The present invention discloses a solution for modifying a group list server to perform syndication feed operations. A syndication feed creation software component, a content gathering component, and a content extraction converting component can be added to a group list server. The modified group list server can continue to function as a traditional list server and can also function as a traditional feed server that is able to interoperate with standard, client-side feed readers. In one embodiment, the modified list server can repurpose syndication groups as to operate as syndication feed channels and can repurpose group members to operate as feed items.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to the field of network publications through a feed service and, more particularly, to using a group list server as a syndication feed server.
2. Description of the Related Art
Conventionally, list management servers and syndication feed servers are special purpose servers—each serving a different function, each using different protocols and conventions, each being implemented by separate server software, and each being used by separate client software. To elaborate, a list management server traditionally is used to create and manage network-based group definitions and associated lists of members for defined groups. The list management server can maintain access lists, permissions, and other service specific properties associated with groups and group members. Use of a list management server permits a user's contact list, such as an email list or a personal address book, to be specified and used in an application independent manner. This can allow a user's contact list to be used by an email program at work and at home, by a mobile telephony device of the user, and the like. List management servers also support group list nesting so that one list can be referenced within another. The list management server further permits multiple users to share lists, such as sharing contact lists among employees in a company. Numerous standards exist to ensure compatibility of server managed lists, such as the XML Configuration Access Protocol (XCAP) standard of the Internet Engineering Task Force (ETF).
In contrast, a syndication server permits users to subscribe to syndication feeds. A syndication feed, such as a Really Simple Syndication (RSS) or an Atom Syndication Format (ATOM) feed, are used to provide items containing short descriptions of Web content together with a link to a full version of the content and/or with a text version of the full content. Syndication feeds are used to publish frequently updated content, such as BLOG entries, news headlines, or podcasts. Feed content can be read using a feed reader or an aggregator. That is, users subscribe to a feed by entering the feed's link into the reader. The reader regularly checks subscribed feeds for new content and downloads any new content related to these feeds.
FIG. 1 (Prior Art) is included to pictorially illustrate conventional implementations of a feed server shown in arrangement 110 and a list server shown in arrangement 150. In the prior art feed server arrangement 110, a client 120 can subscribe to a feed server 130 that provides syndication feeds. The feed server 130 can gather content from one or more Web sources 140. For instance, one or more Web servers 140 can provide Hyper Text Markup Language (HTML) pages to the feed server 130 responsive to server 130 issued requests. The feed server 130 can utilize a converter 132 to extract content from the HTML pages and to repackage it into an XML format. The repackaged content can differ from the original content in that it no longer includes presentation information, but only content. Users of interface 122 can trigger a poll event to one or more feed servers 130 which results in a streamed update. The update can contain any content corresponding to the subscription that the server 130 has received since a last poll. A single client 120 can include an aggregator 124 component that combines content from multiple feed servers 130 into a user configured view. Aggregation can also occur within a Web server (not shown) that provides feed content to client 120.
In the group list server arrangement 150, different communication nodes 160 can each connect to a list management server 172 via network 170. Each node 160 can include a user 162-164 and a computing device 166-168. The same user 162-164 can use the list management server 172 as a central repository for storing contact information used by multiple different devices 166-168. Further, different users 162-164 can share a common set of server 172 maintained information, such as sharing updated business contact information among a set of business agents. The list management server 172 can maintain and use a set of list server tables 180. These tables 180 can include a group table 182, a participant table 186, and a linkage table 184, which links the group 182 and participant tables 186. The group table 182 can maintain information concerning the groups that the list server 172 manages, such as a group id, a group name, a description and other attributes. The participant table 186 can maintain information concerning group members, such as a participant id, name, device address, and status. The linkage table 184 can associate group table 182 items to participant table 186 items in a many-to-many relationship.

Using a group list server as a syndication feed server

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A light source driving circuit of light emitting semiconductor and a backlight module are provided. The light source driving circuit of light emitting semiconductor includes a driving control circuit and a constant current driving circuit coupled to the driving control circuit for controlling a current flowing through the light emitting semiconductor. When the driving control circuit receives a display-mode-switch signal which has an indication for switching from a present display mode to a new display mode, the driving control circuit controls the constant current driving circuit such that in the process of switching from the present display mode to the new display mode, the current flowing through the light emitting semiconductor changes gradually.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display, and more particularly to a light source driving circuit of light emitting semiconductor and a backlight module.
2. Description of Related Art
LCD display panel cannot generate light itself, it requires utilize the backlight method to project the light to the display panel and makes the display panel produce a brightness, and the brightness should distribute evenly to the display screen to obtain a good picture. Currently, the backlight source of the LCD display panel is mainly divided into two kinds of LED and CCFL. Comparing to the CCFL backlight, the LED backlight source has low power consumption, long life, thin, and good optical properties. Therefore, utilizing white LED as the backlight source of the LCD display is becoming the direction of development of LCD TV.
As shown in FIG. 1, in the LED backlight driving circuit, a current amplitude of the LED is decided by a reference voltage Va required by the constant current driver IC and the current limiting resistor R0, i.e., 1=Va/R0. The reference voltage Va is provided by an external circuit to the constant current driver IC. The current flowing through the LED determines the emitting brightness of the LED. However, the brightness of the LED backlight required in the 2D display mode and the 3D display mode is not the same. Thus, under the current limiting resistor R0 is determined, the reference voltage Va required at the 2D display mode and the 3D display mode is not the same.
In the 2D display mode, The MOS tube Q12 is turned off, and MOS tube Q11 is turned on. At this time, resistors R11, R12 and R13 are in working condition. The R12 and R13 are in parallel and divide a voltage so that the voltage value Va is relatively small. In the 3D display mode, the MOS tube Q12 is turned on, and the MOS tube Q11 is turned off. At this time, only the resistors R11 and R12 are in working condition, so that the Va voltage value is relatively larger than the Va voltage value in the 2D display mode. In addition, a PWM dimming signal is for changing and adjusting the duty ratio of the LED current such that the current flowing through the LED becomes smaller in the average value in order to achieve the effect of reducing the backlight brightness.
The manner described above can achieve that obtaining different Va voltage values in the different display modes and the PWM dimming signal, and obtaining the LED brightness in the corresponding display mode. However, when switching between the 2D display mode and the 3D display mode, the switching speed is very fast. When switching the LED brightness in the 2D display mode to the 3D display mode, or switching, the LED brightness in the 3D display mode to the 2D display mode, the current flowing through LED change suddenly such that the brightness of the LED backlight will change suddenly, which could easily lead to a strong visual impact to the viewer, and reducing the viewing experience.

Light source driving circuit of light emitting semiconductor and backlight module

Shenzhen China Star Optoelectronics Technology Co., Ltd


A modular animal transportation crate includes a plurality of panels that form the floor, walls, doors and ceiling of the crate. The panels are connected to each other by panel and section connectors. The panels may include perforations which protrude away from the animal. The perforations provide ventilation through side and top when used as walls or ceilings and assist in the removal of waste products when serving as the floor. The inventive crate is preferably made of a strong lightweight material that is easily assembled, disassembled and re-assembled. The crate may also be used to transport animals and to house the animals at remote locations.

For centuries, animals have been transported across continents and oceans, in ships and more recently, animals have been flown in airplanes from the wild to zoos. In fact, zoological and research institutions ship thousands of animals every, year. These shipments include, for example, inter-facility transfers, intra-institution shipments and transport from wildcatch staging areas to quarantine facilities.
There are no specific design standards for crate construction. However, some general guidelines exist for volume, ventilation and access requirements. For example, the 1945-1995 IATA Live Animals Regulations sets forth crate designs for various animals.
Transport crates are typically designed for the size and type of animals to be transported. Many institutions have significant inventories of crates for the numerous types and sizes of animals they maintain. Additional design factors, such as the temperament of the animal, its strength and the amount of husbandry required in transit, add to the number of different crates that an institution may hold.
These transport crates are typically built by the institution or contracted to local fabrication shops. Such crates take up a significant volume of cargo space whether an animal is being transported or the crate is being returned because they are typically not easily disassembled and reassembled. High-strength crates of conventional material and construction are typically very heavy so that they limit the weight-carrying capacity of the vehicle. Animals have also been and are being shipped in crates specifically made for that particular transport. In such instances, the crates are discarded after the one-time use.
The crates are typically made of wood and wire mesh. Rough surfaces and openings in the walls, floors, and ceilings of such crates can create a hazard for abrasions, lacerations and fractures. It is also difficult to properly ventilate, clean and care for the animals in such crates. Moreover, wood is porous and absorbs liquids which provides a breeding ground for bacteria and makes wood difficult to sterilize. Accordingly, wood crates create a significant number of potential problems.
Many animals will ingest the wooden crate material during the transport process. Even animals which would not generally attempt to chew and eat wood, will sometimes do so in a heightened stress state during transport.
Wood's low strength-to-weight ratio limits its use with large and/or strong animals. If wood is utilized for such crates it often must be very heavily reinforced in order to withstand the impact loads generated by the animals. Furthermore, building a crate in a permanent, non-disassembling configuration further inhibits proper cleaning and sterilization.
Use of crates, particularly with larger species and hoofed mammals, routinely requires a crate-training or habituation as part of the process. Prior to shipping, the crate must be in the animal's enclosure for extended periods while the animal is being acclimated to it. During this period, the crate is further exposed to potential abuse from the animal, increased exposure to waste materials, water, cleaning solutions and other environmental factors further limit the crate life.
Accordingly, the life-span of wooden crates is inherently short. Often the crate must be discarded after a few uses because the animal and the handling of the crate itself, have literally destroyed it.
Most institutions will not ship animals during the middle of summer or the middle of winter, because the temperature limits the shipment of animals in non-environmentally controlled enclosures. This effectively reduces the available shipping time by 120-150 days per year.
Accordingly, the need exists for a light-weight modular, reusable shipping crate for animals. There is also a need for shipping crates which reduce the chance of injury to the animal. The control of communicable disease, especially between separate facilities is very important in today's modern zoological institution. Finally, there is a need to properly ventilate, clean and handle such crates while in transport.


