A monitoring and control system for use in curing composite materials includes a model for a workpiece being cured. The model calculates current internal states of the workpiece and predicts, based upon past and current states of the workpiece, future states of the cure process. These future states are represented as virtual inputs to the controller, which controls operation of the cure process based upon both real and virtual inputs. Cure rates are affected by both external temperatures and internal heat generated by the curing process itself. The internally generated heat is considered by the model when calculating current states and predicting future states. By projecting the cure state into the future, problems caused by high cure rates can be avoided. In addition, pressure can be optimally controlled in response to estimated internal material state.

1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates generally to industrial process control, and more specifically to a technique for controlling a cure process for fiber composite materials.
2. Description of the Prior Art:
In the aerospace industry, as well as many other industries, fiber composite materials are continuing to become of increasing importance in the fabrication of a wide variety of products. Use of composite materials often provides higher strength to weight ratios than previously obtainable. In addition, complex shapes, which cannot easily be formed in other materials, are achievable.
Forming composites requires that thermosetting polymer resins (matrices) be cured (polymerized) in situ with reinforcing fibers. The challenge for a cure control system is to yield an acceptably cured part while controlling only temperature, pressure and vacuum over time. The goals of a successful cure are good consolidation with low porosity (voids) and high degree of cure. To do so successfully requires managing the interactions of temperature distribution, degree of cure, laminate thickness, and void content in real time.
The typical approach to developing a cure process uses trial and error with past experience to arrive at a successful cure process, or recipe. Thicker parts are particularly difficult, since a slow or controlled heat up rate is required to cure the part, but it is difficult to predict what heat rate to use that will efficiently cure the part while not overdriving the heating and causing uncontrollable exotherm.
Once a successful process recipe has been found, industrial PID (proportional-integral-derivative) feedback controllers are typically used to follow the specific time-temperature-pressure-vacuum sequence over time. While conventional controllers do an admirable job of carrying out the recipe, they are programmed to faithfully follow the fixed and predetermined sequence of set points throughout the cure. Thus, they are not flexible or adaptive to inevitable variations in materials batch and condition that occur within a manufacturing setting. Other than whatever time that is necessary to heat up to a soak or dwell and cool down the part, the process is followed rigidly and does not vary.
More sophisticated approaches to composite cure control are described in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,345,397 and 5,453,226. The processes described in these patents utilize computer control to modify operation of the cure process based upon workpiece parameters measured during the process. This can provide improved process control. However, techniques such as these suffer from a number of important drawbacks.
The ""397 patent utilizes a type of modeling to predict or estimate laminate temperatures in real time. This is done to calculate an autoclave set point. However, this patent appears to be directed only to relatively thin parts, and does not perform any look ahead to compensate for the exotherm issue. In addition, the description of the ""397 patent does not apply any techniques to a press, nor control pressure or otherwise react to viscosity of the workpiece.
The ""226 patent selects from a set of preselected cure cycle recipes. If temperature travels outside a selected range, a new recipe is followed. There appears to be no predictive function based on real time status of the workpiece. Neither reference provides a predictive model which can avoid future problems regarding the exotherm problem.
Currently available cure techniques are particularly deficient when used with relatively thick parts. These thick parts are particularly susceptible to uncontrollable exotherm, and are presently cured slowly in order to avoid it. A control technique which better managed the curing process for such thick parts would improve product quality while decreasing cure process time for such thick parts.
It would be desirable to provide a process control technique which enables accurate and robust process control for curing fiber composite parts, including relatively thick workpieces. It would also be desirable for such a control technique to provide optimal cure of a workpiece, allowing optimization of Tg, degree of cure, and fiber fraction part parameter values.
In accordance with the present invention, a monitoring and control system for use in curing composite materials includes a model for a workpiece being cured. The model calculates current internal states of the workpiece and predicts, based upon past and current states of the workpiece, future states of the cure process. These future states are represented as virtual inputs to the controller, which controls operation of the cure process based upon both real and virtual inputs. Cure rates are affected by both external temperatures and internal heat generated by the curing process itself. The internally generated heat is considered by the model when calculating current states and predicting future states. By projecting the cure state into the future, problems caused by high cure rates can be avoided. In addition, pressure can be optimally controlled in response to estimated internal material state.


The invention relates to assembly of an accessory and a shoe for providing support to a foot-drop affected foot relative to a lower leg belonging to the foot such that the foot is prevented from dropping downwards relative to the lower leg when the foot is raised by the lower from a supporting surface, the accessory being provided with a first attachment member for attachment of the accessory to the lower leg, a second attachment member for attachment of the accessory to an upper side of the shoe and a connecting body joining together the first attachment member and the second attachment member, wherein the second attachment member is provided with an attachment plate which, in use, is positioned under an upper part of the shoe. The invention also relates to the accessory of the assembly.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to an assembly of an accessory and a shoe for supporting a foot-drop affected foot relative to a lower leg belonging to the foot such that the foot is prevented from dropping down relative to the lower leg when the foot is raised by the lower leg from a supporting surface, the accessory being provided with a first attachment member for attachment of the accessory to the lower leg, a second attachment member for attachment of the accessory to an upper side of the shoe, and a connecting body joining together the first attachment member and the second attachment member. Further, the invention relates to an accessory of the assembly for providing (bottom) support to a foot-drop affected foot.
2. Prior Art
The referred-to assembly is known and is described in, for instance, U.S. Pat. No. 4,829,982. In the known assembly, the shoe of the assembly is provided with a special modification for attaching the second attachment member to the shoe.
A disadvantage of the known assembly is that the shoe of the assembly is restricted to a particular type. The shoe of the known assembly is provided with a clearly visible attaching eye. One of the consequences thereof is that the user is not free to choose the type of shoe to be used. Attaching the accessory to the shoe with the first attachment member takes place in a conspicuous and laborious manner. Besides, it holds that the point of engagement of the second attachment member is not at mid-length of the shoe, so that a twisting supporting force is applied to the shoe with the foot-drop affected foot.


A vehicle braking control apparatus is configured to suppress the effect on the vehicle behavior when braking torque is reassigned between the wheels. The distribution of braking torques is reassigned between the front and rear wheels so as to increase the amount of braking carried out by regenerative braking while maintaining a constant total braking torque. When the frictional braking of the one pair of wheels is reassigned to the regenerative braking of the other pair of wheels, the amount reassigned to left and right of the wheels is adjusted in accordance with the steering angle.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vehicle braking control apparatus that can independently brake at least a pair of wheels such that the vehicle braking control apparatus varies (reassigns) the distribution of braking under predetermined conditions between the steering wheels and the other wheels.
2. Background Information
One example of a vehicle braking control apparatus that jointly uses two types of braking devices to perform cooperative braking control is disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Application No. 11-098609. In this braking control apparatus, a hydraulic-type or other friction-braking device is used in conjunction with a regenerative braking device that uses an electrical load produced by an electric motor/electric generator. The braking control apparatus uses a regenerative cooperative brake control apparatus for controlling braking so that the sum of the frictional braking torque and the regenerative braking torque equals the required total braking torque. Also, the required total braking torque is kept uniform while the braking torque is reassigned between the frictional braking torque and regenerative braking torque under predetermined conditions, and the braking distribution of the front and rear wheels is varied.
In view of the above, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure that there exists a need for an improved vehicle braking control apparatus. This invention addresses this need in the art as well as other needs, which will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this disclosure.


A system to control the output voltage of a power converter in response to a specific load battery condition. The system contains a power converter, a TCMS interface attached thereto and a controller for selectively and/or adaptably changing the magnitude of converter output voltage. A control module is incorporated in the system to automatically change converter output voltage up or down in response to the load (input) voltage. The module contains a microcontroller to sense the battery (input) voltage process said input voltage with an analog-to-digital converter. The microcontroller is programmed to execute a series of routines to determine the proper charging voltage for the system. Thereafter, the control module communicates this information through the interface of the power converter to cause the power converter to charge at the optimum voltage. In the alternative, a plug-in component containing passive circuitry may be used to manually signal the power converter to charge at a predetermined voltage.

