Various embodiment of the present invention are directed to organic molecules that are reconfigurable under application of an external electric field. One organic molecule embodiment of the present invention has the structure:

For the past four decades, inorganic materials and metals have been the backbone of the electronics industry. Semiconductor manufacturers have developed fabrication techniques that have enabled them to fabricate electronic components in inorganic materials and metals with microscale and nanoscale dimensions. For example, recent advances in lithographic and etching techniques have enabled semiconductor manufacturers to fabricate metal wires with nanoscale cross-sectional dimensions and semiconductor logic gates with widths less than a micron. However, within the next few decades, semiconductor manufactures are expected to reach limits to further manufacturing improvements in lithographic and etching techniques.
Advances and developments in materials science and chemistry may provide alternatives to using certain microscale and nanoscale inorganic and metal-based electronic components in microscale electronic devices. In recent years, chemists and materials scientists have begun to develop organic molecules, including conjugated organic molecules, short-chain oligomers, and longer-chain polymers, that emit light, conduct current, and act as semiconductors. The ability of these organic molecules to transport charge and emit light is, in part, due to weak π-bond overlap of neighboring atoms. Chemists and materials scientists have recognized a need for organic molecules that have a broad range of microscale and nanoscale electronics applications. In particular, chemists and materials scientists have recognized a need for organic molecules that can be used in microscale and nanoscale devices, including memory, logic gates, electrical interconnections, electronic switching, illumination displays, and chemical detection devices.

Reconfigurable molecules and molecular switches, sensors, and dyes employing the same

Abstract: where L1X1 and L2X2 are optional connector groups, A represents an electron acceptor group, D represents an electron donor group, R and R′ represent spacer molecules, and R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, R6, R7, and R8 represent atoms and hydrocarbons.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Intention data is used to determine an intent of a sender of a message, or other participant, in an electronic communication system such as an email system. For example, a message that is designated for sending can be compared to the sender's intention data and if a discrepancy or deficiency is detected between the sender's determined intent and the actual message then an action is taken such as providing an alert to the sender or to another person, process or device; requiring an action by the sender such as confirming the message, making an edit, checking information, etc.

The prevalent use of electronic communications often requires a high level of care to make sure that the communication is properly crafted and sent to the proper recipients. Electronic mail (email), text messages, chat messages, web logs (blogs), newsgroup postings, etc. are each examples of types of electronic communications, or messages. Although these messages are often important, or even critical, to a sender's profession, education, relationship, happiness or other aspect of life, there is a tendency for senders to draft and send a message quickly. This haste may result in errors, omissions, inclusion of inappropriate or sub-optimal comments or statements, or other unwanted effects.
Even where senders have the best intentions and are mindful of their message composition and sending parameters, the number of features and level of complexity in today's electronic communications can cause mistakes. For example, email systems allow different options such as whether to reply to an original message using only the original message's sender, replying to everyone on the carbon copy (CC) list, using local or global distribution lists, placing some recipients in a blind carbon copy (BCC) list, forwarding the message; adding, deleting or editing names, content and attachments prior to sending, changing the order of name listing, sending to multiple email addresses or aliases for a same person, etc. There are many other options associated with sending an email message and each option can lead to multiple possible parameters or values.
Thus, a sender may fail to consider all the necessary options or characteristics, or may make a mistake in handling a message characteristic, thereby sending an electronic communication that does not achieve an intended result.

Checking electronic messages for compliance with user intent


A high purity aqueous solution of hydroxylamine product is prepared by treating an aqueous solution of hydroxylammonium salt with a base like ammonia at low temperatures. A novel process can be carried out by separating the ammonium salt side product from hydroxylamine with a low temperature filtration and a resin-exchange process. The concentration of the hydroxylamine product is further improved by a safe distillation process that produces a high purity and high concentration hydroxylamine product with reduced risks of explosion.

The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of a high purity and high concentration aqueous solutions of hydroxylamine. Hydroxylamine free base (hereinafter H2NOH, HA or HAFB) is a specialty chemical widely used in the pharmaceutical, agricultural chemical and electronic industries. Potential applications of HA-related chemicals are also possible in automotive, aerospace industries and as an oxidant for various formulations in liquid propellants.
Since its introduction by Nissin Chemical Co., Ltd. of Japan in the early 1970, the commercial product has been shipped as a 50% aqueous solution for more than 30 years now. The rapid growth of the use of HA in the semiconductor industry accounts for the increase of the market demand in the recent years. A double-digit growth in 2003 has been projected by a marketing study. In addition, a successful commercialization of the HA-related liquid propellants for air bags and a monopropellant thruster will, for sure, increases the demand in the market further.
There are three basic manufacturing technologies that have been disclosed in the patent literature:                Reaction of a base with a hydroxylamine salt (neutralization process);        Ion-exchange process;        Electrochemical process.
In the neutralization process, once the free base is liberated, the process involves additional steps to achieve a 50% concentration product and with extremely high purity. These additional process steps include:                Separation and removal of side products;        Concentration of the hydroxylamine to a desired concentration level; and        Purification of the product to a purity required for the intended applications.
Depending on the applications in different industries, the desired and sometimes required metal impurity levels, especially those of transition metals such as iron, cobalt, chromium, can vary from hundreds of ppm to several ppb. Furthermore, the stability of a hydroxylamine product depends on temperature, hydroxylamine concentration, metal impurity levels and other factors. Therefore, the concentration and purification process chosen for producing the desired product specification is extremely critical.
Many attempts have been disclosed by various inventors for the preparation of hydroxylamine using hydroxylamine salts with various bases.
For example, DE-A-3528463 discloses the neutralization with calcium, strontium, or barium hydroxide. The removal of finely divided alkaline earth metal sulfate side products presents considerable difficulties. In addition, calcium sulfate side product has a relatively high solubility, thus it cannot be totally removed by filtration. Strontium hydroxide and barium hydroxide are highly priced and known to be quite toxic.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,472,679 describes a process for the preparation of hydroxylamine by reacting a hydroxylamine sulfate (HAS) solution with a suitable base at up to 60° C. The resulting mixture is distilled to dryness under reduced pressure at <65° C. During the distillation, the metal impurity concentration increases along with the HA concentration, thus risking the danger of explosion.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,956,168, DE-A-1247282, and EP-A-108294 disclose a process in which alcoholic solutions of free hydroxylamine are obtained by reacting hydroxylammonium sulfate with ammonia in an alcohol solvent followed by removing the precipitated ammonium sulfate side product. However, owing to the flammability of the alcohol solutions and the high expense in recovery of the alcohol solvents, this process is difficult to be commercialized at a large scale.
DE-A-3601803 describes the use of lower alcohol solvents. The precipitated ammonium sulfate side product is separated, water is added and the alcohol is distilled off from the solution. Again, the flammability of the lower alcohol solvents and the instability of the hydroxylamine prohibit the industrial application of the process.
WO97/22551 discloses a process by which a solution, resulting from neutralization of HAS with a suitable base, is separated into an aqueous hydroxylamine fraction and a salt solution by distillation at a temperature above 80° C. (stripping). The HA fraction is further concentrated in a distillation column. With a strong base such as sodium hydroxide, a complete neutralization is obtained. However, the ready decomposition of HA, its sensitizing effect, and the tendency of sodium sulfate to cake make the process difficult to practice industrially.
The use of aqueous ammonium hydroxide as a base would have two major advantages over sodium hydroxide: i) lower cost, and ii) no metal contamination. However, ammonium hydroxide is a relatively weak base, only 60-70% conversion is observed under the above stripping procedure. Therefore, the use of ammonium hydroxide is not viable with the stripping method of WO 97/22551.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,299,734 B1 discloses a process by which the hydroxylammonium salt in an aqueous phase is treated with ammonia by a countercurrent method and at the same time the solution obtained is separated into an aqueous hydroxylamine solution and a salt fraction by stripping with steam in a stripping/reaction column. In a particularly preferred embodiment, the neutralization of hydroxylamine salt with ammonia is carried out by the countercurrent method and the stripping of the hydroxylamine from the salt solution is effected in combination with partial concentration of the hydroxylamine solution in only one column, i.e. a stripping/reaction/distillation column. The process improves over the simple stripping process by increasing the yield of hydroxylamine from about 60% to 90%. However, the stripping/reaction/distillation process employs substantial amount of steam. Not only the energy cost on the steam used is high, additional energy is also required to concentrate the hydroxylamine product because of low hydroxylamine concentrations produced from the process to avoid the hydroxylamine decomposition when exposed to >80° C. temperature during the manufacturing process.