The invention relates to an electrical bushing serving to make a connection at ambient temperature to a superconductor element situated in an enclosure at cryogenic temperature. The electrical bushing passes successively through an enclosure at intermediate temperature between ambient temperature and cryogenic temperature, and an enclosure at ambient temperature, and it comprises a central electrical conductor surrounded by an electrically insulating sheath. According to the invention, an electrically conductive screen connected to ground potential surrounds the insulating sheath over a section that extends from the end of the bushing that is in contact with the enclosure at cryogenic temperature at least as far as the junction between the enclosure at intermediate temperature and the enclosure at ambient temperature. The invention is more particularly applicable to making a connection to a superconductor cable.

Because of the large difference in temperature between the superconductor element and the equipment for connecting to said element, i.e. between ambient temperature and cryogenic temperature that may be about −200° C., it is necessary to interpose a connection structure between the element and the equipment in order to make the temperature transition while minimizing heat losses, and while nevertheless complying with electrical constraints due for example to the high voltage when a cable is involved. This structure comprises an electrical bushing made up of mainly of a central conductor surrounded by an insulating sheath, for transporting electricity from the superconductor cable to an outlet connection at ambient temperature. This structure must achieve the temperature transition over a reasonable length while ensuring that heat conduction losses along the electrical bushing are low so as to avoid boiling the cryogenic liquid that cools the cable. The section of the central conductor must therefore not be too great. Nevertheless, a high electric current can lead to heat losses due to the conductor becoming heated by the Joule effect, and under such circumstances it is advantageous to increase the section of the central conductor. There are thus two conflicting requirements.
Another technical problem to be solved is that of controlling the distribution of the electric field created by the medium or high voltage of the central conductor of the electrical bushing so as to avoid breakdowns.
The known solution to the problem of heat losses consists in providing the connection structure with an adiabatic intermediate enclosure, an airlock or "buffer" enclosure so to speak, placed between the portion at cryogenic temperature and the portion of the connection structure at ambient temperature. The electrical bushing passes through the intermediate enclosure. That solution is described in European patent application EP 1 283 576, for example. The side walls of the intermediate enclosure are constituted by the side walls of a cryostat. The bottom and top walls include fastening flanges through which the electrical bushing passes, the bottom wall being adjacent to the cryogenic temperature portion and the top wall being adjacent to the ambient temperature portion. The intermediate enclosure is either evacuated, or else filled with a gas that provides good insulation both thermally and electrically. The vacuum level or the gas composition needs to be selected in order to achieve both kinds of insulation. The outside wall of the intermediate enclosure is connected to ground potential.
The drawback of that solution lies in the need for good sealing of the intermediate enclosure, and in particular of the places where the electrical bushing passes through the bottom and top walls, thus leading to manufacturing constraints that are difficult and expensive. For example, even a very small leak between the cryogenic temperature portion and the intermediate enclosure (e.g. a leak of about 10−8 millibars per liter second (mbar/L.s)) inevitably leads to a change in the composition of the gas or to a deterioration in the vacuum level in the intermediate enclosure. If the cryogenic fluid is liquid nitrogen, a leak leads to the presence of gaseous nitrogen in the intermediate enclosure, thus leading firstly to additional consumption of liquid nitrogen, and secondly to a decrease in the thermal and electrical insulation of the intermediate enclosure. Excess pressure in the intermediate enclosure as a result of such a leak is also unsuitable for being controlled by means of safety valves since opening a safety valve would lead to the destruction of the thermal and dielectric insulating medium (vacuum or gas).

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Electrical bushing for a superconductor element


The invention is a helicopter that includes a fuselage with a longitudinal axis, a main rotor and tail rotor; and right and left wings mounted to said fuselage. The right and left wings having at least a portion of which are rotatable from a horizontal position wherein they produce lift in forward flight, to an at least partially downward position wherein they act as landing struts.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to the field of aircraft and, in particular, to a helicopter design.
2. Description of Related Art
Compound helicopters, having wings to provide lift during horizontal flight, loose efficiency during hover because of the disruption of downwash from the main rotor. This problem was addressed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,580,312 "Convertible Airplane And Helicopter" by H. K. Moore. Moore discloses an aircraft having a pusher propeller as well as a rotor. The wings of the airplane can be rotated from their leading edge downward, thus minimizing the effect of rotor downwash during vertical descent. However separate landing gear is required. Another approach is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 2,881,898 "Air Vehicle With Rotary Wing. By A. Flettner. Flettner discloses a compound helicopter type where in the wing tips of the wing are rotated downward by downwash of main rotor. During horizontal flight the lift forces produced by the wing tips to a horizontal position. The problem is that with no locking feature the wing tips will flutter. Furthermore, just rotating the wing tips will not significantly increase rotor efficiency during hover. Furthermore, separate landing apparatus is still required.
Thus, it is a primary object of the invention to provide a helicopter that incorporates wings for horizontal flight and which can be converted to landing struts.
It is another primary object of the invention to provide a helicopter that incorporates wings for horizontal flight and which can be converted to landing struts by rotating at least a portion of the wings downward so that they act as struts.
It is a further object of the invention to provide a helicopter that incorporates wings for horizontal flight and which can be converted to landing struts by rotating at least a portion of the wings downward so that they act as struts and provide minimum blockage of main rotor downwash during hover.

Compound helicopter with combined wings and landing struts


A product includes a fuel cell stack, and an enclosure apparatus sealingly enclosing the fuel cell stack to define a hydrogen chamber between the fuel cell stack and the enclosure apparatus. An operation of the product may include maintaining a positive pressure of hydrogen in the hydrogen chamber.

A fuel cell typically includes a cathode side, an anode side, an electrolyte portion sandwiched between the cathode and anode sides, and an electrical circuit across the anode and cathode sides. Pressurized hydrogen is supplied to the anode side and pressurized oxygen (in air) is supplied to the cathode side. A catalyst on the anode side splits the hydrogen into electrons and protons. Because the electrolyte portion is an H+ ion conductor, the protons migrate from the anode side, through the electrolyte portion, to the cathode side. But because the electrolyte portion is also an electrical insulator, it forces the electrons to flow through the electrical circuit to do useful work en route to the cathode side of the fuel cells. Excess hydrogen flows away from the anode side and can be recycled through the stack or back to a hydrogen source. A catalyst on the cathode side electro-catalyzes the pressurized oxygen (in air) combining with the protons flowing through the electrolyte portion from the anode and with the electrons flowing through the electrical circuit to yield water.

Hydrogen chamber enclosed fuel cell stack and related fuel cell shutdown operation


An equalizer is provided, including: a feedback combiner to combine an input signal and a feedback signal to produce a first signal; a delay line to delay the first signal to produce a second signal; a feed-forward combiner to combine the second signal and a feed-forward signal to produce an output signal; an interim decision circuit to extract a sign bit from the first signal; N feedback scaling elements to generate N scaled feedback signals; M feed-forward scaling elements to generate M scaled feed forward signals; a feedback circuit to pass the N scaled feedback signals through feedback delay elements and feedback summing elements to generate the feedback signal in response to the sign bit; and a feed forward circuit to pass the M scaled feed forward signals through feed-forward delay elements and feed-forward summing elements to generate the feed-forward signal in response to the sign bit.

Wireless communication devices or units such as receivers and transceivers supporting high and ultra high bandwidth and data rates in corresponding systems are being developed. As these systems have evolved higher frequency channels with larger bandwidths and more sophisticated encoding and modulation schemes are being employed. For example, IEEE 802.15 working group is developing standards for short range communications that specify channels from 3.1 GHz to 5.15 GHz and from 5.825 GHz to 10.6 GHz and data rates as high as 1.35 Gbps (billion bits per second). These systems with wideband or ultra wideband channels that are often referred to as complex channels, present various problems for practitioners. One problem is inter-symbol interference (ISI) that is normally dominated by multipath effects, e.g. the impact of receiving multiple signals or rays as a result of various combinations of reflections of a transmitted signal before it arrives at the receiver location.
It is known to use equalizers and corresponding methods to improve or reduce the degree of ISI. Generally a training period is used where a known signal is transmitted. When the receiver recovers the known signal various techniques can be used to compensate or restore the recovered signal to a reasonable approximation of the known signal. The resulting compensation or equalization information or parameters can then be used to compensate subsequently and unknown signals that are received. While various techniques exist for performing equalization they suffer from various problems, such as excessive computational complexity or latency or failure to address the relevant vagaries of a complex channel. These shortcomings can be especially troublesome in cost and battery life constrained receivers with limited processing or computational resources.
One way to provide such equalization is by a combination of feedback and feed-forward signals. In such an equalizer system the processing speed of a feed-forward path is generally not critical. Although it is desirable to perform feed-forward within one symbol period, it is possible to accommodate a longer feed-forward processing time. However, feedback structures are typically much more sensitive to processing time, and must be accomplished within a single symbol period.
Thus a need exists for feedback/feed-forward equalizer designs that can complete the feed-forward and feedback processes within single symbol period without requiring too much circuit complexity.

