An automated twin-clutch multi-speed transmission is disclosed for use in a four-wheel drive vehicle. The transmission includes a first engine clutch operable to establish a releasable drive connection between the engine and a first input shaft, a first motor/generator connected to the first input shaft, a second engine clutch operable to establish a releasable drive connection between the engine and a second input shaft, a second motor/generator connected to the second input shaft, a mainshaft, and a geartrain for selectively establishing a plurality of forward and reverse speed ratio drive connections between the input shafts and the mainshaft. The transmission further includes power-operated dog clutches for selectively engaging constant-mesh gearsets associated with the geartrain, and a transmission controller for controlling coordinated actuation of the first and second engine clutches, the first and second motor-generators, and the power-operated dog clutches to permit non-power interrupted (xe2x80x9cpowershiftxe2x80x9d) sequential gear changes automatically without input from the vehicle operator. An interaxle differential transfers drive torque from the mainshaft to the front and rear drivelines to establish a full-time four-wheel drive mode.

The present invention relates generally to transmissions for use in motor vehicles and, more particularly, to a twin-clutch automated transmission applicable for use in four-wheel drive vehicles.
Automobile manufacturers continuously strive to improve fuel efficiency. This effort to improve fuel efficiency, however, is typically offset by the need to provide enhanced comfort and convenience to the vehicle operator. For example, it is well known that manual transmissions are more fuel efficient than automatic transmissions, yet a majority of all passenger vehicles are equipped with automatic transmissions due to the increased convenience they provide.
More recently, xe2x80x9cautomatedxe2x80x9d variants of conventional manual transmissions have been developed which shift automatically without any input from the vehicle operator. Such automated transmissions typically include a plurality of power-operated actuators that are controlled by a transmission controller to shift traditional synchronized dog clutches. However, such automated transmissions have the disadvantage that there is a power interruption in the drive connection between the input shaft and the output shaft during sequential gear shifting. Power interrupted shifting results in a harsh shift feel which is generally considered to be unacceptable when compared to smooth shift feel associated with most automatic transmissions. To overcome this problem, automated twin-clutch transmissions have been developed which can be powershifted to permit gearshifts to be made under load. Examples of such automated manual transmissions are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,966,989 and 5,890,392. While such powershift twin-clutch transmissions overcome several drawbacks associated with conventional single-clutch automated transmissions, a need exists to develop simpler and more robust transmissions which advance the automotive transmission technology.
In four-wheel drive vehicles, it is common to use a transfer case for transmitting drive torque from the transmission to the front and rear drivelines. However, due to the size and weight of transfer cases, special accommodations must be made to package the transmission and transfer case under the vehicle. Thus, efforts have been made to integrate the components of the transfer case into the manual transmission. Examples of such integrated transmissions are shown in commonly-owned U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,704,866 and 5,904,632. While such integrated transmissions advance the four-wheel drive technology, a need exists to develop four-wheel drive transmissions integrating twin-clutch automated shifting systems and torque splitting systems into a common assembly.
Automobile manufacturers are also actively working to develop alternative powertrain systems in an effort to reduce the level of pollutants exhausted into the air by conventional powertrains equipped with internal combustion engines. Significant development has been directed to electric vehicles and fuel-cell vehicles. Unfortunately, these alternative powertrain systems suffer from several disadvantages and, for all practical purposes, are still under development. However, several different hybrid electric vehicles (HEV) have recently been offered for sale. These hybrid vehicles are equipped with an internal combustion engine and an electric motor that can be operated independently or in combination to drive the vehicle.
There are two types of hybrid vehicles, namely, series hybrid and parallel hybrid. In a series hybrid vehicle, power is delivered to the wheels by the electric motor which draws electrical energy from the battery. The engine is used in series hybrid vehicles to drive a generator which supplies power directly to the electric motor or charges the battery when the state of charge falls below a predetermined value. In parallel hybrid vehicles, the electric motor and the engine can be operated independently or in combination pursuant to the running conditions of the vehicle. Typically, the control strategy for such parallel hybrid vehicles utilizes a low-load mode where only the electric motor is used to drive the vehicle, a high-load mode where only the engine is used to drive the vehicle, and an intermediate assist mode where the engine and electric motor are both used to drive the vehicle. Regardless of the type of hybrid drive system used, hybrid vehicles are highly modified versions of conventional vehicles that are expensive due to the componentry, required control systems, and specialized packaging requirements.
Such hybrid vehicles have also been adapted to four-wheel drive vehicles which typically utilize the parallel hybrid powertrain to drive the primary wheels and a second electric motor to drive the secondary wheels. Obviously, such a four-wheel drive system is not only extremely expensive and difficult to package, but is also difficult to control in view of the need to react to instantaneous instances of wheel slip. Thus, a need exists to develop hybrid powertrains for use in four-wheel drive vehicles that utilize many conventional powertain components so as to minimize specialized packaging and reduce cost.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a four-wheel drive twin-clutch transmission and a control system for permitting automatic shifting of the twin-clutch transmission.
As a related object, the four-wheel drive twin-clutch automated transmission of the present invention has a compact geartrain and an interaxle differential for use as an integrated transmission/transfer case in a four-wheel drive vehicle.
A further object is to provide a hybrid powertrain or drive system for a four-wheel drive vehicle equipped with the twin-clutch automated transmission of the present invention.
These and other objects of the present invention are met by providing an automated twin-clutch multi-speed transmission adapted to transfer power from the engine to front and rear drivelines of a motor vehicle. The transmission includes a first engine clutch operable to establish a releasable drive connection between the engine and a first input shaft, a first motor/generator connected to the first input shaft, a second engine clutch operable to establish a releasable drive connection between the engine and a second input shaft, a second motor/generator connected to the second input shaft, a mainshaft, and a geartrain for selectively establishing a plurality of forward and reverse speed ratio drive connections between the input shafts and the mainshaft. The mainshaft drives an input to an interaxle differential having a first output adapted to drive the rear driveline and a second output adapted to drive the front driveline such that the transmission provides a full-time four-wheel drive mode of operation. The transmission further includes power-operated dog clutches for selectively engaging constant-mesh gearsets associated with the geartrain, and a transmission controller for controlling coordinated actuation of the first and second engine clutches, the first and second motor/generators, and the power-operated dog clutches to permit non-power interrupted (xe2x80x9cpowershiftxe2x80x9d) sequential gear changes automatically without input from the vehicle operator. When shifting under power between gear ratios, one engine clutch is released and the corresponding motor/generator is actuated to accelerate/decelerate the released input shaft into speed synchronization with the mainshaft. Following completion of speed synchronization, the dog clutch for the selected gearset on the released input shaft is actuated and thereafter the released engine clutch is re-engaged.
In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, the automated twin-clutch transmission can be equipped with a biasing clutch for automatically limiting slip and biasing the torque distribution between the front and rear drivelines for establishing an all-wheel drive mode of operation. In accordance with yet a further derivation of the automated twin-clutch transmission, the interaxle differential can be eliminated and a transfer clutch disposed between a primary (i.e., driven) output and a secondary (i.e., non-driven) output to establish an on-demand four-wheel drive mode of operation.
Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the scope of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art.

Twin clutch automated transmission with integrated transfer case


A cable holder 1 for a large number of connection cables 2, 4, 6, 8 of an electrical or electronic control device, in particular of an electronic ballast of a lamp. The cable holder 1 has a base body 24, in which receptacles 32, 34, 36, 50 are formed which surround, at least in sections, an insulating sheath of the connection cables 2, 4, 6, 8 and are associated with apertures 38, 40, 42, 52, which open out into an end face 44 of the base body 24, cable ends 12, 14, 16, 18, from which the insulation has been stripped, of the connection cables 2, 4, 6, 8 extending through the apertures 38, 40, 42, 52.

Owing to a negative current/voltage characteristic, some lamps, for example, fluorescent lamps, require current limitation devices. Previously, conventional alternating coils which are connected in series with the lamp in conjunction with a starter were used for this purpose. Owing to the high losses in the inductor, these conventional ballasts have been replaced in recent years by electronic ballasts, by means of which the required system performance (the lamp including the ballast) is considerably reduced with respect to the conventional solutions given approximately the same luminous flux of the lamp. For the NAFTA (North American Free Trade Agreement) market, these electronic ballasts (EBs) are predominantly supplied with connection cables which are soldered fixedly to a printed circuit board of the EB as early as during production. One disadvantage of this is the fact that these connection cables, which have been fixedly soldered in, make manufacture of the electronics, with the fitting, soldering and testing of the electronic components arranged on the printed circuit board, more difficult, since these connection cables take up a considerable amount of physical space and are difficult to manipulate owing to their number and rigidity. With sequential fitting of the individual connection cables there is also the risk of positions or colors being mixed up, i.e. erroneous fitting of cables such that there are increased requirements for quality control checks.
The cables also need to be passed through cutouts in a housing wall of the EB and in the process electrically insulated and mechanically protected. Another disadvantage of the conventional solutions consists in the fact that this mounting step is comparatively complex since, for this purpose, the individual connection cables need to be inserted into plastic bushings and then the plastic bushings need to be threaded into the cutouts in the EB housing wall in a subsequent manufacturing step.

