Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to systems and methods for automatically provisioning at least one new IoT device to at least one IoT gateway via a wireless network, comprising: dynamically receiving at least one new device model of at least one new IoT device at an onboarding server. Upon successfully connecting with the at least one IoT gateway, the onboarding server dynamically pushes the at least one new device model to the IoT gateway. Subsequently, when a new first IoT device tries to connect with the at least one IoT gateway, the IoT gateway processes the received registration request to identify a device model associated with the first IoT device, and thereafter provisions a connection with the first IoT device.

The following description of related art is intended to provide background information pertaining to the field of the disclosure. This section may include certain aspects of the art that may be related to various features of the present disclosure. However, it should be appreciated that this section be used only to enhance the understanding of the reader with respect to the present disclosure, and not as admissions of prior art.
With the "Internet of things" (referred hereafter as "IoT") concept getting prevalent these days, devices used in day-to-day activities such as coffee makers, electric switches, washing machines, headphones, lamps etc. are also being increasingly looked upon as potential IoT devices. Advancements in licensed networks (for e.g. GMS, EDGE, HSPA, LTE) and unlicensed networks (Wi-Fi, UMA, DECT, Bluetooth, Zigbee, RFID) of various wireless technologies enables wireless network operators to provide communication services to multiple user devices by sharing network resources available in both the licensed network and in the unlicensed network. And therefore, device onboarding is one of the major challenges in hub-based IoT platform deployments.
Currently available solutions rely on static and closed sensors models definition, and accordingly operate on predefined device models defined by the IoT cloud and aligned with the sensors and gateways implementations. Typically, the IoT platform provides lists of all sensors supported by the platform and then the user is asked to choose from the list of published sensors. One such use case is smart home deployment where the user buys a fixed set of sensors and home gateway wherein the system expects that sensors supporting the same connectivity standards will seamlessly work. Also, if new sensors are to be added to the platform, both the gateways and mobile apps need an upgrade which is a major overhead as adding new sensors always requires firmware upgrade on the gateway devices. There is also a frequent down-time of IoT gateways which breaks the user experience.
Other existing approach that is commonly available today is based on setting up or onboarding a first Internet of Things (IoT) device that has limited or no interfacing capability itself to connect to a network through a second IoT device in communication with the network, by sending a request to a second device in communication with the network and receiving permission to initiate communication with the network. However, this approach requires the support of additional communication interface on IoT devices so that the IoT device seeking onboarding to the server communicates with another IoT device which is already on board on the Wi-Fi network.
Another alternative approach relies on using a device model in the IoT gateway application that includes one or more device types and corresponding device-specific message type definitions corresponding to the one or more device types are identified, select one or more devices that are registered to communicate structured data associated with the registered one or more devices via the Internet based on the device-specific message type definitions. Yet another alternative approach relies on onboarding of Wi-Fi enabled internet of thing (IoT) devices to a wireless network, served by one or more wireless access points, by pushing configuration details via access point. The configuration settings only deal with Wi-Fi devices and do not deal with ZigBee and other sensor interfaces. However, both these approach do not provide a technique to provision generic device at the Gateway in the cloud without disruption and also do not provide seamless software update on the Gateways to support new sensor types with upgrade on server platform with zero downtime of Gateways with uninterrupted device usage and control.
Therefore, in view of the above shortcomings in the existing approaches, there is a need in the art to provide a solution that ensures easy and smooth onboarding of the IoT devices and techniques to provision generic devices at the gateway via the cloud without disruption and provide seamless software update on the gateways to support new sensor types with upgrade on server platform with zero downtime of gateways and with uninterrupted device usage and control.

System and method of internet of things (IoT)


A supporting frame for supporting a portable computer includes two supporting parts, a front linking rod, a rear linking rod, and a rotating element. The supporting parts are individually installed at two ends of the front linking rod and the rear linking rod and are connected with the front linking rod and the rear linking rod. The rotating element is rotatably wedged and fastened to the rear linking rod. The user can place a portable computer on the supporting surface formed by the supporting parts. It is convenient for the user to type. Alternatively, the user can put the portable computer in an upright position. The user can adjust the angle of the rotating element to change the angle of the portable computer to meet the user's requirements.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a supporting frame structure. In particular, this invention relates to a supporting frame structure that is used to support a portable computer.
2. Description of the Related Art
As portable computers have become popular, many manufacturers have developed peripheral devices for them. A supporting frame that supports the portable computer on a desk is the most popular of these peripheral devices.
There are two kinds of supporting frames for a portable computer of the prior art—a built-in type and an external type. The built-in supporting frame is usually installed between the display screen and the keyboard of the portable computer. This built-in supporting frame merely provides horizontal and vertical operating statuses for the display screen. An external supporting frame, such as the supporting frames disclosed in T.W. M246678, M249084, and M262639, usually has a complicated structure. In order to be fastened steadily to a portable computer, the supporting frame is locked with the portable computer. Although the supporting frame is fastened steadily to the portable computer, it still causes some problems for the user.


An orientation mandrel rotatable in an orientation body for providing rotational orientation and actuated by a hydraulic piston controlling the position of a helix. A thruster may be connected to the orientation mandrel and is adapted to hydraulically engage the well bore by plurality of elongate gripping bars. An annular thruster piston is hydraulically and longitudinally movable in the thruster body for extending the thruster mandrel outwardly from the thruster body. However, the orientating tool and thruster may be used separately.

The present invention is directed to a hydraulically actuated orientating tool and a hydraulically actuated load thruster for use in a well.
Conventional wells are normally drilled with rotary rigs that turn drill pipe with a drill bit attached to the bottom. In drilling directional wells a bottom hole assembly consisting of a bent sub, a steering motor, and a bit is connected to the bottom of the drill string. However, it is desirable to drill with coiled tubing as coiled tubing is merely unreeled from a coiled tubing reel into a well bore and does not require the time and expense of using an oil and gas rig. However, coiled tubing lacks rigidity both rotationally and longitudinally.
In particular, the present invention is directed to an orientation tool for use among other things, in a coiled tubing for orientating a steering tool to the proper direction and also the provision of a thruster to enable a drill bit to be pressed against and more readily penetrate a well bore. Thus, the combination of the orienting tool and a load thruster is provided which has particular utility in a coiled tubing to orient and direct a bottom hole assembly for drilling directional or non-vertical wells by the use of coiled tubing.


System and method for filtering a data packet using a combined filter are disclosed. In one aspect, the method includes receiving a data packet and N filters each comprising a mask and value. The method includes receiving a data packet and N (wherein N is an integer and N>1) filters, each filter comprising a bit mask and corresponding bit values. The method further includes generating a common filter mask and the corresponding bit values by taking the overlapping mask bits among portions of the N filters corresponding to the common filter, the common filter being of a length smaller than each filter. The method further includes applying the common filter mask to the data packet to determine whether there is a match between the filtered data packet and each of the N filters.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a data filtering scheme with multiple filters.
2. Description of the Related Technology
In a cable television system, a cable headend often sends a large amount of network traffic to a set top box (STB). The set top box needs to examine each data packet and find the data patterns matching the data packet for further processing. Different data patterns are provided by the headend with multiple filters, and these patterns can be changed or adjusted by the headend. This makes it difficult to apply existing data filtering algorithms which use fixed data pattern for filtering, such as the data filtering algorithms used in IP packet filtering or IP firewall protection.
Filters in a cable STB exist in the form of a (n×m) matrix, where n and m is the number of rows and columns, respectively. Let fij represents a filter located in i-th row and j-th column in the matrix. All the conditions of each filter in the i-th row (i.e. fi0, fi1, fim) must be satisfied when evaluating the filters in the row. In other words, the evaluation of filters in the row uses AND operator. However, OR operator is used for the evaluation of filters in j-th columns (i.e. f0j, fij, . . . , fmj)). Traditional data filtering is done "sequentially", that is, full filtering starts with at the 0-th row (i.e. f00, f01, . . . , f0m). If 0-th row is not satisfied, then it moves on to the next row until one finds the correct set of filters in a specific row. Typically, a packet is sequentially compared to each filter until a match, or dropped after comparing to the last filter.
The data filtering requires a large amount of processing time and resources. Given that the traditional data filtering scheme is computationally complex, it is desirable to find an improved scheme with reduced computational complexity.

System and method for filtering a data packet using a common filter


The present invention relates to a data playback apparatus which efficiently performs playback or erasure of a program composed of video or audio which is stored in a memory card. A decoding unit for reading data from the memory to decode the read data retrieves an ID which matches a program ID designated by the user from a program file management data file, reads a movie data file in the folder of the designated program and decodes the read data, by referring to the relevant program information.

