A playback speed control system for a reproducing apparatus allows a user to manually vary the playback speed of a recording medium. When a user rotates a dial of the reproducing apparatus, a frequency generator generates pulses with a frequency that matches the rotational speed of the dial. A counter counts these generated pulses within a specified time period. In one embodiment, the recording medium speed is kept constant over a particular range of dial rotational speeds, while outside this range, the tape speed varies in accordance with the dial rotational speed. In another embodiment, if the value of the count data exceeds a reference value, then these pulses are averaged, and the averaged result is used to determine the speed of the recording medium. If the count data value is less than the reference value, then this count data is used to determine the speed of the recording medium. In yet another embodiment, the generated pulses are averaged in accordance with one of a plurality of averaging techniques. The particular averaging technique is selected in accordance with a comparison between the count data value and a plurality of reference values. Each consecutive pair of reference values defines a particular range. Each range corresponds to a particular averaging technique, and when a count data value falls within a particular range, then the pulses are averaged in accordance with the averaging technique that corresponds to that particular range.

The present invention relates to a playback speed control system for a reproducing apparatus which is applicable to control a playback speed of a VTR, for example.
It has been known in a conventional VTR that a playback speed is controlled in accordance with a rotational speed of a dial which is called a jog dial.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a playback speed control system for a conventional VTR. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 1 is a jog dial. Reference numeral 2 is a frequency generator mounted on a rotational axis of dial 1. In a conventional way, frequency generator 2 optically or magnetically generates pulses (FG pulses) P FG whose frequency corresponds to a rotational speed of dial 1.
Pulses P FG generated by frequency generator 2 are supplied to a counter 3 and are counted thereby in a certain period. Count data D PC obtained from counter 3 is supplied to an arithmetic processing unit 4 and is averaged by integration calculation thereby.
When a man rotates dial 1 in order to keep a constant playback speed, fluctuation of the rotational speed of dial 1 cannot be avoided. Therefore, FG pulses P FG having the corresponding fluctuation are generated by frequency generator 2. Because counter 3 counts FG pulses P FG in a certain period to make count data D PC, the rotation fluctuation of dial 1 results in the fluctuation of count data D PC. For this reason, arithmetic processing unit 4 averages the count data D PC by integration calculation so that the fluctuation of count data D PC is eliminated.
Count data D PCA averaged by arithmetic processing unit 4 is supplied to a tape transport speed command unit 5. Tape transport speed command unit 5 converts count data D PCA to a rotational speed of dial 1 and further converts it to a tape transport speed corresponding to the obtained rotational speed. To obtain the tape transport speed corresponding to the rotational speed, a table as shown in FIG. 2 is used, showing a relationship between a rotational speed of dial 1 and a tape transport speed. The table is stored, for example, in a ROM. FIG. 2 shows a relationship between a rotational speed of dial 1 in one direction and a tape transport speed. Although not shown in FIG. 2, when dial 1 is rotated in the other direction, a tape transport speed has a minus value.
Tape transport speed command unit 5 generates a command C SP to indicate a tape transport speed calculated in the above way. Command C SP is supplied to a tape transport system 6 so that a tape transport speed is controlled to be a speed indicated by command C SP.
FIG. 3 shows a flow-chart of processes of primary elements of the conventional apparatus as shown in FIG. 1. In FIG. 3, FG pulse P FG are counted in step S11, the count is integrated in step S12, command C SP is generated in step S13 based on the integral value and the tape speed control curve as shown in FIG. 2, and command C SP is supplied to tape transport system 6 in step S14.
According to an example as shown in FIG. 1, a table as shown in FIG. 2 is used such that when a rotational speed of dial 1 varies from 0 to 3 rotations per second, a tape transport speed simply varies from 0 to 3 times a normal speed. Because of the use of this table, a user needs to rotate dial 1 at a constant rotational speed in order to keep the constant tape transport speed in a range of 0 to 3 times a normal speed. It is very hard for the user to rotate dial 1 at a constant speed.
As explained above, in a conventional apparatus for controlling tape transport speed according to a rotational speed of dial 1, dial pulses (FG pulses PFG) may be averaged by some integral calculation. Tape transport system 6 is controlled according to command C SP based on the averaged pulse data (averaged count data D PCA).
However, when tape transport system 6 is controlled according to the averaged pulse data, a response of the tape transport speed control to the rotational speed of dial 1 is delayed due to the averaging process over the whole range of tape transport speeds to be controlled. Accordingly, an ease of use of the apparatus would be made worse.
On the other hand, if dial pulses (FG pulses P FG) are directly used without the integral calculation, fluctuation of the rotation of dial 1 would result in fluctuation of the tape speed.

Playback speed control system for a reproducing apparatus


A heat exchanger for cooling of charge air for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle is provided. The heat exchanger has a preliminary stage, a main stage, and a compensating component. The preliminary stage has at least one preliminary stage fixed bearing base and a preliminary stage floating bearing base. The main stage has at least one main stage fixed bearing base and a main stage floating bearing base. In a heat transfer region of the main stage, at least one main stage channel for a main stage coolant is disposed. The compensating component is configured to compensate a position difference between corresponding components of the preliminary stage and the main stage, whereby the position difference is based on a thermally induced elongation difference between the at least one preliminary stage channel and the at least one main stage channel.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat exchanger for cooling charge air for an internal combustion engine of a motor vehicle.
Description of the Background Art
In conventional charge air cooling in a motor vehicle, the charge air is compressed, for example, by means of an exhaust turbocharger or compressor and cooled after the compression in a charge air cooler to increase the charge air density. The charge air cooler can be made as a direct charge air cooler with a direct heat transfer between the ambient air and charge air. Likewise, the charge air cooler can be made as an indirect charge air cooler with heat transfer from the charge air to a coolant with a high heat capacity, for example, cooling water. As a result, the indirect charge air cooler can be made compact.


The invention relates to a gas turbine combustion chamber with a combustion chamber wall 1, with at least part of the combustion chamber wall 1 being provided with a liquid-cooling system.

The present invention relates to a gas turbine combustion chamber, especially for an aircraft gas turbine or for a stationary gas turbine. As is known from the state of the art, air supplied by the compressor is used for cooling the combustion chamber wall. Without cooling, the compressor chamber wall would reach temperatures up to 2,600 K. Obviously, no materials are available which are capable of resisting such temperatures without cooling.
Disadvantageously, a relatively large part of the combustion air (between 30 and 50 percent of the total combustion air) must be used for cooling the combustion chamber.
With highly advanced, single-annular combustion chambers provided with lean premix burners, it is currently assumed that 60 to 70 percent of the combustion air (W30) is available for premixing in the lean premix burners to reduce NOx air pollutant emissions.
In the future, turbofan engines will possess significantly higher thermal efficiency and better propulsive efficiency than the state of the art.
As a result of both measures, the core engine must be operated with higher combustion chamber temperatures (entry and exit) and with a lower total air-fuel ratio, i.e. using a richer mixture.
In future combustion chambers, with a given constant cooling air efficiency, less air will, therefore, be available for premixing and the NOx air pollutant emissions will inevitably increase as a result of the higher combustion temperatures.
Accordingly, the only possibility with conventional engines is to provide sufficient combustion air to enable the premix to be leaned and the combustion temperatures correspondingly reduced. Here, efficiency of the air-cooling process can be increased to a limited extent only. It is not expected that the cooling air share can be decreased clearly below 30 percent.


A vehicle brake system having a hydraulically actuatable disc brake device which has an electromechanical operating device for activating a parking brake function, wherein the vehicle brake system has a hydraulic circuit with a hydraulic pressure source and also has activatable hydraulic functional elements in order to hydraulically actuate the disc brake device in accordance with a service braking action by a driver or an automatic activation, wherein the vehicle brake system also has a control device in order to actuate the electromechanical operating device in accordance with a parking braking action by the driver or an automatic activation of the parking brake function. Here, to avoid residual slippage torques, it is provided that the hydraulic circuit can be actuated by the control device such that, upon the triggering of the parking brake function through actuation of the electromechanical operating device, a hydraulic pressure is built up in the disc brake device, which hydraulic pressure is large enough to elastically deform hydraulic seal elements in the disc brake device corresponding to an elastic deformation during a service braking operation.

