An electrohydraulic brake system where brake pressure is controlled by the combined action of an apply valve and a dump valve by the implementation of a method of controlling the voltage applied to the apply and dump valve. The EHB pressure control system receives a desired wheel pressure command and, with a caliper pressure feedback signal, implements an algorithm to compute one voltage command for the apply valve and another for the dump valve, corresponding to a requested flow from the hydraulics. The voltage command drives current control electronics. The electronics in turn power the solenoids of the proportional apply and dump poppet valves to control flow in or out of the brakes and modulate wheel pressure as required. Use of the algorithm to control the electromagnetic poppet valves achieves the commanded pressure at a vehicle's brakes reliably and with good control in all states of flow through the valve. The algorithm is a function of the existing pressure within the system and whether there is bulk or leakage flow through the valves.

This invention relates in general to braking systems, and in particular to an algorithm for electronically controlling poppet valves in an electrohydraulic brake system to control the pressure of brake fluid applied to vehicle wheel brakes.
Traditional hydraulic brake systems include a brake pedal operated by the driver of a vehicle. The brake pedal operates a master cylinder, causing the master cylinder to send pressurized hydraulic brake fluid to the wheel brakes of a vehicle. This is sometimes referred to as foundation or base braking—the basic braking called for by the operator of a vehicle. Over the years, engineers have worked to improve the performance of the braking system of vehicles by augmenting or replacing the base braking function with another braking operation.
Electrohydraulic brake (EHB) systems utilize electronically controlled valves, pumps, or a combination thereof to augment, replace, or control the base braking operation of a vehicle brake system. One of the first of many advanced braking functions that has been developed for vehicles is ABS (Antilock Braking System), which typically involves the operation of valves and pumps to selectively release and re-apply brakes during a braking operation. While typical base braking is commanded by the operator, ABS braking controls the vehicle brakes to recover from and limit skidding of a vehicle's wheels due to braking the wheels harder than permitted by the available coefficient of friction of the road surface. Since pumps and valves are electronically controlled to augment the base braking operation, a vehicle equipped with ABS may generally be said to have an EHB system. Another advanced braking function that may be accomplished by a properly configured EHB system is VSC (Vehicle Stability Control), which is a system for selectively actuating vehicle brakes to improve the stability of a vehicle during vehicle maneuvers. Other braking applications producing a pressure command input to the present invention include DRP (Dynamic Rear Proportioning—a system for controlling the front to rear proportioning of a vehicle braking command), TC (Traction Control—which typically involves selective application of brakes during vehicle acceleration to recover from and limit skidding of a vehicle's wheels due to accelerating the wheels faster than permitted by the available coefficient of friction of the road surface), ACC (Autonomous Cruise Control—a cruise control system that can actuate vehicle brakes to maintain proper vehicle spacing relative to a vehicle in front) and similar functions.
Various forms of electrohydraulic braking systems have been proposed. For example U.S. Pat. No. 5,941,608, Campau, et al. discloses an electronic brake management system with manual fail-safe capabilities. A subset of electrohydraulic braking systems is an electronic brake management system (EBM). EHB systems can allow braking to be primarily controlled by the vehicle driver with a conventional master cylinder system. Additionally, an electronically controlled portion of the system operates the brakes under certain conditions, i.e. anti-lock, traction control, etc. Primary braking is controlled electronically in Electronic Brake Management systems. Normally, the vehicle driver or a safety system generates an electronic signal, which in turn operates the pumps and valves to achieve a braking pressure within the system. A pedal simulator creates the effect for the driver of applying direct braking pressure while also providing a back-up braking system in case of a failure of the primary system. In the back-up system, the pedal simulator acts as a master cylinder during the failure event and provides the hydraulic pressure that actuates the brakes.
In Campau, et al., as well as in many EHB systems, there are a series of valves in the hydraulic circuit that operate to apply pressure to or dump pressure from the brake. In one embodiment of Campau, proportional control valves are provided for each vehicle brake. In a first energized position, an apply position, a proportional control valve directs pressurized hydraulic fluid supplied to the proportional control valve from a fluid conduit to an associated fluid separator unit. In a second energized position, the maintain position, the proportional control valve closes off the port thereof which is in communication with the associated fluid separator unit, thereby hydraulically locking the associated fluid separator piston of the fluid separator unit in a selected position. In a de-energized position, the release position, the spool of the proportional control valve is moved by a spring to a position where the proportional valve provides fluid communication between the associated fluid separator unit and a reservoir. This vents pressure from the associated fluid separator unit allowing the piston thereof to move back to an unactuated position under the urging of an associated spring, thereby reducing pressure at the associated wheel brake.
The positions of the proportional control valves are controlled such that the pressure of fluid in the hydraulic circuit is controlled proportionally to the current of the energizing electrical signal. As a result, the exact position of a proportional control valve is proportional to the electrical control signal. Thus, the proportional control valves can be positioned at an infinite number of positions rather than just the three positions described above.
Traditional valve control encompasses two positions: open or closed. In a closed position, ideally, there is no flow through the valve. In the open position, there is flow through the valve in proportion to the degree the valve is opened. Voltage across a controlling solenoid dictates the amount of valve opening. There are also two traditional types of valves that are used in hydraulic systems: spool valves and poppet valves. A major difference between poppet valves (used herein) and spool valves is that there is significant amount of leakage associated with poppet valves. How to deal with poppet valve leakage is therefore important to the performance of an EHB system. A common practice is to minimize the effect of leakage through careful mechanical design and software algorithm. However, valve leakage may also be used to increase system resolution, reduce valve clicking noise if a valve is supposed to be open, while being eliminated to minimize flow consumption if a valve is supposed to be closed. This creates a system where the beneficial aspects of valve leakage can be taken advantage of while the negative aspects thereof can be suppressed.
The terms "bulk flow" and "leakage flow" are used to describe the primary types of flow through valves as used in this application. "Bulk flow", as used herein, means the flow in a valve that occurs when the moving valve element (such as the valve poppet in poppet valves) is off of its seat. "Bulk flow" can also be described as flow through an open valve. "Leakage flow", as used herein, means that flow that generally occurs during closed valve operation due to limitations in the manufacturing process and the design of the valve. Depending on conditions of operation as well as the type of valve and its manufactured characteristics, some flow can leak through it, even with the valve in a "closed" position. "Leakage flow" as used herein also means that flow which occurs when the moving element is not fully seated against its seat or is only intermittently in contact with the seat (e.g. "chattering" or "simmering"). Either leakage or bulk flow can be "laminar flow" or "turbulent flow"; however, it can be expected that bulk flow will be turbulent flow. Laminar flow is classically defined as a well ordered pattern of flow whereby fluid layers are assumed to slide over one another. Turbulent flow is irregular or unstable flow.
While the above-described system and other existing systems have effectively managed the operation of valves in an EHB system, there is a need for greater incremental control of the valves, as well as accounting for the various flow states through the valves. One limitation in controlling valves in a closed or near-closed position is that it is difficult to control the change in pressure applied to the brake. As a result, pressure to a brake would increase more than demanded by the vehicle user. There also is a need to account for the noise or clicking of valves when fluctuating between a near closed and closed position. The algorithm described below provides finer control of proportional valves in a braking system by controlling the voltage applied to operate the valve. Also described, as part of the invention, is the method of operating the valves to account for leakage and bulk flow as well as preventing flow while in a closed state.

Vehicle braking system with proportional poppet valve pressure control strategy


The process distinguishes image rays and actual rays generated in a frequency converting device from frequency rays of an input signal. The frequency converting device comprises at least a mixer mixing the input signal and a signal provided by a local oscillator and a filter assembly filtering the mixed signals output by the mixer. At least one sweep is carried out wherein the frequency of the local oscillator is varied and wherein the signal level at the output of the frequency converting device is recorded for a set of converted frequencies. A further sweep is carried out so that the frequency of the actual ray generated in the further sweep by an input ray is the same as the frequency of the actual ray generated in said at least one sweep by said input ray and the frequency of the image ray generated in said further sweep by any input ray does not correspond to a frequency for which a ray was generated in each of said at least one sweep.

