In the generation of MR angiography images of a predetermined three-dimensional volume segment of a living examination subject using means a magnetic resonance system, MR data in the volume segment are acquired by radial acquisition of k-space. The MR data are analyzed in order to subdivide the MR data into groups, with each group including only the MR data that correspond to a specific heart beat phase of the heat of the examination subject. MR angiography images are generated based only on the MR data of one of these groups.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a method to generate MR angiography images, as well as a correspondingly designed magnetic resonance apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
As is known, the generation of MR angiography images takes place either by injecting a contrast agent before the acquisition of the MR data, or injection of a contrast agent is foregone. In methods in which the injection of the contrast agent is foregone, the data acquisition is conventionally assisted by activation of an EKG (electrocardiogram). Using this EKG activation, in the data acquisition it is known whether the corresponding MR data are acquired during the arterial phase or during the venous phase of the heart. The arterial phase is the phase in which the heart pumps the blood in the arteries. The venous phase is the phase in which the blood is directed back to the heart via the veins.
It is known that a series of problems results from the detection and post-processing of the EKG signal. For example, injection of the RF signals (generated by the magnetic resonance system) into the EKG hardware lead to false activation signals by the EKG hardware. Moreover, a variable heart beat (arrhythmia) of the patient leads to problems in the data acquisition because, in this case, the point in time of the data acquisition is frequently associated with the wrong phase. Furthermore, a delay time must be allowed dependent on the distance that the blood vessels to be examined are from the heart. Finally, EKG activation signals and the corresponding arterial or venous phase have only slight correlations at distal segments of a vascular tree, such that the EKG activation signals do not optimally coincide with the respective phases given existing deviations of the physiology of the patient from the norm.

Method and magnetic resonance system to generate angiography images


According to one embodiment, a magnetic memory comprises an electrode, a memory layer which is formed on the electrode and has magnetic anisotropy perpendicular to a film plane, and in which a magnetization direction is variable, a tunnel barrier layer formed on the memory layer, and a reference layer which is formed on the tunnel barrier layer and has magnetic anisotropy perpendicular to the film plane, and in which a magnetization direction is invariable. The memory layer has a positive magnetostriction constant on a side of the electrode, and a negative magnetostriction constant on a side of the tunnel barrier layer.

Recently, a magnetic memory (MRAM: Magnetic Random Access Memory) is attracting attention as a nonvolatile memory that can be programmed an infinite number of times. The MRAM includes an MTJ (Magnetic Tunnel Junction) element using the tunnel magnetoresistive effect as a memory cell.
The MTJ element has a structure in which a plurality of ferromagnetic layers are stacked with a tunnel barrier layer being interposed between them. In the MTJ element, an electric current flows by tunneling through the tunnel barrier layer. In a data write operation, the magnetization directions in two ferromagnetic layers are relatively reversed into a parallel state or anti-parallel state by supplying a write current. In a read operation, the change in resistance value in the parallel state or anti-parallel state is detected by supplying a read current. More specifically, binary data is detected by a current value by regarding that the anti-parallel state in which the resistance value is maximum is a "1" state, and the parallel state in which the resistance value is minimum is a "0" state. In the MRAM, the time required for magnetization reversal is very short. Therefore, the access time of data read/write operation can be made shorter than that of a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory).
The MRAM is expected as a nonvolatile large-capacity memory capable of high-speed read, and presumably used in a relatively severe environment such as a mobile memory of a mobile apparatus or a main memory of a personal computer.
Unfortunately, the MRAM has the problem that the read/write characteristics largely change (deteriorate) with respect to the temperature because data read/write is performed by controlling the magnetization directions in the ferromagnetic layers. Especially when the temperature decreases, the magnetization reversing energy of the ferromagnetic layer increases due to the magnetostriction effect. Consequently, the write characteristic at a low temperature is inferior to that at room temperature. This makes it necessary to study an MRAM having high reliability even when the temperature changes.

Magnetic memory and method of manufacturing the same


A dolly system for moving and disposing of garbage includes a frame assembly, and a holder assembly coupled to the frame assembly. The frame assembly may include a pair of rails. The frame assembly can rest on a surface (for example, on wheels for the frame assembly.) The frame assembly can be declined (for example, tilted back wheels). The holder assembly includes a carriage and a holder coupled to the carriage. The holder can hold a garbage container. When the frame assembly is declined, the rails of the frame assembly may form a ramp for the holder assembly. The carriage of the holder assembly can slide up and down on the rails of the frame assembly. The holder is movable relative to the carriage (for example, by tipping the holder) to empty contents out of the garbage container when the carriage is in a raised position on the ramp.

1. Field
The present invention relates generally to systems, devices, and methods for moving and disposing of garbage. More particularly, the present disclosure relates to a dolly system for moving garbage in a garbage container and unloading the garbage from the garbage container.
2. Description of the Related Art
In many industrial, commercial, and residential settings, significant amounts of trash and garbage need to be disposed of. Garbage is often first loaded into relatively small containers, emptied into successively larger containers, and then transferred to a receiving container or platform, such as a dumpster, garbage-hauling vehicle, or trailer.
In many cases, the opening for a dumpster or vehicle to receive the garbage is many feet above the ground. For example, a dumpster may be in the form of a large open box with sides several feet high. Similarly, the bed of flat-bed truck to receive a load of garbage may be several feet off the ground. Moving garbage to the receiving container and unloading the contents may be labor-intensive and difficult. Also, the lifting of the containers may be increase risk of injury by the personnel performing disposal.

Garbage moving dolly and unloading system


A current control circuit controls a current from a current drawing circuit to which a primary coil of a transformer is connected. A first N channel transistor has a source connected to the current drawing terminal and has a body diode that directs a current from the source to a drain. A second N channel transistor has a drain connected to the drain of the first N channel transistor and a source connected to a ground. The second N channel transistor has a body diode that directs a current from the source to the drain. The first and second N channel transistors are turned on to direct a current from the current drawing terminal to the ground via the first and second N channel transistors. The first and second N channel transistors are turned off to stop the current from the current drawing terminal. Further, the body diode of the first N channel transistor inhibits current flowing from the ground to the primary coil of the transformer.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a current control circuit that controls a current flowing through a primary coil of a transformer, and in particular to a current control circuit that prevents a reverse current induced by a back electromotive force exerted by the primary coil of the transformer.
2. Related Art
CCFLs (Cold Cathode Fluorescent Lamps) are widely utilized for liquid crystal backlights. As CCFLs must be supplied with an alternating current, typically a primary coil of a transformer is supplied with an alternating current to cause the CCFL connected to a secondary coil to emit light. Accordingly, a circuit is required which supplies an alternating current to the primary coil of the transformer.
An example configuration of such a circuit is a push-pull amplifier as shown in FIG. 3. In this circuit, a P channel transistor Q1 is provided between a power source VDD and an output terminal. A diode SBD and an N channel transistor Q2 are arranged between the output terminal and a ground. The transistor Q1 is turned on, while the transistor Q2 is turned off, to allow a current from the power source VDD to flow out from the output terminal. The transistor Q1 is turned off, while the transistor Q2 is turned on, to allow a current to be drawn from the output terminal.
The primary coil of the transformer is connected to the output terminal, and the CCFL is connected to the secondary coil. Thus, by supplying a predetermined alternating current to the primary coil of the transformer, it is possible to allow the CCFL connected to the secondary coil to emit light. A drive circuit for the CCFL is described in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. 2002-289385.
In such a circuit as described above, if the transistor Q2 is turned on or off, a relatively high reverse voltage is applied to the diode SBD. On the other hand, when the transformer Q2 is turned on, a relatively large current flows through the circuit. In, for example, a backlight for a liquid crystal display in a portable apparatus or the like, a peak current is often at least 10 A. Thus, a Schottky barrier diode (SBD) is normally employed as the diode SBD. However, as heat or resistance from the diode SBD is disadvantageous, the diode SBD must have a large size. For example, the diode SBD must be of, for example, an SMP (Surface Mount Package) class. This is disadvantageous in terms of space and also disadvantageously increases costs.