System and method for equalizing an incoming signal


The present invention includes a control device and a control center having at least one cell defining an interior space with a front face for receiving and electrically connecting the control device therein. The cell and control device have mounting for mounting at least one electrical component thereon. The control device pivots on a pivotal axis within the cell so that a rear mounting surface pivots away from a cell mounting surface to provide access to the rear mounting surface and the cell mounting surface through the front face of the cell. The control device is releasably fastened to the cell to prevent pivoting the control device while the control device is electrically connected. A method is included with the present invention for providing access to the interior space through a front face of a cell in a control center with a control device inserted therein.

Motor control centers, as well as other electrical equipment like switchgear, are equipped with draw-out type protective control devices such as fusible disconnect switches, circuit breakers, and fuse trucks. These control devices are inserted into individual cells or compartments within the center to establish mechanical and electrical contact with bus bars, load and line stabs, or similar electrical terminals.
Due to the size and weight of many control devices, they are usually mounted on a support frame with rails or rollers and slid into position. The control device module may include a pair of upstanding cradle arms that are attached to the racking mechanism which facilitates rolling or sliding the control device into engagement with the electrical power load lines in the cells of the control center.
This type of racking mechanism is well known in the art and is available from several manufacturers. For example, the Square D Company produces a line of DS type circuit breakers which operate in accordance with the above description. While the racking mechanism presently available performs well, it is unnecessarily costly and may include many separate parts that are disposed about the circuit device for performing various interlock functions to assure safe installation, operation, removal, and testing. Some racking mechanisms of other manufacturers occupy a substantial amount of space in the control device. Thus, other components and features of the control device are prevented from using this area.
Another problem has been on-site accessibility to electrical components which are mounted within the control device and within the interior space of the cell itself. To gain access to these components, the control device is usually removed entirely from cell. Only after completely disengaging the control device from the racking mechanism is sufficient space provided to access the electrical components mounted on the rear surface of the control device and on the rear panel of the cell.
There is a need for a space-saving, inexpensive, and simple assembly between the control device and the cell of the control center which does not interfere with the electrical components mounted therein or operation of the control center and the respective control devices.

Center with pivoting control device and method of using same


A circuit and method for reducing the variation of a reference voltage as a function of resistivity ρ in a current-mode bandgap reference circuit generating a reference current that is applied to an output resistor to generate the reference voltage. According to the invention, a substantially constant current is generated and added to the reference current.

Current mode bandgap reference circuits are widely used in integrated circuits to provide a reference current that is compensated for variation in temperature. In a current mode bandgap reference circuit a current is generated that is a weighted sum of a component that is proportional to a bipolar transistor base-to-emitter voltage (Vbe) and a component that is proportional to a difference of Vbe's, referred to as ΔVbe, or delta Vbe. A reference voltage having a selected value may be produced from such a current by mirroring it into a resistor, with the mirror gain and resistor value chosen to produce the desired voltage. Such an approach has become increasingly popular, since many modern scaled CMOS processes cannot accommodate the normal voltage-mode bandgap voltage of approximately 1.2 volts.
The reason for the choice of current components in a current-mode bandgap reference circuit is the same for a voltage-mode reference circuit, that is, to combine the negative temperature coefficient of a Vbe with the positive temperature coefficient (proportional to absolute temperature, or, PTAT) of a ΔVbe, so as to obtain a current that has an average temperature coefficient of zero, or some other desired value, over a target temperature range, hereinafter referred to as the bandgap current. Note that the ΔVbe is defined as the difference in the Vbes of two transistors that have emitter current densities of a known ratio (diodes can also be used). The current components can be obtained in a circuit by applying the Vbe and ΔVbe voltages across resistors. If these resistors and the resistor used to convert the total current to a reference voltage are all internal to a particular integrated circuit (IC), they can be expected to have been all processed the same. Thus, their absolute values will track from IC to IC, and the temperature coefficient of the reference voltage will depend only on resistor and transistor ratios, and on transistor characteristics that are relatively process-insensitive.
The equation for a reference voltage provided by a current-mode bandgap reference circuit as described above is:Vref=Ibg*Ro,  Eq. (1)where Vref is the reference voltage output by the circuit, Ibg is the bandgap current and Ro is the output resistor used to convert the bandgap current to the reference voltage. Equation (1) may be expanded:Vref=(Vbe/Rvbe+ΔVbe/Rdvbe)*Ro,  Eq. (2)where Vbe is the base-emitter junction voltage of the negative temperature coefficient contributor transistor, Rvbe is the value of the resistor(s) providing the negative temperature coefficient current contribution, ΔVbe is the delta Vbe of the circuit and Rdvbe is the value of the resistor in the current path providing the PTAT current contribution. The resistor values in Equation (2) may be expressed as device-area-related constants multiplied by the process-sensitive resistivity p of the resistor material. Expanding Equation (2) in this way results in:Vref=(Vbe/(Kvbe*ρ)+ΔVbe/(Kdvbe*ρ))*(Ko*ρ),  Eq. (3)where Kvbe is the device-area-related constant for the resistor(s) providing the negative temperature coefficient current contribution, Kdvbe is the device-area-related constant for the resistor in the current path providing the PTAT current contribution, and Ko is the device-area-related constant for the output resistor used to convert the bandgap current to the reference voltage. It can be seen that in Equation (3) the resistivity factor ρ cancels out, resulting in:Vref=(Vbe/Kvbe+ΔVbe/Kdvbe)*Ko,  Eq. (4)
An example of a current-mode bandgap reference circuit that implements this equation, using diodes, is described in A CMOS Bangap Reference Circuit with Sub-1-V Operation, by H. Banba, et al., IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. 34, No. 5 (May 1999), pp. 670-674, which is incorporated by reference herein. Another example, using bipolar transistors and having curvature compensation, is described in Curvature-Compensated BiCMOS Bandgap with 1-V Supply Voltage, by P. Malcovati, et al., IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, Vol. 36, No. 7 (July 2001), pp. 1076-1081, and which is also incorporated by reference herein. FIG. 1 is a circuit diagram of the current-mode bandgap reference circuit described in the Malcovati et al. article. Comparing the designations in the above equations with the designations in this circuit, R3 corresponds to Ro, R1 (and R2) corresponds to Rvbe, R0 corresponds to Rdvbe and Q1 is the bipolar transistor determining Vbe, with ΔVbe being determined by the difference between the Vbe's of bipolar transistors Q1 and Q2, the emitter areas of which have a ratio of 1:N. Devices M1, M2 and M3 are PFET transistors configured to mirror current I1 through device M3, i.e., I1=I2=I3.
It was mentioned above that the K values in the above equations are device-area-related constants. Specifically, Kvbe, Kdvbe and Ko are expressed as resistor layout ratios, and are relatively process-insensitive. The ratio of bipolar base-emitter current densities that is used to determine ΔVbe is also based substantially on layout geometries. The Vbe term, however, exhibits sensitivity to process variations that is significant in many applications.
A major portion of the variation of Vref due to variation of Vbe is not due to variation in the processing of the bipolar transistors, but, rather, in the variation of Vbe as a function of the resistor resistivity, ρ. The reason for this Vbe variation is that the absolute values of the currents in the bipolar transistors are set by ΔVbe divided by Rdvbe, i.e., the value of resistor R0 in FIG. 1. Referring now to FIG. 1, the following equations apply:Vbe1=(kT/q)*In (le1/ls),  Eq. (5)where Vbe1 is the base-emitter junction voltage of transistor Q1, kT/q is the thermal voltage VT of transistor Q1 (k is Boltzmann's constant, T is absolute temperature and q is the charge of an electron), Ie1 is the emitter current of transistor Q1 and Is is the saturation current of a base-emitter junction for the process used to fabricate the circuit of FIG. 1. Since Ie1=Ie2, Equation (5) may be expressed as:Vbe1=(kT/q)*ln(Ie2/Is)=(kT/q)*ln((ΔVbe/R0)/Is),  Eq. (6)where R0 is the value of resistor R0. Applying Equation (6) to Equation (4) yields:Vref=((kT/q)*ln((ΔVbe/(Kdvbe*ρ))/Is)/Kvbe+ΔVbe/Kdvbe)*Ko  Eq. (7)
Illustrating Equation (7) quantitatively, assume that the resistor values are chosen so that Vref is a standard bandgap voltage of approximately 1.2 volts. In such a case, Ko/Kvbe is 1, meaning that the small signal gain from Vbe to Vref is 1. Equation (7) shows that Vbe varies as (kT/q)*ln(1/ρ). If kT/q is 0.026 volts and ρ varies by plus or minus 30%, then the variation in Vref over this variation in ρ can be expressed as:ΔVref(ρ+/−30%)=(kT/q)*ln(1.3/0.7)=0.026*ln(1.86)=16 mV.  Eq. (8)
This is a variation of approximately +/−1.3% for a Vref of 1.2 volts. If Vref is used for signal amplitudes, this represents a variation of approximately +/−0.06 dB. In some applications, the gain tolerance allocated to one stage of a signal path can be 0.1 dB or lower. Thus, this source of variation in Vref may be unacceptable in such applications.

