A user inputs a retrieval query represented by a set of propositions using a modal operator through an interface. The retrieval query is passed to a document set gathering unit through a retrieval input unit. The document set gathering unit refers to an index, gathers a set of documents having a true proposition, and writes it to a work area. A similarity computation unit computes the similarity of the gathered set of documents and writes it to the work area. The retrieval result output unit refers to the work area, ranks the gathered sets of documents in consideration of a true/false value and a similarity, and the ranking result to the interface as a retrieval result. A common keyword extraction unit extracts a keyword for output from the ranked sets of documents, and outputs the keyword after adding a corresponding modal operator to the keyword to the interface.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an information retrieval (IR) apparatus, IR method, and a storage medium storing a program for realizing the process.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, it has been more and more popular to process and store document information using electronic appliances and storage media, and it has become common to share document information among a number of users. Normally, documents can be shared using a database. The database is normally stored in an external storage device. However, the storage capacity of an external storage device has been extended year by year, and the volume of documents to be stored in the database has become enormously large.
As a system of retrieving such a database, a Boolean IR system, a non-Boolean IR system, and a combination system of the two IR systems (hereinafter referred to as a combination system) are used.
In the Boolean IR system, a document (or a set of documents) containing a keyword is defined as xe2x80x98truexe2x80x99, and a document (or a set of documents) not containing a keyword is defined as xe2x80x98falsexe2x80x99, and a document (or a set of documents) whose logical expression inputted as a retrieval query is xe2x80x98truexe2x80x99 can be specified. The retrieval query can be a logical expression obtained by connecting a plurality of keywords using logical symbols such as AND, OR, NAND, etc.
The non-Boolean IR system is a user-friendly IR system aiming at allowing a common user to easily retrieve necessary data. Various methods are proposed by the non-Boolean IR system. For example, a method of retrieving data through a fuzzy IR system using a multi-value logic instead of a binary logic of xe2x80x98truexe2x80x99 or xe2x80x98falsexe2x80x99 (for example, the invention disclosed by the Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 06-162101 published by the Japanese Patent Office), a method of retrieving data in natural language text using an input device for receiving natural language text as a retrieval query not a logical expression (for example, the invention disclosed by the Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 03-130873), and a similarity retrieval device for ranking retrieval results in the natural language text and display them (for example the invention disclosed by the Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 03-172966) are proposed. Normal ranking retrieval is classified as a non-Boolean IR system.
As a combination system, a device for generating a logical expression for a Boolean IR system from natural language text (for example, the invention disclosed by the Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 10-134078 published by the Japanese Patent Office) is proposed.
In addition, a method for manipulating the ranking order in a ranking IR system, a IR system which assigns a hierarchical level for a ranked document (for example, the invention disclosed by the Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 09-153066 published by the Japanese Patent Office) is proposed. This system analyzes a syntax called xe2x80x98functional unitxe2x80x99 in a user-inputted sentence, and sets up a hierarchy for each functional unit.
However, the above described conventional IR systems and the ranking IR system have the following problems.
First, in the Boolean IR system, a retrieval query is evaluated by two values xe2x80x98truexe2x80x99 and xe2x80x98falsexe2x80x99, thereby applying a strict retrieval condition to the retrieval query. Therefore, it is difficult for a user to appropriately generate a retrieval query specifying a desired document (or a set of documents). There also has been the problem that a user has to be well-trained in generating the retrieval query.
In addition, in the non-Boolean IR system and the combination system, the similarity between a retrieval query and a document is determined by a system, and a user cannot easily change the similarity. To solve the problem, a IR system (for example, the invention disclosed by the Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 07-225772 published by the Japanese Patent Office) which is provided with a device through which a user can input the weight between keywords to reflect the intention of the user in the retrieval has also been proposed. However, the final weight of keywords is determined by the similarity computation mechanism in a IR system. As a result, there is the possibility that a retrieval result deviates from the intention of the user.
Furthermore, according to the invention disclosed by the Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 09-153066 published by the Japanese Patent Office, there has been the problem that the functional unit of a user-inputted sentence does not always match the functional unit of a relevant document.
As described above, since a retrieval query is evaluated by two values xe2x80x98truexe2x80x99 and xe2x80x98falsexe2x80x99 in the Boolean IR system, the retrieval condition is strict, and a user has to be well-trained to effectively use the IR system. In addition, to solve problem with the Boolean IR system, the non-Boolean IR system and the combination system are designed to determine the similarity between a retrieval query and a document by each system, and the user cannot easily change the ranking order of documents. Furthermore, there is the problem in the non-Boolean IR system using a natural language that the current natural language processing technology is not completed, and cannot sufficiently analyze the intention of a user only according to the information in a natural language.
The above described problems with the conventional technology can be summarized as follows.
1) Since a complicated retrieval query should be generated to appropriately perform a document retrieving process in the Boolean IR system, it takes a long time for the user to become skillful in using the system. In other words, a beginner user cannot sufficiently utilize the system, and only a skilled user can effectively use the system.
2) In a simple non-Boolean IR system, the occurrence number of a keyword determines the similarity. Therefore, there is the possibility that a document not requested by the user may change ranking order.
3) Furthermore, the non-Boolean IR system has the following problems with user-input.
1. In the retrieval query in a natural language, detailed query cannot be performed for the similarity computation mechanism. Therefore, the retrieval query cannot be performed with the intention of a user sufficiently reflected.
2. In the IR system in which the weight between keywords is specified, it is necessary for a user to fully understand a similarity computation method used in the IR system. Therefore, a common user cannot easily use the system.
It can be recognized that the system of adding the weight between keywords cannot reflect the intention of a user because the adding of the weight does not apply to the feeling of a user. That is, in the conventional system, the influence of the weight specified by a user on the similarity depends of the designer of the IR system. When the concept of the designer is different from the recognition of the user, the user cannot specify the weight of a keyword which can sufficiently reflect the intention of the user.
In addition, in a normal similarity computation mechanism, the occurrence number of a keyword is an important factor for determining the similarity. However, the mechanism is not provided with a unit for determining whose similarity is higher, a document containing a larger number of types of keywords, or a document containing a frequently occurring keyword. However, the intention of a user determines which is prioritized between the above described two documents. Therefore, which between the above described two documents is prioritized depends on each retrieval query and each keyword, but there are no IR systems designed in consideration of this point.
The present invention aims at providing an IR system capable of describing data as correctly as the Boolean IR system without obtaining the knowledge about a complicated logical expression or knowing the designing concept of the IR system, and of easily reflecting the intention of a user in a ranking result.
Described below is each aspect of the present invention. According to the present invention, the word xe2x80x98a set of documentsxe2x80x99 refers to plural documents, and can refer to a single document. That is, an element of a set of documents is a document. A set of documents is a set of a single or a plurality of documents. A set can be empty, but an empty set of documents indicates that no documents corresponding to a retrieval query can be found in a document database when a document database is searched.
The information retrieval device according to the first aspect of the present invention is based on the information retrieval device for retrieving a document corresponding to a user-inputted retrieval query from a document database, and includes each of the following units.
An input unit is used to input a retrieval query represented by a proposition to which a modal operator used in a modal logic is added.
A document set gathering unit searches a document database, and gathers a set of documents having the proposition of the retrieval query as xe2x80x98truexe2x80x99.
A similarity computation unit computes the similarity of the gathered set of documents.
A retrieval result output unit hierarchically ranks the set of documents corresponding to the inputted retrieval query according to the result of the gathering by the document set gathering unit and the result of the computation by the similarity computation unit, and outputs the ranking result.
In the information retrieval device according to the first aspect of the present invention, a modal operator which is used in a modal logic is included in the description of a retrieval query to reflect the intention of a user in the retrieval query. In addition, a retrieval query can be more easily generated using a modal operator than a retrieval query in the Boolean IR system, and the load of the user required in generating a retrieval query can be successfully reduced. In addition, using a modal operator, the user can specify the weight for a keyword based on his or her own feeling. Therefore, the user can represent his or her intention in a retrieval query, and the system can obtain the intention of the user through the retrieval query.
Furthermore, a modal operator includes a necessity symbol for assignment of the necessity concept xe2x80x98true in the entire worldxe2x80x99 to a proposition, and a possibility symbol for assignment of the possibility concept xe2x80x98true in a certain worldxe2x80x99 to a proposition. The user limits a set of documents to be obtained as a retrieval result using a necessity symbol, and greatly affects the ranking order using a possibility symbol.
In addition, in response to the proposition in the inputted retrieval query, the retrieval result output unit determines the position of the set of documents in the hierarchy based on the numbers of true propositions and false propositions as an evaluation reference so that each set of documents obtained by the retrieval can be hierarchically ranked and presented to the user.
Furthermore, the retrieval result output unit ranks plural sets of documents positioned in the same hierarchy in order from higher in similarity so that the sets of documents can be further ranked in each hierarchy and presented to the user. In this case, the similarity corresponds to the occurrence number of a keyword gathered in a retrieval query.
In the information retrieval device according to the second aspect of the present invention further includes, in addition to each unit in the above described information retrieval device according to the first aspect of the present invention, a common keyword extraction unit for extracting a common keyword in each document in each set of documents ranked by the retrieval result output unit.
With the configuration, the information retrieval device according to the second aspect of the present invention can extract a keyword commonly contained in all documents obtained through the retrieval, a keyword commonly contained in all documents ranking high, a keyword commonly contained in all documents ranking low, etc. through the common keyword extraction unit regardless of the keyword contained in the user-inputted retrieval query.
In addition, the retrieval result output unit can add a necessity symbol to and output a keyword commonly contained in all documents, add a possibility symbol to and output a keyword commonly contained in all documents of ranking higher order, and add a possibility symbol and a negation operator to and output a keyword commonly contained in all documents of ranking lower order. Thus, the user can compare and check the user-inputted keyword with the keyword output from the system, and can select a candidate for a keyword to be next inputted.
The information retrieval device according to the third aspect of the present invention is based on the information retrieval device for retrieving a document database corresponding to a retrieval query inputted by the user from a plurality of document databases, and includes the following units.
An input unit is used to input a retrieval query represented by a proposition to which a modal operator used in a modal logic is added.
A document set gathering unit searches a document database, and gathers a set of documents having the proposition of the retrieval query as xe2x80x98truexe2x80x99.
A necessity/possibility condition discrimination unit discriminates a document database satisfying a condition prescribed by a modal operator added to the proposition based on the gathering result obtained from the document set gathering unit.
In the information retrieval device according to the third aspect of the present invention, a modal operator for use in the above described modal logic is introduced to the retrieval query for use in retrieving a plurality of document databases. Therefore, a document database for special use by the user, or a relevant document database not for special use can be discriminated. The database for special use can be a document database satisfying, for example, the necessity condition that the proposition is true in all stored documents. The relevant database not for special use can be a document database satisfying, for example, the possibility condition that the proposition is true in at least one of the stored documents.
The information retrieval device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention includes, in addition to the units contained in the information retrieval device according to the third aspect of the present invention, a retrieval result output unit for adding a modal operator to and outputting the name of the document database discriminated as satisfying the above described condition by the necessity/possibility condition discrimination unit.
Therefore, in the information retrieval device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, a user can be informed of a database for special use by the user by adding a necessity symbol to and outputting the name of the document database. Furthermore, the user can be informed of a useful relevant database not for special use by the user by adding a possibility symbol to and outputting the name of the document database.
An IR method according to the fifth aspect of the present invention includes the following steps (a) thorough (d) based on the IR method for retrieving a document corresponding to a user-inputted retrieval query from a document database.
(a) inputting a retrieval query represented by a proposition to which a modal operator for use in a modal logic is added:
(b) searching a document database, and gathering a set of documents containing the proposition of the retrieval query as xe2x80x98truexe2x80x99;
(c) computing the similarity of the gathered set of documents;
(d) hierarchically ranking and outputting the set of documents corresponding to the inputted retrieval query based on the gathering result of the document set and the computation result of the similarity.
The IR method according to the fifth aspect of the present invention has an operation and an effect similar to those of the information retrieval device according to the first aspect of the present invention.
The IR method according to the sixth aspect of the present invention is based on the IR method for retrieving a document corresponding to a user-inputted retrieval query from a document database, and includes, in addition to the above described steps (a) through (d) of the IR method according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, a step (e) of extracting a common keyword in each document of each set of documents ranked in the above described step (d).
The IR method according to the sixth aspect of the present invention has an operation and an effect similar to those of the information retrieval device according to the second aspect of the present invention.
The IR method according to the seventh aspect of the present invention is based on the IR method for retrieving a document database corresponding to a user inputted retrieval query, and includes the following steps (a) through (c).
(a) inputting a retrieval query represented by a proposition to which a modal operator for use in a modal logic is added;
(b) searching a plurality of document databases, and gathering a document database containing the proposition of the retrieval query as xe2x80x98truexe2x80x99; and
(c) discriminating a document database satisfying a condition prescribed by the modal operator added to the proposition based on the gathering result obtained in the step (b).
The IR method according to the seventh aspect of the present invention has an operation and an effect similar to those of the information retrieval device according to the third aspect of the present invention.
The IR method according to the eighth aspect of the present invention includes, in addition to the above described steps (a) thorough (c) according to the IR method according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, a step (d) of adding a modal operator to and outputting the name of the document database discriminated as satisfying the above described condition in the step (c).
The IR method according to the eighth aspect of the present invention has an operation and an effect similar to those of the information retrieval device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention.
The computer-readable storage medium according to the ninth aspect of the present invention stores a program for directing a computer to perform the process including the steps of:
(a) inputting a retrieval query represented by a proposition to which a modal operator for use in a modal logic is added;
(b) searching a document database, and gathering a set of documents containing the proposition of the retrieval query as xe2x80x98truexe2x80x99;
(c) computing the similarity of the gathered set of documents;
(d) hierarchically ranking and outputting the set of documents corresponding to the inputted retrieval query based on the gathering result of the set of documents and the computation result of the similarity.
The storage medium according to the ninth aspect of the present invention stores a program for realizing by a computer an operation and an effect similar to those of the information retrieval device according to the first aspect of the present invention.
The storage medium according to the tenth aspect of the present invention stores a program for directing the computer to perform, in addition to the process containing the above described steps (a) through (d) of the program stored in the storage medium according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, the step (e) of extracting a keyword common in each document in each set of documents ranked in the above described step (d).
The storage medium according to the tenth aspect of the present invention stores a program for realizing by a computer an operation and an effect similar to those of the information retrieval device according to the second aspect of the present invention.
The storage medium according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention stores a program for directing a computer to perform the process including the steps of:
(a) inputting a retrieval query represented by a proposition to which a modal operator for use in a modal logic is added;
(b) searching a plurality of document databases, and gathering a document database containing the proposition of the retrieval query as xe2x80x98truexe2x80x99; and
(c) discriminating a document database satisfying a condition prescribed by the modal operator added to the proposition based on the gathering result obtained in the step (b).
The storage medium according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention stores a program for realizing by a computer an operation and an effect similar to those of the information retrieval device according to the third aspect of the present invention.
The storage medium according to the twelfth aspect of the present invention stores a program for directing the computer to perform, in addition to the process containing the above described steps (a) through (c) of the program stored in the storage medium according to the eleventh aspect of the present invention, the step (d) of adding a necessity symbol to and outputting the name of the document database discriminated as satisfying the above described condition in the step (c).
The storage medium according to the twelfth aspect of the present invention stores a program for realizing by a computer an operation and an effect similar to those of the information retrieval device according to the fourth aspect of the present invention.

