A semiconductor memory device including a plurality of banks, each including a plurality of memory cells, a pattern signal generator configured to generate pattern signals having combinations in response to an input signal applied through an arbitrary pad in a compression test mode. Input paths are configured to transfer the plurality of pattern signals to the corresponding banks.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor design technology, and more particularly, to a semiconductor memory device having a compression test mode.
As the fabrication technologies of semiconductor memory devices such as double data rate (DDR) synchronous dynamic random access memory (SDRAM) are rapidly advanced, the integration density of the semiconductor memory devices increases. Thus, ten millions of memory cells are integrated into a single semiconductor memory device. Due to the increase in the number of the memory cells, much more data can be stored. However, it takes a lot of time to test the memory cells. That is, a lot of test time is taken to determine pass/fail of ten millions of memory cells. The test time is an important factor in determining the product cost. Many attempts have been made to reduce the test time. One of them is a compression test method. The compression test method is to compress data stored in a plurality of memory cells. A test operator can determine whether the corresponding memory cell is normal or defective, based on the compressed data.
Meanwhile, a semiconductor memory device is designed to operate according to a data width option. The data width option is defined in a specification as an option that enables a user to set a desired data width. For example, if the data width option is set to "x8" in a semiconductor memory device having eight input/output pads, the data input/output operation is performed through the eight input/output pads. If the data width option is set to "x4", the data input/output operation is performed through eight data input/output pads among the eight input/output pads.
The data width option may be set in a mode register set (MRS) provided in the semiconductor memory device. In addition to the data width option, a column address strobe (CAS) latency, a burst type, and a burst length may be set in the MRS. Information on additional operations may also be set in the MRS.
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional semiconductor memory device. A DDR2 SDRAM is exemplarily illustrated in FIG. 1. The DDR2 SDRAM includes eight banks of memory cells and eight input/output pads and can be set to x8 or x4 data width option. Also, since the DDR2 SDRAM uses a 4-bit prefetch scheme, each global input/output line includes four global input/output lines. That is, a first global input/output line GIO1 includes four global input/output lines GIO1<1>, GIO1<2>, GIO1<3> and GIO1<4>. For convenience, the four global input/output lines GIO1<1>, GIO1<2>, GIO1<3> and GIO1<4> are indicated by one global input/output line GIO1.
Referring to FIG. 1, the semiconductor memory device includes first to eighth banks. A row decoder/bank controller, a column decoder, and a write driver/read driver are provided in each bank. For convenience, a reference numeral "110B" is assigned to the row decoder/bank controller for the first bank 110A, and a reference numeral "110C" is assigned to the column decoder for the first bank 110A. Also, a reference numeral "110D" is assigned to the write driver/read driver for the first bank 110A.
The first to eighth banks are respectively selected by the bank controllers according to external bank addresses. Each of the first to eighth banks includes a plurality of memory cells. Specific memory cells of the selected banks are accessed by external row addresses and external column addresses. Therefore, data stored in the accessed memory cells are input/output through the first to eighth global input/output lines GIO1, GIO2, GIO3, GIO4, GIO5, GIO6, GIO7 and GIO8.
FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram illustrating a read operation and a write operation of a semiconductor memory device. In FIG. 2, a specific memory cell 210 among the plurality of memory cells included in the first bank 110A is illustrated as a representative.
The read operation of the semiconductor memory device will be described below with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2. Herein, description about a bank selection operation of the bank controller (see FIG. 1) will be omitted.
In the read operation, the row decoder (see FIG. 1) decodes a row address and enables a word line WL selected by the decoded row address. When the word lien WL is enabled, a cell transistor T1 of the memory cell 210 is turned on, and data stored in a cell capacitor C1 is charge-shared with precharged positive/negative bit lines BL and /BL. Due to the charge sharing operation, the positive/negative bit lines BL and /BL have a slight voltage difference. For reference, the precharge voltage has half the voltage level of an internal voltage, especially a core voltage.
A bit line sense amplifier 220 senses and amplifies the slight voltage difference between the positive bit line BL and the negative bit line /BL. When the voltage level of the positive bit line BL is higher than that of the negative bit line /BL, the voltage level of the positive bit line BL is amplified to a pull-up voltage level RTO, and the voltage level of the negative bit line /BL is amplified to a pull-down voltage level SB. On the other hand, when the voltage level of the positive bit line BL is lower than that of the negative bit line /BL, the voltage level of the positive bit line BL is amplified to a pull-down voltage level SB, and the voltage level of the negative bit line /BL is amplified to a pull-up voltage level RTO.
Meanwhile, the column decoder 110C decodes the column address and activates a corresponding column select signal YI. In response to the column select signal YI, the column selector 230 is enabled to connect the positive/negative bit lines BL and /BL to positive/negative segment input/output lines SIO and /SIO, respectively. That is, the amplified data on the positive bit line BL is transferred to the positive segment input/output line SIO, and the amplified data on the negative bit line /BL is transferred to the negative segment input/output line /SIO. Thereafter, when the input/output switching unit 240 is enabled in response to an input/output control signal CRT_IO, the positive/negative segment input/output lines SIO and /SIO are connected to positive/negative local input/output lines LIO and /LIO, respectively. That is, the data on the positive segment input/output line SIO is transferred to the positive local input/output line LIO, and the data on the negative segment input/output line /SIO is transferred to the negative local input/output line /LIO. The read driver 250 drives the first global input/output lien GIO1 according to the data transferred to the positive/negative local input/output lines LIO and /LIO.
Consequently, the data stored in the memory cell 210 are transferred to the first global input/output line GIO1 through the positive/negative bit lines BL and /BL, the positive/negative segment input/output lines SIO and /SIO, and the positive/negative local input/output lines LIO and /LIO.
Meanwhile, the external data input in a write operation is transferred in a direction opposite to the read operation. That is, the data is transferred from the first global input/output line GIO1 through the write driver 260 to the positive/negative local input/output lines LIO and /LIO, and then transferred through the positive/negative segment input/output lines SIO and /SIO to the positive/negative bit lines BL and /BL. The transferred data is finally stored in the memory cell 210.
For reference, RC loading caused by a plurality of resistors R and capacitors C illustrated in FIG. 2 is reflected on the data transferred through the respective lines.
The other blocks of the conventional semiconductor memory device will be described with reference to FIG. 1. First, the block associated with the read operation of the semiconductor memory device in the normal mode will be described. The description of the compression operation, that is, the first to fourth global compressors 170_1, 170_2, 170_3 and 170_4 and the compression test signal TPARA, will be described later with reference to FIG. 3.
The first to eighth global input/output lines GIO1, GIO2, GIO3, GIO4, GIO5, GIO6, GIO7 and GIO8 are input to the first to eighth output selectors 120_1, 120_2, 120_3, 120_4, 1205, 1206, 120_7 and 120_8. The first to eighth output selectors 120_1, 120_2, 120_3, 120_4, 120_5, 120_6, 120_7 and 120_8 output signals transferred through the first to eighth global input/output lines GIO1, GIO2, GIO3, GIO4, GIO5, GIO6, GIO7 and GIO8 in response to the selection signals IOx4 and CADD<11>.
The first to eighth global input/output lines GIO1, GIO2, GIO3, GIO4, GIO5, GIO6, GIO7 and GIO8 are connected to the first to eighth output selectors 1201, 1202, 1203, 1204, 1205, 1206, 120_7 and 120_8, respectively. In particular, the fifth to eighth global input/output lines GIO5, GIO6, GIO7 and GIO8 are further connected to the first to fourth output selectors 120_1, 120_2, 120_3 and 120_4 in order to execute the data width option. The selection signals include the data width option signal IOx4 and the line selection signal CADD<11>. The data width option signal IOx4 is a signal corresponding to the x4 data width option and the x8 data width option, and the line selection signal CADD<11> is a signal for selecting a desired one of the connected global input/output lines.
The first to fourth output selectors 120_1, 120_2, 120_3 and 120_4 or the fifth to eighth output selectors 120_5, 120_6, 120_7 and 120_8 are enabled in response to the data width option signal IOx4. When the first to fourth output selectors 120_1, 120_2, 120_3 and 120_4 are enabled, they output signals transferred through the global input/output lines selected in response to the line selection signal CADD<11>.
Meanwhile, first to eighth pipe latches 130_1, 130_2, 130_3, 130_4, 130_4, 130_5, 130_6, 130_7 and 130_8 latch output signals of the first to eighth output selectors 120_1, 120_2, 120_3, 120_4, 120_5, 120_6, 120_7 and 120_8, respectively. The output signals of the first to eighth output selectors 120_1, 120_2, 120_3, 120_4, 120_5, 120_6, 120_7 and 120_8 are output in parallel, and the first to eighth pipe latches 130_1, 130_2, 130_3, 130_4, 130_5, 130_6, 130_7 and 130_8 convert them into serial form.