A spectrum analyser is a measuring instrument, which quantifies the energy, or the electromagnetic power contained in each frequency of the electromagnetic spectrum of a signal to be analysed. Such analysers typically operate in a frequency range from a few hundreds hertz or less to a few gigahertz. This instrument is used to design radio frequency and microwave systems and is particularly useful for measuring the electromagnetic perturbations, which disturb wireless transmissions. It is also used for verifying and tuning communication systems installed on high point like specialised towers, high buildings and the like. For these reasons and because wireless transmission is a fast growing business, weight and volume become more and more important for security and working conditions of users.
To determine the spectrum e.g. the power at each frequency, between a minimum frequency fmin and a maximum frequency fmax, it is necessary to scan the operating spectrum with a band-pass filter and to measure the power at the output of the filter. The bandwidth of the filter has to be variable to be able to separate close signals or to scan the entire bandwidth rapidly. As no technology is available to make this filtering directly in the entire frequency range, the signal to be analysed is usually converted to a given frequency, by heterodyning, and is filtered accordingly. The minimum value and the maximum value of the filter's bandwidth depends on the general performance of the instrument. For a medium class instrument, the filter is variable from 300 Hz to 3 MHz with step ratio 1, 3, 10, etc.
The frequency converter is basically a mixer. A mixer is a component well known in the art and which is a multiplier of signals, these signals can be decomposed in sum of sinusoidal signals as Fourier demonstrates. A mixing process is then a multiplication of sinusoidal signals. For the simplicity of the discussion, the mixer is considered perfect, i.e. only the first order of the multiplication is considered. We will use the simple well known equationsin(A)˜sin(B)=0.5˜[cos(A−B)−cos(A+B)]In which sin A is a sinusoidal signal at the input of the mixer and B a sinusoidal signal supplied by a local oscillator, hereafter abbreviated LO.
FIG. 1 shows partly of a prior art device, used in the front end of commercially available spectrum analyser like the ones sold by the applicant. The problems to be solved according to the invention is discussed in reference to this figure, using a simple numerical example. The device of FIG. 1 comprises a mixer 2, that mixes the signal to be analysed and the output of a local oscillator 4 at a frequency fol. The output of the mixer is applied to a band-pass filter 6, filtering around a frequency fi. A second mixer 16 and a second local oscillator 15 convert this frequency fi—called intermediate frequency IF—to the final frequency for which the technology exists for an easy and efficient analysis. A filter 17 eliminates the undesired frequency at the output of the second mixer. A direct conversion needs a very high selectivity of filter 6 which in most cases is not suitable for the type of instruments described here.
The operation of the device of FIG. 1 is the following. Local oscillator 4 and mixer 2 convert signals received by the converting device into a signal at the intermediate frequency fi. At this frequency, bandpass filter 6 eliminates the undesired frequencies called spurious frequencies created by the mixing in the mixer. The mixer creates a signal at the frequency fi when the input signal frequency is lower and higher than the frequency of the first local oscillator, specifically:|fol−fin|=fi  (1)where fin is a frequency ray in the signal input to the mixer.
For determining whether there exists a ray at a given frequency fin in the signal applied to the device of FIG. 1, the frequency of the local oscillator is controlled, so thatfol−fin=fi  (2)
Thus, when the local oscillator is set at a frequency fol=fi+fin, a signal at the output of filter 6 is representative of a ray at fin in the signal applied to the mixer.
A frequency fin′, called image frequency, may also create a ray at a frequency fi at the output of mixer 2 and filter 6, when the frequency of the oscillator is selected according to (2). Indeed, assuming thatfol=fin+fi  (2′)then a ray at a frequencyfin′=fol+fi=fin+2·fi  (3)in the signal applied to the mixer, will also generate a ray at fi at the output of the mixer. Indeed, the mixer provides signals atfin′−fol=fi
Thus, for a given value of the frequency of the oscillator, a ray at the output of the mixer may be representative of the searched frequency fin, but may also indicate that there exists an image frequency. The image frequency is offset of 2·fi with respect to the searched frequency.
If the oscillator frequency is swept for providing a spectrum of the input signals, then, for a ray at a given frequency fin in the input signal, a ray appears atfol=fin+fi andfol′=fin−fi
This provides two rays at the output of the mixer per signal at the input.
For instance, assuming the intermediate frequency is 400 MHz. Assuming there is an actual ray at fin=10 GHz in the input signal. For searching rays around 10 GHz in the input signal, the oscillator is set at a frequency fol=10.4 GHz. A ray then appears at the output of the mixer: this is the expected ray. However, a ray in the spectrum at fin′=10.8 GHz would also cause a signal to appear at a frequency of 400 MHz at the output of the mixer, when the oscillator is set at fol=10.4 GHz.
In a sweeping mode, assume there exists a ray at fin=10 GHz in the input signal. A signal at the output of the mixer appears when fol is 10.4 GHz. However, a signal at the output of the mixer also appears when the oscillator is set at a frequency fol=9.6 GHz.
In both case, there is a problem of image ray.
One solution to this known problem is to filter the signal applied to the converter, using a settable filter 1 known as a pre-filter. In the example given above, when the frequency of the oscillator is set at 10.4 GHz, the input signal could be filtered around 10 GHz, for avoiding the image frequency at 10.8 GHz. This solution is rather costly and difficult to implement over a broad range of frequencies, e.g. from 3 to 50 GHz and from our knowledge no commercial product exists up to now for a wider range. This pre-filter 1 is also heavy, rather big and need a high power consumption which is a big penalty for a mobile system working on batteries. Note that when using a pre-filter 1, as seen above, the first IF frequency is generally around 400 MHz because of the limited quality factor of pre-filter 1 which has to filter the image rays. This explains the need of a second mixer and a second oscillator.
Another solution is currently used in the spectrum analysers sold by the applicant under reference R3273 for the very high frequencies above 30 GHz. Two successive sweep results are superimposed for analysing a given spectrum. In the first sweep, one assumes thatfol−fin=fi  (2)and one displays on the screen, where x coordinates is frequency, the rays at frequenciesfol−fi=fin  (4)Any time there is a signal at the output of the mixer when the oscillator is set at a frequency fol, a ray proportional to its power level is displayed on the screen. Assuming there is a ray at fin in the signal input to the mixer, there is a signal at the output of the mixer whenfol−fin=fi  (2)and whenfin−fol=fi  (5)
In case of (2), one displays a ray on the screen at fin; in the case of (5), one displays on the screen a ray at fin−2·fi, which is an image ray not corresponding to an actual ray in the signal input to the mixer.
In the second sweep, one assumes thatfin−fol=fi  (5)and one displays on the screen a ray at a frequencyfol+fi=fin  (6)any time there is a signal at the output of the mixer when the oscillator is set at a frequency fol. Assuming there is a ray at fin in the signal input to the mixer, there is a signal at the output of the mixer whenfol−fin=fi  (2)and whenfin−fol=fi  (5)
In case of (5), one displays a ray on the screen at fin; in the case of (2), one displays on the screen a ray at fin+2·fi, which is an image ray not corresponding to an actual ray in the signal input to the mixer.
For a given spectral ray at fin, when the two sweeps are successively displayed on the same screen, there appears on the screen three rays:                one ray at a frequency fin, which is present in both sweeps;        one ray at a frequency fin′=fin−2·fi, which appears in one of the sweeps;        one ray at a frequency fin″=fin+2·fi, which appears in one of the sweeps.
The first ray is stable on the screen; the other two rays flicker, since they only appear in one of the two sweeps. This makes it possible to distinguish the image rays, and locate the frequency rays actually existing in the input signal.
Assuming again the first intermediate frequency is 400 MHz. Assuming there exists a ray at fin=10 GHz in the input signal. In the first sweep, a ray appears at the output of the mixer when the oscillator is set at a frequency fol=10.4 GHz, which corresponds to the expected ray at 10 GHz. However, there is also a signal at the output of the mixer when fol=9.6 GHz, that is for the image ray in the spectrum at fin′=9.2 GHz. In the first sweep, rays at 9.2 and 10.0 GHz are displayed.
In the second sweep, a ray appears at the output of the mixer when the oscillator is set at a frequency fol=9.6 GHz, this corresponding to the expected ray at fin=10 GHz; another ray is present at the output of the mixer when fol=10.4 GHz, that is for the image ray in the spectrum at fin″=10.8 GHz. In the second sweep, rays at 10.0 and 10.8 GHz are displayed.
When the two sweeps are displayed at the refresh speed of the instrument, rays at 9.2 and 10.8 GHz are flickering, while the ray at 10.0 GHz is stable. This makes it possible for the user to distinguish the actual rays, and to realise that the other two rays are artefacts.
The invention is based on the following new problem: under specific circumstances, the prior art operation under two sweeps may not prove satisfactory. For instance, assume two rays are present in the input signals. For certain spacing between the rays, there may appear stable rays which actually do not represent any actual ray in the input signal, but simply represent spurious responses that are identical for both actual rays.
Specifically, assume the input signal has two rays at fin1 and fin2, with fin1<fin2. One sweep generates rays at fin1, fin2, fin′1=fin1−2·fi and fin′2=fin2−2·fi; the second sweep generates rays at fin1, fin2, fin″1=fin1+2·fi and fin″2=fin2+2·fi. Assuming for instance:fin′2=fin″1  (7),that is:fin1+2·fi=fin2−2·fi fin2=fin1+4·fi
In this case, there appears on the screen three stable rays, and two flickering rays.
With the same example of 400 MHz, assume there are two rays at fin1=10 GHz and fin2=11.6 GHz in the input signal. In the first sweep, a ray appears at the output of the mixer when the oscillator is set at a frequency fol=10.4 GHz, this corresponding to fin1. However, there is also a signal at the output of the mixer when fol=9.6 GHz, that is for the image ray in the spectrum at fin′1=9.2 GHz. Similarly, for the second ray at fin2, a ray appears at the output of the mixer when the oscillator is set at a frequency fol=12.0 GHz, this corresponding to fin2; there is also a signal at the output of the mixer when fol=11.2 GHz, that is for the image ray in the spectrum at fin′2=10.8 GHz.
In the second sweep, a ray appears at the output of the mixer when the oscillator is set at a frequency fol=9.6 GHz, this corresponding to fin1. However, there is also a signal at the output of the mixer when fol=10.4 GHz, that is for the image ray in the spectrum at fin″1=10.8 GHz. Similarly, for the second ray at fin2, a ray appears at the output of the mixer when the oscillator is set at a frequency fol=11.2 GHz, this corresponding to fin2; there is also a signal at the output of the mixer when fol=12.0 GHz, that is for the image ray in the spectrum at fin″2=12.4 GHz.
Thus, stable rays at 10, 10.8 and 11.6 GHz appear on the screen; flickering rays at 9.2 and 12.4 GHz also appear on the screen. However, the ray at 10.8 GHz is also an image ray: it is an image ray of the second actual rays in the second sweep, and an image of the first actual ray in the first sweep.
This new problem is of course not limited to two actual rays, but is also present for more than two rays, wherever a pair of rays is spaced by a frequency corresponding to 4·fi.