Apparatus and method for information retrieval, and storage medium storing program therefor


A network analysis method using an information processing device includes receiving packets from a wired network; extracting, from a set of the received packets, a delay packet that was received after at least a predetermined period of time had elapsed since an immediately preceding packet was received; and determining that a packet delay because of a control signal wirelessly sent from an access point coupled to the wired network has occurred, based on periodicity of a timing at which the delay packet was received.

Currently, wireless communication systems such as wireless local area networks (LANs) are widely used. In many wireless communication systems, access points (sometimes referred to as "base stations" or "radio repeaters") that perform wireless communication are coupled to wired networks that perform packet communication. Wireless communication devices such as mobile communication terminals wirelessly communicate with access points, so that the wireless communication devices are able to send packets through the access points to wired networks.
An access point sends (for example broadcasts) a control signal in such a way as to allow a wireless communication device to establish a connection to the access point or maintain the connection. Some control signals are periodically sent. For example, in a wireless LAN, an access point sends control signals called beacons at predetermined beacon intervals (for example, at 102.4 millisecond intervals). In this case, a wireless communication device periodically receives some or all of the control signals sent by the access point. If wireless communication between an access point and a wireless communication device is half-duplex communication, the wireless communication device will stop sending packets while receiving a control signal from the access point. Parameters for a control signal, such as the amount of data, transmission rate, and transmission period of a control signal, are sometimes able to be set for each access point.
A wireless LAN system in which a proxy server sends a probe packet to a wireless LAN device, measures a response time until a response to the probe packet returns, and estimates the beacon interval of a wireless LAN base station has been disclosed.
Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2007-151121 discloses an example of the related art.

