A measuring apparatus with storage that measures and analyzes both stray currents from subway rails or power lines and the pipe-to-soil voltage of a buried metallic structure simultaneously is disclosed. The data measuring apparatus with storage for measuring stray currents from subway rails or power lines and the pipe-to-soil voltage of a buried metallic structure in accordance with the present invention comprises measuring means, which is a portable module that allows easy installation at one or multiple measurement points of the buried metallic structure, for measuring stray currents from the subway rails or power lines and the pipe-to-soil voltage of a buried metallic structure simultaneously and for storing and transmitting the measurement data and analytic computing means for receiving the measurement data transmitted from the measuring means and for databasing and graphically displaying the received measurement data for time-synchronous data analysis.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stand-alone measuring apparatus capable of measuring stray currents from subway rails and power lines and the pipe-to-soil voltage of a buried metallic structure, and more particularly, but not by way of limitation, to a measuring apparatus with storage that allows simultaneous analysis of the relation between stray current from subway rails and the resulting pipe-to-soil voltage of a buried metallic structure and the relation between stray current from power lines and the resulting pipe-to-soil voltage of a buried metallic structure.
2. Description of the Related Art
Corrosion is the chemical or electrochemical reaction between a material, usually a metal, and its environment that produces a deterioration of the metal and its properties. Corrosion of a metal is often called electrochemical corrosion because it is caused by an electrochemical reaction involving a flow of electrons between cathodic and anodic areas.
The electrochemical corrosion arises from naturally occurring processes at specific locations on a metallic structure involving electrical current flow into the ambient soil electrolyte from anodes where oxidation reactions occur. The current flows to sites on the structure acting as cathodes where reduction reactions occur. Four components of the electrochemical corrosion are an anode, a cathode, an electrical path or metallic path, and an ionic path or electrolyte.
Methods for detecting corrosion of a metal include the sonic reflection method, the ultrasonic test method, the LPR (linear polarization resistance)method, the ER (electrical resistance) method, and the electrochemical potential measurement method. The sonic reflection method locates cracks or corrosion of a metal by collecting a sonic beam reflected by the metal using an array sensor and analyzing the collected data. The ultrasonic test method inspects corrosion of a metal by detecting changes in the thickness of the metal reduced by the corrosion. The LPR method detects the instantaneous corrosion rate of a metal by inserting a test probe into a conductive fluid and measuring the polarization resistance. The ER method measures the corrosion rate of a metal by inspecting changes in the electrical resistance of the metal caused by long-term electrochemical corrosion. The electrochemical potential measurement method detects the corrosion of a metal by measuring the electrochemical potential of the metal. The electrochemical potential measurement method is the most widely used method.
The electrochemical potential measurement method involves the measurement of the electrochemical potential difference between a buried metallic structure, which is a working electrode, and a reference electrode (Cu/CuSO4, CSE) in an electrical contact with ground above the structure, which is an electrolyte. The potential is measured with the positive and negative terminals of a measuring instrument connected to the reference electrode and the metallic structure respectively and then the sign of the measured value is reversed. The potential value is used to determine the level of the electrochemical corrosion. For example, a potential (e.g., −1000 mV) less than the cathodic protection criteria (−850 [mV/CSE], 250 [mV/Zn] in case of a zinc reference electrode) indicates that the metallic structure is protected from the corrosion. A potential greater than the cathodic protection criteria indicates that the metallic structure is corroding away.
Conventionally, to check the status of buried or submerged structures such as gas pipelines, tanks, and water pipelines, corrosion inspection of such structures has been conducted on a regular/irregular basis.
The corrosion inspection is conducted intermittently by a human inspector using a portable tester or a portable strip chart recorder. A shortcoming of such a corrosion inspection is that it takes lots of time because the human inspector need to connect test leads to a test box, the location of which is normally on the street, for the corrosion potential measurement (−terminal to the pipe and +terminal to the reference electrode) and to move to a position which allows easy and safe measurement.
For the reason, a corrosion inspection instrument that can be inserted into the test box for the corrosion potential measurement, which was developed by the inventor of the present invention, has been used recently.
Corrosion protection generally means the elimination of one or more sources that cause the corrosion. Because it is practically impossible to eliminate all the sources of the corrosion completely, methods that can mitigate the electrochemical corrosion reaction using inhibitors, insulators, etc are commonly employed. Cathodic protection is one of the most popular corrosion protection methods.
Cathodic protection provides corrosion protection to any bare metal areas exposed to soil by causing direct current (DC) to flow from the soil into the metallic structure, thereby polarizing the metallic structure as a cathode.
It is possible to cathodically protect a metallic structure by an external power supply such as a rectifier that generates an impressed current through the soil from an anode to the protected object. The rectifier provides direct current (DC) to the protected structure in order to maintain the electrochemical potential of the protected structure below the cathodic protection criteria (e.g., −850 mV/CSE). In other words, if the potential difference between a buried metallic structure and the reference electrode measured by a portable tester or a portable strip chart recorder is greater than the cathodic protection criteria, the rectifier provides direct current (DC) to the protected structure through an insoluble anode (high silicon cast iron (HSCI)) and the soil, so that the potential difference may remain below the cathodic protection criteria to protect the metallic structure from the electrochemical corrosion.
If interference by stray currents from subway rails or power lines occurs, the pipe-to-soil voltage will fluctuate as shown in FIG. 6 or the third harmonic will be found as shown in FIG. 7, respectively. The subway power system is designed such that the current is provided to subway trains from a subway power substation through power feeder cables and the current returns to the subway power substation through rails after driving the subway trains.
In the subway power system, a portion of the current deviates from the designed path and leaks into the soil because of the longitudinal resistance of the rails and incomplete insulation between the rails and the soil. The current flowing into the soil is called stray current.
The stray current flows along the length of a metallic structure buried in the soil (e.g., gas pipeline, oil pipeline, water pipeline) acting as a conductor and leaks into the soil at some specific locations which are near the cathode or have low soil resistivity. The leakage current returns to the negative feeder of the subway power supplying system. Corrosion occurs intensively around such locations.
The corrosion caused by stray currents from the subway is called stray current corrosion or electrolytic corrosion. With a view to preventing the stray current corrosion, the magnitude of the interference and the positions in which the interference occurs are analyzed by measuring only the pipe-to-soil voltage of a buried metallic structure.
Stray currents from power lines are affective by various types of induction such as capacitive induction, inductive induction, and resistive induction. AC induction voltage caused by resistive induction is dominant at places where the aforementioned apparatuses for measuring the pipe-to-soil voltage are employed.
There is a resistive coupling effect between a grounding structures (rods, wires, mesh) and a buried metallic structure sharing the same electrolyte (soil), whereby energy can be transmitted between the two structures in the form of AC voltage or current. In an electrical power system having a grounded neutral wire, unbalanced current due to power system unbalanced or third harmonic currents may flow along the neutral wire. In this case, the energy is transmitted from the ground point to the buried metallic structure through the soil. If the buried metallic structure is coated with an insulator, a resistive induction voltage is generated between the metallic structure and the ground point.
Suppose that a grounding conductor of the power system is a hemisphere of radius r as shown in FIG. 9. A voltage inducted at a distance of x from O (the center of the hemisphere) when current I flows into the soil having a constant resistivity can be computed as follows.
Ohm's law states that the induced voltage v is expressed byv=IR  (1)
and since R=∫dR=∫ρ(dr/2π r2), the induced voltage v is equivalently given byv=ρI/2πx  (2)
The induced voltage v expressed by the equation (2) is induced at a pipe located at a distance of x from the grounding conductor providing current I to the soil.
As the equation (2) indicates, the magnitude of the induced voltage depends on the resistivity of the soil and the distance between the grounding conductor and the pipe if the current flowing into the soil through the ground remains constant.
In Korean power distribution systems, in which the primary voltage is 22,900 V, a 3-phase 4-wire system with multiple grounding of the neural wire is employed as shown in FIG. 10. Therefore, the problematic AC stray current is caused by the multiple grounding wires at a neutral point.
In the 3-phase 4-wire system, the fourth wire, i.e., the neutral wire is repeatedly grounded at regular intervals and is designed such that 60 Hz current does not flow through the neutral wire. However, in the case where a third harmonic component is generated due to an unbalanced load condition, some of the third harmonic current flows through the neutral wire and some of the harmonic current flows through the ground.
Because a buried pipeline is a good grounding conductor, the third harmonic current tends to flow into the pipe by the resistive coupling effect. The current inflow depolarizes the polarization on the surface of the pipe and increases the consumption rate of Mg anodes. Moreover, it may give an electric shock to pipeline workers and cause an explosion accident by an electric arc in case of an accidental arc.
For these reasons, the pipe-to-soil voltage of a buried metallic structure is measured on a regular basis using a portable measuring instrument or a corrosion inspection system developed by the inventor of the present invention to inspect whether the metallic structure is protected from corrosion.
Unfortunately, however, the apparatuses used for corrosion inspection were not capable of directly measuring the stray current and thus it was impossible to analyze the stray current.
It is possible to measure the stray current using an oscilloscope. To use an oscilloscope for the stray current measurement, however, the oscilloscope needs to be installed at a subway station while the subway is out of service and the measurement data needs to be collected after the measurement is completed.
However, oscilloscopes are expensive and not easy to install around subway rails because oscilloscopes are relatively big in size. To measure the stray current, it is required to install a plurality of oscilloscopes in multiple measurement points, which is almost impossible for practical reasons.
In conventional corrosion inspection methods which simply measure the pipe-to-soil voltage of a buried metallic structure, the positions where current leakage occurs and the magnitude of the stray current cannot be precisely detected.
Consequently, a small-sized and low-cost stand-alone measurement apparatus that can easily measure the stray currents from subway rails at a rail impedance bond and analyze the stray current is quite in need.

