An acrylic oily gel bioadhesive material comprising a substrate having on one surface thereof a crosslinked gel layer formed by crosslinking a composition comprising an acrylate polymer comprising as a main component an alkyl (meth)acrylate having four or more carbon atoms in the alkyl moiety and a liquid ingredient compatible with said acrylate polymer.

Recently, various percutaneous preparations for external use in the form of a preparation applied to the skin (for example, plaster, tape), whereby a drug is administered to the living body via the skin surface, have been developed.
Such a percutaneous preparation applied to the skin usually involves an adhesive layer having a relatively large adhesiveness to secure the fixation of the preparation on the skin surface. Alternatively, the entire preparation is covered with a highly adhesive sheet having a large adhesiveness which secures the fixation of the preparation on the skin.
Although a percutaneous preparation applied to the skin should be surely fixed on the skin so as to secure the migration of a drug component into the skin, an excessively large adhesiveness might bring about a pain or peeling of the horny substance caused by physical stimulation upon the separation of the preparation from the skin surface. Further, serious skin irritation is sometimes observed.
Thus, the adhesiveness to the skin is an important factor in the development of a percutaneous preparation in practice, and the problem of the skin irritation is also an important factor. Therefore, it has been practically required to develop a preparation which scarcely irritates the skin and can be securely fixed onto the skin.

Acrylic oily gel bioadhesive material and acrylic oily gel preparation


A hydraulic lifting device including a main beam, two or more connection plates fixedly connected to the main beam, at least two legs, each leg pivotably attached to two of the plates, at least two hydraulic cylinders, each cylinder disposed between the beam and one of the legs, and two or more load connectors.

Trench shoring is a process of bracing the walls of a trench in order to prevent collapse. This process is often necessary in the construction field when excavating trenches to lay water and sewer pipes, foundations, cables or underground structures.
Typically the side walls of the trench are lined with one or more boxes or vertical shoring panels. A series of boxes or panels may be successively connected to create a continuous shoring wall on either side of the trench. Several horizontal shoring devices or spreaders may be installed between opposing panels to support the shoring panels along the length of the trench. The term "trench shoring" may also be used to refer to these materials used in the trench shoring process.
After an excavation job is complete or an in ground structure installed, the trench shoring generally must be removed. Given the significant load upon the trench shoring from the adjacent earth, particularly during or after backfilling, removal of the trench shoring can be difficult and dangerous. This is often done by lifting the trench shoring with an excavator vehicle. However, the application of an even and distributed force to the trench shoring is difficult to achieve using an excavator alone. The process is time consuming, difficult and can in some circumstances result in damage to the trench shoring or in ground structure. Furthermore, significant wear is put on the excavator when removing trench shoring.
What is desired therefore is a safe and effective system and device for removing trench shoring. What is also desired is a system and device adaptable for numerous types of vertical lifting applications.


A high frequency resonant apparatus is described that includes a closed loop resonant series circuit including a capacitor, an inductor, a load, and a switching device with an anti-parallel diode. An energy source is coupled to the closed loop series circuit. The high frequency resonant apparatus also includes a controller for turning on the switching device for a time longer than one cycle of the closed loop resonant series circuit.

A limiting factor on how high of a frequency resonant loads can run is the combined switching losses. There are six main sources of switching losses with bipolar devices (Field Effect Transistor type devices do not have the 3rd and 4th losses listed). They are:                1. The voltage/current ("V/I") losses at turn on.        2. The V/I losses at turn off.        3. The conduction modulation loses at turn on.        4. The tail current losses at turn off.        5. The diode switching losses.        6. The ½CV2 loss when the switching device is turned on (wherein C is capacitance and V is voltage).
The V/I losses at turn on are the losses in the switching device when the voltage across the device is falling and the current is rising at the same time. In addition to the V/I losses at turn on, there are the additional losses of a high current (higher than the load current) in the switching device if a diode is being reversed biased (sweep out) at the same time the switch is being turned on.
The V/I losses at turn off are the losses in the switching device when the voltage across the device is rising and the current is falling at the same time.
The conduction modulation losses are the losses in the device just after it is turned on until the forward voltage drop across the device has fallen to its DC forward voltage rating.
The tail current losses take place at the end of the turn off time of a switching device. For most bipolar devices under most switching conditions, a point is reached at which the switching device itself determines the current decay rate and the current decays at a slower rate thereby increasing the power loss. The causes and extent of the tail current losses are complex, but tail current losses are generally due to charges stored in the bipolar devices due to minority carrier injection that occurs when the device is first turned on.
The diode switching losses are typically very high and occur when the diode is reversed biased (sweep out) with current in the diode when the switching device is turned on.
The ½CV2 loss when the switching device is turned on is due to the device absorbing energy stored in the capacitance across the device just before being turned on.


A striker plate for protecting the bottom surface of an underground storage tank from damage caused by the impact of an object thereon. The striker plate is formed by a plurality of slats having a resilient strip crossing the slats to which the slats are mounted to align the slats in side-by-side fashion and to bias the slats to a first position in which the plate is flat for application to the bottom surface of an under ground storage tank. A pivot is adapted for mounting to a setting tool so that the slats can be rolled into a cylinder for insertion through the filler pipe of the storage tank and then pivoted for application to the bottom surface of the tank and a releasable mount on the plate is provided for removing the pivot from the plate once the plate is applied to the bottom of the tank.

The present invention relates to a plate for application to a surface to be protected to which access is restricted by a relatively small opening and a method for applying a plate to a surface to which access is restricted by an opening of relatively small diameter. More particularly, the present invention relates to a striker plate for protecting the bottom of an underground storage tank (UST) from damage caused from the impact of an object thereon.
The particular application for which the present invention is intended is for use with underground storage tanks for storage of gasoline at gasoline service stations. The operators of the service station are required by federal regulation and for the purpose of inventory reconciliation to measure the depth of the gasoline in the UST at regular intervals for the purpose of calculating the volume of gasoline in the UST. To do so, the operator drops a dip stick down into the UST through the filler pipe to measure the depth of the gasoline in the UST. Most USTs installed at gasoline service stations are made of fiberglass, and the repeated dropping of the dip stick into the UST for the purpose of measuring the depth of the gasoline causes dents, cracks, and other damage to the bottom of the UST with the eventual result that the fiberglass fails and begins to leak gasoline from the tank.
Consequently, most USTs presently being installed are provided with a metal plate on the bottom of the UST beneath the filler pipe to protect against damage to the bottom of the tank from the impact of the dip stick. On information and belief, federal regulation will soon require such plates, called striker plates, in all USTs. There are, however, a large number of USTs which are presently in operation which do not have striker plates installed in them, and it is specifically for those USTs that the present invention is intended.
The currently available methods for installing striker plates in those USTs which are not provided with them involve digging down to the UST (which is usually covered with concrete), removing the gasoline stored therein, degassing the tank, cutting into and opening the top of the tank, lowering a technician down into the opened tank to install the striker plate, repairing the opening, and replacing the fill and concrete over the UST. This process is quite expensive, and takes the UST out of service for the time required for the installation. Between the cost and other disadvantages of this known process for installing striker plates and the federal regulations which will soon require their installation, there is an urgent need for an apparatus and method for installing a striker plate in those USTs which are not already provided with them. It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide such an apparatus and method.
Of course, those skilled in the art who have the benefit of this disclosure will recognize that the method and apparatus of the present invention is capable of use in applications other than the installation of a striker plate in an underground storage tank. It is, therefore, in a more general sense, an object of the present invention to provide a method and apparatus for applying a protective plate to a surface to be protected in installations in which access to the surface is restricted by a relatively small opening. Other objects, and the advantages, of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of a presently preferred embodiment thereof.

Roll-up striker plate for underground storage tanks


A radio device performs uplink transmissions on a first carrier. The uplink transmissions on the first carrier require scheduling by a node of a wireless communication network. Further, the radio device performs uplink transmissions on a second carrier. The uplink transmissions on the second carrier require that, by a carrier sense operation, the radio device assesses the second carrier as being unoccupied before proceeding to the uplink transmission on the second carrier. For a certain uplink transmission on the second carrier, the radio device performs the carrier sense operation to assess whether the second carrier is unoccupied and provides an indication of a result of the carrier sense operation to the node which is responsible for the scheduling.