Current-mode bandgap reference voltage variation compensation


A system is configured to treat a conductive component. The system includes a power source, an interface configured to electrically contact with a surface of the conductive component, and a controller coupled to the power source and the interface. The controller is configured to pass electric current (e.g., electric pulses) from the power source through the interface and the component to melt tips of a set of cracks along the surface of the component. As the current passes around the set of cracks, the current generates localized heating in high-resistance dislocations at the crack tips to repair the cracks. Accordingly, such current heals the cracks and inhibits the cracks from spreading. Furthermore, the effect of the current remains localized thus enabling the current to strengthen the material around the cracks while easily avoiding damaging or weakening other portions of the component.

Surface cracks in materials pose reliability concerns in a broad range of industries. For example, in the aircraft industry, a weak point on an aircraft wing flap may begin as a micro-crack which is virtually undetectably by the naked eye. Over time, the micro-crack may grow due to stresses from normal use. In particular, the ends of the crack expand outwardly, and the tip of the crack (i.e., the deep point of the crack) extends even deeper. Eventually, the micro-crack grows into a larger visible crack which is hopefully detected and fixed before a failure results.
One conventional approach to fixing a surface crack in a part (e.g., tiny cracks on aircraft components such as propulsion system plumbing) is to repair the crack by welding. In this approach, welding equipment fuses the two sides of the crack back together. In particular, the welding equipment applies extreme heat to make the area around the crack soft and pasty so that the material along the two sides of the crack melts back together again. In some situations, additional metallic material fuses into or above the crack to provide reinforcement.
Another conventional approach to fixing a surface crack in a part is to drill holes into the part at the ends of the crack. Such drilling rounds out the crack ends thus preventing the crack the growing outwardly any further.
Yet another conventional approach to fixing a surface crack in a part is to simply replace the part. For example, in the context of a wing flap, a team of mechanics simply removes the failed wing flap and installs a new wing flap in its place.

Techniques for treating a surface crack on a component


The invention provides a provision method performed by a managed device (CPE4) of a first network (R1) to provide an address to a management device (ACS4) for managing the managed device and situated in a second network (R2), the address enabling the management device to request the establishment of a management session with the managed device, there being at least one intermediate device (CGN5) situated between the first and second networks, the method comprising:                identifying a server (6) suitable for controlling the intermediate device;        sending a request to the server to cause the intermediate device to set up static routing to the managed device to enable packets received by the intermediate device and addressed to a reachability address associated by the intermediate device with the managed device to be conveyed to a contact address of the managed device;        receiving a response from the server including the reachability address; and        providing the management device with an address including the reachability address for use by the management device to request the setting up of a management session with the managed device.

The invention relates to the general field of telecommunications.
The invention relates more particularly to managing equipment remotely, e.g. by a service provider.
In the context of their service offers, service providers such as telecommunications operators equip their customers with specific equipment that is adapted to the services they require. Such customer premises equipment (CPE) may for example comprise digital decoder boxes, also referred to as "set-top" boxes, that enable customers to use their terminals to access services involving television and video-on-demand, video phone terminals or voice-over-Internet protocol (IP) (or VoIP) in particular, gateways for accessing the Internet (also referred to as residential or home gateways), etc. Such equipment on customer premises is generally connected to a local network (e.g. a home local network or a business network) that is connected to the operator's network via a home router such as a residential or home gateway.
In order to optimize the quality of service offered customers, a service provider generally manages and maintains the various pieces of equipment placed by the provider with the customers. Such management relies in particular on sending updating or configuration messages to the equipment, and also on receiving information from the equipment concerning the state of the equipment.
In order to perform such remote administration, numerous service providers make use of the standardized CPE WAN management protocol (CWMP), also known as TR-069, and published by the Broadband Forum, in particular at the address http://www.broadband-forum.org/technical/download/TR-069 Amendment-5.pdf. Specifically, that protocol enables the service provider, by using an auto-configuration server (ACS), to have available a set of equipment management services comprising administration, control, performance tracking, and diagnostic services, while satisfying requirements for security, scalability, and independence from the manufacturer of the equipment.
The CWMP protocol is a protocol that relies on the internet protocol (IP), on the hypertext transfer protocol (http), and on the simple object access protocol (SOAP). During sessions sent between a piece of equipment and the ACS server in charge of managing it, orders are sent via the http or the https (HTTP Secure) protocol. These sessions are always initiated by the piece of equipment. Nevertheless, the protocol also provides a mechanism, known as a connection request mechanism, to allow the ACS server to initiate a session asynchronously with a piece of equipment in order to manage it. The principal steps of this mechanism are summarized briefly in FIG. 1.
In general manner, each time customer premises equipment (CPE) starts (step E10), it opens an http server at an address or uniform resource locator (URL) (step E20). This URL comprises the Internet protocol (IP) address of the equipment (e.g. 220.127.116.11) and the port (e.g. 7547) where it can be reached in the local network to which it belongs, in particular in order to perform a connection request procedure. By way of example, the URL under consideration is http://18.104.22.168:7547.
Thereafter the CPE sends a CWMP Inform message to the ACS server to which it is attached and that serves to manage it, in other words to administer it (step E30). In this message, the CPE specifies its data model, which comprises in particular the URL of the http server that was opened in step E20 via which the ACS server can contact it in order to manage it. It should be observed that in the event of this URL changing, the CPE notifies the ACS server so that the ACS server always has an up-to-date URL available.
Dialog then takes place between the CPE and the ACS server in the session that has thus been set up (step E40), which session is closed by a 204 OK message sent by the ACS server to the CPE (step E50).
It is now assumed that the service provider seeks to perform an updating operation on the CPE via the ACS server. The connection request mechanism provided by the CWMP protocol for making this operation possible consists in sending an http GET request to the CPE at the URL provided by the CPE (step E60). In known manner in the http protocol, the GET method serves to request a resource.
In response to the request from the ACS server, there optionally follows authentication of the ACS server by the CPE (step E70) during which the ACS server provides an identifier and a password that have previously been shared between the CPE and the ACS server (step E80). Where appropriate, a 200 OK message is sent (step E90) by the CPE to the ACS server when it accepts the connection request as a result of the authentication being successful.
After this exchange and the successful authentication of the ACS server, the CPE responds to the request to set up a connection from the ACS server by attempting to initiate a session with the ACS server, and it sends an Inform message to the ACS server containing an event Event=ConnectionRequest (E100). Thereafter, the ACS server can administer the CPE remotely via the session that has been set up in this way and can request it to perform various actions by sending remote procedure call (RPC) commands for the purpose of updating it. For example, it may request the CPE to modify the configuration of one or more of its settings, to return the value of any one of its settings, etc.
In other words, in that connection request mechanism, the ACS server requests a connection with the CPE by visiting a URL provided by the CPE and after being identified by the CPE, where applicable. That mechanism thus assumes that the CPE is directly reachable for the ACS serve via the Internet protocol. It is therefore not directly applicable when the CPE is situated behind an address translation entity, also referred to as a network address translation (NAT) entity, or behind a network protection system such as a firewall.
Amendment 5 of the CWMP protocol defines various NAT traversal mechanisms making it possible to reach and manage CPEs that are attached to a home router that includes a NAT entity. Some of those mechanisms require special infrastructures to be installed. This applies for example to the NAT traversal mechanism described in Appendix G of the CWMP protocol that relies on the simple traversal of UDP through NATs (STUN) protocol and on the user datagram protocol (UDP). The mechanism provides for keeping a connection open with the STUN server by sending periodic messages to the server, this connection then being used by the ACS server to administer the CPE. This requires the presence of a STUN client in the equipment and the presence of a STUN server in the operator's ACS server. The same applies to the NAT traversal mechanism described in Appendix K of the CWMP protocol that relies on the extensible messaging and presence protocol (XMPP) and that requires a connection to be kept open with an XMPP server.
Appendix IV of the CWMP protocol proposes another NAT traversal mechanism based on using the universal plug-and-play (UPnP) Internet gateway device (IGD) protocol between the CPE and the home router including the NAT entity. That mechanism does not require any special external infrastructure, properly speaking. Nevertheless, its application is limited to managing CPEs situated behind the home router that includes the NAT entity and that provides access to the operator's network.
Since the UPnP IGD protocol is a protocol dedicated to the equipment in home local network, that mechanism cannot be used when the CPE that the operator is seeking to manage is the home router properly speaking, and when a NAT entity is to be found in the operator's network. Such a NAT entity, is commonly referred to as "operator NAT" or a carrier grade NAT (CGN) or a large scale NAT (LSN). It enables private or internal IP addresses to be given to the terminals of an operator's customer, e.g. their home routers (or gateways) instead of giving them public or external IP addresses, with these internal addresses being translated into external addresses on the Internet side. The translation may rely on translating ports so as to associate a single external address with numerous customers simultaneously. Such CGN or LSN entities are commonly used by operators for alleviating the shortage of IPv4 addresses, or for managing the transition between the IPv4 and IPv6 address systems, or indeed by the operators of mobile networks.
There therefore exists a need for a mechanism making it possible to administer a home router, or more generally a customer terminal, that is situated behind an intermediate device such as an operator NAT or a network protection system situated in an operator network.

