The present invention is a method for casting and densification. The method is comprised of the steps of filling a mold in a pressure vessel to a predetermined level with molten metal and then increasing the pressure in the vessel such that voids formed within the metal are substantially closed without removing the mold with the metal from the pressure vessel. Preferably, after the increasing pressure step, there is the step of cooling the molten metal to ambient temperatures. In one embodiment, the increasing pressure step includes the step of increasing pressure in the vessel at a predetermined rate through the liquidus, liquidus/solidus and solidus phases of the metal. Alternatively, the increasing pressure step can include the step of increasing pressure at a predetermined rate through the liquidus/solidus and solidus phase of the metal. Alternatively, the increasing pressure step can include the step of increasing pressure at a predetermined rate through the solidus phase of the metal. The method is not limited to a type of mold or casting medium. For instance, investment or permanent molds could be used.

Castings containing voids cannot be used in many applications. Besides having a weaker structure than comparative solid castings, castings having voids can become softer and yield from the pressure in the voids when their temperature is raised. Further, blisters can form and rupture, thereby causing problems to component performance.
Typically, there are three different types of voids or porosities that occur in metal castings; voids caused by the metal not reaching portions within the mold, voids formed by trapped gas or gas formation and voids caused by shrinkage of the metal when it solidifies. In order to remove the voids from a metal casting, it is known in the prior art to first cast a component in a casting apparatus. After solidification, the cast part is then removed from the casting apparatus and mold and placed in a hot isostatic press (HIP) apparatus. Essentially, the HIP apparatus reheats the casting to the working portion of its solid phase while increasing to very high pressures (30,000-60,000 psi), thus, densifying the casting by softening the metal and mechanically forcing the voids closed.
This two-stage process of formation and densification has many problems though. The secondary HIP process is very time consuming, expensive and not always successful. The HIP process normally takes from 4-48 hours and requires pressures of 30,000-60,000 psi. HIP equipment for aircraft size components cost millions of dollars and is expensive to set up and operate. Furthermore, in the HIP process, the component must be maintained below its melting temperature. If the temperature goes too high, the component will deform since it is no longer in contact with the mold that was used to establish its shape.
FIGS. 1a-1e show a casting process which is known in the prior art. Typically, as shown in FIG. 1a, molten metal is introduced into a mold. Trapped gases and unfilled voids often exist at this stage. As shown in FIG. 1b, the molten metal cools through its liquid phase. Many molten metals chemically react with the mold materials, which can cause additional gas formation in the molten metal. Reactions which cause gas can occur with both monolithic and composite systems at different phases during the casting. In monolithic casting reactions can occur at the different phases of the metal at different temperatures. Reactions often occur with the mold material, the casting atmosphere, and the dissolved gases as they come out of solution. Pressure can also affect the amount of reaction--more gas molecules normally cause greater reactions, as does higher levels of contact with the mold.
The same problems occur and are more complex in the formation of composites. When reinforcements are infiltrated, it is not uncommon for the metal to react with either oxides on the reinforcement or the reinforcement itself. Dissolved gases may also react with the reinforcement in solution or as they come out of solution. These reactions can be either small or violent and are normally exothermic and create gases which can end up in the casting in the form of porosity. Next, as shown in FIG. 1c, the metal cools through its liquid/solid phase were shrinkage voids start to form and dissolved gas can come out of solution.
In the liquid/solid phase of aluminum, shrinkage voids are normally around 4% of the casting volume. This depends on the nature of this phase and decreases with alloys that are closer to eutectic. To solve the problem of liquid/solid phase shrinkage, a number of steps are normally taken as standard casting practice: metal is introduced at a higher temperature than the mold itself, extra metal is added to a larger cross section then actually needed for the shape in the mold with additional sprues and risers, and the sprues and risers are made very large to provide the extra hot metal. The goal is to have the sprues and risers be the last areas to solidify. These methods act to reduce the amount of shrinkage inside the part. However, accomplishing these steps successfully often requires significant trial and error on the sprue design, mold and melt temperatures. It is often difficult or impossible to remove all of this shrinkage from castings with standard casting practices.
Next, as shown in FIG. 1d, the metal is essentially solidified and cools through its solid phase. Solid phase shrinkage, for 6061 aluminum for example, is 0.00023 inches of material for every fahrenheit degree drop.
Consequently, as shown in FIG. 1e, the solidified metal parts contains various forms of voids which were formed at various stages throughout its cool down. In order to diminish or eliminate this porosity, the parts are removed from the mold and then placed on holders in a hot isostatic press (HIP) to force the voids closed. This secondary process is very time consuming, expensive and not always successful. It involves the parts being reheated to a temperature below the liquid/solid phase while pressure is increased to very high pressure to mechanically work the metal into the voids. The process normally takes from 4 to 48 hours and requires pressures of 30,000 to 60,000 psi. The equipment for HIPing aircraft size components costs millions of dollars and is expensive to set up and operate.
In HIPing, the part is heated to the working portion of its solid phase so that the part does not change shape. If the temperature of the metal is too high the metal will reflow and no longer be the desired part shape. The metal must be taken high enough in temperature in a high pressure atmosphere so that it softens and the high pressure on the surface of the part transfers through the part and mechanically works to crush any voids inside. The voids are not completely removed, just greatly reduced in size. Because the metal is not liquid it does not flow easily. Very high pressures on the order of 30,000-60,000 PSI are required. The thicker the part, the higher the pressure and the longer the time required to close the voids and the greater the difficulty in closing all the voids.
The present invention facilitates casting and densification in one operation. The method is significantly faster than previous known casting/densification processes and requires less expensive equipment and lower pressures for equivalent degrees of densification.


A seat includes a seat bottom and a seat back. At least one of the seat bottom and the seat back includes a trim cover having a seating surface and a plurality of individually-controllable massage elements underlying the trim cover. Each of the plurality of individually-controllable massage elements has a surface facing the trim cover, wherein at least a portion of the surface includes a heating layer selectively configured to generate heat.

Vehicle seats can be configured with comfort adjustment systems that can influence the contour of the seat, provide massage capabilities, and control the temperature of the seating surface.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 8,979,191 to Friderich et al. discloses a vehicle seat with a massage device and a seat climate control system, both of which can be controlled using a control device. The massage device includes a plurality of pressurizable elements integrated into the pad, which can be controlled separately to influence the contour of the seat.

Vehicle seat with a thermal massage system


A plier device includes a pair of beams each having a handle and a jaw. One of the beam has a channel formed in the middle portion, the other beam includes a shaft slidably engaged in the channel for allowing the jaws to be widely opened and includes one or more pivotally coupled wheels engaged between the beams for allowing the jaws to be easily and quickly moved toward each other to engage with the object to be clamped. A lever is pivotally coupled to the shaft and has a number of teeth for engaging with a projection of the beam and for allowing the jaws of the beams to be solidly forced toward each other in order to solidly clamp the object.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plier device, and more particularly to an adjustable plier device.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Typical plier devices comprise a pair of beams pivotally coupled together at a middle portion by a pivot shaft for allowing the beams to be rotated about the pivot shaft. The beams each includes a handle formed on one end and each includes a jaw formed on the other end for allowing the jaws to be moved toward each other and to be moved away from each other by the handles. Normally, the jaws may not be widely opened such that the jaws may be used for engaging with smaller pipes or objects. One type of the plier devices comprise a latch provided in one of the beams and comprise a number of teeth provided in the other beam for engaging with the latch and for allowing the jaws to be easily and widely opened for engaging with larger objects. However, the latch may not be easily controlled and actuated to engage with the teeth such that the typical plier devices may not be easily operated.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional plier devices.