The present invention relates in general to electric power supplies and more particularly power converters; more specifically still, it relates to an interface and controller for selectively and/or adaptively changing the magnitude of converter output voltage.
Power converters for converting AC power to a regulated DC level are well-known and widely used in a variety of applications, one important such application being recreational vehicles (e.g., boats, motorhomes, etc.). Low-cost power converters typically comprise a rectifier and DC voltage regulator which controls the output voltage to be near some pre-determined level under optimum or standard operating conditions. However, the output voltages of these power converters is subject to substantial variation and instability which limits their success as well as their range of applications. Accordingly, relatively costly DC motors, which operate properly with a power supply which is not stable, must sometimes be used in recreational vehicles if low-cost DC voltage regulators are employed and an even more significant adverse effect is the overall battery-charging performance and characteristics of such systems, which often overcharge and/or undercharge, thereby shortening operating life and causing defective performance.
An alternative to such DC voltage regulators are switched power converters. Switched power converters have a more stable output voltage but the switching power circuitry required to produce the more stable output voltage is costly. In addition, even these more expensive converters do not necessarily provide the most optimum battery-charging and often do not maintain performance since their outputs are not adaptive to changing conditions and therefore sometimes exceed or fail to meet particular requirements and conditions encountered. For instance, a 13.6 volt battery charge level may at times be too high and damage the battery while at other times it will be insufficient to charge a battery as rapidly as desired. Therefore, a need has arisen for power converters capable of outputting various voltages, and a means for controlling these operating voltages in accordance with actual conditions encountered.
Having the capability of operating over a range of voltages is desirable because, at certain times, the user will need to charge the battery faster. Increasing output voltage will prevent electrolyte stratification and reduce sulfation, thus extending both the life and capacity of the battery. In addition, increasing output voltage will improve performance of load items such as power slide-outs. On the other hand, decreasing converter output voltage slightly will reduce water boil-off in the battery and, therefore, limit maintenance and extend operating life. Further, decreasing output voltage will reduce the current that the converter draws from the AC line. This will help keep the load current of the main RV power cord below its maximum capacity when other loads, such as an air conditioner, turn on.
The problem with respect to the draw on the load current is that it has steadily increased as more and more loads (such as power slide-outs) are added to these vehicles. As a result, higher capacity converters have become necessary. Now, at full power, the converter itself draws 11 to 12 amps and although most load devices are wired for 30-amp service, the newer bus-type vehicles require 50-amp service. Therefore, some converter designs try to deal with this problem by using circuitry which limits their allowable draw on load current, while others turn the converter off when the battery is at least minimally charged and then later turn the converter back on. However, this obviously provides unsatisfactory overall performance and is not likely to properly charge and maintain the associated vehicle/coach batteries. Therefore, some converters have now been designed to effectively turn off under certain conditions by reducing their output voltage to a very low level. In one such design, the converter has a dual-voltage terminal such that if the two contacts on the terminal are shorted, the output goes to a predetermined maximum level and, if left open, the output goes to a predetermined minimum level. This design contains a toggle switch which allows the user to manually control the high and low output level as desired. In another embodiment of this system, an electronic module attached to the converter reads the battery voltage and automatically responds by signaling the converter to increase or decrease the charging voltage. For example, if it has been "high" for a predetermined time, the output voltage will automatically drop to the lower voltage.
Overall, the functions of such a device are limited. For instance, in the former embodiment, if the user toggles the switch "high" and forgets, he could burn up his battery because the design lacks a safety feature. Furthermore, this device is built directly into the converter, making the converter itself more expensive. In addition, the particular levels are set by the factory, and only two specific values are available to the user. Consequently, there is no real versatility to the design, and no way for the user to readily or conveniently select an output level different than those built-in at the factory. Further, in the latter embodiment, the device does not allow for manual control by switching between high and low voltage levels. Another problem with this embodiment is that the external module cannot be utilized with older models of the converter unless the converter is retrofitted with a dual-voltage terminal.

Power converter with selectively variable output and controller and display system therefor


The present invention relates to a method for capturing carbon dioxide CO2 by carbonation in a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) carbonation reactor wherein temperature profile is adjusted by recirculation of solid fractions of metal oxide MeO and metal carbonate MeCO3 to the CFB carbonation reactor. Also a system recirculating the metal oxide MeO and metal carbonate MeCO3 is provided by the invention.

Capturing carbon dioxide CO2 may be performed by a carbonation reaction in a circulating fluidized bed (CFB) using solids of metal or mineral oxides. The metal or mineral oxide acts as an absorbent of the carbon dioxide CO2, being a solid sorbent.
The reaction taking place in the CFB carbonation reactor is an exothermic reaction where the rate of reaction is dependent largely on the available surface of the solid sorbent. In addition, to satisfy reaction kinetic and equilibrium requirements of the absorption process precise control of the temperature profile is required. Therefore, reactor optimization must consider the absorption heat release, which is 178 kJ/kmol for calcium oxide CaO reacting with CO2, the resulting temperature and implications with regard to equilibrium driving force and CO2 concentration profiles.
In a CFB carbonation reactor for processing low pressure combustion flue gas, the fractions of solid materials are very low to avoid the otherwise considerable pressure drop and associated fan compression power. Reducing equipment sizes for such fluidized bed processes implies increasing fluidization velocities which may also lead to pneumatic transport operating regimes. The resulting low fractions of solid material are characterized by low overall heat transfer coefficients which ultimately depend on the fluidization gas properties. Consequently, the presently known systems for capturing carbon dioxide CO2 in CFB carbonation reactor require relatively large heat transfer surfaces which must be applied internally to remove heat from the reacting system and avoid a temperature increase of the solids sorbent to the point where the equilibrium driving force disappears and the reaction no longer occurs.
Previously known reactors remove heat from the CFB carbonation reactor according to the rate of adsorption via heat transfer area installed in the reactor. These CFB carbonation reactors include internal cooling arrangements which are placed at specified, predetermined locations. A consequence of this is that any fluctuation in process operating conditions requires adjustment in the cooling system. Such unpredictable fluctuations are disadvantageous when processes utilizing the CFB carbonation reactor waste heat are forced to absorb fluctuations due to poor CFB carbonation reactor control. Consequently, there is a demand to improve the heat transfer characteristics of the system, and to optimize the method by which heat transfer occurs to ultimately reduce heat transfer surface area and plant cost.
Moreover, a careful control of the reactor temperature is of importance for avoiding regions having low temperature and a slow reaction rate, or high temperatures and poor equilibrium driving forces. In general, poor reactor design would lead to larger reactor dimensions than otherwise required for obtaining the same carbon dioxide CO2 capture rate.
For example, considering calcium oxide CaO as sorbent, and a concentration of carbon dioxide CO2 in the carbon dioxide CO2 rich flue gas forwarded to the CFB carbonation reactor of 12% by volume, 90% of the carbon dioxide CO2 may be captured corresponding to an equilibrium carbon dioxide CO2 partial pressure at 650° C. However, if the corresponding equilibrium carbon dioxide CO2 partial pressure at 700° C. is considered, for the same flue gas, a maximum of only ˜70% capture is possible.

High solids flux circulating carbonation reactor


A method and apparatus for operating the user interface of a slider type portable mobile communications device is disclosed. A mode of operation of the slider type portable mobile communications device is determined. Motion of a slider mechanism is detected with respect to a neutral position. The motion of the slider mechanism indicates an action to perform based on the mode of operation of the portable mobile communications device. The action indicated is then performed based on the mode of operation of the portable mobile communications device.

Portable mobile communications devices such as mobile phones are becoming ever more sophisticated and include many new features and capabilities. One type of portable mobile communications device utilizes a slider mechanism to open or expose additional surface area on the device. The additional surface area can be used for user input as it typically includes additional buttons such as a keypad or other navigational keys.
Heretofore, the sliding mechanism itself was not considered an input or navigational mechanism.

Device and method for user interface manipulation on a slider type portable mobile communications device


A steel part includes a steel sheet substrate and a coating on at least one surface of the steel sheet substrate. The coating includes between 0.2 and 0.7% by weight of Al, with a remainder of the metal coating being Zn and inevitable impurities. The steel sheet substrate and the coating have at least one deformation. An outer surface of the coating has a waviness Wa0.8 of less than or equal to 0.43 μm.

Coatings based on zinc of metal sheets have what is called a waviness of their outer surfaces, which can presently only be compensated by significant thicknesses of paint, under the penalty of having a so-called "orange peel" aspect, unacceptable for body parts.
The waviness W of the outer surface of a coating is a smooth pseudo-periodic geometrical irregularity with quite long wavelength (0.8 to 10 mm) which is distinguished from roughness R which corresponds to geometrical irregularities with short wavelengths.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Method for manufacturing a metal sheet with a ZnAl coating and with optimized wiping, corresponding metal sheet, part and vehicle


A port device for implanting in a patient for subcutaneous access to the vascular system of the patient. The device includes a housing provided with apertures, each for receiving and retaining a needle. The housing is further provided with lock structure for locking catheters to the housing. The housing is configured internally to provide flow paths extending between needles disposed in the apertures and the catheters.

There exists a class of devices for accessing fluid spaces and vessels within a human (or animal) body that are generally referred to as "ports". Herein, "vessel" is defined as any conduit carrying a fluid within the patient's body. These prior art port devices generally comprise a chamber having an access opening sealed by means of a septum and having an egress from a second location leading to a catheter which is disposed within a fluid space or vessel. The septum allows a hollow needle (or "cannula") to pass into the port's chamber, but then closes when the needle is removed, thereby preventing fluid leakage from within the bodily fluid space or vessel and also preventing anything from entering or exiting the port's chamber. These port devices are usually implantable below the skin so as to prevent infection, other contamination and mishandling.
A problem associated with prior art port devices is that they tend to have a somewhat irregular external shape. This can create various problems. For one thing, it can make it harder for the body to form a fibrin pocket about the port after the port has been installed below the skin. Furthermore, when the port has been deployed in the body for a prolonged period of time, the irregular external shape of the port can cause undesirable tissue erosion.
Another problem associated with prior art ports is that it can be difficult for medical personnel to locate a port beneath the patient's skin. Additionally, even after being located, it can be difficult for medical personnel to identify the orientation of the port within the body. This makes it more difficult for the medical personnel to find the port's needle (or cannula) entrances.
Still another problem associated with prior art ports is that, even after knowing the orientation of the port within the body, it can be difficult for medical personnel to insert the hemodialysis needles (or cannulas) in the needle (or cannula) entrances. In many cases, medical personnel strike the adjoining casing of the port, or pass the needle beneath the port.
Yet another problem associated with prior art ports is that it can be difficult to connect and disconnect catheters to the ports. For one thing, it can be difficult to securely lock the catheters to the ports. And, once locked, it can be difficult to thereafter unlock the catheters from the ports. In addition, some new catheters use coil-reinforced constructions. Such coil-reinforced catheters can be incompatible with prior art ports.