In wireless communication technologies, utilization of certain carrier frequencies, in the following also referred to as "carrier" may require that a radio device first senses whether the carrier is occupied before proceeding to a transmission on the carrier. This operation is also referred to as a Listen Before Talk (LBT) procedure. The operation of sensing whether the carrier is occupied is also referred to as carrier sense operation. An LBT procedure may for example be required before transmitting on a carrier from an unlicensed frequency spectrum, e.g., a frequency range which is not exclusively assigned to one wireless communication network, but shared by multiple wireless communication networks or multiple radio technologies. The LBT procedure allows for avoiding colliding usage of the carrier with other radio devices or even other radio technologies can be avoided. For example, an unlicensed spectrum, e.g., a range between 5150 MHz and 5925 MHz can be simultaneously used by multiple different radio technologies, such as the LTE technology specified by 3GPP (3rd Generation Partnership Project) and a WLAN (Wireless Local Area Network) technology as specified by the IEEE 802.11 standards family.
The LTE technology may use the unlicensed spectrum on the basis of a concept referred to as licensed-assisted access (LAA) and discussed in 3GPP TR 36.889 V13.0.0 (2015-06). In the case of LAA, a carrier from a licensed spectrum is used for controlling or assisting radio transmissions on a carrier from an unlicensed spectrum. Radio transmissions on the carrier from the licensed spectrum are scheduled by an access node of the LTE radio access network, referred to as eNB. This scheduling involves that the eNB allocates radio resources for the radio transmission to the UE and indicates the allocated radio resources to the UE. The radio transmissions on the carrier from the unlicensed spectrum require may also be unscheduled, which means that there is typically no explicit control from the LTE radio access network when a UE (user equipment) will transmit on the carrier from the unlicensed spectrum. In any case, the timing of the transmission on the carrier from the unlicensed spectrum will depend on the LBT procedure performed by the UE before it can transmit on the carrier from the unlicensed spectrum.
However, when a UE uses both a first carrier which requires scheduling of radio transmissions and a second carrier which requires that the UE performs an LBT procedure before it can transmit on the carrier, like for example in the LAA concept, some constraints may prevent the UE from fully benefitting from the aggregated capacity offered by both carriers. For example, the UE might be power limited and not have sufficient power to simultaneously transmit on both carriers. Further, the UE's capabilities might be limited in such a way that the UE cannot transmit simultaneously on both carriers. Further, the UE's capabilities might be limited in such a way that simultaneous transmission on both carriers is possible only with reduced performance for at least one of the carriers, e.g., with reduced data rate.
The above constraints may have the effect that when the UE successfully performs the LBT procedure, i.e., finds that the second carrier is unoccupied, and starts a radio transmission on the second carrier, it cannot perform a scheduled radio transmission on the first carrier or only perform a radio transmission with reduced performance on the first carrier, which means that radio resources of the first carrier would be used inefficiently. When after the successful LBT procedure the UE rather decides to perform the scheduled transmission on the first carrier and refrains from starting a radio transmission on the second carrier, the UE may need to repeat the LBT procedure before it can transmit on the second carrier. However, this repeated LBT procedure may then be unsuccessful, i.e., the UE may then find that the second carrier is occupied. Accordingly, the UE's chances to benefit from usage of the second carrier may then be reduced.
Accordingly, there is a need for techniques which allow for efficient control of radio transmissions in a wireless communication network in scenarios where a radio device uses a multi-carrier configuration which includes a carrier requiring scheduling of radio transmissions by the wireless communication network and a carrier requiring that the radio device performs an LBT procedure before transmitting on the carrier.

Coordination of scheduled and contention-based uplink transmissions


In the case of a rotor cup for open-end spinning aggregates, a smooth fiber sliding surface and a rough-surfaced fiber collecting groove are provided. By means of two separate plating processes, the fiber collecting groove is provided with a nickel-diamond plating and the fiber sliding surface is provided with a purely nickel plating.

This application claims the priority of German application 197 34 426.7, filed in Germany on Aug. 8, 1997 and German application 198 25 906.9, filed in Germany on Jun. 10, 1998, the disclosures of which are expressly incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention relates to a rotor cup for open-end spinning aggregates comprising a rough-surfaced fiber collecting groove in relation to the fibers to be spun, which fiber collecting groove is provided with a nickel plating containing diamond grains, said rotor cup also comprising a smooth fiber sliding surface in relation to the fibers, which is provided with a nickel plating without diamond grains.
German published patent application 43 05 626 discloses that the fiber collecting groove, in relation to the fibers, should have a greater friction resistance than the fiber sliding surface. This, on the one hand, permits the fibers to slip sufficiently easily into the fiber collecting groove in the case of relatively steep fiber sliding surfaces of spinning rotors with small diameters, while on the other hand it is ensured that the fibers take on the circumferential speed of the spinning rotor at the latest at the fiber collecting groove. All the surfaces of the rotor cup are completely covered with a nickel-diamond plating. The desired roughness in the fiber collecting groove comes about in the known spinning rotor in that individual diamond grains project out from the plating. The fiber sliding surface is, in contrast, subsequently smoothed, whereby a large percentage of the diamond grains are pulled out, by means of which the fiber sliding surface loose the undesired gripping effect. This method has a disadvantage in that costly diamond particles are applied to the entire surface of the rotor cup and then subsequently removed, at least on the area of the fiber sliding surface, as their function is not required in this area.
It is an object of the present invention to plate a rotor cup of the above mentioned type in such a way that from the very beginning, diamond particles are applied only where they are actually required.
This object has been achieved in accordance with the present invention in that two nickel platings are applied in two separate plating processes.
As it was assumed up to now that it was not possible to provide only the fiber collecting groove with a nickel-diamond plating, as the plating process is applied in a single bath, the process according to the present invention nevertheless enables the diamond particles to be applied only in the fiber collecting groove. It is hereby practical when the diamond grains of the nickel plating on the fiber collecting groove have a grain size of 4 .mu.m.
For the purpose of the present invention, the plating process is carried out in the following stages:
Firstly, the entire rotor cup is chemically nickel-plated, whereby the desired plating is created on the fiber sliding surface, and a corrosion protection is created on all surfaces of the rotor cup, also on parts which the fibers do not actually reach. Next, the fiber collecting groove is covered with a removable insert, which is designed, for example, as an elastically flexible plastic mask. Thereafter, the entire rotor cup can be lowered into a bath of protective coating, for example, liquid wax, whereby the removable insert prevents the protective coating from entering the fiber collecting groove. When the insert is removed from the fiber collecting groove, the entire remaining contour of the rotor cup, already nickel-plated, is covered with a protective coating. Thus the rotor cup can now be provided with a nickel-diamond plating in a bath, whereby this nickel-diamond plating is applied only to the fiber collecting groove, namely on the already present, previously applied nickel plating. Thus the costly diamond particles are only applied where they are later actually required. When finally the protective coating is removed from the remaining contours of the rotor cup, the result is a rotor cup in which the fiber collecting groove is provided with a rough nickel-diamond plating and the fiber sliding surface is provided with a smooth, purely nickel plating. As the nickel plating also covers the outer contours of the rotor cup, additional protection against corrosion is achieved.
The nickel plating need not, of course, consist of pure nickel; a nickel alloy is also possible in this case.