No. 9, Fong Show Road, T ah Show Village, Shen Kang Hsiang


Disclosed herein is a method of compensating for the distorted secondary/ current of a current transformer. The method includes steps (a), (b) and (c). At step (a), the saturated section of the current transformer is detected. At step (b), fault current generated during a fault in a power system is represented using an AutoRegressive (AR) model, with the fault current being assumed to be a combination of a Direct Current (DC) offset component, a fundamental wave component and harmonic components. At step (c), coefficients of the AR model are estimated and the secondary current during saturation of the current transformer is compensated, based on the secondary current data sampled in the unsaturated section.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method of compensating for the distorted secondary current of a current transformer and, more particularly, to a method of compensating for distorted secondary current in the case where secondary current is distorted due to saturation caused by the magnetic characteristics of a steel core current transformer.
2. Description of the Related Art
A current transformer is a device for reducing the magnitude of current and inputting it to a protective relay. In order to maximize the linkage of primary and secondary windings, a steel core current transformer is generally used.
FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the configuration of a typical current transformer. Referring to FIG. 1, the current transformer includes a steel core 14 for condensing magnetic flux generated by primary current flowing through an electrical line 12, and a secondary coil 16 surrounding the steel core 14 to generate secondary current using the magnetic flux induced to the steel core 14.
FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram showing the equivalent circuit of the typical current transformer of FIG. 1. In FIG. 2, L is the magnetizing inductance of the current transformer, im is magnetizing current, i2′ is secondary current in conformity with a current transformation ratio, and i2 is secondary current actually measured. In this case, the magnetizing inductance L is not a constant value, but is a value that varies according to current. When magnetic flux increases and exceeds a specific limit, magnetizing inductance varies significantly, which is attributable to the variation in the internal state of a current transformer. In this case, it is stated that the current transformer has been saturated.
Since the magnitude of magnetizing current im is small when a current transformer operates normally, the measured secondary current value of the current transformer is proportional to primary current value, so that there is no problem. However, when the current transformer is saturated and the magnetizing inductance value of the current transformer varies significantly, the secondary current value of the current transformer varies significantly. That is, when the current transformer is saturated, the value L decreases significantly and the magnetizing current im increases, i2′ and i2 become different from each other. Accordingly, before and after the saturation of the current transformer, the relationship between finally measured secondary current i2 and primary current varies, so that the saturation of the current transformer delays the operational time of a relay and causes the mal-operation of the relay.
As described above, the steel core current transformer cannot avoid saturation due to the magnetic characteristics thereof. In this case, the secondary current passed through the current transformer is distorted, so that it is impossible to obtain information on the primary side of a system. As a result, the saturation of the current transformer causes the mal-operation or non-operation of a relay, reduces the sensitivity of a relay and delays the operational time of a relay, so that countermeasures against this problem should be provided.
A typical method for minimizing the influence of the saturation of a current transformer on a relay is to employ a current transformer having a voltage rating that is two times higher than the maximum fault current. However, even when the method is employed, there is a possibility of saturation due to the influence of a current offset component and remanent magnetic flux in the steel core. Accordingly, when the expected fault current is large, the cross section of the steel core should be large, so that disadvantages arise in that the size and cost of a current transformer increase.
For the countermeasures against the saturation of a current transformer, research into methods of compensating for secondary current distorted due to the saturation of the current transformer has been conducted.
One of the proposed methods is a method of estimating precise secondary current by estimating remanent magnetic flux and calculating magnetizing current using the magnetization curve of a current transformer. However, this method is disadvantageous in that error becomes larger if remanent magnetic flux exists at the time of the occurrence of a fault because remanent magnetic flux in an early stage is assumed to be zero.
Another of the proposed methods is a method of increasing the precision of a current transformer by estimating the magnetic flux of a steel core in an early stage and estimating exciting current using a hysteresis curve. However, this method is disadvantageous in that it is effective only in the case where the primary current of a current transformer has a sine waveform that does not include a Direct Current (DC) offset component, and it requires precise current transformer magnetization curve data.

Method of compensating for distorted secondary current of current transformer


A communication method includes: receiving, by a first primary access network device, a first message sent by a terminal device in a specific state when there is uplink data to be transmitted; and controlling, by the first primary access network device, a secondary connection between the terminal device and the secondary access network device according to the first message.

In the deployment of a non-standalone network, a terminal device can receive or transmit data simultaneously through a Long Term Evolution (LTE) network and a New Radio (NR) network, which can be called a multiple (dual) connection technology.
Multiple (dual) connections of the terminal device include one primary connection and one or more secondary connections. The primary connection is a network connection between the terminal device and a primary access network device and the secondary connection is a network connection between the terminal device and a secondary access network device. For example, in the deployment of a LTE+NR cell, the primary access network device may be a network device in a LTE network and the secondary access network device may be a network device in an NR network. A control plane data of the terminal device is transmitted through the primary connection and a user plane data of the terminal device can be transmitted through the primary connection and the secondary connection simultaneously to improve the throughput of the user plane data; or the user plane data can also be transmitted only through the secondary connection, to reduce the load of the primary access network device.
In a LTE system, a suspend state and a light connection state are introduced and in an NR system, a non-activated state is introduced. When the terminal device has no data to be transmitted, the network device transitions the terminal device to the states. The terminal device keeps a Radio Resource Control (RRC) connection with the network device under the states, but it does not transmit any data, or can only transmit a smaller amount of data. When the terminal device has uplink data to be transmitted, the terminal device requests for being transitioned to a state in which normal data transmission can be performed, so as to transmit the data.

Communication method, access network device and terminal device

GUANGDONG OPPO MOBILE TELECOMMUNICATIONS CORP., LTD.


A CM (105) receives requests for data transfer from a series of UMs (101-103) and from an EM (104). The requests contain the UM (101-103) or EM (104) address and the size of the data packet to be transferred. The CM (105) processes the requests on a FIFO basis, stores the requests in a queue and schedules either a small data channel (415) or a large data channel (420), depending on the packet size to be transferred, an acknowledgement channel (425) and also the corresponding number of required timeslots. The CM (105) picks the first request off the queue and sends a grant to the particular UM (101-103) or EM (104) which receive the grant and immediately access either the assigned small or large data channels (415, 420) in the required number of timeslots and the acknowledgement channel (425).

Generally, data transmission systems convey information in the form of packets from an originator to a specified addressee. Typical systems, such as token ring and polling systems, query the specified addressee to determine if the addressee has information to be transmitted. These types of systems, however, are not without their limitations. The token ring data transmission system, for example, passes a token or message to all users around a ring to determine if the users have data to be transmitted. Each user on the ring receives the message, decodes it, and transmits data if necessary. Polling systems are similar in that a periodic poll is sent to all users to determine if data transmission is required. The users again decode the poll and transmit data if necessary. Both of these data transmission systems limit system throughput by introducing unnecessary data on the bus or lines carrying the data. The systems also tie up the users when transmission may not be necessary.
Data can also be transferred in time-division multiplexed (TDM) systems, such as satellite communication systems. Satellite systems generally use a satellite acting as a relay, receiving and transmitting requests from land-based ground stations. When the ground stations require data transmission, they request access to a TDM time-slot. Depending on the prioritizing mechanism, the requests are processed and the TDM time-slot issued. The system, however, is limited in the fact that the satellite system acts on a distributed queue management basis, assigning all necessary time-slots to the requesting ground stations at the start of a TDM frame. This requires that all ground stations receive the request information and monitor when other ground stations transmit, and when their particular transmit time arrives, access the system. If one of the requesting ground stations does not receive any of the requests sent by other ground stations, it has the possibility of becoming out of synchronization with the rest of the system. If this happens, the ground station must first re-synchronize to the system and repeat the requesting process. The process of re-synchronization and repeating the requesting process can be very time consuming and result in perceptible user delay.
The systems mentioned may also perform scheduling of channels, but not on a frame-by-frame basis. The satellite system, for example, is required to keep track of all the ground stations that have requested access and can thus schedule the ground station access in time. If, as mentioned above, a ground station becomes out of synchronization with the system, the scheduled timeslots in the corresponding frames go un-used since the ground station is not able to gain access. This method of scheduling yields an inefficient use of the TDM frame timeslots when ground stations lose synchronization with the system.
Thus, a need exists for a data transmission system which can schedule timeslots in a TDM system on a frame-by-frame basis and also look ahead in time and pre-schedule data channels to reduce processing time and aid in transmission efficiency.


An example of an information processing system includes first storage means for storing saved data of an application and a second storage means. The information processing system, every time saved data is updated, stores, in the first storage means and the second storage means, identification information indicating the updated saved data. Further, the information processing system, every time saved data is updated, stores, in at least one of the first storage means and the second storage means, the identification information corresponding to the saved data before being updated. Use of the saved data stored in the first storage means is allowed at least under the condition that the identification information indicating the same saved data is stored in the first storage means and the second storage means.