The output signals of the first to eighth pipe latches 130_1, 130_2, 130_3, 130_4, 130_4, 130_5, 130_5, 130_6, 130_7 and 130_8 are output to the outside through the first to eighth input/output pads 140_1, 140_2, 140_3, 140_4, 1405, 1406, 140_7 and 140_8.
In other words, in the x8 data width option, the data corresponding to the first to eighth banks are input to the first to eighth output selectors 120_1, 120_2, 120_3, 120_4, 120_5, 120_6, 120_7 and 120_8 through the first to eighth global input/output lines GIO1, GIO2, GIO3, GIO4, GIO5, GIO6, GIO7 and GIO8. The output signals of the first to eighth output selectors 120_1, 120_2, 120_3, 120_4, 120_5, 120_6, 120_7 and 120_8 are latched in the first to eighth pipe latches 130_1, 130_2, 130_3, 130_4, 130_5, 130_6, 130_7 and 130_8 and output to the first to eighth input/output pads 140_1, 140_2, 140_3, 140_4, 140_5, 140_6, 140_7 and 140_8.
In the x4 data width option, the data corresponding to the first to fourth banks or the data stored in the fifth to eighth banks are input to the first to fourth output selectors 120_1, 120_2, 120_3 and 120_4 through the first to fourth global input/output lines GIO1, GIO2, GIO3 and GIO4 or the fifth to eighth global input/output lines GIO5, GIO6, GIO7 and GIO8. At this point, the first to fourth output selectors 120_1, 120_2, 120_3 and 120_4 are selected by the data width option signal IOx4. The first to fourth output selectors 120_1, 120_2, 120_3 and 120_4 output the signals transferred through the first to fourth global input/output lines GIO1, GIO2, GIO3 and GIO4 or the fifth to eighth global input/output lines GIO5, GIO6, GIO7 and GIO8 in response to the data width option signal IOx4 and the line selection signal CADD<11>. The transferred signals are latched in the first to fourth pipe latches 130_1, 130_2, 130_3 and 130_4 and output to the first to fourth input/output pads 140_1, 140_2, 140_3 and 140_4.
The blocks associated with the write operation of the semiconductor memory device in the normal mode will be described below.
The first to eighth input/output pads 140_1, 140_2, 140_3, 140_4, 140_5, 140_6, 140_7 and 140_8 receive serial data from the outside. First to eighth data aligners 150_1, 150_2, 150_3, 150_4, 150_5, 150_6, 150_7 and 150_8 align the serial data input through the first to eighth input/output pads 140_1, 140_2, 140_3, 140_4, 140_5, 140_6, 140_7 and 140_8 in parallel form.
First to eighth input selectors 160_1, 160_2, 160_3, 160_4, 160_5, 160_6, 160_7 and 160_8 output the output signals of the first to eighth data aligners 150_1, 150_2, 150_3, 150_4, 150_5, 150_6, 150_7 and 150_8 to the first to eighth global input/output lines GIO1, GIO2, GIO3, GIO4, GIO5, GIO6, GIO7 and GIO8 in response to the data width option signal IOx4 and the line selection signal CADD<11>. The data applied to the first to eighth global input/output lines GIO1, GIO2, GIO3, GIO4, GIO5, GIO6, GIO7 and GIO8 are stored in the first to eighth banks, respectively.
The write operation must also be performed according to the data width option. The first to fourth input selectors 160_1, 160_2, 160_3 and 160_4 or the fifth to eighth input selectors 1605, 1606, 160_7 and 160_8 are enabled in response to the data width option signal IOx4. When the first to fourth input selectors 160_1, 160_2, 160_3 and 160_4 are enabled, they output the output signals of the first to fourth data aligners 150_1, 150_2, 150_3 and 150_4 to the global input/output lines selected in response to the line selection signal CADD<11>.
In other words, in the case of the x8 data width option, the data input through the first to eighth input/output pads 140_1, 140_2, 140_3, 140_4, 140_5, 140_6, 140_7 and 140_8 are output as aligned data by the first to eighth data aligners 150_1, 150_2, 150_3, 150_4, 150_5, 150_6, 150_7 and 150_8. The aligned data are input to the first to eighth input selectors 160_1, 160_2, 160_3, 160_4, 160_5, 160_6, 160_7 and 160_8 and output through the first to eighth global input/output lines GIO1, GIO2, GIO3, GIO4, GIO5, GIO6, GIO7 and GIO8. Finally, the first to eighth banks store data input through the first to eighth global input/output lines GIO1, GIO2, GIO3, GIO4, GIO5, GIO6, GIO7 and GIO8.
In the case of the x4 data width option, the data input through the first to fourth input/output pads 140_1, 140_2, 140_3 and 140_4 are output as the aligned data by the first to fourth data aligners 150_1, 150_2, 150_3 and 150_4. At this point, the first to fourth input selectors 160_1 160_2, 160_3 and 160_4 are selected by the data width option signal IOx4, while the fifth to eighth input selectors 160_5, 160_6, 160_7 AND 160_8 are not selected. Therefore, the first to fourth input selectors 160_1, 160_2, 160_3 AND 160_4 output the aligned data through the first to fourth global input/output lines GIO1, GIO2, GIO3 and GIO4 or the fifth to eighth global input/output lines GIO5, GIO6, GIO7 and GIO8 in response to the data width option signal IOx4 and the line selection signal CADD<11>. The first to fourth banks or the fifth to eighth banks store the data transferred through the corresponding global input/output lines.
FIG. 3 is a block diagram for explaining the blocks associated with a compression operation of the semiconductor memory device. For convenience, new reference numerals are assigned to respective elements. A data compression unit 380 is further illustrated in a region where a column decoder 310C and a write driver/read driver 310D are disposed. For reference, since data are compressed in a compression test mode, only the first to fourth input/output pads 340_1, 340_2, 340_3 and 340_4 are needed.
First, the blocks associated with the data read operation in the compression test mode will be described below.
Data compressors 380 are provided in the first to eighth banks. The data compressors 380 compress data applied to sub global input/output lines IGIO<1:8> of the banks and output the compressed data through the global input/output lines. For convenience, the first bank 110A will be described as a representative example. The sub global input/output lines IGIO<1:8> transfer data stored in the eight memory cells corresponding to the first bank 110A. Since the first global input/output line GIO1 includes four global input/output lines GIO1<1:4>, 32 data are compressed and applied to the four global input/output lines GIO1<1:4>.
Meanwhile, first to fourth global compressors 370_1, 370_2, 370_3 and 370_4 compress data input through the global input/output lines connected thereto to generate first to fourth global compression data GIOSUM15, GIOSUM26, GIOSUM37 and GIOSUM48.
In other words, the first global compressor 370_1 compresses the data input through the first global input/output line GIO1 and the fifth global input/output line GIO5 to generate the first global compression data GIOSUM15. The second global compressor 370_2 compresses the data input through the second global input/output line GIO2 and the sixth global input/output line GIO6 to generate the second global compression data GIOSUM26. The third global compressor 370_3 compresses the data input through the third global input/output line GIO3 and the seventh global input/output line GIO7 to generate the third global compression data GIOSUM37. The fourth global compressor 370_4 compresses the data input through the fourth global input/output line GIO4 and the eighth global input/output line GIO8 to generate the fourth global compression data GIOSUM48.
The first to fourth global compression data GIOSUM15, GIOSUM 26, GIOSUM37 and GIOSUM48 are input to the first to fourth output selectors 320_1, 320_2, 320_3 and 320_4, respectively. The first to fourth output selectors 320_1, 320_2, 320_3 and 320_4 output the first to fourth global compression data GIOSUM15, GIOSUM26, GIOSUM37 and GIOSUM48 to the first to fourth pipe latches 330_1, 330_2, 330_3 and 340_4 in response to the compression test signal TPARA. The first to fourth pipe latches 330_1, 330_2, 330_3 and 330_4 latch and output the first to fourth global compression data GIOSUM15, GIOSUM26, GIOSUM37 and GIOSUM48 to the first to fourth input/output pads 340_1, 340_2, 340_3 and 340_4. The first to fourth global compression data GIOSUM15, GIOSUM26, GIOSUM37 and GIOSUM48 are output to the outside through the first to fourth input/output pads 340_1, 340_2, 340_3 and 340_4. The compression test signal TPARA is a signal that is activated in a compression test mode for a compression test.
The blocks associated with the data write operation in the compression test mode will be described below.
The data input through the first to fourth input/output pads 340_1, 340_2, 340_3 and 340_4 are aligned by the first to fourth data aligners 350_1, 350_2, 350_3 and 350_4 and input to the first to fourth input selectors 360_1, 360_2, 360_3 and 360_4. The first to fourth input selectors 360_1, 360_2, 360_3 and 360_4 output the data to the global input/output lines in response to the compression test signal TPARA. That is, the first input selector 360_1 outputs the data to the first and fifth global input/output lines GIO1 and GIO5; the second input selector 360_2 outputs the data to the second and sixth global input/output lines GIO2 and GIO6; the third input selector 360_3 outputs the data to the third and seventh global input/output lines GIO3 and GIO7; and the fourth input selector 360_4 outputs the data to the fourth and eighth global input/output lines GIO4 and GIO8. Thereafter, the data transferred through the first to eighth global input/output lines GIO1, GIO2, GIO3, GIO4, GIO5, GIO6, GIO7 and GIO8 are stored in the first to eighth banks, respectively.
As described above, in the compression test mode, the conventional semiconductor memory device stores the data in the banks by using the four input/output pads, and outputs the compressed data by using the four input/output pads. When storing the data in the banks by using the four input/output pads, the test operator must apply the data to be stored in the banks to the respective input/output pads. In addition, since a test apparatus having finite test pins must allocate four test pins per the semiconductor memory device, there is a limitation in the number of semiconductor memory devices that can be tested at a time.