Port device for subcutaneous access to the vascular system of a patient


According to one embodiment, a controller detects generation of an event and transmits a content of the event to a management module. The management module transmits to the controller a determination result which represents permission or inhibition of execution of the processing. The determination result is decided based on a first policy or a second policy different from the first policy that are selectively employed in accordance with a use situation of the apparatus. The management module decides whether to notify a server of the content of the event, in accordance with which of a period in which the first policy is employed and a period in which the second policy is employed is a period in which the event has occurred.

Recently, it is receiving attention to bring a personally owned information terminal or the like into an office and use it for work (so-called Bring Your Own Device (BYOD)). As the information terminal, various information processing apparatuses such as a tablet terminal and smartphone are usable.
To implement BYOD, various security measures need to be taken for information processing apparatuses.
A personally owned information processing apparatus is used not only in an office but also in another environment such as home. If the same function restriction is always applied to the information processing apparatus, this may impair the usability of the information processing apparatus.

Information processing apparatus and control method


A method including: receiving, on a computer system, a text search query, the query including one or more query words; generating, on the computer system, for each query word in the query, one or more anchor segments within a plurality of speech recognition processed audio files, the one or more anchor segments identifying possible locations containing the query word; post-processing, on the computer system, the one or more anchor segments, the post-processing including: expanding the one or more anchor segments; sorting the one or more anchor segments; and merging overlapping ones of the one or more anchor segments; and searching, on the computer system, the post-processed one or more anchor segments for instances of at least one of the one or more query words using a constrained grammar.

In many contexts, users of large collections of recorded audio (audio information) value the ability to quickly perform searches for words or phrases in the audio. For example, in the context of corporate contact centers (e.g., call-in centers), recorded conversations between customers and customer service representatives (or agents) can be searched and analyzed to identify trends in customer satisfaction or customer issues, to monitor the performance of various support agents, and to locate calls relating to particular issues. As another example, searchable recordings of classroom lectures would allow students to search for and replay discussions of topics of particular interest. Searchable voicemail messages would also allow users to quickly find audio messages containing particular words. As another example, searchable recordings of complex medical procedures (e.g., surgery) can be used to locate recordings of procedures involving uses of particular devices, choices of approaches during the procedure, and various complications.
Generally, Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) systems, and Large Vocabulary Continuous Speech Recognition (LVCSR) transcription engines in particular, include three components: A set of Language Models (LM), a set of Acoustic Models (AM), and a decoder. The LM and AM are often trained by supplying audio files and their transcriptions (e.g., known, correct transcriptions) to a learning module. Generally, the LM is a Statistical LM (SLM). The training process uses a dictionary (or "vocabulary") which maps recognized written words into sequences of sub-words (e.g., phonemes or syllables) During recognition of speech, the decoder analyzes an audio clip (e.g., an audio file) and outputs a sequence of recognized words.
A collection of audio files (e.g., calls in a call center or set of lectures in a class) can be made searchable by processing each audio file using an LVCSR engine to generate a text transcript file in which each written word in the transcript (generally) corresponds to a spoken word in the audio file. The resulting text can then be indexed by a traditional text-based search engine such as Apache Lucene™. A user can then query the resulting index (e.g., a search index database) to search the transcripts.
Generally, the recognized words in the output of a LVCSR engine are selected from (e.g., constrained to) the words contained in the dictionary (or "vocabulary") of the ASR system. A word that is not in the vocabulary (an "out-of-vocabulary" or "OOV" word) may be recognized (e.g., with low confidence) as a word that is in the vocabulary. For example, if the word "Amarillo" is not in the vocabulary, the LVCSR engine may transcribe the word as "ambassador" in the output. As such, when using such ASR systems, it may be impossible for an end user to search the index for any instances of words that are not in the vocabulary.
One way to overcome this problem is to add the OOV word to the dictionary (i.e., to add the word to the vocabulary) and to generate a new LM (which can be a SLM or a constrained grammar) and then reprocess the audio files. However, such an approach would increase the delay in generating the search results due to the need to reprocess the audio corpus.
In other ASR systems, the output data is sub-word level recognition data such as a phonetic transcription of the audio rather than a LVCSR output or a similar word based transcript. Such ASR systems typically do not include a word vocabulary. Instead, these engines provide a way to search for any sequence of characters. In this case, the search is performed by mapping the search phrase into a sequence of phonemes and searching for the given phonetic sequences in the phonetic transcription index. These engines are generally considered to be less accurate than LVCSR based engines because the notion of words is not inherent to the recognition process, and the use of words (e.g., the meanings of the words) are generally useful for improving the accuracy of the speech recognition.
Generally, combining word and phoneme levels of automatic speech recognition will not solve the accuracy problems of phonetic-based methods given that, the accuracy limitations of purely phonetics-based methods would still persist for queries that included at least one OOV word.

Fast out-of-vocabulary search in automatic speech recognition systems

Genesys Telecommunications Laboratories, Inc.


A flash modulation control apparatus in a camera having a photo-taking lens and a flash device mounted thereon comprises a photographing mode setting device for setting a photographing mode in which optimal exposure is obtained in conformity with an object, a divisional photometry device for dividing the object field into a plurality of areas, metering through the photo-taking lens light emitted from the flash device and reflected by the object, and outputting photometric values, a weighting device for determining an amount of weighting for each of the photometry areas of the divisional photometry device in conformity with the photographing mode set by the photographing mode setting device, and weighting each of the photometric values on the basis of the amount of weighting, and a light modulation control device for stopping the light emission of the flash device when the sum total of the weighted photometric values reaches a predetermined level.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a flash modulation control apparatus in a camera of the TTL automatic light modulation type, and particularly an apparatus for setting a photographing mode in conformity with an object, and effecting light modulation control in accordance with the photometry area and light amount level of the object field optimal to the photographing mode.
2. Related Background Art
There is known a flash modulation control apparatus in a camera of the TTL automatic light modulation type which effects light modulation so that after the light emission of a flash device is started during flash photographing, the light emission of the flash device may be stopped when the amount of reflected light from an object reaches a predetermined light amount level, whereby proper exposure may be obtained.
The photometry area of the apparatus of this kind is substantially the whole of the photographing image field, or a relatively wide range including the center of the image field. Also, the light amount level which determines the timing of the stoppage of the light emission is determined on the basis of light reflected at a predetermined proportion relative to a certain predetermined amount of light emitted. For example, an object having a certain predetermined reflectivity (average reflectivity) is disposed in opposed relationship with the flash device so as to cover an area for effecting photometry, and a TTL light amount level is determined on the basis of such a relation between time and light amount that the object is photographed at proper exposure during flash emission.
However, the reflectivity of the object field during ordinary flash photographing is not uniform and therefore, when flash photographing is effected by the use of a conventional device, there arises the problem that exposure becomes over or under depending on the object.
For example, if the number of persons or bodies which are main objects increases or decreases, the area that main objects lying at the same distance occupy for the photometry area in the photographing image field varies and the amounts of reflected light from these main objects vary. However, the amount of light emitted from the flash device is controlled on the basis of a TTL light amount level determined with an object of the average reflectivity supposed and therefore, if the number of main objects increases, the amount of reflected light increases and light emission is stopped early and thus, the exposure for the main objects becomes under. If conversely, the number of main objects decreases, the amount of reflected light decreases and the time when light emission is stopped becomes late, and the exposure for the main objects becomes over. A similar phenomenon occurs when lenses of different focal lengths are used. That is, if the focal length becomes smaller (if a wide angle lens is used), the size of the main object in the photographing image field becomes smaller and the background range photographed becomes wider and therefore, the amount of reflected light from the main object decreases and the time when light emission is stopped becomes late, and the exposure for the main object becomes over. On the other hand, if the focal length becomes greater (if a telephoto lens is used), the size of the main object in the photographing image field becomes larger and the background range photographed becomes narrower and therefore, the amount of reflected light from the main object increases and the time when light emission is stopped becomes early, and the exposure for the main object becomes under.
Also, in the prior-art apparatus, reflected light from an object is metered in the whole of the photographing image field or a wide range including the central portion of the image field, and this also leads to the problem that proper exposure is not obtained for a main object when the main object occupies a relatively narrow range in the photographing image field or when the main object is not at the center of the image field.