Conventionally, there is a technique for storing saved data of an application (for example, a game program or the like) in a storage medium. Saved data is stored in a predetermined storage medium that can be accessed by an information processing apparatus. Then, the saved data is read by the information processing apparatus at appropriate timing and then used in an application that is being executed by the information processing apparatus.
If the saved data stored in the storage medium is copied and the copied saved data can be used, dishonesty (for example, dishonesty in a game) may be committed using the copied saved data. Thus, it is preferable to limit or prohibit the use of copied saved data.
Therefore, the present application discloses an information processing system and an information processing apparatus that are capable of reducing the possibility of the use of saved data copied dishonestly, a storage medium having stored therein an information processing program capable of reducing the possibility of the use of saved data copied dishonestly, and a method of storing saved data.
(1)
An example of an information processing system according to the present specification includes first storage means, second storage means, first storage control means, second storage control means, and use control means. The first storage means is used to store saved data of an application. The second storage control means may be, for example, a storage device (storage medium) different from the first storage means or may be the same storage device (storage medium) as the first storage means. The first storage control means, every time saved data is updated, stores, in the first storage means and the second storage means, identification information indicating the updated saved data. The second storage control means, every time saved data is updated, stores, in at least one of the first storage means and the second storage means, the identification information correspond to the saved data before being updated. The use control means allows use of saved data stored in the first storage means, at least under the condition that the identification information indicating the same saved data is stored in the first storage means and the second storage means.
According to the above configuration (1), it is determined, based on identification information, whether or not it is possible to use saved data. This makes it possible to reduce the possibility of the abuse of saved data. Further, the identification information corresponding to the saved data before being updated is stored, and a determination is made based also on the identification information. This makes it possible to use the saved data even if the process of updating the saved data (a saving process) has not normally been performed.
(2)
The information processing system may further include processing execution means and update means. The processing execution means executes predetermined information processing during execution of the application. The update means, if the predetermined information processing is executed, updates the saved data before the execution of the information processing, and updates the saved data after the execution of the predetermined information processing.
According to the above configuration (2), two saving processes in total are performed before and after predetermined information processing. Based on this, even if the process of updating the saved data (the saving process) has not normally been performed, it is impossible to use the saved data before the two saving processes. This makes it possible to reduce the possibility the abuse of saved data from the past.
(3)
If a user has given an instruction to execute the predetermined information processing, the processing execution means may execute the predetermined information processing under the condition that update of the saved data and the identification information before the execution of the predetermined information processing has been completed.
According to the above configuration (3), the predetermined information processing is not performed in the state where the saved data before the saving process performed before the predetermined information processing remains in first storage means. This makes it possible to further reduce the possibility of the abuse of saved data from the past.
(4)
The saved data may include information indicating an object that appears in the application. The predetermined information processing may be a process of performing communication between the information processing system and another information processing system, and may be a process of deleting the object in the application executed in the information processing system, and adding the object to the application executed in the other information processing system.
According to the above configuration (4), as the predetermined information processing, a communication process for delivering an object that appears in an application executed in an information processing system to the application executed in another information processing system is performed. When such a communication process is performed, dishonesty in a game, such as copying the object, may be committed. According to the above configuration (4), however, it is possible to reduce the possibility of the commission of such dishonesty.
(5)
The information processing system may further include identification information generation means for, if the saved data is updated, generating the identification information indicating the updated saved data based on a random number.
According to the above configuration (5), the use of the identification information generated based on a random number makes it difficult (or impossible) to estimate the content (value) of the identification information. Thus, it is difficult to falsify the identification information so that the content stored in first storage means in the past can be used again. This makes it possible to prevent the abuse of saved data with more certainty.
(6)
The information processing system may further include identification information generation means for, if the saved data is updated, generating the identification information indicating the updated saved data based on the updated saved data.
According to the above configuration (6), it is possible to easily generate the identification information from the saved data.
(7)
The second storage control means may store, in either one of the first storage device and the second storage device, the identification information corresponding to the saved data before being updated. The first storage control means, if the saved data is updated, may store the identification information corresponding to the updated saved data, between the first storage means and the second storage means, first in storage means for storing the identification information corresponding to the saved data before being updated and later in the other storage means.
According to the above configuration (7), the identification information corresponding to the saved data before being updated is stored in storage means for storing the identification information corresponding to the updated saved data first. Based on this, even if, as a result of the fact that the process of updating the saved data (the saving process) has not normally been performed, the content of the identification information is different between the first storage means and the second storage means, it is possible to the use saved data.
(8)
The information processing system may include an information processing apparatus for executing the application. The first storage means may be a storage medium attachable to and detachable from the information processing apparatus. The second storage means may be a storage medium built into the information processing apparatus.
According to the above configuration (8), the saved data is stored in first storage means that is easily replaced in an information processing apparatus. This makes it possible to improve the convenience of a user. Further, the identification information is stored in second storage means in which it is relatively difficult to copy data, and it is determined, using the identification information, whether or not it is possible to use the saved data. This makes it possible to reduce the possibility of the abuse of saved data.
The present specification discloses an information processing apparatus including functions equivalent to those of the information processing apparatus in the information processing system in the above configurations (1) to (8), and discloses an information processing program for causing a computer to execute processing in the information processing apparatus. Further, the present specification discloses a method of storing saved data, the method to be executed in the above configurations (1) to (8).
According to the information processing system, the information processing apparatus, the storage medium having stored therein the information processing program, and the method of storing saved data, it is determined, using identification information of saved data, whether or not it is possible to use the saved data. This makes it possible to reduce the possibility of the abuse of saved data.
These and other objects, features, aspects and advantages of the exemplary embodiments will become more apparent from the following detailed description of the exemplary embodiments when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Information processing system, information processing apparatus, storage medium having stored therein information processing program, and method of storing saved data


This document describes techniques for efficient data deployment for a parallel data processing system. In one embodiment, a virtualization platform running a parallel processing application that includes one or more virtual data nodes receives a first command to write a data block to a storage device. The platform then determines whether the first command was sent by a first virtual data node. If the first command was sent by a first virtual data node, the platform then 1) writes, the data block to a first location in the storage device; 2) returns the first location to the first virtual data node and 3) determines whether the data should be replicated. If the data should be replicated, the platform instructs the storage device to make a copy of the data block to a second location in the storage device and storing the second location in a tracking structure.

Many parallel data processing systems, such as Hadoop, are architected using the master-worker design pattern and are comprised of name nodes and data nodes. In the master-worker design pattern, the name node assumes the role of master and coordinates all analytic processing sub-tasks among data nodes. A data node serves as a worker takes one sub-task and analyzes a subset of the data file. The results generated by each data node are combined through a series of steps to generate a final result.
Even though each data node will only typically process a subset of the data file, the complete data file is deployed to each of the data nodes to achieve redundancy, parallelism, and reliability. The process for deploying the data file starts by striping the data file into multiple chunks of data blocks. These data blocks are then transmitted from the data file source to the first data node which then stores them in its storage. The data is then propagated to the next peer data node which stores them in its storage. This process is repeated in a pipeline fashion until the data has been deployed to all data nodes.
Assuming that the data is deployed to N data nodes, the total cost of deploying the data is as follows. First, the first data node generates storage traffic by transfer data blocks from the data source. The first data node then generates storage traffic to transfer the data blocks through the storage fabric switches to the target storage device. The target storage device then writes the received data blocks to the storage. The storage device then sends a response back through storage fabric to the data node to indicate the status of the write. Finally, the first data node then generates network traffic by sending the data blocks to the next data node over the network. The process is repeated until the data has been deployed to N data nodes.

Efficient data deployment for a parallel data processing system


Power spectral density shaping can be used in an XDSL system in order to adjust power spectral density properties of signals transmitted by an XDSL modem. The XDSL modem may include a power spectral density shaping filter, which can be adjusted to change the power spectral density properties of outputted signals. A processor may also perform power spectral density shaping of signals transmitted by the XDSL modem. The power spectral density shaping may be used to increase a downstream transmission rate.

Traditional twisted-pair telephone lines can be used to provide voice telephone service to customers. A central office can connect to a customer premises via a transmission line, such as a twisted-pair copper line. Once at the customer premises, the transmission line may connect to wiring within the customer premises. The customer wiring may split into more than one branch, and the branches may run to various different locations within the customer premises. Plain old telephone service ("POTS") devices, such as analog telephones, can connect to the customer wiring branches. Through the customer wiring, the POTS devices can interface with the central office and ultimately communicate with other devices also connected to the network.
In addition to carrying voice calls, the transmission line can also carry data. For example, computers, fax machines or other data devices can connect to the customer wiring. Then they can communicate with the central office, and ultimately with other devices connected to the network. In this type of configuration, the data is transmitted over the bandwidth generally allocated for voice calls. The bandwidth for voice calls is generally limited, and this also limits the data transmission rate. Additionally, a standard telephone line generally cannot support simultaneous data and voice transmissions.
XDSL is a technology that overcomes some of the limitations of POTS service. The acronym XDSL generally identifies the broad class of "digital subscriber line" services. The letter "X" in the general acronym can be replaced with another letter to identify a specific type of digital subscriber line service, such as asymmetric digital subscriber line ("ADSL") service or high-bit-rate digital subscriber line ("HDSL").
Using XDSL, the bandwidth of the telephone line can be increased to allow faster data communication than POTS service. For example, by changing bandwidth-limiting filters on the network, the overall available bandwidth for the transmission line connected to the customer premises can be increased. A portion of the available bandwidth can be used to support POTS services, such as a voice call. Another portion of the bandwidth can be used to support high-speed data communications. By using separate bandwidths for POTS and XDSL data, the XDSL system can support simultaneous voice and data communications.
In the XDSL system, the available bandwidth can be divided into three ranges. A POTS frequency range can be used to support POTS services, and two frequency ranges can be used to support XDSL services. An upstream frequency range can be used for XDSL communication from the customer premises to the central office, and a downstream frequency range can be used for XDSL communication from the central office to the customer premises. In order to prevent one frequency range from adversely interfering with another frequency range, the frequency ranges can be separated by stopbands.
Various different problems can occur within the XDSL system that can adversely affect the overall data transmission rate. For example, a hybrid may be used to separate transmit and receive signals at a 4-wire to 2-wire interface, such as at the interface of the transmission line and the customer premises. The hybrid can send signals from the central office to an XDSL device on a receive path, and it can receive transmit signals from the XDSL device on a transmit path. The hybrid can include an impedance matched to the transmission line. If the impedance of the hybrid matches closely to the impedance of the transmission line, then the hybrid may be able to effectively cancel transmit signals from the receive path. However, if the impedance does not closely match that of the transmission line, then the hybrid may not effectively cancel transmit signals from the receive path, thereby decreasing the overall transmission rate in the receive path.
Bridge taps may adversely affect the performance within the transmission system. A bridge tap can be, for example, a non-terminated copper pair wire connected in parallel to a 2-wire line. Bridge taps can be located on the transmission line, on the wiring within the customer premises or on both locations. The bridge taps can alter the impedance of the transmission line as seen looking from the hybrid toward the central office, thereby adversely affecting the cancellation properties of the hybrid. The bridge taps can cause an impedance mismatch in the hybrid, and the impedance mismatch can cause signals in the upstream frequency range to be reflected into the downstream frequency range. The reflection can decrease the data transmission rate in the downstream direction.
Therefore, there exists a need to provide a better way to increase performance in an XDSL system.

