A wireless communication system includes: a first base station configured to communicate using a frequency within a licensed band; a plurality of second base stations configured to communicate using a frequency within an unlicensed band; and a communication terminal configured to be able to communicate with the first base station and any of the plurality of second base stations, wherein the communication terminal is further configured to detect first identification information broadcasted from the first base station, the first identification information indicating a first communication network to which the first base station belongs, detect second identification information broadcasted from third base station being any of the plurality of second base stations, the second identification information indicating a second communication network to which the second base stations belong, determine whether to establish a connection with the third base station, in accordance with the first identification information and the second identification information.

Presently, a specification of the LTE-Advanced system, which is an evolved version of the Long Term Evolution (LTE) system, is studied by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP). The LTE-Advanced system has, for example, a configuration as described below. Specifically, the LTE-Advanced system includes a base station or a base station device (hereinafter collectively referred to as "base station") called as evolved Node B (eNB), and a communication terminal, terminal, subscriber unit, or terminal device (hereinafter collectively referred to as "communication terminal") called as User Equipment (UE). The base station is a transmission device, a transmitter, or a transmission station that transmits a downlink signal to the communication terminal, and also is a reception device, a receiver, or a reception station that receives an uplink signal from the communication terminal. Likewise, the communication terminal is a reception device, a receiver, or a reception station that receives the downlink signal from the base station, and also is a transmission device, a transmitter, or a transmission station that transmits the uplink signal to the base station. The LTE-Advanced system includes a Mobility Management Entity (MME) which is a controller constituting the core network, and a Serving Gate Way (S-GW) which is a server for transmitting data such as user data. Further, the LTE-Advanced system includes a S1 which is an interface between the MME/S-GW and the eNB, and an X2 which is an interface between eNBs. The S1 and the X2 are interfaces using the GPRS Tunneling Protocol (GTP) based on the Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP).
Then, the base station forms a cell defined with the frequency and the service area or the communication area, communicates with a communication terminal accommodated in the cell, and communicates with another base station, thereby enabling communication terminals accommodated in the same cell or different cells to communicate with each other.
The LTE system is capable of setting the uplink/downlink bandwidths or system bandwidth to 1.4 MHz, 3 MHz, 5 MHz, 10 MHz, 15 MHz, and 20 MHz. Each of the bands thus set is defined as Component Carrier (hereinafter sometimes referred to as "CC"). The reason why multiple bandwidths may be set as above is that the LTE system is based on the premise that bandwidths allocated to conventional Global Systems for Mobile communications (GSM) (registered trademark) and Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) are used in the LTE system.
Here, the 3GPP defines the "cell" as "a service area formed using one frequency", that is, "a service area covered by one frequency". One base station has one band only. Further, one cell is formed for one CC, and the cell and the CC or the band are in a one-to-one correspondence. Thus, in the 3GPP, "base station", "cell", "band", and "CC" may be handled as being synonymous with each other. Description below is given based on the above premise. In practice, one base station may use a plurality of bands and include a plurality of sectors (which correspond to cells in the 3GPP). In this case, the technique disclosed herein may be applied in the same manner as described below, unless otherwise specified.
The cell is a band which is segmented from a band allocated to one communication system (for example, W-CDMA system and LTE system) based on a bandwidth (system bandwidth) constituting the system. Thus, user multiplexing or multiple access is available in each band. Further, user multiplexing is possible by allocating a radio resource of the data channel using the band to one or more communication terminals by scheduling. In other words, the cell may constitute one communication system and is different from a block, a resource block, a group, or a cluster into which a plurality of sub-carriers are aggregated as the radio resource allocation unit for user multiplexing in the Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiple Access (OFDMA).
Here, since the LTE system is desired to achieve a faster transmission than the conventional GSM systems and the W-CDMA systems, the bandwidth is desired to be wider than those of these communication systems. Meanwhile, a band used in the wireless communication system is generally different depending on circumstances of individual countries. Further, in Europe where two or more countries are accessible each other by land and share their border each other, the frequency band in use is adjusted between countries in consideration of the interference. As a result, the number of bandwidths available for the wireless communication system in individual countries is reduced, and the bandwidth is chopped. In view of the problem, a technique of providing a wide band by aggregating narrowed and chopped bands is introduced to achieve a wide band in the LTE system.
As a technique for achieving the wide band, a technique called as Carrier Aggregation (hereinafter alternatively referred to as "CA") is studied for the LTE-Advanced system. The CA is a technique to communicate by simultaneously using a plurality of frequency bands. Specifically, the CA is a technique to communicate between at least one transmission device and at least one reception device simultaneously using a plurality of frequency bands, or a technique to communicate between one transmission device and at least one reception device simultaneously using a plurality of frequency bands. If these are satisfied, the name of the technique for achieving the wide band is not limited to the CA. When data is transmitted using a certain frequency, the frequency used for transmission of data generally has a bandwidth. Therefore, "frequency band" and "frequency" may be synonymous with each other hereinafter.
When implementing the CA, a main cell is established first. The main cell in the CA is called as primary cell. The primary cell is sometimes called as first cell, first band, main band, or main cell. Hereinafter, the primary cell may be referred to as "PCell".
Then, in the CA, the cell is added or aggregated into the PCell. The cell added to the PCell is called as secondary cell. The secondary cell is sometimes called as second band, extended band, or subband. Hereinafter, the secondary cell may be referred to as "SCell".
In the LTE Release 10-12, seven SCells may be established at the maximum in the CA. Specifically, the CA may be achieved by using eight CCs including the PCell at the maximum. Presently, achieving of establishing 32 CCs at the maximum is studied. In other words, the CA is a technique to aggregate the PCell and at least one SCell. The CA is classified depending on whether a frequency of the PCell and a frequency of the SCell is continuous (contiguous/non-contiguous) and whether the frequencies are included in the same frequency band (intra frequency band/inter frequency band). Further, the CA is classified depending on whether control information for data communication using the SCell is transmitted by the SCell (straight scheduling) or by the PCell or another SCell (cross carrier scheduling). Here, the Physical Downlink Shared Channel (PDSCH) being a downlink shared channel is used for data communication using the SCell. On the other hand, the Physical Downlink Control Channel (PDCCH) being a downlink control channel is used for transmission of the control information for data communication using the SCell.
For example, to introduce the CA into a communication system, a cell configuration including the PCell which is a cell having a wider area and the the SCell which is a cell having an area narrower than the PCell is studied. In this cell configuration, at least a portion of the area in the SCell overlaps the PCell. A cell having a wider area may be called as macro cell. A cell having a narrower area may be called as micro cell, pico cell, femtocell, or small cell.
Frequency band used for the cellular system is determined by a decree in consideration of circumstances of individual countries based on the international frequency allocation. The cellular system includes, for example, the Wideband Code Division Multiple Access (W-CDMA) system, the LTE system, the LTE-Advanced system, and the Worldwide interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX) (registered trademark) system.
Further, the frequency band used for the cellular system is allocated to communication providers by using, for example, auctions among communication providers. Specifically, a license is granted by designating a used frequency band for each of communication providers, and thereby communication providers are permitted to use the designated frequency band. The frequency band thus permitted to use by the license is called as "licensed band" or "frequency for which a license has to be possessed". In other words, the licensed band is a frequency band of the license system. The licensed band is a frequency band that a specific communication provider permitted to use the licensed band is allowed to use exclusively.
Meanwhile, there is a communication system that is allowed to communicate without the license by communicating with a transmission power equal to or lower than the maximum transmission power specified by the decree. Such communication system is called as specific small power system. Frequency bands such as the Industry Science Medical (ISM) band and the 5 GHz band using a transmission power equal to or lower than the transmission power specified by the decree may be used freely without the license. Such frequency bands that may be used without the license are called "unlicensed band" or "frequency for which a license does not have to be possessed". In other words, the unlicensed band is a frequency band of the non-license system. Thus, since the unlicensed band is a frequency band that may be used freely without the license, exclusive use of the unlicensed band by only specific communication providers is not permitted. In other words, since the unlicensed band may be used freely by all communication providers, exclusive use of the unlicensed band by only specific communication providers is not permitted. Thus, premise of the unlicensed band is temporary use thereof. The communication system using the unlicensed band includes, for example, the Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) system using the ISM band (IEEE 802.11a).
In recent years, licensed bands used for communication are added one by one to cope with increasing communication traffic. For example, a new 3.5 GHz band is added to an existing 1.7 GHz band. However, since frequency resource is finite, increasing licensed band used for communication depletes the number of remaining frequencies. Thus, it is difficult to cope with the increasing communication traffic just by increasing the licensed band used for communication.
To solve the problem, use of the unlicensed band used in the Wi-Fi system in the LTE system and the LTE-Advanced system (cellular system) is studied. In other words, use of the unlicensed band in the LTE system and the LTE-Advanced system in addition to the licensed band is studied.
For example, it is studied that in implementing the CA, the licensed band in the LTE system is used as the PCell and the unlicensed band in the Wi-Fi system is used as the SCell (first study). According to the first study, the CA is implemented by simultaneously using multiple Radio Access Technologies (RATs) different from each other: the LTE and the Wi-Fi. Communication simultaneously using multiple RATs different from each other may be called as system aggregation. In the 3GPP, the first study is under way as a dual connectivity using the LTE and the Wi-Fi.
For example, it is studied that in implementing the CA, the licensed band in the LTE system is used as the PCell and an unlicensed band to which the LTE-Advance system is applied is used as the SCell (second study). In the 3GPP, the second study is under way as the Licensed-Assisted Accessing in LTE (LAA).
Further, control to use the unlicensed band as the SCell by the licensed band used as the PCell may be called as licensed assisted.
Examples of the related art include Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2003-018642, No. 2008-103959, No. 2009-207108, and No. 2013-042258, Japanese National Publication of International Patent Application No. 2013-545365, No. 2014-529276, and No. 2015-505436, Japanese Patent No. 4515460, International Publication Pamphlet No. WO 2008/090603, No. WO 2009/020017, and No. WO 2010/073468, Non Patent Literature 1: TS36.211V8.9.0 "3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Radio Access Network; Evolved Universal Terrestrial Radio Access (E-UTRA); Physical Channels and Modulation (Release 8)", and Non Patent Literature 2: TS23.003V8.16.0 "3rd Generation Partnership Project; Technical Specification Group Core Network and Terminals; Numbering, addressing and identification (Release 8)."

