The present invention relates to a radiation-curable solvent-free coating composition for optical fiber having a radiation-curable urethane (meth)acrylate oligomer comprising an alkyd backbone,a reactive diluent, and a photoinitiator, and optionally an additive.

Glass optical fibers are widely used in the communications field because of their ability to carry large amounts of information over long distances. In order to protect the fibers from physical damage and from deterioration due to environmental agents such as water, it is conventional to apply at least one protective coating immediately after spinning the molten glass. Generally, two coatings are applied, a soft primary coating of low modulus and low glass transition temperature (Tg) directly on the glass surface, and a harder (higher Tg), higher modulus secondary coating, on the primary coating. The individual fibers generally are combined in larger structures such as cables. Cables may comprise individual fibers, or fiber ribbon structures. The optical fiber ribbon generally is made from 2, 4, 6, 8 or 12 optical fibers, in general arranged in a plane, and bonded together with a so-called matrix material. Several ribbons can be bundled together using bundling materials. Further, individual fibers often are provided with a coloring or ink layer to be able to identify individual fibers.
Resins that cure on exposure to radiation such as ultraviolet radiation are favored in the industry, due to their fast cure, enabling the coated fiber to be produced at high speed. In many of these radiation curable resin compositions, use is made of urethane oligomers having reactive termini (such as f.i. an acrylate or methacrylate functionality) and a polymer backbone, which compositions generally further comprise reactive diluents, photoinitiators to render the compositions radiation-curable, and suitable additives.
There are several properties which are commonly required for all the different coatings. Some of these requirements are low water absorption, low extractables, maintenance of the desirable levels of properties such as modulus, elongation, Tg, and adhesion under aggresive aging conditions (over relatively long periods of time) including high temperatures and/or high humidities, immersion in water and chemical resistance.
As mentioned above, urethane acrylate oligomers are well-known for use in radiation curable coating compositions for optical fibers. As polymer backbone for the urethane oligomer, many materials have been used, such as polyether backbones. Urethane acrylate oligomers are derived from reactants including a hydroxy-functional prepolymer (polyol), an organic diisocyanate and an ethylenically unsaturated monomer containing one or more hydroxyl groups. Polyols that often have been used are f.i. hydrocarbon polyols, polyether polyols such as poly(ethylene)glycol, poly(propylene)glycol and poly(tetrahydrofuran)diols, polyester polyols, polycarbonate polyols and polysiloxane polyols. Polyester polyols are particularly attractive because of their commercial availability, oxidative stability and versatility to tailor the characteristics of the coating by tailoring the backbone. One of the problems encountered in using most polyesters is their hydrolytic instability and oil sensitivity.
In this respect, a continuous search is going on in the field of optical fiber coatings for alternative coatings with suitable properties. In WO 98/56846, it is suggested to improve the resistance to hydrolysis by using (a urethane oligomer with) a polyester backbone consisting mainly of polymerized diol and diacid and/or hydroxy acid components wherein the diol component has at least one carbon at the β-position with respect to the hydroxyl groups which is substituted with a group containing at least one carbon atom. The disadvantage of the polyesters described in WO 98/56846 is that they have a relatively high viscosity and hence, a higher concentration of diluents is needed, thus limiting the selection of properties.
In JP-A-2216947 a urethane acrylate oligomer is suggested in which the backbone can be an alkyd polyester that can be obtained by reacting a fatty acid such as soy oil, linseed oil, safflower oil, palm oil, dehydrated ricinus oil, dehydrocastor oil, or tung oil with a polyacid and a polyol. The radiation-curable optical fiber inner primary composition comprising the urethane acrylate oligomer described in JP-A-2216947 is solvent-based, which clearly is a drawback. Moreover, the oils on which alkyds in JP-A-2216947 are based all contain considerable unsaturation.
Among many other efforts, EP-A1-539030 suggests to use polyester polyols wherein the acid-component and/or the hydroxyl component residues of the polyester polyol are partially comprised of dimer acids. The dimer acids suggested in EP-A1-539030 are usually unsaturated, but can also be hydrogenated to remove a substantial proportion of the unreacted double bonds. However, dimer acids have the disadvantage of swelling in hydrocarbon oil, which is representative of cabling gel filling type compounds. U.S. Pat. No. 4,629,287, U.S. Pat. No. 4,609,718, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,608,409 all mention the use of dimer fatty acids which are dicarboxylic acids formed by dimerizing fatty acids which usually contain 18 carbon atoms, and thus providing a 36 carbon atom dicarboxylic acid.
So far, very few alternatives for fiber optic coatings with appropriate coating characteristics, such as a combination of a low water sensitivity and a low oil sensitivity, have been found.


Embodiments of the present invention provide a thin-film coil assembly. The coil assembly includes a substrate, at least two layers of conductive material on top of the substrate, and one layer of insulating material between the two layers of conductive material, wherein the two layers of conductive material are in contact with two interconnects, respectively, which extends substantially vertical to the substrate.

Thin-film coils used in creating magnetic fields in semi-conductor devices are generally used in connection with magnetic field sensors.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,319,158 (Lee et al.) relates to a semi-conductor device with an integrated coil. The coil may provide a strong magnetic field with a relatively good homogeneity. On the other hand, low power consumption is required, especially when the coil is integrated in a semiconductor assembly or a mobile device.
There are single winding thin-film coils that may provide electromagnetic field of a relatively good homogeneity. But in order to achieve a strong intensity of the field, it may be necessary to drive these single winding thin-film coils with a high current.
There are also known thin-film coils with multiple windings in a single layer. For example, U.S. patent application Ser. No. 2004/0130323 describes an electromagnetic field sensor having such a single layer coil with multiple windings.
These thin-film coils may be produced by any known thin-film technologies such as, for example, by forming a spiral shaped conductive layer on a substrate. The electromagnetic field generated by such thin-film coils may increase with the number of windings so that power consumption may decrease. On the other hand, since the windings have to be spaced apart from each other in a horizontal direction, the gaps between neighboring windings may cause the homogeneity of the generated electromagnetic field to decrease. Therefore a single layered thin-film coil with a large number of windings may not be able to produce a strong electromagnetic field with a relatively good homogeneity.