A mask for a semiconductor device includes a frame having an opening therein, a membrane film formed on the frame, and a patterned light shield formed on the membrane via an interlayer. To form the mask, an interlayer is formed on a first silicon layer, and a second silicon layer is formed on the interlayer. The second silicon layer is selectively etched to thereby form a plurality of openings therethrough, and a light shield is formed in a corresponding one of the openings. The remaining second silicon layer is removed, and a predetermined region of the first silicon layer is etched to expose the interlayer therethrough. A membrane film is formed on an entire lower surface of the resultant structure, and a predetermined region of the interlayer is etched to expose a predetermined region of the membrane film.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a mask employed in a lithographic process, and more particularly, to an improved mask for making a semiconductor device and fabrication method thereof.
2. Background of the Related Art
FIGS. 1A through 1E illustrate a related art mask fabrication method applicable to an X-ray lithography for making a semiconductor device. As shown in FIG. 1A, on an upper and lower surface of a silicon substrate 11, a membrane film 12 formed of such material as SiN.sub.x or SiC is formed. On the upper membrane film 12, an absorber film 13 formed of a light-shielding material such as Au, W or Ta is formed. An oxide film 14 formed of SiO.sub.2 is formed on the absorber film 13.
Referring to FIG. 1B, a photoresist film 15 is coated on the oxide film 14 and patterned. As shown in FIG. 1C, using the patterned photoresist film 15 as a mask, the oxide film 14 and the absorber film 13 are sequentially etched to form the patterned oxide film 14 and absorber film 13, respectively and then the patterned photoresist film 15 is removed. The patterned absorber film 13 serves as a mask against an X-ray lithography.
As shown in FIG. 1D, the central portions of the substrate 11 and the lower membrane film 12 are removed so as to expose a lower surface of the upper membrane film 12 therethrough. Finally, as shown in FIG. 1E, on the remaining lower surface of the lower membrane film 12, a glass frame 16 is attached to complete the related art mask fabrication.
However, the mask fabrication method according to the related art requires follow-up steps after forming the membrane film 12, such as forming the absorber film 13 and removing a central portion of the substrate 11 for completing the mask fabrication. A distortion is caused by a variety of stresses inflicted on the thinly formed membrane film 12 during the follow-up steps. Further, when the absorber film 13 is etched, a stress caused by plasma tends to deteriorate the mask structure, which results in an image displacement on a wafer serving as a lithographic object when an X-ray exposure using the related art mask is performed.

Mask for making a semiconductor device and fabrication method thereof


The present specification relates to a film for compensating for a viewing angle, which comprises a base substrate; a pattern layer; and an optical layer, and in which the pattern layer has a first surface comprising a flat surface and a second surface facing the first surface, and the second surface comprises a plurality of protrusions comprising a curved surface, thereby improving a contrast ratio and a viewing angle and decreasing a color band phenomenon, and a polarizing plate comprising the same, and a display device comprising the same.

A liquid crystal display device has been widely used in mobile phones or small portable electronic devices, and in large electronic devices, such as personal computers and televisions, and a flat panel display is one of the use of the liquid crystal display device that is gradually expanded.
As the use of the display device is expanded, a place where the display device is placed and a location thereof are diversified, but there is a problem in that a flat panel display cannot obtain a clear image when viewed from a direction other than the front of the display. Particularly, in the case of a display for a vehicle, a location of the display and the driver's eyes are not parallel, so that there is a problem in that a clear image cannot be obtained from the driver's field of view.
Accordingly, in order to solve the problem, the development of a display device which is capable of improving a viewing angle and a contrast ratio is required.

Viewing angle compensation film, polarizing plate including same, and display device including same


Methods for lowering hypertension, elevated total cholesterol, elevated glucose and insulin, elevated IGF-1, elevated triglyceride levels, and/or elevated CRP levels, and elevated liver fat without negatively affecting or lowering the levels of these markers/factors in subjects with already low levels of these markers are provided. A method for elevating stem cells and regeneration and anti-inflammatory agents is also provided. Finally, a method for treating metabolic syndrome is also provided. A hypocaloric or calorie free diet or a fasting mimicking diet is administered for a first time period to the subject to reduce blood pressure or the levels of the above markers/risk factors for aging and age-related diseases.

Growth hormone (GH)/Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF-1) signaling exerts a variety of physiological effects including promotion of growth, induction of lipolysis and gluconeogenesis, blocking lipogenesis and insulin functioning, activation of immune cells and boosting muscle mass growth. These physiological functions are mediated through binding of GH to the growth hormone receptor (GHR) on the cell surface of target cells. A key function of GH is mediated through the liver production of IGF-1. Deficiencies in GH/insulin/IGF-1 signaling extend lifespan in organisms ranging from yeast to mammals. Moreover, GHR deficiency is associated with a major reduction in pro-aging signaling, cancer, and diabetes in humans. Hypocaloric or calorie free diets or fasting mimicking diets can enhance the protection of normal tissues from toxins such as chemotherapy drugs, increase tissue regeneration, promote organism healthspan, as well as augment biomarkers associated with age-related diseases, all of which are mediated mainly via reduction of circulating IGF-1.
Dietary/calorie restriction (DR/CR) are well known in improving healthspan in model organisms and possibly in humans. However, it requires a long-term (possibly life-long) commitment in order to reap the benefits of DR/CR, which imposes significant burden on the practitioners. Chronic DR/CR may not be feasible (hard to maintain) but also not safe for certain practitioners due to the significant weight loss. Prolonged fasting may also be difficult and potentially introduce acute malnutrition.
Accordingly, there is a need for improved dietary methods for treating certain conditions amenable to treatment by diet.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Fasting mimicking and enhancing diet for treating hypertension and lipid disorders


A mobile device uses an image-driven view management approach for annotating images in real-time. An image-based layout process used by the mobile device computes a saliency map and generates an edge map from a frame of a video stream. The saliency map may be further processed by applying thresholds to reduce the number of saliency levels. The saliency map and edge map are used together to determine a layout position of labels to be rendered over the video stream. The labels are displayed in the layout position until a change of orientation of the camera that exceeds a threshold is detected. Additionally, the representation of the label may be adjusted, e.g., based on a plurality of pixels bounded by an area that is coincident with a layout position for a label in the video frame.

1. Background Field
Embodiments of the subject matter described herein are related generally to view management for annotations in display systems and more specifically to using an image-based layout process for view management.
2. Relevant Background
Augmented Reality (AR) presents the display of digital information registered to real world objects and places. One example of AR is the annotation of images or a video stream of real world buildings and places with textual or pictorial information. An Augmented Reality Browser (ARB) is a type of AR application, in which labels are used to allow end-users to visualize, browse and search digital data in the context of their real world environment. The digital information is displayed on the end-users cellular telephone, smart phone, etc., over the video feed of the real world environment.
In conventional systems, digital information is typically registered based on pure geographical location, usually given as a point of interest (POI) with a corresponding position, e.g., as determined by a Global Positioning System (GPS). Typically, no further scene knowledge, such as a 3D model of the environment, is available to the system. Moreover, even if a 3D model is provided, the error-prone registration of sensor-based tracking typically does not permit an efficient use of the additional scene knowledge. Further, real world environments change dynamically and thus, a previously generated 3D model may not provide an up-to-date representation of the real world. Accordingly, view management techniques that rely on the availability of a precisely registered detailed three-dimensional representation of the environment are not used in current systems.
As no other information is typically available, the placement of iconic or textual information, i.e., labels, to annotate POIs is conventionally performed using a projection of the labels to the display screen, which is determined by the POI's GPS position and the current tracking information for the camera. The result is often a cluttered scene with labels occluding each other and important real-world information. Consequently, the visual quality of conventional systems suffers from the poor placement or representation of labels over a view of the real world provided by a camera.

Image-driven view management for annotations


A belt retractor for safety belts of motor vehicles comprises a housing frame made of plastic for receiving a belt reel. The housing frame 10 is designed an open, U-shaped frame, on the open front face of which a reinforcing plate 59 made of plastic is fastened. In addition, a belt retractor for safety belts of motor vehicles comprises a housing frame of plastics material for receiving a belt reel. A pawl co-operating with the belt reel is mounted in the housing frame. The pivoting path of the pawl is limited by a bearing surface formed in the housing frame.

Belt retractors for motor vehicles essentially comprise a belt reel for receiving the belt itself and a housing frame in which this belt reel is supported. The housing frame also serves to anchor the retractor to the vehicle body or to structural parts of a vehicle seat. This housing frame is typically embodied as a bent sheet-metal part and also serves to receive and anchor the components of the locking device, the drive spring, and other—application-specific—components.
From European Patent Disclosure EP 1 637 413 B1, which generically defines the prior art, it is known to make the housing frame for a seat belt retractor as a plastic component. To that end, this seat belt retractor is said to be embodied as an injection-molded part, and a fiber-reinforced thermoplastic material is contemplated as the plastic material. This housing frame is embodied as a closed rectangular frame, which on one side has an open receiving chamber for the drive spring and on the opposite side has an open receiving chamber for the components of the locking device. The belt reel is inserted into this housing from an open face end, and for this purpose the structural length of the belt reel in the axial direction is less than the spacing of the two side walls. The support of the belt reel is accomplished by a shaft inserted through it, and the shaft can additionally have the function of a torsion bar.


A data storage apparatus is provided. The data storage apparatus includes: a storage unit managed using a logical block address; a memory; a storage control unit for storing in the storage unit a free area control table transmitted from the host apparatus in which information on a free area in the storage unit is stored; an expanding unit for reading the free area control table in the storage unit and expanding it in the memory; a recording unit for recording data transmitted from the host apparatus into a free area in the storage unit on the basis of the free area control table in the memory; an updating unit for updating the free area control table in the memory after the data recording unit has completed a recording operation; and a transmission unit for transmitting to the host apparatus updated information included in the free area control table which has been updated by the updating unit.