Apparatus with storage for measuring stray currents from subway rails and power lines

Korea Electrotechnology Research Institute


A moveable seat comprising a seat frame assembly and a tapered swivel assembly, the tapered swivel assembly having components that are laterally immobile with respect to each other, despite forces from the seat frame assembly upon the tapered swivel assembly. A cable tracking wheel capable of controlling all movement of the moveable seat is also disclosed.

Moveable seats are used in many vehicles (e.g., cars, trucks, and airplanes) and require stability, strength and durability in order to ensure the comfort and safety of travelers. In this regard, moveable seats must have a design that enables occupants to safely change configurations and/or orientations of the seat with minimal exertion while engaging in other tasks. This is of particular importance to business travelers who tend to travel often and for extended periods and tend to have to carry out business tasks while traveling and while occupying the seat.
Most conventional seats have base assemblies that allow movement in a limited number of directions, e.g., in a single plane, such as back and forth, side-to-side, or rotational. Moreover, while some conventional seats have base assemblies that allow for movement in all directions (i.e., omni-directional), these seats typically require separate controls for each direction of movement and/or they lack swivel pedestals with components that can maintain an optimal configuration throughout use of the movable seat. U.S. Pat. No. 5,161,765, for example, the entire content of which is incorporated by reference herein, discloses a seat having a control disk that is operably-connected to cables controlling lateral and rotational movement of the seat, and a rotatable flat disk supported atop ball bearings atop a second flat bottom disk. Because normal changes of a moveable seat's configuration and/or orientation naturally results in changing forces upon the swivel assembly or pedestal of the seat, conventional seats typically have swivel pedestals with components that tend to shift laterally from their intended axis of rotation. This shifting causes extraneous side-to-side movement amongst the components of conventional tapered swivel assemblies. Traditional efforts to correct for this lateral shifting of components of swivel assemblies, e.g., through use of high molecular weight polyethylene, are costly and imprecise.
Accordingly, there is a need for a moveable seat, the configuration and orientation of which can be easily, efficiently, and safely changed by an occupant of the seat, through use of a single lever mechanism within reach of the occupant, without sacrificing performance and/or stability of the seat, based on the forces resulting from the change in configuration and/or orientation of the seat. The present invention provides such a moveable seat.

Movable seat with tapered swivel assembly and cable track wheel


To provide a working control device, a working control program and a working control system enabling the working under proper working conditions by searching for a working case corresponding to characteristics of a configuration to be worked and setting the working conditions based on this working case. Configuration information about characteristics of a three-dimensional configuration is obtained from design data of an object workpiece, a working case is searched out based on the configuration information from the working case storage unit storing working conditions, as a working case, of the working conducted in the past, the working conditions are determined based on the working case searched out by the case searching unit, and a working machine is controlled based on the working conditions.

The invention relates to a technology of obtaining an object workpiece by working a work material in a way that controls a cutting machine on the basis of design information defined on a computer.
There has hitherto been known a device contrived to automatically perform working by controlling a working machine on the basis of CAD data, etc. For instance, there is proposed a control device for a machine tool that includes tool route determining means for: inputting workpiece data about workpiece configuration data concerning a final workpiece configuration and workpiece data about a material and a configuration of the workpiece; generating a workpiece working tool route on the basis of data stored with machine s data containing characteristics of a machine body such as a column, a bed, etc. of the machine tool, and tool s data about a working tool which contain a deformation, etc. at a working time when this tool is attached to a holder; and determining working conditions such as a rotating speed of a main shaft, a feeding speed, etc. of the machine tool.
In the conventional device, a working process is determined by a predetermined algorithm which involves using generally three-dimensional CAD data and databases, thereby actualizing automation and standardization. In this case, contents of the database are not automatically updated unless a man changes them, and a result of working is not reflected in the contents of the database. Further, for adjusting the working process outputted from a system it was required that a man having special knowledge adjusts the database.
Therefore, a so-called condition library is main as the database, and there was no system having, as intra-system function, a role performed by an operator such as optimizing the conditions and storing working phenomena, and automatically generating NC data by optimally combining these pieces of information.
Further, as to a so-called feedback system, there exists a working condition correcting device for measuring dimensions of a plurality of workpieces, obtaining an error between a value of this time and a value of the last time of a specified value thereof, and correcting it, however, there exists none of devices used for correcting a feed and the number of revolutions of a working machine in real time while monitoring a main shaft load and working phenomena such as a chatter, etc. during cutting of one workpiece or for correcting the cutting conditions when working next time.
Moreover, in a conventional working control device, a feedback of the result of working to the database is intended for what can be expressed as a measured numerical value such as the number of revolutions, a feed speed, a working time, a dimensional accuracy, etc., wherein an intention and a judgment of the operator is not reflected therein as in a case where if preferable of fitting to other parts, an acceptance is gained even when, for instance, the measured value deviates from a dimensional tolerance, and a case where it is sufficient if a molding product is separable from a die even when the surface roughness of an insert part of a molding portion is rougher than a designated value in a resin molding product die assembly.
Moreover, the tool and the process have hitherto been determined from an experience of the operator. In a three-dimensional CAM that is widely utilized at the present, it is not yet automated as to which tool is used and which process this tool is used.
Note that there was proposed a system having a function of designing the working process based on the database stored with a type of a product to be worked, a tool and a process in a way that makes them mapping to each other, however, there is not any system for designing the working process from a tool library retaining a given 3D configuration without having such a type of database.
Further, a system exists, wherein a small tool is determined by calculating a cutting quantity and a cutting residual in sequence from the largest diameter, however, there is no system for calculating a maximum tool diameter that should be used, from a minimum tool diameter that is to be used by the operator for finishing, and a great deal of experiences of the operator were needed.


The present disclosure discloses an optical imaging lens assembly, which includes: a first lens having positive refractive power and a convex object-side surface; a second lens having refractive power, and a concave image-side surface; a third lens having refractive power; a fourth lens having refractive power; and a fifth lens having negative refractive power, a concave object-side surface, and a concave image-side surface. The optical imaging lens assembly satisfies TL/ImgH<1.35; 0.6<R9/f5<1.2 and 0.5<ET5/ET4<1, where TTL is a total length of the optical imaging lens assembly, ImgH is a half diagonal length of an effective pixel area on an imaging plane, f5 is an effective focal length of the fifth lens, R9 is a radius of curvature of the object-side surface of the fifth lens, ET4 and ET5 are edge thicknesses of the fourth and the fifth lenses, respectively.

In recent years, with the rapid development of the portable electronic devices such as smart phones and tablet PCs, and the like, the requirements on the size of camera's front end are increasing while good performances of the portable electronic devices are pursued.
The image height of the existing miniaturized camera is generally small and the front end of the existing miniaturized camera is large. The existing miniaturized camera generally unable to meet the requirements of having a small front end while ensuring a large imaging plane. At present, the full screen has gradually developed into one of the dominant screens of portable electronic devices such as smart phones and tablet PCs and the like in the market. For functional needs, the full screen usually only leaves a small space for the front camera to receive light. Therefore, more stringent requirements are put forward on the size of the front camera's front end. How to reduce the size of the camera's front end while maintaining large imaging plane and good image quality is a development tendency of the lens assembly with a small front end.


A memory device having an array area and a periphery area is provided. The memory device includes a substrate, an isolation layer formed in the substrate, a first doped region formed on the isolation layer in the array area, a second doped region formed on the first doped region, a metal silicide layer formed on the second doped region, and a metal silicide oxide layer formed on the metal silicide layer.