Wireless communication system, communication terminal, base station and method for cell control


The apparatus includes a housing having an inlet for coal and the like and two outlets, a sizing grate, a comb, and means for moving the comb relative to the grate for dislodging granular material clogged therein. The grate is affixed to the housing and provides a plurality of openings which are sized to allow granular material of a predetermined size to pass therethrough to the first outlet, while granular material of a greater size is the second outlet to a crusher. The invention also includes a method of automatically sizing granular material using a self-cleaning grate assembly.

This invention relates to sizing grates for granular material and more particularly for self-cleaning devices particularly adapted for coal handling. Coal as removed from the mine is for the most part too large for commercial power plant purposes. In order to bring the mine run coal to a commercially acceptable size, it is processed through a coal crusher which reduces the maximum granule size to 0.75 to 1 inch. The granule size of mine run coals varies dramatically and is influenced by such factors as the type of coal, the particular mine, the amount handling and the method of transportation and storage. It is not uncommon for as much as fifty percent of the mine run coal processed through the crusher to be already below the maximum desired size. Further crushing the already small coal granules results in an increase in fines (small or dust-like particles) which cause serious handling problems. Also passing already properly sized coal through the crusher reduces crusher capacity, increases crusher power consumption and more importantly increases the likelihood of the crusher jamming or "mill skid".
While the concept of automatically sizing coal to allow the already properly sized coal to bypass the crusher seems simple, from a practical standpoint, it is an enormously difficult task. A typical coal crusher in a power plant will process one to two million tons of coal per year. Any coal sizing grate system has to be capable of withstanding continuous use in a very harsh, abrasive environment. When grates have been used in the past, it is frequently necessary to shut the machine down and clean the coal lodged in the grate apertures using a spud or wand directing compressed air through the grate openings. This was a time-consuming and labor intensive process making sizing grates impractical and rarely used in coal power plants.
An object of the present invention is to provide a grate for sizing the granular material such as coal or the like and to separate which are less than a predetermined size. Another object of the invention is to provide a sizing grate which will not be clogged and rendered unusable by material granules. Another object of the invention is to provide a durable sizing grate with high reliability and a long useful life.


A reverse osmosis membrane apparatus has a plurality of high pressure vessels 12a and 12b in parallel with each other with respect to introducing passage 18 of clarified seawater obtained by subjecting raw seawater to sterilization and removal of relatively large foreign substances. The high pressure vessels 12a and 12b have first-stage reverse osmosis membrane elements 14a and 14b, respectively. Concentrated seawater subjected to membrane separation in the high pressure vessels 12a and 12b flows into a high pressure vessel 16. In the high pressure vessel 16, a plurality of reverse osmosis membrane elements 42 are arranged in series. When a detected value obtained by a differential pressure meter 56a or 56b provided for the high pressure vessel 12a or 12b exceeds a threshold value, introduction of the clarified seawater is stopped, and the reverse osmosis membrane element is washed or replaced.

For production of fresh water from seawater or for production of clean water from river or lake water, reverse osmosis membrane apparatuses having a reverse osmosis membrane module, for example, are used. In a reverse osmosis membrane apparatus, a to-be-treated water (clarified water) produced by subjecting e.g. sea, river or lake water as raw water to pretreatment such as sterilization treatment of adding a fungicide into intake sea, river or lake water or a treatment of removing impurities by using e.g. a sand filter, is used. The to-be-treated water is pressurized to have a pressure of about 6.0 MPa by a high pressure pump, for example, and is supplied to a reverse osmosis membrane module, and the to-be-treated water is permitted to pass through a reverse osmosis membrane by reverse osmosis effect by the reverse osmosis membrane module to obtain permeate water to be production water.
A reverse osmosis membrane module is usually composed of a plurality of reverse osmosis membrane elements. An example of the reverse osmosis membrane elements is a spiral-type reverse osmosis membrane element having a structure where a sac-like reverse osmosis membrane having a flow path material therein is spirally wound via a mesh spacer around a center pipe in which permeate water is collected, and a brine seas is provided at an end of the outer peripheral surface, as disclosed in Patent Document 1. Another example of the reverse osmosis membrane elements is a flat membrane-type reverse osmosis membrane element having stacked a plurality of flat sheets of reverse osmosis membrane.
A reverse osmosis membrane module usually has a high pressure vessel and a plurality of reverse osmosis membrane elements arranged in series in the high pressure vessel, and to-be-treated (clarified water) is separated with reverse osmosis membrane elements sequentially from one on the most upstream side into permeate water and concentrated water containing saline matters and impurities to obtain permeate water by each of the reverse osmosis membrane elements. The concentrated water separated from the permeate water by each of the reverse osmosis membrane element is further separated into permeate water and concentrated water by a later stage element of the reverse osmosis membrane elements. Therefore, the salinity and concentration of impurities of concentrated water are higher at relatively downstream side. Patent Document 2 discloses a construction where a plurality of high pressure vessels each having a spiral-type reverse osmosis membrane element therein, is connected to a to-be-treated water introducing passage and arranged in parallel.
FIG. 6 shows an example of a construction of a reverse osmosis membrane module having a high pressure vessel and spiral-type reverse osmosis membrane elements arranged in series therein, which is disclosed in Patent Document 1. In FIG. 6, the reverse osmosis membrane apparatus 100 comprises a high pressure vessel 102 and four to eight reverse osmosis membrane elements 104 arranged in series in the high pressure vessel 102. To-be-treated water tw is supplied at a high pressure to an inlet opening 102a of the high pressure vessel 102 from a to-be-treated water supply passage 114. If it is assumed that among the plurality of reverse osmosis membrane elements arranged in series, a reverse osmosis membrane on an upstream side of the flow of the to-be-treated water tw is an earlier stage element and a reverse osmosis membrane on a downstream side of the flow of the to-be-treated water tw is a later stage element, the to-be-treated water tw is flown into an inlet end of the earliest-stage element of the reverse osmosis membrane elements 104 and separated into permeate water pw and concentrated water cs by the reverse osmosis membrane in the reverse osmosis membrane element 104a.
The permeate water pw is flown into the center pipe 106, and the concentrated water cw is flown out from the outlet of the earliest-stage reverse osmosis membrane element. The inlet of the center pipe 106 of the earliest-stage reverse osmosis membrane element 104a is obstructed with an end cap 108. The center pipe 106 of each of the reverse osmosis membrane elements 104 is connected with a connector 110. Accordingly, the permeate water pw from each of the reverse osmosis membrane elements joins together and is discharged from an outlet opening 102b of the high pressure vessel 102 to a permeate water outflow passage 116.
As the interior of the high pressure vessel 102 is partitioned with brine seals 112 provided on outer peripheral surface of each of the reverse osmosis membrane elements 104, the concentrated water cw flown out of each of the reverse osmosis membrane elements 104 is flown into the later stage element of the reverse osmosis membrane elements as to-be-treated water without going past the reverse osmosis membrane element of the later stage. The concentrated water cw is thereby permeated sequentially with the reverse osmosis membrane elements. The concentrated water cw discharged from the reverse osmosis membrane element 104 in the last stage is discharged from an outlet opening 102c formed at the outlet end of the high pressure vessel 102 to a concentrated water discharging passage 118.
A differential pressure meter 120 for detecting the differential pressure between the pressure of the to-be-treated water tw flowing in the to-be-treated water introducing passage 114 and the pressure of the concentrated water cw flowing in the concentrated water discharging passage 118 is provided.
The method of washing the reverse osmosis membrane element 100 was such that when the detected value by the differential pressure meter 120 exceeds the threshold deposition amount of fouling matters such as hardly-soluble ingredients, high molecular solute, colloids, or tiny solid materials deposited in the reverse osmosis membranes is defined as exceeding the threshold limit, and then the operation of the reverse osmosis membrane apparatus 100 was stopped, and washing was carried out. When the differential pressure between the to-be-treated water tw flowing in the to-be-treated water introducing passage 114 and the permeate water pw flowing in the permeate water outflow passage 116 exceeds the threshold, the same washing method as described above may be applied. Accordingly, the difference in pressure between the to-be-treated water tw flowing in the to-be-treated water introducing passage 114 and the permeate water pw flowing in the permeate water outflow passage 116 may be detected.