The present disclosure relates to a data storage apparatus using both of or either of a nonvolatile solid-state memory and a rotating recording medium, more specifically, to a data storage apparatus capable of controlling address information required for data writing using a free area control table and being accessed by means of a file system that performs block access and a data access method therefor.
Currently, various recording media such as flash memories each containing a nonvolatile solid-state memory are used to store data. Such a recording medium is connected to a host apparatus such as a PC (Personal Computer) (see, for example, Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2006-48227).
When data writing or data reading is performed, some recording media use address administration information, that is, data location information so as to determine a position therein at which or from which data will be written or read.
Such a recording medium can reduce the load on a CPU included in a host apparatus and has a big advantage of processing a plurality of streams. On the other hand, however, if such a recording medium is actually used, an existing file system for the recording medium is required to be considerably modified. The file system modification will create burdens.
Furthermore, recording media developers have to separately develop firmware, which will be stored in a recording medium, for each type of file system, because a method of managing data location information varies according to a type of file system used. Coding and validation required for the development are burdens on them. In addition, a development period is protracted.
In the case of consumer appliances, specific functions corresponding to characteristics of a product (for example, a disk scheduling function for a video camera) are strongly required.
It is desirable to provide a data storage apparatus and data access method achieving functions required for consumer appliances while making as few changes to a host apparatus as possible.

Data storage apparatus and data access method for controlling address information for data writing using a free area control table


An exhaust nozzle includes an exhaust duct with an outlet and a row of radial apertures upstream therefrom. A radial frame surrounds the duct upstream from the apertures. A row of flaps are hinged to the frame to selectively cover and uncover the apertures for controlling exhaust flow discharged therethrough. An arcuate unison bar surrounds the duct adjacent to the frame and includes circumferentially spaced apart cam followers engaging corresponding cams affixed to the flaps. An actuator is joined to the bar for selective rotation thereof between opposite first and second directions to pivot open and closed the flaps atop the apertures.

The present invention relates generally to turbofan aircraft engines, and, more specifically, to exhaust nozzles therefor.
A typical turbofan aircraft engine includes a fan powered by a core engine. The core engine includes a surrounding cowl or nacelle, and the fan includes a corresponding cowl or nacelle at the forward end of the core engine which extends aft either in part or fully thereover.
The fan nacelle is spaced radially outwardly from the core nacelle to define an annular bypass duct therebetween. During operation, the core engine powers the fan which pressurizes ambient air to produce propulsion thrust in the fan air bypassing the core engine and discharged from the fan exhaust nozzle.
A portion of the fan air is channeled into the core engine wherein it is pressurized and mixed with fuel for generating hot combustion gases. Energy is extracted from the combustion gases in high and low pressure turbines which in turn power a compressor and the fan. The core exhaust gases are discharged from the core engine through a core exhaust nozzle and provide additional thrust for propelling the aircraft in flight.
In a typical short fan nacelle, the fan nozzle is spaced upstream from the core nozzle, and the fan exhaust is discharged separately from and surrounding the core exhaust. In a long nacelle, the fan nacelle extends aft of the core nozzle to provide a single common nozzle through which both the fan bypass air and core exhaust are discharged from the engine.
The fan nozzle and the core nozzle are typically fixed area nozzles, although they could be configured as variable area nozzles. Variable area nozzles permit adjustment of the aerodynamic performance of the engine which correspondingly increases complexity, weight, and cost of the nozzle.
Furthermore, turbofan aircraft engines typically include thrust reversers for use in providing braking thrust during landing of the aircraft. Various types of thrust reversers are found in the engine nacelle and further increase complexity, weight, and cost of the engine.
In U.S. Pat. No. 6,751,944; and entitled "Confluent Variable Exhaust Nozzle," assigned to the present assignee, and incorporated herein by reference, an improved variable area exhaust nozzle is disclosed for a turbofan aircraft engine. The confluent nozzle includes outer and inner conduits, with a plurality of flaps therebetween. The flaps may be selectively opened to bypass a portion of exhaust flow from the inner conduit through the outer conduit in confluent exhaust streams from concentric main and auxiliary exhaust outlets.
In this way, the auxiliary outlet may be operated during takeoff operation of the aircraft for temporarily increasing exhaust flow area for correspondingly reducing velocity of the exhaust flow. Noise may therefore be reduced during takeoff operation using a relatively simple and compact variable area configuration.
However, the multiple flaps must be opened and closed in unison, and against the substantial pressure forces generated by the exhaust flow during operation. The actuation system for deploying and retracting the flaps must provide sufficient strength for carrying loads during operation, and must be contained within the available space provided in the nacelle without degrading aerodynamic performance or efficiency of the engine.
Accordingly, it is desired to provide an improved actuation system for deploying and retracting the row of flaps in unison during operation.


Fluid dispensing systems include a novel fluid dispensing system with air motor driven pumps which provide a substantially, constant preselected dispensation of fluids without deleterious transient variations in the fluid output as the dispensing system is operated on and off, a novel valve particularly adapted for use in multi-component dispensing systems to provide selective controlled flow of fluid component materials or of a cleansing solvent in the system, and a novel dispenser for multi-component dispensing systems incorporating the novel valve and, in some embodiments, the novel valve combined with a preferred spraying means.

This invention relates generally to fluid dispensing systems, including multi-component fluid spraying and pouring systems, and, more particularly, to the fluid supply apparatus, plural component valves and dispensers and sprayers of such systems.
Multi-component fluid dispensing systems are used in many manufacturing applications. For example, multi-component spraying systems have been used in manufacturing plastic articles by applying resinous materials to a mold or a preform for the article. In such systems, a liquid resin and a catalyst for the resin are formed into spray particles directed to a substrate where the catalyst and resin react and harden to form the articles. In such applications, two components, for example a resin and a catalyst, are preferably mixed together and the mixture is sprayed onto the substrate.
Multi-component fluid dispensing systems have also been used, for example, in the manufacture of insulating foams. In such systems, a first component and a second component, for example, a polyol resin and an isocyanate, are mixed and after mixing dispensed or sprayed into or onto an article of manufacture where the mixed components react to produce a hardened insulating foam.
More recently, multi-component painting systems have been developed that apply plural fluid components that react, when mixed, to form hardened, decorative and protective coatings, and other applications for multi-component dispensing systems are continuing to arise with the development of new plural component materials.
Multi-component dispensing systems for mixed plural component materials are divided generally into two categories, those in which the multiple components are mixed externally to the system apparatus (referred to as external mix systems) and those in which the multiple components are mixed within the system apparatus (referred to as internal mix systems). In both external mix and internal mix systems, it is important that the components be supplied for mixing at the precise ratios recommended by the plural component material manufacturers for curing the mixed plural component material. The effective use of plural component material requires fluid dispensing systems that may be adjusted to vary widely the ratios between the fluid components of the plural component material; for example, multi-component fluid dispensing systems must be capable of mixing and dispensing materials with ratios from 1:1 to as high as about 16:1. If, in operation, a fluid dispensing system varies the precise ratio or generates pressure imbalances within the system, it may dispense fluid materials that result in partially cured or uncured portions as a result of departure from the required mixing ratios and unsatisfactory mixing.
Such variations in the operation of a fluid dispensing system can be particularly harmful in internal mix systems where the components are mixed within the fluid dispensing device. It is common in such internal mix dispensing systems that the fluid dispenser include an internal mixing chamber into which the plural components to be mixed are injected by the multi-component fluid delivery system, as shown, for example, in spraying dispensers of U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,240,432; 3,366,337; 3,379,376; 3,790,030; 3,799,403; and 4,123,007. Various agencies are used to clean the internal mixing chamber in internal mix dispensers. For pour type dispensers, the internal mix chamber is frequently purged of mixed plural component material by a rod which is thrust through the mixing chamber, or by solvent which is forced to flow through the mixing chamber. In spray-type dispensers, the internal mixing chamber is frequently purged of mixed plural component material by either a flow of compressed air or solvent or occasionally both.
Multi-component dispensers frequently also include diametrically opposed orifices for the injection of the plural components into the mixing chamber to assist in mixing as shown, for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,366,337; 3,790,030; and 3,799,403. In such systems, particularly those with diametrically opposed injection orifices, transient pressure and flow imbalances can not only result in the dispensing of off-ratio material which may not properly cure, but the injection of one component into the dispenser passageways of the other component where it can mix with the other component out of reach of the cleansing agent and cure to form a blockage in the dispenser or a flow restriction that with throw the system off-ratio.
The fluid dispenser of the multi-component dispensing system is generally supplied with the plural components by a multi-component fluid delivery system which maintains the components separate and apart from each other until they are mixed. The multi-component fluid delivery systems include first and second supply tanks for storing supplies of the components to be mixed. Frequently, a transfer pump is connected to the output of each tank to transfer components to proportioning pumps which, in turn, are provided to deliver each component to the dispenser of the system at the precise desired rate.
Compressed air is generally available in manufacturing facilities for the operation of various power-driven hand tools that are frequently used in manufacturing operations. It is convenient and desirable that the fluid dispensing system be adapted to operate from such compressed air, which is frequently referred to as "factory air". Thus, fluid delivery systems frequently include a control which is connected with the factory air, and flows of compressed air are directed and controlled by the fluid dispensing system control to operate and control the valves and pumps of the fluid dispensing system.
In most systems, the proportioning pumps generally comprise positive displacement pumps, most frequently reciprocating piston pumps, which are driven from a single air motor by a common interconnecting mechanism in a proportioning pump assembly. The proportioning pump assembly permits each of the positive displacement pumps to be mounted between an assembly base and the common mechanism in a variety of positions that provide variations in the ratio of the components as each of the component pumps is operated by the air motor through the common interconnecting mechanism. By varying the mechanical interconnection of each component pump between the base and the common interconnecting mechanism that drives the pump, with each stroke of the air pump, each reciprocating piston of each proportioning pump can be driven through a different stroke length and deliver a different flow volume of each component.
The fluid dispensing system control can include a motor air control valve that is connected between the source of factory air and the air motor of the fluid dispensing system and is operable to control the flow of air to the air motor and thereby the operation of the positive displacement component pumps of the fluid delivery system. The fluid dispensing system control can also include, for example, a leak relay which controls the application of air pressure from the factory air source to the motor air control valve for operation of the motor air control valve and the air motor. Such a leak relay can be connected to the factory air source and through a flexible fluid hose with a small air valve on the dispenser so that by operation of the air valve by the system operator through actuation of a trigger, button, lever or other such mechanical actuator, a flow of air is established from the factory air source through the leak relay, which will operate the motor air control valve and thereby operate the air motor and component pumps. The trigger, button, lever or mechanical actuator of the dispenser can also simultaneously operate a fluid valve or valves controlling the flow of the plural components through the dispenser for application by the system operator. Fluid dispensing systems frequently include an air driven actuator on the dispenser for operation of the component flow control valves carried by the dispenser.
In existing systems, the fluid dispenser control, once the system is placed in operation, operates the motor air control valve to apply air pressure to the air motor at all times and controls the dispensing of fluid material by fluid flow control valves carried by the dispenser and operated by the system operator. In such existing systems, when the system operator wants to dispense material, he opens the fluid flow control valves carried by the dispenser to permit each of the plural components to flow into and through the dispenser. In internal mix systems, the fluid flow control valves of each of the components are upstream of the internal mixer. When these valves are closed, to stop the dispensing of fluid material, the fluid pressure within the conduits leading from the fluid component pumps to the fluid valves increases as a result of the increased static pressure applied to the air motor of the fluid dispensing system, which is greater than the operating air pressure of the air motor, which is reduced as a result of the various pressure drops due to air flow restrictions in dispensing system control and, to some extent, the factory air distribution system.
When the system operator thereafter opens the fluid component flow control valves of the dispenser, the higher fluid pressure resulting from the increased static air pressure applied to the air motor, results in momentarily increased fluid pressure and flow rates of the plural component materials into and through the fluid dispenser which results in transient flow rates in excess of the desired flow rate and the dispensation of mixed plural component materials which are off-ratio. In addition, the transient pressure and flow increases, particularly where the components of the system were mixed with high ratios, one to the other, for example, in the range of 8:1 to 15:1, interfere with proper mixing of the components and, because of the wide pressure imbalance, can frequently force one-component material into passageways of the other component material within the dispenser which cannot be purged by the cleansing agent.
In some systems, the fluid delivery systems include heat exchangers and heated hoses to heat and maintain the temperature of the components of a plural component material prior to delivery of the dispenser. In addition, some fluid delivery systems include components permitting the recirculation of the plural component materials, whether heated or unheated, between the dispenser and their sources. An example of such systems is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,809,909.