In recent years, with advances in the compression coding technology for media data such as video and audio, techniques for manufacturing optical disks and magnetic disks and recording/playback techniques, it has become possible to record media data of several hours on an optical disk or magnetic disk, and play back the same. In the case of a DVD (Digital Video Disc, or also called Digital Versatile Disc) which is now rapidly coming into wide use, a movie of about two hours can be recorded on an optical disk, by using MPEG2 or the like as the compression coding method, and played back. In addition, it is expected that a DVD recorder having functions which are equivalent to those of a present VCR (Video Cassette Recorder) and are realized by an optical disk will be shortly made available. Hereinafter, a data structure in the DVD recorder as a prior art of the data playback apparatus and the operation of the recorder will be described.
FIGS. 11(a)–11(c) are schematic diagrams for explaining a data structure in the DVD recorder (see "DVD Specifications for Rewritable/Re-recordable Discs Part3 VIDEO RECORDING Version 1.0, September 1999").
FIG. 11(a) shows an entire data structure in a DVD, which is composed of a DVD_RTAV folder 1101, a management data file 1102, a movie data file 1103, a still-picture data file 1104, and an audio data file 1105. The DVD_RTAV is a folder which contains the files 1102–1105. The management data file 1102 includes entire information of the DVD such as the title text and updated date, and information concerning each program included in the DVD. Here, the program is one playback unit, i.e., a broadcast program. For example, news, a baseball relay broadcast, a movie and the like are programs, respectively. The management data file 1102 includes the title, creation date, playback duration, start address of the movie data file and the like, as information concerning each of the programs. The movie data file 1103 is a file which is obtained by concatenating plural programs. One example of the movie data file 1103 is shown in FIG. 11(b). In this example, the movie data file 1103 is composed of three programs, i.e., a first program 11031, a second program 11032 and a third program 11033. In the movie data file 1103, as shown in FIG. 11(c), compressively coded data of audio and video are multiplexed in units referred to as "PACK". The size of a pack in the DVD recorder is fixed at 2048 bytes. In the still-picture data file 1104, plural pieces of compressively coded still-picture data are multiplexed in units of pack. This is used as data for a slide show in which display images are switched at prescribed periods. In the audio data file 1105, compressively coded audio data are similarly multiplexed in units of pack. This is for use on the postrecording to movie data.
FIG. 12 is a diagram for explaining an example of program playback when the second program 11032 shown in FIG. 11(b) is to be played. Address information for indicating from which byte in the movie data file 1103 the playback is to be started is recorded in the management data file 1102, for each program. Therefore, when the second program 11032 is to be played, start address information 1201 of the second program is initially extracted from the management data file 1102 and, in accordance with this start address information, the reading position of the movie data file 1103 is moved to a position indicated by the start address information 1201. Then, the data are read out, whereby the playback can be started from the second program.
In order to perform high-seed searching playback of a program or program searching playback, information of reading positions in the movie data file at intervals of about one second is included in the management data.
Next, the program erasure in the DVD recorder is described with reference to FIG. 13. In FIG. 13, numeral 1103 denotes a movie data file before program erasure, which is composed of three programs in this case. Assuming now that the second program 11032 is to be erased, the third program 11033 is concatenated immediately after the first program 11031, as shown by reference numeral 1303. Simultaneously, the information concerning the second program 11032 is also erased from the management data file.
In the above descriptions, the outlines of the data structure in the DVD recorder and the operation for playing or erasing a program are given.
As described above, in the DVD recorder as the prior art data playback apparatus, the media data such as video and audio are recorded as a movie data file in which plural programs are concatenated. The object to concatenate plural programs as one file is to make the best use of the capacity of a disc. However, in this data structure, the following problems occur.
Initially, it is required to extract start addresses of all programs to decide reading positions of the movie data file in the management data file, and as a result, the structure of the data playback apparatus is complicated. Further, when the number of programs is increased, there is a risk that the size of the management data becomes enormous due to the start address information. In portable information terminals using MPEG4 as the latest media data compression coding technology, the coding bit rate of media data is assumed to be approximately 64˜384 Kb/sec., which is some-tenths as large as the coding bit rate of a DVD using MPEG2, or smaller. Further, in the portable information terminals, it is assumed that media data is obtained by radio communication. It is expected that the playback time of one program becomes relatively short, for example, approximately some dozen seconds to some minutes, to suppress the communication charges. Therefore, there is a possibility that the number of programs recorded on one disc is substantially increased.
In addition, upon the erasure of a program, a process of concatenating unerased programs to recreate a movie data file is required. Since the portable information terminal uses a secondary battery such as a lithium ion, the above-mentioned program concatenation/recreation processing reduces the utilization time at one charge, thereby decreasing the user's operability.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A drive force transmission apparatus includes a housing connected to one of two shafts that are rotatable relative to each other, a rotary shaft rotatably supported by the housing and connected to the other shaft, and a multiple disc clutch composed of a plurality of outer plates engaged with the housing in the rotational direction and a plurality of inner plates engaged with the rotary shaft in the rotational direction. The multiple disc clutch transmits rotational torque between the housing and the rotary shaft through frictional engagement between the outer plates and the inner plates. The apparatus also includes a pressure generation mechanism for generating a pressure corresponding to a rotational-speed difference between the housing and the rotary shaft and for applying the generated force to the multiple disc clutch via a piston. The pressure generating means is composed of a plurality of rotary blades accommodated within a cylindrical space formed between the piston and the housing and rotating together with the rotary shaft, a viscous fluid charged into a plurality of pressure chambers defined by the housing, the piston, and the rotary blades, and a free blade accommodated within at least one pressure chamber. The free blade is freely movable in the circumferential direction between the rotary blades.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a drive force transmission apparatus disposed between two shafts that are rotatable relative to each other and adapted to transmit rotational torque therebetween.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional drive force transmission apparatus used for four-wheel drive and adapted to transmit torque between front wheels and rear wheels, when an accelerator pedal is depressed and released during a turn on a low-.mu. road, there occurs a phenomenon in which the direction of differential rotation (relative rotation) between the front wheels and the rear wheels reverses.
In order to reduce the size and weight of such a drive force transmission apparatus, there has been proposed a drive force transmission apparatus in which a space filled with a viscous fluid is provided on a side of a piston that presses a multiple disc clutch for torque transmission, and blades are rotatably disposed within the space in order to generate a pressure corresponding to a rotational-speed difference between an input shaft and an output shaft.
In the drive force transmission apparatus, when a rotational-speed difference is produced between the front wheels and the rear wheels, the blades rotate relative to the housing and forcibly move the viscous fluid between two surfaces in close proximity to each other in order to generate a pressure corresponding to the rotational-speed difference by means of the viscous friction effect of the viscous fluid. This pressure acts on the piston so that the multiple disc clutch is brought into a frictional engagement state in order to establish four-wheel drive.
In such a drive force transmission apparatus, since two or three blades are disposed in the circumferential direction such that they project outward in the radial direction, the angle between adjacent blades (inter-blade angel) is large, and therefore the flow range of the viscous fluid is large. Thus, a higher pressure can be generated in response to relative rotation.
However, when the inter-blade angle increases, air contained in the viscous fluid moves within a larger area, with the result that the response speed decreases to some extent when the direction of relative rotation changes.
The response can be improved by a method in which the number of the blades is increased in order to reduce the inter-blade angle, or by a method in which the amount of air mixed into the viscous fluid is reduced to increase the volume ratio between the filled viscous fluid and the space. However, in the former method, the pressure generated in response to relative rotation decreases, and therefore a required torque cannot be transmitted. In the latter method, transmission torque becomes excessively large because of the volume expansion of the viscous fluid stemming from a temperature rise.


A method and system for enabling voice over Internet for computer applications includes registering session initiation protocol (SIP) as a system service and providing SIP service through an application programming interface (API) to permit access to service functions by individual software applications. A SIP link is provided within a software application to permit user invocation of SIP service functions. The link may be passed as a parameter to permit external access to an invoked service function.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to computer networks, and more particularly to Voice over Internet protocol (VoIP) networks using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP), for enabling applications to integrate VoIP.
2. Description of the Related Art
Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) is emerging as the vehicle for enabling VoIP in enterprise and carrier networks. So far, desktop applications and email clients, or web-browsers were not enabled with voice or are decoupled from voice applications.
SIP or Session Initiation Protocol is gaining ground both within enterprise networks and service provider networks as the vehicle for providing Voice Over IF (VoIP) and new multimedia services. Most VoIP applications today are stand-alone applications such as an IF Softphone, which runs on a user laptop allowing a user to place and receive voice calls. In addition, SIP is also in use for supporting Instant Messages between a client machine and a server machine. However, the SIP support is bundled with individual applications such an IM client or an IP softphone, and individual applications must run their own SIP support. This may create problems when multiple SIP protocol stacks are operational, e.g. SIP often uses port 5060 for its operation. If the bundled SIP stack within an application uses this port, it would mean that no other SIP application will be able to run on this port. More importantly, this is wasteful of system resources.
As the adoption of SIP based services grows, there is a need for desktop applications to invoke SIP in a uniform way. A further need exists for a framework for enabling applications with VoIP using SIP (Session Initiation Protocol).

Enabling collaborative applications using Session Initiation Protocol (SIP) based Voice over Internet protocol Networks (VoIP)

International Business Machines Corporation


In a video processing system, a method and system for generating a transform size syntax element for video decoding are provided. For high profile mode video decoding operations, the transform sizes may be selected based on the prediction macroblock type and the contents of the macroblock. A set of rules may be utilized to select from a 4.×.4 or an 8.×.8 transform size during the encoding operation. Dynamic selection of transform size may be performed on intra-predicted macroblocks, inter-predicted macroblocks, and/or direct mode inter-predicted macroblocks. The encoding operation may generate a transform size syntax element to indicate the transform size that may be used in reconstructing the encoded macroblock. The transform size syntax element may be transmitted to a decoder as part of the encoded video information bit stream.