Reverse osmosis membrane apparatus and method of operating same

MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES ENGINEERING, LTD.


Information concerning the access to a first-in first-out buffer memory for reading and writing operations is indicated by the use of two supplemental memories which provide availability and validity information based upon unoccupied location information indicating a buffer memory location where data has been read, valid occupied location information indicating a buffer memory location where data has not yet been read, and non-valid occupied location information indicating that the location in the buffer memory has been overwritten. For each character stored in the buffer memory, there is a corresponding bit in the respective supplemental memories. The value of the bits in the respective memories indicates the availability of the memory and whether an overwrite will occur. The information contained in the supplemental memories is updated by a writing operation depending upon the availability status of the buffer memory at the time of writing.

A data switch has the purpose of receiving digital data introduced by transmission lines, sorting such data, and then regrouping it in order to re-send it over suitable transmission lines.
Such lines are often associated by pairs, comprising a receive line and a send line providing a link with a similar remote station. These pairs of lines are connected in parallel to a bus referred to as the transmission bus, carrying line coupling modules which manage access of the transmission lines to the transmission bus. A transmission bus coupling module (CBT) provides transfer of the data received towards the processing means of the switch, and the transfer of the data that has been processed and regrouped in the switch, towards the sending lines connected to the transmission bus.
The transmission bus coupling module (CBT) interrogates the lines by polling cycles in send mode and then in receive mode. Systematically, if a line polled in receive mode is in possession of a received character, (a byte of data received from the line), the transmission bus coupling module performs, via the transmission bus, a data transfer cycle by means of which it recovers the character and stores it in its data memory in a buffer register dedicated to the line that was interrogated in receive mode (receive line memory). If a line polled in send mode calls for a character to be sent (data byte to be sent over the line), the transmission bus coupling module executes a data transfer cycle by means of which it takes the character to be sent from its data memory and transmits it to the line.
This invention more particularly concerns the receive mode line memory of the transmission bus coupling module.
These receive mode line memories are accessed by read and write devices which operate independently. Operation of the write device depends on occurrence of the enabling signal for access from the receive line to the transmission bus, and of the start of the data carried by the receive line. Operation of the read device is put under the control of access enablement to the processing means that are internal to the switch. When the receive mode line buffer memory has a limited capacity, reception overload can consequently occur, in other words the speed of writing into the memory is greater, in a lasting manner, than the speed of reading the preceding data. If the buffer memory is a rotating memory (of the FIFO type), this reception overload can manifest itself by the least recent data being overwritten with a consequent definitive loss of such data.
Systems are known which aim at managing reception overloads.
These known systems operate using a principal of monitoring the occupancy rate of the receive line memory, with marking of the passage beyond successive occupancy thresholds giving rise to the generation of interrupt signals to a supervisory microprocessor in charge of managing the transmission bus coupling module. Under command of such interrupt signals, this supervisory microprocessor commands partial or total readout of the buffer memory by initializing the read means through direct memory access (DMA). With a known system of this type, the risk of overwriting is kept in check. If the system operates perfectly, elimination of conditions for overwriting is achieved. Still, it is also possible to tolerate some overwriting of data. In this case, in a known manner, the system is provided with means for detecting character loss generally at the level of the means for processing the received data, which means command a repetition of the transmission of the lost data.
Whatever the operating conditions are, (overwriting eliminated or tolerated), this known mechanism for supervision using the generation of interrupt signals suffers from the disadvantage of tying up or monopolizing the microprocessor. The program run by the supervisory microprocessor must in effect include a supervisory task for the occupancy level of the receive line memory, which needs to be run for each line in receive mode, and this has the effect of burdening the administration microprocessor's overall power.
The framework of the invention is that of a transmission arrangement in which data overwriting is tolerated, and has notably the aim of providing a system for detecting overwriting of data at buffer memory level without the microprocessor responsible for administering the transmission bus coupling module requiring to manage a supervisory task for the whole set of buffer memories in the reception lines.

System for detecting overwriting of data in a buffer memory, particularly for a data switch


A combat training system for competition and impact fitness training provides a feedback mechanism that supports virtual sparring. The system is designed for athletic training and game-play, for one or multiple users. Sensors attached to a target structure may capture data about strikes on the target including proximity to a target, force of impact, direction, and reaction time. A target structure may be an instrumented punching bag, mannequin, or other structure that may move when struck. Data collected by the sensors may be sent to an analytic system that updates a display presenting a cumulative score, and/or for each strike, the data collected and the points awarded. An athlete may configure the target system for a particular session such as which targets in the system are active, a point value associated with each target, and/or the force of a strike required to count as a valid strike.

In combat sports such as boxing, martial arts such as taekwondo, dueling weapons such as fencing, and so forth, athletes compete in a duel. The object is to strike blows and score points while preventing an opponent from doing the same. A strike (also referred to as an "impact") is characterized by applying force to a target with any part of the body (typically a hand, arm, foot or leg) or an inanimate object that represents a weapon. Typically, points are awarded in these competitions to athletes who successfully deliver a legal blow to designated targets. At the end of the competition, generally determined by the passage of a specific time frame, the athlete with the most points is declared the winner. Thus, training for such a combat sport requires feedback on the accuracy of a strike delivered to the designated targets, the force of the strike, the direction of the strike, and the reaction time. Athletes can improve their skill by receiving immediate and objective feedback of their performance.
Sports like martial arts, fitness and athletic training, and recreational activities have utilized targets and striking surfaces to provide focus and feedback. For example, foil fencing has long used electronic scoring that determines when a legal touch is made. In the Olympic Games of 2012, an impact measuring system was used to score TaeKwonDo competition successfully.
Related U.S. Pat. No. 7,891,231, which is incorporated herein in its entirety by this reference thereto, discloses installing an array of piezoelectric wires and magnetic field detection sensors in garments worn by an athlete to accurately evaluate and score strikes delivered in martial arts. For example, protective padding in a vest-like garment may contain sensors for detecting receipt of a strike. Boots and gloves may have embedded magnets that trigger sensors in the protective gear such as chest and head protection to detect delivery of a punch or kick. U.S. Pat. No. 7,891,231 discloses a multiple sensing algorithm to determine the efficiency of target impact. The algorithm relies on measurements from multiple different types of sensors. The force sensor, based on piezo film or piezo cable, indicates how hard the target was hit, and the magnetic proximity sensor indicates that the strike is in a appropriate target area.
The field of avionics has used IM sensors to measure aircraft motion to assist navigation. The detected motion involves roll, pitch and yaw. An IM sensor unit (IMU) typically consists of 3 axis accelerometers and 3 axis angular rate sensors to measure roll and pitch movement. In avionics, additional 3 axis magnetometers are used to measure yaw relative to earth magnetic field.
With the advent of advanced sensor technologies, new methods of impact evaluation are now possible.

Smart target system for combat fitness and competition training


Novel water-soluble linear copolymers of vinylacetate with monomeric addition products of amines, amino acids, amino groups containing aromatic sulfonic acids, amino alcohols of maleic anthydride. The copolymers are useful as fluidizers in water containing solid matter suspensions.