A photo taking apparatus capable of making a photograph with flash by a flash device


A semiconductor device package includes a substrate with one or more pads and at least one semiconductor device that has one or more of its electrodes electrically connected to the substrate pads. The package also includes one or more terminals in electrical connection with the substrate pads and that provide for external connection to the device.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to semiconductor device packages and more specifically, relates to semiconductor device packages having substrates that redistribute the electrodes of the semiconductor devices housed therein.
2. Description of the Art
III-nitride based power semiconductor devices, such as Gallium Nitride (GaN) based devices, are desirable for power applications. Example III-nitride based devices include diodes, unidirectional switches, and bi-directional switches. These devices are lateral conductive devices with the power electrodes and control electrodes disposed along a top surface of the devices and with the bottom surface of the devices being electrically non-conductive.
Referring to FIG. 1 there is illustrated an example III-nitride based power device 121. Device 121 is a unidirectional switch that includes a control/gate electrode 122 and first and second power electrodes 123 and 124, one power electrode being the source electrode and the other power electrode being the drain electrode. As shown, the two power electrodes are interdigited and may include elongated runners 123a and 124a that extend along respective edges of device 121. Notably, if device 121 were a bi-directional switching device, power electrodes 123 and 124 would both be source electrodes and the device may further include a second control/gate electrode. A III-nitride based bi-directional switching device may have a form as disclosed in U.S. Publication No. US 2005-0189561 (U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/056,062), entitled "III-Nitride Bidirectional Switch," by Daniel M. Kinzer et al., and assigned to the assignee of the present application. The contents of U.S. Publication No. US 2005-0189561 are hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth in its entirety herein. Similarly, if device 121 were a diode, the device would only include power electrodes 123 and 124. When packaging a device such as device 121, wire bonds may be formed from a contact pad of control/gate electrode 122 and from elongated runners 123a and 124a to the terminal leads of the device package to connect the terminal leads to the device electrodes.
Notably, a III-nitride based power semiconductor device may have a very small area, thereby making the electrodes of the device also very small. The small size of these electrodes can create substantial problems when interfacing to the electrodes. For example, as indicated above a III-nitride based device may be mounted within a device package that has one or more terminal leads, with wire bonds being formed directly between the terminal leads and device electrodes. Notably, the small size of the electrodes can make it difficult to form these wire bonds. Similarly, small electrodes often prohibit the direct mounting of devices to an end customer's circuit board. This is due to the spacing between the electrodes on the III-nitride based devices being significantly less than the spaces achievable using printed circuit board patterning processes.
In addition to III-nitride based devices, lateral conductive silicon-based power devices may also have very small areas, thereby again resulting in electrodes of a very small size. Accordingly, such devices may also exhibit similar problems as described above.

Semiconductor device packages with substrates for redistributing semiconductor device electrodes


A regional positioning method and apparatus in a wireless sensor network (WSN) is provided. The regional positioning method in a WSN, the regional positioning method including: setting a locating premise in the WSN based on a signal strength of an anchor node; sensing an event where a sensor node, installed in a target and called a target node, joins the WSN; detecting a locating premise where the target node is located based on the sensing of the event; and recognizing a location of the target based on the detected locating premise.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a regional positioning method and apparatus in a wireless sensor network (WSN).
This work was supported by the IT R&D of MIC/IITA. [2006-S-601-02, development of distributed sensor network system]
2. Description of Related Art
A ubiquitous sensor network (USN) is referred to as a wireless sensor network (WSN) including a sensor node equipped with a sensor capable of catching information from an object or environment where the node is installed. In a USN, information received from a variety of sensors is processed and managed in real time by connecting to an external network through a network. A USN embodies an environment where communications are possible among objects anywhere and anytime regardless of a network, device, and service.
FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a general configuration of a USN and WSN.
As illustrated in FIG. 1, the sensor network may include a sensor node 110, sensor field 120, sink 130, and gateway 140. The sensor node 110 includes sensors and a communication module. The sensor recognizes information about an object and environment. The sensor field 120 includes a set of sensor nodes 110. The sink 130 receives information collected in the sensor field 120. The gateway 140 performs routing with respect to information transmitted from the sink 130 and transmits the information to a management server 160 through a broadband communication network 150. The sensor network may be connected to an existing infrastructure such as those used for satellite communications, wireless local area network (LAN), Bluetooth, and wired Internet, through the gateway 140.
FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating a general configuration of a sensor node in a WSN.
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the sensor node includes a central processing unit (CPU) and memory 210, communication module 220, sensor module 230, signal processing module 240, and software 250, and a battery/energy source 260 to provide power to the sensor node. Due to a sensor node's characteristic that the sensor node is operated with limited battery power, low power consumption is critical when designing sensor nodes. Accordingly, a hardware circuit is usually configured using low power elements, for example, a low capable CPU, and a low power communication element and peripheral circuit.
FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a general positioning method in a sensor network through sensing a targeted object.
As illustrated in FIG. 3, in the positioning method, a sensor network field includes a sensor node 310 where a sensor 330 and analog to digital (A/D) or digital to analog (D/A) converter 320 are installed. The sensor 330 senses characteristics of a target 340, for example, movement, material, weight, and the like. When it is sensed that the target 340 enters a sensing area 380 as illustrated in a location 350, location information of the sensed target 340 is transmitted to a sink or gateway 370 through a multi-hop communication, and thus a location of the target 340 may be recognized.
In a traditional positioning method, a location of a target may be detected when the target enters a sensing area, due to a characteristic of a sensor network. However, when the target does not clearly enter the sensing area or when a valid sensing area is not appropriately distributed, the location of the target may not be detected.
Also, in a traditional positioning method, a location of a target may be detected using a calculation method based on a radio signal strength as opposed to the above-described method using the entry to the sensing area. The method is divided into a scheme utilizing measured distance information and a scheme without utilizing distance information. In the scheme utilizing the distance information, a distance is measured between a targeted node with respect to its location and each of at least three anchor nodes whose locations are already known. After measuring the three distance values, a triangulation is performed to find out the location. In this instance, the distances may be measured by a Time of Arrival (ToA), Time Difference of Arrival (TDoA), Received Signal Strength (RSS), and the like. The scheme without utilizing distance information includes a centroid method, Approximate Point In Triangulation (APIT), and the like. A distance-based method in a multi-hop sensor network may overcome a disadvantage where an error may be spread to the sensor network. In the centroid method, location information of regularly-arranged anchor nodes is transmitted to neighboring nodes, the neighboring nodes receiving the location information compare strengths of signals transmitted from the anchor nodes, and thus a location of each of the neighboring nodes may be predicted.
However, in the centroid method, traffic load in the sensor network may vary depending on a position of a locating engine performing the calculation. For example, when the locating engine is placed in the sink of the sensor network, multiple signal strength information collected based on a targeted node is transmitted via multi-hop. Accordingly, the additional traffic is loaded in the sensor network. When the locating engine is placed in a target, power is consumed to receive radio signal strength information from neighboring nodes and calculate the radio signal strength information, which affects a network lifetime. Accordingly, hardware solution is preferred to software when the locating engine is located in the target.

Regional positioning method and apparatus in wireless sensor network

Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute


Leading wires of an electrical circuit and a thin film magnetic head assembly are electrically connected with a conductive film. The leading wires are connected to an element pad and a circuit pad, respectively. An element bump is shared with the electrical circuit and the thin film magnetic assembly. Information of the processing degree of the thin film magnetic head assembly is electrically monitored via the element bump from a bonding pad which is electrically connected with the element bump.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a method for fabricating a thin film magnetic head and a wafer structure.
2. Related Art Statement
A complete thin film magnetic head is obtained by polishing a given surface of a thin film magnetic head assembly which is fabricated on a given substrate to form an air bearing surface (ABS). In a thin film magnetic head assembly including a magnetoresistive effective type reading element, the polishing process is carried out so that the MR height is constant (the MR height is defined). Herein, the MR height is a processed length of the assembly from the end surface of the thin film magnetic head assembly.
In this case, an electrical lap-guiding element (often called as "lap-guiding element", hereinafter) is fabricated on the substrate where the thin film magnetic head assembly is fabricated, and thus, the polishing process is carried out with monitoring the size of the MR height through the electrical changes of the lap-guiding element.
FIG. 1 is a plan view showing a wafer structure in which thin film head assemblies and lap-guiding elements are fabricated on a single wafer as a substrate, and FIG. 2 is a cross sectional view of a portion of the wafer structure of FIG. 1, taken on line X—X. In FIG. 1, for simplicity, the thin film head assemblies and the lap-guiding elements are fabricated on the trailing surface 1A of the wafer 1 in a line by turns. In FIGS. 1 and 2, for clarifying the characteristics of the present invention, the detail structure of the wafer structure is different from a real one.
A thin film magnetic head assembly 10 includes element pads 2a; 2b and 3a; 3b which are exposed on the trailing surface 1A of the wafer 1. The element pads 2a and 2b are electrically connected to a MR element of the thin film magnetic head assembly 10 via leading wires 4a and 4b. The element pads 3a and 3b are electrically connected to a writing element 6 of the thin film magnetic head assembly 10 via leading wires 5a and 5b.
A lap-guiding element 20 includes circuit pads 21a and 21b, and is connected to a resistive film 24 made of the same material as that of the MR film to construct the MR element via leading wires 22a and 22b. The polishing process is carried out from the end surface 1B of the wafer 1. The polishing degree of the MR element is checked by the change in resistance of the resistive film 24, and thus, the MR height is monitored indirectly.
Practically, a protective layer 15 is formed on the trailing surface 1A so as to cover the thin film head assemblies and lap-guiding elements.
Therefore, as shown in FIG. 2, the circuit bump 27 is provided so as to penetrate the protective layer 15, and electrically connected to the leading wire 22b and the circuit pad 21b. Then, the change in resistance of the resistive film 24 is monitored through the circuit pad 21b, and the processing degree of the ABS, that is, the MR height is indirectly controlled.
Also, an element bump 7 is provided so as to penetrate the protective layer 15, and electrically connected to the leading wire 4a and the element pad 2a. The element bump 7 is electrically connected to the MR element via the leading wire 4a.
With the recent development of high recording density and small cutting space, the distance between a thin film magnetic head assembly and an electrical circuit is narrowed on a substrate on which the thin film head assembly and the electrical circuit are disposed. In FIG. 2, therefore, the distance between the circuit bump 27 and the element bump 7 is also narrowed, for example.
In this case, however, the short-circuit between the thin film magnetic head assembly 10 and the lap-guiding element 20 may occur. In addition, some cracks and chirping may be created between the circuit bump 27 and the element bump 7, and thus, some defects may be created in the resulting thin film magnetic head.

