow opening formed through a sidewall so as to intersect a lower end of the support members at two rounded corners. The support members are spaced so that the support members are nestable between the support members of an identical drain structure panel when the drain structure panels are arranged in an inverted relationship with respect to one another. The drain structure panel may be placed on an impermeable liner having an upper surface with a plurality of ridges defining troughs therebetween.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to systems for subsurface fluid drainage and storage, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a subsurface drainage system and a drain structure therefor which promotes rapid infiltration of water through a subsoil structure.
2. Brief Description of Related Art
It is known that adequate drainage is a key to maintaining quality turf on athletic playing fields, such as football and soccer fields, baseball diamonds, golf courses, and the like. Further, well drained playing fields eliminate or significantly decrease the time during which heavy precipitation would make the field unuseable.
Previous efforts have been made in the field of subsurface drainage systems for sports fields and the like. In particular, U.S. Pat. No. 5,848,856 has been issued to William Bohnhoff. The Bohnhoff '856 patent discloses a subsurface drainage system that includes a base layer having a sloped surface and covered with an impermeable liner, a drainage collection pipe at the bottom of each sloped surface, an intermediate layer formed by a drain structure overlying the impermeable liner, a filter fabric layer, a root zone layer, and a turf. The drain structure is a thermoplastic mat with a laterally extensive backing grid having a plurality of intersecting struts defining grid openings therebetween and a plurality of spaced cylindrical support members projecting from the backing grid whereby fluid may flow through the backing grid and the cylindrical support member.
While use of the drainage structure described above has met with success, the transportation of such drain structures can be expensive, and its installation tedious and time consuming. In addition, the cylindrical support members are typically formed to have a planar lower edge that upon resting on the impermeable liner forms a fluid seal. It has been suggested to form openings in the sidewall that would promote drainage from the cylindrical support member, but the formation of such openings result in the creation of sharp edges that may cut or puncture the impermeable liner during the installation process or after the drain structure is covered with the turf and the soil that makes up the root zone layer. The present invention is directed to a subsurface drainage system and drain structure therefor that overcome the problems of the prior art.

Subsurface drainage system and drain structure therefor


A digital photographing apparatus which automatically determines a face, as chosen by a user, on which autofocusing is to be performed while not imposing an excessive computational load on the digital photographing apparatus. Also provided is a control method for the digital photographing apparatus, and a recording medium storing a program for executing the control method. The digital photographing apparatus includes an image division unit dividing an image into a plurality of regions, a first score assignment unit assigning a first score to each face part included in the image according to a region to which the face part belongs, and a face part determination unit determining a face part on which autofocusing is to be performed, based on the first score assigned to each face part.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a digital photographing apparatus and a method for controlling the digital photographing apparatus, and a recording medium for storing a program for executing the control method. More particularly, the present invention relates to a digital photographing apparatus which automatically determines a face, as chosen by a user, on which autofocusing is to be performed in photographing a plurality of faces, without putting an excessive load on the digital photographing.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, a digital photographing apparatus stores in a storage medium an image file, which is obtained by a photographing operation in a photographing mode and the digital photographing apparatus displays the image on a display unit by reproducing the image file stored in the storage medium in a playback mode. Also in the photographing mode, the photographing apparatus may reproduce an image file obtained by a photographing operation.
Digital photographing apparatuses are frequently used in order to take photos of a person. In this case, it is preferable to make the digital photographing apparatus focus on the face of the person being photographed. Accordingly, attempts are being made to develop a control method by which the face of a person is automatically detected and autofocusing is performed on the detected face.
However, these conventional techniques relate mostly to a case where the face of only one person exists in an image, and autofocusing is performed on the face by identifying the position of the face. Accordingly, when a plurality of faces exist in an image, the user of the digital photographing apparatus has to manually select an object for autofocusing, which can be inconvenient.

Digital photographing apparatus, method for controlling the same, and a recording medium for storing a program to implement the method


A service device connects to a service port of a pressurized system. The device includes a valve opening member for opening a valve within the port. The device can attach to a service unit for servicing the pressurized system. The system can be an air conditioning or refrigeration system.

