A method of operating a power converter in response to an interruption in an input power being provided to the power converter, as well as a power converter capable of performing such method and including a rectifier and an inverter coupled at least indirectly with one another, are disclosed. In at least some embodiments, the method includes (a) operating the rectifier so that energy stored in at least one first component coupled at least indirectly to at least one input terminal of the rectifier is transferred to an intermediate component coupled between the rectifier and the inverter, while the inverter is operated in a first disconnect mode, and (b) subsequently operating the inverter so that at least some of the energy transferred to the intermediate component is transferred to at least one output port of the power converter, while the rectifier is operated in a second disconnect mode.

A variety of power conversion devices capable of providing a variety of types and levels of power for a variety of different purposes are now available on the market. A number of these power conversion devices are designed to output three-phase, alternating current (AC) electrical power for use by three-phase AC machines and other devices. For example, in the field of electric motors and motor drives, a three-phase AC motor can be connected to a motor drive, which includes (and operates as) a power converter and provides three-phase AC electrical power to the motor in a controlled fashion. By controlling the currents (and voltages) applied to a given motor, the motor drive further is capable of controlling motor speed, torque and other motor performance characteristics.
Although power converters can take a variety of forms, many power converters including many of those serving as motor drives are power converters that employ pulse width modulation (PWM) techniques to convert power from one form into another, and to generate the desired three-phase AC output power. Many such PWM power converters include both a rectifier stage and an inverter stage, which are implemented by way of bridges having multiple switching devices such as silicon controlled rectifiers (SCRs), symmetric gate commutated thyristors (SGCTs), integrated gate commutated thyristors (IGCTs), insulated gate bipolar transistors (IGBTs), and a variety of other types of switching devices, depending upon the embodiment. Power converters of this type can include, for example, voltage source inverters (VSIs) and current source inverters (CSIs), among others.
Although many conventional PWM power converters such as the drives mentioned above are highly effective in converting input power into the desired, three-phase AC output power, one aspect of the operation of such PWM power converters that could be improved relates to the manner in which the PWM power converters operate when there are momentary losses of power (e.g., momentary line losses) with respect to the power being input to the power converters. It is well known that, when voltages from a line/utility (or other power source) are reapplied to a drive, transient voltage(s) can be produced due to the resonant nature of the drive's input filter (typically including both capacitors as well as inductors), particularly at the instant at which the voltages are reapplied. Further, if residual voltages remain on the input filter capacitors of the drive when power is reapplied to the drive, the transient voltage(s) experienced by the drive tend to be further exacerbated.
Large transient voltage(s) occurring in a drive can create voltage stress on the capacitors and the semiconductor devices of the drive and potentially result in damage to the drive. Because the presence of residual voltages on the input filter capacitors particularly aggravates the creation of these transient voltages, it is desirable that any input filter capacitors be discharged prior to recommencement of drive operation following an input power lapse. That is, upon the opening of the input terminal(s) of a drive (particularly of its rectifier stage) during power failures, one or more of the input filter capacitors typically are charged, and such charged capacitors should be discharged prior to restarting of the drive/closing of the input terminals. Yet the conventional manner of discharging input filter capacitors in drives, typically by way of the filter capacitors' internal bleeder resistors, is excessively slow (e.g., taking nearly a minute), and is inconsistent with providing a drive that is capable of uninterrupted or substantially uninterrupted operation notwithstanding occasional brief input power lapses.
For at least these reasons, therefore, it would be advantageous if an improved drive or other power converter could be developed that, while employing energy-storage components such as input filter capacitors, also was capable of operating or being operated in a manner that facilitated the rapid discharging of such energy-storage components when the provision of input power to the power converter was disrupted, prior to re-energizing the power converter. It would further be advantageous if such an improved power converter achieving such operation could be realized without the need for many additional structural components.

Power converter with active discharging for improved auto-restart capability


A device for releasing a panel of an aircraft, the device being configured to be secured to a support, the support having an opening and the device being attached to cover a periphery of the opening, the device comprising a panel configured to be arranged at least opposite the opening. Such a device comprises: at least two ejector members, each of the at least two ejector members comprising at least one link; and at least one control member for applying a pulling force to the at least one link.

In the event that the aircraft has an accident, such a panel needs to be opened or retracted as quickly as possible in order to allow the aircraft crew and/or passengers to exit the aircraft.
Therefore, equipping such panels with emergency means allowing them to be retracted is known.
For example, document WO9907600 describes emergency means having latches. Cables are used to actuate these latches that are able to rotate or move in translation relative to a frame secured to the fuselage or to a structure of the aircraft. Moreover, an actuator is connected to the cables and allows a pulling force to be applied to the cables.
Such latches are therefore able to move between a working position in which they hold the panel in position in order to close the opening in a sealed manner and a retracted position in which the panel can be pushed out manually by a person.
However, when the latches are arranged in their retracted positions, it is therefore necessary, after the aircraft has had an accident, for a person to have sufficient physical strength to push out and possibly lift the panel. Moreover, such a panel may have a significant weight preventing an injured person or a child from easily pushing it out of the aircraft.
Furthermore, as described in document FR 2 766 156, another type of emergency means has also been designed that makes it possible to retract a porthole by cutting a seal arranged at the periphery of this porthole.
Document FR 3 072 937 describes emergency means comprising a release key and a special seal arranged at the periphery of a porthole Such a seal is configured to allow a person to manually eject the porthole if the aircraft has an accident. This ejection is implemented by applying a force substantially perpendicular to the inner surface of the panel.
Document GB 526 648 describes another emergency means for actuating a pivoting emergency door by means of a lever. In the event of an accident, a person must apply manual force to this lever in order to be able to exit the aircraft.
Moreover, document EP 0 019 024 discloses a device for releasing a panel equipping a support of a vehicle such as a bus or a coach for transporting passengers.
Such a device comprises, in particular, four ejector members allowing the panel to be swiftly released by means of pins cooperating with studs. Such pins are actuated by means of cables connected to two handles that can be actuated respectively from outside and inside the vehicle.
The ejector members also comprise coil springs arranged around the studs. Each spring bears at a first end on a pin and at a second end on the support of the vehicle.
Such a device therefore needs to be assembled directly on the vehicle and cannot constitute a pre-mounted assembly.

Device for releasing an aircraft panel and associated aircraft


A disclosed image processing apparatus enables input of various documents, addition of various types of embedded information, and implementation of various behaviors associated with embedded information detection results. Information embedded in input document data is detected, and an image processing associated with a detection result is carried out. The image processing apparatus includes a document input mechanism, an embedded information analysis mechanism, a behavior determination mechanism, a document output mechanism, and an image management mechanism. In one embodiment, an interface via which the document input mechanism and the embedded information analysis mechanism are connected, and another interface via which the document input mechanism and the image management mechanism are connected are fixed, so that the document input mechanism can be replaced with a new document input mechanism that inherits from those fixed interfaces, without affecting the other mechanisms.