The invention relates to novel water soluble polymers, represented by formula (1), which are prepared by polymerizing vinylacetate and maleamic acid or its N-substituted derivatives in presence of a radical producing initiator, ##STR1## and to novel watersoluble polymers (2) being the hydrolysis-products thereof which are obtained by saponification of the acetate group. ##STR2## Said N-substituted maleamic acids are the reaction products of maleic anhydride with amines, aminocarboxylic acids, aminogroups--containing aromatic sulfonic acids and amino alcohols at a molar ratio of 1:1.
The invention also relates to the use of said polymers as dispersants and fluidizers for aqueous suspensions.
Dispersants have been commonly used as powerful waterreducers and fluidizers for high solids suspensions, and building or construction materials such as cement and cement mortar. Freshly prepared concrete, for example, is generally considered to be a mixture containing cement, mixing water and the aggregates sand and gravel of distinct particle size distribution. In contrast to concrete, a cement mortar contains no coarse aggregates, but often has a higher cement content.
After mixing, concrete passes several stages of development; i.e., from freshly prepared concrete to solid concrete. These stages may be partly influenced by particular additives.
Concrete additives are added to freshly prepared concrete and freshly prepared mortar and generally dissolved in the mixing water, in order to influence the workability and final characteristics thereof. Depending on the purpose of a building or construction part, as well as any other specific requirements, the characteristics of the concrete will have to be defined by the engineer. The most important characteristic with freshly prepared concrete are the workability, the inner cohesion and its consistency. In the case of solid concrete, the tensile and compressive strengths, resistance to frost, resistance to dew salt, waterproofness, resistance to abrasion and chemical durability are important.
All these characteristics are dependent on the water cement ratio. The water cement ratio: EQU w=W/C;
is obtained from the quantitative ratio of water (W) to cement (C) in freshly mixed concrete. With increasing water content the water cement ratio rises, and with increasing cement content it becomes smaller. A low water cement ratio affords better characteristics of the solid concrete and solid mortar.
On the other hand, a higher water cement ratio provides better workability of freshly prepared concrete. The transfer of freshly prepared concrete from a concrete mixer into the (concrete) form, and the subsequent solidification in the (concrete) form requires a considerable consumption of work and control of work. Therefore, considerable differences in cost may arise depending on the workability of a particular batch.
In order to reduce expenditure on work and cost, concrete mixtures have been made more liquid by adding more mixing water (which increases the water cement ratio). Unfortunately, this has always resulted in reduced strength for the hardened concrete. In recent years so-called fluidizers (also frequently referred to as super plasticizers or high range water reducers) have been increasingly used which allow for an improvement in the consistency of a concrete mixture at a constant water cement ratio.
Polycondensates such as the sodium or calcium salts of sulfonated naphthalene formaldehyde condensates described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,537,869, or salts of sulfonated melamine formaldehyde condensates such as those described in DE-PS 1 671 017, have been used as super plasticizers in order to improve the workability and the time dependent flow behaviour of cement mortars and concrete. These water reducing agents can improve the flowability of such mixtures, but this flowability may not be maintained according to normal practice for a sufficiently long period of time. As a result, additional amounts of water reducing agents have to be added at certain intervals.
Particularly in the transportation of ready mixed concrete, where long ways and delays are inevitable, supplemental dosages of superplasticizers are necessary. However, it is known from experience that only two additional dosages can be used with success and that more dosages are less effective or even may cause retardation of the development of strength.
Water reducing agents have also been used in the production of gypsum building materials such as gypsum board. Gypsum is the generic name for the mineral (hydrous calcium sulfate, CaSO.sub.4.2H.sub.2 O ) variously known as selenite, satin spar, alabaster, rock gypsum, gypsite, etc., and is commonly used to make a form of plaster.
In the production of gypsum sheet materials (e.g., gypsum board which is a gypsum plaster board covered with paper), sheet products are normally fabricated on a high speed machine that automatically spreads a foamy piaster core between sheets of tough surface papers, and cuts the resultant board to proper dimensions. In the past, water reducing agents have been added to plaster solutions to ease processing. These agents have commonly been formaldehyde containing water reducers.
Formaldehyde, unfortunately, is toxic (e.g., by inhalation) and its handling and containment constitutes a tremendous practical problem during the production of gypsum materials. For example, formaldehyde is released in the air when gypsum board is dried.
In order to avoid formaldehyde, other polymer types may be applied, which are synthesized e.g. by radicalic polymerization of ethylenic groups--containing hydrophilic monomers. It is generally known that maleic acid derivatives thereof may be radically copolymerized with an olefinic group containing monomer. Many of these products may be used as water-soluble polymeric dispersing agents. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,116,254 describes a copolymer of maleic acid and N-vinylpyrrolidinone and its use as a fluidizer, e.g. for hydraulic cement compositions, which, as compared to sulfonated naphthalene-formaldehyde,--and melamine formaldehyde--polycondenstates, imparts equal flowability and an even better workability. A similar effect is displayed by a copolymer of maleic acid with vinylacetate instead of N-vinylpyrrolidinone as a comonomer, which is described in Japan Patent No. 11,282 (1963). On the other hand, a copolymer of maleamic acid (maleic acid halfamide) and vinylacetate which is claimed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,554,287 shows an unexpected contrary effect on the flowability and causes thixotropy and early stiffening if admixed to fresh concrete samples. Similar copolymers of N-alkyl-substituted maleamic acids and vinylacetate exhibit a high surface tension which is increasing with growing chain length of the N-alkyl side groups. We have inventively found that copolymers which contain C.sub.1 -C.sub.4 -alkyl sidegroups can be used as dispersants for cement pastes and concrete to improve flowability and workability but with the disadvantage of an appreciable loss of final compressive strengths of the hardened building material.
In contrast to the copolymers mentioned above, the surface tension of aqueous media containing an inventive copolymer having a hydrophilic funtional group on the side chain is considerably lower. For that reason it was very surprising that the inventive copolymers impart an outstanding high flowability and an unexpected long lasting workability to concrete and that no appreciable retardation of initial setting and early strengths was observed.

Water-soluble copolymers of vinylacetate and maleamic acids and use as fluidizers high-range water-reducers for aqueous suspensions


A flat glass sheet is manufactured using the float process. Before annealing of glass carried on rollers, the glass is conveyed by a fluid bed formed by a mixture of gases, in order to cool the glass to approximately 600.degree. C. before it reaches an annealing lehr.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a process for the manufacture of flat glass sheets with improved optical and mechanical characteristics.
In particular, the invention relates to an improvement in the transfer operation of a glass sheet strip from a molten metal tin bath to a roller annealing lehr during a process of manufacturing flat glass sheets using the "float" method, known in the art.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is a known fact that flat glass sheets are manufactured in plants providing a first stage in which raw materials are melted and a subsequent stage in which a glass sheet is formed by floating and sliding the molten material on a tin bath. These plants, known in the art as float plants, provide an annealing lehr downstream of the molten tin bath in order to provide the glass sheet strip with required mechanical characteristics.
PCT patent application No. 92/16466 filed by the GLASSTECH company describes a float plant equipped with an annealing lehr in which a glass sheet strip travels while being supported on a fluid bed. The aim of this device is to provide an annealing process in which the glass sheet strip does not come into contact with rollers, as is the case in the conventional method, in order to improve the optical and mechanical characteristics of the glass surface itself. Thus, the glass surface at this stage still is at a high temperature and could be damaged if it comes into contact with rollers.
A main inconvenience of the above described device is the fact that it is necessary to carry out expensive modifications to existing systems, as the integral replacement of the annealing lehr which is several dozen meters long becomes necessary. Another inconvenience is that when manufacturing a new float plant, the realization of an annealing lehr having an entirely fluid bed requires high investment, and furthermore process control is difficult.

Process for the manufacture of a flat glass sheet with improved characteristics


Devices and methods for extending USB-compliant communication distances, including USB 3.0 SuperSpeed communication, are provided. In some embodiments, a host is communicatively coupled to a device that provides an upstream facing port, and a USB device is communicatively coupled to a device that provides a downstream facing port. The upstream facing port and downstream facing port are coupled via a communication channel. In some embodiments, the upstream facing port and downstream facing port generate packets to ensure that timing requirements of the USB specification are met regardless of the latency of the communication channel.

USB is a peripheral interface for attaching a wide variety of computing devices, such as personal computers, digital telephone lines, monitors, modems, mice, printers, scanners, game controllers, keyboards, storage devices, and/or the like. The specifications defining USB (e.g., Intel et al., Universal Serial Bus Specification, Revision 1.0, January 1996; updated as Revision 1.1 in September 1998; further updated as Revision 2.0 in April 2000; further updated as Revision 3.0 in November 2008, and subsequent updates and modifications—hereinafter collectively referred to as the "USB Specifications", which term can include future modifications and revisions) are non-proprietary and are managed by an open industry organization known as the USB Forum. The USB Specifications establish basic criteria that must be met in order to comply with USB standards. One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize many terms herein from the USB Specifications. Those terms are used herein in a similar manner to their use in the USB Specifications, unless otherwise stated.
Under Revision 3.0 of the USB Specifications, SuperSpeed connections are provided that use a 5 Gbps signaling rate. Though the specification does not mandate any particular maximum cable length, in practical terms the timing mandates and signaling techniques require a regular copper cable used for a SuperSpeed connection between a host and a device to be at most 3 meters long to properly support the SuperSpeed connection. Therefore, a new method and apparatus are needed to optionally allow for extension of a SuperSpeed USB device to a greater distance from the host to which it is coupled, such that SuperSpeed USB packets may be propagated between the host and the USB device.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Methods and devices for extending USB 3.0-compliant communication


An improved mechanism for efficiently polling file descriptors in a large scale computer system is disclosed. The polling of the file descriptors is performed by first determining, based upon a set of indication information, which file descriptors are eligible for polling. A file descriptor is eligible for polling if the indication information for that file descriptor indicates that the file associated with that file descriptor might (but does not necessarily) have an event pending. Only if a file descriptor is determined to be eligible will the file descriptor and the file associated with the file descriptor be polled. By polling only the eligible file descriptors in a system, the overhead associated with the polling operation is kept to a minimum. As a result, even in a large scale system with a large number of file descriptors, polling is still performed efficiently.

