A method of producing soda ash and ammonium sulphate by recycling by-products of Merseberg and Solvay processes includes treating brine with soda ash distiller waste for desulphatation of the brine to obtain gypsum, recovering pure salt from the desulphated brine and utilizing it in manufacture of soda ash in a Solvay process, washing the gypsum and reacting it with liquor ammonia and carbon dioxide to obtain CaCO3 and ammonium sulphate, separating the CaCO3 from the ammonium sulphate solution and recovering solid ammonium sulphate, washing the CaCO3 followed by calcination to generate CO2 and lime, recycling the CO2 in the Solvay process to obtain soda ash, recycling the lime with ammonium chloride generated in the Solvay process to recover ammonia and obtain distiller waste containing CaCl2 as a by-product, recycling the by-product distiller waste for the desulphatation of the brine, and recycling the ammonia recovered.

In 1861, Ernest Gaston Joseph Solvay developed the ammonia-soda process for the manufacture of soda ash (anhydrous sodium carbonate) from brine (source of sodium chloride) and limestone (source of calcium carbonate). The process was an improvement over the earlier Leblanc process. The chemistry of Solvay process involves the following chemical equations 1 to 6.a. CaCO3→CaO+CO2  (1)b. CaO+H2O→Ca(OH)2  (2)c. NH3+CO2+H2O→(NH4)HCO3  (3)d. (NH4)HCO3+NaCl→NaHCO3+NH4Cl  (4)e. 2NH4Cl+Ca(OH)2→CaCl2+2NH3+2H2O  (5)f. 2NaHCO3→Na2CO3+CO2+H2O  (6)
The main drawback of the Solvay process is the co-generation of CaCl2 (in the form of distiller waste) which is normally discharged into the sea/river. In this connection, reference may be made to U.S. Pat. No. 6,776,972 by Vohra et al., which discloses the utilization of the distiller waste for the purpose of desulphatation of sea/sub-soil brine which, in turn, results in the production of solar salt of superior quality and reduces the cost of downstream purification of brine. Thus for those soda ash manufacturers who are backward integrated to solar salt production, the above process can be of considerable advantage. No mention is made therein of any value addition of the by-product gypsum obtained in the course of desulphatation which would no doubt be a further motivation to implement the process.
Reference may be made to the Merseberg process wherein gypsum is reacted with ammonia and carbon dioxide to obtain ammonium sulphate solution along with calcium carbonate as precipitate (eq 7). The ammonium sulphate liquor can be separated from the calcium carbonate and thereafter evaporated to recover this important fertilizer. No mention is made in the prior art of any application wherein the calcium carbonate so generated is utilized in the Solvay process as substitute of limestone.CaSO4+2NH3+2H2O+CO2→(NH4)2SO4+CaCO3  (7)
Reference may be made to U.S. Pat. No. 7,041,268 by Ghosh et al. which disclose an integrated process for the recovery of sulphate of potash and magnesia from sea bittern. Gypsum is obtained as a by-product in this process.
Reference is made to the patent application PCT/IN2010/000194 by Ghosh et al. wherein the integrated process for the production of sulphate of potash (SOP), magnesia and ammonium sulphate is disclosed to exploit useful synergies. No reference is made to any integration of the Solvay and Merseberg processes to exploit synergies.
It can be seen from the integrated solar salt-Solvay process (U.S. Pat. No. 6,776,972) and the Merseberg process that there are unexploited synergies between the two in as much as (i) one generates gypsum while the other consumes gypsum, (ii) one generates calcium carbonate and the other consumes calcium carbonate in the form of lime and carbon dioxide, and (iii) both involve similar unit operations in as much as both the reactions use ammonia and carbon dioxide (eqs 3 and 7).
It will be apparent from the process as disclosed in detail below, that integration of the Solvay and Merseberg processes—which is the main object of the invention—is feasible only if there is an additional source of CO2 apart from the CO2 obtained from calcium carbonate. Reference is again made to the Solvay process which involves unit operations at elevated temperatures which would inevitably produce flue gas emissions.
Reference may be made to Wikipedia wherein it is stated that flue gas composition depends on what is being burnt, but that it will usually consist of "mostly nitrogen (typically more than two-thirds) derived from the combustion air, carbon dioxide (CO2) and water vapor as well as excess oxygen (also derived from the combustion air). It further contains a small percentage of pollutants such as particulate matter, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides".
Reference is made to U.S. Pat. No. 7,666,234 by Ghosh et al. wherein an improved process for the preparation of biodiesel from triglyceride oils through transesterification is disclosed. The patent discloses the neutralization of spent KOH catalyst in the glycerol layer with acid sources including flue gas.
U.S. patent application 20090191114, (Liu Jian et al., Jul. 30, 2009) describes a method for preparing ammonium bicarbonate with flue gas and device thereof. The method includes quantitatively collecting flue gas with a carbon dioxide concentration of about 8 to 15% (volume), decreasing the temperature of the flue gas to about 50° C., or less, with an air-cooling apparatus, then increasing the pressure of the flue gas and finally allowing the flue gas to react with liquid ammonia to produce ammonium bicarbonate. No mention is made of its application in the Merseberg process.
Reference may be made to a large body of prior art such as U.S. Pat. No. 7,067,456 and PCT application no. PCT/IN2010/000187 (Jasra et al.) which describe different methods of enriching the CO2 in flue gas.

Method of recycling of by-products for the production of soda ash and ammonium sulphate

Council of Scientific & Industrial Research


A monopole hollow strengthening tower is provided comprising stages that each comprise a pair of half-pipe sections that fit around the monopole. Each pair of sections is connected to the stage below and to each other. A first stage is connected to the footing of the monopole, a second stage is connected to the top of the first stage and includes cable ports. Subsequent stages extend above the second stage, finally there is a top stage which incorporates a clamping system to grip the monopole. This stage is the only stage above the footing where the monopole and the strengthening tower are in contact with each other. This results in minimisation of outages and disturbances, shortest timeframe, minimum strengthening and avoids significant enlargement of the monopole footprint

1. Field of the Invention
This invention concerns the construction of telecommunications towers on which transmitters are mounted, and in particular it concerns strengthening for monopole towers.
1. Description of the Related Art
Telecommunications towers are usually tall so that the transmitters and receivers can broadcast and receive over the tops of nearby buildings and hills. There are several different types of towers suitable for mounting transmitters. First, guyed masts that are laterally supported by guy wires. Second, lattice towers that have a wide footprint, taper as they go up and are self-supporting. And third, monopole towers that have a small footprint and are self-supporting.
Ubiquitous wireless communication networks require communications towers to be located throughout populated areas. The location, elevation and concentration of these towers are determined by geographic factors and population density. Communication companies differentiate by providing superior network coverage and capacity. These conditions have led to a market for vertical real estate capable of accommodating communications equipment. This market need has been fulfilled by existing communication towers and in urban areas rooftops. The demand in this market is balanced with costs to build and operate telecommunications towers and local authority delays and community resistance to building new facilities.
As a result, over time more and more equipment tends to be mounted on each existing tower until eventually the maximum structural capacity for a tower may be approached. Due to network operation issues and associated costs tearing down the existing tower and building a new and bigger tower is not an attractive solution. Accordingly, techniques have been developed for strengthening the towers.
Lattice towers and guyed masts are able to be incrementally strengthened, for instance by adding more lattice or additional guy wires, however it is much more difficult to strengthen a monopole.


A solar powered ground lights is typically mounted in a walkway, pathway, pool deck, roadway, park pathway, either in cement, wood, synthetic materials, or otherwise, and are ideally suited for use in walkways, walls, ceilings, and pool or dock areas because they are readily mounted from the top, requiring only a cylindrical depression and possibly three screws for mounting and require no external wiring. The solar powered ground lights are LED or electro-illuminescent or similar type, supported close to a lens for a good low angle view factor and are low voltage and safe. A solar panel recharges the battery. The system may be fully IP68 waterproof rated.