Method for fabricating a thin film magnetic head and wafer structure


A stamping mold includes a base, a mold holder and a stripper. The base defines a first through hole and includes a protruding block. The mold holder defines a second through hole and a plurality of receiving holes, and each receiving hole receives a mold insert and selectively corresponds to the protruding block. The mold holder is located on a top of the base and touches the protruding block. The stripper includes a cover defining a plurality of holes and a positioning shaft. The stripper is located on the mold holder via the positioning shaft passing through the second and the first through hole, and a free end of the positioning shaft is blocked under the base. The mold holder can rotate about the positioning shaft. When the stripper moves to a lowest location, the mold insert on the protruding block protrudes from the corresponding hole of the cover.

1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to a stamping mold to stamp characters in workpieces.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, a workpiece will have a trademark or manufacturing date stamped in it. A commonly used stamping mold employs only one mold insert for each character in the stamp design, requiring an operator to frequently change out mold inserts, which is inconvenient and inefficient.
Therefore, a need exists in the industry to overcome the described limitations.

Stamping mold adapted to stamp characters in workpieces

Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd.


A multifunctional torque sensor comprises a torque transmission shaft, a rectangle-shaped or parallelogram-shaped magnetic material strip bonded on the surface of the torque transmission shaft so that opposite sides of the rectangle or parallelogram face each other with a gap interposed therebetween, a first coil concentrically wound around the magnetic material strip, amagnetic core disposed outside of the magnetic material strip in no contact therewith through a space, and a second coil wound around the magnetic material strip. A change in magnetic characteristic caused by a stress transmitted from the torque transmission shaft to the magnetic material strip is detected by the first coil, thereby detecting a torque. The rotation of the shaft is detected through the detection of the gap by the second coil upon rotation of the shaft. A power can be operationally determined from the detected torque and rotation.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a torque sensor in which a torque applied or transmitted to a torque transmission shaft is detected in a non-contact manner by use of a so-called stress-magnetic effect in which a member made of a magnetic material exhibits a change in a magnetic permeability when an external stress is applied to the magnetic material member, and also to a multifunctional torque detection device in which a power (or horse power) is operationally detected or determined by detecting the rotation (or r.p.m.) of the torque transmission shaft in a non-contact relation with the torque transmission shaft by use of a magnetic means simultaneously with the detection of the torque.
2. Description of the Related Art
Recently, the development of sensors for mechanical quantities using the stress-magnetic effect has come into the lime light. For example, torque sensors using this principle have been disclosed by U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,823,617, JP-A-61-312250, and so on.
The construction of this kind of conventional torque sensor will now be explained in reference to FIG. 13.
In the figure, reference numeral 61 denotes a torque transmission shaft, numerals 62a and 62b amorphous magnetic alloy members having magnetostriction, numerals 63a and 63b coils, and numeral 64 a differential detection circuit. The torque transmission shaft 61 and the amorphous magnetic alloy members 62a and 62b are bonded to each other by a bonding agent such as a polyimide series resin, and the bonding agent is cured at a temperature higher than a working temperature region of the sensor so that an in-plane internal compressive stress is applied to the amorphous magnetic alloy members 62a and 62b due to a difference in linear thermal expansion coefficient between the torque transmission shaft 61 and the amorphous magnetic alloy members 62a and 62b. The coils 63a and 63b are wound centering around the torque transmission shaft 61 and are connected to the differential output or detection circuit 64.
When a torque is applied to the torque transmission shaft 61, strains are generated in the amorphous magnetic alloy members 62a and 62b. Thereby, a magnetic permeability changes due to a stress-magnetic effect. As a result, the inductances of the coils 63a and 63b change. For example, in the case of a right-handed (or right-twisted) torque, the inductance of the coil 63a becomes large and the inductance of the coil 63b becomes small. This change is detected by the differential detection circuit 64, thereby permitting simultaneous detection of the magnitude and direction of the applied torque.
In such a conventional torque sensor, the magnitude and direction of a torque transmitted to the torque transmission shaft 61 can be detected. However, in the case where a power (or horse power) is to be determined, the rotation (or r.p.m.) of the shaft 61 necessary for the determination of the power must be detected by means of an additionally provided rotation sensor. Thus, the conventional torque sensor has a drawback that the power cannot be detected by the torque sensor itself.

Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.


A high-mechanical strength copper alloy, which comprises Ni 1.0 to 4.5% by mass, Si 0.2 to 1.0% by mass, Mg 0.01 to 0.20% by mass, Sn 0.05 to 1.5% by mass, Zn 0.2 to 1.5% by mass, and S less than 0.005% by mass (including 0% by mass), with the balance being made of Cu and inevitable impurities, wherein the alloy has a tensile strength of 800 N/mm2 or more, and wherein the alloy has a stress relaxation ratio of 10% or less.

In accordance with recent trends for miniaturizing and making electric and electronic machinery and tools having a high performance, a material for components used therein, such as a connector, has been required to be further improved in all the features.
For example, a spring sheet used at a contact point of a connector has been modified to become thinner and thinner, which becomes difficult to keep a sufficient contact pressure. That is, when the spring sheet is deflected at a contact point of the connector, a counterforce is generated to give a contact pressure to make electrical connection. Therefore, the thinner the sheet is made, the larger the sheet has to be deflected to keep a contact pressure at a similar level. However, when the sheet is deflected to the extent exceeding an elasticity limit of the sheet, plastic deformation is occurred. Accordingly, additional improvement is demanded to prevent plastic deformation.
It is also demanded to improve the spring sheet in various features including stress relaxation property, heat conductivity, bending property, heat resistance, plate adhesion property, and migration resistant property. Among the properties, mechanical strength, stress relaxation, heat and electric conductivity, and bending property are important, when the material is used at a contact point of the connector.
Conventionally, phosphor bronze has been used at the contact point of the connector. However, it cannot be perfectly satisfied with the demands as described above. Accordingly, phosphor bronze recently has been replaced by a beryllium-copper alloy, that is an alloy prescribed in JIS C 1753. Such a beryllium-copper alloy has an improved mechanical strength and a good stress relaxation property, as well as a good electric conductivity. However, the beryllium-copper alloy is very expensive, and beryllium is toxic.
For these reasons, it is demanded to develop an alloy, which is inexpensive and nontoxic, and which is comparable to the beryllium-copper alloy. One of studies has been focused on a Cu—Ni—Si alloy since around 1985, since it has a high mechanical strength.
However, any of the Cu—Ni—Si alloys developed cannot be an alternative of the beryllium-copper alloy, since they are inferior in mechanical strength and stress relaxation resistance compared with the beryllium-copper alloy.
Besides, addition of Mg into a Cu—Ni—Si alloy has been proposed to improve a stress relaxation property. Addition of Mg improves stress relaxation resistance to some extent, but an improvement of the stress relaxation resistance in the level of beryllium-copper alloy has not been accomplished.


A system and method is provided for performing deterministic processing on a non-deterministic computer system. In one example, the system forces execution of one or more computer instructions to execute within a constant execution time. A deterministic engine, if necessary, waits a variable amount of time to ensure that the execution of the computer instructions is performed over the constant execution time. Because the execution time is constant, the execution is deterministic and therefore may be used in applications requiring deterministic behavior. For example, such a deterministic engine may be used in automated test equipment (ATE) applications.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates generally to processing, and more specifically, to processing in non-deterministic computer systems.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A key to success in an automated test system (ATE) is repeatability. Having a repeatable test system implies that the execution of a predefined test sequence on two identical devices produces identical results. Therefore, if stimuli applied to every device being tested is identical, the test outcome is a trustable source to be used in assessing the device quality. "Identical" stimuli not only mean that the moduli of any relevant test conditions (voltage, current, temperature, etc.) are the same but also the relative time when the test conditions are applied is the same.
Today, most test equipment in the ATE area involves one or more computer systems. It follows that a computer system that implements testing steps must generate these test steps in a deterministic way so that overall determinism is maintained. One problem with such a computer is cost—design of a complete computing system suitable for use in testing (e.g., one that produces consistent results) requires not only the expensive hardware design and maintenance but also expensive software design involving operating system, user interface, drivers, tools, etc. As a result, computer systems suitable for ATE are prohibitively expensive for most companies to purchase and maintain.
One way to reduce the cost of such systems includes using off-the-shelf computer components and systems. However, off-the-shelf general purpose computer systems are generally not suitable for such applications due to the deterministic requirements specified above. If a general-purpose computer system could be used in an ATE, the cost of ownership and operation of the ATE could be reduced.