Patent-Treuhand-Gesellschaft fur Elektrisch Gluhlampen mbH


A self-venting cartridge plunger including openings defined therein and forming through air passages, each opening having an associated valve flap hinge-joined to the plunger and movable to close the opening upon the plunger encountering a greater resistance to movement than the flow of evacuating air.

The invention is broadly concerned with dispensing cartridges for viscous materials, particularly caulk, and more specifically involves plungers for such cartridges.
When filling caulk cartridges, it is common practice to close the cartridges by inserting a molded plastic plunger after the cartridge has been filled with the caulk material. It is desirable not to trap air in the cartridges during this operation, and a number of methods are currently used to address this concern. Vacuum may be used to draw air out of the cartridge prior to inserting the plunger. This method is effective, but time consuming. An alternate method utilizes a pin or spade-like device inserted between the cartridge wall and the plunger to create a temporary passage through which the air may escape as the plunger is inserted. Because of contamination by the caulk, it is necessary to stop this operation frequently and clean the pin or spade. A third method, attempts to distort the cartridge or plunger during insertion thereby creating an escape path for potentially entrapped air. This method is effective in removal of a large proportion of air, but frequently fails to allow the escape of all entrapped air.
A recent advance involves the incorporation of longitudinal ridges, either in the cartridge wall or plunger wall. These ridges function much as the pin or spade method, creating a passage between the cartridge and plunger through which air may escape. However, if the material is to be protected to provide a reasonable storage or shelf life in the cartridge, the ridges must not extend the full length of the plunger. There must result then, a compromise between extending shelf life and full evacuation of entrapped air.


A dome resonator (11) includes a resonator circuit (70) that excites and/or receives radio frequency magnetic resonance signals that emanate from a region of interest (14). The resonator circuit (70) includes multiple longitudinal conductive elements (110) that are coupled at a first end (80) and a second end (82) and tapered from the first end (80) to the second end (82). A resonator circuit support (74) is coupled to and supports the resonator circuit (70). A shield (76) is coupled to the resonator circuit support (74) and electrically isolates the resonator circuit (70) from a surrounding environment.

The present invention relates generally to neurological magnetic resonance (MR) imaging systems, and more particularly, to an apparatus and system for MR scanning and imaging of a cerebrum.
In neurological magnetic resonance imaging, a patient is typically positioned within a strong, temporally constant magnetic field. A time series of magnetic field gradient pulses, for encoding spatial location, are applied across a region of interest within the magnetic field. Concurrently, radio frequency pulses are applied for inducing and manipulating magnetic resonance of dipoles in the region of interest. A system of radio frequency transmitting and receiving coils is positioned over the head and neck portions of a patient to excite and receive radio frequency magnetic resonance signals within the region of interest.
Several types of radio frequency coils are utilized in the art, including coils of a "Birdcage Resonator" type, of a Transverse Electromagnetic (TEM) type, and of a "Dome Resonator" type. Each of these resonators, when suitably configured, can act as a transmitter and/or receiver for exciting and/or receiving magnetic resonance within a selected volume of interest, as is known in the art.
Coils of the birdcage resonator type are typically in the form of a ladder circuit, which may be of high pass or low pass type. The ladder circuit is typically of cylindrical form and has axially-directed runners extending between a pair of coaxial conductive rings, sometimes referred to as "end rings", located at the peripheries of the cylinder, and extending azimuthally thereabout. In the low pass birdcage type, each runner has a given number of capacitors; in the high pass birdcage type, each ring segment joins two runners and has a given number of capacitors.
A birdcage coil may or may not be fitted with a cylindrical conductive shield, surrounding, but typically not touching, the resonant structure; the stand off distance between shield and resonator is a design variable. The function of the shield is twofold: i) to reduce electromagnetic couplings to surrounding conductive objects, which are harmful since they can detune the resonator or constitute an extraneous source of energy losses, and ii) to cancel or reduce radiative losses from the resonator at sufficiently high frequencies. The benefits of shielding are typically realized in resonators operating at rather high radio frequencies that are often above 100 MHz.
TEM coils are similar to coils of the shielded birdcage type, in that they are cylindrical, and have axially directed longitudinal runners; but these runners are not conductively connected to end rings. Instead, the runners are connected to the outer cylindrical shield via distributed or discrete capacitance. Inasmuch as the runners themselves constitute typically an inductive impedance, the circuit of each runner is connected capacitively to the shield and may be viewed as a low pass pi circuit over a ground plane.
Standard geometry of a coil of the shielded birdcage resonator type and of the TEM type provide a uniform RF B field, but can be claustrophobic in nature and are inefficient for imaging of just a cerebrum, since they bound a relatively large volume as compared to coils of the dome resonator type, which contain comparatively less tissue. That is, since the principle loss mechanism in imaging resonators is from radiofrequency eddy currents, due to the conductivity of the specimen being imaged, lowering the amount of tissue within the resonator also lowers the losses and leads to a more efficient resonator.
The birdcage and the TEM coils are inefficient due to their large size, which can cover a larger portion of a patient than is usually of interest. Also, the birdcage and the TEM coils experience greater than necessary power dissipation and usually acquire data from regions of a body that are not necessarily of interest.
The dome resonator coil has not achieved wide usage and is defined as a radio frequency (RF) resonator that includes conductors and capacitors arrayed upon an outer surface of a hollow dome-shaped lamina, such as commonly referred to as a surface of revolution, for example a paraboloid. The dome resonator is usually employed for its high sensitivity, despite its poor RF homogeneity, which has tended to restrict its use to pure reception as opposed to being used for transmission. Similar to the birdcage coil design, the dome resonator coil includes longitudinal runners that extend between an aperture ring and an apex. Each runner, such as in a low-pass dome resonator type, has a given number of capacitors.
The dome resonator coil is intended typically, though not exclusively, to serve as an antenna for MR imaging and spectroscopy of a human cerebrum or brain. The hollow dome shape of the dome resonator coil is designed so that its interior bounds a volume approximating the shape of a human head, which is intended to fit therein.
Coils of the dome resonator type are streamlined, patient friendly, and efficient, but produce a non-uniform RF B field. The non-uniform B field increases in strength closer to the apex, due to bunching or close proximity of the conductive runners and concomitant bunching of magnetic flux lines. The increase in field strength near the apex causes the field to be non-uniform and thus degrades image quality.
In addition to the above stated and associated disadvantages of the existing RF coil devices, the RF resonators are, as noted above, more and more likely to be subject to parasitic electromagnetic couplings to surrounding metallic objects as well as to radiation losses. This is especially true when MR imaging and spectroscopy systems operate at increased static field strengths and use higher frequencies.
It is desirable to operate within increased static field strengths, such as 3.0 T and 4.0 T, instead of the conventional 1.5 T. Unfortunately, due to electrical properties of a patient, artifacts are increased at the higher static field strengths. However, rapid pulsing and non-zero relaxation rates tend to mitigate these artifacts and produce a leveled image, provided that the distortion is not originally overly severe. The artifacts derive from the fact that a human head has electrical properties such that it is a lossy ellipsoid of high dielectric constant, which produces resonant effects at radio frequencies required for performance of MR imaging and spectroscopy at static fields above 3.0 tesla. The resonant effects distort uniformity of the RF excitation. The result is the production of artifacts in the form of distorted image intensities, which are typically brightened at the centers of the images.
It is therefore desirable to provide an RF receiving coil device that has the advantages of both the birdcage/TEM type coils and the dome resonator type coil without the above-stated disadvantages and at the same time is less susceptible to higher frequencies and static field strengths.

Shielded dome resonator for MR scanning of a cerebrum

GE Medical Systems Global Technology Company, LLC


In a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device, including a semiconductor substrate, a floating gate formed over the semiconductor substrate, and a control gate formed over the floating gate, a split gate is formed on a sidewall of the control gate and the floating gate and is electrically connected to the control gate. A source region and a drain region are formed in the semiconductor substrate on the sides of the control gate and the split gate.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a nonvolatile semiconductor memory device such as an electrically erasable and programmable read only memory (EEPROM), and more particularly, to a nonvolatile semiconductor device including memory cells each having a split gate for compensating for an over-erasing operation.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, an EEPROM cell includes a P-type semiconductor substrate having an N.sup.+ -type source region and an N.sup.+ -type drain region, a floating gate via an insulating layer on the semiconductor substrate between the source region and the drain region, and a control gate via another insulating layer on the floating gate. In a write mode, a high positive voltage is applied to the drain region and another high positive voltage is applied to the control gate, while the source region is grounded. As a result, hot electrons having an energy larger than an energy barrier of the insulating layer between the floating gate and the semiconductor substrate are introduced into the floating gate, thus completing a writing operation. In this case, the threshold voltage of the EEPROM cell is made higher. On the other hand, in an erase mode, the source region is in a floating state, a positive voltage is applied to the drain region, the substrate is grounded, and a negative voltage (or the ground potential) is applied to the control gate. As a result, the electrons stored in the floating gate are extracted thereform to the drain region utilizing the Fowler-Nordheim tunneling effect. To realize the Fowler-Nordheim tunneling effect, the insulating layers are made very thin.
In the above-mentioned erase mode, however, when more electrons than those introduced in a write mode are extracted from the floating gate, the threshold voltage of the EEPROM cell may be made negative, i.e., the EEPROM cell becomes a depletion type transistor. Such an erasing operation is called an over-erasing operation.
In order to compensate for such an over-erasing operation, there has been known an EEPROM cell having a split gate (see JP-A-2-23672). In this prior art EEPROM cell, an offset length between the floating gate and the source region is determined in self-alignment with the floating gate, to precisely adjust the channel length, the ratio of coupled capacitance of the control gate to the floating gate and the cell area. This will be explained later in detail.
In the above-described prior art EEPROM cell, however, since the ratio of coupled capacitance of the control gate to the floating gate is decreased, the controllability of the control gate to the floating gate is deteriorated. Also, if a channel region is not in alignment with the control gate, the controllability of the control gate is deteriorated. As a result, the efficiency of introducing hot electrons into the floating gate in a write mode, the efficiency of extracting electrons from the floating gate in a read mode, and a read current are reduced.
Further, the above-described prior art EEPROM cell is disadvantageous in terms of integration.