Network analysis method, information processing device, and storage medium


Various aspects of the subject technology relate to methods, systems, and machine-readable media for multi-path transmission control protocol (MP-TCP) proxy tunneling. The method includes reading a first multi-path transmission control protocol (MP-TCP) information from at least one first MP-TCP header, the at least one first MP-TCP header included in a first MP-TCP subflow, the first MP-TCP subflow included in a first MP-TCP session. The method also includes encapsulating the first MP-TCP information in a second MP-TCP session, the second MP-TCP session different from the first MP-TCP session. The method also includes sending the first MP-TCP information through the second MP-TCP session.

The Internet is today mostly known for the vast amount of information and applications offered to its users. However, at its core, the Internet is an interconnection of networks. A simplified view of the Internet architecture is that it includes endpoints (e.g., clients and/or servers) and routers. Routers connect subnets together, allowing the flow of communications from one subnet to the other. A router may connect to two or more subnets. Endpoints connect to one or more subnets, and can communicate directly to other endpoints on the same subnet. Endpoints can also communicate to endpoints on other subnets through appropriate routers.
Most organizations connected to the Internet have a set of Local Area Networks (LANs) supporting the physical locations of the organizations and a set of Wide Area Network (WAN) links connecting those local networks to each other and to the rest of the Internet. A simple setup would be a family having a local Wi-Fi router, the various devices connecting to the Wi-Fi router, and the Wi-Fi router connecting to the Internet via a DSL or Cable connection.
A large company may have multiple physical locations and branches. Each location or branch has a set of LANs. In a traditional configuration, all the branches and locations connect to a few central locations using dedicated WAN links (e.g., usually multiprotocol label switching (MPLS)), and the few central locations connect to the Internet using some WAN links.
In one or more implementations, not all of the depicted components in each figure may be required, and one or more implementations may include additional components not shown in a figure. Variations in the arrangement and type of the components may be made without departing from the scope of the subject disclosure. Additional components, different components, or fewer components may be utilized within the scope of the subject disclosure.

Multi-path transmission control protocol (MP-TCP) option tunneling for MP-TCP proxies

Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP


Disclosed herein are a highly uniform spandex and process for making such spandex. More particularly, the polyurethaneurea of which such spandex is prepared has both dialkylurea and cycloalkylurea ends, wherein a chain terminator composition includes a dialkylamine such as diethylamine and a cylcoalkylamine such as cyclohexylamine.

1. Field of the Invention
The disclosure relates to a highly uniform spandex and to a process for making such spandex. More particularly, the polyurethaneurea of which such spandex is prepared has both dialkylurea and cycloalkylurea ends, wherein a chain terminator composition includes a dialkylamine such as diethylamine and a cylcoalkylamine such as cyclohexylamine.
2. Description of the Related Art
U.S. Pat. No. 6,503,996 discloses a spandex composition having high uniformity. This composition includes alkylurethane ends from a monoalcohol chain terminator and a monoalkylurea chain terminator. The monoalcohol must be added to the polyol and isocyanate during the preparation of the capped glycol, rather than with the monoalkylurea chain terminator due to the relative rates of reaction.


An improved reed valve assembly for a compressor (10) includes a substantially annular reed tip support seat (36) which nonconcentrically surrounds a round discharge port (32). The radial width of the support seat (36) varies continually from a greatest width nearest the distal edge of the reed tip (24') to a least width diametrically opposed thereto. The greatest width is sufficient to support the reed tip (24') in the area where it needs the greatest support, but is narrower everywhere else, so as to reduce contact area, noise and opening resistance.

Automotive air conditioning compressors of either the piston or scroll type generally use reed-type, one-way refrigerant flow control valves, especially as discharge valves. A flat valve plate separates a gas compression chamber from a discharge chamber, with one or more round refrigerant discharge ports opening between the two. An elongated flat, spring steel reed has a base fixed to the valve plate and a tip overlaying the discharge port. Positive pressure forces the reed tip up and away from the valve plate surface to admit pressurized refrigerant vapor through the port and into the discharge chamber, but reverse flow is prevented as the reed snaps quickly back down over the port. A rigid, upwardly bent stop resting over the reed limits its opening height. The undersurface of the reed tip must make complete contact with the valve plate surface, all around the discharge port edge, in order to provide a good back flow preventing seal. However, it has been found that if the entire undersurface of the reed tip contacts the surface of the valve plate, it can tend to stick to the surface and not open quickly enough. Furthermore, the slapping noise of closing contact may be excessive. Therefore, it has been common practice for years to recess an annular channel concentrically around the port, greater in diameter than the reed tip, leaving a relatively narrow reed tip support seat surrounding the port.
Referring first to FIGS. 1 through 3, a typical example of the type of prior art discharge reed valve referred to above is illustrated. A compressor housing 10 has a compression space 12 segregated from a discharge chamber 14 by a flat discharge plate 16. A round, sharp-edged discharge port 18 opens through plate 16, with an exemplary diameter of 8.5 mm. One-way only refrigerant vapor flow through port 18 is assured by a conventional, flexible reed, indicated generally at 20. Reed 20 is a thin (0.4 mm), resilient spring steel member which is symmetric to a dotted line length axis A with an effective length of approximately 15.5 mm. A base 22 is riveted to plate 16, and a generally circular tip 24 concentrically overlies the discharge port 18, with a diameter of approximately 11.5 mm. Tip 24 could be straight on the sides, and rounded only at the distal edge, and is in some designs, but works in the same way. A rigid stop 26 of corresponding size overlies reed 20, so that the tip 24 is limited in how far away from the port 18 it can flex when lifting in response to a positive pressure between chamber 12 and 14. A negative pressure differential, in conjunction with the reed 20's own tendency to return to its flat condition, causes it to slap down against the surface of plate 16 to close port 18, passively creating a one-way only flow through port 18. In order to reduce the noise of the reed tip 24, slapping down shut, as well as to reduce the "stiction" resistance to its opening, the surface of plate 16 located below the reed tip 24 and surrounding port 18 is largely recessed by a concentric annular channel 28 having an outer diameter of approximately 13.6 mm, greater than the reed tip diameter 24 of 11.5 mm, and an inner diameter of approximately 10.1 mm, less than the reed tip 24 and approximately 1.6 mm greater than the discharge port 16. Formation of the channel 28 leaves a narrow, annular support seat 30 completely and concentrically surrounding port 16, with a constant radial width W1 of approximately half the diameter difference, or 0.8 mm all the way around. The channel 28 assures that most of the undersurface of reed tip 24 makes no surface contact as it slaps shut, reducing engagement noise. Conversely, the circumferentially complete surface of seat 30 assures complete sealing around port 16, but provides a reduced contact surface area to stick to the undersurface of tip 24 and retard its lifting and opening. The surface area of seat 30 must still be large enough to support the tip 24 against bending or "cupping" as it slaps down, however. Otherwise, reed tip fracture could occur, especially near the distal edge, where the forces and speed of closing are greatest.
Other approaches to reducing sticking include shot peening or other surface treatments and roughening around the edge of the discharge port. However, these are more expensive and difficult to control than the simple expedient of forming an annular channel. While the resulting, constant width annular support seat created by the channel works, it would be desirable to further optimize it, if possible, to further reduce engagement noise and opening resistance, while still providing adequate reed tip support.

Air conditioning reed valve support seat


Positioning and centering device, system, and method comprises a pointer having a flat-surface portion and able to be chucked in a cutting-bit holder, together with a thickness gauge mounted relative to a template holder cross member having a positioning and centering hole therein, a centering line on an associated workpiece cutting table, an adjustable fence and scale combination, and a guide-bearing shaft collar, wherein the method comprises inserting the pointer into the router chuck, adjusting the template holder, and the router pinned to the template holder, and through a center hole of a template, to align the pointer with the workpiece table centering line, using the thickness gauge to determine a workpiece thickness midpoint, using the fence and scale combination to center the workpiece on the table, and using the locking collar to enable easy re-location of the guide bearing relative to the tapered template on a subsequent workpiece.