Preparation of a high purity and high concentration hydroxylamine free base


The present invention provides a multilayer composite sliding material with excellent seizure resistance property having a steel plate or a steel plate having surfaces plated with copper or the like; a bond layer having a thickness of 0.05 to 0.5 mm, formed on the steel plate, and made of a sintered powder material consisting of 5 to 16% Sn, 0 to 15% Pb, 0 to 0.5% P and balance essentially Cu; and an alloy layer having a thickness of 0.1 to 1.0 mm, formed on the bond layer, and made of a sintered powder material consisting of 5 to 16% Sn, 1 to 12% MoS.sub.2 and balance essentially Cu. In a modified form of the alloy layer, not more than 20% Pb, not more than 1% P or not more than 12% Ni may be added. MoS.sub.2 powder may be coated with Cu or Ni.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a composite sliding material suitably applicable to a bush, a washer and the like in an automobile, an industrial machine, an agricultural machine and the like, and particularly to a composite sliding material having excellent seizure resistance property in a boundary lubrication state under severe lubrication conditions, as compared with conventional materials.
2. Description of the Related Art
A sintered copper alloy such as bronze, lead bronze, graphite-containing bronze or the like is mainly used for the bush, the washer or the like. Such an alloy exhibits the sliding ability in its own way under the conditions of use in which lubricant oil is present.
However, the alloy is particularly inferior in its seizure resistance property and thus does not exhibits a satisfactory sliding ability in a boundary lubrication region.
Although the bronze, lead bronze or graphite-containing bronze is generally widely used as a material having excellent seizure resistance property, there is a demand for a sliding material having more excellent seizure resistance property than that of a conventional material with a recent increase in the performance of an internal combustion engine.

Multilayer composite sliding material having excellent seizure resistance property


Provided is a method of manufacturing a cylindrically shaped article, wherein a thermoplastic layer is formed on the surface of the cylindrically shaped article precisely and at low cost. To achieve this, the outer peripheral surface of a cylindrically shaped article supported on a columnar member is coated with particles of a thermoplastic resin, a tubular molding member is fitted on the cylindrically shaped article coated with a film of the particles of thermoplastic resin, and at least the columnar member is then heated to calcine the thermoplastic resin film.

This invention relates to an annular, tubular, columnar, ring-shaped and belt-shaped cylindrical article such as a conveyor belt used to convey precision parts to a predetermined location while maintaining a high degree of positional accuracy, or a sealed package for packaging and accommodating an article. The invention further relates to a method of manufacturing the cylindrical article. The principal field in which the invention is utilized resides in application of the article as the functional component of an image forming apparatus.
More particularly, the invention provides a method of forming a fluoroplastic film on a tubular film used as a cylindrically shaped article and relates to use of this article as a fixing member for image formation.
The following methods of forming a fluoroplastic film on the inner peripheral surface or outer peripheral surface of an article (especially a tubular film made of resin) having a cylindrical shape are known in art:
(1) A method of applying a coating by a process such as spray coating or dip coating for applying fluoroplastic particles or a solution in which fluoroplastic particles have been dispersed, drying the solvent and applying heating to calcine the fluoroplastic film.
(2) A method of covering the outer side of a cylindrically shaped body with a heat-shrinkable fluoroplastic tube and then heating the entirety.
Further, the following method has been proposed previously by the applicant:
(3) A method of winding a sheet-like film consisting of a thermoplastic resin and a sheet-like film consisting of a fluoroplastic on a columnar member in such a manner that the leading and trailing edges of the films overlap, fitting a tubular member over the two-layered film thus wound, subsequently heating the whole to bond the overlapping portions of the films and fuse the film layers, thereby obtaining a tubular film comprising the two layers, namely the fluoroplastic film layer and the base layer.
By making the coefficient of thermal expansion of the columnar member larger than that of the tubular member, the gap between them diminishes when heating is applied, the step or difference in level at the overlapping portions vanishes and a uniform film thickness is achieved over the entire circumference. In addition, controlling the gap makes it possible to control the overall film thickness at will.
However, the examples of the prior art mentioned above certain disadvantages. Specifically, in method (1) of applying a coating of the fluoroplastic particles, drying the coating and then calcining the same, it is required that a high temperature be maintained for a prescribed period of time when the fluoroplastic is calcined. For example, the temperature is on the order of 400.degree. C. for PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) and 350.degree. C. for PFA (a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoroalkyl vinyl ether). In a case where a resin is used as the base, it is required that this exhibit resistance to heat. Further, even if the resin is capable of withstanding the high temperatures cited above, the resin undergoes heat deterioration, deformation caused by relaxation of internal stress and surface roughness due to the formation of bubbles caused by water content.
Difficulties similar to those encountered in method (1) also arise with the method (2), in which use is made of the fluoroplastic tube covering.
Further, in a case where the fluoroplastic tube or fluoroplastic film sheet is used, as in methods (2) and (3) above, and a fluoroplastic layer having a thickness of less than 20 .mu.m is formed, it is required that the tube or sheet have a corresponding thickness. However, manufacturing such a tube or sheet is difficult.
Many fluoroplastic tubes and sheets currently available on the market have a thickness of greater than 20 .mu.m. Manufacturing tubes or sheets having a smaller thickness raises cost and results in an article of higher price.

Cylindrically shaped article, method of manufacturing same and film for image forming apparatus


A computer-implemented security system and method provides signature pathway authentication and identification. The system and method include establishing a user-defined cognitive signature pathway through multiple graphical zones of a graphical user interface. The signature pathway enables authorized user access to an otherwise secured location. Subsequent entries of the signature pathway entered via the graphical user interface are then validated. For all valid entries of the signature pathway, user access is allowed to the secured location.

The need for secure access to electronic data, information, and systems continues to grow exponentially. The mobile device and tablet markets have seen explosive growth in recent months/years. These touch-driven devices are now capable of accessing the same private information that a desktop computer can. They can hold personal email, banking information, pass codes and pin numbers, and more. In exemplary embodiments, the present technology is a computer-driven system and method for user authentication and identification enabling authorized user access to this information and other normally "locked" data, information, and systems.
The exemplary technology may be applicable in a wide variety of markets relating to, for example, social networking, such as Facebook® and Twitter®, garage door operation, POS (Point of Sale), POS software, cabinets, drawers, closets, doors, lockers, bike security locks, narcotic boxes-security, mirror, seat, radio, television settings, memory development, memory games, drunk driving testing and memory/physical therapy, e-commerce, home automation, fuel pump operation, fast food drive-thru, banking drive-thru, gate access, medical equipment, firearms, machine operation, automotive operation-starting/entry via direct and/or wireless device input, locks, safes, battery charging operation, nuclear inspection, passport, airport security, domestic and international travel, medical records and medical equipment operation, entertainment/gaming, golf cart operation, military security, medical records, e-commerce, DNA (deoxyribonucleic), IQ testing, and biometrics, such as fingerprint, finger index ratio, finger/hand width/length/size, facial recognition, iris recognition, video recognition, voice recognition, writing analysis, muscle memory recognition, neurological development for medical purposes, children education and development, lock out of browsers for users such as children, enhancements of existing applications such as mapping, directions or games, multiple user security for co authorization/approval, genetics and hereditary purposes. Embodiments of the present disclosure may also be combined with emerging technologies such as, RFID (Radio Frequency Identification) both active and passive technologies, wireless technologies such as Wi-Fi, Wi-Max, Bluetooth, ZIGBEE, and Z-Wave.
Despite the advances of touch and multi-touch input technologies, authentication methods are still generally cumbersome and difficult to reproduce with the same degree of speed, accuracy and security that a desktop computer user is accustomed to with traditional alpha-numeric authentication schemes. In exemplary embodiments, the present technology involves muscle memory and may promote the emergence of signature analysis applications. The present disclosure may utilize microprocessors, e-squared memory, and software/firmware for analyzing weighted/value dot matrix (dots) with capacitive and resistive touchscreen technology.

System and method for signature pathway authentication and identification


Each of information on user characteristic and information on game content characteristic is arranged as position information using two or more parameters on the same coordinate system. The contents are divided into a plurality of content groups. Upon reception of an information search request from a user, a distance between the position corresponding to the user characteristic and the position of the center of gravity of each content group is obtained unless the target content condition is decided. When the target content condition is decided, a distance between the segment connecting the user position with the content position selected as the target and the position of center of gravity of each content group is obtained. Not only the content contained in the group approximating the user characteristic or the target content but also the content contained in a comparatively approximating group is presented to the user as a selection candidate according to the obtained distance.