In-ground or in-deck support is not utilized enough to provide passive lighting. Some types of ground lighting are known for gardens and which is supported on short pikes to give a high lighting effect with lateral light directed upon plants and garden areas. These types of lighting are inappropriate for high traffic areas where the object of providing lighting and being not significantly obstructive to walking is desired.
Conversely, walkways, parkways, roads, and the like are typically conventionally illuminated utilizing lighting systems that require wiring from one illuminated source to the next, such as overhead wiring or poles. Some illumination systems are solar powered and temporary with housing that are thrust into the ground with a steak and are not capable of being mounted into a surface or mounted to as to permit and illuminate pedestrian traffic. Another issue for pedestrian traffic is wear. Many custom wired in-sidewalk systems have painted plates which scuff and undergo the negative effects of sunlight destruction (fading) as well as heating and cooling.
Many potentially dangerous places to walk are not lighted because the expense of wiring and providing lighting in places not heavily frequented by pedestrians is not believed to be justified. Docks and areas surrounding docking areas may go days and weeks without foot traffic in the area. However, in a harbor environment lighting is critical because visibility, especially when it is needed, is frequently impaired by weather conditions and stored obstacles, such as carts, rope, floats paddles and small canoes on a dock.
A requirement of high maintenance is a cost issue which adds to the installation cost issue for all ground lighting, but especially lighting units mounted in the marine environment. The electrical distribution system has to be sufficiently upgraded over a system that would exist outside the marine environment and at increased cost. Failure of any distribution system in a marine environment occurs more frequently and at a higher cost of replacement. Maintenance of wired units requires much onsite time to dis-assemble, replace faulty components and then re-assemble on site.
Low power lighting has been effective for signs giving direct illumination to the viewer, and for some closely related reflective service where a structure is illuminated, typically a short distance from the light source. Attempts to provide usable, effective illumination for a low-height ground fixture having a passive solar light source have been challenging. Most walkway lighting involves custom raised installations with light being deliberately reflected from provided structures or with light being directed downward to a surface that is expected to be in a defined and known location and have known characteristics. A good example of the latter includes stairs where each stair is illuminated from above.
Other instances include high power lights that are directed and focused upwardly are those used to illuminate improvements to real estate including buildings, walls, signs and landscaping. Except for landscaping, the aforementioned illumination is often high power. Illumination of landscaping still falls in the decorative category as most are illuminated from positions that are distanced from walkways. Illumination of landscaping on a smaller home scale may be low power solar and is also located away from walk ways, but is also most often downwardly directed. Where low power solar lighting is downwardly directed, and where the height of the light source is known, it may be more certain to be able to specify the distribution of light needed. Lighting that is not for direct viewing of the light source (decorative), and which is not for illuminating a known target, even under low power conditions, has to be designed with a higher level of expected usage variability than other applications with fixed parameters.
What is needed is a low maintenance lighting system, utilizable in a relatively low pedestrian traffic environment, that is inexpensive to install, inexpensive to replace (and/or repair), and which has wear characteristics that will not exhibit significantly noticeable wear if trod upon. The needed system should be available at a range of costs and capabilities to encourage the installation of a low-tech version of the system in facilities which demand the lowest cost system, and to encourage the installation of a high-tech version of the system in facilities which demand a higher level of service & control.
For a horizontal mounted, upwardly directed lighting system fixture the need for a controlled lateral light projection can be significant. What is needed is a light fixture that can provide significant, even, lateral illumination and can consequently act as both a highly visible low power light source at a distance, as well as to provide illumination of surrounding structures near the light installation, including overhead structures and lateral structures. A needed system should have the capability for illumination at a wide angle, if desired, while maintaining a low height profile. Further, it would be preferable that lighting have a capability for users and installers to specify locations in a low height support where lights could be positioned in order enable user specifiability of a predominant direction for a lighting view factor. Any structure which also enabled placement of lights as close to an upper protective transmissive surface is needed.


A system and method for resolving scheduling conflicts in multi-tuner devices. A multi-tuner device generates an interactive graphical display representing a current schedule for tuner usage. A user may identify a program for viewing or recording and conditionally reserve a tuner to provide the requested service. The multi-tuner device identifies any scheduling conflicts arising from the requested service and provides an updated graphical display showing a new schedule for tuner usage, which schedule is subject to selection by the requesting user. Upon selection of the new schedule, the new schedule becomes the current schedule.

Video content may be delivered to homes and businesses over various media, including fiber, wireless and hybrid-fiber cable. Subscribers of video delivery services not only desire a broad menu of content but the ability to determine when that content will be watched. Digital video recorder (DVR) functionality, which may be incorporated into a video terminal device (VTD) or gateway, provides subscribers the ability to record programs for delayed viewing. The scheduling of a DVR is typically accomplished via a graphical user interface (GUI) that receives commands issued to the DVR by the subscriber or by subscriber interaction with an interactive program guide (IPG).
A VTD may have multiple tuners that are accessible to the DVR. The multiple tuners allow a DVR to record more than one program, provide picture-in-picture functionality and/or allow a subscriber to watch one program while recording another.
However, even with multiple tuners, conflicts may occur when programs with the same or overlapping time slots are selected for recording. FIG. 5 illustrates a typical problem:
In this example, a subscriber desires to record new program E. The recording of program E would, however, conflict with scheduled programs A, B, D and C. The subscriber must choose the program or programs to record and the program or programs to cancel. Current logic used in DVR GUIs presents the subscriber only one option at a time. For example, the subscriber may be asked to cancel program A, cancel program C or not record program E. If the subscriber elects to record program E, the DVR scheduling logic will first require the subscriber to cancel the recording of program A. Because canceling program A does not resolve all of the conflicts with recording program E, when the subscriber agrees to cancel program A, the DVR scheduling logic will require the subscriber to cancel program B or to decide not to record program E. The DVR scheduling logic will continue to walk through the conflicts one at time until the conflicts are resolved. The process moves in a single direction. That is, there is no "undo" button to simply reverse a decision regarding a program. If at any time during the process the subscriber decides not to record program E, any programs that were canceled must be rescheduled.
Newer "video gateways" are configured with multiple tuners that may be shared among "tunerless" video termination devices in a subscriber network and with a DVR. In this configuration, conflicts may arise not only among programs scheduled for recording but because of requests from the tunerless VTDs for access to a tuner. The number of tuners used by the tunerless VTDs and the tuners committed to recording programs may exceed the number of tuners of the video gateway.

System and method for resolving scheduling conflicts in multi-tuner devices and systems


A system for characterizing vibration of a rack structure having at least one hard disk drive disposed therein and a vibration exciter operatively associated with the rack structure includes one or more computers. The one or more computers are configured to command the vibration exciter to provide vibration input to the rack structure and to command a plurality of reads from the at least one hard disk drive such that, for each of the plurality of reads, data stored on the at least one hard disk drive is retrieved from the at least one hard disk drive. The one or more computers are also configured to obtain read rate information related to the plurality of reads and to identify at least one resonant frequency of the rack structure based on the read rate information.

As known in the art, resonance is the state of a system in which the frequency of the excitation force is close to the system's natural frequency. Small periodic driving forces can produce large amplitude vibrations at these frequencies. Mechanical structures, such as bridges, power plants, computer racks and servers, etc., may be subjected to multi-frequency vibration input and system response measured via accelerometers at various locations to identify resonant frequencies.

Methods for characterizing vibration of a rack structure


An analyzing arrangement for analyzing a composition of a fluid, such as oil mist of an engine, e.g. a gas turbine is provided. The analyzing arrangement includes a breather pipe coupleable to the gas turbine such that at least a part of the fluid is flowing through the breather pipe, a first collecting device for collecting a first sample of the fluid, wherein the first collecting device is configured for providing a first composition analysis of the first sample and a second collecting device for collecting a second sample of the fluid, wherein the second collecting device is configured for providing a second composition analysis of the second sample. The first collecting device and the second collecting device are arranged inside the breather pipe such that the first collecting device and the second collecting device are exposed to a common flow characteristic of the fluid inside the breather pipe.

In the technical field of gas turbines there is a commercial requirement to measure the emissions from gas turbine engines in order to comply with national and regional environmental standards. In particular, there is a need to measure lube oil breather emissions from a gas turbine. The lube oil breather emission flows through a breather pipe in a liquid (droplet) and/or a gaseous aggregate state. The lube oil breather pipe comprises a relatively small diameter and the flow of the lube oil (mist) is relatively low and comprises high temperatures.
It is necessary to conduct simultaneous measurements of the liquid lube oil emissions and the gaseous lube oil emissions. However, often it is not possible from one single collecting device to receive a split sample (liquid/gas split) which provides sufficient amount of the measurement sample in the liquid state and/or the gas state for receiving a proper measurement result. Hence, in order to receive a proper measurement result, two measurement samples have to be taken from the fluid inside breather pipe, wherein in one test sample the liquid phase and in the other test sample the gaseous phase of the lube oil emission is analyzed.
In particular, the hydrocarbon amount of the lube oil emission in the gaseous phase and in the liquid phase is measured, so that a total amount of hydrocarbon of the lube oil breather emissions is analysed.
GB 2 408 798 A discloses a light scattering oil mist detecting device with means for preventing oil droplets entering the casing. The oil mist detecting device comprises a casing having an oil mist introducing chamber arranged in a crank-case of an internal combustion engine. A light emitting means and a photo detecting means of the oil mist detecting device may measure the oil mist introduced into the introducing chamber.
GB 2 398 382 A discloses an oil mist sampling device. The oil mist sampling device comprises light emitting means for radiating light and photo receiving means for receiving the radiated light. The photo receiving means outputs a signal corresponding to the intensity of the received light.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,369,890 B1 discloses a particle separation and detection apparatus. The apparatus comprises an analysing chamber which receives a gaseous fluid by diffusion from a receiving chamber connected via an inlet to an area being monitored. The gaseous fluid is measured by a photodiode which detects light scattered by particles in the gaseous fluid.
EP 1 936 358 A1 discloses an oil mist detector. A light emitting device irradiates light to a detection region in which oil mist is injected. The light is radiated through a transparent window. The received light is received through the transparent window by a receiving device.