Method and device for providing an address by device to be managed of a network


Any one of information processing devices among a plurality of the information processing devices capable of communicating with one another, the information processing device includes a processor; and a memory which stores a plurality of instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to execute: if the own device is first activated among the plurality of information processing devices having been shut down at a specific time, enabling a connection mode of a wireless LAN, and waiting until a connection is established from another information processing device among the plurality of information processing devices; setting authentication information based on information obtained through wireless LAN communication from the activated information processing device; and performing authentication for enabling the own device based on the authentication information.

It is currently widespread that users access a server having a function of an access point in a wireless local area network (LAN), and download an application program (hereinafter, also referred to as an "application") from the server to their mobile devices for use as occasion calls. For example, there are cases where when a user visits a store, or the like, the user downloads an application using a smart phone, a tablet terminal, or the like "on the spot", and uses the application.
In the case of a device that is connected to a cloud computer through the Internet, if the device is stolen, it is possible to lock the device by control data transmitted from the cloud computer to the device, or to delete storage data in the device. However, in the case of a device that does not have a connection function to the Internet, the device is not capable of obtaining the control data, and thus it is difficult to protect the device by the above-described method, and to avoid leakage of internal information.
Thus, a method of encrypting storage data in a device is provided as another countermeasure against the case where the device is stolen. However, in this method, a user has to manage the same number of decryption passwords as the number of the devices, and thus there is a problem in that it takes much time and effort.
As another countermeasure against the case where a device is stolen, Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2013-258650 has proposed an anti-theft featured communication terminal in which whether a radio communication server is located in a predetermined communication range or not is detected from a communication state of the radio communication, and if not located within the communication range, a warning is output.

Information processing device and authentication control method


A display includes pixels arrange in a matrix. Each pixel includes a display element, a first drive current control circuit which is supplied with a first video signal and outputs a first drive current to the display element at magnitude corresponding to magnitude of the first video signal, and a second drive current control circuit which is supplied with a second video signal and outputs a second drive current to the display element at magnitude corresponding to magnitude of the second video signal. The display can set a ratio T1/T2 larger than 1, wherein T1 represents a time period over which the first drive current control circuit can output the first drive current to the display element, and T2 represents a time period over which the second drive current control circuit can output the second drive current to the display element.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a display, an array substrate, and a method of driving a display.
2. Description of the Related Art
On a display such as organic electroluminescent (EL) display that controls optical characteristics of each display element by a drive current passed therethrough, image quality deterioration such as luminance unevenness occurs if magnitudes of the drive currents vary. Therefore, when an active matrix driving method is employed in this display, the pixels must be almost the same in characteristics of a drive control element for controlling the magnitude of the drive current. In this display, however, the drive control elements are normally formed on an insulator such as glass substrate, so the characteristics of them easily vary.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,373,454 describes an organic EL display employing a current mirror circuit in a pixel circuit.
This pixel includes an n-channel field-effect transistor as the drive control element, organic EL element, and capacitor. The source of the n-channel field-effect transistor is connected to a power supply line at a lower electric potential, and the capacitor is connected between the gate of the n-channel field-effect transistor and the power supply line. The anode of the organic EL element is connected to a power supply line at a higher electric potential.
The pixel circuit is driven by the method described below.
First, the drain of the n-channel field-effect transistor is connected to its gate. A current Isig at magnitude corresponding to a video signal is made to flow between the drain and source of the n-channel field-effect transistor. This operation sets the voltage between electrodes of the capacitor, equal to a gate-to-source voltage necessary for the n-channel field-effect transistor to pass the current Isig through its channel.
Then, the gate of the n-channel field-effect transistor is disconnected from its drain, and the voltage between the electrodes of the capacitor is maintained. The drain of the n-channel field-effect transistor is subsequently connected to the cathode of the organic EL element. This allows a drive current to flow through the organic EL element at magnitude almost equal to that of the current Isig. The organic EL element emits light at a luminance corresponding to the magnitude of the drive current.
As described above, when the above configuration is employed in each pixel circuit, it is possible to make the drive current flow between the drain and source of the n-channel field-effect transistor during a retention period following a write period at magnitude almost equal to that of the current Isig supplied as a video signal during the write period. Therefore, the influence of not only the threshold value Vth but also the mobility, dimensions, and the like of the n-channel field-effect transistor on the drive current can be eliminated.
However, it is difficult for the above display to make the drive current sufficiently small. If the drive current cannot be set sufficiently small in, for example, an organic EL display, each gray level within a low gray level range is displayed at a luminance higher than that to be displayed.

Display, array substrate, and method of driving display

Toshiba Matsushita Display Technology Co., Ltd.


A building is constructed substantially entirely from flat panel modules including a plurality of planar wall modules supported on a base and having at least one vertical load bearing member internal thereto extending from a bottom portion of the wall module to a top portion of the wall module in order to transmit the weight of a load above the module to the base. The load bearing member includes a conduit strut positioned between inner and outer surface members and free-standing conduit struts joining adjacent wall modules. The floor, ceiling and roof are each defined by a plurality of generally horizontal modules, each of which has either an upper or lower surface member, which is appropriately finished and at least one generally horizontal beam extending substantially the entire length of one module edge and positioned to support an unsupported edge of the adjacent module. A unique supporting system is provided for supporting the ceiling module and the roof rafters including a rafter bracket fastened to an end of each roof rafter, which is supported by a ridge bracket straddling a ridge beam, a compression strut between a central portion of each roof rafter and a portion of the subjacent ceiling rafter and a flexible tension member extending between the ceiling rafter and ridge bracket.

This invention relates to building structures and in particular to a modular building construction that utilizes flat panel modules.
Prefabricated modular building structures, particularly residential buildings, are well known. A typical construction technique is to manufacture the building in a factory in several large modules that each comprise several rooms and to assemble the modules together at the site. The problem is that, because the modules are mostly empty space, the shipping costs are enormous and require that the factory be located close to the site of assembly.
Attempts have been made at providing building structures assembled from flat-panel modules. One such example is U.S. Pat. No. 4,435,928 issued to Huling for a LOW ENERGY BUILDING, which utilizes a wooden post-and-beam framing system with a prefabricated insulated panel system, in which the panels are applied to the exterior surface of the frame. The requirement for a separate frame involves not only a separate assembly step, but also the coordination of design of the frame with that of the modules for different building configurations.
A modular building system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 4,125,972 issued to Pate for a MONOCOQUE CELL eliminates the necessity for a separate frame by providing interlockable modular elements. The system disclosed in Pate requires that each modular element be custom designed for its particular location in the building and produces an appearance that is non-traditional and, therefore, subject to consumer resistance.


The invention relates to an assembly for a turbine engine, the assembly comprising a tubular shaft (60), a nut (64) screwed onto an end portion of said tubular shaft (60), and a locking member (86) for locking the nut (64) on the shaft (60), said member (86) including means (90, 78) for coupling in rotation with the nut (64) and means (92, 68) for coupling in rotation with the shaft (60), said member (86) being movable between a position for coupling the nut (64) in rotation relative to the shaft (60), and a position for releasing the nut (64) relative to the shaft (60). The nut (64) includes a housing (72) in which said member (86) is suitable for being held when in its release position.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an assembly for a turbine engine, the assembly comprising a nut screwed onto an end portion of a tubular shaft and a locking member for locking the nut on the shaft. The invention also relates to a turbine engine including such an assembly.
Description of the Related Art
A turbine engine conventionally comprises a high pressure compressor arranged therein between an upstream low pressure compressor and a combustion chamber. The compressor has a plurality of rows of movable blades carried by a tubular shaft of the high pressure compressor, which shaft includes a cylindrical bearing surface carrying a bearing for guiding the shaft in rotation. A blocking member is inserted inside the shaft and includes a radial shoulder that bears upstream against a corresponding shoulder in the shaft. The upstream end of the blocking member includes a threaded portion projecting axially upstream from the upstream end of the shaft and having a ring screwed thereon for supporting sealing wipers. Said member is prevented from moving both in rotation and also axially downstream by a stop or locking ring that is inserted from downstream inside the shaft.
The ring has a cylindrical wall carrying external fluting that is axially engaged in corresponding fluting on the inside surface of the shaft, and fingers extending upstream that are engaged in notches in the downstream end of the blocking member. Elastically deformable fingers extend downstream from the downstream end of the cylindrical wall, and each has a rim at its downstream end that projects radially outwards for engaging in notches in the shaft.
With such an assembly, the blocking member is thus blocked against moving in rotation or axially relative to the shaft. Disassembly is performed by applying a radially inwardly directed bending force to the downstream ends of the tongues so as to disengage the rims of the tongues from the notches in the shaft, thus enabling the locking ring to be completely withdrawn. This allows the blocking member to be moved in translation downstream and enables it to be removed after unscrewing the wiper support.
During such disassembly, there is a risk of the locking ring being lost.


Some embodiments provide a method that generates different network measurements data (e.g., network topology, bandwidth estimation of different paths, etc.) for a pair of endpoints upon receiving a network administrative request (e.g., an application programming interface (API) request) or by other means (e.g., automatically and without intervention of a user). In some embodiments, the method is implemented by a network measurement agent operating on each endpoint and a centralized service component (e.g., web service layer) executing on a network manager machine (e.g., a controller) that responds to measurement requests. The network measurement agent probes the network periodically (i.e., in certain time intervals) or upon an API request that it receives through the network manager machine to gather the measurement data of a particular network topology between a pair of endpoints.