Actual-ray and image-ray distinction in frequency converters for spectrum analysers


A method for the recombinant production and purification of a protein kinase selected from the group consisting of tyrosine protein kinases and serine/threonine kinases by expressing a nucleic acid encoding said kinase in a microbial host cell, forming inclusion bodies containing said kinase, isolating, solubilizing, naturing, and purifying said kinase wherein said purification is performed by hydrophobic interaction with an hydrophobic adsorbent under conditions whereby at least 70% of said protein kinase are not bound to said adsorbent and the protein kinase not bound to said adsorbent is recovered.

Protein kinases regulate many different cell proliferation, differentiation, and signaling processes by adding phosphate groups to proteins (Hunter, T., Cell 50 (1987) 823-829). Protein kinases are usually named after their substrate, their regulatory molecules, or some aspect of a mutant phenotype. With regard to substrates, the protein kinases may be divided into two groups; those that phosphorylate tyrosine residues (protein tyrosine kinases, PTK) and those that phosphorylate serine or threonine residues (serine/threonine kinases, STK). Almost all kinases contain a similar 250-300 amino acid catalytic domain. The N-terminal domain binds and orients the ATP (or GTP) donor molecule. The larger C terminal part binds the protein substrate and carries out the transfer of phosphate from ATP to the hydroxyl group of a serine, threonine, or tyrosine residue.
The kinases may be categorized into families by the different amino acid sequences (generally between 5 and 100 residues) located on either side of, or inserted into loops of, the kinase domain. These added amino acid sequences allow the regulation of each kinase as it recognizes and interacts with its target protein. The primary structure of the kinase domains is conserved and can be further subdivided into 11 subdomains. Each of the 11 subdomains contain specific residues and motifs or patterns of amino acids that are characteristic of that subdomain and are highly conserved (Hardie, G., and Hanks, S., The Protein Kinase Facts Books I, Academic Press, San Diego, Calif., 1995, pp. 7-20).
The second messenger dependent protein kinases primarily mediate the effects of second messengers such as cyclic AMP (cAMP) cyclic GMP, inositol triphosphate, phosphatidylinositol, 3,4,5-triphosphate, cyclic ADP ribose, arachidonic acid and diacylglycerol. Cyclic -AMP dependent protein kinases (PKA) and mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPK) are e.g. members of the STK family. Cyclic -AMP is an intracellular mediator of hormone action in all procaryotic and animal cells that have been studied. Such hormone-induced cellular responses include thyroid hormone secretion, cortisol secretion, progesterone secretion, glycogen breakdown, bone resorption, and regulation of heart rate and force of heart muscle contraction. PKA is found in all animal cells and is thought to account for the effects of cyclic -AMP in most of these cells. Altered PKA expression is implicated in a variety of disorders and diseases including cancer, thyroid disorders, diabetes, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular disease.
MAP kinases like p38 also regulate intracellular signaling pathways. They mediate signal transduction from the cell surface to the nucleus via phosphorylation cascades. Several subgroups have been identified, and each manifests different substrate specificities and responds to distinct extracellular stimuli (Egan, S. E., and Weinberg, R. A., Nature 365 (1993) 781-783).
Protein kinase B (PKB/Akt) is a component of an intracellular signalling pathway of fundamental importance that functions to exert the effects of growth and survival factors, and which mediates the response to insulin and inflammatory signals (Datta, S. R., et al., Genes Dev. 13 (1999) 2905-2927; Brazil, D. P., and Hemmings, B. A., Trends Biochem. Sci. 11 (2001) 657-664). The recombinant production and purification of PKB is described in WO 2003/016516 using Phenyl TSK hydrophobic interaction chromatography. PKB was adsorbed to the column and eluted after washing PKB using a linear gradient.
Src kinases are implicated in cancer, immune system dysfunction and bone remodeling diseases. For general reviews, see Thomas, S. M., and Brugge, J. S., Annu. Rev. Cell Dev. Biol. 13 (1997) 513-609. Members of the Src family are e.g. Src, Fyn, Yes, Fgr, Lyn, Hck, Lck, and Blk. These are nonreceptor protein kinases that range in molecular mass from 52 to 62 kD. All are characterized by a common structural organization that is comprised of six distinct functional domains: Src homology domain 4 (SH4), a unique domain, SH3 domain, SH2 domain, a catalytic domain (SH1), and a C-terminal 15 regulatory region.
In prokaryotic organisms, the protein synthesis, also referred to as translation, takes place on the ribosomes in the cytoplasm. In expressing recombinant DNA in prokaryotic host organisms, such as, e.g., E. coli the resultant recombinant gene product/protein often precipitates in the cytoplasm in the form of insoluble inclusion bodies. After completion of fermentation and lysis of the cells, the inclusion bodies are isolated and optionally purified and the recombinant protein contained therein is solubilized by adding denaturants such as urea or guanidinium hydrochloride and naturation of said protein is accomplished by reducing the denaturing conditions. Such methods are well-known and have long been used successfully also for the industrial manufacture of recombinant proteins (cf., e.g., Lee, S. Y., Trends Biotechnol. 14 (1996) 98-105; Panda, A. K., et al., J. Biotechnol. 75 (1999) 161-172; Mattes, R., Semin. Thromb. Hemost. 27 (2001) 325-336; Clark, E. D., Curr. Opin. Biotechnol. 12 (2001) 202-207; Misawa, S., and Kumagai, I., Biopolymers 51 (1999) 297-307; and Lilie, H., Current Opinion Biotechnol. 9 (1998) 497-501).
However, expression of mammalian proteins in microbial host cells like E. coli is often a challenging task due to poor solubility, improper folding, lack of stability and other problems. Past attempts to produce such protein kinases by recombinant expression in microbial host cells pursuant to known methods in the art generally result in general only low amounts of active soluble kinases but with large amounts of undesired and inactive dimers and higher aggregates.
Now it was surprisingly found, that using the method of the invention kinases can be recovered after recombinant production in microbial host cells in a correctly folded form in large amounts.

Method for the recombinant production and purification of protein kinases


The present disclosure relates to an array substrate and a display screen. The array substrate includes a first gate drive unit located in the non-display area and corresponding to pixels in the special-shaped display region, and a second gate driving unit located in the non-display area and corresponding to pixels in the non-special-shaped display region. A width-length ratio of a first output transistor of the first gate driving unit is smaller than a width-length ratio of a second output transistor of the second gate driving unit.

At present, conventional display devices, such as display, television, mobile phone, tablet, etc., usually have a regular rectangular display screen. With the development of display technology, the rectangular display screen cannot meet diverse needs of users. Thus, the shape of the display screen is increasingly diverse.
A non-rectangular display screen is generally called a special-shaped display screen. The special-shaped display screen includes a special-shaped display region and a non-special-shaped display region. A number of pixels per line in the special-shaped display region is different from a number of pixels per line in the non-special-shaped display region.

KUNSHAN GO-VISIONOX OPTO-ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.


A lever switch that includes a manipulation lever 5 supported pivotably around a shaft in a case 18, first, second and third movable pieces 17, 25, 26 carrying movable contacts 30, 32, 34 moved by pivoting manipulation of the manipulation lever 5; and a pole plate 27 having a plate surface 27a with fixed contact plates 35a on which the movable pieces 17, 25, 26 are slid. The case 18 includes a partition 18c, and sliding grooves 18a are formed on a lower surface of the partition 18c in a direction in which the second movable piece 25 is moved. Guide arms 25b engaged with the sliding grooves 18a are formed on the second movable piece 25. Instability preventing protrusions 25d, which are in sliding contact with inner walls of each of the sliding grooves 18a, are formed on each of the guide arms 25b. The lever switch thus has movable pieces that have no instability

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to lever switches and, in particular, to a construction of a lever switch for a vehicle that prevents instability of a movable piece joined with a pivoting mechanism of a manipulation lever of the switch.
2. Description of the Related Art
A conventional lever switch for a vehicle is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. JP-A-Hei 3-201326. The conventional lever switch has a guide portion formed therein, which guides a movable contacting piece in a movement direction The movable contacting piece is formed so as to move smoothly in the movement direction owing to the fact that the guide portion is engaged with an engaging groove formed in a case.
However, the movable contacting piece of the prior art lever switch described above has a problem in that instability is produced because the movable contacting piece is short in the movement direction.

Lever switch for a vehicle including guide arms with instability preventing protrusions


Disclosed are systems, methods and computer program product for determining information security level for an enterprise. An example method comprising: collecting information relating to a structure of the enterprise, including a plurality of elements of the enterprise; creating a model to correspond to each element of the enterprise based on at least one function of each element; identifying criteria to evaluate an effectiveness of the at least one function of each element; simulating operation of the elements and determining effectiveness of the at least one function of each simulated element, wherein simulating includes determining different sequences of events and actions in response to the events for one or more simulation iterations based on the effectiveness of the at least one function of each element; and determining an information security level for the enterprise by maximizing the effectiveness of functions of the elements in response to events.