Method of making nonvolatile semiconductor device having sidewall split gate for compensating for over-erasing operation


This disclosure relates to membrane-based systems for transporting dissolved gases to a formation and methods for increasing a mass transfer rate of gases in a formation. The membrane-based system may include an aqueous injection well, a diffusion-based membrane, a gas, and an aqueous solution.

Sequestration of gases is desired in a variety of applications including, but limited to, reduction of greenhouse gases and gas storage. Depositing dissolved gas solutions within a formation may require drilling a hole from the surface to the geological formation. Specialized drilling techniques and materials are utilized to form the wellbore hole and enable the injection of dissolved gas solutions into the formation. Specialized materials may be used to transport dissolved gas into a well. A wellbore is a hole that extends from the surface to a location below the surface to permit access to formations. The wellbore contains at least a portion of a fluid conduit that links the interior of the wellbore to the surface. The fluid conduit connecting the interior of the wellbore to the surface may be capable of permitting regulated fluid flow from the interior of the wellbore to the surface and may permit access between equipment on the surface and the interior of the wellbore. The fluid conduit may be defined by one or more tubular strings, such as casings, inserted into the wellbore and secured in the wellbore.

Membrane-based systems and methods for increasing the mass transfer rate of dissolved gases


The present invention provides dithiolopyrrolone compounds of the general formula I, and their salts, wherein A is sulfur or carbon, and R1, R2, and R3 are selected from groups defined herein, and wherein when A is sulfur, then B is oxygen, and n=1 or 2, and when A is carbon, then B is oxygen or sulfur, and n=1. The compounds are useful for the prevention and treatment of microbial infections such as HIV infection, and for the treatment of blood disorders, such as neutropenia. In particular, the compounds are useful for the manufacture of medicaments for increasing white blood cells.

The human blood-forming (hematopoietic) system is comprised of a variety of white blood cells (including neutrophils, macrophages, basophils, mast cells, eosinophils, T and B cells), red blood cells (erythrocytes) and clot-forming cells (megakaryocytes, platelets).
It is understood that certain hematopoietic growth factors such as chemicals and proteins naturally occurring inside animals are responsible for the differentiation of a small number of "stem cells" into a variety of blood cell progenitors for the tremendous proliferation of those cells, and for the ultimate differentiation of mature blood cells from those lines. The hematopoietic regenerative system functions well under normal conditions. However, when stressed by chemotherapy, radiation, or natural myelodysplastic disorders, a resulting period during which patients are seriously leukopenic, anemic, or thrombocytopenic occurs. Neutropenia is an abnormally low level of neutrophils in the blood. Neutrophils are white blood cells (WBCs) produced in the bone marrow and comprise approximately 60% of the blood. These cells are critically important to an immune response and migrate from the blood to tissues during an infection. They ingest and destroy particles and germs. Germs are microorganisms such as bacteria, protozoa, viruses, and fungus that cause diseases. Neutropenia is an especially serious disorder for cancer patients who may have reduced immune functions because it makes the body vulnerable to viral, bacterial and fungal infections. White blood cells are especially sensitive to chemotherapy. The number of cells killed during radiation therapy and chemotherapy depends upon the dose and frequency of the treatment.
Neutropenia is a blood disorder wherein the number of neutrophils in the blood is abnormally low as assessed by an Absolute Neutrophil Count (ANC). A neutrophil shortage corresponds to an increased risk of microbial infection. The blood of healthy human adults contains about 2500 to 6000 neutrophils per mm3. In children under the age of six, the count may be lower. Various sources have set the threshold for the diagnosis of neutropenia at different measured neutrophil levels ranging from an ANC of about 2000 neutrophils per mm3 to about 1500 neutrophils per mm3. See The Merck Manual 18th Ed. 2006, Section 11, the entire disclosures of which are incorporated herein by reference. Severe neutropenia is diagnosed when the ANC falls below 500 neutrophils per mm3. The symptoms, of increased risk of infection depend on the severity of the neutropenia and on the duration of the disorder.
Neutropenia treatable by compounds and methods of the present invention may be a chronic disorder. Neutropenia as a chronic disorder may be further classified as congenital, cyclical and idiopathic neutropenia. Chronic congenital neutropenia is inherited by a small number of individuals. The most severe form of congenital neutropenia is Kostmann's Syndrome and there are other, milder variations. Symptoms include frequent infections and fevers.
Cyclical neutropenia results from a regulatory defect at the hematopoietic stem cell level that causes oscillations in production of neutrophils as well as other types of blood cells. Individuals with this disorder will have neutrophil counts of about 100 neutrophils per mm3 for three to six days out of every cycle. The neutrophil count ranges from severe to moderate neutropenia levels through most of the cycle.
Chronic idiopathic neutropenia refers to severe chronic neutropenia that does not clearly fall into either of the above classifications. Individuals suffering from chronic idiopathic neutropenia typically acquire the disorder after having normal neutrophil counts earlier in life. It is estimated that neutropenia may occur as a congenital or idiopathic disorder in an estimated frequency of one per 200,000 in the population.
Neutropenia may also be occurred secondary to another condition such as cancer or Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Neutropenia may also be occurred secondary to an event such as a drug therapy. Thus, neutropenia may result from physiological disorders that directly affect the immune system. For example, diminished neutrophil production will be resulted when leukemia, myeloma, lymphoma or a metastatic solid tumor such as, for example, breast or prostate cancer, infiltrate and replace bone marrow. Transient neutropenia is often associated with viral infections. Chronic neutropenia is often associated with immunodeficiency resulting from a viral infection, for example, AIDS resulting from infection with Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV). Autoimmune neutropenia may be associated with circulating antineutrophil antibodies.
A much more common cause is neutropenia as a side effect of drug therapy, particularly cancer chemotherapy, radiation therapy for cancer and bone marrow transplantation associated with cancer therapy. Neutropenia secondary to drug therapy can thus be subdivided into two groups. The first involves immune-mediated neutropenia that may arise from drugs that act as haptens to stimulate antibody formation. Acute hypersensitivity reactions such as those caused by diphenylhydantoin and phenobarbital may last a few days. However, chronic hypersensitivity reactions may last for months or years. See The Merck Manual, 18th Ed.
The second area of drug-induced neutropenia involves the severe neutropenia that predictably occurs after large doses of cytoreductive cancer drugs and which also accompanies ionizing radiation therapy. These cytotoxic therapies induce neutropenia because of the proliferative nature of neutrophil precursor cells and the normal rapid turnover rate of circulating neutrophils. See The Merck Manual, 18th Ed. The risk of neutropenia secondary to cancer chemotherapy or radiotherapy depends on the type and stage of the cancer and the type, the dosage and the schedule of cancer treatment. Each year over 1.5 million cancer patients in the US received chemotherapy. About one half of chemotherapy patients develop neutropenia. At present, less than 10% of chemotherapy patients receive prophylactic treatment to prevent neutropenia.
Therapy that exists currently for hematopoietic disorders include the use of proteineous hematopoietic factors such as EPO, G-CSF, GM-CSF, CSF-1, IL-1, IL-2, IL-3, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-7, IL-8, IL-9, IL-10, IL-11, IGF-I, or LIF (Leukemic Inhibitory Factor) and other chemicals. Therapy for raising neutrophil levels consists primarily of filgrastim (Nupogen®) and more recently, pegfilgrastim (Neulasta™), a longer acting derivative of filgrastim. Filgrastim is a recombinant version of a human protein, G-CSF (granulocyte-colony stimulating factor), that selectively stimulates the production of white blood cells. G-CSF is currently the drug of choice for neutropenia. Since both of these drugs are recombinant proteins they are not active orally and must be administered by injection. In addition, protein-based drugs are often subject to rapid metabolism.
New agents, in particular, non protein-based drugs are needed which are useful in the treatment of neutropenia. In particular, agents are needed that demonstrate biological activity when administered via routes other than injection. Particularly, agents that may be orally active are needed, as they may serve to enhance patient compliance.
Dithiolopyrrolones are a group of compounds with 1,2-dithiolo[4,3-b]pyrrol-5(4H)-one ring. Compounds bearing this basic structural feature have been known in the art with a broad range of activities, including antimicrobial, chemopreventive (Sharma et al., 1994) and anticancer (WO 99/12543, WO2003/080624, both of Webster et al.). However, the surprising, novel activities of increasing white blood cells in animals was not known until now. Certain synthetic dithiolopyrrolones and their antimicrobial activities have been disclosed (D. S. Bhate & Y. M. Sambray, 1963. Hindustan, Antibiotic Bulletin 6(1): 17-18; Katsuaki Hagio et al. Bull. Chem. Soc. Jpn 1974, 47, 1484-1489; Broom et al. WO 9505384 and Godfrey & Dell, GB2170498, Webster et al. WO 99/12543, WO2003/080624).
The present invention relates to new dithiolopyrrolones, to their novel activities in increasing white blood cells and their use in promoting white blood cells, in preventing and treatment of microbial infections and of blood disorders such as neutropenia.

