A drive system and methods thereof include at least one actuator assembly that detachably engages a moveable system and at least one control system. The control system voltage biases the actuator assembly in at least one direction at a rate which causes the at least one actuator assembly to slip with respect to the detachably engaged moveable system. The control system also voltage biases the actuator assembly in at least one other direction at a rate which causes the at least one actuator assembly to stick and move with respect to the detachably engaged moveable system.

There is a rapidly expanding demand in a variety of different markets, such as in electronic consumer products, electronics locks, and medical devices, for motors that can move tiny optics and other devices with sub-micrometer precision. By way of example, in the electronic consumer products market, the size of mobile phone handsets continues to shrink while the demand for the inclusion of features, such as digital cameras, in the mobile phone handsets continues to grow. To cost effectively add a digital camera feature into these mobile phones, the digital cameras need to be about one tenth the volume and cost of stand alone digital cameras. Unfortunately, existing solutions for trying to meet these radical size and cost reduction requirements in digital cameras have been less than successful.
Some prior mobile phone handsets with digital cameras have used fixed optics. Unfortunately, these fixed optics do not meet most consumer expectations for adjustable focusing capabilities in digital cameras in mobile phone handsets.
Other prior mobile phone handsets have used miniaturized electromagnetic motors with their digital cameras to provide adjustable focusing capabilities, e.g. the ability to move a lens up to about 0.5 millimeters. In particular, voice coil motors are popular for use as the miniaturized electromagnetic motors in these digital cameras in the mobile phone sets. Voice coil motors are simple, inexpensive, and operate at relatively low voltage.
However, voice coil motors have reached the limit of their potential miniaturization and can not satisfy the emerging market demand for ultra-thin phones with more than two mega pixels image sensors. Additionally, even though these voice coil motors operate at relatively low voltage, they still use too much power. Further, these voice coil motors must be supported by fragile flexure guides and produce excessive position noise for optimal image capture when using two mega pixels or higher digital image sensors.

Linear drive systems and methods thereof


In an example method, a power management system receives sensor data regarding an operation of a primary power source, a secondary power source, an environmental regulation system, and a plurality of electrically-powered sub-systems. Further, the system receives a plurality of parameter sets for the sub-systems, each including a first parameter indicting a priority of a respective sub-system relative to the other sub-systems, a second parameter indicating an amount of heat dissipated by the respective sub-system during operation, and a third parameter indicating a temperature requirement associated with the respective sub-system. The system controls, based on the sensor data and the parameter sets, a delivery of electrical power from the primary and secondary power sources to the environmental regulation system and the sub-systems. Further, the system controls, based on the sensor data and the parameter sets, a consumption of electrical power by the environmental regulation system and the sub-systems.

Electrical power can be distributed to one or more systems using an electrical grid, such as an electrical grid provided by a public utility or a private entity. In some circumstances, the electrical power provided by the electrical grid may be insufficient to power the one or more systems. For example, the electrical grid may suffer from a malfunction that temporarily impairs its ability to supply electrical power to the one or more systems. As another example, the electrical grid may experience a surge in demand for electrical power that exceeds its ability to supply electrical power. In response, a standby power generation system or battery can be used to supply backup electrical power to the one or more systems on a temporary basis, such that the one or more systems can continue to operate.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for distributing backup electrical power


A process for forming flexible cutting line for use in rotary vegetation trimmers of the type having two or more monofilament lines mounted on a common spool. The line produced by the process of the present invention defines two monofilament strands joined together in a side-by-side relationship by a severable bond. Each strand defines a plurality of circumferentially spaced and outwardly projecting vegetation cutting edges thereon, two of the edges on one of the strands being in parallel contact with two of the edges on the other strand so as to define a pair of parallel readily severable welds bonding the strands together in a side-by-side disposition. The line forming process includes the steps of extruding the strands such that two of the edges on one strand are in proximate disposition and opposed parallel alignment with two of the edges on the other strand, directing the extruding strands together in edge-to-edge parallel contact along the opposed edges such that an enclosed space is defined between the strands so that the heat in the strands can create a positive pressure in the enclosed area to prevent inseparable fusion of the strands. The strands are then directed in edge-to-edge contact into a cooling quench bath, and pulled through the bath to effect crystallization and bonding together of the strands in an adjacent disposition along two readily severable parallel welds defined by the contacting edges.

