The presence of a communication signal having a predetermined recognition pattern of symbols that occur at a predetermined rate (1/T) is detected by processing the communication signal to extract in-phase (I) and quadrature-phase (Q) components of the symbols; processing the extracted components to compute a complex autocorrelation function of the extracted components with a time parameter equal to an integer multiple (nT) of the symbol period (T); integrating the complex autocorrelation function over a substantial portion of the recognition pattern; and comparing the magnitude of the integrated complex autocorrelation function with a predetermined threshold value to detect the presence of the recognition pattern. The communication signal is acquired at a given intermediate frequency and at a given phase by adjusting the frequency of a local oscillator signal in response to a frequency error signal provided by processing the real and imaginary components of the integrated complex autocorrelation function and by adjusting the phase of the local oscillator signal in response to a phase error signal provided by processing extracted I and Q components of the communication signal to compute an arctangent of a quotient of a sum of the values of the Q components extracted over an integer multiple (rT) of the symbol period divided by a sum of the values of the I components extracted over the integer multiple (rT) of the symbol period.

The present invention generally pertains to communication signal processing apparatus and is particularly directed to detecting the presence of a predetermined recognition pattern in a communication signal and to acquiring a received communication signal at a given intermediate frequency and at a given phase when the communication signal was modulated onto a carrier signal.
Some communication signals include a predetermined recognition pattern including symbols that occur at a predetermined rate, which recognition pattern may be detected by a communication signal processor to recognize the presence of the communication signal.
In some communication signal processors, the presence of a recognition pattern is detected by processing in-phase (I) and quadrature-phase (Q) components that are extracted from the received communication signal. An example of such processing is described by Saulnier et al., "A VLSI Demodulator for Digital RF Network Applications: Theory and Results," IEEE Journal on Selected Areas in Communications, Vol. 8, No. 8, Oct. 1990, pp. 1500-1511.
Communication signals modulated onto a carrier signal are demodulated upon receipt by mixing the carrier signal with a local oscillator signal to acquire the communication signal at an intermediate frequency, which is further processed to provide the communication signal at a given baseband frequency.
Transmission disturbances, such as high Doppler rate shifts, specular multipath interference and ionosphere anomalies cause the frequency and the phase of a carrier signal to be offset during transmission, whereby the amount of the frequency offset and the amount of the phase offset must be determined and compensated for in order to acquire the received communication signal at the given intermediate frequency and at the given phase.
In some receivers, a mixer mixes the carrier signal with a local oscillator signal provided by a local oscillator at a local oscillator frequency to provide the communication signal at an intermediate frequency, a signal processor processes baseband I and Q components extracted from the communication signal at the intermediate frequency to compute the frequency offset and provides a frequency error signal having a value representative of the computed frequency offset, and the local oscillator responds to the frequency error signal by adjusting the frequency of the local oscillator signal in accordance with the computed frequency offset so that the mixer provides the received communication signal at the given intermediate frequency.
To compensate for the phase offset, the signal processor also processes the extracted I and Q components to compute the phase offset and provides a phase error signal having a value representative of the computed phase offset, and the local oscillator responds to the phase error signal by adjusting the phase of the local oscillator signal in accordance with the computed phase offset so that the mixer provides the communication signal at the given phase.
Various techniques for determining the frequency offset and the phase offset of a received communication signal by processing baseband I and Q components extracted from the received communication signal, are described by Natali, "AFC Tracking Algorithms," IEEE Transactions on Communications, Vol.Com-32, No. 8, Aug. 1984, pp. 935-947; Bellini et al., "Digital Frequency Estimation in Burst Mode QPSK Transmission," IEEE Transactions on Communications, Vol. 38, No. 7, July 1990, pp. 959-961; and Sollenberger and Chuang, "Low-Overhead Symbol Timing and Carrier Recovery for TDMA Portable Radio Systems," IEEE Transactions on Communications, Vol. 38, No. 10, October 1990, pp. 1886-1892.

Communication signal detection and acquisition


A valve unit (1) with a single-piece valve body (4) includes a cylindrical collar (5), a valve seat (7), a main duct (9) and an auxiliary duct (10). The cylindrical collar (5) projects from a reference plane (12) obtained in the valve body (4) and is configured so that it can be arranged against a rim (2) when the cylindrical collar (5) is inserted in a hole (6). The cylindrical collar (5) has an end (5a) configured so that it can be deformed and can define a flared portion (13) of the main duct (9) which interferes with the rim (2) at the level of the hole (6) thus providing a mechanism (11) for fixing the valve unit (1) to the rim (2).

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns an improved valve unit for inflating wheels.
2. Present State of the Art
The valve unit that is the subject of the invention is particularly useful for bicycle wheels comprising an inflatable tyre provided with an inflatable inner tube or tubular tyre, wherein the tyre and the internal element are inflated selectively so as to make the tyre shoulders adhere to the rim and thus prevent the tyre from coming off the rim and skidding while the bicycle is running.
The valve unit that is the subject of the invention can be conveniently used also for inflating tubeless tyres or tyres with inner tube or even tubular tyres of the known type comprising an inner tube outside which the casing of a covering element is sewn.
The valve unit of the invention is thus conveniently and advantageously used on touring bikes or racing bikes, on cyclocross bikes or bikes for other types of applications like freeride, cross country, downhill and the like.
Furthermore, the valve unit of the invention can also be used on the wheels of electric bicycles or the wheels of motor cycles of various types.
It is known that in order to inflate tyres of the mentioned types valves are presently used that project from the rim and are connected to a pipe that conveys a pressurized fluid.
If the wheels are provided with tubular tyre or with standard tyre with inner tube or with inflatable tubeless tyre, inflation is obtained using the valve with which tubular tyres, inner tubes or tubeless tyres are provided and which projects from the rim.
If, on the other hand, the wheels require inflation of both the tyre and the inflatable inner chamber, which can be a traditional inner tube or a tubular tyre, two distinct valves projecting from the rim are used, each one of which is in communication with the chamber to be inflated.
Multiple embodiments of wheels of this type are known, all posing the drawback that they need two holes in the rim.
In order to avoid making two holes and thus in order to be able to use standard rims with one hole only, valve units are employed that use the only through hole present in the rim and allow both the tyre and the inflatable chamber present inside it to be inflated.
In particular, patent document U.S. Pat. No. 2,608,235 is known, which describes a valve unit comprising a main tubular body that is arranged so that it passes through the hole in the rim and is provided with a lateral hole in which, using screw means, a secondary tubular body provided with an inflation valve is connected.
In this way, a main through duct is defined in the main tubular body and a secondary duct that communicates with the main duct is defined in the secondary tubular body.
When the valve unit is installed on the wheel, the main duct accommodates the valve of the inflatable inner chamber that passes through it and the secondary duct of the secondary tubular body communicates with the tyre through a tubular chamber that is defined between the main duct and the valve of the inflatable chamber.
The valve body described above offers the advantage that it allows the use of a single hole present in the rim to inflate both the tyre and the inflatable chamber provided inside it but on the other hand it poses some recognised drawbacks.
A first drawback is represented by the fact that the end of the tubular body—at the level of the hole in the rim—features an area with larger diameter that is placed in contact with the inner surface of the rim and projects towards the inside of the tyre.
The presence of said area with larger diameter is indispensable in order to allow the valve body to be fastened to the rim by tightening a threaded nut that is screwed on the outside of the tubular body but constitutes a hindrance and an impediment for the tyre's inner chamber that when inflated cannot adhere well and completely to the inner surface of the rim.
Another drawback lies in that making the valve body in various pieces means increasing production costs, especially due to the need to machine the parts that must be coupled together.
Furthermore, making the valve body in various pieces makes the operations required for assembling the valve body onto the rim longer, more difficult and thus also more expensive.
Finally, the presence of the parts coupled together and of the threaded nuts for fixing to the rim makes the valve body heavier.
The US patent document U.S. Pat. No. 6,354,348 is also known, which describes an inflation valve for tyres that is applied to the valve belonging to the tyre and is arranged so that it passes through the hole present in the rim.
A drawback posed by the valve lies in that it is made up of two parts connected together and to fix it to the tyre's valve it is necessary to use removable mechanical means.
Furthermore, another drawback is represented by the fact that the valve of the invention allows the tyre to be inflated only if said valve is applied to a valve belonging to the tyre.
The US patent document U.S. Pat. No. 1,650,502 is also known, which described an inflation valve that projects from a through hole made in the rim and belongs to two inner tubes provided inside the tyre.
Two inflation ducts are created along the valve body, each one of which communicates with one of said inner tubes, and to fix the valve to the rim it is necessary to use removable mechanical connection means, in the specific case a nut with the relative washer.
Furthermore the valve, in order to allow the inflation of the tyre, must be connected—using further mechanical connection means—to a shaped fitting that houses the unidirectional valves that communicate with the inflation ducts that are present in the valve body and are independent of each other.
Said valve also has the limitation of being fixed to the tyre's inner tube and thus of being suited to allow only the inner tube to which it belongs to be inflated.
Furthermore, the valve described in the above mentioned patent document poses the dual drawback of being made up of two parts that must be connected to each other and of requiring the use of removable fixing means in order to be connected to the rim.
The patent document EP 1 635 095 is also known, which describes an inflation valve that projects from a through hole made in the rim housing the tyre and belongs to an inner tube arranged inside the tyre.
Also this valve has the limitation of allowing only the inner tube to which it is applied to be inflated and thus only a tyre using said inner tube.
Furthermore, it also poses the drawback of requiring the use of removable mechanical means when it has to be connected to the rim.
Finally, it is provided with two ducts for the passage of the inflation gas, wherein said ducts are made in the valve body, are independent of each other and must be connected to a special inflation fitting when it is necessary to inflate the tyre.
The US patent document U.S. Pat. No. 4,171,119 is also known, which describes a valve for tire having a main duct provided at one and of a flared portion. This flared portion is for bonding the valve directly to the tube and is secured to the tube by molding operation and not to the rim. Furthermore, the valve is not in a single body but it is composed with more elements assembled together.