Dithiolopyrrolones compounds and their therapeutic applications


A polymer-extruded article produced by extrusion and vulcanization of a polymeric composition includes ethylene-α-olefin-nonconjugated polyene copolymer in an amount of 100 phr; carbon black in an amount ranging from more than 50 to 120 phr, the carbon black having an arithmetic average particle diameter of not smaller than 60 nm; a softener in an amount of not more than 100 phr; and thermo-expansive capsules in an amount ranging from 1 to 10 phr. The polymer-extruded article includes a surface section having an uneven surface derived from thermal expansion of the thermo-expansive capsules, and a rough surface derived from carbon particle of the carbon black and formed at the uneven surface derived form the thermal expansion of the thermo-expansive capsules.

This invention relates to a polymeric composition, a polymer-extruded article and a weather strip for an automotive vehicle, to be used, for example, for a door panel, glass and the like.
A vulcanized formed body (referred hereafter as to polymer-extruded article) formed of a polymeric composition in which a polymer material such as a rubber material or the like is blended is applied to a variety of uses. Research and development has been made on the polymer-extruded article to meet the characteristics according to the uses. For example, as a technique for achieving a weight-lightening for the polymer-extruded article applied to a weather strip, the following technique is known: The polymeric composition in which thermo-expansive micro-capsules (referred hereinafter to as thermo-expansive capsules) is blended is used. During valcanization of the polymeric composition, the thermo-expansive capsules are thermally expanded (slightly foamed). This tries to lower the specific gravity of the above-mentioned polymer-extruded article while to obtain a sufficient hardness, as disclosed in Japanese Provisional Publication No. 6-183305.
Additionally, the above-mentioned polymer-extruded article is low in sliding characteristics and adherence resistance to an object (referred hereinafter to as object to be used; for example, a door panel, a glass and the like) for which the polymer-extruded article is used. In order to improve the sliding characteristics and adherence resistance, a surface treatment agent including a polymer elastomeric material is applied on a surface (at least surfaces of sections requiring various characteristics) of the polymer-extruded article.
Examples of the characteristics required for the above-mentioned surface treatment agent are improvements in sliding characteristics (for example, a characteristics for preventing low grade noise due to stick-slip from generation in case that the polymer-extruded article is used to be slidably movable to the object to be used) of the surface of the polymer-extruded article against the object to be used, adherence resistance (for example, a characteristics for preventing the polymer-extruded article from making its functional degradation due to adhesion of the polymer material to the object to be used), water repellency (for example, a characteristics for preventing freezing of the polymer-extruded article), and the like.
For example, in case of a weather strip constituting a seal section (for example, a seal section formed of a foamed rubber), a surface treatment agent is coated onto the seal section thereby preventing adherence between the seal section and a door panel when a door is opened or closed so as to avoid difficulty in opening and closing of the door. Even in a cold district, the seal section can be prevented from freezing. Additionally, in case of use in which the surface of the above-mentioned polymer-extruded article is in sliding contact with the glass, the door panel or the like, the sliding characteristics of the polymer-extruded article is improved with the above-mentioned surface treatment agent thereby preventing generation of the low grade noise due to the stick-slip.
As the above-mentioned surface treatment agent, for example, one formed by adding diorganopolysiloxane to hardenable polyurethane is known. This surface treatment agent is coated on the polymer-extruded article thereby improving the sliding characteristics, adherence resistance, water repellency and the like.

Polymeric composition, polymer-extruded article and weather strip for automotive vehicle


A method of making an optical fiber ribbon with improved planarity and an optical fiber ribbon having improved planarity are described. The method includes the steps of providing a plurality of optical fibers and arranging the plurality of optical fibers to form a planar optical fiber arrangement. The planar optical fiber arrangement defines a first common tangent plane and a second common tangent plane. Matrix material is applied to the planar optical fiber arrangement to form a first uncured layer of matrix material such that the first layer does not extend beyond the first or the second common tangent plane by more than twenty micrometers. The first uncured layer of matrix material is then cured to achieve a degree of cure between 70% and 95% to provide a cured first layer of matrix material on the planar arrangement. Next, matrix material is applied over the first cured layer to form a second uncured layer of matrix material. Finally, the second uncured layer is cured until a degree of cure in the second layer is at least 85% to form an optical fiber ribbon with improved planarity. The optical fiber ribbon of the present invention can be made according to the method described.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a method of making optical fiber ribbons. More particularly, the present invention relates to a method for making an optical fiber ribbon with improved planarity and to an optical fiber ribbon with improved planarity made according to the method.
2. Discussion of Related Art
In optical fiber ribbon, it is desirable to have the individual optical fibers aligned so that the longitudinal axes of the optical fibers are in the same geometric plane. Planarity is important during connection of two ribbon ends. If the two ends have the same planarity, the individual optical fiber ends will be aligned thereby making it easier to establish a connection which will efficiently transmit light.
Existing methods of manufacturing optical fiber ribbon include the use of three dies and two ultraviolet lights to form an optical fiber ribbon. Japanese Patent No. 63-208814 describes such a prior art method. In Japanese Patent No. 63-208814, a precoater applies a thin layer of ribbon matrix material to a plurality of optical fibers. Next, the optical fibers with the thin layer of ribbon matrix material are fed through a primary resin coater where additional matrix material is applied. After passing through the primary resin coater, the matrix material is exposed to ultraviolet light in order to cure the matrix material. Next, the optical fibers with cured matrix material thereon are fed through a secondary coater where additional matrix material is applied to achieve an uncured ribbon. Finally, the matrix material is cured by exposing the matrix material to ultraviolet light to produce an optical fiber ribbon. Using such a method has the disadvantage that the precoater, primary resin coater, and secondary coater must be maintained and checked periodically, resulting in a process which is often shut down for maintenance. In addition, inclusion of the precoater to apply the matrix material has been shown to adversely affect ribbon planarity because the precoater and primary resin coater are almost never properly aligned, thereby making planarity poor.
Another existing method of manufacturing optical fiber ribbon involves the use of a single die having a central opening which is smaller than the exit opening of the die. Japanese Pat. No. 6-63483 describes such a die. In Japanese Pat. No. 6-63483, the optical fibers enter the die through an entrance opening, move to a first coating chamber, through a central opening, to a second coating chamber, and exit the die through the exit opening. Such a die has the disadvantage that the optical fibers can move in the second coating chamber, the exit section and after leaving the die until the matrix material is set, for example through curing of the matrix material. As a result, it is very difficult to use such a die to produce an optical fiber ribbon in which the optical fibers are arranged in a plane.

Method of making an optical fiber ribbon with improved planarity and an optical fiber ribbon with improved planarity


A service and resource orchestration system includes an orchestration apparatus, configured to: obtain order information of a customized service; obtain meta information of the customized service from a catalog apparatus, where the meta information is used to describe resource requirement information and a resource selection policy of the customized service; obtain, from a planning resource providing apparatus or a current instance apparatus according to the order information, the resource requirement information, and the resource selection policy, a resource required by the customized service; and generate instance data of the customized service. The system also may include a check apparatus configured to process currently running instance data obtained from the current instance apparatus and the instance data of the customized service to obtain final instance data for a network.

When a network is increasingly complex, an operator faces pressure of competition and a customer requirement. With development of an Internet service and intelligent mobile broadband application, a customer has increasingly diverse requirements and expects that a time from completion of service development preparation to release and selling of a service to the market: a time to market (Time To Market, TTM for short) and a time from user service subscription to availability of the service: a time to customer (Time To Customer, TTC for short) are greatly shortened. A gradually mature virtualization technology and cloudification technology provide more possibilities and convenience for shortening the TTM and the TTC, and therefore become common and urgent requirements. During current development of a service, after a user proposes a service requirement, development is performed for the service, and then a corresponding resource is orchestrated for the service and is provided for the user. Consequently, service and resource orchestration efficiency is low.

Service and resource orchestration system and method, and apparatus


A circuit for storing electrical energy, in particular for installation within a motor vehicle, comprises at least one capacitor and a temperature-dependent resistor by means of which the at least one capacitor can be charged. The circuit may be included in a motor vehicle. Alternatively, a motor vehicle may be retrofit to include the circuit.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a circuit for storing electrical energy, in particular for installation within a motor vehicle.
2. Background Information
Using batteries in motor vehicles to store electrical energy, particularly lead acid batteries, is known from the prior art.
Capacitors for storing electrical energy are furthermore known in the prior art.
It is a task of the present invention to provide a further circuit for storing electrical energy, in particular for installation within a motor vehicle. Further tasks of the inven-tion relate to providing a motor vehicle having such a circuit as well as providing a method of retrofitting a motor vehicle so that it can make use of the circuit.