Sample collecting device for droplet and gas sampling in narrow ducts of a gas turbine or any other device with an oil breather


A fiber optic radiation transmission system is provided in which an optical fiber and a radiation source are connected to establish optical communication therebetween. Additionally, a connecting system is provided for connecting an optical fiber and a radiation source such that optical communication is established therebetween. The systems include a connector which carries the optical fiber therein. The connector is extendable within the system toward the radiation source to bring the optical fiber into optical communication with the radiation source. More particularly, the systems are configured in such a way that when the connector is extended sufficiently within the system, it seats the optical fiber relative to the radiation source under bias, thereby establishing a reliable optical connection. Once the optical connection is thus established, the connector engages a connection port associated with the radiation source to secure the system in a fully connected configuration appropriate for use. Thus, in a method of using such a system, the user simply extends the connector until the connector engages the connection port. The present invention thus provides efficient and reliable systems in which optical communication is established between an optical fiber and a radiation source.

This invention relates to a fiber optic radiation transmission system in which an optical fiber and a source of radiation are connected to establish optical communication therebetween. This invention also relates to a system which is useful for connecting an optical fiber and a source of radiation and establishing optical communication therebetween.
More particularly, the present invention relates to a system, including an optical fiber and a connector, in which the connector brings an end of the optical fiber into optical communication with a radiation source and secures the optical fiber end in this communicating relationship in preparation for use.
Typically, the connecting of an optical fiber and a radiation source has been accomplished by placing a standard ferrule and a standard connector, such as a SMA 905 ferrule and a SMA 905 connector, on the end of the optical fiber, and screwing a nut on the connector onto a correspondingly threaded standard bulkhead connector, such as a SMA 905 bulkhead connector, thereby biasing the ferrule against a shoulder in the bulkhead. This system is disadvantageous in that the nut on the connector is difficult to manipulate when screwing the nut into the bulkhead. Additionally, it is difficult for the user to know whether or not the nut has been screwed in sufficiently to bias the ferrule properly against the shoulder in the bulkhead in order to obtain good optical communication between the optical fiber and the radiation source.
It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a fiber optic radiation transmission system in which an optical fiber and a radiation source are connected in a convenient manner.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an optical fiber connector system in which an optical fiber and a radiation source are connected in a convenient manner.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a system which is useful to establish good optical communication between an end of an optical fiber and a source of radiation.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an improved method of connecting an optical fiber and a radiation source.

Methods of connecting an optical fiber and methods of providing radiation from an optical fiber


A cable supporting structure for facilitating the operation of mounting a cable to a boat. The cable includes a cable inner, a cable outer for surrounding the cable inner, and a stepped portion provided on the cable outer. The cable supporting structure includes a bracket mounted to the boat and having a U-shaped groove for storing the cable outer. The U-shaped groove of the bracket extends horizontally or obliquely downward toward the inner side. A holder including U-shaped grooves that fit the stepped portions of the cable for clamping the cable outer is mounted to the bracket.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an improved cable supporting structure for supporting a midsection of a cable that connects a steering handle and a device in a boat.
2. Description of Background Art
In a boat, a cable supporting structure for holding a cable that connects a steering handle and a device at a predetermined position is required (for example, JP-A-2004-98946 (FIG. 12).
In FIG. 12 in JP-A-2004-98946, a drive cable supporting structure 120 includes a bracket 121 and a U-shaped portion 125 for attaching an outer pipe 116 to the bracket 121, and is configured to mount the bracket 121 to the boat body side by firstly aligning a deck side mounting face 128 of the bracket 121 to a back side of the deck 20, searching a mounting hole by shifting the mounting face 128, aligning the hole position on the bracket 121 side to the hole on the deck 20 side, inserting bolts 127, 127 in a state where these holes are aligned, and fastening these bolts to the bracket 121.
When an operator mounts the bracket 121 in JP-A-2004-98946 to the deck 20 on his/her own, he/she has to support the bracket 121 with one hand and then tighten the bolts 127, 127 with the other hand. When the bracket 121 is heavy, he/she has to support a heavy object by one hand for a certain period of time, and hence the operator has to bear a great burden.
Subsequently, a drive cable 114 is hooked to the U-shaped portion 125 of the bracket 121 and a nut 124 is turned to fix the outer pipe 116 to the bracket 121 in the state in which the drive cable 114 is hooked.
In other words, the operator has to hold the drive cable 114 in JP-A-2004-98946 by one hand, and rotate the nut 124 with the other hand, whereby the operation is done basically with both hands.
According to the drive cable supporting structure 120 in JP-A-2004-98946, the nut 124 and the bolt 127 are tightened while holding the bracket 121 and the drive cable 114. However, since the interior of the deck of a small boat is narrow, there may be a case in which the operation while holding the bracket 121 or the drive cable 114 is difficult. Therefore, a cable supporting structure that enables easy mounting is desired.

Cable supporting structure for small boat


A method for providing fixed-mobile convergence capabilities and/or device discovery capabilities within a telecommunications network includes: a specific client device or user equipment is connected to or connects to the home gateway device in order to connect to the telecommunications network; the home gateway device uses the connection to the specific client device or user equipment to initiate an exchange of messages according to an authentication or key exchange protocol, wherein the authentication or key exchange protocol is an extensible authentication protocol (EAP) or an enhanced authentication and key agreement (AKA), wherein identity information of the specific client device or user equipment is transmitted to the home gateway device as part of at least one message of the authentication or key exchange protocol; and the authentication or key exchange protocol is prematurely terminated.

The present application generally relates to the area of providing or realizing an ever better or more efficient fixed-mobile convergence or -mobile convergence capabilities. One aspect thereof is related to the fact that, typically and conventionally, different identifiers, i.e. different kinds of identifiers, are used to identify subscribers within a fixed-line telecommunications network on the one hand, and within a mobile telecommunications network (or mobile communication network) on the other hand. In case one and the same operator operates both a fixed-line telecommunications network and a mobile telecommunications network (within the same geographical area), due to such different identities being typically used for subscribers in the fixed-line part and in the mobile part, it might be difficult or even impossible for the network operator to associate who of the mobile customers are also having fixed network contracts or belonging, e.g., to the same family or household, except, perhaps, the owners of the respective contract themselves. Hence, due to this situation, there might be barriers to provide converged products (i.e. fixed-mobile convergence products) to subscribers or customers.

Enhanced and/or more efficient fixed-mobile convergence capabilities and/or device discovery capabilities within a telecommunications network


The present invention relates to a method and a monitoring system, for monitoring a vacuum on-load tap changer. The tap changer includes a housing with insulating fluid, a diverter switch inside of the housing and including at least one movable contact and at least two vacuum interrupters, and at least one pressure sensor which measures the pressure in the housing. The method, which is performed by a processing circuitry in the system, includes determining a pressure signature, including two succeeding peaks within a time interval, continuously measuring the pressure, detecting when the measured pressure shows the pressure signature, determining, based on the measured pressure within the pressure signature, the time between the first rise in pressure and the second drop, and setting the determined time to represent the switch time of the diverter switch.