Servicing couplings are commonly employed to facilitate charging and evacuation of pressurized fluid systems, such as refrigeration systems, air conditioning systems, or hydraulic systems. The service coupling connects to a service port of the system. The service coupling opens a service port of a system, allowing fluids, including liquids or gases, to be exchanged with the system. A quick-release interconnection between the service port and the service adapter can facilitate the servicing process. For example, when servicing a refrigeration or air conditioning system the service coupling can be connected by a flexible hose to a refrigerant supply source, such as a pressurized bottle or cylinder. When the service coupling and service port is opened, refrigerant can flow through the coupling and into the refrigeration system. Because pressurized fluid systems can be serviced when the system is installed in a confined space such as a vehicle, service couplings having small dimensions can be useful for convenient servicing.

Coupling for servicing a pressurized system


An adapter that consist of a cylinder that contains three flat springs shaped to fit around a golf ball and a spring retainer. A golfer can permanently insert the adapter into the butt end of a golf putter shaft without the use of tools. The adapter is comprised of a cylinders with it's out side diameter slightly larger than the inside diameter of the butt end of a putter shaft. When the adapter is inserted into the butt end of a golf putter shaft with the springs positioned in the adapter, the springs will not interfere with the golfer while putting The three flat springs are shaped and spaced slightly smaller than a golf ball when extended to pick up a golf ball. To position the springs to pick up a golf ball, the golfer manually pulls the main spring out of the adapter to a stop that positions the three springs to the proper length to pick up a golf ball. For a golfer to pick up a golf ball, the golfer positions the springs over a golf ball. With pressure down ward over a golf ball the springs will pick up a golf ball. When the process is complete the golfer pushes the springs back into the cylinder for future use.

There are many people with bending problems. The invention provides a means to pick up a golf ball with an adapter installed in a golf putter shaft. I made an adapter for a friend Vet. that is an amputee. Before I made the attachment for him he had trouble bending to pick up a golf ball. He was very pleased and happy with the adapter I made for him. With the feedback I received from other golfers that saw him pick up a golf ball I decided to apply for a patent.
The majority of golf putter shafts are steel and this adapter can permanently be installed in a standard steel putter shaft without the use of tools. A small size cylinder can be used to insert the Adapter into the butt end of a graphite shaft. The Adapter is a cylinder with three flat springs and a spring retainer in the cylinder. With the adapter installed in a golf putter shaft and the springs positioned in the cylinder the springs will not interfere with a golfer while the golfer is putting.
There are other means to pick up a golf ball out of a golf hole, such as a suction cup that fits over the grip of a putter. This attachment picks up a golf ball. The suction cup attachment interferes with a golfer while putting, the cup don't fit large putter grips, don't pick up small golf balls and is not dependable.
There are attachments that are cumbersome that fit over a golf club head. These adapters don't fit into a golf cup, are easily lost and are troublesome to use. Once my invention is installed into a putter shaft it becomes a permanent part of the putter.
Some putter heads are designed to pick up golf balls. These putter heads don't pick up small golf balls. The putter heads are made small enough to fit into a golf hole and are not large enough for better putting. My invention is an attachment that can be permanently installed into a favorite golf putter shaft.
There is no need to purchase a new putter or tools to install my adapter. Prior art don't provide a self contained adapter that picks up a golf ball with three flat springs, a spring handle and a spring retainer. My adapter can be permanently installed into a putter shaft without tools,