The present invention relates to a vehicle braking system with a hydraulically controllable disc-brake device which exhibits an electromechanical actuating device for activating a parking-brake function, the vehicle braking system exhibiting a hydraulic circuit with a hydraulic pressure source and also with controllable hydraulic functional elements, in order to control the disc-brake device hydraulically in accordance with a service-braking action of a driver or in accordance with an automatic activation, the vehicle braking system further exhibiting a control device, in order to control the electromechanical actuating device in accordance with a parking-brake action of the driver or in accordance with an automatic activation of the parking-brake function. The invention further relates to a method for controlling a vehicle braking system of the type described above.
Vehicle braking systems are known from the state of the art in diverse forms. In concrete terms, document DE 10 2005 051 082 A1, and corresponding U.S. Pat. No. 8,322,495 B2, both of which are incorporated by reference herein in entirety, describes a vehicle braking system with a disc brake that has been constructed as a floating-calliper disc brake. In this case, a friction-lining arrangement with two opposing friction linings has been provided on both sides of a brake disc. The one brake lining has been fitted to a floating calliper, whereas the other brake lining can be displaced hydraulically relative to the floating calliper via an actuating piston. As a result of a hydraulic pressurisation of an actuating piston, the movable brake lining is displaced towards the brake disc. The brake lining that is fixed to the floating calliper is pulled from the other side against the brake disc in known manner with the aid of the floating-calliper function, so that a braking force acts on the brake disc from both sides. But, in addition to this floating-calliper function which has long been known, this state of the art also provides an electromechanical actuating device. The latter is used in order to realise a parking-brake function. Given appropriate control, in addition to the hydraulic displacement it is also possible for the disc brake to be actuated electromechanically. But it has been shown that in the case of such a combination of a hydraulically and electromechanically actuatable brake residual slippage torques may remain in the system after the disengagement procedure as a result of an electromechanical actuation that has taken place previously, which torques have to be suppressed by means of elaborate separate measures. This is due to the fact that the conventional 'rollback function' of a disc-brake arrangement of such a type, which prevents residual slippage torques after a hydraulic actuation, cannot be fully exhausted in the case of the electromechanical actuation, on account of the lack of application of hydraulic pressure. By the term 'rollback function', one understands the effect of an elastically deformed hydraulic seal which in the housing is ordinarily received in a receiving groove and which by means of its inner surface is in adhering contact with the surface of the actuating piston, whereby this adhering contact firstly prevents a slipping of the hydraulic seal on the surface of the actuating piston during an actuating movement relative to the housing. As a result, the hydraulic seal which is retained in the housing of the receiving groove there undergoes in the course of this movement an elastic deformation which after reduction of the actuating force can elastically relax back into its initial state and in the process pulls the brake piston back into an initial position which is largely ineffectual in terms of braking action. The deformability of the hydraulic seal—that is to say, its capacity to follow a movement of the actuating piston by means of an elastic deformation—is decisively limited by the holding forces determining the adhering contact. In the course of the elastic deformation this means that as soon as the constantly rising forces, counteracting the movement of the actuating piston, exceed the holding forces of the adhering contact the hydraulic seal slides on the surface of the actuating piston. The region of application of the hydraulic seal on the actuating piston changes as a result, and the actuating piston slides through under the hydraulic seal. It is furthermore to be taken into consideration that the pressure fed in during a hydraulic actuation increases the normal force with which the hydraulic seal is pressed against the surface of the actuating piston, by reason of the elastic deformation of the hydraulic seal that is caused thereby, as a result of which the holding forces of the adhering contact increase to the same degree in comparison with an electromechanical actuation without supply of a hydraulic pressure. The lack of pressure-induced deformation and the correspondingly smaller holding forces may in the case of an electromechanical actuation have the result that in the case of an equally large movement of the actuating piston the adhering contact breaks off before reaching the end position of the actuating piston, on account of the absence of the increase in normal force. As a result, in comparison with a hydraulic pressurisation the rollback function as described above cannot be fully exhausted. This may result in undesirable residual slippage torques.

Vehicle brake system for a motor vehicle and method for actuating the vehicle brake system


A catalyst useful for the alkylation of isoalkanes is disclosed along with a process therefor the same. The catalyst comprises a reaction product resulting from mutual contact of a zirconium halide and a magnesium halide and/or a magnesium oxyhalide. The process for the alkylation of isoalkanes with alkenes is carried out in the presence of a catalyst comprising a reaction product resulting from mutual contact of a zirconium halide and a magnesium halide and/or a magnesium oxyhalide at a temperature of room temperature--150.degree. C. and a pressure of atmospheric--5 MPa.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to alkylation of isoalkanes and catalysts therefor.
2. Prior Art
In line with the global move for environmental protection, there has been considerable improvement in gasoline materials for automotive fuels which are relatively free of environmentally harmful alkenes and aromatics. A notable example of such improved gasoline material is an alkylate rich in highly branched alkane contents. Such alkylates may be derived by reacting an isoalkane with an alkene of 3-6 carbon atoms. This reaction is usually accompanied by objectionable side reactions such as isomerization, polymerization, cracking, disproportionation and so on. To eliminate or suppress these side reactions, it has been proposed to use an alkylation catalyst which comprises a relatively strong acid such as typically sulfuric acid and hydrofluoric acid. However, sulfuric acid is highly corrosive, leading to increased energy required for removal of reaction heat. Hydrofluoric acid is difficult or tedious to handle. These highly acidic catalysts have been replaced by a solid acid catalyst such as zeolite, BF.sub.3 modified zeolite, Lewis acid and/or Bronsted acid supported on an inorganic carrier (such as for example SO.sub.4 /ZrO.sub.2) and chlorinated alumina. However, such solid acid catalysts have a drawback when used in the alkylation of isoalkanes in that higher molar ratios of for example isobutane/alkane are needed to suppress objectionable side reactions, and another drawback in that unsaturated oligomers tend to deposit on the acid site of the catalyst to cause quick catalytic deterioration, resulting in frequent catalyst reactivation. Whereas, the use of such a zeolite as comprising a relatively weak solid acid would involve extremely high reaction temperature.
WO94/10106 discloses reacting alkenes with isoalkanes to produce alkylates in the presence of a catalyst comprising an organosulfonic acid having at least one C-F or C-P bond and a Lewis acid. The disclosed process is still disadvantageous because of the use of boron trifluoride (BF.sub.3) which is highly toxic and corrosive, hence demanding extreme caution in handling the catalyst.

Catalyst for use in the alkylation of isoalkanes


Disclosed are examples of a device, a system, methods and computer-readable medium products operable to implement functionality to determine and respond to a purpose of a meal. An algorithm or application may receive data that may include data related to a meal purpose from data sources and determine whether any of the data received from the plurality of data sources was received from a direct data source or an indirect data source. The data may be evaluated to determine a purpose of the meal. Based on the results of the evaluation, instructions may be generated to provide an appropriate response based on the determined purpose of the meal. The generated instructions to provide the appropriate response based on the determined purpose of the meal may be output.

Due to the complicated and dynamic nature of the human body's response to insulin users may end up in a hypoglycemic or hyperglycemic state after being treated with insulin therapy. This outcome is undesirable for many reasons: hypoglycemia creates an immediate risk of a severe medical event (such as a seizure, a coma, or a death) while hyperglycemia creates long term negative health effects as well as the risk of ketoacidosis. Whether a person ends up in one of these states depends on a very complicated combination of many factors and sources of error.
Individuals affected with diabetes have a plethora of complicated decisions to make throughout the day to ensure a user is providing themselves with adequate insulin therapy. An automatic insulin delivery system that utilizes algorithms and/or an artificial pancreas (AP) application is operable to make many insulin delivery and insulin therapy-related decisions for a user so that the user can live their lives as close to the average non-diabetic individual as possible. A factor that complicates therapy is meals. Meals may include various macronutrients—the amount and ratio of which affect a user's blood glucose response. Meals can also be taken for different reasons—generic daily meals (e.g., breakfast, lunch and dinner), rescue meals after a hypoglycemic event, preemptive meals before an exercise, or the like. The current state of the art to handle these decisions may be one of three things: 1) the user manually handles all treatment and provides themselves with adjusted boluses/meals or 2) the user allows the device to control therapy including inputting into the device when a meal is ingested, 3) the user allows the device to control all therapy and the device merely delivers insulin without consideration of meal purpose.
In some instances, methods for early meal detection and determination of a likely purpose of the detected meal have required users to either input carbohydrate intake via peripheral control devices into their insulin pump or into their automatic insulin delivery (AID) systems. However, due to the difficulty of estimating carbohydrate content of a meal or due to the time, or just the need, required to interact with the peripheral control devices, some users may omit the step of inputting carbohydrate intake and may directly administer, or have administered, a meal-related bolus. Or, in the event the user provides the information by interacting the peripheral device, the user's estimate of the carbohydrates in the meal and/or calculation of an amount of insulin in a bolus dose may be erroneous resulting in either under-delivery or over-delivery of insulin.
It would be beneficial if an automated insulin delivery system would be able to provide early meal and calorie intake detection as well as an indication of a likely purpose of the detected meal.

