A universal mounting assembly for a light duty snow plow using a lower triangular frame, an upper triangular frame and a pair of spaced-apart rearwardly directed tubular members for attaching the lower triangular frame to a vehicle. The mounting assembly can be secured to a vehicle using a quick release mechanism regardless of the vehicles ground clearance. Additionally, the plow can be used in any one of a plurality of predetermined positions with the bottom edge of the snow plow blade remaining substantially flat against the surface to be plowed. An electric winch that is supplied power from the battery of the vehicle to which the snow plow is mounted, is used to raise and lower the snow plow.

Snow removal has posed a problem for as long as motorized vehicles have been used for transportation. In response to the problem of removing significant quantities of snow from roadways, driveways and parking lots, many snow plowing arrangements have been invented. Many of the snow plows known from the prior art are specialized units specifically designed and constructed for a particular model of large vehicle. Normally, they include hydraulic cylinders for orienting the snow plow blade as well as for raising and lowering a blade to and from a plowing position. These large plows may also include "side wings" for pushing back banks of snow accumulated along an edge of a roadway.
Snow plows designed for light duty or "personal" vehicles are also known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 1,957,103 entitled SNOW PLOW issued to C. H. Frink on May 1, 1934. This patent teaches a light duty snow plow having a fixed orientation for pushing snow to a right side of the vehicle. The snow plow is raised and lowered by a hand winch mounted to the top of a frame that bolts to a front of the vehicle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,439,939 entitled SNOW PLOW issued Apr. 3, 1984 to Blau. This patent teaches a snow plow especially suitable for use with small vehicles, such as cars. The snow plow features a hydraulic system for controlling movement of the plow from side to side as well as for raising and lowering the plow. The snow plow also features a coupling system which permits the plow to be quickly coupled to the vehicle for snow plowing and quickly decoupled when the vehicle is to be used for conventional purposes. One disadvantage of this snow plow is that it requires an expensive hydraulic system which includes a pump driven by an electric motor powered by the car's electrical system. This greatly increases the expense of producing the plow. A further disadvantage is that the system for rotatably mounting the snow plow blade consists of a semicircular swivel plate welded to the back of the blade. This blade orientation arrangement is common for prior art snow plows. The arrangement works well provided that the plow is designed and constructed for a vehicle having a specific road clearance. The semi-circular swivel plate is not adapted, however, to the production of a universal plow for use with different vehicles having a range of ground clearances. The problem with the semicircular swivel plate is that unless the swivel plate is in a parallel relationship with a surface to be plowed when the plow is mounted to a vehicle, it causes the snow plow blade to be canted at an angle to the surface to be plowed if the plow is swivelled to push snow to either side of the vehicle. This canting effect causes one corner of the blade to dig into the surface to be plowed while the opposite corner is cantilevered above the surface to be plowed and snow is left behind on that side of the plow. The plow blade canting effect of the blade is well known and it has inhibited the development of a universal snow plow that swivels for pushing snow to either side of a vehicle, which is often desirable for clearing driveways to one side or for clearing parking lots and the like.
It is therefore a primary object of the present invention to provide a universal mounting assembly for a snow plow which may be mounted to practically any light duty vehicle regardless of the ground clearance of that vehicle.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a universal, personal snow plow which is inexpensive to manufacture.
It is yet a further object of the invention to provide a universal, personal snow plow which is quickly disconnected from a vehicle and readily stored when not in use.

Mounting assembly for light duty snow plow


Processing methods may be performed to form a pixel material in a semiconductor substrate. The methods may include forming a lithographic mask overlying the semiconductor substrate. The lithographic mask may include a window. The method may include forming a via in the semiconductor substrate by a dry etch process through the window. The method may also include forming the pixel material by depositing a fill material in the via.

Advanced liquid crystal on silicon (LCoS) devices are made possible by processes which produce intricately patterned material layers on substrate surfaces. Producing patterned material on a substrate requires controlled methods for removal of exposed material. Chemical etching is used for a variety of purposes including transferring a pattern in photoresist into underlying layers, thinning layers, or thinning lateral dimensions of features already present on the surface. Often it is desirable to have an etch process that etches one material faster than another facilitating, for example, a pattern transfer process or individual material removal. Such an etch process is said to be selective to the first material. As a result of the diversity of materials, circuits, and processes, etch processes have been developed with a selectivity towards a variety of materials.
Multilayer LCoS structures, such as those incorporating distributed Bragg reflectors (DBRs), may incorporate layers of dielectric or conducting material formed in a series of fabrication operations. In some cases, layers or structures may be formed by plasma deposition methods using an oxygen-containing plasma, such as, for example, deposition of conducting oxide films. In some cases, layers or structures may be formed by thermal deposition methods that elevate the temperature of previously formed structures, which may induce diffusion of materials between layers or structures. For example, deposition of high-k materials overlying metal structures may induce thermal diffusion of metal atoms from the metal structures into the high-k materials. Oxidation or diffusion may cause degradation of metal layers or structures in the LCoS structure, including, but not limited to, formation of voids, degradation of electrical conductivity, degradation of electrical contacts at interfaces between metal structures, or degradation of optical performance of reflective metal surfaces.
Thus, there is a need for improved systems and methods that can be used to produce high quality devices and structures. These and other needs are addressed by the present technology.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Structure and method of advanced LCoS back-plane having robust pixel via metallization


A network information system, and a method of operation thereof, includes: an extraction module for extracting a unique device identification for sending to an e-commerce server, wherein the unique device identification is extracted from a network-connected device with a software application installed and not activated on the network-connected device; a settlement process module, coupled to the extraction module, for generating a notification based on the unique device identification for sending to a license server; and a key generation module, coupled to the settlement process module, for generating a product key for the unique device identification based on the notification for activating the software application to run on a computing device.

An inactivated product can usually act as a time-limited trial until a product key is purchased. The product key can also be known as a license key or an activation key. The product key can be used to activate software, for example, to license the software for authorized use or license registration.
A software vendor can typically send a unique license key to an end-user by an e-mail. For a deployment within an organization, a software vendor can typically send a list of license keys to an information technology (IT) manager of the organization for internal distribution and management.
When the user installs a software package or a software application, a software interface can request that the user enter the license keys to activate the software package. In some cases, the user can be able to copy the license keys from the e-mail and paste the license keys into the software interface. In some other cases, the software interface can prevent a paste function and the user has to manually type the license keys into the software interface.
There are a number of problems with existing methods of distributing authorized license keys. One of the problems is that the existing methods are inconvenient for the user. The existing methods create confusion and loss of time and productivity, especially for corporate deployments. The existing methods can include a tedious process that may involve waiting for the e-mail from the software vendor, locating the license keys in an e-mail text, and then correctly entering the license keys into the software interface.
Another of the problems is that entering the license keys is also prone to human errors. Thus, it has been noted that earlier methods or the existing methods are inconvenient and require the user to go through extra steps in order to activate the software application.
Additionally, loss of product keys usually means the software is useless once uninstalled, which not only causes loss of productivity but also additional expense to repurchase the software. The product keys can also present new ways for distribution to go wrong. For example, if a product is shipped with missing or invalid keys, then the entire software package can become useless.
As noted above, the earlier methods are tedious and complicated and cause the loss of time, productivity, and money. Additionally, it takes an ordinary user several complicated steps to find and insert the license keys into the software application using the earlier methods.
Thus, a need still remains for a network information system with license registration. In view of the ever-increasing commercial competitive pressures, along with growing consumer expectations, it is critical that answers be found for these problems. Additionally, the need to reduce costs, improve efficiencies and performance, and meet competitive pressures adds an even greater urgency to the critical necessity for finding answers to these problems.
Solutions to these problems have been long sought but prior developments have not taught or suggested any solutions and, thus, solutions to these problems have long eluded those skilled in the art.

Network information system with license registration and method of operation thereof


Microprocessors use a conditional branch instruction so as to change processing in accordance with conditions. According to the prior art, a NOP instruction, which causes no operation, is used when a condition is satisfied, and the use of the NOP instruction inevitably lengthens the processing time. According to the present invention, a conditional transfer instruction is included in the instruction set of a microprocessor, and a flag decoder is additionally employed. The flag decoder determines whether a condition is satisfied or not, and outputs a control signal on the basis of the determination. The control signal is supplied to the instruction decoder of the processor to make a data transfer operation effective or ineffective. Accordingly, it is not necessary to use a NOP instruction, and the processing time can be as short as possible.