The present invention is directed to an assembly and process for forming flexible cutting line for use in rotary trimmers which is comprised of two monofilament strands joined by a severable bond wherein each strand defines a plurality of raised elongated cutting edges.
Flexible line rotary trimmers are used for cutting vegetation such as grass and weeds, particularly along walks, fences and flower beds and around trees. These devices comprise a motor driven rotary head which carries one or more lengths of monofilament line mounted on a spool within a housing. Extended end portions of each line project from the spool through guides in the side of the housing. As the head rotates at high speed, the end portions of the lines are caused to project outwardly from the housing by the centrifugal forces acting thereon and function as cutting blades. The majority of trimmer heads presently in use employ two separate monofilament nylon lines which are both mounted on a common spool and project from the spool and housing through diametrically opposed guides in the trimmer head housing.
The spool which carries the line is mounted within the housing such that it rotates with the housing during use but can be selectively rotated relative the housing to pay out additional line when the projecting end portions of the line become worn or severed. Because these heads typically employ two separate cutting lines, and occasionally three or four such lines, care must be taken in winding the lines about the common spool to prevent the lines from crossing over one another or otherwise tangling within the housing. If the lines become tangled within the housing, additional line cannot be payed out during use or even pulled from the head without having to disassemble the head. This problem is particularly acute in fully automatic and bump-feed heads wherein even the slightest tangle can interfere with the proper indexing and paying out of the line. In addition to interfering with the proper line feeding mechanisms of the flexible trimmer heads, internal tangles can also cause balance and vibration problems which make the trimmer more difficult to use.
To solve the problem of line tangle, monofilament line has been developed which comprises two strands secured together along their adjacent lengths by a readily severable weld. The resulting double strand line is then simply wound about the spool and the end portions separated along their weld so that the end portions of the separated strands can be fed out through the opposed guides. Bonding the two strands together in this manner along their entire lengths prevents tangling of the strands within the housing and, if the strands are properly joined, allows the strands to be readily separated for the feeding of new line through the opposed guides. Such a double or dual-strand line and methods and apparatures for manufacturing such line are disclosed in applicant's pending applications, Ser. No. 08/597,178, filed Feb. 6, 1996, and Ser. No. 08/782,333 filed Jan. 13, 1997.
In an effort to improve the cutting ability of monofilament line, the line has been extruded so as to define a plurality of raised cutting edges extending longitudinally along the line. Different cross-sectional configurations such as squares, diamonds and star shapes, have been developed to provide these multiple cutting edges. In certain designs, two sets of alternating elongated edges are provided. The first set protrudes beyond the second set and the recessed edges in the second set are disposed between the edges in the first set. Accordingly, when the more outwardly protruding edges in the first set become worn down and rounded with use, the second set of sharp edges will come into contact with the vegetation and thus effectively provide a set of fresh, sharp cutting edges with which to trim the vegetation.
Edged cutting line is becoming increasingly popular. However, such line is subject to the entanglement problems discussed above and a method for economically forming a suitable dual line with edged strands has not heretofore been developed. The first dual-strand lines were formed by securing two strands together along their adjacent lengths by a suitable adhesive. Such line, however, was found to be excessively expensive to manufacture and the strength of the adhesive bond between the two strands was inconsistent and caused premature separation of the strands. As a result, such a process is equally ill-suited for use in forming a dual-strand edged line.
In the forming process previously developed by applicant, which is the subject of the above identified patent applications, the problems with adhesively formed dual-strand lines were overcome through the use of a novel extrusion process. One or more pairs of nylon strands are extruded with the strands in each pair being in proximate disposition. The strands are directed from the extrusion die into a cooling quench bath where the two strands in each pair are brought together on a collecting guide in a side-by-side abutting disposition to initiate the forming of a continuous weld therebetween. The pairs of adjoining strands are then pulled through the quench bath as the strands in each pair begin to crystallize and bond together to form a plurality of pairs of joined monofilament strands. It has been found, however, that while that process provides an excellent weld for monofilament strands having a circular cross-section, it is not particularly well-suited for bonding together pairs of nylon polymer edged strands having a plurality of raised cutting edges extending therealong.