1. Technical Field
This disclosure relates to image processing apparatus such as copiers, facsimile machines, scanners, and printers, and more particularly, to an image processing apparatus whereby information embedded in image data is detected, and a subsequent image processing is determined by the result of detection of such embedded information.
2. Description of the Related Art
Significant improvements have been made in image processing technologies and image forming technologies in the past several years, and it is now possible to make highly sophisticated copies of bills or other special documents such as securities, using a digital color copy machine. As a result, it has become often difficult to distinguish an original, authentic document from its copy. Therefore, originals such as the aforementioned specialized documents or classified documents handled at corporations are often rendered incapable of being copied at all, or some other countermeasures are taken to ensure that, if a copy were to be made, such copy would not be able to accurately reproduce the original.
From these perspectives, various technologies have been developed to control the output of image processing apparatus such as a digital color copy machine capable of producing copies or duplicates of a specialized or classified document and the like. Several examples are discussed below.
In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2005-038371, in order to ensure the security of paper documents and electronic documents, a security policy of an organization is applied. In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2004-166241, in accordance with a security policy prescribing rules concerning the handling of documents, operations performed on a document are controlled, or the security policy is modified.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2006-287902 proposes embedding multibit information in an image or, inversely, detecting such embedded information. In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2004-303223, a one-dimensional or two-dimensional barcode is embedded in a printed document so as to indicate its special nature.
In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2006-254382, when it is detected that a given paper document or electronic document is one whose output is limited, a particular behavior is implemented. In Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2004-230858, information for limiting the possible number of times of printing is embedded in printed matter, or a time limit for obtaining a printed output of printed matter is provided.
However, the first two examples, i.e., Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 2005-038371 and 2004-166241 do not describe how information embedded in a paper document can be detected. If the suggested technologies were to be adapted for detecting embedded information, a number of modifications would have to be made in the image processing apparatus.
In the next two examples, i.e., Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Nos. 2006-287902 and 2004-303223, techniques for embedding information, i.e., types of embedded information are specified, so that the configuration of the image processing apparatus would have to be modified in not too few respects if a new type of information were to be embedded.
In the last two examples, i.e., Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application Nos. 2006-254832 and 2004-230858, behaviors following the detection of embedded information are specified, so that the configuration of the image processing apparatus would also have to be modified in not too few respects if the apparatus were to be adapted for a new behavior.
Thus, in those known image processing apparatus, either the source of input of a document, the type of embedded information, or the behavior following the detection of embedded information is specified. Accordingly, the configuration of the image processing apparatus would have to be modified in many respects if either a new source of document input were to be allowed, a new type of embedded information were to be introduced, or a new behavior associated with a detection result of embedded information were to be added. Thus, in these known image processing apparatus, processing operations are limited within certain specified ranges.


The present invention provides a drill guide for orthopedic surgery. The drill guide is configured to facilitate drilling of a bone tunnel with a correct and repeatable placement. The drill guide is designed for drilling of the femoral bone during knee surgery. More particularly, in certain embodiments the drill guide is designed for ACL repair and replacement surgery. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the guide has 5 members: a center rail, a side rail, an anteromedial slider, a femoral slider, and a center pin.

During arthroscopic knee procedures, particularly anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction, the torn ligament is removed so the surgeon can see the original ligament attachment sites on the bone, known as the footprints. Tunnels are drilled into the femur and tibia through the footprints to make anchor points for a graft. The graft is then passed through the tunnels and fixed in place. The placement of the tunnels is critical for a successful surgery. Drilling the tunnels through the footprints contributes to an anatomical placement, but of the two tunnels, the femoral tunnel in particular is more difficult to place accurately. With current techniques and tools for ACL tunnel placements, it is difficult for surgeons to create, in a reproducible way, anatomical femoral tunnel placements. It is desirable to provide a drill guide, which allows for more accurate femoral tunnel placement.
A method and device for accurate and reproducible placement of tunnels into the bone are therefore needed.

Orthopedic surgical guide for tunnel placement


A permanent magnet synchronous motor having multiple-phase armature windings and a rotor is subjected to sensor-less control. Phase voltages are generated in response to voltage command values. The generated phase voltages are applied to the armature windings. Phase currents through the armature windings are detected. The detected phase currents depend on the voltage command values. An angular position and an angular velocity of the rotor are calculated from the detected phase currents. The voltage command values are adjusted in response to the calculated angular position and the calculated angular velocity of the rotor to implement feedback control of the motor. An angular velocity of the rotor is estimated from a time-domain variation in the calculated angular position of the rotor. A determination is made as to whether or not the calculated angular velocity of the rotor and the estimated angular velocity of the rotor are substantially equal to each other. The calculated angular position of the rotor is changed by a predetermined phase value and is thereby corrected when it is determined that the calculated angular velocity of the rotor and the estimated angular velocity of the rotor are not substantially equal to each other.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method and an apparatus for sensor-less control of a permanent magnet synchronous motor.
2. Description of the Related Art
It is known to control a permanent magnet synchronous motor without using any positional sensor. In one example of known sensor-less speed control, the rotor position and the speed of a permanent magnet synchronous motor are calculated from the instantaneous values of phase voltages and phase currents according to a given voltage equation corresponding to an equivalent circuit of the motor. Drive of the motor is adjusted in response to the calculated rotor position and the calculated speed.
Since the polarity of a magnetic field can not be determined by the above-indicated voltage equation, two different angular positions are present as the calculated rotor position. At start of the motor, the polarity of a magnetic field is examined, and an initial angular rotor position is determined on the basis of the examination result. Then, selection is given of one of two angular rotor positions which has continuity with the initial angular rotor position. Subsequently, selection is periodically given of one of two angular rotor positions which has continuity with the immediatelypreceding selected angular rotor position.
During low-speed drive of the motor, voltage command values are relatively small, and the difference between the voltage command values and phase voltages actually applied to the motor tends to be relatively great due to a dead time. Such a great difference causes a large error in the calculated angular rotor position. Accordingly, there is a chance that the polarity of a magnetic field will be erroneously recognized. In the erroneous recognition, the calculated angular rotor position differs from the actual angular rotor position by an error corresponding to about T radians.
In a typical example of known sensor-less speed control of a permanent magnet synchronous motor, an inverter generates phase currents in response to the output signal of a PWM (pulse width modulation) control circuit. The inverter feeds the generated phase currents to the motor. The phase currents and related phase voltages are monitored. A calculator estimates the rotor position in the motor from the monitored phase currents and the monitored phase voltages. The PWM control circuit is directly or indirectly informed of the estimated rotor position. The output signal of the PWM control circuit depends on the estimated rotor position. Accordingly, the phase currents fed to the motor are adjusted in response to the estimated rotor position.

Method and apparatus for sensor-less control of permanent magnet synchronous motor


A media storage container is constructed from a first universal molded plastic component that is mated with a selected one of a plurality of other components each customized to hold media items of a particular type.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a storage pack used primarily within a storage rack designed to accommodate singular or multiple types of information storage media or materials such as computer or micrographics tapes and cartridges.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is necessary to store large quantities of computer and graphic information storage media of all kinds in such a way that the stored items may be quickly located and retrieved. For maximum storage density, it is also necessary to provide a means to secure more than one type of media in packs having a common relationship when they are placed in a high density storage rack.
Prior art media storage packs, such as those produced from metal or molded plastic, have several limitations. The most severe limitation is a lack of flexibility for the storage of new computer and optical media being introduced into the market at an ever increasing pace. Recent technical developments have produced numerous competing storage schemes of a proprietary nature for data storage and retrieval. This has meant that an increasing variety of media cassettes, disks and storage mechanisms are being marketed for the storage of large volumes of data. Thus, different varieties and sizes of media are difficult to store in a uniform manner and with maximum space efficiency, especially when media packs are placed into a high density rack system.
In the recent history of large computer users, many such users have converted their media type from that of large reels of tape and removable disk arrays to one using a fairly standard cartridge design. This standard cartridge design led to the development, by those skilled in the art, of several types of packs for the storage of this single size of cartridge. However, among competing pack designs, the one constant element was the space required for this standard cartridge whose outer dimensions did not vary in any significant manner from cartridge manufacturer to cartridge manufacturer. Recently introduced internal improvements to this standard cartridge have not changed the exterior cartridge dimensions or the space required for its storage in a pack.
With the introduction of very new media, having generally, but not universally, reduced dimensions, the compartments created in packs produced for the storage of the previously standard cartridge would often suffice. However, since newer computer media tends to be progressively smaller, a significant amount of volumetric waste is created when smaller media is stored in a pack area designed to hold larger media Also, some of the newest media, particularly that of an optical nature, often has one or two dimensions that grossly exceed the dimensions of the previously standard cartridge. Thus, new media might not be able to fit in the standard spaces of a previous pack. In any event, those wishing to store large quantities of newer media usually were faced with the purchase of entirely new packs and/or storage racks plus having a very limited monetary value that might exist in obsolete packs and/or storage racks.