A device for determining deterioration of a catalytic converter for an engine equipped with a catalytic converter disposed in the exhaust passage and upstream and downstream air-fuel ratio sensors disposed in the exhaust passage upstream and downstream of the catalytic converter, respectively, wherein the device calculates the area surrounded by the output response curve of the downstream air-fuel ratio sensor and a predetermined reference value line, the device determining whether or not the catalyst is deteriorated in accordance with the area calculated when the output of downstream air-fuel ratio sensor stays on a rich side or lean side air-fuel ratio for more than a predetermined time during feedback control of air-fuel ratio by the output of upstream air-fuel ratio sensor.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an air-fuel ratio control device for an engine which controls an air-fuel ratio of the engine based on at least an output of an air-fuel ratio sensor disposed in the exhaust passage upstream of a three-way catalyst. More specifically, the present invention relates to an air-fuel ratio control device that is able to detect deterioration of the three-way catalyst based on at least an output of an air-fuel ratio sensor disposed in the exhaust passage downstream of the three-way catalyst.
2. Description of the Related Art
An air-fuel ratio control device for controlling an air-fuel ratio of an engine by feedback control based on an output of an air-fuel ratio sensor (O.sub.2 sensor) disposed in an exhaust passage upstream of a catalytic converter is known as a single O.sub.2 sensor system. The single O.sub.2 sensor system is used for controlling the air-fuel ratio of the engine to a stoichiometric air-fuel ratio to improve the condition of the exhaust emissions by utilizing the ability of the three-way catalytic converter to a maximum degree.
To compensate for individual differences among cylinders or changes due to aging of the upstream O.sub.2 sensor, a double O.sub.2 sensor system using two O.sub.2 sensors has been developed (U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,614). In the double O.sub.2 sensor system, O.sub.2 sensors are disposed upstream and downstream of the catalytic converter in the exhaust passage, and the air-fuel ratio control is carried out based on the output of the downstream O.sub.2 sensor as well as the output of the upstream O.sub.2 sensor.
Nevertheless, even in the double O.sub.2 sensor system, if the catalyst in the catalytic converter is deteriorated, the condition of the exhaust emissions, such as HC, CO, and NO.sub.x, is worsened, therefore it is necessary to detect the deterioration of the catalyst accurately.
To detect the deterioration of the catalyst in the catalytic converter, various methods or devices have been proposed.
For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,614, a method for detecting the deterioration based on the interval of reversals of the output of the downstream O.sub.2 sensor during air-fuel ratio feedback control (i.e., the period of changes of the output signal from a rich side air-fuel ratio to a lean side air-fuel or vice-versa) is disclosed.
When the catalyst has deteriorated, the interval of reversals of the output of the downstream O.sub.2 sensor during the air-fuel ratio feedback control becomes shorter and the amplitude of the output of the downstream O.sub.2 sensor becomes larger. The method disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,739,614 utilizes this phenomenon to detect the deterioration of the catalyst and determines that the catalyst has deteriorated when the ratio of the period T.sub.1 of the reversal of the output of the upstream O.sub.2 sensor to the period T.sub.2 of the reversal of the output of the downstream O.sub.2 sensor, i.e., T.sub.1 /T.sub.2, becomes larger than a predetermined value (or, alternatively, when the amplitude of the output of the downstream O.sub.2 sensor becomes larger than a predetermined value). However, in the above system, if the central center value of the air-fuel ratio controlled by the air-fuel ratio feedback control deviates largely from the stoichiometric air-fuel ratio, reversal of the output of the downstream O.sub.2 sensor does not occur. In this case, the output of the downstream O.sub.2 sensor oscillates at a small amplitude at a rich side or lean side of the air-fuel ratio.
Also, in some cases, the amplitude of the output of the downstream O.sub.2 sensor may become large even if the catalyst is not deteriorated (e.g., when the operating condition of the engine changes suddenly, the amplitude of the output of the downstream O.sub.2 sensor can becomes large momentarily).
Therefore, it is sometimes difficult to detect the deterioration of the catalyst accurately based on the period of reversal or the amplitudes of the output of the O.sub.2 sensors.

Device for determining deterioration of a catalytic converter for an engine


A processor-based system performs automatic reboot for some initialization failures. The processor-based system runs an operating system. When initialization failures occur, the operating system may reboot the processor-based system and control the direction of a power-on routine. The power-on routine may send a page to a remote processor-based system, enter an emergency mode of operation, update system software, or perform other operations.

This invention relates to server systems and, more particularly, to successful initialization of servers.
A headless server is a server system which includes no keyboard, no mouse and no monitor. As expected, headless server systems typically operate without any human intervention. Because of this, headless server systems have higher reliability requirements than most other computer systems. Further, headless server systems ideally operate using minimal or no manual steps.
For a typical computer system, the xe2x80x9cbootxe2x80x9d process is executed by a program, usually located in read-only memory (ROM) of the computer system. The ROM program may be described as including two separate processes: the power-on self test, or POST, and the basic input/output system, or BIOS. The POST part of the program executes commands such that different circuitry and components of the computer system may be initialized. The BIOS portion includes functions which may be used by software, including POST, for communicating with different devices in the computer system.
Upon receiving power to the computer system, the POST program in the ROM immediately begins execution. The POST performs initialization functions, such as detecting and testing the memory, the display, the non-volatile media, such as hard disk and floppy disk drives, and so on. In some systems, an abbreviated POST, or xe2x80x9cquick-boot,xe2x80x9d may be available.
Once the POST routine completes initialization and testing of the system, control is typically transferred to an operating system, usually located on the hard disk drive. Once the operating system gains control of the system, all run-time operations of the system, including any execution of application programs, are controlled by the operating system. The operating system may or may not utilize the BIOS functions in communicating with the hardware of the computer system.
Currently, boot processes are designed for systems with a monitor, a keyboard and a mouse. These processes assume that the user is present in front of the system, and may thus be available to respond to any POST or operating system errors. These errors may take the form of beeps, screen displays, or other indicia. Typically, execution of either the POST or operating system program will stop once these errors occur. Manual intervention is generally the only way for the boot process to proceed. Contingencies, such as automatic attempts to boot from other devices, are typically not executed by the POST or operating system programs. Further, information is typically not shared between the operating system and the POST routine.
Thus, there is a continuing need for a reliable and automated initialization process which may be assisted remotely.


