Techniques are described for facilitating performing computer-implemented financial analysis. A metric that transforms one or more time series into an output object is identified. The one or more time series are determined based on one or more input objects. The metric is applied using the one or more time series, thereby generating a particular value for the output object. One of the metric and the particular value for the output object is stored in a physical storage device.

The approaches described in this section are approaches that could be pursued, but not necessarily approaches that have been previously conceived or pursued. Therefore, unless otherwise indicated, it should not be assumed that any of the approaches described in this section qualify as prior art merely by virtue of their inclusion in this section.
Data processing systems can be programmed to facilitate analysis of a universe of data items. A universe of data items refers to a large collection of data items. An example of such a universe may be a large collection of market instruments. In many instances, the amount of raw data about data items can be massive and dynamically increasing all the time. Under some approaches, an analyst relies on empirical knowledge and cumbersome spreadsheets to analyze markets and instruments. Under some other approaches, markets and instruments are modeled as multi-variable stochastic, predictive systems. In all these approaches, however, what has been captured is often over-simplified and relatively static. These approaches cannot keep up with new variable and new trends appearing in the markets, and therefore can hardly yield reliable insights for future performance of the markets and instruments. These shortcomings are made worse, as these approaches typically provide little support for a user to flexibly model the markets, to promptly react to new trends, and to timely test new hypotheses.

Object modeling for exploring large data sets


An electric power steering apparatus controlling an operation of an electric motor by a control unit based on a torque signal from a torque sensor and executing a steering assist of a steering shaft via a reduction mechanism. The control unit includes a power supply voltage detector for detecting a power supply voltage signal of an in-vehicle power supply, and an output inhibitor for inhibiting an output in multiple stages based on a power supply voltage detected by the detector. A maximum driving current of the motor is limited when the voltage is decreased by the inhibitor to reach a first reference value (V1), a motor control output gain is decreased when the voltage reaches a second reference value (V2), and the output is turned off when the voltage reaches a third reference value (V3).

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an improvement of an electric power steering apparatus (hereinafter, refer to as an EPS) structured to apply a steering assist force generated by a motor to a steering system of a motor vehicle or a vehicle.
2. Prior Art
In general, in this kind of EPS, if the EPS is actuated in a state in which a battery is deteriorated in a vehicle side or a used load is increased, there is a case where a power supply voltage is decreased. In a state in which the power supply voltage is decreased, a gate driving voltage of an FET used in a motor driving circuit is decreased. In this case, as shown in FIG. 7, if a voltage (VGS) between gate and source in the FET is decreased, an on resistance (RDS(ON)) between drain and source is exponentially increased. In this connection, the following relation exists between a maximum driving current Imax and an allowable power value P. In other words, the expression P=RDS(ON)Imax2 is established. In this case, reference symbol P denotes an allowable power value of the FET, reference symbol RDS(ON) denotes an on resistance between source and drain in the FET, and reference symbol Imax denotes a motor maximum current allowing to circulate through the FET. As a result, if the value RDS(ON) becomes large at a time of controlling a drive of the motor, a power loss becomes large. Accordingly, if the power supply voltage is decreased, there is a risk that the FET is broken or burned out by a heat generation caused by the power loss of the FET.
Further, if the power supply voltage is significantly decreased, a supply voltage to a torque sensor is decreased. Accordingly, a sensor characteristics (a solid line) at a time of a normal voltage is decreased as shown by a sensor characteristics (a broken line) at a time of a voltage reduction, as shown in FIG. 8. For example, in the case where a sensor output at a time of a neutral steering is set to 2.5 V, a neutral position of a steering wheel is shifted at a value s1 in the drawing, and a current characteristics of the motor is also shifted at a value s2 in the drawing from the neutral position of the steering wheel, as shown in FIG. 9. Accordingly, a left-right difference is generated in a steering wheel steering force such that the steering force is light in a leftward steering and is heavy in a rightward steering, and in the case where the left-right difference comes off badly, a steering wheel shift or the like is generated, so that there is a problem that a steering feeling is deteriorated. As a result, in the conventional EPS, if the power supply voltage is decreased to a certain voltage value or less, an output of the EPS is forcibly turned off so as to stop the assist.
For example, in Japanese Patent No. 3328595, there is disclosed a structure which is provided with a power supply voltage detecting means and a fadeout control means, detects a power supply voltage signal of an in-vehicle power supply so as to compare with a reference value, reduces a target current signal in accordance with a time so as to reduce a current of a motor in accordance with the time in the case where the power supply voltage signal is equal to or less than a first reference value continuously for a fixed time, thereby gradually reducing an assist steering force, and set the target current signal to 0 so as to stop the assist in the case where the power supply voltage signal becomes equal to or less than a second reference value smaller than the first reference value.
Further, for example, in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 6-15331, there is disclosed a structure which is provided with a voltage detecting means, a current limit value setting means and a current limiting means, detects a voltage of any of feed lines of a power supply, limits a motor current in such a manner that the detected value does not exceed a current limit value, sets a current limit value which becomes smaller in accordance with a reduction of a power supply voltage, and can obtain an assist of a normal steering force in the case of such a light steering that the motor current does not reach the current limit value.
However, in the conventional structure mentioned above, in the case where the detected value of the power supply signal becomes smaller than the reference value (the current limit value), the structure immediately stops the assist, and prevents an adverse effect caused by a heat generation of the FET. In other words, in the former case, the structure is made such as to stop the assist in the case where the current is reduced at the first reference value so as to reach the second reference value. In the latter case, the structure is made such as to stop the assist in the case where the current becomes smaller than the current limit value. Accordingly, there is a problem that the assist frequently stops every time the voltage of the in-vehicle power supply is decreased from the reference value, particularly in the case where the output of the EPS is large. As a result, there is a problem that a reduction of an operability and a deterioration of a feeling are generated, and as a result a commodity characteristics of the EPS is significantly deteriorated.


A plurality of process cartridges, each including an electrophotographic photosensitive drum, and a process device actable on the photosensitive drum, are detachably mountable to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus for forming an image of a recording medium. The image forming apparatus includes an opening and closing member; an intermediate transfer member or a recording medium bearing member provided in the opening and closing member such that the intermediate transfer member can face the process cartridges under a condition in which the opening and closing member is closed, and the intermediate transfer member can be separated from the process cartridges under a condition in which the opening and closing member is open; and a moving guide for holding the process cartridges. The moving guide is moved in interlocking relationship with a closing motion of the opening and closing member from a load position, to which the process cartridges are loaded, to a mount position, in which the process cartridges are capable of performing an image forming operation, such that the process cartridges mounted to the load position can be moved to the mount position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and a process cartridge detachably mountable to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
An electrophotographic image forming apparatus discussed herein is an apparatus for forming an image on a recording medium using an electrophotographic image forming method. The electrophotographic image forming apparatus is exemplified by an electrophotographic copying machine, an electrophotographic printer (for example, a laser printer and an LED printer), a facsimile apparatus, a word processor, and a complex machine thereof (for example, a multi-function printer).
Further, a process cartridge discussed herein is a structure which is constructed by integrally assembling process means, such as charging means, developing means and cleaning means, and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum in the form of a cartridge, and which is adapted to be detachably mountable to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. Alternatively, a process cartridge discussed herein is a structure that is constructed by integrally assembling at least one of charging means, developing means and cleaning means, which act as process means, and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum in the form of a cartridge, and is adapted to be detachably mountable to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus, or a cartridge that is constructed by integrally assembling at least developing means serving as process means, and an electrophotographic photosensitive drum in the form of a cartridge, and is adapted to be detachably mountable to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, an electrophotographic image forming apparatus employs a process cartridge system in which an electrophotographic photosensitive drum (hereinafter also simply referred to as a photosensitive drum) and process means actable on the photosensitive drum are integrally assembled in the form of a cartridge that is detachably mountable to a main body of an electrophotographic image forming apparatus. According to such a process cartridge system, an operator or a user can carry out maintenance of the apparatus on his or her own without relying on a serviceman. Hence, operation capability or readiness of the apparatus can be drastically improved. Therefore, the process cartridge system is widely used in electrophotographic image forming apparatuses.
In an image forming apparatus of a cartridge system, it is conventionally known that a process cartridge is moved to an image forming position (a mount position), or a position in front of a main body of the apparatus (a load position), in interlocking relationship with an opening or closing motion of an opening and closing cover for opening or closing an opening of the main body of the apparatus (see United States Patent Application Publication No. U.S. 2002/0159790 A1, which has matured into U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,902). In a construction as disclosed in this U.S. patent, the cartridge is loaded (mounted) to a moving guide in front of the main body of the apparatus, and the moving guide guides the cartridge to the mount position in interlocking relationship with the motion of the cover when the cover is closed.
Accordingly, when the cartridge is mounted in the main body of the apparatus, the user need not push the cartridge into a deep inner portion of the main body of the apparatus. It is therefore possible to drastically improve the operation readiness of mounting a cartridge in a main body of an apparatus.