Multilayer coil assembly and method of production

International Business Machines Corporation


In an exhaust gas purification device, an exhaust gas passage of a diesel engine diverges into two branch pipes and a particulate filter (DPF) is disposed in each of the branch pipes. The DPF uses a metallic substrate and NO.sub.x absorbent is attached to the wall of the paths in the DPF. Therefore, the DPF act as both a normal particulate filter and a NO.sub.x absorbent. During the operation of the engine, SO.sub.x, as well as NO.sub.x, in the exhaust gas is absorbed in the NO.sub.x absorbent in the DPF. An electronic control unit (ECU) monitors the amount of SO.sub.x absorbed in the DPF during the operation and, when the amount of SO.sub.x absorbed in one DPF increases, switches the exhaust gas flow to the other DPF. The ECU further performs the SO.sub.x recovery operation to release the absorbed SO.sub.x from the DPF. After completing the SO.sub.x recovery operation, the ECU performs the regenerating operation of the DPF in which the particulate matter trapped in the DPF is burned. Since SO.sub.x in DPF is already released by the previous SO.sub.x recovery operation when the regenerating operation of the DPF is performed, the growth of sulfate particle in the DPF does not occur even if the DPF is exposed to a high temperature lean air-fuel ratio atmosphere of the regenerating operation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an exhaust gas purification device for an internal combustion engine. More specifically, the present invention relates to an exhaust gas purification device includes a NO.sub.x absorbent for removing NO.sub.x in the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine.
2. Description of the Related Art
An exhaust gas purification device utilizing a NO.sub.x absorbent in order to remove NO.sub.x in the exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine is known in the art. The NO.sub.x absorbent, for example, contains precious metals such as platinum (Pt), and at least one substance selected, for example, from alkaline metals such as potassium (K), sodium (Na), lithium (Li), and cesium (Cs), alkaline earth metals such as barium (Ba) and calcium (Ca), and rare earth elements such as lanthanum (La) and yttrium (Y). The NO.sub.x absorbent absorbs NO.sub.x in the exhaust gas when the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas flowing through the NO.sub.x absorbent is lean, and releases the absorbed NO.sub.x when the oxygen concentration in the exhaust gas drops and, at the same time, reduces the absorbed NO.sub.x to N.sub.2. Further, in this specification, the term "air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas" means a ratio of the air and the fuel, which are supplied to the engine or exhaust passages upstream of the NO.sub.x absorbent. Therefore, when no air and fuel is supplied in the exhaust passages upstream of the NO.sub.x absorbent 5, the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas becomes the same as the operating air-fuel ratio of the engine (i.e., the air-fuel ratio of the air-fuel mixture supplied to combustion chambers of the engine).
The mechanism of the absorbing and releasing operation of NO.sub.x by the NO.sub.x absorbent will be explained later in detail. However, the NO.sub.x absorbent also absorbs SO.sub.x by a mechanism the same as the absorbing mechanism of NO.sub.x when SO.sub.x is contained in the exhaust gas (in this specification, sulfur oxide such as SO2 and SO3 are referred to as SO.sub.x in general). However, since SO.sub.x absorbed in the NO.sub.x absorbent forms a stable sulfate, it is relatively difficult to make the NO.sub.x absorbent release the absorbed SO.sub.x. Therefore, the absorbed SO.sub.x tends to accumulate in the NO.sub.x absorbent. When the amount of SO.sub.x absorbed in the NO.sub.x absorbent increases, the capacity of NO.sub.x absorbent for absorbing NO.sub.x becomes low. This causes a deterioration of the ability of NO.sub.x absorbent for purifying NO.sub.x in the exhaust gas (hereinafter, this deterioration caused by the accumulation of SO.sub.x in the NO.sub.x absorbent is referred to as "a sulfur deterioration" or "an S-deterioration"). Particularly, in the case where a diesel engine is used, the S-deterioration becomes a problem since diesel fuel used for a diesel engine contains a relatively large amount of sulfur.
It is also known that SO.sub.x absorbed in the NO.sub.x absorbent can be released from the NO.sub.x absorbent by a mechanism the same as the mechanism for releasing NO.sub.x. However, it is difficult to release SO.sub.x from the NO.sub.x absorbent in the same conditions as the NO.sub.x releasing operation. Since SO.sub.x absorbed in the NO.sub.x absorbent forms a stable sulfate, it is required to raise the temperature of the NO.sub.x absorbent to a temperature higher (for example, about 500.degree. C.) than the temperature during the normal NO.sub.x releasing operation of the NO.sub.x absorbent (for example, about 250.degree. C.) under a reducing atmosphere (i.e., in a rich air-fuel ratio exhaust gas). This kind of SO.sub.x releasing operation for recovering the NO.sub.x absorbing capacity of the NO.sub.x absorbent from the S-deterioration is hereinafter referred to as "a SO.sub.x recovery operation" or "a S-recovery operation".
Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication (Kokai) No. 6-88518 discloses an exhaust gas purification device which performs the SO.sub.x recovery operation of a NO.sub.x absorbent. The device in the '518 publication includes a NO.sub.x absorbent disposed in the exhaust gas passage of an internal combustion engine for removing NO.sub.x from the exhaust gas. The device in the '518 publication performs the SO.sub.x recovery operation by controlling the air-fuel ratio of the engine to a rich air-fuel ratio intermittently (or continuously) when the engine is operated at a lean air-fuel ratio and at a high exhaust gas temperature.
However, since the device in the '518 publication starts the SO.sub.x recovery operation after the exhaust gas temperature becomes high when the air-fuel ratio of the exhaust gas is lean, a high temperature exhaust gas of a lean air-fuel ratio always flows into the NO.sub.x absorbent before the SO.sub.x recovery operation starts. As explained before, the NO.sub.x absorbent holds the absorbed SO.sub.x therein in a form of relatively stable sulfate particles. When the sulfate particles are exposed to a lean air-fuel ratio atmosphere at a high temperature, growth of the particles due to sintering occurs and the sizes of the sulfate particles become larger. When the sizes of the sulfate particles become large, it is difficult to decompose the sulfate particles by the SO.sub.x recovery operation since the stability of the sulfate particles largely increases. Therefore, if the NO.sub.x absorbent is exposed to a lean air-fuel ratio atmosphere at a high temperature always before the start of the SO.sub.x recovery operation as in the device of the '518 publication, the growth of the sulfate particles occurs and, thereby, S-deterioration of the NO.sub.x absorbent cannot be recovered by the SO.sub.x recovery operation due to the increased stability of the sulfate particles.
Further, if a particulate filter which traps particulate matter (for example, particulate in the exhaust gas of a diesel engine) is provided in the exhaust gas passage upstream of the NO.sub.x absorbent, it becomes necessary to burn the particulate matter trapped in the particulate filter periodically. Normally, the burning operation of the particulate matter is performed in a lean air-fuel ratio atmosphere. (Hereinafter, this burning operation of the particulate matter in the particulate filter is referred to as "a regenerating operation of the particulate filter".) Therefore, when the regenerating operation of the particulate filter upstream of the NO.sub.x absorbent is performed, high temperature exhaust gas of a lean air-fuel ratio continuously flows into the NO.sub.x absorbent and, thereby, the growth of the sulfate particles in the NO.sub.x absorbent occurs. This causes the problem of the difficulty in the SO.sub.x recovery operation of the NO.sub.x absorbent as explained above.
A similar problem occurs when a three-way catalyst or an oxidizing catalyst is provided in the exhaust gas passage upstream of the NO.sub.x absorbent in order to remove (oxidize) specific components in the exhaust gas such as HC and CO, or SOF (soluble organic fraction).
The exhaust gas of an internal combustion engine, especially, the exhaust gas of a diesel engine contains SOF (soluble organic fraction) composed of hydrocarbons such as unburned fuel, unburned lubricating oil, etc.
During the engine operation, a portion of the SOF in the exhaust gas is oxidized by the oxidizing catalyst or the three-way catalyst, and the rest of the SOF attaches to the surface of the catalyst. When the amount of SOF attached to the surface of the catalyst increases, the catalytic components are covered by SOF and the ability of the catalyst is deteriorated. This type of the deterioration of the oxidizing catalyst or the three-way catalyst is hereinafter referred to as "the SOF-deterioration of the catalyst". When the amount of SOF in the exhaust gas is large, therefore, it is necessary to burn the SOF attached to the surface of the catalyst periodically in order to prevent the SOF-deterioration. The burning operation of the SOF attached to the catalyst (hereinafter referred to as "a SOF recovery operation of the catalyst") is normally performed in a lean air-fuel ratio atmosphere. Therefore, when the SOF recovery operation of the catalyst is performed, a high temperature exhaust gas of a lean air-fuel ratio continuously flows into the downstream NO.sub.x absorbent. This also causes a problem in the SO.sub.x recovery operation of the NO.sub.x absorbent.

Exhaust gas purification device for an internal combustion engine


A computing system (10) includes elements (12-24) interfacing at integration points (26-47). One or more of the elements (12-24) may be associated with one or more testing tables. For example, a testing table (48) may include a test procedure (54) and several corresponding test codes (54a, 54b, 54c) associated with alternate product configurations (12a, 12b, 12c) that satisfy the functional requirements of an element (12). The testing tables in the computing system (10) provide a systematic and standardized scheme for defining, creating, modifying, and adapting integration test code. A testing system (11) accesses the testing tables to test the integration of the elements (12-24) in the computing system (10).

Computing systems may include a variety of hardware and software products available from various suppliers. Often products made by a single supplier integrate or interoperate effectively in a computing system. However, integration difficulties may arise in computing systems that include products from different suppliers.
The problem of integrating a variety of hardware and software products from different suppliers becomes increasingly challenging with larger and more complex computing systems. Moreover, as more suppliers enter the market with new computing system products, the problems of integration increase further. More specifically, even if some of the products used to implement a computing system can be integrated with each other, the computing system may still fail to operate properly if other products in the system cannot be integrated. Consequently, each time that a computing system is implemented with products from various suppliers, testing must usually be performed to ensure the integration of all products in the system.

Testing the integration of a plurality of elements in a computer system using a plurality of tests codes, each corresponding to an alternate product configuration for an associated element


Improvements have been made to one or more of a lid, cover, and base of a tri-fold egg carton, the improvements allowing the secure and easy loading and protection of jumbo sized eggs, in cartons that can be processed and packaged with standard equipment and in standard case sizes. Further, in one or more embodiments the improvements provide improved processability with automated labeling equipment. In one or more embodiments, the improvements allow for improved de-nesting of multiple empty cartons, prior to filling.