Semiconductor memory device, operating method thereof, and compression test method thereof


A pendulum device is used to test the rolling resistance of a material. The device includes a rolling unit for contact with the material being tested, an assembly for initiating pendulum motion of the device, and measuring the amplitude of the pendulum motion over time. The rate of decrease of the amplitude of the pendulum motion is a measure of the rolling resistance of the material.

The invention relates to apparatus for testing the rolling resistance of materials.
For product comparison between competitors, and for researching ways to improve elastomeric products, a means is needed for measuring the rolling resistance of products such as conveyor belts, and elastomeric components such as plies or tread used in pneumatic tires. In the prior art, most apparatus and methods for measuring rolling resistance are directed at measuring components of rolling resistance such as hysteresis, G"", modulus and the like. Using these parameters, an approximation of rolling resistance can be obtained.
The advantage of approximating rolling resistance based on related parameters is that only very small amounts of material are needed to measure the related parameters. The disadvantage is that the measured parameters do not always interact the same way in different materials to provide an accurate estimation of rolling resistance, and there is no way to predict the contribution of the various parameters in a specific product construction, and the approximations are sometimes incorrect by a substantial margin.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for directly measuring the rolling resistance of a material, especially an elastomeric material, using a relatively small sample of the material.
1. Background Art
At the annual meeting of the Adhesion Society, held, in Savannah, Ga., Feb. 22-25, 1998, Professor M Chaudhury of Leheigh University presented a poster describing research in which an oscillating rubber roller was used to study adhesion on flat surfaces, using the energy expended as the roller rocked backwards and forwards on a chemically-modified flat surface to measure the difference between energy loss in breaking contact and energy gained on making contact.
Rubber covered rollers have been described by M Hannah, Quart.J.Mech.Appl.Math., 4, 95-105 (1951); G. J. Parish, Brit.J.Appl.Phys., 9, 158-161 (1958); G. J. Parish, Brit.J.Appl.Phys., 9, 428-433 (1958); G. J. Parish, Brit.J.Appl.Phys.12,333-335 (1961); M. Barquins and Efelder, Kautschuk u. Gummi 43,no.2, 114-117(1990); F. Zeppernick, Gummi Fasern Kunststoffs 44, 654(1991) to 46,580(1993).
2. Disclosure of Invention
An apparatus for measuring the rolling resistance of a substrate comprises a rolling means for rolling contact with a surface to be measured, an arm attached to the rolling means and extending downward from said rolling means to free space below the rolling means, a swing weight integral with or attached to the arm distal from the rolling means and in the free space, and measuring means located near the free space for measuring the location of the swing weight relative to the measuring means.
The apparatus may further comprise a lever attached to the rolling means for controlling the initial amplitude of the swing weight when a rolling resistance measurement is taken.
In the illustrated embodiment, the rolling means is a cylinder, and the arm extends at substantially 90xc2x0 horizontally outward from the mass center of the rolling means, and is further directed downward to a location below the rolling means, whereby the swing weight is located substantially directly below the rolling means.
The swing weight may be round or may be made having flat surfaces.
The measuring means is selected from the group comprising sound and light and the apparatus may further comprise means for collecting data from the measuring means, a computer for storing and analyzing the data, and means for outputting results.
Also provided is a method for measuring the rolling resistance of a substrate comprising the steps of (a) providing an apparatus for measuring the rolling resistance of a substrate, said apparatus comprising a rolling means for rolling contact with a surface to be measured, an arm attached to the rolling means, the arm extending downward from the rolling means to free space below the rolling means, a swing weight integral with or attached to the arm distal from the rolling means and in the free space, and measuring means located near said free space for measuring the location of the swing weight relative to the measuring means, and placing the apparatus on a substrate to be measured, (b) setting the swing weight in pendulum motion while the rolling means rolls back and forth on the substrate, (c) measuring the amplitude of the motion of the swing weight for a period of time sufficient to determine the damping rate of the substrate, and (d) correlating the damping rate of the substrate with the rolling resistance of the substrate. The method may further comprise the step of using a lever attached to the rolling means for starting the motion of the swing weight and the rolling means by holding the lever down and releasing the lever such that gravity initiates the motion and the lever controls the initial amplitude of the motion by its length.
The swing weight may be selected to be a round swing weight or a swing weight with flat sides. When a round swing weight is selected, radar is the preferred means of measuring the position of the swing weight, and when flat sides are on the swing weight, the means for measuring the position of the swing weight may be means using sound or light.
The method may further comprise the steps of (a) creating a data base of damping rates for substrates tested, (b) setting up a ranking system to correlate a damping rate with rolling resistance for a specific substrate using alpha numeric labels representative of each ranking, and (c) comparing subsequent substrates tested for rolling resistance with the ranking based on the damping rates observed for the subsequent substrates.


A superconducting magnet apparatus which renders possible efficient, accurate and secure connection of a superconducting magnet current lead is provided. In the superconducting magnet apparatus of the present invention, a first current lead (21) and a second current lead (22) which compose a detachable current lead for excitation power supply are automatically attached to/detached from each other via a drive mechanism (30) using a piezoelectric ceramic. Therefore, professional skills in operation and maintenance required for this attachment/detachment operation are not necessary and the apparatus is easy to take care of. Also, no manpower is required even if a plurality of superconducting magnets are excited/demagnetized one after another, and efficient operation of the apparatus is possible. Furthermore, the piezoelectric ceramic is less subject to a magnetic field. Thus, the drive mechanism can be operated properly, and a contact pressure necessary for each attachment/detachment at a contact site between a lead contact portion (21a) and an attachment/detachment portion (22a) can be accurately obtained.