Electrophotographic image forming apparatus, and process cartridge


A relay node including one or more components configured to encode a message to be transmitted to an access node, the message used to identify the relay node as a relay node during initialization of the relay node.

As used herein, the terms "mobile station" ("MS"), "user agent" ("UA"), and "user equipment" ("UE") might in some cases refer to mobile devices such as mobile telephones, personal digital assistants, handheld or laptop computers, and similar devices that have telecommunications capabilities. Such a MS might consist of a MS and its associated removable memory module, such as but not limited to a Universal Integrated Circuit Card (UICC) that includes a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) application, a Universal Subscriber Identity Module (USIM) application, or a Removable User Identity Module (R-UIM) application. As used herein, the term "SIM" may also refer to "USIM" and the term "USIM" may also refer to "SIM." Alternatively, such a MS might consist of the device itself without such a module. In other cases, the term "MS" might refer to devices that have similar capabilities but that are not transportable, such as desktop computers, set-top boxes, or network appliances. The term "MS" can also refer to any hardware or software component that can terminate a communication session for a user. Also, the terms "MS," "UE," "user agent" ("UA"), "user device" and "user node" might be used synonymously herein.
As telecommunications technology has evolved, more advanced network access equipment has been introduced that can provide services that were not possible previously. This network access equipment might include systems and devices that are improvements of the equivalent equipment in a traditional wireless telecommunications system. Such advanced or next generation equipment may be included in evolving wireless communications standards, such as long-term evolution (LTE) or LTE-Advanced (LTE-A). For example, LTE or LTE-A systems might include an Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access Network (E-UTRAN) node B (eNB), a wireless access point, or a similar component rather than a traditional base station.
As used herein, the term "access node" will refer to any component of the wireless network, such as a traditional base station, a wireless access point, or an LTE or LTE-A eNB, that creates a geographical area of reception and transmission coverage allowing a MS or a relay node to access other components in a telecommunications system. In this document, the term "access node" may comprise a plurality of hardware and software. An access node, core network component, or other device, may provide wireless communications resources in an area known as a cell.
An LTE or LTE-A system can include protocols such as a Radio Resource Control (RRC) protocol, which is responsible for the assignment, configuration, and release of radio resources between a MS and an access node or relay node or other LTE equipment. The RRC protocol is described in detail in the Third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) Technical Specification (TS) 36.331.
The signals that carry data between MSs, relay nodes, and access nodes can have frequency, time, and coding parameters and other characteristics that might be specified by a network node. A connection between any of these elements that has a specific set of such characteristics can be referred to as a resource. The terms "resource," "communications connection," "channel," and "communications link" might be used synonymously herein. A network node typically establishes a different resource for each MS or other network node with which it is communicating at any particular time.
The term "access node" may not refer to a "relay node," which is a component in a wireless network that is configured to extend or enhance the coverage created by an access node or another relay node. The access node and relay node are both radio components that may be present in a wireless communications network, and the terms "component" and "network node" may refer to an access node or relay node. A component might operate as an access node or a relay node depending on its configuration and placement. However, a component is called a "relay node" only if it requires the wireless coverage of an access node or other relay node to access other components in a wireless communications system. Additionally, two or more relay nodes may used serially to extend or enhance coverage created by an access node.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Type II relay node initialization procedures


The invention provides an improved method and system for processing mail items on bar code sorting machines. Such a method includes the steps of scanning a surface of each mail piece with at least one imaging camera to obtain at least one image of the surface represented by image data, analyzing the image data to locate a bar code in the image, and analyzing the bar code to recognize a first destination code. If the first destination code meets predetermined criteria, then the mail piece is processed further in a manner dependent on the first destination code. If the first destination code cannot be recognized or fails to meet the predetermined criteria, the image data is analyzed to locate destination address lines in the image, and the address lines are analyzed to determine a second destination code. The mail piece is sorted according to the second destination code, or a result determined by arbitrating the first and second destination codes.

Current state-of-the art postal letter mail equipment is divided into two types, those that primarily process addresses, and those that process mail that has been bar coded. Bar code processing equipment is simpler in design and does not require as long a transport belt path because the time to process a mail piece image is less for one containing a bar code than one containing only address information. Bar codes typically included on mail items are traditional linear bar code types as well as two dimensional code patterns that contain alphanumeric and ZIP code data.
Many efforts to improve bar code recognition have been employed to increase the effective yield of the machines to as high as 90%, but ultimately severely degraded images, or those wherein the bar code is obscured by an envelope's window edge, cause a certain percentage of mail items to be rejected. Mail items with bar codes that cannot be read are rejected and either processed manually or reprocessed on other equipment capable of reading the full address. These later steps result in additional costs and delay in processing the mail items, and depending upon the specific step of the production process, this can sometimes result in an extra day to deliver the item.
Some bar-coded mail items have an additional identification code used to associate an image with the mail item. These pieces had been previously processed and a sorting bar code applied by an OCR sorting system as deployed by the USPS, or by a mail processing companies that have equipment similar to the USPS and who are operating under license to the USPS. The ID code is read by a separate bar code reader and is used by the bar code sorters to enable each to query a central server for bar code equivalent data when sorting bar codes cannot be read. The server receives the bar code equivalent data, i.e., data from which a correct destination bar code for that mail piece can be determined, from a process such as video coding. A need persists for a system able to provide a higher read success rate for bar code sorters.


An electric motor includes a stator, a rotor and a can arranged between the stator and the rotor, wherein the stator exhibits several stator pole pairs, which are each formed by two adjacent stator poles, which are designed in such a way as to generate oppositely polarized magnetic fields, and wherein the rotor exhibits a plurality of magnetic rotor poles distributed over the circumference, and is configured in such a way as to enable a magnetic flux between two adjacent rotor poles, as well as a pumping set with such an electric motor.

Embodiments of the invention relate to an electric motor with a stator, a rotor and a can arranged between the stator and the rotor, i.e., a wet electric motor.
Such motors are used in particular in pumping sets, for example recirculation pumping sets, such as heating or industrial water recirculation pumps. Since products like these are mass-produced articles, there is a desire to design these products to be as cost-effective and easy to manufacture as possible. Another objective is to achieve the highest efficiency possible, so as to reduce the energy consumption of these pumping sets.
It is desirable to provide a wet electric motor as well as a pumping set with such a wet electric motor, which are cost effective to manufacture, and exhibit a high level of efficiency.


An LCD assembly includes an LCD, a support member, a sliding member and a bracket. The support member engages the LCD, and the LCD is rotatable about an axis of the support member about a first axis. The sliding member engages the support member, and is rotatable about an axis of the support member about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The bracket is configured for receiving the sliding member, and the sliding member is slidable in the bracket.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs), and particularly to an LCD assembly with a rotatable LCD.
2. Description of Related Art
Displays are used in many kinds of electronic devices, such as personal computers, servers, or notebooks. Most can only be rotated to adjust visual angle along a single axis. This limits the ability of the display to meet user requirements.

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.


An actuator is provided that includes a housing, a linear actuating shaft disposed within the housing, a piston coupled with the shaft, and a fluid barrier disposed on an end of the shaft and encircled by the piston. The piston is movable longitudinally between an extended configuration and a retracted configuration upon rotation of the shaft. The fluid barrier engages an inner surface of the piston preventing fluid communication across the fluid barrier. The fluid barrier has a shaft engaging side which receives the shaft and a fluid facing side. A cavity is formed between the piston and the fluid facing side and expands when the piston moves to the extended configuration and contracts when the piston moves to the retracted configuration. A port is disposed in the piston and extends from the cavity to external the piston thereby permitting fluid communication between the cavity and external the piston.

Wellbores are drilled into the earth for a variety of purposes including accessing hydrocarbon bearing formations. A variety of downhole tools may be used within a wellbore in connection with accessing and extracting such hydrocarbons. Actuators are commonly used within downhole tools to provided motion or activate a tool. One common type of actuator is a linear actuator, where a stationary motor rotates a shaft for generating linear movement. A piston can be employed with the actuator and fluid provided to balance pressures within the actuator during motion of the piston. Oil is commonly used to provide pressure balance as the piston moves outward. The oil is stored within a compensator and provided to the rest of the downhole tool as needed.


A device includes a section to input retrieval conditions, a section that judges whether documents-structure data arranged according to a tree structure in an order of appearance of elements in XML documents matches with corresponding one of the retrieval conditions input, a section that extracts character string in character-string data associated with documents-structure data, which matches with the retrieval conditions, and a section that judges whether the character string extracted matches with the retrieval conditions.