A sharpening apparatus that may be used by a relatively unskilled person to simultaneously sharpen the two opposed cutting edges of a knife blade by hand and to maintain a sharpened cutting edge along the blade with minimal effort and training is provided by the invention. The apparatus comprises a panel member with a slot partially extending from its top edge, and a pair of sharpening steels that are pivotably mounted to the panel member to swing downwards in a crossed relation across the slot. A pair of leaf spring bias the sharpening steels in their standby position. When the knife blade is moved down through the slot, it comes into contact with crossed sharpening steels to bow them outwards under tension applied by the leaf springs. The cutting edges of the knife blade are drawn along and against the sharpening steels to automatically sharpen their cutting edges at the proper angle without any need to match angles between the cutting edges of the knife and the sharpening steels, and without any counterweights applied to the sharpening steels. Such a sharpening apparatus can be used to maintain an extremely sharp cutting edge for precise cutting of a material without crushing or other damage with significantly reduced physical force and strain upon the user.

A knife represents a hand-held cutting tool with a cutting edge or blade. It may also have a handle. Originally made from rock, bone, flint, or obsidian, knife blades today are typically fashioned from iron, steel, ceramics, or titanium.
While knives may be used as a weapon, they are more commonly employed by people as useful tools in food preparation, dining, meat processing, hunting, construction, work projects, and hobbies for cutting or slicing an object. Many different types and designs of knives are known, but most of them share the trait of one or two sharpened blade edges.
But, over time, these sharpened edges of the knife blade will become dull or damaged. Blades are damaged usually by buckling due to compressive force arising from the user pressing the knife blade edge into a hard object like bone, ice, a hard cutting board, or other hard object, or simply by repetitive use. The cutting edge may also become bent from sideways pressure applied against the blade. Both of these forces tend to roll the knife blade's cutting edge due to the ductile characteristic of the metal material used in the blade. Moreover, tougher or abrasive materials will cause the blade to become dull more quickly.
Dull blades do not cut as easily or precisely, and can create a danger to the end user by requiring greater hand force to make a cut. Moreover, dulled blades can include burrs or ragged edges with regions along the cutting surface that are out of alignment with each other. Such misaligned blades can damage the material being cut, or produce an inferior cut by tearing or sawing the material being cut as opposed to a smooth, clean cut.
Therefore, such dulled knife blades must be periodically sharpened. This is a process in which the knife blade is ground against a hard, rough surface like a stone, or a soft surface containing hard particles. Metal can be removed from the knife blade in order to form a new edge along the blade. Typically, a grinding wheel or a whetstone is used. These sharpening stones come in varying grit degrees from very coarse to very fine, and can be described as hard or soft depending upon whether the grit comes free of the stone during the grinding operation. Ceramic hones are also commonly used, especially when fine grit size is desired. Coated hones with an abrasive diamond-based surface provide yet another option. Mineral oil often is used during the grinding application to separate the loosened grinding particles from the knife blade edge to prevent damage to the blade.
The cutting edges of the knife blade may also be straightened by a sharpening steel. The sharpening steel constitutes a hardened cylindrical, triangular or other shaped rod having a small diameter. This sharpening steel may have a smooth, polished exterior surface, or may be somewhat abrasive. It may also feature slight ridges or ribs running along the length of the rod. A butcher steel constitutes a round file with teeth running the long way, although it may also be smooth. As the knife blade with its cutting edge is swiped along the sharpening steel, the steel will exert high localized pressure against the cutting edge to straighten the turned edges of the cutting edge back into proper alignment. Unlike grinding, such steeling process does not usually remove metal from the blade edge.
Knives used by barbers are often stropped after steeling in order to polish the sharpened cutting edge. This is often done with a leather strap impregnated with an abrasive compound like chromium (III) oxide particles. This operation does not remove any metal material from the blade edge, but produces a very sharp edge.
However, grinding constitutes a precise operation in which the angle of the cutting edge of the blade must match the angle of the whetstone or grinding wheel surface. The smaller the angle between the blade and stone, the sharper the knife will be, but at the same time, the less side force is required to damage the knife blade by bending the cutting edge over or even chipping it off. The edge angle represents the angle between the blade and the stone. For symmetrical double-ground, wedge-shaped knife blades, the angle from one edge to the other edge of the blade will be twice the edge angle.
While steeling represents a less aggressive form of sharpening than grinding, it still is important to swipe the knife's blade at a proper angle with respect to the sharpening steel. Moreover, the two cutting edges of the knife must be swiped the same number of times against the steel or else the cutting edge will be pushed again out of alignment.
It is therefore easy to damage the cutting edge of the knife blade further if the sharpening exercise is performed poorly. Thus, most knife users need to send out their dulled knives to a professional sharpening service, or to replace the knife with a new knife. This can be time-consuming and expensive.
Some knife users employ the bottom of a ceramic coffee mug for sharpening the blade. The course ceramic particle surface can produce acceptable results, although a sharpening steel usually must then be used. But again, a proper angle must still be maintained during the sharpening swipes. Electric knife sharpeners are also available in the market.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,942,394 issued to Juranitch in 1976 is directed to a finishing sharpener device used in the field for sharpening a knife blade. It includes a handle having a pair of wings that fold out and extend at a 30 degree angle from the handle. Each of the wings constitutes a flat bar defining a sharpening edge that is arcuate in cross section and smooth. By drawing a dulled knife blade cutting edge across the sharpening edge of one of the wings at the proper angle, the cutting edge along one side of the knife blade may be restored to its sharpened configuration. The handle of the finishing sharpener serves as a rough visual guide for properly aligning the knife handle to draw the knife blade along the wing's sharpening edge. But, this process still requires some skill by the person sharpening the knife blade to ensure a proper match between the knife blade cutting edge angle and the angled surface of the sharpening edge of the wing. Moreover, the opposing cutting edges of the knife blade must be sharpened sequentially using first the one wing and then the other wing. Simultaneous sharpening of the opposed cutting edges of the knife blade is impossible. Furthermore, when the knife blade is swiped along one of the wings to sharpen it, the blade comes very close to the user's other hand on the handle, thereby producing a risk of injury. Finally, the arcuate cross-section surface of relatively small radial extent having a highly smooth configuration is insufficient for removing material from the cutting edge of the knife blade. This finishing sharpener may only therefore be used after the knife blade has been sharpened first on a hone or grinding wheel.
Razor Edge Systems of Ely, Minn. has commercialized a knife sharpening device referred to as MOUSETRAP STEEL that is further disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,959 issued to Juranitch in 1997. It has been used to sharpen the cutting edges of a knife blade in the meat processing industry, but also for any other end-use application where there is a need to maintain a sharp knife edge. It constitutes a bench-top mounted vertical base member having a vertical slot partially bisecting the base member from its top edge. Pivotably mounted to the base member are two counterweights having equal masses. A pair of upwardly curved sharpening steels are connected to the upper and inner ends of the counterweights and extend toward each other in a crossed relationship, intersecting at and along the slot. A pair of guard rods are needed to protect the sharpening steels from outside damaging force, further aided by guard blocks mounted to the side edge of the base member. As a knife blade is pushed down through the slot, it engages the sharpening steels at this intersection point and pushes the steels inwardly, sharpening the opposing cutting edges of the knife blade simultaneously as the knife blade is swiped along the sharpening steels. A pivotably-mounted wiper wing under the influence of its own counterweight polishes the sharpened blade. A pair of cams that are eccentrically mounted to the base member act to arrest the lateral movement of the steels during the knife sharpening operation, as well as to define the downward resting point of the counterweights when the sharpening steels are in their standby position when the knife blade is disengaged. However, these cams must be carefully adjusted in their eccentric positions along the base member prior to the knife sharpening operation to define how high or low the crossed intersection point of the steels will be situated over the slot. A higher position requires greater force applied to the knife blade during the sharpening operation resulting in this higher intersection point of the steels producing a less sharp cutting angle along the knife blade. A lower intersection position on the other hand requires less force applied to the knife blade during the sharpening operation resulting in a sharper cutting angle produced by the steels along the knife blade. Thus, the MOUSETRAP STEEL sharpener requires the user to know in advance the angle of the cutting edges that must be produced along the sharpened knife blade, and to precisely adjust in advance the cams' positions to achieve this desired angle. This requires skill and patience by the user. Yet over time, the significant weight of the heavy, 20-ounce counterweights will cause the cams to move from their intended position, thereby making repeated sharpening of knives with the same cutting edge angle impossible without further precise adjustment of the position of the cams. Furthermore, these heavy counterweights make the MOUSETRAP STEEL device heavy and non-portable. The large number of parts mounted to the base member and the bolts and nuts used to mount them also produce environments for bacterial growth which makes it difficult to keep the device clean and sanitary.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,934,110 issued to Juranitch back in 1990 discloses an edge sharpening apparatus having a panel with a slot and two pivotably curved sharpening steels attached to counterweights similar to U.S. Pat. No. 5,655,959. It also discloses, however, another embodiment in which the counterweights are replaced by coil springs that are connected between the pivotable plates attached to the sharpening steels and the panel member of the sharpening device. These coil springs act to pull the pivotable plates to impede the sharpening steels from pivoting under the force of the knife blade that is being sharpened. However, it was found in actual practice that these coil springs failed to provide enough tension and counterforce on the sharpening steels to allow them to provide sufficient pressure against the knife blade to sharpen its cutting edges. Moreover, the coil springs had a tendency to become separated from the knife sharpener device during operation, and contaminate meat that was being processed on an industrial line, or damage surrounding equipment like grinders or conveyor belts. For these reasons, this product design with coil springs failed in the commercial field, and springs were abandoned in favor of counterweights.
Therefore, it would be very advantageous to provide a sharpening apparatus that may be used by a relatively unskilled person to simultaneously sharpen the two opposed cutting edges of a knife blade by hand and to maintain a sharpened cutting edge along the blade with minimal effort and training. Such an apparatus should be small and portable so that the person may easily take it out to sharpen the cutting edges of the knife blade when needed, and small enough to be mounted in a stationary location where working space is limited and tight. Moreover, the device should enable the sharpening of the blade's cutting edges without having to maintain a specific swiping angle, or precisely adjust the position of cams to enable the sharpening steels to produce the desired cutting edge angle along the knife blade. Furthermore, the sharpening device should feature a relatively small number of parts without bolts and nuts to reduce surfaces on which bacteria can grow. Such a sharpening apparatus can be used to maintain an extremely sharp cutting edge for precise cutting of a material without crushing or other damage with significantly reduced physical force and strain upon the user.