The present invention relates to a processor, such as a microprocessor or a signal processor, and more particularly to a technique the processor uses for executing data transfer instructions.
FIG. 11 shows an example of a prior art microprocessor.
The microprocessor shown in FIG. 11 comprises a program counter 1, an instruction memory 2, an instruction decoder 3, a data memory 4, a register file 5, an operation circuit 6, an accumulator 7, and a flag register 8.
The program counter 1 outputs an address signal P.
This address signal P is supplied to the address signal input terminal of the instruction memory 2. In response to this, an instruction Q stored at the address area corresponding to the address signal P is read out from the instruction memory 2 and is written in an instruction register IR (not shown).
The instruction Q stored in the instruction register IR is supplied to the instruction input terminal of the instruction decoder 3. Upon receipt of the instruction Q, the instruction decoder 3 analyzes it and generates signals corresponding thereto. To be more specific, control signals g, h, i, j and k are generated, and supplied to the data memory 4, register file 5, operation circuit 6, program counter 1 and instruction memory 2, respectively.
The data input/output terminals of the data memory 4, register file 5 and operation circuit 6 are connected to a data bus. By way of this data bus, data D is exchanged among the data memory 4, register file 5 and operation circuit 6.
The operation circuit 6 executes an arithmetic operation in response to data A' stored in the accumulator 7 and data D supplied thereto from the data bus. Data A, which is the result of the arithmetic operation performed by the operation circuit 6, is stored in the accumulator 7. The conditions generated during the operation, such as the overflow condition, the plus or minus state of an arithmetic operation result, the "zero" state thereof, a carry output, are represented by respective flags (1-bit signals). The operation circuit 6 arranges these flags in the form of one flag signal F and outputs this flag signal F.
The flag signal F is stored in the flag register 8. Output signal F' from the flag register 8 is supplied to the flag input terminal of the instruction decoder 3 as an operation flag signal.
The instruction decoder 3 uses the operation flag signal F' for determining the branch conditions of a conditional branch instruction. The conditional branch instruction is used for controlling instruction execution procedures.
An example of an operation flag signal F' to which the above condition signals are assigned will be described.
third bit F3' . . . overflow flag V which is "1" at the time of overflow and is "0" in the other situations
second bit F2' . . . sign flag S which is "1" when the result is minus and is "0" in the other situations
first bit F1' . . . zero flag Z which is "1" when the digits of the result are all zero and is "0" in the other situations
zero bit F0' . . . carry flag Z which is "1" when the uppermost digit must be carried and is "0" in the other situations
In order to control the instruction execution procedures in accordance with the flags, conditional branch instructions set forth below are prepared and included in a set of instructions of the processor.
JUMPV LABEL1: if F3'="1", go to address LABEL1
JUMPS LABEL1: if F2'="1", go to address LABEL1
JUMPZ LABEL1: if F1'="1", go to address LABEL1
JUMPC LABEL1: if F0'="1", go to address LABEL1
In general, there may be a case where transfer has to be executed in accordance with the result of an operation. However, the conventional processor cannot use a flag in operations which do not include a carry input or in instructions which are other than branch instructions. Therefore, in order to perform transfer in accordance with the result of an operation, both a transfer instruction and a conditional branch instruction have to be executed. Therefore, even if the processor is so designed as to execute data transfer within one machine cycle, which is a minimum instruction execution time, a task involving data transfer to be executed in accordance with the result of an operation inevitably requires a long time. The time required to complete such a task is twice as long as the time needed to fulfill a task including ordinary data transfer (i.e., unconditional data transfer).
FIGS. 12 and 13 are timing charts showing cases where a conditional branch instruction and a data transfer instruction are executed in combination. In the timing charts, the address signal P output from the program counter 1, the instruction Q stored in the instruction register IR and the data D at the data bus are plotted in relation to time. Symbol "T" represents a machine cycle.
An example of a program corresponding to FIGS. 12 and 13 is as follows:
JUMPV LABEL1+1: when F3'="1", jump to an area which is two addresses ahead
LABEL1:LOAD R0, [100]: transfer data from memory area "100" to register R0.
It is assumed that conditional transfer instruction JUMPV is stored in the n-th address area of the instruction memory and data transfer instruction LOAD is stored in the (n+1)th address area.
The program checks in the first line whether an overflow occurs. If it does occur, the microcomputer jumps to the processing described in the address area which is two addresses ahead, namely, the area identified by "LABEL1+1". In accordance with the second line of the program, data is transferred from the address area "100" of the data memory 4 to the "zero"-ordered register R0 of the register file 5 by way of the data bus.
The timing chart shown in FIG. 12 represents the case where a branch condition is not satisfied.
At time T, the conditional branch instruction or instruction JUMPV described in the first line is read out from the n-th memory area of the instruction memory 2. The readout instruction is written in the instruction register IR.
At time 2T, the JUMPV instruction is executed. Since "F3'=0" is defined in the flag signal F' output from the flag register 8, the branch condition is not satisfied. Accordingly, the instruction decoder 3 does not perform the processing specified in the branch. In the meantime, a LOAD instruction is read out from the (n+1)th address area of the instruction memory 2 and written in the instruction register IR.
Subsequently, the transfer instruction described in the second line is executed at time 3T, and data X is read out from the address area "100" of the data memory 4 and sent to the data bus.
At time 4T, data X sent to the data bus is written in the register R0 of the register file 5.
The timing chart shown in FIG. 12 represents the case where a branch condition is not satisfied.
The timing chart shown in FIG. 13 represents the case where a branch condition is satisfied.
As in the case shown in FIG. 12, the conditional branch instruction or instruction JUMPV described in the first line is read out from the n-th memory area of the instruction memory 2 at time T. The readout instruction is written in the instruction register IR.
At time 2T, the JUMPV instruction is executed. Since "F3'=1" is defined in the flag signal F' output from the flag register 8, the branch condition is satisfied. Accordingly, the instruction decoder 3 performs the processing specified in the branch. In this case, therefore, data X in the address area "100" of the data memory 4 is not sent to the data bus.
Where the branch condition of the JUMPV instruction is satisfied, the instruction decoder 3 supplies control signal k to the instruction memory 2, so that a NOP instruction (no-operation instruction) is output instead of the LOAD instruction. Accordingly, what is stored in the instruction register IR is not the LOAD instruction but the NOP instruction. The NOP instruction is an instruction used for timing adjustment and does not start any kind of operation. Such NOP instructions are prepared in the instruction sets of many types of processors.
The reason for using the NOP instruction in the above process is that the time needed for both the access to the instruction memory 2 and the execution of an instruction by the instruction decoder 3 should be as short as possible. In practice, therefore, the transfer instruction LOAD stored in the (n+1)th address area is read out from the instruction memory 2 and supplied to the instruction register IR, when the instruction decoder 3 is still executing the conditional branch instruction JUMPV.
Simultaneous with the use of the NOP instruction, the instruction decoder 3 supplies control signal j to the program counter 1, thereby causing the program counter 1 to output an address corresponding to a branch. In the example shown in FIGS. 12 and 13, this address is represented by (n+2).
Subsequently, the instruction decoder 3 executes the NOP instruction at time 3T. In addition, the instruction (Qn+2) stored in the address area (n+2) of the instruction memory 2 is written in the instruction register IR.
As described above, the time needed for data transfer is inevitably long if that data transfer is executed in accordance with the result of an operation (the state of an operation flag signal).


The invention provides migration resistant batting that includes a nonwoven web comprising a first surface parallel to a second surface, and a fiber mixture that includes: 35 to 65 wt % synthetic polymeric fibers having a denier of less than or equal to 1.0, wherein 50 to 100 wt % of said synthetic polymeric fibers are siliconized fibers; 10 to 30 wt % spiral-crimped synthetic polymeric fibers having a length of greater than or equal to 60 mm, wherein 50 to 100 wt % of said spiral-crimped synthetic polymeric fibers are siliconized fibers; 20 to 50 wt % elastomeric fibers having a denier between 2.0 and 7.0; and 5 to 25 wt % synthetic binder fibers having a denier of 1.5 to 4.0, said binder fibers have a bonding temperature lower than the softening temperature of the synthetic polymeric fibers, wherein said first and second surfaces comprise a cross-linked resin. Also provided are articles comprising the batting and methods of making the batting.