An organic EL display panel includes a substrate, pixel electrodes, a common electrode, signal lines, power supply lines, thin-film transistors, scan lines, organic EL elements and storage capacitors. To obtain a full color image by light emissions of the organic EL elements, red, green and blue emitters are patterned correspondently with the pixel electrodes and arranged in this order along the gate line direction. The emitters are patterned such that each pair of the red, green and blue emitters which are adjacent to each other along the gate line direction overlap each other to define a light-emitting layer overlap region, where colors of light components which exit the organic EL elements and pass through the emitters are mixed, between the adjacent organic EL elements arranged along the gate line direction. At least one of the thin-film transistor and the storage capacitor is arranged in the light-emitting layer overlap region.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an organic EL display panel.
2. Description of the Related Art
As display panels capable of high-quality display and replacing liquid crystal display panels, organic EL display panels using organic EL (Electro-Luminescent) elements have received a great deal of attention.
The organic EL display panels are classified into passive display panels having a passive matrix structure in which organic EL elements emitting light are located at intersections of anodes and cathodes, and active display panels which control a direct current to be supplied to organic EL elements by using thin-film transistors (TFTs).
A conventional active organic EL display panel will be described below. In this organic EL display panel, unit pixels each including an organic EL element are arranged in a matrix form in a display area where an image is displayed. FIG. 10A is a plan view of a unit pixel 200 in this organic EL display panel. FIG. 10B is an equivalent circuit of the unit pixel 200.
The unit pixel 200 includes an organic EL element 1, storage capacitor 2, EL driving TFT 3, and switching TFT 4. A power supply line 5 and a signal line 7 are arranged along the vertical direction in the display area. A scan line 6 is arranged along the horizontal direction. The power supply lines 5, signal lines 7, and scan lines 6 are arranged at predetermined intervals in the display area.
Referring to FIGS. 10A and 10B, the organic EL element 1 is connected to the power supply line 5 through the EL driving TFT 3. A power supply voltage is supplied from the power supply line 5 to the organic EL element 1 through the EL driving TFT 3. A signal voltage is supplied from the signal line 7 to the gate of the EL driving TFT 3 through the switching TFT 4. A control voltage is supplied from the scan line 6 to the gate of the switching TFT 4.
FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken along a line A-A′ in the organic EL element 1 shown in FIG. 10A. The organic EL element 1 includes a hole transporting layer 13, light-emitting layer 14, and electron transporting layer 15. The organic EL element 1 is arranged between a pixel electrode 12 and a common electrode 16. The pixel electrode 12 made of an ITO (Indium Tin Oxide) thin film is formed on a glass substrate 11 which extends over the display area. The hole transporting layer 13, light-emitting layer 14, electron transporting layer 15, and common electrode 16 made of a metal are formed on the pixel electrode 12 in this order. When a direct current is supplied to this structure, holes are emitted from the pixel electrode 12, and electrons are emitted from the common electrode 16. The holes and electrodes recombine in the light-emitting layer 14 and excite organic molecules in the light-emitting layer 14. Accordingly, light exits in the direction indicated by an arrow in FIG. 11.
Referring to FIG. 10A, the storage capacitor 2 includes an electrode 2a and an electrode 2b facing the electrode 2a. The electrode 2a is connected to the power supply line 5. The electrode 2b is connected to the drain of the switching TFT 4. When charges are stored between the electrode 2a and the electrode 2b, a current amount necessary for causing the organic EL element 1 to emit light is set.
In the organic EL display panel, no light is emitted from the region occupied by the storage capacitor 2, EL driving TFT 3, and switching TFT 4. If the area occupied by the storage capacitor 2, EL driving TFT 3, and switching TFT 4 in the unit pixel 200 is large, as shown in FIG. 10A, the ratio of the area of the organic EL element 1 which emits light becomes low. That is, the aperture ratio (the ratio of the area occupied by the organic EL elements 1 to the area of the display area) decreases. When the aperture ratio is low, the luminance per unit pixel 200 must be increased to maintain the luminance. This is a contributing factor to shorten the life of the organic EL element 1 and, accordingly, the life of the organic EL display panel.
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2000-397475 (p. 6, FIG. 2) (patent reference 1) discloses an organic EL display panel, in which the thin-film transistor and storage capacitor are superposed on the light emission surface side of the display area to increase the aperture ratio and prolong the life.
According to the technique described in patent reference 1, the area occupied by the thin-film transistor is surely not a cause of a low aperture ratio. However, the storage capacitor having a larger area still suppresses the aperture ratio low. The effect for prolonging the life of the organic EL display panel is insufficient.
The present invention has been made to solve the problem, and has as its object to provide an organic EL display panel having a longer life.
(Patent Reference 1)
Jpn. Pat. Appln. KOKAI Publication No. 2000-397475 (p. 6, FIG. 2)

Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co., Ltd.


Process for the continuous monitoring of waste gas from an incinerator plant, which contains volatile mercury halides and optionally metallic mercury in the form of vapor, with respect to the entire mercury content, of the waste gas taking a continuous test gas stream from the waste gas, cooling the test gas stream to form a condensate which contains a reducing agent, continuously passing the test gas stream into contact with the condensate to reduce the mercury halides contained in the test gas stream to metallic mercury by the reducing agent contained in the condensate, and subsequently determining the entire metallic mercury content by analysis of the test gas stream.

The present invention relates to a process for the continuous monitoring of waste gas, (flue gas) from an incinerator plant, which contains volatile mercury halides and optionally metallic mercury in the form of vapor, with respect to their entire mercury content, and an apparatus to carry out the process.
Continuous monitoring is possible only when mercury occurs in its metallic (elemental) form.
A process for continuously monitoring such waste gases is known from DE-OS 37 04 533.
In the process disclosed in DE-OS 37 04 533, a continuous sample of gas stream is taken from the waste gas and guided through an activated charcoal bed at a temperature of approximately 350.degree. C. to reduce the volatile mercury halides.
In so doing, mercury halides, in particular HgCl.sub.2, are reduced on the activated charcoal into metallic mercury. The entire mercury content in the waste gas is then determined by measuring the metallic mercury content in the so pretreated sampling stream.
The drawback with this process is that impure substances, which prevent the reduction of the mercury or its release from the activated charcoal bed or reoxidize the already reduced mercury, can accumulate in the activated charcoal.
For this reason, the process can be used only with a so-called clean gas, in particular with hydrogen chloride concentrations below 100 mg/m.sup.3. Furthermore, the activated charcoal must be replaced from time to time.
Furthermore, it is known to guide the test gas (sample gas) stream, instead of through an activated charcoal bed, through a tin(II)-chloride solution or through a boron hydride solution, where mercury halides are also reduced to metallic mercury.
Such a process requires a continuous metering of reducing agents. In this process, the reductant content in the solution must be continuously monitored.
Furthermore, an alternative process can be derived from the aforementioned published DE-OS 37 04 533, in which process any and all kinds of reducing agents are dispensed with and in which the mercury halides are reduced at a temperature of over 700.degree. C. In so doing, existing hydrogen chloride must be set or reacted with calcium compounds. The high processing temperature makes the process time consuming.

Process and apparatus for continuously monitoring waste gas from an incinerator plant


A pressure-balanced battery for powering downhole-drilling components and a downhole telemetry network in a subterranean environment includes a battery and a housing enclosing and sealing a volume containing the battery. At least a portion of the housing is expandable and contractible to enable pressure encountered downhole to balance pressure internal to the housing. In this way, the thermal range of a battery's operation may be increased to function in a downhole environment. In selected embodiments, the housing is in operable communication with downhole fluids to transfer pressure to the battery. In selected embodiments, the battery is integrated into the annular structure of an existing downhole tool. In other embodiments, the battery may be integrated into a downhole tool specifically dedicated for use as a battery.