When it comes to enterprise and business control, computer simulation makes it possible to test equipment, evaluate processing methods, and analyze costs without using valuable production time or risking equipment damage. During simulation, various enterprise elements and activities may be modeled as a collection of tasks and events with a defined execution or action sequence specified by connections and control structures in accordance with corresponding enterprise resources including time, money, labor cost, energy cost, and space. As such, one may use a computer system to monitor enterprise manufacture throughput, examine equipment status and locations, check for interference and malfunctions within the enterprise.
However, it is challenging to analyze dynamic behavior of complex enterprises or systems in view of circular, interlocking, sometimes time-delayed relationships among various enterprise elements to achieve the highest effectiveness of production and profit. In addition, modern enterprises, which typically involve numerous and complex electronic and mechanical devices, constantly confront threats to equipment hardware (e.g., sensors and controllers), and threats to the underlying IT systems of networks that support the processing and communication of the equipment. In recent years, these threats have been exacerbated due to the fact that computerized control systems of a specific enterprise are increasingly becoming remotely accessible and linked to various inter or intra enterprise networks, which makes it relatively easy for hackers to launch malware attacks to compromise enterprise production equipment and IT security.
Thus, it is desirable to determine an information security level of an enterprise system with a dynamic system model taking into account the current, historical, and general behavior of various system elements with the aid of computer simulation to achieve the highest effectiveness of production and security.

System and method for determining enterprise information security level


A semiconductor device includes: an output transistor; and a current detection section. The output transistor controls electric power supply from an electric power source to a load. The current detection section detects a current flowing through the output transistor. The current detection section has a current detection characteristic in which a current detection value has approximately linier and negative dependence on a drain-source voltage of the output transistor.

A power semiconductor device is known in which an electric power is supplied to a load by using an output transistor. For example, the power semiconductor device for a car is used to drive a load such as a lamp, a solenoid and the like. In the car, when a covering of a harness connecting the load is stripped and the harness is consequently brought into contact with a body (GND) of the car, this leads to a load short circuit situation, and an excessive electric power is applied to the output transistor. To protect the output transistor from having trouble caused by the foregoing load short circuit situation, the power semiconductor device includes an overcurrent protection circuit. One of the best known circuits as the overcurrent protection circuit is a current limit circuit. Under the overcurrent situation, the current limit circuit controls a gate voltage of the output transistor to carry out a feedback control such that a current flowing through the output transistor is kept at a constant value. As an example of the foregoing current limit circuit, a patent literature 1 (J P Heisei 11-285146A) discloses a protection circuit for a voltage-driven power semiconductor device.
The protection circuit for the voltage-driven power semiconductor device in the patent literature 1 includes an output current monitor means, an overcurrent protection means and an output current limit means. The output current monitor means monitors an output current of the voltage-driven power semiconductor device. The overcurrent protection means tries to protect the output current from exceeding a predetermined value by adjusting a gate potential of the voltage-driven power semiconductor device, based on a current value monitored by the output current monitor means, when the output current of the voltage-driven power semiconductor device exceeds the predetermined value. The output current limit means limits the output current based on a voltage that is applied between both ends of the voltage-driven power semiconductor device. In this current limit circuit, mainly, a current limit value is changed like stairs based on a voltage between a drain and a source of the output transistor (FIG. 2 of the patent literature 1). The current limit value may be linearly changed in a certain range (FIG. 6 and FIG. 12 of the patent literature 1).

Semiconductor device and electric control device


Provided is a stream data processing control method of controlling a stream data processing apparatus for receiving data added with time information in time series, and processing the data with a registered query therein, the stream data processing apparatus including the query for processing the data, a window in which the received data is stored, and control management information including a control code for identifying the content of the controlling, the method including the steps of: creating data including the control code based on the control management information; determining whether or not the data stored in the window includes the control code in a case where the received data is stored in the window; and controlling the stream data processing apparatus based on the control code included in the data if the data stored in the window includes the control code.

This invention relates to a technology of controlling a stream data processing system.
In recent years, there have been growing demands for a stream data processing system for receiving a large amount of data (stream data) arriving continuously, and processing the stream data in real time. For example, in a financial application for aiding stock trading, it is one of the most important tasks to promptly respond to a stock price change. When data is processed with a conventional database management system (DBMS), it has been necessary to temporarily store received stock market data in a storage device. In future, when a larger amount of stock market data is processed, it may be difficult to respond in real time to a stock price change or the like.
Individual creation of an application for processing stream data in real time leads to such problems as an elongated development period, higher development cost, and a difficulty encountered in promptly responding to a change in a task using the application. As a result, a versatile stream data processing system is in demand.
In a stream data processing system, a query is registered first, and continuously executed upon arrival of stream data. However, the stream data arrives continuously, and hence it is impossible to start a processing after waiting the arrival of all data items. In addition, the data items that have arrived at the system need to be processed in the order of arrival without being affected by the load of data processing.
In the technology disclosed in R. Motwani, J. Widom, A. Arasu, B. Babcock, S. Babu, M. Datar, G. Manku, C. Olston, J. Rosenstein, and R. Varma, "Query Processing, Resource Management, and Approximation in a Data Stream Management System", In Proc. of the 2003 Conf. on Innovative Data Systems Research (CIDR), January 2003, there is introduced a notion called sliding window (hereinafter referred to as "window") to implement a real-time processing while cutting out a part of the stream data by specifying a time range such as the last 10 minutes or a number range such as the latest 1,000 data items.
As a language for describing a query for obtaining data, continuous query language (CQL) capable of specifying a window is disclosed in above-described "Query Processing, Resource Management, and Approximation in a Data Stream Management System". The CQL is an extended version of structured query language (SQL) which is used widely in the DBMS, and is capable of specifying a window. A technology of specifically using the CQL or the like is disclosed in, e.g., JP 2006-338432 A.
However, the stream data arrives continuously, and thus, even when the processing behavior of the stream data processing system is to be changed based on the received data, it is impossible to specify data serving as a delimiter. On the other hand, a transmitter of the stream data, e.g., a stream data transmitting application recognizes data serving as a delimiter. Accordingly, as a technology for recognizing a delimiter of the stream data, a technology of determining a target of a processing (decode processing) via a packet filter based on packet identifiers added to packets forming the stream data (image according to MPEG or the like) is disclosed in JP 2003-298661 A.

Stream data processing control method, stream data processing apparatus, and stream data processing control program


A first inspection of insured property is performed to detect hazardous conditions related to the insured property. This first inspection is performed using a first set of imagery data received from one or more imagery data sources. One or more preventive measures are recommended to address the detected hazardous conditions based on analysis of the first set of imagery data. A second inspection is performed using a second set of imagery data received from the imagery data sources. The second inspection is performed to verify that recommended preventive measures have been taken. The first and second sets of imagery data may contain satellite and aerial imagery. The imagery data sources may provide information such as an image of an insured property's roof, an image of a terrain surrounding the insured property, or any other aerial images.

Smart house functionality is a maturing space, but the opportunity for insurance companies remains largely untapped. Currently, there are few useful early warning and loss mitigation systems that actually save costs and time for both the homeowner and insurance company alike. For instance, currently, homeowners insurance claim events are detected by the homeowner, and they contact their insurance company to inform them that there has been a loss. However, further loss could be mitigated with automated warning and detection systems that interface with the insurance company systems. For example, homeowners may often never become aware of minor to medium hail damage to their roofs until such time as that damage leads to further water damage. If they could be made aware of such loss events earlier and then take corrective actions, then the increased damage and loss could have been mitigated.
Another maturing space concerns satellite and aerial imagery from Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS). As the number of satellites increases, the more satellite imagery is becoming available to the public. As a result, satellite imagery systems or image draped systems, such as, Google Earth, are becoming more popular. Using Google Earth, a user can view satellite imagery, 3D terrain, and Geographic Information Services (GIS) data such as roads and political boundaries which can be stored in a central database. Google Earth can also display information from other sources. Also as the world of commercial UAS develops, aerial imagery and mapping from unmanned aerial system will be readily available. The digital data collected through remote sensing from the unmanned aerial systems will be able to capture pre and post images of an insured property. Through artificial intelligence from the unmanned aerial system it would enable change detection to identify material composition and damages to the insured property.
In this regard, there is utility and functionality to be provided by aggregating smart home functionality with aerial imagery, satellite imagery, UAS imagery, sensor data and other insurance related data to facilitate rapid decision making process.

Systems and methods for acquiring insurance related informatics

United Services Automobile Association (USAA)


Apparatus for directly applying a liquid or pasty medium onto a moving paper or board web. A flexible endless loop rotating belt is supported by guide rolls in the loop. A shoe in the loop has a convexly curved surface over which the belt is guided and the web is carried over the belt as it passes the guide surface of the shoe. Toward the upstream end of the shoe, a predosing apparatus applies a medium to the web. Toward the downstream end of the shoe, a final dosing blade doses the medium applied to the web. The shoe has a region, at least at the upstream region thereof, the cross-sectional profile of which is adjustable, and that adjustment is enabled section by section zone-wise across the width of the web.