Rotor cup for open-end spinning and method of making same

Spindelfabrik Suessen, Schurr, Stahlecker & Grill GmbH


A system and method have been provided for maintaining security in a network of imaging devices, such as copiers, scanners, printers, fax machines, and the like. In response to performing an imaging function, a copy of the document is sent to a security auditor for storage. In addition, other features such as user identification, the destination (if the document is sent), and the kind of imaging function performed (copy, print, send) can be stored and cross-referenced with the documents. The network can analyze the documents in storage for security purposes based upon factors such as user identification, document recipients, client number, and document subject matter, to name but a few.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to document management systems and, more particularly to a system and method for maintaining an audit trail of documents that are created, printed, or sent in a network of imaging devices.
2. Description of the Related Art
A large variety of digital imaging devices exist that enable users to duplicate and distribute document via hardcopy, email, or fax. These imaging devices include scanners, copiers, printers, and fax machines, operating as either as stand-alone devices or working in cooperation with computers. Imaging devices include devices that have a single function, or ones that can perform multiple functions. With this distribution and duplication capability comes increased security concerns. Users have the ability to take, send, or distribute information that a company or government may find confidential, and distribute it to anyone in the world.
Conventionally, the security of documentation handling is addressed by some of the following methods. One method tracks the number of copies or prints that each user makes. However, this method does not provide any record of the document contents. A second security method marks any documents output by an imaging device to prevent future copying, or to track which imaging device creates the document. However, placing a security mark on an image to prevent future copying only works for copies and prints. Users still have the ability to take confidential hardcopy documents, scan them, and send via email or fax to anyone. A third set of security solutions perform tracking, auditing, or monitoring functions through separate security unit attachments to each imaging device. However, separate security units add more clutter to the imaging devices and information retrieval is slow. If an administrator wants to determine what a specific employee has been copying, then the information must be separately gathered from each imaging device.
It would be advantageous if, in addition to the identity of the user and the number of copies made, the contents of a copied document could tracked for auditing purposes. Likewise, it would be advantageous if the imaging device functions and document destinations could be tracked for auditing and security purposes.
It would be advantageous if document auditing data could be collected from a network of imaging devices and stored with a centralized security auditor.
It would be advantageous if the document records from the entire network of imaging devices could be reviewed and analyzed by a centralized security auditor.

Audit trail security system and method for digital imaging devices


In order to reduce the time and expense of designing and operating a motor control system with multiple motors of different types, a motor control system is provided with motor control modules that monitor and record status information and update settings in a uniform manner regardless of the motor type under control. Each motor control module includes an output power stage and a motor control unit connected to each other. The status information includes status information about the output power stage or a current control loop connected to the output power stage. The settings include conditions monitored by each motor control module and corresponding actions taken by each motor control module based on the conditions. A host processor connected to the multiple motor control modules may request the common status information and send messages to update common settings of the motor control modules.

A typical motor control system includes a host processor, motion controller, motor drive, and motor. The motion controller may accept commands over a network, such as position, velocity, acceleration, and jerk, from the host processor and generate a corresponding trajectory. The motor drive, in turn, provides an appropriate power signal to drive the motor according to the generated trajectory. Typically, the motion controller and the motor drive are designed differently for different motor types.

Method and apparatus for controlling motors of different types


Glyph instructions are formed which are understandable by a person following the instructions, irrespective of which written language is understood by the person. The glyph instructions follow defined grammar and syntax rules. A plurality of action glyphs are used to represent a plurality of defined actions capable of being undertaken by the person following the instructions. A plurality of material glyphs are defined to represent a plurality of materials which are includable as part of the instruction, and a plurality of instrumentation glyphs are defined to represent a plurality of instruments which may be included in the instructions. Selected ones of the action glyphs, material glyphs and instrumentation glyphs are arranged in relationship to each other in accordance with the predetermined grammar and syntax to form specific instructions understandable by the person following the instruction, irrespective of the written language which is understood by the person.

In an organization having employees which do not share a common written language, a large number of errors occur due to misunderstandings regarding instructions. For example, in the manufacturing field various manufacturing processes have been standardized in order to improve the efficiency of the manufacturing process. However, it is common that written instructions on how to proceed with a standardized process are not written in the language of the person reading the instructions. Therefore, it is necessary to interpret the instructions for that person, translate those instructions, or obtain assistance from another employee. This results in a waste of both time and resources.
Thus, for a multi-lingual workforce it is desirable to have a unified method of communication. While one option is to require all employees of an organization to speak and read the same language, such an option is unrealistic in large organizations and even small organizations having a diversified population.
Therefore, it would be desirable to provide a communication mechanism which avoids written instruction regarding the manufacturing process, which are in a specific language while also allowing for the passing of complex ideas among people having different languages.

Instruction generating system and process via symbolic representations


To facilitate the recovery data from an embedded data pattern through the use of a appropriately sized capture window that is randomly positioned within the data pattern, the embedded data pattern is composed of a plurality of identical, one dimensionally or two dimensionally regularly tiled embedded data blocks which contain sufficient spatial addressing information to permit the logical reconstruction of a complete data block from any set of fragments that collectively provide a full cover for the surface area of any one tile. To this end, the capture window is sized to include a shape which is completely registered with the data pattern in which is capable of tiling the recording medium in accordance with the tiling vectors.

Copending, commonly assigned U.S. patent applications, such as Petrie et al. U.S. application Ser. No. 08/368,125 which was filed Jan. 3, 1995 on "Characterization of Embedded Data Blocks by Sync Frame Encodings of Distinctive Fixed Length Codes" (D/94914), Hecht U.S. application Ser. No. 08/368,112 which was filed Jan. 3, 1995 on "Extended Address Codes for Distributed Labeling and Unique Addressing of Embedded Data Patterns" (D/94916), and Hecht et al. U.S. application Ser. No. 08/649,749 which was filed May 15, 1996 as a continuation-in-part of U.S. application Ser. No. 08/368,124 filed Jan. 3, 1995 on "Distributed Dimensional Labeling of Embedded Data Blocks" (D/949181). describe a logically addressable explicit spatial synchronization mechanism and an embedded data block structure for self-clocking glyph codes. As used herein, a "self-clocking glyph code" is an embedded data pattern which encodes logically organized binary information in a pattern of individually detectable symbols or "glyphs" which, in turn, are written on a suitable recording medium in accordance with a predetermined spatial formatting rule. Such a code is "self-clocking" because all of the binary information is explicity encoded (typically, at a single bit level) in a recognizable property of the glyphs, such as rotational orientation, shape or color. Accordingly, the detection of the glyphs is sufficient to synchronize a properly oriented read/decode process with the recorded data pattern.
In practice, however, localized damage to self-clocking glyph code patterns or distortion of such data patterns may make it difficult to establish and maintain synchronization between a read/decode process and a given data pattern. In recognition of this, it has been proposed to add one or more subpatterns of synchronization glyphs to the data pattern to provide localized explicit synchronization references for the data pattern in a direction parallel to one or more axes of the data pattern. For example, these subpatterns of synchronization glyphs commonly are laid out in accordance with the same spatial formatting rules that govern the layout of remainder of the embedded data pattern to linearly extend across substantially the full span of the data pattern along the x and/or y axes. A predetermined logical sequence of binary values is encoded in the glyphs of each of these synchronization subpatterns, thereby enabling each of the subpatterns of synchronization glyphs to be recognized by confirming, such as by means of a correlation process, that the logically ordered decode values of the glyphs within these subpatterns are close logical matches to the known logical sequence of binary values that are encoded in the synchronization glyphs. As a general rule, the number of glyphs in a subpattern of synchronization glyphs is sufficiently large to ensure reliable recognition of such a subpattern in the presence of one or perhaps even more logical mismatches, such as might be caused by errors or ambiguities in the interpretation of the individual glyphs or by localized damage to the recorded data pattern.
Advantageously, the functionally distinct glyphs in a self-clocking glyph code (e.g., the synchronization glyphs and the glyphs for encoding variable data--the "data glyphs") are symbolically indistinguishable from each other. For example, such a glyph code commonly is implemented by employing slash-like visible symbols which are tilted from vertical at approximately +45.degree. and -45.degree. to encode binary "0's" and "1's," respectively. The use of such a symbol set for writing the glyphs facilitates the decoding of the code because the symbols that are utilized to encode the different binary values essentially are rotationally orthogonal to each other. However, a self-clocking code pattern that is composed of these slash-like symbols has a generally homogeneous visual appearance. Indeed, as the glyph density increases, the code pattern takes on a generally uniform gray scale appearance.
It sometimes is desirable to be able to uniquely identify interior locations within a self-clocking glyph code pattern. For this reason, it has been proposed to encode logically addressable binary sequences, such as a pseudo-noise sequence (sometimes referred to as a "PN sequence" or simply as a "PNS"), in the spatially ordered synchronization glyphs. As is known, a PN sequence is the ordered set of unique n-bit long subsequences a n-stage shift register generates when it is preloaded with a given seed value and operated with feedback taps at specified register locations. A "maximal length PN sequence" contains 2n-1 of these n-bit long subsequences.
An embedded data block structure for recording variable size self-clocking glyph code patterns in accordance with any one of a number of different geometric styles has been developed to incorporate the above-described features, together with some additional features. A simple rectangular embedded data block that is constructed in accordance with these structural rules is described hereinbelow, so for the moment it merely will be noted that this invention may be applied to such data blocks.
It is necessary or desirable for some applications to be able to capture embedded data from an embedded data pattern, such as glyph code pattern, by bringing a appropriately sized capture window to bear on a more or less randomly selected portion of the data pattern. This capture window may be constructed to capture the selected portion of the data pattern in a single parallel read operation or it may be constructed to capture the selected portion of the data pattern by scanning operation.