1. The Field of the Invention
This invention relates to primary and secondary batteries for use downhole for powering a telemetry network and other downhole tools. More specifically, this invention relates to a battery or a fuel cell having internal components that are pressurized to the ambient pressure found downhole, to depths of 20,000 feet or more, in order to compensate for downhole thermal conditions above 120° C.
2. The Relevant Art
At depths of 20,000 feet or more, temperature and pressure may reach levels of 200° C. and 10,000 PSI, respectively, providing a hostile environment to downhole drilling components. Moreover, as drilling methods and equipment become more advanced and accurate, newer and more advanced components are continuously being upgraded to perform various functions. Since reliable power may not be readily transmitted to downhole drilling environments, batteries may be used to provide power to various components. Nevertheless, very few batteries are designed to operate in the types of conditions encountered downhole. Moreover, due to space constraints, very few batteries have the desired power densities and dimensions to fit within spaces available in downhole equipment.
For example, few if any batteries are known to operate at temperatures in excess of 170° C. The majority of batteries are designed to function in conditions below 100° C. Thus, very few batteries currently available may be used to provide reliable power sources to downhole drilling components. Thus, apparatus and methods are needed to provide reliable power to downhole components.
The factors affecting downhole pressure are generally the depth of drilling, the hardness and continuity of the subterranean formations being drilled, the composition of the drilling fluid being used, and the under-balanced condition maintained in the well bore. Similar factors are also relevant to the temperature in the well bore. Extreme pressure and thermal conditions in deep wells contribute to premature battery degradation in downhole applications.
Generally, downhole batteries are self-contained in their own sealed containers to protect them from ambient conditions, including high pressure and temperature. The need to protect battery components from external pressure may require an expensive pressure housing in the downhole tool. In addition, physical constraints imposed by the geometry of a downhole tool often means that a battery must intrude on the flow space within the tool, or it must be limited to relatively small diameters, reducing overall power density. Moreover, high-pressure housings are always subject to leakage that may lead to a catastrophic failure of a battery and may damage surrounding electronic components as well.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,187,469, to Marincie et al., incorporated herein by reference, is an example of a downhole battery system. Marincie et al. teaches individual cells mounted end to end and interlocked together to prevent rotation of cells relative to one another. The cells are electrically connected and mounted between an inner and outer tube. The housing for the battery is sufficiently strong to resist downhole pressures and is provided with vents for the discharge of gases.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,224,997, to Papadopoulos, incorporated herein by reference, teaches a flexible battery pack for powering downhole electronic equipment. The pack includes a plurality of electrochemical cells connected and tied together in a stacked relationship by a pair of semi-cylindrical encapsulating shells which form a primary containment for the cells. The shells comprise a glass fiber reinforced plastic material. The primary containment is sealed within a stainless steel tube that is provided to hold the components in place during operation. Electrical conductors are also provided to transmit energy from the battery to selected downhole equipment. Each cell is sealed to resist the downhole environment and a venting mechanism is provided.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,087,590, to Kraft, discloses a pressure-equalized electrochemical battery system. Kraft discloses a pack of ordinary, commercially available batteries that are provided with a common electrolyte-filled reservoir coupled to each battery by a small tube. The reservoir includes a compliant diaphragm which, when exposed to pressure, applies the pressure to the reservoir of electrolyte to force it into the battery. Forceful filling of the cells equalizes their internal and external pressures. Kraft is intended for deep-sea applications and would not meet the constraints of a downhole tool string.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,117,583, to Nilsson, discloses a battery that is intentionally pressurized, but is pressurized above ambient pressure. In lead-acid batteries, PbSO4 that is formed during discharge has a higher volume than Pb and PbO2 from which it is formed. When it is discharged, the shrinkage causes a loss of contact between active components and the current conducting lead frame. This is overcome by providing a strong housing that keeps the battery under high pressure.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,253,847, to Stephensen, discloses a permanent downhole power source for a producing well using a steel casing coated with iron oxide as a cathode. Fe2O3 is reduced to FeO. A separate piece of Zinc, as an anode, is provided which corrodes and is consumed. A cement treated with additives, to increase its conductivity, serves as an electrolyte.
In view of the foregoing, what is needed is a long life battery that will accommodate the temperature, pressure, and physical constraints of downhole tools and be functional to depths of 20,000 feet or more.


A threaded fastener has a nut, a lower neck disposed on a bottom of the nut, a cage recess formed on the lower neck, the cage recess having a flat face and a bevel face, a cushion having a through hole, and the lower neck inserted in the through hole. The cushion encloses the cage recess.

The present invention relates to a fastener module. More particularly, the present invention relates to a fastener module which will not damage a surface of a fastened article.
A conventional nut and a cushion are separated. The user may fasten the nut too tight. Therefore, the cushion may be deformed and a surface of a fastened article may be damaged.


A DC-to-DC power converter includes at least one power switch, a pulse width modulation circuit for generating control pulses for the at least one power switch, an output inductor connected to the at least one power switch, and a current sensor connected in parallel with the inductor for sensing current passing through the inductor. The current sensor preferably includes a resistor and a capacitor connected together in series. The current sensor is connected to a peak current control loop circuit cooperating with the pulse width modulation circuit for controlling the at least one power switch responsive to the current sensor. The resistor and capacitor preferably have respective values so that the current sensor is a substantially instantaneous current sensor. The output inductor has an inductance and a direct current (DC) resistance defining a first time constant. In one embodiment, the resistor and capacitor of the current sensor define a second time constant within a predetermined range of each other. In another embodiment, the resistor and capacitor of the current sensor define a second time constant substantially equal to the first time constant.

DC-to-DC power converters are widely used to supply power to electronic devices, such as in computers, printers, and other devices. Such DC-to-DC converters are available in a variety of configurations for producing the desired output voltage from a source voltage. For example, a buck or step down converter produces an output voltage that is less than the source voltage. A typical step down converter includes one or more power switches which are pulse width modulated to connect the source voltage to an output inductor to thereby power the load.
For example, the HIP5061 converter offered by the assignee of the present invention is a complete power control integrated circuit incorporating both the high power DMOS transistor, CMOS logic and low level analog circuitry on the same IC. The converter includes a gate driver for the high side switch, and a high speed peak current control loop. A portion of the converter's DC output is applied to a transconductance error amplifier that compares the fed back signal with an internal reference. The feedback signal is generated by a resistor divider connected across the output of the converter.
The output of the error amplifier is also brought out at a terminal to provide for soft start and frequency compensation of the control loop. This same signal is applied internally to program the peak high side switch drain current. To assure precise current control, the response time of the peak current control loop is less than 50 ns.
The transconductance error amplifier compares the DC level of the fed back voltage with an internal reference, while providing voltage loop compensation using external resistors and capacitors. The error amplifier output is converted into a current to program the required peak high side switch current that produces the desired output voltage. When the sum of the sensed high side switch current and the compensating ramp exceed the error current signal, a latch is reset and the high side switch is turned off. Current comparison around this loop takes place in less than 50 ns, thereby allowing for excellent 250 KHz converter operation.
A signal proportional to the output inductor's current may be used to limit component stress during output overloads (overload protection). However, a regulation application needs a higher fidelity current signal than the overload protection application. Typically the heat sinks and thermal design of the DC-to-DC converter are sized for efficiency, and the worst case variation of the overload trip level (current signal) still maintains the components below their maximum ratings. Unfortunately, the waveshape may not be suitable for regulation, and any sensing circuit bandwidth must be sufficient in view of the switching frequency.
Perhaps the most common approach to sensing the output inductor current in a buck converter uses a sensing resistor connected in series with the output inductor. The circuit reconstructs the output inductor current as a differential voltage across the sensing resistor. Most IC's using this approach regulate the output voltage with current mode control and use the signal for output voltage feedback.
The sensing resistor value must be large enough to keep the sensed signal above the noise floor and yet small enough to avoid excessive power dissipation. This approach has the obvious efficiency drawback with high output current. In other words, power is unnecessarily dissipated by the sensing resistor, especially since the power dissipated increases with the square of the inductor current. For some applications, the value of the sensing resistor may be close to the same resistance as the MOSFET's on resistance.
In another variation of the sensing circuit, the sensing resistor is connected in series with the drain of the upper MOSFET as disclosed, for example, in the MAXIM MAX1624/MAX1625 data sheets. This has the advantage of reducing the power dissipated in the sensing resistor with a large signal (large resistor value).
Unfortunately, this sensing resistor location creates other problems that can lead to a less robust design. The main problem is that the upper MOSFET's drain current is discontinuous. Every time the upper MOSFET turns on, the current starts at zero and increases rapidly with a steep slope. Additionally, the current waveshape exceeds the inductor current for the time interval necessary to replenish the charge of the lower MOSFET and/or diode junction capacitances. The control IC must first ignore the additional initial current and wait for the signal to settle. This may cause control loop problems and limit the input-to-output range of the converter.
Yet another approach of current sensing is illustrated by the HIP6011 converter offered by the assignee of the present invention. This converter uses the upper MOSFET's on-resistance as the current sensing element for overload protection. This IC uses voltage-mode control for output voltage regulation and can tolerate the large variation in the resistance value. However, a droop circuit may be needed that modifies the output voltage as a function of load current. The droop circuit uses the average voltage drop across the output inductor (a resistor and capacitor as a low-pass filter) to modify the output voltage regulation. The average voltage across the inductor is the DC output current multiplied by the inductor's winding resistance.