The invention relates to an apparatus for directly applying a liquid or pasty medium, e.g. a coating medium, onto a moving material web, in particular a web consisting of paper or board. The invention comprises predosing means and final dosing means arranged at a distance from each other and concerns a support for the web as it is being coated.
Coating apparatus are known in which the moving material web to be coated is wrapped around and supported on a selected sector of a cylindrical opposing roll. A predosing means, for example a free jet nozzle application unit or a doctor blade application unit with a pressure chamber, applies the liquid or pasty medium under pressure. A final dosing means provided, for example, with a doctor blade element, finally doses the applied medium. It is disadvantageous in this arrangement if the material web passes through a sharp or small radium curvature between the predosing point and the final dosing point, because large centrifugal forces arise which unpredictably throw parts of the applied coating medium from the material web. Since the coating medium is thrown off relatively irregularly, this often leads to an uneven final coating of the liquid or pasty medium on the material web.
In an apparatus of this type disclosed in DE 43 38 776 A1, the predosing means and the final dosing means are associated with their own respective opposing rolls or their own respective endless belts on which the web rides. The supporting points of the predosing means and the final dosing means can be in such a geometric arrangement that the material web is only exposed to small centrifugal forces in the area of its passage from the predosing means to the final dosing means, and the tension force in the material web can also be regulated by controlled differential speeds of both of the opposing rolls or both of the endless belts. But this construction involves a considerable operative effort and does not permit optimal guidance and support of the material web.

Apparatus for directly applying a liquid or pasty medium onto a moving material web


An acoustic baffle for reducing noise of a centrifugal fan includes a base for mounting with a fan outlet and a projection extending from the length of the base at a back side of the base and curving away from a top surface of the base. The projection continuously tapers from the base to an apex that aligns with a center line of the base. The projection extends over the fan wheel and tapers from left and right sides of the outlet to a fan tangency point at a midpoint of the outlet and aligned with the apex, when the acoustic baffle is installed in the outlet. The acoustic baffle effects a gradual variation in radial and tangential airflow at the blower outlet, to reduce fan blade passage tone.

Centrifugal fans are inherently noisy machines, due to the design and airflow interaction of the fan wheel and blower outlet. Air is drawn in at an inlet by a motor-driven rotating impeller. The impeller includes a number of passages arranged in a spiral. Air accelerates through these passages and emerges at an outlet. A cut-off area between the impeller housing and the outlet causes a sudden change of radial and tangential airflow at the outlet. The change in airflow, which is proportional to the blower speed, causes a pressure pulse that results in noise generation.
Conventional efforts to reduce noise generated by centrifugal fans include insulating the fan housing and ducts, both upstream and downstream. Alternately, sound reducing equipment may be installed at the fan inlet or at the fan discharge. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,191,851 to Wood describes a two-part system including a square sheet of metal that extends towards and slightly over a small portion of the fan, plus a perforated fairing to decrease size of the fan outlet. U.S. Pat. No. 5,340,275 to Eisinger discloses a rotating cutoff device that is attached within a fan casing. Resonating chambers in the cutoff device are meant to absorb sound. U.S. Pat. No. 6,463,230 to Wargo describes a noise reduction device for smoothing airflow transition at a pinch point of a fan. Wargo focuses on reducing air stagnation at the point where the fan scroll is tangent to the scroll case. The noise reduction device has an airfoil cross section shape, and extends linearly over the fan opening. U.S. Pat. No. 6,575,696 to Lyons et al. combines a sound attenuating cavity, formed as part of the blower housing, with an angled cut off for disrupting pressure fluctuation near the intersection of the exhaust section and the fan scroll.
In another example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,536,140 to Wagner et al. discloses a furnace blower with a flat plate that is inserted parallel to a blower exhaust port. Notches cut in a specified pattern vary the quantity of airflow and reduce pulsing tones. U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,653 to Frank et al. discloses a device for reducing noise in a side channel fan, which appears to include notches or spikes cut into fan outlets and pointing into the intake/discharge, to reduce noise.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,034,702 to Larsson et al. is not concerned with noise suppression, but rather is directed towards a fan having great axial length and dual air inlets, one at each end. Larsson relies upon a series of baffles to provide uniform flow throughout the entire cross-section of the fan discharge opening.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,935,835 to Della Mora discloses various anti-noise stabilizers for centrifugal fans. In particular, Della Mora seeks to homogenize airflow and reduce vortices, in order to reduce noise and improve efficiency of the centrifugal fan. The stabilizers extend for the width of the discharge opening and include dual appendages that face the inlet cone of the fan, one on either side of the discharge opening. U.S. Pat. No. 6,039,532 to McConnell also discloses a device at a fan discharge opening. In particular, McConnell places a baffle in the outlet of a squirrel cage fan. The baffle either tapers continuously from one side of the fan outlet to the other side of the outlet, or is a rectangular insert with a plurality of holes that increase in size from one end to the other end of the baffle.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,687,360 also provides a noise suppressing baffle in a discharge duct. Prew's triangular baffle is inserted within the duct, proximate a chamber housing rotating blades (i.e., a centrifuge chamber). The baffle changes the effective shape of the opening between the duct and the chamber to a trapezoid, and further provides a gradual increase in cross-sectional area of the duct. This change in cross-section decreases velocity of material being discharged into the duct, in order to reduce tendency of the material to build up on walls of the duct.


Power non-supplied side radiation electrode 3 and power supplied side radiation electrode 4 are formed on the surface of a dielectric substrate 2 with a space therebetween. A permittivity adjusting material portion 8 is provided in the space S which is situated between the power non-supplied side radiation electrode 3 and the power supplied side radiation electrode 4, and in which a capacity occurs. The permittivity adjusting material portion 8 has a lower permittivity than that of the dielectric substrate 2, which causes the permittivity between the power non-supplied side radiation electrode 3 and the power supplied side radiation electrode 4 to be lower than that of dielectric substrate 2, and weaken the capacitive coupling between the power non-supplied side radiation electrode 3 and the power supplied side radiation electrode 4.

The present invention relates to a surface-mounted type antenna to be mounted on circuit boards and the like incorporated in communication devices, and further relates to a communication device including the same.
In communication devices such as portable telephones, there are cases where a chip-shaped surface-mounted type antenna is mounted on the circuit board incorporated therein. There are plenty of varieties in the surface-mounted type antennas. One of them is a plural-resonance surface-mounted type antenna.
This plural-resonance surface-mounted type antenna has a dielectric substrate constituted of dielectric body such as a ceramic or a resin, and has two radiation electrodes disposed on the surface thereof, with a space between the radiation electrodes. The resonance frequencies of the two radiation electrodes are set so as to deviate from each other so that the frequency bands of transmitting and receiving waves of these two radiation electrodes partially overlap each other, as indicated by frequencies f1 and f2 in FIG. 10. By resonating the two radiation electrodes which thus slightly differ in the resonance frequency from each other, plural-resonance conditions in frequency characteristics as indicated by the solid line in FIG. 10 is created, whereby widening of the frequency bands of transmitting and receiving waves of the surface-mounted type antenna is realized.
With a view to miniaturizing the surface-mounted type antenna, however, there is a tendency to increase the permittivity of the dielectric substrate and to narrow the gap between the two radiation electrodes. As a result, the capacity occurring between the two radiation electrodes increases, and the capacitive coupling therebetween strengthens, which results in a mutual interference of the resonances generated between the two radiation electrodes. This raises a problem that one of the two radiation electrodes hardly resonates and that a satisfactory plural-resonance conditions thereby cannot be achieved.
Also, when aiming at thinning the surface-mounted type antenna, the distances between the two radiation electrodes and the ground are reduced, and thereby the capacities (fringing capacities) between the radiation electrodes and the ground increase. When the degree of increase in these fringing capacities are remarkable so that the fringing capacities become significantly larger than the capacity between the two radiation electrodes, the problem of being unable of achieving satisfactory plural-resonance conditions occurs, just as in the case described above.
The present invention has been made in view of solving the above-described problems, and aims to present a surface-mounted type antenna of which the miniaturization and thinning has been realized, and which allows superior plural-resonance conditions to be achieved by adjusting the strength of the capacitive coupling between the two radiation electrodes, and aims further to present a communication device provided therewith.
In order to achieve the above-described objects, the present invention has the following constructions as means for solving the above-described problems. A surface-mounted type antenna in accordance with a first invention comprises a dielectric substrate, a first radiation electrode formed on the dielectric substrate, and a second radiation electrode disposed on the dielectric substrate at a predetermined distance from the first radiation electrode. In this surface-mounted type antenna, there is provided capacitive-coupling adjusting means which makes the permittivity between the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode differ from that of the dielectric body, and which varies the strength of the capacitive coupling between the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode.
A surface-mounted type antenna in accordance with a second invention has the construction of the first invention, and is characterized in that the capacitive-coupling adjusting means thereof is constituted of a recess or a groove in which a capacity occurs and which is formed between the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode, in the surface of the dielectric substrate.
A surface-mounted type antenna in accordance with a third invention has the construction of the first invention, and is characterized in that a permittivity adjusting material portion which has a different permittivity from that of the dielectric substrate is interposed between the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode and that this permittivity adjusting material portion constitutes capacitive-coupling adjusting means.
A surface-mounted type antenna in accordance with a fourth invention has the construction of the first invention, and is characterized in that the capacitive-coupling adjusting means is constituted of areas of the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode, the area being a hollow portion situated inside the dielectric substrate.
A surface-mounted type antenna in accordance with a fifth invention comprises a dielectric substrate, a first radiation electrode formed on the surface of the dielectric substrate, and a second radiation electrode disposed on the surface of the dielectric substrate at a predetermined distance from the first radiation electrode. This surface-mounted type antenna is characterized in that the dielectric substrate is formed by bonding a first dielectric substrate and a second dielectric substrate which has a different permittivity from that of the first dielectric substrate, that the first radiation electrode is formed on the first dielectric substrate while the second radiation electrode is formed on the second dielectric substrate, and that the bonded portion between the first dielectric substrate and the second dielectric substrate is disposed in the space which is situated between the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode and in which a capacity occurs.
A communication device in a sixth invention is characterized in that it is provided with a surface-mounted type antenna which has a construction of any one of the first through fifth inventions.
In the invention having the above-described features, for example, the capacitive-coupling adjusting means makes the permittivity between the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode differ from that of the dielectric body. As a result, the strength of the capacitive coupling in the space which is situated between the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode and in which a capacity occurs, varies in the xe2x80x9cstrongerxe2x80x9d direction or in the xe2x80x9cweakerxe2x80x9d direction according to the permittivity between the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode, than the case where the permittivity between the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode is the permittivity of the dielectric substrate. In the present invention, since the strength of the capacitive coupling in the space which is situated between the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode and in which a capacity occurs, can be adjusted, it is possible to inhibit the mutual interference of the resonances of the first radiation electrode and the second radiation electrode, and to thereby improve antenna characteristics, while achieving the miniaturization and thinning of the surface-mounted type antenna.