The introduction of advanced video applications such as digital television, high-definition television, and internet-based video has prompted the need for standardizing compression technologies for use in television broadcast and home entertainment systems. For example, the International Standards Organization's (ISO) Motion Picture Experts Group (MPEG) developed the MPEG4 compression standard to support internet-based video applications. In another example, the Video Coding Experts Group (VCEG) of the International Telecommunication Union's Telecommunication Standardization Sector (ITU-T) developed the ITU-T H.263 compression standard to support videoconferencing applications. These and other video coding standards are being developed to enable wide utilization of new video technologies in commercial and personal settings. In 2001, the Joint Video Team (JVT) was formed to develop a full international standard that offered significantly better video compression efficiency for low bit-rate visual communication systems. To achieve its goal, the JVT brought together experts from ISO MPEG and from ITU-T VCEG. The proposed outcome of this joint effort was to result in two separate but technically consistent standard specifications: the ISO MPEG4 Part 10 and the ITU-T H.264.
The H.264 coding standard provides flexibility by defining a baseline profile, a main profile, and an extended profile in order to serve a variety of applications. The main profile, for example, is intended to support digital television broadcasting and next-generation digital versatile disk (DVD) applications. The baseline profile, for example, is intended to support mobile applications that may have limited processing capabilities. The extended profile, for example, is intended to support streaming video and may comprise features that provide error resilience and that facilitate switching between bitstreams.
Enhancements to the H.264 coding standard have resulted from a new set of coding tools known as the fidelity range extensions (FRExt). The FRExt extensions, for example, are intended to support high image resolutions needed in applications such as studio video editing, post-production processing, standard definition (SD) and high-definition (HD) television, and enhanced DVD video. The FRExt extensions also define a high profile, which may be utilized to provide higher coding efficiency without adding significant implementation complexity. In this regard, the high profile may be adapted by applications such as those supported by the Blu-ray Disk Association, the digital video broadcast (DVB) standards, the HD-DVD specification of the DVD Forum, and/or the new broadcast TV specification of the US advanced television systems committee (ATSC).
In the profiles defined by the H.264 coding standard, coding or compression of image and/or video signals may be accomplished by first transforming the signal, or an error that may result from predicting the signal, from a spatial domain representation to a spatial frequency domain representation. For example, image and/or video signal compression may be achieved by means of a two dimensional (2D) Discrete Cosine Transform (DCT). Another transformation approach may be to adaptively change the basis functions in a 2D transform based on signal content. In this latter approach, for example, the 2D transform may be based on wavelets. Following the transformation operation, a quantization step may be utilized to zero-out any coefficients with relatively low values. The transformation and quantization steps may reduce redundancies in the signal's spatial content by compacting the signal's energy to as few basis functions as possible. By increasing the size of the transform, a corresponding increase in signal energy compaction may be achieved thereby improving the performance of the entire compression system.
However, increasing the transform size in order to achieve the type of low bit-rate system envisioned by the JVT may result in compression artifacts that may be clearly visible upon displaying the signal after decompression or decoding. These artifacts may be particularly noticeable in areas of sharp transitions such as high contrast edges in image and video signals. In certain applications, such as those supported by the high profile for example, other approaches may be necessary to achieve lower bit-rates, that is, to provide higher coding efficiency, without producing compression artifacts that may result when large transform sizes are utilized in portions of the image and/or video signals that exhibit sharp or abrupt transitions.
Further limitations and disadvantages of conventional and traditional approaches will become apparent to one of skill in the art, through comparison of such systems with some aspects of the present invention as set forth in the remainder of the present application with reference to the drawings.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method and system for generating a transform size syntax element for video decoding

Dolby Laboratories Licensing Corporation


A multi-function tool. The multi-function tool includes a first socket body having a first sidewall defining a first socket and a second socket, the first socket body being aligned with a first axis. The multi-function tool also includes a second socket body having a second sidewall defining a third socket, the second socket body being aligned with a second axis that is substantially parallel to the first axis. The first socket body is connected to the second socket body by a bridge.

A skateboard is generally formed from a deck (i.e., a board) having four wheels mounted to the underside via skateboard trucks. Each skateboard truck includes a baseplate attached to a hanger by a kingpin fastened with a locknut. Wheels are mounted to opposite ends of the hanger by axle nuts, and the baseplate is mounted to an underside of the deck by mounting bolts and locknuts. Thus, the partial or complete assembly and disassembly of skateboards and other similar or conventionally available wheeled devices (e.g., roller skates, inline skates, quad skates, and bicycles) or even simple mechanical devices can require removal and replacement of various fasteners of various sizes.


Mechanisms are provided for performing a failover operation of an application from a faulty node of a high availability cluster to a selected target node. The mechanisms receive a notification of an imminent failure of the faulty node. The mechanisms further receive health information from nodes of a local failover scope of a failover policy associated with the faulty node. Moreover, the mechanisms dynamically modify the failover policy based on the health information from the nodes of the local failover scope and select a node from the modified failover policy as a target node for failover of an application running on the faulty node to the target node. Additionally, the mechanisms perform failover of the application to the target node based on the selection of the node from the modified failover policy.

The present application relates generally to an improved data processing apparatus and method and more specifically to mechanisms for dynamically updating failover polices in a high availability cluster of computing devices so as to increase application availability.
A high availability cluster is a group of loosely coupled processors, computing devices, or the like, collectively referred to as "nodes," that all work together to ensure a reliable service to clients, e.g., client computing devices, processors, or the like. Each node in the high availability cluster runs a clusterware produce, such as High Availability Cluster MultiProcessing (HACMP), available from International Business Machines Corporation of Armonk, N.Y., which detects node, network, or communication adapter failures and ensures that applications are automatically restarted on a backup node. With HACMP, up to 32 nodes may be running HACMP and may be either actively running an application or waiting to take over should another node fail. Data on file systems of the nodes can be shared between the nodes in the cluster. With HACMP, daemon applications are used to monitor the state of the nodes of the cluster and coordinate responses to events.
In the event of a failure of one of the nodes, the HACMP clusterware selects one of the surviving nodes of the cluster as a target for application recovery based on a predefined node failover order. Alternatively, HACMP may dynamically determine the target node for failover based on free processor resources, free memory, traffic considerations, or the like. This order of failover is referred to as the "failover policy."
Many high availability clusters are implemented within a single site, i.e. the nodes of the cluster are geographically local to one another. However, some high availability cluster mechanisms extend the scope of high availability from within a lab or datacenter to sites separated by-geographical distances. This ensures that even when an entire cluster in a site/location fails, applications will failover to a node in another site located miles away.
Application failover within a site is fast and seamless because the clusters within a site have more reliable and redundant heartbeat networks. Furthermore, shared disk setup enables applications to get access to the latest copy of data after the recovery is performed. However, with distributed high availability clusters that span multiple sites that are geographically remote from one another, heartbeat paths across the sites are limited to Internet Protocol (IP) networks, wide area networks, or the like, which is less reliable than the connections within a single site. Moreover, the slower rate of data mirroring between the sites in distributed high availability clusters denies the application access to the latest copy of data after the recovery is performed. Therefore, failover to nodes in a remote site is-preferred only when all nodes in the local site are down.
To better handle such failover preferences, failover scopes are defined, e.g., a local scope and a global scope, each comprising a subset of identified nodes of a cluster. Applications may be associated with an ordered list of one or more failover scopes. When a failover occurs, each application automatically fails over to a surviving node that is listed within its failover scope specified in the ordered list. Based on the ordering, such failover occurs sequentially until the failover is performed successfully. For example, failover may first be attempted to each of the nodes within the current failover scope (local site) before attempting failover to a node in a next failover scope (remote site). If no node within the first failover scope is able to accept the failover, e.g., none of the nodes have survived the failure, the resource group may be set to automatically failover to a node listed in the next failover scope and so on until there is no failure detected.

Dynamic updating of failover policies for increased application availability


Disclosed is a system and process which is a computer aided application using artificial intelligence modeling. This artificial intelligence model is able to predict the propensity for sheet metal parts to wrinkle when manufactured using a hydro forming process. The model uses geometric and material parameters to predict defects and facilitates defect predictions certainty into the ordinarily arduous redesign process directed at eliminating defects.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the prediction of defects in the manufacture of products. More specifically, the invention relates to the prediction of wrinkling in the forming of sheet metal when using hydroforming or other like processes, as well as suggesting design solutions to the wrinkling problem.
2. Description of the Related Art
Traditionally, engineering or design groups would encounter and resolve sheet-metal wrinkling problems during hydroforming by trial and error. The tool designer would initially design the parts details per parameters handed down from product development staff. Next, through a process known in the art as "tool try-out," the designs are then manufactured into sample parts, or instead virtually analyzed by metal forming specialists to determine the formability or feasibility of the design. In the event the part winkled on manufacture, or if preliminary analysis predicted possible wrinkling, the part would be completely redesigned and the process repeated. The defective parts produced may in some circumstances be reworked to remove the wrinkles by hitting the part with a mallet (hereinafter referred to as "hand forming"). In other circumstances the defective part may be used as is in the wrinkled state if allowed by design constraints.
Simulations have been used by artisans for analyzing wrinkling problems. These processes, however, are accurate only when the design exhibits a tendency to wrinkle severely. These conventional simulations are less accurate for minor hand-formable wrinkles, i.e., wrinkles that can be smoothed with minor manual rework. The simulation software currently used does not provide any recommendations to prevent failure due to wrinkling. Instead, this software can only be used to analyze the effect without deciphering the cause of the wrinkling. Identifying the cause of failure and possible corrective action is the responsibility of the analyst. Because of this, the analyses are iterative, and each run of the analysis can take anywhere between a couple of hours to days to complete. These conventional procedures are inefficient, uneconomical, and extend product development cycle times significantly.