In a case of specifying information which matches with a purpose from a vast amount of data present in a database, network or the like, a search engine to search for information by designating a keyword or the like is generally used. However, with simple designation of a keyword, there may be a huge amount of information hit, so that the search engine cannot narrow down information wanted by the user. As a more efficient method of narrowing down information, there has been proposed a retrieval method which uses the composition of a user who makes a search, such as the behavior history or interest.
Patent Document 1 discloses a technique capable of specifying information which reflects the behavior pattern or interest of a user by grasping the profile of the user and information to be searched as vectors having coordinate values and narrowing down information based on the similarity of vectors. With the use of Patent Document 1, when a user searches for books at a book sales site, for example, it is possible to present the user with information relating to recommendable books which reflect the purchase history of the user.
Patent Document 2 discloses a technique capable of selecting information close to the interest of a user by creating a database reflecting the interest of the user and reflecting information stored in the database on narrowing down information. With the use of Patent Document 2, even a beginner of information search or a user who does not have enough knowledge about information to be searched can easily obtain a search result close to what the user desires.
The retrieval methods that use the behavior history or interest of a user are effective for the user to quickly get information needed. In a case where the intention of a user is clear, such as a business purpose or a learning purpose, the use of those methods can allow information to be efficiently specified. When a user tries to search for contents for entertainment, such as game software, it is not always the case that the intention of the user is clear, so that the use of the aforementioned retrieval methods with priority given only to efficiency may lose the entertainment.
For example, there is a case where a user is not intended to play a particular game when he/she wants to enjoy a game in free time by connecting a cellular phone to a network. There is a case where a user wants recommendation of game software the user may prefer from game softwares downloadable from a server. In such a case, the server may mechanically match downloadable game softwares with data relating to the preference of the user and recommend game softwares with high matching in order. If the intention of the user is vague, however, recommendation of game softwares which do not match with the preference but may give appeal, rather than listing game softwares with similar inclination, increases the unexpectedness of recommended game softwares, resulting in higher entertainment.
In a case where a user searches for contents with a specific intention, the server likewise may rather recommend contents of a category which do not belong to a category closest to the user's intention but have some kind of relation with the user's preference, than recommend contents closer to the user's intention in order. In this case, the user can get to contents which the user has not noticed as his or her preference so far, and the unexpectedness of recommended game softwares increases, thus resulting in higher entertainment.
A user can retrieve unexpected and entertaining information as contents which do not match with the direct searching purpose or the preference of the user within a range relating to the user's preference are selected and recommended while basically narrowing down contents which would be recommended according to the user's searching intention or preference. The user can enjoy retrieving unexpected and entertaining information as if the user stopped by interesting shops on the way to the destination and enjoyed window shopping.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2001-265808
Patent Document 2: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2003-58571

Retrieval method for contents to be selection candidates for user


A multi-gas/gas-mixture or liquid flow sensor apparatus utilizing a specific media calibration capability. The flow sensor can be coupled with an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) that incorporates a signal conditioner and a memory module. The signal conditioner provides a high order calibration and signal processing of flow signals from the sensor to a processed signal output representative of the flow. The processed signal output can be stored in the memory module. A correction factor can be calculated and stored in the memory module in response to the stored values of the processed signal output, which tends to linearize the relationship between the flow rate and the processed signal output of a measuring system. The correction factor and/or the processed signal output provided by the signal conditioner can be utilized by the measuring system.

Flow sensors are utilized in a variety of fluid-sensing applications for detecting the movement of fluids, which may be in gaseous (e.g., air) or liquid form. A gas mass flow sensor is one example of a flow sensor. Examples of gas sensing applications utilizing mass gas flow sensors include anesthesia gas mixers employed in medical applications, high-end welding equipment utilized in industrial applications, and gas chromatography detectors and controllers implemented in instrumentation applications. Typical sensor instrumentation utilized in such applications includes, for example, one or more simultaneous measurand to make calculations for sensor measurement. This is currently achieved by either using multiple sensors with different addresses or a single sensor with a complex system level calibration selection that utilizes a conditioning microcontroller or a PLC (Programmable Logic Controller).
Flow sensors inherently produce a nonlinear output signal in response to gaseous or liquid flow through the sensor. Such nonlinear output signals are dependent upon many factors, such as temperature coefficients of resistance with respect to the utilized sensing element, thermal transfer characteristics of the media being measured and the media of the transducer, and the mechanical dimensions of a flow path.
Signal conditioning circuits are often utilized as an interface in a signal conditioning unit to convert a basic flow signal received from a data source into a more usable output signal. Signal conditioning circuits can be utilized in association with flow sensors to receive a non-linear flow signal and convert the basic flow signal into an output voltage utilized by a control system. Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) components have been developed for conditioning sensor input signals and such ASIC's offer a wide variety of programming options that can be specifically tailored to match the characteristics of the particular sensor technology.
The majority of prior art sensing applications possess limited sensing and signal conditioning capabilities. Such sensing applications utilize multiple sensors, complex calibration routines and expensive micro-controllers/PLCs to condition basic flow signals from the sensor, regardless of the quantity being measured by the sensor. This approach results in a complex system calibration, which leads to an increase in processing time and often produces inaccurate results. Additionally, the installation costs for packaging individual sensors for such application increases, which further enlarges the size of the final sensor package.
Based on the foregoing it is believed that a need exists for an improved multi-gas flow sensor utilizing a combi sensor with gas calibration capability as described in greater detail herein. A need also exists for an improved signal conditioning circuit that is capable of conditioning the basic flow signal output from different types of sensors.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Multi-gas flow sensor with gas specific calibration capability


Techniques reliably provide the switchover from a default MDT to the data MDT by using reliable signaling and reliable building of a data MDT. The message notifying of the pending switchover to the data MDT is reliably sent using signaling that is reliable. Also, the switchover from the default MDT to the data MDT does not happen until all egress routers have responded to the message. Egress routers join the data MDT if associated receivers are interested in receiving the multicast stream from a source. The router does not send another response upstream until all egress routers downstream from it respond to the message in the positive or the negative.

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to networking and more specifically to techniques for reliably switching from a default multicast distribution tree (MDT) to a data MDT for a multicast stream.
A default MDT is a point-to-multipoint tunnel between provider edge (PE) routers. The default MDT may be used in virtual private network (VPN) to provide multicast traffic to receivers. All PE routers for the VPN join the default MDT. Each PE router may be associated with a receiver. When data for a multicast stream is sent, all receivers for the PE routers receive the multicast stream. A receiver receives the multicast stream even if the receiver is not interested in it.
A data MDT may be used to offload the multicast stream to specific receivers that are interested in receiving the multicast stream. This alleviates receivers from being flooded with data they do not wish to receive. When a switchover to a data MDT is desired, a head-end router sends messages to other PE routers on the default MDT indicating that a switchover to a data MDT will be performed for a specific multicast stream. The signaling from the head-end router is unreliable. Thus, some PE routers may not receive the message. However, making the message reliable is not considered necessary because the head-end router may send another message soon after, such as a minute after.
Receivers that are interested in the multicast stream have their associated PE routers send a response indicating that they would like to join the data MDT. A data MDT is then built based on these requests. Thus, the building of the data MDT is receiver-driven. The head-end router does not know when all receivers that are interested in the multicast stream have actually joined the data MDT (or if receivers have even received the notification of the pending switchover). Also, the head-end router may not even know if a data MDT has been set up. Rather, the switchover is performed without any of this knowledge. Accordingly, this may result in lost packets as receivers that are interested in the multicast stream will not receive the multicast stream.

Techniques for reliable switchover to a date multicast distribution tree (MDT)


The present invention provides a system, method, and apparatus for optimally determining, for a layout of windows on a display wall of a display system, the quality of display content to display in each window without exceeding system resources. The display system receives display content from at least one source, at least one of the at least one source providing display content at multiple qualities. Displaying display content uses system resources, and displaying high quality display content uses more system resources than displaying low quality display content. A received layout defines an arrangement of windows on the display wall, each window directed to displaying display content from one source. An objective function defines the quality of display content displayed in each window. The objective function is optimized to determine an optimized layout that does not exceed system resources.

Modern display systems often include display walls composed of sets of display renderers (e.g., monitors, televisions, and/or projectors). Display systems are often assigned a layout that fits a particular usage of the display wall. The layout describes an arrangement of windows with associated sources providing display content at different qualities. Each window defines an area on the display wall in which display content is visualized. Due to the limited system resources of the components of the display system, it is important to manage system resources by selecting the quality of display content in each window of the layout such that the display system is capable of displaying the display content as defined in the layout. For example, in display walls receiving display content streamed over a network from the sources, the display renderers are dependent on and limited by the network to receive the display content sources. In addition, each display renderer has limited capabilities and can only receive and compose a certain amount of display content. A display renderer may, due to its limited capabilities, need to use lower quality display content.
In display systems assigned a small layout including a small number of windows, it may be possible to manually determine the quality of display content to display in each window. However, as the number of windows in a layout increases, it becomes very time consuming and exceedingly difficult to manually determine the quality of display content to display in each window. There is also the possibility that a user may mistakenly exceed system resources (resulting in the display system being incapable of displaying the layout) or assign lower quality display content when the system has available resources to display higher quality display content.