Provided is a door hinge for heavy equipment, including: first plate and a second plate disposed on a hinge shaft of a door of heavy equipment and hinge-coupled to each other to open and close the door; and a stay unit rotatably disposed on the first plate and supporting the second plate when the door is opened to prevent the door from being closed. Thus, according to the present invention, an open state of a door can be maintained by only the stay unit without mounting a bracket by overcoming the limitation that the bracket for mounting a separate door stay must be mounted to a door body in order to maintain the open state of the existing door during opening of the door.

In general, a door hinge refers to a component used in a hinged door that opens or closes while rotating on a certain axis and is also called a hinge. This door hinge has been widely used in everyday life of an office, home and the like as well as industrial settings in which heavy equipment is used.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a state in which a typical door for heavy equipment is opened by a hinge, and the door hinge 1 for heavy equipment is provided at a hinge shaft of a door 2 for heavy equipment to enable the door 2 to open or close.
The door hinge 1 for heavy equipment is composed of a pair of plates 10, 20 whose one end is rotatably connected as illustrated in FIG. 2, thereby rotatably supporting the iron door 2 and functioning to openably and closably connect the door 2 to a main body of the heavy equipment.
However, in a case where the aforesaid door for heavy equipment, namely, the iron door, is open with regard to the main body of the heavy equipment, a phenomenon that the door closes by itself due to a weight, wind or the like occurs, and accordingly, there is generated an inconvenience that the open door must be supported by a separate device when a worker rides in the heavy equipment or would like to replace or repair components of the heavy equipment.
That is, in order to maintain the iron door for the heavy equipment in the open state, a separate door stay device is needed.
In order to mount the separate door stay according to a conventional art, one end of the door stay must be fixed to a rotating door frame, and another end thereof must be connected by mounting a bracket to a main body of an excavator for connection of the door stay, but when the bracket cannot be mounted to the main body of the heavy equipment due to space restriction, it is problematic in that it is difficult to mount the door stay device.


A waveform measuring apparatus includes: a digital filter for removing a large-amplitude changing component from an input signal and for outputting a resultant output signal with a small-amplitude noise component left therein; a window generating section for receiving a differential signal between this input signal and the resultant output signal of the digital filter and for generating a window indicating a position of an edge portion of the differential signal; and a ringing measurement section for extracting, from the resultant output signal of the digital filter, a portion of waveform which is indicated by the window generated by the window generating section and for measuring at least a peak-to-peak amplitude of the portion of waveform.

In tests for various electronic instruments and electrical instruments, waveforms of electric signals are generally measured. In this waveform measurement, there are cases where a waveform called ringing needs to be measured. Ringing is an undulating waveform caused in such a case where a signal, such as a square wave, which changes steeply, passes through an electric network. Ringing is caused by inductance of an interconnection, a shortage of a transmission bandwidth, and the like.
FIG. 10 is a view showing an example of a waveform including ringing.
As shown in FIG. 10, in a waveform containing ringing, an overshoot or an undershoot occurs in an edge portion of the waveform including ringing, and the waveform undulates.
The waveform of an electric signal is measured using a measuring device such as an oscilloscope. An overshoot (α in FIG. 10) and an undershoot of a signal can be measured with an ordinary measuring device of this type. However, the peak-to-peak amplitude (β in FIG. 10) of ringing (e.g., see TDS3000B Series User Manual, P3-44 to P3-46, Tektronix, hereinafter referred to as Non-Patent Document 1) is not measured with the ordinary measuring device.
As described above, in a case where ringing is measured in the measurement of the waveform of an electric signal, an overshoot and an undershoot of the signal can be measured with a conventional measuring device. However, the peak-to-peak amplitude of the ringing cannot be measured with the conventional measuring device. Accordingly, even in a case where the peak-to-peak amplitude of this ringing is desired to be measured, such as a case where an attempt is made to analyze a cause of the ringing, such a measurement cannot be performed with the conventional measuring device.

Waveform measuring apparatus and method thereof

International Business Machines Corporation


In an electronic community system, host and user terminals are connected so that a virtual space shared by the user terminals is formed based on information transmitted from the host to the user terminals, a state and events in the virtual space being controlled in accordance with commands input to the respective user terminals. The electronic community system includes a first unit, at least provided in one of the host and the respective user terminals, for analyzing commands input to the respective user terminals and generating information representing at least one of states and events in the virtual space. The system further includes a second unit is provided in either the host or the respective user terminals, for converting the information generated by the first unit into speech information, and a speech output unit, provided in the respective user terminals, for outputting a speech explaining the states and/or events in the virtual space based on the speech information obtained by the second unit. Speech recognition is used in the electronic community system so as to allow users who are visually impaired to use the system.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to an electronic community system and more particularly to an electronic community system in which communication among users is performed using virtual characters in a virtual space formed on a computer network.
(2) Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, electronic community systems using a personal computer communication system have been proposed. In the electronic community systems, a virtual space is formed on a computer network and displayed on user terminals. Users operate, by use of a mouse, characters (hereinafter each of characters is referred to as an "abator") in the virtual space displayed on the user terminals, the virtual having a plurality of objects. An "abator" operated by a user communicates with "abators" operated by other users in the virtual space so that services prepared in the system are available for users.
A communication system in which the electronic community system is formed has a structure as shown in FIG. 1.
Referring to FIG. 1, a service center is provided with a host computer (hereinafter referred to as a host) 300 formed of one or a few workstations. A plurality of user terminals 500(1), 500(2), . . . , 500(n), to which services prepared in the electronic community system are supplied, are connected to the host 300 by a communication network 400. The host 300 carries out management for the electronic community system and users. In a user terminal 500 (i), a user performs an operation for logging the user into the host 300 (a log-in operation), and accesses a virtual space formed by the host 300. The host 300 and the user terminal 500 (hereinafter, the respective user terminals 500(1), 500(2), . . . , 500(n) are generally referred to as the user terminal 500) are formed as shown in FIG. 2.
Referring to FIG. 2, the user terminal 500 has a keyboard 1, a mouse 2, a display unit 3, an input unit 10, an input analyzing unit 11, a user command transmission unit 12, a system command receiving unit 13, a command interpreting unit 14, an animation engine 15, an animation database 16 and a display controller 17. The host 300 has a user command receiving unit 20, a user command interpreting unit 21, a user information managing unit 22, a user information database 23, a system command generating unit 24 and a system command transmission unit 25. A virtual space formed by the host 300 is displayed on the display unit 3 of the user terminal 500, as shown in FIG. 3. In the virtual space, "abators" A and B are moved and talk with each other (talking sentences are displayed) in accordance with input information supplied from the respective user terminals.
When a user operates the mouse 2 and performs an input operation using the keyboard 1 to control the "abator" A or B in a user terminal 500 (i), input information depending on these operations is supplied to the input analyzing unit 11 via the input unit 10. The input analyzing unit 11 analyzes the input information. That is, it is determined whether or not the input information is information for controlling a moment, whether or not the input information is information regarding talking sentences, whether or not the input information is information for identifying functions and the like. Analyzed user commands (the input information) are transmitted from the user command transmission unit 12 to the host 300 via the communication network 400.
In the host 300, the user command receiving unit 20 receives the user commands from the respective user terminals, and the user commands are then supplied to the user command interpreting unit 21. The user command interpreting unit 21 analyzes contents of the user commands supplied from the user command receiving unit 20. The analyzing results are supplied to the user information managing unit 22. The user information managing unit 22 checks, with reference to the user information database 23, whether the analyzing results include contradictions. If the analyzing results include no contradiction, the analyzing results are supplied to the system command generating unit 24. The system command generating unit 24 generates, based on the analyzing results, system commands indicating how the "abators" A and B are controlled. Each of the system commands may include information indicating positions and moving directions of a virtual character "abator", information for controlling movement of the virtual character "abator" and the like. The system commands generated by the system command generating unit 24 are serially transmitted from the system command transmission unit 25 to the user terminal 500 via the communication network 400.
Furthermore, in the user terminal 500, the system command receiving unit 13 receives the commands from the host 300 and the commands are then supplied to the command interpreting unit 14. The command interpreting unit 14 interprets the commands so that the commands can be understood by the animation engine 15. The interpreted commands are supplied to the animation engine 15. The animation engine 15 makes an animation in which respective objects are moved in the virtual space, based on animation data for the "abator" and other objects in the virtual space which animation data stored in the animation database 16. The display controller 17 controls the display unit 3 so that the animation is displayed on the display unit 3.
In the electronic community system as described above, the user communicates with other users through the virtual space displayed on the display unit of the user terminal. Thus, a user suffering from an eyesight disorder cannot use the conventional electronic community system.