XDSL multi-hybrid modem with power spectral density shaping


A motion detection solid-state imaging device of the present invention includes a plurality of photoelectric converters arranged in a matrix to form a receiving field, the device detecting motion of an image based on signals from the photoelectric converters. First and second photoelectrics of the plurality of photoelectric converters which are spatially adjacent to each other are treated as a set. A first light integration period of the first photoelectric converter is shorter than a second light integration period of the second photoelectric converter, while the first and second light integration periods end substantially at a same point of time. The signals from the first and second photoelectric converters are both read out after the first and second light integration periods. A product of a ratio of the second light integration period with respect to the first light integration period and the signal from the first photoelectric converter is obtained so as to detect motion of the image based on a difference between the product and a signal from the second photoelectric converter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a motion detection solid-state imaging device for detecting motion of an image.
2. Description of the Related Art
Among conventional solid-state imaging devices, those of the charge coupled device (CCD) type are dominant and are widely used in various fields. In a CCD type imaging device, light is photoelectrically converted by a pixel such as a photodiode or a MOS diode. The stored signal charge is guided to a highly sensitive charge detection section via a CCD transmission channel, where it is converted into a voltage signal. The advantages thereof are, for example, a high S/N ratio and a high output voltage.
Moreover, a MOS type imaging device reads out signals from pixels by an X-Y address type scanning circuit. Such devices include those of a non-amplifying type which directly read out a signal charge of a pixel and those of an amplifying type which do not read out the signal charge itself but read out the signal charge after being amplified in the pixel.
FIG. 10 shows a pixel of the non-amplifying type solid-state imaging device. In the figure, a photodiode 91 photoelectrically converts incident light and stores the signal charge. A transistor 92 is turned on in response to a pulse signal .PHI..sub.X from a scanning circuit and transmits the signal charge of the photodiode 91 and outputs a signal voltage V.sub.sig. Since the signal charge of the photodiode 91 is drained via the transmission and readout operations, the pulse signal .PHI..sub.X effects both readout and reset operations of the signal charge.
In such a non-amplifying type solid-state imaging device, since the amount of signal charge is small, it is easily influenced by parasitic capacitance of a readout line, whereby the influence of a noise during a readout operation is significant.
On the other hand, in the amplifying type solid-state imaging device, since the signal charge is read out after being amplified in a pixel, the influence of noise during a readout operation is substantially negligible, thereby being more advantageous than those of the non-amplifying type in view of the S/N ratio. Moreover, there is no limit on the amount of signal charge to be read out from a pixel, whereby the device of this type is more advantageous than a non-amplifying type solid-state imaging device in terms of dynamic range. Furthermore, as will be described later, it is required only to drive horizontal and vertical signal lines, with the driving voltage being low, whereby the power consumption is less than that of a non-amplifying type solid-state imaging device.
Each pixel in such an amplifying type solid-state imaging device includes a photoelectric conversion section for generating a signal charge according to incident light and an amplification section for converting the signal charge from the photoelectric conversion section to a signal voltage and amplifying it. The pixels can be classified into those of a lateral type where the photoelectric conversion section and the amplification section are provided in a planar arrangement and those of a vertical type where they are provided in a three-dimensional arrangement.
As an example of the lateral type pixel, those of an APS type, as shown in FIG. 11, are known (see B. Ackland, et al., "Camera on Chips", ISSCC'96, pp. 22 to 25, February 1996).
In the figure, a signal charge generated in a photoelectric conversion section 101 is transferred to a gate of a transistor 102 so as to be an input voltage of the transistor 102. The transistor 102 is provided for impedance conversion and performs current amplification of a signal. The output of the transistor 102 is read out as a signal voltage V.sub.sig via a pixel selection transistor 103. During a drainage period after a readout operation, a reset transistor 104 is turned on so as to drain a signal charge stored in the gate of the transistor 102 to a drain V.sub.D.
As an example of a vertical type pixel, those of a CMD type, as shown in FIG. 12, are known (see Nakamura, et al., "Gate-stored MOS Phototransistor Image Sensor", Transaction of the Institute of Television Engineers of Japan, vol. 41, No. 11, pp. 1047 to 1053, 1987).
In such a pixel, an initial voltage is applied to the gate of a transistor 111, and a signal charge generated through photoelectric conversion is stored in the gate. During a readout period, a pulse signal .PHI..sub.X is applied to the gate of the transistor 111 so as to read out a signal voltage V.sub.sig of the transistor 111. During a drainage period, a pulse signal .PHI..sub.R greater than the voltage .PHI..sub.X is applied to the gate of the transistor 111 so as to drain the signal charge of the gate to a substrate (not shown). Therefore, all of these operations: photoelectric conversion, signal charge amplification and pixel selection are performed by the transistor 111.
However, the use of this pixel requires three different voltages to be selectively applied to the gate of the transistor 111, where at least one of the three different voltages is a high voltage.
In view of this, as an invention separate from the present invention, the applicant of the present invention has applied for a patent application on a pixel (Japanese Laid-Open Publication No. 8-78653), which can be driven by a low voltage. In this case, as shown in FIG. 13, a signal charge is stored in the gate of a transistor 121, to which gate a pulse signal .PHI..sub.X is applied so as to read out a signal voltage V.sub.sig. During a drainage period, a pulse signal .PHI..sub.R is applied to a transistor 122 so as to drain the signal charge to a substrate (represented by a ground symbol in the figure). Voltages .PHI..sub.X and .PHI..sub.R can both be made low. Thus, the pixel can be driven by two low voltages.
The respective configurations of the pixels illustrated in FIGS. 11 to 13 may be represented commonly by a schematic diagram such as one shown in FIG. 14. A photoelectric conversion section 131 not only performs photoelectric conversion but also outputs a signal voltage in response to a pulse signal .PHI..sub.X and drains a signal charge in response to a pulse signal .PHI..sub.R. An amplification section 132, when receiving a signal charge, amplifies the signal charge and outputs a signal voltage V.sub.sig.
A plurality of pixels having such a configuration are arranged in a matrix so as to form an imaging screen of a solid-state imaging device. A signal voltage of each pixel is obtained according to an image on the receiving field, and signal voltages obtained for the pixels are used as image signals. Moreover, a light integration period of each pixel is defined from a reset operation for emptying the signal charge of the pixel to a readout operation for reading out a signal charge stored in the pixel through the photoelectric conversion. The reset operation and the readout operation may coincide with each other in some cases.
A solid-state imaging device is not only used for imaging an image, but also used for detecting motion of an image on a receiving field of the solid-state imaging device. For example, a fixed scene can be continuously imaged so as to detect a human, or the like, entering the scene. In response to the entry of the human, various equipments can be controlled, or the entry itself can be notified or recorded.
In order to detect such motion of the image on the receiving field, a device such as that shown in FIG. 15 has been proposed.
In this device, in each of frame periods (F-1), F, (F+1), . . . , shown in FIG. 16, an image signal 144 for the frame period is output from a solid-state imaging device 141. The image signal 144 for the frame period is stored in a frame memory 142 and output to a differential amplifier 143. Moreover, the frame memory 142 stores the image signal 144 for the frame period and outputs an image signal 145 of the previous frame period to the differential amplifier 143. The differential amplifier 143 obtains and outputs the difference between the image signals 144 and 145 of the consecutive frame periods.
The calculation by the differential amplifier 143 is performed by each pixel. That is, a signal voltage of a pixel at one pixel address, e.g., (i.sub.th row, j.sup.th column), is obtained for each of the two consecutive frame periods so as to obtain the difference in signal voltages between these frame periods.
For example, if there is no change in the image on the receiving field over the consecutive frame periods (F-1) and (F), a signal voltage of a pixel does not change over the frame periods (F-1) and (F), whereby the difference between the signal voltages of the respective frame periods is zero. On the other hand, if there is some change in the image on the receiving field over the consecutive frame periods (F-1) and (F), as shown in FIG. 17, whereby the signal voltage of a pixel 146 at the pixel address (i, j) changes over the frame periods, then, the difference between the signal voltages of the respective frame periods is not zero.
Therefore, only when the image on the receiving field changes, (i.e., the difference between the signal voltages of the respective frame periods is not zero) does the output of the differential amplifier 143 vary. Thus, motion of the image on the receiving field can be detected.
However, in such a device, if a frame memory 142 stores analog signals, it is necessary to match the gain and linearity of the signal voltage output from the frame memory 142 to those of the signal voltage output from the solid-state imaging device 141. It is also necessary to sufficiently suppress the noise level. Consequently, it is extremely difficult to realize such a device. On the other hand, if a frame memory 142 stores digital signals, it is necessary to effectuate A/D conversion upon the signal voltage output from the solid-state imaging device 141 to obtain a digital signal, store the digital signal in the frame memory 142, and effectuate D/A conversion upon the digital signal output from the frame memory 142 to obtain an analog signal voltage. Thus, since it is necessary to provide an A/D convertor and a D/A convertor, the circuit scale increases, whereby some cost increase is unavoidable.
FIG. 18 illustrates another device for detecting motion of an image on a receiving field (see A. Dickinson, et al., "A 256.times.256 CMOS Active Pixel Image Sensor with Motion Detection", ISSCC95, p.226-227, February 1995).
In this case, a plurality of pixels 151 are arranged in a matrix, and a column amplifier 152 is provided for each of the vertical columns of the arrangement of the pixels 151. For each horizontal row, signal voltages of the pixels 151 in a row are transmitted to the respective column amplifiers 152. The outputs of these column amplifiers 152 are sequentially transmitted to a differential amplifier 153.
Each pixel 151 is configurated as illustrated in FIG. 19, where a signal charge generated by a photoelectric conversion element 154 is stored in a capacitor C.sub.P. A charge transmission transistor 155 is applied with a pulse signal .PHI..sub.T in the gate thereof and is thus turned on so as to transmit the signal charge to a capacitor C.sub.S. The gate of an amplification transistor 156 is applied with a voltage across the capacitor C.sub.S so as to output a signal voltage V.sub.sig according to the signal charge of the capacitor C.sub.S, from the amplification transistor 156. A selection transistor 157 is applied with a pulse signal .PHI..sub.V in the gate thereof and is thus turned on so as to output the signal voltage V.sub.sig of the amplification transistor 156 to the column amplifier 152. A reset transistor 158 is applied with a pulse signal .PHI..sub.R in the gate thereof and is thus turned on so as to drain the signal charge of the capacitor C.sub.S to a drain V.sub.D.
In the column amplifier 152, on the other hand, pulse signals .PHI..sub.sA and .PHI..sub.sB are applied at respective timings to the gates of the respective selection transistors 161 and 162 so as to turn on the selection transistors 161 and 162, thereby transmitting the signal voltage V.sub.sig from the pixel 151, via the respective selection transistors 161 and 162, to the respective capacitors C.sub.A and C.sub.B, where the signal voltages V.sub.sig are stored. At the same time, a pulse signal .PHI..sub.H is applied to each of the gates of transistors 163 and 164 so as to turn on these transistors 163 and 164, thereby sending the signal voltages V.sub.sig respectively stored in the capacitors C.sub.A and C.sub.B to a differential amplifier 167 via amplifiers 165 and 166, respectively.
The differential amplifier 167 obtains and outputs the difference between the signal voltages V.sub.sig respectively stored in the capacitors C.sub.A and C.sub.B.
FIG. 20 shows the respective timings of signals used in such a device. In this case, the duration of a frame period varies for different horizontal rows. The i.sup.th row will be discussed below.
As is apparent from the timing diagram, in the pixel 151, immediately before the end of the frame period (F-1) (when the signal charge for the frame period (F-1) is still being stored in the capacitor C.sub.S), a pulse signal .PHI..sub.V is activated so as to turn on the selection transistor 157, thereby outputting the signal voltage V.sub.sig (signal voltage 171 in FIGS. 19 and 20) for the frame period (F-1) to the column amplifier 152 via the selection transistor 157.
In the column amplifier 152, immediately before the end of the frame period (F-1), a pulse signal .PHI..sub.sB is activated so as to turn on the selection transistor 162, thereby transmitting the signal voltage V.sub.sig (signal voltage 173 in FIGS. 19 and 20) from the pixel 151 for the frame period (F-1), via the selection transistor 162, to the capacitor C.sub.B, where the signal voltage V.sub.sig is stored.
Then, in the pixel 151, a pulse signal .PHI..sub.R is activated so as to turn on a reset transistor 158, thereby draining the signal charge of the capacitor C.sub.S to the drain V.sub.D via the reset transistor 158, thus eliminating the signal voltage V.sub.sig for the frame period (F-1). Moreover, a pulse signal .PHI..sub.T is activated so as to turn on the charge transmission transistor 155, thereby transmitting the signal charge which has been stored in the capacitor C.sub.P since the beginning of the frame period F to the capacitor C.sub.S via the charge transmission transistor 155. Thus, the signal voltage V.sub.sig (signal voltage 171 in FIGS. 19 and 20) for the frame period F is output from the amplification transistor 156.
Next, in the column amplifier 152, a pulse signal .PHI..sub.sA activated so as to turn on the selection transistor 161, thereby transmitting the signal voltage V.sub.sig (signal voltage 172 in FIGS. 19 and 20) from the pixel 151 for the frame period F, via the selection transistor 161, to the capacitor C.sub.A, where the signal voltage V.sub.sig is stored.
Immediately after this, a pulse signal .PHI..sub.H is activated so as to turn on the transistors 163 and 164, thereby sending the signal voltages V.sub.sig (signal voltages 172 and 173 in FIGS. 19 and 20) stored in the respective capacitors C.sub.A and C.sub.B to the differential amplifier 167.
The differential amplifier 167 obtains and outputs the difference between the signal voltage V.sub.sig stored in the capacitor C.sub.B for the frame period (F-1) and the signal voltage V.sub.sig stored in the capacitor C.sub.A for the frame period F.
That is, immediately before the end of the frame period (F-1), the signal voltage V.sub.sig for the frame period (F-1) is transmitted from the pixel 151 to the column amplifier 152 so as to store the signal voltage V.sub.sig for the frame period (F-1) in the column amplifier 152. Subsequently, after the beginning of the frame period F, the signal voltage V.sub.sig for the frame period F is transmitted from the pixel 151 to the column amplifier 152 so as to store the signal voltage V.sub.sig for the frame period F in the column amplifier 152, and the difference between the signal voltages V.sub.sig for the respective frame periods (F-1) and F is obtained by the differential amplifier 167.
At this point, if the image on the receiving field is stationary, there is no change in the level of light incident upon the pixel 151 over the frame periods (F-1) and F, whereby the difference between the signal voltages V.sub.sig of the respective frame periods (F-1) and F is zero. On the other hand, if the image moves, the level of light incident upon the pixel 151 changes over the frame periods (F-1) and F, whereby there is some difference between the signal voltages V.sub.sig of the respective frame periods (F-1) and F. Therefore, it is possible to detect motion of the image on the receiving field based on the difference.
Such a transmission operation of the signal voltages V.sub.sig of the respective frame periods (F-1) and F from the pixel 151 to the column amplifier 152 and an output operation of the difference between the signal voltages V.sub.sig are performed for each of the pixels 151 in one horizontal row, and are repeated for each of the rows (i-1), i and (i+1).
However, the solid-state imaging device requires two capacitors C.sub.P and C.sub.S for storing two signal charges and a charge transmission transistor 155 between the capacitors C.sub.P and C.sub.S to be provided therein. Thus, the size of each pixel 151 increases.
As described above, in the conventional device shown in FIG. 15, if a frame memory 142 stores analog signals, it is necessary to match the gain and linearity of the signal voltage output from the frame memory 142 to those of the signal voltage output from the solid-state imaging device 141. It is also necessary to sufficiently suppress the noise level. Therefore, it is extremely difficult to realize such a device. On the other hand, if a frame memory 142 stores digital signals, since it is necessary to provide an A/D convertor and a D/A convertor, the circuit scale increases, whereby some cost increase is unavoidable.
Moreover, the other conventional devices shown in FIG. 18 require two capacitors C.sub.P and C.sub.S and a charge transmission transistor 155 to be provided therein. As a result, the size of each pixel 151 increases.