Network fabric's measurement tools have been widely explored over the past several years. The most important characteristics of a network fabric are network topology, bandwidth, and latency. Measurement of such characteristics of a network is important for network troubleshooting and optimization of network applications such as end-to-end transport performance, intelligent overlay network routing, and peer-to-peer file distribution.
There are quite a few tools that are currently used to estimate bandwidths of hop-by-hop links or end-to-end paths in a network. However, with recent evolution in network technology, network topologies have become more and more complex. For example, in recent years, Equal-Cost Multi-Path (ECMP) Internet Protocol (IP) routing has been widely deployed to implement load balancing in the networks. The ECMP routing potentially offers substantial increases in bandwidth of the network by load-balancing the network traffic over multiple paths. For such networks, the current measurement tools can only estimate the bandwidth for a single random path.
There are also multiple paths discovery tools that are currently used to detect multiple paths between a given Internet Protocol (IP) endpoints pair in networks that deploy load balancing forwarding elements (e.g., load balancing routers). These tools, however, have their own shortcomings. For example, most available network path discovery tools (e.g., traceroute) can only discover a limited number of paths (e.g., three paths) in best-case scenario. Additionally, there is always the possibility that these tools fail to discover true nodes and links in a network or worse yet, introduce false links that in reality don't exist in the network.
For data center networks, the aforementioned network characteristics are rarely explored and those network fabrics are mostly treated as high-capacity black boxes. However, with the evolution of Software-Defined Data Centers (SDDC), more and more aspects of the infrastructure of the network are abstracted and built on top of the network fabric, and understanding network fabric characteristics has become crucial for planning, monitoring, and troubleshooting of the networks.

Periodical generation of network measurement data


An emissions control system for an engine of a machine includes an exhaust conduit carrying a flow of exhaust gas from the engine, a de-NOx catalyst disposed along the exhaust conduit and configured to treat the flow of exhaust gas, a fuel reformer module configured to provide a gas stream containing hydrogen gas and carbon monoxide gas, and a junction disposed along the exhaust conduit between the engine and the de-NOx catalyst, the junction being arranged to mix at least a portion of the gas stream with the flow of exhaust gas such that the hydrogen gas and the carbon monoxide reach the de-NOx catalyst and act as reductants to regenerate the de-NOx trap.

One known method for abating certain diesel engine exhaust constituents is by use of an exhaust after-treatment system that utilizes a Selective Catalytic Reduction (SCR) of nitrogen oxides. In a typical SCR system, urea or a urea-based water solution is mixed with exhaust gas. In some applications, a urea solution is injected directly into an exhaust passage through a specialized injector device. The injected urea solution mixes with exhaust gas and breaks down to provide ammonia (NH3) in the exhaust stream. The ammonia then reacts with nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the exhaust at a catalyst to provide nitrogen gas (N2) and water (H2O).
As can be appreciated, SCR systems require the presence of some form of urea close to the engine system such that the engine can be continuously supplied during operation. Various urea or urea-solution delivery systems are known and used in engine applications. In known urea injection systems, temperature-related challenges may arise that can affect the electronic and mechanical hardware used to inject the urea. For example, given that the urea is typically injected directly into the engine's exhaust system, the proximity of a urea injector device to hot engine exhaust may lead to injector component overheating, both during system operation as well as after heat saturation following a hot engine shut-down. Moreover, for systems using water-based urea solutions, freezing of the urea solution may cause component damage when the engine is not operating. Other issues include corrosion due to the nature of the urea solution on urea injection components and other, surrounding engine and vehicle components.
Alternatives to urea-based systems can include other types of NOx abatement devices such as lean NOx traps (LNT). LNTs, which can also be referred to as NOx adsorbers, typically include catalysts that reduce oxides of nitrogen emissions from a lean burn internal combustion engine. The nitrogen oxides that may become trapped on the catalyst can be released when the engine is operated in a rich burn as nitrogen gas and oxygen or water, in the presence of hydrogen. It has been suggested in the past that hydrogen gas may aid in regenerating a LNT, but no viable system has been implemented to date in production.
Hydrogen generation by fuel reformation is known from a different area of technology, fuel cells. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 7,066,973 (the '973 patent) describes an integrated reformer and shift reactor for producing hydrogen gas for a fuel cell. As is known, the fuel reformers such as the one described in the '973 patent are costly, complicated, and include various structures and operating areas that aim in reducing CO content in the hydrogen gas produced, because CO is detrimental to the operation of fuel cells for which the hydrogen gas is produced.


A vibration dampener for a vehicle to militate against vibration which results in undesirable noise. In an embodiment, the dampener is used in a steering column in the vehicle to militate against the vibration being transmitted to the hands of a driver during operation of the vehicle.

In a vehicle, a steering column is typically attached to a cross-car structural beam, either directly or by a steering column support structure. The steering column support structure must support the load of the steering column and other loads associated with vehicle usage and effectively distribute the loads to the cross-car structural beam for distribution to the side walls of the vehicle.
In addition to compensating for the various loads of the steering column, the steering column support structure and the structural beam must account for vibration and the undesirable effects thereof. Typically, additional mass and materials are required to be added to the structural support and structural beam in order to control the occurrence of vibration. However, this results in undesirable weight being added to the vehicle. Additionally, the vibration is transferred to the steering column causing undesirable noise or is transmitted to a driver's hands.
It would be desirable to produce a vibration dampener which militates against vibration and noise in an automobile while minimizing the weight added to a vehicle to control the vibration and the noise.