A range-change transmission device includes an input shaft, an intermediate shaft, a countershaft, a transmission output shaft, and a first planetary gear set. A first transmission element of the first planetary gear set is permanently coupled to the intermediate shaft in a rotationally fixed manner. A second transmission element of the first planetary gear set is coupled to the transmission output shaft. A first switching unit is provided to arrange a third transmission element of the first planetary gear set to be fixed to the housing in at least one switching position. The range-change transmission device also includes a second planetary gear set. A third transmission element of the second planetary gear set is permanently coupled to the intermediate shaft in a rotationally fixed manner.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention relate to a range-change transmission device, in particular a power-shiftable transmission, particularly preferably a power-shifted constant mesh transmission.
Range-change transmission devices, in particular power-split transmissions, for commercial vehicles having a rear-mounted assembly in constant mesh constructions, are already known. Switching between the gears created by the gear wheels is possible in a non-disruptive manner in terms of load by means of a front-mounted assembly and combined gear wheels. Analogously to double-coupled transmissions, switching beyond a gear group is not possible without great effort. DE 10 2012 218 367 A1 and DE 10 2013 202 045 A1 both generally disclose such a range-change transmission device.
WO 2007/031193 A1 discloses a range-change transmission device having an input shaft, having an intermediate shaft, having a countershaft, having a transmission output shaft and having a planetary gear set. A first transmission element of the planetary gear set is permanently coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to the intermediate shaft. A second transmission element of the planetary gear set is permanently coupled in a rotationally fixed manner to the transmission output shaft. A third transmission element of the planetary gear set can be arranged to be fixed on the housing or can be coupled to the transmission drive shaft.
Such a range-change transmission devices are known from EP 2 899 428 A1 and the generic WO 2016053167 A1, which, moreover, have a second planetary gear set, by which an element can be coupled to the countershaft.
Exemplary embodiments of the invention are directed to a range-change transmission device having improved power-shiftability.
According to exemplary embodiments, a range-change transmission device includes an input shaft, an intermediate shaft, a countershaft, a transmission output shaft, and a first planetary gear set, wherein a first transmission element of the first planetary gear set is permanently coupled to the intermediate shaft in a rotationally fixed manner, wherein a second transmission element of the first planetary gear set is coupled to the transmission output shaft, and wherein a first switching unit is provided to, in at least one switching position, arrange a third transmission element of the first planetary gear set to be fixed to the housing.
Furthermore, it is assumed that the range-change transmission device has a second planetary gear set, wherein a third transmission element of the secondary planetary gear set is coupled or can be coupled to the intermediate shaft.
The term "coupled" is intended to mean that an element of the range-change transmission device, such as a shaft or a gear, for example, is indirectly or directly connected to another element in manner transferring the torque. The term "rotationally fixed" or the term "rotationally fixed coupling of the one and the other element" is intended to mean that the one element and the other element are arranged coaxially to each other and are fixedly connected to each other in such a way that the one element and the other element rotate during the state of the rotationally fixed coupling at the same angle speed.
Yet a coupling can also be depicted by one or more toothing intrusions or by a transformation ratio step. The term "coupled" thus generally describes a connection, via which a torque can be transferred. In contrast, the term "permanently coupled in a rotationally fixed manner" is limited to a permanently rotationally fixed connection between two elements.
Here, the input shaft is provided for indirect or direct attachment to a combustion engine. Here, the transmission output shaft is provided for indirect or direct attachment to a drive wheel of a motor vehicle.
According to an aspect of the invention, a first transmission element of the second planetary gear set can be coupled to the third transmission element of the first planetary gear set via the countershaft in such a way that a torque, which is to be introduced from the first transmission element of the second planetary gear set via the countershaft into the first planetary gear set, is channeled out of the second planetary gear set at the first transmission element of the second planetary gear set and is introduced into the first planetary gear set at the third transmission element of the first planetary gear set. In doing so, a switch without interrupting the load between gears of different gear groups can advantageously be possible. In order to make this coupling possible, the range-change transmission device has at least one further switching unit.
The arrangement in such a way that a torque can be channeled out of the second planetary gear set at the first transmission element of the second planetary gear set and can be introduced from there via the countershaft at the third transmission element of the first planetary gear set into the first planetary set, is essential for the invention. It is further essential that the first transmission element of the second planetary gear set is the element which is not or cannot be coupled to the intermediate shaft in a rotationally fixed manner and which is also not coupled or cannot be coupled to the intermediate shaft in rotationally fixed manner. In contrast, it is not essential to the invention whether the first transmission element of the second planetary gear set is a sun wheel or a hollow wheel or a planetary carrier. It is known to the person skilled in the art that, with a planetary transmission, the attachment of the elements sun wheel, hollow wheel, planetary carrier, for generating kinematically equivalent whole systems can be swapped.
Furthermore, it is essential for the invention that a moment starting from the countershaft on the element of the first planetary gear set can be introduced into the first planetary gear set, which is not coupled or not able to be coupled to the intermediate shaft in a rotationally fixed manner and also is not coupled or not able to be coupled to the output shaft of the first planetary gear set in a rotationally fixed manner. Here, it is initially not significant whether the third transmission element of the planetary gear set is formed as a hollow wheel or as a planetary carrier or as a sun wheel.
As a result of the device according to the invention, the switching without interrupting the load between gears of different gear groups is advantageously possible.
Here, the first transmission element of the second planetary gear set is particularly advantageously coupled or can be coupled to the countershaft by means of exactly one first transformation ratio step, and the countershaft is coupled or can be coupled to the third transmission element of the first planetary gear set via exactly one second transformation ratio step. In this way, the switchability without interrupting the load between gears of different gear groups can be featured particularly easily and thus robustly, cost-effectively and without friction.
As a result of the embodiment of the range-change transmission device according to the invention, an advantageously good load switchability is provided, in particular. Preferably, a permanently load-switchable constant mesh transmission within a gear group and/or preferably between different gear groups can be implemented by means of the invention. Particularly preferably, a switching without interrupting the load between a lowest gear of a first gear group, in particular high range, and a highest gear of a second gear group, in particular low range, can be achieved.
Preferably, an additional attrition-free starting gear can be generated. Furthermore, a quick switching via a rear-mounted assembly can be implemented without synchronizations and/or lamella couplings. Furthermore, a modular transmission can be advantageously constructed, in particular by a deft combination of several rear-mounted assemblies. A compact construction can be achieved particularly advantageously. Preferably, an optimization of a combustion engine and/or particularly preferably a combination of a combustion engine with an electric engine, in particular as a hybrid transmission, can be made possible. Furthermore, electric driving is particularly preferably possible. Furthermore, a towing power can be reduced and/or efficient down-speeding can be achieved.
"Range-change transmission device" is to be understood, in particular, as at least one part of a range-change transmission. Alternatively, the range-change transmission device can completely form the range-change transmission. The range-change transmission device has, in particular, one main transmission, preferably a main group, which preferably comprises an intermediate shaft. However, it would also be conceivable that the main group is free from an intermediate shaft. The main group can comprise, in particular, a plurality of gears. Preferably, the main assembly is provided for switching a plurality of gears. Advantageously, the range-change transmission device has at least one reducing transmission, particularly advantageously at least two reducing transmissions and particularly preferably a range group and a front-mounted group. Preferably, the range-change transmission device, in particular for HGVs, in particular with a design as a power split group transmission device for allocating a driving moment onto a main shaft and onto at least one countershaft, is provided, wherein the countershaft is recoupled to the main shaft on one end. Preferably, one of the paths has switchable gears, wherein the path with the switchable gears has, in particular, means for reducing or increasing the torque of this route. Preferably, at least one switchable gear and/or its path can be made free from torque via the means, while the other route still transfers the torque. In doing so, a gear switching, in particular, can be made possible without interrupting the torque. "Provided" is to be understood, in particular, as specially designed and/or equipped. The fact that an object is to be provided for a particular function is to be understood to mean that the object fulfils and/or carries out this particular function in at least one usage and/or operating state.
A "planetary gear set" is to be understood, in particular, as a unit of a planetary transmission having a transmission element formed as a sun wheel, having a transmission element formed as a hollow wheel, having a transmission element formed as a planetary gear carrier and having several transmission elements formed as planetary gears, wherein the transmission elements formed as planetary gears of the transmission element formed as a planetary gear carrier are arranged on a circular orbit around the transmission element formed as a sun wheel. "Planetary transmission" is to be understood, in particular, as a unit having at least one planetary gear set, preferably having exactly one planetary gear set. Alternatively, or additionally, the planetary transmission can be formed having multiple stages and can preferably comprise several planetary gear sets.