Electronic community system using speech recognition for use by the visually impaired


An integrated circuit includes a clock generator and a synchronous clock circuit unit. The clock generator generates a first clock signal, a second clock signal, and a third clock signal, which are synchronized with one another and are provided with mutually different frequencies. The synchronous clock circuit unit includes synchronous clock circuits to which the first clock signal, the second clock signal, and the third clock signal are inputted, respectively. The synchronous clock circuits are scanned by use of the first clock signal, the second clock signal, and the third clock signal.

Along the progress in higher and multiple performances of an information equipment and the like in recent years, a system LSI, a SoC and other devices are widely used in portable information equipment, personal computers and so forth. The system LSI is configured to integrate multiple system functions on a single chip. The SoC is configured to integrate a memory, a logic circuit, and an analog circuit into a single chip. Such a system LSI or a SoC, which is designed in a large scale and configured to operate at a high speed, uses techniques called DFT (design for testability) such as scan test method or a BIST (built-in self test) method, in order to suppress testing costs, for example. Japanese Patent Application Laid-open Publication No. 2002-124852 discloses the scan test method. In the scan test method, a flip-flop is replaced by a scan flip-flop. It is possible to give scan-in data from outside the system LSI or the SoC and to read the test values through an external input-output terminal by using the scan flip-flop. Accordingly, it is easier to produce a test pattern using an ATPG (automatic test pattern generator).
In the above-mentioned scan test method, when a scan test is performed for a logic circuit unit including a clock frequency divider to which clock signals are to be inputted, a multiplexer is provided on an output end of the clock frequency divider. A delay test using a multiplexer for selecting a clock signal or a divided clock signal has a problem that generation of a scan pattern becomes extremely inefficient which depends on an operating frequency. Moreover, the delay test has another problem that timing adjustment is difficult to make due to a skew between the clock signal and the divided clock signal.

Scan-based integrated circuit having clock frequency divider


Described herein a single bore, high flow junction plate and flow line assembly adapted for use subsea. This junction plate may be adapted for use with a torque tool manipulated by a remotely operated vehicle (“ROV”).

Junction plates are used subsea. The flow path through current junction plates is typically not straight and makes turns though perimeter port holes or flow paths. The stabs cannot typically be equipped with multiple seals that can be engaged on an as-needed basis, and the junction plates rely on multiple, small-bore hydraulic couplers that are ganged together to create a sufficiently large flow path. The use of such hydraulic couplers increases the cost of such junction plates.


A method and apparatus for calculating line sag in a span of a conductor is provided. The method includes using a portable smart device having one or more accelerometers and running a line sag application on the processing device. The line sag application enables acceleration data of return waves generated on the conductor to be collected using the smart device and to be plotted as a function of time for display on the smart device. The method further includes placement of time markers on the plotted data displayed on the smart device to determine elapsed time and calculating line sag using the elapsed time.

It is known in the prior art to calculate the line sag of a conductor using the time it takes for a travelling wave to travel along and return from one end to the other of a conductor span. U.S. Pat. No. 5,454,272 to Miller et al. requires mounting an impactor and at least one, and preferably two, motion sensors mounted on the conductor being impacted by the impactor. The impactor causes a travelling wave along the conductor. The motion sensors detect the wave amplitude and timing.
Miller discusses a mathematical formula, described as being known in the art, for the calculation of the line sag. The calculated line sag is proportional to the square of the wave travel time. Miller discloses that the travelling wave can be caused by pulling down on the conductor and recording the return travel time.
IEEE Standard 524-2003, published 12 Mar. 2004, and entitled "IEEE Guide to the Installation of Overhead Line Conductors", at page 62 describes: The stopwatch or sagwatch method is a quick and accurate means of checking sag. This method involves jerking or striking the conductor and measuring the time it takes the shock wave to be reflected back to the initial point. Usually, three or five return waves provide an accurate measurement of the tension in the span. This method is most effective on small conductors and shorter spans. This method is also sometimes difficult on lines with long unbraced horizontal post insulators because the insulators may absorb too much wave energy and make it difficult to detect multiple return waves.
Quanta Energized Services provides a training manual for linemen in barehand procedures. The manual dated Jul. 10, 2015 and entitled "Barehand Training Manual" in Appendix A2, page 66 describes line sag measurement by using a stopwatch. The manual states that the return wave method of checking the sag in a conductor is applicable regardless of the span length, tension, size, or type of conductor, and that the time required for a wave initiated on a conductor, suspended in air between two fixed supports, to traverse between the supports is dependent on the amount of conductor sag. The manual states that a conductor wave originating at one support will travel to the next support where it will be reflected back to the point of origin where it will again be reflected back to the adjacent support, and that the cycle repeats until the wave is eventually damped out.
The manual describes striking the conductor with a blow close to one support point (approximately 8 feet to 12 feet from the support point) and simultaneously starting the stopwatch. Striking the conductor is described as causing a wave to travel from the near support to the far one, where it is reflected. The manual instructs that at the third return of the wave, stopping the stopwatch and reading the time, in seconds, required for the wave to travel out and back three times. The relationship between the time required for a conductor wave to travel three times between supports and the conductor's sag is described as being given by the equation: Sag (in feet) equals the time (in seconds) squared, divided by 9.
This method is described in the manual as particularly valuable for checking sag in spans of normal length, and as not being as satisfactory when used on very large conductors in long spans because of the greater energy required to set up a wave which can readily be felt after it has traveled from one support to the other, three times.
The manual further describes that on a "hot" (i.e., energized) line the impulse can be given and felt by means of a dry tested rope thrown over the conductor 8 feet to 12 feet from the point of support.
Thus, for example, three return waves timed at collectively 9.24 seconds in a 613 foot span of 4/0 ACSR at 0.29 pounds per foot. Applying the formula: the collective 9.24 seconds was squared and then divided by nine. The result was 9.49 feet of sag in the span. An inaccuracy in a time measurement resulting in a measurement of, for example, 10.0 seconds becomes a predicted sag of 11.1 feet, i.e., 1.6 feet more than the actual sag, an inaccuracy of 17 percent. Hence, both sensitivity to the impulse of a returning wave and accuracy of time measurement is desirable in order to consistently obtain accurate line sag measurement.
Applicant is also aware of U.S. Pat. No. 9,464,949 to Mahlen et al. entitled "Wire Timing and Tensioning Device", the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. Mahlen describes his method, device and system as being semi-automated. The device is attached to a tensioned line and is used to measure a total time delay of an induced mechanical wave in the tensioned line. The total time delay is then compared to a sag-tension chart by a user to determine the line sag.

Method and apparatus for determining line sag in a conductor span


A pair of bags are provided on a front side upper portion of a sock main body of each of a pair of socks so that the bags are aligned traversely. The bags are knitted goods similar to the sock main body, and the inside of the bags is in communication with the inside of the sock main body.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pair of socks, and in particular, to a pair of socks simulated to a face of an animal to attract interest of infants or children.
2. Description of the Prior Art
A pair of socks are known in the art in which a face of an animal is drawn, or a piece of cloth having a shape of a face of an animal is sewed to each of the socks so that the socks are simulated to the face of the animal.
Such socks perform an inherent function as socks, and at the same time, they perform a function of attracting interest of children, and they are suitable for toys of infants or children.
However, in the prior art socks, since a face of an animal is drawn as a decorative pattern, or a piece of cloth having a shape of a face of an animal is merely sewed to the socks, they lack the feeling of a solid or three-dimensional body, and the interest of children is not so strong


A first device receives first data that includes a plurality of input vectors, which includes a primary input vector and a set of secondary input vectors and detects uncorrectable errors in the first data based on a quality metric indication. Based on detecting the uncorrectable errors in the first data, the first device substitutes a predetermined codeword for the primary input vector encoded using a non-perfect code, and substitutes a predetermined input vector for the primary input vector. The first device modulates a set of encoded secondary input vectors using the predetermined input vector to generate a modulated set of encoded secondary input vectors and transmits as second data the predetermined codeword and the modulated set of encoded secondary input vectors to a target device, wherein the substituting step creates a first number of errors that is detected by the target device as uncorrectable errors in the transmitted second data.