Early meal detection and calorie intake detection


An inspecting device includes: an irradiation part for dividing pulsed light emitted from a femtosecond laser into measurement pump light and measurement probe light, to irradiate a solar cell; a detection part for detecting an electromagnetic wave emitted from the solar cell in accordance with the irradiation with the measurement probe light; and a measurement delay part for delaying the time of arrival of the measurement probe light at the solar cell relatively to the measurement pump light. The irradiation part is provided with a galvano mirror for scanning with the measurement probe light a wide range which is wider than an irradiated range (pump light spot) being irradiated with the measurement pump light in a solar cell.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for inspecting a semiconductor device or a photo device.
Description of the Background Art
There is already known a semiconductor inspecting device which detects an electromagnetic wave emitted from a semiconductor device when irradiating it with pulsed laser light, thereby to inspect the semiconductor device in non-contact (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2010-60317).
Further, the present applicant has proposed a technique of irradiating a photo device with pulsed light and detecting an electromagnetic wave emitted from the photo device accordingly, thereby to inspect the photo device (Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2013-19861).
Moreover, there has already been proposed a technique of scanning with probe light the inside of a region irradiated with pump light by using pump-probe measurement to make photoexcited carriers visible ("Study of Carrier Dynamics in LT-GaAs Photoconductive Switch Using Pump-Probe Laser Terahertz Emission Microscope", Shogo Fujiwara, et al., IEICE Technical Report. ED 110(342), 87-90, 2010-12-09). Specifically, it is described that by using a photoconductive switch being a representative terahertz wave generating device as a sample, dynamics of photoexcited carriers are observed at a subpicosecond temporal resolution and a several-micrometer spatial resolution.
Inspecting the processes of generation, movement and disappearance of the photoexcited carriers on the subpicosecond level in the semiconductor device or the photo device gives extremely precious information in inspecting performance or a defect of those. In particular, in the photo device, analyzing generation of the photoexcited carriers, the lifetime thereof after the generation to recombination, movement thereof to the electrode, and the like can give extremely important information in evaluating performance or a defect of the photo device. However, a technique of detecting the dynamics of the photoexcited carriers in the photo device is unknown.
Moreover, in the report by Fujiwara et al., only the inside of the region irradiated with the pump light is irradiated with the probe light. There has thus been a problem of not being able to inspect photoexcited carriers which are generated, move or disappear out of the region with the pump light.


An erasable highlighting composition is provided including a block copolymer, a wax, and a fluorescent pigment. The composition is in solid form, and, when applied to an underlying marking on a substrate, is capable of forming a highlighting marking which may be erased without lifting the underlying marking.

This invention relates to marking compositions.
Traditionally, marking compositions, e.g., highlighting inks, writing inks, and correction fluids, have been provided in liquid form, as solvent-based or aqueous solutions. These solutions suffer from various disadvantages, including drying too slowly or too quickly and settling of suspended pigments. There also are environmental and/or safety concerns caused by solvent use.
Additionally, the use of a liquid marking composition requires that the composition be supplied in a marking pen or other dispenser. Typically pens and other ink dispensers are disposable, creating waste when the ink supply is exhausted.
Certain marking compositions (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 2,380,126), and correction compositions (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,992,502) have been provided as solid wax crayons.


A substantially pure DNA comprising an endothelial cell-specific promoter sequence capable of directing endothelial cell-specific transcription of a polypeptide-encoding sequence or an antisense template to which it is operably linked.

The field of the invention is endothelial cell-specific gene transcription.
Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent and specific endothelial cell mitogen (Connolly et al., 1989, J. Clin. Invest. 84:1470-1478; Leung et al., 1989, Science 246:1306-1309). Through interactions with its receptors, Kinase-insert Domain-containing Receptor/fetal liver kinase-1 (KDR/flk-1) and flt1, VEGF has critical roles in growth and maintenance of vascular endothelial cells and in the development of new blood vessels in physiologic and pathologic states (Aiello et al., 1994, New Engl. J. Med. 331:1480-1487; Shweiki et al., 1992, Nature 359:843-845; Berkman et al., 1993, J. Clin. Invest. 91:153-159). The patterns of embryonic expression of VEGF suggest that it is crucial for differentiation of endothelial cells from hemangioblasts and for development of blood vessels at all stages of growth (Jakeman et al., 1993, Endocrinology 133:848-859; Breier et al., 1992, Development 114:521-532). Among many potentially angiogenic factors, VEGF is the only one whose pattern of expression, secretion, and activity suggests a specific angiogenic function in normal development (Klagsbrun et al., 1993, Current Biology 3:699-702).
High-affinity receptors for VEGF are found only on endothelial cells, and VEGF binding has been demonstrated on macro- and microvascular endothelial cells and in quiescent and proliferating endothelial cells (Jakeman et al., 1993, Endocrinology 133:848-859; Jakeman et al., 1992, Clin. Invest. 89:244-253). The tyrosine kinases, KDR/flk-1 and flt1, have been identified as candidate VEGF receptors by affinity cross-linking and competition-binding assays (de Vries et al., 1992, Science 255:989-991; Millauer et al., 1993, Cell 72:835-846; Terman et al., 1992, Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 187:1579-1586). These two receptor tyrosine kinases contain seven similar extracellular immunoglobulin domains and a conserved intracellular tyrosine kinase domain interrupted by a kinase insert (de Vries et al., 1992, Science 255:989-991; Matthews et al., 1991, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A 88:9026-9030; Terman et al., 1001, Oncogene 6:1677-1683); they are expressed specifically by endothelial cells in vivo (Millauer et al., 1993, Cell 72:835-846; Peters et al., 1993, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U. S. A. 90:8915-8919; Quinn et al., 1993, Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. U.S.A. 90:7533-7537; Yamaguchi et al., 1993, Development 118:489498). In situ hybridization in the developing mouse has demonstrated that KDR/flk-1 is expressed in endothelial cells at all stages of development, as well as in the blood islands in which endothelial cell precursors first appear (Millauer et al., 1993, Cell 72:835-846. KDR/flk-1 is a marker for endothelial cell precursors at their earliest stages of development (Yamaguchi et al., 1993, Development 118:489-498).
The vascular endothelium is critical for physiologic responses including thrombosis and thrombolysis, lymphocyte and macrophage homing, modulation of the immune response, and regulation of vascular tone. The endothelium is also intimately involved in the pathogenesis of vascular diseases such as atherosclerosis (Ross, R., 1993, Nature 362:801-809). Although a number of genes expressed in the endothelium have been characterized (Collins et al., 1991, J. Biol. Chem. 266:2466-2473; Iademarco et al., 1992, J. Biol. Chem. 267:16323-16329; Jahroudi et al., 1994, Mol. Cell. Biol. 14:999-1008; Lee et al., 1990, J. Biol. Chem. 265:10446-10450), expression of these genes is either not limited to vascular endothelium (e.g., the genes encoding von Willebrand factor, endothelin-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1) or is restricted to specific subpopulations of endothelial cells (e.g., the gene for endothelial-leukocyte adhesion molecule-1).

President and Fellows of Harvard College


A hanger for a coal mine ventilation curtain has a support that is compressed against the mine surface, trapping the edge of a sheet of ventilation curtain material between a curtain supporting portion of the support and the mine surface. The support can be held in its compressed position against the mine surface by a tension member, such as a chain, that is attached to the mine surface (most readily at a roof plate) and is then secured to the support. Alternatively, the support can be held in place from the side of the support opposite the mine surface by a compression member (such as an adjustable support pole).