1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to devices for interpreting and retrieving XML documents, methods of retrieving and interpreting the XML documents, and a computer product.
2) Description of the Related Art
An XML is a mark up language that can pad information by tags. Because document-structure and format information are strictly separated in the documents written in the XML, the XML is replacing the HTML.
Normally an XML parser is used to interpret the XML documents, which have a simple documents-structure. The XML parser is a module that includes functions of reading the XML documents and interpreting what kind of a documents-structure the XML document has.
An application programming interface (API) is employed in the XML parser. In this API, a document object model (DOM), and a simple API for XML (SAX) are standardized. XMLs with the APIs mounted are predominant.
In the XML parser of DOM (DOM parser), all XML documents are read and elements, attributes, and character data that are included in the XML documents are mounted to be interpreted as a tree structure. In the XML parser of SAX (SAX parser), unlike in the DOM parser, not all the XML documents are read but the elements, attributes, and character data that are included in the XML documents are mounted to be interpreted from the header of the XML documents, i.e. in an order starting from appearance of the elements.
An XML documents retrieving device that allows a user to retrieve efficiently an XML database that has a similar DTD semantically, without taking into consideration a difference of DTD, has been proposed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2000-250938
However, when the XML documents are to be extracted or retrieved from a database, the corresponding XML documents can be extracted or retrieved only after interpreting all the XML documents. In this case, for interpretation by the general DOM parser, all the XML documents are to be read. However, it takes a lot of time to interpret all the XML documents in the database.
In the general SAX parser, although it is not necessary to read all the XML documents, all information padded in the tags and information present between the tags is required to be read. However, it takes a lot of time to interpret all the XML documents in the database.
In the XML documents retrieving device disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2000-250938, the following steps are performed according to a retrieval style (formula) for input created by a database client:    1) Extraction of an element name in an input analyzer,    2) Acquisition of a synonym for the element name from a synonym extractor,    3) Comparison of the synonym with an element name stored in a category analogic section, and    4) Selection of an element name that matches.Therefore, since all element names are subjected to comparison, the retrieval takes time.

Devices for interpreting and retrieving XML documents, methods of interpreting and retrieving XML documents, and computer product


In an ink pack 24 stored in an ink cartridge 20 of a printer, a first welded portion is formed by bonding both end portions of a sheet of film to each other. A tube-shaped bag portion 31 is formed by the first welded portion. One opening of the bag portion 31 is thermally welded in a state where a supply member 27 is inserted into the film, thereby forming a second welded portion 38. The other opening of the bag portion is sealed through the thermal adhesion, thereby forming a third welded portion 39. The ink volume capable of being stored in the bag portion 31 of the ink pack 24 is larger than the volume in a frame 26c for storing the ink pack 24.

The present invention relates to a liquid container.
Typically, liquid ejecting apparatuses comprise liquid containers and liquid ejecting heads, ejects liquids fed from the liquid containers through the liquid ejecting heads, eject the liquid to targets facing the corresponding liquid ejecting heads. Examples of such liquid ejecting apparatuses include inkjet recording apparatuses.
An inkjet recording apparatus comprises a carriage, a recording head as a liquid ejecting head mounted on the carriage, and an ink cartridge as a liquid container. By supplying ink to the recording head from the ink cartridge and ejecting the ink from a nozzle formed in the recording head while relatively moving the carriage with respect to a recording medium as a target, the printing is performed on the recording medium.
In order to reduce the load for the carriage or decrease the size or the thickness of the apparatus, there is an inkjet recording apparatus (so-called off carriage type) in which the ink cartridge is not mounted on the carriage. Such an ink cartridge comprises an ink pack for receiving ink and a case for housing the ink pack.
An example of such an ink pack includes the ink pack 50 shown in FIG. 13. The ink pack 50 is formed in a bag shape by thermally welding four sides of two sheets of films 51, 52 to each other. The example of such an ink pack includes the ink pack 53 shown in FIG. 14. The ink pack 53 is formed in a bag shape, for example, by thermally welding the respective sides of four sheets of films 54 to 57 each other (for example, see Patent Document 1). The ink packs 50, 53 have welded portions E at which the respective sides are thermally welded each other, and have a bag shape by the welded portions E.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-238291
However, in the above-mentioned ink packs 50, 53, the welded portions E are protruded outwardly from the bag-shaped portions in which ink is stored. For example in the ink pack 53 formed from four sheets of films 54 to 57, the welded portions E shown by the two-dotted line in FIG. 11 are protruded in a width direction from the bag-shaped portion, and the respective welded portions E are protruded outwardly from a supply port side and a bottom portion side. For this reason, the length, the width, or the height of the ink pack is increased, and as a result, it may be necessary to secure a space for housing the welded portions E in the case. Alternatively, the ink storing volume may be reduced due to the restriction in the size of the case itself. Recently, since decrease in size of ink cartridges has been required to accommodate decreasing size of apparatuses, it is necessary to decrease the size of the cases while increasing the ink volume of the ink cartridges.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a liquid container capable of enhancing the ratio of a case occupied by the liquid volume.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a liquid storing bag capable of being decreased in size without decreasing the volume of a stored liquid, a liquid container for housing the liquid storing bag, and a method of manufacturing the liquid storing bag.

Liquid container having foldable portion


The application describes an automated system for carrying out tests using a cascade impactor 10 of the type having multiple impactor stages each comprising a respective stage body 30, the stage bodies being shaped to enable them to be assembled in a stack in which they locate one upon another. The system includes an expander device 90 having respective arms for supporting each of the stage bodies, and a mechanism for separating the arms along the axial direction to disassemble the impactor 10.

1). Field of the Invention
The present invention is concerned with automation of tests carried out using a cascade impactor.
2). Discussion of Related Art
Cascade impactors are in themselves well known. They are used to analyze particle size distribution in aerosols. A particularly important application is in the testing of inhalers—devices used to dispense a controlled pharmaceutical dose into the mouth and lungs of a patient. Inhalers are used to treat asthma and other conditions. The pharmaceutical drug is typically in powdered or liquid form, much of its bulk being made up of a carrier and only a small percentage by the active ingredient. In use the patient releases a controlled dose of the powder or liquid using a mechanical arrangement such as a trigger lever. The patient, then draws it into the lungs by sucking. Penetration of the drug—and hence of the active ingredient itself—into the lungs is affected by particle size, so during manufacture it is necessary to verify, by testing of sample inhalers, that a suitable particle size distribution is being achieved. The cascade impactor is used for this purpose.


An apparatus for making a ceramic arc tube for high intensity discharge (HID) lighting applications is provided wherein the arc tube contains a high buffer gas pressure and RF induction heating is used to melt a frit material to form a hermetic seal.

Ceramic arc tubes for high-intensity discharge (HID) lamps are well known. One of the more common configurations of these arc tubes includes an axially symmetric discharge vessel having opposed capillary tubes extending outwardly from each end. These capillary tubes have an electrode assembly sealed therein to provide the electrical energy needed to strike an arc discharge inside the discharge vessel. The ends of the capillaries are sealed hermetically to the electrode assemblies with a frit material. The discharge vessel contains an ionizable fill material which usually comprises some combination of metal halide salts and/or mercury. A buffer gas is added to promote arc ignition and influence the lamp's photometric properties and longevity. The typical buffer gas is one of the noble gases, e.g., argon, xenon, krypton, or a mixture thereof. Generally, the buffer gas pressures of ceramic arc tubes are less than about 1.5 bar. Examples of such arc tubes are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,973,453 and 5,424,609, and European Patent Nos. 0 971 043 A2 and 0 954 007, all of which are incorporated herein by reference.
The conventional frit-sealing processes for ceramic arc tubes take place in low-pressure chambers, <1 bar, and employ resistive heating elements made of tungsten or graphite. The use of resistive heating necessitates bulky feedthroughs to accommodate the high electrical currents, complicated shielding, and forced water cooling. As a result, the conventional production equipment is usually large, slow, expensive and inefficient. The large sealing chambers also require larger volumes of buffer gas which increase manufacturing costs. In addition, a majority of heating energy is consumed by the apparatus itself which extends the time needed to reach the sealing temperature. The heat loss problem is exacerbated further when dealing with high buffer gas pressures because of the extra heat losses due to gas convection and increased heat transfer. Thus, there are a number of difficulties which must be overcome to obtain a ceramic arc tube having a high buffer gas pressure, i.e., >1 bar.
In contrast to ceramic arc tubes, fused silica (quartz) arc tubes have been employed with buffer gas pressures as high as 8 bar. In order to meet the high pressure requirement, a freeze-out technique is usually employed wherein one end of the quartz arc tube is immersed in liquid nitrogen to liquify or solidify the buffer gas in the discharge volume while the other end is heated to a high temperature which softens the quartz and allows the end to be sealed by a press-sealing or tipping-off method. Upon warming to room temperature, the buffer gas evaporates into a much smaller volume to provide the desired pressure. However, the freeze-out technique is impractical to use with ceramic arc tubes since the press-sealing or tipping-off methods used to seal the ends of quartz arc tubes are unavailable for use with ceramic materials.