In particular, a "switching unit" is to be understood as a unit having at least two coupling elements and at least one switching element, which is provided to produce a switchable connection between the at least two coupling elements. Preferably, the switching unit is formed from a switching unit having three coupling elements. A "switching element" of a switching unit is to be understood, in particular, as an element that is preferably formed to be axially shiftable and, in at least one operating state, in particular in at least one switching position of the switching unit, is provided for a rotationally fixed coupling of the at least two coupling elements. A "coupling element" is to be understood, in particular, as an element of the switching unit permanently connected to a transmission element, such as a transmission shaft, an idling wheel, a fixed wheel and/or an axle, for example, in a rotationally fixed manner, the element preferably being axially and radially fixed and being provided, in particular, for a frictionally engaged, force-fit and/or positive locking connection to the switching element, such as an idling wheel, for example, which has a toothing for connecting to the switching element. A "switching unit having three coupling elements" is to be understood, in particular, as a switching unit, in which the switching element is provided to connect a coupling element, in particular an inner coupling element, switchably to respectively at least one of the two other coupling elements or to decouple from these.
Furthermore, it is proposed that the range-change transmission device has a braking unit, which is provided to arrange the first transmission element of the second planetary gear set to be fixed to the housing. The braking unit can be formed, for example, by a toothing fixed to the housing. However, in principle, other formations of the braking unit that seem useful to the person skilled in the art are also conceivable. As a result, an advantageous switchability of the range-change transmission device can be achieved.
According to a further development, the range-change transmission device has a moment adjustment unit, which is coupled to the first transmission element of the second planetary gear set or can be coupled by means of a sixth switching unit in such a way that a torque starting from the moment adjustment unit on the first transmission element of the second planetary gear set can be introduced into the second planetary gear set. In this way, a rotational frequency of the first transmission element of the second planetary gear set can be influenced by means of the moment adjustment unit and thus can carry out changing gear without interrupting the load. With this development, it is essential that the moment adjustment unit can introduce a torque on the transmission element into the second planetary gear set, which is coupled or can be coupled to the input shaft in a non-rotationally fixed manner or to the intermediate shaft in a rotationally fixed manner.
According to a further development, the moment adjustment unit can be coupled to the countershaft via the sixth switching unit and, particularly preferably, additionally via an idling wheel of the intermediate shaft.
A "moment adjustment unit" is to be understood, in particular, as a unit which is provided in at least one operating state for changing a transferred moment. Preferably, the moment adjustment unit can be provided for reducing and/or for increasing a transferred moment. Preferably, the moment adjustment unit is provided in a starting process and/or during a switching process for a change, in particular for a step-free change, of a transformation ratio of the range-change transmission device. Preferably, the moment adjustment unit is provided in at least one operating state for reducing and/or increasing a transferred moment, advantageously in order to receive at least one switchable gear free from a torque.
Particularly preferably, the moment adjustment unit has an electric engine or a hydraulic pump or a retarder or a friction brake or a combination of these. In one embodiment of the moment adjustment unit as an electric engine, the electric engine can be operated as a generator for the purposes of a braking effect. As a result, a constant mesh transmission that can be constantly power-shafted can advantageously be made possible.
In addition, it is proposed that the range-change transmission device has a second switching unit, which is provided to couple the first transmission element of the second planetary gear set to the countershaft in at least one switching position, in particular a first switching position of the second switching unit, in such a way that a torque starting from the second planetary gear set on the first transmission element of the second planetary gear set can be channeled and transferred to the countershaft. In doing so, a switchable power split function can advantageously be achieved. Furthermore, an advantageously good power shiftability can be provided.
Moreover, it is proposed that the second switching unit is provided to interlock the second planetary gear set in at least one further switching position, in particular a second switching position of the switching unit. To do so, the second switching unit can be designed in two parts, wherein a first part is formed for coupling the first transmission element of the second planetary gear set to the countershaft, and a second planetary gear set is formed for interlocking the second planetary gear set.
Here, the second switching unit is particular advantageously formed as a double switching unit, wherein the first part and the second part are arranged adjacently.
In particular, the second switching unit is provided to couple the first transmission element of the second planetary gear set to a second transmission element of the second planetary gear set in a rotationally fixed manner in the second switching position of the second switching unit. In doing so, a direct drive can advantageously be provided.
Moreover, it is proposed that the range-change transmission device has a third switching unit, which is provided to couple the countershaft to the third transmission element of the first planetary gear set in such a way that a torque starting from the countershaft on the third transmission element of the first planetary gear set can be introduced into the third planetary gear set. To do so, the third switching unit can be arranged coaxially to the countershaft or also coaxially to the first planetary gear set.
It is proposed as being particularly advantageous that the third switching unit has a first switching gear arranged permanently rotationally fixed and axially shiftably on the countershaft. In addition, it is proposed that the third transmission element of the first planetary gear set is permanently coupled to a second switching gear in a rotationally fixed manner, with which the first switching gear can engage. As a result, a good power shiftability can advantageously be achieved. Furthermore, a quick switching can advantageously be achieved via a rear-mounted group without phasings and/or lamella couplings.
Furthermore, it is proposed that the second switching unit is arranged axially in front of the second planetary gear set, when viewed in a moment flow direction. In particular, the second switching unit is arranged axially behind a second gear plane, when viewed in the moment flow direction. "Moment flow direction" is to be understood, in particular, as a direction of a transfer of a torque by means of the range-change transmission device. Advantageously, the moment flow direction runs axially from a transmission input side to a transmission output side.
In addition, it is proposed that the braking unit is arranged axially in front of the second switching unit, when viewed in the moment flow direction. The braking unit is advantageously arranged axially behind a coupling, in particular a power shifting coupling, when viewed in the moment flow direction. Furthermore, the braking unit is advantageously arranged axially in front of a first gear plane in the moment flow direction.
Furthermore, it is proposed that the first switching unit is arranged axially between the first planetary gear set and the second planetary gear set. In particular, the first switching unit is arranged axially in front of the sixth gear plane, when viewed in the moment flow direction, and/or behind a fifth gear plane. In doing so, an advantageous range-change transmission device can be provided, in particular. A compact construction can advantageously be achieved.
Moreover, it is proposed that the first switching unit is provided to interlock the first planetary gear set, in at least one further switching position, in particular a first switching position of the first switching unit. To do so, the first switching unit can be formed in two parts, wherein a first part is formed for arranging the third transmission element of the first planetary gear set to be fixed to the housing, and a second part is formed for interlocking the first planetary gear set. Here, the first part and the second part can advantageously be arranged adjacently to each other, such that the first switching unit is advantageously formed as a double switching element.
In particular, the first switching unit is provided to couple the first transmission element of the first planetary gear set to the third transmission element of the first planetary gear set in a rotationally fixed manner in the first switching position of the first switching unit.
In one development of the invention, the first switching element is formed from a switching unit having three coupling elements and/or having three switching positions.
Furthermore, it is proposed that the range-change transmission device has a fourth switching unit provided to couple the intermediate shaft to the countershaft via a gear pair in at least one switching position.
Particularly advantageously, the fourth switching unit is arranged coaxially to the intermediate shaft and is formed to couple a first idling wheel of the intermediate shaft, which is in permanent engagement with the fixed wheel of the countershaft, to the intermediate shaft in a rotationally fixed manner in at least one switching position, in particular a first switching position.
In addition, it is proposed that the fourth switching unit has a neutral switching position and a second switching position and is provided to couple a second idling wheel of the intermediate shaft to the intermediate shaft in a rotationally fixed manner in the second switching position. As a result, several gear ratios can advantageously be achieved.
Furthermore, it is proposed that the first transmission element of the first planetary gear set is formed as a sun wheel. Moreover, it is proposed that the second transmission element of the first planetary gear set is formed as a planetary gear carrier. Furthermore, it is proposed that the third transmission element of the first planetary gear set is formed as a hollow wheel. In addition, it is proposed that the first transmission element of the second planetary gear set is formed as a sun wheel. Furthermore, it is proposed that the third transmission element of the second planetary gear set is formed as a hollow wheel. In particular, the second transmission element of the second planetary gear set is formed as a planetary gear carrier. As a result, an advantageous power shiftability of a range-change transmission device can be achieved.
Finally, a drive train having a drive unit formed as an internal combustion engine and the range-change transmission device according to the invention is proposed, wherein a crank shaft of the internal combustion engine is permanently coupled to the input shaft of the range-change transmission device in a rotationally fixed manner, the moment adjustment unit is coupled or can be coupled to the first transmission element of the second planetary gear set, and the input shaft is permanently connected to the second transmission element of the second planetary gear set in a rotationally fixed manner.
With this proposed drive train, a starting coupling can advantageously be avoided. Therefore, this is generally possible because the drive moment starting from the combustion engine can be introduced into second planetary gear set therein via the second transmission element of the second planetary gear set, simultaneously a braking moment starting from the moment adjustment unit can be introduced into the second planetary gear set via the first transmission element of the second planetary gear set, such that a scalable starting moment can be channeled away from the second planetary gear set via the third transmission element of the second planetary gear set. In general, a drive train is thus depicted that has a particularly performant shiftability, simultaneously a driveability that can be depicted cost-effectively and a high degree of effectiveness because of a reduced weight.