Along with improvement in performance of superconducting wire and advance in coil manufacturing technique using such wire, as well as technical developments in related apparatus like a heat-insulating container and a refrigerator, various types of superconducting magnets and application apparatus employing such magnets have been created. Among these, there is a type which is operated in a persistent current mode. Superconducting magnet apparatus for a magnetic resonance imaging system (MRI) and for a magnetically levitated vehicle (Maglev) are examples of the type which have already been put into practical use. These superconducting magnet apparatus supply an electric current from an external excitation power source to a coil which is cooled to extremely low temperature. While a necessary magnetic field is produced, initial and final wiring parts of the coil are short-circuited by way of a superconducting switch, and this makes the apparatus run in a persistent current mode in which the electric current continues to flow into the coil without power supply. After the apparatus is switched into the persistent current mode, power from the external excitation power source is turned off and the apparatus is operated independent from the power source. The superconducting magnet apparatus requires a current lead as the component when the electric current is supplied to this coil. The current lead is a current path which couples a terminal connected to the external excitation power source outside the superconducting magnet to an internal coil. From a thermic point of view, the current lead is also a heat leaking path from the terminal at room temperature to the coil at extremely low temperature, and especially when it is not conducted, the lead is merely a heat transmitting member. It is important to minimize heat leaking into a superconducting magnet in order to reduce freezing costs of the coil. Accordingly, it has been considered to use a detachable current lead in the superconducting magnet apparatus operated in the persistent current mode so that the amount of heat leak is reduced by detaching the current lead when the current lead is not conducted.
There are broadly two types of systems for detaching the detachable current lead. One is a system in that an attachment/detachment portion of the current lead is pulled off from the superconducting magnet (see Documents 1 and 4, for example), and the other is a system in that a gap is created at a contact site between the attachment/detachment portion and a fixed portion (lead contact portion) (see Document 2, for example). FIGS. 7A and 7B respectively show an example of a conceptual constitution of the pull-off system and the gap-creating system.
In the pull-off system shown in FIG. 7A, a first current lead 111 is disposed in a vacuum container 110, and a second current lead 112 is configured so that it can be detached from the first current lead 111. The first current lead 111 is connected to a not shown coil inside the vacuum container 110 on one end, and has a lead contact portion 111a on the other end which is exposed to the outside of the vacuum container 110. The second current lead 112 has an attachment/detachment portion 112a on one end for detachably connecting itself to the lead contact portion 111a, and has an electrode terminal 112b on the other end for connecting a lead line which leads to the external excitation power source.
When the external excitation power source supplies the electric current to the coil, the second current lead 112 is inserted to the first current lead 111 for connection, and when the power supply is completed, the second current lead 112 is pulled off from the first current lead 111.
The pull-off system is simple, and thus, a similar constitution has been practiced in the superconducting magnet apparatus for MRI. However, the apparatus employing the pull-off system necessitate professional skills for operation and maintenance of the superconducting magnet, such as in securing a contact pressure at the contact site required for each attachment/detachment upon excitation/demagnetization of the magnet, removal of frost and ice, removal of an insulating coating generated due to oxidization and defacement, or taking measures to prevent the above, etc. The superconducting magnet apparatus according to the pull-off system are not easy to take care of. Therefore, the superconducting magnet apparatus to which such a system can be applied are limited to those, such as the superconducting magnet apparatus for MRI, in which excitation/demagnetization takes place only about once a year and handling of the current lead at the time can be relied on a professional sent for that purpose. Accordingly, in case that there are a plurality of superconducting magnet apparatus of which excitation/demagnetization is performed as needed or every few days, that is, as in the case of the superconducting magnet apparatus for Maglev, if excitation/demagnetization are repeated in a range from every day to every two weeks and a plurality of superconducting magnets installed in one train are continuously excited/demagnetized one after another, manual operation of the detachable current leads will produce an enormous workload. Furthermore, there is also a safety hazard. A strong magnetic force operates on a magnetic body like an iron tool. Under the circumstance that an operator frequently works in the vicinity of a strong magnetic field of the superconducting magnet, there is a fear that the operator may be attracted by the magnet due to the magnetic body the operator accidentally carries.
On the other hand, in the gap-creating system shown in FIG. 7B, a first current lead 121 is disposed inside a vacuum container 120, and a second current lead 122 is designed to be attached to/detached from the first current lead 121. The first current lead 121 is connected to a not shown coil inside the vacuum container 120 on one end, and has a lead contact portion 121a on the other end. The second current lead 122 has an attachment/detachment portion 122a on one end which moves back and forth inside the vacuum container 120 to detachably connect itself to the lead contact portion 121a, and has an electrode terminal 122b on the other end for connecting a lead line leading to the external excitation power source outside the vacuum container 120. Air-tightness inside the vacuum container 120 is maintained by an air-tight lid 125 composed of bellows, etc., disposed in close contact with the vicinity of the attachment/detachment portion 122a to cover a through-hole 120 which the second current lead 122 passes through.
In supplying the electric current to the coil from the external excitation power source, the attachment/detachment portion 122a of the second current lead 122 is connected to the lead contact portion 121a of the first current lead 121. When the supply of the current is completed, the second current lead 122 is moved apart from the first current lead 121, creating a gap between the attachment/detachment portion 122a and the lead contact portion 121a to produce a non-contact state.
This gap-creating system can prevent generation of frost and ice and an insulating coating by providing the contact site between the attachment/detachment portion 122a and the lead contact portion 121a in an air-tight space inside the superconducting magnet. Therefore, operation and maintenance of the superconducting magnet become easy. In case of applying the detachable current lead to the superconducting magnet where excitation/demagnetization of the magnet is comparatively frequent, adoption of this gap-creating system is indispensable.
In the gap-creating system, it is important that the air-tightness at a portion where the vacuum container is pierced is highly reliable. Particularly, in a case of the superconducting magnet used in a dynamic environment which is subject to vibration, a supporting mechanism for ensuring high vibration resistance of the air-tight lid is necessary. Conventionally, only the detachable current lead according to the pull-off system which is simple in design has been practiced. As to the gap-creating system, the detachable current lead which is operated manually without considering such a vibration environment has been proposed (see Document 3, for example).
However, such a manually operated lead has working and safety hazards as well as in the aforementioned lead according to the pull-off system. Also, it is absolutely necessary to apply a required pressing force in order to set contact electric resistance at the contact site equal to or lower than a set value. However, if the operator handles a plurality of detachable current leads very frequently by hand, there may be a shortage of the pressing force due to a human error.
Accordingly, when the detachable current lead is employed in the superconducting magnet of the superconducting magnet apparatus, not only adopting the system of creating a gap at the contact site between the attachment/detachment portion and the lead contact portion but also automation of the operator operation are required. Heretofore, there has been an idea of generating a driving force for the automation by an electric motor. Also, as a sample of only a single detachable current lead portion, there is a disclosure adopting a gas pressure driving system in order to realize the automation (see Document 5, for example).
[Document 1]
Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 61-222209
[Document 2]
Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 60-32374
[Document 3]
Unexamined Japanese Patent Publication No. 3-232205
[Document 4]
Shunji YAMAMOTO, et. al., "Improvement in reliability of a detachable power lead", Lecture briefs at the 42nd meeting on cryogenic engineering and superconductivity for 1989 Autumn, C1-4, P44 (November, 1989)
[Document 5]
Tsukasa WADA, Akio SATO, "Low heat-leaking detachable power lead", Resumes for the meeting on cryogenic engineering B3-7, P136 (May, 1987)
However, if a drive unit such as the above electric motor which generates a driving force directly by interaction between an electric current and a magnetic field is disposed in the vacuum container, loss of control or decline in the driving force is caused due to a strong magnetic field generated by the superconducting magnet. In this case, generation of the driving force is principally possible by providing a magnetic shield. However, such a magnetic shield against the strong magnetic field may increase weight of the apparatus and requires a large space. Depending on the design, it is also possible to dispose the drive unit in a vacuum. Then, the air cannot be cooled, and a sufficient amount of electric current cannot be applied in order to restrain heat generation. Consequently, the driving force becomes small and a sufficient amount of contact pressure cannot be applied to the attachment/detachment portion. In other words, a general purpose electric motor which passes a large current for power generation gives off a large amount of heat, thus causing a problem of temperature rise.
In the above gas pressure driving system, it is necessary to connect with pipes and valves a compression and vacuum (decompression) pump, a buffer tank, an expansion/contraction portion for drive (bellows), etc. for reciprocation of the attachment/detachment portion. A number of required components make the design of the apparatus complex and may increase the size and the amount as well. Moreover, if the gas pressure driving system is employed in the superconducting magnet apparatus for Maglev, gas leakage may occur in the pipes, etc. which are susceptible to vibration since traveling vibration is applied while the vehicle is traveling.
One object of the present invention which was made in view of the above problems is to provide a superconducting magnet apparatus, which renders possible efficient, accurate and secure connection of a superconducting magnet current lead.


This disclosure provides methods, devices, and systems for controlling motion-activated cameras. The present implementations more specifically relate to reducing false triggers in motion-activated camera systems. In some implementations, a motion-activated camera system may include a camera, a first motion sensor having a wide field-of-view (FOV), and a second motion sensor having a narrow FOV. In some aspects, the motion-activated camera system may be configured to operate in a wide-FOV mode or a narrow-FOV mode. In some implementations, the first motion sensor may trigger the camera to capture images of a scene responsive to motion detected in the wide FOV when the system is configured to operate in the wide-FOV mode. In some other implementations, the second motion sensor may trigger the camera to capture images of the scene responsive to motion detected in the narrow FOV when the system is configured to operate in the narrow-FOV mode.

Motion-activated camera systems rely on motion-based triggers for camera activation or image capture. For example, a motion-activated camera system may include a camera and a motion sensor (such as a passive infrared (PIR) or microwave (MW) sensor). The motion sensor outputs an activation signal upon detecting motion (such as a moving object) in its field-of-view (FOV). The activation signal triggers the camera to capture images (or video) of a scene. Such images may be used for various applications including, but not limited to, surveillance, people counting, or security. Compared to cameras, motion sensors consume very little power, memory, and processing resources. As such, motion-activated camera systems are well-suited for wireless or battery-powered operation.
A people counter (also referred to as a "footfall counter") is a type of motion-activated camera system that counts the number of people in a given space or region (such as a room or building). For example, the camera system may be positioned above (or facing) an entryway to a room so that the camera can capture images of people entering or exiting the room. More specifically, the motion sensor may activate the camera when motion is detected in its FOV (such as a threshold distance away from the entryway). A processor of the camera system may execute a people counting application that detects people in the captured images (based on computer vision or other object detection techniques) and tracks their movements (such as to determine whether they are entering or exiting the room).
To ensure accurate tracking of objects entering or exiting the room, the motion sensor should have a wide FOV that allows early motion detection and activation of the camera. However, motion sensors with wide FOVs are also susceptible to false triggers. A false trigger may occur if the motion sensor detects motion in its FOV, but the people counting application fails to detect any person entering or exiting the room. As such, false triggers may unnecessarily drain a motion-activated camera system's power, memory, or processing resources. Thus, new people counting techniques are needed to ensure accurate tracking of objects while reducing false triggers.

Reducing false triggers in motion-activated cameras


Provided are techniques generating a data structure, wherein the data structure specifies both a specified size of a memory space to allocate within an application and a virtual address within the application to locate a data path transmission queue; including within a verb for allocating the data path transmission queue the defined data structure; in response to a call of the verb, allocate, within the application, the data path transmission queue of the specified size and at the virtual location; in response to a request to transmit control data, employ a remote direct memory access (RDMA) transmission path; and, in response to a request to transmit data, employ the data path transmission queue rather than an RDMA transmission path.

Remote direct memory access (RDMA) is a mechanism for direct memory access communication from a userspace to remote memory resources. One standard for RDMA is OpenFabrics Enterprise Distribution (OFED), which is written to be C/C++ compatible. Applications written in higher level languages such as JAVA® are typically required to translate native verbs to OFED verbs via tools such as JAVA® native interface (JNI). Such applications are typically be written against backward compatible application programming interfaces (APIs) such as Sockets Direct protocol (SDP), Internet Small Computer System Interface (iSCSI) extension for RDMA (iSER), Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) RDMA protocol (SRP), Network File System (NFS) over RDMA (NFSoRDMA) and so on.

Remote direct memory access acceleration via hardware context in non-native applciations

International Business Machines Corporation


An automated medication preparation system including reconstitution of medication and its delivery to a syringe. An automated fluid delivery device that is movable in at least one direction and is adapted to perform at least one of the following operations: receiving and discharging diluent in a prescribed amount to reconstitute the medication in a drug vial; and aspirating and discharging reconstituted medication from the vial into the syringe. Further including a transfer device that includes a first section for piercing a septum of the vial and a second section for releasably mating with the fluid delivery device. The transfer device can remain within the vial for multiple uses without the need to repierce the septum. The transfer device has a first channel for carrying diluent or reconstituted medication and a second channel in fluid communication with a vent formed as part of the transfer device to permit airflow into the vial.