Microfibers are those fibers having a denier of less than or equal to 1.0 denier ("denier" being a measure of the weight in grams per 9,000 meters length of fiber). Synthetic microfiber insulations have been available in the commercial marketplace for decades now. Siliconized hydrophobic microfiber insulation is also known. Such fiber is described, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,588,635, and is available in the performance outdoor marketplace under the brand name PrimaLoft®.
The outdoor industry has utilized hydrophobic microfiber insulations for use in cold weather apparel, sleeping bags, and gloves for many years. However, the disadvantage to using hydrophobic microfiber insulation has always been that this type of insulation is highly prone to display severe fiber migration through fabric surfaces, even when combined with low air permeability downproof fabrics and protected by nonwoven scrim materials.
Scrim is an interlining that is often used as a protective layer between insulation and a shell or liner fabric of an article. Fiber migration is the penetration of fiber through the fabric surface such that fiber is present on the face side of the article, which is typically the outside of the article that is exposed to the external environment.
Downproof fabrics are typically defined as fabrics that are tightly woven with thread counts greater than 250 and have an air permeability rating according to ASTM D737 less than 1 cubic feet per minute (cfm). Sometimes fabrics have coatings applied to them or are calendared to seal their surface as a means to achieve downproofness. These treatments further reduce the air permeability of the fabric, which has a direct effect on the overall comfort of an article. The lower the air permeability of the fabric, the less breathable and comfortable it is. The higher the air permeability of the fabric, the more breathable and comfortable it is.
Migration resistant insulation for use in outdoor articles is also known in the art. These insulations are typically comprised predominantly of higher denier fibers in excess of 1.0 denier and do not contain hydrophobic finishes. It is easy to create migration resistant surfaces on these types of commonly produced generic insulations using commercially available chemical resins as bonding agents on the surface of the insulation. However, there are a variety of disadvantages associated with this type of treatment, including the fact that the treatments make the insulation stiff and crunchy to the hand feel, reduce stretch, and are not comfortable to wear. Further, most commercially available chemical resins used to create migration resistant surfaces adsorb water quickly, which represents a considerable disadvantage for outdoor articles that require both performance and comfort.
Thus, a need exists for improved migration resistant batting that is comfortable and conducive to use in, among other things, applications involving wet and/or high performance conditions, such as outdoor active wear.
While certain aspects of conventional technologies have been discussed to facilitate disclosure of the invention, Applicant in no way disclaims these technical aspects, and it is contemplated that the claimed invention may encompass one or more of the conventional technical aspects discussed herein.
In this specification, where a document, act or item of knowledge is referred to or discussed, this reference or discussion is not an admission that the document, act or item of knowledge or any combination thereof was, at the priority date, publicly available, known to the public, part of common general knowledge, or otherwise constitutes prior art under the applicable statutory provisions; or is known to be relevant to an attempt to solve any problem with which this specification is concerned.

Migration resistant batting with stretch and methods of making and articles comprising the same


A process and a material for use in sealing casing lining in a borehole is taught. The process includes the placement of a bitumen sealant material in a position between the casing tube and the wall of the borehole to be maintained in this annulus by means of a retaining devise such as an external casing packer or with the placement of a retainer made of cement grout and situated at the lower end of the casing tube. The bitumen sealant material prevents the passage of fluids vertically through the borehole. The sealant material remains viscous over time and can flow to fill voids which may occur in the rock formations adjacent to the borehole, or in the steel casing of the casing tube. To improve the sealing capabilities of the bitumen material a measured amount of fine grain weight material can be added to the bitumen to increase the density of the sealant material and thereby increase the hydrostatic pressure that the column of bitumen sealant will exert on the bottom and the walls of the borehole.

When petroleum well bores are drilled to the desired depth for production, the well operator determines whether the well bore should be placed into production or abandoned. A bore hole cuts through the various rock layers in the formation through which it is drilled and provides a route between the numerous porous zones of the formation. The bore hole allows fluids to migrate either upwardly or downwardly in between zones. Such interzonal migration must be controlled.
When it is determined that the well bore should be placed into production, a casing is run into the well. The casing is a length of tubing usually formed of steel. To prevent migration of fluids through the annulus between the casing and the well bore wall, a cement slurry is often pumped into the annulus during well completion. The cement is placed in sufficient volume to displace the drilling fluid in the annulus and is intended to prevent interzonal migration of fluid outside of the casing. However, fluid migration outside of the casing sometimes occurs through voids formed during set up of the cement or due to cement decomposition. Because the cement, when set, is solid, any voids formed in the cement during set up are permanent.
In some drilled bore holes, it is determined that the hole is not suitable for production. Such a bore hole is abandoned without running casing. Cement is also used in open boreholes to plug and abandon the well. Voids may also form during the set up of the cement in an abandonment plug.
Problematic interzonal migration occurs through voids in the cement seals used for completion and abandonment of boreholes.

Process and seal for minimizing interzonal migration in boreholes


A method of recognizing and generating a structure of a table included in an image is provided. The method includes extracting lines forming the table from among connection components forming an image, determining line intersections by using crossing functions matched with the lines, determining one of a plurality of crossing models identified based on a plurality of crossing shapes, in correspondence with each of the line intersections, and generating data about the table, which includes at least one cell determined using the determined crossing model.

In general, related methods of analyzing a structure of a table in an image rely upon spaces between words in the table, a grid of lines forming the table, or the like. Such a method is suitable for a document image acquired by a flat scanner or a document image, such as a PDF file, having hardly any geometric distortion.
However, according to the above-described methods, when a structure of a table is in an image having a geometric distortion, such as an image acquired by a camera, the structure cannot be accurately analyzed.
The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the present disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the present disclosure.

Method and apparatus for generating structure of table included in image

Seoul National University R&DB Foundation


A dielectric insulation medium including sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) and/or tetrafluoro methane (CF4), in a mixture with at least one further component being an at least partially fluorinated fluoroketone.

Dielectric insulation media in liquid or gaseous state are conventionally applied for the insulation of an electrical active part in a wide variety of electrical apparatuses, such as switchgears or transformers.
In medium or high voltage metal-encapsulated switchgears, for example, the electrically active part is arranged in a gas-tight housing, which defines an insulating space, said insulation space comprising an insulation gas usually with a pressure of up to several bars and separating the housing from the electrically active part, thus preventing flow of electrical current between housing and active parts. Metal-encapsulated switchgears allow for a much more space-saving construction than switchgears which are mounted outdoors and are insulated by ambient air. For interrupting the current in a high voltage switchgear or for extinguishing fault arcs, the insulating gas further functions as an arc extinction gas.
Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) is a widely used dielectric insulation gas with excellent dielectric strength, when used for insulation purposes, and also with excellent arc extinction strength, when used for example in a circuit breaker for extinguishing of switching arcs or for example in a gas-insulated substation (GIS) for extinguishing fault arcs. Tetrafluoro methane is particularly useful for switching application because of good arc interrupting properties and very low boiling point of −128° C. at 1 bar. The dielectric strength or pressure-reduced breakdown field strengths are about 84 kV/(cm*bar) for SF6 and about 31 kV/(cm*bar) for CF4.
For example, WO 2008/073790 discloses a dielectric gaseous compound which—among other characteristics—has a low boiling point in the range between −20° C. to −273° C., is preferably non-ozone depleting and which has a GWP of less than about 22,200 on a 100 year time scale. Specifically, WO 2008/073790 discloses a number of different compounds which do not fall within a generic chemical definition.
Further, U.S. Pat. No. 4,175,048 relates to a gaseous insulator comprising a compound selected from the group of perfluorocyclohexene and hexafluoroazomethane, and EP-A-0670294 discloses the use of perfluoropropane as a dielectric gas.
EP-A-1933432 refers to trifluoroiodomethane (CF3I) and its use as an insulating gas in a gas-insulated switchgear.
In the search for a suitable substitute of conventional insulation gases, such as SF6 or air, it has been found that by using fluoroketones having from 4 to 12 carbon atoms, an insulation medium can be obtained which has high insulation capabilities, in particular a high dielectric strength, and at the same time an extremely low global warming potential. This invention has previously been filed as international patent application No. PCT/EP2009/057294.
German Utility Model DE 10 2009 009 305 and German Patent DE 20 2009 025 204 B3 also relate to a switching device having an encapsulation that is filled with a filling medium comprising or consisting of a fluoroketone.
Despite of the good dielectric strength of the fluoroketones according to international patent application No. PCT/EP2009/057294, the insulation performance of the respective insulation medium comprising the fluoroketone is often limited due to the relatively high boiling points of the fluoroketones.
This is particularly the case for applications in a low temperature environment. In this case, only a relatively low saturated vapour pressure of the fluoroketone can be maintained without fluoroketone becoming liquefied. This limits the achievable fluoroketone molar ratio in the gaseous phase and would make necessary an increased filling pressure with conventional insulating gases.
For example, the minimal permissible operating temperature of a high or medium voltage gas-insulated switchgear (HV-GIS or MV-GIS) can be typically −5° C. At this temperature, for obtaining a dielectric performance comparable to conventional high-performance insulation media, the required filling pressure of an insulation medium comprising e.g. a fluoroketone having 6 carbon atoms, e.g. C2F5C(O)CF(CF3)2 or dodecafluoro-2-methylpentan-3-one, may still be relatively high and could exceed the filling pressure that can be withstood by usual housing constructions, which is typically about 7 bar for HV GIS applications.
Alternatively or additionally to increasing the filling pressure, the system can be heated (as shown in our PCT/EP2009/057294). If using for example a pure fluoroketone having 6 carbon atoms, e.g. C2F5C(O)CF(CF3)2 or dodecafluoro-2-methylpentan-3-one, as the insulation medium, heating to more than 50° C. would be required to achieve a sufficient saturated vapour pressure of the fluoroketone and to obtain the desired insulation performance for more demanding high voltage applications. Such heating is not always feasible or recommended both for economic and ecologic reasons.
In the article by Yamamoto et al, "Applying a Gas Mixture Containing c-C4F8 as an Insulation Medium", IEEE Transactions on Dielectrics and electrical Insulation, Vol. 8 No. 6, December 2001, it is disclosed that mixtures of c-C4F8 together with nitrogen, air or carbon dioxide show a nonlinear increase in dielectric strength over the concentration-weighted arithmetic sum of dielectric strengths of the components.