Wrinkle-predicting process for hydroforming


A mask identification (ID) bit circuit (100) is disclosed that provides one of two potentials (VGND or VPWR) to a sense node (108). A mask ID bit circuit (100) may include a number of links (102-0 to 102-4) arranged in series. A link (102-0 to 102-4) may include inputs (104-0 and 104-1) and outputs (106-0 and 106-1). In one configuration, inputs (104-0 and 104-1) may be directly coupled to outputs (106-0 and 106-1). In another configuration, inputs (104-0 and 104-1) may be cross coupled to outputs (106-0 and 106-1). Cross coupling inputs (104-0 and 104-1) and outputs (106-0 and 106-1) of a link (102-0 to 102-4) can switch a potential (VGND or VPWR) supplied to a sense node (108). The configuration of more than one link (102-0 to 102-4) of a mask ID bit circuit (100) can be changed, allowing a sense node to be switched between two potential (VGND and VPWR) multiple times. According to an embodiment, n mask ID bit circuits (100) may provide as many as 2n different mask ID codes.

A typical integrated circuit may be formed by patterning or otherwise altering various layers according to particular masks. A collection of masks for forming an integrated circuit is often referred to as a mask set. An integrated circuit mask may take various forms. As one example, a mask may be a lithographic mask for selectively exposing a resist material to a radiation source, such as light having a particular frequency. In addition or alternatively, a mask may include a pattern that is programmed into a machine that may provide a beam of particles, such as electrons. Such a beam may raster a pattern across an integrated circuit layer according to such a programmed pattern.
While one particular mask set can be used in the production of an integrated circuit, such as mask set may be revised as changes to a device are made. In many cases, a mask revision may not substantially change the overall operation of an integrated circuit. Thus, it may not be possible to determine which particular mask set was used to fabricate an integrated circuit without deprocessing the device. Deprocessing can be time consuming, involve the use of various noxious chemicals, and can render a device non-operational.
At the same time, it is desirable to know the particular mask set for a device for reliability and other tracking reasons. Accordingly, in order to identify a mask set for an integrated circuit without having to resort to deprocessing, many integrated circuits include readable mask revision identification (ID) codes. By electronically reading values generated at a particular pin, or pins, it can be possible to identify a particular mask set.
One conventional approach to generating mask revision ID codes will now be described with reference to a number of diagrams.
Referring now to FIG. 7, a mask revision ID code circuit is shown in a block diagram and designated by the general reference character 700. A circuit 700 may include a number of mask ID bit circuits 702-0 to 702-n, where n is an integer. Each mask ID bit circuit (702-0 to 702-n) may receive two different voltages as inputs: VGND and VPWR. Such input voltages may be power supply voltages, as but one example. Each mask ID bit circuit (702-0 to 702-n) may also provide an output value SA0 to SAn. Output values (SA0 to SAn) may provide a mask revision ID code. Thus, mask ID bit circuits (702-0 to 702-n) may be configured so that each different mask revision can result in a different set of output values (SA0 to SAn).
FIG. 8 illustrates one example of a conventional mask ID bit circuit 800. A mask ID bit circuit 800 may include a number of links, shown as 802-0 to 802-4, arranged in series. Each link (802-0 to 802-4) may be formed from a different layer of an integrated circuit. As but one example, a link 802-0 may be formed from a layer comprising amorphous and/or polycrystalline silicon (polysilicon), while links 802-1 to 802-4 may be formed from increasingly higher levels of interconnect. That is, link 802-1 may be formed from a "metal 1" layer, link 802-2 may be formed from a "metal 2" layer, etc. An output value SAn may be provided at a sense node 804.
In FIG. 8, each link is represented as a double throw switch. In this way, a sense node may be connected to either a first potential (VGND) or a second potential (VPWR) according to the arrangements of the links.
Examples of conventional links are shown in FIG. 9. FIG. 9 includes a series of top plan views of links, starting with a lower integrated circuit layer link 802-0 and ending with a higher integrated circuit layer link 802-4. It is understood that each layer may be electrically connected with one another by way of a vertical contact and/or via. Such electrical connections between layers are shown as dashed lines in FIG. 9.
In the conventional approach of FIG. 9, each link (802-0 to 802-4) may include conductive lines 902-00/01 to 902-40/41. Each conductive line (902-00 to 902-41) may include a downward contact 904-00/01 to 904-40/41 and an upward contact 906-00/01 to 906-40/41. It is understood that a downward contact (904-00 to 904-41) may connect one layer with a lower layer. Similarly an upward contact (906-00 to 906-41) may connect one layer with a higher layer. For example, in the particular arrangement of FIG. 9, downward contacts 904-10 and 904-11 can correspond to upward contacts 906-00 and 906-01.
In FIG. 9, conductive line 902-00 may have a downward contact 904-00 to one potential (VGND), while conductive line 902-01 may have a downward contact 904-10 to another potential (VPWR). Further, in the example of FIG. 9, a conductive line 902-40 may provide an output value SAn at a sense node 804.
To better understand vertical connections between layers, a side cross sectional view is presented in FIG. 10. FIG. 10 shows a potential VGND connected to conductive line 902-00 by way of downward contact 904-00. Various connections between conductive lines 902-00, 902-10 and 902-20 are shown in the cross sectional view.
It is noted that the arrangement of FIGS. 8 and 9 can represent a mask bit ID circuit in an initial (unmodified) state. That is, such a mask bit ID circuit may represent an initial set of masks for an integrated circuit. In an unmodified state, an output value SAn will be low (e.g., VGND), as the series of links (802-0 to 802-4) provide a conductive path between VGND and a sense node 804. As a mask is revised, a change may also be made in the mask bit ID circuit to change the output value SAn provided by such a circuit. A revised mask bit ID circuit is shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.
In FIG. 11, a link 1102-2 has been modified to reflect a change in a mask set. As a result, if a link 1102-2 can be conceptualized as a double throw switch, once modified, the switch can be considered to be thrown to connect to a potential VPWR, rather than a potential VGND (the unmodified state). Once such a change is made, an output value SAn can be a logic high value, as a modified conductive path is created between a potential VPWR and a sense node 804.
FIG. 12 shows top plan views corresponding to the various links of FIG. 11. As shown, a modified link 1102-2 may include one conductive line 1202-20 that includes a single downward contact 904-20, and another conductive line 1202-21 that includes a single downward contact 904-21, but conductively connects to a higher link with upward contacts 906-20 and 906-21. In this way, a low logic value (VGND) can be isolated from a sense node 804, while a high logic value (VPWR) can be redirected to a sense node 804, thereby indicating a mask change/revision.
A drawback to conventional approaches, such as that described above, can be the limited number of mask revisions that may be expressed for a given set of mask bit ID circuits. In particular, for n mask ID bits, only n mask revisions may be expressed. Such a limitation can exist because once a change is made to a mask ID bit, the bit value may not be changed back unless the same mask layer is changed. Consequently, to account for higher numbers of mask revisions, it may be necessary to include more and more mask ID bit circuits.
It would be desirable to arrive at some way of providing a mask ID code circuit that can allow for an increased number of possible mask revision codes for a given number of mask ID bit circuits than conventional approaches. It would also be desirable that such a solution does not substantially increase the overall area required for such a mask ID code circuit.


A diagnosis image generating apparatus including a plurality of probes, the diagnosis image generating apparatus including at least one element included in each of the plurality of probes; a selecting unit which selects a probe from among the plurality of probes; and a diagnosis image generating unit which generates a diagnosis image of the object by using the selected probe.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an apparatus for generating a diagnosis image, a probe, a method of controlling the probe, and a method of generating a diagnosis image.
2. Description of the Related Art
A diagnosis image generating apparatus transmits and receives ultrasound signals via a probe. Here, a probe may receive ultrasound signals by using a piezo element. A diagnosis image generating apparatus may include a plurality of probes. Here, if a user desires to use one of the plurality of probes, the user inputs selection information for selecting one of the plurality of probes by operating the diagnosis image generating apparatus.