A motor control apparatus for a three-phase brushless DC motor. The motor control apparatus comprises a power converter which has, for each phase of the brushless DC motor, an electrical half-bridge having two electronic switches, and an application-specific integrated circuit for actuating the electronic switches of the power converter. The application-specific integrated circuit can be controlled by a programmable control unit in a normal mode, has a first interface for receiving an error signal signaling a malfunction and is designed to change the power converter to a defined final operating state independently of the programmable control unit after receiving the error signal.

The invention relates to a motor control apparatus and to a method for operating a three-phase brushless DC motor.
Safety-relevant systems must be changed to a safe operating state in the event of a dangerous malfunction. For example, the ISO 26262 standard specifies safety integrity levels ASIL (=automotive safety integrity level) for safety-relevant systems in motor vehicles.
In some applications with electronically controlled brushless DC motors, a safe system state is achieved, for example, by actively moving the brushless DC motor to a predefined operating state, for example a decoupled state in the case of a transmission actuator. Alternatively, the system can be moved to a safe operating state using mechanical means, for example by decoupling by means of a spring, or using microcontroller support, but this partially considerably reduces the probability of achieving operating states of high safety integrity levels in the event of malfunctions of the electronic drive control system.
WO 2014/173792 A2 discloses a method for operating a three-phase brushless DC motor using electronic commutation controlled by pulse width modulation in the event of a malfunction. After the malfunction has been signaled, the rotor of the brushless DC motor is rotated in a predefined motor direction of rotation with a predefined maximum number of commutation steps and the brushless DC motor is then changed to a selected final operating state.
The background description provided herein is for the purpose of generally presenting the context of the disclosure. Work of the presently named inventors, to the extent it is described in this background section, as well as aspects of the description that may not otherwise qualify as prior art at the time of filing, are neither expressly nor impliedly admitted as prior art against the present disclosure.


A load control system comprises a plurality of control devices, each coupled to one of a plurality of device communication links. The device communication links are each coupled to a one of a plurality of link power supplies, which provides power for the control devices on the device communication links. The link power supplies are coupled together via a repeater communication link and operate as repeater devices to retransmit digital messages received from the device communication link onto the repeater communication link, and vice versa. The retransmitted digital messages are substantially the same as the received digital messages. No control devices are coupled to the repeater communication link, such that no control devices draw current through the repeater communication link. A maximum of only two or three link power supplies are coupled between any two control devices of the load control system.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a load control system comprising a plurality of load control devices for controlling the amount of power delivered to a plurality of electrical loads from an AC power source, and more particularly, to a lighting control system for controlling the intensity of a plurality of lighting loads.
2. Description of the Related Art
Typical load control systems are operable to control the amount of power delivered to an electrical load, such as a lighting load or a motor load, from an alternating-current (AC) power source. A load control system generally comprises a plurality of control devices coupled to a communication link to allow for communication between the control devices. The control devices of a lighting control system include load control devices operable to control the amount of power delivered to the loads in response to digital messages received across the communication link or local inputs, such as user actuations of a button. Further, the control devices of a lighting control system often include one or more keypad controllers that transmit commands across the communication link in order to control the loads coupled to the load control devices. An example of a lighting control system is described in greater detail in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,803,728, issued Oct. 12, 2004, entitled SYSTEM FOR CONTROL OF DEVICES, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
FIG. 1 is a simplified block diagram of a prior art lighting control system 10 according to the present invention. The lighting control system comprises a power panel 12 having a plurality of load control modules (LCMs) 14 (i.e., load control devices). Each load control module 14 is coupled to a lighting load 16 (or another type of electrical load, such as a motor load) for control of the amount of power delivered to the lighting load. Alternatively, each load control module 14 may be coupled to more than one lighting load 16, for example, four lighting loads, for individual control of the amount of power delivered to each of the lighting loads. The power panel 12 also comprises a module interface (MI) 18, which controls the operation of the load control modules 14 via digital signals transmitted across a power module control link 20
The lighting control system 10 further comprises a processor 22, which controls the operation of the lighting control system and thus the amount of power delivered to the lighting loads 16 by the load control modules 14. The processor 22 is operable to communicate with the module interface 18 of the power panel 12 via a power panel link 24. Accordingly, the module interface 18 is operable to cause the load control modules 14 to turn off and on and to control the intensity of the lighting loads 16 in response to digital messages received from the processor 22. The processor 22 is operable to be coupled to a plurality of power panels (not shown) via the power panel link 24.
In addition to being coupled to the power panel link 24, the central processor 22 is also coupled to a control device communication link 26 for communication with a plurality of control devices 28 (e.g., wallstations or keypads). The control devices 28 allow users to provide inputs to the lighting control system 10. The processor 22 is operable to control the lighting loads 16 in response to digital messages received from the control devices 28.
The control devices 28 of the control device communication link 26 communicate using a high baud rate, e.g., 125 kilobits per second (kbps), and are wired together using a daisy-chain wiring scheme. Using the daisy-chain wiring scheme, the control devices are wired in series, e.g., a first control device is wired to a-second control device, which is wired to a third control device, which is wired to a fourth control device, and so on. The control devices cannot be wired using a web, star, or "free-wiring" topology. Since the control device communication link 26 uses a high baud rate of 125 kbps and a daisy-chain wiring scheme, the length of the link is limited to approximately 2000 feet.
The length of the control device communication link 26 may be effectively lengthened by using a plurality of repeater devices 30. The plurality of repeater devices are coupled between different sections of the control device communication link 26, which are each limited to 2000 feet. Each repeater device 30 receives the AC line voltage and supplies power for the control devices on one of the sections of the control device communication link 26. The repeater devices 30 are operable to retransmit the digital messages that are received on one section of the control device communication link 26 on the other section of the link to which the repeater devices are connected.
The use of the repeater devices 30 introduces some delay into the transmissions of the control device communication link 26. When a repeater device 30 retransmits a digital message, there is a delay period from when the repeater device 30 receives the digital message to when the repeater device transmits the digital message on the other section of the control device communication link 26. Further, depending upon the data content of the digital message, the repeater device 30 may be enabled to transmit on the control device communication link 26 for a period of time after the end of the digital message that the repeater device. Thus, there is a period of time after the repeater device transmits a digital message that the repeater device 30 maintains control over the communication link 26 and the other control devices cannot transmit digital messages.
Accordingly, a predetermined delay period must be built into the protocol of the control device communication link in order to account for the delays of the repeater devices 30. Specifically, each control device must wait for a predetermined amount of time after the end of the last digital message before transmitting a digital message on the communication link. The predetermined delay period is dependent upon the number of repeater devices 30 that can be included in the lighting control system 10. The predetermined delay period decreases the response time of the lighting control system 10.
Thus, there is a need for a load control system that can include a plurality of repeater devices, but still has a substantially fast response time.