This invention relates generally to computer systems, and more particularly to an improved mechanism for performing polling in a computer system.
Many operating systems (e.g. UNIX) use the notion of a xe2x80x9cfilexe2x80x9d to access system resources. Used in this context, the term xe2x80x9cfilexe2x80x9d refers broadly to anything that can be accessed via a path name, an IP address, or some other designator. Under this definition, a file may be, but is not limited to, a device (e.g. an I/O device), a collection of records, or a network node. To facilitate access to a file, the operating system generates a file descriptor (Fd) whenever a file is opened. This file descriptor is associated with the file, and is thereafter used as a handle to access the file. In some implementations, the file descriptor takes the form of an integer. This integer serves as an index into an entry of a file descriptor table. This entry contains a pointer to a structure within a group of one or more structures that contain pointers that eventually point to the file. By starting with the file descriptor and then following the various pointers, the file is eventually accessed.
A typical setup used to access files is shown in FIG. 1, wherein the setup comprises a file descriptor table 102 containing a plurality of entries 104. Each entry 104 is referenced using an index, and each entry 104 contains a pointer to a structure within a group of one or more structures 106. These structures 106 contain pointers that eventually point to the files 108 themselves. As noted above, the Fd is an integer, and it serves as an index into a particular entry of the file descriptor table 102. If the value of the Fd is xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d, for example, then it references the first entry 104(0) in the file descriptor table 102. Likewise, if the value of the Fd is xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d, then it references the second entry 104(1), and so on. Given that the Fd acts as an index into a particular entry 104 of the file descriptor table 102, and that the particular entry 104 contains a pointer which eventually leads to a particular file 108, it follows that the Fd acts as a handle to a particular file. In the example shown in FIG. 1, Fd xe2x80x9c0xe2x80x9d is the handle to file A 108(a), Fd xe2x80x9c1xe2x80x9d is the handle to File B 108(b), and Fd xe2x80x9c2xe2x80x9d is the handle to file C 108(c).
During program execution, it is often necessary to poll various file descriptors to determine whether the files 108 associated with those file descriptors have any events that need to be serviced. This process of polling file descriptors is currently carried out by systematically polling each and every Fd for which polling is desired. More specifically, for each desired Fd, an associated entry 104 in the file descriptor table 102 is referenced. The pointer in the entry 104 is then followed to the structure(s) 106, and the pointers in the structure(s) 106 are followed to the file 108. Once the file 108 is accessed, it is polled for events. This process is repeated for each and every Fd for which polling is desired. At the end of the polling process, a list of Fd""s and associated events is derived.
With relatively few Fd""s in a system, this polling approach achieves satisfactory results. This is because the time required to poll a small number of file descriptors is fairly negligible. However, when the number of file descriptors becomes large, as is the case in complex computing systems, the polling of Fd""s can require a significant amount of time and resources. In fact, if polling is performed on a repeated basis (as is the case in many programs), the polling operation alone can significantly degrade system performance. Because the current approach has a tendency to require a large number of Fd""s to be indiscriminately polled whenever a polling operation is performed, it cannot be applied to large scale systems (i.e. it is not scalable). As a result, an improved mechanism is needed to perform polling in a large scale system.
In light of the shortcomings of the prior art, the present invention provides an improved mechanism for performing polling efficiently in a large scale computer system. The present invention is based, at least partially, upon the observation that when a polling operation is performed, it is not necessary to poll each and every Fd for which polling is desired. Rather, only those Fd""s (referred to herein as eligible Fd""s) that are associated with files for which there might be an event pending need to be polled. It has been found that the number of eligible Fd""s in a system remains relatively small even when the total number of Fd""s is quite large. Thus, by polling only eligible Fd""s, the present invention keeps the overhead associated with a polling operation to a minimum. As a result, even in a large scale system with a large number of Fd""s, polling can still be performed efficiently.
To enable only eligible Fd""s to be polled, there is maintained a set of indication information. This indication information specifies for each Fd whether the file associated with that Fd might have an event pending. In one embodiment, the set of indication information takes the form of a bitmap. Each bit of the bitmap is associated with a particular Fd, and each bit indicates one of two possibilities: (1) that the file associated with the Fd has no event pending; or (2) that the file associated with the Fd might (but does not necessarily) have an event pending. Based upon the bitmap, it can be quickly and easily determined which Fd""s do not need to be polled and which Fd""s are eligible for polling, so that when it comes time to perform the polling operation, only the eligible Fd""s are polled. This eliminates the unnecessary polling of many Fd""s, which in turn significantly improves the overall efficiency of the polling process. Thus, the present invention makes it possible to efficiently implement polling even in a large scale system.

Mechanism for performing polling in a system


An apparatus includes an amplifier configured to compare a feedback input, corresponding to a voltage of an output voltage node, with respect to a reference input and to provide a control output to control the output voltage node based on a difference between the feedback input and the reference input. At least two source circuits are coupled with the output voltage node. Each of the source circuits are configured to provide respective voltage sources to supply electrical power to the output voltage node.

A voltage regulator is designed to provide a stable DC voltage independent of the load current, temperature and/or AC line voltage variations. A voltage regulator may use a simple feed-forward design or may include negative feedback. One example regulator is a low-dropout (LDO) regulator that is designed to regulate the output voltage even when the supply voltage is very close to the output voltage. LDO regulators are useful due to low switching noise, small device size, and overall design simplicity. In an LDO circuit where multiple input voltage sources are applied to a common input of the LDO, during transient conditions between the respective sources, a glitch may occur on the input common to the input of the voltage regulator circuit that may adversely affect associated circuitry.


Prefabricated kit for producing a station platform which is variable in its dimensions, in which platform slabs (1) are laid on foundations (4) with interposition of spacer elements (3). The spacer elements (3) can be replaced without damaging the other construction elements (1, 3, 4). The platform slabs (1) may be arranged in various horizontal positions above the foundations (4) in order to compensate for horizontal differences in size in relation to the axis of the track.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a variable station platform with one or more platform slabs.
2. Description of the Related Art
In conventional construction, station platforms are described as a stationary structure. Such station platforms are produced on the precondition that they should remain unchanged for many generations. However, static structures of this kind no longer meet the requirements of modern rail traffic. On the one hand, they are inflexible with regard to requirements emanating from new technical developments. On the other hand, they do not provide the possibility of carrying out unavoidable corrections relating to dimensions and spacings on the structure at a later time in a straightforward and cost-effective manner. Under the modern requirements for comfort and safety, it is no longer acceptable to tolerate such deviations without correction. Moreover, the conventional station platforms are to be criticized from a current standpoint for the complex, time-consuming and cost-intensive construction which impedes operation.
To simplify the construction of station platforms, in the past there have been attempts to use prefabricated kits for station platforms. For instance, EP-357 161 thus describes a station platform which is made up essentially of three basic elements. These are firstly U-shaped concrete pedestals which are set at fixed intervals parallel to the course of the rails.
Two longitudinal beams are then placed on the vertical limbs of the U-shaped concrete pedestals from one pedestal to another, which longitudinal beams run parallel to the rail. Subsequently, the longitudinal beams are covered from above with rectangular platform slabs, and all the connections and joints are closed and bonded. A station platform system of this type may reduce the construction time of a station platform compared to the fixed construction, but the handling of the solid longitudinal beams and the many platform slabs is still relatively complex. Moreover, the platform slabs are not protected against bending or "sagging" toward the unsupported center between the two longitudinal beams. A particular disadvantage should furthermore be mentioned, that the station platform is not suitable for later reconstruction without difficulty due to the permanently applied connection of the construction elements and, in particular, does not permit any dimensional adaptation of the system at all.
A station platform kit is also described in DE-43 16 203, which contains concrete foundations cast in situ, transverse beams and platform slabs. Here the transverse beams are attached to the concrete foundations cast in situ and platform slabs are then laid from one transverse beam to another, the said platform slabs containing support beams molded on to their underside in a box shape. These platform slabs are fixedly connected to the transverse beams. This system has similar disadvantages to those described above.
In particular, no provision is made for dimensional adaptation and height-adjustability, and the fixed connection of the components to one another results in a structure which cannot easily be changed at a later date.
In the laid-open publication DE 42 05 192 A1, a station platform is described, in which so-called spacer elements are arranged so as to be fixed against displacement on concrete foundations cast in situ and founded with spacing along the rail. Longitudinal supports which are parallel to the rails and parallel to one another are then laid from one spacer element to another and finally support a concrete slab cast in situ as the station platform. All the construction elements are secured against lateral displacement by means of bolts or similar means which pass right through. The laid-open publication emphasizes as an advantage the fact that, if the station platform is reconstructed at a later date, its height can easily be changed by raising the concrete slab cast in situ and replacing the spacer elements for different spacer elements. The station platform is produced at the site of installation in order that it can be made in one piece and to achieve better adaptation to curved areas. However, this production on site also has several disadvantages. On the one hand namely, permanent formwork is used which is only fixed in grooves. The width of the station platform is therefore limited for purely structural reasons because of the high loads exerted by the concrete covering cast in situ on the permanent formwork. Furthermore, concrete cast in situ must be allowed to set for up to 28 days, which extends the required construction time. Additionally, influences of weathering and frost may impede the construction site.
Furthermore, the station platform represented in the laid-open publication is a complete station platform as a rigid slab. This slab can only be removed by cutting the concrete. The destruction of the reinforcement therefore makes its reusability extremely limited.
A station platform (for streetcars) which is adjustable in height is also described in the article "Versenkbare Verkehrsinseln" [Lowerable traffic islands] (Verkehrstechnik [Traffic technology], Volume 24, Dec. 20, 1935, page 666). Here the platform slab rests in the normal state on four wooden blocks. By removing the wooden blocks, it can be lowered into the ground, i.e. adapted to street level. In this case, the platform slab is vertically movable within a given shaft.
The height-adjustability of the traffic island or the platform system disclosed in the abovementioned publication and in DE 42 05 192 A1 can, however, result in problems in practice, since the desired spacing of the platform edge from the axis of the track may vary between customary platform heights (e.g. 38 cm above the upper edge of the rails (SOK)) and greater platform heights (e.g. 55 cm, 76 cm and 96 cm above the SOK). In these cases, the height-adjustment may result in an undesirably and unacceptably large distance of the platform from the axis of the track or from the entrance to the carriage.