Tilings of mono-code and dual-code embedded data pattern strips for robust asynchronous capture


A method of controlling a turbocharger in an internal combustion engine includes monitoring a turbocharger parameter such as turbine speed or turbo boost pressure, and establishing a turbocharger parameter limit value for the turbocharger parameter. A dynamic engine torque limit value is determined based on the current value of the turbocharger parameter and the turbocharger parameter limit value. A provisional engine torque is based on engine conditions, and an applied or desired engine torque is limited to the lesser of the dynamic engine torque limit value and the provisional engine torque.

In the control of internal combustion engines, the conventional practice utilizes electronic control units having volatile and non-volatile memory, input and output driver circuitry, and a processor capable of executing a stored instruction set, to control the various functions of the engine and its associated systems. A particular electronic control unit communicates with numerous sensors, actuators, and other electronic control units to control various functions, which may include various aspects of fuel delivery, transmission control, turbocharger control, or many others.
A turbocharger consists of a turbine and a compressor. The pressure of the engine exhaust gases causes the turbine to spin. The turbine drives the compressor, which is typically mounted on the same shaft. The spinning compressor creates turbo boost pressure which develops increased power during combustion. A wastegate at the turbine intake limits the amount of boost pressure to protect the turbocharger and engine components. When boost pressure reaches a predetermined value, the wastegate opens to provide a bypass for a portion of the exhaust gases which pass directly into the exhaust manifold.
Wastegates may include a mechanical valve or a solenoid actuated valve. In either case, failure of the valve may result in damage to the turbocharger or the engine. Valve failure may occur due to tampering in an attempt to achieve higher boost pressures. Wastegate failure due to tampering may result in turbo overspeed or turbo overboost which may cause excessive wear and damage to the turbocharger and engine components. Of course, other factors may also cause undesired turbo overspeed or turbo overboost regardless of whether the system utilizes single turbocharging or sequential turbocharging in which a plurality of turbochargers are arranged in sequence and selectively operated as desired.

System and method for controlling a turbocharger


A surgical robot system capable of storing all data transmitted and received in the surgical robot system and a method of controlling the same includes a slave device performing surgery on a patient, a master device controlling a surgical operation of the slave device, an imaging device transmitting a medical image regarding the patient to the slave device and the master device, and a monitoring device comprising a storage module receiving all data transmitted and received among the slave device, the master device, and the imaging device, serializing the received data on a per transmission-time-information basis to generate serial packets, and storing the generated serial packets, and a reproduction module dividing the stored serial packets into a plurality of unit packets and transmitting the unit packets to a device for display.

1. Field
One or more embodiments relate to a surgical robot system capable of storing all data transmitted and received in the surgical robot system, and a method of controlling the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
Minimally invasive surgery generally refers to surgery capable of minimizing incision size and recovery time. Differently from laparotomy using relatively large surgical incisions through a part of a human body (e.g., the abdomen), in minimally invasive surgery, after forming at least one small incision (or invasive hole) of 0.5 cm to 1.5 cm through the abdominal wall, an operator inserts an endoscope and surgical tools through the incision, to perform surgery while viewing images provided by the endoscope.
Upon comparison with laparotomy, such minimally invasive surgery causes less post-operative pain, faster recovery of bowel movement, earlier restoration of ability to eat, shorter hospitalization, faster return to daily life, and better cosmetic effects owing to small incision size. Due to these properties, minimally invasive surgery is used for cholecystectomy, prostatic carcinoma surgery, hernia repair, and the like, and applications thereof continue to grow.
In general, a surgical robot system used in minimally invasive surgery includes a master device, a slave device, and an imaging device. The master device generates a control signal in accordance with manipulation of a doctor and transmits the control signal to the slave device. The slave device receives the control signal from the master device and performs manipulation required for surgery upon a patient. The master device and the slave device may be integrated or may be separately arranged in an operating room.
The slave device includes at least one robot arm. A surgical instrument is mounted on an end of each robot arm, and in turn a surgical tool is mounted on an end of the surgical instrument.
In minimally invasive surgery using the aforementioned surgical robot, the surgical tool of the slave device and the surgical instrument provided with the surgical tool are introduced into the body of a patient to perform required procedures. In this case, after the surgical tool and the surgical instrument enter the human body, an internal status is visible from images acquired using an endoscope that is an imaging device. In this regard, the master device, the slave device, and the imaging device of the surgical robot system may transmit and receive data such as an image, a sound, a control signal, and status information therebetween through a wired or wireless network, thereby operating.

Surgical robot system and method of controlling the same


According to one embodiment, a separator is provided. The separator includes a composite membrane. The composite membrane includes a substrate layer, a first composite layer, and a second composite layer. The first composite layer is located on one surface of the substrate layer. The second composite layer is located on the other surface of the substrate layer. The composite membrane has a coefficient of air permeability of 1×10−14 m2 or less. The first composite layer has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface is in contact with the substrate layer. The second surface is located on an opposite side to the first surface. Denseness of a portion including the first surface is lower than denseness of a portion including the second surface in the first composite layer.

Nonaqueous electrolyte batteries such as lithium ion batteries are used as power sources in a wide range of fields. The forms of nonaqueous electrolyte batteries include many different forms from small ones for various kinds of electronic devices and the like to large ones for electric vehicles and the like. The nonaqueous electrolyte batteries require safety measures since nonaqueous electrolytes containing flammable substances such as ethylene carbonate are used in the batteries.
Development of aqueous electrolyte batteries in which aqueous electrolytes containing nonflammable aqueous solvents are used instead of the nonaqueous electrolytes has been promoted.

Separator, electrode group, secondary battery, battery pack, vehicle, and stationary power supply


Methods of forming integrated circuit devices include forming patterned layers having different resistivities on semiconductor substrates. These methods include forming a first electrically conductive layer having a first resistivity on first and second portions of a semiconductor substrate. The first portion of the semiconductor substrate may include a memory cell array portion of the substrate and the second portion of the semiconductor substrate may include a peripheral circuit portion of the substrate, which extends adjacent the memory cell array portion. The first electrically conductive layer is patterned to define an upper capacitor electrode on the first portion of the substrate and a resistive pattern on the second portion of the substrate. A second electrically conductive layer is then formed on a third portion of the substrate and on the resistive pattern. The second electrically conductive layer is patterned to define a first resistor pattern on the third portion of the substrate and a patterned resistor cap on the resistive pattern.

Integrated circuit devices frequently utilize active and passive devices to achieve desired operating characteristics. Typical passive devices include capacitors, resistors and inductors. Many techniques have been developed to form resistors having different resistance values and some of these techniques include using different materials having different resistivities and different dimensions. One such technique, which is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,548,851, includes forming a resistor in a peripheral circuit area of a semiconductor substrate. This resistor is formed from the same material used to define an upper capacitor electrode in a memory cell array area of the substrate. U.S. Pat. No. 6,730,573 discloses forming a resistor from a metal layer that is also used to define an upper capacitor electrode. U.S. Pat. No. 6,040,596 discloses a resistor formed from the same material as an upper plate electrode of a memory cell capacitor. Conventional techniques for forming resistors are also disclosed in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,643,777 and 6,211,031.
Notwithstanding these conventional techniques for forming resistors, there continues to be a need for improved methods of forming resistors on integrated circuit substrates.