Motion detection solid-state imaging device


A swim assist apparatus which comprises a fin member which is connected to a sandal by having forward connecting strap portions of the sandal engaging retaining recesses in the fin member. The fin member has a rear mounting portion positioned at an upper forward surface portion of a sole of the sandal and a forward fin portion which extends outwardly from the mounting portion. The retaining recesses have forward and rear surfaces which limit front to rear and motion of the fin member relative to the sole of the sandal to limit relative movement between the sandal and the fin member.

a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to swim assist systems, and more particularly to such a system where fin or fin-like members are mounted to the person's feet so that these assist in the paddling motion when the person's feet move back and forth while swimming.
b) Background Art
In the last several decades, it has been common for swimmers to get a greater propulsive force from the paddling motion of their feet during swimming by adding fins to the person's feet. The traditional way of mounting these fins is to have two rubber fin members that have a mounting portion which fits over the forward part of the person's foot, along with a strap extending around the person's heel. There have been various designs proposed by which such fin members or the like can be mounted to the person's footwear in some manner.
The embodiments of the present invention are directed toward this general type of swim assist system.


The invention relates to a method of providing tracks, for example conductive tracks, in a flat display device (such as a plasma display or PALC display) by means of a stencil-printing method. In particular, paste is formed through multilayer stencils enabling the quantity of printing paste passed to be varied locally.