Load control system having a plurality of repeater devices


A method of detecting and identifying leaking underground pipes for properties having a slab or other type of foundation with a plurality of manifolds utilized to distribute water in the plumbing system of the property. The method includes identifying and detecting a starting fixture to start testing to determine a possible location of an underground leak and performing a series of temperature test checks to determine a number of relevant factors, including, whether an underground leak is before or after a manifold, the feed lines and/or distribution lines of a manifold, and a destination of the distribution lines of the manifold. The series of temperature tests using heating and cooling elements identifies which pipeline contains the underground leak and identifies the point where the pipeline enters a ground (Point A) and the exit point where the pipe exits a ground (Point B) in order to mark these specific pipelines.

It is a little-known fact that plumbers are not always able to correctly identify which pipe in a home or other commercial property is leaking. This is especially true for leaks that may be occurring underground. The term "underground" as used herein refers to a leak that is occurring in a pipe located beneath a slab or foundation of a property. Understandably, the property owner wants to minimize any digging up and jackhammering of walls or floors in the property in order to find underground leaking pipes. With above ground pipes, it is easier to determine if there is a leak because the plumber or other detector can see water flowing out of a hole or other break in an above ground pipe even if the plumber or other detector has to expose one or more pipes behind walls or other property surfaces. This is not the case with underground leaking pipes.
It is very common for plumbers to frequently hire specialized leak detection companies to find and mark exactly which pipe is leaking for slab leaks and in which manifold. The use of the term "slab" as used herein refers to the concrete or any other type of material foundation of a home or other type of property.
With underground leaking pipes, the leak detecting companies have to identify specific manifolds that may be affected by the leak. Manifolds are a collection of pipes fitted together with distribution and feed lines (with very few specific types of manifolds that only have distribution lines such as a main water inlet manifold) that distribute hot or cold water throughout the house. It is known that the manifolds will always protrude above ground and will be accessible from the walls of a property. The customer may want to minimize damage to their walls and property when the plumber or other specialized individual is looking for an exact source of a leak.
Leak detection companies sometimes employ audio equipment to attempt to listen to "hissing" sounds below the ground to try and locate where a leak may likely be in the underground pipes and may utilize one or more utility locators, also known as pipe and cable locators, that can help the technician detect where pipes are running underground in a home or other property. There may be other clear signs to indicate where a leak may be occurring including flooding in a particular area or warm floors. However, other than that, most leak detection companies are very secretive in their method regarding how they determine where a leak is occurring in a specific pipe. Some leaks are caused by a small hole that may be no bigger than a size of a pin in a pipe, while others may be much bigger holes or cracks in a pipe. In either case, conventional methods offer no simple way to identify which pipe is leaking.
It is noted that there is no official leak detection certification course or process currently. States do not have such a certification process. Rather, people are trained on the job through other professionals. Notably, many mistakes happen in the detection process using conventional methods. Usually, anyone hired to try and identify a leak is most commonly going to try to listen to a leak using audio equipment, however, this practice leads to many errors and can lead to incorrect pipes marked as being the pipe containing the leak. Mistakes frequently occur when someone solely utilizes audio equipment to try and detect a source of a leak or through trial and error, and it is very expensive to correct these mistakes.
Accordingly, there is still an unsolved need for a system and method for accurately identifying and detecting underground leaking pipes that occur beneath or level with the slab or foundation of a property, and to correctly and accurately identify a starting pipeline that enters the slab or foundation of the property and directly connects to the inlet of the underground leaking pipe and to correctly and accurately identify an exiting pipeline that exits the slab or foundation of the property and directly connects to the outlet of the underground leaking pipeline.

Method of detecting and identifying underground leaking pipes


A method for controlling switching of an electrical system comprising having at least one frequency-controlled switch arm, includes the following steps: closing a first top or bottom switch, implementing a predetermined downtime and opening a second switch, for a period corresponding to the control frequency, and then: opening the first switch, comparing the voltage measured at the midpoint with a voltage threshold, determining a second instant t2 at which the voltage measured at the midpoint crosses the voltage threshold, closing the second switch at the second instant t2, calculating a downtime DT adjusted according to a formula which is a function of the control frequency Fsw, a first instant t1 and a second instant t2, the adjusted downtime being implemented as of the subsequent switching.

H bridges or half-H bridges are circuits that make it possible to control the polarity at the terminals of a load. An H bridge comprises four switching elements (a half-H bridge comprises two of them) of which the switchings are controlled for the purpose of controlling this polarity.
Typically, an H bridge or a half-H bridge can control an energy for the rotation of a rotating electric machine or control an energy circulating in a resonant circuit of the LLC type for example.
In reference to FIG. 1, as is known, an H bridge, like a half-H bridge, comprises a top branch and a bottom branch. A top branch of a half-H bridge connects a terminal of the circuit controlled by the H bridge to a top terminal of the H bridge, via a top switch Q1, the top terminal of the H bridge being connected to a top terminal of a power supply, said top switch Q1 being typically controlled by a pulse-width modulation. Reciprocally, a bottom branch of a half-H bridge connects a terminal of the circuit controlled by the H bridge to a bottom terminal of the H bridge, via a bottom switch Q2, the bottom terminal of the H bridge being connected to the ground, said bottom switch Q2 being typically controlled by a pulse-width modulation. The H bridge is supplied by a voltage Vin between the ground and the top terminal of the H bridge to deliver as output of the system an output voltage Vout.
As is also known, the "cross-conduction" phenomena, as it is known by those skilled in the art, meaning that the top and bottom branches of an H bridge or of a half-H bridge are simultaneously on, are to be prohibited.
For this purpose, it is known to control the switches in phase opposition.
Moreover, any switching command of a half-H bridge is the object of a deadtime during which the top and bottom switching elements are both open. The objective is in particular that the switch of which the opening is controlled is indeed open before controlling the closing of the other switch in order to ensure that there is no "cross-conduction".
On the other hand, as is known, still in reference to FIG. 1, half-H bridges preferably comprise switching elements Q1, Q2 allowing for a soft switching, i.e. without loss, or ZVS for "zero voltage switching". Then, said switching elements Q1, Q2 are comprised of a switch with, in parallel, a capacitor Czvs referred to as soft switching. The charging and the discharging of these capacitors Czvs is controlled in such a way as to allow for a soft switching of the half-H bridge. In other terms, the full charging or the full discharging of these soft switching capacitors Czvs is necessary to allow for the closing of a switch with a zero or quasi-zero voltage at its terminals.
As is known, upon reception of a switching command, a deadtime is imposed on the top and bottom switching elements Q1, Q2 during which said switching elements are all forced to the open state. The deadtime makes it possible to charge or discharge the capacitors Czvs in such a way that a soft switching is possible.
In order for the switching of the switch arm to be fast, said deadtime must be as short as possible.
In the context, as in FIG. 1, of a half-H bridge, with soft switching, frequency controlled in order to control an energy circulating in a DC/DC voltage converter circuit, such as a resonant circuit, the number of parameters to take into consideration to determine the ideal duration of the deadtime is substantial.
For a circuit topology of the type of that of the circuit shown in FIG. 1, said duration of deadtime depends on many parameters and electrical magnitudes, such as the switching frequency, the voltage Vin delivered at the input of the half-H bridge or the voltage Vout at the output of the resonant circuit, etc.
In the state of the art, deadtime often has a fixed duration, that corresponds to a value that always satisfies the conditions of a soft switching regardless of the values of the parameters hereinabove, and regardless of the switching frequency. Consequently, such a deadtime is excessively long in many cases.
It is also known to vary the duration of the deadtime according to the switching frequency, using predetermined laboratory deadtime values. The deadtime durations are then memorized and applied according to the switching frequency.
There is therefore a need for a method for switching a switch arm, such as a half-H bridge, that allows for the adjusting in real time of the duration of the deadtime implemented during each switching.
For this purpose, the present invention proposes measuring the voltage at the midpoint of the half-H bridge and comparing this voltage with a voltage threshold making it possible to calculate, at each switching, a duration of time that is adjusted in an optimum manner.