Disposable syringes are in widespread use for a number of different types of applications. For example, syringes are used not only to withdraw a fluid (e.g., blood) from a patient but also to administer a medication to a patient. In the latter, a cap or the like is removed from the syringe and a unit dose of the medication is carefully measured and then injected or otherwise disposed within the syringe.
As technology advances, more and more sophisticated, automated systems are being developed for preparing and delivering medications by integrating a number of different stations, with one or more specific tasks being performed at each station. For example, one type of exemplary automated system operates as a syringe filling apparatus that receives user inputted information, such as the type of medication, the volume of the medication and any mixing instructions, etc. The system then uses this inputted information to disperse the correct medication into the syringe up to the inputted volume.
In some instances, the medication that is to be delivered to the patient includes more than one pharmaceutical substance. For example, the medication can be a mixture of several components, such as several pharmaceutical substances.
By automating the medication preparation process, increased production and efficiency are achieved as well as achieving an increase in patient safety since manual manipulation, a principal cause of microbial contamination, is avoided. This results in reduced production costs and also permits the system to operate over any time period of a given day with only limited operator intervention for manual inspection to ensure proper operation is being achieved. Such a system finds particular utility in settings, such as large hospitals, including a large number of doses of medications that must be prepared daily. Traditionally, these doses have been prepared manually in what is an exacting but tedious responsibility for a highly skilled staff. In order to be valuable, automated systems must maintain the exacting standards set by medical regulatory organizations, while at the same time simplifying the overall process and reducing the time necessary for preparing the medications.
Because syringes are used often as the carrier means for transporting and delivering the medication to the patient, it is advantageous for these automated systems to be tailored to accept syringes. However, the previous methods of dispersing the medication from the vial and into the syringe were very time consuming and labor intensive. More specifically, medications and the like are typically stored in a vial that is sealed with a safety cap or the like that protects a penetrable membrane. The material can then be added to or removed from the vial by penetrating the membrane with a needle. In conventional medication preparation, a trained person retrieves the correct vial from a storage cabinet or the like, confirms the contents and then removes the safety cap manually. This is typically done by simply popping the safety cap off with one's hands. Once the safety cap is removed, the trained person inspects the integrity of the membrane and cleans the membrane. An instrument, e.g., a needle, is then used to pierce the membrane and withdraw the medication contained in the vial. The withdrawn medication is then placed into a syringe to permit subsequent administration of the medication from the syringe.
FIG. 3 illustrates an exemplary conventional syringe 10 that includes a barrel 20 having an elongated body that defines a chamber that receives and holds a medication that is disposed at a later time. The barrel 20 has an open proximal end with a flange being formed thereat and it also includes an opposing distal end that has a barrel tip 22 that has a passageway formed therethrough. An outer surface of the barrel tip or luer 22 can include features to permit fastening with a cap or other type of enclosing member. For example, the luer can have threads that permit a tip cap to be securely and removably coupled to the barrel tip 22 or to permit some other type of fitting or connector to be attached thereto. As previously mentioned, the term "medication" refers to a medicinal preparation for administration to a patient and most often, the medication is contained within the chamber 30 in a liquid state even though the medication initially may have been in a solid state, which was processed into a liquid state.
The syringe 10 further includes a plunger 24 that is removably and adjustably disposed within the barrel 20. The plunger 24 can draw a fluid (e.g., air or a liquid) into the chamber by withdrawing the plunger 24 from an initial position where the stopper is near or at the barrel tip or luer 22 to a position where the stopper is near the proximal end of the barrel 20. Conversely, the plunger 24 can be used to expel or dispense medication by first withdrawing the plunger 24 to a predetermined location, filling the chamber with medication and then applying force against the flange so as to move the plunger 24 forward within the chamber. It will be appreciated that while a syringe is one type of device that can be used with the transfer device of the present invention for containing a dose of medication, there are a number of other types of devices that can equally be used. Therefore, the discussion of syringe 10 is meant to be only illustrative and not limiting in any manner.
Typically, a drug is provided of the shelf in solid form within an injectable drug vial that is initially stored in a drug cabinet or the like. To prepare an injectable unit dose of medication, a prescribed amount of diluent (water or some other liquid) is added to the vial to cause the solid drug to liquefy. Mixing and agitation of the vial contents is usually required. This can be a time consuming and labor intensive operation since first it must be determined how much diluent to add to achieve the desired concentration of medication and then this precise amount needs to be added and then the vial contents need to be mixed for a predetermined time period to ensure that all of the solid goes into solution. Thus, there is room for human error in that the incorrect amount of diluent may be added, thereby producing medication that has a concentration that is higher or lower than it should be. This can potentially place the patient at risk and furthermore, the reconstitution process can be very labor intensive since it can entail preparing a considerable number of medication syringes that all can have different medication formulations. This also can lead to confusion and possibly human error and also is an opportunity for microbial contamination when performed by hand.
If the medication needs to be reconstituted, the medication initially comes in a solid form and is contained in an injectable drug vial and then the proper amount of diluent is added and the vial is agitated to ensure that all of the solid goes into solution, thereby providing a medication having the desired concentration. The drug vial is typically stored in a drug cabinet or the like and is then delivered to other stations where it is processed to receive the diluent. As is known, the drug vial typically includes a pierceable septum that acts as a seal and prevents unwanted foreign matter from entering into the drug vial so as to contaminate the contents thereof as well as keeping the contents safely within the interior of the drug vial when the drug is stored or even during an application. The septum is typically formed of a rubber material that can be pierced by a sharp transfer device to permit communication with the interior of the drug vial and then when the transfer device is removed the small piercing hole seals itself due to the material properties of the septum. The sharp transfer device is typically a sharp tip of a cannula and over time, repeated piercing of the septum by the sharp cannula point can result in a breakdown of the integrity of the septum. In other words, repeated piercing of the septum can result in the septum losing some of its sealing properties and thus, leakage, etc. becomes possible when the drug vial is mishandled or inverted, as it can be during drug preparation and agitation operations.
What is needed in the art and has heretofore not been available is a system and method for automating the medication preparation process and more specifically, an automated apparatus for reconstituting and then delivering a prescribed amount of medication to a syringe or the like and one which overcomes the foregoing problems and which ensures that the connection between the cannula or the like and the drug vial remains robust over time.

Device for reconstituting a drug vial and transferring the contents to a syringe in an automated matter


Aspects of the present disclosure relate to building volumetric data structures for intersection testing. For example, 3D data may be represented by points associated with triangles. The triangles may be rasterized to a 3D grid. Each cell of the grid may contain a set of triangles. The grid may be used to generate a new grid of larger grid cells, where each larger grid cell represents some portion of cells of the original grid. The triangle data from each new cell may then be encoded as a list of integers including the triangle data. The list of values may be run-length-encoded. The result is a single octree cube. This process may be repeated in order to generate additional octree cubes for the volumetric structure. The volumetric structure may then be used to identify triangles that intersect with a given ray.

An octree is a data structure that may be used to store and access three-dimensional ("3D") data. Octrees may divide the 3D data in to 8 sections or octants. Various 3D graphic and gaming systems use octree data structures. Triangle meshes are another data structure that may be used to store and access 3D data. In a triangle mesh, triangles are connected at their vertices to form a 3D representation of data. Triangle meshes may be used by various graphics and modeling systems.
A triangle mesh representing a large portion of the world, as in a map or virtual world, may encompass so much data that it is difficult for a single client machine to manipulate or use efficiently. In some example, large triangle meshes or a large virtual world may be divided into smaller portions which can be fetched, decoded, and drawn in realtime.

Accelerated three-dimensional intersection testing using compressed volumes


Techniques for creating a mosaic using user-created content on a content sharing site. Embodiments of the invention may provide an interface on the content sharing site to allow users to create content. Embodiments may then determine a suitability value between the user-created content and portions of a mosaic, and insert the user-created content into a particular portion of the mosaic based on the determined suitability value for the particular portion.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention relate to content sharing, and more particular, to generating a mosaic based on user-created content.
2. Description of the Related Art
Content sharing websites account for some of the most popular websites today. Generally, content sharing websites allow users to post content and share posted content with other users. For example, a user may upload a user-created video to a content sharing website, and then share the uploaded video with other users. Furthermore, a number of content sharing websites also allow users to create new content, which can then be shared with other users of the site. As an example, a content sharing website may enable users to create images using the website, and then share the created images with other users of the website.
Similar to other websites, content sharing websites have an interest in presenting content on their websites to users in an interesting way. One method of presenting a plurality of images is by building a mosaic using images from the content sharing website. Such mosaics may be created based on a reference image and in such a way that the completed mosaic resembles the reference image. For example, for a mosaic divided into a plurality of grid locations, each of the images used in the mosaic may occupy a portion of the grid. Images may then be inserted into the mosaic and arranged in such a way that the completed mosaic resembles the associated reference image.