The purpose of the present invention is to operate an engine in a proper operation state while keeping the remaining amount in an electrical storage apparatus within a proper range. Hybrid construction machinery according to the present invention is provided with a controller for controlling an engine according to a governor characteristic having a predetermined inclination that defines a relationship between load torque and rotational speed so that the rotational speed decreases with an increase in the load torque. In the controller, a target engine power calculating unit (2-5) calculates a first target engine power that increases and decreases according to increases and decreases in output values of a load power calculating unit (2-1) and a charge/discharge request calculating unit (2-3), and a target rotational speed calculating unit (2-6) calculates, as a command value for a target rotational speed of a motor generator, a rotational speed at the intersection point of a governor characteristic line changed by a governor characteristic changing unit (2-4) and an equal power line dependent on the first target engine power on a rotating speed-torque characteristic line diagram.

With an aim of saving energy (reducing fuel consumption) and reducing the amount of the exhaust gas (carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, particulate matter, and the like) which is discharged from the engine and becomes a cause of the environmental load, hybrid construction machinery is publicly known which includes a motor generator in addition to an engine as a power source. In order to save energy and to reduce the amount of the exhaust gas that becomes a cause of the environmental load, it is particularly important to operate an engine at a proper operating condition. In hybrid construction machinery, the engine can be operated under a proper operation state by controlling two power sources of the engine and the motor generator so that the power required for a work is properly distributed to hydraulic pumps.
With respect to a method of properly distributing the power of the engine and the motor generator, technologies shown in Patent Literature 1 and Patent Literature 2 are publicly known. In Patent Literature 1, the pump requiring power that is the power required for a hydraulic pump and the engine maximum power that corresponds to the target rotational speed of the engine determined based on the accelerator signal are compared to each other, and excess or deficiency of the engine maximum power relative to the pump requiring power is calculated as the motor generator power. Further, by correcting the motor generator power according to the deviation relative to the engine speed caused by the difference between the calculation value and the actual value of the pump requiring power, power distribution between the engine and the motor generator is achieved.
Further, in Patent Literature 2, a method is shown which determines the power distribution between the engine and the motor generator based on the actuator requiring power which is the power required by the actuator, the charging power according to the charging amount set in the direction of keeping the charging amount of the electrical storage apparatus within a constant range, and the engine power set according to the generating power and the charging amount of the electrical storage apparatus.

Hitachi Construction Machinery Co., Ltd.


Systems and methods for performing a rake-finger operation on a vector processor are described herein. In one embodiment, a method for rake-finger processing comprises loading samples from a register into an execution unit, performing a rake-finger operation on the samples in the execution unit, and writing results from the rake-finger operation to the register. Performing the rake-finger operation comprises performing a finite impulse response (FIR) filter operation, and performing a despread operation, wherein filtered samples from the FIR filter operation are input to the despread operation without going through the register.

1. Field
Aspects of the present disclosure relate generally to vector processors, and more particularly, to rake-finger operations on vector processors.
2. Background
A vector processor may be used to accelerate processing of baseband signals (e.g., in a wireless device) by performing arithmetic and logic operations on data vectors, in which each data vector comprises a set of data samples. A vector processor may comprise reconfigurable data paths, logic and arithmetic devices (e.g., adders, multiplexers, accumulators, etc.) that can be programed to perform various vector operations on data vectors.

Instruction and method for fused rake-finger operation on a vector processor


A display device. A display device comprises a body and a movable portion. The body comprises a display panel. The movable portion is rotatably disposed on the body, movable between a first position and a second position. When the movable portion is at the first position, the movable portion is closed on the body, covering and protecting the display panel. When the movable portion rotates a predetermined angle from the first position to the second position, the movable portion becomes a supporting member, to support the body in an upright position.

The invention relates to display devices, and in particular to display devices with a movable portion, acting as a cover and a supporting member.
Display devices, such as TVs, liquid crystal displays, and notebook screens, have become thin and light due to innovation. Not only are size and quality required, convenience and delicate appearance are also important for customers.
A liquid crystal display, for example, is often used in an office or home work area. Some users may like to move the display to any place he or she likes. Since the conventional display is heavy and fragile, it is not well suited to use as a mobile device. Thus, it is may be inconvenient for most users to carry when traveling. Additionally, the conventional display does not have any protection against damage due to collision during transport.


An electrodeionization apparatus is provided, in which enough electric current flows even when voltage applied between the electrodes is low, thereby sufficiently performing deionization. A single first cation exchange membrane, a single anion exchange membrane, a single second cation exchange membrane are arranged between a cathode and an anode so that a concentration-cathode compartment, a desalting compartment, a concentrating compartment, and an anode compartment are formed, in this order, between the cathode and the anode. The concentration-cathode compartment and the anode compartment are filled with a cation exchange resin, respectively. The desalting compartment is filled with a mixture of the cation exchange resin and an anion exchange resin. Fed into the anode compartment is raw water or deionized water. Water from the anode compartment is sent to the concentrating compartment and the concentration-cathode compartment sequentially.

Conventional electrodeionization apparatus has a structure in which a plurality of cation exchange membranes and a plurality of anion exchange membranes are alternately arranged between electrodes (anode and cathode) in such a manner as to alternately form desalting compartments and concentrating compartments and the desalting compartments are filled with ion exchange resin. In the electrodeionization apparatus, water to be treated is introduced into the desalting compartments and concentrated water is introduced into the concentrating compartments while voltage is applied between the cathode and the anode so that impurity ions are removed from the water to be treated, thereby producing deionized water.
Since the desalting compartments and the concentrating compartments are alternately formed between the cathode and the anode in the conventional electrodeionization apparatus, electric resistance between the cathode and the anode is large and the voltage applied between the cathode and the anode is high. In addition, calcium carbonate scale is sometimes generated on ion exchange membranes in the concentrating compartments due to Ca2+ and components (CO2, HCO3−) in raw water.
The first object of the present invention is to provide an electrodeionization apparatus which is suitably employed in case of small amount of deionized water as product water and in which the voltage applied between electrodes is low and scale is hardly generated.