System and method for performing deterministic processing


A method and apparatus wherein an extruder provides extruded plastic parisons to a first and second horizontally movable blow mold assemblies, and each blow mold assembly includes two sets of blow molds, and each set includes a pair of blow mold halves. The blow mold halves are closed about the tubular parisons and moved to one of two blow molding stations where a blow pin at the blow molding station blows the parison to form a hollow blow molded article. More specifically, four platens are provided in each blow mold assembly. A first pair of outer and inner platens supports the first pair of blow mold halves and a second pair of outer and inner platens supports the second pair of blow mold halves. A pair of tie rods passes through all four platens. The first outer platen is attached to the ends of the tie rods. The second outer platen is moved by a mechanism such as a cylinder or toggle mechanism for movement on the tie rods. The first inner platen is connected to the second outer platen by a second set of tie rods. The second inner platen is connected to the first outer platen by a third set of tie rods. When the first assembly of open blow mold sets is brought into position adjacent the extruder station, parisons are extruded between both sets of mold halves. The first assembly of mold sets are closed about the parisons and then moved to one of the blow stations. As the first assembly of mold sets moves away from the extruder means, the second assembly of mold sets at the other blow station is opened, releasing the containers which have been blown at the other station and the second assembly of open blow mold halves are moved to the extruder station for a continuation of the cycle.

In one type of blow molding machine, such as shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,767,747, 3,781,395 and 3,978,184, a preform is extruded downwardly and preform mold halves and final blow mold halves are shifted laterally or horizontally from a position underlying the extruder. Blow pins (calibration pins) are provided in association with the blow molds.
Among the objectives of the present invention are to provide a blow molding method and apparatus of the above-described type wherein the productivity is doubled in one complete cycle; wherein the method and apparatus can be readily adapted to existing machines; and wherein the same machine can make different containers simultaneously.
In accordance with the invention, extruder means provide extruded tubular plastic parisons to first and second horizontally movable blow mold assemblies. Each blow mold assembly includes two sets of blow molds, and each set comprises a pair of blow mold halves. The blow mold halves are closed about the tubular parisons and moved to one of two blow molding stations where a blow pin at the blow molding station blows the parison to form a hollow blow molded article. More specifically, four platens are provided in each blow mold assembly. A first pair of outer and inner platens supports the first pair of blow mold halves and a second pair of outer and inner platens supports the second pair of blow mold halves. A pair of tie rods passes through all four platens. The first outer platen is attached to the ends of the tie rods. The second outer platen is moved by a mechanism such as a cylinder or toggle mechanism for movement on the tie rods. The first inner platen is connected to the second outer platen by a second set of tie rods. The second inner platen is connected to the first outer platen by a third set of tie rods. When the first assembly of open blow mold sets is brought into position adjacent the extruder station, parisons are extruded between both sets of mold halves. The first assembly of mold sets is closed about the parisons and then moved to one of the blow stations. As the first assembly of mold sets moves away from the extruder means, the second assembly of mold sets at the other blow station is opened, releasing the containers which have been blown at the other station and the second assembly of open blow mold halves are moved to the extruder station for a continuation of the cycle.

Method and apparatus for forming molded plastic articles


A highly accurate data migration pattern is decided on the bases of usages of a plurality of kinds of resources and by taking influence of execution of data migration on each resource into consideration.

The present invention relates to a distributed storage system and a data migration method and is preferably applied to the distributed storage system and the data migration method which are configured to migrate data between/among nodes in order to smooth a load.
Nowadays, in a company or an organization that the number of users is large and a volume of data to be handled is large, there is a tendency that the company or the organization builds by itself a private cloud and provides an infrastructure, a platform and so forth for each department in the organization as a service for cost saving in place of use of a public cloud that a cloud service agent provides. In addition, the number of cases where a storage which is called a distributed storage or an SDS (Software Defined Storage) and which implements a storage function in the form of software on a low-cost general server is used in place of an existing dedicated storage device for reduction of TCO (Total Cost of Ownership) of the storage which builds the private cloud is increased. Since in the private cloud, various applications operate and there exists an SLA (Service Level Agreement) of a latency which is made different per data, an automation technology which is used for improving a utilization ratio of a resource by reducing a running cost is attracting attention.
Incidentally, in an environment that the number of storage-use computers is large and various workloads are present in a mixed state just like the private cloud, it is necessary to meet requirements of each data by automatically migrating the data (a volume), without manually deciding a data migration destination by a manager.
Here, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 8,935,500, an art which relates to a storage DRS (Distributed Resource Schedular) is disclosed. According to U.S. Pat. No. 8,935,500, in the storage DRS, data is replaced to respective storage-use computers so s to smooth the load between/among the nodes on the basis of statistical information. More specifically, the storage DRS detects an abnormality of a latest latency, selects appropriate data from a node from which the abnormality of the latency is detected, migrates the selected data to another node and thereby recovers the abnormality of the latency.
In addition, in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2014-178975, a computer device which aims to improve a reduction in access performance which would occur due to application of a load and so forth to a virtual storage is disclosed. In the computer device which is disclosed in Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2014-178975, increase and decrease of a memory capacity of a cache memory are controlled in accordance with a use frequency of the cache memory.
Patent Literature 1: U.S. Pat. No. 8,935,500
Patent Literature 2: Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2014-178975

Distributed storage system and data migration method

Abstract: In a distributed storage system, a monitor acquires a per-period usage of each of the plurality of kinds of the resources per data, a performance simulator estimates a per-period usage of each resource on a migration destination node when the data is migrated by using the acquired per-data resource usage and calculates an estimate of a latency from the estimated usage of each resource and an optimizer decides a migration pattern of the data on the basis of the estimate of the latency.


A system and method for easily separating upper and lower turbine shells involves forming elongated access pockets vertically aligned across the upper and lower turbine shells and at multiple locations on the turbine shells. Telescoping hydraulic rams are placed into elongated access pockets at each of the multiple locations for lifting the upper shell off of the lower shell. The telescoping hydraulic rams are connected to a controller for controlling each of the rams to operate in parallel with the other rams. Once the turbine shells are separated the upper turbine shell can be removed by conventional block and rigging.

Prior art methods and systems for separating upper and lower turbine shells involve utilizing the rigging art of blocking and jacking in multiple steps to separate the upper and lower turbine shells to the desired distance. Separate jacks have typically been used at, for example, the four corner locations of a turbine and care must be used by the operators of the jacks so that each corner is lifted at the same rate to the same distance. When the ram height of each jack has been extended to nearly its full travel, the turbine shell is blocked firmly in place and the ram is retracted. Next the ram is blocked for its next jacking cycle. This process is repeated 3–4 times depending upon the unit geometry.
FIG. 1 shows upper and lower turbine shells 11 and 12 of turbine 10, and ram access pockets 13 located at the four corners of upper turbine shell 11 (only two ram access pockets are shown). As will be appreciated by those skilled in the art, it is a time consuming and difficult task to ensure that each corner of upper turbine shell 11 is lifted uniformly, at the same rate and for the same distance, away from lower turbine shell 12. Many adjustments are required by the operators during the process to ensure that each jack ram has created the identical level of separation as the other jack rams.
The hydraulic jacking hardware that is typically identified on the wrench and tool list supplied by the turbine manufacturer will only support the above described blocking and jacking process. The pumps and hydraulic rams usually have an effective travel of about 3–4 inches.
Moreover, the typically used manual hydraulic pumps do not have the oil capacity to handle the use of taller telescoping hydraulic cylinders. Also, the access pockets are not tall enough to accommodate the use of larger telescoping rams. Thus, the prior art systems and methods must procure blocking to be used in the step jacking procedure for both the shell and for underneath the ram. This process is labor intensive.
Millwrights working in a team of 8–10 will call out measurements in increments of ⅛ inch until the ram has reached its extended travel. This process is not very accurate for controlling the parallelism of the shell separation. Accordingly, use of prior art systems and methods have frequently caused damage to the radial fits of the turbine shells because of uneven separation of the horizontal joints.
To assist the jacks, a main crane must be hitched to the upper shell to maximize the separating force being applied. The shell is then slowly jacked and lifted until sufficient height is obtained for adjusting the rigging hitch to remove the upper shell. Currently millwrights block and jack the upper half shells about 10–12 inches before they are free of all radial fits. Then they adjust the crane rigging to a level hitch before lifting the shell. When the shell can be positioned free of all the radial fits the hitch levelness is not as critical.