A tap changer is a device used with transformers for regulation of the voltage levels. The regulation is achieved by having the tap changer altering the number of turns in the winding of the transformer.
On-load tap changers, OLTC, may comprise a diverter switch and a tap selector switch operating as a unit to effect current transfer from one voltage tap to the next.
The diverter switch does the entire on-load making and breaking of currents, whereas the tap selector preselects the tap to which the diverter switch will transfer the load current. The tap selector operates off load.
When the power output from a transformer is to be changed from one voltage level to another, the change may occur by first connecting the tap selector to that tapping point of the transformer winding which corresponds to the new voltage level while the diverter switch still feeding from the existing voltage level. The connection of the tap selector thus takes place without current load. When the tap selector is connected to the tap for the new voltage level, a switching operation takes place with the aid of the diverter switch such that output current is taken out from the new tapping point of the transformer. When a transformer has a plurality of tapping points, switching normally only occurs between two tapping points which are close to each other in terms of voltage. If an adjustment to a more distant location should be required, this takes place step by step.
A diverter switch of the kind referred to here may be normally used for control of power or for distribution transformers. The OLTC may also advantageously be used for control of other types of electrical devices, such as, power transmission or distribution products, such as reactors, industrial transformers, phase shifters, capacitors or the like.
The operation of the diverter switch involves commutation from one circuit to another with ensuing occurrence of an electric arc. The diverter switch, together with all subsystems, is placed in a housing and submerged in an insulating fluid, such as oil. The OLTC comprises the housing together with insulating fluid, diverter switches and subsystems.
The insulating fluid in the tank acts as electric insulator and as a coolant to remove the generated heat in the OLTC. The insulating fluid will also quench the arcs generated during switching. Arcing during the operation of the OLTC will pollute the insulating fluid and wear the switch contacts.
To overcome arcing in the insulating fluid, it is previously known to use vacuum switches or, in other words, vacuum interrupters for those switching operations where an arc arises. The electrical contact wear and arcs will then only arise in the vacuum interrupter. For an appropriate procedure from an electrical point of view, a diverter switch of this kind is provided with at least one main branch and one resistance branch, each with a vacuum interrupter.
A diverter switch of the above kind is previously known from, for example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,786,552. The diverter switch described therein has one main branch and one resistance branch, in the steady state connected in parallel and connected to an output line. Each branch is provided with a vacuum interrupter and a contact connected in series therewith. These are operated in a definite sequence when diverter switching is to take place, in which case it is important to ensure that the main branch is operated before the resistance branch for the OLTC. For some load interrupters, the main branch is not operated before the resistance branch. The vacuum interrupter of the main branch may be dimensioned for breaking of the load current only and the vacuum interrupter of the resistance branch for the circulating current that arises. In case of the reverse sequence, the vacuum interrupter of the main branch would be forced to break the sum of these currents and thus be dimensioned therefore.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,206,569 illustrates a tap changer provided with vacuum interrupters. The tap changer is connected to a main transformer. The tap changer is separated from the transformer and is provided in the same container and liquid as the transformer or in a separate container and separate liquid. A hood provided for collecting gas is arranged above the tap changer, and the hood is adapted to convey gas to a gas sensor. The gas sensor is of a type that senses hydrogen and hydrocarbon gases. If the vacuum interrupter fails, the contactors open and draw an arc that produces a gas bubble. The hydrogen gas is detected by the sensor, which gives an alarm. In this way the alarm indicates that the vacuum interrupter is malfunctioning.
In case of a vacuum interrupter failure, the auxiliary contact system in the OLTC is capable of breaking the current a limited number of times, depending on OLTC type and load, possibly between 10 to 500 times. If the auxiliary contact system, i.e. the movable contact of the diverter switch, has to break the current more than the limit number of times, the wear caused by arcs leads to that the contacts no longer connect and lead current. If auxiliary main contacts cannot connect, two things can happen:
1. The main circuit is interrupted, and the load is carried over the resistance circuit. With the continuous full load on the transition resistor, the resistor will eventually melt and break with a growing arc inside the OLTC as a result. This arc will hopefully be detected and should result in an immediate emergency shut-down of the OLTC-transformer system. A long repair or exchange of the diverter switch will be the result and during the repair time the transformer will be off-line.
2. A standing arc appears over auxiliary contacts which could lead to a short circuit between two phases which will lead to a catastrophic failure, e.g. explosion or fire. If one is lucky, the standing arc is quenched and one is back to point 1.
As previously explained, when an OLTC fails, there is a risk of explosion or fire. Therefore, there is always a need for improving the control of an OLTC to avoid such failures.

Pressure pulse diagnostics of an on-load tap changer


A memory management method, a memory control circuit unit using the method, and a memory storage apparatus using the method are provided. The memory management method includes determining whether a use count of the rewritable non-volatile memory module is greater than a use count threshold; based on a result of the determination, sorting each physical erasing unit in a spare area in an ascending manner according to an erasing count of each physical erasing unit in the spare area or according to the number of maximum bit errors of the physical erasing units in the spare area, so as to form a plurality of sorted physical erasing units; and selecting the foremost physical erasing unit from the spare area to write data according to the sorted physical erasing units. By applying the memory management method, the lifespan of the rewritable non-volatile memory module may be effectively prolonged.

1. Technology Field
The present invention relates to a memory management method; particularly, the invention relates to a memory management method suitable for a rewritable non-volatile memory module, a memory control circuit unit using the method, and a memory storage apparatus using the method.
2. Description of Related Art
Digital cameras, mobile phones, and MP3 players have undergone rapid growth in recent years, so that consumers' demands for storage media have also increased drastically. Since a rewritable non-volatile memory module is characterized by non-volatility of data, the low power consumption, the small volume, the non-mechanical structure, and the fast reading and writing speed, the rewritable non-volatile memory is the most adaptable memory to be applied in a portable electronic product, e.g., a notebook computer. A solid state drive (SSD) is a storage apparatus which utilizes a flash memory as its memory storage medium. Therefore, the flash memory industry has become a very popular part of the electronic industry in recent years.
Wear leveling is one of the techniques adapted for managing a rewritable non-volatile memory module. The number of times of erasing data from and writing data into physical erasing units in the rewritable non-volatile memory module is limited, and the repeated erasing and writing operations on one single block may slow down the speed of data access and may even cause the physical erasing unit to be bad. The wear leveling technique aims at equally employing each physical erasing unit in the rewritable non-volatile memory module, so as to prevent "certain" physical erasing units from aging due to the overloaded use and the excessive use counts. Thereby, the error rate of data stored on these physical erasing units may be raised, the aging process is accelerated, and these physical erasing units may be labeled as defective physical erasing units and can no longer be used once the use counts of these physical erasing units reach the limited use counts guaranteed by manufacturers.
However, it is not necessary for each of the physical erasing units to be damaged after the use counts of these physical erasing units reach the limited use counts guaranteed by the manufacturers. Specifically, given that the use counts of certain physical erasing units reach the limit guaranteed by the manufacturer, some of these physical erasing units may have less number of bit errors, while the other physical erasing units may have more number of bit errors. If the physical erasing units with less number of bit errors can be protected by the error check and correcting (ECC) mechanism, the data errors on these physical erasing units may be corrected by means of the ECC mechanism, and such physical erasing units may still be used.
Conventionally, the number of times of writing or erasing data serves as a benchmark while the wear leveling technique is applied, and whether the use counts of the physical erasing units reach the limit guaranteed by the manufacturer and whether these physical erasing units can be further used are not taken into consideration. As long as the use counts of the physical erasing units reach the limit, these physical erasing unit are labeled as defective physical erasing units and can no longer be used. Thereby, the lifespan of the rewritable non-volatile memory module is shortened.

Memory management method, memory control circuit unit and memory storage apparatus


The invention provides a method of ameliorating a Th1-mediated immune pathology in a mammal. The method is practiced by administering a low dose of estrogen to the mammal. Optionally, an immunotherapeutic agent can also be administered to the mammal. Also provided are kits containing a low dose of estrogen and an immunotherapeutic agent.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the fields of immunology and medicine and, more specifically, to the use of low dose estrogen to treat immune pathologies.
2. Background Information
The involvement of female sex hormones in immune pathologies has been proposed based on a number of clinical and experimental observations. First, a variety of autoimmune diseases, including multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis and Grave's disease, preferentially affect women, and first occur during the reproductive years. Second, during pregnancy, when levels of female sex hormones are high, clinical remissions of cell-mediated autoimmune diseases are common, with disease exacerbation often seen post-partum when sex hormone levels are low. Third, in animal models of autoimmune disease, administration of estrogen at levels equal to or greater than those found in pregnancy has been shown to suppress the clinical and histopathological symptoms of the disease. Fourth, in vitro, estrogen at the high concentrations found in pregnancy has been shown to inhibit production of inflammatory cytokines and to stimulate production of anti-inflammatory cytokines by autoantigen-specific CD4+ cells from multiple sclerosis patients. However, in the same study, low concentrations of estrogen had the opposite effect, stimulating production of inflammatory cytokines, with little or no effect on production of anti-inflammatory cytokines (Correale et al., J. Immunol. 161:3365-3374 (1998).
To explain these observations, it has been proposed that the response to estrogen is biphasic, with high levels associated with protection from autoimmune disease, and low levels associated with promotion of disease. However, because of the potential adverse effects of high levels of estrogen on the reproductive and circulatory systems, and because of the potential unwanted side effects in males, administration of high levels of estrogen is unlikely to be widely useful as a therapy.
The effect of administering low dose estrogen to an individual with an immune disease has not previously been tested, although, from the clinical and experimental observations described above, little or no beneficial effect on the course of the disease would be predicted.
There exists a need to design effective therapies that are applicable for treating a variety of immune pathologies, in both genders, with minimal side effects. The present invention satisfies this need and provides related advantages as well.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method of treating immune pathologies with low dose estrogen

The United States of America as represented by the Department of Veterans Affairs


Probable anomalies associated with at least one data metric may be detected across a series of windows of time series data by comparison of data to a threshold. An estimated probability of anomalies for each of the windows of time series data may be determined based on the detected probable anomalies and the threshold. The windows of time series data may be ranked based on the estimated probabilities. Probable anomalies associated with highest ranked windows of time series data may be output to a user.

Networked computer systems (e.g., data centers) are growing in size and complexity due to increased demand for cloud computing, on-line services, and other services. Networked computer systems and data centers may include multiple interconnected servers and associated hardware, systems and applications. In order to ensure proper function of networked computer systems (e.g., servers, data center components, and other systems) the hardware, systems, and applications in a networked computer system may be monitored to identify anomalous behavior (e.g., anomalies). Anomalies may, for example, include performance issues, failures, misconfigurations, and other anomalous server or data center behaviors. Data center anomalies may result in service level agreement (SLA) violations, downtimes, and other inefficiencies, which may affect the function of a data center. Anomaly detection methods and systems may identify and output anomalies or alerts to a data center operator or another system. The anomalies or alerts may, for example, include true positives and false alarms.
As the number of servers and complexity of data centers increases, the amount of anomalies or alerts output to a data center operator or system may increase. For a data center operator or a maintenance system to effectively maintain a networked computer system, anomalies may be categorized by severity, criticality, or other parameters. A real-time and high data frequency anomaly ranking system or method may, therefore, be needed.
It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration, elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggerated relative to other elements for clarity. Further, where considered appropriate, reference numerals may be repeated among the figures to indicate corresponding or analogous elements.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


This invention relates to a process of and apparatus for providing at least a partial barrier to moisture vapor transfer through the surface of a material without substantially spoiling the material, a process of and apparatus for removing moisture from a material without substantially spoiling the material, and a process of and apparatus for providing at least a partial barrier to moisture vapor through the surface of a material and for removing moisture from the material without substantially spoiling the material.