As a candidate for nonvolatile memory applications of next generation, resistive random-access memory (RRAM) attracts abundant attention due to its simple metal-insulator-metal structure, excellent scalability, fast switching speed, low-voltage operation and good compatibility with CMOS technology. Two common resistance switch modes for resistive random-access memory include bipolar and unipolar operations.
However, bipolar operation may cause area consumption. Further, general resistive random-access memory includes planar MOS selectors which may also cause area consumption.
Therefore, the unipolar operation is more attractive since ideally 4F2 cell size can be integrated in one-diode-one-resistor (1D1R) array for high density application. Several kinds of unipolar RRAM materials, such as WOx, HfO2 and Ta2Ox, have been studied. The silicide based materials also catch the attention due to their great integration compatibility with CMOS technology.

Memory device and method for manufacturing the same


An executable process, configured for storing and retrieving data from a storage medium having a prescribed storage definition, is configured for converting an array having a prescribed data structure into a string having array descriptors that specify the prescribed data structure. The array descriptors are used to identify for each a element its corresponding element name and element value. The array descriptors also identify for each element its relative depth within the array, for example whether a given array element is a subelement of another array element. Hence, the array can be stored and recovered from the storage medium without modification of the prescribed storage definition and without loss of the data structure of the array.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to storage of a complex data structure such as an array within storage media having a defined structure, for example a database table or an extensible markup language (XML) document.
2. Description of the Related Arts
Storage of information within a storage medium requires establishment of a prescribed storage definition for the storage medium. The storage definition for the storage medium enables the information to be stored and retrieved from the storage medium according to prescribed routines based on the storage definition. Such storage definitions may include specifying a definition for a data entry, where the data entry includes a unique identifier usable by an index for searching (i.e., a key), and a corresponding data entry value. For example, a database such as an LDAP database has prescribed storage definitions that enable external processes to access the database. Similarly, an extensible markup language (XML) document may be defined by prescribed XML tags that specify the data to be stored.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a conventional XML document 10 configured for storing information according to a prescribed storage definition. The XML document 10 includes XML tags 12 that specify the storage definition for the information to be stored. For example, the XML tags 12a and 12e define the boundaries of the XML document 10 having the title xe2x80x9cUSER ENTRYxe2x80x9d. The XML tags 12b, 12c and 12d each specify a data entry having an element name 14 and the corresponding element value 16. Each XML tag 12 also specifies a prescribed data type 18. Hence, an XML parser can recognize that the data field xe2x80x9cUser Addressxe2x80x9d 14b is an address-type entry having a value of xe2x80x9c1234 Generic Road, Anytown, Va. USA 23232xe2x80x9d. Hence, the XML document 10 provides a data structure that enables the storage and retrieval of information according to the prescribed storage definitions specified within the XML document 10 and as implied by the syntax of the XML language.
A fundamental problem with the storage of information within a rigidly defined storage medium, such as in an XML document or a database, is that the addition of a complex structure such as an array requires a change in the existing storage definition. For example, the data element xe2x80x9cUser Addressxe2x80x9d 14b specifies an address value of xe2x80x9c1234 Generic Road, Anytown, Va. USA 23232xe2x80x9d. Assume, however, that a new use of the existing data structure 10 requires storage of the address value as a structured array 20, as illustrated in FIG. 2, where the address value 16b needs to be redefined as an array 22 having a plurality of separate array elements 24 instead of the single string 16b. In particular, the element 24a specifies the name (xe2x80x9cUser Addressxe2x80x9d) of the array 22, and each of the elements 24b, 24c, 24d, 24e, and 24f specify an element name 26 usable as a key and a corresponding element value 28. Although the array 22 has the advantage of enabling indexed searching on any one of the elements 24, the array 22 cannot be stored within the XML document 10 according to conventional techniques. Hence, the array 22 cannot be stored without modification to the existing structure of the XML document 10 unless the element values 28 within the array 22 are extracted and combined to form the string 16b, resulting in a loss of the searchable element names 26.
There is a need for an arrangement that enables a complex data structure to be stored within a storage medium according to a prescribed storage definition, without modification of the prescribed storage definition or removal of structural components of the complex data structure.
There is also a need for an arrangement that enables an array having a prescribed data structure to be stored within a single data field having a prescribed storage definition in a manner that enables the array to be recovered from the single data field.
These and other needs are attained by the present invention, where an executable process, configured for storing and retrieving data from a storage medium having a prescribed storage definition, is configured for converting an array having a prescribed data structure into a string having array descriptors that specify the prescribed data structure, enabling the array to be stored and recovered from the storage medium without modification of the prescribed storage definition.
According to one aspect of the present invention, a method is provided in a executable system configured for storing information onto a tangible medium according to a prescribed storage definition. The method includes generating a string based on an array, having a prescribed data structure and having the information stored in the array according to the prescribed data structure, by including within the string the information and array descriptors that specify the prescribed data structure. The method also includes storing the string into a data field on the tangible medium according to the prescribed storage definition. The inclusion of array descriptors within the string and that specify the prescribed data structure enables the array structure to be preserved during storage into the data field according to the prescribed storage definition. Hence, a retrieval process may regenerate the array from the string stored in the data field, based on the stored array descriptors. Hence, a complex structure such as an array can be stored in a storage medium having a prescribed storage definition, without loss of the array structure or modification to the prescribed storage definition.
Another aspect of the present invention provides a processor-based system configured for storing information onto a tangible medium according to a prescribed storage definition. The system includes a storage interface process configured for converting an array, having a prescribed data structure and information stored according to the prescribed data structure, into a string including the information and array descriptors that specify the prescribed data structure. The system also includes a storage process configured for storing the string into a data field on the tangible medium according to the prescribed storage definition.
Additional advantages and novel features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following or may be learned by practice of the invention. The advantages of the present invention may be realized and attained by means of instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

Apparatus and method for storing complex structures by conversion of arrays to strings


A technique for detecting anomalous values in a small set of financial metrics makes use of context data that is determined based upon the characteristics of the target company being evaluated. Context data is selected to represent the historical values of the financial metric for the target company or the simultaneous performance of peer companies. Using the context data, an anomaly score for the financial metric is calculated representing the degree to which the value of the financial metric is an outlier among the context data. This can be done using an exceptional statistical technique. The anomaly score can be used to evaluate the risks associated with business transactions related to the target company.

Understanding the financial health of a company is an important factor in evaluating a potential business interaction with that company. An understanding of a company's financial health can be used to help evaluate the risks involved in doing business with that company, and can form a basis for predicting the expected benefits from the potential business relationship or transaction. However, fraudulent financial filings by the company can provide a misleading picture of the financial health of a company. Companies that engage in such fraudulent financial behavior can collapse in ways not reflected by the apparent financial health reflected by their financial information.
As a result of recent collapses of companies that were hiding their financial difficulties behind fraudulent financial data, investors and creditors are seeking ways to identify false or misleading financials before the time where the company's dire financial straits become apparent due to earnings shortfalls, scandals or bankruptcy.
While various subjective and intuitive approaches have been used to identify warning signs that might be detected in available financial data, these techniques tend to be time consuming and rely upon the particular expertise of well-trained individuals examining extensive financial data. Therefore, there is a continued need for improvement in the objectivity, ease of use, and speed of such techniques for detecting anomalous financial data.

Methods and systems for anomaly detection in small datasets


A produce peeling and coring device having a modular blade assembly which can be removed and positioned on numerous machine embodiments, such as freestanding machines, wall-mount machines, and tabletop machines.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to fruit and vegetable peeling and coring devices, and more specifically to devices for simultaneously removing the inedible peel and core of pineapples from the edible flesh quickly and efficiently.
2. Description of the Related Art
Various produce peeling and coring devices are known in the art. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,741,265, issued to Cushman, teaches a pineapple corer and peeler having a rotating core cutting tube and a peeler blade. U.S. Pat. No. 4,834,795, issued to Raub, et al., teaches a semiautomatic pineapple peeler having concentric cylindrical knives. U.S. Pat. No. 5,463,943, issued to Knasel, teaches a peeling and coring apparatus having an inner cutting blade and an outer cutting blade coaxially aligned with each other. U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,719, issued to Poltielov, teaches a coring apparatus having a coring blade with teeth.
None of these inventions, however, teach a modular blade assembly, comprising a peeling blade and a coring blade, that can be removed as a unit and placed on various machine structures, such as wall mounted machines, free standing machines, and tabletop machines. The blade assemblies in the prior art are actually integrated into a machine, whereby the machine provides support and the leverage for moving the cutting and coring blades. The blade assemblies in the prior art cannot be removed as a unit and placed in various machine structures.
A produce peeling and coring assembly having a modular blade assembly that is efficient, easy to clean, easy to assemble and disassemble, and thoroughly peels and cores produce, is desired. Furthermore, a modular blade assembly that can be removed as a unit and placed on various machine structures, such as wall mounted machines, free standing machines, and tabletop machines is desired.