A recess 14 is formed in a sole 9 of a head 4. The recess 14 is an example of an opening part. A socket 10 is mounted to the recess 14. A weight body 12 capable of being attached/detached is attached to the socket 10. The weight body 12 has an engaging part 32 and an exposed part E1. The socket 10 has an interposition part 11. The interposition part 11 is interposed in at least a part between the exposed part E1 and a head body h1 in an attached state where the engaging part 32 is placed at an engaging position EP. The exposed part E1 is exposed to the outside in the attached state. The interposition part 11 does not fix the weight body 12.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a golf club head having a weight body.
2. Description of the Related Art
A head capable of changing the mass and position of a weight body has been known. The position of the center of gravity of the head can be adjusted by the weight body attached to the head. The adjustment of the position of the center of gravity facilitates fitting.
As a mechanism for attaching the weight body, a screw mechanism is typical. Meanwhile, Japanese Utility Model Application Publication No. 3142270 (US2009/0131200) discloses a mechanism including a sleeve and a weight. The gazette discloses a weight capable of being attached/detached by rotation. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-117159 (US2007/0093316, US2008/0293516) discloses a head including a head body having an outer surface having a recess formed therein, a weight member disposed in the recess, and a first addition member disposed on the outside of the weight member. The first addition member contains a resin or a rubber as a base material. Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2007-83012 (US2007/0049400) discloses a head including a sole, a recess formed in the sole, an elastic body embedded in the recess, and a weight fixed to the elastic body so as to cover the elastic body.


The present invention relates to a method of playing a game in which a guess is made of a number value of a remainder. A total point value is determined from game pieces given to a player. A number value of a remainder is determined by dividing the total point value by a predetermined divisor. The number value of the remainder is compared to the guessed number value of the remainder. If the number value of the remainder is the same as the guessed number value of the remainder, the player wins.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to games, such as a game in which a number value is determined as a remainder of a division of a total value of game pieces by a divisor and the number value is matched against a previous guess of the number value.
2. Description of Related Art
Variations in card games using card point values are known. In games such as black jack, a point value of cards is each player's hand is added together to determine the value of the hand after the player had the opportunity to be dealt additional cards. Different hands are compared to determine the winning hand, such as comparing the hand against the dealer hand.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,632,486 describes a method of playing a card game using a card number subtracting technique in which cards of the playing deck are assigned numerical point values. Eights, nines and tens are removed from the standard deck to establish a deck of forty cards. Each numbered card is assigned its point value. Each ace is assigned a value of one. Each face card is assigned a value of zero. Two cards are initially dealt to each player with each player having the option of receiving a third card. If a third card is dealt, one of the cards is discarded. The hands are compared to determine a winning hand as the hand in which the point value difference between the two cards in the hand is closest to zero.
Other games using multiplication and division concepts are known. U.S. Pat. No. 6,341,779 describes a mathematical card and dice game. The deck of cards includes cards having numeric values and cards having non-numeric values. The cards with non-numeric values are assigned numeric values. On a player's team, the player rolls the dice. Cards are removed from their hand by making mathematical relationships with the numbers on the dice which result in a value equal to the value of one or more cards in a player's hand.
It is desirable to provide a card game using simple mathematical concepts which is easy to play and provides increased player's interest.

Method and device for playing a game using remainder values


Wettable fibers or filaments are prepared from a composition having a polymer which has a wetting agent incorporated therein. The polymer is selected from the group consisting of olefin polymers, polyesters and polyamides. The wetting agent consists essentially of a glyceride selected from the group consisting of a mono-glyceride, a combination of mono-glycerides and a mixed glyceride having a mono glyceride content of at least 85 percent by weight. The fatty ester group or groups in the glyceride each have from about 12 to about 22 carbon atoms. The olefin polymer is preferably polypropylene, LLDPE, LDPE and HDPE, more preferably polypropylene. The polyamide is preferably a nylon 6 and nylon 6,6. The polyester is preferably a polyethylene terephthalate and a polybutylene terephthalate.

There are many olefin polymers which can be made into fibers and filaments. This includes polyethylene, polypropylene, polybutene, polypentene, and ethylene and propylene copolymerized with other olefinic monomers such as higher olefins and conjugated dienes. Olefin polymers are known for their hydrophobic properties. Therefore, wettability of such polymers, including those in fibrous or filament form, is achieved by means of wetting agents provided in, or on, the polymer fibers or filaments.
Such fibers or filaments are useful in producing battery separators (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 3,847,676); disposable diapers (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,073,852); wiper materials (e.g., U.S. 4,307,143); papers (e.g. U.S. Pat. No. 4,273,892); and filter aids (e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 4,274,971).
U.S. Pat. No. 4,189,420 discloses, inter alia, certain ethylene polymers blended with a polybutene and a mixed glyceride having at least one acyl group of 2 to 6 carbon atoms and at least one acyl group containing 8 to 22 carbon atoms.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,048,266 discloses, inter alia, a polyolefin film containing an anti-fog agent of polyethylene oxide derivative.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,048,263 discloses, inter alia, a polyolefin film containing an anti-fog agent comprising a monoglyceride of a fatty acid and optionally a diglyceride of a fatty acid. An example of a monoglyceride disclosed therein is glyceryl monostearate.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,462,331 discloses, inter alia, the incorporation into polyethylene of polyhydric alcohol esters of metal salts of either saturated or unsaturated monocarboxylic fatty acids.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,578,414 discloses an olefin polymer, preferably a linear low density polyethylene copolymer (LLDPE), having compounded therewith a wetting agent, which is used in forming wettable fibers and/or filaments. The wetting agent has at least one of the following: (1) an alkoxylated alkyl phenol along with a mixed mono-, di- and/or tri-glyceride, or (2) a polyoxyalkylene fatty acid ester, or (3) a combination of (2) and any part of (1).
Whereas it is known that virtually any thermoplastic polymer can be extruded as a coarse strand or monofilament, many of these, such as polyethylene and some ethylene copolymers, have not generally been found to be suitable for the making of fine denier fibers or multi-filaments. A fine denier fiber or filament refers to an extruded strand of denier less than about 15. It is also recognized that the mechanical and thermal conditions experienced by a bundle of filaments, whether in spinning staple fibers or in multi-filaments yarns, are very different to those in spinning monofilaments. The fact that a given man-made polymer can be extruded as a monofilament, does not necessarily herald its use in fine denier or multi-filament extrudates.
The synthetic fibers are produced as continuous filaments by a process known as melt spinning. The plastic pellets are fed in to a hopper and melted in a single screw extruder. The molten polymer is filtered and then metered before being forced through a spinnerette that contains thousands of small holes. The fibers are then solidified by using air and as the fibers are drawn by the action of rollers by sequentially increasing their speeds. The drawn filaments are then wound onto the spools. The spools are made into bunches called tows and cut into staple fibers according to the manufacturer's requirements.
The fibers are the main constituents of fabrics and nonwovens. Nonwovens are unconventional textile assemblies that are obtained by processes other than weaving or knitting. In recent years, there has been a phenomenal growth in the usage of nonwovens in personal hygiene, diapers, adult incontinence, medical, construction, geotextiles and automotive applications. Nonwovens can be made from both natural and synthetic fibers and a combination of both. Usually, the fibers are obtained or extruded and bonded into thin sheets by heat or mechanical or chemical means. The main types of nonwovens used in the market include the spunbonded and melt blown types. The details of these types of materials and their manufacturer will be explained in the following paragraphs. Very often, more than one type of nonwoven is used to make laminates or composite structures. The nonwovens are sometimes further bonded to provide them with adequate strength for other operations.
In the manufacture of a spunbond nonwoven, polymer chips are typically fed through a hopper and melted in the single screw extruder. Some machines also have side feeder capability to feed additives, such as pigments. The molten polymer is metered and then forced through several thousand spinnerett holes to form fine continuous filaments. The filaments are drawn and entangled through the action of a venturi and deposited on a collection belt. The unbonded, entangled fibers are then passed through two heated calendar rolls for thermal bonding of the fibers to each other at points of contact. The nonwoven fabric is then wound and shipped to converting applications where the fabric is made into final products. Alternatively or in addition, the fibers are also bonded through needle-punching and chemical bonding. The polymers typically used in spunbonding are polyolefins, such as polyethylene and polypropylene, polyamides and polyesters. Polypropylene is most commonly used with a melt flow rate in the range between 30-40. Polypropylene is easy to process and cost-effective when compared to other polymers. The spunbond polypropylene nonwovens are used in baby diapers, napkins, feminine hygiene products, laminates, adult incontinence, medical garments, agricultural covers, etc.
In the manufacture of a melt blown nonwoven, polymer chips are fed through a hopper and melted in the single screw extruder. Some machines have additional side feeding capacity for additives, including pigments or color masterbatches. The molten polymer is forced through very fine die holes that are situated either vertically or horizontally. The fibers are then subjected to the action of very hot air at very high velocities to elongate the fibers resulting in fibers with sub-micron diameters. The fibers are bonded to each other at contact points as they cool down. Usually, there is no separate bonding process. The melt blown products are typically used in filters, wipes, battery separators, and insulators.