Adapter with retractable springs that picks up a golf ball


Apparatus and methods for segmenting sets of distinct entities into groups with associated boundaries, wherein the associated boundaries have an associated logic are disclosed. The interaction of an object, a set of objects, another group, or combinations thereof with a group's associated boundary is accounted for by the logic of the invention such that the group and its associated boundary are modified with respect to the interaction.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to software technology. More specifically, it relates to graphical user interface widget suitable for logical grouping and group manipulation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Graphical applications are becoming increasingly popular with computer users. High resolution pictures, animation, and other visual and graphical effects displayed on a computer screen have become commonplace as computer microprocessors are developed having greater speed and processing power. Graphical user interfaces (GUI's), for example, are used widely. It is generally accepted that computers having graphical user interfaces (GUI's) are easier to use, and that it is quicker to learn an application program in a GUI environment than in a non-GUI environment.
Current GUI's that use grouping and group manipulation do not address the need for logical group manipulation. Conventional grouping tools or widgets are static in nature. Graphics software tools such as VISIO™ or POWERPOINT™ available from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond Wash., and CHEMDRAW™ available from CambridgeSoft Corporation of Cambridge Mass., are all examples wherein sets of objects can be grouped and ungrouped, and positioned about the visual display. For example, one can select a set of objects, input a grouping command, and the set then is defined as a group. Also the group can be undefined or segmented by selecting the set of objects or a sub-set thereof, and entering an ungroup command. As well, a number of hierarchical layers of grouped objects can be established, aiding in manipulation and positioning of groups about the display.
Another realm of the GUI is in spreadsheet software, for example EXCEL™ available from Microsoft Corporation of Redmond Wash. Spreadsheet software like these allow a user to select a cell or a set of cells (with data therein) and move the cell or set about a given spreadsheet or spreadsheets. Current spreadsheet software does not provide for logical grouping functions and group interaction as described above for graphics software. For example, if a set of cells is selected and moved within a spreadsheet, the data within each cell of the set is simply "dumped" into each of the respective cells that are overlapped by the set. In this case the data that was in each of the overlapped cells is lost. There is no means provided for grouping cells and displaying their logical manipulation in a meaningful way to the user.
Unfortunately, however, these software packages do not provide the user with the capability of performing a visual logical manipulation of groups with respect to their associated boundaries. That is, in conventional graphics software packages, groups are defined, undefined, or segmented as static entities. A particular group's associated boundary has no logic tied into it, i.e. it simply defines what objects are in the group, there is no accounting for interaction of an object, a set of objects, or another group with the associated boundary.
What is needed therefore is improved technology for logically grouping distinct entities, such as, for example, objects, cells, or elements, in a graphical user interface.

Graphical list grouping widget and methods of use thereof


An apparatus supplies food paste material sheets at a predetermined interval on a surface moving at a predetermined speed. The apparatus includes a horizontally arranged first roller adapted to be rotated to receive a continuous food paste material sheet on the circumferential surface thereof; means for severing the continuous sheet on the circumferential surface at a predetermined interval in the circumferential direction into a plurality of sheet segments or the above-stated sheets; a first peeler means provided at a predetermined position on the lower half portion of the circumferential surface of the first roller for peeling off the severed sheet segments from the circumferential surface which segments have been successively brought to the above-noted predetermined position; and a second horizontally arranged roller provided under the first roller. The second roller is adapted to be rotated to sequentially receive the sheet segments from the first roller. The apparatus includes a second peeler means for peeling off the sheet segments from the second roller to supply them onto the above-noted moving surface. The second roller includes means provided on the circumferential surface thereof for receiving a leading portion of each of the sheet segments which has moved vertically down from the first roller so as to position and hold the leading portion.

This invention relates to an apparatus for supplying paste food sheets at a predetermined interval, in particular, to an apparatus for forming paste food material into a continuous sheet, severing the sheet into a plurality of segments and supplying the sheet segments or sheets at a predetermined interval.
Japanese Published Patent Application No. 6-14832 discloses an apparatus for supplying food paste sheets at a predetermined interval, including a nozzle for shaping paste food into an elongated or continuous sheet, a first horizontal roller adapted to be rotated to receive the continuous sheet of food paste, cutter means for cutting the sheet received on the circumferential surface of the first roller at a predetermined interval, first peeler means for peeling off the cut sheet segments from the first roller, a second horizontal roller provided under the first roller and adapted to be rotated at a speed greater than that of the first roller to receive the sheet segments peeled from the first roller on the circumferential surface thereof in such a manner that the sheet segments are spaced from each other and second peeler means for peeling off the sheet segments from the second roller to supply them at a predetermined interval.
However, the apparatus stated above gives rise to a problem in that the sheet segments supplied on the circumferential surface of the second roller are prone to be displaced from their regular position, and thus it is difficult to supply them from the second roller at an accurate interval.

Apparatus for supplying paste food sheets at a predetermined interval


Preferred systems can include an electrical impedance tomography apparatus electrically connectable to an object; an ultra low field magnetic resonance imaging apparatus including a plurality of field directions and disposable about the object; a controller connected to the ultra low field magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and configured to implement a sequencing of one or more ultra low magnetic fields substantially along one or more of the plurality of field directions; and a display connected to the controller, and wherein the controller is further configured to reconstruct a displayable image of an electrical current density in the object. Preferred methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are also disclosed.