A positioning of a plurality of optical fibers 11 is performed by a pair of position regulating members 12a and 12b. Then, the paired position regulating members 12a and 12b are moved along two guide members 13, 13 in such a manner as to have a predetermined distance therebetween. A ribbon support member 15 is placed between the paired position regulating members 12a and 12b in such a way as to support the optical fibers 11. The plurality of optical fibers 11 are held and fixed by the holding members 17a and 17b. Further, the plurality of optical fibers 11 put on the ribbon support member 15 are sandwiched by the ribbon support member 15 and the pressing tool 19 opposed thereto. In a terminal portion structure 110a of a ribbon fiber 10, terminal portions of optical fibers 102 are arranged horizontally in parallel, an adhesive tape is stuck onto at least one of upper and lower surfaces of at least the terminal portions.

Among tools for assembling linear elements into a ribbon shape, there has been a tool for manufacturing an optical cord, which is partly assembled like a ribbon shape, by aligning a necessary number of optical fibers to be partly assembled into a ribbon shape, and then sticking an adhesive tape thereto and finally cutting off an unnecessary part (see, for example, "Simple Ribbonizing Tool (Fibrlok2670Multi-Fiber Ribbon Construction Tool)", November 1998, edited by 3M Company).
Meanwhile, in the simple ribbonizing tool, alignable length depends upon the length (about 50 mm) thereof. Thus, this related-art tool has a drawback in that when the length of a part of the optical fibers, which needs aligning, is equal to or longer than the alignable length, a process similar to the aforementioned operation should be repeatedly performed, and that this is troublesome. Moreover, the related-art tool has another drawback in that when a plurality of optical fibers are aligned, the arranging pitch of the optical fibers depends upon the diameter thereof. Thus, the arranging pitch thereof cannot be arbitrarily set, and consequently, the flexibility in manufacturing a partially ribbon-like optical cord is low. Furthermore, the related-art tool has another drawback in that because optical fibers are partially assembled into a ribbon shape by usually using a flammable tape in the present circumstances, a resultant optical cord is weak against heat.
Further, as a method for assembling linear elements into a ribbon shape, there is a related-art method for assembling a plurality of optical fibers into a ribbon shape, by aligning the plurality of optical fibers to be partly assembled into a ribbon shape, applying a UV-curable resin on the plurality of optical fibers as a whole to integrate the plurality of optical fibers into one body, and irradiating the UV-curable resin with UV rays to solidify the UV-curable resin to thereby form like a ribbon shape.
There is also a related-art method including aligning a plurality of optical fibers to be partly assembled into a ribbon shape, and applying a rapid-cure resin on the plurality of optical fibers to solidify the rapid-cure resin in a short time to thereby integrally form like a ribbon shape.
As shown in FIG. 26A, in the case of use of the UV-curable resin 101 for producing a ribbon fiber 100, there is however a possibility that the UV-curable resin 101 may be solidified in the condition that the arrangement of optical fibers 102 is disordered by the pressure of the UV-curable resin 101 when the UV-curable resin 101 is applied on the-optical fibers 102.
As shown in FIG. 26B, in the case of use of the rapid-cure resin 103 for producing a ribbon fiber 104, it is however a possibility that some optical fibers 102 may drop out when the ribbon fiber 104 is bent because the rapid-cure resin 103 cannot be applied too thick to obtain sufficient strength.
When, for example, coatings are removed from a terminal portion of the array of the optical fibers 102 by a jacket remover to attach a connector to the ribbon fiber 100 in the condition that the arrangement of the optical fibers 102 is disordered, there is a problem that a blade of the jacket remover strikes on and damages some optical fibers not located in proper positions. Or, when the optical fibers 102 are integrated into a ribbon shape by use of a UV-curable resin, there is a problem that the thickness of the ribbon fiber 100 may vary and that it may be impossible to remove the coatings completely. It is also difficult to form a ribbon fiber in which the pitch of arrangement of optical fibers varies locally.
The invention is accomplished in view of the drawbacks. Accordingly, a first object of the invention is to provide a tool for assembling linear elements into a ribbon shape, which is enabled to align a part of plural linear elements in a portion having a given length, and to fix the aligned linear elements in the form of a ribbon. A second object of the invention is to provide linear elements assembled into a ribbon shape and a terminal portion structure of the same so that coatings can be removed collectively by a jacket remover without damage of the linear elements.

Tool and method for assembling linear elements into ribbon shape, and linear elements assembled into ribbon shape and terminal portion structure of the same


A drive apparatus for an electric motor includes an inverter, an inverter substrate, a wire connection switching unit, a control unit, and an alternating-current wire electrically connected at one end to the inverter and at the other end to one end of the windings of an electric motor. The drive apparatus for an electric motor includes an alternating-current wire electrically connected at one end to the alternating-current wires and electrically connected at the other end to one end of the wire connection switching unit, and an alternating-current wire electrically connected at one end to the other end of the wire connection switching unit and electrically connected at the other end to the other end of the windings of the electric motor. The drive apparatus for an electric motor includes a noise suppression unit provided at least on the alternating-current wires to suppress noise that occurs in the alternating-current wire.

The electric motor drive apparatus disclosed in Patent Literature 1 includes a wire connection switching device. The wire connection switching device switches the wire connection state of the windings of the electric motor to star connection or delta connection in accordance with the rotational speed of the electric motor. By switching the wire connection state of the windings of the electric motor, the electric motor drive apparatus disclosed in Patent Literature 1 enables high efficiency operation during the low speed operation of the electric motor and enables high output operation during the high speed operation.
Patent Literature 2 discloses an alternating-current electric motor that switches its wire connection state in the same manner as in Patent Literature 1. Specifically, Patent Literature 2 discloses a technique of reducing the harmonic current included in the power supply voltage in the wire connection state for high speed output characteristics by inserting a reactor in the wire connection state for high speed output characteristics and removing the reactor in the wire connection state for low speed output characteristics. By inserting the reactor in the wire connection state for high speed output characteristics and removing the reactor in the wire connection state for low speed output characteristics, the harmonic current included in the power supply voltage is reduced only in the wire connection state for high speed output characteristics. The technique described in Patent Literature 2 can reduce heat generation during the high speed operation of the alternating-current electric motor while preventing a reduction in output during the low speed operation of the alternating-current electric motor.