The invention relates generally to mine ventilation control, and specifically to a method and apparatus for supporting ventilation curtains in mine entries.
In mining coal underground, the room and pillar method of mining is often used. As shown in FIG. 1, mine sections are usually constructed with multiple parallel entries 10, extending from the opening 12 of the section to the face 14 of the mine where the coal or other material is being cut. As the coal is mined, dust and gases are liberated at the face 14, which, if left to accumulate, could build up to form explosive or otherwise harmful concentrations. Accordingly, ventilation systems are used to remove escaping gases and/or dust. Typically, at least one of the entries 10 serves as an intake air course to provide ventilation to the face 14, while other entries provide return air courses and neutral entries for belt and trolley haulage to convey the mined material from the face of the mine. As the face of the mine advances, transverse crosscuts 16 are placed approximately every 80' (25 m) (this distance may vary from 40' to 90' (13 m to 29 m), or over a greater range, depending on applicable regulations and exceptions) to provide communication between the entries 10 and thus ventilation across the entire mine face 14. The axially-extending entries 10 and spaced transverse crosscuts 16 thus define pillars 18 extending along the entire mine section.
To assure delivery of fresh air to the mine face 14 at an adequate velocity, a pressure differential must be established between the intake and return air courses (typically by a mine fan), as well as the haulage courses. Therefore, the crosscuts 16 must be blocked by placing stoppings 22 across each crosscut from pillar to pillar and floor to ceiling. Most of the stoppings 22 are of permanent construction (such as cement and cinder block), while, be regulation, the stoppings in the last two crosscuts closest to the mine face (as at 23) may be temporary stoppings of less durable construction, typically of sheets of fire-resistant, gas impervious material.
To ensure that the ventilating air does not return along intermediate entries 10, the entries (other than the intake and return air courses) are blocked by check curtains 24 between the pillars 18 closest to the face 14. The check curtains have flaps that open to permit passage of workers and equipment then close to maintain an air seal. Finally, to provide adequate flow directly across the face 14, line curtains 26 are placed to extend from the face to the pillars 18 closest to the face. Thus, ventilating air A can flow down the intake course, along and around the end of line curtains 26, across the face 14, and out along the return course.
A variety of techniques are known for constructing these ventilation structures. One portable stopping construction is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,863,554 to Boyd. The portable stoppings 38 are formed of flexible sheet 40 supported on a frame structure 41 between the roof, floor, and side ribs of the crosscuts 35. The frame 41 is formed of telescoping vertical support rods 42, horizontal support rods 43, and diagonal support rods 44, while the perimeter of the frame 41 is defined by metal straps 45. The edges 46 of the sheet 40 are folded over the strap 45 so that several layers of the sheet are trapped between the strap and the adjacent mine surface S. When the support rods 42, 43, and 44 are extended by jacks, the straps press the layers against the mine surface to form a seal. Spikes 48 can also be used to penetrate the straps, sheet material, and mine surface to retain the straps and sheet material to the mine surface. The system of support rods and straps is complex and cumbersome, and the spikes damage the sheet material, limiting the number of times the material can be reused.
Several techniques are known for suspending sheet materials for use as stoppings, check curtains, and line curtains. U.S. Pat. No. 1,778,979 to Lockhart discloses a curtain formed of fabric strips 31 with a reinforcing member 32 (such as a wire) extending along the top end the strip. Holes are drilled in the roof of the mine and wooden plugs driven into the holes. Staples are then driven into the wooden plugs, the staples straddling the reinforcing wire 32 and holding the top of the fabric strips against the mine roof. In U.S. Pat. No. 2,947,239 to Burgess, the top of the curtain material is provided with grommets that are mounted on hooks secured to the mine's supporting timbers. These techniques rely on the presence of supporting timbers and the placement of hooks or on the cumbersome and time-consuming process of drilling holes and placing wooden plugs, and require specialized curtains.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,118,363 to Burgess discloses a spring-loaded, two-piece supporting assembly 12 fitted with spikes 30 and 36 at the top and bottom to engage the roof and floor of the mine, respectively. The supporting assembly is also fitted with a hook 48 that engages grommets fitted to the top edge of the sheet 10. A series of supporting assemblies are fitted vertically between the roof and floor of the mine, and the sheet 10 hung from the hooks 48. Again, this technique requires grommeted sheet material and supporting assemblies that are relatively expensive.
A simpler known technique is to simply nail the edges of the sheet material to the mine surface or between the upper edge of a roof plate and the mine ceiling. However, this technique produces holes in the material that shortens its useful life. This technique also requires the use of hammer and nails, which complicate the installation process and add the risk of injury to the installer and damage to mining vehicle tires, and the nails do not reliably hold the curtain in place.
Several extensible line curtain structures have been proposed to permit line curtains to be readily extended toward the mine face. Examples include: U.S. Pat. No. 3,715,969 to Burgess; U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,180,352 and 4,282,802 to Divers, et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 4,440,070 to Baker, et al.; and U.S. Pat. No. 4,770,086 to Gabster. All of these structure are complex and expensive.

Method and apparatus for supporting ventilation curtains in coal mines


Provided are methods, apparatus and computer programs for evaluating the resilience, to structural changes in a data source, of a representative label representing a data element within the data source. Also disclosed are applications using a resilient representative label. For example, a representative label may represent a particular data field or other data element within a semi-structured data source—such as within XML or HTML Web pages. An estimate of resilience to changes can be used to determine whether a candidate representative label satisfies a required degree of resilience, or to enable selection of a label with the highest resilience score among a set of representative labels. The validated or selected representative label may then be used for data extraction, remaining usable despite the possibility of future changes to the structure of a Web page, or for template clustering/classification.

Several methods have been proposed for extracting data from semi-structured documents—documents which do not have a completely regular and static structure. For example, methods are known for extracting required data from Internet Web sites using "wrappers" (specialized computer program routines that automatically extract data from the Web sites). According to some estimates, over 80% of the published information available via the Web (i.e. the World Wide Web Internet service) is based on databases that run in the background. The structure of the underlying database is lost in the process of generating HTML pages. Wrappers try to reverse this process by extracting relevant data from HTML pages and reconstructing the structure—mapping the HTML source to a set of semi-structured (or structured) database objects that can be queried and manipulated by applications.
Most wrapper-based methods represent Web pages as a sequence of tokens that include strings and HTML tags. The methods then involve constructing a representative label for the desired data elements. The representative label provides a way to identify desired data within a given document based on the structure of the document. These representative labels can be created either manually or semi-automatically via a graphical user interface.
The representative labels of relevant data fields can also be used as characteristic features of a document and a classification algorithm can be used to classify the documents in a given document collection based on such features.
The Web is extremely dynamic and continually evolving, such that there are frequent changes in the structure and content of Websites and documents. A commercial Web site may be updated to apply new Web page design techniques, to add a description of new product features, to change the page layout, or to correct errors. Consequently, representative labels that use specific structural information relating to a document (such as specifying the location of information within a page) must be updated regularly in order to maintain the desired functionality of conventional wrappers. However, updating the labels is a cumbersome and time consuming process.
Davulcu et al in "Computational Aspects of Resilient Data Extraction from Semi-structured Sources", Proceedings of 19th ACM SIGMOD Symposium on Principles of Database Systems (PODS), 2000, Dallas, Tex., US, pages 136-144, present a formal framework for creating resilient data extraction wrappers for semi-structured data. They propose the notion of extraction expressions which are tag-marked regular expressions and are used to identify the desired data. Davulcu et al use the following two-stage strategy to find the resilient extraction expression for desired data in a document. In the first stage, several perturbations to the given document are made and extraction expressions for the desired data in all perturbations are determined. In the next step, Davulcu et al try to generalize these extraction expressions into a single extraction expression that matches all the perturbed instances of the document. Davulcu et al further introduce the notion of "unambiguity" as a consistency requirement for the generalized extraction expression.
The method disclosed by Davulcu et al considers a specific set of perturbed pages—apparently relying on the assumption that checking "unambiguity" of a generalized extraction expression for a specific class of perturbations will provide an acceptable resilient extraction expression. This is not always the case in practice. Davulcu et al mention other limitations of their techniques, and express uncertainty regarding whether maximisation of resilience can be determined.

Methods, apparatus and computer programs for evaluating and using a resilient data representation

International Business Machines Corporation


In a first aspect, a method of managing work in progress within a small lot size semiconductor device manufacturing facility is provided. The first method includes providing a small lot size semiconductor device manufacturing facility having (1) a plurality of processing tools; and (2) a high speed transport system adapted to transport small lot size substrate carriers among the processing tools. The method further includes maintaining a predetermined work in progress level within the small lot size semiconductor device manufacturing facility by (1) increasing an average cycle time of low priority substrates within the small lot size semiconductor device manufacturing facility; and (2) decreasing an average cycle time of high priority substrates within the small lot size semiconductor device manufacturing facility so as to approximately maintain the predetermined work in progress level within the small lot size semiconductor device manufacturing facility. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Manufacturing of semiconductor devices typically involves performing a sequence of procedures with respect to a substrate such as a silicon substrate, a glass plate, etc. These steps may include polishing, deposition, etching, photolithography, heat treatment, and so forth. Usually a number of different processing steps may be performed in a single processing system or "tool" which includes a plurality of processing chambers. However, it is generally the case that other processes are required to be performed at other processing locations within a fabrication facility, and it is accordingly necessary that substrates be transported within the fabrication facility from one processing location to another. Depending on the type of semiconductor device to be manufactured, there may be a relatively large number of processing steps required, to be performed at many different processing locations within the fabrication facility.
It is conventional to transport substrates from one processing location to another within substrate carriers such as sealed pods, cassettes, containers and so forth. It is also conventional to employ automated substrate carrier transport devices, such as automatic guided vehicles, overhead transport systems, substrate carrier handling robots, etc., to move substrate carriers from location to location within the fabrication facility or to transfer substrate carriers from or to a substrate carrier transport device.
For an individual substrate, the total fabrication process, from formation or receipt of the virgin substrate to cutting of semiconductor devices from the finished substrate, may require an elapsed time that is measured in weeks or months. In a typical fabrication facility, a large number of substrates may accordingly be present at any given time as "work in progress" (WIP). The substrates present in the fabrication facility as WIP may represent a very large investment of working capital, which tends to increase the per substrate manufacturing cost.
When a fabrication facility is fully operational, reducing WIP decreases capital and manufacturing costs. WIP reduction may be achieved, for example, by reducing the average total elapsed time for processing each substrate within the fabrication facility.
Previously incorporated U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/650,310, filed Aug. 28, 2003, titled "System for Transporting Semiconductor Substrate Carriers", discloses a substrate carrier transport system that includes a conveyor for substrate carriers that is intended to be constantly in motion during operation of the fabrication facility which it serves. The constantly moving conveyor is intended to facilitate transportation of substrates within the fabrication facility so as to reduce the total "dwell" or "cycle" time of each substrate in the fabrication facility. WIP reduction thereby may be achieved as less WIP is needed to produce the same factory output.