Various imaging techniques have been developed for the investigation of biological and other specimens. Some of these techniques (for example, magnetic resonance imaging and positron emission tomography) have become routine in clinical applications. Most imaging techniques rely on particular specimen properties to produce image contrast. For example, magnetic resonance images can depend on specimen spin T1 or T2 relaxation times, or spin densities. Magnetic resonance imaging has also been applied to so-called functional imaging (functional MRI or fMRI) so that magnetic resonance images can be associated with specimen brain function related to blood flow or oxygenation and not merely with specimen structure. Unfortunately, most magnetic resonance imaging systems require application of very high magnetic fields (1 Tesla or more), and thus require expensive, complex magnets. In addition, these high magnetic fields are problematic for clinical measurements of other types, due to the undesirable effects of large magnetic fields on other instrumentation that might be necessary for specimen measurements. In addition, while such magnetic resonance imaging methods generally have spatial resolution on the scale of millimeters (mm), they have poor temporal resolution, typically, no better than a few seconds. However, imaging methods in clinical and other applications can typically be selected to provide high spatial resolution images that lack high temporal resolution dynamic functional information, or to provide high temporal resolution functional information that cannot be readily associated with any specimen features or locations. Unfortunately, the use of magnetic resonance imaging in combination with other clinical measurement techniques is generally challenging, and improved methods and apparatus are needed.
Accordingly, aspects of the present invention can include a preferred system including an electrical impedance tomography apparatus electrically connectable to an object; an ultra low field magnetic resonance imaging apparatus including a plurality of field directions and disposable about the object; a controller connected to the ultra low field magnetic resonance imaging apparatus and configured to implement a sequencing of one or more ultra low magnetic fields substantially along one or more of the plurality of field directions; and a display connected to the controller. The controller can be further configured to reconstruct a displayable image of an electrical current density in the object. Additional aspects of the present invention can include a preferred method that includes delivering an electrical current through an object in a predetermined current direction; pulsing an ultra low magnetic field along one or more field directions; changing the direction of the ultra low magnetic field to another of the one or more field directions; detecting a resonance between the magnetic field associated with the applied electrical current and the nuclear spins within the ultra low magnetic field inside the object; and reconstructing an image of an electrical current density in the object in response to the detected resonance. In additional aspects of the present invention, the preferred system and method can be implemented at least in part in a distributed computing system and/or computer program product. These and other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to the following Figures.

System and method for magnetic current density imaging at ultra low magnetic fields