Digital communication systems are known to comprise base stations and repeaters in communication with a plurality of communication units. To this end, base stations and repeaters transmit and receive digital voice messages, typically over a radio frequency (RF) communication link. In the case of base stations, messages from consoles may also be transmitted and received over a wireline communication link. Both RF and wireline communication links are known to induce bit errors in transmitted digital voice messages. Indeed, high error rates can be expected over RF links, while significant error rates on wireline links, caused, for example, by switching devices, are also known.
Regardless of the source of error, digital voice messages are typically forward error correction encoded. Forward error correction techniques, often referred to as error correction codes, allow errors to be detected, and even corrected, and can be divided into two categories: perfect codes and non-perfect codes, as discussed below. Using these error correction techniques, a message is divided into small portions. Each portion is encoded to produce a codeword, which codewords are transmitted to a target over a given communication link. At the target, the codewords are decoded and most transmission errors induced by the communication link are detected and corrected. The resulting decoded portions may then be processed to reconstruct the original message. The reconstructed message can then be re-encoded for transmission over yet another communication link. This process of repetitive encoding and decoding is continued until the message has reached its final destination. For example, a message from a console to a communication unit may have to pass through a base station and a repeater before reaching the communication unit.
When transmitted over each link (e.g., between the console and base station, base station and repeater, repeater and communication unit), the message undergoes the encoding/decoding procedure described above. However, error rates on a communication link are often high enough that the error correction technique used is unable to correct all the errors in a particular portion of a message. An uncorrectable portion of a message is typically regarded as unusable. Nevertheless, if synchronization of the message is to be maintained, as is typically the case, a substitute for the uncorrectable portion, typically in the form of a special codeword not otherwise used, indicating the presence of the uncorrectable portion, can be sent to the target of the message. In this manner, the target of the message knows that the portion represented by the special codeword is irreparably corrupted and may execute procedures that mitigate the effect of the uncorrectable portion (error mitigation).
This solution is possible only if codewords exist that would not normally occur as a result of the encoding process, i.e., unused codewords. Error correction codes having unused codewords are often referred to as non-perfect codes. Non-perfect codes can be described as those codes in which a subset of codewords, less than all possible codewords, are valid (i.e., correctable). Conversely, in a perfect code, all possible codewords are valid. Thus, perfect codes used to produce binary codewords consisting of n-information bits would result in 2n valid codewords. Non-perfect codes resulting in binary codewords n-bits in length would have no more than (2n−1) valid codewords. Therefore perfect codes do not contain unique and valid codewords that could otherwise be used to inform the target of uncorrectable codewords. However even with a non-perfect code, using a special codeword to indicate erasures may not always result in mitigation in the receiver. This is because during transmission the special codeword may itself become corrupt with errors that cause it not to be detected at the receiver.
Examples of forward error correction encoders and decoders using perfect error correction codes and non-perfect error correction codes are shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. In particular, a transmitter 100 and a receiver 200 operate in accordance with ETSI-DMR (European Telecommunications Standard Institute-Digital Mobile Radio) standard as defined in ETSI Technical Specifications 102 361. A data input device 101 provides a primary input vector u0 and a set of secondary input vectors u0-u3. As shown, the set of input vectors u0-u3 are error correction encoded using a primary encoder 102 and a secondary encoder 103. The primary encoder 102 encodes the primary input vector u0 using a non-perfect code such as, for instance, a non-perfect Golay (24,12) code to generate a primary encoded vector c0. The secondary encoder 103 encodes the set of secondary input vectors (and more particularly in this embodiment vector u1) using a perfect code such as, for instance, a Golay (23,12) code or a Hamming (15,11) code to generate a set of encoded secondary input vectors v1-v3. A modulator 104 is also provided in which the primary input vector u0 is used to modulate, as known in the art, the set of encoded secondary input vectors (and more particularly in this embodiment vector v1) to generate a modulated set of encoded secondary input vectors c1-c3. The primary vector c0 and the modulated set of encoded secondary input vectors c1-c3 is usually then interleaved by an interleaver 105 prior to transmission to the receiver 200.
Reversing the above process, the receiver 200 de-interleaves the received data using a de-interleaver 201 to generate a primary encoded vector c0′ and vectors c1′-c3′. A primary decoder 202 decodes the received primary encoded vector c0′ using a non-perfect Golay (24,12) code to generate a received primary input vector u0′. Received secondary modulated vector c1′ is demodulated by a demodulator 203 using the received primary input vector u0′ to generate a vector v1, which is further decoded by a secondary decoder 204 using a perfect code to generate a vector u1′. The received de-interleaved vectors are shown as c0′-c3′, the demodulated secondary vectors shown as v1′-v3′, and the data vectors as u0′-u3′. It is well known that errors in u1′ are due to uncorrectable errors of u0′, such that detectable errors appear in both u0′ and u1′.
Where receiver 200 is included in an intermediary device such as a base station or a repeater which detects uncorrectable errors, the intermediary device should not simply retransmit corrupted data because this may or may not result in proper error mitigation in a target device. As stated above, the intermediary device could transmit a special codeword (as a replacement for the uncorrectable portion) that in itself serves as an indication to the target device of the uncorrectable errors, but this solution has the above-stated shortcomings associated therewith. One possible solution that avoids the above-described use of special codewords is to replace the uncorrectable portion with a representation of an audio pattern chosen so as to minimize audio degradation when the pattern is properly decoded. Message portions representing silence are often used for this purpose. The representations of silence can be chosen such that message synchronization is maintained. However, the use of encryption techniques, as is often the case in digital communication systems, causes representations of silence to be decrypted into representations of random noise, thereby frustrating the attempt to minimize audio degradation. Still other solutions could be devised in which separate indicators, aside from the codewords themselves, could be transmitted. However, these solutions require additional use of scarce bandwidth resources over the communication links, which is often not feasible.
Therefore, a need exists for a method whereby uncorrectable errors occurring in a message, despite the use of a non-perfect error correction code, can be indicated to the target of the message. Such a method should allow message synchronization to be maintained without the use of additional bandwidth.

Method and apparatus for indicating uncorrectable errors to a target


A laminated solar battery (200) wherein four solar cell modules are incorporated and integrally laminated is provided with four types of solar cell modules (90, 100, 70 and 60) which have different sensitivity wavelength bands and are so laminated that the shorter the center wavelength in the sensitivity wavelength band is, the more near the module is located to the incidental side of sunlight, wherein each of the three types solar cell modules (90, 100 and 70) is constituted with cell group modules having plural nearly spherical solar cells (30, 40 and 10) aligned in plural columns and plural rows and the lowest solar cell module (60) is constituted with a planar light receiving module.

The sunlight spectrum has, on the earth, a broad wavelength band from ultraviolet rays to far infrared rays having a peak wavelength of approximately 600 nm. In order to receive such sunlight and convert it to electric energy with solar cells depending on a single energy band gap, the usable spectral range is limited and there is a limitation in terms of high efficiency photo-electric conversion. Therefore, in order to absorb a waide range sunlight spectrum, a solar battery of a photo-electric conversion structure has been proposed in which the sunlight spectrum is divided into plural sensitivity wavelength bands, and plutal types of solar cell modules (or element solar cells, or solar cell layers) capable of accomplishing photo-electric conversion with high efficiency for eac sensitivity wavelength band are laminated sequentially in the order of short central wavelength (large band gap) in sensitivity wavelength bands from the incidental side of sunlight.
Conventional solar batteries that have been proposed so far include the following.
(a) A solar battery in which the sunlight is divided into multiple wavelength bands through optical filter mirrors, and multiple types of independent solar cell modules suitable to respective sensitivity wavelength bands are arranged on sunlight paths, as described in N. S. Alvi, C. E. Bakus and G. W. Madesen, "Potential For Increasing the Efficiency of Photovoltaic Systems by Using Multiples Cell Concept", Conf. Proc. 12th IEEE Photovoltaic Specialist Conference 957 (1976).
(b) A solar battery in which multiple semiconductor layers having different energy band gaps are made by sequential crystal growth on a common substrate to integrally laminate a two-layer solar cell layer.
(c) A solar battery in which multiple types of solar cell panels are individually prepared by using semiconductors of different sensitivity wavelength bands and are arranged on the optical path of sunlight.
Solar batteries of above (b) and (c) are described in A. W. Bett, F. Dimroth, G. Stollwerck, O. V. Sulima "III-V Compounds For Solar Cell Applications" Appl. Phys. A69, 119-129 (1999).
In solar batteries of above (a) to (c), a pn junction is prepared in a planar semiconductor wafer or a semiconductor layer for element solar cells constituting a laminated solar battery. The solar battery of above (a) is not free from the degradation due to the optical loss of filter-mirrors and expensive manufacturing cost. The space among multiple element solar cells is large and requires a great deal of labor in their alignment and fixation, etc.
In the solar battery of above (b), the type of semiconductors that can be crystallized and grown on one substrate is restricted due to differences of crystal structure and lattice constant, making difficult the formation of pn junctions of different band gaps and a desirable shapes. In addition, tunnel junctions are necessary so that an electric current flow between laminated solar cell layers, but the resistance of the tunnel junctions is high. Moreover, the magnitude of the photo-electric current of laminated multiple solar cell layers become uneven, with the problem that the output current of the entire solar battery is restricted by a solar cell layer having the lowest magnitude of photo-electric current.
In the solar battery of above (c), the restriction of crystal growth such as the solar cell of above (b) is eliminated, but a window which allows light of a wavelength band not absorbed by the element solar cells is necessary for the element solar cells on the incidental side of sunlight. If the number of lamination and light-receiving areas of element solar cells is increased, there are drawbacks such as the fact that the effective light-receiving area is easily decreased due to an area increase of a comb-like electrode section and positional deviation of element solar cells. As with the solar battery of above (b), since solar cells consisting of a single pn junction are laminated, the problem remains that the magnitude of output current of element solar cells is uneven, and the output of the entire solar battery is restricted by an element solar cell having a small output current.
An objective of the present invention is to eliminate above described problems and to provide a laminated solar battery capable of improving remarkably the photo-electric conversion efficiency of sunlight.