Systems and methods for transferring small lot size substrate carriers between processing tools


The present inventions relates to a design evaluation method, equipment thereof, and a goods design method that make it possible to obtain a highly reliable evaluation of a design quality of an evaluated object. Thus, in the present invention, the design of an evaluated object is evaluated on the basis of a brain wave reaction by outputting an image, which expresses the design of the evaluated object, by image output means, and measuring brain waves of an arbitrary test subject by showing this image to the test subject. Hence, it is possible to obtain a highly reliable evaluation result without any subjective judgment based on the knowledge and experience of the test subject.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a design evaluation method, equipment thereof, and a goods design method for obtaining the evaluation about quality of designing goods on the occasion of manufacturing various types of products such as automobiles or the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, the design of industrial products or the like becomes one of important elements influencing the sales of goods in addition to the essential performance of the products. In particular, since the design according to the appearance of automobiles variously changes by consumers, liking, fashion, or the like, in a development phase before reaching a design and manufacturing phase, enough investigation is demanded in the decision of the design. Then, conventionally, the final design is decided on the basis of the evaluation that is reported by word of mouth or in writing by an estimator observing a design where product design is drawn.
However, the evaluation for the design is not highly reliable data since the evaluation does not always coincide with intuitive impression because subjective judgment based on the estimator""s knowledge and experience is added to visual impression.
In addition, actually, when a consumer purchases a product, it is common that the consumer is given an incentive to purchase the product by looking at a photograph of a real object of the product displayed in an advertisement, on a catalog, or the like, or touching goods exhibited in a store. However, in a development phase where a real object of the product does not exist, only the evaluation for the design can be obtained, and furthermore there are many cases that the visual impression of the design and real object is different from each other.
Therefore, in any case, there is a case of resulting in that it could not be convinced in the development phase that the products would be largely sold by the design, and sales that were expected at the time of design decision are not realized in real sale.
A design evaluation method of the present invention includes the steps of outputting an image, where the design of an evaluated object is expressed, by predetermined image output means, measuring brain waves of an arbitrary test subject while showing this image to the test subject, and evaluating the design of the evaluated object on the basis of brain wave reactions.
Thereby, since the design of the evaluated object is evaluated on the basis of the brain wave reaction of the test subject who looks at the image, it is possible to obtain an intuitive evaluation result without any subjective judgement based on the knowledge and experience of the test subject.
In this case, by comparing a pattern of a local distribution condition of a brain wave electric potential on a test subject""s scalp with a plural kind of reference patterns set beforehand, and judging which of the reference patterns is similar to the pattern of the brain wave electric potential measured, it is possible to measure the brain wave reaction more concretely on the basis of a characteristic of each reference pattern, for example, anger, joy, sorrow, or the like. In addition, by evaluating the design on the basis of the brain wave reactions of the test subject in a predetermined scene of the image, it becomes possible to measure an arbitrary scene where, for example, a reaction being important in evaluation is forecasted.
Moreover, by using images including scenes that show the evaluated object from different angles, for example, in the case that the evaluated object is an automobile, scenes, where the automobile is displayed from different angles such as the front and the side, or the like, and so on are expressed by the images.
In addition, by using images including the scenes which represent dynamic changes of the evaluated object, for example, if the evaluated object is an automobile, it is possible to express scenes or the like that generate dynamic changes such as a driving state of the automobile or an operating state of a moving part is expressed by images.
Moreover, by using images including scenes where represent the evaluated object with predetermined backgrounds, for example, if the evaluated object is an automobile, scenes or the like, that include different backgrounds such as a town area, a mountainous area, a daytime scene, a night scene, and each weather scene, are expressed by images.
In addition, by using images including scenes where an evaluated object is expressed with other articles or persons, for example, if the evaluated object is an automobile, scenes include other articles such as accessories, and embarkation, or persons such as a driver and a passenger are expressed by images.
Moreover, by producing the images by using computer graphics, it becomes possible to arbitrarily express the design of the evaluated object by the computer graphics.
Furthermore, by expressing an evaluated object, whose real object does not exist, in the image, the evaluated object whose real object does not exist is virtually expressed by the computer graphics.
In addition, by making the evaluated object be a vehicle, for example, the design of the vehicle such as an automobile or a motorcycle where appearance design is regarded as important is evaluated.
Moreover, in a goods design method of the present invention, the final design of goods can be decided on the basis of a highly reliable evaluation result before shifting to a design and manufacturing phase of the goods by using this design evaluation method. It, therefore, becomes possible to produce the goods having high probability of obtaining good sales, and hence, it is possible to contribute to the increase of sellers"" profits.

Design evaluation method, equipment thereof, and goods design method


A vehicle propulsion system for maximizing power output, comprising: a frame; a first crankset and second crankset securably attached to the frame; a first sprocket wheel and second sprocket wheel attached to the first crankset and second crankset; a first pedal arm and second pedal arm attached to the first crankset and second crankset each having a pedal; a first chain and second chain disposed on the first sprocket wheel and second sprocket wheel, and the chain connecting to a wire on one end and a spring and wire on the other end; and a series of springs and wires attached to the distal ends of the first chain and second chain and disposed on a series of pulleys and sprockets.

Bicycles have been around for over a hundred years. The traditional bicycle has two wheels attached to a frame and is pedal-driven. Of course, there are many variations on this, such as motorized bicycles, multiple gears, sturdy frames, light weight frames, thin wheels, thick wheels, etc. There are bicycles for many different purposes. Over the years, there have been many attempted improvements in the bicycle to accomplish various things, such as multiplying the power of the rider, increased speed, weight of the bicycle, etc.
There are many bicycles in the prior art that comprise levers mounted on the vehicle frame. U.S. Pat. No. 5,335,927, Islas, entitled "Pedaled Propulsion System" discloses such an invention. A chain engages the rotary members to provide reciprocal oscillatory motion, which is then converted to one-way rotary motion. Leverage type pedals have also been provided in the prior art, such as U.S. Pat. No. 6,554,309 B2, Third, entitled "Bicycle Pedaling Power Unit with Leveraging Shifting." U.S. Pat. No. 8,783,703 B2, Caspers, entitled "Mechanical Torque Multiplier and Evener Mechanism" provides a mechanical stroke multiplier to increase the distance over which the operator applies a force to the vehicle. U.S. Pat. No. 5,324,057, Chartrand, entitled "Two-Wheel Drive Cycle" discloses a two-wheel drive bicycle.
These patents all seek to provide a bicycle, or other manually powered wheeled vehicle, that improves on the traditional bicycle. However, the need still exists for a bicycle that actually multiples the power of the rider through the pedaling process.
The present invention provides a propulsion system that, when installed on a bicycle as shown in the present disclosure, overcomes many of the shortcomings contained in the prior art. The present invention multiplies the power output of a pedal powered vehicle or device, such as a bicycle, thus requiring less effort on the part of the rider. Additionally, the present invention does not have the same loss of power that is present in the prior art bicycles.
None of the prior art fully addresses the problems resolved by the present invention. The present invention overcomes these limitations contained in the prior art by providing a pulley retraction system for pedal powered vehicles that is sturdy, reliable, provides a high power output, and is easy to use.


A drive system for an electro-photography process unit including a first idle consisting of two gears coaxially arranged with a space for transmitting the power of a motor to a drum drive gear mounted on a shaft of a photo-sensitive drum and to a second idle gear with a different pitch for transmitting the power to a developer, the developer being arranged on one side of the drum, a magnet roll provided in the developer for transferring a toner to the drum, a first speedup gear with a different pitch engaged with the second idle gear for driving the magnet roll, and a second speedup gear with a different pitch engaged with the first speedup gear and with a gear of the magnet roll.

The present invention relates to a drive means of an electro-photography process unit.
Referring to FIG. 1 for illustrating a conventional electro-photography process unit, the surface of a photo-sensitive drum 28 is uniformly charged with a constant voltage by an electric charger 25 and then exposed to the light of a lamp 24 reflected from an original document placed on a platen glass 21, so that an electrostatic latent image is formed on the photo-sensitive drum 28 corresponding to the image of the document. The light source may be a laser scanning unit, light emitting diode, etc. Thereafter, as the photo-sensitive drum 28 is rotated, the toner of a developer 27 is attracted to the surface of the photo-sensitive drum 28 so as to develop the latent image transferred by a transfer means 32 to a sheet of paper supplied by a supply roll 20.
The paper adhering to the photo-sensitive drum 28 by the electrostatic force is separated by a separator 33 therefrom. Then the paper is conveyed by a conveyor belt 30 to a fixing means 40, where the paper is heated and pressed between a heat roll 34 and pressure roll 35 to fix the toner, conveyed to a discharging tray 39.
The residual toner on the photo-sensitive drum 28 is removed by a cleaning blade 29 and the latent image is canceled by the light supplied from a pre-erase lamp array 37.
FIG. 2 reveals the photo-sensitive drum 28 and magnet roll 27b which are driven by drive means as shown in FIGS. 3A and 3B. A motor has a shaft provided with a gear 22 and pulley 22a. The gear 22 is to transmit the power of the motor via a train of gears 41, 42 and 43 to a drum gear 28a. Meanwhile, the power of the motor is also transmitted via a pulley 22a, timing belt 45, pulley 44, idle gear 43a, magnet roll drive gear 46 to the magnet roll 27.
Such conventional drive means is very complicated, requiring a large installing space and many parts, thus increasing the production cost.