Modular station platform construction kit


A bending die includes a first die portion for bending a stretch portion of a composite flange and a second die portion for bending a straight portion of the composite flange. The first die portion has a first inclined surface inclined at a first angle with respect to a horizontal direction, and the second die portion has a second inclined surface inclined at a second angle with respect to the horizontal direction. The second angle is smaller than the first angle. As a result, when the bending die is moved toward the composite flange, the first inclined surface begins to contact the stretch portion before the second inclined surface contacts the straight portion, so that a warp is prevented from being generated in the composite flange.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a die for bending a composite flange having a stretch portion and a straight portion.
2. Description of the Prior Art
An example of a member having a composite flange is a suspension member of an automobile. As illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10, a suspension member 2 extends longitudinally and is formed by bending a flat plate into a channel member with a substantially inverted U-shaped transverse cross section. Each side of the inverted U constitutes a composite flange 4 which has a stretch portion 6 and a straight portion 8. In this instance, a stretch portion is defined as a flange portion which is bent along a curved bending line 10 and therefore is stretched when bent to generate a tensile stress along the bending line 10 due to a difference between an arc length d2 at the bending line 10 and an arc length d2 along a radially inside edge when the member is in a flat state. A straight portion is defined as a flange portion which is bent along a straight bending line 12 and therefore is not stretched in a longitudinal direction. Due to the tensile stress generated in the stretch portion 6, a warp 14 will be generated in a free edge of the stretch portion 6, as illustrated in FIG. 10.
FIGS. 8a, b, and c illustrate a conventional method for forming having an inverted U-shaped cross section and a stretch flange portion. In the method, a flat plate is first drawn to form a member with an inverted U-shaped cross section in FIG. 8a, then by cam-restriking is compressed into a member 18 with a more exact configuration (FIG. 8b), and is finally cam-trimmed to cut off free edge portions 20 of the composite flanges which may be warped, as shown in FIG. 8c.
With the prior art method, the various types of cams that are necessary result in increased size and cost of the press machine.
For the purpose of reducing the number of forming cams and dies so as to make the forming machine compact, an alternative forming method as shown in FIGS. 5a, b, and c has been developed by the inventor. In this method, a flat plate is drawn into a semi-channel member with an intermediate hat-like cross section 22 (FIG. 5a), then is press-trimmed at brim portions 24 thereof (FIG. 5b), and then is finally bent by bending dies into a full channel member with an inverted U-shaped cross section 26 (FIG. 5c). However, in this method, it is necessary to develop a bending die capable of preventing a composite flange from warping during forming from the intermediate hat-like cross section to the final inverted U-shaped cross section. More particularly, if the composite flange were bent using a conventional die 28 as shown in FIG. 7, the stretch portion 30 and the straight portion 32 of the composite flange, as shown in FIG. 6, would begin to be bent at the same time. In this instance, the straight portion 32 would be bent more than the stretch portion 30, because bending of the stretch portion 30 would be suppressed due to the longitudinal tensile stress generated in the stretch portion 30. As a result, a warp 34 would occur at the free edge of the stretch portion 30.

Die for bending a composite flange having a stretch portion and a straight portion


An adjusting device for a door window pane of a motor vehicle, preferably made frameless and cooperating with a window lifter, includes at least one upright guide rail running inside a door body for the window lifter, with the guide rail being pivotable around an upper pivot point in the direction transverse to the vehicle and being lockable by the adjusting device engaging in the lower area of the guide rail in a position such that the door window pane abuts an adjoining sealing means in the car body with pretensioning in the marginal area. To permit rapid, simple adjustment of the door window pane without removing the door trim, provision is made such that the guide rail is adjustable by its lower end in the transverse direction with respect to the door window pane in a displacement guide and is lockable by fastening elements that are accessible from the underside of the door body.

The invention relates to an adjusting device for a door window pane, preferably made frameless and cooperating with a window lifter, of a motor vehicle, and, more particularly, to an adjusting device wherein a guide rail of the window lifter extends upright inside a door body and is pivotably mounted around an upper pivot point in the transverse direction of the vehicle and is lockable by the adjusting device engaging the lower area of the guide rail in such a position that a marginal area of the door window pane abuts an adjoining seal in the car body with pretensioning.
An adjusting device of the above-mentioned type for a door window pane of a motor vehicle is known from German Patent document DE 22 05 147. In this system, an upright extending guide rail is provided inside the door body. One end of the guide rail is fastened in the upper part of the door body and forms something close to a rotational axis for the guide rail.
The known guide rail is pivotable in the transverse direction of the vehicle around this upper rotational axis and is lockable in the desired position by an approximately horizontally aligned set screw of the adjusting device. The set screw extends between a lower edge area of the guide rail and an upright section of the door panel and is operable from the passenger compartment.
Since the door panel on the side facing the passenger compartment is usually provided with a door trim, the door trim must be removed to adjust the window pane, involving a high assembly cost.
There is therefore needed an improved adjusting device for a door window pane such that simple rapid adjustment of the door window pane is made possible without removing the door trim.
According to the present invention, this need is met by an adjusting device for a door window pane of a motor vehicle which is preferably made frameless and cooperates with a window lifter. A guide rail of the window lifter extends upright inside a door body and is pivotably mounted around an upper pivot point in the transverse direction of the vehicle and is lockable by the adjusting device engaging the lower area of the guide rail in such a position that a marginal area of the door window pane abuts an adjoining seal in the car body with pretensioning. Guide rails are adjustable at their lower ends in the transverse direction with respect to the door window pane in a displacement guide and are securable by use of fastening elements that are accessible from the underside of the door body.
In certain preferred embodiments, the window lifter has two guide rails arranged with a space between them and running parallel to each other. Each guide rail has a displacement guide associate therewith. Still further, each displacement guide can include a receptacle provided on the door body. The receptacle is in an active connection with a lower end of the guide rails.
In further preferred embodiments, the receptacle is formed on a mounting block which is fastened above a bottom area of the door body on the door panel. An opening which is closable by a plug is provided on the bottom area of the door body beneath the receptacle.
In still further preferred embodiments, the receptacle is integrated into the bottom area of the door body.
In still further preferred embodiments, the receptacle has an upper limiting surface which, when viewed in a transverse direction of the vehicle, is made approximately in the shape of an arc of a circle, with the center of the circle being located approximately at the intersection of the door panel with a central axis of an upper fastening element of the guide rails. Further, the correspondingly shaped wall section of a retaining angle is displaceably mounted on the upper limiting surface of the receptacle.
In yet further embodiments according to the present invention, the receptacle, when viewed in cross-section, is shaped approximately in a U-shape with the open side of the receptacle being directed downward. Still further, the retaining angles located on the lower edge of the guide rails are mounted such that they will not twist on receptacles of the door body.
In yet further preferred embodiments, on the upper limiting surface of the receptacle, an elongate slot opening extending in the transverse direction of the vehicle is provided through which the fastening elements pass to secure the guide rails.
In further preferred embodiments, a downwardly directed threaded bolt is mounted on the retaining angle in the vicinity of a U-shaped molding. The bolt passes through a slot opening of the receptacle. A nut is screwed onto the free, projecting end of the threaded bolt.
The primary advantages achieved with the present invention consist in the fact that by providing a displacement guide extending in the transverse direction with respect to the door window pane between the lower end of the guide rail and the door body, a simple and rapid adjustment of the door window pane is achieved both during initial assembly and at a later point in time (readjustment). It is further possible to avoid removing the interior trim of the door by providing a fastening element mountable from the underside of the door body for securing the guide rail. The components of the adjusting device according to the invention can be manufactured simply and economically. By means of the positive engagement of the body side reception device by a retaining angle mounted at the lower end of the guide rail, the guide rail is locked in the lengthwise and heightwise directions of the vehicle, and cannot twist when the nut is mounted on the threaded bolt.
The body side reception device is either made integral with a bottom area of the door body or is formed by a retaining support connected locally with the door panel.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Adjusting device for a door window pane, frameless and cooperating with a window lifter, of a motor vehicle


In the standby or active condition of a mobile communications device, the microprocessor controller of the device is programmed to query the display driver memory for data relating to the characteristics of the image selected for display. If no grayscale or color data is present, the display driver is adjusted to disable shade generation to reduce current consumption.