Mosaic generation from user-created content


A mismatch shaped analog to digital converter. The novel analog to digital converter includes a first circuit for providing a plurality of reference voltages, a plurality of comparators adapted to compare an input signal with the reference voltages, and a second circuit for randomizing connections between the reference voltages and the comparators. The connections are randomized such that noise caused by mismatch errors is spectrally shaped according to a desired noise-shaping characteristic. In an illustrative embodiment, the second circuit includes a noise-shaping circuit comprised of a plurality of Delta-Sigma modulators for generating one or more control signals, and a router for connecting the reference voltages to the comparators in accordance with the control signals. The mismatch shaped analog to digital converter can be used within a Delta-Sigma modulator to shape noise caused by mismatch errors in the feedback digital to analog converter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to electronics and electrical systems. More specifically, the present invention relates to analog to digital converters.
2. Description of the Related Art
Analog to digital converters are widely used for converting analog signals to corresponding digital signals for many electronic circuits. For example, a high-resolution analog to digital converter (ADC) may find application in radar, missile, and communications systems. There are two basic techniques for performing analog to digital conversion: an open-loop technique and a feedback technique. An open-loop ADC generates a digital signal directly in response to an analog input signal. This approach uses precisely matched components (such as resistors and capacitors) to digitize the input signal. The resolution and accuracy of an open-loop ADC depend on a precise matching of these components. However, highly precise components are difficult to achieve using conventional integrated circuit processing techniques.
A Delta-Sigma (ΔΣ) ADC (also known as a Sigma-Delta ADC) is a feedback type ADC that subtracts a feedback signal from the analog input signal to provide an error signal. The error signal is filtered and then quantized to form a digital output signal. The Delta-Sigma approach achieves high resolution by precise timing instead of by precisely matching components as in open-loop converters. The Delta-Sigma technique is therefore the preferred technique for many applications.
A Delta-Sigma ADC typically includes a Delta-Sigma modulator and a digital filter. The Delta-Sigma modulator (also known as a Sigma-Delta modulator) uses oversampling (i.e., a sampling rate above the Nyquist rate) and filtering to develop a high signal-to-noise ratio in the signal band. The digital filter then attenuates the out-of-band quantization noise and decimates the signal to provide an N-bit data word at the Nyquist rate.
A simple Delta-Sigma modulator includes a quantizer, an analog filter, and a digital to analog converter (DAC). The quantizer generates a digital output signal in response to the filtered difference between the analog input signal and a feedback signal. The feedback signal is the digital output signal reconverted to analog by the DAC. The analog filter shapes the quantization noise to be higher at frequencies outside of the signal band. The ADC digital filter typically has a lowpass characteristic with a cutoff frequency at the Nyquist frequency. Since the sampling frequency is much higher than the Nyquist frequency, the filter can usually attenuate this out-of-band quantization noise sufficiently.
High resolution and low distortion can be achieved by using a single-bit quantizer inside the Delta-Sigma modulator. However, single-bit Delta-Sigma ADCs are less stable, suffer from more quantization noise, and require a higher oversampling ratio (OSR, the ratio of the sampling rate to the signal bandwidth). By replacing the single-bit quantizer with a multi-bit ADC inside the loop, the Delta-Sigma ADC can use a lower sampling rate to achieve the same resolution with much better stability. However, due to the mismatch of elements inside the feedback DAC, multi-bit Delta-Sigma ADCs suffer from the non-linear distortion of the feedback DAC, which leads to poor resolution and high distortion in the overall ADC output. The most commonly used solution to this problem is to randomize the mismatch by dynamically swapping the elements inside the feedback DAC using a noise-shaped DAC.
The noise-shaped DAC approach inserts an extra noise-shaping circuit between the internal ADC and the feedback DAC in a multi-bit Delta-Sigma modulator to randomize the connections between the ADC and the DAC to spectrally shape the conversion noise generated by the mismatched components. The conversion noise can then be removed along with the quantization noise by the digital filter of the Delta-Sigma ADC. This noise-shaped DAC solution can minimize the non-linear distortion and in-band noise very effectively. However, the extra noise-shaping circuit which is inserted between the internal ADC and the feedback DAC causes a delay and therefore degrades the overall ADC performance. With the extra loop delay caused by the noise-shaping circuit, the Delta-Sigma ADC becomes more unstable. It requires effort to stabilize the system at the expense of lower overall resolution.
Hence, a need exists in the art for an improved system or method for reducing noise due to mismatch errors in a multi-bit Delta-Sigma ADC.

Mismatch shaped analog to digital converter


A controller base unit for a DIN-standard installation wherein a molded base is provided with an internal chassis for support and a contour that permits the direct and releasable attachment of the unit to a DIN rail via a plurality of hooks that are simultaneously moveable between an engaged and non-engaged position. The base is provided with a recess in a planar face thereof for accommodating a printed circuit board and has fixed tabs along the periphery of the recess. The circuit board has cut-outs that mate with the tabs for insertion of the board into the recess and is slidable laterally into a position where the tabs secure the board against the surface of the recess and a screw or the like can secure the board against further lateral movement. The board has at both ends thereof a pair of connectors that are connectable with either end of a separate similarly designed board via a cable. With this board design, the length of cable connections between boards arranged horizontally, vertically, side-by-side, etc. can be minimized.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to controller base units for accommodating modules which have been modularized by function.
2. Description of the Background Art
FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a controller base unit known in the art for accommodating modules modularized on a function basis, e.g. a power supply module, a CPU module and I/O modules, in a programmable controller employed as a controller. FIG. 9 is a sectional view taken along the plane 9--9 of FIG. 8, and FIG. 10 a sectional view of the portion X of FIG. 8.
Referring to FIGS. 8, 9 and 10, a base unit 25 comprises a chassis 26 and a printed circuit board 27. The chassis 26 is a rectangular steel plate having a recess for accommodating the printed circuit board 27, as shown in FIG. 9 , and panel mounting holes 8 formed at the four corners of the chassis. The printed circuit board 27 includes an external connector 18 for connection of the base unit 25 to an extension base unit 30, described later; board 27 is installed in a recess of the chassis 26, as shown in FIG. 8 . The chassis 26 and printed circuit board 27 are secured by installation screws 7, as shown in FIG. 10. Numerous installation screws 7 are required to securely join the chassis 26 and printed circuit board 27.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a module 28 known in the art, having a DIN (Deutches Institut fur Normung) standard rail groove 9 for installation onto a DIN-standard rail. The module is made of a non-conductive material that provides protection for internal circuit components on a controller base unit and permits a non-conductive connection of the module to the DIN-standard rail. Hooks 29 on the module 28 are operative for installation of the module to and removal from the DIN-standard rail, each hook providing a single engagement with the rail. Screw holes 28B in the module 28 permit an optional panel mount of the module. The module 28 is an improvement over the base unit type controller shown in FIG. 8, which does not have a rail-mounting capability due to the cost of machining the base unit 26 and the conductive contact that would exist between the base unit 26 and the DIN-standard rail. The base unit 25 would be installed in the module 28 to provide desired controller functions.
FIG. 12 is a sectional view taken along the plane 12--12 of FIG. 11, wherein 13 indicates a tool. Referring to FIG. 12, a right-hand end of a hook 29 accepts the tip of the tool 13 and is provided with a recessed step. The tool 13 can not extend through the hook 29 but can be moved from side-to-side on the drawing (as indicated by the arrows), using the corner 28A of the module 28 as a support. The module 28 is kept pressed toward the DIN rail, i.e. to the left, by springs (not shown). The module 28 is released from the DIN rail when the hook 29 is moved to the right by the tool 13 and is secured in its original position when the tool 13 is released from the hook 29.
FIG. 13, FIG. 14 and FIG. 15 show examples of arrangements of the base unit 25 and an extension base unit 30, which has no independent power supply module. FIG. 13 is a vertical installation arrangement diagram, FIG. 14 is a horizontal installation arrangement diagram and FIG. 15 is an arrangement where horizontal and vertical installations are mixed. In the Figures, "PW" indicates a conventional power supply module, "CPU" a conventional CPU module, "I/O" a conventional I/O module, and 23 and 31 conventional power/signal cables.
Referring to FIG. 13, only the printed circuit board 27 includes a PW module and a CPU module, no such modules are on the extension base unit 30. The PW of the board 27 outputs to 0V and 5V power supply line patterns and the CPU connects to signal line patterns. The power and signal lines extend on the board 27 to an I/O module and an external connector 18, designed for connection to the cable 23. The extension base unit 30 has no PW or CPU but does have I/O modules with I/O connectors and external connectors 21A and 21B. Conventionally, both of the external connectors 21A and 21B on the extension base unit 30 are on one side of the unit, as shown. As in the base unit 25, the extension base unit 30 has similar power and signal line patterns extending among its connectors 21A, 21B and I/O connectors.
The base unit 25 and extension base unit 30 are connected by the cable 23, extending from the external connector 18 to the external connector 21A.
FIG. 14 shows an embodiment of the horizontal arrangement of the base unit 25 and extension base unit 30, wherein the base unit 25 and extension base unit 30 are connected by a cable 31 extending from external connector 18 to connector 21A.
FIG. 15 shows an example where extension base units 30 are both horizontally and vertically installed. Base unit 25 and a first of several extension base units 30 are connected by a cable 31 which extends from the external connector 18 to external connector 21A. Extension base units 30 may be connected with each other by cable 31, extending from an external connector 21B to the external connector 21A of the next horizontal extension base unit. A vertical connection may be made by a long cable 31A or a short cable 23 from connector 21B of one unit to connector 21A of another unit.
The background art arranged as described above has the following disadvantages:
1. The chassis 26 is made of steel plate and has limited accuracy of shape, dimensions, etc.
2. The base unit 25 is built for panel mounting only and is not suitably designed for both panel mounting and DIN rail mounting because the chassis 26 is made of steel plate. DIN rail mounting is possible only with a DIN-standard module 28.
3. A DIN-standard module 28 may require more than two hooks 29 for a secure but releasable attachment to the DIN rail. However, if more hooks are added, it becomes extremely difficult to unlatch a plurality of hooks 29 conveniently.
4. The installation and removal of the printed circuit board 27 to and from the base unit 25 requires a relatively large number of steps because of the many installation screws 7.
5. For the I/O modules installed on the extension base unit 30 and supplied from the power supply module installed on the base unit 25, a voltage drop (cable resistance x suppression of currents consumed by the I/O modules of an extension base unit 30) exists across the cable 31, which is long in the horizontal arrangement. The voltage drop cannot be ignored and prevents the use on the extension base unit 30 of I/O modules having a large current consumption.
It is accordingly an object of the present invention to overcome the disadvantages in the background art by providing a controller base unit designed both for panel mounting and DIN rail mounting.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide ease of installation to a panel and installation/removal to/from a DIN-standard rail.
It is yet another object of the invention to provide the design of a printed circuit board and chassis that are easily assembled.
An additional object of the invention is to provide a design for an extension base units that are connectable by employing comparatively short cable.