Drive means of an electro-photography process unit


An anti-misfueling filler neck device includes sliding projections mounted at the bottom of a housing to move laterally to allow a flapper to be opened only when a fuel gun for a diesel vehicle is inserted, thus preventing gasoline from being injected into the diesel vehicle.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention relates to a filler neck device. More particularly, it relates to an anti-misfueling filler neck device with a sliding structure.
2. Description of Related Art
In general, a fuel tank for storing a fuel necessary for engine combustion is provided in a vehicle. The fuel tank is connected to a fuel pipe and a fuel filler neck, which represents a fuel inlet, is provided at an end of the fuel pipe, thus supplying fuel.
The diameter of a fuel gun for injecting fuel into the fuel filler neck differs depending on the type of fuel (gasoline or diesel), and the speed of fueling also differs.
Typically, the diameter of the fuel gun for injecting diesel fuel is greater than that of the fuel gun for injecting gasoline fuel.
Therefore, the diameter of the fuel inlet of a diesel vehicle is greater than that of the fuel inlet of a gasoline vehicle to fit the diameters of the fuel guns for the diesel and gasoline vehicles.
Conventionally, diesel fuel has been mainly used for large vehicles. However, in recent years, diesel-fueled vehicles have become more common, and the number of self-service stations is increasing due to high oil prices.
Meanwhile, due to the difference in the diameter of the fuel gun and the fuel inlet depending on the types of fuels used in the gasoline and diesel vehicles, the fuel gun for the diesel vehicle cannot be inserted into the fuel inlet of the gasoline vehicle, but the fuel gun for the diesel vehicle can be inserted into the fuel inlet of the diesel vehicle, which may cause gasoline fuel to be supplied to the diesel vehicle due to misfueling.
In this case, if the engine is operated while the gasoline fuel is introduced in a fuel system of the diesel vehicle, the engine stalls during operation, which causes the vehicle to suddenly stop, resulting in mechanical wear due to the gasoline fuel. Therefore, when the engine stalls during operation, it is necessary to replace fuel-related parts with new ones, which is very problematic.
The information disclosed in this Background section is only for enhancement of understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be taken as an acknowledgement or any form of suggestion that this information forms the prior art already known to a person skilled in the art.


A color tranparency having high density includes overlying color toner images on opposite sides of a transparent substrate. The color images are formed by first forming two sets of electrostatic images, one set being a mirror image of the other. The electrostatic images are toned by application of different color toners to the images of each set and then each set is transferred in registration to opposite sides of the transparency.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to improvements in methods and apparatus for producing photographic-type transparencies of high density. It also relates to the color transparencies produced by such methods and apparatus.
2. Background Art
In U.S. Pat. No. 4,345,012 issued to Hirsch et for producing high density transparencies of a single color. Such a process involves the steps of forming charge images of identical shape but opposite polarity on opposite sides of a transparent dielectric film, and developing such images with pigmented electroscopic particles of opposite polarity. When viewed through the film, the density of the two developed images add together to provide a denser visible image than might be achieved were the pigment applied to only one side of the film.
According to the disclosure of the above patent, the two charge images of opposite polarity are produced by arranging the transparent film in close proximity to a photoconductive layer having a grounded backing electrode. While an electric field is established across the film, the photoconductive layer is imagewise exposed through the film. While this image-forming process is theoretically possible to perform and is advantageous from the standpoint that the opposing images are in perfect registration, it may be appreciated that this process is difficult to control and to repeat with good results. Moreover, to develop the charge images on the film, access is required to both sides of the film. In the disclosed embodiment, development of the charge images is effected by immersing the entire film in a liquid developer having toner particles of opposite polarity. Over and above these disadvantages, the process disclosed does not lend itself well to automation or to the production of multicolor transparencies.

Color transparency having toner images transferred to both sides and method of making


An apparatus comprising a plurality of data framers, a time division multiplexer coupled to the data framers, and an optical transmitter coupled to the time division multiplexer. Also disclosed is an apparatus comprising an optical receiver, a time division demultiplexer coupled to the optical receiver, and a data framer coupled to the time division demultiplexer. Also disclosed is an apparatus comprising at least one component configured to implement a method comprising combining a first plurality of data frames corresponding to a first plurality of channels into a first plurality of combined data frames using time division multiplexing and transmitting the first combined data frames over a single optical channel.

A passive optical network (PON) is one system for providing network access over "the last mile." The PON is a point to multi-point network comprised of an optical line terminal (OLT) at the central office, an optical distribution network (ODN), and a plurality of optical network terminals (ONTs) at the customer premises. In some PON systems, such as Gigabit PON (GPON) systems, downstream data is broadcasted at about 2.5 Gigabits per second (Gbps) while upstream data is transmitted at about 1.25 Gbps. However, the bandwidth capability of the PON systems is expected to increase as the demands for services increase. To meet the increased demand in services, the OLT logic devices need to be reconfigured to transmit the data frames at higher bandwidths, for example at about 10 Gbps. The logic devices at the ONTs also need to be reconfigured to process the received data at higher bandwidths, which can be computationally expensive for some processes, such as forward error correction (FEC).
A plurality of existing communication links or channels in the PON system can be combined using wavelength division multiplexing to establish a channel with higher bandwidth without reconfiguring the logic devices or significantly increasing the data processing time. For example, four different wavelength channels with equal bandwidths at about 2.5 Gbps can be combined to establish a single communication channel at about 10 Gbps. However using wavelength division multiplexing to establish the single channel can be limited by the number of available wavelength channels in the PON systems.


A stable, plasticized composition of PVC polymer including a C4-C30 linear, branched or cyclo-alkyl pyrrolidone present in an amount of 5-400 phr sufficient to plasticize said PVC into a flexible state.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to plasticized PVC compositions, and, more particularly, to stable plasticized PVC compositions including a C4-C30 alkyl pyrrolidone present in an amount sufficient to plasticize PVC and impart flexibility, softness, extensibility and lower melting temperatures to the PVC.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is well known in the prior art that addition of certain organic compounds, called plasticizers, to PVC confers on the PVC desirable properties such as flexibility, softness, good feel and ease of processability, extensibility and lower melting temperature [Encyclopedia of PVC Vol. 1 and 2, L. I. Nass (1976)]. Plasticizers function by dissolving in PVC, reducing the cohesive energy density between the polymer chains and reducing the polar forces exerted by the halogen atoms present in PVC. For any organic compound to function as an effective plasticizer for PVC it (a) must possess very high miscibility with PVC, (b) must have polar groups and (c) must have a low tendency to diffuse and migrate out of the polymer during its effective service life. In addition, the plasticizer must not cause coloration to PVC, should be non-toxic, odorless, possess low volatility and be thermally stable at the temperature of mixing and compounding of PVC with the plasticizer.
A variety of organic compounds have been reported as effective plasticizers for PVC. These include esters of phthalic anhydride with aliphatic alcohols (linear/branched) with four to fifteen carbon atoms, epoxidized soybean oil, esters of trimellitic acids, phosphates, esters of benzoic and citric acids, and halogenated hydrocarbons. Higher molecular weight polyesters (800-6000) prepared by condensation of diols with adipic or sebacic acids are also used as plasticizers. Of these, phthalate-based plasticizers are the most widely used because of their excellent compatibility with PVC, ease of fusion and all-around desirable properties.
Nevertheless, phthalate esters are not without drawbacks. Dioctylphthalate has been implicated as a carcinogen causing liver cancer in rats. Their low molecular weights enable them to diffuse out of PVC rapidly and cause "fogging" (cloudy deposits) on glass and other transparent surfaces. Also they are easily extracted by organic solvents, making them unsuitable for use in applications requiring solvent contact.
The prior art in the plasticizer field is typified by the following U.S. patents and Published Applications: U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,777,014; 6,118,012; 6,706,815; 2004/0001948 and 2004/0198909.
U.S. Pat. 5,294,644 discloses surface active lactams which have particularly effective surfactant activity for active organic compounds such as agriculture chemicals and drugs. Many other interesting properties are attributed to such lactams including anti-stat, anti-block and lubricant properties. The particular utility for these lactams was its ability to form stable emulsion concentrates of water insoluble agricultural chemicals.
Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide long term plastification to PVC so as to impart flexibility, softness, extensibility and/or lower melting temperatures to PVC compositions.
Another object herein is to provide such plasticized PVC compositions for such applications as films, siding, sheets, pipe and tubing as well as calendered sheets, plastisols, foams and dispersions.


Methods are described that facilitate the detection and correction of data in memory systems or devices by encoding the data bits of a memory row or block in a non-systematic ECC code. This allows memory embodiments of the present invention to utilize reduced complexity error detection and correction hardware and/or routines to efficiently detect and correct corrupted user data in a segment of memory, such as a sector, word line row, or erase block. User data is not stored in a plaintext format in the memory array, allowing for an increased level of data security. The ECC code is distributed throughout the stored data in the memory segment, increasing the robustness of the ECC code and its resistance to damage or data corruption.