As shown in FIGS. 1A-D, a router 10 (as shown in FIG. 5) has been commonly used with a pattern or jig 12, 14, 15 to follow a shape or a form. Some jigs have used a bit-mounted guide bearing 16 to follow the shape, and some jigs have used the base of the router, or a collar around the bit, to follow the inside or outside of a pattern. These have all been one-to-one ratio router guide systems where the pattern 12, 14 has been the same size, or has allowed the same travel, as the desired carved or cut pattern or shape in the workpiece.
A Hybrid PantoRouter™, such as a PantoRouter™ 49 shown in FIGS. 5 and 16-18 (otherwise known as a pantograph-type router system), and other router systems, have used a router to make cuts in wood, plastic and soft metals. The bit 52 for such a router 49 typically spins at up to ˜24,000 RPM and is often difficult to precisely control using conventional, manually-operated, methods and commonly available jigs and templates. Templates and template holder systems available to date, such as those from JDS Multi-Tools or Rockler Woodworking and Hardware, have been manufactured and sold in fixed sizes and shapes and have not allowed the degree of fine adjustment provided by the present disclosure to compensate for slightly different router bit diameters, for example as may have been encountered from one bit manufacturer to another, to allow for desired glue space, or to compensate for different wood species. The manufacturer of the JDS Multi-Tools and Rockler Woodworking and Hardware jigs have offered different templates of slightly different sizes, but no other system has been provided by the prior art to allow simple micro-adjustment of a router like that of the present template system.
Pantograph-type router systems comprise a guide bearing that is adapted to follow along a template, and the position of such a guide bearing has been adjustable to varying depths relative to the tapered template to affect the positioning of the guide bearing relative to the template used to create, for example mortise and tenon, joints for joining wood members together. Despite the improvements represented by using tapered templates as otherwise described in previous related applications, this adjustment of the guide bearing of the pantograph-type router system has still been somewhat time-consuming and has required a certain amount of trial and error to set the depth of the guide bearing to an appropriate depth—therefore, the development of additional means and methods to further facilitate the accuracy and efficiency of cutting operations, such as are for example involved in creating joinery, would be desirable.
A common method of alignment of a workpiece on a mount or table has been to measure the thickness of the workpiece using a scale or caliper, after which the user, or operator, has moved the router or mount to center the desired joint or shape on the workpiece. A common method of fitting the joint has been to cut the mortise first then to have adjusted the size of the tenon for the proper fit. This common method has required trial and error to find the desired fit each time a similar joint has been cut. A prior method of aligning a template, or templates, so that they have been centered on a template holder, has involved a more time-consuming effort of attempting to center the template, or templates, on the template holder using a ruler and a straight-edge combined to assure that the template is located in the horizontal center of the template holder in order to facilitate greater uniformity of cuts and carves.
With these common methods, there have often been required more manual measuring, multiple test cuts, and fine-tuning before a cut has been accurately centered. Of course, a downside of such a system has been wasted material, more time-consuming measuring, uncertainty in the process of cutting, and this has also resulted in a final product that has frequently not been as precise as would otherwise have been desirable. This in turn has led to woodworking joints, for example, such as mortise and tenon, dovetail, and box joints, that have not been as durable and have not been as accurately-fitting as would otherwise have been desirable. To attain the same level of precision joinery as the presently claimed device or system would have taken much longer for set-up and multiple test cuts per earlier methods. And these prior more time-consuming, trial and error-type, methods have led to more time spent as cutting work has needed to be repeated for sometimes many of the same size or type workpieces, similar size, or similar type workpieces while making the same, or similar, sizes of cuts.
Thus, for example in the case of a production facility, users have been required in the past to cut many mortise and tenon joints for multiple same, or similar, workpieces even when using the same cutting bit. And in the past, even though such joints may have been cut using a template with the same taper, there has nevertheless been required a more time-consuming setup and test-cutting process for each piece. Thus, in the past users have had to use more trial and error to re-position the cutting system relative to each new workpiece, or to make another same, or similar, cut on a newly positioned workpiece, regardless whether the same cutting bit has been used or not.
One such prior trial-and-error method developed after the tapered templates of the co-pending parent patent application were invented, has involved using index marks on such a tapered template, in order to know better where to locate the guide bearing on the template.
With such prior trial and error methods, a user has simply made a larger cut tenon and has tested it against a previously cut mortise that had been cut using an appropriate-width bit (usually with a bit that was about the same width as the mortise). Since the thus-cut tenon was known to be larger than would have fit in the mortise, subsequent cuts by moving the guide bearing further along the taper, to achieve a slightly smaller tenon, have been tried and tested again with the mortise. This process was repeated until the tenon would have fit in the mortise. Unfortunately, however, with past such methods, the only known way to have known where to relocate the guide bearing on the template for a new cut, has been to align it with a previously-noted index mark on the tapered template (i.e., after the co-pending parent application was filed). And while this was preferable to some prior trial-and-error methods, it still has been less than ideal, since sometimes different template have been required for a similar tenon (for example for a wider tenon), since cutting bits have worn over time (sometimes requiring new setups), and since still other steps have been needed that would have been better eliminated (e.g., a step of aligning the guide bearing with an appropriate index mark on the tapered template for each new cut).
With the index marking placed along the taper on the templates, as developed after the co-pending parent application, the user was simply enabled in identifying the template marking at which a correct-sized tenon was cut (again through trial and error at least the first time through), so thereafter as long as the user was using a same-sized cutting blade from the same manufacturer, the user could thus be assured that putting the guide bearing at that same location on the template again would produce another same-sized, appropriately-fitting, tenon.
Further, while many prior art templates available today have been factory-supplied and are of good quality, nevertheless imperfections in such factory-supplied templates as shown at 18 on FIG. 1C, or in custom-made templates, have been transferred to the cut or carving at full scale. This in turn has provided a lower quality, less durable, or slower output in design and functionality than would otherwise have been desirable.

Positioning and centering device, system, and method for use with a template guidance system for a pantograph router


Since a MIST position is set to be positioned next to an AUTO position, when a control lever is operated from the AUTO position to the MIST position, the control lever can be so operated through one step without having to pass through another operation mode position, whereby by operating the control lever from the AUTO position to the MIST position to be held operative in the position, the wiper can be put in operation. In addition, by operating the control lever to stay in the AUTO position, the wiper can automatically be put in operation according to the amount of rain.

The present invention relates to an automotive windshield wiper switch which is used to operate a windshield wiper for removing rain drops adhering to the windshield of a vehicle.
Conventionally, there have been provided automotive windshield wiper switches having a MIST function as automotive windshield wiper switches. In, for example, a lever type of automotive windshield wiper switch, this MIST function functions such that when a control lever is operated to a MIST position to be held operative in the position, the operation of a wiper is allowed to continue, whereas when the holding of the control lever in the position is released, the control lever is returned to its original operation mode position and the operation of the wiper is stopped. Using this function, the user can put the wiper in operation only when the operation thereof is needed (refer to, for example, Patent Document No. 1).
Patent Document No. 1: JP-A-2003-276573
FIG. 6 is a drawing which shows the configuration of an automotive windshield wiper switch including the aforesaid type of MIST function. In the automotive windshield wiper switch shown in FIG. 6, a control lever 101 rotates about a rotating axis 102 as a rotating center with an OFF position acting as a base position, and when operated in a counterclockwise direction, the control lever 101 can be operated sequentially to an INT position, a LO position and a HI position in a stepped fashion, whereas when operated in a clockwise direction, the control lever 101 can be operated to a MIST position. In this case, the operation of a windshield wiper is stopped in the OFF position. The wiper is intermittently operated with a predetermined delay between wiper sweeps in the INT position, is operated continuously at low speed in the LO position, and is operated continuously at high speed in the HI position. In addition, as has been described above, in the MIST position, the wiper is operated only when the control lever 101 is operated to be held in this position.
On the other hand, in recent years, with a view to automating the operation and control of the windshield wiper, there have been provided automotive windshield wiper switch having a function to automatically switch on the wiper when a certain amount of rain is detected by providing a rain sensor which detects an amount of rain, for example, with a predetermined sensitivity (an AUTO function). According to the automotive windshield wiper switch having the AUTO function, by operating the control lever into an AUTO position (a position where the operation of the wiper is controlled to the AUTO function) even in such a state that there is no rainfall, the user can have the wiper automatically switched on to start its operation when it starts raining (a certain amount of rain is detected), whereas when it stops raining (no amount of rain comes to be detected), the user can have the wiper automatically switched off to stop its operation without the user switching it on and off every time it starts and stops raining.
FIG. 7 is a drawing which shows the configuration of an automotive windshield wiper switch including this type of AUTO function. Also, in the automotive windshield wiper switch shown in FIG. 7, a control lever 201 can rotate about a rotating axis 202 as a rotating center so as to be operated sequentially into respective operation mode positions in a stepped fashion. In the automotive windshield wiper switch having the AUTO function, the AUTO position is set to be positioned in the INT position in the automotive windshield wiper switch shown in FIG. 6. Here, the reason the AUTO position is set in the INT position shown in FIG. 6 is that the contact of the INT position can continue to be used as it is, in other words, no alteration is necessary for the other positions, and hence, no complexity has to be introduced, allowing the design to remain simple.
In an automotive windshield wiper switch in which the AUTO position is set in the INT position like the one described above, however, the following drawback will be caused. Namely, when the user wants to operate the wiper intentionally although not raining (for example, when the user attempts to remove dirt such as insects and dust which adheres to the windshield to thereby deteriorate the visibility of the user through the windshield), since the attempt can be attained by operating the wiper momentarily, it is considered that the user operates the control lever 201 into the MIST position where the wiper can be operated only while the control lever 201 is operated to be held operative in the position. As this occurs, in the event that the control lever 201 has been operated to be in the OFF position in advance, since the MIST position is set to be positioned next to the OFF position, the control lever 201 can be operated from the OFF position to the MIST position through one step, causing no problem with operability of the control lever 201.
However, in the event that the aforesaid attempt is tried to be attained with the control lever 201 having been operated to be in the AUTO position in advance, since the MIST position is set to be positioned next to the OFF position, that is, the OFF position is set to be positioned between the AUTO position and the MIST position, the user cannot operate the control lever 201 from the AUTO position to the MIST position through one step but has to operate the control lever 201 from the AUTO position to the MIST position via the OFF position through two steps, thus the user being forced to perform a troublesome operation.
Here, in case it is the user's practice to operate the control lever 201 to be in the OFF position, there occurs the aforesaid drawback in no case, however, with such a practice, the user cannot make effective use of the advantage of the AUTO function which can automatically control the operation of the wiper in accordance with the amount of rain.