A method for determining availability of requested services in a client/server-based network, in which each of a plurality of client terminals is connected to a file and/or application server via a wireless network.

The present invention generally relates to the field of service provisioning in wireless networks. Service discovery information needed for determining the availability of requested remote services in a wireless multi-hop network can be replicated by supporting service users to select the closest service provider offering a requested remote service at a network distance in the physical proximity of the respective user's client terminal that can be reached with a minimum of forwarding delay.
Today, distributed network environments offer a rich set of services to the users. Besides classical services, such as those offered by printers or local gateway routers, new types of services are becoming available. Examples include music-on-demand services and services which use computational infrastructure that is being deployed within the network. Enabling these devices and services to work together has become an important issue. Especially with the widespread use of new personal network-enabled mobile devices (such as PDAs and 3G telephones) and the emergence of near-ubiquitous communication infrastructure based on wired and wireless networks, it is becoming increasingly important to allow users and applications to interact with existing services without considerable need to configuration or administration. The key requirement for such a scheme is to enable services to advertise their existence and properties and also allow service users to discover the service they need and utilize it. These tasks are addressed by service discovery protocols. While service discovery technologies were originally developed for so-called "zero-configuration" networks (e.g. networks aimed at installation in the home environment), researchers began to investigate how they can also be used to support aspects of mobile and ubiquitous computing.
Service discovery protocols, which enable service providers to advertise capabilities to potential clients, thereby providing to clients and service providers a means for entering into a relationship, play a key role in mobile and wireless networks. Protocols addressing service discovery include e.g. IETF's Service Location Protocol (SLP), Sun Microsystems's Jini, Bluetooth's Service Discovery Protocol (SDP), Salutation—a nonproprietary service discovery protocol which is currently utilized by several shipping products—and the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) protocol. To understand the central idea of the present invention, it is necessary to briefly describe conventional service discovery mechanisms and protocols that are used for determining the availability of requested services in a distributed network environment. In the following section, the Bluetooth Service Discovery Protocol (SDP) is described representative of all the aforementioned commonly used protocols.
A Bluetooth-enabled personal area network may consist of large-sized multi-hop networks in which mobile devices can communicate not only via the master with other mobile devices located in a single piconet but also with mobile nodes which can be reached over a multiplicity of intermediate nodes. Mobile devices are thus able to communicate and use services provided by other mobile devices or infrastructure systems. To allow mobile terminals to use these services, service providers have to publish all available services together with some basic configuration information, and service users have to be equipped with means for searching these services and selecting a specific service provider. The Bluetooth Service Discovery Protocol thereby defines how a Bluetooth client's application shall act to discover services offered by a directly connected Bluetooth SDP server and their characteristics. The protocol defines how a client terminal can search for a remote service based on specific attributes without knowing anything about the availability of said service.
In general, service discovery mechanisms can be grouped into peer-to-peer- and network-based mechanisms. As described in section E from version 1.1 of the Bluetooth core specification (http://www.bluetooth.com/pdf/Bluetooth—11_Specifications_Book.pdf), which refers to the Bluetooth Service Discovery Protocol (SDP), peer-to-peer-based service discovery mechanisms can be used between two devices which are connected via a physical link, thereby using a Bluetooth data-link-layer protocol as e.g. the Logical Link Control and Adaptation Protocol (L2CAP). Thereby, one peer which acts as a client and one peer acting as a file and/or application server establish a direct radio link to detect and select a specific service. Typically, the following steps are carried out: First, an SDP client conducts a Bluetooth inquiry to detect active Bluetooth nodes in the radio range of the client terminal. After that, the service user (SDP client) selects one of the detected devices and opens an L2CAP channel on a well-known protocol/service multiplexer (PSM). An SDP client sends an SDP message to the service provider (SDP server) to check the availability and configuration information for known services or browse a service database on the SDP server as shown in FIG. 1. Depending on the scenario and the availability of the services, the node acting as an SDP client finally establishes a connection to the respective device to use the service or start a new service discovery procedure on another node.
As described in the specification of the Universal Plug and Play (UPnP) standard (http://www.upnp.org), network-based service discovery mechanisms can be used between two or more devices communicating via a broadcast or multicast medium such as a segment of an Ethernet-based local area network. In some wireless personal area technologies such a medium is emulated by means of wireless multi-hop networks which are based on a store-and-forward messaging principle, i.e. Bluetooth Personal Area Networks (PANs), as described in "Bluetooth Personal Area Networking Profile". In this specification it is described how two or more Bluetooth-enabled devices can form a mobile ad-hoc network and how the same mechanism can be applied to access a remote network through a network access point. Thereby, the SDP client sends a service discovery message to the broad- or multicast medium. All SDP servers, which want to offer a specific service, listen to these messages and match the requested with the offered services. If a match is found, the relevant service provider sends a message to the client indicating the address of the service provider and the offered service.

Distance-aware service discovery mechanism for determining the availability of remote services in wireless personal area networks


This invention relates to a catalyst for removal of nitrogen oxides in an exhaust gas by adding ammonia to the exhaust gas and hydrogenating catalytically wherein said catalyst is in a two-layered structure comprising a lower layer which is a molded article consisting of components having denitration activity covered with an upper layer which has a abrasion resistance lower than that of the lower layer and which is a coating of particulate components having 2 peaks in its particle size distribution within the range from 0.1 to 50 .mu.m.

The present invention relates to a catalyst for removing nitrogen oxides contained in a combustion exhaust gas such as a boiler exhaust gas, especially nitrogen oxides contained in coal combustion exhaust gas.
As a method of removing NOx generated from boilers and various combustion furnaces for the purpose of controlling air pollution, selective catalytic hydrogenation in which a catalyst is used to effect catalytic decomposition into nitrogen and oxygen while adding ammonia gas to an exhaust gas is applied widely to gases, oils and coal.
In the denitration method mentioned above, especially when employing current catalysts applied to the coal combustion exhaust gas, a problem that deposition of calcium and arsenic dusts contained in the exhaust gas causes time course reduction in the catalyst performance is experienced.
The reduction in performance as mentioned above causes disadvantage of frequent replacement of a large amount of catalyst, and accordingly a catalyst having a higher and long lasting performance when compared with the current catalysts is desired.
It is known that the causes for the degradation of the catalysts is the deposition of compounds contained in the dust of the exhaust gas such as calcium and arsenic onto the surface of the catalyst, which results in masking of catalytic active metals and preventing the reactive gases such as NOx and NH.sub.3 from diffusing into the internal area of the catalyst. Since the dust is deposited in a major amount within the depth of about 50 .mu.m from the surface of the catalyst, the durability of the catalyst is considered to be improved by means of coating a component which is worn out gradually as the dust is deposited on the catalyst surface whereby exposing a new surface sequentially.
Accordingly, we invented a two-layered denitration catalyst comprising a lattice catalyst layer as a lower layer covered with a coating as an upper layer having a abrasion resistance against dusts which is lower than that of the lower layer (Unexamined Japanese Patent Application 7-120997). However, since the abrasion resistance of the upper layer coating became extremely low with a certain particle size distribution and the upper layer is worn out instantly when the two-layered catalyst is exposed actually to an exhaust gas, the catalyst suffered from the disadvantage that the dust deposition is not satisfactorily be suppressed. Thus, in such two-layered catalyst, it is important that the abrasion resistance of the upper coating layer should appropriately be high but lower than that of the lower lattice catalyst layer.


An around-view image processing method comprises: generating a first around-view image signal obtained by image synthesis using image information acquired from a plurality of cameras; generating a second around-view image signal obtained by image correction using image information acquired from the plurality of cameras over a predetermined period of time; and outputting the second around-view image signal or outputting the first around-view and second around-view image signals. When the first around-view and second around-view image signals are output, the around-view image processing method may further comprise selecting one image signal from the first around-view and second around-view image signals, and outputting the image signal selected from the first around-view and second around-view image signals.