Egg cartons are subjected to multiple adverse mechanical forces and environmental conditions during filling, handling, transport and use, including time spent in distribution centers, on store shelves, and in the consumer's home. They typically encounter automated equipment for filling, packaging, loading, unloading, stacking, restacking and transport. During each of these encounters, the goal is to resist egg breakage by stabilizing and holding the eggs in a protected environment, in a carton that can be manufactured in a cost effective manner.
Thus, many factors are taken into consideration in the design of egg cartons. Egg protection, resistance to stress or force, stackability, transportability, moisture resistance, aesthetic appearance, print surface area, weight, nestability/denestability, adaptability to accommodate various size eggs, and consistent manufacturing are factors which may be considered to varying degrees in the design of an egg carton.
Plastic egg cartons are available with flexible walls forming cell pockets to protect the eggs and prevent them from moving into adjacent cell pockets. However, during handling, such as while loading cases of egg cartons onto a grocery pallet, and then stacking cases 5 to 6 high on the pallet, the cases/cartons may be thrown onto the pallets and/or bump into each other, causing the eggs to come out of their cell pockets and make contact from a hard side impact blow or top compression load. Also, when scanning bar codes on lid tops, the eggs can be displaced and make contact.
Thus, there is need for an improved egg carton construction to provide better egg protection while encountering the adverse mechanical forces and environmental changes that typically occur during filling, packaging, transportation, storage and use. At the same time, there is a need to manufacture such cartons in a cost effective manner and to maintain overall carton dimensions to fit within standard case sizes and to avoid a redesign of the existing automated filling and handling equipment.

Tri-fold egg carton with lid sidewall protrusions


The simulation device and method exhaustively checks for the influence of skew in external input signals caused by numerous instances of unspecified tester skew to prevent testing problems when testing ICs such as ASIC before shipment. The simulation device is provided with a sequential circuit detection processor 1 that detects all first-stage sequential circuit elements 17 that may be affected by tester skew and outputs sequential circuit element information, a skew value library 4 for simulation use to which is added tester skew value fluctuation, and a data substitution section 3 that directs operation execution to an arithmetic section 6, transcribes prescribed data of the skew value library 4 to a normal library 5, and substitutes data of a net list 7.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device and method for simulation, and particularly to a testing method and associated simulation device for testing semiconductor integrated circuits such as application-specific integrated circuits (ASIC) that include logic circuits.
2. Description of the Related Art
Logic verification for confirming the correctness of logic circuits is crucial in designing semiconductor integrated circuits such as ASIC. Logic verification methods that use logic simulation have come into widespread use with increases in circuit integration.
Logic simulation is performed by inputting simulation execution control data and descriptions of the logic circuit under design in design language and outputting a resulting time chart that represents the operation. By validating the content of the time chart, designers can confirm the correctness of operation of the logic circuit. Simulation devices for ASIC now in use employ a cyclic simulation test pattern in which expected values are inputted to an LSI tester for each cycle and can verify automatically by comparing expected values with simulation results to determine automatically whether or not simulation results coincide with the designers' expected values.
However, in such prior-art simulation devices for ASIC, tester skew, i.e., the timing difference between a tester's electrical input signals, has not been taken into due consideration, and this tester skew frequently gives rise to the problem that some types of ASIC products may pass simulation tests but then fail tests at the time of shipment.
Referring to FIG. 1, which shows a block diagram of a first simulation device typical of this type of the prior art, such a prior-art simulation device is provided with arithmetic section 6 that reads net list 7, which is circuit connection information, test patterns 8, and library 19 specifying delay times and timing of elements, and performs logic operations and timing verification; and memory section 2 that holds the operation results of arithmetic section 6.
As to the simulation method, i.e., the operation of the prior-art simulation device, referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2(A) shows one example of a circuit for simulation, and FIG. 2(B) shows a timing chart for the circuit, the object circuit for simulation includes data signal input terminal 13 that inputs data signals of the object process; control signal input terminal 14 that inputs control signals such as clock pulses; data-side combinatory logic 15 that combines data-system signals by a prescribed logic and outputs data signals d; control-side combinatory logic 16 that combines control-system signals by a prescribed logic and outputs control signals c; first-stage sequential circuit element 20 that operates in response to the supply of each of data signals d and control signals c to input terminal D.sub.1 and C.sub.1, respectively, and outputs output signals q from output terminal Q.sub.1 ; and second-stage sequential circuit element 18 that is of the same type as sequential circuit element 20, that operates in response to the supply of each of signals q and control signals c to input terminals D.sub.2 and C.sub.2, respectively, and that outputs output signals qq to an internal circuit from output terminal Q.sub.2.
Even for this type of circuit structure, the simulation method of the prior art converts to a library the timing specifications for operation characteristics that elements should satisfy, which in this case are set-up times (hereinafter referred to as "t.sub.set-up "), uniformly for first-stage sequential circuit element 20 and second-stage sequential circuit element 18, and judges internal timing and output logic with respect to this library.
Referring to FIG. 2(B), set-up time t.sub.set-up is the time interval from the rising edge of a data input signal to data signal input terminals D.sub.1 and D.sub.2 to the rising edge of a control input signal to control signal input terminal C.sub.1 and C.sub.2 for sequential circuit elements 18 and 20, and this time interval is established as a prescribed value .alpha..
This shows that during simulation, these circuits operate correctly if t.sub.set-up .gtoreq..alpha. for both sequential circuit elements 18 and 20, but that there is a possibility for malfunctioning of these circuits if timing t.sub.set-up <.alpha. for both or either of sequential circuit element 18 and 20.
Accordingly, the first simulation method of the prior art allows correct judging of circuit operation for an ideal state in which absolutely no skew occurs in the input signals to data-system input terminal 13 and control-system input terminal 14. This is because judgment of timing is based on the characteristics of the elements for both sequential circuit element 20 of the first stage, which may be affected by tester skew during testing at the time of shipping, as well as for sequential circuit element 18 positioned in a subsequent stage. In a non-ideal case, however, in which skew occurs in input signals to terminals 13 and 14, there is a possibility that, despite satisfactory simulation results, an article will be misjudged as defective at the time of shipping due to a timing relation whereby t.sub.set-up <.alpha..
A second simulation device described in Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 189517/93 is directed toward eliminating the above-described disparity in operation between testers, i.e., circuit malfunctioning due to differences in testers. This second simulation device achieves this object of preventing circuit malfunctioning due to tester differences by determining in advance specific clock signals and data signals, generating an alarm meaning undefined level only for these specific data signals when the timing of these input signals is in a fixed conflict state, and then designing circuits subject to verification such that this undefined level is not generated.
However, this device cannot freely detect conflict states between numerous unspecified clock signals and data signals.
In the above-described first simulation device and method of the prior art, the timing specifications of all sequential circuit elements within a circuit are uniformly defined as specific values that an element should satisfy, and timing or output logic of internal sequential circuit element sections is then judged using this library as a standard. As a result, the first simulation device and method have the drawback that, even for a circuit in which exist many unspecified sequential circuit elements that directly receive the effect of skew between data-system input signals and control-system input signals, timing judgment that takes into consideration the effect of external skew, which properly should be considered with respect to these sequential circuit elements, is not enabled. This inability to exhaustively detect possibilities of circuit malfunctioning due to tester skew arising from the combination of unspecified inputs during testing at the time of shipping results in the drawback that problems in testing at the time of shipping cannot be prevented.
In addition, the second simulation device of the prior art, although directed toward the prevention of circuit malfunctioning due to differences between testers, also suffers from the drawback of limited use because it does not freely detect conflict states between numerous unspecified clock signals and data signals.


Specifically, according to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for searching for an access point is provided. The method for searching may comprises the steps of: a terminal measuring the position thereof; checking an access point located near the measured position of the terminal; determining whether or not the distance between the terminal and the access point is greater than the radius range searchable by the terminal; and searching for the access point when the distance between the terminal and the access point is less than the radius range.

A 2nd generation mobile communication means to transmit/receive a digitized audio and includes such as CDMA, GSM and the like. GPRS evolved from the GSM is proposed. The GPRS is a technology to provide a packet switched data service based on the GSM system.
A 3rd generation mobile communication means to enable to transmit/receive an image and data as well as an audio. 3GPP (third generation partnership project) developed a mobile communication system (IMT-2000) and adopted a WCDMA as a radio access technology (hereinafter abbreviated RAT). In Europe, the IMT-2000 technology and the radio access technology (RAT) e.g., WCDMA are called an UMTS (universal mobile telecommunication system) in total. And, UTRAN is an abbreviation of UMTS terrestrial radio access network.
Meanwhile, the 3rd generation mobile communication is evolving to a 4th generation mobile communication.
A long-term evolution network (LTE) technology standardizing by the 3GPP and an IEEE 802.16 technology standardizing by IEEE are proposed as a technology of the 4th generation mobile communication. A terminology "E-UTRAN (evolved-UTRAN)" is used by the LTE.
Meanwhile, all traffics occurred by a current user are hard to be handled even by the 3rd generation or the 4th generation mobile communication system in some point. Hence, a communication technology performed by IEEE 802.11, which is called WiFi, is recently disseminated. In the following description, it shall be described with reference to diagrams.
FIG. 1 is a diagram for showing a relationship between a mobile communication system and WiFi.
Referring to FIG. 1, a terminal 10 is locate at a coverage of a first base station 21 and at least one or more access points (AP) 31/32 are located at the coverage of a second base station 22. And, at least one access point (AP) 33 is located at the coverage of a second base station 23.
The terminal 10 may be able to access the first base station 21 to use a data service. Yet, the terminal 10 may be able to perform a search to access an access point (AP) if necessary. However, to continuously perform the search, in case that there does not exist an accessible access point near the terminal 10 as shown in FIG. 1, may cause a result of power waste of the terminal.
Meanwhile, a technology for saving power consumption in WiFi technology exists as a scheme for saving power in a manner of controlling a sleep mode and an idle mode in case of being connected (or associated) to an access point only and does not exist for a technology to search for the access point in case of not being connected to the access point.
On the other hand, although a search for an access point may be performed with a low frequency due to a power consumption of a terminal, there is a lot of cases that should utilize WiFi as much as possible depending on an application installed in a smartphone, which is recently spotlighted.
In particular, there is an application allowing a transit delay to some extent among applications of the smartphone. If an access point is searched no later than an allowed time for the transit delay of data, the application transmits data in a manner of accessing the access point. Yet, to continuously perform a search for the access point may have a drawback causing a significant power consumption.
Therefore, it is necessary to efficiently manage a power consumed for searching for an access point based on WiFi.