Modular blade assembly for produce peeling and coring


A method and system is provided for validating software code provided to a user entity by a software provider. In general terms, the user entity encrypts first data, provides it to the software provider, and receives back an indication that the code is valid only if the software provider has been able to correctly decrypt the encrypted first data, such decryption only being possible using an appropriate decryption key provided by a party with rights in the software code. More particularly, the user entity encrypts the first data using, as encryption parameters, both an encryption key string comprising said software code or a representation thereof, and public data of the aforesaid party. A decryption key appropriate for correctly decrypting the encrypted first data is generated from the encryption key string and provided to the software provider only if the software code provided to the user entity is valid.

As the use of the Internet has increased so, correspondingly has interest in the availability of services over the Internet. In particular it has become commonplace for software distributors to provide web sites where software, for example software plug-ins, freeware software, open-source code, and commercial software can be downloaded.
However, a problem associated with the downloading of software over the Internet is the ability of the downloading party to verify the authenticity of the downloaded software. For example, it is desirable for the down loader to be able to determine whether the downloaded software is in its original form and has not been modified or tampered with and/or whether the software distributor is licensed to provide the software.
A solution to this problem has been the use of digital certificates that are used by the software producers to digitally sign the software; thus allowing the downloading party to verify the integrity of the software by verifying that the digital signature belongs to the appropriate software producer.
However, this solution requires that the downloading party maintain a database of appropriate digital certificates that has to be kept up to date to reflect the latest digital certificates. Further, this solution provides no opportunity for the software producers to obtain visibility as to who is being provided access to their software.
It is desirable to improve this situation.
The present invention is in part based on the appreciation that Identifier-Based Encryption (IBE) has certain properties that can be adapted for use in verifying the authenticity of software code.
Identifer-Based Encryption (IBE) is an emerging cryptographic schema. In this schema (see FIG. 1 of the accompanying drawings), a data provider 10 encrypts payload data 13 using both an encryption key string 14, and public data 15 provided by a trusted authority 12. This public data 15 is derived by the trusted authority 12 using private data 17 and a one-way function 18. The data provider 10 then provides the encrypted payload data <13> to a recipient 11 who decrypts it or has it decrypted, using a decryption key computed by the trusted authority 12 based on the encryption key string and its own private data.
A feature of identifier-based encryption is that because the decryption key is generated from the encryption key string, its generation can be postponed until needed for decryption.
Another feature of identifier-based encryption is that the encryption key string is cryptographically unconstrained and can be any kind of string, that is, any ordered series of bits whether derived from a character string, a serialized image bit map, a digitized sound signal, or any other data source. The string may be made up of more than one component and may be formed by data already subject to upstream processing. In order to avoid cryptographic attacks based on judicious selection of a key string to reveal information about the encryption process, as part of the encryption process the encryption key sting is passed through a one-way function (typically some sort of hash function) thereby making it impossible to choose a cryptographically-prejudicial encryption key string. In applications where defence against such attacks is not important, it would be possible to omit this processing of the string.
Frequently, the encryption key string serves to "identify" the intended message recipient and this has given rise to the use of the label "identifier-based" or "identity-based" generally for cryptographic methods of the type under discussion. However, depending on the application to which such a cryptographic method is put, the string may serve a different purpose to that of identifying the intended recipient and, indeed, may be an arbitrary string having no other purpose than to form the basis of the cryptographic processes. Accordingly, the use of the term "identifier-based" or "IBE" herein in relation to cryptographic methods and systems is to be understood simply; as implying that the methods and systems are based on the use of a cryptographically unconstrained string whether or not the string serves to identify the intended recipient Generally, in the present specification, the term "encryption key string" or "EKS" is used rather than "identity string" or "identifier string".
A number of IBE algorithms are known and FIG. 2 indicates, for three such algorithms, the following features, namely:                the form of the encryption parameters used, that is, the encryption key string and the public data of the trusted authority (TA);        the conversion process applied to the encryption key string to prevent attacks based on judicious selection of this string;        the primary encryption computation effected;        the form of the encrypted output.
The three prior art IBE algorithms to which FIG. 2 relates are:                Quadratic Residuosity (QR) method as described in the paper: C. Cocks, "An identity based encryption scheme based on quadratic residues", Proceedings of the 8th IMA International Conference on Cryptography and Coding LNCS 2260, pp 360-363, Springer-Verlag, 2001. A brief description of this form of IBE is given hereinafter.        Bilinear Mappings p using, for example, a Tate pairing l or Weil pairing ê. Thus, for the Weil pairing:ê: G1×G1→G2where G1 and G2 denote two algebraic groups of prime order q and G2 is a subgroup of a multiplicative group of a finite field. The Tate pairing can be similarly expressed though it is possible for it to be of asymmetric form:t: G1×G0→G2where G0 is a further algebraic group the elements of which are not restricted to being of order q. Generally, the elements of the groups G0 and G1 are points on an elliptic curve though this is not necessarily the case. A description of this form of IBE method, using Weil pairings is given in the paper: D. Boneh, M. Franklin-"Identity-based Encryption from the Weil Pairing" in Advances in Cryptology-CRYPTO 2001, LNCS 2139, pp. 213-229, Springer-Verlag, 2001.        RSA-Based methods The RSA public key cryptographic method is well known and in its basic form is a two-party method in which a first party generates a public/private key pair and a second party uses the first party's public key to encrypt messages for sending to the first party, the latter then using its private key to decrypt the messages. A variant of the basic RSA method, known as "mediated RSA", requires the involvement of a security mediator in order for a message recipient to be able to decrypt an encrypted message. An IBE method based on mediated RSA is described in the paper "Identity based encryption using mediated RSA", D. Boneh, X. Ding and G. Tsudik, 3rd Workshop on Information Security Application, Jeju Island, Korea, August, 2002.
A more detailed description of the QR method is given below with reference to the entities depicted in FIG. 1 and using the same notation as given for this method in FIG. 2. In the QR method, the trusted authority's public data 15 comprises a value N that is a product of two random prime numbers p and q, where the values of p and q are the private data 17 of the trusted authority 12. The values of p and q should ideally be in the range of 2511 and 2512 and should both satisfy the equation: p,q≅3 mod 4. However, p and q must not have the same value. Also provided is a hash function # which when applied to a string returns a value in the range 0 to N−1.
Each bit of the user's payload data 13 is then encrypted as follows:                The data provider 10 generates random numbers t+ (where t+ is an integer in the range [0, 2N]) until a value of t+ is found that satisfies the equation jacobi(t+,N)=m′, where m′ has a value of −1 or 1 depending on whether the corresponding bit of the user's data is 0 or 1 respectively (As is well known, the jacobi function is such that where x2≡#modN the jacobi (#, N)=−1 if x does not exist, and =1 if x does exist). The data provider 10 then computes the value:s+≡(t++K/t+)modNwhere: s+ corresponds to the encrypted value of the bit m′ concerned, andK=#(encryption key string)        Since K may be non-square, the data provider additionally generates additional random numbers t− (integers in the range [0, 2N)) until one is found that satisfies the equation jacobi(t−,N)=m′. The data provider 10 then computes the value:s−≅(t−−K/t−)modNas the encrypted value of the bit m concerned.
The encrypted values s+ and s− for each bit m′ of the user's data are then made available to the intended recipient 11, for example via e-mail or by being placed in a electronic public area; the identity of the trusted authority 12 and the encryption key string 14 will generally also be made available in the same way.
The encryption key string 14 is passed to the trusted authority 12 by any suitable means; for example, the recipient 11 may pass it to the trusted authority or some other route is used—indeed, the trusted authority may have initially provided the encryption key string. The trusted authority 12 determines the associated private key B by solving the equation:B2≅K modN ("positive" solution)If a value of B does not exist, then there is a value of B that is satisfied by the equation:B2≅−K modN ("negative" solution)As N is a product of two prime numbers p, q it would be extremely difficult for any one to calculate the decryption key B with only knowledge of the encryption key string and N. However, as the trusted authority 12 has knowledge of p and q (i.e two prime numbers) it is relatively straightforward for the trusted authority 12 to calculate B.
Any change to the encryption key string 14 will result in a decryption key 16 that will not decrypt the payload data 13 correctly. Therefore, the intended recipient 11 cannot alter the encryption key string before supplying it to the trusted authority 12.
The trusted authority 12 sends the decryption key to the data recipient 11 along with an indication of whether this is the "positive" or "negative" solution for B.
If the "positive" solution for the decryption key has been provided, the recipient 11 can now recover each bit m′ of the payload data 13 using:m′=jacobi(s++2B,N)If the "negative" solution for the decryption key B has been provided, the recipient 11 recovers each bit m′ using:m′=jacobi(s−+2B,N)