Vehicles are all apparatuses traveling by driving wheels for the purpose of transporting people or freight. A general example of the vehicle may include an automobile.
Vehicles may be classified into internal combustion engine vehicles, external combustion engine vehicles, gas turbine vehicles or electric vehicles, according to the type of a used motor.
Electric vehicles use electricity as an energy source to drive electric motors, and may be classified into electric vehicles, hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEV), fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs), etc.
Recently, for safety and convenience of drivers or pedestrians, smart vehicles have been actively developed and commercialized. The smart vehicles are state-of-the-art vehicles combined with information technology (IT), which not only introduces an advanced system of the vehicle itself but also provides optimal traffic efficiency through linkage with an intelligent transportation system. Specifically, the smart vehicles maximize safety and convenience of drivers, passengers and pedestrians, by performing automatic driving, adaptive cruise control (ACC), obstacle detection, collision detection, precise map provision, settings of routes to destinations, provision of locations of main places, etc.
As a device for maximizing safety and convenience of drivers, passengers and pedestrians, an around-view control device is attracting attention.
The around-view control device provides an around-view image of a vehicle using a camera, and a driver may look around the vehicle in real time through the around-view image.
Since the around-view image is generated by synthesizing images acquired by cameras in different directions, matching between adjacent images is very important.
However, if various external environmental factors (e.g., people riding, external shock, aging, etc.) are changed during driving or a camera or a device for controlling the camera is replaced, matching information is changed, thereby disabling matching between adjacent images. Disabling matching means mismatching.
When mismatching between images occurs, a correction operation is required. The same problem may occur in vehicle released without the correction operation.
In the related art, after a correction pattern is placed on the ground, the correction operation is performed by comparing a measured value obtained from the correction pattern with a reference correction pattern.
However, in the related art, in order to perform the correction operation, since the correction pattern is placed in a row on both sides of the ground and then the measured value is obtained from the correction pattern while the vehicle travels, a wide space is required. In addition, since an operator needs to place the correction pattern on both sides of the ground whenever the correction operation is performed, it may be difficult to automate the correction operation.
In addition, in the related art, when the correction operation is necessary, a driver has to go to a service center, thereby causing cumbersomeness. Therefore, since many drivers use around-view images having borders distorted by incorrect information without visiting service centers, accidents may be caused due to misjudgment of drivers.

Around-view image control device and around-view image processing method therefor


The invention relates to a load-carrying component that makes it possible to support a vehicle cross-member or module carrier on the floor region of the body of a motor vehicle. The load-carrying component serves to attach an air conditioning unit and is connected to as least one casing part of the air conditioning unit such that the load-carrying component and the casing create at least one channel through which conditioned air flows into the passenger compartment of the vehicle.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a load-carrying component in the interior of a vehicle that makes it possible to support a vehicle cross-member or module carrier on the floor region of the vehicle body. In some cases such load-carrying components themselves, apart from supporting the rails carrying various apparatuses, function to support or mount different accessory parts in vehicles, particularly to mount casings of air conditioning units.
2. Related Technology
The cockpits of modern vehicles are equipped with a plurality of different apparatuses required to enable the vehicle to be operated in a roadworthy condition and according to the approval, as well as to meet the continuously growing demands of comfort and technical development. Requirements of weight and cost reduction and constraints going back to competition of providing higher levels of maintenance and assembly friendliness, accompany the increasing complexity so that all components have to be permanently designed. Permanent perfection of the vehicle body, and accessories connected to it, is extremely important within this development.
Especially different horizontal structural members, which may be equipped with a plurality of prepared possibilities to receive apparatuses or components to be mounted, have become established in vehicle engineering, whereby the structural members are frequently supported on a tunnel arranged along the vehicle longitudinal axis in the floor region of the vehicle body. Not only the assembly possibilities, but also strength and safety aspects, determine the design of those structural members.
Main casings of air conditioning units, together with the components contained in them (such as evaporator, temperature control or door system, heating heat exchanger and, if present, additional heater and air filter) are usually positioned approximately in the vehicle center above the vehicle tunnel and below the instrument panel. As a rule they are mounted to a vehicle cross-member designed as a structural connection of both A-pillars of the vehicle body. In most cases, the vehicle cross-member is supported by tunnel supports in the region of the vehicle center because, with a view to avoiding unnecessary material expenditure, it is dimensioned so that it is unable to bear the loads of those big assembly units without additional support. In the state-of-the-art, for strength and design reasons, the tunnel supports are positioned immediately adjacent to the main casing of the air conditioning unit integrated in the vehicle and, additionally, may be designed to hold the air conditioning unit. In many cases the air conditioning unit is one of the most voluminous assembly units in the front region of the cockpit. In the course of growing demands on the technical performance of air conditioning units in a continually reduced mounting space, the concept of tunnel supports arranged on the sides cannot be kept any longer.
It has been found that the integration of the air conditioning unit between two vertical tunnel supports involves partly considerable disadvantages. The tunnel supports fixed in the vehicle divide the mounting space available in the front region of the cockpit into three zones, whereby this division cannot be later changed. Because the legroom in the front region of the vehicle is desired to be as large as possible, the tunnel supports are mostly arranged such that they are positioned very close to the main casing of the air conditioning unit. In this way, they do not unnecessarily project into the footspace of the driver or passenger excessively limiting their legroom. The configuration close to the main casing, however, involves the disadvantage of restricted freedom for assembly. In addition, the mounting space available to insert the air conditioning unit is unalterably limited on both sides by the tunnel supports. Adaption to subsequent casing shape changes, changed division of the space or later installation of casings with different geometry, is expensive, if possible at all.
In the state-of-the-art, different approaches are known to utilize the strength resources of the installed air conditioning units when configuring the concerned vehicle body portions.
It is known, for example, to functionally integrate the outside of the casing of the air conditioning unit into the load-bearing structures at the front border of the passenger compartment (U.S. Pat. No. 6,231,116 B1). Such a solution, however, requires high adaptation efforts if installation in different body types is planned.
Further, it is known to support the weight of the air conditioning unit at several mounting points in order not to excessively load the vehicle cross-member (U.S. Pat. No. 6,351,962 B1). It may be a problem to adapt this solution to different geometries.

Load-carrying component for supporting of a vehicle cross-member


A method and apparatus for accurately determining TDC in a cylinder of an internal combustion engine. Gas pressure is measured in the cylinder relative to crank angle, giving rise to a curve of gas pressure with crank angle. An offset is found by first computing the angular position of an inflexion point of the compression pressure curve measured as a function of the crank angle, and then computing the offset as the difference between the angular position of a piston in the cylinder and a theoretical value for said angular position of the piston dependent on a known or measured flywheel angle. The value of TDC corrected by the offset is then used to calculate a value of work output such as the Indicated Mean Effective Pressure (IMEP) which may be used for diagnostic and/or control purposes.

Many methods exist for controlling operation of a combustion engine. In particular, measurements of pressure from one or more cylinders of an engine are commonly used as a basis for engine performance measurement, monitoring and for control of an engine.
One area of use for continually measuring pressure sensors is in very large combustion engines which are operated at relatively low revolutions per minute. Such motors are used for example as ships engines and as stationary engines for driving electrical generators and gas compressors. However engine monitoring and control is also increasingly applied to smaller engines of the type such as those used in ordinary vehicles such as cars, trucks and buses.
Because of the growing demands for reduced consumption of fuel and continually increasing environmental demands on the chemical composition of exhaust gases the requirement to monitor the operation of combustion engines has increased. Misfiring influences exhaust gas chemical composition and can also negatively influence the working life of a combustion engine. With the help of continuous measurement misfiring and other factors affecting engine performance can be detected and action be taken to ensure proper functioning is regained.
A difficulty in the calculation of work output, IMEP of a cylinder is to determine accurately a crank angle for a piston together with the pressure corresponding to that crank angle. Generally crank angle of a given piston is calculated from a measurement of the angular position of the crankshaft of the engine (crankshaft angle), as it is difficult to measure the piston position directly in the cylinder during operation. The crankshaft angle is usually obtained by an independent measurement of the angular position of the flywheel (flywheel angle) relative to a known position such as a timing mark, according to known methods.
Top dead centre (TDC) of a piston in a cylinder may be determined mechanically according to known methods by measuring with, for example, a capacitive sensor or a position transducer in an engine at rest. Another method includes shutting off fuel to a given cylinder of a motor during operation, measuring the cylinder pressure, and estimating the position of TDC in that cylinder from an expected symmetry of the measured pressure curve. In this method a maximum of the symmetrical pressure curve indicates TDC, although that indicated maximum point may contain thermodynamical errors. A principal disadvantage with both of these methods is that they do not provide for determination of TDC in a motor under normal operation.
A method and apparatus described in JP 9329049 discloses that a value for IMEP may be calculated dependent on measured cylinder pressure and known crankshaft angle, and that such a value may be used for control or regulation of fuel supply amount and ignition timing for a motor vehicle engine.
What is difficult in practice with most methods described is to determine accurately an angular offset that usually exists between the flywheel angle and the piston crank angle at a given moment in a revolution. In order to determine the offset it is usually considered sufficient to determine the flywheel angle in relation to a known position of the piston in the cylinder, and the position commonly used is the top dead centre position in the cylinder. The TDC position corresponds to a crank angle for a piston of 0 degrees.
However, the usual methods rely on a measurement based on a point marked at the periphery of the flywheel, which measurement typically depends on a position of a train of mechanically connected engine components in an engine at rest.
For instance in EP 742 359 A2, a method and apparatus for controlling the operation of an internal combustion engine is described. In this description the crankshaft angle is measured by a sensor detecting gear teeth on a ring gear fixed to the flywheel of an engine.
However manufacturing tolerances of engine parts mean in practice that dimensions of parts vary somewhat from specified or expected dimensions. In addition in an engine under operation the dynamic interplay of stresses on components, free play clearances between mechanically connected components, friction and inertia of components means that the mechanical distances and relationships between components under operation may not be the same as distances and relationships between the same components at rest. The relative position of mechanically connected piston and a flywheel at rest does not provide a measurement of the relative position of the same piston and flywheel, as a basis for a computation of the crank angle during operation of an engine, to a degree which is sufficiently accurate for modern engine diagnostic systems or engine control systems.

Method to determine TDC in an internal combustion engine