Method and terminal for searching for an access point

Industry-Academic Cooperation Foundation, Yonsei University


This application describes a process for the preparation of carbon-coated particles, where the particles comprise an electrochemically active material. The process comprises the steps of emulsion polymerization, drying and thermally treating the polymer to obtain a nano-layer of carbon on the particles, where the carbon layer comprises fibers and nitrogen-containing polyaromatics have a graphene-like structure. The application also further relates to the particles produced by the method as well as to electrode materials, electrodes and electrochemical cells comprising the particles.

Coating particles of active materials (e.g. LTO, TiO2 or others) with carbon is one way of avoiding contact between the active material and electrolyte, thereby preventing the degradation of the electrolyte and the formation of gas inside the cell. The carbon coating creates a physical barrier and also enhances the material's electronic conductivity. Carbon can thus be applied on any active materials where improved stability and/or electronic conductivity is required or desirable (see He, Y.-B. et al., J. Power Sources, 2012, 202, 253-261, incorporated by reference in its entirety for all purposes).
One of the most common way of applying a carbon coating on inorganic materials (LFP, LTO, TiO2 etc.) for lithium batteries includes the use of a sugar or sugar derivative as a carbon source. The sugar is mixed with the active material, for instance in a solvent, and carbonized at high temperature (see (a) Zaghib, K. et al., J. Power Sources, 2010, 195 (24), 8280-8288; (b) Zhu, G.-N. et al., J. Electrochem. Soc., 2011, 158 (2), A102-A109, both incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes). This process generally does not allow for the formation of a thin coating on the primary particles and/or inside the pores of the particles. Additionally, the electronic conductivity of commercial carbon-coated material produced by this method is limited to about 10−6 S/cm. It is thus not trivial to achieve the formation of a nano-layer of carbon on active particles using the sugar carbonization method.

Carbon-coated active particles and processes for their preparation


Disclosed are coryneform L-glutamic acid-producing bacteria deficient in .alpha.-ketoglutarate dehydrogenase, a method of producing L-glutamic acid by using the bacteria, a gene coding for an enzyme having .alpha.-KGDH activity originating from coryneform L-glutamic acid-producing bacteria, recombinant DNA containing the gene, coryneform bacteria harboring the recombinant DNA, and a method of producing L-lysine by using bacteria harboring the recombinant DNA and having L-lysine productivity.

L-Glutamic acid has been hitherto industrially produced by a fermentative method using coryneform bacteria belonging to the genus Brevibacterium or Corynebacterium.
Recently, it has been revealed that a mutant strain of Escherichia coli, in which the .alpha.-KGDH activity is deficient or lowered, and the glutamic acid-decomposing activity is lowered, has high L-glutamic acid productivity (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 5-244970).
On the contrary, it was reported that a mutant strain having lowered .alpha.-KGDH activity had approximately the same L-glutamic acid productivity as that of its parent strain in the case of a bacterium belonging to the genus Brevibacterium (Agric. Biol. Chem., 44, 1897 (1980), Agric. Biol. Chem., 46, 493 (1982)). Therefore, it has been believed that the level of .alpha.-KGDH activity is not important for production of L-glutamic acid in coryneform bacteria.
On the other hand, it was found that a mutant strain of a L-glutamic acid-producing bacterium belonging to the genus Brevibacterium having lowered .alpha.-KGDH activity produces L-glutamic acid at high efficiency (maximum yield of 53%) when the bacterium is cultivated in a medium which contains a material containing an excessive amount of biotin as a carbon source without addition of materials which suppress an effect of biotin such as penicillins and surface active agents (Japanese Patent Laid-open No. 6-23779). However, since it has been believed that the level of .alpha.-KGDH activity is not important for production of L-gultamic acid in the coryneform bacteria as described above, there has been no example in which an .alpha.-KGDH gene of a coryneform L-glutamic acid-producing bacterium is cloned and analyzed. Further, mutant strains of coryneform bacteria being completely deficient in .alpha.-KGDH have been unknown.


A method of filtering data entries on a mobile device includes displaying a list of data entries on a display device of the mobile device. An indication of one of the data entries of the list is received at one of an input device and an auxiliary input device. Highlighting the data entry in response to the indication is performed. At an auxiliary input device, a pause of the indication is received. A filter for data entries that match the value of a predetermined field of the highlighted data entry is then executed. Results of the filter are displayed on the display device.

Numerous types of mobile electronic devices are known. Examples of such mobile electronic devices include, for instance, personal data assistants (PDAs), handheld computers, two-way pagers, cellular telephones, and the like. Other examples of mobile devices include those whose primary function is entertainment and multimedia content reproduction, such as "mp3 players". Many mobile electronic devices also feature wireless communication capability, although many such mobile electronic devices are stand-alone devices that are functional without communication with other devices.
A user of a mobile electronic device may wish to view a list of data items that share a certain data value. Often the user will have to navigate the graphical interface to specify search parameters. The user will specify parameters for the search, and activate a component of the graphic interface to prompt the electronic device to filter for the content using the specified parameters. Specifying filter parameters in a separate screen can be cumbersome, often requiring multiple actions from the user to perform such filtering. Since lists of data may have values that are not fully displayed on a confined display, the user may not always be able to view the data values of the data list when viewing a separate filter parameter screen. The user may not know the full value of the data items of the highlighted field. Navigating to a separate screen to determine the full value of a data item can be time consuming and cumbersome.
Some mobile electronic devices are controlled through a touch-sensitive display, also known as a touchscreen display. In response to a touch input, the mobile device can carry out an action such as filtering a list of messages. However, in devices having touch-sensitive displays sometimes it is undesirable or impractical to use the touch-sensitive display when interacting with the device. For example, touch-sensitive displays receive input by tracking the user's finger. As a result of frequently touching the display, the display may require frequent cleaning. As another example, a mobile device having a touch-sensitive display may implement a virtual keyboard interface on a touch-sensitive display. Some users may prefer a physical keyboard over the virtual keyboard because of the physical distinctions between keys and the tactile feel of the physical keyboard. Some users may prefer mobile devices with a physical keyboard over a device with a touch-sensitive display.

Filtering data entries on mobile electronic devices having auxiliary input devices


A method and apparatus for covering and identifying a container utilizing a thin film material and a frame. The thin film material covers a through hole in the frame and has a perforation that defines an outer detaching surface an inner covering surface commensurate with the container opening. The method comprises the steps of attaching the thin film material to a frame having the through hole; disposing the frame onto an open top surface of the container; depressing a portion of the frame to detach the thin-film from the frame along the perforation and further sliding the frame coaxially to circumscribe the base of the container where it identifies information about the container.