Method and system for validating software code

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A method for operating a bale opening machine (1) includes the step of defining a desired normal or operational take-off depth for the take-off device or extraction member (6) to be applied to all of the bales (7) of the bale lie. An actual take-off depth is computed for predetermined positions along the bale line as a function of the normal take-off depth and factors computed for the respective positions to take into account bale height differences and density differences between the bales. With respect to the bale height differences (4MAXxe2x88x92aMIN), the take-off factors have a proportional value based on a bale height at the respective positions compared to a total bale height difference between the highest and lowest bales. A total bale height is recomputed prior to each pass of the take-off device and the actual take-off depth factors are set to a value of 1 if the computed total bale height difference is reduced to at least the magnitude of the normal take-off depth. The bale density factors are applied simultaneously with the height take-off factors and are computed based on a percentage of bale height and a perceived density characteristic of each bale.

The present invention relates generally to bale opening devices, and more particularly to a method for controlling a bale opening device in order to extract or remove fiber flocks from a line or row of bales.
Bales of fiber material are normally laid down in rows on the spinning mill floor to form a xe2x80x9cbale laydown.xe2x80x9d The bale laydown may include a different number of bale groups. The height profile or surface contour of the bale laydown depends on a number of factors. For example, compression of the fiber material in the bales before the bale ties are opened, the relative humidity of the various bales, and the selection process applied by the mill operators for selecting and arranging the bales to be laid down in a given bale group are all factors affecting the profile or contour of the bale line.
Once the bales are arranged in the bale laydown, flocks are extracted by a computer controlled take-off element which covers generally the width of the bales in the bale line and which can be moved longitudinally along the upper surface of the bales. For this purpose, the contour or profile of the bales is usually scanned by corresponding sensors and the profile entered into a computer. Furthermore, based on a predetermined bale extraction program, a certain number of passes and the take-off depth per passage of the take-off element can be preset for a fiber layer height and the flocks can be extracted accordingly by the take-off element.
It is known in the art to control the take-off element program according to a number of factors. For example, it is known to use suitable height level sensors to scan the height profile of the bale line with the results being entered into a control device for controlling the take-off element as a function of density or hardness within the bale. U.S. Pat. No. 4,660,257 describes such a device wherein the extracting member or take-off element extracts fiber flocks from the upper bale surfaces with a penetration depth into the bales that is variably dependent on the bale height. The penetration depth of the extraction member is gradually reduced in an upper bale region doing a predetermined number of passes from a maximum value to a lesser penetration depth that has been determined for a middle bale region. The bales are subdivided into a plurality of height zones that exhibit different densities of fiber material. The penetration depth of the take-off element in a middle zone is maintained until reaching a lowermost zone in which the penetration depth is again gradually increased. The control system includes a microprocessor which stores inputted desired number of passes and penetration depths for the different height zones and controls the take-off element accordingly. This type of program control based upon a height density profile also has application in the present invention and will be described in greater detail herein.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,564,165 deals with a method of controlling the take-off element in order to reach an equalization of the different fiber bale heights so that the take-off element extracts the same depth of fiber material consistently along the bale line. According to the control method of the ""165 patent, the bale height of all the bales in the bale line is determined by sensors carried on the bale opener and input into a computer. The operator inputs into the computer a vertical feed or penetration depth of the detaching device for the bales in the bale line that have a minimum bale height. The operator also inputs a common bale height for all of the bales wherein no change in the penetration depth is required. It is at this height that equalization of the bales will have taken place. The computer then determines a proportionately higher feed for the bales other than those having the minimum bale height so that equalization is achieved at the common bale height. Thus, according to this control system, the spinning mill operator determines at which height equalizing of the bales heights is to be completed and the take-off depth for the lowest bale. The computer then calculates the take-off requirements needed for the higher bales to achieve equalization at the desired common height.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,105,507 describes another method for controlling a take-off element in a fiber extraction device wherein the height profile of the row of bales is determined by at least one sensor that is directed towards the upper bale surface. This sensor is preferably an optical or acoustical sensor and the received signal from the sensor is processed to obtain a signal corresponding to the hardness of the bales. The penetration depth of the take-off element is controlled or regulated in accordance with the hardness signal.
The present invention relates to a control method for a fiber extraction device that reliably and accurately accounts for bale height differences and density characteristics of the bale line.
It is thus a principal object of the present invention to provide an improved control method of operating a bale opening machine having a fiber extraction or take-off element for removing desired layers of fiber material from a row of bales.
Additional objects and advantages of the invention will be set forth in part in the following description, or may be obvious from the description, or may be learned through practice of the invention.
In accordance with the invention, a control method is provided for operating any manner of bale opening machine having a fiber extraction or take-off element controlled by a computer control system. It should be appreciated that the present control method is not limited to any particular configuration of bale opening machine, and has application wherever it is desired to control the penetration depth of the fiber extraction member or take-off element. The only requirement is that the bale opening machine have appropriate sensors for determining the bale heights or bale profile as described herein, as well as a control system for operating the take element. Although not essential to the invention, the bale opener is preferably provided with sensors enabling it to derive the necessary information. For example, bales may be laid down on opposite sides of a track along which the bale opener moves and the bale opener can process bales on one side of the track while a movable sensor, e.g. on a separate carriage, detects the heights or the profile of bales on the other side of the track.
In this regard, a method according to the invention is provided for operating a bale opening machine having a take-off device for removing a desired depth of material in a take-off layer from a top surface of a line of bales as the take-off device passes over the bale line. The method includes the step of determining a total height difference between a low point and a high point along the bale line. The high point may correspond to the highest or tallest of the bales and the low point may correspond to the lowest or shortest of the bales. This step of determining the total height difference may be carried out in any manner. For example, the height of the bales may be measured and the height difference calculated from the measured heights. In another embodiment, the total height difference may be determined based solely on a height differential of the bale profile. In other words, it is not critical that the actual heights of the bales relative to the mill floor be determined for this purpose. The concern is not the actual bale heights, but the difference in bale height between the highest and lowest points.
The method includes the step of defining a desired normal or operational take-off depth for the take-off device as a function of the necessary through put production of the bale opening machine. The through put production is related to a number of factors, including the downstream requirements in the fiber processing line.
Actual take-off depths for the take-off device are computed by the control system for predetermined control positions along the bales to be processed. The control positions may have a predetermined spacing and the control system configured so that the locations of the control positions are stored for use in each pass of the take-off element. The control positions may correspond to the individual positions at which the bale opener samples the bale line in an initial pass of the take-off element. The actual take-off depths are a function of the normal take-off depth and relative bale height at the respective positions along the bale line with respect to the total height difference. The take-off device is then controlled according to the actual take-off depths at the predetermined positions for each pass of the take-off device along the bale line.
Prior to each pass of the take-off device, a new total height difference is calculated or determined between the low and high points of the bale line. If the new total height difference is less than or equal to the magnitude of the normal take-off depth, then the control system sets the actual take-off depths for all points along the bale line to eliminate the effect of bale height equalizing factors applied to the value of the normal take-off depth.
The step of computing the actual take-off depths preferably comprises the step of assigning a minimum and maximum take-off factor for the low and high points of the bale line. Each such factor may be selected from a predetermined range stored in the control system. In a basic embodiment, this program range may not be variable. The factors may be selected independently from the program ranges. For example, respective ranges may be stored for the minimum take-off factor and the maximum take-off factor and a selection may be required from each range to compute take-off depths. Alternatively, the factors may be effectively xe2x80x9cpairedxe2x80x9d so that a selection of one of the two factors determines the other. The selection may be made in terms of a percentage of the available range. The factors may be preprogrammed in the system and xe2x80x9cretrievedxe2x80x9d based upon a measured or inputted bale height difference. For example, the operator may input an initial bale height difference and, based on this difference, the system will automatically select the appropriate range of the factors (provided variable ranges are programmed). Corresponding take-off factors for the control points along the bale line are then computed by the system as a proportional function of the ratio of the bale height difference at the respective positions to the total bale height difference. The computed take-off factors are then applied to the normal take-off depth to calculate the actual take-off depth at the respective control positions along the bale line. In other words, a maximum take-off factor is assigned to the highest bale height position and a minimum take-off factor is assigned to the lowest bale height position. Proportional take-off factors are computed for the other positions along the bale line based on the ratio of the height difference at the respective positions compared to the total height difference between the minimum and maximum bale heights.
In a preferred embodiment of the present control method, the initial set of take-off factors is applied for each subsequent pass of the take-off device until the total height difference between the high and low bale heights is reduced to at least the magnitude of the normal take-off depth. In this regard, the total height difference between the low and high points of the bale line is measured or computed prior to each pass of the take-off element. However, the take-off factors are not necessarily recomputed and the initial set of take-off factors may be used for each pass of the take-off element. The new total height difference may be computed prior to each pass based on the previous total height difference and the take-off depths at the high and low bale heights utilized in the previous pass of the take-off device. Thus, it should be understood that the new calculations may be carried out by the control system without relying on actual sensor inputs or signals relating to the bale heights.
The present method also preferably comprises steps for controlling the take-off depth at the positions along the bale line as a function of bale density by applying a bale density factor in the computation process for the actual take-off depths at the respective control positions along the bale line. The bale density factors may be based upon a predetermined or perceived bale density characteristic of the bales. The bale density factors may also be applied at discrete height portions of the bales. These discrete height portions may be defined as a percentage of initial bale height. For example, an operator may enter the perceived bale density characteristic into the control system of the bale opening device. The control system may have density factors stored therein corresponding to different bale density characteristics. The control system will apply the appropriate density factors to portions of the bales that are determined as a function of bale height. It may be preferred to apply the density factors to only a top and bottom portion of the bales. A middle height portion of the bales need not be corrected for density. The percentages that define the top and bottom portions may also be a factor of perceived bale density and also stored in the control system such that the operator need only to input the density characteristic of the bale. The control system will then apply the appropriate density factor and compute the appropriate height portions in which to apply the density factors.
The height take-off factors and density factors are then applied to the normal take-off depth to define the actual take-off depth at the control positions along the bale line. The take-off element is controlled as a function of the height take-off factors and density take-off factors for each pass of the take-off device.
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of a conventional bale opening machine equipped with a type of control system which may be used to practice the present method;
FIGS. 2a-2c are operational diagrammatic views of the take-off element and sensor arrangement of a bale opening machine that may be used to practice the present method;
FIG. 3a is a diagrammatic view of a bale laydown illustrating certain principles of the present invention;
FIG. 3b is a diagram of a height profile for the bale laydown of FIG. 3a; and
FIG. 4 is a density compensation diagram illustrating certain principles of the present invention.