Methods of fabricating integrated circuit devices having resistors with different resistivities therein


Generally, the present invention monitors and communicates travel data transmitted from vehicles being monitored by the system to users requesting travel information on a particular vehicle. A travel data storage unit receives and stores the travel data. When a user desires to view some or all of this travel data, the user submits a request to a data manager. In response, the data manager retrieves the appropriate information from the travel data stored in the travel data storage unit and transmits this information to the user. The data manager may communicate the information in a variety of mediums and preferably contact information is predefined that enables the data manager to determine which medium is preferable and how to establish communication once the medium is determined.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to data communications and information systems and, in particular, to an automated system and method for monitoring travel of a vehicle and for communicating vehicle travel information to a user at a remote location regarding the proximity of the vehicle relative to a predefined destination.
2. Related Art
There are many situations when it is desirable to know the actual arrival time of a particular vehicle at a particular destination or other location. With this information, adjustments can be made to avoid waiting for a particular vehicle to reach the particular destination. For example, a person picking up a friend or relative at a commercial bus station usually either calls the bus station to find out the approximate arrival time (information which is oftentimes unavailable or unreliable) and/or arrives at the bus station prior to the scheduled arrival time of the bus hoping that the bus is not significantly delayed.
Another example involves school children that ride school buses. The arrival times of school buses at scheduled stops can be significantly affected by many factors such as maintenance problems, rush hour traffic, and congested urban/suburban conditions. As a result, school children typically wait at bus stops for long periods of time, oftentimes in adverse weather conditions, on unlit street corners, or in hazardous conditions near busy or secluded streets. A system informing the students of the school bus' proximity is desirable in order for the students to avoid waiting on the school bus at the school bus stop for extended times.
Yet another example is in the commercial overnight package delivery industry, wherein packages are delivered on a tight schedule. Customers oftentimes wait on delivery of important time-critical packages not knowing precisely when the delivery will occur. A system informing the customer of the precise arrival time is desirable in order to improve customer service and to allow the customer to better rely on the estimated arrival time of the delivery.
Thus, generally, it is desirable to know when a vehicle (such as a bus, truck, train, plane, user, or the like) is (a) a particular time period (for example, a certain number of minutes or seconds) away from arriving at a destination, (b) a particular distance (for example, number of feet or miles) away from the destination, or (c) at a particular location among a set of predetermined location points.
In order to alleviate the arrival time problem in the context of school buses, student notification systems in the past have been employed that use a transmitter on each bus and a receiver inside each student home. U.S. Pat. No. 4,713,661 to Boone et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 4,350,969 describe systems of this type. When the school bus and its on-board transmitter come within a certain range of a particular home receiver, the transmitter sends a signal to notify the student that the school bus is nearby. While such notification systems work satisfactorily under certain circumstances, nevertheless, these systems are limited by the range of the transmitters and require the purchase of relatively expensive receivers for each student. In addition, such systems provide little flexibility for providing additional information to the students, such as notifying them of the delayed arrival of a bus, alternative bus route information, or information regarding important school events.
Thus, a heretofore unaddressed need exists in the industry for a system and method for monitoring travel of a vehicle and for providing desirable travel information, such as, for example, an updated location of the vehicle.

System and method for an advance notification system for monitoring and reporting proximity of a vehicle


During fabrication of a write head via holes are first opened in a gap layer, followed by formation of seed layers instead of the other way around. Moreover a first seed layer is formed, and without the first seed layer being used a second seed layer is formed. The second seed layer (which is the topmost layer) is used in plating to form coils (e.g. of copper) for the write head. After coil formation, the first seed layer is used for plating to form vias (e.g. of NiFe). The two seed layers may be formed in a single operation by using two different targets in a vacuum deposition chamber. Moreover, a single insulation layer is sufficient to insulate and protect all plated elements, regardless of whether they are formed by use of the first seed layer or the second seed layer.

A conventional process for manufacturing a magnetic head (for use in mass storage devices such as disk drives and/or tape drives) is illustrated in FIGS. 1A–1H. Specifically, a number of layers (not shown) of a semiconductor wafer are formed in the normal manner, starting with a substrate (not shown) until the three shown in FIG. 1A are formed. Specifically, a first shield layer (not shown) of NiFe (nickel-iron) approximately 2 microns thick is formed over a silicon substrate. This layer is followed a first gap layer and a sensor layer which are both very thin (e.g. 20 nanometers roughly, and <10 nanometers respectively). The first gap layer is typically made of alumina. The sensor is made of layers of combination of metals such as Cu, PtMn, and NiFe. The sensor thickness is about 300 A. Note that the sensor layer forms a read head as discussed below in detail in reference to FIG. 1I.
On top of the sensor layer is a second shield layer formed of NiFe (nickel-iron) approximately 2 microns thick, followed by a second gap layer (e.g. alumina also of 20 nanometers roughly), followed by the three layers shown in FIG. 1A which form a cross-section of a write head along the Y axis. The bottom most layer 101 in FIG. 1A is a NiFe layer which is also 2 microns thick, followed by a gap layer 102 which separates a copper seed layer 103 from the bottom most layer 101. Gap layer 102 is used to insulate two metal layers 101 and 103 from one another, and hence layer 102 is formed of an insulating material (such as alumina) and is sufficiently thick (e.g. 300 nanometers).
After formation of the copper seed layer 103, before formation of the copper layer itself, two photo lithographic steps are performed as follows. A first step is a photolithography and wet chemical etch step which opens row and column boxes and alignment marks for the second step (described later in this paragraph). Note that the row and column boxes and marks are not shown in FIG. 1A because they are in field and dedicated rows which are located far away (in the horizontal direction) from the location of traces and coils (discussed below).
Next, the prior art process defines locations where copper is to be plated. Specifically, copper is plated in regions 104A–104Z (FIG. 1B), but before plating, these regions are covered up with a photoresist (not shown) that is blanket deposited over the entire layer 103 (FIG. 1A), followed by exposure to define regions 104A–104Z. Then, plating is performed to create conductive traces in these regions as shown by coils 105A and trace 105I and coils 105Z in FIG. 1B. Next, a vacuum-based sputter and etch process is performed to remove the copper seed in all regions where copper is not plated, as shown in FIG. 1C. The sputter and etch process is isotropic etch that is performed to remove the seed layer.
Then, a number of via holes (such as via hole 106 in FIG. 1D) are made in the gap layer 102, by first spinning a resist (not shown) on the structure shown in FIG. 1C, followed by exposing the areas to be etched, followed by a chemical wet etch. This process step is followed by removal of the resist (by a resist strip process e.g. using N-methly-pyrrolidone). Next, traces 105A–105Z are protected by formation of a layer 107 of insulation. The insulation layer 107 (not shown) is formed all over the wafer by spinning a resist to fill the space between coils 105A and 105Z, followed by exposure and development. The resist which remains over (and between) coils 105A and 105Z is baked to harden it and make it into permanent insulation 107A and 107B as shown in FIG. 1E. Note that trace 105I forms the write head, and it is left uncovered at this stage, because it needs to be connected later on to a metal via that is yet to be formed.
Next, a full film of nickel iron (NiFe) seed layer 108 is formed all over the wafer as shown in FIG. 1F, followed by spinning a resist which is opened for row and column boxes and alignment marks in the manner described above in reference to FIG. 1A. As noted above, these marks and boxes are in dedicated non-critical areas of the wafer. These marks are used for a photo lithography process similar to FIG. 1C (except that the seed here is NiFe and not Cu). Next step spins a resist followed by openings (not shown) in which are formed vias 109A–109N are by plating NiFe in the openings (at the bottom of which is located seed layer 108). After plating is completed, the seed material in layer 108 that is not located under the vias 109A–109E is removed by sputter/etch process as shown in FIG. 1G. Lastly, an additional insulation layer 110 is formed, of the same material as and in the same manner, as insulation layer 107 (described above). In fact these two layers 107 and 110 are formed of the same insulation material. Thereafter, the wafer is planarized, e.g. by chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) thereby to make it ready for another process.
FIG. 1I illustrates in a perspective view, a magnetic head formed by the process illustrated in FIGS. 1A–1H wherein certain portions form a read head h1 and remaining portions form a write head h2, both heads being laminated on an end surface of a slider 151. Read head hi includes a lower shielding layer 163 made of a magnetic alloy and formed on the end surface of slider 151, and a magnetoresistive element 165 (also called "sensor" in the previous paragraph) is partially exposed at the medium-facing surface. A small magnetic field from the magnetic recording medium when applied to the magnetoresistive element 165 changes a resistance of magnetoresistive element 165 so that a change in voltage based on the change in resistance is read out as a reproduction signal of the magnetic recording medium. Coil 105 which is a part of the write head is patterned to have a spiral planar shape. The write head also includes an upper core layer 178 that is magnetically connected to lower core layer 167 in a central portion of the coil 105.
For more details on the structure of FIG. 1I, see U.S. Pat. No. 6,369,984, which patent is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. Also incorporated by reference herein in their entirety are the following three U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,154,346, 6,651,312, and 6,452,756 all by Yoshitaka Sasaki.
Applicants note that one or more process steps of the type illustrated in FIGS. 1A–1H are made redundant and one or more layer thicknesses are reduced when two layers are formed in an order inverse of their usage in accordance with the invention as described next.