Apparatus for making high buffer gas pressure ceramic arc tube


Apparatus is provided for restraining an individual in the cargo area of a vehicle. Such restraints can be utilized to protect medical technicians in ambulances, fire rescue trucks and other emergency vehicles. The apparatus is constructed so that the user can control the amount of restraint on his various body movements while he medically treats a patient.

1. Field of the Invention
The subject invention relates to restraining apparatus for maintaining an individual against movement in the interior of a cargo area of a vehicle.
More particularly, the subject invention relates to restraining apparatus for controllably maintaining an individual medical technician, for example, against movement in the interior of an ambulance, for example.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 1.98
In the course of their duties, medical personnel ride in the cargo area of an ambulance, truck, or rescue vehicles and administer to a patient's needs. The patient is normally lying on a stretcher or gurney which is restrained against movement relative to the vehicle while the attending medical personnel are not restrained.
Often, unrestrained medical personnel sustain injuries when the vehicle is involved in an accident or makes an unusually sharp turn.
The subject invention is directed to apparatus to restrain the attending medical personal against movement within the interior of a vehicle.


Conventional teletext decoders only respond to teletext data lines in the vertical blanking interval of a television signal. The decoders erroneously respond to conventional full-channel teletext transmissions in which all lines of the television signal are used for teletext. The method in accordance with the invention transmits teletext pages in the vertical blanking interval of the television signal in a conventional manner. Additionally, pages are also transmitted in the active video interval. A supplemental page header in each active video interval is provided to prevent teletext rows in the vertical blanking interval from being interpreted as rows of a page which is transmitted in the active video interval.

A method of transmitting teletext pages as mentioned in the opening paragraph is disclosed in EBU Interim Technical Document SPB 492 "Teletext Specification 625 line television systems", December 1992. Transmission of teletext pages in vertical blanking intervals (VBI) of a television signal is widely used in many countries of the world. Transmission of teletext pages in both the vertical blanking intervals and active video intervals, as is the case here, is often referred to as full-channel teletext transmission.
VBI teletext transmissions typically use 2 to 12 television lines of each vertical blanking interval and offer a page rate of 4 to 24 pages/sec. Full-channel teletext transmissions using all available television lines typically offer a page rate of 600 pages/sec. The access time of a full-channel teletext service is thus smaller, or the number of pages is proportionally larger than that of a VBI teletext service.
A problem of full-channel teletext is that conventional VBI decoders, of which billions have meanwhile been installed, erroneously respond to conventional full-channel teletext transmissions.

Method and arrangement for transmitting teletext pages in the vertical blanking and active video intervals


A wall rail of iron or metal material provided with a series of openings which are produced by pressing back the plate material between a transverse section. Both the pressback parts and the plate parts which remain standing between the transverse sections are configured with an arcuate or polygonal cross-section. The profiled areas extend over the entire breadth of the supporting side, and the material is formed approximately symmetrically out of the plane of the plate.

Rails of the aforementioned type have been proposed which rails are utilized as wall rails or columns for supporting, for example, shelves, cupboards, etc., frequently with the use of a bracket in engagement with the rail.
For example, shelf systems are proposed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,098,480 and 4,669,692, where the wall rails have punched rectangular holes at regular intervals, and where the brackets have hook-shaped members for engagement with the holes, whereby a very simple and inexpensive construction is provided. However, a disadvantage of these proposed constructions resides in the fact that relatively thick material must be utilized if the shelves are required to support an acceptable load without deformation of the supporting edges in the punched holes in the wall of the rails. Moreover, the strength of the entire rail is also reduced by the blanking of the holes.
A further disadvantage of the proposed constructions resides in the fact that the wall is visible through the holes in the wall rail and, consequently, the rails must be removed when the wall is to be painted in another color.
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,711,420, a column construction for wall racks is proposed, wherein each column comprises two profiled rails which are clamped or welded together back to back to form the column. The sides of the column are surrounded by further rails which also have a decorative function. Each of the rails is configured with openings at regular intervals along the entire length thereof. Material between the transverse section is pressed back to provide parts with a cross-sectional profile which is angular, substantially at an angle of 90.degree..
Consequently, the parts turned back-to-back touch and support each other and can be welded together by spot welding, so that the resulting column is rigid and strong, and which, on two sides, can support, for example, shelf brackets or shelves with hook-shaped elements. The material is not pressed symmetrically out from the plane of the plate, so that, in order to avoid the rails from being deformed, side parts are configured which also fit against a corresponding rail when two rails are placed back-to-back. These side parts are also used to secure the surrounding rails, which both cover and hold the column parts together. This construction is very complicated, particularly, for the reasons that each column consists of several parts which must both be formed and joined together. The construction is expensive and requires a very high consumption of material, and the weight is therefore very great per running meter, which contributes towards the making of the construction expensive.

Rail, preferably wall rail, method for the production hereof and tool herefor


A content management system (CMS) provides a way to minimize accesses to a repository when reconstituting a document. When a document is first reconstituted, the CMS reads links in the document, reads the corresponding objects from the repository, then stores the values of those objects in fallback elements in the document. In addition, a list is generated that provides both original links to the objects in the repository and voidable links to those object, and the document is then modified, if needed, to reference the voidable links. When the document needs to be subsequently reconstituted, the repository is queried to determine which of the objects corresponding to the original links have not changed since the last reconstitution. If the object has not changed, the voidable link in the list is invalidated for the object, causing the fallback element to be used without accessing the repository.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure generally relates to content management systems, and more specifically relates to a content management system that minimizes accesses to a repository during document reconstitution.
2. Background Art
A content management system (CMS) allows many users to efficiently share electronic content such as text, audio files, video files, pictures, graphics, etc. Content management systems typically control access to content in a repository. A user may generate content, and when the content is checked into the repository, the content is checked by the CMS to make sure the content conforms to predefined rules. A user may also check out content from the repository, or link to content in the repository while generating content. The rules in a CMS assure that content to be checked in or linked to meets desired criteria specified in the rules.
Known content management systems check their rules when content is being checked in. If the rule is satisfied, the content is checked into the repository. If the rule is not satisfied, the content is not checked into the repository. Known content management systems may include rules related to bursting, synchronization and linking. Bursting rules govern how a document is bursted, or broken into individual chunks, when the document is checked into the repository. By bursting a document into chunks, the individual chunks may be potentially reused later by a different author. Synchronization rules govern synchronization between content and metadata related to the content. For example, a synchronization rule may specify that whenever a specified CMS attribute is changed, a particular piece of XML in the content should be automatically updated with that attribute's value. Linking rules govern what content in a repository a user may link to in a document that will be subsequently checked into the repository.
When a document is created and initially checked into a repository, the CMS typically analyzes the document in light of any defined bursting rules, and may burst many different portions of the document. Bursting means that one or more portions of the document are stored as objects in the repository, and each portion of the document that was bursted is then replaced in the document with a link to the object in the repository. By bursting content in a document to an object in the repository, that content is readily available for reuse later on.
If bursting rules are defined that aggressively burst many portions of documents as the documents are checked in, there may become a large number of objects in the repository that the CMS must manage. As the number of objects grows, the performance of the CMS in processing those objects necessarily slows down. Accessing the repository for each and every bursted object when a document is reconstituted may result in an excessive number of accesses to the repository, which may greatly decrease performance. Without a way to reduce the number of accesses to a repository in a CMS when a document is being reconstituted, the computer industry will continue to suffer from excessive overhead in a CMS when a large number of objects are bursted and need to be retrieved from a repository when a document is reconstituted.

Minimizing accesses to a repository during document reconstitution in a content management system

International Business Machines Corporation


The invention relates to an Al—Zn—Mg—Cu alloy worked product, characterised in that contains (percentage by weight)