Process for removing fiber flocks from bales with a bale opening device


The present disclosure relates to systems and methods for scanning a patient in an imaging system. The imaging system may include at least one camera directed at the patient. The systems and methods may obtain a plurality of images of the patient that are captured by the at least one camera. Each of the plurality of images may correspond to one of a series of time points. The systems and methods may also determine a motion of the patient over the series of time points based on the plurality of images of the patient. The systems and methods may further determine whether the patient is ready for scan based on the motion of the patient, and generate control information of the imaging system for scanning the patient in response to determining that the patient is ready for scan.

Imaging systems, such as CT scanners, MRI scanners, PET scanners, are widely used for creating images of interior of a patient's body for medical diagnosis and/or treatment purposes. Generally, a region of interest (ROI) covering a portion of the patient's body, such as a limb or an internal organ, is selected before an imaging session starts. Data is then acquired from within the ROI and analyzed, giving swift and accurate diagnosis thereafter. Thus, to ensure high quality imaging and accurate diagnosis, the ROI must be properly targeted during imaging. Normally, before the scan, the patient may lie on a patient support and be required to get ready for scan (e.g., keep still). After the patient is in a still or substantially still state, the patient support may be directed to move the patient to a target position for scan. Conventionally, an operator (e.g., a doctor) of the imaging system may need to observe the patient and determine whether the patient is ready for scan, which may be inefficient and susceptible to human error or subjectivity. Therefore, it is desirable to provide systems and methods for automatic patient readiness detection, thereby obviating the need for human intervention, and improving the precision and efficiency of patient readiness detection.

Systems and methods for scanning a patient in an imaging system

SHANGHAI UNITED IMAGING HEALTHCARE CO., LTD.


A complete plastic HVAC system assembled using individual plastic components for ensuring the efficient and quiet distribution of air from a central air unit to multiple distribution points and preventing heating and cooling losses, the need for installers to stock multiple sized and shaped components, the accumulation of dust, dirt and pollens during storing, installing and use on the surfaces of the individual components. The fittings have a collar sizable to fit both 6 and 7-inch pipe, whether flexible or rigid. The use of plastic fittings, duct and pipe removes the potential of injury commonly associated with conventional metal ductwork, while providing seamless components that can be configured for any type of installation and insure an air tight connection between adjoining surfaces. The individual fittings include a register boot, torpedo boot, straight boot, rigid and flexible pipe and couplers, straight and 90-degree takeoffs, a plastic duct and duct end cap.

The present invention relates to heating and cooling. More particularly, but without limitation, the present invention relates to a complete plastic HVAC component system for distributing air and method for installing the same.
A problem of common interest in heating and cooling is efficiency. Increasing the efficiency of a heating and cooling system results in decreased costs of operating the heating and cooling system. A key aspect contributing to the efficiency or inefficiency of a heating and cooling system is the heat and cooling losses incurred as air travels from the furnace through the ductwork and ultimately to the distribution points.
Conventionally, the ductwork between the furnace and the distribution points have been formed of sheet metal. Ducts or pipes as well as fittings such as elbows, angles, couplers and boots are formed of riveted or welded sheet metal. Due to the nature in which these various parts are made there are often cracks in the ductwork and between the associated fittings that result in heating or cooling loss. Cracks can result in an undesirable whistling sound and provide an opening for insects to access the inside of the ductwork.
In more recent times, flex pipe is replacing sheet metal ducts. Flex pipe is generally associated with less heat loss and is easier to handle than conventional sheet metal ductwork.
Another problem relates to installation of ductwork. Metal ductwork often presents sharp edges and corners to work around to prevent injuries from resulting.
A further problem relating to sheet metal ductwork is that it inherently collects dust and dirt on it's surface. In high humidity environments the surface of the sheet metal sweats collecting dust and dirt. A thin film of oil on the sheet metal's surface that is developed during manufacturing also collects unwanted dust and dirt particles during assembly and use.
Another problem relating to installation and repair is inventory. Ductwork can be of various sizes, including ducts being of 6 inch diameter or 7 inch diameter. Corresponding fittings come in 6 inch or 7 inch diameter, although reducers are available. The difference in diameters of ductwork requires that those who stock ductwork to carry inventory for both dimensions. This can be of particular concern to those who install or replace ductwork as they either need to maintain a full inventory of parts.
An additional problem relating to the use of sheet metal to form the ductwork and various components is the probability of incurring damage when dropped. Sheet metal components, ductwork and their connections risk becoming increasingly inefficient if dropped or subjected to excessive force during handling or installation.
Therefore, it is a primary object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to improve upon the state of the art.
It is a further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to provide a complete plastic HVAC component system capable of efficiently delivering air from a furnace to distribution points having a limited number of fittings.
It is a further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to provide for a complete plastic HVAC component system having individual fittings capable of use with square and round ductwork.
It is a further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention to provide for improved connections between a furnace, the ductwork and the registers to reduce losses and improve efficiency.
Another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide plastic fittings that can be adapted to accommodate ductwork having different diameters.
A further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide plastic fittings that reduce the amount of inventory needed.
A still further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to eliminate sharp metal edges which can result in injury.
Yet another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide fittings suitable for use with flex pipe.
A still further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide fittings that are seamless and without cracks that leak air and allow insects access.
Another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide fittings that are quiet and do not generate a whistling sound.
Yet another object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide fittings with a flange or lip to stabilize the fittings during installation.
A further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide rigid fitting and/or flexible fittings that do not require an adapter to couple to different size piping.
A further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide a system of HVAC components, fittings and connectors resistant against damage during storing, handling and connecting.
A further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide a system of HVAC components, fittings and connectors resistant to sweating in high humidity environments.
A further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide a system of HVAC components, fittings and connectors resistant against dust, dirt and pollen collection during storing, handling and use.
A further object, feature, or advantage of the present invention is to provide a system of HVAC components, fittings and connectors and a method for installing the same.
One or more of these and/or other objects, features, or advantages of the present invention become apparent from the specification and claims that follow.