DC-to-DC converter with inductor current sensing and related methods


A method for gaze-based workflow adaptation includes identifying a workflow in which a user is engaged, where the workflow comprises a plurality of tasks that collectively achieves a desired goal, creating a trigger for a given task of the plurality of tasks, wherein the trigger specifies an action to be automatically taken in response to a gaze of the user meeting a defined criterion, monitoring a progress of the workflow, monitoring the gaze of the user, and sending a signal to a remote device in response to the gaze of the user meeting the defined criterion, wherein the signal instructs the remote device to take the action.

A workflow comprises a defined, repeatable series of tasks that collectively achieves a desired goal (e.g., transforms materials, provides services, processes information, or the like). The series of tasks may comprise physical tasks, digital tasks, or a combination of physical and digital tasks. For instance, a workflow may involve carrying out a series of physical tasks while simultaneously interacting with a digital component to retrieve information, execute tests or operations, and/or validate intermediate functions while the physical tasks are being carried out.


A plasma processing apparatus includes a vacuum container, a conveyance unit including a rotator and circulating and carrying a workpiece through the conveyance path, a cylindrical member having an opening at one end extended in the direction toward the conveyance path, a window member provided at the cylindrical member, and dividing a gas space from the exterior thereof, a supply unit supplying the process gas in the gas space, and an antenna generating inductive coupling plasma on the workpiece. The supply unit supplies the process gas from plural locations where a passing time at which the surface of the rotator passes through a process region is different, and the plasma processing apparatus further includes an adjusting unit individually adjusting the supply amounts of the process gas from the plural locations of the supply unit per a unit time in accordance with the passing time.

In manufacturing processes of various products, such as a semiconductor element, a liquid crystal display, and an optical disk, a thin film like an optical film may be formed on a workpiece, such as a wafer or a glass substrate. This thin film is formed by, for example, film formation process of forming a metal film, etc., on the workpiece, and film processing like etching, oxidization or nitridation to the formed film.
Film formation and film processing can be performed in various schemes, and an example scheme of them is the scheme which applies plasma. In the film formation, an inactive gas is introduced into a chamber in which a target is placed, and a DC voltage is applied to the target to obtain the plasma inactive gas. The ions of the plasma inactive gas are caused to be collided with the target, and materials beaten out from the target are deposited on a workpiece to form a film. In the film processing, a process gas is introduced in a chamber in which an electrode is placed, and a high-frequency voltage is applied to the electrode to obtain the plasma process gas. Active species, such as ions and radicals of the plasma process gas, are caused to be collided with the film on the workpiece, thereby performing the film processing.
In order to enable a sequential execution of such film formation and film processing, JP 4428873 B discloses a plasma processing apparatus which has a rotation table that is a rotator installed in a chamber, and which also has multiple film formation units and film processing units installed in the circumferential direction above the rotation table. A workpiece is held on the rotation table and carried in the manner so as to pass through the spaces right below the film formation unit and the film processing unit, and thus an optical film, etc., is formed.
Some plasma processing apparatuses with the rotation table utilize, as a film processing unit, a cylindrical electrode which has a closed upper end and has an opened lower end. When the cylindrical electrode is applied, an opening is provided in the upper part of the chamber, and the upper end of the cylindrical electrode is attached to this opening via an insulation member. A side wall of the cylindrical electrode is extended inside the chamber, and the opened lower end of the cylindrical electrode faces the rotation table via a slight gap. The chamber is grounded, and the cylindrical electrode serves as an anode, while the chamber and the rotation table serve as a cathode. The process gas is introduced in the cylindrical electrode, and the high-frequency voltage is applied to generate plasma. Electrons contained in the generated plasma flow into the cathode that is the rotation table. By causing to pass the workpiece held by the rotation table through the space right below the opened lower end of the cylindrical electrode, active species, such as ions and radicals produced by the plasma are collided with the workpiece, and thus film processing is executed.
Since workpieces, etc. to be processed are increasing the size in recent years, and the improvement of the process efficiency is also required, there is a tendency such that the region where plasma is generated to perform film formation and film processing is increasing. When, however, a voltage is applied to the cylindrical electrode to generate plasma, it is sometimes difficult to generate high-density plasma in a wide range.
Accordingly, JP 3586198 B discloses a plasma processing apparatus that generates relatively high-density plasma in a wide range, thus capable of performing a film processing on a large-size workpiece. According to such a plasma processing apparatus, an antenna is installed outside the chamber via a window member like a dielectric between the antenna and a gas space where the process gas is introduced. By applying a high frequency voltage to the antenna, plasma is generated in the gas space by inductive coupling, and thus the film processing is performed.
In such a plasma processing apparatus that utilizes the rotation table as described above, a consideration is now given to a case in which a film processing unit by inductive coupling plasma is utilized as the film processing unit. In this case, in order to suppress the increase in weight of the dielectric, etc., that is the window, the width of window that is the dielectric, etc., in the circumferential direction of the rotation table may be made constant. In accordance with this constant width, the width of the region where film processing is performed in the circumferential direction of the rotation table, i.e., the process region may be made parallel in the direction along the radial direction of the rotation table. Meanwhile, a difference in speed to pass through the process region on the surface of the rotation table occurs between the inner circumference side of the rotation table and the outer circumference side thereof. That is, the passing speed within the same distance becomes faster at the outer circumference side of the rotation table, and becomes slower at the inner circumference side thereof. When the width of the process region is made parallel in the direction along the radial direction of the rotation table as described above, as for the surface of the rotation table, the outer circumference side passes through the process region faster than the inner circumference side. For this reason, the film processing rate after the process for a certain time becomes greater at the inner circumference side than at the outer circumference side.
In this case, when, for example, film processing, such as oxidization or nitridation, is performed on the niobium or silicon film formed by the film formation unit to form a chemical compound film, the degree of oxidization or nitridation of the niobium or silicon film becomes remarkably different between the inner circumference side of the rotation table and the outer circumference side thereof. Accordingly, it is difficult to uniformly perform a film processing across the entire workpiece, and to change the degree of the processing at the desired position of the workpiece.
This technical problem also occurs when a semiconductor wafer, etc., that is the workpieces are arranged in sequence in the circumferential direction on the rotation table and plasma processing is performed on the workpieces. Moreover, it becomes a further remarkable problem when multiple workpieces are arranged in sequence in the radial direction and the plasma processing is performed in view of the process efficiency, etc. More specifically, when the radius of the rotation table exceeds 1.0 m, and the width of the process region becomes a size that reaches substantially 0.5 m, the difference in processing rate becomes quite large between the inner circumference side and the outer circumference side.
An objective of the present disclosure is to provide a plasma processing apparatus that is capable of performing a desired plasma processing on a workpiece circulated and carried by a rotator in accordance with positions where the passing speed to the surface of the rotator differs.