In the snack food and home microwaveable prepared food sectors of the food processing industry are of major world wide economic importance and are rapidly expanding in response to the demand of community changing lifestyles. However, the nutritional and diet value of many of such products and in particular snack foods is widely criticised and is the subject of increasing public concern and market awareness. A major reason for the low nutritional quality of many of the products in the snack food sector is due to the production difficulties which are experienced in the processing of many of the wholesome, basic food products, such as for example, cheeses, meats, fruits, vegetables and berries, into high quality, long shelf life, nutritious, non-chewy, flavoursome products having consumer appeal. Of the many basic food products affected in this manner, cheese is one of the most important due to its availability for processing on a year round basis and because of its high nutritional and energy properties and important contribution to balanced food diets, as a consequence of these processing difficulties, many of the cheese snack products in the market are bland and of poor nutritional value and lack customer appeal. These products often consist of a cereal or similar core material finished in a cheese flavouring or cheese coating. The processed quality of other dried snack food products, such as for example, meats, fruits, vegetables and berries which could be considered as nutritious additives to cheese based snack food products are themselves typically characterised after processing as having tough skins, chewy texture and bland taste devoid of any significant distinguishing flavour or taste. Some processes used in the cooking of foods, and particularly for example that relating to boiling, stewing, baking, leavening, frying, grilling and toasting have ben observed and practised for centuries. Notwithstanding the development of the industrial food processing industry and the introduction of more sophisticated cooking and drying methods and the advent of microwave heating, the food cooking and food processing methods and technologies and operating techniques in use today still remain more of an art than an inventive science. It is known that the processing of cheeses, fruits, meats, vegetables, spices and other agricultural produce having a distinctive taste, texture and aroma, by the use of conventional heating, cooking and drying technologies and methods and processes such as convection ovens, hot air cooking and drying systems, radiant heating and conductance heating systems, all cause changes to the surface properties of the product and volatilise to a greater or lesser degree the low molecular weight compounds which give rise to much of the distinctive properties of the fresh product. It is apparent that there is a need for a processes for removing moisture from a material without substantially spoiling the material.

Process of and apparatus for providing at least a partial barrier to moisture vapor transfer through the surface of a material and/or for removing moisture from a material

Microwave Processing Technologies Pty. Limited


A base station node is provided that includes a radio frequency (RF) monitor and at least one signal processor. The RF monitor is operable to monitor traffic associated with a plurality of wireless communication devices to determine at least one requested load having a corresponding air interface standard. The signal processor is coupled to the RF monitor and is operable to be dynamically reconfigured to support the air interface standard corresponding to the requested load.

Wireless communication systems have become ubiquitous in society. Business and consumers use a wide variety of fixed and mobile wireless devices, including cell phones, pagers, Personal Communication Services (PCS) systems, and fixed wireless access devices (e.g., vending machines with cell phone capability).
Wireless communication networks generally include base stations that support a single air interface standard for communicating with the wireless devices. A separate overlay of additional hardware is needed to support each additional air interface standard, which increases costs and deployment times. Some wireless communication providers use reconfigurable baseband processing components in base stations. However, even these base stations are configured once and are operated in a static-configuration mode.
Therefore, there is a need in the art for wireless communication networks that implement flexible architectures that may be readily adapted to changes in air interface standards. In particular, there is a need for an improved wireless network architecture in which infrastructure equipment may be reconfigured to adapt to changing air interface standards.

Dynamically reconfigurable base station node and method


The present invention provides a registration correction method for image processing, by which location deviations among images with different behaviors such as visible ray images and invisible ray images can be corrected. According to this method, one of a visible ray image and an invisible ray image is designated as a reference image, and the other as an object image. A reference window is set within the reference image, and an object window of the same size as the reference window is set within the object image. While the object window is shifted by the pixel within the object image, the differential values of the brightness in the x-axis and y-axis directions of each pixel in the reference window and the object window are obtained. The object point where the total of the squares or the absolute values of the differences between the differential values of the reference window and the object window becomes smallest is set as the point corresponding to the reference point of the reference window. Thus, the visible ray image and the invisible ray image are matched with each other, with a plurality of points each determined in the above manner being the reference points for the matching.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a registration correction method that is applicable to image processing for matching visible ray images that are formed in visible ray band areas with invisible ray images that are formed in invisible ray band areas. The present invention also relates to a vegetation state display method for displaying a state of vegetation in a clear view, using the registration correction method applied to image processing.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, images formed by CCD cameras have been widely analyzed in various technical fields, including evaluation of activity degrees of plants. Images taken at each band by a CCD camera has a deviation ranging from a few pixels to tens of pixels. If those images are simply placed on top of one another, the resultant image is blurred. Even if an analysis is conducted on the resultant image in such a state, preferable results cannot be expected.                To measure the deviations among the images and match the positions among the images, the following methods have been suggested and used.
1) Shifting a predetermined image among images overlapping one another, while visually checking the combined image.
2) Determining a point that is supposed to be common among monochrome images taken at each band, and placing the images on top of one another according to the deviations obtained from the determined point.
However, the above methods 1) and 2) have the following problems.
These days, the method 2) is employed in digital analysis devices that are widely used in conjunction with personal computers, but handling the digital analysis devices requires certain skills in the image positioning operation. Furthermore, the image positioning operation is time-consuming, requiring several hours for each operation.
As for the method 1), there are mechanical or electronic analog devices that employ the method 1) for the image positioning operations. However, these analog devices are expensive, and using one of those devices is also troublesome, as all digital images need to be converted into analog data prior to each operation.
Also, states of vegetation have been examined through visible ray images and near-infrared images in recent years. However, areas that do not show any vegetation are displayed in a single color in the prior art. As a result, there is a further problem that images that show vegetation states are difficult to see clearly.

Registration correction method in image processing, and vegetation state display method using the registration correction method


A window-mounted camera mount and bird feeder comprises a camera mount having a plurality of spaced suction cups for adhering the camera mount to an inner side of a window unit, and a bird feeder having a plurality of spaced suction cups similar in number and in individual locations on the bird feeder to the number and individual locations of the plurality of suction cups on the camera mount, for adhering the bird feeder to an outer side of the window unit with the respective suction cups on the bird feeder aligned with the corresponding suction cups on the camera mount to achieve picture-taking alignment of the camera mount and the bird feeder.

It is generally known for bird feeders to include suction cups for adhering the bird feeder to the outside of a window pane. See prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,953,503 issued Sep. 4, 1990, U.S. Pat. No. 4,361,116 issued Nov. 30, 1982, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,261,294 issued Apr. 14, 1981.
Similarly, it is known for camera mounts to include suction cups for adhering the camera mount to a car windshield as in prior art U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,193 issued Sep. 21, 1993, or to the inside of a glass window as in prior art U.S. Pat. No. 4,863,130, issued Sep. 5, 1989.

Window-mounted camera mount and bird feeder


A system and method for controlling a machine is provided. For example, the method includes coupling removeably, at an on-board controller module of a machine, a first identification device, reading, using a reader in the on-board controller module, a code stored in the first identification device, receiving, at the on-board controller module, a wireless message including another code from a control console, comparing, using a processor in the on-board controller module, the code with the received another code, and processing, using a processor coupled to the reader, the wireless message based on the comparing to determine pairing with a second external wireless identification device of a control console to the machine if the code and the received another code match.

Conventionally, machines may be remotely controlled using a control system. Such conventional control system may include a remote control console that communicates with a controller module on-board a machine. The controller module on-board the machine is conventionally hard-coded at the supplier's factory to contain a unique identifier (ID) code. This ID code allows only a remote control console that has knowledge of the same ID code to communicate with the on-board controller module, for example, to remotely control the machine. Once the ID codes at the remote control console and the on-board controller module are paired, other remote control-controller module pairs in the same area are ignored by the pair that has matched ID codes. However, in conventional machine control systems, if one of these two devices fail (e.g., the remote control console), both devices have to be replaced to maintain pairing, since the IDs are not programmable by the end-user for each device. Unfortunately, this requires the end-user to spend money replacing a device which was not defective to begin with to make sure that the new devices are also paired through their respective hard-coded ID codes.
Further, other solutions use user-replaceable chips, containing the ID code, which reside inside the on-board controller module. This requires the end-user to open up the on-board controller module to replace the ID chips. However, having the end-user open the device is problematic. For example, such an act of opening may introduce additional defects. Furthermore, opening the on-board controller module may void warranties. Having hard-coded IDs prevents the end-user from installing on-board transceivers on multiple machines and choosing which machine to control via one remote control console. In some conventional systems, for example, as discussed in U.S. Patent Application Publication No. 2007/0296552, a single radio frequency identity tag associated with an appliance is placed upon/within the appliance. However, when placed on the appliance (e.g., as a sticker), the tag is prone to peeling off or getting lost. If this tag is lost or is damaged, a remote control cannot gain knowledge about the appliance, let alone have the ability to control the appliance. Therefore, conventional serviceability strategies for machine control systems are expensive and inflexible.