A need exists for container covers that are easy to use and also serve important safety and environmental storage functions. For instance, many households keep a large variety of containers to store food which often require distinctive covers. It is of course understood that the container, which has a top opening to which food or some other item is placed, can be covered by many items. For example, the open top can be covered by a sheet of Mylar, which basically is sold under the trademark Saran Wrap. Such sheets or similar types of sheets are manufactured by various companies. However, it is also noted that it is difficult to work with these sheets. Such materials often come on a roll. The material then has to be removed from the roll at which time it may wrinkle and because of the nature of the material it may stick to itself, thus causing great difficulty in attempting to cover openings of various containers. Another prior art technique is to cover an open container with a wax paper so that food or other items will not stick to it. The waxed paper however, does not exhibit the same properties as a thin film of Mylar. Hence, if one covers the open top of a container with wax paper one might also employ a rubber band or other securing means to assure that the paper is secured to the container and covers the top opening. In a similar manner, one may cover the entire container with such a material and use an excessive amount of material in doing so. Hence, the use of Mylar film or Saran Wrap or other materials such as aluminum foil are not easy to work with and certainly not easy to measure in regard to covering items.
As indicated above, containers often come in various sizes, with covers of such containers also being of varying size. These container covers are not always handy because they are difficult to find among the equally large variety of corresponding covers and often stored in locations different from the mating container. In other situations a need exists to cover industrial product containers, such as paints or hazardous chemicals with covers that will later readily identify the respective contents. In yet other situations, consuming beverages in public places may require a safe and effective means to cap the container to guard against the increasing use of deleterious substances that may be added to a consumer's drink. For example, date-rape drugs have been employed to render an individual incapacitated and allow a predator to commit such heinous crimes as rape, robbery and so on. Potential victims are especially vulnerable in bars and nightclubs.
Each of the foregoing applications have efficiency, safety and identification in common. The present invention provides an improved apparatus and method for affixing a cover over a container opening, which cover permits efficient use, safe storage and identification of containers and the contents.

Method and apparatus for covering a container


Disclosed herein is a shock absorber for damping vibration transmitted to a vehicle according to a road state. The shock absorber includes a cylinder and a piston valve disposed within the cylinder and connected to a piston rod to divide the cylinder into a first chamber and a second chamber. The shock absorber further includes a hollow chamber formed within the piston rod, a floating piston disposed within the hollow chamber to move up and down and to divide the hollow chamber into upper and lower chambers, first and second orifices formed in upper and lower ends of the hollow chamber and connected to the first and second chambers, respectively, and a resistance changing mechanism configured to cooperate with the floating piston and change a fluid resistance with respect to the floating piston where the resistance changing mechanism cooperates therewith.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure is generally related to shock absorbers, and more particularly, to a shock absorber for damping vibration transmitted to a vehicle according to a road state and capable of changing a damping force according to a displacement of a piston rod.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a vehicle is provided with a suspension system for enhancing driving comfort by buffering impact or vibration transmitted to an axle from a road during driving. One component constituting the suspension system is a shock absorber. The shock absorber is disposed between the axle and a vehicle body. The shock absorber includes a cylinder and a piston rod reciprocating within the cylinder. The cylinder is filled with an operating fluid, such as gas or oil, such that the operating fluid is moved by a piston valve secured to one end of the piston rod to generate a damping force.
A conventional shock absorber has a restriction in that it exhibits constant damping force characteristics with respect to variation of a road state or a driving posture of the vehicle. Therefore, a low damping force characteristic can improve driving comfort but does not ensure stability of the vehicle, whereas a high damping force characteristic can maintain the stable posture of the vehicle but entails deterioration of driving comfort. As such, the conventional shock absorber is incapable of controlling damping force characteristics in response to variation of the road state or the posture of the vehicle.
Accordingly, in order to solve the problem of such a conventional shock absorber, a shock absorber capable of providing variable damping force characteristics according to a displacement of the piston rod has been developed.
FIG. 1 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a conventional shock absorber.
Referring to FIG. 1, the shock absorber 10 includes a piston rod 14 connected to a vehicle body, and a cylinder 12 secured to an axle connected to wheels. The piston rod 14 reciprocates within the cylinder 12.
The piston rod 14 includes a piston valve 16 disposed at a lower end of the piston rod 14 to divide the interior of the cylinder 12 into a tensile chamber RC and a compression chamber CC. The piston valve 16 is formed with tensile orifices 16a and compression orifices 16b through which the tensile chamber RC and the compression chamber CC communicate with each other. The shock absorber 10 further includes disc valves 18a and 18b disposed on upper and lower sides of the tensile orifices 16a and the compression orifices 16b to elastically deform and generate a damping force according to movement of the operating fluid.
The piston rod 14 has a hollow chamber 20 formed therein. The hollow chamber 20 is provided with a floating piston 22 that can move up and down and divides the hollow chamber 20 into an upper chamber 20a and a lower chamber 20b. The hollow chamber 20 has a first orifice that is defined by a through-hole 24 through which an upper portion of the upper chamber 20a communicates with the tensile chamber RC, and a second orifice that is defined by a shaft hole 26 through which a lower portion of the lower chamber 20b communicates with the compression chamber CC.
As the piston rod 14 is slightly displaced, the floating piston 22 is raised or lowered, and the operating fluid flows into or from the first or second orifice through the through-hole 24 or the shaft hole 26. As a result, the damping force of the shock absorber 10 is lowered.
The conventional shock absorber 10 can reduce the damping force only at a low displacement and low speed. Further, the hollow chamber 20 has a restricted size so that a range of motion of the floating piston 22 is limited, thereby providing a low effect in reduction of the damping force. In this regard, when increasing the size of the hollow chamber 20 to improve the effect of reducing the damping force, there are problems of a manufacturing cost increase and a durability deterioration of the piston rod 14.
Furthermore, the conventional shock absorber 10 is likely to suffer impact and noise resulting from collision between the floating piston and the upper or lower end of the hollow chamber when the floating piston is raised or lowered within the hollow chamber of the piston rod.


The invention relates to a fitting (10) for the seat of a vehicle, particularly a motor vehicle, comprising a first fitting part (11), a second fitting part (12) which is mechanically linked to the first fitting part (11), a locking eccentric, and a running eccentric (131), wherein the running eccentric (131) is mounted in relation to the first fitting part (11) and second fitting part (12) by way of a rolling bearing or sliding bearing bushing (28,33), wherein friction between the running eccentric (131) and the sliding bearing bushings (28,33) or between at least one sliding bearing bushing (28, 33) and the associated fitting part (11, 12) is lower than the friction between the locking eccentric and at least one of the fitting parts (11, 12).

The present invention relates to a fitting for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat, with the fitting having a first fitting part, a second fitting part in geared connection with the first fitting part, a locking eccentric, which is provided primarily for locking the fitting, a running eccentric, which is provided primarily for driving a relative rolling movement of the second fitting part on the first fitting part for adjusting the fitting, the locking eccentric and the running eccentric being mounted on the first fitting part and supporting the second fitting part during locking and/or adjustment, and a driver that, at the start of the adjusting movement, controls the locking eccentric for canceling the locking effect and during the adjusting movement drives the running eccentric.
A fitting of the type described immediately above is known from DE 39 41 215 A1. DE 39 41 215 A1 discloses that its fitting attaches the backrest of a vehicle seat to the seat part of the vehicle seat in a manner so that the inclination of the backrest may be adjusted. In the fitting of DE 39 41 215 A1, a locking eccentric defined by two wedge segments and a running eccentric defined by a sickle-shaped centering segment are located on a collar of the first fitting part. The locking eccentric serves for locking the fitting whereas, during the adjusting movement, the running eccentric alone undertakes the mounting and driving of the fitting parts. By the choice of materials and the shape of the components, increased friction may occur locally during the adjusting movement, which increases the necessary operating forces. With an adjusting movement counter to the loading direction, i.e. counter to the direction of a force exerted by the user on the backrest or otherwise counter to the direction of the weight force of the backrest, this is made considerably more noticeable than in the loading direction.


A quality prediction apparatus includes a first acquisition unit acquiring a first throughput for an access network of a terminal from the terminal, the terminal acquiring video data in a divided state from a plurality of video streaming servers, a second acquisition unit acquiring a second throughput for a core network to which the plurality of video streaming servers connect, the terminal being to acquire the video data from one of the video streaming servers, and a prediction unit selecting smaller one of the first throughput and the second throughput as a prediction value of a throughput for the video data to be acquired, and therefore, an efficient prediction of the throughput for the video data streaming can be enabled.

It is important for a service provider involved in communication to predict a quality of communication for proper control operation to improve a quality of experience of a provided service. In a video streaming service, when high image quality video data with a high streaming bit rate is received (downloaded) and reproduced simultaneously in a low communication speed (throughput) environment, an event that reproduction is halfway stopped (reproduction interruption) occurs because the data does not arrive, and thus, the quality of experience is rather higher when downloading low image quality video data with a low streaming bit rate. Moreover, in a high throughput environment, the quality of experience is higher, when downloading video data having an image quality higher to such a degree that reproduction interruption does not occur.
Here, in the video streaming, an ABR (Adaptive Bitrate Selection) scheme is widespread which enables dynamic selection and switching of a streaming bit rate appropriate to a communication environment. A method for controlling the ABR scheme includes a technology in which a client terminal reproducing a video actually measures a throughput or buffer occupation amount of the video data that is downloaded while the video is being viewed to predict a throughput in the next downloading and determine a streaming bit rate (Non Patent Literature 1).
On the other hand, a streaming server accessed by the client terminal may be switched halfway through the video data for some reasons, and such a situation may occur even when the ABR scheme is adopted.