A method and apparatus for identifying and analyzing vapor elements, using a preconcentrator collector. The preconcentrator collector collects and preconcentrates chemical vapors to be detected and identified before chromatographic analysis using surface acoustic wave gas chromatograph (SAW/GC) technology. The preconcentrator collector is used in conjunction with a sensor in an SAW/GC detector in the apparatus. A physical parameter associated with the sensor changes in a defined manner upon exposure of the sensor to an unknown vapor, permitting identification of the individual vapor elements. The preconcentrator collector of the invention includes a body portion having an inlet and an outlet, and a stack of collector plates disposed in the body portion. The collector plates are made of a material that is easily micromachinable and easily cleanable, such as silicon, silica or fused quartz. The outlet of the body portion is connectable to a sampling pump for taking a sample of ambient air into the body portion through the inlet. After the sample is taken, the collector plates trap the chemical vapors in the sample of ambient air and non-trapped vapors exit through the outlet. By using the preconcentrator collector, the present invention achieves more specificity and selectivity simultaneously with high sensitivity.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method and apparatus for identifying and analyzing vapor elements, and more particularly to a surface acoustic wave gas chromatographic (SAW/GC) with a preconcentrator collector and a method of using same.
2. Related Art
In the analysis of chemical vapors there is frequently a need to detect extremely small trace amounts of a specific vapor amongst a background of different chemical species. Examples are the detection of contraband aboard the cargo of vessels being inspected by the United States Coast Guard and the detection of leaking explosive or dangerous chemicals at depositories thereof. Automated or portable testing apparatus for this purpose has generally not been available. Further, existing detectors are only able to detect chemical species at concentrations well above their ambient vapor concentrations and thus lack sufficient sensitivity.
Chemical sensors have been developed that physically change upon exposure and contain absorbing polymers selected for their affinity to absorb a group of related chemical species. One type, surface acoustic wave (SAW) delay line sensors, are the most developed and readily available. For example, one commercial supplier is Microsensor System, Inc., Fairfax, Va.
A method and apparatus for using an SAW device to detect a vapor is disclosed by H. Wohltjen in U.S. Pat. No. 4,312,228, issued Jan. 26, 1982. As described therein, the SAW device comprises a piezoelectric element having a surface coated with a polymer material selected to absorb and react with the chemical to be detected. Interaction of the chemical with the material coating of the sensing element alters one or more properties of a surface acoustic wave, and the electrodes on the piezoelectric element detect the altered wave, producing an electrical signal.
Another apparatus and method for detection and identification of chemical vapors is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,017. As described in a plurality of surface acoustic wave (SAW) devices, each coated with a selected polymer material, are exposed to the vapor to be analyzed. In this invention a predicted time constant (or rate) of diffusion into the polymer coating is used to identify the different chemical species. To quantitatively identify specific chemical species present in vapors an array of SAW sensors with different polymer coatings may be exposed and a pattern recognition technique utilized to identify specific species. This is described in a paper entitled "Correlation of Surface Acoustic Wave Device Coating Responses With Solubility Properties and Chemical Structure" by D. S. Ballentine, Jr., S. L. Rose, J. W. Grate, and H. Wohltjen, published in Analytical Chemistry, Vol. 58, p. 3058, December 1986.
A further patent using multiple polymer coated dispersive delay lines is disclosed by J. Haworth in U.S. Pat. No. 5,012,668, issued May 7, 1991. The use of specific absorbant polymers to sensitize the surface of a piezoelectric crystal and induce a phase or amplitude variation in a traveling acoustic wave is common to all of the prior art and this approach severely limits the performance of these vapor detectors. Multiple polymer films dilute the vapor samples and thereby limit the amount of vapor that can be detected by each film. Also, practically any type of film applied to the surface of a piezoelectric crystal introduces noise which reduces sensitivity further.
In view of such problems, the present inventors have proposed an apparatus for performing high speed detection and identification of vapor species based upon the differing vapor pressures of individual vapor species within a confined and focused high temperature gas stream. The apparatus includes a temperature programmed vapor preconcentrator for trapping condensable vapor species, a multi-port valve, a temperature programmed chromatographic capillary column, an acoustic wave interferometer for detecting adsorption and desorption of vapor species, a thermoelectric heating and cooling element for controlling the temperature of the acoustic interferometer sensor, and an electronic system controller which is described by the present inventors, i.e., Staples et al., in U.S. Pat. No. 5,289,715, which is hereby incorporated by reference. This apparatus is capable of detecting trace elements with high specificity and sensitivity. The detection can be done near real time.

Method and apparatus for identifying and analyzing vapor elements


A system and method for capturing and modifying roaming mobile subscriber information such as Serving MSCID, cell and sector location information, original dialed digits, subscriber profile and return address point code in support of service applications, such as wireless prepaid service for roaming subscribers. A network platform is inserted into the signaling path between a roaming subscriber""s HLR and all Serving MSCs. The network platform intercepts messages exchanged between the roaming subscriber""s Serving MSC and HLR, and extracts and stores information such as Serving MSCID, cell and sector data. The network platform may also modify the exchanged messages in support of service applications.