Surface-mounted type antenna and communication device including the same


A self-tapping screw includes a head, a shaft, a tapered end and a rounded distal tip. A thread includes a thread start on the tapered end. The axial position of the thread start and a first full thread, the radius of the round distal tip and the diameter of the tapered end at the thread start are controlled in relation to the screw size for consistent, improved screw performance.

Thread-forming, self-tapping screws are known in the art for a variety of uses and applications. Unlike a standard screw that forms the male component which accepts a nut, or other female component of a threaded fastener system, a thread forming screw is driven into a body, forming threads therein as the screw advances. Depending on the size of the screw, the composition of the body in which it is driven and other factors, a pilot hole may be provided in the body before the screw is inserted.
One form of thread-forming screw, commonly referred to as a sheet metal screw, is provided for fastening together two relatively thin panels of material. Sheet metal screws have many applications and uses, including assembling panels and components of appliances, securing sections of ductwork, securing small parts of assemblies of various types, and the like. Some difficulties encountered in using sheet metal screws include providing sufficient holding force (resistance to stripout) with a lower driving force in relatively thin, sheet-like materials. Since the panels held together frequently are thin, a screw that is inserted through the panels often will protrude beyond the furthest surface from the first surface through which the screw is inserted. Screw ends protruding in this manner can damage materials and things coming in contact therewith, such as wires in appliances. The sharp, protruding points of known sheet metal screws can be a source of personal injury in the way of scratches and puncture wounds to persons coming in contact therewith.
Problems encountered in the design of sheet metal screws increase as the materials for which the screws are used become thinner, from efforts to reduce weight and decrease costs in the final assemblies, such as appliances. Thus, it is known to provide sheet metal screws of one type or design for use in very thin materials and of a different type or design for use in somewhat thicker materials. Even so, strip-out remains a problem in thinner materials. It also is known that one screw will insert readily and quickly while a next similar screw used in the same material will not "start" readily, but instead will dwell in the pilot hole with the threads riding on the surface of the material without advancing into the material. It is cumbersome and disadvantageous to have to obtain, store and use a variety of different sheet metal screws, depending upon the thickness of the material in which it is used. A single screw design useful in both thin and thick materials provides advantages to both the manufacturer and the user of the screw. Particularly on assembly lines, it is desirable that attachment sequences be performed consistently, and that all similar sheet metal screws inserted into similar materials react in the same way in starting, driving and seating in the material.
It has been a long-accepted standard of the fastener art to provide sheet metal screws in standard sizes based on thickness. Numerical designations have been used for the different sizes, with the larger number being a thicker screw. Thus, by way of example, a #10 screw is thicker than a #8 screw, which is thicker than a #6 screw, which is thicker than a #4 screw. It is also well known and universally accepted among screw manufacturers and users that different screw sizes are provided with different numbers of threads per inch of screw length. Again by way of example, it is commonly known and understood that a #4 screw has 24 threads per inch of shaft length, a #8 screw has 18 threads per inch and a #10 screw has 16 threads per inch. This increases the complexity of manufacturing facilities and equipment needed to manufacture sheet metal screws in a variety of different sizes.
What is needed in the art is a standardized thread-forming tapping screw that overcomes some or all of the aforementioned disadvantages of known thread-forming tapping screws.


The invention relates to an apparatus suitable for preparing a variety of emulsion type of food products. The apparatus comprises a source unit (a) for components that are used to make a base product and a source unit (b) for post-added ingredients. It is preferred that the apparatus comprises separate mixers for each family of post-added ingredients.

Dressings, spreads, sauces and other oil and water emulsion based products are well known. Over the years the number of different variants that is available for such emulsions has grown. When made at home, consumers can make their personal dressing or sauce variant and add the desired ingredients to match their liking. There is also a trend in society to obtain a ready meal or parts of the meal from a restaurant or store without the need to do any cooking activity yourself. It is evident that the variety provided via a restaurant, store or other retail outlet is limited because of the amount of time it takes to make personalized emulsion type products. Also the amount of product purchased if a large variety is offered is very low, and often too low to justify the preparation of each particular variant.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,280,075 discloses a plant for continuously preparing at least two different liquid foodstuff mixtures. This document addresses the problem that for the preparation of a variety of beverages in a factory, plant portions which treat basically mixture components, e.g. in case of beverages water and sugar solution, must be present two fold or in a plurality of numbers, causing correspondingly high procurement and operating costs. According to US'075 this problem is solved by a plant system in which only one single plant portion is needed for the mixture components, which is common to the several foodstuff mixtures. In one embodiment, each product has dedicated mixers, buffers and filling machines. Hence the variety of product prepared in such plant is still limited. Variation within a certain recipe is not possible. A change of recipe means that all mixers, buffer tanks and the filling machine have to be cleaned to avoid contamination of the next product. In another embodiment, all product variants use a common mixer. This mixer needs cleaning for each recipe switch.
Another existing desire is the desire for fresh products. Food products that are prepared in a factory may not fulfill this desire and hence methods have been developed to provide food products, e.g. emulsions that are prepared on the spot from their raw ingredients, mainly oil and water.
Furthermore providing a particular product variant may cost a lot of time for preparation, which is undesired for the consumer who may wish to take or consume the product immediately.
To overcome the latter problems, ways have been developed which provide a metered amount of emulsion, prepared instantaneously and if desired on demand. Instant in this context is referring to "on the spot", within a short time in the order of seconds to minutes. An example of a suitable dispensing unit is disclosed in WO-A-01/00521. The dispensing unit disclosed therein is a bottle which stores two or more separate fluids and blends the fluids when dispensing. The two fluids may be oil and vinegar to prepare dressings. The amount of different products that may be prepared using such a dispenser is rather limited and the most advantageous property of this unit is that it enables creating a fresh emulsion instantaneously.
Furthermore the size of this dispensing unit, which is manually operated, is not enabling efficient preparation of individually adapted emulsion type products instantaneously for example in a fast food service restaurant.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,230,443 addresses the need for a reliable, relatively inexpensive apparatus and method for dispensing a variety of condiments through a single dispensing unit in a metered quantity and at a low flow rate. Providing a device, which comprises a pump, which is fluidly connected to a condiment source and a dispensing apparatus, solves this need. Multiple pumps (e.g. 3) may be included wherein each pump is connected to a different condiment source. This enables independent dispensing of e.g. 3 different types of condiment. Again this offers only limited variety and requires a separate condiment source for each type of condiment offered. Also the products obtained from this device are not fresh products.
One of the known problems associated with apparatus' that provide a variety of products with different recipes is cross contamination between products that are of different composition but dispensed through the same nozzle. U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,370 discloses a mixing nozzle that can mix different flavours into a product stream, without cross contamination. This is achieved by mixing the flavour in-line into a flowing aqueous stream wherein the flavour is injected such that the flavour does not touch any of the nozzle housing. This solution may be suitable for low viscosity beverages wherein homogeneous mixing is relatively easy but was found to be unsuitable for homogeneously mixing oil and water compositions which are more viscous. Generally oil and water emulsions are either pourable or spoonable and the higher the viscosity, the more cross contamination may be occurring.
In summary the flexibility provided by the prior art devices is low. Either the known dispensers are fed with finished products and only able to deliver this on demand, or the instant preparation of product delivers fresh product with no or limited variety in product composition or high contamination when switching to a new variety.
Therefore it is an object of the invention to provide an apparatus, which dispenses a variety of products without the need to clean and rinse the entire apparatus on switching to a different variety.