In a display device to be mounted in a vehicle, a space is secured between a cover with which a first opening of a case main body is sealed and a liquid crystal panel of a display unit mounted on the backside of the case main body, ventilation openings (spaces around protrusions and through holes) that communicate with an external space are formed in portions of a casing, which is a component member of the display unit, except for the front surface of the casing, and protruding portions each partially supporting the outer edge portion of the front surface of the liquid crystal panel are formed on the inner surface of the front wall of the casing. Thus, a long and complicated air flow path is secured around the liquid crystal panel by the protruding portions, and the space and the external space communicates with each other via the path.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display device in which a display screen of a display panel mounted in a case main body is covered with a transparent cover, and more particularly to a display device in which anti-dust and anti-fog measures are taken for preventing dust and the like from entering a space defined between the display panel and the cover and for preventing occurrence of fogging due to condensation.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a display device that is to be mounted in a vehicle and that is to be arranged in a cluster panel or the like provided in a vehicle cabin, a display unit is mounted on the backside of a case main body having an opening, and a display panel (a liquid crystal panel) that is a component member of the display unit is exposed through the opening of the case main body. However, the opening of the case main body is usually covered with a transparent cover in such a manner as to prevent a display screen of the display panel from getting damaged. In this case, if a large space is not secured between the cover and the display screen, when the cover is pressed by a finger of an occupant or the like and is warped, the deformation of the cover may directly affect the display panel, and the display screen can be damaged. Thus, a reasonably large space is secured between the cover and the display screen.
In such a display device to be mounted in a vehicle, in the case where the space is not hermetically sealed and is in an open state, foreign objects such as dust are likely to enter the space from the outside. In contrast, in a state where the space is completely hermetically sealed, water vapor that is present in the space is likely to condense on the cover and the display screen in a low temperature environment, and thus, a problem occurs in that the display screen becomes fogged and difficult to see. Therefore, in the related art, there has been proposed a display device, which is to be mounted in a vehicle, in which a plurality of air holes are formed in an outer circumferential portion of a cover, a frame-shaped dustproof sheet that is breathable is attached to the outer circumferential portion of the cover in such a manner as to cover the air holes, and a display unit is mounted on the backside of a case main body in such a manner that a multilayer body formed of the cover and the dustproof sheet is sandwiched between the display unit and the case main body, so that the air holes of the cover overlapping with the space are in communication with an external space via recesses of the case main body (see Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-133783). In this example of the related art, the space defined between the cover and the display unit is surrounded by the frame-shaped dustproof sheet, and thus, the dustproof sheet can prevent dust and the like from entering the space. In addition, since the air holes of the cover are in communication with the external space via the recesses of the case main body, condensation is not likely to occur in the space, and thus, a good anti-fogging effect can be expected.
However, in the display device to be mounted in a vehicle of the related art disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2011-133783, the dustproof sheet needs to be formed by punching a piece of nonwoven fabric or the like into a frame-like shape, and after that, the dustproof sheet needs to be attached to the outer circumferential portion of the cover using a double-sided adhesive tape or the like. Thus, the component costs including the costs of the dustproof sheet and the double-sided adhesive tape significantly increase, and as a result, there has been a problem in that the efficiency of assembly work of attaching the dustproof sheet to the cover is poor. In addition, since the display unit is mounted on the backside of the case main body in such a manner that the display unit is pressed into contact with the rear surface of the dustproof sheet, so that the space is secured between the rear surface of the cover and the display screen of the display panel, the depth dimension of the space cannot be set sufficiently large, and there is a possibility that the display screen gets damaged due to the deflection deformation of the cover.


An expandable, toroidal shaped bladder for use in a tire curing press has a pair of opposing annular beads and an expansion portion location between the pair of annular beads. The expansion portion of the bladder has a central portion, shoulder portions, and sidewall portions. When the bladder is in a mounted but uninflated mode, the shoulder portions of the bladder have a radius of curvature R1 significantly less than a radius of curvature Rc of the central portion. The shoulder portions have a bubble or square-like configuration.

Conventionally, pneumatic rubber vehicle tires are produced by molding and curing a green (uncured) partially shaped tire in a molding press. The green tire is pressed outwardly against a mold surface by means of an inner fluid-expandable bladder. By this method, the green tire is shaped against the outer mold surface that defines the tire tread pattern and configuration of the sidewalls. By application of heat and pressure, the tire is molded and cured at elevated temperatures.
In general practice, the expansion of the bladder is accomplished by application of internal pressure to the inner bladder cavity which is provided by a fluid such as a gas, hot water and/or steam which also may participate in the transfer of heat for the curing or vulcanization of the tire. The tire after molding and curing is allowed to cool somewhat in the mold, sometimes aided by adding cold or cooler water supplied to the bladder. Then the mold is opened, the bladder is collapsed, including release of its internal fluid pressure, and the tire is removed from the tire mold. Such use of tire curing bladders is well known to those having skill in the art.
A cross sectional view of conventional tire curing bladder 100 is illustrated in FIG. 6; the bladder 100 has a toroidal shape, open at the inner side. The bladder has opposing bead regions 102 and an expansion area 104 between the bead regions 102. The bead regions are provided with means to secure the curing bladder to the press mechanism, enabling the bladder to expand outwards and into a green tire. During expansion of the bladder 100 into a tire cavity 106 during molding, the shoulder portions of the bladder 100 do not consistently make contact with the tire interior, leaving a gap 108 and trapped air between the tire bladder and the tire cavity, see FIG. 7. While the tire is fully cured, the gap may a cured defect in the tires.


A method is described herein for attaching an adhesive label to a plastic object such that upon removal of the adhesive label substantially no adhesive residue is left-behind on the plastic object. In an example, the method can include applying a textured pattern to a portion of a plastic object to provide a textured surface on the plastic object. The textured pattern can be applied post molding of the plastic object. The method can include attaching to the textured surface an adhesive label.

Plastic objects, such as containers and/or bottles can be provided in a wide variety of shapes and sizes. These objects can hold many different types of products and materials such as toys, parts, equipment, fluids, detergents, chemicals, motor oil, etc. These containers are plastic (mono or multi layers) of polyethylene, polypropylene, polyester or vinyl along with other specialty blends for specific barrier and product resistance performance. In general, plastic objects can be provided with a label. The label can include indicia, which can provide product information, trade name information, or other types of information.

Method for attaching an adhesive label to a plastic object


A drive system for an engine arrangement includes a gear reduction mechanism having at least three separate and rotatable junction elements, the rotation speeds of the junction elements being interdependent but not having a fixed ratio the ones relative to the others, and wherein, in the mounted position, among the junction elements, a first junction element is connected to an engine crankshaft, a second junction element is connected to an accessory pulley which is drivingly connected to an electric machine and at least one accessory, and a third junction element. A free wheel is connected to a non-rotating part of the engine arrangement in the mounted position, and the third junction element is configured to be coupled to the free wheel in a first operating phase of the drive system. The third junction element is further configured to be coupled to the engine crankshaft in a second operating phase.