The present invention relates to wireless telecommunications services, and more particularly to capturing or modifying mobile subscriber information such as location information, as indicated by Serving MSCID, and cell and sector location, and other information, such as original dialed digits and subscriber profile, for use by service applications.
Wireless Prepaid Service (WPS) is an offering by wireless service providers that allows a subscriber to charge airtime and other fees against a positive balance in the subscriber""s account. Periodically, the subscriber replenishes the account balance so as to allow further service usage which may incur charges, such as airtime, voice messaging, etc. If the subscriber""s account balance drops below a certain threshold, further calls are not allowed, and in certain arrangements, in-process calls are terminated.
One system for delivering wireless prepaid services in an Integrated Services Digital Network User Part (ISUP) network is based on U.S. Pat. No. 5,377,186 to Wegner, et al., and also on U.S. patent application 09/020,351, filed Feb. 9, 1998, assigned to the assignee of the present invention, both of which are herein incorporated by reference. The system uses ISUP loop-around trunks to connect a Mobile Switching Center (MSC) to a WPS Service Control Point (SCP), where the WPS airtime usage and other charges are tracked. All signaling for calls originating from or terminating to a WPS subscriber are routed through the WPS SCP.
All WPS systems are designed to track airtime usage and charges for WPS subscriber calls originating in the subscriber""s home service area. However, current WPS systems using ISUP loop-around trunks or WPS point solutions connected to an MSC do not have the ability to determine and track roaming charges based on a roaming WPS subscriber""s Serving MSC (SMSC). The primary reason for the inability to charge variable roaming rates based on a WPS roamer""s location is that the common signaling protocols used to communicate between the MSC and the WPS product, such as ISUP, do not support parameters for Mobil Switching Center ID (MSCID), cell and sector.
One possible technique to determine a variable roaming rate for calls originating from a WPS roamer would be for each provider to assign a unique xe2x80x9c800xe2x80x9d backhaul number to each out-of-area SMSC in the network. Since calls originating from a roamer are almost always backhauled from the SMSC to an MSC in the subscriber""s home network, a WPS roaming rate based on the unique SMSC backhaul number could be determined. The problem with this technique is that it uses a large number of scarce network resources, in the form of xe2x80x9c800xe2x80x9d and other directory numbers, that could better be used to serve revenue generating customers.
It is the primary object of the present invention to provide a system and method to capture Serving MSCID and cell and sector within the Serving MSC area for roaming wireless subscribers, and make this information available to service applications, such as wireless prepaid service. It is a further object of the invention to implement the method without requiring programming logic changes to established network elements, including Home Location Registers (HLRs), Visitor Location Registers (VLRs) and MSCs. It is a further object of the invention to implement the method with optimal use of scarce network resources, such as xe2x80x9c800xe2x80x9d and other directory numbers.
The invention of applicants is based on inserting a network platform, referred to hereinafter as an xe2x80x9cIntercept Location Registerxe2x80x9d (ILR), into the signaling path between the HLR of the roaming subscriber and all SMSCs. The ILR performs its functions in a transparent manner from the perspectives of the HLR and the SMSC. The HLR and SMSC both think they are effectively communicating directly to each other following normal wireless intersystem operations.
By being in the signaling path between the HLR and SMSC, the ILR can perform certain unique functions. In particular, the ILR can save information present in the messages exchanged between the HLR and SMSC, such as the MSCID, cell and sector values included in the Registration message from the SMSC to the HLR for a roaming WPS subscriber, for subsequent use by a WPS SCP application for, for example, variable roaming rate determinations. The ILR can also modify messages exchanged between the HLR and SMSC to assist service applications.
In the preferred embodiment, the ILR sends messages it receives from SMSCs to the HLR and sends messages it receives from the HLR to SMSCs without significant modification, except for Registration Notification (REGNOT) and response (regnot) messages that are associated with WPS subscribers"" Mobile Identification Numbers (MINs), maintained in a WPS MIN database on the ILR. In all cases, the ILR modifies the Serving MSCID parameter in messages it receives from the SMSC to the HLR to point to the ILR, so that response messages from the HLR will be returned to the ILR rather than directly to the SMSC.
When the ILR receives a REGNOT message associated with a WPS subscriber from a SMSC, it stores the MSCID, cell and sector included in the REGNOT message and passes the message to the HLR. When the ILR receives the regnot response message from the HLR, the regnot message is modified to include a hotline directory number (DN) that directs all calls originated by the roaming subscriber to be backhauled through the subscriber""s Home MSC (HMSC), or an equivalent MSC that has ISUP loop-around trunks, which enable the call""s ISUP signaling to be passed through the WPS SCP.
When subsequent calls are originated by or terminated to the roaming WPS subscriber, the subscriber""s Serving MSCID and cell and sector that are stored in the ILR can be accessed by the WPS SCP application for variable roaming rate determination.
This technique can be used for roaming subscribers in home or foreign networks.