Method for managing switching of a frequency-controlled switch arm


A therapeutically effective antipsychotic preparation comprising a fused cyclic compound for the treatment of diseases involving the serotonergic pathway having the formula (I) or salts thereof: ##STR1## wherein both of A and B are carbonyl groups, or one represents a methylene group and the other a carbonyl group, Z represents a sulfur atom, or a nitrogen atom which may be substituted, or a methylene group, R represents an aromatic or heterocylcic group, which may be substituted, X represents a hydrogen atom, a halogen atom, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 lower alkyl group, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 lower alkoxy group, a C.sub.7 -C.sub.9 arylalkoxy group, a C.sub.1 -C.sub.5 lower acyloxy group, a C.sub.7 -C.sub.10 arylcarbonyloxy group, a hydroxy group, a nitro group or an ester group, and n is an integer of 2 to 10.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a novel fused 7-membered cyclic compound and an antipsychotic preparation containing the same.
The novel fused 7-membered cyclic compound and salts thereof according to the present invention have a potent affinity for the serotonin receptor, and are useful as a therapeutic for diseases involving the serotonergic pathway, including psychonervous diseases such as anxiety neurosis, phobia, obsessive compulsive neurosis, stress disorder after mental trauma, and depression neurosis as well as food intake disorders, climacteric disorders, and infantile autism.
2. Description of the Related Art
In the prior art, benzodiazepine type drugs, antipsychotics, and antidepressants have been used as the therapeutics for anxiety neurosis, phobia and obsessive-compulsive neurosis, but such drugs have problems of effectiveness and side effects.
Particularly for anxiety neurosis, although benzodiazepine type drugs are currently used, a narcotic action, muscle relaxation and a further dependency occur, and therefore, there is a need to develop a specific antianxiety drug without these side effects.
In recent years, various attempts have been made to solve these various problems, and among them, drugs having an affinity selectively for the 5HT.sub.1A subtype of serotonin receptors have been considered as possibilities for use as an antianxiety drug; Buspirone, Gepirone, and Ipsapirone have been or are being developed. ##STR2##
Buspirone, Gepirone, and Ipsapirone as mentioned above partially alleviate various side effects, compared with the benzodiazepine drugs of the prior art, but are not satisfactory, and thus there is a strong need to develop antianxiety drugs with less side effects and a higher specificity.

Fused 7-membered cyclic compound and antipsychotic preparation containing the same


Stabilizing devices having elongate telescoping tube segments and end clamps. The end clamps of certain of the devices are clamped onto side rails of a cargo bed for segmenting a cargo bed length way. The end clamps of other of the devices are clamped to the tube segments of the first devices for segmenting a cargo bed width way. Thus providing stabilization of segmented loads having length and/or width dimensions less than the length and/or width of the cargo bed.

A type of cargo delivery utilizes a truck bed on which different segments of cargo are to be delivered to different sites. The truck bed may include e.g., a flat bed truck provided with side rails that contain the cargo on the truck bed. A removable fabric cover (soft side) may be draped over the sides and raised to allow side removal of the load segments.
A problem occurs when the segments are sequentially unloaded. For example, a first delivery stop may involve the removal of a cargo segment at the front or middle of the truck bed. When subsequently traveling to a second site, the remaining cargo may be free to slide into the space vacated by the already delivered cargo segment. This problem is solved by the provision of cargo stabilizing devices. An elongate bar has end clamps, the bar extending between the side rails of the truck bed and removably clamped to the side rails. Thus a first segment is loaded on the truck bed and a stabilizing bar or bars mounted to the side rails and immediately behind that front segment. A second segment is loaded onto the bed and further stabilizing bars are similarly mounted, etc. The first segment can be unloaded (as permitted e.g., by rollup of the soft truck bed sides) and the stabilizing bars mounted behind that segment and in front of the second segment will stabilize the remainder of the load. The segmented loads will be stabilized regardless of whether the first removed/delivered segment is a center segment, rear segment, etc.


A guide post has a ball bearing cage adjustably mounted thereon. An annular stop within the cage registers with an annular snap ring secured around a portion of the guide post limiting relative longitudinal movements of the cage and post, with the cage free for rotary adjustments relative to the guide post. A guide sleeve axially receives the guide post and sleeve with the cage rotatable relative to the guide post and sleeve when the cage and sleeve are separated. The guide post and sleeve are projected into and secured to the relatively movable die shoes of a die set assembly.

In the environment employing a guide post and ball bearing assembly thereon and a guide sleeve, such as might be used in connection with a die set including upper and lower die shoes, various means have been heretofore employed for providing relative longitudinal movement of a guide post and a guide sleeve and with respect to an interposed ball bearing cage. There were longitudinal movements between the guide post and cage and efforts to permit or to assure relative rotary movement of the ball bearing cage with respect to the guide post and guide sleeve.

Guide post, guide sleeve and modified ball bearing assembly


A gas turbine engine combustor includes a liner having a dome portion with a plurality of openings defined therein for receiving fuel nozzles and a plurality of holes defined around each opening. The holes directing air into the combustion chamber in a spiral pattern around an axis along which fuel is injected into the combustor by the fuel nozzles.

Gas turbine combustors are the subject of continual improvement, to provide better cooling, better mixing, better fuel efficiency, better performance, etc. at a lower cost. Also, a new generation of very small gas turbine engines is emerging (i.e. a fan diameter of 20 inches or less, with about 2500 lbs. thrust or less), however larger designs cannot simply be scaled-down, since many physical parameters do not scale linearly, or at all, with size (droplet size, drag coefficients, manufacturing tolerances, etc.). There is, therefore, a continuing need for improvements in gas turbine combustor design.

Combustor having means for directing air into the combustion chamber in a spiral pattern


A method for installing a wireless network, which includes the steps of physically installing a plurality of nodes in respective different locations in a building, connecting the nodes to a power supply and powering up the nodes, using a wireless installation device to program a respective address into the nodes, using the wireless installation device to program one or more default settings into the nodes, using the wireless installation device to verify operation of the nodes, and, using the wireless installation device to dump at least information regarding the physical location and associated address of the nodes to a building computer. In a presently preferred embodiment, the wireless installation device is preferably an RF portable computer which has an RF transmitter which has a variable power setting, and an RF receiver which also has a variable power setting. During installation of each node, the RF portable computer assigns a unique address to that node, and then loads the assigned address and all appropriate default settings into that node. The address data and default settings are preferably stored in nonvolatile memory provided in each node. The wireless programming of the nodes is preferably accomplished using a software "handshaking" procedure which ensures that the address and default setting data is only loaded into the node currently being programmed, and not inadvertently into one or more other nearby nodes. In this connection, an iterative power reduction scheme can be utilized to prevent multiple nodes from being inadvertently assigned the same address. Also disclosed is a method for installing one or more nodes in an existing wireless network, which method is performed in essentially the same manner as that described above in connection with the original installation of the wireless network itself, with the exception being that instead of an entire network of nodes being installed, only one or more nodes are installed in a pre-existing wireless network.