In the above-discussed process, the two strands are brought together in a side-by-side disposition within the cooling quench bath to sufficiently crystallize the strands prior to contact to prevent the two strands from permanently fusing together upon contact. As the pairs of closely spaced molten strands extend downwardly from the extrusion die to the collecting guide where the strands in each pair are brought into contact below the surface of the cooling water, the individual strands tend to twist. While this is of little consequence when dealing with strands which are circular in cross-section, if the strands define elongated projecting ribs and one or both of the strands becomes slightly twisted, the ribs on the two strands will not align when brought together but cross over one another. The result will be an inconsistent weld and an unsatisfactory product. While it may be possible to avoid such twisting with extensive care in the handling of the strands within the cooling bath, the care required would not be compatible with an economically viable manufacturing process and twisting might still occur. It was discovered, however, that proper alignment of the strands is not the only problem in attempting to extrude such a product.
As noted above, edged cutting line can be formed in numerous cross-sectional configurations. Depending on their shape, a pair of edged strands could be joined together in a dual-line configuration along a pair of abutting flat surfaces, along abutting edges or a pair of curved surfaces, or possibly along combinations of such surfaces. If the strands could be joined along a rounded surface, like a conventional dual-strand line, applicant's previously discussed extrusion process could be employed to produce the line, provided the line twisting problem could be solved. However, when joining the strands together along a curved surface, the available remaining space for the projecting edges is quite limited and thus the number of projecting edges which could be formed on each strand would be very limited. In addition, it is generally preferred to provide a uniform distribution of the cutting edges about the strands. As a result, the more popular edged lines are square in cross-section or of a diamond or of a star-like shape so as to define multiple raised edges evenly spaced about the outer surface of the line. Attempting to bond a pair of edged strands together along abutting flat surfaces, however, would result in inseparable fusion, even though the contact between the strands occurred in the quench bath, due to the large area of surface contact between the two molten strands. Attempts to bond edged strands along edge-to-edge contact using the aforesaid extrusion process would also prove unsuccessful. The contact area between the two strands was found to be too small to provide a suitable weld unless the edges were relatively rounded. There is a perception, however, that sharp edges provide superior vegetation cutting. If the two edged strands were pressed together along their abutting edges in an effort to strengthen the weld, there was a substantial risk that inseparable fusion would result.
Efforts were then made using applicant's previously developed extrusion process to form pairs of star-type edged strands in a dual line configuration along a pair of abutting edges or star points, as opposed to joining the strands in single edge-to-edge contact. The resulting configuration would comprise two isolated welds extending along the points of contact, separated by the recessed wall surfaces of the strands. The total surface area of contact between the strands would be twice that of single edge-to-edge contact which was believed to be a sufficient area of surface contact to produce a severable bond between the strands of adequate strength to prevent premature separation, yet not such a large single contact area, as in side to side contact, that would cause inseparable fusion. However, initial testing of the proposed new process did not produce the desired results, even when strand twisting was carefully avoided. It was found that when the two strands are joined along their projecting edges in the quench bath, the water becomes trapped between the strands in the area enclosed by the abutting edges and the oppositely facing recessed sides of the two strands. The trapped water is caused to boil by the heat of the molten strands, creating an increase in pressure between the two strands which prevents the strands from properly bonding together.
Thus, even though a very consistent, durable yet readily severable weld can be created between two conventional nylons strands to form a highly successful, tangle-resistant dual-strand monofilament cutting line, the same result have not heretofore been obtained with strands defining multiple raised cutting edges. The process disclosed herein achieves that result.