An eccentric bush structure in a radial compliance scroll compressor including an eccentric bush fitted around a crank pin eccentrically provided at an upper end of a crankshaft, crank pin and stopper holes provided at the eccentric bush, and a weight member adapted to increase a weight of the eccentric bush. The stopper hole overlaps with the crank pin hole such that a stopper received in the stopper hole is radially protruded into the crank pin hole toward a vertically-extending cut surface formed at the crank pin to selectively come into contact with the cut surface in accordance with a rotation of the crank pin.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a scroll compressor, and more particularly to an eccentric bush structure in a radial compliance scroll compressor, which is capable of enhancing a centrifugal force of an eccentric bush included in the scroll compressor during operation of the scroll compressor, while preventing the eccentric bush from rising axially.
2. Description of the Related Art
Generally, a scroll compressor includes upper and lower scrolls respectively provided with involute-shaped wraps engaged with each other. One of the scrolls performs an orbiting motion with respect to the other scroll to reduce the volume of spaces defined between the scrolls, thereby compressing gas confined in the spaces.
As such a conventional compressor, a radial compliance scroll compressor is known. In such a radial compliance scroll compressor, an orbiting scroll thereof is backwardly moved when liquid refrigerant, oil or foreign matter is introduced into compression chambers defined between the orbiting scroll and the other scroll, that is, a fixed scroll, thereby abnormally increasing the gas pressure in the compression chambers. In accordance with the backward movement of the orbiting scroll, it is possible to prevent the wraps of the scrolls from being damaged due to the abnormally increased gas pressure.
FIG. 1 is a sectional view illustrating the entire configuration of a conventional radial compliance scroll compressor.
As shown in FIG. 1, the conventional radial compliance scroll compressor includes a shell 1, and main and sub frames 2 and 3 respectively arranged in the shell 1 at upper and lower portions of the shell 1. A stator 4, which has a hollow structure, is interposed between the main and sub frames 2 and 3 within the shell 1.
A rotor 5 is arranged inside the stator 4 such that it rotates when current flows through the stator 4. A vertical crankshaft 6 extends axially through a central portion of the rotor 5 while being fixed to the rotor 5 so that it is rotated along with the rotor 5. The crankshaft 6 has upper and lower ends protruded beyond the rotor 5, and rotatably fitted in the main and sub frames 2 and 3, respectively. Thus, the crankshaft 6 is rotatably supported by the main and sub frames 2 and 3.
An orbiting scroll 7 is mounted to an upper surface of the main frame 2 in the shell 1. The orbiting scroll 7 is coupled, at a lower portion thereof, with the upper end of the crankshaft 6, which is protruded through the main frame 2, so that it performs an orbiting motion in accordance with rotation of the crankshaft 6. The orbiting scroll 7 is provided, at an upper portion thereof, with an orbiting wrap 7a having an involute shape. The orbiting wrap 7a extends upwardly from an upper surface of the orbiting scroll 7. A fixed scroll 8 is arranged on the orbiting scroll 7 in the shell 1 while being fixed to the shell 1. The fixed scroll 8 is provided, at a lower portion thereof, with a fixed wrap 8a adapted to be engaged with the orbiting wrap 7a of the orbiting scroll 7 such that compression chambers 22 are defined between the wraps 7a and 8a. With this configuration, when the orbiting scroll 7 performs an orbiting motion in accordance with rotation of the crankshaft 6, gaseous refrigerant is introduced into the compression chambers 22 in a sequential fashion, so that it is compressed.
For the orbiting motion thereof, the orbiting scroll 7 is eccentrically coupled to the crankshaft 6. For this eccentric coupling, the crankshaft 6 is provided with a crank pin 10 upwardly protruded from the upper end of the crankshaft 6 at a position radially spaced apart from the center of the upper end of the crankshaft 6 by a certain distance. Also, the orbiting scroll 7 is provided, at the lower portion thereof, with a boss 7b centrally protruded from a lower surface of the orbiting scroll 7. A bearing 11 is forcibly fitted in the boss 7b. Also, an eccentric bush 12 is rotatably fitted around the crank pin 10. The crank pin 10 of the crankshaft 6 is rotatably received in the boss 7b of the orbiting scroll 7 via the bearing 11 and eccentric bush 12, so that the orbiting scroll 7 is eccentrically coupled to the crankshaft 6.
As a rotation preventing mechanism for the orbiting scroll 7, an Oldham ring 9 is arranged between the main frame 2 and the orbiting scroll 7. An oil passage 6a extends vertically throughout the crankshaft 6. Upper and lower balance weight members are provided at upper and lower surfaces of the rotor 5, respectively, in order to prevent a rotation unbalance of the crankshaft 6 caused by the crank pin 10.
In FIG. 1, reference numerals 15 and 16 designate suction and discharge pipes, respectively, reference numerals 17 and 18 designate a discharge port and a discharge chamber, respectively, reference numeral 19 designates a check valve, reference numeral 20 designates oil, and reference numeral 21 designates an oil propeller.
When current flows through the stator 4, the rotor 5 is rotated inside the stator 4, thereby causing the crankshaft 6 to rotate. In accordance with the rotation of the crankshaft 6, the orbiting scroll 7 coupled to the crank pin 10 of the crankshaft 6 performs an orbiting motion with an orbiting radius defined between the center of the crankshaft 6 and the center of the orbiting scroll 7.
In accordance with a continued orbiting motion of the orbiting scroll 7, the compression chambers 22, which are defined between the orbiting wrap 7a and the fixed wrap 8a, are gradually reduced in volume, so that gaseous refrigerant sucked into each compression chamber 22 via the suction pipe 15 is compressed to high pressure. The compressed high-pressure gaseous refrigerant is subsequently discharged into the discharge chamber 18 via the discharge port 17. The compressed high-pressure gaseous refrigerant is then outwardly discharged from the discharge chamber 18 via the discharge pipe 16.
Meanwhile, when an abnormal increase in pressure occurs in the compression chambers 22 due to introduction of liquid refrigerant, oil or foreign matter into the compression chambers 22, the orbiting scroll 7 is radially shifted such that the orbiting wrap 7a is moved away from the fixed wrap 8a, due to the abnormally increased pressure. As a result, it is possible to prevent the wraps 7a and 8a from being damaged by the abnormally increased pressure.
In the radial compliance scroll compressor having the above mentioned configuration, the eccentric bush 12 is coupled to the crank pin 10 in the above mentioned manner, in order to vary the orbiting radius of the orbiting scroll 7. Also, the eccentric bush 12 generates a centrifugal force corresponding to an eccentricity thereof, that is, the distance between the center of the crank pin 10 and the center of the eccentric bush 12, during the orbiting motion of the orbiting scroll 7. By virtue of this centrifugal force, the eccentric bush 12 can perform a sealing function for the compression chambers 22.
FIG. 2 is an exploded perspective view illustrating a structure of the conventional eccentric bush.
As shown in FIG. 2, the eccentric bush 12 has a crank pin hole 12b so that it is rotatably fitted around the crank pin 10. When an abnormal increase in pressure occurs in the compression chambers 22, the eccentric bush 12 is rotated such that the orbiting scroll 7 is radially shifted to cause the orbiting wrap 7a to be moved away from the fixed wrap 8a.
In order to limit the rotation of the eccentric bush 12 to a predetermined angle, the crank pin 10 has a cutout having a D-shaped cross-section, and thus, a cut surface 10a, at one side thereof. The eccentric bush 12 also has a stopper hole 12a at one side of the crank pin hole 12b. A cylindrical stopper 23 is fitted in the stopper hole 12a. The stopper hole 12a is arranged such that it overlaps with the crank pin hole 12b, so that the cylindrical stopper 23 fitted in the stopper hole 12a is radially protruded into the crank pin hole 12b.
As mentioned above, the eccentric bush 12 generates a centrifugal force corresponding to an eccentricity thereof, that is, the distance between the center of the crank pin 10 and the center of the eccentric bush 12, during the orbiting motion of the orbiting scroll 7. By virtue of this centrifugal force, the eccentric bush 12 performs a sealing function for the compression chambers 22. This sealing function is provided only under a normal operation condition in which the centrifugal force generated by the eccentric bush 12 is larger than the pressure of gaseous refrigerant in the compression chambers 22. At a rotated position of the eccentric bush 12 where a centrifugal force smaller than the pressure of gaseous refrigerant in the compression chambers 22, the sealing function is lost.
Thus, the force to seal the compression chambers 22 is determined in accordance with the relation between the centrifugal force and the pressure of gaseous refrigerant in the compression chambers 22. It can be seen that the sealing force is increased as the centrifugal force is larger than the pressure of gaseous refrigerant in the compression chambers 22.
There may be various methods for controlling the sealing force. One method is to modify the structure of the crank pin 10 or eccentric bush 12. However, this method has a structural restriction because the structural modification of the crank pin 10 or eccentric bush 12 may cause the entire mechanism of the scroll compressor to be unbalanced. For this reason, only a limited structural modification of the crank pin 10 or eccentric bush 12 is possible.
Meanwhile, the eccentric bush 12 may be axially elevated during repeated forward and backward rotations thereof, due to various reasons, for example, a pressure difference between upper and lower ends of the eccentric bush 12 caused by dispersion of oil occurring at the upper end of the eccentric bush 12 during operation of the scroll compressor.
Such an axial elevation of the eccentric bush 12 causes a reduction in the contact area between the eccentric bush 12 and the crank pin 10, thereby causing a tilting phenomenon wherein the eccentric bush 12 is upwardly moved in a state of being inclined at one side thereof. Such a tilting phenomenon may cause an increase in friction generated between the eccentric bush 12 and the bearing 11, thereby degrading the performance and reliability of the scroll compressor.

Eccentric bush structure in radial compliance scroll compressor


A positioning system for marking a specified location within tissue includes a hollow needle and a localization wire adapted for insertion through the hollow needle and into the specified location. A transmitter is connected to the localization wire for transmitting a signal through the tissue so that the specified location can be accurately determined when the transmitter is placed thereat. A method of marking a specified location within tissue includes inserting a hollow introducer needle into the tissue until a tip of the needle reaches the specified location. A localization wire having a transmitter is then inserted into the hollow needle until the transmitter is positioned at the specified location. The hollow needle is then removed from the tissue such that only the localization wire and transmitter remain embedded therein. The transmitter is subsequently located by probing an outside surface of the tissue with a receiver until the maximum signal strength is achieved. The maximum signal strength is directly indicative of the transmitter's position at the specified location.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to surgical procedures and, more particularly, to a position sensing system or a guidance system adapted to assist a surgeon in locating a predetermined position once a transmitter or receiver is surgically implanted.
2. Description of the Related Art
Localization wires have long been used to assist surgeons in identifying the position of certain tissue inside the human body. For example, localization wires are often implanted for the purpose of guiding a surgeon to a tumor or lesion for surgical excision.
In one known application of the localization wire, the distal tip of a hollow needle is inserted into body tissue and positioned so that the distal tip of the needle is immediately adjacent to the desired tissue or lesion. Next, the localization wire is inserted through the hollow needle until the distal tip of the wire is positioned in or immediately adjacent to the lesion. Finally, the needle is withdrawn, leaving the wire in the appropriate position. The needle and wire are typically positioned by a radiologist using conventional methods and equipment. Preferably, a barb or tine is formed at the end of the wire for holding the wire in position. Once the wire is properly positioned, the surgeon uses the wire as a guide for the biopsy or excision of the tissue adjacent the end of the wire. The surgeon can follow the wire to the lesion for excision. However, this procedure oftentimes creates more cicatricial tissue than is necessary. In an effort to minimize cicatrix formation, surgeons have adopted the technique of inserting the biopsy needle at a location remote from the localization wire.
It is known to provide enhancements on the wire and needle to assist the users in positioning the wire and needle and also identifying the depth of insertion of the wire, as seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,158,084 and 5,490,521. Despite the known enhancements on the wire, it is still difficult for surgeons to accurately locate the distal tip of the positioned localization wire without causing excess trauma to the surrounding tissue.

Position sensing system and method for using the same


Dynamic, untethered array nodes are frequency, phase, and time aligned, and used to focus their transmissions of the same data coherently on a target, using time reversal. Alignment may be achieved separately for the radio frequency (RF) carriers and the data envelopes. Carrier alignment may be by phase conjugation. The data is distributed across the nodes. Data distribution and/or alignment may be performed by a Master node of the array. The nodes capture a sounding signal from the target, in the same time window. Each node converts the captured sounding signal to baseband, for example, using in-phase/quadrature downconversion. Each node stores the baseband samples of the sounding pulse. Each node convolves time-reversed samples of the sounding signal with the data, and upconverts the convolved data to radio frequency. The nodes emit their respective convolved and upconverted data so that the emissions focus coherently at the target.