Mobile telephones and similar communication devices are rapidly expanding in use and function. Such devices will soon provide Internet access, personal information management, facsimile, and messaging, in addition to telephone communication. This will require a user interface which is more complex, crowded and generally more difficult to use. As a result, the displays associated with such devices are becoming more sophisticated to accommodate these trends. Newer displays have the capability of presenting grayscale and color images, as well as black and white.
These trends cause ever increasing demands on the power supply and have caused increasing challenges to conserve energy especially during periods of standby mode. For example: black and white images displayed in grayscale mode in some instances could increase current consumption as much as 100% over black and white images which are displayed in black and white mode. A further power consumption premium occurs when color image mode is used.
It would, therefore, be advantageous to avoid shade generation during standby and other modes of operation to reduce current consumption. Automatic switching from shade generation, however, will cause image distortion where the user has selected an image which uses color or grayscale mode, thereby detracting from the functionality of this feature.
It is a purpose of this invention to reduce current consumption in a communications device during standby and active operation by disabling shade generation. It is also a purpose of this invention to accomplish the reduction in current consumption while avoiding the distortion of grayscale or color images.
In devices having the capability of displaying grayscale, there is an opportunity to conserve energy when such devices are called upon to display black and white. In such devices, shade generation is employed to obtain the various grayscales. In accordance with this invention, a special program is devised which causes the display data to be searched for the data relating to the current image type to be displayed. When the inquiry results indicate that a grayscale or color graphic is selected, no change in the display mode is directed. If however, the current image is in black and white, then the display driver is programmed to disable the shade generation function.
The microprocessor control unit (MCU) of a mobile phone or other similar communications device is generally programmed to control the display driver of the device. To accomplish the purpose of this invention, the energy conservation software is stored in memory for use by the MCU of the communications device to query the display driver data for an indication of the graphics to be displayed. If black and white graphics are to be displayed, the software adjusts the operation of the display driver to avoid shade generation.
In this manner current consumption may be reduced during standby or normal operation while the feature of using grayscale or color images is preserved.

Mobile communication device with display mode control


An insertion device for an infusion set includes an advancement unit or a sliding element for moving the infusion set along a central axis from a proximal position into a distal position, a retaining element for retaining the infusion set that includes a guide element, a base part for accommodating the retaining element that includes a mating guide element and a contact surface for placing the insertion device on an application point of a patient's body, and a head part arranged rotatably about a central axis in relation to the base part. Upon relative rotation between the head part and the base part in one direction, the guide element of the retaining element can be guided with the mating guide element provided on the base part such that the retaining element is movable along the central axis relative to the base part from the distal position into the proximal position.

The present invention relates to an insertion device for an infusion set.
Infusion sets are known from WO02/070037A2 and from WO2005/049117A2, for example. Such infusion sets are used for insulin therapy, for example, wherein insulin is transported by the infusion pump into the body of a diabetic with the aid of an infusion set. The infusion set comprises a cannula, which is preferably placed directly under or in the skin by means of an insertion device or a puncturing aid, and held in place with an adhesive bandage.
An insertion device for such an infusion set is known from EP1487519B1 for example. The disadvantage with this insertion device is that, before the infusion set can be inserted into the device, an advancement unit for inserting the infusion set must be preloaded from a rest position into an operation-ready position.
Additional insertion devices or puncturing aids for an infusion set are known from EP1970084B1, EP1631337B1 and EP1970083A1. The insertion devices have in common the fact that the technology of these insertion devices is based on a lever mechanism; the insertion devices are consequently complicated in structure and have many components.


An actuator system for a lighting system includes a shape memory alloy coupled to a component of the lighting system to control an actuation of the component and thereby produce a plurality of light patterns and an electrical control circuit in electrical communication with the shape memory alloy to selectively provide an electrical current to the shape memory alloy for controlling a physical property of the shape memory alloy and thereby the motion of the component of the lighting system.

Currently, some automotive headlamps utilize a solenoid to provide actuation of a high/low beam shield to produce a plurality of light patterns. However, solenoids create an electromagnetic field, which along with fly back voltage, causes various manufacturing and operational issues. Additionally, solenoids require a relatively large amount of package space. While these problems can be overcome, the current solutions are costly. Further, the cost and above-referenced limitations typically prevent the implementation of moving elements in other lighting systems.
Electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) problems associated with solenoid-based actuators are typically resolved by adding parts to transfer the electromagnetic charge to an appropriate ground plane. Fly back voltage issues are typically resolved by adding components to control and regulate the voltage. The addition of parts and components for resolving the EMC and voltage increase the overall cost of the system. Solenoids are typically packaged inside the headlamp assembly, limiting the ability to package other functional or visual elements. Additionally, certain systems may have space, structural, and electric limitations which impede the implementation of the conventional solutions.
It would be desirable to develop an actuator system for a lighting system to produce a plurality of light patterns, wherein the actuating system minimizes the electromagnetic compliance and voltage issues associated with solenoid-based actuators and minimizes a package space requirement.


Calcium aluminum magnesium phosphate ceramic hard tiles and processes for them are described. The tiles have a density in excess of about 110 pounds per cubic foot, a curl value less than about 20 mils and a flexural strength of at least about 2500 pounds per square inch. To prepare the hard tiles 100 parts (by wt.) of an aluminum phosphate-phosphoric acid solution is mixed with at least 5 parts magnesium oxide and 50-110 parts wollastonite. If the acid has more than 15% by weight water, then mica or vermiculite is added.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to phosphate ceramic hard tiles. Hard tiles cover surfaces, and must be curl resistant, dimensionally stable and have high strength and density. Hard floor tiles in particular need high strength and density.
Ceramics made with phosphoric acid, calcium silicate, and metal oxides are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,375,516. This reference relates to both foamed and non-foamed phosphate ceramic compositions which are recognized as useful for the preparation of building and insulating materials. The properties needed for hard tiles, and in particular, for hard floor tiles, however, are not found. Flexural strength and density of the phosphate ceramics, in particular have been found to be too low for hard tiles. This particular kind of tile (hard tiles) are required to be highly durable, especially the flooring tiles.
Previously, ceramics would have adequate breaking strength only at impractically large dimensions of thickness, and even then still lacked adequate flexural strength, durability, and density to provide hard tiles.
The present application, however, provides phosphate ceramic hard tiles which have the superior strength, high density, and the flexural and breaking strength needed in hard tiles. Characteristically the tiles also have a high degree of dimensional stability.


A robot cleaner includes a 3D sensor unit installed on a main body to sense nearby objects and output sensing information; a secondary sensor unit configured to sense nearby objects and output sensing information; a storage unit configured to set a diagnostic algorithm according to a diagnostic mode in advance; an input unit configured to input an execution command for the diagnostic mode; a control unit configured to auto-correct the diagnostic mode for the 3D sensor and a parameter of the 3D sensor unit using the diagnostic algorithm in response to the execution command; and an output unit configured to output an execution result of the diagnostic mode and a correction message.

In general, a robot has been developed for industry and has taken charge of a portion of factory automation. In recent, a field that applies the robot has been expanded, a medical robot, a space and aircraft robot, etc. have been developed, and a home robot that may be used at general home is also being made.
A representative example of the home robot is a robot cleaner, which is a kind of an electronic device that travels by itself on a region and sucks up ambient dust or foreign objects for cleaning. Since the robot cleaner generally includes a chargeable battery and an obstacle sensor that enables the robot cleaner to avoid obstacles while the robot cleaner travels, it is possible to travel by itself and perform cleaning.
Techniques for controlling the robot cleaner include using a remote control, a user interface or using a button on the main body of the robot cleaner.
In recent, applications using the robot cleaner are being developed. For example, as the development of the robot cleaner having a networking function has been performed, a function is being implemented which enables a cleaning command to be provided remotely or a home situation to be monitored. Also, robot cleaners are being developed which have functions of identifying their positions and making maps by using a camera or various sensors.