Apparatus and method for mixing components


A system and method for allowing vehicle occupants to wirelessly chat with each other over a DSRC channel. A vehicle occupant may initiate a chatting session by wirelessly transmitting a request to speak with an occupant of another vehicle in its vicinity on a certain topic in a multi-hop manner. If the request is accepted by the occupant of another vehicle to enter into a chatting session on that topic, a wireless communications link is established between the two vehicles, where messages may be transmitted through other intermediate vehicles. The chatting session is maintained by monitoring the signal strength of the links between the vehicles in the chain of vehicles and new links are re-established if any of the existing links fail.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to a system and method for allowing vehicle occupants to chat with each other over a wireless communications link and, more particularly, to a system and method for allowing vehicle occupants to chat with each other over a wireless dedicated short range communications (DSRC) channel, where messages may be transmitted from vehicle to vehicle between chatting partners and where initiation of the chatting session may be provided by sending out a request for a discussion on a certain topic.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Traffic accidents and roadway congestion are significant problems for vehicle travel. Vehicular ad-hoc network (VANET) based active safety and driver assistance systems are known that allow a vehicle communications system to transmit messages to other vehicles in a particular area with warning messages about dangerous road conditions, driving events, accidents, etc. In these systems, multi-hop geocast routing protocols, known to those skilled in the art, are commonly used to extend the reachability of the warning messages, i.e., to deliver active messages to vehicles that may be a few kilometers away from the road condition or may not be able to hear message broadcasts due to an obstruction, as a one-time multi-hop transmission process. In other words, an initial message advising drivers of a potential hazardous road condition is transferred from vehicle to vehicle using the geocast routing protocol so that vehicles a significant distance away will receive the messages because one vehicle's transmission distance is typically relatively short or may be obstructed by some physical object.
Vehicular ad-hoc network based active safety and driver assistance systems allow a wireless vehicle communications system, such as a dedicated short range communication (DSRC) system, known to those skilled in the art, to transmit messages to other vehicles in a particular area with warning messages about driving conditions. In these systems, multi-hop geocast routing protocols, known to those skilled in the art, are commonly used to extend the reachability of the warning messages, i.e., to deliver active messages to vehicles that may be a few kilometers away, as a one-time multi-hop transmission process. In other words, an initial message advising drivers of a certain situation is transferred from vehicle to vehicle using the geocast routing protocol so that relevant vehicles a significant distance away will receive the messages where one vehicle's direct transmission distance (range) is typically relatively short.
Vehicle-to-vehicle (V2V) and vehicle-to-infrastructure (V2X) applications require a minimum of one entity to send information to another entity. For example, many vehicle-to-vehicle safety applications can be executed on one vehicle by simply receiving broadcast messages from a neighboring vehicle. These messages are not directed to any specific vehicle, but are meant to be shared with a vehicle population to support the safety application. In these types of applications where collision avoidance is desirable, as two or more vehicles talk to each other and a collision becomes probable, the vehicle systems can warn the vehicle drivers, or possibly take evasive action for the driver, such as applying the brakes. Likewise, traffic control units can observe the broadcast of information and generate statistics on traffic flow through a given intersection or roadway.
The vehicle ad-hoc network communication systems discussed above have almost exclusively been used for safety applications. However, those systems can be extended to other applications, including non-safety applications.

Using V2X in-network session maintenance protocols to enable instant chatting applications


A process for producing a magnetic recording medium, which process comprises a texturing step for forming texture grooves having a line density of 7,500 lines/mm or more on the surface of a non-metallic substrate, and a step for forming an orientation-determining film, a non-magnetic undercoat layer, and a magnetic layer on the non-metallic substrate.

Recently, recording density of hard disk apparatuses, which are a type of magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus, has been increasing by 60% per year, and this trend is expected to continue in the future. Therefore, a magnetic recording head and a magnetic recording medium which are suitable for realization of high recording density have been developed.
A magnetic recording medium used in a hard disk apparatus or the like basically includes a structure as described below. On a substrate containing an Al alloy coated with Ni—P through plating or on a glass substrate, a non-magnetic undercoat layer for determining crystal orientation of a Co alloy layer is formed from Cr or a Cr alloy such as CrW or CrMo through sputtering among other methods. A thin film of Co alloy, serving as a magnetic layer, is formed on the non-magnetic undercoat layer. In addition, a protective film predominantly containing carbon is formed on the magnetic layer, and a lubricant such as perfluoropolyether is applied onto the protective film to form a lubrication film.
In accordance with an increase in recording density of an apparatus such as a magnetic disk apparatus, there has been demand for a magnetic recording medium exhibiting excellent read-write conversion characteristics. Such medium exhibits magnetic anisotropy in a circumferential direction. Therefore, a magnetic recording medium including an aluminum alloy substrate coated with an NiP film through plating (hereinafter the substrate may be referred to as an "aluminum substrate") is provided with magnetic anisotropy in a circumferential direction by forming grooves mechanically on the NiP film in a circumferential direction (hereinafter the procedure will be referred to as "mechanical texturing").
Non-magnetic substrates, for example, glass substrates have been used in magnetic recording media, because glass substrates exhibit rigidity, excellent impact resistance, and evenness. Thus, glass substrates are applicable to an increase in recording density of magnetic disk apparatuses, in which the flying height of a magnetic head is reduced. However, mechanical texturing cannot be satisfactorily carried out on a glass substrate, and thus glass substrates have been used mainly in magnetic recording media exhibiting magnetic isotropy. Even when glass substrates are subjected to texturing, satisfactory magnetic anisotropy is not obtained, and thus glass substrates have been used mainly in magnetic recording media exhibiting magnetic isotropy.
In order to solve such problems, studies have been performed on techniques for imparting magnetic anisotropy to a magnetic recording medium including a glass substrate. For example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) Nos. 4-29561 and 9-167337 disclose formation of a hard film on a non-metallic substrate, which can be subjected to texturing. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 5-197941 discloses a hard film formed through sputtering, and subjected to texturing. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) Nos. 4-29561 and 9-167337 disclose formation of a hard film on a non-metallic substrate, which can be subjected to texturing. However, in each of the magnetic recording media disclosed in these publications, a hard film is formed through electroless plating. Consequently, the production process for the medium includes complicated steps, resulting in high production costs. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 5-197941 discloses an NiP hard film formed through sputtering. However, after the NiP hard film is formed through sputtering, the film must be subjected to mechanical texturing. Consequently, the production process for the magnetic recording medium disclosed in this publication includes complicated steps, resulting in high production costs. Therefore, there has been a strong demand for a production process for a magnetic anisotropic medium in which, even when a non-metallic substrate is employed, the medium is produced through a simple production process at low cost, similar to the case in which an aluminum substrate is employed.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Magnetic recording medium, process for producing the same, and magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus


Procedures and systems may be used for archiving data from a secondary data set that is a stable copy of a primary data set. In one implementation, the secondary data set is a continuous data protection (CDP) copy of the primary data set. One implementation of a method includes receiving an application programming interface (API) request for archive-eligible data, gathering application data from a secondary data set, obtaining archive-eligible data from the gathered application data, and responding to the request instruction with the archive-eligible data. The gathering is performed by a gathering circuit configured to obtain information from a plurality of types of secondary data sets. The method also includes receiving API modification instructions related to the archive-eligible data, and causing the modification instruction to be performed on the primary data set.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to storage systems, and more particularly, to procedures and devices for archiving data.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the capacity of data storage systems grows, user practices and behaviors change as well. In particular, the practice of periodically reviewing old files and folders may take on less and less importance as the cost of storage declines. For example, a 1 megabyte (MB) file once was considered a large item by many users. If such a file were no longer needed, a user might delete that file so that storage space would not remain locked up, dedicated to an unnecessary file. As storage has become cheaper, however, the amount of effort that a user may spend on purging unneeded files and data has declined. Indeed, many users may not feel the need to periodically review their files and other data. As a result, information systems may suffer from the presence of large amounts of unneeded data occupying storage space on the disk drives of file servers and other storage systems.
Archive servers may be used to store low-priority information, thus removing the burden of storing such information from servers that carry out production operations in a data-processing environment. An archive program can remove such information from a production server to an archive server. However, the interaction between the archive program and the production server can be costly in terms of the load it places on production server. Thus it would be useful to employ tools and techniques that may reduce the added load on a production server for archiving operations.

Method and system to offload archiving process to a secondary system


Wideband balun suitable for millimeter wave applications. An input stripline couples energy equally into branches of a slotline. Output striplines are coupled to the branches of the slotline to produce output signals 180 degrees out of phase. A phase matching section is placed in one output stripline so that the two output striplines are electrically equivalent in length. Using radial stub terminations, the resulting balun is compact and wideband.

1. Field of the Invention
The present application deals with the field of microwave electronics, more particularly to baluns for millimeter wave applications.
2. Art Background
Millimeter wave baluns are used in a number of applications, such as antenna feeds, balanced mixer feeds, couplers, transitions from one guiding structure to another, and the like.
Because of the extremely broad use of microstrip transmission line (an unbalanced line), a number of microstrip baluns, converting from an unbalanced to a balanced configuration, have been introduced. Basraoui achieved an octave bandwidth at 2 GHz using a log-periodic structure of half-wave resonators, exchanging circuit size for bandwidth. Qian implemented a simpler, more compact structure using a power divider and simple phase shifter, but achieved slightly less than an octave bandwidth at 7GHz. Rogers achieved nearly two octaves of bandwidth, 6 to 18 GHz using a power divider and Lange couplers as phase shifters, but again at the cost of significant circuit real-estate.
Previous solutions depend on frequency limiting structures to provide power division and phase shifting. What is needed is a balun covering the 20-50 GHz millimeter-wave frequencies which is compact in size.
Energy coupled to an input microstrip line on one side of a substrate is coupled equally into two slotline arms on the opposite side of the substrate. Each of the slotline arms is then coupled to an output microstrip line on the same side of the substrate as the input microstrip line. By changing the physical configuration of the transition from slotline to microstrip line between the two slotline arms, a phase shift of 180 degrees is imposed between the two output microstrip lines. A phase equalizer section is used in one of the output striplines to ensure that the physical lengths of both output microstrip lines are the same so that no additional phase shift is introduced.