Plastic HVAC component system and method for installing the same


A shock mount is used for mounting a first member of a piece of furniture to a second member thereof. The shock mount includes an elastic portion and a metal portion secured to the elastic portion. The metal portion has an exposed surface of a shape which conforms to the first furniture member. The elastic portion is secured to the second furniture member, the exposed surface of the metal portion is adhesively secured to the first furniture member, and the elastic portion absorbs various loads imparted by the first and second furniture members.

The present invention relates generally to furniture, and more particularly, to a load-absorbing shock mount for securing separate members of a piece of furniture together.
Shock mounts are typically interposed between the backrest of a chair and a support arm for absorbing tensile and/or shear stress imparted by the backrest and support arm. Prior art shock mounts are typically made of rubber and have a surface which is adhesively secured to the backrest to avoid using fasteners such as screws, bolts, or the like which extend through the backrest and tend to be unattractive and uncomfortable to a user. The rubber surface is often treated with a sulfuric acid etch to enhance the bonding properties thereof. However, such a bond tends to fail with high tensile or torsional loads.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,008,764 to Pile discloses such a shock mount which is adhesively secured to the backrest of chair. The shock mount in Pile includes a pair of resilient members having an annular groove formed in a base thereof for receiving and retaining a bonding agent.


A magnetic mechanical latching attachment for connecting goggles to a helmet includes a goggle attachment portion configured to mechanically and magnetically attach to a helmet attachment portion. The goggle attachment portion and helmet attachment portion include complimentary interlocking features that mechanically lock the portions together when attached and magnetic features that assist engagement of the complimentary interlocking features in a locked position. A related method of coupling goggles to a helmet, as well as a helmet-goggle attachment system, is provided.

Protective headgear is used in outdoor sports to reduce the severity of participant head injuries. In some outdoor activities, it may advantageous to wear goggles to protect eyes from environmental conditions, such as dust, dirt, rocks, exhaust, wind, rain or snow, as well as bright sunshine or light. In such environments, participants wearing helmets often desire to also wear goggles. However, when goggles are worn at the same time as a helmet, it can be difficult to maintain a good, safe and secure fit of both the helmet and the goggles.
Conventionally, various structural configurations and techniques have been utilized in an attempt to secure goggles into a proper fit while wearing a helmet. Some attempts have simply involved wrapping an elastic securing strap of the goggles around a helmet exterior when both are worn. Yet the strap may tend to move on the helmet causing the fit of the goggles to become unsecured and improper. Other attempts have included provision of engagement features on the exterior of a helmet to help retain an elastic goggle strap in a proper position to maintain a secure fit. However, such exterior engagement features often make it difficult for a user to readily and efficiently put goggles on an off while wearing a helmet.


A portable sound recording device and method comprises a first enclosure having symmetrical halves and a second enclosure having symmetrical halves. The second enclosure is fitted inside the first enclosure such that neither enclosure has direct contact with each other. The symmetrical halves pivot about the device handle. A sound resistant material aligns the inside walls of the second enclosure and the outside walls of the second enclosure. The device eliminates unwanted echoes and allows sound to be clearly captured by an attached microphone or input device.

Songs and parts of songs such as the lyrics or beats are typically recorded at a professional recording studio. The artists are likely to have to travel to the professional studio, at the request of the producer. To cut costs, many artists build home studios; however, the sound quality is often compromised due to large amounts of noise bleeding in or out the room. Most home studios are not conducive to recording or monitoring audio. They are often small causing the recorded sound to be uneven. Wall and ceiling treatments may be added to home studios to reduce bad sound effects but these treatments are difficult to install, expensive, and the treatments often require professional installation in order to work properly.
Additional recording studio issues also include handling noise leaking into the studio, noise leaking out of the studio (and bothering your neighbors), electrical power distribution to and within the home studio, grounding for the equipment within your studio, where to get good audio cables and how best to use them in the studio, and many other important issues.


A closure assembly is provided. The closure assembly includes a cap portion, a tubular neck extending from a top surface of the cap portion, and at least one reinforcing member extending between the top surface of the cap portion and an exterior surface of the tubular neck, wherein the cap portion, the tubular neck and the at least one reinforcing member are a unitary integral piece. The closure assembly design provides stability to the tubular neck and the cap portion when a force is applied to either one or both of the tubular neck and the cap portion.

Caps and closure assemblies are a necessary feature of cell culture containers which are preferably provided as a closed system. In certain cell culture container, caps and closure assemblies have been provided with a means for fluidly connecting a source of gas, liquid or other material, such as cell growth media, with the interior of the cell culture container. Various tubes or probes may be attached to such means, and such means may be used to deliver controlled volumes of gas, liquid, or other material to the interior of the container while maintaining a closed system. Conventionally, great care is taken to ensure that no leaking occurs at the location where the container is closed by the cap or closure and also that no contaminants enter the interior of the container at the location where the container is closed by the cap or closure.
Despite taking great care to prevent leaking and/or contamination, conventional caps and closures do not always adequately maintain a closed system. For example, in order to close a cell culture container with a cap or closure and prevent such leaking or contamination as described above, a sufficient force must be applied to the cap or closure in order to adequately close and seal a port in the cell culture container. Oftentimes the application of such a force causes the cap or closure to crack, break or otherwise fail. Similarly, for caps or closures having a means for fluidly connecting external sources with the interior of the cell culture container, the application of force to apply the cap or closure to the cell culture container, or other bending forces (applied, for example, when tubes or hoses are attached to such means) causes such means to crack, break or otherwise fail.
What is needed is a cap or closure assembly that is able to withstand forces applied to the cap or closure assembly when the cap or closure is placed on a port in the cell culture container to close and seal the port.


Disclosed are an uplink power control method, power control parameter configuration method and apparatus thereof. The uplink power control method comprises: a user equipment receives data in M downlink sub-frames of N downlink carriers and generates uplink control information, wherein the uplink control information of the M downlink sub-frames is transmitted in one uplink sub-frame; the user equipment determines ΔF_PUCCH(F) and h(n) for calculating the transmit power of a physical uplink control channel (PUCCH) according to whether the number of bits of the uplink control information is larger than a predefined threshold; ΔF_PUCCH(F) represents the power offset of different PUCCH formats relative to the PUCCH format 1a, h(n) represents the power offset corresponding to the number of transmission bits of the PUCCH; the user equipment calculates the PUCCH transmit power according to ΔF_PUCCH(F) and h(n), and sending the uplink control information on the PUCCH using the calculated transmit power. The present invention can improve the accuracy of power control, thus enhance the transmission performance of the uplink control information.