Capturing and modifying of mobile subscriber information


Device intended to improve the working of a catalyst (3) placed in the exhaust manifold of an internal-combustion engine, said exhaust manifold consisting of a tube (2) opening on one side into the collector (1) collecting the combustion gases coming from the cylinder(s) and covering with the other end thereof said catalyst (3).. According to the invention, the device comprises:. at least one pipe (8) inside said tube (2), having a first end (81) which opens in proximity to said catalyst (3), and PA1 a means (10) intended to selectively close the intertube volume (9) delimited between said inner pipe (8) and said tube (2) as a function of the temperature of the exhaust gases flowing onto said catalyst (3).

The present invention relates to internal-combustion engines whose exhaust line comprises at least one catalyst.
The purpose of a catalyst generally consists in activating the oxidation (COHC) or reduction (NO.sub.2) reactions which take place in the natural state and which lead to the deposition of polluting bodies inside the exhaust line but some kinetics of which are too slow at the temperature of the exhaust gases.
A catalyst or catalytic muffler placed on the exhaust line of an engine is intended to reduce the emissions of some pollutants such as CO, HC, NO.sub.x, . . . which are present in the exhaust gases.
However, when cold, a catalytic muffler has no effect on the pollutants released by the engine. A catalytic muffler must therefore reach a minimum temperature to start taking effect. There is thus a delay period known as priming delay during which the pollutant emissions are not decreased by the catalyst. This delay must therefore be as short as possible. The triggering or priming time of a catalytic muffler is commonly about 2 minutes.
Standards in force in most industrialized countries establish the limits allowed for the emission of pollutants.

Exhaust line allowing a faster triggering of the catalyst


An angulating piston assembly for a vehicle air conditioning system compressor comprises a composite piston including a metal rod having a ball at a proximal end and a plastic head at a distal end. A piston ring subassembly is operatively received about the periphery of the plastic piston head. The subassembly is characterized by a rigid support collar molded into the piston head and a piston ring of low friction material stretched and snugly received over the collar. An integral molded lip on the piston head and an outwardly projecting skirt on the support collar maintain the piston ring in position. An inwardly projecting flange is provided on the support collar and molded into the plastic piston head to provide a lock to prevent relative axial movement between the support collar and the piston head. A method of forming and assembling an angulating piston assembly includes the steps of: 1) mounting the piston ring on the rigid support collar; 2) placing the piston ring subassembly into a mold cavity; 3) positioning a distal end of a piston rod to extend into the mold cavity; 4) closing the mold cavity; 5) injecting molten plastic into the cavity to form the piston head; and 6) separating the mold cavity and removing the assembly.