Method and apparatus for generating diagnosis image, probe, and method of controlling the probe


The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for determining the risk of ice deposition due to precipitation. According to the invention the measurements of precipitation known so far are combined with measurements of the actual amount of ice deposited from the precipitation. Said measurements are combined in a combination unit that is able to receive further parameter information, eg the amount and type of anti-icing liquid. Compared to previously a considerably more reliable determination of the risk of ice deposition is accomplished, eg on the wing of an aeroplane applied with anti-icing liquid, and so is reliable determination of the holdover time, HOT, during which one can be sure that the aeroplane is free from ice in the current weather conditions.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a method of determining the risk of ice deposition due to precipitation. The invention is particularly, but not exclusively intended for use in connection with determination of the risk of icing in connection with air traffic.
2. The Prior Art
When there is a risk of ice formation, the air traffic uses anti-icing liquids of various types and concentrations, and the problem is to estimate for how long the anti-icing liquid will stay effective during the existing weather conditions. This is referred to as 'holdover time'; in the following designated 'HOT'.
The international airline organisations publish tables that indicate a time interval for holdover time for some anti-icing liquids and for quite a small number of concentrations thereof. These tables, the only tool available at present, are associated with two major factors of uncertainty. Firstly the time intervals listed in the tables are given with large margins, eg a minimum of 30 and a maximum of 60 minutes, and secondly the tables can be used only if it is possible to correctly estimate the precipitation, the tables being divided in accordance with types of precipitation, such as eg snow or super-cooled water. The final responsibility for the estimation lies with the pilot, ie that from within the cockpit, frequently in weather conditions such as following winds and through a heavily heated slanted window, he is to estimate the type of precipitation and then take a stand on the minimum and maximum time intervals given in the table.
The very varying types of precipitation that typically occur within the temperature range of from 5° C. and 8° C. above freezing point are the cause of the longest delays in the airports and often the planes must wait long to obtain permission to take off, while the anti-icing liquid is consumed more quickly or slowly in response to the precipitation conditions.
To date, 141 aircraft accidents have been ascribed to ice accumulation with an ensuing death toll of 1200.
It is the object of the invention to provide a method that enables determination of HOT, wherein the determination is based on actual measurements rather than the subjective estimations resorted to so far in the prior art.

Method of determining the risk of ice deposition due to precipitation and apparatus for exercising the method


A redundant cross point switching is achieved by mapping a redundant column/row of point cells and enabling at least one of the switching devices which is associated with each column/row to define an alternate path around the defective point cell which replicates the function of the switching location of the defective point cell.

New chip designs already exceed two million devices. The greater the number of devices on a chip the greater the possibility that one or more will fail. This would result in a lower yield driving up the cost of the chips. Redundancy techniques are designed to address this problem. Redundancy techniques are routinely used in large memories to lend a degree of defect tolerance and increase yield. In one approach one or more banks of extra memory are provided so that if one or more banks test as defective, the entire bank can be replaced by an extra one thereby saving the chip and increasing yield. However, in memory design the input and output can be the same. Every bank is accessible to the input and output data. The physical location of each memory cell is not position sensitive: it only need be susceptible to storage and retrieval.
In contrast in cross point switching systems there is position sensitivity: the cross point cell location is dictated by the connection it serves to make. This makes difficult redundancy design for replacing defective point cells in cross point switching systems. Nevertheless one approach that apparently has been used to increase yield is to package a number of cross point switch die in a single package making a single larger cross point switch with a higher yield. But this has shortcomings including: the higher power dissipated in intra-die I/O cells; higher path-dependent skew as a result of some connections needing to span the intra-die space; the need to test multiple die to construct a single large cross point switching system; and the need to discard a relatively large piece of silicon if one of these smaller cross point switches proves non-functional. The efficiency of redundancy in achieving improved yield in cross point switching cores is illustrated in the chart below.
CHART IDo [def/cm{circumflex over ( )}2]21.2RedundancyYld (core)Yld (core)038%56%175%89%293%98%

Redundant cross point switching system and method


A radial-winding stator of a motor including a core and eight poles is disclosed. Each pole has a magnetic pole and a pole piece. The magnetic pole is connected to the core and extends outwards from the core in a radial direction. The pole piece is formed at one end of the magnetic pole distant to the core. The pole piece includes a magnetic end face having an arc length along a circumferential direction of the core, as well as an axial height along an axial direction perpendicular to the radial direction. A ratio of the arc length to the axial height is between 2.05 and 10. In another embodiment, the radial-winding stator includes ten or twelve poles.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to a radial-winding stator of a motor and, more particularly, to a radial-winding stator of a motor in which said stator can be used in a single phase motor having an outer rotor.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIGS. 1 and 2 show a conventional eight-pole radial-winding stator 9 of a motor. The radial-winding stator 9 includes a main body 91 and eight magnetic pole portions 92 extending outwards from main body 91. Each magnetic pole portion 92 forms a magnetic pole 921 and a pole piece 922. An enamel copper wire can be wound around pole piece 922 to form a coil 93. The pole piece 922 includes an outer surface serving as a magnetic end face 923. The magnetic end face 923 is in the form of an arched face and has an arc length S9. The arc length S9 is determined by an angle θ9 and a radius R9. The arc length S9 is the occupied angle of pole piece 922 along the entire circumference of the stator. The radius R9 is the distance between a center of main body 91 and the outer surface of pole piece 922. A similar embodiment of the radial-winding stator 9 of the motor is. disclosed in Taiwan Patent No. M240726.
When coils 93 are electrified, magnetic field can be generated at magnetic pole portions 92, leading to the generation of magnetic lines of force. However, only a part of the magnetic lines of force, which links with a permanent magnet of a rotor (not shown), contributes to the rotational torque of the motor. Specifically, only the magnetic lines of force, that are emitted by the part of coils 93 radially aligned with magnetic end faces 923, contribute to the rotational torque of the motor. The magnetic lines of force, that are emitted by another part of coils 93 radially misaligned with magnetic end faces 923 (the uppermost and lowermost parts 931 of coils 93 where the enamel copper wire bends), does not contribute to the rotational torque of the motor. In this regard, when the number of turns of coils 93 is increased in order to provide a larger magnetic force, the parts 931 of coils 93 also become larger. As a result, the parts of coils 93 that do not contribute to the rotational torque of the motor become larger, making it difficult to improve the efficiency of radial-winding stator 9.
On the other hand, the conventional stator 9 has a height limit. Specifically, magnetic end face 923 has a height "L9" along an axial direction of main body 91. The total value of the height. "L9" and the heights of the parts 931 of coils 93 should be smaller than or equal to a maximal allowable height "H" of radial-winding stator 9. In this regard, when the parts 931 of coils 93 become larger, the total height of the parts 931 also becomes larger. Disadvantageously, the height "L9" of magnetic end face 923 becomes smaller, adversely reducing the quantity of the silicon steel plates. In other words, when the number of turns of coils 93 is increased in order to produce a larger magnetic field, the parts 931 of coils 93 will inevitably become larger. When the volume of the parts 931 of coils 93 is increased to a certain extent, the operational efficiency of the motor can no longer be improved by increasing the quantity of the silicon steel plates.
In light of this, in order to prevent the motor from having low operational efficiency due to an excessive number of turns of winding, the ratio of arc length S9 to height "L9" is designed to have a minimum value of 0.5 and a maximum value of 2. This achieves a balance between the operational power and efficiency. However, as more and more electronic products and delicate instruments are equipped with motors, there has been an increasing demand for miniaturized and compact motors. In this regard, height "L9" will be too large if the ratio of arc length S9 to height "L9" is between 0.5 and 2. Disadvantageously, the produced motors cannot be used in miniaturized motors and will not meet the market needs.
In conclusion, when the parts 931 of coils 93 become larger, the magnetic lines of force that can contribute to the rotational torque of the motor will become less and the quantity of the silicon steel plates cannot be increased, leading to a limited operational efficiency of the motor. Furthermore, since the conventional radial-winding stator 9 requires the ratio of arc length S9 to height "L9" to be between 0.5 and 2 in order to achieve a balance between the operational power and efficiency, the radial-winding stator 9 cannot be used in a miniaturized motor. Thus, it is necessary to improve the conventional radial-winding stator 9.

Sunonwealth Electric Machine Industry Co., Ltd.


A method for maximizing a width of a pre-stretch film includes providing polymer being suitable for producing the pre-stretch film. A pre-stretch film having strips of increased thickness is produced. The method includes coordinating a thickness of the strips of increased thickness with a formation of edge thickening caused by neck-in during stretching of the pre-stretch film.