Drive apparatus for electric motor and air conditioner


A mobile concrete pump comprising a supporting frame (16) mounted on a chassis (10) and a pump unit (30) disposed on the supporting frame (16) and having a rear material feeder container (32). Conveyor pipes or tubes (38, 40) can be connected to the pump unit (30), and can be transported in magazines (42, 44) along with the automatic concrete pump. The magazines can be easily accessed when they are moved from a transport position substantially parallel to the loading area (48, 50) into a removal or unloading position, with back end tilting downwards, by rotating said magazines around an axis of rotation (52, 54) parallel to the vertical axis of the chassis and tilting around a tilting axis (56, 58) which runs crosswise in relation to their longitudinal axis and perpendicular to the vertical axis of the chassis. Rotation and tilting of the magazines (42, 33) can be done manually or using hydraulic means.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention concerns a mobile or auto concrete pump with a chassis, which exhibits at least one loading surface on one side running parallel to the vehicle chassis axis. Preferably one supporting frame is provided on the vehicle chassis, on which frame are provided a rearward facing material supply container including a pump unit, and a concrete distribution mast which can be unfolded, wherein conveyor pipes or hoses can be connected to the pump unit or, alternatively, to the distribution mast, and wherein at least one accessible loading surface is provided on one side of the supporting frame, preferably beside the distribution mast when the mast is stowed in the driving position. Since the supporting frame is rigidly connected with the chassis, in the following the supporting frame is viewed as belonging to the vehicle chassis.
2. Description of the Related Art
In mobile concrete pumps of the hitherto known type (WO 95/30088) the pressure side of the pump unit is connectable, via a pipe switch or pivot pipe, with a conveyor line of the distribution mast. There are however applications in which a separate pipe or hose is coupled directly on the pump unit in the area of the pivot pipe while the conveyor line of the concrete distribution mast is decoupled. This is above all the case when the area to be provided with concrete cannot be reached with the concrete distribution mast. In order to make possible this method of operation, a storage space must be provided on the mobile concrete pump, in which the pipes and/or hoses can be transported.
Beginning herewith it is the task of the invention to make provisions in a mobile concrete pump which make it possible to store the pipes and hoses in the area of the loading surface such that they are easily accessible from the outside and nevertheless to keep the loading surface accessible.
The inventive solution is based upon the concept, that a longitudinally extending, box-shaped magazine for receiving of conveyor pipes or hoses is provided, which is pivotable or slideable between a transport position extending over the loading surface and an unloading position in which the loading surface is exposed. According to a first inventive alternative the magazine is pivotable about a rotation axis parallel to the vehicle chassis vertical axis from a transport position covering over the loading surface and an unloading position at least partially exposing the loading surface. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention the magazine is supplementally tiltable about an axis of rotation running crosswise across its longitudinal axis and oriented perpendicularly to the vertical axis of the vehicle chassis, such that it is tiltable from the transport position oriented essentially parallel to the loading surface into an unloading position with its rearward end pivotable downwardly to a limited extent. The transverse axis and the tilt axis thereby preferably form a type of cardanic or gimbal linkage. By lowering the backend of the magazine the user has the possibility of varying the unloading height. This produces a substantial reduction in workload and saves time during unloading and loading.
Further it is known with respect to mobile concrete pumps (DE-A 197 36 108), to provide on the two longitudinal sides of the vehicle chassis or the supporting frame respectively one rear end support strut, which is pivotable about a pivot axis parallel to the vehicle chassis vertical axis between (a) a transport position oriented and parallel to the vehicle chassis longitudinal axis and covering over the respective loading surface and (b) a support position exposing at least a part of the loading surface. In this case it is advantageous when the magazine is provided in a free space above this support strut. Thereby at least one of the magazine and one of the rotate and/or tilt forming vehicle chassis fixed linkage point be linked. Alternatively thereto, or supplementally, at least one of the rotation and/or tilt axis forming linkage points of the magazine can be secured to the support strut. The magazine is thereby preferably linked on its bottom side to the linkage point. Advantageously, the magazine is arrestable on the supporting frame or the support strut in its transport position. When the support strut and magazine are pivoted out, the side loading surfaces are accessible, so that the pump unit is easily accessible for example for servicing purposes.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention the linkage point, includes a knee or cantilever which is rotatable about a rotation axis parallel to the vehicle chassis vertical axis, is provided on the transport frame or on the support strut, while the magazine is provided pivotable about the tilt axis on the knee. It is thereby of advantage when the tilt axis is provided approximately centrally in the longitudinal run of the magazine and on the bottom side thereof, whereby the center of gravity of the magazine when in the transport position and, on the other hand, when in the extraction position, is positioned on opposite sides of the vertical projection of the tilt axis. Therewith it is achieved that the magazine both in the horizontal transport position as well also in the tilted extracted position is maintained stably due to its own weight. In addition the rotation and/or tilt movement of the magazine can be limited by a stop element or an abutment.
In accordance with a further preferred embodiment of the invention, drive means for pivoting the magazine between the transport position and the rotated out and tilted end position is provided between the vehicle chassis and magazine, preferably formed as a linkage drive spaced apart from the rotation and/or tilt axis. The drive means is preferably operated by motor or with hydraulic means.
In accordance with yet a further alternative embodiment of the invention the longitudinally extending box shaped magazine is moveable, tiltable or unfoldable between a transport position extending over the loading surface and an unloading position parallel thereto and provided beside and/or below the loading surface. Thereby the magazine can, in the transport position, lay upon the loading surface and in certain cases be arrested on the vehicle chassis.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of this inventive alternative, the magazine is linked to the vehicle chassis by means of a four linkage coupling drive, of which the linkage axis is oriented parallel to the vehicle longitudinal axis. The coupling drive thereby preferably exhibits two swing or oscillating shafts, linked with their one end respectively spaced apart from each other on linkage points on the vehicle chassis, and linked with their respective other ends to linkage points spaced apart from each other on the magazine bottom bottom. The swing arms, the coupling element formed by the magazine floor and the framework elements formed by the linkage points on the vehicle chassis are preferably so positioned and dimensioned, that the magazine floor both in the transport position as well also in the extended or unfolded position is oriented parallel to the loading surface and in the intermediate positions swings away over the free side edge of the loading surface without contact. In a preferred manner the first, longer swing arm is linked to the outer edge corner and the second, shorter swing arm is linked to the inner edge corner of the magazine bottom whereby the chassis side linkage point of the first swing arm is provided below the chassis side linkage point of the second swing arm and wherein preferably the linkage point of the first swing arm on the vehicle chassis is displaced inwardly sideways with respect to the linkage point of the second swing arm. Therewith it is possible, that at least one of the swing arms, preferably the shorter, second swing arm, prior to reaching the transport position runs through a higher lying dead center point than the magazine side linkage point, so that the magazine in the transport position lies stably on the loading surface. In order to simplify the operation of the magazine or to automate the movement thereof, it is proposed in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, that between a chassis fixed linkage point and a linkage point of one of the moveable coupling elements a gas-pressure spring or a hydraulic cylinder is so linked, that the dive-in depth of the plunger of the gas pressure spring or, as the case may be, the piston rod of the hydraulic cylinder, increases or decreases continuously in the associated cylinder along the pivot path between the transport position and the unfolded position to the side. Advantageously, the gas pressure spring or the hydraulic cylinder is linked at a linkage point of the shorter, second swing arm, which is positioned above the chassis-fixed linkage point.
For stabilization of the pivot process it is advantages when the drive pair is comprised of two same-axis four-linkage coupling drives in the vehicle chassis longitudinal direction and provided spaced apart from each other. Thereby each of the four-linkage coupling drives can be provided with a gas pressure spring or a hydraulic cylinder with same-axis linkage points. Basically it is however also possible, that the two four-linkage coupling drives are provided with only one gas pressure spring or one hydraulic cylinder.
In place of a hydraulic cylinder, the four-linkage coupling drive can also be driven by motor means, for example, using a hydraulic motor.
In order to achieve a manageable stowing of the hoses or pipes in the magazine and to facilitate the loading of the magazine, it is proposed in accordance with an advantageous embodiment of the invention, that the magazine is subdivided into multiple chambers oriented in honeycomb fashion parallel to each other in the longitudinal direction, separated from each other by intermediate walls. At least one part of the chambers can be formed by tubes, preferably of plastic.


A method includes identifying a named entity, retrieving images associated with the named entity, and using a face detection algorithm to perform face detection on the retrieved images to detect faces in the retrieved images. At least one representative face image from the retrieved images is identified, and the representative face image is used to identify one or more additional images representing the at least one named entity.

The names of persons, such as famous persons, are popular queries in searching large collections of content such as the World Wide Web ("web"). In conventional search systems search results responsive to a query for a person can include images of the person identified in the query. For search results to identify and return appropriate content responsive to a query, the content must be associated with the search query. For instance, to identify images associated with a search query that includes a person's name requires that the images be keyed to the person, such as via metadata, tags, or the like to include the person's name. Unfortunately, images in large collections such as available through the web, including pictures and screens shots from video content, typically are not keyed and may not include information associated with a pictured person's name. Accordingly, conventional search systems may not be able to identifying these un-keyed images responsive to a search query that includes an individual's name.