Serviceability strategy for machine control system


The present disclosure provides a method for intelligent automated chatting. A conversation with a user is performed by using a first identity of a first artificial intelligence entity. A message is received from the user in the conversation. Matching rates between the message and trigger contents of other artificial intelligence entities are scored. A second artificial intelligence entity is selected from the other artificial intelligence entities based on the matching rates. A conversation with the user is performed by using a second identity of the second artificial intelligence entity by switching from the first identity of the first artificial intelligence entity to the second identity of the second artificial intelligence entity.

Artificial intelligence (AI) conversational chat programs are becoming more and more popular. These conversational chat programs, also referred to as chatbots, allow users to carry on conversations with a virtual entity.
Chatbots are becoming an entrance for a lot of online services such as e-commerce, travel-assisting, location-based services of domains like restaurants, hospitals, shops and so on. It is relatively difficult for a user to download all kinds of chatbots and use them under different application scenarios.

Method and apparatus for intelligent automated chatting


The present invention provides a method, computer program product, and data processing system for efficiently recovering state and performing failover of a network offload engine. The present invention distinguishes between the hard state and the soft state of a protocol. Hard state is state information that, when lost, leads to incorrect protocol behavior. Soft state is state information that may be lost or become inconsistent without loss of correctness. The present invention ensures correctness by always being able to recover the hard state of the protocol. A preferred embodiment of the present invention performs a failover of a network offload engine by temporarily blocking the reception of network packets, recovering hard state from host information, resuming network operation using a substitute network offload engine, and recovering soft state from the subsequent network activity.

1. Technical Field
The present invention is related generally to intelligent network adapters. Specifically, the present invention is directed toward the state recovery and failover of a network offload engine.
2. Description of Related Art
In an Internet Protocol (IP) Network, the software provides a message passing mechanism that can be used to communicate with Input/Output devices, general purpose computers (host), and special purpose computers. IP networks generally employ what is known as a "protocol stack" to encapsulate and transmit data using a series of protocols. A typical protocol stack following the Open System Interconnection (OSI) architectural model includes a link layer protocol, a network layer protocol, a transport protocol, an upper level protocol, and an application programming interface. The key standard transport protocols used on IP networks today are the Transmission Control Protocol (TCP) and the User Datagram Protocol (UDP). TCP provides a reliable service and UDP provides an unreliable service. In the future the Stream Control Transmission Protocol (SCTP) will also be used to provide a reliable service. Processes executing on devices or computers access the IP network through Upper Level Protocols, such as Sockets, iSCSI, and Direct Access File System (DAFS).
Unfortunately the TCP/IP software consumes a considerable amount of processor and memory resources. This problem has been covered extensively in the literature (see J. Kay, J. Pasquale, "Profiling and reducing processing overheads in TCP/IP", IEEE/ACM Transactions on Networking, Vol 4, No. 6, pp. 817–828, December 1996; and D. D. Clark, V. Jacobson, J. Romkey, H. Salwen, "An analysis of TCP processing overhead", IEEE Communications Magazine, volume: 27, Issue: 6, June 1989, pp 23–29). In the future the network stack will continue to consume excessive resources for several reasons, including: increased use of networking by applications; use of network security protocols; and the underlying fabric bandwidths are increasing at a higher rate than microprocessor and memory bandwidths. To address this problem the industry is offloading the network stack processing to a dedicated network offload engine.
Today, software in the host CPU generally performs most of the transport (e.g., TCP) and network layer (e.g., IP) processing. Today, the network interface card (NIC) typically performs the link layer (e.g., Ethernet) processing and possibly a modest amount of transport or network layer offload (e.g., checksum offload). Today, the host software maintains all the state information associated with TCP/IP connections in host local memory. Keeping all the state information in host local memory allows the host software to support switchover, and switchback, between a primary NIC and an alternate NIC. That is, if the primary NIC fails, the host software moves all the connections to the alternate NIC and continues communication processing.
Network offload engines offer a higher performance interface for communicating to other general purpose computers and I/O devices. Network offload engines offload the transport (e.g., TCP) and network (e.g., IP) layer into the network offload engine. By migrating these layers into the network offload engine, the host software is no longer able to support switchover and switchback using today's mechanisms. Commonly assigned and copending U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/235,691, entitled "REMOTE DIRECT MEMORY ACCESS ENABLED NETWORK INTERFACE CONTROLLER SWITCHOVER AND SWITCHBACK SUPPORT," which is incorporated herein by reference, provides a mechanism for supporting switchover and switchback on a network offload engine (specifically, an RNIC, an RDMA (Remote Direct Memory Access) Network Interface Card). This approach relies on the synchronization of state information between the active and standby network offload engines. This synchronization, however, can become a performance bottleneck at high speeds, because in order to ensure correctness, some protocol events must be checkpointed (that is, reconciled or synchronized between the active and standby network offload engines) as soon as they occur. In addition, the mechanism described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/235,691 is specific to network interfaces supporting RDMA. Thus, what is needed is a failover mechanism of general application that minimizes the performance degradation associated with synchronizing the host with the adapter.

State recovery and failover of intelligent network adapters

International Business Machines Corporation


A low voltage LED bulb having a base that fits a standard light socket designed to receive a bulb operated at line voltage is installed in a conventional lamp, which is connected by a lamp cord to a rechargeable battery, the charge in which is maintained by a charging circuit. The rechargeable battery can be provided in a module equipped with a receptacle capable of receiving a standard plug designed for line voltage, and in this case, the lamp requires no modification other than the replacement of the standard bulb by the low voltage LED bulb. In another embodiment, the battery and charger are incorporated into the lamp.

Conventional incandescent bulbs are inefficient in the sense that a large portion of the electric energy that they consume is converted to heat instead of light. In recent years, incandescent bulbs have gradually been displaced by compact fluorescent lights (CFLs), which are much more efficient. The CFLs, however, are expensive, and take appreciable time to reach full brilliance. CFLs also contain mercury, which is environmentally hazardous. Consequently special measures need to be taken when disposing of spent CFLs.
Conventional incandescent bulbs and CFLs for household use are designed for operation on line current (120 volts AC, 60 Hz, in the United States). Lamp cords supplying current at 120 volts can be hazardous, sometimes causing electrical shock or fire when their insulation becomes worn or when it is chewed by animals.
More recently, the lighting industry has introduced light-emitting diodes (LEDs) that emit light in a color spectrum that is similar to that emitted by a conventional incandescent bulb. LEDs operate on direct current at voltages much lower than the conventional 120 volts available at a household electric receptacle. Consequently, where a conventional incandescent bulb operated on 120 volts AC is to be replaced by a bulb utilizing LEDs, the bulb must be designed to reduce the 120 volts supplied to the light socket, and convert the alternating current to direct current. This can be achieved by using multiple LEDs in a series-parallel arrangement, or by incorporating special electronic circuitry into the bulb.
The following table compares the power consumption of currently available LEDs designed for illumination with incandescent bulbs and compact fluorescent lights having comparable illumination capabilities for various power levels.
TABLE ILEDIncandescent BulbCFL1 W25W—3 W40W 5 W5 W60W12 W7 W100W24 W9 W150W30 W12 W 250W40 W
In terms of energy consumption, assuming a light is turned on 8 hours each day for 365 days, a 60 watt incandescent bulb consumes about 175 kwH, about 12 times as much energy as a 5 watt LED, and a 25 watt incandescent bulb consumes 73 kwH, almost 25 times as much energy as a 1 watt LED. A 5 watt CFL consumes about 14.6 kwH, about 1.6 times as much energy as a 3 watt LED. A 24 watt CFL consumes about 70 kwH, more than three times as much energy as a 7 watt LED.
LEDs also have a much longer useful life than incandescent bulbs. For example, a typical incandescent bulb has a life of around 1500 hours, whereas an LED will typically operate for 50,000 hours.
LED bulbs designed with standard 26 mm threaded bases for direct replacement of conventional household incandescent bulbs are now widely available at prices such that they "pay for themselves" within a few years. However, when they are used in table lamps, floor lamps and the like, the lamp cord still carries current at a potential of 120 volts AC, and is subject to the same hazards of fire and electric shock as mentioned previously. Moreover, in the event of a power failure, all three kinds of lights, incandescent, CFL, and LED, will go out unless supplied by a back-up generator or an uninterruptible power supply (UPS) of the kind used to avoid sudden shut-down of personal computers. For many, keeping a back-up generator available is impractical, and connecting a UPS to operate one or more lamps is also impractical.