Kabushiki Kaisha Tokai Rika Denki Seisakusho


The invention relates to genetically engineered soluble fusion proteins composed of human proteins not belonging to the immunoglobulin family, or of parts thereof, and of various portions of the constant region of immunoglobulin molecules. The functional properties of the two fusion partners are surprisingly retained in the fusion protein.

EP-A 0 325 262 and EP-A 0 314 317 disclose corresponding fusion proteins composed of various domains of the CD4 membrane protein of human T cells and of human IgG1 portions. Some of these fusion proteins bind with the same affinity to the glycoprotein gp120 of human immunodeficiency virus as the cell-bound CD4 molecule. The CD4 molecule belongs to the immunoglobulin family and, consequently, has a very similar tertiary structure to that of immunoglobulin molecules. This also applies to the α chain of the T-cell antigen receptor, for which such fusions have also been described (Gascoigne et al., Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. USA, vol. 84 (1987), 2937–2940). Hence, on the basis of the very similar domain structure, in this case retention of the biological activity of the two fusion partners in the fusion protein was to be expected.

Immunoglobulin fusion proteins, their production and use


An electronic device has multiple transmitters to transmit multiple signals. The electronic device also has a receiver to receive a signal. Moreover, the electronic device has a memory to store instructions and a processor to execute the instructions. The instructions cause the processor to send a test transmission signal from a transmitter of the multiple of transmitters, receive the test transmission signal at the receiver, and determine a gain of the test transmission signal. In response to determining that the gain is within a threshold range of an initial gain, the instructions cause the processor to send an indication that the receiver is operating as expected.

The present disclosure relates generally to wireless communication systems and, more specifically, to testing radio functionality of a wireless communication device.
This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present disclosure, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light, and not as admissions of prior art.
Many radio frequency (RF) transceiver devices are programmed to communicate on a range of frequencies and may be tuned to communicate on a particular frequency band. In particular, the devices may be tuned to communicate on an underutilized frequency band to offload device usage from more congested frequency bands. For example, the millimeter wave (mmWave) frequency band, which ranges from 30 GHz to 300 GHz, may be an underutilized frequency band at a higher end of the radio spectrum. Fifth-generation (5G) cellular systems use the mmWave frequency band to offload data traffic.
However, communicating on the mmWave frequency band may result in high energy loss since the wavelength of the mmWave frequencies is small, making the mmWave band generally more susceptible to atmospheric and environmental interference in comparison to communicating using lower frequency bands (e.g., 1.8 GHz used for cellular signals, and 2.4 GHz or 5.0 GHz used for Wi-Fi signals). Various antennas and beamforming techniques may be used to overcome the high energy loss. In particular, beamforming techniques involve spatially directing wireless data transmission over multiple antennas for receiving and transmitting data, forming dense directional arrays to overcome transient signal degradation. Beamforming may also utilize a time division duplexing (TDD) communication scheme, which allows transmission and reception of signals during different time intervals for each of the device's antennas.
Often, dual-polarized antennas may be used to facilitate simultaneous transmission and reception of signals. Dual-polarized antennas allow transmitting signals from an antenna on a particular polarity and receiving signals at the antenna on an opposite polarity during the same time interval. Thus, a device operating using beamforming may be able to send and receive data during the same time interval, increasing throughput. However, due to any variety of reasons (including aging of components, extreme environmental factors, and the like), the device may not operate as intended. Due to the number of components (including the numerous antennas for beamforming) and software executing on the device, it may be difficult to determine the source of unintended operation.

Systems and methods for radio frequency head validation via antenna coupling or signal reflection


A powder formulation for the administration of medically useful polypeptides, comprising a medically useful polypeptide with melezitose as diluent.

Polypeptide powders containing medically useful polypeptides and pharmaceutically acceptable carriers or diluents may be prepared for administration by inhalation or otherwise. Inhalable polypeptide powder preparations have been described in WO95/00127 and WO95/00128.
Diluents are commonplace in pharmaceutical preparations, especially in formulations for inhalation. They are used to stabilise various drugs during manufacture and storage and to adjust the amount of powder making up unit doses--in general, powder inhalers are capable of delivering a drug substance with good dose accuracy only for certain dose sizes, while different drugs have different potencies and must therefore be delivered in different amounts. As these amounts are often too small for proper dose accuracy to be ensured, diluents are added to give the desired dose size.
Previously, reducing sugars such as lactose and glucose have been used as diluents in polypeptide powder formulations. These however have a tendency to react with polypeptides and are therefore unsatisfactory.
It is suggested in WO95/00127 and WO95/00128, relating to polypeptide powders for inhalation, that non-reducing sugars such as raffinose, melezitose, lactitol, maltitol, trehalose, sucrose, mannitol and starch may be preferred additives for the polypeptide powders.
It has now been found that melezitose is an exceptionally good diluent compared with other possible non-reducing sugar diluents for polypeptide powder formulations, giving an unexpectedly high respirable fraction of powder when inhaled.

Powder formulations containing melezitose as a diluent


An apparatus (1) that measures the thickness of a thin film layer of a wafer (24), includes an extended light source that forms a diffuse polychromatic light beam. The extended light source includes a halogen lamp (10), a fiber optic light guide (12), a ground glass screen (19), and a condenser lens (16). The diffuse polychromatic light beam generated by this extended light source illuminates an entire surface of the wafer (24). The diffuse polychromatic light beam is reflected off the wafer (24) and passed through a spatial filter (26, 28) and a spectral filter (37, 38) so as to form a monochromatic light beam that is projected onto a detector array (31) of a charge coupled device (CCD) camera (30). The monochromatic light beam displays an interference fringe pattern image on the CCD camera detector array (31) which is the result of coherent interactions in the diffuse polychromatic light beam as it is reflected within the wafer structure (24). The interference fringe pattern image displayed on the CCD camera detector array (31) is captured by the CCD camera (30). The captured image is then converted to a map of measured reflectance data by a digitizing circuit (34) and a computer (36). This map of measured reflectance data is then compared to reference reflectance data to generate a map of the thin film layer thickness over a full aperture of the wafer (24).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for performing thin film layer thickness metrology and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method for performing thin film layer thickness metrology on a silicon/silicon dioxide/silicon (Si/SiO.sub.2 /Si) structured semiconductor wafer by illuminating the wafer with a diffuse light source.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In one particular application wherein the present invention is especially practical, a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) semiconductor wafer, typically consisting of an Si/SiO.sub.2 /Si sandwich structure, is fabricated by growing a silicon dioxide (SiO.sub.2) film on one surface of each of two silicon (Si) wafers and bonding the two silicon dioxide film surfaces together at high temperature. This fabrication process usually results in deformations in the shape of the SOI wafer that typically range from 50 to 100 microns. The SOI wafer then undergoes further fabrication processing, wherein an outer surface of one of the two silicon wafers in the sandwich structure is mechanically ground and polished to an average thickness of several microns. This mechanical grinding and polishing unfortunately results in large spatial variations in the thickness of this one silicon wafer, or this one outer silicon layer. These spatial variations can result in local slope variations of up to 1/4 of a degree along the surface of this outer silicon layer. To reduce these spatial variations, a thickness error map that indicates thickness non-uniformities in this outer silicon layer over the entire wafer surface is required, for example, to initialize a subsequent micropolishing process.
A sequence of measuring the spatial variations in the thickness of the outer silicon layer followed by thinning and smoothing the surface of this layer by micropolishing may need to be performed several times before the entire outer silicon layer achieves a desired thickness. In order to reduce costs and increase production, a measurement of at least 400 points on a wafer surface in 60 seconds is desirable.
Current commercial instruments, however, can typically provide a thickness measurement of a thin film layer at only a single point thereon. These instruments use a focused lens or a fiber bundle to locally illuminate a surface of the thin film layer with a beam of monochromatic light, and a grating or prism spectrograph to measure the surface spectral reflectance at each point. In all cases, this surface spectral reflectance data must be numerically corrected due to variations in the angle of incidence caused by the f-,, number of the illuminating beam.
These current commercial instruments may be extended to cover an entire thin film layer, such as an outer silicon layer of an SOI semiconductor wafer, by moving either the measuring instrument or the wafer in a controlled manner. However, the time required for these instruments to determine the thickness of an outer silicon layer of an SOI semiconductor wafer at a single point thereon is on the order of several minutes, and characterizing the entire outer silicon layer with at least 400 measurement points far exceeds the time desired for efficient wafer production. It is therefore desirable to perform thin film layer thickness metrology over an entire thin film layer, such as an entire outer silicon layer of an SOI semiconductor wafer, in an efficient, albeit an economical and highly accurate manner.