The invention relates to a drive system for an engine arrangement, an engine arrangement including such a drive system, a vehicle comprises such an engine arrangement, and a method for operating such an engine arrangement.
The invention can be applied in medium and heavy-duty vehicles, such as trucks, buses and construction equipment.
In order to decrease fuel consumption, engine arrangements have been developed to automatically stop an engine when the engine power is not needed—for example at a traffic light or in a traffic jam, when the driver depresses the brake pedal—and restarts the engine in response to a signal—typically when the driver actuates the accelerator pedal.
Such an engine arrangement comprises the engine, an electric machine, one or several accessories, and an accessory pulley to which the electric machine and the accessor(ies) are drivingly connected. A drive system comprising a gear reduction mechanism is used to join the accessory pulley and an engine crankshaft.
The engine arrangement can be in one of:
a starting phase, in which the electric machine, powered by a battery, starts the engine;
a running phase (i.e. normal driving conditions), in which the engine is running, drives the accessory, and drives the electric machine so that said electric machine can charge the battery;
and an electric phase, in which the engine is stopped and the electric machine drives the accessory.
The drive system is designed to allow the engine arrangement to be operated in any of these three phases, and to allow for transition between these three phases.
Although conventional drive systems are generally satisfactory, room for improvement remains.
It is desirable to provide an improved drive system for an engine arrangement.
It is desirable to provide such a drive system which allows smoother transition between at least two operating phases of the engine.
To that end, and according to a first aspect, the invention relates to a drive system for an engine arrangement, the drive system comprising a gear reduction mechanism having at least three separate and rotatable junction elements, the rotation speeds of the junction elements being interdependent but not having a fixed ratio the ones relative to the others, and wherein, in the mounted position, among said junction elements:
a first junction element is connected to an engine crankshaft;
a second junction element is connected to an accessory pulley which is drivingly connected to an electric machine and at least one accessory;
a third junction element.
The drive system further comprises a free wheel which is connected to a non-rotating pan of the engine arrangement in the mounted position, and in that the third junction element is configured to be coupled to the free wheel in a first operating phase of the drive system.
In the first operating phase, the free wheel is configured such that when the third junction element exerts torque on the free wheel in one direction, the free wheel is in an engaged state and stops the rotation of the third junction element, and when the third junction element exerts torque on the free wheel in the opposite direction, the free wheel is in a free state and allows rotation of the third junction element.
The third junction element is further configured to be coupled to the engine crankshaft, in a second operating phase.
In other words, the gear reduction mechanism is designed such that when the first junction element is receiving torque from the second junction element in the first operating phase, the third junction element exerts torque on the free wheel in one direction, the free wheel then being in an engaged state, and such that when the first junction element is generating a positive torque, the third junction element exerts torque on the free wheel in the opposite direction, the free wheel then being in a free state.
The "mounted position" means the position in which the drive system is installed within the engine arrangement and can be operated.
In present application, two parts are "coupled" when they are connected, directly or indirectly, in such a way that they are able to transmit torque from one to the other and in such a way that there is no relative speed of rotation between portions of them which are connected.
The "free state" of the free wheel corresponds to the configuration in which the free wheel disengages a drive member, that is connected to the free wheel or that is part of the free wheel, from a driven member, that is connected to the free wheel or that is part of the free wheel, while in the "engaged state" of the free wheel the drive member is engaged with the driven member by means of the free wheel, acting as a transmitting device. The drive member can be a driveshaft connected to the free wheel or a driveshaft of the free wheel and the driven member can be a driven shaft connected to the free wheel or a driven shaft of the free wheel.
The free wheel mechanism can be made by a special arrangement of the coupling mechanism, as, for example, a saw tooth profile in clutch dog.
In practice, the first operating phase corresponds to a starting phase of the engine, in which the electric machine rotates the engine up to start speed. In this starting phase, the free wheel provides a single way connection from the electric machine to the engine. Indeed:
At the beginning of the starting phase, the rotational speed of the engine is fairly low. Combustion is not established and engine needs torque to rotate. The free wheel, which receives through the third junction element a first torque oriented in one direction, is in an engaged state. This configuration allows transmission of torque from the electric machine to the engine.
When combustion is established, the engine accelerates sharply and the crankshaft provides torque. The free wheel, which receives through the third junction element a second torque oriented in an opposite direction, is in a free state and allows a free acceleration of the crankshaft. No torque, or only an insignificant torque, is transmitted from the engine to the electric machine or to the accessory. The electric machine speed is considered as being uncorrelated to crankshaft speed.
At the beginning of the starting phase, the reduction ratio between the rotational speeds of the engine and the electric machine is Ra=R0×R1a, wherein:
R0 is the reduction ratio between the electric machine and the accessory pulley. R0 can be around 4 for example;
R1a is the reduction ratio between the accessory pulley and the crankshaft. R1a can be around 4 for example.
As a result, Ra can be around 16 (i.e. 120 rpm at the crankshaft corresponding to 1920 rpm at the electric machine).
However, owing to the free wheel, the invention prevents the torque transmission from the engine to the electric machine at the end of the starting phase, and therefore prevents the engine from damaging the accessory pulley and/or pieces connected to it, such as a belt or the electric machine.
A significant advantage of the invention is that the use of a free wheel allows an automatic and immediate disconnection of the engine and the electric machine as soon as the combustion engine torque becomes positive. As a result, response time problems are avoided.
Subsequently, the drive system can be brought in another operating phase, typically in a running phase, in which the reduction ratio between the rotational speeds of the engine and the electric machine is different from Ra. In this operating phase, said ratio can be about Rb can be about 4 with Rb=R0×R1b and with R1b=1.
The second operating phase can correspond to a running phase, in which the engine is running and drives the electric machine and the accessory.
In the second operating phase, the drive system can also be configured such that the engine may receive power from the electric machine. In this case, the electric machine may use electric energy stored in the battery to boost the engine for performance or fuel consumption purpose.
According to the present invention and due the fact that the third junction element is connectable between the free wheel and the crankshaft, the free wheel is preferably mounted on a side of the gear reduction mechanism that is opposite the engine. As a result, an assembling process of the drive system on the engine block can be made easier. Another advantage resulting from the possible arrangement of the free wheel, is that it makes room to arrange between the engine block and the gear reduction mechanism of drive system a or some specific device(s). For instance, such a device can be an annular dumper that is connected to the end of the crankshaft and that is axially arranged between the engine block and the gear reduction mechanism in order to reduce vibrations on the crankshaft.
Preferably, in the first operating phase of the drive system the third junction element is uncoupled from the engine crankshaft when the third junction element is coupled to the free wheel and in the second operating phase the third junction element is uncoupled from the free wheel when the third junction element is coupled to the engine crankshaft.
In the second operating phase the third junction element can be coupled to the engine crankshaft via the first junction element, that is to say by coupling the third junction element to the first junction element, or via another intermediate piece.
Moreover, the invention provides a drive system having a simple and robust construction, which moreover is fairly compact and has a fairly low weight.
Preferably, the third junction element is movable between a first position, in the first operating phase, in which, in the mounted position, the third junction element is coupled to the free wheel, and a second position, in the second operating phase, in which, in the mounted position, the third junction element is coupled to the engine crankshaft. In an embodiment, the drive system has a main axis that preferably corresponds to the axis of the engine crankshaft and the third junction element is movable in translation along said main axis. This arrangement further simplifies the drive system.
According to an embodiment, the third junction element comprises first coupling members for coupling with the free wheel, and second coupling members for coupling with the engine crankshaft or with the first junction element. For example, the first and/or second coupling members can comprise clutch dog.
According to another embodiment, the third junction element is motionless in translation and the drive system comprises a sliding selector that is permanently coupled in rotation to the third junction and that is movable in translation between a first position, in the first operating phase, in which, in the mounted position, the sliding selector is coupled to the free wheel, and a second position, in the second operating phase, in which, in the mounted position, the sliding selector is coupled to the engine crankshaft. The sliding selector can also be coupled to the engine crankshaft via the first junction element or via another intermediate piece. The sliding selector can integrate a conventional synchroniser system.
The third junction element or the sliding selector can further be configured to take a third position where it is uncoupled from the free wheel and from the engine crankshaft, in a third operating phase. This third operating phase can correspond to an electric phase, in which the engine is stopped and the electric machine drives the accessory. When the third junction element or the sliding selector is uncoupled from the free wheel and from the engine crankshaft, it is in a third position that can be axially intermediate between the first and second positions.
In an embodiment, that the gear reduction mechanism can comprise an epicyclic gearing including a sun gear, an annular gear, planet gears meshing with both the sun gear and the annular gear and supported by a planet carrier. The annular gear is also known as a ring gear.
Each of the sun gear, the annular gear and the planet carrier may be connected to one of the junction elements.
The first junction element can be connected to the planet carrier, preferably is part of the planet carrier, the second junction element is connected to the annular gear, preferably is part of the annular gear, and the third junction element is connected to the sun gear, preferably is part of the sun gear. It results from this arrangement that the accessory pulley can be axially arranged between the engine and the free wheel, preferably between the engine crankshaft and the free wheel. Thanks to that, the free wheel can be assembled at the end of the drive system opposite the engine crankshaft and the free wheel can be assembled in the drive system after having connected the accessory pulley to the annular gear which eases the assembling process of the drive system on the engine arrangement.
In an alternative, the first junction element can be connected to the planet carrier, preferably can be part of the planet carrier, the second junction element can be connected to the sun gear, preferably can be part of the sun gear, and the third junction element can be connected to the annular gear, preferably can be part of the annular gear.
Besides, in the mounted position, the free wheel may be fixedly mounted on a carter of the engine arrangement or a non-rotative part linked to engine block of the engine arrangement.
According to a second aspect, the invention relates to an engine arrangement comprising an engine, an electric machine, at least one accessory, and an accessory pulley to which the electric machine and the accessory are drivingly connected, and further comprising a drive system as previously described.
In practice, the at least one accessory can be one of: a water pump, an air conditioner compressor, a cooling fan.
The engine arrangement may further comprise at least one sensor for detecting the operating condition of the engine, a controller connected to said sensor and capable of controlling an actuator configured to allow coupling or uncoupling the third junction element of the gear reduction mechanism and the free wheel.
The actuator can be configured to move the third junction element of the gear reduction mechanism or said sliding selector coupled to the third junction to place it in one of its first, second and third positions, depending on the detected engine operating condition. The operating condition of the engine can correspond to a current operating phase of the engine or to a desired operating phase of the engine, i.e. when the driver requires the engine to be started, stopped, or restarted.
According to a third aspect, the invention relates to a vehicle comprising an engine arrangement as previously described.
According to a fourth aspect, the invention relates to a method for operating an engine arrangement comprising an engine, an electric machine and at least one accessory, the electric machine and the accessory being drivingly connected to an accessory pulley, and a drive system comprising:
a gear reduction mechanism having at least three separate and rotatable junction elements, the rotation speeds of the junction elements being interdependent but not having a fixed ratio the ones relative to the others, the gear reduction mechanism (20) joining the accessory pulley and an engine crankshaft via two junction elements of the gear reduction mechanism;
a free wheel which is connected to a non-rotating part of the engine arrangement and which can be coupled to the gear reduction mechanism via a third junction element of the gear reduction mechanism. The third junction element is configured to be coupled to the free wheel or to the engine crankshaft.
The method comprising the steps of:
detecting at least one parameter indicating if the engine arrangement is in a starting phase or in a running phase, respectively;
if it is detected that the engine arrangement is in a starting phase, controlling the drive system to couple the third junction element of said gear reduction mechanism with the free wheel;
c) during step b) or subsequently to step b), if it is detected that the engine arrangement is in a running phase; controlling the drive system to couple the third junction element of said gear reduction mechanism with the engine crankshaft instead of the free wheel.
Preferably, while the third junction element is still coupled to the free wheel and the electric machine is starting the engine, the free wheel is firstly operated in an engaged state and is then, in a step that precedes step c), operated in a free state when the engine has started.
In other words, in the starting phase when the electric machine is starting the engine, the gear reduction mechanism is coupled to the non-rotating pan via the free wheel, and the system configuration is such that it allows transmission of torque from the electric machine to the engine. Subsequently, still in the starting phase, when the engine has started the gear reduction mechanism is uncoupled from the non-rotating part.
The use of the free wheel allows a very reactive control of the drive system and therefore improves the engine arrangement robustness and reliability.
Preferably, the third junction element is configured to be coupled to the free wheel, to be coupled to the engine crankshaft or to be uncoupled from both the free wheel and the engine crankshaft. In such a case step a) consists in or comprises detecting at least one parameter indicating if the engine arrangement is in a starting phase, in a running phase or in an electric phase, respectively; and the method comprises a further step d) wherein, if it is detected that the engine arrangement is in an electric phase, the drive system is controlled to uncouple the third junction element from the engine crankshaft and from the free wheel.
In an embodiment, the drive system comprises an epicyclic gearing as the gear reduction mechanism, the epicyclic gearing including a sun gear, an annular gear, planet gears meshing with both the sun gear and the annular gear and supported by a planet carrier, wherein the planet carrier is connected to the engine crankshaft and the annular gear is connected to the accessory pulley. Besides, the method consists in or comprises controlling the position of the sun gear or of a sliding selector coupled to the sun gear relative to the free wheel or to the engine crankshaft such that the sun gear is coupled to the free wheel in step b), the sun gear is coupled to the engine crankshaft in step c) or the sun gear is uncoupled from both the free wheel and the engine crankshaft in step d).
In another embodiment, the drive system comprises epicyclic gearing as the gear reduction mechanism, the epicyclic gearing including a sun gear, an annular gear, planet gears meshing with both the sun gear and the annular gear and supported by a planet carrier, wherein the planet carrier is connected to the engine crankshaft and the sun gear is connected to the accessory pulley. Besides, the method consists in or comprises controlling the position of the annular gear relative to the free wheel or to the engine crankshaft such that the annular gear is coupled to the free wheel in step b), the annular gear is coupled to the engine crankshaft in step c) or the annular gear is uncoupled from both the free wheel and the engine crankshaft in step d).
The reduction ratio between the rotational speeds of the accessory pulley and the crankshaft can be:
R1b in the running phase, with R1b being substantially 1;
R1a in the starting phase, with R1a≠R1b, R1a being for example around 4.
Further advantages and advantageous features of the invention are disclosed in the following description and in the dependent claims.
On FIGS. 3a, 3b, 3c; 5a, 5b, 5c; 6a, 6b, 6c only one half of the drive system is represented, the other half being symmetrically equivalent to the half represented.