The present invention relates generally to wireless, packet-hopping networks, and more particularly, to a method for installing a wireless, packet-hopping network.
A network which consists of a plurality of nodes which communicate with each other and with a control node (also referred to as "main" or "central" node) via wireless (RF) links is generally referred to as a wireless (or radio) network. In wireless, packet-hopping networks, each node includes a node controller which includes a digital signal processing device (e.g., a microprocessor) and an RF transceiver. Data is communicated (transferred) between the individual nodes and the control node by a technique known as "packet hopping", in which individual "packets" of data are transferred from the control node to a destination node and from an origin node to the control node by being hopped from node-to-node in accordance with a network routing protocol.
"Packets" are logical units of data typically ranging in size from about 5-1000 bytes. Generally, these packet-hopping data communications are carried out under the control of the control node, which is typically a computer on which resides the data communications control software. The packet-hopping data transfer scheme enables a reduction in the cost of the RF transceivers and compliance with FCC Part 15 requirements.
Such wireless, packet-hopping networks are particularly suitable for controlling one or more functions or systems of a building, e.g., the lighting, HVAC, and/or security systems of the building, because a wireless network offers a low-cost, indoor communication infrastructure that does not require new lines to be added to the existing structure in order to carry the network information. Further, such networks can support additional systems installed in the building, such as paging, heating control, air conditioning control, and personal communications systems.
The control node of such building control networks is typically a programmable controller or building computer. The individual nodes and the building computer run different software programs which are complementary, and which together constitute the system control software. The individual nodes are typically distributed throughout the building to monitor the status/value of prescribed parameters of the building system being controlled, and to produce control signals in response to commands issued by the building computer to adjust the prescribed parameters as required. It is important that the building computer be able to send and receive data to and from each node in the network in order to properly monitor the status/value of the prescribed parameters, and to issue commands to adjust the prescribed parameters as required, in accordance with the system control software.
An exemplary building control network is an automatic or intelligent lighting control system which monitors lighting levels, occupancy status, energy consumption as a function of time, and/or other lighting parameters of each room and/or area of the building within the network, i.e., each room and/or area of the building which is equipped with a lighting module(s) linked to a node controller (also referred to as a "wall unit") which includes an RF transceiver, a digital signal processing device (e.g., microcontroller or microprocessor), and control circuitry to signal the lights to change brightness levels. Each lighting module and its associated node controller together constitute a node in the network which is under the control/management of the building computer.
In such an intelligent lighting control system, each of the lighting modules is preferably individually programmable (e.g., by building occupants), via its associated wall unit, to provide direct control of the setting of the dimming ballast thereof, and thus, direct control of the lighting level of the lamp(s) thereof. In this regard, each of the nodes includes one or more sensors (e.g., occupancy status, daylight (ambient lighting), and dimming/lighting level sensors) which provide sensor feedback data to the digital signal processing device (e.g., a microprocessor) of the node controller, which is programmed to analyze (process) the sensor feedback data and to generate control signals for adjusting the lighting level of the monitored lamp(s) associated therewith, as required, to achieve the programmed local lighting conditions.
The sensor feedback data is also transmitted by each node in the network to the building computer, when requested by the building computer to do so, or when the local lighting conditions change. The building computer analyzes (processes) the sensor feedback data in accordance with lighting system control software loaded therein, and sends control data (commands) to the individual nodes, as required, in order to adjust the lighting levels of the monitored rooms/areas of the building in accordance with the lighting system control software, e.g., to optimize the energy efficiency of the lighting system, and thereby override the programmed lighting levels provided by the individual lighting modules. Thus, in addition to being individually programmable and being capable of independent operation, the distributed modules are functionally integrated into a single building-wide network under the control of the building computer.
Data communications in such networks are generally between the building computer and the individual nodes, and vice versa, over a common communications channel, in accordance with a network routing protocol. The data is transferred in packets from the building computer to a destination node outside of the immediate transmitting range of the building computer (i.e., not directly "linked" or "connected" to the building computer) by hopping or relaying each packet from node-to-node until the packet reaches the destination node. Each of the nodes which hops or relays a packet to one or more other nodes in the network is commonly referred to as a "repeater node", or simply, "repeater". The destination node generally acknowledges receipt of a data packet from the building computer by returning an acknowledgement data packet to the building computer via one or more repeaters in a similar fashion.
Advantageous network routing algorithms are disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/558,447, filed Nov. 16, 1995, in the name of A. Dasgupta, which is assigned to the assignee of the present invention, and co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/608,910, filed Feb. 29, 1996, in the name of George A. Melnik, which is also assigned to the assignee of the present invention. The disclosures of both of these applications are herein incorporated by reference.
The installation of a building control network entails the physical placement and powering-up of each node in the network. Prior to the advent of the present invention, the address of each node in the network and the default parameters for each node were preprogrammed at the time of manufacture (i.e., "factory-set"), and not set at the time of installation. However, the preprogramming of nodes at the time of manufacture (i.e., prior to installation in a particular building), necessitates that long addresses (e.g., 100 bits or more) be used to ensure that all manufactured nodes are provided with a unique address. Such long addresses reduce the efficiency of data communications over the common network communications channel.
In this connection, since a typical network only has a few hundred nodes, it is only necessary to employ addresses which are 7-10 bits long in order to ensure that each node in the network is assigned a unique address (as long as no other nearby building with a similar system is within the transmitting range of the network, in which case, a building identifier code can be added to the address of each node, or the networks in the different buildings can be operated on different channels). Clearly, the use of shorter node addresses would significantly enhance the data communications efficiency of the wireless network. Thus, site specific addressing of the nodes at the time of installation would be superior to the technique of preprogramming the node addresses. As will become apparent hereinafter, the present invention, in one of its aspects, provides this capability.
Prior to the advent of the present invention, the preprogrammed default settings of the individual nodes in the wireless network could only be changed via commands issued by the building computer. This significantly limits the flexibility and significantly increases the cost of installation of the wireless network. Thus, the capability of directly programming each of the nodes at the time of installation would enhance the flexibility and decrease the cost of installation of the wireless network. As will become apparent hereinafter, the present invention, in another of its aspects, also provides this capability.
To complete the installation, the installer must determine the address of each node in the network, and then input into the building computer, for each node in the network, the address of that node and location identification data (e.g., room number) indicative of the physical location of that node within the building. At present, the complexity of this procedure increases the required time and cost for installation of the network. As will become apparent hereinafter, the present invention, in another of its aspects, simplifies this procedure, and reduces the required time and cost for this procedure.
After the nodes and building computer are installed, the wireless network is then initialized, in order to provide the building computer with nodal connectivity information which the network communications protocol requires in order to route packets of data through the network by the above-described packet-hopping technique. The nodal connectivity information includes information as to which nodes in the network are able to communicate with each other. The building computer formulates routing tables on the basis of the nodal connectivity information which it gathers during the network initialization process. The building computer then uses these routing tables to transfer packets of data from the building computer to a destination node and from an origin node to the building computer by hopping the packets from node-to-node along a route which it determines from the routing tables to be the most efficient route available at that time.
An advantageous automatic initialization scheme is disclosed in co-pending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 08/579,650, filed on Dec. 27, 1995, in the name of George A. Melnik, and assigned to the assignee of the present invention, the disclosure of which is herein incorporated by reference.
As feedback to the user (typically the building operations personnel), the physical configuration of the wireless network can be displayed on the monitor of the building computer, e.g., by illustrating the physical location of each node on a floor plan of the building. In this connection, the links between the nodes of the network can be automatically drawn during the initialization routine, to thereby provide a graphical representation of the wireless network for diagnostic and operational purposes.
Prior to the advent of the present invention, the operation of each of the individual nodes could only be verified during (or after) network initialization. Consequently, any malfunction or improper operation of a given node could only be detected or diagnosed after the entire network was installed and tested.
Clearly, it would be advantageous to have the capability of testing or verifying the operation of the nodes at the time that they are installed, to thereby facilitate correction of any diagnosed error or replacement of the node before completion of the installation of the entire network, and prior to execution of the initialization routine. Such a capability would reduce the required time and cost for network initialization, and would minimize network communications difficulties. As will also become apparent hereinafter, the present invention, in another of its aspects, also provides this capability.

Method for installing a wireless network which transmits node addresses directly from a wireless installation device to the nodes without using the wireless network

Philips Electronics North America Corporation


A microfluidic device includes a lower casing and an upper casing covering the lower casing. The lower casing includes a lower base wall having a top surface and a plurality of spaced-apart columns that protrude upwards from the top surface. The upper casing includes an upper base wall. A first gap between the upper base wall and a column top surface of each of the columns is large enough to permit passage of large biological particles of a liquid sample, and a second gap between any two adjacent ones of the columns is not large enough to permit passage of the large biological particles and is large enough to permit passage of small biological particles of the liquid sample.