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to high mechanical resistance Al—Mg type alloys, and more particularly, to alloys intended for welded constructions, such as those used for motor car body panels and constructions, industrial vehicles and fixed, mobile tanks and the like.
2. Description of Related Art
To increase the mechanical resistance of welded constructions while decreasing their weight, it is of interest to have, with respect to the 5083, 5086, 5182, 5186 or 5383 alloys currently used, enhanced mechanical characteristics without losing any of the properties generally desirable for end use applications. These properties include weldability, corrosion resistance or formability, particularly in low cold-worked tempers such as the O temper and the H111 temper. (The designation of these alloys follows the rules of The Aluminum Association and that of the metallurgical tempers is defined in the European standard EN 515.)
To design a structure, the parameters governing a user's choice are essentially the static mechanical characteristics, that is, ultimate tensile strength Rm, tensile yield strength Rp0.2 and the elongation at fracture A. Other parameters which are involved, according to the specific requirements of the target application, include the mechanical characteristics of the welded seam, the corrosion resistance of the sheet and the welded seam, the fatigue strength of the sheet and the welded seam, the crack propagation rate, the fracture toughness, the bendability, the weldability, the propensity for residual stress formation under specific sheet manufacturing and usage conditions, as well as the ability to produce sheets of uniform quality with the lowest possible production cost.
The state of the art offers several processes to enhance the mechanical characteristics to Al—Mg type alloys. For example, EP 769 564 A1 (Pechiney Rhenalu) discloses an alloy of the following composition (percentage by weight): Mg 4.2–4.8 Mn<0.5 Zn<0.4 Fe<0.45 Si<0.30 where Mn+Zn<0.7 and Fe>0.5 Mn. The alloy may also contain other elements, making it possible to manufacture sheets having an Rm>275 MPa, A>17.5% and an Rm×A product>6500 in a low cold worked state. In a better-controlled composition, it is possible to increase the Rm×A product to a value greater than 7000 and even greater than 7500. Alloys of this type are used under the Aluminum Association reference 5186 in welded road tanker construction. For this application, the Rm×A product is used as a parameter to estimate the behaviour of the structures under deep plastic deformation, for example in the event of an accident. Those skilled in the art know how to increase, in any of the known Al—Mg type alloys, one of the two parameters Rm and A to the detriment of the other. EP 769 564 A1 discloses that sheets with an improved compromise between said two parameters may be obtained if the sheet has a very particular microstructure. The 5186 alloy sheets are characterised not only by a high Rm×A product, but also by a high value of A, which favours the bending of the sheets and facilitates their use in mechanical construction.
Another process is proposed by the patent application JP 62 207850 (Sky) which discloses alloys of the following composition (percentage by weight):
Mg 2–6Mn 0.05–1.0Cr 0.03–0.3Zr 0.03–0.3V 0.03–0.3and which may also contain Cu 0.05–2.0 and/or Zn 0.1–2.0. These alloys are produced by continuous casting and the intermetallic particle size thereof is less than or equal to 5 μm. Such alloys would be useful for manufacture of sheets for motor car bodyworks, since such alloys could be subjected to very particular thermo-mechanical treatment procedures, in order to form sheets of a thickness of 1 mm, which in turn, do not show Lüders lines.
Another process is proposed by EP 0 892 858 B1 (Hoogovens Aluminium Walzprodukte GmbH) which discloses alloys of the composition
Mg 5–6Mn 0.6–1.2Zn 0.4–1.5Zr 0.05–0.25and which may also contain other elements. Such an alloy could potentially be used to manufacture very hard alloys, particularly with a zinc content of the order of 0.8%. These products show an elongation at fracture not exceeding a value of the order of 10% in the H321 temper and 20% in the O temper.
EP 823 489 B1 (Pechiney Rhenalu) discloses products of the following composition
3.0 < Mg < 6.50.2 < Mn < 1.0Fe < 0.80.05 < Si < 0.6Zn < 1.3and which may also contain other elements. These products are characterised by a very particular microstructure, and are not devised to be used for tanker construction, but for welded constructions used in contact with seawater or in a maritime environment.

Al-Mg alloy products suitable for welded construction

Abstract: Mg 4.85–5.35Mn 0.20–0.50Zn 0.20–0.45Si < 0.20Fe < 0.30Cu < 0.25Cr < 0.15Ti < 0.15Zr < 0.15the remainder being aluminium with its inevitable impurities.

Abstract: This product preferentially has an elongation at fracture A(LT) of at least 24% and an Rm(LT)×A(LT) parameter of at least 8500. It shows a good stress and intergranular corrosion resistance.

Abstract: It may be used for welded constructions, particularly tankers, motor car bodywork, and industrial vehicles.


A polishing method and a polishing apparatus by which excess portions of a metallic film 18 can be removed easily and efficiently in planarizing the metallic film 18 by polishing and which is high in accuracy of polishing, are provided. Also, a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device by use of the polishing method and the polishing apparatus is provided. A substrate 17 provided with the metallic film 18 and a counter electrode 15 are disposed oppositely to each other in an electrolytic solution E, an electric current is passed to the metallic film 18 through the electrolytic solution E, and the surface of the metallic film 18 is polished with a hard pad 14.

Attendant on the miniaturization of semiconductor devices on a design rule basis, there has been a general tendency in the wiring process toward a shift of the wiring material from aluminum (Al) to copper (Cu) and toward the application of a lower dielectric constant material to the inter-layer insulation film. The reason for these material changes lies in that the Al wirings and the related-art inter-layer insulation film materials such as SiO2 have come to be confronted by limitations, in view of wiring delay and the like problems. While the development of semiconductor devices has been progressing with the material transitions, the modifications in material are attended by great changes in the semiconductor manufacturing process.
For example, in the case of applying Cu as a wiring material, the dry etching of wirings which has been widely used for the Al wiring generations is unsuitable to Cu, which is a material susceptible to corrosion. Therefore, where Cu is processed by dry etching in the same manner as Al, the dry etching must be carried out near critical conditions on an apparatus hardware basis, i.e., under a low pressure and a high temperature, which is unadaptable to mass production process. For the Cu wiring process at present, accordingly, there is widely used a method called the Damascene process, in which a barrier film 202 is formed on an inter-layer insulation film 201 provided with trenches or holes, then the trenches or holes are filled up with Cu 203, and the Cu portions not contributing to wiring (field portions) are removed by CMP (Chemical Mechanical Polishing).
The CMP technology is a comparatively well-established technology the application of which started with the 0.5 μm design rule, at the earliest. In the beginning stage of application of the CMP technology, the material to be polished is the inter-layer insulation film. In the CMP technology, however, there are pattern dependency problems, such as different polishing rates in different wiring density areas; particularly, the phenomenon called "erosion" in which polishing is accelerated in denser wiring areas has been a great problem to be solved. These problems have been technically improved to a level satisfactory for application to mass production, through improvements in CMP hardware and improvements of CMP consumables such as slurry and pad. These improvements are owing to the material of the inter-layer insulation film, which is the member to be polished, particularly, the material represented by SiO2. This is because SiO2 constituting the member to be polished is a comparatively hard material, accompanied by comparatively high degrees of freedom as to CMP parameters.
However, the material to be polished by the Damascene process is Cu, which is a metallic material being soft and viscous, as compared with SiO2. In addition, Cu is susceptible to reaction with an acid or alkali contained in the slurry. Due to such properties of Cu, the Cu wiring process using CMP involves the following problems.
(1) Erosion
As has been the problem in the CMP of the inter-layer insulation film (oxide film), in the areas of higher wiring density patterns, the polishing of different materials differing in polishing rate leads to the problem that a local pressure is exerted on the lower polishing rate portions as the higher polishing rate portions are polished, and the synergistic effect increases the difference in polishing rate. As a result, a scooped-out shape is formed in the area of a higher wiring density pattern, as shown in FIG. 19.
(2) Dishing
Dishing is a phenomenon in which a broad wiring portion having a width of 30 μm or more is polished in an accelerated manner, and the resulting wiring has a recessed shape as shown in FIG. 20. The dishing progresses acceleratedly according to an increase in the polishing pressure and a deformation of the polishing pad. For suppressing the dishing, it is effective to polish under a lower load. The lowering of the load, however, leads to a lowered polishing rate, rendering the polishing unadaptable to mass production process.
(3) Wiring (Cu) Recess
The wiring (Cu) recess means the condition where wiring trenches or holes formed in the inter-layer insulation film are not filled with Cu (the material for forming the wirings) up to the height of the inter-layer insulation film, as shown in FIG. 21. Therefore, the above-mentioned erosion and dishing are also kinds of recess. While the erosion and the dishing are principally and greatly dependent on the polishing pressure, chemical etching by an acid or alkali constituting the slurry is an additional cause of the recessing (etching) of Cu. Since an increase in the polishing pressure leads to the progress of erosion and/or dishing as above-mentioned, it is necessary, in application of CMP to mass production process, to investigate an enhancement of chemical reaction rate for the purpose of raising the polishing rate. This approach, however, would lead to recess formation through etching of Cu due to a chemical attack.
(4) Delamination of Inter-Layer Insulation Film
As a countermeasure against the wiring delay, not only the lowering in the resistance of the wirings but also a reduction in the capacitance of the inter-layer insulation film may be mentioned, and a specific method for reducing the capacitance resides in applying a low dielectric constant material to the inter-layer insulation film. The lowering in the dielectric constant of the inter-layer insulation film is generally contrived by forming the film from a porous material, but the use of a porous material is attended by an increase in fragility, leading to a degradation in mechanical strength. Then, the use of a porous material has the bad effect that the low dielectric constant material of the inter-layer insulation film may be delaminated under the pressure exerted in the Cu CMP, as shown in FIG. 22.
In this way, the formation of Cu wirings by the Damascene process involves the problems of reduction in film thickness of wiring portions and degradation in planarization, due to erosion, dishing, recess and the like. The reduction in film thickness of wiring portions causes a current density over the designed value to be supplied on the wirings, leading to, for example, a lowered electromigration (EM) resistance and, hence, to a great damage to the reliability of the wiring.
On the other hand, a shape including a non-planarity such as erosion induces pattern formation defects. Then, in the lithography step, an increase in absolute steps lowers the DOF (Depth of Focus) and, therefore, it is impossible to form the desired pattern. This tendency becomes conspicuous particularly in more miniaturized patterns. Besides, the absolute steps are more emphasized attendant on an increase in the number of wiring layers. For example, in the case of a layout in which the step portions are stacked, the recessing is augmented by the step amount, whereby the absolute steps are enlarged. The increase of the step corresponds to a trench portion in the inter-layer insulation film, so that Cu will remain in the stepped portion upon the Cu CMP, resulting in a fatal defect of shortcircuit in the semiconductor device, as shown in FIG. 23.
In addition, the application of the low dielectric constant material to the inter-layer insulation film involves the problem that, since the low dielectric constant material is a fragile material, as above-mentioned, the low dielectric constant material is delaminated under the pressure or load exerted in the CMP, resulting in a fatal damage.
Meanwhile, a Cu polishing method in which electropolishing is conducted under a low-pressure or pressure-free condition has recently been developed as a polishing and planarizing method compatible with the use of a low dielectric constant material. This technology is characterized in that the surface of Cu constituting the film to be polished is converted, by application of an electrolytic voltage, into a reaction layer easy to polish or a reaction layer capable of being dissolved without polishing, and Cu is planarized. However, such a low-pressure electropolishing technology still remains, in many cases, in a hardware form situated on the extension of CMP, and low-pressure polishing on such a satisfactory level as to solve the above-mentioned problems has not yet been realized.
Thus, a technique which enables to solve the problems of shape defects such as erosion, dishing, recess, etc. and delamination of the fragile low dielectric constant material and to form Damascene wirings in favorable shape and with high reliability has not yet been established.
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned status quo. Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a polishing method and a polishing apparatus by which excess portions of a metallic film can be removed easily and efficiently in planarizing the metallic film by polishing and which promise high-accuracy polishing. It is another object of the present invention to provide a method of manufacturing a semiconductor device by use of the polishing method and the polishing apparatus.