Processes are described for the preparation of thioxanthones (Formula I). A reactant mixture of a 2-chlorothiobenzoyl chloride (Formula II) and an aromatic compound (Formula III) is added to a slurry of a Friedel-Crafts catalyst in an organic Friedel-Crafts solvent. Products of the processes may be used for the preparation of a pharmaceutical product for use in the field of psycho-therapeutics, or as activators or sensitizers in the photo-polymerization of ethylenically unsaturated monomers

Thioxanthones are useful intermediates for the preparation of pharmaceuticals in the field of psychotherapeutics and are used as activators or sensitizers in the photopolymerisation of ethylenically unsaturated monomers.
Basically thioxanthones are formed by cyclisation of 2-phenylthiobenzoic acid derivatives. As described by Smiles, J. Chem. Soc. (1911), 99, 645, this reaction can be performed in one step, by reacting 2,2′-dithiodibenzoic acid with an aromatic compound in sulfuric acid. The main drawbacks of the process are that yields are poor at 40–60%, a large excess of sulfuric acid has to be used, after reaction a large amount of dilute sulfuric acid has to be regenerated or disposed of and sulfonated aromatics are major by-products.
For these reasons, 2-chlorothiobenzoyl chloride (CTBC) or derivatives thereof have been considered as an obvious choice for a Friedel-Crafts type reaction to form thioxanthones. This reaction is first disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,558, where 2-chlorosulfenylbenzoyl- or 5-chloro-2-chlorosulfenylbenzoyl chloride are reacted with benzene, chlorobenzene or biphenyl to form thioxanthone, 4,7-chlorothioxanthone and 2,7-dichlorothioxanthone, 2- and 4-chlorothioxanthone and 7-chloro-2-phenylthioxanthone in the presence of aluminum chloride as catalyst. The 2-chlorosulfenylbenzoyl chloride and the aromatic substrate are mixed in a suitable solvent and aluminum chloride is added in portions, giving rise to product yields from 70–91%. Applicants performed experiments under the conditions disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,101,558. CTBC and isopropyl benzene (cumene) in 1,2-dichloroethane (DCE) were reacted in the presence of aluminum chloride. The isomer content of isopropyl thioxanthone in the organic phase was found to be 70% of theory and 50% as isolated yield.
Bernard Belleau et al., Synth. Commun., (1983), 13, 977–984, have investigated different types of Lewis acids as catalyst to form thioxanthones from CTBC and benzene, ortho-/para-xylene or 1,4-dimethoxy substituted benzene. Tin(IV)chloride was found to be the most effective catalyst. The experimental section describes mixing CTBC in a chlorinated solvent with tin(IV) chloride, after which the substrate is added in one lot. An attempt to perform the Friedel-Crafts reaction under the conditions described by Bernard Belleau et al. failed as CTBC disproportionated with aluminum chloride in DCE.

Process for the preparation of thioxanthones


Methods, systems, and media for correlating error events of a cluster are disclosed. Embodiments may identify systems of a cluster potentially impacted by an error and identify one or more error events associated with those systems. Then, embodiments may select one of the identified error events based upon data associated with the identified error event, disregarding other identified error events generated for the same error or errors symptomatic of the error, to report the error to a maintenance provider via a single error event. Many embodiments may identify one or more error events potentially resulting from the same error by identifying error events within a specified time period of the event that triggered the correlation. Several embodiments correlate the error events in an environment that is substantially independent of the cluster. Further embodiments obtain data that describes system interconnections of the cluster and generate a topology based upon the data.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to the field of clusters of computer systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to methods, systems, and media for correlating error events associated with clusters.
2. Description of the Related Art
Growing demands for expandability, reliability, and flexibility with regards to processing power for computer systems has outdated traditional networked environments for many applications. As business use of computer systems grow, customers are becoming critically dependent on their information technology resources, demanding that these resources are always available. Outages can seriously impact business, causing lost revenue and lost business. For instance, depending upon the nature of the business, system downtime can range from thousands to millions of dollars.
Clusters offer the continuous availability required by many businesses. A cluster is a collection of one or more systems that work together to provide a unified computing environment. Clusters can be interconnected with high-speed loops such as local area network (LAN), Opticonnect, and asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) to provide high-speed communications and switchover for data and application resiliency. From the customer's perspective, clusters can operate as a single system while data and applications are actually distributed across multiple systems. Distribution of data and applications from system to system within the cluster is performed in a relatively transparent manner so planned and unplanned outages will not disrupt services provided to the customer.
Maintenance of clusters demands expeditious identification of errors. Accordingly, cluster management utilities on each system of the cluster monitor systems and loops for errors. In particular, systems have "heartbeat" monitors for monitoring for software and hardware errors, generating error events to describe errors, and forwarding the error events to the customer, and, in some cases to a maintenance provider such as IBM.
The independent generation of error events by multiple systems within clusters has created a new problem for the maintenance of clusters. More specifically, when more than one system identifies an error, multiple error events are generated by the systems and reported to the maintenance provider. Moreover, an error can affect systems of the cluster in different ways, so each system reports the error based upon the affect the error has on the reporting system, creating a multitude of error events that appear to be independent. For example, an error that opens the communication loop between systems of a cluster may be reported by each system connected to the loop. This problem is exacerbated when the maintenance provider is not an administrator of the cluster and, thus, the maintenance provider may not be intimately aware of the topology, or, at the extreme, the maintenance provider may not be aware that the systems are connected to a cluster. Further, in the event of a catastrophic error or site error, systems at the site of the error or in the immediate vicinity of the error may be unable to forward error events to the maintenance provider.
Receipt of error events that appear to be independent, complicates repair actions. The different symptoms reported can lead to dispatch of multiple potential replacement parts and performance of complicated tasks by the service technicians. Current solutions involve drafting service procedures that instruct service technicians to look at the errors reported on all the systems of the same cluster. The service procedures conservatively attempt to identify the actual source of an error without eliminating independent errors, based upon a generic model of a cluster that fails to fully account for differences associated with specific cluster configurations designed by or for different customers. Thus, to avoid elimination of independent errors, maintenance providers may have to address multiple error events that result from the same error.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods, systems, and media to correlate errors associated with a cluster

International Business Machines Corporation


User accounts can allow respective users to access any their respectively owned ticket. Each ticket in a group of tickets provides its owner the right to redeem the ticket to attend a particular event. A first user initially owns a ticket in the group. Ownership of the ticket is transferred from the first user to a second user, such that, subsequent to the transfer, the second user has the right to redeem the ticket but the first user does not. A code is generated for the ticket, the code being based on a characteristic of a device associated with the second user. The code is unique across codes in the group of tickets. Redeeming the ticket to attend the particular event includes analyzing the code. A history for the ticket can be stored, the history including an indication of the transfer occurrence.

This disclosure relates in general to transferring tickets and tracking the transfers.
A variety of events and services are only open to a limited population. For example, a venue (e.g., concert venue) may only be able to host a specific number of people. As another example, an organization's staff may be insufficient to serve (e.g., serve a dinner to) more than a set number of people. As yet another example, a company may be capable of providing a service (e.g., performing a show) to a large group of people but may nonetheless want to restrict the served population to those that have paid for the service or to those invited to receive the service.
One strategy for accommodating these realities is to issue tickets. The number of issued tickets may then be capped, and/or the issuance may be conditioned upon payment for the ticket. However, ticket issuances can be disadvantageous for both the party who issues the ticket and for the party who receives the ticket. For the party issuing the ticket, fraud is a concern, as third parties may attempt to copy the ticket, which may strain venue or service capacity and/or reduce profits. For the party receiving the ticket, the ticket may be lost or be inconvenient to access.

Centralized and device-aware ticket-transfer system and methods


A power output apparatus 110 includes a planetary gear 120 having a planetary carrier, a sun gear, and a ring gear, an engine 150 having a crankshaft 156 linked with the planetary carrier, a first motor MG1 attached to the sun gear, and a second motor MG2 attached to the ring gear. When the driver steps on an accelerator pedal 164 to change the driving point of the engine 150, the power output apparatus 110 calculates an angular acceleration of the sun gear, calculates a torque used for changing the driving point of the engine 150 by multiplying the angular acceleration by a moment of inertia seen from the first motor MG1 of an inertial system consisting of the first motor MG1 and the engine 150, and drives the second motor MG2 by taking into account the torque. This structure enables a desired torque to be output even in a transient time.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a power output apparatus and a method of controlling the same. More specifically the present invention pertains to a power output apparatus for outputting power generated by an engine to a drive shaft with a high efficiency, and also to a method of controlling such a power output apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Known power output apparatuses for carrying out torque conversion of power output from an engine and outputting the converted power to a drive shaft include a combination of a fluid-based torque converter with a transmission. In such a power output apparatus, the torque converter is disposed between an output shaft of the engine and a rotating shaft linked with the transmission, and transmits the power between the rotating shaft and the output shaft through a flow of the sealed fluid. Since the torque converter transmits the power through a flow of the fluid, there is a slip between the output shaft and the rotating shaft, which leads to an energy loss corresponding to the slip. The energy loss is expressed as the product of the revolving speed difference between the rotating shaft and the output shaft and the torque transmitted to the output shaft, and is consumed as heat.
In a vehicle with such a power output apparatus mounted thereon as its power source, at the time when there is a large slip between the rotating shaft and the output shaft, that is, when a significantly large power is required, for example, at the time of starting the vehicle or running the vehicle on an upward slope at a low speed, a large energy loss in the torque converter undesirably lowers the energy efficiency. Even in a stationary driving state, the efficiency of power transmission by the torque converter is not 100%, and the fuel consumption rate in the conventional power output apparatus is thereby lower than that in a manual transmission.
In order to solve such problems, the applicants have proposed a system that does not include the fluid-based torque converter but has an engine, a planetary gear unit, a generator, a motor, and a battery and outputs the power from the motor to the drive shaft by utilizing the power output from the engine or electric power stored in the battery (JAPANESE PATENT LAYING-OPEN GAZETTE No. 50-30223). In this reference, however, there is no description of a control procedure in a transient time while the target driving state of the engine is being changed.