Write head fabrication by inverting order of process steps

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands B.V.


A system and method are provided for using dynamic random access memory and flash memory. In one example, the memory system comprises a nonvolatile memory; synchronous dynamic random access memories; circuits including a control circuit which is coupled with the nonvolatile memory and the synchronous dynamic random access memories, and controls accesses to the nonvolatile memory and the synchronous dynamic random access memories; and a plurality of input/output terminals coupled with the circuits, wherein in data transfer from the nonvolatile memory to the synchronous dynamic random access memories, error corrected data is transferred.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to computer memory systems and, more particularly, to memory systems having dynamic random access memories (DRAMs) and to control methods such memory systems.
2. Discussion of Background
There are conventionally combination semiconductor memories wherein flash memory (capacity: 32 megabits) and static random access memory (SPAM (capacity: 4 megabits)) on a stack chip (stack) are integrally sealed in an FBGA (Fine pitch Ball Grid Array) package. The flash memory and the SRAM use the input/output electrodes of the FBGA package for address input terminals and data input/output terminals in common. However, the control terminals of one of them is independent of those of the other.
There are also combination semiconductor memories wherein a flash memory chip and DRAM chips are integrally sealed in a lead frame-type package. In this type of combination semiconductor memory, the flash memory and the DRAMs use the input/output electrodes of the package for address input terminals, data input/output terminals, and control terminals in common for input/output.
There are also systems consisting of flash memory which is treated as main storage, cache memory, a controller, and CPU. There are also semiconductor memories consisting of flash memory, DRAM, and a data transfer control circuit (data transfer controller). There are also memories wherein flash memory and SRAM are packaged on one and the same semiconductor chip. There are also flash I/O cards wherein flash memory and SRAM are packaged. There are also systems consisting of flash memory, cache memory, a controller, and CPU. Some of these systems are provided in more detail in the following references. "Data Sheet of Combination Memory (Stacked CSP), Flash Memory+RAM," Model LRS1380, [online], Dec. 10, 2001, Sharp Corporation, [Retrieved on Aug. 21, 2002], Internet URL:
<http://www.sharp.co.jp/products/device/flash/cmlist.html>. JP-A No. 299616/1993 official gazette. Specification for European Patent No. 0566306 laid open. JP-A No. 146820/1995 official gazette. JP-A No. 5723/2001 official gazette. JP-A No. 357684/2001 official gazette. JP-A No. 137736/1996 official gazette. JP-A No. 510612/2001 official gazette.
The sizes of applications, data, and work areas used in cellular phones have been increased due to an increase in functions added to the cellular phones (e.g. delivering of music, game, etc.). It is expected that flash memories and SRAMs with higher capacities will be required. Further, the performance of recent cellular phones has been remarkably enhanced, and needs for large-capacity memories have grown.
Flash memories presently used in cellular phones are NOR-type flash memories using a memory array method called NOR configuration. The NOR configuration is an array configuration with the reduced parasitic resistance of memory cell array. In the NOR configuration, the resistance is reduced by providing metal bit line contacts at a rate of one contact to two memory cells connected in parallel. On this account, the read time is about 80 ns, which is substantially equal to the read time in SRAMs. However, since one contact must be provided for two cells, the proportion of the contact portion to the chip area is high and the area of one bit per memory cell is increased. This poses a problem in that needs for higher capacity cannot be achieved.
Also, typical large-capacity flash memories include AND-type flash memory which uses AND configuration for memory array, and NAND-type flash memory which uses NAND configuration. In these flash memories, one bit line contact is provided for 16 to 128 cells, and high-density memory arrays are obtained. Therefore, the area of one bit per memory cell can be made smaller than that in NOR-type flash memories, and needs for higher capacities can be achieved. On the other hand, the read time before the first data is outputted is as long as about 25 μs to 50 μs. Unfortunately, this read time would impair compatibility with SRAMs.

System and method for using dynamic random access memory and flash memory


A combustion engine (1) for a motor vehicle, having electronic members (20, 23) with memory function for controlling the output torque of the engine at least in dependence on signals representing an injected quantity of fuel. Reference values of engine torque at different rev speeds are stored in the control members. A torque transmitter (24) detects and transmits to the control members a signal representing the current output torque. The control members compare the current torque with the stored reference value in order to determine whether the performance of the engine is normal.

For controlling the torque and revolutional (rev) speed of a combustion engine and controlling the gearshift in an associated autoshift gearbox, it is generally known to utilize control members in the form of microprocessors into which different data is received. Examples of such data include various signals representing different engine and vehicle data, including quantity of fuel requested by the driver (gas pedal position), engine speed, revolutional speed at the input shaft of the gearbox and vehicle speed. These signals are fed into the microprocessor and a number of regulating elements, for example servomotors, precisely regulate the engine speed and the gearshift in the gearbox.


The disclosed refers to a method for testing a cell reselection capability of a terminal. The method comprises: adjusting a terminal to camp on a current cell and to enter a high-speed or intermediate-speed mobile mode (101); adjusting transmission power of the current cell and a neighboring cell, so that the current cell and the neighboring cell satisfy a condition of reselection from the current cell to the neighboring cell in the high-speed or intermediate-speed mobile mode (102); and maintaining the adjusted transmission power, and after a preset time threshold is reached, detecting whether the terminal camps on the neighboring cell to confirm whether the terminal successfully performs cell reselection (103). The disclosure implements the test on whether the terminal has a cell reselection capability in the high-speed or intermediate-speed mobile state, so that whether the terminal has the cell reselection capability can be approved and tested in actual production.

Code division multiple access is applied in the 3rd Generation (3G) communication technology to support multimedia services, and better communication security and communication quality are provided compared with the 2nd Generation (2G) communication technology, thus 3G will be more competitive in the future few years. In order to satisfy higher communication requirements, to provide better communication services and ensure higher competitiveness of 3G technologies, 3G LTE research projects have been started by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP).
Currently, a complete wireless communication standard has been formed for LTE and is being promoted gradually all over the world, and LTE test networks and LTE test terminals are also under gradual construction. With the gradual popularization and development of the LTE technology, LTE terminals will inevitably become mainstream devices in the communication market in the future. Signaling establishing processes for initiating a call to a terminal and data processes have been defined clearly in existing LTE standard technologies, and terminal products can be developed and manufactured according to technical requirements in the standard. Cell reselection of terminals in an idle state is a basic function of wireless mobile terminals and a basic requirement for mobile terminal. In the meanwhile, high-speed railways at above 350 km/h, including Beijing-Shanghai High-speed Railway and Shanghai-Nanjing High-speed Railway etc. have been getting more and more involved in our daily life with the progress and development of high-speed railway technologies, which raises higher requirements on mobile communication technologies, especially mobile terminals, and mobile terminals are required to perform communication normally as well during high-speed mobile processes. The support of normal communication capability by terminals during high-speed mobile processes mainly refers to the support of a cell reselection capability and a network switching capability by terminals during high-speed mobile processes. Since the changing frequency of a cell where a terminal locates is accelerated evidently during a high-speed mobile process, higher requirements are raised on the timing and performance time of cell reselection and switching of the terminal. Since switching is controlled by a network side, there are no higher requirements on the timing and switching time of the terminal in a high-speed mobile process during the switching. However, since the cell reselection is determined and processed by the terminal, the terminal during the high-speed mobile process needs to change a cell reselection condition so that the terminal can be selected to a new cell more quickly. In the prior art, reduction of the adjustment value (Qoffset) of the reference signal receiving power of a neighboring cell and shortening of the value of a cell reselection time interval value (TreselectionRAT) are applied when a terminal in a high-speed mobile process performs cell reselection judgment to accelerate cell reselection during the high-speed mobile process.
During a high-speed or intermediate-speed mobile process, a terminal is required to be able to finish cell reselection during a relatively short period of time in the condition that the inter-cell transmission power difference is not large. However, there is no definite method for approving and testing the cell reselection capability of a terminal during actual production, and the cell reselection capability of the terminal needs to be approved and tested when the terminal is connected to a network.