Quality prediction apparatus, quality prediction method and program

Nippon Telegraph and Telephone Corporation


Folding pole assemblies for erecting various types of items (e.g., flags, banners, sirens, etc.) as well as facilitating low-profile (e.g., covert, inconspicuous) access to the items after erection such as for maintenance, replacement, and/or the like. Each assembly includes at least one pole (e.g., mast, pillar, column, arm, etc.) that tilts (e.g., folds, pivots) away from a base member about a pivot axis disposed adjacent a bottom of the pole so that a substantial entirety of the pole remains on one side of the base member as the pole tilts between upright and tilted positions and/or between various tilted positions. This arrangement allows the base members of the disclosed folding pole assemblies to be placed adjacent walls and other structures so that the poles can tilt away from the walls and other structures in a perpendicular directions thereto.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to poles and masts for supporting equipment thereon and, more particularly, to tiltable or foldable masts that can be lowered to facilitate repair or replacement of the equipment mounted thereon.
2. Relevant Background
It is commonplace to mount equipment such as antennas, cameras, and the like on poles, towers or other structures to locate the equipment at more optimal operating positions, away from passersby that may otherwise attempt to tamper with the equipment, and the like. When the mounted equipment needs servicing or maintenance, service personnel typically must use an aerial lift or the like to gain access to the equipment, climb the pole or tower, or lower the tower or pole to the ground (e.g., sometimes using a crane or the like). After the maintenance has been performed on the equipment, the service personnel must then lower the aerial lift, climb down the tower, or lift and reinstall the tower onto its foundation. Some poles and towers for mounting equipment are pivotable to facilitate access to equipment mounted on a portion thereof.


A method comprises collecting operational data for one or more devices and identifying one or more anomalies associated with the one or more devices based at least in part on the collected operational data. At least a portion of the collected operational data corresponding to the identified one or more anomalies is analyzed, and a probability of automatic resolution for respective ones of the identified one or more anomalies is determined based at least in part on the analysis. The identifying, the analyzing and the determining are performed using one or more machine learning models.

In an effort to achieve fault-tolerance, enterprise and consumer devices may be equipped with a variety of systems to detect and monitor device behavior and parameters. Data corresponding to errors or other failure events typically drives the generation of alerts by such detection and monitoring systems. In addition, logging and auditing of the events may be performed. Alerts may be automatically generated and sent to downstream systems for case and incident creation in, for example, customer relationship management (CRM) and information technology service management (ITSM) systems. Agents of these systems may troubleshoot the devices, diagnose the issues and find appropriate resolutions. Such resolutions may be, for example, software-based (e.g., driver, patch and other system software solutions) and/or hardware-based (e.g., replacing faulty parts).

Framework for anomaly detection and resolution prediction


An object is to provide a microstructure in which shear stress of a structural layer is increased, a manufacturing method thereof, and a microelectromechanical system. A sacrificial layer is formed over a substrate. A metal film is formed over the sacrificial layer. The metal film is irradiated with a laser beam. Needle-like crystals of the metal film are reduced or eliminated. The metal film is etched and processed into a predetermined shape to form a metal layer. Then, the sacrificial layer is removed. Accordingly, a microelectromechanical system which is excellent in reliability and in which a resistance property to breakage of a movable portion of the microstructure is improved can be provided.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a microstructure irradiated with a laser beam, a manufacturing method thereof, and a microelectromechanical system.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, a device using a microelectromechanical system which is so-called micro electro mechanical systems (MEMS) such as a micro switch, an actuator, a pressure sensor, an acceleration sensor, or the like has been applied in various fields.
A structural layer is formed over a sacrificial layer, and then the structural layer is formed spatially in a space by removing the sacrificial layer by etching, so that a MEMS is driven.
Metal such as tungsten (W) or molybdenum (Mo) is used as such a structural layer which is used as an operation portion of a MEMS (e.g., see Reference 1: Japanese Published Patent Application No. 2005-210614). Tungsten and molybdenum are both group 6 elements, and have a property of high mechanical strength and a high-melting point (W: a melting point of 3430° C., and Mo: a melting point of 2620° C.).
In Reference 1, electrodes which are in contact with above and below a piezoelectric film are formed using metal such as tungsten or molybdenum by a vapor phase synthetic method such as a CVD method, a sputtering method, or a vacuum evaporation method. In consideration of cost, simplicity, yield, or the like in commercialization of a MEMS, a tungsten film or a molybdenum film is preferably formed by using a sputtering method.

Microstructure and manufacturing method thereof and microelectromechanical system

Semiconductor Energy Labortory Co., Ltd.


In case information such as an actual gear ratio is not stored in an EEPROM 28 due to a trouble of a backup power source 29 or like when an initialization operation of a step motor 27 is performed at the time of start of a vehicle or during stoppage of the vehicle, an output torque of an engine is limited before the initialization operation. Thereby, even if an accelerator is depressed during the initialization operation of the step motor 27 in which a sufficient primary pulley pressure cannot be ensured, the output torque of the engine is limited, so that torque inputted to a V-belt type continuously variable transmission is small and slippage does not occurs between the primary pulley and a secondary pulley.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a torque control system for an engine which is connected to a V-belt type continuously variable transmission.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Conventionally, as a continuously variable transmission for a vehicle, there is, for example, a continuously variable transmission with a V-belt. Generally, in the continuously variable transmission, a gear ratio of the vehicle such as an automobile is continuously controlled by supplying a hydraulic pressure (hereinafter referred to as a primary pulley pressure) which is obtained by regulating a line pressure as an original pressure with a shift control valve to a cylinder chamber of a primary pulley, increasing and reducing the primary pulley pressure with the shift control valve to change a groove width of the primary pulley and changing a radius ratio between the primary pulley and a secondary pulley. This shift control valve is connected to the vicinity of a middle of a shift link constituting a mechanical feedback mechanism, and a movable flange of the primary pulley and a step motor that is a shift actuator are respectively connected to both ends of the shift link. In order to prevent generation of disagreement between an operating position of the step motor for stroking the shift control valve to a position corresponding to a desired shift command value and a command value to the step motor, an initialization operation of the step motor is performed when the vehicle is stopped or an engine is started.
An example of the initialization operation of the step motor in this conventional system will be described. When an ignition switch is turned on, a motor initializing means drives the step motor to a hardware limit position in one direction and thereafter returns the motor to a reference position in the other direction, and after the motor initialing means completes the above initialization operation of the step motor, a command value to the step motor is initialized to a value corresponding to the reference position. This causes the command value to accord with the operating position of the step motor with a high precision, whereby shift control is performed accurately. (see Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Publication No. 8-178063)
Moreover, since it is necessary to actuate the step motor from a current motor operating position to the hardware limit position in the one direction when the initialization operation of the step motor is performed, the continuously variable transmission has an EEPROM capable of storing the current motor operating position of the step motor and pulley ratio as pulley information. The EEPROM is provided with a backup power source for writing data and receives electric power supply from the backup power source to store the pulley information even if a power source of the vehicle is turned off.
However, it is impossible to write the pulley information in the EEPROM when trouble of the backup power source disenables electric power supply. Since the current motor operating position is therefore unclear, when the motor is driven to the hardware limit position of the one direction in the initialization operation of the step motor, the present operating position of the motor is presumed to be at a farthest position from the hardware limit position, and the step motor is driven for a time equal to time required until the operating position of the step motor moves from the presumed position to the hardware limit position. This causes the increase of time for performing the initialization operation of the step motor.
Since the step motor is thus operated to a direction in which the hardware limit position of the one direction, that is, the pulley ratio reaches a lowest value Lo during the initialization operation of the step motor, the primary pulley pressure is reduced because of communication with a drain side. If the driver deeply depresses the accelerator at that time, the short of the primary pulley pressure causes slippage of a belt, and the durability of the belt is degraded.


A multi-core system configured to execute a plurality of tasks and having a semaphore engine and a direct memory access (DMA) engine capable of selecting, by a task scheduler of a first core, a first task for execution by the first core. In response to a semaphore lock request, the task scheduler of the first core switches the first task to an inactive state and selects a next task for execution by the first core. After the semaphore engine acquires the semaphore lock of the first semaphore, a data transfer request is provided to the DMA engine. In response to the data transfer request, the DMA engine transfers data associated with the locked first semaphore to the entry of the workspace of the first core.