The invention relates to a method of providing tracks on a substrate in accordance with a pattern by means of a printing technique, for example, a resist pattern, conductor pattern, insulator pattern, resistor pattern or a black matrix. The invention can be used, in particular, to provide tracks of an electroconductive material on a substrate of an electrically insulating material (for example on glass or ceramic plates in a flat display device, such as a plasma display or PALC display (plasma-addressed liquid crystal display)).
In general, metal tracks are provided on insulating plates for a flat display device in the following manner: a layer of a metal is grown on the entire plate. Subsequently, the tracks are screen printed using a resist. Screen printing is carried out as follows: a screen-printing screen of a metal or synthetic gauze (for example polyester) embedded in a photopolymer, a part of the photopolymer layer being removed in accordance with the desired pattern, is placed on the substrate (the surface to be printed). In a screen-printing operation a squeegee is passed over the screen-printing screen, thereby the paste (for example a resist) used for printing is spread. With the squeegee a pressure is exerted on the screen-printing screen so that said screen engages the substrate and the hydrodynamic pressure causes a specific quantity of paste to enter the apertures in the screen-printing screen. When the squeegee recedes, the screen printing screen comes away from the substrate and the paste is transferred from the screen-printing screen to the substrate. After the resist has been screen printed, it is cured (depending on the type, with heat, radiation or light). The metal which is not covered with resist is removed by etching, whereafter the resist is removed.
The conductive tracks on the insulating plates in a flat display device are very narrow and, depending on the type of display devices, extend along the wall of cavities or holes in the plates. To ensure that the tracks extending in said cavities or holes are properly formed, two printing steps must be carried out during the provision of the resist. In a first printing step, the resist is provided to form the flat sections of the tracks, and in a second printing step, the resist is provided to form the sections of the tracks extending along the walls of cavities or holes. A problem may also arise if the width of the tracks is of the same order of magnitude as the meshes of the gauze in the screen-printing screen. This will lead to deformation of the tracks.

Provision of tracks on flat substrates by means of a stencil-printing method


An isolated gate driver device for a power switching device having a plurality of transistors includes a primary circuit having a voltage source of a first voltage potential. The primary circuit constantly switches the voltage source to generate first and second load signals based on control signals received from a microcontroller. The first load signal is modulated at a first frequency for enabling the transistors, and the second load signal is modulated at a second frequency, different from the first frequency, for disabling the transistors. A plurality of high frequency transformers corresponding to each of the transistors is coupled to the primary circuit. The transformers have a primary side for receiving one of the first and second load signals and a secondary side for transforming the one of the first and second load signals into corresponding signals at a second voltage potential. A secondary circuit coupled between each of the transformers and each of the corresponding transistors provides a bias power supply to each of the transistors at the second voltage potential. The secondary circuit also enables and disables each of the transistors based on the first and second load signals.

Many low voltage electronic circuits have a need to drive high voltage switching transistors through an isolating barrier. This need stems from the fact that a large voltage differential, typically in the order of 100 volts, exists between the low voltage control logic and the high voltage power switch. Therefore, for safety and other reasons, the control logic and high voltage switch must be electrically isolated.
Several circuits addressing these problems have been previously proposed. For example, circuits utilizing a number of low voltage power supplies coupled to the power switches, high-speed opto-couplers, or other extensive electrical isolation circuits have been proposed, although all have met with limited success due to problems associated with their excessive size and cost, or low reliability due to the large number of components.
One known circuit is described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,206,540 issued to de Sa e Silva et al (hereinafter referred to by '540). The '540 patent discloses a transformer isolated circuit for driving a semiconductor power switch that includes a transformer which is driven with a high frequency Pulse Width Modulated (PWM) signal in such a way that the constantly present PWM carrier supplies the power needed for high gate current pulses, while different voltage levels determine the "ON" or "OFF" state of the power device under control. Although transformer saturation is detected and prevented via the primary current, this circuit fails to provide feedback through the transformer itself to detect short circuits, desaturations, or collector/drain voltage.
Thus, a need exists for a low cost and reliable high power inverter that provides for reverse fault communications.

Isolated gate driver for power switching device and method for carrying out same


Each towed field artillery piece in a battery of field artillery pieces uses a heading reference system having a "slave" azimuth gyro, pitch and roll angle sensors and a readout display for correcting azimuth and elevation during a fire mission. A master system includes a "master" azimuth gyro which is mechanically lined up with the axis of the "slave" azimuth gyros in the heading reference systems. The master system transfers azimuth information to the slave system, whereupon the slave system acts as a repeater for the information given by the master to confirm congruency of the master and slave systems and provides the present location of the respective field artillery pieces.

Prior to the present invention, considerable time has been required in setting up, emplacing and aiming towed field artillery pieces such as, for example, howitzers. The present method for accomplishing this, which has changed little since the inception of field artillery, involves a survey to establish a common azimuth reference for each of the field artillery pieces in a battery, with subsequent optical alignment of each artillery piece to insure that said piece is aimed in the direction of a target. The required optical alignment features panoramic telescope (PANTEL) apparatus. Thus, in summary, the prior art method requires an advance party to accomplish the survey, establish an aiming circle and emplace the field pieces for subsequent firing. Even under optimum conditions, this method is time consuming and critical to the success of a field artillery battery, and exposes personnel involved in the method to enemy counterfire.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide a method which reduces the time required for setting up, emplacing and aiming towed field artillery pieces while reducing the personnel required for same, as well as reducing the exposure of the required personnel to enemy counterfire.
It is another object of this invention to provide a method for the purposes described which is effective in unfamiliar locations and under adverse weather conditions.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a method which improves the location and aiming capability of a field artillery battery and enhances the success of the battery mission.

Method for aiming towed field artillery pieces


A system is disclosed wherein patient data, such as an electrocardiogram (“ECG”) signal or a chest impedance measurement signal, collected by a defibrillator device during a resuscitation event is analyzed and processed by a computing device to provide an assessment of CPR administered during the event. The CPR assessment results in one or more CPR figures of merit that relate to temporal characteristics of the CPR relative to the duration of the event. In one embodiment, the CPR figure of merit represents a percentage of the event period during which chest compressions were administered to the patient.

A normal human heart pumping pattern is called a sinus rhythm, and the pattern is regulated by the body's biological pacemaker within the upper right chamber of the heart, which is commonly referred to as the right atrium. This natural pacemaker, which is generally referred to as the sinoatrial ("SA") node, sends electrical signals to the right and left ventricular muscles in the lower chambers of the heart. The ventricular muscles then implement the pumping action under the control of the SA node. The right ventricular muscle pumps blood to the lungs for oxygenation, and the left ventricular muscle pumps the oxygenated blood to various parts of the body.
In certain circumstances, the normal or sinus heartbeat rhythm may be adversely affected as a result of some type of malfunction in the heart's electrical control system. When this type of malfunction occurs, an irregular heartbeat may result, causing the ventricular muscles to pump ineffectively, thus reducing the amount of blood pumped to the body. This irregular heartbeat is generally referred to as an arrhythmia.
A particularly serious arrhythmia is known as ventricular fibrillation ("VF"), which is a malfunction characterized by rapid, uncoordinated cardiac movements replacing the normal contractions of the ventricular muscles. In this event, the ventricular muscles are not able to pump blood out of the heart, and there is no initiation of a heartbeat. VF rarely terminates spontaneously, and is therefore a leading cause of sudden cardiac arrest. The unpredictability of VF and other irregular heart beat conditions exacerbates the problem, and emphasizes the need for early therapeutic intervention to prevent the loss of life.
Defibrillators are devices for providing life-saving electrical therapy to persons experiencing an irregular heat beat, such as VF. A defibrillator provides an electrical stimulus to the heart in an attempt to convert the irregular heat beat to a normal sinus rhythm. One commonly used type of defibrillator is the external defibrillator, which sends electrical pulses to the patient's heart through external electrodes applied to the patient's chest. External defibrillators may be manually operated (as are typically used in hospitals by medical personnel), semi-automatic, semi-automated, fully automatic, or fully automated devices, where they can be used in any location where an unanticipated need may occur.
In practice, defibrillation pulses are administered to the patient when necessary, and cardio-pulmonary resuscitation ("CPR") is administered between pulses. CPR includes the delivery of chest compressions to the patient (to stimulate blood flow) and the delivery of ventilations to the patient (to provide air to the lungs). Recent statistical studies suggest that the amount of time devoted to CPR during a typical resuscitation event may be less than optimal in real world situations. Although some of the defibrillator usage time is necessarily occupied by rhythm analysis and defibrillation functions—which in most cases preclude the simultaneous delivery of CPR—there may be an undesirable amount of "wasted" time during which neither the defibrillator device nor the caregiver are actively administering treatment to the patient.
Presently, there are no straightforward and elegant ways to assess the proportion of time that chest compressions and/or ventilations were performed during a resuscitation event. Such assessments can be useful during post-event review of a defibrillator usage case. Currently, caregivers or case reviewers must make educated guesses via laborious evaluation of ECG signal artifacts (which can be highly variable from case to case), captured scene audio (which may not be available for all defibrillator devices), device prompts, and expectations of caregiver behavior.
Accordingly, it is desirable to have a system for providing quantitative post-event feedback related to the amount and proportion of time that chest compressions and/or ventilations were performed during a cardiac arrest response treated by a defibrillator device. In addition, it is desirable to have a system for providing other figures of merit related to the delivery of CPR during a resuscitation event, where such figures of merit are determined from post-event patient data analysis. Furthermore, other desirable features and characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the subsequent detailed description and the appended claims, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings and the foregoing technical field and background.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

CPR time indicator for a defibrillator data management system


A soft structure fiber reinforcement technology is provided. In an example embodiment, the fiber reinforced elastomeric sheet comprises a sheet of elastomeric matrix; and a fiber array comprising a plurality of fibers embedded within the elastomeric matrix. Each fiber of the array of fibers has a tensile modulus that is significantly greater than the tensile modulus of the elastomeric matrix. The fiber reinforced elastomeric sheets may be used in grasping or gripping robots, walking or jumping robots, artificial muscles, compliant prosthetics, impact and/or vibration dampening soft structures, passive soft structure configured to passively restrict deformation in an unwanted direction while allowing deformation in another direction, and/or the like.