Power output apparatus and method of controlling the same


A device for measuring the filling level of a fuel tank, in particular for motor vehicles, having two openings for installation of a filling connection and a pump unit, and a film sensor provided with an electric connecting cable which can be connected to a display device through the pump unit. The film sensor is embedded in a protective tube which is provided with inlet openings for the fuel. The protective tube is mounted on the filling connection at the side and can be inserted jointly with it into the respective opening in the fuel tank.

The invention relates to a device for measuring the filling level of a fuel tank, in particular for motor vehicles. Specifically, the inventive device has two openings for installation of a filling connection and a pump unit.
The known devices for measuring the filling level of a fuel tank, in particular for motor vehicles, operate with a float which is arranged on the free end of a pivotably mounted lever or in an immersion tube. The height of the float can be determined by using electric contacts, for example, which are arranged in the path of movement of the flow and/or the lever. The float closes an electric circuit, the length of which changes with the height of the float. The height of the float and thus the filling level of the fuel tank are defined by the resistance of the circuit. These known sensor systems are installed as individual modules by means of a flange or on fuel pumps in the tank. Because of the size of the lever tank sensor and the path described by the float, an ideal arrangement of the lever tank sensor in the tank and its mounting are difficult to implement for reasons of space. Furthermore, the insertion of the lever tank sensor into the tank is complicated because of the compact design of the sensor. Since the lever tank sensor is mounted on the pump unit, a compromise must be made with regard to positioning. The immersion tube sensor is subject to the disadvantage that for reasons of space, its flange cannot be situated in the upper area of the tank. Therefore, the filling level of the tank above the flange of the immersion tube sensor cannot be determined. The lever tank sensor and the immersion tube sensor both have the disadvantage that their mechanism of operation is based on the movement of a float and a particular installation opening must be provided in the tank.
An object of the present invention is to create a generic measurement device which does not have any moving parts, is largely independent of the dimensional shape of the fuel tank and does not necessitate any additional installation opening.
A measurement device corresponding to these requirements is characterized according to this invention in that a film sensor is provided with an electric connecting cable which can be connected through the pump unit to a display device and the film sensor is embedded in a protective tube which is provided with inlet openings for the fuel, and the protective tube is mounted on the filling connection at the side and can be inserted jointly with it into the respective opening in the fuel tank.
The film sensor used as part of this invention is known per se. It is a film having an electric heating device arranged on the back side and a plurality of thermocouples, which are part of an electric circuit, arranged on the front side. When the thermocouples are heated by the electric heating device, they generate a voltage. Since the thermal conductivity of a liquid is much higher than that of air, the thermocouples immersed in the liquid will heat up less than the thermocouples surrounded by air. With a certain heating power of the electric heating device, the filling level of the liquid can therefore be deduced from the voltage generated by the totality of thermocouples.
With the inventive measurement device, the protective tube serves not only to protect the film sensor from mechanical damage but also imparts the measurement arrangement adequate rigidity so that the lower end of the film sensor can be arranged at the lowest point in the fuel tank. The protective tube is inserted jointly with the filling connection into the respective opening in the fuel tank, and the connecting cable is passed out of the fuel tank and through the pump unit. The inventive measurement device therefore does not necessitate any additional openings. Due to the fact that the protective tube is mounted on the filling connection at the side, there is no risk of it colliding with the gun nozzle during the process of filling the tank.
In an expedient embodiment of the invention, the connecting cable is connected by a plug connection to one or more electric lines embedded in the pump unit. After joint insertion of the filling connection and the protective tube together with the film sensor in the tank, the connecting cable can be led out of the tank at the side through the opening provided for the fuel pump and connected to the pump unit which is then inserted into the tank opening.
In the case of a split fuel tank such as that conventionally used with motorcycles, joint installation of the filling connection and the protective tube may pose problems. In this case, the upper end of the protective tube is connected in an articulated joint to the filling connection. This may be accomplished, for example, by the fact that the upper end of the protective tube is provided with a hook which is hung in a harness attached to the side of the filling connection.
If the position of the lower end of the protective tube is not defined by the dimensional shape of the fuel tank, it may be expedient to provide the lower end of the protective tube with fastening means for fastening same to the bottom of the fuel tank. To this end, a spring clamp may be provided at the lower end of the protective tube so that the spring clamp can be engaged in a non-positive manner with an engagement area provided on the bottom of the fuel tank.
The protective tube is preferably comprised of two half-shells which are locked together, forming a slot. Fuel can penetrate through the slot into the interior of the protective tube so that fuel flows around the film sensor up to the filling level of the tank.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Device for measuring the level of a fuel tank


This motor of the piezo-electric type comprises a stator (1) and a rotor (15) intended to effect relative movement to one another. The stator (1) comprises a plate (17) of generally planar form and means for generating therein vibratory waves at an ultrasonic frequency. Such waves enable the imparting of an elliptic motion to at least one active point (17c) on the periphery of the plate in the plane of the latter, said active point being in engagement with a motion transmission surface (22) of the rotor (15) in order to bring about movement of the rotor (15) relative to the stator (1) by virtue of the elliptic motion. The plate (17) of generally planar form includes a central circular portion (17a), to one of the faces of which are attached the means for generating the vibratory waves. From this central portion extend at least two lobes (17b) on the edges (17d) of which are arranged said active points (17c). The lateral edges (17d, 17e) of lobes (17b) are profiled so as to concentrate the vibratory energy emanating from the central portion (17a) within the active points (17c). Thus one of these edges preferably exhibits an elliptical profile. The invention is applicable to motors intended to furnish a low couple with a high yield, in particular in the horological domain.

The present invention relates to motors in which a rotational movement is generated by means of an ultrasonic piezo-electric effect. More precisely, the invention concerns micromotors of the piezo-electric type comprising two elements intended to effect relative movement to one another and forming respectively a stator and a rotor of the motor, said elements each exhibiting an active surface which, in the course of said relative movement, is placed facing the active surface of the other element, one of such elements being provided with piezo-electric means intended to generate vibratory waves in such element capable of imparting elliptic motions to points on the active surface of such element, such points, in bearing on the active surface of the other element, bringing about such relative movement.
Such a motor is described in an article appearing in the review "Techno Japan" Vol. 19-No. 5, May 1986. This motor includes a stator in the general form of a disc and consisting of two flat connected elements, one being in stainless steel and the other of piezo-electric material. On the visible face of the stainless steel element is arranged a ring, a series of small blocks separated from one another and concentric to the axis of the stator disc. The rotor of this motor also exhibits the form of a disc which is rotatably mounted coaxially to the stator in a manner such that one of its faces rests on the free face of the stator blocks. Such rotor, which is also formed in stainless steel, includes in the zone facing the stator blocks a ring of plastic material offering a high coefficient of friction.
When the piezo-electric element of the stator is excited, it produces a progressive wave in the stator blocks which is propagated in a circular manner along the blocks so that each of the points of the blocks facing the rotor effects a very small axial motion combined with an annular motion according to a composite elliptic motion which, applied to the friction ring of the rotor, causes the latter to advance in rotation around the axis of the motor.
Given that the amplitude of motion of the points of the stator blocks is extremely small, in order that a perceptible power may be taken off the axis of the rotor, such amplitude should be greater than the irregularities in the surface of the blocks which face the rotor. Now, such amplitude is on the order of a micron or some microns so that it is necessary to machine such surfaces with an extreme precision.
Another disadvantage of this motor is that it is necessary to employ two pairs of excitation electrodes for the piezo-electric element energized by out-of-phase electric potentials, otherwise it is not possible to generate a progressive wave in the stator. This requirement complicates the energization circuit of the motor and thus increases the cost thereof.
Finally, the known motor is not very readily adapted to the transmission of low value couples as would be desirable in horological applications for instance since, under these conditions, the yield is mediocre.
Another construction of a piezo-electric micromotor is described in the journal IEEE, 1989, pages 735 to 738, by T. Takano, Y. Tomikawa, T. Ogosawara and H. Hirata. The article in question entitled: "Construction and characteristics of ultrasonic motors using piezo-ceramic annular plates", describes a motor including a first element exhibiting a generally planar form and associated with means intended to generate therein vibratory waves at an ultrasonic frequency enabling the imparting of elliptical motions to active peripheral points of such elements within its plane.
Each active point is in engagement with a motion transmission surface of a second element of annular form placed around the first element in order to bring about a movement of the second element relative to the first element by virtue of said elliptical motion.
This known construction, although it is capable of transmitting a power greater than that which it is possible to transmit in the construction discussed hereinabove, also presents the disadvantage of necessitating an extreme precision in the outer surface of the vibrating element and of the profile of the active surface of the annular element, the two elements having to be adjusted so that there exist practically no play between the two, while nevertheless permitting a relative motion between them.
Furthermore, such motors have the same disadvantages as the motor of the prior art discussed hereinabove, namely they require a two-phase energization voltage and exhibit low yield when they are conceived for the transmission of low couples.
The invention has as its purpose to provide a piezo-electric motor of the general type described hereinabove, but avoiding the cited disadvantages.