Converting a lamp for continued operation following a line current failure


A trolley magnetic braking system having a brake block assembly engagable by a trolley, a substantially stationary conductor that is pitch adjustable and a carrier having magnetic members that are driven along the conductive member for braking a trolley. Providing a pitch adjustable conductor allows for modification of how much of the conductor interfaces with the magnets and therein varying the amount of eddy current applied in the braking apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to brake systems and, more specifically, to a trolley magnetic braking system comprising a brake block engagable by a trolley, a substantially stationary conductor that is pitch adjustable and a carrier having magnetic members that are driven along the conductive member providing means for braking a trolley. Providing a pitch adjustable conductor allows for modification of how much of the conductor interfaces with the magnets and therein varying the amount of eddy current applied in the braking apparatus.
The present invention provides for an additional element comprising one or more pulleys that may be used to vary the orientation of the braking system relative to the brake block, e.g. whether the apparatus is in a somewhat horizontal or vertical orientation or somewhere in between.
2. Description of the Prior Art
There are other breaking systems designed for the same purpose. Typical of these is U.S. Pat. No. 1,898,555 issued to McCune on Feb. 21, 1933.
Another patent was issued to Yoshio Nomura et al. on Apr. 14, 1970 as U.S. Pat. No. 3,506,862. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 3,723,795 was issued to Baermann on Mar. 27, 1973 and still yet another was issued on Oct. 31, 1978 to Baermann as U.S. Pat. No. 4,122,922.
Another patent was issued to Kroger et al. on Jan. 26, 1999 as U.S. Pat. No. 5,862,891. Yet another U.S. Pat. No. 6,041,897 was issued to Saumweber et al. on Mar. 28, 2000. Another was issued to Pribonic on 25, Sep. 2001 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,293,376 and still yet another was issued on Jul. 2, 2002 to Pribonic as U.S. Pat. No. 6,412,611.
Another patent was issued to Pribonic et al. on Mar. 18, 2003 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,533,083. Yet another France Patent No. FR2832114 was issued to Kroger Uwe on May 16, 2003. Another was issued to Yasuaki on Oct. 6, 2005 as Japan Patent No. JP2005271704.

Eddy current braking system for trolley zip line cable with a stationary conductor


A method and system for estimating a resistivity of a formation. A method for estimating a resistivity of a formation may comprise disposing a downhole tool into a borehole, wherein the downhole tool comprises a pad, an injector electrode, and a return electrode, injecting a current signal into the formation from the injector electrode, measuring a voltage signal between the injector electrode and the return electrode; and determining a formation resistivity and a formation dielectric constant from at least one of the voltage signal, at least one property of the downhole tool, and at least one property of the borehole. A system for estimating a resistivity of a formation may comprise a downhole tool. The downhole tool may comprise a pad, wherein the pad comprises an injector electrode and a return electrode. The system may further comprise a conveyance for disposing the downhole tool in a borehole and an information handling system.

Boreholes drilled into subterranean formations may enable recovery of desirable fluids (e.g., hydrocarbons) using a number of different techniques. A downhole tool may be employed in subterranean operations to determine borehole and/or formation properties.
Traditionally, borehole imager tools may be used in obtaining a detailed characterization of reservoirs. These borehole imager tools may provide a resistivity image of the formation immediately surrounding the borehole. In essence, their function is the electrical equivalent of the formation coring, with much higher borehole coverage. Borehole imager tools may be used to determine formation stratigraphy, dips of the formation layers as well as, borehole and formation stress. Borehole imager tools may be particularly important in learning about thin beds and fracture locations. Oil based muds may provide higher performance than the water-based muds and may be preferable in deep water environments where high temperature and pressure cause loss of water and in shale zones where water may cause swelling. However, oil-based mud may be highly resistive. At low frequencies, this resistance may reduce the sensitivity of the borehole imager tools to the outside formation. Thus, accurately estimating formation resistivity from a downhole tool in oil-based-mud is difficult. This may be due to the influence of mud properties, button standoff and formation dielectric properties on impedance measurements.

Method to estimate formation resistivity


An extension device for a clamping and spreading device with a slide rail guided for displacement relative to a bearing device is suggested which has at least one contact element for a workpiece and is fixed or can be fixed in position so as to be non-translational in relation to the bearing device.

The invention relates to an extension device for a clamping and spreading device said clamping and spreading device having a bearing device and a slide rail guided for displacement in relation to the bearing device.
The invention relates, in addition, to a clamping and spreading device comprising a bearing device and a slide rail guided for displacement in relation to the bearing device.
Such clamping and spreading devices are known, for example, from WO 01/56747 A1 or U.S. Pat. No. 6,575,442 B2 or German patent application No. 10 2004 013 066.3 of Mar. 12, 2004 which is not a prior publication.

Extension device for a clamping and spreading device and clamping and spreading device


Plasma processing apparatus may comprise a process chamber having a process gas supply for providing a process gas to the process chamber and a vacuum pump for maintaining the process chamber within a predetermined pressure range. A cathode/target assembly positioned within the process chamber is connected to a first terminal of an external power supply. An anode/ion source assembly is also positioned within the process chamber and may include an electrode member having a central aperture therein that defines an active surface on the electrode member. The electrode member is connected to a second terminal of the external power supply. A magnet positioned adjacent the electrode member produces an electron-confining magnetic tunnel adjacent the active surface of the electrode member. The electron-confining magnetic tunnel momentarily traps electrons adjacent the active surface, some of which ionize some of the process gas. A shield member having a central aperture therein surrounds the electrode member so that the central aperture of the shield member is generally aligned with the central aperture in the electrode member. The shield member is electrically insulated from the electrode member.

Plasma deposition refers to any of a wide variety of processes in which a plasma is used to assist in the deposition of thin films or coatings onto the surfaces of objects. For example, plasma deposition processes are widely used in the electronics industry to fabricate integrated circuits and other electronic devices, as well as to fabricate the magnetic tapes and disks used in audio, video, and computer applications. Plasma deposition processes may also be used to apply various coatings to glass surfaces in the optics and architectural glass industries. Such plasma deposition processes may also be used in reverse, i.e., to remove material from the surfaces of objects, in which case they are usually referred to as plasma etching or plasma cleaning processes.
Regardless of whether the plasma process is used for deposition or cleaning, the plasma is usually created by subjecting a low-pressure process gas (e.g., argon) contained within a vacuum chamber to an electric field created between two electrodes. The electric field ionizes the process gas, creating the plasma. In the case of a sputter deposition plasma process, the ionized process gas atoms comprising the plasma impact the surface of the material (i.e., target) that is to be deposited on the object (i.e., substrate). As a result of the ion impacts, atoms of the target material are dislodged or sputtered from the surface of the target material and are released into the vacuum chamber. The substrate is usually positioned with respect to the target so that a majority of the sputtered atoms from the target material deposit themselves onto the surface of the substrate.
While sputter deposition processes of the type described above may be used to deposit metals or metal alloys (e.g., aluminum, nickel or cobalt) onto the substrate, they may be used to deposit compound compositions as well. Reactive sputter deposition is the name usually given to reactive sputtering processes which involve the sputtering of the target material in a reactive gas mixture in order to deposit a compound thin film comprising the sputtered target material and the reactive species. A wide variety of compounds, such as SiO.sub.2, Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, Si.sub.3 N.sub.4, and TiO, can be deposited by reactive sputter deposition.
While reactive sputtering processes are known and have been used for years, they continue to be plagued by several problems. For example, it is common for the anode to slowly accumulate a layer of the compound material that is to be deposited on the surface of the substrate. Since the deposited compound material is usually an electrical insulator (e.g., an oxide), the gradual accumulation of the compound material on the anode will eventually result in a decrease in anode efficiency, with a commensurate decrease in the overall efficiency of the process. Worse yet, if the process chamber itself is connected as the anode, the entire chamber tends to accumulate a layer of the compound material, thereby necessitating the need for frequent cleaning and/or replacement of the entire process chamber.
The accumulation of the compound material on the anode can also cause other problems. For example, since the electrons seeking the anode take the path of least resistance, they tend to "find" certain low resistance areas on the anode where the accumulated coating is relatively thin. Since such low resistance areas are usually fairly small, the incoming electrons tend to heat the low resistance area to high temperatures. Such areas are referred to herein as "hot spots." In extreme cases, the temperature of a hot spot may increase to the point where it becomes incandescent. While the formation of hot spots is generally undesirable in that they can melt or partially melt the anode, they can be particularly serious where the anode is the process chamber, i.e., the hot spot may cause a "burn through" or breach in the process chamber wall.
Still another problem associated with reactive sputtering systems is that it is often difficult to establish (i.e., "light") and/or maintain the plasma due to the presence in the process chamber of the reactant gas species. One method of overcoming this problem has been to supply additional electrons to the process chamber by use of a separate electron emitter, such as a hot filament or thermionic emitter. Unfortunately, however, hot filaments are prone to rapid deterioration in the highly reactive atmosphere within the process chamber.
Consequently, a need exists for a reactive plasma processing system that is resistant to the formation on the anode of the compound material that is to be deposited on the surface of the substrate. Still other advantages could realized if such a system could provide increased ionization levels, thus making it easier to light and maintain the plasma.