Method and device for testing cell reselection capability of terminal


A waste water lifting installation includes a collection container (2) and a flange plate (4) which is arranged on the upper side of the collection container (2) and on which a level switch (12) immersing into the collection container (2) is attached. At least one run-in pipe (22), departing from the flange plate (4), extends vertically downwards into the collection container (2) and has such a vertical length that the lower end (28) of the run-in pipe (22) is vertically distanced further from the flange plate (4) than a lower end of the level switch (14).

Waste water lifting installations (waste water sump installations) are used, in order to pump waste water which occurs below the level of the existing waste water conduits or the sewage system, to the higher level of the water-water conduit or sewage system.
Such waste water lifting installations mostly have a collection container, into which the waste water to be lifted or pumped flows. A pump, which pumps the waste water out of the collection container when the filled level of the collection container has reached a defined level, is located in the collection container. Usually, a level switch is provided in the collection container for switching the pump on and off. The level switch and pump thereby are often assembled on the cover or a flange plate which is placed onto the upper side of the connection container. For maintenance purposes, the flange plate may be removed from the collection container, wherein the level switch and the pump assembly may be removed with the flange plate out of the collection container. Thereby, it is problematic that the level switch, which is mostly designed as a float switch, may be easily damaged when the thus removed flange plate with the level switch is put down outside the collection container.


A method and corresponding device for performing active scanning in a wireless local area network (LAN). The method includes: receiving, by a first station (STA), a second probe request frame from a second STA, wherein the second probe request frame is transmitted based on broadcast; and determining, by the first STA, whether to transmit a first probe request frame for an active scanning based on the second probe request frame. The first STA determines not to transmit the first probe request frame if the first STA is capable of receiving information related to an AP to be associated based on the second probe request frame.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a scanning method and apparatus of a station (STA) and, more particularly, to a method and apparatus for performing active scanning by a STA.
Related Art
Recently, wireless LAN technologies have evolved in three directions. IEEE (institute of electrical and electronic engineers) 802.11ac and IEEE 802.11ad, as an extension of an existing WLAN evolutional direction, were released to promote a transfer rate. IEEE 802.11ad is a WLAN technology using a 60 GHz band. Also, a wide area WLAN utilizing a frequency band less than 1 GHz has recently emerged to allow for wide area transmission in terms of distance, relative to the existing WLAN. The wide area WLAN includes IEEE 802.11af utilizing a TV white space (TVWS) band and IEEE 802.11ah utilizing a 900 MHz band. These protocols aim at extending an extended range Wi-Fi service, as well as a smart grid, a wide area sensor network. Also, an existing WLAN medium access control (MAC) technology has a problem that an initial link setup time is too long. In order to solve this problem to allow a STA to quickly access an access point (AP), IEEE 802.11ai standardization has been actively ongoing.
IEEE 802.11ai is a MAC technology handling a fast authentication procedure to remarkably reduce an initial set-up and association time of a WLAN, which started standardization as a formal task group in January 2011. In order to allow for a fast access procedure, IEEE 802.11ai has discussed procedure simplification in regions such as AP discovery, network discovery, time synchronization function (TSF) synchronization, authentication & association, procedure merging with a higher layer, and the like. Among them, ideas such as procedure merging utilizing piggyback of dynamic host configuration protocol (DHCP), optimization of full extensible authentication protocol (EAP) using concurrent IP, effective selective AP scanning, and the like, have been actively discussed.

Method and apparatus for active scanning in wireless LAN


A dummy for practicing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) of a human being comprising a simulation of the thorax and the head and a lungs simulation in the form of a bag which can be inflated through the mouth or nose opening of the head. The thorax is formed by a hollow body of plastic material, which is in air exchange relationship with the atmosphere and which has stiffening ribs which reproduce approximately human ribs. In that arrangement the number and size of the stiffening ribs are so selected that the compressibility and return force of the thorax correspond to those of a human thorax not only in regard to extent but also in terms of their nature and form, and thus provide a particularly good approximation to the behavior of a human thorax (FIG. 1).

Satisfactory mastery of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) presupposes adequate training and frequent practice. For that purpose, many forms of dummies are known, which simulate the human upper body including head, to a greater or lesser degree, and which include a lungs simulation which can be the subject of artificial respiration through a mouth and/or nose opening. A significant factor in that respect is that the dummy behaves in a realistic fashion, both in heart massage and also in artificial respiration, that is to say it opposes a resistance to the compression to be performed in effecting heart massage, and experiences a deformation effect which substantially corresponds to the human thorax, while giving expansion of the thorax when artificial respiration is applied which substantially simulates thorax expansion when the lungs of a human being are filled. It is only when the dummy is fashioned to substantially simulate the behavior of the human body that cardiopulmonary resuscitation on such a dummy can be correlated to correct performance in an emergency situation on a human being, for example an accident casualty.
Numerous dummies for learning and practicing CPR are known, which, in a simulation of the human thorax, contain a resilient return element in the form of one or more springs or a pneumatic cylinder, wherein the resilient return element serves for simulation of the resistance which occurs when heart compression is effected, and for returning the thorax to its initial position. In such dummies the lungs are simulated by an inflatable bag which is communicated with the mouth or nose opening of the head by way of a trachea simulation.
A dummy is also already known in which the thorax is formed by an air-tight container which retains its shape and which at the same time forms the lungs and for that purpose is communicated with the mouth or nose opening of the head by way of a trachea simulation. In that arrangement the container is so designed that it simulates the thorax expansion which occurs upon artificial respiration by virtue of a resilient change in its shape, while also corresponding to the compression resistance of a human thorax when heart massage is performed (German patent specification No. 2 543 671).
Just like the dummies referred to in the opening part of this specification, in which the thorax resistance is produced by mechanical or pneumatic springs, that known dummy also only provides a compromise, in terms of the behavior of the thorax in heart massage and in artificial respiration, because the air pressure which obtains in the interior of the air-tight container is substantially determined by the resistance which occurs in heart massage, and the deformation characteristics involved. In that respect the container differs from the deformation characteristics of the human thorax in regard to its expansion characteristics when being inflated.

Dummy for practicing cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) of a human being


A partitioned exciter system for use with an igniter in an aircraft engine. The exciter has low-energy charging circuit and a high-energy discharge circuit that are remotely located from each other and that are connected by a low-energy coaxial cable. The charging circuit can be located within the aircraft fuselage and the discharge circuit mounted at the engine. The discharge circuit contains passive components that do not need special environmental protection, and the remotely located charging circuit can utilize existing electrical circuitry protection measures already in place in the fuselage to protect against lightning and other potentially-damaging environmental factors. Also disclosed is a housing arrangement for the discharge circuit that allows it to be directly attached to the igniter.

Exciter circuits are used on jet aircraft and in other applications to supply high voltage spark energy to an igniter which creates a spark in the jet engine's combustion chamber to initiate and/or maintain combustion within the engine. Traditional jet aircraft exciter circuits are well known in the art and are typically designed to utilize a low voltage supply to generate the high voltage output needed to create the spark. Numerous direct flyback, capacitive discharge, and hybrid ignition circuits have been proposed over the years. These systems typically include an exciter circuit that is connected to the igniter via a high-energy cable or ignition wire capable of carrying the high voltage and high currents necessary to produce the spark. The exciter circuit is often located close to the igniter so as to avoid the need for long runs of these high-energy cables.
The exciter circuits themselves can be implemented using various circuit designs, as noted above. For example, the exciter may include a charging circuit together with an output discharge circuit that stores energy from the charging circuit for use in creating the spark. The charging circuit commonly includes an inductive device, such as a fly-back transformer, for providing a high voltage pulse to an energy storage device, such as a capacitor, located in the discharge circuit. The discharge circuit can further include a switching device, such as a spark gap or SCR, located in series between the energy storage device and an igniter plug such that they are isolated from each other by the switching device. When the switching device is closed, it acts as a short and the stored energy is discharged across the igniter plug, thereby creating the spark.
When used in aircraft applications, the exciter circuits must meet certain performance requirements regarding electromagnetic interference (EMI) and lightning protection. In order to meet these requirements, the exciter circuit is typically housed within a protective enclosure that provides lighting protection and EMI isolation. Since the exciter circuits are normally located at the aircraft engine, such as out on the aircraft wing, these protective devices or features are separate and independent of similar devices already being used to shield and protect other electrical circuitry located at other places within the aircraft. Also, because the high-energy cables involved may carry anywhere from 600–2000 amps of electrical current, the shielding requirements addressing EMI radiation from the cables may be quite extensive, thereby increasing the cost of the system.