Process for forming double-strand edged monofilament line for use in line trimmers


A probe adapted to be used with a pulse oximeter is disclosed. A flexible first housing is adapted to be brought into contact with at least a nail of a finger or a toe of a subject. A flexible second housing is adapted to be brought into contact with at least a top of the finger or the toe. A flexible connecting part connects the first housing and the second housing, and is adapted to cover a tip end of the nail. A light emitting element is provided on one of the first housing and the second housing. A light receiving element is provided on the other one of the first housing and the second housing.

The present invention relates to a probe adapted to be used with a pulse oximeter which enables measurement of oxygen saturation of arterial blood (SpO2) while being attached to a finger of a hand or a toe of a foot of a subject.
For measurement of the oxygen saturation of arterial blood of a subject, there has hitherto been used a probe adapted to be used with a pulse oximeter. In the pulse oximeter, a light emitting element and a light receiving element, which pair up with each other, are disposed opposite each other with a piece of tissue of a living body interposed therebetween, and oxygen saturation of arterial blood is determined by measuring the intensity of the light having passed through the tissue of the living body.
A probe, which has hitherto been known as a probe for a pulse oximeter of this type, has housings to which, e.g., a light emitting element and a light receiving element are mounted so as to oppose each other, and the housings are opened and closed while being pivoted around a joint shaft in the manner of a clothespin (see U.S. Pat, No. 4,685,464). With a spring (a clip), the light emitting element and the light receiving element are impelled so as to come close to each other. This probe is used for fingers of a hand, and the housings are attached to the finger of the subject in a pinching manner. That is, the subject's finger is sandwiched between the housings.
However, the two mutually-opposing housings are actuated around the joint shaft to thus open, or close. Hence, when variations exist among individuals in terms of thickness or size, as in the case of a finger, difficulty is encountered in causing a single probe to conform to all subjects. The probe cannot be appropriately attached to a finger which is greater than a predetermined thickness, and encounters difficulties of being displaced from a measurement site or becoming readily detached from the same. Since the spring force used for opening and closing the housings is specified, pain is inflicted when the probe is continuously attached over a long period of time. For this reason, the probe is inconvenient for use in, e.g., screening inspection of SAS (Sleep Apnea Syndrome), which requires attachment of a probe overnight.
In contrast with the probe adapted to be used with a pulse oximeter of such a spring (clip) type, there is also proposed another probe (see U.S. Pat. No. 5,776,059). The probe comprises a first casing section having a light receiving element, and a second casing section having a light emitting element, the casing sections being connected so as to be V-shaped. An adhesive member is provided at least on an interior surface of the first casing section. A nail of a finger or a toe of the subject is sandwiched between the first and second casing sections, to thus measure oxygen saturation of arterial blood. In order to fix this probe to the measurement site of the subject, providing the adhesive member to the interior surface of the casing section is indispensable.
The thus-configured probe is configured such that the first and second casing sections are connected so as to possess some degree of resilience. However, in order to cause the probe to be appropriately fixed to all fingers or the like, which vary in thickness or size among individuals, providing the adhesive member is indispensable. When dust, or the like, adheres to the adhesive member and this probe is reused, the accuracy of measurement is adversely affected, and a problem of sanitary administration is also raised.
Moreover, a disposable probe of an adhesive sheet structure has also been proposed as a probe which differs from the above-described probes in terms of structure (see Japanese Utility Model No. 2547840). However, when screening inspection of SAS is performed at home, the subject must wear this probe by himself/herself. In such a case, no limitations are imposed on a location where the probe is to be attached. However, attaching the probe to an appropriate measurement site requires knowledge or a technique. Further, the subject encounters difficulty in attaching the probe by himself or herself.
As mentioned previously, a required technique is required when the probe for a pulse oximeter is appropriately attached to a measurement site, and difficulty is encountered in the subject wearing the probe. Further, when the subject has attached the probe by himself/herself, the quality of measurement is often dependent on the state of attachment. For this reason, in order to accurately measure oxygen saturation of arterial blood, operation performed by a specialized engineer or by nursing personnel is required. There may be a case where long-duration attachment of the probe results in an increase in a sense of discomfort created by the living tissue in the measurement site, so that the subject takes the probe off consciously or subconsciously the probe for reasons of aches. Attaching the probe over a long period of time results in an increase in the chance of occurrence of a pressure mark, caused by localized pressure of the measurement site, and occurrence of blisters. Hence, the point where the probe is to be attached needs to be changed frequently, which in turn results in an increase in the burden imposed on the operator who performs measurement.