Field
This disclosure relates generally to multi-core processing devices, and more specifically, to systems and methods for direct memory access coherency among multiple processing cores.
Related Art
The complexity of integrated circuits has dramatically increased during the last decade. System-on-chip and other multiple-core integrated circuits are being developed in order to support various applications such as but not limited to multimedia applications, networking, real time applications and the like.
Modern integrated circuits are capable of executing a large number of tasks substantially in parallel. A multiple channel Direct Memory Access (DMA) controller can manage multiple data transfers while reducing the load from the integrated circuit cores (processors). In some cases, multiple tasks may need to use the same data at approximately the same time. While some multi-core systems include cache memory that maintain data coherency between tasks, cache memory may require more space and computing resources than available in a particular architecture. It is therefore desirable to provide DMA memory that is capable of insuring the most recent (coherent) data is accessed by each of multiple tasks accessing the same data.

Systems and methods for direct memory access coherency among multiple processing cores


A transducer assembly including an enclosure having a bottom enclosure wall and a side enclosure wall that together define an enclosure volume; a first mass movably coupled to the enclosure and defining a first radiating area; a second mass movably coupled to the enclosure and defining a second radiating area; and a third mass movably coupled to the enclosure and defining a third radiating area, the third mass comprising a passive radiator and a third suspension member coupling the passive radiator to the enclosure, and wherein the first radiating area and the second radiating area have a combined radiating area that is different than the third radiating area and the combined radiating area is balanced relative to the third radiating area to reduce enclosure vibrations caused by a movement of the first mass and the second mass relative to the enclosure.

In modern consumer electronics, audio capability is playing an increasingly larger role as improvements in digital audio signal processing and audio content delivery continue to happen. In this aspect, there is a wide range of consumer electronics devices that can benefit from improved audio performance. For instance, smart phones include, for example, electro-acoustic transducers such as speakers that can benefit from improved audio performance. Smart phones, however, do not have sufficient space to house much larger high fidelity sound output devices. This is also true for some portable personal computers such as laptop, notebook, and tablet computers, and, to a lesser extent, desktop personal computers with built-in speakers. The speakers incorporated within these devices may use a moving coil motor to drive sound output. The moving coil motor may include a diaphragm, voice coil and magnet assembly positioned within a frame. In some cases, however, the force output by the moving coil motor may be transmitted to the device enclosure, causing an undesirable rattling, shaking or hopping of the system.

Vibration and force cancelling transducer assembly having a passive radiator


Self-heating integrated circuits are provided. In one embodiment, a self-heating integrated circuit comprises a drive circuit configured to drive a device and a controller configured to selectively operate the drive circuit in a first mode or a second mode. In the first mode, the controller is configured to operate the drive circuit to drive the device and, in the second mode, the controller is configured to operate the drive circuit to heat the integrated circuit to a target temperature.

When a new integrated circuit is received from a supplier, the integrated circuit may be tested over a range of temperatures to verify that the integrated circuit operates properly across the range of temperatures. The range of temperatures during testing may be from room ambient temperature to elevated temperatures (e.g., 125° C.).
The integrated circuit is tested at different temperatures by heating the integrated circuit. In one approach, the integrated circuit and test probes for testing the integrated circuit are placed inside a thermal chamber and the thermal chamber is heated to a target temperature. The integrated circuit is allowed to soak inside the thermal chamber for about 30 minutes to ensure that the integrated circuit reaches the target temperature. In many cases, the integrated circuit is a few degrees off the chamber temperature, which makes it difficult to accurately control temperature of the integrated circuit during testing. Also, the elevated temperatures in the thermal chamber may damage the test probes used for testing the integrated circuit.


A method and apparatus for wastewater treatment is provided which can prevent any decrease in permeation efficiency of a submerged membrane without involving an increase in operating cost and sludge generation, and which can treat high concentration organic wastewater efficiently and without dilution. The wastewater treatment method has the steps of: concentrating domestic sludge by means of a first submerged membrane to produce thick sludge; mixing the thick sludge into a water to be treated, and introducing the water to be treated which is so mixed with the thick sludge into an anaerobic treatment portion for anaerobically treating the same; and introducing the anaerobically treated water from the anaerobic treatment portion into an aerobic treatment portion having a second submerged membrane disposed therein to subject the water to aerobic treatment. The water to be treated undergoes treatment with the thick sludge through which its dissolved oxygen content is reduced to zero and organic substances contained therein are adsorbed by the sludge for subsequent treatment in the anaerobic treatment portion.

The present invention relates to a wastewater treatment method and apparatus for treating organic wastewater having oil and fatty oil contents.
Generally, organic wastewater of high concentration is discharged from many industrial facilities, research laboratories, and the like. When treating such high concentration organic wastewater with a typical conventional activated sludge, it has been usual practice to dilute the high concentration organic wastewater to facilitate treatment thereof in case where inflow high concentration organic wastewater is of too high concentration for treatment with the activated sludge. However, such practice of diluting high concentration organic wastewater in treating the wastewater involves a disadvantage that a wastewater treatment apparatus of greater size is required, which means increased capital expenditure. Therefore, a need exists for a compact wastewater treatment apparatus which can treat high concentration organic wastewater without dilution being required.
In such a situation, a more recent practice in the art of wastewater treatment is to utilize submerged membranes. The term "submerged membrane" herein means an ultra-filtration film or membrane or a precision filtration film or membrane as disposed in tank water for use in wastewater treatment.
By using such a submerged membrane it is possible to carry out wastewater treatment in such a condition that the concentration of microorganisms within the aeration tank is increased up to two times to six times the microbial concentration level usual in the case of a conventional activated sludge process. This not only makes it possible to provide a compact arrangement for wastewater treatment, but also enables high concentration organic wastewater to be effectively treated without being diluted.
Generally, in biological wastewater treatment under the activated sludge process which utilizes microorganisms, inflow water is pretreated for water quality adjustment in respect of quality factors, such as pH, BOD (biochemical oxygen demand), and COD (chemical oxygen demand), thereby to facilitate biological treatment.
In biological treatment, it is important to pretreat the water to be treated in such a way as to facilitate treatment by microorganisms. If pretreatment is not carried out, adequate microbial treatment capability cannot be obtained, and there may often occur an abnormal phenomenon such as bulking (abnormal growth of stringy microorganisms on the activated sludge which hinders sludge settlement) and so on, which is peculiar to microbial treatment operations.
As earlier stated, prior art pretreatment includes chemical neutralization for pH adjustment, and dilution for adjustment of BOD and COD.
A wastewater treatment apparatus of the type shown in FIG. 5 is generally known for treating with microorganisms high concentration organic wastewater in which suspended solids are present but in an extremely small amount. This apparatus includes an anaerobic tank 101 and an aerobic tank 102. Water to be treated is first anaerobically treated in the anaerobic tank 101. Shown by 103 is a submerged agitator. The water which has been anaerobically treated in the anaerobic tank 101 is then caused to flow into the aerobic tank 102. In the aerobic tank 102, the water is aerobically treated and is allowed to pass through a submerged membrane 6 before it reaches a submerged membrane draw pump 108. Then, the water passes sequentially through a secondary treatment unit 110 and a tertiary treatment tank 111 before it is discharged as treated water. A nutrient is added into the aerobic tank 102 from a nutrient tank 112 through a pump 113. The nutrient is a feed for aerobic microorganisms, Also, a liquid for generating suspended solids (SS) is added into the aerobic tank 102 from a suspension tank 115 via a pump 116. Disposed in the aerobic tank 102 is a submerged pump 117 which has a function to return sludge settled on the bottom of the aerobic tank 102 to the anaerobic tank 101 and a sludge treatment unit 118.
In a wastewater treatment apparatus of the type shown in FIG. 5 wherein water is treated by means of a combination of aerobic tank and anaerobic tank, the anaerobic tank has an important position. In particular, it has been found that in a wastewater treatment apparatus such that submerged membrane 106 is disposed in aerobic tank 102, as shown in FIG. 5, conditions for treatment in the anaerobic tank 101 is a factor having great bearing upon the permeation efficiency of the submerged membrane 106. In other words, oily substances contained in the water to be treated must be thoroughly anaerobically treated in the anaerobic tank 101, otherwise the permeation efficiency of the submerged membrane 106 in the aerobic tank 102 is seriously lowered. Such possible decrease in the permeation efficiency of the submerged membrane 106 remains as a problem yet to be solved.
As a more recent development, various kinds of wastewater treatment apparatus and sludge treatment apparatus have been proposed including those disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open Nos. 3-232597 and 4-313400.
The sludge treatment apparatus disclosed in JP Laid-Open No. 3-232597 represents a proposal for solving the problem of possible decrease in permeation efficiency due to adhesion to an ultrafiltration membrane of oily matter contained in sewage sludge such that a coagulant is added into sewage tank for removing such oily matter. However, the use of a coagulant involves increase operating cost and, in addition, sludge generation.
Another problem is that in the FIG. 5 apparatus and JP 3-232597 apparatus, water to be treated is introduced into the anaerobic tank in such a condition that dissolved oxygen content of the water remains untreated, with the result that the anaerobic tank is not in a condition favorable to anaerobic microorganisms. In other words, when water to be treated which contains dissolved oxygen is introduced into the anaerobic tank 101, the anaerobic atmosphere is rendered incomplete in a portion of the anaerobic tank 101, with the result that anaerobic microbial activity cannot be actively effected.
More specifically, by way of example, problems with microbial treatment of developer liquor containing wastewater, as high density organic wastewater, discharged from a semiconductor plant or liquid crystal plant, will be discussed in detail. Such developer liquor containing wastewater contains Tetramethyl Ammonium Hydroxide (hereinafter referred to as TMAH) which exhibits biotoxicity on the order of 2000 to 10000 ppm. The developer liquor containing wastewater contains, in addition to TMAH, surfactant and resist (photoresist) or colored oily and fatty matter, which are persistent substances to various kinds of microorganisms. Unfortunately, such developer liquor containing wastewater does not contain phosphorus, a substance necessary for microbial propagation, or SS (suspended solid), a material for microbial deposition, at all. Generally, for purposes of microbial treatment, an ideal quality of inflow water (water to be treated) is such that the ratio of BOD (biochemical oxygen demand) to N (nitrogen) to P (phosphorus) is 100:5:1 and that the water contains adequate SS. Therefore, if the water does not contain any phosphorus or SS at all, it is necessary to add phosphorus, as a micro ingredient, and adequate SS to the water to be treated.
In particular, any developer liquor containing wastewater discharged from a semiconductor plant or a similar plant contains BOD and nitrogen, but does not contain phosphorus or adequate SS at all. Further, such developer liquor containing wastewater contains surfactant that is persistent to microorganisms and has foaming characteristics. Examples of such persistent surfactant include alkyl ammonium-family surfactant and polyoxyethylene-family surfactant. It has been experimentally proved that such persistent and foamable surfactant can be treated by exceedingly increasing microbial concentration through utilization of a submerged membrane.
Therefore, when treating developer liquor containing wastewater from a semiconductor plant in the anaerobic tank 101 and aerobic tank 102 with the submerged membrane 106 as shown in FIG. 5, it is necessary that phosphorus, as a nutrient necessary for propagation of microorganisms, be added in the form of phosphoric acid from the nutrient tank 112 into the aerobic tank 112. It is also necessary that a liquid for generating SS, i. e., suspended solid (for example, waste milk powder liquid or the like) be supplied from the suspended solid tank 115 into the aerobic tank 102 in large quantities. Addition of phosphoric acid, as well as addition of a liquid for generating SS, involves increased operating cost.
However, unless such addition of phosphorus acid and SS-generating liquid is carried out, microbial concentration is rendered insufficient, with the result that foaming due to surfactant contained in developer liquor containing wastewater will occur. Further, activated sludge adheres to the resulting bubbles and flows outward of the aerobic tank and, as a result, aerobic treatment is rendered impossible.