A package has an article group of at least one row of substantially cylindrical articles and a carton disposed around the article group. The carton includes a plurality of walls including a top wall, a base wall, a pair of opposed side walls connected to side edges of the top wall and side edges of the base wall, and an end wall interconnecting the side walls, and an article dispenser opening formed at the region of intersection of planes of the top wall, the opposed side walls and the end wall. A portion of the article dispenser opening is defined by the end wall terminating along an end wall severance line having all points disposed at elevations at a distance as measured from the plane of the top wall no greater than the diameter of the substantially cylindrical articles that lie in an upper row of the group.

The invention relates to cartons, and more particularly, to a carton for multiple articles having a dispenser for constrained removal of individual articles. In particular the invention relates to a carton, which is adapted to be inclined to improve access to the articles; and to a dispenser, which is formed by cross-tearing motion of a corner of the carton.
Cartons for encasing multiple articles are useful for enabling consumers to obtain and transport a desired quantity of individual articles such as soft drinks or other beverages. When such a multiple-pack of articles is obtained, a consumer frequently desires to remove one article from the carton at a time. Thus, it can be appreciated that it would be desirable to have a carton with a dispenser that facilitates the removal of a single article from the carton at a time.
When the articles contained in the carton are cylindrical, and are disposed in the carton upon their sides, it is important that the articles be constrained such that the remaining articles do not roll out of the dispenser when one is removed. It is also important that the dispenser provides a condition where the articles are easily accessed. It is further often desirable when removing individual articles from a carton to be able to determine how many articles remain in the carton. Thus, it can be further appreciated that it would be desirable to have a carton with a dispenser that constrains remaining articles so that they do not undesirably roll from or otherwise exit the carton when one article is removed. It can also be appreciated that it would be desirable to have a carton with a dispenser that facilitates access to the articles. It can be further appreciated that it would be desirable to have a carton with a dispenser that facilitates determining how many articles remain in the carton as individual articles are removed.
A further problem associated with similar known cartons is that a user can have difficulty in grabbing articles furthest from the dispenser. The present invention and its preferred embodiments seek to overcome or at least instigate the problems of the prior art.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.


Background information is subtracted from projection data in medical diagnostic imaging. The background is removed using data acquired in a single rotational sweep of a C-arm. The removal may be by masking out a target, leaving the background, in the data as constructed into a volume. For subtraction, the masked background information is projected to a plane and subtracted from the data representing the plane.

The present embodiments relate to medical diagnostic imaging. In particular, target information is identified by subtraction of background in medical diagnostic imaging.
Many cardiac interventions use real-time angiocardiogram imaging provided with a C-arm system. By rotating an X-ray source and detector on a C-arm, a 3D computed tomography (CT) volume may be reconstructed. Images may be generated from the volume.
A dynamic 3D model, such as a model of the left ventricle (LV), may be generated automatically from a rotational angiocardiogram. The model may be used to quantitatively evaluate cardiac function, such as LV volume, LV ejection fraction (EF) and regional wall motion during an intervention. The model may be used to provide visual guidance during an intervention by overlaying the model onto 2D fluoroscopy. The model may be used to reduce motion artifacts in 3D image reconstruction. The accuracy of the model may be determined by the segmentation of the target, which may be a challenging problem due to the overlapping of many confounding objects. For the LV, the descending aorta, bones, and diaphragm may be present in 2D projections. To improve the segmentation accuracy, the confounding objects may be removed.
Different approaches have been used to remove confounding objects in angiocardiograms. The target object (e.g., the LV) may have a large motion and the confounding objects (e.g., bones) may be static or have a smaller motion (e.g., the descending aorta). If the angulation of the C-arm is fixed (i.e., no translation and no rotation), a difference image is generated by subtracting the average image of adjacent frames in the image sequence. However, rotational motion of the angiocardiogram causes blurring using subtraction by adjacent frames.
Digital subtraction angiography (DSA) is another image enhancement technique. For each cardiac phase, two images are captured, one of the patient without injection of contrast agent and one of the patient with injected contrast agents. DSA is normally applied for a fixed C-arm angulation, but it is possible to apply this technique to rotational angiography. However, the C-arm is swept at least twice for acquiring images responsive to and not responsive to contrast agents. The longer acquisition time requires longer breath-holding by a patient, which may be difficult for a very sick patient, and may incur more radiation dose. Another challenge is synchronizing the C-arm motion and the cardiac motion to minimize the misalignment of the pre-contrast images and contrasted images.

Subtraction of projection data in medical diagnostic imaging