A method of performing microbeam radiosurgery on a patient whereby target tissue within a patient is irradiated with high energy electromagnetic radiation via one or more microbeam envelopes with photons having respective energy magnitudes in excess of 200 keV, and maximum defined beam widths sufficiently narrow to yield a biological damage width which does not exceed a predetermined value.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to methods for performing radiosurgery on a patient using microbeam radiation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Nearly two decades ago, a radiosurgery method was patented by Slatkin et al. (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,339,347, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference). This radiosurgery method employs sub-millimeter beams of X-rays, termed microbeams. An advantageous feature of this radiosurgery technique is that the microbeams, while successfully destroying targeted diseased tissue, do not destroy the functionality of normal healthy tissue surrounding the target. Scientific studies using cell cultures and animal models show that although the normal tissue cells directly in the path of a microbeam are destroyed, the region of destruction is sufficiently small in width that the adjacent normal tissue is capable of healing the damaged region (see Dilmanian et al., Experimental Hematology, Vol. 35, 2007, pp. 69-77, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference). Normal tissue heals when microbeams are less than 700 um in size (see Dilmanian et al., Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 103, 2006, pp. 9709-9714, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference). Diseased tissue is destroyed by cross firing from other directions, thereby creating sufficiently broad regions of damage that a healing response by adjacent tissue cannot be mounted.
Unfortunately, the great promise of microbeam radiosurgery has yet to be realized. There are two major problems. First, the only source of microbeam radiation capable of providing sufficient dose rate for radiosurgery until now has been a synchrotron. A synchrotron is a very large and expensive device. The synchrotron source which has been used for most microbeam radiosurgery studies is the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility located in Grenoble, France. The storage ring associated with this synchrotron is 300 m in diameter, and the facility cost approximately $900 M to construct. These characteristics of a synchrotron source are prohibitive.
This first problem is likely to be resolved by a new type of radiation source which utilizes the physical phenomenon of inverse Compton scattering to generate high energy X-ray photons. Such a source promises to provide the necessary dose rate, while requiring a much smaller footprint (less than 5 m in diameter) and much lower cost to construct (approximately $15 M) than a synchrotron (see Adler et al., U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/453,338, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference).
The second problem with conventional microbeam radiosurgery is the restriction of the X-ray photons comprising the microbeams to energies less than 200 keV. This restriction arises from the requirement that the dose deposition in tissue have a lateral profile (i.e., a profile in a direction orthogonal to the direction of beam propagation) with very sharp edges; that is, the lateral energy deposition in tissue must fall from the peak value abruptly (see Dilmanian et al., Experimental Hematology, cited above).
Referring to FIG. 1, the percentage lateral dose profile 10 in tissue required by conventional microbeam radiosurgery is shown. (Note: A percentage dose profile is obtained from a dose profile by dividing the dose at all positions by the maximum dose in the profile, and multiplying by 100.) It is preferred that the transition 14 from the peak dose value 12 to the valley dose value 16 have an 80% to 20% fall length of no more than a few tens of microns.
A percentage lateral dose profile such as shown in FIG. 1 requires incident photons of less than 200 keV because of the physical process known as Compton scattering. Compton scattering is the primary mechanism by which incident X-ray photons with energies between 100 keV and 10 MeV interact with the atoms comprising the tissues of a patient.
Referring to FIG. 2, the physical phenomenon of Compton scattering is shown. When a high energy photon 20 collides with a low energy atomic electron 22, the result is an ionized high energy electron 24 and a scattered reduced energy photon 26. Most energy deposition within the tissue of a patient is a result of secondary collisions of the high energy electron 24 with other atoms in the patient. The higher the initial energy of the electron 24, the farther the electron 24 can travel. In order to keep the width of energy deposition less than a few tens of microns within the patient, the incident X-ray photon 20 must have energy less than 200 keV.
Referring to FIG. 3, the percentage lateral dose profile associated with a 200 keV incident X-ray beam is shown. The percentage lateral flux profile 31 of the incident X-ray beam in air before striking the patient is extremely sharp, having a transition region 35 with an 80% to 20% fall length of 5 um. The associated percentage lateral dose profile 30 at a depth of 1 cm in the patient is also relatively sharp, having a transition region 34 from the peak dose value 32 to the valley dose value 36 with an 80% to 20% fall length of 25 um. (The percentage lateral dose profile 30 is obtained from Monte Carlo calculations of the Compton scattering process in water, which is a good model for the tissues of a patient.)
Referring to FIG. 4, the percentage lateral dose profile associated with a 400 keV incident X-ray beam is shown. The percentage lateral flux profile 41 of the incident X-ray beam in air before striking the patient is again very sharp, having a transition region 45 with an 80% to 20% fall length of 5 um. The associated percentage lateral dose profile 40 at a depth of 1 cm in the patient is not sharp, however, having a transition region 44 from the peak dose value 42 to the valley dose value 46 with an 80% to 20% fall length of 110 um.
Referring to FIG. 5, the percentage lateral dose profile associated with a 2 MeV incident X-ray beam is shown. The percentage lateral flux profile 51 of the incident X-ray beam in air before striking the patient is sharp, having a transition region 55 with an 80% to 20% fall length of 5 um. The associated percentage lateral dose profile 50 at a depth of 1 cm in the patient is very broad, having a transition region 54 from the peak dose value 52 to the valley dose value 56 with an 80% to 20% fall length of 275 um.
Requiring X-ray photon energies to be less than 200 keV results in insufficient dose to tissues deep within a patient. Such low energy photons are quickly absorbed by tissues near the surface of the body.
Referring to FIG. 6, the percentage dose profiles along the direction of beam propagation (i.e., in the direction of depth into the patient) for various X-ray photon energies are shown. The percentage depth dose profiles 62, 64, and 66 are those of X-ray photons of 200 keV, 400 keV, and 2 MeV, respectively. For all curves, the beam physical size is 500 um in diameter. It can be seen from FIG. 6 that the 2 MeV beam penetrates much deeper into a patient than the 200 keV and 400 keV beams. In general, the higher the photon energy, the deeper the beam penetrates into a patient.


A rotary-machine control device includes: a connection switching device switching a connection state of stator windings of a rotary machine; a current detection unit detecting a rotary machine current flowing in the rotary machine; a voltage application unit applying voltage to the rotary machine; a control unit generating a voltage command provided to the voltage application unit and outputting a switching command to switch the connection state to the connection switching device; and an open-phase determination unit determining presence or absence of disconnection in the rotary machine or presence or absence of disconnection of a power distribution line to the rotary machine. During rotation of the rotary machine, the control unit outputs the switching command and the open-phase determination unit determines presence or absence of disconnection.

For the purpose of extending the range of the operation frequency of motors, increasing the output torque, and the like, conventionally used motors can, for example, switch the stator windings of the motors between a star connection and a delta connection and change the number of turns of the stator windings. To improve the efficiency, a device is used that switches the connection state of the stator windings of a motor during operation. To determine whether the switching operation has been successfully completed, this device needs to determine the connection state while the motor is rotating.
Patent Literature 1 discloses a technique for a rotor drive system that determines whether the connection state of the stator windings has been switched. The rotor drive system disclosed in Patent Literature 1 compares the ratios between the induced voltage and the rotational speed before and after switching of the stator windings during rotation of the motor, determines that the switching has been successfully performed if the ratio between the induced voltage and the rotational speed is different before and after the switching, and determines that the switching is not performed if the difference in the ratio between the induced voltage and the rotational speed before and after the switching is small.

Rotary-machine control device, refrigerant compression apparatus, and air conditioner


A method, a device, and a non-transitory storage medium are described in which multi-tiered networks and resource utilization-based provisioning service is provided. A multi-tiered mobile edge computing network that includes multiple mobile edge computing networks that are multi-tiered based on distance from a network edge includes a network device that selects a location to provision an application service for an end device based on a total resource utilization value and a performance metric associated with one or multiple candidate mobile edge computing networks.

Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) (also known as mobile edge computing) is being explored in which core network capabilities (e.g., computational, storage, etc.) are situated at the network edge to improve latency and reduce traffic being sent to a core network. Additionally, other technologies, such as cloud computing, software defined networking (SDN), etc., are also being explored to provision services and applications to various end devices and end users.

Method and system for service provisioning based on multi-tiered networks and resource utilization


A method and congestion controller for controlling congestion in a sector of a cellular telecommunication network that is limited by available downlink transmit power. The network includes a plurality of radio links between a radio base station and User Equipments (UEs) operating in the sector. The controller may first reduce the power of a first subset of the radio links by reducing the packet-switched (PS) downlink target Block Error Rate (BLER) Quality. If the congestion is not resolved within a defined time period, the power of a second subset of the radio links may be reduced by reducing the circuit-switched (CS) DL target BLER Quality. If reducing the PS and CS downlink target BLER Quality does not resolve the congestion, the invention may then implement an existing method of releasing non-guaranteed Air Interface Speech Equivalents (ASEs) and then guaranteed ASEs if required.