Apparatus and method for performing thin film layer thickness metrology on a thin film layer having shape deformations and local slope variations


An array substrate, a manufacturing method thereof and a display device are disclosed. The manufacturing method of an array substrate including: forming patterns including a thin film transistor, a gate wiring and a data wiring on the base substrate; the gate wiring and the data wiring are located in a PAD area; forming patterns of an insulating spacing layer, a first transparent electrode and a passivation layer, and forming a first via hole and a second via hole in areas corresponding to the gate wiring and the data wiring respectively to expose the gate wiring and the data wiring; a thickness of the insulating spacing layer in the PAD area on the array substrate is less than that of the insulating spacing layer in other areas. Therefore, the connection electrode can make better contact with the corresponding signal lines to avoid abnormal rubbing mura.

In recent years, with the increasing requirements on the display effect, the value of PPI (pixels per inch) of a liquid crystal display is increased continuously, so more pixels are needed to arrange in per unit area of the display screen, and correspondingly more wirings are needed. Accordingly, the capacitance and resistance among metal layers will be multiplied. Therefore, time delay and power dissipation become obvious, which will notably affect the usage of customers; moreover, it is contrary to the popular trend of energy conservation and environment protection nowadays. In order to decrease the capacitance between metal layers, it is needed to adopt a thicker insulating material with a lower dielectric constant. If the thickness of the inorganic insulating material prepared by CVD (chemical vapor deposition) method is increased, the requirements on production cost and process will become very high, and especially the technical problem brought by etching is hard to avoid. Meanwhile, the process time will be increased. So the yield will be affected to a large extent, and the competitive edge of an enterprise will be reduced. By contrast, selection of an organic insulating material brings about the obvious effects such as simple production process, lower cost, easy adjustment of thickness and decreased power dissipation. Meanwhile, the load of the common electrode is reduced and the undesirable greenish display will be improved.

Array substrate, manufacturing method thereof and display device

HEFEI BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.


A disk drive controller including a differential voice coil motor control function is disclosed. The differential voice coil motor control function includes an on-chip compensation network for the inner control loop, including a resistor formed of one or more MOS transistors connected in series. The gate of the MOS transistors in the compensation network is driven with a bias voltage based on a tuning current, where the tuning current is derived so that it varies with process and temperature variations of the integrated circuit, for example with variations in an on-chip capacitor. The on-chip compensation network can be tuned with sufficient precision to properly compensate the inner control loop to provide the desired frequency response in driving the voice coil motor in the disk drive.

This invention is in the field of motor control, and is more specifically directed to control of a voice coil motor in a disk drive system.
Magnetic disk drive technology is the predominant mass non-volatile storage technology in modern personal computer systems, and continues to be an important storage technology for mass storage applications in other devices, such as portable digital audio players. As is fundamental in the field of magnetic disk drives, data is written by magnetizing a location ("domain") of a layer of ferromagnetic material disposed at the surface of a disk platter. Each magnetized domain forms a magnetic dipole, with the stored data value corresponding to the orientation of that dipole. The "writing" of a data bit to a domain is typically accomplished by applying a current to a small electromagnet coil disposed physically near the magnetic disk, with the polarity of the current through the coil determining the orientation of the induced magnetic dipole, and thus the data state written to the disk. In modern disk drives, a magneto-resistive element is used to sense the orientation of the magnetic dipole at selected locations of the disk surface, thus reading the stored data state. Typically, the write coil and the magneto-resistive element are physically placed within a read/write "head".
In conventional disk drive systems, a spindle motor rotates the disk platters, and a "voice coil" motor moves an actuator arm on which the read/write heads are mounted, at a distal end from the motor. The voice coil motor thus moves the read/write heads to the track of the disk surface corresponding to the desired address. Conventional voice coil motors are servo-controlled, in that position indicators on the disk surface are sensed, and fed back to a control loop for adjustment of the position of the actuator arm to the desired location. Typically, an "outer" control loop compares the feedback position signal to the desired position of the actuator, and a torque command value is derived from a difference in these values. The torque command is used to produce a drive current to the voice coil motor that produces a motor torque to move the actuator arm in the desired direction. In conventional voice coil motor control circuits, an "inner" control loop is also included, in which the current applied to the motor is sensed, and applied to a feedback loop for control of this motor current.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional drive circuit for a voice coil motor in a disk drive system. VCM digital-to-analog converter (DAC) 22 receives a digital torque command signal TRQ_CMD from the "outer" servo control loop for the voice coil motor, and produces an analog signal via resistor 23 to the negative input of error amplifier 24, which receives reference voltage VREF at its positive input. The single-ended output of error amplifier 24 is applied to power amplifier 28, which generates differential output current iOUT at its output terminals T3 and T4. This output current iOUT is applied to motor M, which presents an impedance to power amplifier 28 in the form of an inductor Lm and a parasitic resistor Rm. Sense resistor 31 is included in the loop with motor M, and the voltage across this resistor 31 is sensed by sense amplifier 32, at terminals T5, T6. The output of sense amplifier 32 is applied to a summing node at the output of VCM DAC, via resistor 25. As such, the voltage across sense resistor 31 is applied as negative feedback to the desired torque signal at the output of DAC 22. When the circuit is in balance (i.e., current iOUT is equal to the desired current corresponding to the torque command signal TRQ_CMD), the voltage at the negative input of error amplifier 24 will equal reference voltage VREF.
As fundamental in the control system art, the impedance presented by motor M determines the response characteristic of this inner control loop. Specifically, the inductance Lm of motor M defines a "pole" in the frequency response of this loop, such that the response of the system varies with frequency, and defines a frequency at which oscillation can occur. As known in the art, compensation for the frequency response of the motor can be implemented into the control loop, so that the frequency response of the control loop can meet system requirements, and to avoid instability in operation. In the conventional circuit of FIG. 1, such compensation is realized by way of an R-C network connected across error amplifier 24. In this case, the compensation network includes capacitor 25 connected in parallel with the series network of resistor 26 and capacitor 27. The component values of capacitors 25, 27 and resistor 26 are based on the inductance Lm and resistance Rm of motor M, and on the desired bandwidth (i.e., frequency range over which the control loop has adequate response) for the operating frequencies of the control loop.
As well known in the control systems art, capacitor 27 serves as an integrator in the control loop, which provides higher gain at lower frequencies in the frequency response of the control loop. Resistor 26 flattens the response characteristic, to counteract the 90° phase shift (and corresponding reduced phase margin) inserted into the control loop response by integrating capacitor 27, improving stability. Capacitor 25 rolls off the response at high frequency, beyond the desired cutoff frequency.
As shown in FIG. 1, VCM DAC 22, error amplifier 24, power amplifier 28, and sense amplifier 32 (as well as passive components such as resistors 23, 25) are implemented into a single integrated circuit 20. For voice coil motor M of conventional size and impedance, the component values required for the compensation network of capacitors 25, 27 and resistor 26 is typically realized "off-chip", external to integrated circuit 20. As shown in FIG. 1, this compensation network is connected across terminals T1 and T2 of integrated circuit 20, which are connected to the input and output of error amplifier 24 as shown. Because these components are connected externally, their values can be selected with high precision, providing precise compensation. Conversely, if capacitors 25, 27 and resistor 26 were implemented "on-chip", their component values could vary by as much as 10-20%, which is not tolerable for reasonable compensation of modern voice coil motor control loops.
This conventional voice coil control circuit shown in FIG. 1 is referred to in the art as a "single-ended" control loop, in that the drive current is derived from a single-ended signal at the output of error amplifier 24, driving a single-ended input to pseudo-differential power amplifier 28. As such, the external compensation network can be realized by three external components across two external terminals of integrated circuit 20.
However, many technology trends now favor the use of a fully differential power stage to drive the voice coil motor in modern disk drive systems. The storage density of disk drives (measured in tracks per inch) continues to increase, which requires improved noise rejection capability for the voice coil motor control loop. In addition, the power supply voltage of disk drive controller electronics is also trending lower with continued miniaturization of disk drive systems and with the trend toward battery power, for example in disk drive-based portable digital audio players. This lower power supply voltage level reduces the linear swing "head room" of the control circuit. The use of a fully differential control loop (e.g., a differential error amplifier driving a differential power amplifier) will provide the desired rejection of noise coupling from the power supply, substrate, or other circuit functions, will decrease the total harmonic distortion in the control loop, and also requires one-half the linear swing "head room" of that required for single-ended motor drive as shown in FIG. 1.
However, implementation of conventional external "off-chip" compensation for a fully differential control circuit requires two sets of compensation components. Referring to FIG. 1, two instances of the parallel compensation network of capacitors 25, 27 and resistor 26 will be required for a fully differential stage. This of course requires twice the number of external components, and requires two additional integrated circuit terminal pins, as compared with the single-ended case. The additional expense in components and, more significantly, in pin count and circuit board space, can be prohibitive, especially in miniaturized systems such as digital audio players.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