Rigid structures are prone to critical failure when disturbances or perturbations result in high enough stress. Thus, rigid robotic structures are prone to critical failure. In contrast, soft structures are capable of bending to accommodate a disturbance and return to an operational state. In addition, there are several situations, such as tactile sensing, grasping, or in prosthetics where flexibility in a robotic actuator can prove advantageous to a desired action. A lack of supporting structural elements, however, means that actuation must be provided throughout a body in all three primary directions in order to maintain a desired shape. Furthermore traditional rigid robotic actuators do not drive motion of soft structures effectively, because they rely on transmitting large torques/forces through small contact points. Thus, there is a need in the art for soft structures for enhancing soft actuator's output and for restricting unwanted deformation.

Fiber reinforced elastomeric sheets with tunable strain relationships

University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated


The present invention fulfils desired specifications generally rarely encountered with existing solid supports such as highly amphiphile behaviour. The solid support described herein is a poly(ethylene or propylene)glycol based polymer that can be useful in solid and liquid phase synthesis, chromatography, scavenging purposes and immobilisation of proteins and reagents. More specifically, the solid support is a cross-linked polyether derived from a cross-linked polyester which is obtained by copolymerization of at least one monomer comprising (a) one-ended polymerizable vinyl or allyl ketone, ester, ether or mixtures thereof with at least one cross-linker having at least two polymerizable terminal end groups, with the exception of epoxy and oxetane end groups, or (b) divinyl benzene. The method for the preparation of the cross-linked polyether is also disclosed.

Since the pioneering work of Merrifield (Merrifield, R. B. (1963), J. Am. Chem. Soc., 85, 2149–2153) on polystyrene (2% divinylbenzene cross-linked) as solid support for peptide synthesis, several improvements on the nature of the solid support were brought about to meet special needs of new organic chemistry. Through the years, most of the work done in that field has been focused on peptide synthesis.
Several polyamide resins (Kanda et al., (1991), Int. J. Peptide Protein Res., 38, 385–391) for solid phase peptide synthesis have been developed since the '80. The amide bonds of the polymer are the same as those found in peptides. Consequently, peptide chemistry can be performed in a polarity environment which is similar to that of peptides and that improves chemical yields and peptide purity. PEPSYN (Arshady et al., (1981), J. Chem. Soc. Perkin Trans., 529–537), PEPSYN K (Atherton et al., (1981), J. Chem. Soc. Chem. Commun., 1151–1152), and Polyhipe (Small et al., (1989), J. Chem Soc. Chem Commun., 1589–1591), can be mentioned as other types of solid supports for peptide chemistry which were developed during the period 1981–1989.
The first (and probably the most famous) polystyrene-PEG (polyethylene glycol) hybrid resin is the one developed by Bayer known as the TentaGel® and disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,908,405 and in Bayer E. (1991), Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 30, 113–129. The matrix is made by coupling tetraethylene glycol (TTEG) with chloromethylated polystyrene. A high molecular weight PEG is then introduced into the polymer by reacting ethylene oxide with the potassium salt of PS-TTEG polystyrene-TTEG). That method has been proposed to give higher yields as a result of the further reaction with ethylene oxide. This polymer offers a good compromise between the mechanical properties of polystyrene and desired amphiphile behaviour with good swelling. The Bayer Patent also includes the use of cross-linked acrylates and methacrylates which are functionalized with hydroxy groups, hydroxypolystyrene and polyvinyl alcohol as starting materials. In this manner, it is possible to obtain (with ester bonds attached to the polymer), benzylic and secondary ethers. One of the drawbacks of that method is the possible cross-linking of TTEG (under basic conditions) between two chloromethylated benzene rings of the polymer network.
Meldal in Tetrahedron Lett., 33, 3077–3080 (1992) and in U.S. Pat. No. 5,352,756, as well as Renil et al., in Tetrahedron Lett, 36, 4647–4650, (1995) proposed a new polar matrix called PEGA. That polymer contains PEG or PPG (long chains) cross-linker bearing acrylamide moieties which are copolymerized with other methacrylic derivatives. Some of them are used as linkers for solid phase synthesis purposes. The choice of long chain PEG or PPG permits the passage of peptidic molecules through its network. The amide bonds found in that polymer are appropriate for solid phase peptidic synthesis.
Lee, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,466,758 and Park et al., (1997), Tetrahedron Lett., 38, 591–594 demonstrated the versatility of a process for the production of polystyrenes having a β-hydroxy group and polyglycol-grafted thereon. Based on the work of and Milstein (Milstein, N. (1968), J. Heterocycl. Chem., 5, 337–338) and Suga (Nakajima et al., (1969), Tetrahedron Lett., 38, 591–594 and citations therein), it is known to submit propylene oxide to Friedel-Crafts reactions with benzene and other aromatic compounds to give such β-hydroxy groups. Once the hydroxylated polystyrene is sythesized, the later reacts with ethylene oxide under basic conditions to give a PEG-polystyrene with various loading of terminal hydroxy groups. Lee established the stability of his new PEG-polystyrene matrix by several acidic treatments encountered in peptidic chemistry without any degradation, while conventional TentaGel® is degraded.
ArgGel® (Labadie et al., WO 97/27226, 1996) was developed during the same time. This Merrifield based resin has a better stability than its predecessor. Indeed, no benzyl ethers are present in the matrix through the use of a malonate derivative linked to the benzylic position. Subsequently, the diester is reduced to a diol and polymerized with ethylene oxide to give a stable PEG-polystyrene matrix.
Barany (Kempe et al., (1996) J. Am. Chem. Soc. 118, 7083–7093, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,910,554 refers to a highly cross-linked polymeric support called CLEAR® which is based on the copolymerization of tertiary cross-linkers containing polyethylene glycol (PEG) or polypropylene glycol (PPG) with several vinyl and allyl derivatives. The main application of that solid support is in the field of peptide synthesis. In the normal peptide chemistry conditions encountered, the integrity of the matrix is preserved. On the other hand, Tuncel, in Colloid Polym. Sci., 278, 1126–1138 (2000) described the synthesis of such swellable matrix based on PEG methacrylates, said matrix having a controlled hydrophilicity and functionnality.
Meldal has released two different approaches, as discussed below, to reach a backbone made from primary and/or secondary ether bonds with alcohol residues on which organic chemistry can be performed.
POEPOP (polyoxyethylene-polyoxypropylene) Renil et al., (1996), Tetrahydron Lett., 37, 6185 –6188) is made from epichlorohydrin and polyethylene glycol (PEG) to produce an epoxy material. The latter product is then polymerized with potassium t-butoxide. By a simple adjustment of the amount of epoxy residues on the original PEG 1500, a polymer is formed with a definite amount of alcohol to be derivatized. In that feature, a mixture of secondary and primary ether bond are formed with strong chemical resistance and good physical properties.
SPOCC (solid phase organic and combinatorial chemistry) (Rademann et al., (1999), J. Am. Chem. Soc., 121, 5459–5466 and Meldal et al., (2000), WO 00/18823) bas been proposed to obtain a backbone with ether bonds exclusively. In the same way, the polymer is formed of a high molecular weight PEG, but with oxetane end groups. The final product is obtained by a cationic ring-opening polymerization with BF3Et2O in a silicon oil media. The major advantage of that matrix is its chemical stability from its primary ether bonds that has never been reached up to this day.
POEPOP and SPOCC are manufactured under expensive conditions (silicon oil) to obtain standard beaded polymer making its commercial production non attractive as conventional on polymerization methods with vinyl derivatives.
Bayer (Mutter et al., (1971), Angew. Chem., 83, 883; Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 12, 811 (1971)) introduced the concept of liquid-phase chemistry where a high molecular weight PEG (one end optionally capped) is functionnalized to directly perform peptide chemistry thereon. This low cost product has the advantage of being compatible with practically all solvents used in organic chemistry except diethyl ether. The latter is used as the precipitation media which permit the filtration of the PEG resin at the end of the synthesis. The fact that PEG is solubilized in the reaction media ensures the accessibility of the reagents dissolved in the solvent to the reactive functionalities which are present on the polymer. Unfortunately, when ethers (Et2O or MTBE methyl tert-butyl ether) or alcohols (EtOH or cold i-PrOH) are used to precipitate the polymer, some impurities in the reaction mixture can also be precipitated. Even considering the low cost of PEG resins, that feature considerably reduces the attractiveness of the linear PEG family in solid phase peptide chemistry. This approach had been well documented during the 70′ and 80′. Janda (Wenworth et al., (1999, Chem. Comm., 1917–1924) and many others (Annunziata et al., (2001), J. Org. Chem., 66, 3160–3166 and citations therein) pursue this idea since.
In a different approach, Janda used several styrenic-etheral crosslinked agents which are copolymerized with styrene (Janda et al., (1999), Tetrahedron Lett., 40, 6329). These crosslinked agents obtained from polytetrahydrofuran and 4-chloromethylstyrene or 4-hydroxystyrene, provide alternatives for divinylbenzene. Janda obtained good polymers with impressive swelling properties. This work showed how polystyrene can be upgraded with a little tuning of the crosslinked agent. Even though ether bonds are introduced in the polymer network, the hydrophobicity of styrene is still present.
Meldal (Renil et al., (1996), Tetrahedron Lett., 37, 6185–6188) used high molecular weight (Mw 1500) PEG for the same experience with 4-chloromethylstyrene and 3-chloropropylstyrene (Buchardt et al., (1998); Tetrahedron Lett., 39, 8695–8698; Meldal et al., (2000), WO 00/18823). Wilson (Wilson et al., (1998), J. Org. Chem., 63, 5094–5099) employed shorter PEGs with 4-chloromethylstyrene (from ethylene to hexaethylene glycol) to obtain different polymers.
Roice (Roice et al. (1999), Macromol., 32, 8807–8815) proposed a butanediol dimethacrylate—styrene flexible copolymer for solid phase peptide synthesis. Under normal reaction conditions, no degradation had been observed. Unfortunately, esters residues are susceptible to degradation in strong acidic and basic conditions that can be encountered in organic chemistry. Other PEG-PS copolymers containing ester residues have been made in a similar way by using different monomers such as tetraethylene glycol and hexanediol diacrylates (Hellerman et al., (1983), Makrom. Chem., 184, 2603; Renil et al., (1994), Tetrahedron, 50, 6681; Zalipsky et al., (1994), React. Polym., 22, 243; Varkey et al., (1998), J. Peptide Res., 51, 49).
Meldal (Groth et al., (2000), WO 00/18823) proposed a new PEG based polymer named HYDRA. The polymer is cross-linked with tris (2-aminoethyl)amine on the PEG-aldehyde derivative via a reductive amination optionally containing hydroxyl functionalities. The residual amines or alcohols are therefore useful for anchoring several types of linkers. Unfortunately, the making of the polymer in a beaded form is impossible.
Other useful references on many other solid supports are available elsewhere (Meldal et al., (1997), Methods in Enzymology, 289, 83–104, Academic Press, N.Y.).
It is an object of the present invention to provide a new family of polymeric solid supports based on a polyethylene glycol or polypropylene glycol matrix.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a method for the synthesis of such polymeric solid supports.
It is another object of the present invention to provide polymeric solid supports that can be used for the solid phase synthesis of peptides, oligonucleotides, oligosaccharides and in combinational and traditional organic chemistry.
It is another object of the present invention to provide resins that can be used in liquid phase synthesis, chromatography, for scavenging purposes, and for protein and reagents immobilization.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a polymeric matrix based on the copolymerization of a polyethylene glycol or polypropylene secondary and/or tertiary cross-linkers having vinyl ketone, diallyl ether or divinyl ether terminal end groups, or of divinyl benzene, with acrylic, or methacrylic, such as maleic or itaconic monomers.