Memory devices are typically provided as internal storage areas in the computer. The term memory identifies data storage that comes in the form of integrated circuit chips. There are several different types of memory used in modern electronics, one common type is RAM (random-access memory). RAM is characteristically found in use as main memory in a computer environment. RAM refers to read and write memory; that is, you can both write data into RAM and read data from RAM. This is in contrast to read-only memory (ROM), which permits you only to read data. Most RAM is volatile, which means that it requires a steady flow of electricity to maintain its contents. As soon as the power is turned off, whatever data was in RAM is lost.
Computers almost always contain a small amount of ROM that holds instructions for starting up the computer. Unlike RAM, ROM cannot be written to. An EEPROM (electrically erasable programmable read-only memory) is a special type non-volatile ROM that can be erased by exposing it to an electrical charge. EEPROM comprise a large number of memory cells having electrically isolated gates (floating gates). Data is stored in the memory cells in the form of charge on the floating gates. Charge is transported to or removed from the floating gates by specialized programming and erase operations, respectively. Other types of non-volatile memory include, but are not limited to, Polymer Memory, Ferroelectric Random Access Memory (FeRAM), Ovionics Unified Memory (OUM), and Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory (MRAM).
Yet another type of non-volatile memory is a Flash memory. A Flash memory is a type of EEPROM that is typically erased and reprogrammed in blocks instead of one byte at a time. A typical Flash memory comprises a memory array, which includes a large number of memory cells. Each of the memory cells includes a floating gate field-effect transistor capable of holding a charge. The data in a cell is determined by the presence or absence of the charge in the floating gate. The cells are usually grouped into sections called "erase blocks." The memory cells of a Flash memory array are typically arranged into a "NOR" architecture (each cell directly coupled to a bitline) or a "NAND" architecture (cells coupled into "strings" of cells, such that each cell is coupled indirectly to a bitline and requires activating the other cells of the string for access). Each of the cells within an erase block can be electrically programmed in a random basis by charging the floating gate. The charge can be removed from the floating gate by a block erase operation, wherein all floating gate memory cells in the erase block are erased in a single operation.
Each erase block of a Flash memory device typically contains user data areas and overhead data areas. The overhead data areas contain overhead information for operation of the erase block and/or the user data area the overhead data space is associated with. Such overhead information typically includes, but is not limited to, erase block management (EBM) data, sector status information, or an error correction code (ECC). In some Flash memory devices each erase block is divided into a series of logical sectors, where the logical sectors each generally contain 512 bytes of user data space and an associated control or overhead area. One or more of the logical sectors are each typically written to a single row of the Flash memory array (also known as a physical page) within the erase block.
ECC's allow errors in the data stored in the non-volatile memory to be detected and in many cases corrected. ECC's include block codes, that are associated with a block of stored data, and stream codes, that are typically utilized with streams of transmitted data. ECC's include, but are not limited to, Hamming codes, Reed-Solomon (R-S) codes, Bose-Chaudhuri-Hocquenghem (BCH) codes, circular redundancy codes (CRC-32), Golay codes, Reed-Muller codes, Goppa codes, and Denniston codes. In most memories and memory systems, error detection is accomplished via a dedicated ECC check hardware as the data is read out. Error correction is more difficult and typically requires an involved time consuming algorithmic process. As a result, error correction of any data that has detected as corrupt is generally done by a microprocessor or specialized hardware.
The prevalence of errors in modern memory devices, and in non-volatile and Flash memory devices in particular, are increasing with smaller device sizes, increased array density, and lower operating voltages. In addition, the increased active usage with frequent writes of non-volatile memory devices in electronic devices has tended to increase the incidence of operationally induced failures in these devices over long periods of active use due to physical damage, impurity migration, write fatigue, electrical transients, etc.
A problem with non-volatile memories, and Flash memories in particular, is that each erase block physical row page stores the user data before the overhead information, which includes the error correction codes (ECC codes), in each logical sector or row page. Because of this, an error in one or more physical row pages of an erase block can also affect the overhead data associated with those sectors. This increases the likelihood of a loss of data if the ECC is damaged when a localized error to the overhead data area happens. Furthermore, as a result of this ECC encoding method, the user data is placed directly on the memory system or device in an un-encoded/plaintext mode. This may inadvertently allow access to the stored user data.
In addition, the ECC generation/checking hardware of many Flash memory devices and memory systems tends to be complex and consume a large amount of space on an integrated circuit die where it is implemented.
For the reasons stated above, and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for improved ECC apparatus and methods that are less susceptible to localized damage to the stored ECC codes and allow for storage of data in encoded non-plaintext formats.


Compositions containing hydroxy acids and/or retinoids and further containing borage seed oil as an anti-irritant. Borage seed oil was found to be uniquely effective (when compared to gamma-linolenic acid, or other anti-irritants containing gamma-linolenic acid or other known anti-irritants) in reducing the irritation caused by hydroxy acids and/or retinoids.

Hydroxy acids (HAs) and retinoids have been proven to deliver cosmetic benefits, such as improvement in the appearance of photodamaged or naturally aged skin, skin lightening, treatment of age spots, etc. Unfortunately, their use at high concentrations may occasionally be associated with skin irritation, e.g. skin redness and stinging sensation upon application. The irritation can be ameliorated by lowering the amount of an active ingredient in the composition or by reducing the active's penetration through the skin. A serious drawback of both approaches is that the efficacy is impaired. The HA related irritation can be reduced by raising the composition's pH but this method yields reduced efficacy through a decreased HA penetration through the skin. It is desirable to reduce or eliminate the irritation potential of HAs and/or retinoids while maintaining their efficacy.
European Patent Application 0631722 (Johnson & Johnson) discloses the use of glycolic acid to reduce irritation of the skin by retinol. U.S. Pat. No. 5,252,604 (Nagy et al.) teaches the use of tocopherols for retinoic acid induced irritation. U.S. Pat. No. 5,516,793 (Duffy) discloses the use of ascorbic acid to ameliorate the irritation caused by various topical ingredients, including HAs and retinoids.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,476,661 (Pillai et al.) discloses cosmetic compositions containing 25-hydroxycalciferol and a lipid ingredient. Numerous optional ingredients are listed among which are mentioned HAs and/or retinoids and unsaturated fatty acids, such as gamma linolenic acid (GLA). Pillai et al. do not address the problem of skin irritation, do not teach the use of any agent for reducing skin irritation and do not teach the use of borage seed oil.
European Patent Application 0416855 (Efamol) discloses treatment of skin damage due to radiotherapy with gamma linolenic acid (GLA) and also teaches a variety of suitable plant sources of GLA, including Borage species. PCT application WO 90/07331 (Went) teaches treatment of inflammation arising from arthritis or headache by topical application of GLA; borage seed is taught as a suitable source. European Patent Application 0173478 (Efamol) discloses treatment of inflammatory skin disorders with compositions containing GLA and glucocorticoids; borage species such as Borago officinalis is mentioned as a rich source of GLA. French patent 2,704,390 (Boiron) discloses an oral supplement containing borage seed oil to provide anti-aging benefits to skin. French patent 2,604,624 (Parfums Rochas) discloses skin care compositions containing polyunsaturated carboxylic acids, such as GLA; borage is said to be rich in GLA. U.S. Pat. No. 5,445,822 (Bracco) discloses cosmetic compositions containing polyunsaturated acids such as GLA.
Great Britain Patent 2,271,928 (Laing) discloses the use of borage family plant extracts for alleviation of skin disorders and irritations.
Tollesson et al., "Transepidermal Water Loss and Water Content in the Stratum Corneum in Infantile Sebhorroeic Dermatitis", Acta Derm Venereol (Sweden), February 1993, 73 (1), p. 18-20, disclose the use of topically applied borage oil for treatment of sebhorroeic dermatitis.
Bahmer et al., "Treatment of Atopic Dermatitis with Borage Seed Oil (Glandol)--A Time Series Analytic Study", Kinderarztl Prax (Germany), October 1992, 60 (7), p. 199-202, disclose the use of borage oil for the treatment of atopic dermatitis.
The art discussed above does not teach any compositions containing borage seed oil in combination with HAs and/or retinoids. The art does not teach the use of GLA or borage seed oil to reduce irritation associated with the use of HAs and/or retinoids. Furthermore, it was found as part of the present invention that among GLA containing plant sources borage seed oil was particularly effective at ameliorating irritation induced by HAs or retinoids and that this effect could not be attributed merely to the presence of GLA in the borage seed oil.

Borage seed oil as an anti-irritant in compositions containing hydroxy acids or retinoids


A method of performing cell measurements in a telecommunications system. The method includes the steps of receiving a signal by a user equipment (UE) operating within the telecommunications system and served by a serving cell, storing the received signal in a buffer, and determining a first portion of the signal related to the serving cell and a second portion related to neighbor (NB) cells. The first portion of the signal is decoded by the Fast Fourier Transforms (FFT) and the signal strength is estimated by a measurement unit coupled to the FFT. Next, any approximately synchronized NB cell signals in the second portion of the signal are then decoded and a signal strength is estimated. It is then determined if sufficient time remains to process unsynchronized NB cell signals of the second portion of the signal. If it is determined that sufficient time remains, the second portion of the signal is played back and decoded using the FFT and a signal strength of any unsynchronized NB cell signals of the second portion of the received signal is estimated.