Piezo-electric motor intended for a timepiece


A device and method for ultrasonic inspection of a test object is disclosed. A plurality of ultrasonic transducer elements and electrical pulser circuits are provided for generating and transmitting electrical pulses. The device has an interface configured to communicate with a single channel ultrasonic testing unit.

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to ultrasonic testing, and more particularly, a method and system for ultrasonic testing with a single channel ultrasonic test unit.
Nondestructive testing devices can be used to inspect test objects to detect and analyze anomalies in the objects. Nondestructive testing allows an inspection technician to maneuver a probe on the surface of the test object in order to perform testing of the underlying structure. Nondestructive testing can be particularly useful in some industries, e.g., aerospace, power generation, and oil and gas transport or refining, where inspection of test objects must take place without removal of the object from surrounding structures, and where hidden anomalies can be located that would otherwise not be identifiable through visual inspection. One method of nondestructive testing is ultrasonics.
Generally, an ultrasonic testing system includes an ultrasonic probe for transmitting and receiving ultrasonic acoustic waves to and from a test object, and a probe cable for connecting the ultrasonic probe to an ultrasonic test unit that includes a display for viewing the test results. The ultrasonic test unit can also include power supply components, signal generation circuitry, amplification and processing electronics, and device controls used to adjust the instrument for the inspection. In an ultrasonic testing system, electrical pulses are fed from the ultrasonic test unit to an ultrasonic probe where they are transformed into acoustic pulses by one or more ultrasonic transducers (e.g., piezoelectric elements) in the ultrasonic probe. During operation, electrical pulses are applied to the electrodes of one or more ultrasonic transducers, thus generating ultrasonic acoustic waves that are transmitted to the test object to which the probe is coupled. Conversely, when an ultrasonic acoustic wave is reflected from the test object and contacts the surface of the ultrasonic transducer(s), it causes the transducer(s) to vibrate generating a voltage that is detected as a receive signal by the ultrasonic test unit. As the ultrasonic acoustic waves pass through the test object, various reflections, called echoes, occur as the ultrasonic acoustic wave interacts with anomalies within the test object and with the inner surface (back wall) of the test object.
When testing with a single element probe, the echo signals are typically displayed on the screen of a single channel ultrasonic test unit as an A-scan trace with echo amplitudes appearing as vertical deflections of the trace and time of flight or distance information displayed as horizontal position along the trace. When inspecting a weld, for example, if an echo is identified other than a geometry echo, that echo may indicate the presence of an anomaly in the weld. This single channel probe is often mounted on a wedge to direct the sound at an angle (e.g., from thirty to seventy degrees) to inspect different regions of the test object. In order to inspect the full volume of the object it may be necessary to scan the object several times using different angles (wedges). Inspecting the test object at several different angles can be time consuming.
A phased array ultrasonic probe has a plurality of electrically and acoustically independent ultrasonic transducers mounted in a single housing. By varying the timing of the electrical pulses applied to the ultrasonic transducers, a phased array ultrasonic probe can generate ultrasonic beams at different angles, allowing the phased array ultrasonic probe to steer the ultrasonic beam at different angles (e.g., from thirty to seventy degrees at one degree increments) through the test object to try to detect anomalies. The ultrasonic waves received at the various angles can be processed to produce a sector scan image of the test object, allowing visual identification of any anomalies. While the phased array ultrasonic probe can produce the data necessary to generate a sector scan image, and eliminate the need to rescan the test object several times with different wedges on a single element probe, the phased array ultrasonic testing unit is significantly more expensive that the single channel ultrasonic testing unit. Also, for phased array ultrasonic probes containing dozens of individual elements, the probe cable from the phased array ultrasonic testing unit to the phased array probe can be quite dense and difficult to maneuver.
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

System and method for ultrasonic testing with a single channel ultrasonic test unit


A magnetic recording element includes a fixed layer having first and second surfacesm, a recording layer having third and fourth surfaces and being essentially made of a ferromagnetic material having first and second atomic potentials for the majority-spin band electrons and the minority-spin band electrons, a spacer layer being arranged between the fixed and recording layers and being in contact with the second and third surfaces, a cap layer having fifth and sixth surfaces, being essentially made of a nonmagnetic material having a third atomic potential less than an intermediate value between the first and second atomic potentials, and having a thickness of not more than 3 nm, the fifth surface being in contact with the fourth surface, and a reflecting layer being in contact with the sixth surface and being essentially made of a nonmagnetic material having a forth atomic potential different from the third atomic potential.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a magnetic recording element and magnetic recording device and, more particularly, to a magnetic recording element capable of executing a write by supplying a spin-polarized electron, and a magnetic recording device using the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
To control the magnetization direction of a magnetic material, a method of applying a magnetic field has conventionally been employed. In, e.g., a hard disk drive, the magnetization direction of the medium is reversed by a magnetic field generated from the recording head, thereby executing a write. In a solid-state magnetic recording device (MRAM: Magnetic Random Access Memory), a current magnetic field generated by supplying a current to a wiring line arranged near a magnetoresistive element is applied to a cell to control its magnetization direction. These magnetization direction control methods (current magnetic field write methods) utilizing an external magnetic field have a long history and are regarded as established techniques.
Along with the recent progress in nanotechnology, magnetic materials can also noticeably be microfabricated. Accordingly, magnetization control must also locally be done on a nanoscale. However, localization is difficult because a magnetic field fundamentally spreads spatially. As the bit or cell size decreases, the problem of "crosstalk" becomes conspicuous. That is, even when a specific bit or cell is selected, and its magnetization direction is controlled, the magnetic field spreads to adjacent bits or cells. If the magnetic field generation source is made small to localize the magnetic field, no sufficient magnetic field can be generated.
Recently, a "current direct driving magnetization reversal phenomenon" which causes magnetization reversal by supplying a current to a magnetic material has been found (e.g., F. J. Albert, et al., Appl. Phy. Lett. 77, 3809 (2000)).
In this "current direct driving magnetization reversal phenomenon", a current is supplied to a magnetic layer to spin-polarize electrons. The spin-polarized electrons are caused to pass through the target magnetic layer to reverse its magnetization. More specifically, when the angular momentum of the spin-polarized electrons is transmitted to and acts on the angular momentum of the magnetic material whose magnetization is to be reversed, the magnetization direction of the magnetic material is reversed. When this phenomenon is used, the current can be caused to more directly act on a magnetic material on a nanoscale, as compared to the above-described current magnetic field write methods. Hence, recording on a magnetic material with a finer structure is possible.
However, when the "current direct driving magnetization reversal phenomenon" is used, the current necessary for magnetization reversal is large. Accordingly, the element characteristic degrades due to the influence of heat generated by the reversal current, resulting in a problem of reliability. In addition, a reversal current Jc− for switching from parallel to anti-parallel is larger by several times than a reversal current Jc+ for switching from anti-parallel to parallel. To solve the asymmetry of the reversal currents Jc− and Jc+, the reversal current Jc− for switching from parallel to anti-parallel must be small.

Magnetic recording element and magnetic recording device using the same


A fuel control and preheating module for use with an oil-burning furnace including a fuel line providing a passageway section through which oil is routed from a reservoir to the furnace for burning includes an electrically-powered positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heating element mounted in heat transfer relationship with oil contained with the passageway section. During the operation of the PTC element, the PTC element heats the oil contained within the passageway section to a preselected temperature and maintains the oil contained within the passageway section at the preselected temperature. Also associated with the module is a movable diaphragm and shutoff plate which is responsive to the internal pressure changes in the air passageway of the furnace upon shutdown and start-up of the furnace to withdraw oil from and shut off delivery of oil to the nozzle upon furnace shutdown and to push oil toward the nozzle upon start-up of the furnace.