On-chip compensation for a fully differential voice coil motor control


An operating device is provided which includes an instrument insertion conduit, having a distal end connectable to the operating channel input of a handle of an endoscopic probe, the proximal end of the instrument insertion conduit forming an instrument input for the operating device, a suction assembly comprising a suction conduit communicating with the insertion conduit and a control device for selectively connecting the suction conduit to a pump, to suck out fluids through the operating channel, and a connecting conduit putting the suction conduit into communication with the insertion conduit, and the length of which is such that when the operating device is fixed on the handle, the suction control device is positioned close to the control means located in a proximal part of the handle.

"Endoscopy" usually means a visual examination made inside an obscure cavity using an "endoscope", a "fibrescope", or a "videoendoscope".
The term "fibrescope" usually denotes a flexible endoscopic probe that is inserted into an obscure cavity so that a user can firstly observe a target located inside the cavity through a lens, and secondly modify the orientation of the distal end of the probe inside the cavity. To achieve this, a fibrescope naturally integrates an optical device, an illumination device and a mechanical device. The mechanical device of a fibrescope is composed of an articulated distal tip deflection, a control handle and four cables located inside a flexible cylindrical duct connecting the control handle to the articulated distal tip deflection. The fibrescope handle is provided with two manually controlled devices one of which acts on the pair of cables activating the orientation of the tip deflection in one plane, and the other acting on the other pair of cables activating the orientation of the tip deflection in a plane perpendicular to the previous plane. The optical device of a fibrescope is composed of an objective placed in the distal face of an end piece fixed to the distal end of the tip deflection, an optical transport system for the image output by the distal objective, the transport system being composed of a flexible beam of ordered optical fibers passing in sequence through the articulated tip deflection, the flexible duct and then in the handle and connecting the lens to the distal objective, and a lens with a dioptric adjustment fixed to the control handle that the user can use to observe the magnified image of the target located in front of the distal objective of the fibrescope and transmitted through the image optical transport system. The illumination device of a fibrescope is composed of a beam of unordered optical fibers passing in sequence in the articulated tip deflection, in the flexible duct, in the handle, and then in an umbilical cable fixed to the control handle. The distal end of the beam of fibers, housed in the distal face of the end piece fixed to the distal end of the articulated tip deflection, illuminates the observed target when its proximal end housed in an illumination end piece integrated into the connection device forming the proximal end of the umbilical cable, is connected to a light generator. Under these conditions, use of the fibrescope described above requires the joint use of a light generator.
The term "videoendoscope" usually denotes a flexible endoscopic probe that, when inserted in an obscure cavity, enables a user firstly to observe a target on the screen of a video monitor located inside the cavity and secondly to modify the orientation of the distal end of the probe inside the cavity. To achieve this, a videoendoscope naturally comprises an imagery device, an illumination device and a mechanical device. The illumination device and the mechanical device of a videoendoscope are identical to devices of the same nature integrated into a fibrescope and described above, in all respects. The imagery device of a videoendoscope comprises mainly the following elements:                an optoelectronic device housed in the distal end piece fixed to the distal end of the articulated tip deflection and comprising an objective housed in the distal face of said end piece, a color CCD sensor on the photoelectric substrate on which the real image of the observed target output by the objective is formed, and an interface microcircuit designed to correct electrical signals received or generated by the CCD sensor;        a multiconductor electrical cable routed in sequence through the articulated tip deflection, the flexible duct, the control handle and then the umbilical cable fixed to the control handle, the distal end of said cable being electrically fixed to the interface microcircuit of the distal optoelectronic device, while its proximal end is electrically fixed to a multipin connection socket integrated into the connection device forming the proximal end of the umbilical cable;        a video processor for synchronization of the electrical power supply of the distal optoelectronic device, processing of the electrical signal generated by the optoelectronic device, and outputting a video signal that is directly useable on a color monitor; the video processor with a panel of control keys enables the user to adjust the video image parameters, a video output connector that will be connected to a video monitor, and a multipin connector that will be connected to a multipin connection socket integrated into the connection device forming the proximal end of the umbilical cable of the videoendoscope.
Under these conditions, operation of the videoendoscope described above requires joint use of a video monitor and a light generator, the light generator often being associated with the video processor of the videoendoscope in the same box.
Fibrescope or videoendoscope type flexible endoscopic probes concerned by this invention and that will be used particularly for medical applications such as bronchoscopy, also have an operating channel composed of a flexible cylindrical pipe that passes firstly in the articulated tip deflection, in the flexible cylindrical duct, then in the distal part of the control handle of the endoscopic probes. The operating channel, the distal end of which is located on the distal face of the distal end piece of the endoscopic probes, is used to carry out all or some of the following operations:                introduction of a flexible instrument such as a clamp, an electrical surgical knife, or laser fiber, that the user can use to take physical action on the target located in front of the distal objective of the flexible endoscopic probe;        suction of tissue debris at the target generated by the work done above;        distribution of a liquid medicine product at the target.
These various operations can only be implemented if an operating device comprising the following elements is integrated into flexible endoscopic probes intended for this type of applications:                the flexible operating channel mentioned above;        a suction input fixed to the control handle and that will be connected to a suction pump through an external flexible pipe;        a control valve usually fixed to the control handle to enable the user to connect a suction input to the proximal end of the operating channel;        an instrument input fixed to the control handle and directly connected to the proximal end of the operating channel, the instrument input usually being provided with a removable silicone cap to seal the input and also to enable entry of a flexible instrument or the conical end piece of a syringe containing a product that will be injected into the operating channel.
The architecture of the operating device of flexible endoscopic probes that enable use of the above mentioned operations must satisfy ergonomic constraints and disinfection constraints at the same time.
Ergonomic constraints relate to access to functions for "suction control" and for the introduction of instrument(s) that must be located on the control handle so as to facilitate the operator's work.
Disinfection constraints apply equally well to fixed elements in the operating device integrated into the endoscopic probe, and removable elements external to said device. Said removable elements such as the suction control valve and the sealing cap, must be either disposable, or they must be removable so that they can be cleaned by brushing before being disinfected by immersion in a disinfecting bath, or even better by putting into the autoclave. It must be easy to clean fixed elements in the operating device such as the operating channel and the various connecting pipes rigidly fixed into the control handle, using cylindrical brushes before the endoscopic probe is fully immersed in a disinfection bath.
Flexible endoscopic probes for medical purposes enabling use of a suction control and an instrumentation input, in practice are based on two types of architecture.
The first architecture routinely used in flexible endoscopic probes enabling use of a suction control and an instrumentation input concerns probes like that shown in FIG. 1, in which the control handle 1 comprises two distinct accesses 41 and 45 to the operating channel 9 connected through a tubing 12, 13 integrated into the handle 1. The first of these accesses 41, located at the distal end of the control handle 1, applies to the instrument input. The second access 45, located at the proximal part of the handle 1, is fitted with a removable external suction assembly F, and includes the suction control 30 and a suction tubing 10 comprising a connection end piece to an external suction pump. This type of operating device was described by the Japanese Company OLYMPUS in U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,561 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,840,015. Another operating device of the same type was described by the Japanese Company OLYMPUS in U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,773 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,322,263. This type of device has also been used in fibrescopes in the FB series and videoendoscopes in the EB series made by the Japanese Company PENTAX, and fibrescopes in the 40 and 160 series made by the Japanese Company OLYMPUS. The implantation of the instrument input 41 and the suction control 30 of the suction device F at the ends of the control handle 1 of the flexible endoscopic probes based on this type of architecture, has an undeniable advantage in terms of ergonomy.
It is more ergonomic to use one hand to hold the handle 1 of the probe and possibly manipulate the suction control 30 of the suction assembly F, and to use the other hand to manipulate the operating instrument inserted into the instrument input 41 that is not close to the suction control 30.
However, integration of an internal tubing 12 and 13 into the control handle 1 to connect two inputs 41 and 45 to the operating channel 9 is undoubtedly a handicap in terms of ease of cleaning and disinfection.
It is very difficult, if not impossible, to disassemble this internal tubing 12, 13 from the handle to clean it. In this case, cleaning is usually done inside the control handle at the risk of leaving impurities in the Y branch formed by tubings 13, 12, 9, a location at which tissue debris are particularly likely to collect.
The second of these architectures concerns endoscopic probes like that described in FIG. 2, in which the control handle is provided with a single unique access to the operating channel, this access being equipped with an external operating device E1, that may be fully or partially removable depending on the models, and including the instrument input, the suction control and the connection end piece to an external suction pump. This type of operating device was described by the Japanese Company OLYMPUS in U.S. Pat. No. 4,198,958, U.S. Pat. No. 4,469,090 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,561,428. Another operating device of this type was described by the Japanese Company OLYMPUS in U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,732 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,794,913. This type of device has also been used in bronchoscopes in the FBS series made by the Japanese Company MACHIDA and in bronchoscopes in the 20 series made by the Japanese Company OLYMPUS.
Direct access to the operating channel that characterizes flexible endoscopic probes based on this type of architecture has an undeniable advantage in terms of the ease of cleaning and disinfection, since the external operating device can easily be disassembled from the handle of the endoscope.
However, this single piece removable operating device E1 is not very ergonomic to use, due to the proximity of the instrument input and the suction control.