Identifying images using face recognition


A gunning transceiver logic input circuit is provided a construction, in which a high potential power source for a differential input circuit and a high potential power source for an internal CMOS circuit are mutually separated and independent of each other, upon performing an IDDQ test as a static current measuring test for an LSI including the differential input circuit flowing a steady-state current and an internal CMOS circuit not flowing the steady-state current. Upon IDDQ test, IDDQ test becomes possible to perform power supply from the power source independent from the power source of other CMOS circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a semiconductor integrated circuit device and a testing method therefor. More particularly, the invention relates to a semiconductor integrated circuit device loaded a differential circuit and a CMOS (Complementary Metal-Oxide Semiconductor) circuit and an IDDQ (Quiescent IDD) testing circuit therefor.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a CMOS LSI as a primary semiconductor integrated circuit, demands for higher density and higher speed have been growing. Particularly, a system frequency required for LSI has currently reached in an order of several hundreds MHz. An important task for satisfying such demand is how to improve operation frequency of an LSI output.
As one method for achieving the task, high speed circuits, such as GTL (Gunning Transceiver Logic) circuit, have been proposed. As to the GTL circuit, reference is made to xe2x80x9cA CMOS Low-Voltage-Swing Transmission-Line Transceiverxe2x80x9d in xe2x80x9cISSCC 92/SESSION 3/HIGH PERFORMANCE CIRCUITS/PAPER WP 3.7 (pp. 58 to 59) reported in IEEE INTERNATIONAL SOLID-STATE CIRCUIT CONFERENCE, 1992 and xe2x80x9cSolid State Products Engineering Councilxe2x80x9d, JEDEC, 1991 and so forth. Most of these circuits achieve high frequency output by making output amplitude smaller. Accordingly, a counterpart LSI input interfacing the LSI output has to be an input circuit corresponding to small amplitude.
FIG. 3 is an illustration showing a construction of an LSI loaded a GTL output circuit a. On an LSI 20, a GTL input circuit b is loaded. On the other hand, in a connection wire 30 connecting a GTL output circuit a and the GTL input circuit b, a terminal resistor R having relatively low resistance value is provided. Through the terminal resistor R, a terminal voltage VT is applied to the connection wire 30.
FIG. 4 is an illustration showing an example of the GTL input circuit b. The GTL input circuit b has a differential circuit construction consisted of P-type MOS transistors T1 and T2. Namely, on a gate of the transistor T1, an input Vin is supplied, and on a gate of the transistor T2, a reference voltage Vref is supplied, respectively. Between a common source of both transistors T1 and T2 and a high potential power source VDD, a P-type MOS transistor T3 is provided. To the gate of the transistor T3, the input Vin is supplied.
As drain loads of both transistors T1 and T2, a current mirror circuit consisted of N-type MOS transistors T4 and T5 is provided. An output Vout is lead from a drain of the transistor T2 via an inverter (generally a CMOS inverter) 1.
In the circuit constructed as set forth above, high frequency operation can be realized easily in comparison with a normal CMOS input circuit. The reason is as follows. A logic signal in the normal CMOS circuit corresponds to VDD (high potential power source voltage of the circuit) at high level, and to a ground level at low level. In contrast to this, the differential input circuit of FIG. 4 is operative at a high level corresponding to a voltage between VDD and Vref, and a low level corresponding to a voltage between Vref and the ground potential to assure stable operation even with a low amplitude input signal.
FIG. 5 shows one example of a relationship of voltage levels at respective parts in the construction of FIG. 3. In the shown example it is assumed that power source voltage VDD=5V, the terminal voltage VT=1.2V and the reference voltage Vref=0.8V. On the other hand, the GTL output circuit is operative between a high level normally being VT and a low level (Vol) normally in a range of 0 less than Vol less than 0.4V. In the circuit construction shown in FIG. 4, a drain output of the transistor T2 applied the reference voltage Vref at the gate thereof is converted into a normal CMOS level by the inverter 1, and thereafter the signal is propagated within the LSI 20.
In the circuit of CMOS structure, while a through current flows upon variation of the signal, little current may flow in steady state. However, when a faulty portion is present in an internal circuit of the LSI and a short circuit is formed between the power source or the ground by such faulty portion, a current flows even in the steady state. Accordingly, testing whether failure is caused in an element of the internal circuit of the LSI or not, can be performed by measuring a consumed current in the steady state. This will be referred to as IDDQ test (static current consumption measuring test: Quiescent IDD test), which is new testing method recently introduced for improving failure detection ratio supplementing a function test employing a test pattern.
On the other hand, a differential circuit shown in FIG. 4 is normally constructed to flow a steady-state current. Therefore, in the steady state (static state) of the LSI, the current may flow in spite of the fact that the LSI operates normally. Therefore, a differential circuit having a circuit construction as shown in FIG. 6 can be considered. Namely, an enabling signal Ven is supplied to the gate of the P-type transistor T3 in the circuit of FIG. 4, and, by providing N-type transistor T6 between the drain of the transistor T2 and the ground, the enabling signal Ven is supplied to the gate of the transistor T6.
In the construction set forth above, by setting the enabling signal Ven at high level, the steady-state current can be cut. However, at this time, the output Vout is fixed at high level irrespective of the value of the input Vin. In a current cut state, IDDQ test can not be implemented by an optimal IDDQ test pattern.
In the conventional CMOS LSI loaded the differential circuit, it has not been possible to perform effective IDDQ test.
Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide a semiconductor integrated circuit device loaded a differential circuit flowing a current in a steady state, which can be implemented an appropriate IDDQ test.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a testing method for a CMOS LSI loaded a differential circuit flowing a current in a steady state, which can implement an appropriate IDDQ test.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, a semiconductor integrated circuit device including a differential circuit flowing a steady-state current and an internal circuit not flowing the steady-state current, comprises:
a high potential power source for the internal circuit; and
a high potential power source for the differential circuit separately and independently.
In the preferred construction, a terminal for the high potential power source of the differential circuit and a terminal for the high potential power source of the internal circuit may be provided independently of each other. The differential circuit may be an input circuit inputting an output signal of other integrated circuit to the internal circuit as an input.
Preferably, the differential circuit is a gunning transceiver logic circuit. Also, the internal circuit may be a circuit of a CMOS structure. More preferably, the circuit of the CMOS structure is a CMOS inverter.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, a testing method for a semiconductor integrated circuit including a differential circuit flowing a steady-state current, a first terminal of the high potential power source of the differential circuit, and a second terminal for the high potential power source of the internal circuit, comprises:
first step supplying power source voltages to the first terminal and the second terminal from mutually independent power sources;
second step of performing a consumed current measuring test in the power source of the second terminal in a condition where power source voltages to the first terminal and the second terminal are supplied from mutually independent power sources.
The measuring test of the second step is preferably a measuring test of a static consumed current. In the preferred embodiment, after completing the measurement test of the second step, the first ands second terminals are connected in common.

Semiconductor integrated circuit device and testing method therefor


A rock auger for drilling postholes through rock without the use of hydraulic pressure and at a slow rate of revolutions per minute can function utilizing only the weight of the auger, shaft, and/or boom providing a floating auger to reduce shock and vibration stress on the auger, boom, and drive unit. It does not require any additional hydraulic pressure for cutting a circular hole through the rock and forming a plug which is to be lodged in the cavity of the rock auger cylinder to be removed from the posthole. A quick connection shaft enables the conventional flighted auger to be quickly substituted for the rock auger to facilitate fast removal of soft dirt from the posthole. A center drill bit can be disposed within the cutting head for extending outwardly pass the cutting edge thereof for starting the hole, breaking up rock, and holding the auger in position guiding it during the drilling operation. A section or portion of the cutting head extending from the cutting edge upward a selected distance to as far as the upper edge of the cutting head may be removed providing access and quick removal of the plug formed therein.