Plasma processing system utilizing combined anode/ ion source


A children's pillow adapted for use with a children's car seat comprising: (a) a central area adapted to receive at least a rearward portion of a child's head; (b) a first lateral wing extending from the central area; (c) a second lateral wing extending from the central area; (d) a neck support region; and (e) a retainer adapted to mount the children's pillow to the children's car seat, where the neck support region extends between the first lateral wing and the second lateral wing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is directed to a children's pillow, and more specifically to a children's car seat pillow providing support to the neck and head of a child.
2. Background of the Invention
Pillows for children are known in the art. More specifically, pads and contoured cushion inserts are known that may be wedged between a child and a car seat to limit movement of the child with respect to the car seat. In particular, some of these contoured cushion inserts are adapted to fit over the head of the child and rest upon the shoulders of the child to prohibit lateral movement of the child's head with respect to the car seat. However, adequate concurrent support for the neck and padding for the rearward portion of the head is generally lacking.
Thus, it is an object of the present invention to provide a pillow that concurrently provides neck support and cranial padding to a child. It is a further object of the present invention to provide such neck support and cranial padding in the form of a children's car seat pillow, where the pillow may be shaped to provide lateral padding to protect the sides of the child's face. Likewise, it is a still further object of the present invention to provide a children's car seat pillow including neck support and cranial padding that may be reconfigured to adapt to the changing anatomy of the child.


A method for operating a self-propelled harvesting machine with a plurality of working assemblies for processing picked-up crop, includes controlling the working assemblies using a control device assigned to the harvesting machine. At least one working assembly of the working assemblies is controlled by an input mechanism operatively connected to the control device and having a specific first function (F1) in the harvesting mode. A second function (F2), which deviates from the first function (F1) is assigned to the input mechanism by the control device depending on an operating state change. The second function (F2) is specific for the working assembly in an operating state that deviates from the harvesting mode.

The invention relates to a method for operating a self-propelled harvesting machine and to a self-propelled harvesting machine comprising a plurality of working assemblies for processing picked-up crop and controlled by a control device, where in at least one of the working assemblies is controlled by input means operatively connected to the control device with a specific first function (F1) in the harvesting mode.
Document EP 2 055 173 A1 makes known a related method for operating a self-propelled harvesting machine, i.e., a method for controlling a header on a self-propelled combine harvester with a control system making it possible to position the reel and finger bar in relation to one another. To this end, the changes in the position of the reel and the finger bar are monitored and evaluated by the control system in order to automatically implement a correcting motion in order to maintain the existing relation of the positioning thereof with respect to one another. The control system comprises a plurality of input means, which are specific for the movement of the finger bar and used to position the finger bar in the horizontal direction within a range of motion. The reel can be positioned in the horizontal and vertical directions by further specific input means. The input means are actuated by an operator, who controls the position of the reel and the finger bar depending on the crop type and harvesting conditions. When the header is set down on a trailer intended therefor, in order to be transported, the reel and the finger bar must be transferred into a position defined for the permissible transport, in order to retain the transport width that is permitted for travel on the road.
In order to transfer the finger bar into the aforementioned position, the operator must control the control system by actuating the particular input means for the reel and the finger bar accordingly. It is not always ensured that the operator will transfer the header into the transport position (for example if he is not paying attention or has become comfortable) and, therefore, a plurality of problems can result. If the reel has not been lowered and/or retracted, or if the finger bar has not been retracted, the trailer or the header itself may become damaged, for example. Furthermore, hydraulic oil remains in the oil circuit of the header, which may not be present in the oil circuit of the combine harvester.

Method for operating a self-propelled harvesting machine, and self-propelled harvesting machine

CLAAS Selbstfahrende Erntemaschinen GmbH


An implantable device for deployment inside a human or animal body, the device comprising at least one sensing component arranged to respond to an electrical signal having a known frequency band and at least one antenna comprising at least one antenna pole connected to the at least one sensing component, the antenna pole comprising at least one helical coil and a connecting stem.

Such devices may generally be implanted into any part of the body and include, for example, into the vasculature of the human or animal body. Where there is a need for long-term monitoring of patients the repeated use of invasive measurements increases the risk of injury and can ultimately lead to the physician deciding that such a procedure is too risky to undertake. Medical technology is progressing rapidly, and with it has increased the range of implantable devices available for providing a variety of internal measurements of the vital signs of a patient to a physician.
Implantable devices are preferred for taking internal measurements, as repeatedly inserting and removing devices can be detrimental to a patient's health. Once implanted, the device can provide information over a long period without further risk each time they are used. Communication with implants can be achieved through inductive coupling or through a radio-frequency link from a transmitter/receiver located outside the patient's body. Other means of communication are desirable.


A method for multi-path TDM data transmission includes: applying a plurality of high-speed serial lines to connect a center switch network board to a plurality of service boards; multiplexing multi-path TDM data from the center switch network board at transmitting side, and transmitting TDM data multiplexed in batch via one of the high-speed serial lines to one of the service boards; at receiving side, serial receiving the TDM data multiplexed and de-multiplexing the TDM data multiplexed to multiple TDM paths. The TDM bridge connector includes: a TDM high-speed serial transmitting adaptive circuit, and a TDM high-speed serial receiving adaptive circuit and a clock control circuit. The invention increases greatly transmission capacity and looses the requirement of clock synchronization, so the system reliability is greatly raised.

Along with the differential signal level getting lower, noise immunity and transmission rate are getting higher, it is required that the transmission capacity should be getting higher. Traditionally, the TDM centralized switching structure is shown in FIG. 1, where every service board shares the TDM bus 12, and the center switch network board distributes clock, for data transmission at backplane circuit, to each service board with a point-to-point mode or a bus mode.
Suppose that clock high-level duration is t, data is transmitted at leading edge of the clock and is sampled at falling edge of the clock, then the time sequence difference of the traditional synchronous data transmission based on backplane is shown in FIG. 2, where phase between the frame synchronization signal and the clock is not aligned. As shown in FIG. 2 the frame synchronization signal between the center switch network board and the service boards has to time delay and so does the clock between the center switch network board and the service boards, transmission time for data from the center switch network board to the service boards is t2=t+t0 and transmission time for data from the service boards to the center switch network board is only t1=t−t0. Obviously, the transmission time is asymmetric, and when the transmission frequency is very high, the system reliability is greatly reduced, which means that the system capacity cannot be further increased. Therefore, clock synchronization is a bottleneck of traditional data transmission based on backplane bus with strict synchronization.
Since the distance and distributed parameters between different slots of the backplane are different, the time delay for different slots is different. There are disadvantages for the bus mode of signal transmission: a large area, a long distance, many slots, density pins, serious switching noise and electromagnetic interference (EMI) etc., when they are not dealt with adequately, there will be serious signal reflection and interference that cause signal distortion. In this case, the transmission rate is limited for the system reliability.
In order to increase transmission capacity of backplane circuit, increasing number of transmission signals is a fundamental method, but this is implemented at a cost of a complex system structure, reliability and performance, and the number of transmission signals is limited.
In summary, the disadvantages of traditional TDM bus data transmission based on backplane is as following:
1) it requires strict synchronization, i.e. phase between the frame signal and clock signal should be aligned more strictly;
2) There are disadvantages for the bus mode of signal transmission: a large area, a long distance, many slots, density pins, serious switching noise and electromagnetic interference (EMI) etc. Strict synchronization is very difficult. The transmission rate is greatly limited in order to guarantee system reliability;
3) no matter whether the clock signal is distributed with point-to-point mode or bus mode, since the distance and distributed parameters between different slots are different, the time delay is different;
4) In order to increase transmission capacity of backplane circuit, increasing number of transmission signals is a fundamental method, but this is implemented at a cost of a complex system structure, reliability and performance, and the number of transmission signals is limited.

Method based on backboard transmitting time division multiplexing circuit data and a bridge connector


A printing device includes a paper medium print mode configured to execute printing on a paper medium; and a textile print mode configured to execute printing on a fabric medium, types of inks used in the textile print mode being greater in number than types of inks used in the paper medium print mode.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to a printing device, a control method for a printing device, and a control program for a printing device.
Related Art
As a printing device, an inkjet printer for forming an image on a paper medium by ejecting ink onto a paper medium from each of a plurality of nozzles arranged at a head section (hereinafter referred to as "inkjet printer for paper medium printing") has been widely used (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2000-225717 (Patent Document 1), for example).
Further, with the recent years' development of an inkjet printer, an inkjet printer for textile printing is being developed, in which an inkjet printer conventionally used for printing on a paper medium is applied to printing on a fabric medium, such as, silk, cotton, nylon, etc. (hereinafter may also referred to as "fabric") (see Japanese Patent Publication No. 4322968 (Patent Document 2), for example).

Printing device, control method for printing device, and control program for printing device