Polishing method, polishing apparatus, and method of manufacturing semiconductor device


A method and apparatus for signaling power information in a wireless communication system are provided. A base station apparatus co-schedules a plurality of User Equipments (UEs) to at least one resource element, and transmits power information indicating transmit power values, which are allocated for the co-scheduled UEs, to the co-scheduled UEs. The power information includes first power information including information about a pilot signal power value and a transmit power value for a first UE among the co-scheduled UEs, and second power information indicating a transmit power value for each of at least one second UE except for the first UE among the co-scheduled UEs.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to transmission and reception of information in a wireless communication system. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for transmitting and receiving transmit power information in a superposition multiple access system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a system based on Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) such as 3rd Generation Partnership Project Long-Term Evolution (3GPP LTE), a User Equipment (UE) requires channel information to demodulate its received data. Therefore, a base station transmits a known signal (e.g., a reference signal and a pilot signal) to the UE using a resource element (e.g., a frequency element) adjacent to a data signal so that the UE may perform channel estimation. Importantly, the UE needs to know a relationship between power (i.e., pilot power) of the pilot signal transmitted for channel estimation and power (i.e., data power) of the data signal, in order to correctly perform data detection.
As compared to that of the OFDMA system, a superposition multiple access system has been developed to increase cell capacity. Within one cell in such a system, a base station simultaneously transmits a signal to two or more UEs using the same frequency resource and each UE detects its desired signal from the received signal. To make it easier for a UE to detect its signal, a modulation scheme may be changed. In such a case however, the modulation order may increase such that backward compatibility with a legacy UE may not be guaranteed. In an alternative technology for ensuring easier signal detection by a UE, a base station may transmit a signal to UEs having different pathlosses with different powers. In that case, each UE may remove signals (i.e., interference) from other UEs, which are received with higher power, before it detects its desired signal. In this situation, the UE needs to have an advanced receiver capable of handling interference, in order to obtain performance gain over the legacy system. In other words, by simultaneously handling its desired signal and interference signals using the advanced receiver, the UE may eliminate the influence of the interference and demodulate the overlapping desired signal.
In order to remove the signals from other UEs or perform joint detection with other UEs, the UE needs to obtain power information of the other UEs. However, the conventional communication systems do not offer any means for transferring power information of other UEs.
Furthermore, in the case of joint detection, a desired signal and an interference signal are received at one UE, experiencing the same channel, so the two different signals may have the same estimated channel. In this case, the UE may not exactly distinguish between the two different signals, causing deterioration of the performance of the joint detection.
Therefore, a need exists for an apparatus and method for improving reception performance of a UE in a wireless communication system.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present invention.

Method and apparatus for signaling power information in wireless communication system


An internal combustion engine has a plurality of cylinders having combustion chambers and each being associated with a spark plug designed for igniting a mixture of air and fuel in the combustion chamber, and at least two adjusting devices for adjusting the air supply to the combustion chambers of the different cylinders. To control the internal combustion engine, an individual ignition angle is detected for each group of cylinders to which the same air mass per working cycle is respectively supplied and during the respective working cycles of which the same loss torque is decisive. The decisive loss torque is the one associated with the cylinder that is in its intake cycle during the respective working cycle of the respective cylinder of the respective group. The individual ignition angle for each group is detected as a function of the decisive loss torque for the respective group.

Increasingly high demands are being placed on internal combustion engines with regard to their performance and efficiency. At the same time, because of strict legal regulations, emissions must also be low. Such demands can readily be met if the internal combustion engine is fitted with gas-changing valves and corresponding actuators for said valves, in which the valve lift characteristic varies depending on the working point of the internal combustion engine. By this means, throttle losses upon intake of air can be reduced and high exhaust gas recirculation rates rapidly adjusted, where applicable.
It is known for the valve lift of a gas intake valve of the internal combustion engine to be adjusted between a low and a high valve lift. Thus, for example, the Porsche 911 Turbo is fitted with a device for adjusting the valve lift of the gas intake valve and of the gas outlet valve. The internal combustion engine of this vehicle is also equipped with a camshaft on which for each gas intake valve one cam with a low lift and two further cams with a higher lift are fashioned. The cam lift is transferred by means of a transfer unit to the gas intake valve. The transfer unit is fashioned as a cup tappet which comprises a cylinder element and an annular cylinder element arranged concentrically in relation to said cylinder element. The cam having a low lift acts upon the cylinder element while the cams having the higher lift act upon the annular cylinder element. Depending on a switching position of the cup tappet, either the low lift or the higher lift is transferred to the gas intake valve. When the internal combustion engine is idling, the low cam lift is transferred to the gas intake valve. Reduced frictional losses are produced by this means due to the small diameter of the cam used in this operating state and to the cylinder element and to the lower valve lift.
A higher load movement is also achieved. In this way, the emissions of the internal combustion engine can be reduced and fuel consumption kept low at the same time. The small valve lift is retained for low and moderate loads. Throttle losses can additionally be reduced by means of an appropriate phase adjustment between the gas intake valve and the gas exhaust valve and a resulting internal exhaust gas recirculation rate. When the load demands on the internal combustion engine are high, it switches over to the higher valve lift.
For a high level of driving comfort in a vehicle in which an internal combustion engine of this type is arranged, it is important to ensure that running irregularities in the internal combustion engine are low. This is a major challenge particularly at working points at which some of the gas intake valves are being operated with a high valve lift and others with a low valve lift.
From EP 1 323 902 A2 a method for controlling an internal combustion engine is known which comprises a variable valve timing control device for the gas intake valves. A target opening timing for a gas intake valve is determined. An actual opening timing for the gas intake valve is also determined. An ignition angle is corrected depending on a deviation between the target value and the actual value for the opening timing of the gas intake valve.

Method and device for controlling an internal combustion engine


An on-die termination circuit of a semiconductor apparatus can include: a code converting unit configured to change a code value of a termination code in response to a termination control signal; and a plurality of on-die termination blocks configured to commonly receive the termination code, and perform a termination operation.

1. Technical Field
The embodiments described herein relate to a semiconductor apparatus, and more particularly, to an on-die termination circuit of a semiconductor apparatus and a control method of the same.
2. Related Art
In general, when signals transmitted through a bus line having predetermined impedance are input to another bus line having different impedance, a signal loss occurs. Therefore, impedance needs to match between the two bus lines in order to reduce the signal loss, which is called on-die termination.
As shown in FIG. 1, an on-die termination apparatus according to the related art includes a plurality of on-die termination blocks 10.
The number of on-die termination blocks 10 may be determined according to the number of input signals to a semiconductor apparatus. For example, if the number of input signals is sixteen, the number of on-die termination blocks 10 is also correspondingly sixteen.
Each of the on-die termination blocks 10 includes a plurality of drivers. Each of the drivers has a fixed resistance value such as 60Ω, 120Ω, or 240Ω. An offset of the resistance value of each driver is compensated by a termination code "CODE<0:4>."
The resistance value of the on-die termination block may be selected by selectively operating the plurality of drivers.
The above-mentioned on-die termination circuit of the semiconductor apparatus, according to the related art, includes a large number of drivers in order to implement various resistance values. In particular, since the drivers having the resistance values 120Ω and 240Ω occupy areas larger than the driver having 60Ω, the area of a data output driving circuit in the semiconductor apparatus increases, resulting in a reduction in layout margin.