Removable operating device for a flexible endoscopic probe for medical purposes


An adjustable wheel cover for aluminum alloy rims is revealed. A wheel cover is disposed with through holes corresponding to hollow holes of an aluminum alloy rim. A peripheral wall is extended axially from an inner surface of the wheel cover and along a periphery of each through hole. At least one assembly part is formed on the peripheral wall and an insertion slot for receiving a fixing part is arranged at the assembly part axially. The assembly part is disposed with a plurality of adjustment holes radially. A locking block on a spring of the fixing part is secured in the adjustment hole correspondingly. Thus the wheel cover can be adjusted flexibly to fit the aluminum alloy rims with production tolerances. The problem of unstable connection between the wheel cover and the aluminum alloy rim caused by unmatched size can also be solved.

1. Fields of the Invention
The present invention relates to an adjustable wheel cover for aluminum alloy rims, especially to an adjustable wheel cover for aluminum alloy rims that includes a moveable mounting flange for adjusting the position a wheel cover and an aluminum alloy rim being secured with each other so as to solve the problem of unstable connection between the wheel cover and the aluminum alloy rim caused by the unmatched size. Moreover, the wheel cover can be adjusted flexibly to fit respective aluminum alloy rim with different production tolerance.
2. Descriptions of Related Art
Cars are the most common transportation vehicles in daily lives. The transportation time is reduced by driving cars. Cars also provide shielding during days with bad weather. For running smoothly on the road, the car is disposed with a plurality of wheels. The rim that holds the wheel is the most important component for wheels. Among various rims, aluminum alloy rims are the most popular due to light weight and high strength. Compared with conventional grayish-black iron rim, the aluminum alloy rim is more aesthetics. Thus it is not necessary to use a wheel cover for modifying the appearance of the rim. For modified vehicle owners, they can still use stylish to cover an outer surface of the aluminum alloy rim for improving aesthetics or protection.
Refer to Taiwanese Pat. Pub. No. M275112 "aluminum alloy rim cover", a cover fit an aluminum alloy rim is revealed. The cover is disposed with through holes corresponding to hollow parts of the aluminum alloy rim. A peripheral wall is extended from an edge of the through hole toward an inner side of the cover. A flange is projecting from the edge of the peripheral wall. While assembling the cover with the aluminum alloy rim, the flange is mounted and locked into the hollow part of the aluminum alloy rim. Thus the cover and the aluminum alloy rim are connected and fixed to each other conveniently and firmly. The structure with such design is quite popular.
As to some aluminum alloy rims that are more classical or popular, many manufacturers create molds for mass production. Due to production tolerance, the length of the peripheral wall extended from the through hole of the cover is often not matched with the depth of the hollow part of the aluminum alloy rim. Thus the flange on the edge of the peripheral wall of the cover is unable to be mounted and locked with an edge on an inner end of the hollow part of the aluminum alloy rim precisely. This results in difficulty in assembling the cover with the aluminum alloy rim produced by different manufacturers. There is a decline in sales of the wheel covers.
Thus there is a room for improvement and a need to provide a novel design of the cover for the aluminum alloy rim that overcomes the shortcomings mentioned above.

Adjustable wheel cover for aluminum alloy rim


An implantable medical lead comprises an elongated body extending between a proximal end and a distal end, and a helical fixation member extending from the distal end of the elongated body. The helical fixation member is configured to fix the implantable medical lead at an implant site and includes a tip comprising a first surface generally facing a center axis of the helical fixation member.

The present invention relates generally to the field of implantable medical devices, and more particularly to a helical fixation member including a tip comprising a first surface that generally faces a center axis of the helical fixation member.
Implantable medical leads are used with a wide variety of medical devices to provide electrical and/or mechanical connections between the device and a location within a body. For example, implantable medical leads are commonly used with pacemakers, cardioverters, and defibrillators to provide an electrical connection between the device and an electrode positioned within or adjacent to the heart. Recently becoming more prevalent are implantable medical leads that are configured to advance from the right atrium of the heart, through the coronary sinus, and into a cardiac vein for sensing electrical activity in or providing electrical stimulation to the left ventricle of the heart. Advancing from the right atrium to the left ventricle is one of several applications that require fixation of an implantable medical lead parallel to endocardial surfaces.
For many applications, it is preferred that placement of the lead be fixed. One mechanism for actively fixing an implantable medical lead includes an electrode that is configured to wedge in cardiac tissue.

Implantable medical lead including a helical fixation member


In a method for manufacturing a multi-stage gear in which no gap is formed between a small-diameter gear and a large-diameter gear, there are included a first step of forming the small-diameter gear on an outer peripheral surface of a workpiece, a second step of forming a large-diameter gear part by plastically deforming an end portion of the workpiece to increase the diameter thereof, and a third step of forming the large-diameter gear by cutting the large-diameter gear part.

A multi-stage gear is produced by forming a large-diameter gear and a small-diameter gear different in diameter on an outer peripheral surface of a workpiece. The multi-stage gear is used as a pinion or a sun gear mainly for use in a transmission of a vehicle. To be concrete, it is used as a gear for a transmission of an AT car, MT car, or CVT and also for an engine.
FIG. 11 shows a multi-stage gear 300 in Patent Document 1, which is a conventional art. As shown in FIG. 11, the multi-stage gear 300 includes a small-diameter gear 301 and a large-diameter gear 302, and formed with a center hole 304 through the center. Further, a gap or interval 303 is formed between the small-diameter gear 301 and the large-diameter gear 302.
The multi-stage gear 300 is produced in such a manner that a material is formed into a shape approximate to a final two-stage gear having two-staged outer periphery by hot forging in a first step. In a second step, the small-diameter gear 301 and the large-diameter gear 302 are formed by cold forging. Successively, the small-diameter gear 301 is subjected to teeth cutting by use of teeth cutting blade. For this purpose, the gap 303 has to be formed in order to avoid the blade from hitting the large-diameter gear 302.
One of the multi-stage gears is a divided gear consisting of a large-diameter gear and a small-diameter gear which are separate members. This divided gear is produced in such a way that the large-diameter gear and the small-diameter gear are made of separate members, and then they are joined together into a one-piece divided gear.

Method for manufacturing multi-stage gear, and multi-stage gear