The present invention relates to a flightless rock auger suspended from a derrick and powered by a shaft linked to a power source for removing plugs of rocks from post holes.
Poles for power lines and communication purposes are required to be vertical and arrange din straight lines. The poles may be planted in positions which are relatively inaccessible. A crane may be utilized for providing an outreaching means. Typically a digger derrick consists of a telescopic mobile crane from which is suspended a torque head. A flighted auger is suspended from the torque head and utilized for drilling in soil containing loose rock. The digger derrick is advantageous for extending the auger to the desired location. The auger may be stowed in a fixed position or extended in a telescoping position as needed to reach the desired location for drilling the hole.
Depending on the nature of the digging device, its digging element, or auger, torque head or hydraulic pressure is typically exerted on the digging element via air or oil hydraulic pressure exerted by the crane or cylinder in cooperative engagement therewith for forcing the digging element into the earth.
Although the conventional flighted auger is adequate for drilling through soil, or even soil with loose rock, the drilling operation must be suspended upon hitting a large rock or rock ledge because the flighted auger cannot penetrate the hard rock surface. The flighted auger is then lifted out of the hole and conventional methods of removing the obstruction with a steel shaft, crowbar, or explosive charge are used to break-up the hard rock. The flighted auger is then lowered back into the hole to remove the loose rock.
A considerable amount of time is lost during the rock break-up and removal procedure. Moreover, an effort is continually being made to minimize work with explosives due to the liability of injury to workers and/or damage to residents or businesses in the area which may be in the area of the blasting zone and susceptible to rock or vibration damage.
The present invention achieves the above objects by providing a flightless rock auger for drilling postholes through rock and hardpan.
The flightless rock auger is used for drilling postholes through rock without the use of hydraulic pressure and at slow revolution per minute. The rock auger is used in combination with a conventional flighted auger used for drilling postholes in dirt and clay. During a posthole drilling operation, the rock auger is substituted for a conventional flighted auger as needed for drilling through and removing rock or other hard material such as concrete from the posthole. The rock auger is designed for use at very low revolutions per minute and can function utilizing only the weight of the auger and shaft and does not require any additional hydraulic pressure for cutting a circular hole through the rock and forming a plug which is to be lodged in the cavity of the rock auger cylinder to be removed from the posthole. The quick connection shaft enables the conventional flighted auger to be quickly substituted for the rock auger to facilitate fast removal of soft dirt from the posthole. Moreover, one or more slots can be formed in the coupling connecting the auger shaft to the drive shaft of the power unit in providing a limited amount of play or movement enabling the rock auger to float if desired and reduce shock and vibration to the drive unit. A center drill bit can be disposed within the cutting head for extending outwardly pass the cutting edge thereof for starting the hole, breaking up rock, and holding the auger in position during the drilling operation. A portion of the cutting head extending from the cutting edge upward a selected distance to as far as the upper edge of the cutting head may be removed providing access and quick removal of the plug formed therein.
The present invention provides a flightless rock auger having a cylindrical hollow cutting head and a plurality of teeth extending from the lower periphery thereof. A support member extends across a portion of the cylindrical hollow cutting head providing a means for cooperative engagement with a shaft extending outwardly therefrom. A quick disconnect coupling is disposed upon the distal end of the shaft.
A preferred embodiment of the flightless rock auger system for use with a drilling rig includes a flightless rock auger having a cylindrical hollow cutting head with a plurality of cutting teeth extending from the bottom edge of the cutting head. A support member extends across a portion of the cylindrical hollow cutting head providing a means for cooperative engagement with a vertical drive shaft extending outwardly therefrom. A quick disconnect coupling is disposed upon the distal end of the shaft. A means for rotating the drive shaft such as a mechanical or fluid drive may also power the hydraulic mechanism for lifting and lowering the drive shaft which utilizes its own weight for exertion of downward pressure onto the hard substrate. Of course, it is contemplated that the weight of the boom or hydraulic pressure may be provided if available to increase the rate of drilling without damaging the rock auger.
A method of removing hard substrate from a posthole, using a flightless rock auger with a drilling rig simply requires the attaching a flightless rock auger having a cylindrical hollow cutting head and a plurality of cutting teeth extending from the bottom edge of the cutting head. A support member extends across a portion of the cylindrical hollow cutting head providing a means for cooperative engagement with a vertical drive shaft extending outwardly therefrom. A quick disconnect coupling is disposed upon the distal end of the shaft to means for rotating the drive shaft. The flightless rock auger is lowered into a posthole containing a hard substrate and resting the flightless rock auger onto the hard substrate. The auger is rotated at a very low rpm typically less than 20 revolutions per minute (rpm) and preferably less than 10 rpm, usually from about 3 rpm to about 10 rpm forming a plug of hard substrate inside of the cylindrical body of the flightless rock auger. Lifting the flightless rock auger and the plug from the posthole is simple and the plug of the hard substrate is removed from the flightless rock auger head. The flighted auger is then substituted for removing soil from the posthole.
The flightless rock auger comprises a cylindrical head defining a plurality of teeth extending downwardly from the periphery of the bottom edge at a selected forward angle. The top of the head is connected to a shaft having a quick disconnect adapter on the opposing distal end.
The rock auger is utilized in combination with a conventional flighted auger used for drilling postholes in dirt and clay. During a posthole drilling operation, the rock auger is substituted for the flighted auger when needed to drill through and remove rock or other hard material such as concrete from the posthole. The rock auger is designed for use at very low revolutions per minute and utilizes only the weight of the auger and shaft and does not require any additional hydraulic pressure for cutting a circular hole through the rock and forming a plug which is be lodged in the cavity of the rock auger cylinder to be removed from the posthole. The quick connection shaft enables the conventional flighted auger to be quickly substituted for the flightless rock auger to facilitate fast removal of soft dirt from the posthole. The rock auger provides a means for utility companies to utilize a means for drilling postholes for electric poles, telephone poles, pilings, and the like without the use of explosives; thereby providing a safer means of excavation.
When the drilling operation encounters rock, rather than blasting through the rock with explosives, or calling a truck utilize a pressurized auger with flights, the non-pressurized flightless rock auger can be fitted onto the torque head of a conventional drilling shaft and used to drill through the rock. A plug may be formed in the head by the drilling operation; however, the plug is removed by using had tools which fit into openings formed in the top end of the drilling head.
A preferred embodiment of the present invention defines a flightless rock auger for removing plugs of hard material from post holes. The rock auger includes a cylindrical hollow cutting head having a hollow cylindrical body defining side walls connecting a top end defining an upper peripheral edge and a lower open end defining a lower peripheral cutting edge including a plurality of teeth extending from the lower peripheral edge. The top end of the hollow cylindrical body includes at least one support member extending across at least a portion of the top end joining the side walls. A shaft having a diameter less than the cutting head includes a proximal end connecting to the at least one support member and having an opposing distal end extending therefrom. A quick disconnect coupling disposed upon the opposing distal end of the shaft includes means for a floating attachment to a drive shaft of a power unit providing limited vertical movement therebetween.
Moreover, the power drive shaft of the auger drive unit can also be connected to the shaft of the auger by a coupling which limits or even eliminates any xe2x80x9cplayxe2x80x9d and provide a tight cooperative engagement therebetween. The auger and cutting head will still xe2x80x9cfloatxe2x80x9d in that only the weight of the auger will be necessary to cut through the rock substrate. If desired the cutting may be faster by also letting the power drive boom weight rest on the auger thereby floating on the rock substrate during the drilling process. Of course, applying downward pressure to the auger by use of the boom is an option; however, unnecessary to obtain good performance.
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a flightless auger device for digging through hard rock.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an flightless auger which is capable of drilling through rock and forming a plug removable from the flightless auger.
It is another object of the present invention to provide a flightless auger utilizing an attachment means which is interchangeable with the attachment means typically used with conventional flighted augers for drilling operations.
It is therefore another object of the present invention to design a flightless auger for use at very low revolutions per minute (rpm) to maximize safely and prevent damage to the equipment.
It is an object of the present invention to provide an adapter extending from a shaft for use with a torque head of a drilling derrick.
Another object is to provide a flightless auger having teeth extending outward at a forward angle.
It is another object to provide a flightless auger having a drill head portion utilizing an end diameter of greater diameter than the plug receiving inner diameter.
It is yet another object of the present invention to utilize a plurality of diagonal ribs to minimize suction between the exterior of the drilling head and the walls of the drilled hole.
It is yet another object of the present invention to provide an access port in the top end of the drilling head for removal of the rock plug formed therein.
The rock auger provides an alternative method for utility companies to drill postholes for electric poles, telephone poles, pilings, and the like without the use of explosives thereby providing for safer excavation.


A method for automated data access management can include creating a project that manages data access to data sources by a plurality of users, wherein each user has user attributes indicating data access policies for the data sources. The method can also include performing project equalization for the project, wherein the project equalization determines a set of user attributes shared by the users. Additionally, the method can include modifying the user attributes of each user for the project, wherein the user attributes of each user are modified to conform to the set of user attributes determined by the project equalization, and detecting a query to retrieve data from the data source. The method can include modifying the query to produce a modified query by applying the modified user attributes associated with the project to the query and retrieving the data from the data source based on the modified query.

Data can be stored in any number of file systems, databases, remote storage devices, and the like. In some examples, data access policies can determine which users can access the data and the actions that the users can perform with the data. In some embodiments, projects can be associated with any number of sources of data, and any number of users. In previous techniques, collaboration between different users of a project can be difficult when the users have different data access policies. Accordingly, a data query executed within a project by different users can return different results. This can cause users to filter the results before sharing the results with other users of the project.
Additionally, using previous techniques, systems cannot implement some data access policies on data, such as, for example, row level security and column masking. In some examples, present techniques also cannot propagate data access policies to new data derived from the original data. The new derived data, post-transformation, may not contain the same data as the original data, but may still require some similarities in data access policy restrictions. Accordingly, present techniques implement manual techniques that require subjective analysis by humans to apply new policies to derived data sources.
Accordingly, techniques herein include new and improved systems and methods for enabling users to access a project with a shared data access policy. Furthermore, techniques herein include new and improved systems, methods and techniques for automatically propagating data access policies for new data created within a project.


A tobacco conveyor belt having a regular nonwoven mesh structure. The belt may incorporate an ultra-violet sensative material.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to tobacco conveyor belts for use in the manufacture of cigarettes and preferably, but not exclusively to so-called suction tapes.
2. Description of Related Art
During the manufacture of cigarettes a measured quantity of tobacco is taken up from a first tobacco conveyor belt by a second tobacco conveyor belt, i.e. the so-called suction tape, which generally has a width in the range from 0.5 to 1.5 cm. A diagrammatic illustration of a machine for making cigarettes is shown in FIG. 1. Each disposed line of tobacco is urged from the first tobacco conveyor belt 1 against the underside of a suction tape 2. The suction tape 2 runs within a groove in a suction box 3, the base of the groove being defined by a recessed ladder-like structure defined by two or more longitudinal rods linked together at spaced intervals by bars. The suction box 3 ensures that the suction tape 2 is urged upwardly against the recess ladder-like structure so that the tobacco is urged against the underside of the suction tape 2. The tobacco rod thus formed is removed from the suction tape 2 by means of inclined scraper blades 5, whereupon it falls onto enveloping cigarette paper supplied on a further conveyor belt, i.e. the so-called garniture belt 4.
Conventional suction tapes are woven endless, or alternatively are flat woven and then joined by ultrasonic means. Typically a single continuous weft (cross machine direction) yarn is provided thus presenting a large number of selvedges at the fabric edges. The selvedges are highly susceptible to abrasion accelerating fabric failure. The bunched nature of the warp (machine direction) yarns results in a somewhat non-uniform belt permeability and therefore a less even distribution of tobacco. Furthermore the narrowness of the belt requires complicated and expensive weaving machinery.