This invention relates to communication systems. More particularly, and not by way of limitation, the invention is directed to a system and method of performing cell measurements in a telecommunications system.
In the forthcoming evolution of the mobile cellular standards, such as Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM) and Wideband-Code Division Multiple Access (WCDMA), new modulation techniques such as Orthogonal Frequency Division Multiplexing (OFDM) are likely to occur. Furthermore, in order to have a smooth migration of the old cellular systems to the new high capacity high data rate system in the existing radio spectrum, the new system has to be able to operate on a flexible bandwidth (BW). A proposal for such a new flexible cellular system is 3G Long Term Evolution (3G LTE), which is an evolution from the 3G WCDMA standard. This system utilizes OFDM as a multiple access technique (called OFDMA) in the downlink and is able to operate on a bandwidth spanning from 1.25 MHz to 20 MHz. Furthermore, data rates up to 100 Mb/s will be possible in this high bandwidth system.
The 3G LTE system allows for use in a "Reuse One" fashion (i.e., all cells share the same carrier frequency). Therefore, neighbor cell measurements needed for mobility (handover) purposes can be made in similar fashion as in WCDMA. Furthermore, the different BW possibilities in LTE introduces additional neighbor (NB) cell measurements that need to be considered. For example, in some scenarios there may be a "hot spot" cell with a specific bandwidth (e.g., 20 MHz), while neighboring cells may be using another bandwidth (e.g., 5 or 10 MHz). Similar scenarios may occur in the border between countries or other geographical or political boundaries.
There are several scenarios where different NB cell configurations need to be handled in LTE. Intra-frequency neighbor cell measurements are performed by a user equipment (UE) when the current and target cell operates on the same carrier frequency. In this case, the UE is able to carry out such measurements without measurement gaps. Neighbor cell measurements performed by the UE are considered as inter-frequency measurements when the neighbor cell operates on a different carrier frequency in comparison to the current cell. In this situation, the UE is unable to carry out such measurements without measurement gaps.
Depending on whether the UE needs transmission/reception gaps to perform the relevant measurements, measurements are classified as gap assisted or non-gap assisted. A non-gap assisted measurement is a measurement on a cell that does not require transmission/reception gaps to allow the measurement to be performed. A gap assisted measurement is a measurement on a cell that requires transmission/reception gaps to allow the measurement to be performed. Whether a measurement is non-gap assisted or gap assisted depends on the current operating frequency. The UE determines whether a particular cell measurement needs to be performed in a transmission/reception gap.
In the situation where cells operate on the same carrier frequency, gaps are not needed to perform the measurements. If the cells' carrier frequencies differ, gap assisted measurements are needed which are independent of the UE/cell bandwidth. These measurement gaps are provided and controlled by the network.
FIG. 1A is a simplified block diagram illustrating an intra-frequency measurement scenario in LTE. In FIG. 1, a UE 10 communicates with a current cell 12. The current cell 12 and a target cell 14 have the same carrier frequency and bandwidth. This is the most common measurement scenario. In this scenario, measurement gaps are not required.
FIG. 1B is a simplified block diagram illustrating a second intra-frequency measurement scenario in LTE. The current cell 12 and the target cell 14 have the same carrier frequency. However, the bandwidth of the target cell is less than the bandwidth of the current cell.
FIG. 1C is a simplified block diagram illustrating a third intra-frequency measurement scenario in LTE. In this scenario, the current cell 12 and the target cell 14 have the same carrier frequency. However, the bandwidth of the target cell is greater than the bandwidth of the current cell.
FIG. 2A is a simplified block diagram illustrating a first inter-frequency measurement scenario in LTE. The current cell and the target cell have different carrier frequencies. In addition, the bandwidth of the target cell is less than the bandwidth of the current cell and the center part of the bandwidth of the target cell is within the bandwidth of the current cell. In this scenario, since it is an inter-frequency scenario, measurement gaps are utilized.
FIG. 2B is a simplified block diagram illustrating a second inter-frequency measurement scenario in LTE. The current cell and the target cell have different carrier frequencies. In addition, the bandwidth of the target cell is greater than the bandwidth of the current cell and the center part of the bandwidth of the target cell is within the bandwidth of the current cell.
FIG. 2C is a simplified block diagram illustrating a third inter-frequency measurement scenario in LTE. The center part of the bandwidth of the target cell is outside the bandwidth of the current cell. In this scenario, measurement gaps are required.
The above figures show the different NB cell configurations that are encountered and require action in LTE. For handoff measurements, typically only a subfraction of the entire bandwidth is used for cell search (i.e., 1.25 MHz). Cell measurements are denoted in FIGS. 1 and 2 as measurement bandwidth (Meas BW). In FIG. 1A, this is the most common scenario corresponding to legacy intra-frequency measurements. In LTE, the scenarios of FIGS. 1B and 1C are also defined as intra-frequency measurements. Since the carrier frequency for the NB cells in FIGS. 1B and 1C is the same as the serving cell, the UE typically performs the measurements on these NB cells without interruption (i.e., no measurement gap) in the data reception. In FIG. 2C, a pure (legacy) inter-frequency measurement scenario is shown (i.e., similar to the WCDMA case). For this scenario, a gap in the reception from the serving cell is needed to conduct the measurements, such that the radio can be retunded to the NB cell carrier frequency. For LTE, in FIGS. 2A and 2B, the scenarios also are inter-frequency measurements and reception gaps are required. In these scenarios, the carrier frequency for the NB cells is not aligned with the carrier frequency for the serving cell. However, the reception bandwidth for the UE still covers the measurements portions in FIGS. 2A and 2B, without changing the local oscillator frequency.
A system and method of performing cell measurements for all the scenarios discussed above is needed. Currently, there are three different existing solutions for performing the measurements on all the scenarios. First, gaps may be created in the intra-frequency measurement scenarios. When the UE is close to the cell border, the UE requests an interruption in the reception in order to allocate the Fast Fourier Transforms (FFT) to the neighbor cell. Thus, a similar way is needed for inter-frequency handoff. The disadvantage with this solution is that a lower throughput is achieved due to the need for interrupting the data reception.
In the second existing solution, synchronized base stations are utilized. To accomplish this solution, all cells have the same timing when using the FFT. All cells' (both serving and neighbor) pilot signals are detected and the signal strength is estimated. The disadvantage of this solution is that the cells must be synchronized.
In the third existing solution, two FFTs are utilized. One of the FFTs is used for serving cell detection and one of the FFT is used for neighbor cell measurements. Since two FFTs are used, an increased chip area cost in the UE is necessary.
Therefore, a system and method for performing the cell measurements utilizing a single FFT in both the inter-frequency and intra-frequency scenarios is needed. The present invention provides such a system and method.

System and method of performing cell measurements in a telecommunications system


A support arrangement for a machine portal includes a lightweight support structure and a row of base segments supporting at least one guide rail of a linear drive on the support structure. Both the base segments and the guide rail exhibit different thermal expansion behavior from the support structure. The base segments are fixed at a distance from their edges by fixing screws to respective fastening members extending into the support structure. The base segments define at least one step on which they support the guide rail with a positive fit. The guide rail is fixed to the support structure by at least one expansion screw. The support arrangement maintains precise alignment of the guide rail while accommodating differing thermal expansions between the rail, base segments and support structure.

DE 297 05 152 U1 discloses a machining centre having a portal of lightweight construction running on linear guides. This portal consists of a lightweight strut framework consisting of carbon fibre tubes connected by means of light metal couplers or of honeycomb material. The drive for the portal and the bearings for the linear guides are not described.
A synthetic resin framework as lightweight components is known from DE 43 21 969 A1. This plastics material framework comprises a grating part and surrounding this grating part a frame part of sandwich construction comprising a skin layer and a core layer.
Devices for transferring forces into composite fibre structures having a connection between two elements of incompatible materials, i.e. of materials having different thermal expansion, are described in DE 196 45 467 A1 and in DE 199 58 375 A1.
A support arrangement and a manufacturing method are known from DE 196 43 518 A1. In this publication, soft iron plates are adhesively secured to a lightweight base body as the magnetizable or magnetic regions of a linear drive. The lightweight base body is in the form of an elongate hollow body wholly or partially filled with a damping filling material, and comprises carbon fibre-reinforced plastics material. The effects of the difference in the expansion coefficients of the lightweight base body on the one hand and the soft-iron plates on the other hand are intended to be kept to a minimum by applying an extremely thin adhesive layer. The soft-iron plates may nevertheless shift on the lightweight body or become detached from the lightweight body under the effect of temperature fluctuations.

Support arrangement for a machine portal and method for manufacture of such a support arrangement