Films, such as polymer films, can be produced by several different processes including blown film and chill roll casting. In the blown film method, the melt is extruded through an annular die to form a bubble expanded with internal air pressure. The bubble is then sized and air cooled with an air ring, internal bubble cooling and a sizing cage. The bubble is then collapsed in a nip thereby forming a double ply film that can be processed by Machine Direction Orientation (MDO) process. The film is then either slit separated and wound as two individual webs, or wound in double thickness without being separated.
In the casting of polymer films, polymers can be extruded through a die to form a melt curtain which is then rapidly quenched on a chill roll comprising an internally cooled roller or drum. The films can consist of one or more layers and can have a thickness of between 6 and 200 microns (0.24 to 7.9 mil, 1 mil=0.001 inches).
Various types of films can be manufactured from the aforementioned methods. One such film is a conventional stretch film that is used in hand (manual) or machine wrapping applications. The conventional stretch film is manufactured from specific materials (e.g., polyolefin polymers) with such characteristics and behavior that it can impart sufficient stretchability into the film so that the stretch film can be stretched as it is hand or machine wrapped around an object. For example, conventional stretch films can be used in bundling and packaging applications such as for securing bulky loads such as boxes, merchandise, produce, equipment, parts, and other similar items onto pallets.
The performance of the film to secure an object to a pallet (e.g., load retention performance) can be affected by the amount of stretch in the film, the strength of the film, the composition of the polymer, the number of wraps around the object and the strength of the edges of the film. Poor edge strength could result in tearing of the film during the wrapping process, particularly with high speed wrappers and thin films. Stretch films, particularly thin films at 10 micron and under, typically employ folded edges to increase the strength of the edge of the film. The films produced according to this process will be referred to herein as "conventional stretch films."
Another type of film that can be manufactured from the aforementioned processes is a pre-stretch film. After processing, pre-stretch films are stiffer and thinner than conventional stretch film. The pre-stretch film is made by stretching or orientating a film beyond its yield point. However, the film material suitable for manufacturing pre-stretch film typically has a relatively lower viscosity and is a more stretchy (e.g., less stiff) compared to that of the polyolefin material used for conventional stretch films. The method of improving the stiffness properties of the films is referred to as the Machine Direction Orientation (MDO) process. In the MDO process, a film is stretched beyond its yield point (hot or cold) typically up to 300-400 percent, whereby its extendability (e.g. elastic stretchability) is greatly diminished. The film stretched in the MDO becomes stiffer and thinner and exhibits a greater load holding characteristic. Therefore, the pre-stretch film needs to be only minimally stretched (e.g., 20-40 percent, as compared with the conventional stretch film that requires up to 200 to 300 percent) during application to secure a load. During the stretching process in the MDO, the entire film decreases in thickness and decreases in width (i.e., neck-in process). However, due to the neck-in process the reduction in thickness of the film at the two free edges is not as pronounced as compared to remaining portions of the film between the free edges. As a result of the neck-in process that occurs during stretching, the free edges are naturally thicker than the remaining portions of the film. For example, the free edges of the film are typically 30-100 percent thicker than the rest of the film as a result of the neck-in, thereby strengthening the edge and eliminating the need for edge folding.
Cost reduction and environmental demands in recent years have resulted in a trend of thickness reduction for the hand (manual) as well as machine stretch films used in wrapping applications. It is more common to see stretch films under 17 microns down to 8 microns in those applications with thinner films comprising 3 to 35 layers (Nano films) but more typically (5 to 9 layers). Thinner films (12 micron and under) are typically made from lower melt index (higher viscosity) Polyolefin polymers to insure the production of stiffer and stronger stretch films to secure the wrapped product on the pallet. Thin films (e.g., 8-10 microns) are typically less stretchy than the prior art films having a conventional thicknesses of 20-25 micron. One side effect of thickness down gauging of those conventional stretch films, is that the edges of the film become fragile and more prone to damage (e.g., edge tearing) during handling as well as during the wrapping process. Referring to FIG. 1, in order to strengthen the edges 200 of a thin film 206 it is common to fold the edges 200 of the film to create a double thickness 2T of the film at both ends.
Another method to produce thinner stretch films is through producing thicker films (i.e., 17 to 25 micron) through an extrusion process (e.g., using cast or blown techniques) and then stretching the thicker films in an MDO prior to winding the thinner pre-stretch films having a thickness of about 6 to 10 micron. The film composition of those pre-stretch films are typically 3 to 5 layers of polyolefin resins with higher melt flow (e.g., 3-5 melt flow indexas compared with the lower melt flow resins (e.g., 1-3 melt flow index) used in making thin stiffer conventional stretch films as described herein. Melt flow index or MFI is a measure of the ease of flow of the melt of a thermoplastic polymer. It is defined as the mass of polymer, in grams, flowing in ten minutes through a capillary of a specific diameter and length by a pressure applied via prescribed alternative gravimetric weights for alternative prescribed temperatures. The method is described in standards ASTM D1238 and ISO 1133. Higher melt flow resins are typically easier to process than lower melt flow resins used in the manufacture of conventional stretch films and thus allow higher production speeds. As shown in FIG. 2A, a film 306 having a width W30 is fed to the stretching rollers 334A and 334B of the MDO 330. During the stretching process in the MDO 330, the film 306N necks-in and becomes narrower (i.e., width W32) than the width W30 prior to stretching. As the film 306N is stretched, the free edges 306E of the film 306N naturally remain thicker (e.g., a thickness T30E) than remaining portions of the film 306N which have a lesser thickness T30, due to the neck-in phenomenon as shown in FIG. 2B. The thickness of the free edges of the pre-stretch film typically increase to 30-100 percent of thickness of the rest of the film, thereby strengthening the free edge and eliminating the need for edge folding. The films produced according to this process (i.e., stretching via the MDO) will be referred to herein as "pre-stretch films."

Apparatus for manufacturing and processing pre-stretch films having strips of increased thickness


In an optical gauge according to the invention, a mirror holder ring 21 is fitted to the outer periphery of the objective lens 12 and an light path bending mirror 22 is rotatably secured at the upper end thereof to the mirror holder ring 21. With such an arrangement, the light downwardly emitted from an optical system 3 irradiates the top plane of an object of measurement when the light path bending mirror 22 is held in parallel with the optical axis of the optical system 3. On the other hand, the light emitted from the optical system 3 is rectangularly turned to irradiate a lateral plane of the object of measurement when the light path bending mirror 22 is turned around its upper end to a position where it is inclined by 45.degree. relative to the optical axis of the optical system 3. Thus, an optical gauge according to the invention can observe one or more than one lateral sides of the object of measurement for dimensional measurement without modifying its attitude.

1. FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to an optical gauge for measuring more than one dimensions and determining the profile of an object by detecting the light reflected by or transmitted through the object that is placed on a table.
2. DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
Known optical gauges for measuring more than one dimensions and determining the profile of an object by detecting the light reflected by or transmitted through the object typically comprise an optical system that is arranged above a table carrying the object thereon and operated to irradiate the object with rays of light and receive the reflected light in order to determine the dimensions and the profile of the object.
Known optical gauges with such a positional arrangement can observe only the surface of the object disposed vis-a-vis the optical system because the latter is located above the table carrying the object thereon and designed to downwardly emit rays of light. In other words, the object has to be turned to change its attitude when the lateral and bottom sides of the object have to be gauged because the gauge cannot see them unless the object is turned.
For example, referring to FIG. 8 of the accompanying drawings, when holes 102.sub.1 and 102.sub.2 bored on plane 101 of the object to be measurement 100 are to be measured for respective diameters D.sub.1 and D.sub.2 and distance L separating them along with width W of groove 104 formed on plane 103 that is perpendicular to plane 100, the operator will firstly place the object 100 on the table with the plane 101 facing upward and measure the diameters D.sub.1 and D2 of the respective holes 102.sub.1 and 102.sub.2 and the distance L between the holes. Then, he or she will have to turn the object 100 by 90.degree. to make the plane 103 face upward on the table before measuring the width W of the groove 104.
Thus, when the object to be measurement has a plurality of planes to be observed for measurement, each of the planes has to be made to face upward on a one-by-one basis and centered before it is actually observed for measurement. The overall measuring operation is rather inefficient because it is time consuming and cumbersome.
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide an optical gauge adapted to observe a plurality of different planes of an object to be measurement without modifying the attitude of the object that is placed on a table.