A variety of refrigerant compressors for use in vehicle air conditioning systems are currently available. One popular vehicle compressor design is the axial type. In this type of compressor, a number of cylinders are equally angularly spaced about and equally radially spaced from the axis of a central drive shaft. A piston is mounted for reciprocal sliding motion in each of the cylinders. The pistons are connected to a swash plate or wobble plate, which is in turn operatively connected to the drive shaft.
During operation of the compressor, rotation of the drive shaft imparts a wave-like reciprocating motion to the wobble plate. This nutating driving action of the wobble plate serves to impart a linear reciprocating motion to the pistons. The pistons serve to compress the refrigerant gas and circulate it through the air conditioning system to cool the air being directed into the vehicle passenger compartment.
The development of a new refrigerant compressor for a vehicle air conditioning system presents unique challenges to an engineer. In recent years, a key objective of automotive air conditioning engineers has been to reduce the size of the compressor as much as possible in order to reduce the overall weight of the vehicle, as well as to lower the cost and to conserve valuable space. It is, of course, also desirable to improve the operating efficiency and quietness of the compressor.
It can be appreciated that substantial momentum forces are capable of being produced in a compressor due to the extreme accelerations imparted to the compressor pistons. Accordingly, if there can be a reduction in the mass of the piston, and a concomitant reduction in the forces generated by the piston action, not only is substantial energy saved (and efficiency increased) due to a reduction in the force required to drive the pistons, but benefits in the other key areas are also gained.
Historically, pistons for axial type compressors have been of unitary construction, machined from a durable metal body, such as a steel alloy. This prior art construction provides the desired strength, but unfortunately has an undesirably high mass. While improvements in hardening and machining techniques have allowed lighter weight metals, such as aluminum alloy, to be substituted, the unitary construction still dictates that a relatively high mass structure be provided.
In recent efforts to address this problem, some progress has been made in producing an improved swash plate compressor piston of composite construction. Others have recognized the main advantage of a composite piston assembly design; that is, a piston capable of operating at extreme accelerations, while minimizing the mass of the assembly and thus reducing the power input required to drive it. This concept is applied to a piston of the rocking or angulating type; that is, the piston head and connecting rod are combined into a single, integral unit, so that during operation the piston assumes a constantly changing, inclined posture relative to the cylinder.
The composite piston of this prior art includes a reinforced plastic piston head that is molded to the distal end of an aluminum shank or piston rod. Various structure is provided to assure a secure connection. Additionally, the proximal end of the rod includes one part of a ball and socket joint providing the connection to the wobble plate of the compressor.
One successful prior art composite piston assembly is illustrated and claimed in co-pending patent application of Shontz, Gavlak and Ebbing, U.S. Pat. No. 5,022,313 issued Jun. 11, 1991, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention.
Thus, while the composite piston assembly represents a significant advance in the art, further improvements are still possible. As one might suspect, the fact that the angulating piston assembly assumes an inclined posture relative to the cylinder bore during piston reciprocation, redesign of the piston continues to be an area where the greatest challenges are present. It is this area where most operational difficulties, mainly sealing problems, can arise. This is especially true under severe service.
The angle of inclination of the piston usually is at a maximum at bottom dead center and becomes approximately zero at top dead center. As mentioned above, as the piston reciprocates between these extreme positions, the angle of inclination is constantly changing. As a matter of fact, this environment and extreme action makes designing a highly efficient piston, and piston ring for effective sealing with the cylinder bore, very elusive.
In the past, especially with respect to angulating pistons of the type described, it is usually necessary to fully machine the piston ring. This is an expensive process as tight tolerances must be maintained in order to provide the required relationship between the piston head and piston ring for proper sealing between the piston head and the cylinder bore.
More particularly, a tight tolerance must be maintained on the outside diameter of the piston ring not only to properly mate with the cylinder, but also so that the ring may be inserted and held firmly in the proper position within the mold cavity for casting of the piston head. The piston ring must also be relatively thick in cross-section so that the ring maintains its annular shape and does not collapse. The additional material that must be utilized to construct this type of prior art ring adds significantly to the overall cost.
Another difficulty in utilizing this type of fully machined piston ring is that it has a tendency to shrink with the molten piston head, as the resin/glass fiber reinforced material forming the head begins to cool in the mold. This disadvantageously results in some variation in the final outside diameter of the piston ring, often resulting in a poor fit within the cylinder bore and a loss in efficiency due to reduced compression of the refrigerant gas.
A need is therefore identified for an improved angulating piston assembly and a new approach to designing the piston ring subassembly for such an angulating piston. Further, a need is also identified for an improved method of forming and assembling an angulating piston assembly, including the novel piston ring subassembly.

Piston ring subassembly, angulating piston assembly and method of making same


A vacuum toilet unit having a urinal function with reduced noise emission, system design size and system weight, in which vacuum toilet unit a triggering device for triggering the vacuum valve is adapted in such a manner that the triggering unit may not be triggered when a sit-down toilet is in use as intended.

Known flushing devices for a vacuum toilet having a urinal may necessitate triggering a flushing action, after use of the urinal, by activating a triggering device. This then may result in flushing liquid being supplied to the urinal, and subsequently in a suction valve being opened in order to lead impurities contained in a discharge line of the urinal, as well as the flushing liquid, into the region of a wastewater tank. In this arrangement the transport process may usually be effected by a pressure differential between the wastewater tank and the space where the vacuum toilet is located. In conventional systems for flushing a vacuum toilet, during the flushing procedure there may be very considerably noise emission because of the airflows caused during the flushing procedure, which noise emission may be further amplified by a funnel effect of the urinal bowl or the toilet bowl. This problem was, for example, addressed in DE 10 2006 016 030 A1. For this purpose noise reduction of a vacuum toilet unit was realized by the supply of secondary air.