Broadband millimeter wave microstrip balun


An optical pickup apparatus comprising: a diffraction grating including a first grating for diffracting a first laser light beam, and a second grating for diffracting a second laser light beam which is shorter in wavelength than the first laser light beam, the diffraction grating being disposed in a common optical path for guiding the first laser light beam and the second laser light beam to an optical disc; and a photo detector including in a first light receiving area, a main light receiving unit, a front sub-light receiving unit, and a rear sub-light receiving unit that receive reflected light beams, which are reflected by the optical disc, of a main beam, of a front sub-beam, and of a rear sub-beam, respectively, the first laser light beam being diffracted by the diffraction grating into the main beam, the front sub-beam formed in front of the main beam, and the rear sub-beam formed at the back of the main beam, wherein the first grating is set such that the front sub-light receiving unit and the rear sub-light receiving unit in the first light receiving area are disposed at positions which substantially avoid unnecessary diffracted light beam spots which are generated by projecting to the first light receiving area unnecessary diffracted light beams, the unnecessary diffracted light beams generated by the second grating from the first laser light beam.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to an optical pickup apparatus that diffracts each of a first laser light beam and a second laser light beam which are different in wavelength by a diffraction grating disposed in a common optical path in an outward path which guides the first laser light beam and the second laser light beam, and that applies the diffracted light beams to an optical disc. The present invention relates more particularly to an optical pickup apparatus having a first grating that has diffracting action on the first laser light beam and a second grating that has diffracting action on the second laser light beam, both the gratings being formed as the diffraction grating.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an optical pickup apparatus that optically records and reproduces a signal to/from an optical disc such as a CD (Compact Disc) or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc) with use of a laser light beam, an astigmatism method or a differential astigmatism method which is an application thereof are mainly employed as focusing control for causing the laser light beam applied to the disc to focus on signal layer of the disc.
On the other hand, as tracking control for causing the laser light beam applied to the disc to trace a signal track of the disc, is employed mainly any one of a 3-beam method, a push-pull method, a phase difference method, and an application thereof, in accordance with the standard and the scheme of the disc.
A practical example of an optical pickup apparatus supporting various types of CD for recording and reproducing, a DVD-ROM, and a DVD±R/RW employs, e.g., the astigmatism method for various types of CD for recording and reproducing, as the focus controlling scheme. Another practical example of the optical pickup apparatus employs, e.g., the differential astigmatism method that is an application of the astigmatism method for various types of DVD for recording and reproducing, as the focus controlling scheme. On the other hand, a practical example of the optical pickup apparatus employs, e.g., the phase difference method for a DVD-ROM and the differential push-pull method that is an application of the push-pull method for a DVD±R/RW and a CD, as the tracking controlling scheme.
When the basic form or an application form of the astigmatism method is employed for the focusing control, there is provided an astigmatism-generating optical system such as an anamorphic lens for generating astigmatism in a reflected laser light beam from the disc or a parallel plate disposed being inclined to the optical axis, and there is used a photo detector having a light receiving area that is divided into four by two dividing lines which are perpendicular to each other and each of which forms an angle of 45 degree relative to the direction of the generation of the astigmatism.
On the other hand, the differential astigmatism method for the focusing controlling scheme, and the differential push-pull method or the 3-beam method for the tracking controlling scheme, each needs three beams as the laser light beam to be applied to the disc. For this reason, in an optical pickup apparatus employing one of these methods, as already known, there is provided a diffraction grating for diffracting a laser light beam emitted form a semiconductor laser to be divided into three beams that are a 0th-order light beam and ±1st-order diffracted light beams, and there is used a photo detector having three light receiving units for respectively receiving three reflected laser light beams, that are the above three beams reflected by the disc.
In the optical pickup apparatus, incidentally, an optical path thereof is simplified, with use of a multi-laser unit that emits at least two different types of laser light beam: a laser light beam having a wavelength suitable for the recording density of a CD; and a laser light beam having a wavelength suitable for the recording density of a DVD. The multi-laser unit has a plurality of laser emitting points at which a plurality of laser light beams different in wavelength are respectively emitted by a single laser chip or by a plurality of laser chips, each of which is formed separately, and which are disposed together on a single semiconductor base.
In an optical pickup apparatus using such a multi-laser unit as above, in order to form the three beams, there is disposed a two-wavelength supporting diffraction grating provided with separate gratings so as to support different wavelengths of the first laser light beam and the second laser light beam respectively, wherein the two laser light beams are emitted by a two-wavelength supporting multi-laser, and wherein the separate gratings are formed on the outward path that guides the laser light beams to the optical disc. Because of forming different gratings respectively for the first laser light beam and the second laser light beam, the two-wavelength supporting diffraction grating is advantageous for optical design in terms of the diffraction efficiency, the diffraction angle, etc. Therefore, when the multi-laser unit is used, it is preferable to use a diffraction grating that supports a plurality of wavelengths and that is designed optimally for each of all wavelengths emitted from the multi-laser unit.
Such a conventional optical pickup apparatus is disclosed in, e.g., Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 2003-162831.
However, when the above diffraction grating that supports a plurality of wavelengths is used, both of the first laser light beam and the second laser light beam emitted from the multi-laser unit pass through both of the gratings of the diffraction grating. Therefore, unnecessary diffracted light beams are generated at the passing the diffraction grating. Consequently, an unnecessary diffracted light beam spot of the unnecessary diffracted light beam is projected onto the light receiving area of the photo detector, and this becomes a factor that disturbs light receiving outputs obtained respectively from sub-light receiving units corresponding to a front sub-beam and a rear sub-beam (generally, ±1st-order diffracted light beams) in the light receiving area, wherein the front sub-beam and the rear sub-beam are positioned respectively in front of and at the back of the main beam of the three beams.
With respect to an optical pickup apparatus supporting CDs and DVDs, in the case that a multi-laser unit thereof can emit a laser light beam with an infrared wavelength band of 765 nm to 805 nm which is suitable for CDs, and can also emit another laser beam with a red wavelength band of 645 nm to 675 nm which is suitable for DVDs, the use of a two-wavelength supporting diffraction grating for CDs and DVDs results in a projection of the unnecessary diffracted light beam spot onto a position on the main light receiving unit side in each of the sub-light receiving units of a light receiving are a for CDs, due to the passage of the laser light beam for CDs through the DVD-supporting grating of the diffraction grating. Thereby, an effect of disturbing the light receiving output obtained from each of the sub-light receiving units is significant. In particular, there are formed light receiving areas corresponding respectively to laser light beams emitted from the multi-laser unit in the photo detector. Therefore, when a multi-laser unit is used, a position of each of the light receiving units of each of the light receiving areas is limited corresponding to a position of each of laser emitting points of the multi-laser unit, and the effect of the unnecessary diffracted light beam spot exerted on the light receiving output is significant, wherein the light receiving output is obtained from each of the sub-light receiving units of each of the light receiving areas.


A switching device that selectively switches connections to a predetermined terminal among two or more terminals connected to servers, and can be remote-controlled via a network, includes a network interface circuit to be connected to the network, an image processing unit that includes an image compression circuit for compressing image signals outputted from the servers, and a controller that changes a compression method or compression rate to be used at the image compression circuit in accordance with the congestion level of the network.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a switching device that shares input/output devices through switching connections among computers, and more particularly, to a switching device that can be remote-controlled by a remote-control computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the processing performances of computers have greatly improved, computers are being even more widely used. For instance, an increasing number of individuals own more than one computer, to have more opportunities to use computers having different work environments from one another. In this situation, input/output devices, such as a keyboard, a display, and a mouse, are connected to the computers via a switching device, so as to save space and costs.
Such a switching device is generally called a KVM (K: Keyboard, V: Video, M: Mouse) switch. A KVM switch is connected to the input/output devices and the computers, and activates one of the connections between the input/output devices and one of the computers. A user operates the KVM switch to select which one of the computers should be connected to the input/output devices.
With such a conventional KVM switch, however, it is necessary for a user to operate the KVM switch through the mouse or the keyboard connected to the KVM switch, and the user must be at the location of the input/output devices. To solve this problem, a KVM switch that can be remote-controlled has been suggested.
With a KVM switch that can be remote-controlled, a user can have access to computers connected to the KVM switch through a PC that is located at a distance via a network, as well as through a mouse and a keyboard that are connected to the KVM switch.
When image data are transmitted from the computers connected to the KVM switch to a remote-control computer over the network, it is necessary to compress the image data, since the amount of data contained in the image data is too large. However, the image data compression degrades the image quality, though it does reduce the data amount.
Also, the mouse coordinate data are transmitted as relative coordinate value data from a remote-control computer over the network, which results in missing packets in the mouse coordinate data or delays of movement signals of the mouse due to line congestion.
Furthermore, with the conventional KVM switch, the mouse cannot function as an absolute value device, unless software such as a special-purpose driver for the mouse connected to remote-control computers over the network is installed in the computers in advance.

Switching device for sharing input/output devices and computer system using the same