Optical gauge with adjustable light path bending mirror


Described herein is a traveling seat, such as a wheelchair, for physically handicapped persons. The seat has a seat shell mounted on a frame, where the shell includes a backrest and a seat surface, connected with one another with articulation, with a footrest being articulated pivotably to the forward end of the seat surface. In order to provide a seat that can follow the bodily movements caused by spasms of the person seated in the seat, the seat surface and backrest are connected, freely pivotably, with one another. A tensioning device generating a tensioning force that holds the seat surface and the backrest in the bent sitting position relative to one another is provided. In addition, the footrest is articulated in a freely pivotable fashion to the seat surface, with a tensioning device generating the tensioning force that holds the footrest in the bent sitting position relative to the seat surface.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a traveling seat and more particularly relates to a traveling seat especially for physically handicapped persons having a frame fastened to a seat shell.
2. Description of Related Art
Traveling seats used for transporting individuals are known. For example, strollers may be used to transport small children. In this case, a frame has a bar located approximately 1.20 m above the surface on which the wheels of the frame stand. The bar may be grasped by a person to move the stroller. Depending on the type of the stroller, it may be equipped with three or four wheels, with one or two of said wheels being articulated in a steerable manner to the frame.
Another type of traveling seat is a wheelchair. In contrast to a stroller, a wheelchair tends to have larger rear wheels that can be operated by hand by the person seated in the wheelchair. However, some wheelchairs may be equipped only with small wheels, thus requiring a care giver to push them using handles or a bar mounted at a suitable height.
Some types of seats, such as those used for strollers, include a seat shell with a backrest and footrest articulated to the seat surface. The seat back and footrest pivot relative to the seat surface and can be locked in certain positions, so that the posture of the person sitting on the seat shell can be varied from an upright position, with the upper body and knees bent, to a nearly straight lying position. Seat shells of this type are used, for example, for alternative mounting on a stroller or on a mounting device in an automobile, so that they can be used as child seats.
According to the present invention, the backrest and footrest are both coupled to the seat surface via a pivot. A tensioning device creates a tensioning force that disposes the seat surface, backrest and footrest in a configuration appropriate for sitting.
The seat according to the invention is especially provided to hold persons who suffer from spasms. In these patients, uncontrolled impulses are delivered to the muscles that result in a cramp-like tensing of the muscles which generally causes the body to stretch out. In other words, the seated person actuates his muscles in such fashion that the hip joints and knee joints are straightened. To prevent the patient from falling out of the seat shell of the seat, generally the patient is held on the seat shell by restraining means, comprising a lap belt or lap bar for example. In conventional seats, the patient is restrained in a rigid seat or seat shell that is adjustable and can be locked in position. During a spastic attack, the muscles exert forces on the restraining means which hold the joints of the patient in the bent position and secure the patient in the seated position. Because the tensing of the muscles cannot lead to a stretching of the body, the muscles and ligaments that bind the joints are subjected to high mechanical stress. In addition, the full muscular force is exerted on the fastening means and the seat shell resulting in considerable mechanical stress on these items.
The device described herein allows the back rest and seat surface to pivot when subjected to a muscular force. The footrest, too, can pivot into alignment with the seat surface. Thus, in spite of the restraining devices, the seat permits the body to straighten in response to tensing of the muscles. The mechanical stresses on the muscles and on the ligaments of the patient, as well as on the seat surface and the footrest are considerably reduced. Since the patient is also preferably restrained in the seat shell by at least one lap belt, it is not possible for the patient to fall out of the seat.
Tensioning devices produce a tensioning force that holds the seat shell and the footrest in the sitting position at least until the person to be accommodated is seated. Advantageously, a sufficiently high tensioning force may be produced to counteract the muscular force and to brake the stretching movement so that excessively rapid stretching of the body does not occur. As a result, the risk of injury to the seated person and of damage to the articulated connections on reaching their end stops is reduced.
A locking device may be provided that inhibits the pivoting of the seat shell and/or footrest when such pivoting is not desired. Such might be the case, for example, when a patient in a wheelchair is pushed into a cramped elevator where injury might result if seat parts were to pivot. In addition, the contact surface of the backrest may also be extended from the seat surface, parallel to the principal plane of the backrest, with a tensioning device again being provided that holds the contact surface in the position closest to the seat surface. During complete stretching of the patient""s body, the distance between the shoulder part and the point where the feet contact the footrest generally increases; the device described herein accounts for this, and allows the seat (e.g., as part of a wheelchair) to completely follow the stretching movement. A locking device can also be provided to inhibit motion of the backrest.
The tensioning devices are preferably constructed using tensioning springs. These springs may be designed as either tension springs or compression springs, depending on the articulation points for the tensioning springs. In some cases, coil springs made of steel may be used. Gas springs are also suitable for this application. Other tensioning devices are also possible, weights for example, that press the individual parts of the seat into the original bent sitting position by gravity.
The contact surface of the backrest, while remaining movable, may be connected directly to the lower part of the backrest so that the sliding guide for the contact surface is integrated into the backrest. Preferably, however, a sliding guide may be articulated to a rear strut of the frame in which the contact surface of the backrest is guided. This provides that even when the backrest pivots relative to the seat surface, the backrest is supported by the articulation point on the frame and hence the forces exerted by the weights and the muscular forces are reliably transmitted to the frame. The tensioning springs that form a pretensioning device for the movable contact surface may be integrated into the sliding guide. A sliding guide is preferably attached to the frame below the seat surface, with the seat surface being articulated to the movable part of the guide. A tensioning spring subjected to tension engages the movable part, said spring pulling the seat surface backward, i.e. toward the backrest, so that the seat surface and the backrest are pulled into the bent sitting position. It may be desirable to provide a stop for the pivoting movement of the elements of the seat shell and the footrest and for the translational motion of the contact surface of the backrest in order to prevent the parts from being moved excessively by muscular force, which could damage the tensioning devices or could allow the patient sitting on the seat to be injured.
The seat surface and the backrest of the seat shell may be made of load-carrying shell-like structures such as steel or plastic and may be provided with thick, comfortable cushions. In order to prevent the cushion from being jammed when the seat back is pivoted relative to the seat surface, a cover strip may be provided for covering the rear edge of the seat surface and the lower edge of the backrest. The cover strip may prevent the cushions mounted on the seat surface and the backrest from entering the above gap. Advantageously, the cover strip may be mounted in the vicinity of the two edges, i.e. the edges of the seat surface and the backrest, and may slide in the vicinity of the other edges.
Further advantages and features of the invention follow from the description of the drawings below and the claims.

Interco Gesellschaft fur die Planung und den Vertrieb von Reha Hilfen mbH


A glass-plate working apparatus (A) includes a base (2) on which a glass plate (1) is placed; Y-direction movable bases (3) and (4) which are supported by the base (2) movably in a Y-direction perpendicular to an X-direction; a Y-direction moving device (5) for moving the movable bases (3) and (4) in the Y-direction; a frame (8) which is supported by the Y-direction movable bases (3) and (4) via scuffing preventing devices (6) and (7); an X-direction movable base (9) which is supported by the frame (8) movably in the X-direction; an X-direction moving device (10) for moving the X-direction movable base (9) in the X-direction; and a working head (12) mounted on the X-direction movable base (9) so as to form a cut line (11) for bend-breaking on the glass plate (1).

In a glass-plate working apparatus of this type, a working head provided with a tool such as a cutter wheel for effecting desired working on a glass plate is mounted on, for example, an X-direction movable base which is movable in an X-direction, this X-direction movable base is mounted on a frame which is movable in a Y-direction perpendicular to the X-direction, and the X-direction movable base and the frame are moved in the X-direction and the Y-direction, respectively, whereby the working head is moved with respect to the glass plate, thereby to effect working at a desired position on the glass plate by means of the working head.
In the apparatus of the above-described example, the frame on which the X-direction movable base is mounted is supported at its opposite ends by a base or the like movably in the Y-direction, and is moved by moving devices at the opposite ends, respectively. The moving devices for moving the opposite ends of the frame are required to move the opposite ends of the frame accurately in synchronism, and if this requirement is not met, a difference in the amount of movement occurs between one end side and the other end side of the frame.
Generally, since the frame is disposed in such a manner as to be slidably fitted to guide rails provided on the base, and is moved in the Y-direction while being guided by the guide rails, if a difference in the amount of movement occurs as described above, the frame scuffs against or seizes or locks on the guide rails, which makes it impossible to effect smooth movement of the frame. Since the frame and the guide rails are fitted to each other with almost no clearance so as to attain accurate movement in the Y-direction, even if a very small difference occurs in the amount of movement at the opposite ends of the frame, there is a possibility of the occurrence of the above-described drawback.
The present invention has been devised in view of the above-described aspects, and its object is to provide a lass-plate working apparatus which is capable of effecting smooth movement of the frame even if a very small difference occurs in the amount of movement at the opposite ends of the frame.


A method and a device for compensating a data-dependency of a power measurement caused by linear modulation is described. The method comprises performing a first measurement (160) of a transmitted output power and performing a second measurement (160) of a reflected power, wherein the second measurement is performed time multiplexed from said first measurement. The method further comprises calculating (171) a first average power based on data transmitted during the first measurement, calculating a second average power based on data transmitted during the second measurement, and compensating (171) at least one of the first measurement and second measurement based on a difference between the first average power and the second average power.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to power measurements for linearly modulated radio frequency signals and more particularly to a method and a device for compensating a data-dependency of a power measurement caused by linear modulation.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
The condition of radio systems such as mobile phone systems or satellite systems has to be constantly monitored by power measurements to ensure a high quality of transmission and to avoid damages occurring at output stages that resulting from excessively high power levels.
Within current transceiver units in the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) base transceiver stations a measurement of the output power (Pfwd) transmitted via an output port and a separate measurement of the power, which is reflected (Prefl) at the output port, are performed. Pfwd is e.g. measured at the beginning of the useful part of a transmitted Gaussian Minim Shift Keying (GMSK) burst and Prefl is e.g. measured at the end of the useful part of the burst. The power measurements are thus performed time multiplexed.
Based on the measured values of Pfwd and Prefl, the condition of the base transceiver station can be assessed, e.g. by calculating the voltage standing wave ratio (VSWR). In W094/24576 a method for supervising the condition of a transmitter antenna of a radio system based on the VSWR is described. The VSWR is a measurement of impedance mismatch between a transmission line and its load. The higher the ratio, the greater the mismatch. In other words, as the VSWR increases, the transmission quality declines.
The GMSK modulation technique is a non-linear modulation technique which introduces only very small variations of the radio frequency signal envelope during the useful part of the burst. The powers Pfwd and Prefl are not data dependent and thus can be measured at arbitrary instances in time during a burst. The measurement results can be used directly for the calculation of a the matching VSWR.
Linear modulation techniques insert large variations in output power depending on the sequence of data which are transmitted. The dynamic power range spreads up to 19 dB over the useful part of the burst, as shown in FIG. 5. The measurement of Pfwd and Prefl during the useful part of the burst does not lead to reliable results for linear modulation technique, due to the data dependency of the output power. The maximum variation in average output power due to linear modulation between the first and the second half of a single burst can attain 2 dB if every symbol is measured and used for calculating the average output power. If less symbols are measured, the maximum variation in average output power might even increase.
These data-dependent fluctuations of the average output power within a single burst may lead to serious problems when assessing the condition of a radio system based on time-multiplexed measurements. If, e.g., the real VSWR and the calculated VSWR differ by 2 dB or more due to the data-dependency of the output power, the system may e.g. conclude that an antenna feeder cable is disconnected and an alarm will erroneously be sent. The inaccuracy of power measurements resulting from the date-dependency of the output power can thus lead to misinterpretations of the result of the VSWR calculation. Even more severe problems can result from misinterpretations of measurements of Pfwd since the measured value of Pfwd is an important parameter for the correct supervision of the output power in order to avoid damages resulting from excessively high output power levels.
There is, therefore, a need for a method and device for compensating the data-dependency of time multiplexed measurements of Pfwd and Prefl for linear modulation techniques.