The present invention relates to radio telecommunication systems. More particularly, and not by way of limitation, the present invention is directed to a method and a congestion controller for controlling congestion in a sector of a cellular telecommunication network that is limited by available downlink transmit power.
When excessive traffic in a cellular telecommunication network results in congestion control, the downlink (DL) data rate may be reduced to a lowest retainable rate in an attempt to reduce the congestion level below a stipulated threshold level. If this is not successful, some of the existing calls may be preempted based on their relative priorities and service types. In the current implementation, when congestion is detected, certain non-guaranteed traffic class connections referred to as Air Interface Speech Equivalents (ASEs) are released at periodic intervals followed by Guaranteed ASEs until the congestion is resolved. In an ASE, normally different services like video calls, High Speed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA) calls, and the like are converted to one unique service like a speech call. This process typically results in a certain number of non-guaranteed as well as guaranteed calls being released, which may not create a good customer experience.
FIG. 1 is a graph of downlink transmit carrier power as a function of time when implementing an existing method of congestion control in a cellular telecommunication network. A first time period (tmInitialG) 11 is the minimum time period after detection of downlink (DL) cell congestion before congestion resolution actions are initiated on guaranteed ASEs in a cell. Only non-guaranteed ASEs are released during the tmInitialG time period. The tmInitialG period may vary between 10 msec to 100,000 msec (100 seconds). A default setting of 3,000 msec (3 seconds) is a reference case setting. The actual setting can deviate from the default setting depending on the required speed to resolve the DL cell congestion situation and the characteristics of the non-guaranteed traffic class services in the network.
A second time period (tmCongActionNg) 12 is the interval between periodic congestion resolution actions on the non-guaranteed ASEs in a cell. The tmCongActionNg period may vary between 500 msec to 100,000 msec (100 seconds). A default setting of 800 msec is a reference case setting. The actual setting can deviate from the default setting depending on the required speed to resolve the DL cell congestion situation and the characteristics of the non-guaranteed traffic class services in the network.
A first parameter (releaseAseDINg) 13 is the number of non-guaranteed ASEs in the DL to be released with each periodic congestion resolution action targeting non-guaranteed ASEs in a cell. The releaseAseDINg parameter may vary between 0 and 500 ASEs. A default setting of 3 ASEs is a reference case setting. The actual setting can deviate from the default setting depending on the required speed to resolve the DL cell congestion situation and the characteristics of the non-guaranteed traffic class services in the network.
Following the expiration of the tmInitialG time period 11, the process may release guaranteed ASEs. A second parameter (releaseAseDI) 14 is the number of guaranteed ASEs in the DL to be released with each periodic congestion resolution action targeting guaranteed ASEs in a cell. The releaseAseDI parameter may vary between 0 and 500 ASEs. A default setting of 1 ASE is a reference case setting. The actual setting can deviate from the default setting depending on the required speed to resolve the DL cell congestion situation and the characteristics of the guaranteed traffic class services in the network.
A third time period (tmCongAction) 15 is the interval between periodic congestion resolution actions on the guaranteed ASEs in a cell. The tmCongAction period may vary between 300 msec to 100,000 msec (100 seconds). A default setting of 2,000 msec (2 seconds) is a reference case setting. The actual setting can deviate from the default setting depending on the required speed to resolve the DL cell congestion situation and the characteristics of the guaranteed traffic class services in the network.
As can be seen, both non-guaranteed and guaranteed services are released in order of priority by releasing ASEs periodically to resolve congestion.

Dynamic congestion control for power-blocking sectors in a radio telecommunication network


The invention relates to an energy system for watercraft, comprising at least one fuel cell module (6,7,8,9), preferably (a H2O2 fuel cell module, by which at least one electric drive (17) and at least one electrical consumer are supplied with electric energy via a supply network. Said electrical drive (17) is an AC drive that is connected to a DC network (2) of the supply network via at least one power inverter (10).

Known watercraft of different types and sizes are normally propelled by fixed-pitch propellers, variable-pitch propellers, steering propellers as well as water jet systems. In this case, the mechanical power for propulsion is produced directly by internal combustion engines, for example Otto-cycle engines, diesel engines driven by way of heavy oil or light oil, or gas turbines. Fossil fuels are in this case used here as the energy sources, and are stored in tanks that are carried within the watercraft.
The internal combustion engines on board watercraft are in this case used not only for propulsion, but also for producing electrical power for a large number of electrical loads on board watercraft, for example for auxiliary drives, which in turn convert electrical power to mechanical power, electrical devices for producing heat, cooling and light, electrical devices for media technology and electrical devices for nautical systems. In this case, the internal combustion engines are coupled to electrical machines, which convert the mechanical power that is emitted from the internal combustion engines to electrical power for the electrical loads. The internal combustion engines for propulsion of watercraft in this case produce mechanical power in a range from about 5 kW to about 16 MW, which is made available to the propulsion systems of the watercraft. The power for the electrical power that is required for electrical loads is up to about 15 MVA, depending on the type and size of the watercraft. In this case, depending on the electrical power that is required, two or more on-board network generators, which each have an internal combustion engine, are used for producing electrical power.
The electrical internal combustion engines which operate in the watercraft for propulsion of the watercraft and for producing electrical power for supplying electrical loads via the electrical on-board network of a watercraft in conjunction with on-board network generators, have a number of disadvantages. On the one hand, by burning fossil fuels, the internal combustion engines produce hazardous emissions which endanger the environment and are in general extremely noisy during operation, which is disadvantageous particularly in the case of navy ships since they can thus be detected relatively easily. Furthermore, the fossil fuels (which are carried in tanks) for the internal combustion engines result in the loss of cargo space in the watercraft. In addition, the fossil fuels which are stored in tanks and the on-board network generators means that the internal combustion engines have a heavy weight, which must be moved by the watercraft.
These disadvantages are particularly serious when watercraft are moving in harbor areas, for example when watercraft are entering, leaving or maneuvering in a harbor, since the watercraft result in the harbor area being subjected to concentrated emission loads. The article "Sicherheit auf allen Wegen" [safety in all respects] in etz, Issue 13–14/2000 discloses the use of motors which are operated by means of direct current for propulsion of ships, with these motors being supplied with electrical power by way of fuel cells, for which purpose a DC network is set up within the ship.
Furthermore, DE 197 39 917 A1 discloses a DC supply network for ships, in which two or more AC generators are operated connected in parallel, via controlled rectifiers, such that they are loaded uniformly. In addition, fuel cells can be provided which are connected to the DC supply network.


A predictive memory performance optimizing unit for use with an interleaved memory, for example a DDR SDRAM memory, and suitable for use in a computer graphics system, among others, is described. The unit maintains a queue of pending requests for data from the memory, and prioritizes precharging and activating interleaves with pending requests. Interleaves which are in a ready state may be accessed independently of the precharging and activation of non-ready interleaves. The unit utilizes idle cycles occurring between consecutive requests to activate interleaves with pending requests.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to the field of digital interface design and, more particularly, to memory management design in a graphics system.
2. Description of the Related Art
With each new generation of graphics system, there is more image data to process and less time in which to process it. This consistent increase in data and data rates places additional burden on the memory systems that form an integral part of the graphics system. Attempts to further improve graphics system performance are now running up against the limitations of these memory systems in general, and memory device limitations in particular.
One example of a memory sub-system defining the upper limit of overall system performance may be the texture buffer of a graphics system. Certain graphics applications such as 3D modeling, virtual reality viewers, and video games may call for the application of an image to a geometric primitive in lieu of a procedurally generated pattern, gradient or solid color. In these applications, geometric primitives carry additional mapping data (e.g., a UV, or UVQ map), which describes how the non-procedural data is to be applied to the primitive. To implement this type of function, a graphics system may employ a texture buffer to store two dimensional image data representative of texture patterns, "environment" maps, "bump" maps, and other types of non-procedural data.
During the rendering process, the mapping data associated with a primitive may be used to interpolate texture map addresses for each pixel in the primitive. The texture map addresses may then be used to retrieve the portion of non-procedural image data in the texture buffer to be applied to the primitive. In some cases (e.g., photo-realistic rendering) a fetch from the texture buffer may result in a neighborhood or tile of texture pixels or texels to be retrieved from the texture buffer and spatially filtered to produce a single texel. In these cases, four or more texels may be retrieved for each displayed pixel, placing a high level of demand on the texture buffer. Thus, poor performance of the texture buffer is capable of affecting a cascading degradation through the graphics system, stalling the render pipeline, and increasing the render or refresh times of displayed images.
Therefore, the design of memory systems and memory management plays a significant role in the implementation of new generation graphics systems. In some cases, Dynamic Random Access Memory (DRAM) or Synchronous DRAM (SDRAM) devices may be used to implement a texture buffer as they are generally less expensive and occupy less real estate than Static Random Access Memory (SRAM) alternatives. However, factors inherent in DRAM devices, and bus protocols, such as pre-charge time, activation time, refresh period, and others may complicate integration into high bandwidth applications such as high performance graphics systems. One example of a DRAM system that may be used in new generation graphics systems is a Double Data Rate SDRAM (DDR SDRAM) system. DDR SDRAM systems increase the throughput of DRAM memories, but they have not overcome all of the performance hurdles mentioned above.
FIG. 1 illustrates a common implementation of a DDR SDRAM system comprising a DDR SDRAM Controller coupled to a DDR SDRAM unit through an interface unit (Memory I/O). The Memory I/O is coupled to the DDR SDRAM unit through a set of pad circuits. In a DDR SDRAM, read-data is accompanied by a corresponding trigger signal, commonly referred to as a DQS signal. The DQS signal is commonly used by a host system, which may include an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) coupled to the DDR SDRAM through an interface unit such as the Memory I/O, to sample and latch the read-data
Economically, the use of DRAM devices, such as DDR SDRAM, in graphics systems is still desirable, and possible if the above-mentioned performance limiting factors can be mitigated through consideration of certain characteristics unique to graphics systems, such as memory bandwidth having a higher priority than memory latency. For these reasons, a system and method for optimizing the utilization of DRAM memory subsystems, more particularly DDR SDRAM systems, as employed in graphics systems is desired.

Method for optimizing utilization of a double-data-rate-SDRAM memory system