A system interrogates a region with ultrasound and then generates a vector field of values representing the velocity sensed at a plurality of image element positions. Spatial changes in the velocity vector field are then determined and displayed to the user, preferably in real time. The spatial changes include divergence and/or the rotation (also known as "curl") of the velocity vector field. In order to enable display of the vector spatial change information, either magnitude values, projected values, or color-coded vector information may be computed and displayed. In order to reduce the effect of noise on differentiation operations, the system preferably smooths the velocity vector field before, after or at the same time as it determines divergence or rotation.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention involves a system and a method for generating and displaying velocity field information, especially in the context of diagnostic ultrasonic imaging.
2. Description of the Related Art
For centuries, if not millennia, physicians have pinched, prodded, pulled, and poked their often cringing patients in order to better diagnose internal illnesses. In other words, physicians have long used palpation to find abnormalities in tissue. The reason for this is that the elasticity of tissue, that is, the way in which it expands or contracts in response to an externally or internally applied pressure, gives useful diagnostic information about the tissue. For example, when blood is pumped into tissue by the heart, the tissue contracts and expands in time with the cardiac cycle. In general, the more an area then expands, the more blood it may be receiving, or the more elastic it may be.
A plethysmograph is a device used by physicians to measure the expansion and contraction of tissue caused by blood flowing through the tissue. It is used by placing a fluid-filled cuff around a limb and then measuring the displacement or pressure change of the fluid. A significant drawback of this device, however, is that it gives information only about the general properties of a limb but no specific information about individual structures (for example, an artery or a muscular lesion) within the limb, or the relationship between an internal structure and surrounding structures. Moreover, devices such as the plethysmograph are unsuitable for use in examining the elasticity of organs such as the heart--squeezing a patient's chest hard enough to feel changes in his heart tissue or liver would probably render the whole diagnostic procedure moot.
It has been proposed that one could use ultrasonic imaging techniques in order to assess the elastic properties of tissue. For example, the following U.S. patents describe a technique for ultrasonic plethysmography:
U.S. Pat. No. 5,088,498 (Beach et al., 2 Feb. 1993); and
U.S. Pat. No. 5,183,046 (Beach et al., 18 Feb. 1992).
Furthermore, the article "A review of imaging techniques for assessing the elastic properties of tissue," Parker, Gao, Lerner, and Levinson, Dept. of Electrical Engineering, Univ. of Rochester, Rochester, N.Y. 14627, discusses various techniques for assessing tissue elasticity. These known methods are either difficult to implement in a normal clinical setting, do not allow for imaging in real time, or fail on both counts.
What is needed is a way to assess the elastic properties of tissue (including other properties relating to the local expansion and contraction of the tissue) with an easy-to-use system that is able to provided the information in real time.

Ultrasonic imaging system and method for generating and displaying velocity field information


A translation system, applicable in trains, elevators, aircraft launchers, rail guns, conveyors, door openers, machine tools and servo drives, includes a first linear switch reluctance machine (“LSRM”) having a stator and a translator each configured, positioned and proportioned for electromagentic engagement with the other. The system further includes an assembly for selectable application of at least one phase of a multiphasic DC excitation to the LSRM to produce a longitudinal or propulsive force between the stator and translator. The system further includes an assembly for the substantially simultaneous application of at least two phases of the DC excitation to the LSRM to produce a continual normal force between the stator and translator. A second LSRM may be provided, positioned in quadrature to the first LSRM, and in electromagetic engagement with it. A multi-phasic excitation of a stator and translator of the second LSRM produces both a guidance force for the first LSRM using error values generated by it and an additional propulsive force. Independent control of the phasic excitations for each of said propulsive, lift, and guidance forces may be provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the control of switched reluctance machines and, particularly, those machines which are used as a prime mover in a translation system including transport systems.
2. Description of Related Art
The present invention relates generally to transportation systems utilizing electromagnetic propulsion, and more particularly to a transportation system utilizing linear switched reluctance propulsion.
As world population rises and urban areas become increasingly congested, the need for fast, reliable, energy-efficient and environmentally-friendly mass transportation becomes ever more urgent.
Transportation using electromagnetic propulsion is known. For example, magnetic levitation (mag-lev) systems are used in trains and similar forms of transportation. Benefits offered by mag-lev include a smooth, quiet ride at high speeds, with little mechanical wear on supporting infrastructure, since the systems are contactless and therefore frictionless. Mag-lev also tends to be energy-efficient and having a smaller environmental impact than conventional rail systems, due in part to the fact that pollutants are not generated.
However, drawbacks exist with known mag-lev systems. For example, separate electromagnetic arrangements are used for lift and propulsion. That is, known mag-lev systems typically employ a combination of superconducting magnets, permanent magnets or more conventional electromagnets for lift, along with linear induction or synchronous motors for propulsion. This tends to compound construction and manufacturing problems, create additional problems of reliability in regard to cooling requirements for the superconducting magnets, temperature sensitivity and demagnetization possibilities for the permanent magnets under fault conditions, and total reliance on electromagnets leading to heavy sets of electromagnets and additional costs.
Further, induction or synchronous motors used for propulsion typically utilize complex distributed windings that are spread over the guideways or tracks for mag-lev vehicles. Such distributed windings tend to have high manufacturing costs and installation requirements and costs. Moreover, since components faults in one part of the windings are propagated along extended sections of the guideways or tracks by mutual coupling with other windings, such machines are not fault-tolerant and hence unreliable for continuous operation under all conditions including that of the fault condition. Since the windings are along the track or guideway it can be difficult to locate and repair or replace failing winding components without disrupting the flow of traffic on the guideway. In order to replace the failed component, a whole section of the phase belt for all phases must be dug out and replaced. Such a whole section may be as long as a few feet to a hundred feet in a mag-lev transportation system.
In view of the foregoing considerations, improvement in electromagnetic propulsion technologies and transportation systems is called for.
This invention is, more particularly, an improvement with respect to the control system of the invention set forth in PCT Application No. PCT/US01/15208 and having International Publication No. WO 01/87663 82, published 22 Nov. 2002, of which I am a co-inventor.
The instant invention may also be viewed with respect to the broader technology of linear switched reluctance machines ("LSRM") as employed in transportation and other translational means. Such art is reflected in U.S. Pat. No. 3,934,183 (1976) to Saufferer, entitled Linear Reluctance Motor for Rail Propulsion; U.S. Pat. No. 5,343,811 (1994) to Schuster entitled Power System for Low Friction Transportation of loads; U.S. Pat. No. 5,479,145 (1995) to Kalsi, entitled Superconducting Electromagnetic for Levitation and Propulsion of a Mag Lev Vehicle; U.S. Pat. No. 6,044,770 (2000) to Davey et al, entitled Integrated High Speed Maglev System; U.S. Pat. No. 6,439,513 (2002) to Pascoe, entitled Passive Detection System for Levitated Vehicle or Levitated Vehicle System; U.S. Pat. No. 5,722,326 (1998) to Post, entitled Magnetic Levitation System for Moving Objects; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,250,230 (2001) to Post, entitled Apparatus and Method for Reducing Inductive Coupling Between Levitation and Drive Coils within a Magnetic Propulsion System. Related foreign art includes German Patent No. 22-57-773-A (1974) to Weh. As such, mag-lev transportation and translation systems, including the above-referenced type which suggests the use of superconducting electromagnets have, in view of the considerations above set forth, proven to be less than satisfactory in terms of the technical and economic realities thereof.
A fundamental problem associated with mag-lev systems has been that of optimizing the switching and control systems associated therewith. U.S. Pat. No. 5,936,373 (1999) to Li et al, entitled Wide Pole Switched Reluctance Machine and Method of its Control; and U.S. Pat. No. 6,291,949 B1 (2001) to Greene, entitled Control of Switched Reluctance Machine, both suggest the use of polyphase switched control, however relative to a rotary, not linear, reluctance systems and, as such, are not applicable to translation systems that are the focus of the present invention.

System to generate and control levitation, propulsion and guidance of linear switched reluctance machines

Virginia Tech Intellectual Properties, Inc.