A multi-container package includes several individually sealed containers which are easily separable from one another by weakened zones between adjacent containers. Each container includes a tab portion over which the peel tab of the lid extends. Dimples in either the peel tab or tab portion facilitate their separation. Several multi-container packages are manufactured as a unit using a die and conventional heat sealing processes, and then are separated from one another by transverse cuts.

In general, the cost of purchasing a food item packaged in bulk tends to be much less expensive in terms of price per unit weight than the cost of purchasing a small quantity of the same food item, such as a single serving size. Further, a new industry trend is the discount food chain which offers food items sold only in bulk quantities, but at an even lower cost than that offered in conventional grocery stores.
Many of the food items which are sold in bulk quantities have a prolonged shelf life of several months if they are kept in a sealed container. However, once the container is opened, such items may spoil after one week or less. Thus, although the purchase of food items in bulk quantities provides a financial benefit to larger households, schools, small restaurants and the like, individuals, or households with only a few members are unable to derive any benefit from the lower cost since the food item, once opened, may spoil before the purchaser is able to finish the entire package/container. Such spoilage could be avoided if the bulk quantity of the food item were separated into smaller serving sizes which were each individually sealed.
One example of a package which includes several separately sealed sections is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,503,856 to Hustad et al. Another example of a food package containing multiple compartments is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,983,999 to Morton. The Morton package is designed to hold individual quantities of frozen orange juice, which may be individually separated from the remainder of the package. However, neither the Hustad et al nor the Morton multi-container packages are designed to retain a tight seal, yet allow easy opening when desired.

Multi-container package with individually removable containers


A fluid management system includes a hydraulic main pump fluidly connected to a load, an accumulator fluidly connected to the hydraulic main pump, a secondary pump, a fluid preparation system fluidly connected between an outlet of the secondary pump and an inlet of the hydraulic main pump, a reservoir, and a valve system fluidly connecting the reservoir, an outlet of the hydraulic main pump, and the secondary pump inlet. The system is at least operable between a run mode, wherein the secondary pump and accumulator cooperatively maintain the pressure within the hydraulic main pump, and a charging mode, wherein the secondary pump pumps fluid into the accumulator until a threshold volume is reached.

Typical hydraulic pump systems include a hydraulic pump that pumps and/or cycles fluid to a hydraulic device to do work (for example, to drive a hydraulic motor of a vehicle or to drive a hydraulic suspension system of a vehicle). In the operation of hydraulic pumps, a substantially continuous supply of fluid to the hydraulic pump is desired to minimize or prevent cavitation (i.e., interruptions of fluid supply to the hydraulic pump) within the hydraulic pump, which may damage or decrease the efficiency of the hydraulic pump. Hydraulic systems also typically lose fluid due to evaporation, leaks, and/or inefficiencies that further increases the risk of an interruption of fluid supply to the hydraulic pump. To overcome these issues, hydraulic systems typically include a fluid reservoir with additional fluid that compensates for fluid loss within the system. However, drawing fluid from a reservoir may not be sufficient to supply uninterrupted fluid supply for hydraulic pumps, in particular, for high speed hydraulic pumps that may be used in hydraulic vehicles or hydraulic suspension systems that require substantially fast response time of the hydraulic circuit. Additionally, some hydraulic pumps may operate better when the fluid entering the hydraulic pump is at a pressure that is higher than atmospheric. To provide a substantially continuous supply of pressurized fluid to a hydraulic pump also serves as a challenge. Some hydraulic systems in the field utilize low pressure supercharge pumps to increase the pressure/aid the flow of fluid to the hydraulic pump. However, such supercharge pumps may not be fast enough to provide enough fluid at the desired pressure under high speed conditions. Alternatively, large supercharge pumps may be utilized, but such large supercharge pumps may be expensive and costly to operate. In other hydraulic systems, a low pressure accumulator may be used to "store" fluid at an increased pressure that is readily available to the hydraulic pump when necessary. However, hydraulic systems that utilize such low pressure accumulators must maintain a certain volume of pressurized fluid within the low pressure accumulator and may include a system dedicated to maintaining the low pressure accumulator, which may be substantially costly, complicated to manage and maintain, and consume a substantially large amount of energy. In systems that aim to utilize hydraulic power as a means to replace fossil fuels, using such methods to main low pressure accumulators may not be an attractive option.
Thus, there is a need in the hydraulic pump field to create an improved hydraulic system with a low pressure accumulator that provides a substantially continuous supply of fluid for a hydraulic pump.

Hydraulic pump system and method of operation


A metal anchor for mounting screws in thin wall boards made of plasterboard, pressed wood or similar building material includes a body (1) formed from a sheet metal plate and provided with semi circular retention ridges (2) projecting alternately to each side, which are matched in width and pitch to the thread shape of the screw (13) to be tightened such that the retention ridges (2) engage into the latter's thread grooves (19). The entire body (1) is formed of three sections, of which the first section (4), situated on the outer end, bears the retention ridges (2), the second section (5), situated in the middle, has two axially running outer bending ridges (7) and two inner bending ridges (8) which are mutually separated by slits (12) and can be bent off in opposing directions, and the third section (6), situated at the head end, is provided with semi circular guide shells (9) extending in opposed directions for inserting the screw (13.).

The invention pertains to a metal dowel to be anchored in thin wall boards made of plasterboard, pressed wood or similar building material, wherein the dowel shaft is formed from a sheet metal plate and provided with semi circular retention ridges punched out of the shaft and projecting alternately to each side, which are matched in width and pitch to the thread shape of the screw to be tightened such that the retention ridges engage into the thread grooves of the latter.

Metal dowel for anchorage in thin wall panels


A system and method for registering pre-operative magnetic resonance (MR) images with intra-operative MR images is disclosed. A pre-operative MR image of an object is received. A set of intra-operative MR images of the object is received. The pre-operative MR image is rigidly registered with the initial intra-operative MR image. The subsequent set of intra-operative images is deformably registered. The pre-operative MR image undergoes both rigid and deformation transformation to match specification of each image with in intra-operative MR image set.

MRI, because of its high tissue contrast and spatial resolution as well as multiplanar and functional imaging capabilities, has the most appeal for monitoring and controlling therapy. Open magnets, which allow some sort of access to the patient and are equipped with a navigation system, can provide an interactive environment in which biopsies, percutaneous or endoscopic procedures, and minimally invasive interventions or open surgeries can be performed. In addition, various thermal ablations with image-based control of energy deposition can be performed to exploit the intrinsic sensitivity of MRI to both temperature and tissue integrity. The drawback of using interventional open MR is that, almost all of the introduced open magnets are low field and in turn the quality of the images are considerably lower comparing to high field closed magnet counterparts. Therefore, for a number of procedures, where the tissue contrast and quality of the image is vital, the low field MR, although greatly facilitates the tissue/lesion localization, cannot be effectively utilized.
Indeed, in breast cancer, prostrate cancer and brain tumor procedures, preoperative imaging depicts tumor extent better because of the ability to perform dynamic imaging, parametric modeling, and diffusion or other functional MR imaging methods with acquisition times that would be impractical for interactive intra-procedural imaging. The ultimate goal in these procedures would be to have both the fast acquisition and patient accessibility of the open magnet interventional MR and the image quality and tissue contrast of the closed magnet MR.
Interventional and surgical procedures require the physician to have access to updates about the patient anatomy or changing position of movable organs. Near real-time imaging during intervention (without registration) establish the necessary relationship between the patient and the images. The lower image quality of the open magnets prohibits their usage for a variety of the procedures. There is a need for a registration procedure, which augments open magnet intra-operative image (volume is considered to be three-dimensional image and is referred to as image hereafter) with high quality pre-operative images from conventional high field magnet MRI system.

Method of registering pre-operative high field closed magnetic resonance images with intra-operative low field open interventional magnetic resonance images