Currently, LTE-A (Long Term Evolution-Advanced) system can support CA (Carrier Aggregation) of five carriers at most, and one LTE-A UE (User Equipment) needs to feed back the ACK (ACKnowledgement)/NACK (Non-ACKnoledgement) feedback information corresponding to multiple downlink carriers and downlink sub-frame in the same uplink sub-frame. In order to avoid inconsistent understanding between eNB (eNodeB) and UE toward ACK/NACK codebook during packet loss, the ACK/NACK codebook to be fed back by UE on one uplink sub-frame shall be generated based on the maximum configuration: for FDD (Frequency Division Duplex) system, ACK/NACK codebook is decided by the total number of configured downlink carrier and the transmission mode of each downlink carrier, viz. UE needs to feed back N+N1 bit ACK/NACK in one uplink sub-frame, wherein N refers to the total number of configured downlink carrier number and N1 is the downlink carrier number with transmission mode of multi-codeword; as for TDD (Time Division Duplex) system, ACK/NACK codebook depends on the total number of configured downlink carrier number, transmission mode of each downlink carrier and the total number of downlink sub-frame of UE performing ACK/NACK feedback on the same uplink sub-frame, viz. UE shall feed back M×(N+N1) bit ACK/NACK on one uplink sub-frame, wherein M refers to the total number of downlink sub-frame number performing ACK/NACK feedback on the same sub-frame, for different uplink/downlink configuration and uplink sub-frame, M varies, viz. number of K in each column of Table 1. Besides, M may be different for various carriers, then UE shall feed back
      ∑          i      =      1        N                          C      i        ·          M      i      bit ACK/NACK in one uplink sub-frame, wherein, Ci is the codeword number corresponding to the transmission mode of carrier i, Ci=1 for single codeword transmission mode and Ci=2 for multi-codeword transmission mode is, Mi refers to the total number of downlink sub-frame performing ACK/NACK feedback on the same uplink sub-frame on carrier i, which is decided by uplink/downlink configuration of carrier i. As for downlink carrier and/or downlink sub-frame position without scheduling in the AK/NACK codebook, NACK/DTX (Discontinuous Transmission) will be generated as feedback information.
TABLE 1Downlink Association Set Index K: {k0, k1, . . . kM-1} for TDDUplink/Downlinkconfig-Sub-frame number nuration01234567890——6—4——6—41——7, 64———7, 64—2——8, 7, 4, 6————8, 7,——4, 63——7, 6, 116, 55, 4—————4——12, 8, 7, 116, 5,——————4, 75 ——13, 12, 9, 8, ———————7, 5, 4, 11, 66——775——77—
In order to support larger ACK/NACK codebook transmission, LTE-A system defines a new PUCCH (Physical Uplink Control Channel) transmission format PUCCH format 3. It at most supports 20 bits ACK/NACK feedback, as shown in FIG. 1. When the ACK/NACK information to be fed back by UE exceeds the aforementioned threshold, bundling shall be performed on ACK/NACK information, to make the codebook smaller than or equal to the aforementioned threshold, such as Spatial Bundling, Time-Domain Bundling or Frequency-Domain Bundling. PUCCH format 3 adopts different coding methods for different ACK/NACK codebooks. When ACK/NACK codebook is less than or equal to 11 bits, the RM (Reed-Muller) encoding of Rel-8 (Release-8) system is reused, viz. the ACK/NACK feedback bits shall be encoded into 48-bit coded bits through RM(32,O)+Repetition encoding method; when ACK/NACK codebook is larger than 11 bits, Dual-RM encoding method is adopted, as shown in FIG. 2, first the ACK/NACK feedback bits shall be divided into two groups averagely, then the ACK/NACK feedback bits of each group shall be encoded into 24-bit coded bits by adopting RM (32, O)+(Truncation) encoding method.
PUCCH power control in LTE-A system shall follow the power control method of LTE Rel-8/9 system as much as possible. The formula of defining PUCCH power control is as below:
                                          P            PUCCH                                          (            i            )                          =                  min                                              {                                                                                P                                                      CMAX                            ,                            c                                                                                (                          i                          )                                                                    ,                                                                                P                                                  0                                                    _PUCCH                                                                    +                                              PL                        C                                            +                                              h                                                                          (                                                                                n                              CQI                                                        ,                                                          n                              HARQ                                                        ,                                                          n                              SR                                                                                )                                                                    +                                                                        Δ                          F_PUCCH                                                                                (                          F                          )                                                                    +                                                                        Δ                                                      T                            ×                            D                                                                                (                                                      F                            ′                                                    )                                                                    +                                              g                                                                          (                          i                          )                                                                                }                                                                          [                          dB                                                                                m                        ]                                              (        1        )            Wherein: PCMAX,c is the allowable maximum transmit power of carrier c, viz. for PUCCH it is the allowable maximum transmit power of the primary uplink carrier; PLc refers to path loss compensation value of carrier c, which is obtained by downlink carrier measurement of higher layer configuration;
PO_PUCCH represents the target value of transmit power, composed of cell-specific part PO_NOMINAL_PUCCH and UE-specific part PO_UE_PUCCH of higher layer configuration; h(nCQI, nHARQ, nSR) refers to the power offset corresponding to the number of various bits sent by PUCCH; wherein, nCQI corresponds to the number of CSI (Channel State Information) bit sent, CSI includes CQI (Channel Quality Indicator) information, PMI (Precoding Matrix Indicator) information, RI (Rank Indication) information, PTI (Precoding Type Indicator) information, etc., nHARQ corresponds to the number of ACK/NACK bit sent, and nSR{0,1} represents whether SR (Scheduling Request) transmission exists in the current uplink sub-frame; Configured by higher layer, ΔF_PUCCH(F) represents the power offset of different PUCCH formats relative to the PUCCH format 1a, the PUCCH formats include PUCCH format 1/1a/1b/2/2a/2b, PUCCH format 3 and other various formats, which is a further compensation to h(nCQI, nHARQ, nSR) power control error; ΔTxD(F′) is configured by higher layer, with independent configuration for each PUCCH format, representing the power offset of different PUCCH formats with multi-antenna port transmission (viz. transmission diversity in Rel-10) mode;
g(i) is the accumulation of the power control commands.
Among all parameters mentioned in formula (1), the value of h(nCQI, nHARQ, nSR) can be:
h(nCQI, nHARQ, nSR)=0 for PUCCH format 1a/1b;
As for PUCCH format 1b with channel selection (PUCCH format 1b based on channel selection), if multiple carriers are configured for UE,
            h                    (                              n            CQI                    ,                      n            HARQ                    ,                      n            SR                          )              =                  (                              n            HARQ                    -          1                )            2        ,if only one carrier is configured for UE, h(nCQI, nHARQ, nSR)=0;
For PUCCH format 2/2a/2b,
      h              (                        n          CQI                ,                  n          HARQ                ,                  n          SR                    )        =      {                                        10                                                                                log                10                                                          (                                                      n                    CQI                                    4                                )                                                                                if                                                                                n                CQI                                      ≥            4                                                0                          otherwise                    with normal CP (Cyclic Prefix) and
      h              (                        n          CQI                ,                  n          HARQ                ,                  n          SR                    )        =      {                                        10                                                                                log                10                                                          (                                                      n                    CQI                                    4                                )                                                                                if                                                                                n                  CQI                                            +                              n                HARQ                                      ≥            4                                                0                          otherwise                    with extended CP;
As for PUCCH format 3,
      h              (                        n          CQI                ,                  n          HARQ                ,                  n          SR                    )        =                              n          HARQ                +                  n          SR                -        1            2        .
As the ACK/NACK codebook determined by UE based on its own configuration is always larger than the number of data package actually received by UE, esp. when multiple carriers are configured for UE, but eNB only schedules few or one carrier/sub-frame, the number of effective ACK/NACK bits (ACK/NACK codebook corresponding to the data packages actually received by UE or those with actual scheduling) in the ACK/NACK codebook is much less than the total bit number of the ACK/NACK codebook, and eNB can only detect the effective information part according to detail scheduling status, to improve detection performance, therefore, h(nCQI, nHARQ, nSR) shall be calculated based on the effective codebook of UE: for ACK/NACK transmission without bundling scheme, it is agreed that nHARQ is determined based on number of the TB (Transport Block) actually received by UE and the number of the PDCCH indicating downlink SPS (Semi-Persistent Scheduling) resource release, so as to guarantee that the transmit power of UE in PUCCH corresponds to the number of downlink carrier and downlink sub-frame with actual scheduling, thus avoiding power waste; as for ACK/NACK transmission with bundling, the number of bits of bundled information actually transmitted by UE is smaller than the number of the TB actually received, so nHARQ shall be determined in accordance with the bundled codebook, to avoid UE power waste and reduce interference.
In the procedure of realizing the objects of the present invention, at least the following problems existing in the current technologies were found:
Considering that PUCCH format 3 adopts different RM encoding mode under different ACK/NACK codebooks, when ACK/NACK codebook is larger than 11 bits, ACK/NACK feedback information shall be divided into two groups, due to the randomization of eNB scheduling, the effective ACK/NACK bits in the ACK/NACK codebook cannot be certainly divided to each group uniformly, therefore ACK/NACK effective encoding rate of each group of RM encoding is different, thus reducing ACK/NACK detection performance. As shown in FIG. 3, when ACK/NACK codebook[b0, b1, . . . b11] is divided into two groups at the middle position of the codebook, all 6 bits in group I [b0, b1, . . . b5] are effective information, which means that the effective encoding rate is 6/24, in group II [b6, b7, . . . b11], only b6 and b7 are effective information and other bits refer to occupation information generated by UE, which means that the effective encoding rate is 2/24, thus reducing the overall ACK/NACK transmission performance. Grouping is not required for single-RM encoding, so performance reduction due to unbalanced effective information grouping does not exist.
Besides, PUCCH format 3 supports multi-antenna port transmission mode, and 2 antenna ports in Rel-10 adopts SORTD (Spatial Orthogonal Resource Transmit Diversity) as the transmission diversity scheme. Differences of transmission performance exist in SORTD and single-antenna port transmission.
It can thus be seen that, PUCCH format 3 adopts single-RM and Dual-RM to cause differences on transmission performance of different number of effective bits, and PUCCH format 3 also adopts a single-antenna port transmission mode and a multi-antenna port transmission mode to cause differences on transmission performance of different number of effective bits. The existing technologies have not yet proposed solutions of improving ACK/NACK transmission performance by improving accuracy of power control specific to such differences.

Uplink power control method, power control parameter configuration method and apparatus thereof

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