A port of a computing system includes a connector movable between a recessed position and an extended position. The connector is extended from the recessed position to the extended position in response to a plug.

Connector ports, such as Input/Output (I/O) ports for computing systems, interface with a plug associated with the port. The port and housing surrounding the port present a perpendicular surface, allowing portions of the plug to extend laterally outside the port when the plug is inserted.
The present examples will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings, like reference numbers may indicate identical or functionally similar elements.

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A digital to analog converter that includes circuitry that converts sequences of positive and negative digital data samples into electrical currents and current mirror circuitry that generates an analog waveform by combining and amplifying the electrical currents.

1. Field of Invention
The present invention pertains to the field of digital to analog conversion circuits. More particularly, this invention relates to a digital to analog converter with a dynamic current mirror structure.
2. Art Background
Electronic systems that drive electronic transmission lines may employ wave shaping techniques. Such a wave shaping technique usually includes the synthesis of sinusoidal waveform pulses from stored digital waveform data samples. Such an electronic system typically includes an digital to analog conversion circuit that converts sequences of digital waveform data samples to an analog signal. Typically, such digital waveform data samples provide input codes for the digital to analog conversion circuit.
Some prior electronic systems implement a differential digital to analog conversion circuit. Such differential digital to analog conversion circuits typically include a set of current sources which are coupled to corresponding switching transistors. Typically, the switching transistors are controlled by the input codes to the digital to analog converter. Such a combination of switched current sources yields a sum of electrical currents at output nodes that directly drive a pair of differential output resistors.
Unfortunately, such differential digital to analog converter circuits usually suffer from high power consumption. Typically, the output nodes coupled to the output resistors are biased to a preselected voltage level Such a preselected bias level is usually selected for maximum dynamic range in the analog output signal. Such biasing usually causes electrical current flow through the output resistors even while the output waveform is inactive. Such quiescent levels of output current unnecessarily consumes power during idle transmission periods.
In addition, such differential digital to analog conversion circuits typically generate high frequency noise through the output resistors. As a consequence, such differential digital analog converters usually include a low pass filter circuit to reduce such high frequency noise. Unfortunately, the extra components of such a low pass filter usually increase the size and the overall cost of such circuits.
Moreover, such differential digital analog converter circuits are typically implemented with relatively large transistors which are capable of delivering sufficient levels of current to the output nodes. Unfortunately, such relatively large transistors increases the integrated circuit die space required to implement the digital analog conversion circuitry which increases overall system costs.
Other digital analog conversion circuits include an operational amplifier configured as a voltage controlled voltage source. Typically, such an operational amplifier samples a low power input signal and generates a continuous signal at the required power to drive the load resistors at the output node. Such operational amplifier designs usually provide a high gain design along with feedback circuitry to provide overall stability In addition, such operational amplifiers typically require a high gain-bandwidth products to achieve stability Unfortunately, such a high gain closed loop circuit is inherently unstable and can cause undesirable oscillation in the analog output signal.

Digital to analog converter and dynamic current mirror structure to simplify on-chip wave shaping


The present invention provides methods and apparatus for adjusting the resonant frequency, scan velocity or other parameters of a pivotally functional surface such as an oscillating mirror used as the scanning engine of a laser printer or projection display. The selected parameter is adjusted by the application of tensional or compression stress to the torsional hinges of the mirror. According to one embodiment, the appropriate stress is generated by a slice of piezoelectric material bonded to the mirror device itself or to other portions of the support structure of the scanning engine.

The use of rotating polygon scanning mirrors in laser printers to provide a beam sweep or scan of the image of a modulated light source across a photoresistive medium, such as a rotating drum, is well-known. In addition, there have also been efforts to use a much less expensive flat mirror with a single reflective surface, such as a mirror oscillating in resonance to provide the scanning beam. Earlier efforts to use the inexpensive flat mirror required a compromise in performance in that only one direction of the resonant beam sweep could be used to display or print an image line at a right angle on a page. For example, to generate image lines that are at a right angle to a moving photosensitive medium, the scanning mirror generating the beam sweep is typically mounted at a slight angle to compensate for the movement of the photosensitive medium. It will be appreciated that the photosensitive medium typically moves at a right angle with respect to the beam sweep (such as a rotating drum). Unfortunately, if the mirror is mounted at a slight angle to compensate for medium movement during the forward beam sweep, the return beam sweeps will traverse a trajectory on the moving photosensitive drum which will be at an angle which is unacceptable with the first printed image line since the effect of the moving medium and the angle mounting of the mirror will now be additive rather than subtractive. Thus, when such a single reflecting surface resonant mirror was used with these early flat mirror scanners, it was necessary to interrupt the modulation of the reflected light beam and wait for the mirror to complete the return sweep or cycle and then again start scanning in the original direction. This requirement of only using one of the sweep directions of the mirror of course reduces the print speed and requires synchronization between the mirror and the rotating drum.
More recently, the use of a single flat mirror with two pairs of torsional hinges arranged orthogonally to each other or two single hinged mirrors have allowed bi-directional sweeps by controlling the vertical position of the mirror during the horizontal scan or sweep. For example, the assignee of the present invention has recently developed a printer scanning engine that uses a dual axis mirror with a single reflection surface described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/384,861 filed Mar. 10, 2003, and entitled "Laser Print Apparatus Using a Pivoting Scanning Mirror." This dual axis mirror uses a first set of torsional hinges for providing oscillating beam sweep such as a resonant beam sweep and a second set of torsional hinges that selectively moves the oscillating beam sweep in a direction orthogonal to the oscillating or resonant beam sweep. By dynamically controlling the orthogonal position of the beam sweep to compensate for movement of the photosensitive medium, both directions of the resonant beam sweep may be used to print parallel image lines. Alternately, two single axis mirrors can be arranged such that one mirror provides the resonant beam sweep and the other mirror controls the orthogonal position of the beam sweep to allow both directions of the resonant beam sweep to be used for printing.
It will also be appreciated by those skilled in the art that in addition to laser printing, control of the orthogonal (vertical) position of the oscillating or resonant scan by a first single axis mirror allows a second single surface or flat oscillating mirror to be used to provide a full frame of raster scans suitable for use on projection displays including micro projection displays such as cell phones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA's), notebook computers and heads-up displays. However, if such displays are to be commercially acceptable, they must be small, low cost, robust enough to withstand greater than 1000 G's of shock, and stable over the operating temperature normally experienced by hand-held products.
Consequently, it will be appreciated that the high frequency scanning mirror is a key component to the success of such products. Further, since many of the applications for such mirror projection displays are battery powered, all of the components (including the scanning mirror) must be energy efficient.
Texas Instruments presently manufactures mirror MEMS devices fabricated out of a single piece of material (such as silicon, for example) typically having a thickness of about 100-115 microns using semiconductor manufacturing processes. The layout of a dual axis mirror consists of a mirror having dimensions on the order of a few millimeters supported on a gimbals frame by two silicon torsional hinges. The gimbals frame is supported by another set of torsional hinges, which extend from the gimbals frame to a support frame or alternately the hinges may extend from the gimbals frame to a pair of hinge anchors. This Texas Instruments manufactured mirror with two orthogonal axes is particularly suitable for use with laser printers and/or projection displays. The reflective surface of the mirror may have any suitable perimeter shape such as oval, rectangular, square or other.
Similar single axis mirror devices may be fabricated by eliminating the support frame altogether and extending the single pair of torsional hinges of the mirror directly to the support frame or a pair of support anchors. The use of two single axis mirrors may be used instead of one dual axis mirror to generate the beam scan and any necessary orthogonal beam movement. Other suitable designs of single axis mirrors may also be used.
U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/384,861 describes several techniques for creating the pivotal resonance of the mirror device about the torsional hinges. Thus, by designing the mirror hinges to resonate at a selected frequency, a scanning engine can be produced that provides a scanning beam sweep with only the small amount of energy required to maintain resonance.
As will be appreciated by one skilled in the art, the resonant frequency of a pivotally oscillating device about torsional hinges will vary as a function of the stress loading along the axis of the hinges. These stresses build up as a result of residual stress on the hinge from the assembly process as well as changes in the environmental conditions, such as for example, changes in the temperature of the packaged device. For example, the Young's modulus of silicon varies over temperature such that for a MEMS type pivotally oscillating device made of silicon, clamping the device in a package such that it is restrained in the hinge direction will cause stress in the hinges as the temperature changes. This in turn will lead to drift in the resonant frequency of the pivotal oscillations.
Since applications that use a pattern of light beam scans, such as laser printing and projection imaging require a stable and precise drive to provide the signal frequency and scan velocity, the changes in the resonant frequency and scan velocity of a pivotally oscillating device due to temperature variations can restrict or even preclude the use of the device in laser printers and scan displays. Further, if the stress loading is increased above the maximum acceptable levels for a given rotational angle, the reliability and operational life of the device can be unacceptably reduced. For example, excessive compressive stress loading that can occur at low temperature on devices with a CTE (coefficient of thermal expansion) mismatch can lead to buckling of the hinge along with dramatic shift of the resonant frequency or even catastrophic failure.

Apparatus and methods for adjusting the rotational frequency of a scanning device