Semiconductor apparatus, on-die termination circuit, and control method of the same


A queue manager for controlling the execution of requests for the transport of messages from users to destinations. Each request includes a message and an identification of a destination. The queue manager includes a queue for storing pending requests and a dispatcher task for creating a worker task to execute each request and provides a method for adapting the execution of requests to constraints and characteristics of destinations and communications links.

1. Field of Use
The present invention relates to electronic mail systems and, in particular, to a method for improving the adaptability of a mail queue manager to the constraints and characteristics of the recipients of a mail system.
2. Prior Art
Electronic mail systems are well known in the prior art and, as is well known, are computer based systems used to delivery mail, such as messages and data files, between computer systems through various communications links. A recurring problem with electronic mail systems of the prior art, however, is in achieving an optimum level of performance given the diverse and very variable constraints imposed on system operation due to the constraints and characteristics of the recipient systems and the communications links between the systems. For example, even though many systems of the prior art use such techniques as queueing, or time delayed delivery of message requests, the prioritization of messages to determine sequence of execution and access to resources, and programmed retries of failed attempts to deliver messages, none have been sufficiently adaptable to the characteristics of the system resources to provide optimum performance.
In addition, most mail systems of the prior art require complex procedures to initiate and operate the systems and require equally complex procedures to recover the system in the event of system failure, often resulting in lost messages.
The present invention addresses these and other problems of the systems of the prior art.

Method for managing requests by specifying time intervals for transmitting a minimum number of messages for specific destinations and priority levels


A prepress system comprises a raster image processor for developing first print image data to display resolution to create first raster image data, and for developing second print image data to the display resolution to create second raster image data. A plate image inspection processor executes a plate image inspection process by comparing the first and second raster image data, and displays on a display device the result of the plate image inspection process.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to prepress technology for carrying out a prepress process using print data that represents a printed matter.
2. Description of the Related Art
In line with progress in computer technology, computer digitization has come into widespread use even in prepress systems for commercial printing. In a digital printing prepress system, print image data (for example, PDF data or PostScript data, PostScript being a trademark of Adobe Systems Incorporated) is received, various data processing is performed on this print image data, binary plate data is prepared, and either a plate or screen film is output using this plate data. More recently, on-demand printing, wherein binary print image data is prepared in the prepress system, and this binary print image data is transferred to an on-demand printer and printed directly, has also come into use. Herein, the overall process for preparing this kind of binary plate data and binary print image data is referred to as "printing prepress."
In printing prepress, it is important that an image for printing be proofed in accordance with client instructions. Thus, special care is taken in carrying out proofchecking of printed material, and in conducting plate image inspection to check whether proofchecking results have been accurately reflected. In a digital prepress system, plate image inspection is carried out by comparing plate data before and after proofchecking.
In prepress systems to date, in order to have the final printed product meet client requirements, plate image inspection is carried out using data that approximates the final printed product. For example, when preparing a plate, prepress process is done using data just prior to output of the plate, screen film, or the like. Such data has high resolution (4,000 dpi, for example), and contains an extremely large amount of information. Thus, in some instances, the process of comparing data before and after proofing to perform prepress was extremely time consuming.

Plate image inspection for printing prepress


A tailgate lift-assist assembly is provided for a tailgate mounted to a vehicle body. The tailgate is movable between a closed position and an open position. The tailgate lift-assist assembly includes a spring having a first spring end and a second spring end. The spring is attached to the tailgate at the first spring end. A stationary member is rotatably connected to the tailgate and nonrotatably connected to the vehicle body. A cable has a first cable end and a second cable end. The cable is attached to the spring second end at the first cable end and attached to the stationary member at a cable second end. The cable passes over a pulley that is rotatably mounted to the tailgate and applies a tension on the spring when the tailgate is moved toward the open position.

The present invention relates to tailgates and, more particularly, to a tailgate lift-assist assembly. In one embodiment, the tailgate lift assist system is provided for use in conjunction with a dual-mode tailgate and will be described with particular reference thereto. It is to be appreciated, however, that the invention may relate to other similar environments and applications.
It is known to use a spring, such as a torsion spring, with a tailgate to decrease the perceived weight of the tailgate when a user is opening the tailgate or attempting to close the tailgate. Typically, the spring is loaded to an increasing degree as the tailgate is moved from a closed position toward an open position. Such loading assists the user in moving the tailgate to the open position. More specifically, the weight of the tailgate is resisted by the loaded spring so the tailgate does not feel too heavy to the user. If the weight of the tailgate were not countered by the force of the loaded spring, the tailgate could end up falling or dropping to the open position immediately upon moving the tailgate from the closed position.
The gradient loading of the spring as the tailgate is moved toward the open position also assists the user when closing the tailgate. More particularly, the loaded spring counters the weight of the tailgate so the tailgate is moveable by the user from the open position toward the closed position with relative ease. Without the spring, the weight of the tailgate could be too much for some users and/or may cause difficulties for other users in closing the tailgate.
Prior art lift-assist assemblies are often overly complex and/or require too many components resulting in increased costs associated with the manufacture and assembly of these lift-assist assemblies. Moreover, prior art lift-assist assemblies are generally unsuitable for use with dual-mode tailgates. Specifically, prior art lift-assist assemblies typically extend between the tailgate and sidewalls of a bed to which the tailgate is mounted. Thus, while the lift-assist assembly allows the tailgate to pivot to a fold-open position, the tailgate is unable to pivot open along a vertical axis toward a swing-open position.


A method and apparatus for controlling polarization, as one of a pair of erdependent light characteristics of an optical fiber, in response to a time dependent signal without the introduction of any significant variation in phase delay. A pair of transducers compress the optical fiber at spaced locations. When phase of energization of a first transducer in response to the time dependent signal is 180.degree. out-of-phase with the energization of the second transducer, the polarization shifts in response to the time dependent signal without any significant shift is phase delay. When the phases are in-phase, phase delay shifts in response to the time dependent signal without any significant shift in polarization. Multiple sets of transducers disposed along the optical fiber enable smooth variation of the controlled polarization or phase delay when a first transducer in each set is angularly displaced about the optical fiber by 45.degree. with respect to a first transducer in an adjacent set.