A sports boot, especially intended for the practice of gliding sports, made from an external sole adapted to be affixed onto a glide member and including an upper equipped with a stiff rear portion on which is laterally journalled a collar adapted to surround the lower part of the user's leg, such collar extending upwardly from its lateral journal. The collar is capable of pivoting towards the rear about its journal against the energizing return device interspersed between the collar and the upper, wherein the return device includes a substantially semi-circular upper arm, anchored laterally by each of its ends on the collar, and a lower portion connected to the upper arm and in abutment against a lower abutment of the upper.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related to a sports boot intended for practicing a sport, especially sports involving gliding, such as cross country skiing or skating, and is of the type constituted of an external sole and an upper equipped with a rear spoiler about which a rigid collar is journalled, the collar extending upwardly from the journal, and adapted to enclose the lower part of the leg.
2. Description of Background and Relevant Information
While skating during cross country skiing, when the skier completes his/her propulsion on one of the skis, he/she transfers his/her weight to the other ski and brings the first ski up to the level of the second. This forward motion differs according to:
the speed (thus the step used); and PA1 the slope encountered. PA1 a first lower arm having a substantially semicircular shape, cooperating with the abutment of the upper via its central portion; and PA1 a second intermediate arm having a substantially semi-circular shape that is connected, on the one hand, to the lower arm by its lateral ends by forming a double V configuration, whereby the two V's are open towards the rear of the boot, and each of whose peaks A is connected to a lower lateral journal axis of the collar, and on the other hand, to the upper arm via its central portion by forming a second W, open towards the front of the boot and whose peak B is defined by the central portions of the two arms and that extends at a distance from the upper.
Regarding the speed, the slower the speed, the greater the skating frequency, and thus the skier has less time to bring his/her ski forward. This is why, the slower the speed, the less the chances of the ski being brought into parallel, and the greater the chances of the skier keeping a substantial divergence between the two skis.
Regarding the slope encountered, the skier must bring his/her ski into a forward position that is as parallel as possible with respect to the slope so as not to raise it too much. The inclination of the ski during the forward motion thus depends on the slope encountered, and this renders the forward motion especially demanding and difficult when the slopes are steep.
An analysis of the movement reveals, in fact, that during the disengagement of the ski, the front end or shovel thereof grips the snow, and this causes the problem of the longitudinal angular control of the ski in the quasi-static phase, i.e., when it is in the air. The same problem is encountered in other gliding sports, such as ice skating, roller blading or line skating, in which the sportsman must avoid hitting the ground with the glide element during the forward motion phase.
It has also been ascertained previously that there is another disadvantage for the skier in that he/she must increase the contraction of the front shin in order to raise the ski and avoid the shovel from gripping the snow during the forward motion phase of the ski. This contraction causes a fatigue which is all the more harmful for the skier because he/she should be able to take advantage of this phase in order to relax the muscles of the concerned leg as much as possible, because this happens to be a resting, non-motor phase.
The Applicant has already overcome these disadvantages by setting forth, in its previous French patent application No. 2 492 668, a boot of the above-cited type equipped with an energizing device for the longitudinal angular control of the ski in the air with respect to the sole of the boot during the forward motion phase of the ski.
In the Applicant's French patent application No. 2 697 728, the Applicant has also made provisions for the energizing device to be rendered inactive in the thrusting phase so as not to create any additional fatigue.
One of the energizing devices for longitudinal angular control as described in the French patent application No. 2 697 728 consists of a simple return pin anchored in the area of the lateral journal axes of the collar comprising two semi-circular arms arranged in a V and in support, on the one hand, against the base of the collar, and on the other hand, against an abutment arranged on the rear spoiler of the upper.
Although such means are effective in overcoming the above-cited disadvantages, they do, however, cause comfort problems in the rear area of the boot, and they do not provide for the possibility of providing a lateral clearance on the collar with respect to the upper. Indeed, the actuation of the energizing device is done by means of the rear portion of the collar taking support on the upper arm of the pin, and this causes problems of over-pressure and discomfort in this area. In addition, providing a lateral clearance for the journal of the collar causes a delayed, and thus undesirable activation of the pin anchored on the journal.
However, such a clearance is necessary for the skier in order to adapt the upper of the boot to the axis of the lower part of his leg with respect to the seating of the foot, and to enable the practice of the sport while respecting the natural movements of the foot with respect to the leg.


Providing access to an external memory controller to internal error correction bits from a memory device for use as metadata bits by the memory controller. In a first mode the memory device applies internal error correction bits for internal error correction at the memory device. In a second mode the memory device provides access to the internal error correction bits to the memory controller to allow the memory controller to use the data.

Computing devices use memory devices to store data and code for a processor to execute its operations. As the memory devices decrease in size and increase in density, they experience more errors during processing, referred to as yield issues. Thus, memory devices experience increasing bit failures, even with modern processing techniques. To mitigate bit failures, modern memory provide internal error correction mechanisms, such as ECC (error correction codes). The memory devices generate the ECC data internally, and use the ECC data internally at the memory devices. The internal error correction within a memory device can be in addition to whatever system-wide error correction or error mitigation used in data exchanges between the memory devices and the memory controllers. It will be understood that the application of ECC within a memory device requires additional logic to compute the ECC, and to apply it to correct data bits. It will also be understood that the application of ECC internal to a memory device requires the ECC to be computed and applied in real time as data is exchanged with a memory controller or other component external to the memory device. Such realtime requirements can introduce delays into the data exchanges.
Descriptions of certain details and implementations follow, including a description of the figures, which may depict some or all of the embodiments described below, as well as discussing other potential embodiments or implementations of the inventive concepts presented herein.

Exchanging ECC metadata between memory and host system


The present invention facilitates the detection of an occurrence of a physiological action imparting a displacement to a body part at a natural frequency signature by virtue of a bio-filter pad including a viscoelastic interior for intimate juxtapositioning against the body part, and having a mechanical resonance frequency midway in the range of the frequency signature associated with the physiological action.

Fetal activity has long been recognized as a good predictor of fetal well being as discussed in Fetal Movements In utero—A Review, Sadovsky, E., M.D., Isr. J. Obstet. Gynecol. 1992; 3:27-36. Fetal activity monitoring techniques run the gamut from an expectant mother's subjective assessment of fetal activity via fetal activity monitoring apparatus for monitoring her abdominal movements to in utero ultrasound based techniques for "looking inside" her uterus. Fetal activity monitoring apparatus is designed to monitor an expectant mother's abdominal movements within the range of 8-25 Hz which is the natural frequency signature of an expectant mother's abdomen. Such abdominal movements are assumed to be largely the result of fetal activity as opposed to uterine contractions, respiratory movements, maternal posture movements, and the like, and therefore the 8-25 Hz natural frequency signature of an expectant mother's abdomen is hereinafter coined as "natural fetal activity frequency signature".
An exemplary fetal activity monitoring apparatus is described in an article entitled "Measurement of Fetal Movements by Moving-Coil Transducer" by Adler D., et al., IEEE Transactions on Biomedical Engineering, Vol. BME-27, No. 12, December 1980 which employs two moving-coil transducers placed on the left and the right sides of an expectant mother's abdomen to pick up abdominal movements. This apparatus requires an about 80 dB electrical signal amplification for fetal activity detection at least partially being necessitated to overcome the transducers' attenuation of frequencies in the natural fetal activity frequency signature, and offset the apparatus' high sensitivity to electromagnetic interference (EMI).

Bio-filter pad for facilitating the detection of an occurrence of a physiological action and method therefor and fetal activity monitoring apparatus