The use of multiple transmit/receive antennas in wireless networks promises mitigation of interference and high spectral efficiencies through concentrating signals along a designated direction or transmission path. Compared to single-antenna-to-single-antenna transmissions, transmit beamforming may yield increased range (e.g., an N-fold increase for free space propagation), increased rate (e.g., an N2-fold increase in a power-limited regime), increased power efficiency (e.g., an N-fold decrease in the net transmitted power for a fixed received power), and/or may allow splitting a high data-rate stream into multiple lower data-rate streams. (Here, N is the number of cooperative nodes or antenna elements at the transmit side.)
Distributed coherent RF transmit beamforming is a form of cooperative communication in which two or more information sources simultaneously transmit a common message, controlling the phase and delay of their transmissions so that the signals constructively combine at an intended destination. The term "beamforming" may also be used to indicate what is more commonly referred to as directional beamforming. In this case the information sources are configured to produce a beam that is approximately collimated in a given direction and the beam is not specifically focused to maximize power at any one location, but only in one direction. Phased arrays where the locations of the individual elements and the target receiver are known, where the array elements are interconnected with cables or other calibrated interconnections, and where a common centralized clock/time reference can be distributed among the array elements, can be configured to operate in such directional beamforming mode.
However, decentralized arrays, where the nodes are independent untethered devices with independent clocks i.e., without distributed clock or frequency reference, and where the positional coordinates are unknown, are much more difficult to use as coherent phased arrays, either in transmit mode or receive mode. For such systems of devices to operate as phased arrays, they should perform two major tasks.
First, as with any phased array, they must acquire the correct channel information between the array members and the intended target/source and provide a mechanism for the nodes to transmit/receive a correctly weighted signal at each of the array elements so that beamforming is achieved to within an accuracy required by the system.
Second, the array should implement a distributed algorithm across the members of the array that enables the array to operate in a coherent manner, providing phase, frequency, and time alignment of the clocks and oscillators of the different array members of the array. A correct method of producing this coordination of the array members is essential to the correct operation of the phased array.
Since multiple clocks are used across the array, the algorithm should operate fast enough to provide the required alignment within time limits determined by the clock coherence.
Even with atomic clocks, the clock coherence limit is eventually reached. In a phased array, exceeding the coherence limit may manifest as a random scrambling of the phases of the carrier waves utilized in the beamforming and hence a failure to achieve optimal or even minimally acceptable performance.
To correct for this, the algorithm should be compatible with the requirement that the system alignment be periodically refreshed to compensate for limited clock coherence and for operation of the array in dynamic and changing channels.
Another desirable characteristic is that the algorithm be capable of aligning the system (array members/elements/nodes) in a manner that minimizes the required information sharing and other communication between the array members.
In what follows, we will describe the arrays in transmit mode, for simplicity. But the ideas are easily applied to receive mode operations.
In general, existing implementations fall into three broad categories. First there are those categories where the array transmitters are required to determine or calculate the correct beamforming weights to focus at a known target and where the location of the transmitters and target is known. This is the most common type of phased array implementation and is often referred to as an "open-loop" array. Such implementation clearly requires time, frequency, and phase synchronization across the array. Because the various nodes may send signals at different times with different phase offsets, they should all agree on a common time base and a method for ensuring that the signals arrive at the target with their carriers at the same frequency and in perfect phase alignment to avoid fading. FIG. 7 illustrates selected elements of Open Loop Basic Array, wherein N untethered, randomly distributed array elements are configured to operate as a basic phased array to produce beamforming to a target location determined by the array itself. The formula in the Figure, s(t)=Σi=1Nαi(t−(τi+T))cos(ω(t−(τi+T))), means that the signal at the target is a summation of the signals produced at the target by the elements i of the array, each with a time-dependent envelope αi, delayed by the corresponding time of flight (τi+T). The array does not require communication (information flow as such) from the target location. It simply calculates the required delay offsets to ensure that the signals from each element are aligned at the target (some designated beamfocus point). The location of the target may be defined with respect to a reference point on the array, or elsewhere. When the locations of the array elements are fully known and the clocks of the elements are synchronized, it is relatively simple to operate such an array. If the clocks are not synchronized, and/or if the element locations are unknown, however, such arrays are not well suited for beamfocusing, because it is difficult or impossible to calculate how far the elements are from the focus point (the target), nor can it be accurately specified when each element should launch its signal. This array configuration would typically be used for LoS targets, since, by definition, the array has no information regarding the channel impulse response other than the simple straight line distance to the target. To focus in NLoS environments generally requires detailed knowledge of the channel impulse response of the NLoS channel. If this channel information could be made available for each node element through some other means (e.g., information flow from the target to the individual array elements), then it would be possible to focus to a NLoS environment. But this is not defined as part of the array configuration properties.
A second general category of array architectures is the "retrodirective array," described with reference to FIG. 8 and FIG. 9. The formula in FIG. 8 is the same one as in FIG. 7 (s(t)=Σi=1Nαi(t−(τi+T))cos(ω(t−(τi+T)))), and has the same meaning. In this array configuration, the array is assumed to be untethered and randomly distributed. The basic principle of the retrodirective array is that the signal acquisition phase (i.e., sounding process) enables the array to measure and calculate a set of relative delays τi of the signal coming from the target and arriving at each node. Conventional State of the art arrays attempt to measure the delays of the arriving signals and to send a signal in return where each array element is adjusted in time to compensate for this delay so that all the signals return to the target node at the same time. Proper design may enable a retrodirective array to operate with the full array gain. Retrodirective arrays generally can operate in NLoS channels (as well as in LoS channels), since the array elements have the information about the NLoS channel from the sounding process and channel reciprocity. The knowledge of the X, Y, Z coordinates of the array elements is not required for proper operation of the main channel between the cooperative array and the target. Accurate clock synchronization, however, is needed.
This type of array is not strictly open loop, since it requires a sounding pulse or an opportunistic signal detected from the target. It is also not a closed loop system in the conventional sense, since there is no transmission of information or messages back and forth between the array and the target for control and alignment purposes (see concept of cooperative arrays below). In a closed-loop system, the target receiver determines what alignment is required by the transmitter nodes and sends that information back to the transmitters. In the system described above, the transmitter array determines the correct procedure and need not receive feedback from the target receiver informing it how well aligned the system (the array) is.
In principle, all control of the operation of the array may be performed at the array end, and the sounding pulse is simply a way to acquire channel information. This type of array may be very important in dynamic array configurations in noisy environments. Because the array operation does not require information transmission across the channel for alignment purposes, it may be less susceptible to jamming and interference. The process of clock synchronization of independent and untethered clocks, however, does require transmission of information back and forth between the array elements, and may present a challenge and be susceptible to interference.
In a third category of array architectures, the target receiver is capable of communicating with each transmit array node, and the target can determine when optimal beamforming has been achieved. In such array configurations, the array is assumed to be untethered and randomly distributed (ad hoc). The target is assumed to be a cooperative node and be capable of sending information to the array. The array operation can be controlled, for example, from the target or from the array itself, but the assumption is that a full closed loop operation is used that enables effective alignment, when both ends of the channel are capable of communicating information relevant to the beamfocusing operation. It is usually assumed that the target has the ability to determine when optimal beamforming has been achieved. For example the target may be able to assess the power density of the focused spot, or it may be able to measure BER in a communication system. It may also be required to determine from this signal how to adjust the required parameters of the array to optimize or improve the beamforming and to be able to communicate appropriate signals to the array to achieve this goal. It is the responsibility of the target to return control signals to the transmitters instructing them to modify their beamforming weights until the target determines that optimal beamforming has been achieved. Systems like these are often referred to as "closed-loop" systems. In this approach, neither the transmitters nor the receiver may have perfect channel state information, but there is a low-rate feedback link from the receiver to the transmitters. In various applications this arrangement may not require time or phase synchronization across the members of the array because the receive node is assumed to be capable of instructing the transmitters to adjust their parameters to achieve an optimal alignment.
Time synchronization across the array elements might make the performance of such arrays much faster and simpler, but it is not required, because the target may attempt to determine the clock properties of each array element and send its delay correction information in a manner that takes into account the clock properties of each array member. The target may be responsible for handling the synchronization of the array, since it is uniquely positioned to determine the array performance and how the performance responds to changes at the array end of the channel.
This type of array configuration typically demands a large alignment overhead and may have problems rapidly adapting to motion or changes in the channel properties. It may also be susceptible to jamming and interference, since it requires a low error rate communication channel to be available between opposite ends of the channel between the target and the array.
Irrespective of the particular category described above, the resultant beam shape at the receiver may resemble a phased-array radiation pattern, with one main lobe and multiple undesired side lobes that cause interference. In conventional phased-array systems, it may also be difficult or impossible to support coherent addition of wave-fronts in multipath (MP) environments, and most beamforming approaches assume line-of-sight (LoS) links between transmitters and receiver.
The problem of array alignment becomes rather difficult when the individual member of the transmitter array are free to move with respect to each other, and do not share a common local oscillator (LO) reference, because the phases/frequencies may vary from one array member to another, and because the timing of transmission may change as the elements move with respect to each other and with respect to the receiver, as is typical in dynamic environments. The movements and changes in the channel may seriously degrade the alignment required for reliable collaborative communications in an ad hoc array system.
Needs exist in the art for improved communication techniques for distributed coherent communications, and for apparatus, methods, and articles of manufacture enabling such improved communications. Needs exist in the art for phase/frequency synchronization techniques that can be used in ad hoc nodes of a distributed transmitter array for coherent transmissions.

Distributed co-operating nodes using time reversal