This invention relates generally to furnaces which utilize fuel oil or waste oil as fuel and relates, more particularly, to the means by which fuel is preheated prior to its introduction into the combustion zone of such a furnace for burning.
Prior art furnaces which burn fuel oil or waste oil in a combustion zone commonly include a nozzle block assembly utilizing an atomizing nozzle through which air and oil are conducted into the combustion zone for burning and a fuel pump and air compressor for delivering fuel and air, respectively, to the nozzle. It is desirable in some instances that the oil is preheated prior to its introduction into the combustion zone, and for purposes of preheating the oil, known schemes exist. For example, in U.S. Pat. No. 5,372,484 having the same assignee as the instant invention, a nozzle block assembly is described wherein an electrical resistance heater is supported within the nozzle block for heating the nozzle block (primarily by radiant heat emitted from the element) and air routed through the block. The heated nozzle block, in turn, heats the oil routed therethrough. Thermostats mounted within the block monitor the block temperature and prevent operation of the oil pump unless the temperature of the nozzle block is within a preselected temperature range.
Another preheating scheme, such as is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,487,571 having inventors in common with the instant invention, involves the mounting of a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) thermistor on one side of the nozzle block. The oil contained within the fuel passageway provided within the nozzle block is heated by the transfer of heat from the PTC thermistor through the body of the nozzle block.
It is known that if the oil is preheated to an unacceptably high level, the oil may carbonize (or burn partially) prior to its introduction into the combustion zone of such a furnace and thereby reduce the effectiveness of the oil for heating purposes. Along the same lines, if the oil is heated through a surface (e.g. a metal surface) which is much hotter than the temperature to which the oil is desired to be heated, the oil may carbonize and an undesirable build up of carbon will collect upon the surface, and the carbonized oil and carbon build up can adversely effect furnace operation. On the other hand, if the oil is not heated to a high enough temperature prior to its introduction into the combustion zone, the oil is likely not to burn completely within the combustion zone thereby wasting energy and producing pollution from unburned hydrocarbons.
It would be desirable to provide an improved oil preheating scheme for an oil-burning furnace of the aforedescribed class which is less likely to overheat, and thereby carbonize, oil prior to its introduction into the combustion zone of the furnace.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved system for preheating fuel prior to its introduction into the combustion zone of a furnace of this class while controlling the power consumption of the preheating system for preheating the fuel.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a system which is effective in operation, is safer in some respects, and is less likely to overheat oil than are preheating schemes of the prior art. draws power on an as-needed basis to maintain the oil at the desired temperature.
In another aspect of the invention, the improvement comprises shutoff means associated with the fuel passageway disposed upstream of the nozzle block assembly and responsive to the internal pressure of the air passageway for shutting off the flow of oil along the fuel line upon shutdown of furnace operation.

Fuel control and preheating system for a fuel-burning heater


A process for repairing leaks in turbine generators that have water cooled stator coils with hollow conductor strands, wherein the lead ends of the conductor strands are joined to a header. First a vacuum enclosure is provided around a portion of one of the stator coils in proximity to the header. Then a vacuum is applied to the portion. Finally, a resin is injected into voids in the portion. In a second embodiment, the header first is cut into an outboard section, and into an inboard section that remains attached to the conductor strands. Then the exposed lead ends of the conductor strands and the attached inboard section are cleaned to remove oxidation. Next, a water-tight braze seal is applied over the lead ends of the conductor strands. Then the stator coil and the inboard section are joined to a new outboard section and a vacuum is subsequently applied to the inboard section. The resin is then injected into voids in the inboard section.

Turbine generators used by the electric utility industry generate high temperatures in various generator components. Of particular interest to the present invention, undesirable heat is generated in the stator windings of such generators and must be removed to keep the stator windings from overheating. To provide the necessary cooling to the stators windings in these turbine generators, a variety of techniques have been employed. One technique incorporates hollow individual conductor strands in the stator coil through which a liquid coolant circulates (see e.g., Collins, U.S. Pat. No. 3,614,493, which is hereby incorporated by reference). The coolant collects heat from the conductor strands, carries it away from the stator coil, and releases it.
A stator coil used in such generators is generally comprised of a bundle of individual conductor strands, some of which may have hollow cores, that are collected together to form a single stator coil. At the lead end of the stator coil, where the conductor strands terminate, it is necessary to complete the electrical and coolant flow circuits. For these circuit completion purposes, a conductive header is used that makes the electrical connection while providing a conduit for the coolant to flow through the stator coil. Thus, coolant flows through the header and into the hollow conductor strands of the stator coil where heat is collected. After collecting the heat, the coolant flows out through a header at the other end of the stator coil.
Because the stator coil and the header are separate components, they must be joined together at their interface. Typically, the stator coil is joined to the header with a conductive braze that provides electrical conductivity between the header and stator while providing a fluid-tight seal. In recent years, the electric utility industry has experienced problems with water leakage in turbine generators that use water-cooled stators. Specifically, water leakage around the area of the stator coil to header braze joints has caused generators to fail.
Some water cooled stator coils are susceptible to leaks due to a corrosion process through the consolidated braze. This leads to wetting of the internal coil, subsequent degradation of the groundwall insulation and electrical failure of the coil through the degraded groundwall insulation.
Leaking water can damage insulation and over time cause an electrical failure which can be costly to repair. Leaks have been attributed to poor initial brazes, porosity in cast components, water chemistry issues and crevice corrosion. Crevice corrosion refers to a mechanism which results in corrosion tunneling through the clip-to-strand, or consolidation braze.
Thus, there is a need for a method of repairing the stator coil and header interface to stop the leakage and prevent the likelihood that the leak will recur.

Water-cooled stator coil end sealing process


A probe located in an area to be measured has an acoustic stimulator, (e.g., a loudspeaker and a microphone). The stimulator sends acoustic signals to the microphone where the signals are transformed into electrical signals and transferred to an analysis unit. Using a defined stimulation followed by a two-port chain transfer matrix connected to an impedance as a model, the voltage ratio between the stimulation and the impedance is described as a dimensionless transfer function of a complex function of the stimulation frequency. A series of acoustic calibration signals are generated by known acoustic impedances covering different calibration scopes using the stimulation. The calibration signals are recorded and the electric values are merged with the respective voltage values of the stimulation for evaluation of the respective transfer functions which are merged together into an over-determined linear system of equations. The impedance is determined by evaluating the transfer functions.

A measurement system consisting of two components will conventionally be used for the determination of the acoustic impedance of a closed room. The two components are a microphone and a loudspeaker which are connected to an analysis unit. This arrangement is frequently supplemented by a third connector to apply static pressure.
A probe with three connectors is especially used for the measurement of the acoustic impedance of the ear in functional relationship to the static pressure for diagnostic purposes. The connectors thereby couple the probe, which is inserted into the ear channel, with a static pressure generator, a microphone and a loudspeaker.
The evaluation of the measurement will thereby be performed by electronic or computerized analysis units. The calibration of the measurement equipment takes place typically by use of a set of tubes with defined geometrical dimensions and acoustic behavior. The principle of Thévenin for the measurement of unknown impedances is used for the characterization of the measurement system. The measurement system then may be represented by a voltage source and a first impedance.
The voltage will then be measured over a second series connected unknown impedance. This measured voltage stands in a direct coherence with the unknown impedance, whereby all magnitudes or parameters are complex functions of the frequency. The system now has first to be calibrated, e.g. the parameters of the system have first to be calculated by the use of calibrated impedances, i.e. with at least two calibrating impedances. If the parameters of the voltage source and the first impedance are known, the second unknown impedance may be determined by measuring the voltage over this second impedance. This method is described in detail in U.S. Pat. No. 5,792,072.
Such a method and apparatus are described as well in U.S. Pat. No. 4,289,143. A probe will thereby be entered closely into the entrance of the ear channel, thereby emitting short acoustic pulses of a broad wave band penetrating into the ear channel, and the respective response signals will be detected by a loudspeaker integrated as well in the probe and converted into electrical signals. Those signals will subsequently be digitalized and transformed into a Fourier series which then will be analyzed by a processor. The analysis will be made vis-à-vis stored values, which values have been determined by the antecedent application of the method with two calibrated measuring impedances, such as two cylindrically measuring tubes with different dimensions. The processor or the analysis electronic respectively will be used at the same time for the controlling of the pulse generator and eventually for the controlling of a static pressure generator as well, which may be connected to the probe as well.
But both of the described methods suffer of some disadvantages. A phase relation between the voltage of the voltage source (or the system respectively) and the measured voltage over the second impedance is necessary to determine the second impedance (complex impedance). As this voltage cannot directly be observed by the principle of Thévenin, the phase has to be determined by way of a detour.
Furthermore, those methods are no longer usable if the stimulation changes between calibration and measurement, i.e. if the voltage of the generator is not constant. After all, noise effects occurring during the active measurement of the voltage over the second impedance will falsify the result.
The universal application of the measurement method according to U.S. Pat. No. 4,289,143 for the measuring of general acoustic impedances will as well lead to geometrical problems. As all three connectors for loudspeaker, microphone and static pressure generator are arranged in the same plane at the exit of the probe, in which plane the impedance to be measured is defined, the coupling of individual acoustic elements will lead to geometrical problems, especially if the opening cross section is smaller than the diameter of the probe.
This is for example the case by coupling small tubes, be it as reference impedances for the calibration of the measurement equipment or as objects to be measured. It is essentially in such cases to use additional coupling volumes. The use of complex modules such as wind shields or membranes is as well problematic. Furthermore in the field of ear measurement, the risk of choking the probe occurs, which rules out the measurement or destroys the calibration and therefore falsifies the result.