(1) Field of the Invention
This patent is generally related to the control of normally interdependent light transmission characteristics, such as polarization and phase delay in an optical fiber, and more specifically to the control of one of those characteristics essentially independently of the other.
(2) Description of the Prior Art
It is well known that, in many applications involving the transmission of light through an optical fiber, the control of various light transmission characteristics can be important. For example, polarization controllers provide a means for transforming light of an arbitrary polarization to light of constant polarization. Generally these systems deform plural areas of the optical fiber to produce controlled birefringence. A number of references disclose such systems generally for controlling polarization.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,625,589 (1971) to Snitzer discloses apparatus for controlling the propagation characteristics of coherent light within an optical fiber by applying a mechanical stress to at least a section of the optical fiber. The stress varies in accordance with a signal thereby varying a characteristic of coherent light as coherent light propagates through the section. The section is arranged so that the amount of light energy from the source guided by the section from one end to the other throughout the entire length of the section is substantially constant as the mechanical stress varies.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,341,442 (1982) to Johnson discloses a fiber optical transmission filter with a double-refraction element for controlling phase delay. A manufacturing process is disclosed to provide a desired phase delay by introducing a filter with at least one double-refraction element comprising a single-mode optical filter mounted between polarizers. The double-refraction of the optical fiber is sufficiently weak so that the wavelength, within which light beams propagating with orthogonal polarization states in the fiber are mutually delayed by 2.pi., is at least 1 cm. In one embodiment the optical fiber comprises alternating sections which produce linear double-refraction with sections which produce elliptical double-refraction.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,729,622 (1988) to Pavlath discloses a fiber optic polarizer that converts a light wave of an arbitrary polarization propagating in a single mode optical fiber into a wave having a single linear polarization state. The polarization controller couples light of an undesired polarization out of the fiber. A photo detector produces an error signal responsive to light coupled from the fiber. Control circuitry processes the error signal to produce control signals which are input to the polarizer to null the error signal. With the error signal maintained at a minimum value, the light input to the polarizer and, hence, the light output therefrom is a wave having only the desired linear polarization.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,507 (1988) to DePaula et al. discloses a piezoelectric load housing and method that includes a fiber squeezer with a frame that applies a preload to an optical fiber to permit variation of birefringence. An appropriate voltage source is connected to a piezoelectric transducer to control the force on the fiber thereby to control the refractive indices of the fiber by means of the photo-elastic effect. The relative positions of legs in the fiber squeezer are adjustable during assembly of the frame to permit application of a preload to the fiber and transducer fiber squeezer.
U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,768,851 (1988) and 4,792,207 (1988) and 4,801,189 (1989) to Shaw et al. disclose various fiber optic coupler embodiments. In each embodiment the coupler comprises a single continuous strand of optical fiber and a device for applying stress to the optical fiber at spaced intervals along the fiber. The stress deforms the fiber and abruptly changes the fiber geometry at the beginning and end of each stressed region. The change in fiber geometry causes coupling of light from the fundamental mode to the second order mode. The coupler, under certain conditions, exhibits polarization dependence, and thus, it may be utilized as a fiber optic polarizer. In addition, the device couples coherently, and may be used as an interferometric system. In the Shaw-207 patent, the waveguides are characterized by two modes of propagation in one fiber. Plural distributed coupling ridges or electrodes mounted adjacent piezoelectric materials are independently driven to apply sinusoidally varying sources to the fiber. In this embodiment the input signal is acoustic energy. In the Shaw-189 patent, a highly birefringent fiber optic waveguide is positioned on a flat polished surface with either of the principal axes of birefringence oriented at an angle, preferably 45.degree., to the vertical. A ridged block is then pressed down on the fiber. The ridges have longitudinal axes transverse to the longitudinal axes of the fiber. The width of the ridge faces is one-half beat length and the spacing between the ridges is also one-half beat length. The stressed regions caused by the ridges produce coupling of light traveling in one polarization mode into the other polarization mode by abrupt shifting of the axes of birefringence at the boundaries of the stressed regions.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,781,425 (1988) to Risk et al. discloses an acoustic-optic frequency shifter having a long interaction region for optical analysis. A variable frequency signal generator drives an acoustic transducer to launch an acoustic wave in contact with the optical fiber. The acoustic frequency is varied over a known range to generate acoustic waves having known wavelengths. An optical signal having an unknown optical wavelength is introduced into one end of the optical fiber in a first polarization mode. The effect of the acoustic wave on the optical signal is to cause coupling of the optical signal with the first polarization mode to a second orthogonal polarization mode. The amount of coupling is dependent on the phase-matching between an acoustic wavelength and an optical beat length. The coupling between the polarization modes is maximum when the acoustic wavelength is equal to the optical beat length. The intensity of the optical signal coupled to the second polarization mode can be measured to determine the optical wavelength corresponding to the acoustic wavelength when the maximum intensity occurs.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,793,676 (1988) to Risk discloses a fiber optic amplitude modulator that couples light between two orthogonal polarization modes of a birefringent fiber. Dynamic coupling is caused by applying synchronized acoustic surface waves to the birefringent fiber in a direction normal to the fiber axis. A static biasing force is applied across the fiber to statically couple 50% of the light input to one polarization mode into another polarization mode. The additional force caused by the acoustic waves causes the fraction of coupled power to vary about the coupling caused by the static force.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,988,169 (1991) to Walker discloses an optical signal control method and apparatus. Four birefringent elements in series are arranged to rotate the state of polarization alternately about orthogonal axes on a Poincare sphere. A controller enables time varying initial and final polarization states to be tracked. It also ensures that the birefringence limits of the elements are never reached by carrying out an adjustment procedure. A reduction by a full revolution for one element can be achieved by varying the transformations of the other elements.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,004,312 (1991) to Shimizu discloses a method for controlling the polarization of light by generating first through fifth birefringences in series along a light propagating medium. The first to fifth birefringences have main axes of 0.degree., 45.degree., 0.degree., 45.degree. and 0.degree. relative to an arbitrary direction orthogonal to a light propagating direction of the medium. The magnitude of the birefringences are changed to change the first to fifth phase differences. In an ordinary polarization control, the second to fourth phase differences are changed. However, one or both of the first and fifth phase differences are changed in a resetting operation for one of the second to fourth phase differences. Consequently, the phase differences are reset without the dependency on polarizations of input light supplied to a polarization controller and output light supplied from the polarization controller.
Collectively the foregoing patents disclose various methods of applying stresses to optical fibers to influence various characteristics. Typically the characteristics are polarization and/or delay. However, these patents also depict the characteristics of polarization and delay as being normally interdependent. That is, varying polarization produces significant delay variations, and, conversely, varying delay changes polarization significantly. The application of a force in this manner produces a non-zero birefringence and a non-zero average phase change. If such a polarization controller is used to control polarization in a fiber optic phase sensor system, the non-zero average phase change introduces unwanted phase noise. Conversely if a phase controller using such forces is applied to a polarization sensitive fiber optic sensor system, the non-zero birefringence change introduces an unwanted polarization noise. None of the references seems to disclose the control of one such normally interdependent light transmission characteristic essentially independently of the other. More specifically, none of the references discloses any procedure for varying either polarization or phase delay without incurring a significant change in the other.

Independent control of one of normally interdependent light transmission characteristics of optical fiber

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


An automatic transmission control method in which at least one of a starting clutch, a clutch coupling and transmission elements, for selection as well as engagement and disengagement of a gear step, are determined as a function of respectively existing variables representing the driving situation as well as the driver's wishes can be activated by actuators which are controlled by a control and regulation device. The method comprising the steps of collecting and normalizing the input variable into standard input variables; weighting with weighting factors and summarizing; converting the weighted input variables into intermediate variables; selecting a specific range of values which represents a specific shifting sequence; and implementing the shifting operation.

Automatic transmissions have been used in various types of vehicles for a fairly long period of time. As is known, such automatic transmissions have favored the operation of a starting clutch and a clutch coupling, as well as the assortments of switch valves and the engagement and the disengagement of gears is made possible with the help of hydraulic actuators which were developed as piston-cylinder arrangements. On the other hand, there are vehicles in existence that only rely upon a starting clutch or a clutch coupling or on those elements of the transmission that are purely essential. Activation of the aforementioned actuator is controlled by the transmission gearbox with the aid of control and regulating programs, based on information about the driving situation, the shifting situation as well as the desired performance of the vehicle operator in relation to the clutch and the shift options.
Even if these transmissions, compared to other types of automatic transmissions such as continuous variable transmissions or conventional stepped automatic transmissions using planetary gears, are simple in construction and relatively inexpensive, these automatic gearboxes exhibit an interruption in traction during shifting operations, which the operator or passengers of the vehicles in particular can experience as uncomfortable. The interruption of traction with the use of these types of automatic transmissions in commercial vehicles, however, can also prove to be disadvantageous or at least as having a diminished comfort when, for example, a truck with a heavy load at an intersection can only execute a very slow starting process.
Those skilled in the art know that a gear ratio change sequence in an automatic transmission can be roughly subdivided into three phases. For a motor vehicle proceeding in a driving state, first there is the gear disconnection of the gear step previously utilized, as well as disengagement of the starting clutch and the clutch coupling, through which the torque transfer from the motor to the transmission is interrupted. Following this is the selection of the new gear position for shifting and, as the case may be, engagement of the necessary transmission elements for the new transmission gear after which the coupling is engaged and a new load build up follows.
For all of these shifting phases, the torque of the vehicle is influence deviated from the real wishes of the driver, who obviously wishes a forward creep free of any tractive force interruption. The primary goal of a person skilled in the art of the development of transmissions is, therefore, to attain as quickly as possible the necessary shifting intervals for each of these phases. In contrast, a very short shifting causes a diminution of the shifting comfort as well as stronger mechanical stress on the transmission components involved in the shifting process through an associated rapid change in torque. For these mentioned reasons, the actually realized shifting time in an automatic transmission is always a compromise between conflicting interests relevant to the shortest possible shifting time, the highest possible shifting comfort as well as the lowest possible component stresses.
The invention is based upon the knowledge that a portion of the factors influencing actual shifting time are not constant but rather are a function of the respective driving situation, the individual motor vehicle configuration for a specified vehicle type, as well as different driving preferences regarding the comfort and the speed of shifting.
Purely theoretically, a number of combinations to be applied arise from the variables influencing the optimal shifting sequence which can no longer be meaningfully controlled by a control and regulatory program in this regard, which would ultimately lead to many different shifting operations with individual shifting times, component loads and shifting comfort.
Moreover, a desire exists on the part of manufacturers of automated transmissions from the point of view of cost-savings of developing a uniform control and regulation program for all these types of transmissions which takes into consideration the respective motor vehicle type, its manner of use, as well as the individual driving conditions and the driving preferences.
Against this background, the invention is based upon the objective of presenting a method for controlling an automatic transmission with which, as a function of the mentioned influencing factors, such as possibly the driving conditions, the vehicle configuration and the performance wish of the operator, where a shifting operation which is appropriate to the situation and optimal with regards to its duration, shifting comfort and the individual component stresses can be implemented with an automatic transmission. Moreover, this method should be suited for being used without major changes in the transmission gearbox for various types of automatic gearboxes.

Method for controlling an automatic transmission