Robot cleaner and method for auto-correcting 3D sensor of the robot cleaner


A medical elongated body is disclosed, which can improve the operability by suppressing anisotropy of torque transmission performance in accordance with the rotational direction while maintaining flexibility. The medical elongated body has a proximal shaft, which extends in an axial center direction and includes at least a part of which a spiral slit is formed. The proximal shaft includes a site in which the spiral inclination angles, which are angles in an extending direction of a spiral of the slit with respect to a cross-section orthogonal to the axial center direction, are different from each other, and a stepped portion in which the angle of the slit changes locally with respect to the spiral inclination angle is formed on one opposed surface constituting the slit, and an abutting portion on which the stepped portion abuts when the proximal shaft is twisted.

In recent years, treatment of a site on which it is difficult to perform a surgical operation, for example, percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PCTA), or treatment for minimum invasion into a human body has been performed using a catheter. In such a treatment, a guide wire is percutaneously inserted into a biological lumen, for example, a blood vessel, a catheter is pushed along the guide wire while the guide wire is advanced, and a distal portion of the catheter is induced to a target site, to perform treatment using a catheter. Accordingly, it can be necessary for the catheter to be flexibly bent along the shape of the lumen in the biological lumen. For this reason, a method (for example, refer to JP-T-2010-527258) of forming a spiral slit on an elongated tubular body constituting a shaft of a catheter has been known for the purpose of increasing flexibility of the catheter.
However, when a spiral slit is formed on a tubular body constituting a shaft of a catheter, torque transmission performance in accordance with a rotational direction varies due to anisotropy of the structure, and therefore, the operability of the catheter can be reduced. For example, torque acts in a direction, in which the gap of the slit is closed, when a proximal portion of a catheter is rotated on one direction side, whereas torque acts in a direction, in which the gap of the slit is opened, for example, a direction, in which the spiral is released, when the proximal portion of the catheter is rotated on the opposite direction side thereof. Slits cannot be closed more than the width of the gap of the slit in a case where torque acts in the direction in which the gap of the slit is closed, and therefore, the torque can be favorably transmitted. In contrast, the gap of the slit is opened more than necessary in a case where torque acts in a direction in which the gap of the slit is opened, and therefore, the torque cannot be favorably transmitted, thereby easily reducing the operability.


A two-step olefin polymerization process is disclosed. A single-site catalyst precursor reacts with a boron-containing activator and a first olefin substantially in the absence of an alumoxane to produce a stable, prepolymer complex, which is then used to polymerize a second olefin in the presence of a scavenging amount of an alumoxane. The process gives high molecular weight polyolefins with low residual aluminum contents. Boron-containing activators can be used, even at reaction temperatures greater than 100.degree. C., while maintaining high catalyst activity.

Interest in single-site (metallocene and non-metallocene) catalysts continues to grow rapidly in the polyolefin industry. These catalysts are more reactive than Ziegler-Natta catalysts, and they produce polymers with improved physical properties. The improved properties include narrow molecular weight distribution, reduced low molecular weight extractables, enhanced incorporation of .alpha.-olefin comonomers, lower polymer density, controlled content and distribution of long-chain branching, and modified melt rheology and relaxation characteristics.
Traditional metallocenes include cyclopentadienyl, indenyl, or fluorenyl groups, which may contain other substituents or bridging groups. More recently, single-site catalysts in which a heteroatomic ring ligand replaces a cyclopentadienyl group have appeared, including boraaryl (see, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 5,554,775), pyrrolyl (U.S. Pat. No. 5,539,124), and azaborolinyl groups (U.S. Pat. No. 5,902,866).
Many single-site catalysts require high levels of an alumoxane activator (e.g., polymethalumoxane). When used at such high concentrations, alumoxanes cause chain-transfer reactions that undesirably limit polyolefin molecular weight. In addition, high residual aluminum in the polymer adversely impacts mechanical properties, so the polyolefin product is normally treated after manufacture to remove it.
Boron compounds such as triphenylcarbenium tetrakis-(pentafluorophenyl)borate or tris(pentafluorophenyl)borane can be used instead of alumoxanes to activate some single-site catalysts. Unfortunately, however, these catalyst systems are usually less active and less stable than alumoxane-activated catalysts. Because boron-containing activators eliminate the need for high levels of alumoxanes, it would be valuable to develop a process that retains this advantage, yet overcomes the activity and stability issues.
Single-site catalysts also generally lack thermal stability compared with Ziegler-Natta catalysts. Olefin polymerizations catalyzed by single-site catalysts are normally performed at relatively low reaction temperatures (less than about 100.degree. C.) to prolong catalyst lifetime. Higher reaction temperatures would ordinarily be desirable, however, because polymerization rates generally escalate with increasing temperature. Thus, a process that enhances the thermal stability of single-site catalysts and allows higher reaction temperatures to be used would be valuable.
Prepolymerization of a small proportion of olefin with single-site catalysts and alumoxane activators to make prepolymer complexes is known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,923,833 teaches to prepolymerize a portion of ethylene with bis(cyclopentadienyl)zirconium dichloride and an activating amount of methalumoxane, followed by addition of the prepolymer complex to a second reactor that is used for the main polymerization. U.S. Pat. No. 5,308,811 similarly teaches to use a prepolymerization technique with an alumoxane-activated single-site catalyst (see column 11 and Examples 23-26). Neither reference explains why prepolymerization is used, and neither suggests making the prepolymer complex substantially in the absence of an alumoxane or in the presence of a boron-containing compound.
An improved process for making polyolefins with single-site catalysts is needed. In particular, a process that gives products with low residual aluminum is required. A preferred process would avoid chain-transfer reactions and allow the production of high-molecular-weight polymers. A valuable process would use a boron-activated catalyst with both high activity and good stability. Ideally, the polymerization process could be performed at relatively high reaction temperatures without significantly deactivating the catalyst.


Method and apparatus for controlling metals in a liquid are described. The liquid is contacted with a hexahydrotriazine and/or a hemiaminal material, and metal is adsorbed from the liquid onto the material. The hexahydrotriazine and/or hemiaminal material may be made from a diamine and an aldehyde.

The present disclosure relates to metal sequestration in fluids, and more specifically, to use of hexahydrotriazine and hemiaminal molecules, oligomers, and polymers derived from aromatic, aliphatic, and/or polyether diamines to sequester and/or remove metals from liquids.
Many commercially important processes exist to remove metals from liquids. Metals are routinely removed from water for drinking, for purification of groundwater, and for remediation of toxic sites. Metals are also removed from other liquids, such as polar and non-polar organic liquids. Removing trace metals often requires costly additives and instrumentation. There is a need in the art for a sensitive cost-effective way to remove trace metals from liquids.

Methods and apparatus for controlling metals in liquids

International Business Machines Corporation


An electroluminescent display device includes sub-pixels connected to gate lines, and a gate driver configured to supply a scan signal to at least one of the gate lines, and including stages. One of the stages includes a QB-node regulation unit configured to charge a QB-node and a QP-node to turn-on voltage by using a first gate clock signal and a second gate clock signal, and a pull-down unit configured to output a turn-off voltage in response to a voltage of the QP-node. The QB-node regulation unit includes a QP-node control part configured to invert a phase of a voltage of a Q1-node and apply the voltage of the inverted phase to the QP-node, and a QB-node control part configured to bootstrap the QP-node. Accordingly, by employing the gate driver including the QB-node regulation unit that provides a stable voltage to the QB-node and the QP-node, the reliability of the gate driver can be improved, and the bezel of the electroluminescence display device can be reduced.

Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a gate driver with improved performance and an electroluminescent display device including the same.
Description of the Related Art
As the information technology evolves, the market for display devices as media providing users with information is growing. Accordingly, various types of display devices such as an electroluminescence display device, a liquid-crystal display device and a quantum-dot display device are increasingly used.
A display device includes a display panel including a plurality of sub-pixels, a driver unit for driving the display panel, a power supply unit for supplying power to the display panel, etc. The driver unit includes a gate driver for supplying gate signals to the display panel, a data driver for supplying data signals to the display panel, etc.
For example, an electroluminescent display device can display images by supplying gate signals, data signals, etc. to sub-pixels so that light-emitting elements of the selected sub-pixels emit light. The light-emitting element can be implemented based on an organic material or an inorganic material.
An electroluminescent display device has various advantages because it displays images based on light generated from light-emitting elements in the sub-pixels. Accordingly, it is necessary to improve the accuracy of pixel driving circuits for controlling the emission of the sub-pixels. If the voltage is not accurately applied to the sub-pixels, there can be image quality issues such as uneven luminance in the vertical direction and cross-talk on the display panel.
In view of the above, a technique is under development for improving the accuracy of a gate driver of an electroluminescent display device to accurately transmit signals to sub-pixels.

Gate driver and electroluminescence display device including the same