Method and apparatus for the measurement of the acoustic impedance


A number of embodiments of rotating electrical machines using permanent magnets wherein the cogging torque is substantially reduced as are vibrations caused by magnetic flux variations. This is accomplished by disposing the coil windings in equal circumferential spacing and disposing the associated permanent magnets in non-symmetrical relationship so that the gaps between some of the magnets are different. In addition, the coil windings are such that no two coils of any phase are immediately adjacent each other in a circumferential direction. A method for calculating the optimum spacing is also disclosed.

This invention relates to a rotating electrical machine of the type that employs permanent magnets and cooperating coil windings wound around armature cores in confronting relationship to the permanent magnets.
A wide variety of types of electrical machines have been provided of the type mentioned in the preceding paragraph. These arrangements may be used as either motors or generators and either the magnets or the coil or both may rotate. If the device is an electrical motor, the windings are selectively energized so as to effect rotation. If the device operates as a generator, the relatively rotatable member is rotated and an electrical current is induced in the windings.
In conventional constructions of this type, the permanent magnets are disposed at circumferentially spaced even intervals with their polarity oppositely arranged. The electrical windings are formed on armature poles formed by a member that defines slots between it. The armature poles are also mounted at circumferentially spaced regular intervals.
With this type of mechanism, it is desirable to insure that the torque required to rotate the rotatable member without large power input is important. The torque necessary to achieve this rotation is referred to as "cogging torque". If the cogging torque is large and the device is a generator, it requires large power to drive the mechanism and this increases the vibration. If the device operates as a motor and has high cogging torque, large power is consumed when idling and this also increases the vibration.
Basically, the cogging torque is related to the number of peak pulses in the coil windings per revolution of the rotor, referred to as the "cogging number". The cogging number is generally equal to the least common multiplier of the number of slots and the number of magnetic poles. The cogging torque is basically proportional to the reciprocal of the square of the cogging number.
In addition, the multiple armature cores generally have the coils wound in coil groups or phases. In a conventional type mechanism, the coils of each phase are disposed adjacent to each other and are oppositely wound. This has the disadvantage of causing unbalanced magnetic forces, which can cause vibration and, in addition to the objectionable noise, premature wear of the bearings of the machine.
These disadvantages of the prior art structure may be best understood by reference to FIGS. 1 through 4, which show a prior art type of eight (8) pole nine (9) slot machine. FIG. 1 illustrates the winding of a prior art electrical motor or generator. FIG. 2 shows the cogging torque in relationship to the rotational angle. FIG. 3 which shows the counter EMF both between lines and phases. FIG. 4 which is a diagrammatic view showing the flux lines during a portion of the rotation of this machine.
In the illustrated embodiment, the machine includes a rotor, indicated generally by the reference numeral 21 which is comprised of a disk having a plurality of permanent magnets 22 fixed thereto around its periphery and which is affixed to a rotor shaft 23. The magnets 22 are formed from a ferromagnetic material, which is assembled to the disk and mounted on the shaft 23, and the magnetic material permanently magnetized. The assembly is bonded together with a resin.
A cooperating armature 24 has a plurality of armature cores that are separated by gaps or slots 25. These gaps or slots 25 are equally spaced around the circumference and around the axis of rotation of the rotor shaft 23.
Although the structure is described in conjunction with an arrangement with rotating magnets and fixed coil windings, the arrangement can obviously be reversed wherein the magnets are held against rotation and the coil windings rotate.
The armature cores that define the slots 25 are divided into groups, in this embodiment, these comprise three groups, having individual adjacent windings UUU, VVV, and WWW, respectively. Individual windings 26U, 26V and 26W are wound around the adjacent cores in opposite directions. As a result, the magnetic flux is such that it is unbalanced because of the fact that the adjacent windings of the coil phases are wound in opposite directions as to increase the magnetic flux as shown in FIG. 4.
The example shown employs nine slots and eight magnetic poles and thus, has a cogging number of 72 i.e. 9×8. Thus, although this type of mechanism provides a low cogging torque as seen in FIG. 2 and a fairly uniform counter electromotive force as shown in FIG. 3, it results in vibrations and the total power output is not as great due to the fact that the coils operate in sequence and thus, tend to negate each other under some circumstances as will be apparent later in describing a comparison between the invention and prior art structures as thus far described.
It is, therefore, a principal object to this invention to provide an improved rotating electrical machine that incorporates permanent magnets and in which the cogging torque is maintained at a low value while vibrations and electrical power output are significantly improved.
It is a further object to this invention to provide an arrangement wherein the power output can be increased and the driving force decreased without adversely affecting the cogging torque.
The vibrational effect may be reduced by decreasing the number of magnets to, for example 6. The cogging number then decreases to 18. Then, however, the cogging torque becomes unacceptably large. Another way in which the vibrational problem may be reduced is by providing a series of magnets which are skewed relative to each other in side-by-side fashion and which cooperate with the coil windings. This type of mechanism is very difficult to manufacture and in fact cannot be manufactured by high production volume techniques.
Therefore, it is a principal object to this invention also to provide an improved and simplified rotating electrical machine that can be manufactured on high speed assembly apparatus and which will have the desired performance.

Permanent magnet type rotor and permanent magnet type rotary electrical machine


A method, apparatus, and computer program product storing pre-calculated quantization error data relating to a data quantization process. After receiving data to be quantized, quantizing the data to reduce the number of significant bits present therein. Finally, a quantization error is determined for the quantized data from the pre-calculated quantization error data.

Colour quantisation is the process of a higher colour image, such as a true colour (24 bits per pixel (bpp)) image where red, green and blue (RGB) channels are each represented by 8 bits, being converted to a lower colour image, such as a 16 bpp image, where the RGB channels are represented by fewer bits (typically 5 bits each for red and blue, and 6 bits for green). A quantisation error may result, which can then be dispersed to neighbouring pixels, using dithering and error dispersion algorithms, such as the Floyd-Steinberg algorithm.

Method and apparatus for finding data quantisation error


In a band saw machine in which a pair of guide posts for guiding a saw blade housing that rotatably supports a driving wheel and a driven wheel and can vertically move in the vertical direction are provided between the driving wheel and the driven wheel, an upper traveling part of a band saw blade is disposed in the rear of the guide posts and a lower traveling part of a band saw blade is disposed in front of the guide posts, when the band saw machine is viewed from the side, an intersection point between centers of the both wheels and the center line of the wheel width is almost equal to the width of the guide posts.