A conventional microfluidic device is for a liquid sample (e.g. blood) to be detected to flow through internal microstructures thereof, and aims to capture specific biological particles in the liquid sample, or to separate/filter biological particles of a specified size.
In "Microfluidic, marker-free isolation of circulating tumor cells from blood samples" published in Nature Protocols 9, 694-710 (2014) by Karabacak et al. (thereinafter referred to as Karabacak), technical procedures to separate/filter cells of a specified size from blood samples to obtain circulating tumor cells (CTCs) is disclosed. Karabacak uses a deterministic lateral displacement (DLD) procedure, an inertial focusing procedure, and a magnetophoresis procedure to explore the technique for separating marker-free CTCs from the blood sample, wherein by using two stages of the magnetophoresis procedure and negative enrichment of white blood cell, a yield of 97% of rare CTCs where obtained from the blood sample.
Referring to FIG. 1, Karabacak discloses a conventional microfluidic device 1 including, in order along a flow direction (f) of a blood sample 8, a first microfluidic module 11 for performing the DLD procedure, a second microfluidic module 12 connected to the first microfluidic module 11 for performing the inertial focusing procedure and the magnetophoresis procedure, and two magnetic columns 13.
The first microfluidic module 11 has an inlet channel 111 disposed at an upstream side 101 of the conventional microfluidic device 1, a buffer channel 112, a middle outlet channel 113 disposed between the upstream side 101 and an downstream side 102 of the conventional microfluidic device 1, an upstream reservoir 114 connecting the inlet channel 111, the buffer channel 112 and the middle outlet channel 113, and an array of microposts 115 spacedly disposed in the upstream reservoir 114.
The second microfluidic module 12 has, along the flow direction (f), a micro-channel 121, a downstream reservoir 122, and first and second downstream outlet channels 123, 124 all interconnected. In particular, the first and second downstream outlet channels 123, 124 are disposed respectively proximal to two opposite first and second sides 103, 104 of the conventional microfluidic device 1, and disposed at opposite sides of the downstream reservoir 124. The magnetic columns 13 are respectively disposed on the first and second sides 103, 104 on two opposite sides of the downstream reservoir 124. The middle outlet channel 113 and the micro-channel 121 are respectively proximal to the first and second sides 103, 104.
Before the blood sample 8 enters the conventional microfluidic device 1 through the inlet channel 111, a preparation procedure is performed on the blood sample 8. In the preparation procedure, a plurality of superparamagnetic beads 81 bind with two antibodies CD45 and CD66b such that surfaces of the superparamagnetic beads 81 are covered with the CD45 and CD66b antibodies. Then the blood samples 8 are mixed with the superparamagnetic beads 81 covered with the CD45 and CD66b antibodies, so that the antigens of white blood cells 82 in the blood sample 8 are bound by the CD45 and CD66b antibodies such that the superparamagnetic beads 81 are attached to the white blood cells 82.
When the blood sample 8, which has been through the preparation procedure, enters the first microfluidic module 11 through the inlet channel 111, the microposts 115 in the upstream reservoir 114 deflect and congregate the cells (e.g., the white blood cells 82 and CTCs 83) based on size. Specifically, the DLD procedure performed by the microfluidic module 11 utilizes a critical hydrodynamic diameter (Dc) of the microposts 115. Cells that has a hydrodynamic diameter smaller than Dc of the microposts 115 (e.g., red blood cells 84) are not deflected and flows out of the conventional microfluidic device 1 through the middle outlet channel 113, and cells that have a hydrodynamic diameter larger than Dc of the microposts 115 (i.e., the white blood cells 82 and the CTCs 83) are deflected towards the microchannel 121 of the second microfluidic module 12.
After the DLD procedure separates cells of different sizes, the white blood cells 82 bound to the superparamagnetic beads 81 and the CTCs 83 not attached to the superparamagnetic beads 81 flow along the flow direction (f) to the second microfluidic module 12, and the inertial focusing and magnetophoresis procedures are then performed.
First, the white blood cells 82 attached to the superparamagnetic beads 81 and the CTCs 83 not attached to the superparamagnetic beans 81 are collected in the microchannel 121 and enters the downstream reservoir 122, being affected by the magnetic field  generated by the magnetic columns 13 while flowing through the downstream reservoir 122. The white blood cells 82 attached to the superparamagnetic beads 81 experience a force in the magnetic field  towards the first side 103 of the microfluidic device 1 such that the white blood cells 82 attached to the superparamagnetic beads 81 flow toward the first downstream outlet channel 123. On the other hand, the CTCs 83 not attached to the superparamagnetic beads 81 are unaffected by the magnetic field  and flows towards the second downstream outlet channel 124.
Even though the conventional microfluidic device 1 of Karabacak is able to separate/filter cells of different size through the DLD procedure performed in the first microfluidic module 11 thereof, the microposts 115 in the upstream reservoir 114 of the first microfluidic module 11 can only perform two-dimensional separation/filtration. There remains room for improving the sampling quantity and process efficiency.


Systems and methods of operating a computing system may involve utilizing at least one of a peripheral protocol negotiation and a universal connector to determine a peripheral device protocol, and reconfiguring a computer device to accommodate that peripheral device protocol. Upon such a reconfiguration, the peripheral protocol negotiation may “step aside”, and one or more subsequent communications between a host computer and the peripheral device utilizing the peripheral device protocol may start.

Technical Field
Embodiments generally relate to standardized universal connectors. More particularly, embodiments relate to utilizing at least one of a peripheral protocol negotiation and a universal connector to accommodate different input/output (I/O) protocol types.
Discussion
A challenge of designing host devices (e.g., computers, mobile phones) and peripheral devices (e.g., flash drives, audio/video devices) may relate to I/O protocols. Specifically, the prevalence of numerous I/O protocols may require device manufacturers to guess what other device manufacturers and consumers may prefer. In response, device manufacturers often provide a number of connectors to accommodate multiple protocols. This may lead to unnecessary expansion in device form factors.


The power consumption of a frequency-divider can effectively be reduced when the frequency of the input signal varies by more than the division factor of a divider cell in the frequency divider. A low frequency input signal requires a lower division factor, and a divider cell in the frequency divider can be bypassed and switched off to obtain this lower division factor, thereby reducing the power consumption.

The present invention relates to a frequency divider having an adjustable division factor, including an input and a divider cell with an input for accepting a first signal at a first frequency and an output for outputting a second signal at a second frequency, and a power control means associated with the frequency divider to adjust a bias current of the divider cell.
Such a frequency divider is known from Application Note 4 xe2x80x98Using the PE3291/92 in CDMA Applicationsxe2x80x99 from Peregrine Semiconductor Corporation. The PE3291 is a fractional-N PLL integrated frequency synthesizer and contains two dividers: a 16/17 modulus prescaler (PLL1) and a 32/33 modulus prescaler (PLL2) with variable division factors. The PE 3291 provides two inputs VDD1 and VDD2 which allow external control of the bias level of the prescaler PLL1 and the prescaler PLL2. When a prescaler is used at a reduced speed, the bias level can be reduced. The prescaler is slower at lower bias levels, but a bias level can be chosen such that the speed is adequate for the operation at a reduced input frequency. In this way the power consumption can be reduced in relation to the reduced input frequency.
A disadvantage of the known frequency divider is that the power consumption cannot be reduced substantially.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a circuit where the power consumption of the frequency divider can be reduced.
To achieve this, the frequency divider is characterized in that the frequency divider includes a multiplexing means with a first input for receiving the second signal with the second frequency and a second input for receiving a third signal with a third frequency and an output for outputting either the second signal or the third signal, where the first input of the multiplexing means is connected to the output of the divider cell and in that the power control means is operative to reduce the bias current of the divider cell to zero when the first input of the multiplexing means is deselected.
Frequency dividers having programmable division factors are often employed in a system with different input frequencies. The programmable division factor enables the system to divide the input frequency to yield a frequency that is within a prescribed operating range.
An example of this is the use of a divider with a programmable division factor in a Phase Locked Loop (PLL). The input frequency varies, and the frequency divider is used to divide the input frequency to a frequency range that is required for the phase detector to work properly.
If the input frequency of the frequency divider is reduced, the division factor must be reduced.
When the division factor is reduced, some divider cells of the frequency divider are no longer needed to divide the signal. These cells are then deselected by a multiplexer and the multiplexer obtains its input signal from another point in the frequency divider. Since the output of the divider cell is no longer used, the bias current of the divider cell can be reduced to zero, in effect switching the divider cell off and reducing the power consumption of this divider cell to zero. The power consumption of the frequency divider is thus dependent on the division factor of the frequency divider.
In the GSM mobile radio system two frequencies are employed, e.g. 900 MHz and 1800 MHz.
When a mobile phone is operating in the 900 MHz band, the frequency divider in the PLL generating the carrier frequency must divide the VCO frequency by a factor of 2 less than when the mobile phone is operating in the 1800 MHz band. If the frequency divider contains a divider cell of two that divides the signal coming from the input, this divider is not needed when working in the 900 MHz band. The signal does not need to pass through this divider cell and, consequently, the divider cell can be switched off.
An embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the second input of the multiplexing means is connected to the input of the divider cell.
By selecting the input of the divider cell instead of the output of the divider cell, the input signal will appear undivided on the output of the multiplexer. By switching the multiplexer, the division factor of the combination of the multiplexer and the divider cell can be switched between 1 and the division factor of the divider cell. The multiplexer provides the frequency divider with the option to bypass the divider cell. Since the divider cell is not used, it is possible to reduce the bias of the divider cell to zero and thus reduce the power consumption of the frequency divider.
A further embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that the frequency divider includes a further multiplexing means, which is referred to as the second multiplexing means, with a first input and a second input and an output, where the first input of the second multiplexing means is connected to the output of the second divider cell and where the second input of the second multiplexing means is connected to the second input of the multiplexing means and in that the second power control means is operative to reduce the bias current of the second divider cell to zero when the first input of the second multiplexing means is deselected.
A further embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that at least one power control means associated to the divider cell is operative to adjust the bias current of the associated divider cell proportionally to an input frequency of the divider cell when the first input of the multiplexing means connected to the output of that divider cell is selected.
When a divider cell is not operating at the maximum operating frequency, the bias current of this divider cell can be reduced, thereby reducing the effective speed of the divider cell. The power dissipation can be optimized by adjusting the bias current to a level just above the level where the operation of the divider would be adversely affected. In this way a gradual reduction of power dissipation can be achieved between the power reduction steps obtained by bypassing and switching off entire divider cells when the operating frequency is reduced.
A further embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that a microprocessor is operative to control the VCO and at least one of the power control means of the frequency divider.
The microprocessor controls the VCO and, therefore, knows what the operating frequency of the VCO is and also knows what the required division factor of the frequency divider is. Based on the required division factor, the microprocessor decides which divider cells are not needed, switches those divider cells off, and switches the associated multiplexers so that these divider cells are bypassed. Based on the operating frequency, the microprocessor can also reduce the bias current for the remaining, operative, divider cells to further optimize the power consumption of the frequency divider.
A further embodiment of the present invention is characterized in that a third power control means is operative to adjust the amplifier bias current of the input amplifier dependent of an input frequency of the input amplifier.