Method and apparatus for organic wastewater treatment capable of preventing decrease in permeation efficiency of submerged membrane without dilution


A conveyor which uses roller chain to carry products has a modular frame with guide slots for receiving bar stock guides and has a drive which is in line with the modular frame.

The present invention relates to conveyors, and, in particular, to conveyors which utilize a roller chain for carrying the articles to be conveyed.
It is known to use roller chains for conveying articles along a conveyor. However, there have been several shortcomings with these conveyors.
First, debris can fall into the chain from above, causing the rollers to jam and stop rotating, which greatly increases the friction and eliminates the benefits of using a roller chain.
Second, when articles that are being conveyed are stopped, an additional friction load is placed on the conveyor drive.
Third, the construction of a conveyor frame is usually quite expensive. A big part of the expense is that special guides must be constructed and mounted to the conveyor frame for guiding the articles to be conveyed.
Fourth, there has been no convenient way for attaching air hoses, wires, and other tubular-shaped items to the conveyor frame.
Fifth, it is often difficult to match up a drive to the conveyor frame, and guides must stop at the drive, so there is a space in which the articles are not guided.
Sixth, even when the drive is connected to the frame, the chain must be sized long in order to provide a catenary (a long loop of chain which hangs down from the drive sprocket) to prevent the chain from wrapping itself around the drive sprocket.


In order to test a host's support for peripherals that use a given type of peripheral interface, an interface device communicates with peripheral interface ports of the host. The interface device also communicates with an emulation computer over a local area network. The emulation computer is programmed to emulate one or more peripheral devices by receiving and responding to messages. The interface device passes messages between the host and the emulation computer, using a peripheral interface communications protocol for communications with the host and using a network communications protocol for communications with the emulation computer.

The "Universal Serial Bus" or "USB" is a standardized interconnection mechanism for connecting various types of peripherals to a computer or computer-like device. USB is perhaps most commonly thought of as a mechanism for connecting gaming peripherals such as joysticks or game controllers. However, USB is suitable for connecting many different types of peripherals to a computer, such as optical scanners, digital speakers, digital cameras, keyboards, display devices, microphones, printers, mice, and many other types of devices. The USB standard encompasses mechanical, electrical, and data format aspects involved in transferring data between a host and a plurality of peripherals.
Generally, the USB standard contemplates at least three different types of peripheral devices, referred to as Human Input Devices (HID), bulk devices, and isochronous devices. HID devices include devices that accept human input, such as keyboards, mice, joysticks, game controllers, etc. Bulk devices include mass storage devices such as hard disks, optical memory devices, and other devices that involve transferring relatively large amounts of data. Isochronous devices include speakers, microphones, and other devices with respect to which data is transferred in a time-dependent manner.
Because of the popularity of USB peripherals, it is highly desirable to provide USB support in new computer products. However, it can be a challenging task to adequately test the USB support of a new computer product in light of the many different types and makes of available USB peripherals. The task is complicated by the very flexibility of the USB bi-directional communications protocol, which allows for a nearly unlimited number of configuration and communications scenarios.
The technology described below provides a flexible way to test peripheral communications capability of a computer-like device that has been designed to support a universal peripheral connection mechanism such as USB.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Testing a host's support for peripheral devices


In a particular embodiment, an optical transducer includes at least three optically conductive blades arranged symmetrically about a center gap. The optical transducer is adapted to receive polarized light from a light source and to focus the polarized light onto a recording medium while conserving polarization of the polarized light.

A strategy for controlling media noise for high areal density recording involves reducing lateral dimensions of the magnetic particles or grains. The resulting reduction in grain volume is compensated by a corresponding increase in magnetic crystalline anisotropy energy density to ensure thermal stability of the stored data bits for an extended period of time, such as for a period of approximately ten years. Unfortunately, the high magnetic crystalline anisotropy of patterned media can support high areal densities, but also can hinder conventional writing.
Embodiments disclosed herein can provide solutions to these and other problems, and offer other advantages over the prior art.

Polarization near-field transducer having optical conductive blades


An error/exception helper may provide tailored help when an error such as an exception is generated. A source program editor interface may be displayed and/or focus given to the program editor interface. An error/exception bubble or tool tip may be displayed, which, in one embodiment of the invention, points to the line of code that generated the exception. The error/exception bubble may include a link to a help topic or the actual help text may be displayed within the bubble. The bubble may also include one or more actions that may be taken to correct the error or a link to a procedure to perform the action(s). The source code may be edited, actions initiated and execution re-initiated at which time the bubble and editor interface display may be dismissed.

A programming error that leads to the abnormal termination of a program is called an error. When an error occurs, an exception may be generated (or "raised"). For example, an exception may be generated by an arithmetic logic unit or floating-point unit of a processor when an operation such as dividing by zero is detected or when an overflow or underflow condition occurs. An exception may also be generated by trying to execute an undefined instruction, or by privilege violations.
Today, when an application being debugged generates an exception, typically, a dialog box provides a message such as:                Warning! An unhandled exception of type "System.NullReferenceException" occurred in Application 24.exe.                    Additional information: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.                        OPTIONS: Break Continue Ignore Help
This type of dialog fails the developer because the dialog is presented out-of-context from the code that generated the exception, making it difficult for the developer to fully understand what went wrong. Also, the choices presented by the dialog are confusing. It is not clear what distinguishes "Continue" from "Ignore". The "Continue" option can be confusing because when this option is selected, the application may actually shut down. Typically, selecting the "Help" option launches a topic on using the dialog rather than a topic on how to handle the exception. Finally, the content of the dialog itself is parsimonious, confusing and does little to help the developer solve the problem in her code.
It would be helpful if a programming tool that addresses the above shortcomings were available.