Amphiphile solid support for peptide synthesis, bioorganic and organic chemistry


A steering system for turning multiple sets of steerable wheels comprises three steering gears operatively connected to the steerable wheels. Each steering gear includes a control valve assembly and has an associated hydraulic motor. The first control valve assembly directs pressurized fluid to a first hydraulic motor and also directs pressurized fluid to a second hydraulic motor. The third control valve assembly directs pressurized fluid to a third hydraulic motor. When a torque below a predetermined value is applied to an output shaft of the second steering gear, the output shaft rotates in response to movement of the first control valve assembly, and the second control valve assembly remains in a neutral condition. When a torque above the predetermined value is applied to the output shaft of the second steering gear, the output shaft rotates to cause the second control valve assembly to assume an actuated condition to direct pressurized fluid away from the second hydraulic motor.

A known steering apparatus for turning rear steerable wheels of a vehicle includes a steering gear actuatable in response to turning of a steering wheel. The steering apparatus includes a shaft extending from a steering gear connected to a front steering linkage to a steering gear connected to a rear steering linkage. The shaft rotates in response to turning of the steering wheel to actuate the rear steering gear and turn the rear steerable wheels.

Steering system for turning multiple sets of steerable wheels


Device to device (D2D) communication control is provided. A method comprises: allocating a pilot channel resource for at least one directional pilot signal associated with directional D2D communication; and sending information associated with the pilot channel resource. A respective pilot channel resource for a direction pilot signal can be allocated for each direction D2D communication, thereby providing a basis for better control of the D2D communication.

D2D technologies allow direct communication between terminal devices, and therefore, frequency spectrum efficiency of a cellular communication system may be effectively improved, transmit power of a terminal is reduced, and a problem of lack of frequency spectrum resources of a wireless communication system may be solved to some extent. The D2D mode has been accepted by the 3GPP standards organizations, is applied to a long term evolution (LET) communication system, and has a very broad application prospect.

D2D communication control method and control apparatus


De-skew is performed on a nibble-by-nibble basis where a nibble is not limited to four bits.

Memory devices are becoming faster. Input/output (I/O) circuits in memory devices, and I/O circuits that communicate with memory devices, should be fast enough to support the speed of memory devices. Skew (variations in phase) between individual bits within an interface is one problem that threatens to keep I/O circuits from supporting the ever-increasing speeds of memory devices.
Skew has typically been managed by closely matching the layout of integrated circuits and printed circuit boards to reduce the skew between all data signal traces coupled to a single memory device. Any remaining skew between the data signals and a received clock signal is then managed by de-skewing the clock relative to all of the data signals as a group.

Nibble de-skew method, apparatus, and system


Method and tools for creating and evaluating a set of system blueprints pertaining to the delivery of a system or a project. Each blueprint is an architecture design/specification that enables analysis of each blueprint, families of blueprints and relationships between blueprint layers. A user can create various system blueprints based on data from existing databases containing requirements, solutions, and deployments of a system or project. After creating each blueprint, users may view the blueprint to visually detect problems and further revise the blueprint. In addition, for each type of blueprint, the user can evaluate the blueprint against various metrics and criteria related to requirements, solutions, and deployments and view the evaluation results.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the design, evaluation, and delivery of complex systems and projects. More particularly, embodiments of the invention relate to methods and tools for creating and evaluating various system blueprints based on the requirements, solutions, and deployments of complex systems and projects.
2. Background Art
In the delivery of complex systems and projects, decision-makers (e.g. project planners, managers and technical leads) are often confronted with a large number of decisions and decision dependences/constraints when planning, designing, building, buying or deploying the complex system. For example, these decision-makers must: (a) determine the scope and detail of requirements to capture, document and measure the system by; (b) predict and assess individual customers or market needs at given times, available technology solutions, and the overall requirements for the system including functional requirements, data requirements, timing requirements, non-functional requirements, and installation requirements; (c) identify and plan for the scope of requirements to be delivered and satisfied within respective system releases and system deployments; (d) evaluate and compare technology solutions options; (e) determine which technology solutions to buy, reuse, or develop; (f) configure, evaluate and select technology solutions that best satisfy: functional requirements, compatibility/integration with each other, non-functional requirements, marketplace needs or the limits of the customer's actual resources.
Prior requirements and design tools mostly target technology-savvy users involved in tactical decision-making associated with system development activities. These independent and isolated software tools are intended to facilitate a particular aspect of the decision making process (e.g., organize text fragments to describe requirements and relate the text fragments to requirements). In some cases, users (e.g., system architect) can use some tools to draw elaborate diagrams using standardized notations (e.g., UML) describing modules/components/parts of a system and relating those parts in timing diagrams, data flow diagrams, topology diagram, etc. These prior tools target detailed designs and development and assume the output of high-level strategic decision-making as a given input. All analyses and evaluations of: (1) requirements, solutions, and deployments, (2) dependencies between requirements, solutions and deployments as well as (3) associated designs or blueprints are left to the human users' cognitive processes. Since these prior systems target technical staff (i.e., developers), they focus on requirements or low level design and do not consider the system and business view or allow a user to create descriptions of requirements or designs/blueprints or relate/link the requirements, solutions and deployments to customers.
Furthermore, despite incomplete requirements, solution specifications and deployment descriptions, the earlier decision-makers are provided this information and the ability to conduct trade-offs and evaluations, the earlier problems can be detected and costly problems can be avoided where problems become more and more costly at each step in the project lifecycle (e.g. project analysis, design, development, testing, deployment, maintenance).
Therefore, there is a need to provide methods and software tools, including computational models and analysis logic, to enable decision-makers to: (a) manage large, complex, and sometimes conflicting sets of information and decisions; (b) manage and relate/link large amounts of complex associations between requirements, solutions and deployments of a complex system; and (c) evaluate and conduct trade-offs for different designs, blueprints, solutions, and milestones for the delivery of a complex system.

Methods and tools for creating and evaluating system blueprints