A horizontal band saw machine has a configuration in which a saw blade housing is provided on a base frame having vise device that can fixedly hold a work so as to be vertically movable, the saw blade housing has a driving wheel and driven wheel that are rotatably provided separately from each other in the horizontal direction and an endless band saw blade is wound around the driving wheel and the driven wheel. When the saw blade housing lowers from the risen position, the band saw blade cuts the work.
According to a first background art, in a conventional horizontal band saw machine, upper and lower straight saw blade traveling parts are formed between the driving wheel and the driven wheel and generally, the lower traveling part of the band saw blade cuts the work. With this configuration, there is a problem that the vertical dimension of the whole horizontal band saw machine becomes larger.
Thus, the configuration in which the upper traveling part of the band saw blade cuts the work is also proposed (for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,062,335, 3,182,538 and 2,898,669).
With the configuration described in two of the U.S. Patent publications, the driving wheel and the driven wheel are rotatably provided at the front side of the saw blade housing vertically supported by a pair of guide posts so as to separate from each other in the horizontal direction and the endless band saw blade is hung around the driving wheel and the driven wheel.
When tension is applied to the band saw blade, the saw blade housing receives the tension through the driving wheel and the driven wheel. Accordingly, when a large tension is applied to the band saw blade, the stiffness of the saw blade housing needs to be improved and thus, the whole configuration becomes larger.
Furthermore, since the saw blade housing is supported being protruded forwards from the guide posts and the driving wheel and the driven wheel are rotatably supported in front of the saw blade housing, the protruded amount of the wheel from the guide posts is large and thus, vibration is easy to occur when the band saw blade cuts the work. Moreover, the dimension in the cross direction becomes larger, thereby making miniaturization difficult.
Next, according to a second background art, some conventional band saw machine have an automatic band saw blade exchange device. However, the band saw blade in the horizontal band saw machine is generally exchanged by the operator's hand. The manual exchange operation by the operator is carried out according to the following method.
An upper traveling part of the band saw blade is fixedly inserted into a saw blade insert of the saw blade guide and the remaining part of the band saw blade is attached to the driving wheel and the driven wheel. When the band saw blade is removed, the above-mentioned procedure is performed in the reverse order.
The above-mentioned conventional method for attaching the band saw blade has the following problems. That is, when the part other than the upper traveling part is attached to the driving wheel and the driven wheel, the direction is not stable due to small stiffness of the circular band saw blade and thus, it is difficult to attach the part to the driving wheel and the driven wheel. Furthermore, since the direction of the band saw blade is not stable, the edge of the band saw blade contacts against the band saw machine main unit, thereby causing damage of the edge or the main unit.
Next, according to a third background art, in the conventional band saw machine, the endless band saw blade is wound around the driving wheel and the driven wheel and the work cramped by the vise device is cut with the band saw blade of which driving wheel is rotationally driven by an electric saw blade motor and rotationally travels. The saw machine is provided with a fixed insert for guiding the band saw blade and a moving insert that moves relative to the fixed insert in response to a cut width of the work to guide the band saw blade.
An output shaft of a speed reducer is directly attached to the center of the driving wheel for rotationally driving the band saw blade. An input shaft of the speed reducer includes two types of one in which power of the electric saw blade motor is transmitted by a coupling and one in which the power is transmitted by a pulley belt (refer to Patent document 1, for example). In the other type of the saw machine, a plurality of wheels around which the endless band saw blade is wound are each driven by the saw blade motor (Japanese Patent No. 2725782).
The conventional saw machine is devised so as to efficiently transmit torque of the saw blade motor to the band saw blade and however, is not devised so as to reduce impact force of saw blade cutting resistance generated during cutting. For this reason, when a large impact force is applied to the band saw blade, this contributes to damage of the band saw blade as well as vibration and noise.
To solve the above-mentioned problem, a first object of the present invention is to provide a band saw machine in which protruded amount of the wheels from the guide posts is small, vibration generated when the work is cut with the band saw blade can be suppressed and the dimension in the cross direction can be reduced, thereby enabling miniaturization.
A second object of the present invention is to provide a band saw blade attaching auxiliary means in the double-post horizontal band saw machine using a circular band saw blade in which an edge of the band saw blade can be easily attached to a band saw machine main unit without touching the main unit when the operator attaches the band saw blade to the driving wheel and the driven wheel, and a band saw blade attaching method using the device.
Furthermore, the third object of the present invention is to provide a band saw machine and a saw blade driving method in which the impact force of the saw blade cutting resistance generated during cutting can be reduced, damage of the band saw blade can be prevented and vibration and noise can be reduced.

Band saw machine, and saw blade attaching method, saw blade driving method and cutting method in band saw machine


A system, method, and computer program relate a plurality of applications in a computing system. The system, method, and computer program generate a plurality of ontologies associated with the applications. The system, method, and computer program also generate a meta-ontology associated with the plurality of ontologies. Each ontology includes one or more ontology elements, which represent application components. The application components may include application services and/or parameters for an associated application service. The parameters may include input parameters and output parameters for the associated application service. The meta-ontology includes one or more meta-ontology elements, which represent one or more relationships between at least some of the ontology elements.

Corporations and other entities typically use computer systems that include a variety of networks, computing platforms, and applications. Example computer systems provide information services to customers or support other computer-related functions. As a particular example, a corporation may support different applications running on different computing platforms to provide services to customers over the Internet. These networks, computing platforms, and applications often operate using different protocols and in different operational environments.
It is typically difficult to integrate the various applications within a computer system. For example, it is often difficult to integrate the applications used by different departments or other subdivisions of a corporation. Typical integration techniques often focus on software developers generating programs to integrate the applications. These integration programs are typically complex and need to be updated over time. Moreover, it is typically difficult to modify the integration programs when circumstances change, such as when an organization adds additional applications to its computer system.

System and method for relating applications in a computing system


A system includes a data processing core coupled to a system memory employing error correction code (ECC) circuitry. The core includes an indicator of when a correctable system memory error occurs and what address is associated with the error. A watchdog timer is instantiated on a system management device. Periodically, the timer prompts the management device to interrupt the processor and poll the error indicator to determine if a memory error has been detected. If an error is detected, the corresponding physical memory address is recorded. If a predetermined number of consecutive errors associated with a single memory address or range of addresses occurs, an alert is issued. In one embodiment, polling the error indicator is infrequent initially. As additional errors are detected, the polling frequency increases. At higher polling frequencies, the system may require a greater number of consecutive errors before taking additional action.

1. Field of the Present Invention
The present invention is in the field of data processing systems and, more particularly, data processing systems employing error correction in their memory subsystems.
2. History of Related Art
Error code correction (ECC) circuitry is used to detect and correct single bit errors that occur within a data processing system. ECC is most widely implemented in conjunction with main memory subsystems. In systems that employ ECC circuitry, the processor(s) may include dedicated hardware for counting the number of correctable errors detected and for initiating an interrupt procedure in response to an error correction status register. In other processors, however, ECC may be implemented without these dedicated resources. The Opteron® processor from Advanced Micro Devices, for example, integrates a memory controller that uses ECC into the processor but does not incorporate an ECC count register or an ECC status register capable of initiating an interrupt. For purposes of predictive failure analysis to anticipate and prevent significant system failures involving data loss and so forth, it is highly desirable to monitor the number of correctable errors and to take action when the number or pattern of such errors is symptomatic of a more serious condition such as a hard failure or a persistent source of error. It would therefore be desirable to provide a mechanism and method that would enable a processor/system that uses ECC to issue an alert or take other appropriate action based upon the number and source of correctable errors. It would be further desirable if the implemented solution provided a method for reliably determining when a particular location in memory is exhibiting error behavior warranting additional consideration, without compromising system performance by flooding the processor within error correction status queries.

Implementing memory failure analysis in a data processing system


A polyester resin for metal plate coating which contains a dimer acid in an amount of 2 to 10 mol %, as a dicarboxylic acid component and has a weight average molecular weight (Mw) ranging from 70,000 to 160,000. Thus, there can be provided a polyester resin for metal plate coating that has not only excellent film forming capability and corrosion resistance but also excellent impact resistance. Further, there can be provided a resin-coated metal plate excelling in properties, such as corrosion resistance, impact resistance (dent resistance), workability and flavor, and provided, fabricated from the resin-coated metal plate, a metal can and can lid.

It has long been a widely accepted practice to coat the metal surfaces with a resin layer as means for imparting corrosion resistance to the metal material. As coating methods used in this technology, there have been known a method of coating the metal surfaces with a solution obtained by dispersing a thermosetting resin such as an epoxy resin or a phenol resin in a solvent, and a method of sticking a film of the type of polyester, olefin or polyamide onto the metal substrate via a primer of the type of isocyanate, epoxy or phenol. According to these methods, however, some thermosetting resins and primers that are used contain a bisphenol A which may elute out. Besides, even from the standpoint of the necessity for coating the solvent and the cost thereof, it has been desired to provide means that substitutes for the above methods.
It has been widely known to utilize the heat-melting property of the thermoplastic resin for sticking the metal substrate and the thermoplastic resin together as represented by a method of sticking a pre-formed film of a thermoplastic polyester resin or the like onto a metal plate by heat-adhesion and a method of sticking a thin molten film of a thermoplastic polyester or the like that is extruded onto the metal plate.
The latter method of sticking onto the metal plate by the extrusion lamination offers such advantages that the treatment can be conducted at very high speeds involving decreased operation for forming films and decreased cost. When a generally employed polyester is used, however, the film swings and pulsates making it difficult to form a coating layer of a uniform thickness on the metal plate maintaining stability and close adhesion.
Further, the resin-coated metal plate used for producing cans requires close adhesion of the film during the working to withstand severe working such as draw working or draw-ironing of the resin-coated metal plate and, further, requires shock resistance (dent resistance) to withstand the vendor and the like. Depending upon the content, further, there are further required corrosion resistance and shock resistance to meet the cases of when placed under high-temperature and high-humidity heated conditions such as retort sterilization and to meet the cases of when stored in a hot vendor.
As the resin-coated metal plate having such properties, JP-A-2001-328208 proposes a resin-coated metal plate of which a thermoplastic resin layer comprises a polyester containing a polyethylene terephthalate as a chief component and an ethylene type polymer, the resin layer containing a tocopherol or a derivative thereof in an amount of 0.05 to 3% by weight.

Polyester resin for coating metal plate, resin-coated metal plate being coated with the same, and metal can and lid