Probe adapted to be used with pulse oximeter


The present invention relates to certain fused pyrazole derivatives of Formula (Ia), and pharmaceutically acceptable salts thereof, which exhibit useful pharmacological properties, for example, as agonists for the RUP25 receptor.

Compounds of the Invention as Antilipolytic Agents
Atherosclerosis and stroke are the numbers one and number three leading causes of death of both men and women in the United States. Type 2 diabetes is a public health problem that is serious, widespread and increasing. Elevated levels of low density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol or low levels of high density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol are, independently, risk factors for atherosclerosis and associated cardiovascular pathologies. In addition, high levels of plasma free fatty acids are associated with insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes. One strategy for decreasing LDL-cholesterol, increasing HDL-cholesterol, and decreasing plasma free fatty acids is to inhibit lipolysis in adipose tissue. This approach involves regulation of hormone sensitive lipase, which is the rate-limiting enzyme in lipolysis. Lipolytic agents increase cellular levels of cAMP, which leads to activation of hormone sensitive lipase within adipocytes. Agents that lower intracellular cAMP levels, by contrast, would be antilipolytic.
It is also worth noting in passing that an increase in cellular levels of cAMP down-regulates the secretion of adiponectin from adipocytes [Delporte, M L et al. Biochem J (2002) July]. Reduced levels of plasma adiponectin have been associated with metabolic-related disorders, including atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, insulin resistance and type 2 diabetes [Matsuda, M et al. J Biol Chem (2002) July and reviewed therein].
Nicotinic acid (niacin, pyridine-3-carboxylic acid) is a water-soluble vitamin required by the human body for health, growth and reproduction; a part of the Vitamin B complex. Nicotinic acid is also one of the oldest used drugs for the treatment of dyslipidemia. It is a valuable drug in that it favorably affects virtually all of the lipid parameters listed above [Goodman and Gilman's Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics, editors Harmon J G and Limbird L E, Chapter 36, Mahley R W and Bersot T P (2001) pages 971–1002]. The benefits of nicotinic acid in the treatment or prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease have been documented in six major clinical trials [Guyton J R (1998) Am J Cardiol 82:18U–23U]. Nicotinic acid and related derivatives, such as, acipimox have recently been discussed [Lorenzen, A et al (2001) Molecular Pharmacology 59:349–357]. Structure and synthesis of additional analogs or derivatives of nicotinic acid are discussed throughout the Merck Index, An Encyclopedia of Chemicals, Drugs, and Biologicals, Tenth Edition (1983), which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Nicotinic acid inhibits the production and release of free fatty acids from adipose tissue, likely via an inhibition of adenylyl cyclase, a decrease in intracellular cAMP levels, and a concomitant decrease in hormone sensitive lipase activity. Agonists that down-regulate hormone sensitive lipase activity leading to a decrease in plasma free fatty acid levels are likely to have therapeutic value. The consequence of decreasing plasma free fatty acids is two-fold. First, it will ultimately lower LDL-cholesterol and raise HDL-cholesterol levels, independent risk factors, thereby reducing the risk of mortality due to cardiovascular incidence subsequent to atheroma formation. Second, it will provide an increase in insulin sensitivity in individuals with insulin resistance or type 2 diabetes. Unfortunately, the use of nicotinic acid as a therapeutic is partially limited by a number of associated, adverse side-effects. These include flushing, free fatty acid rebound, and liver toxicity.
The rational development of novel, nicotinic acid receptor agonists that have fewer side-effects will be valuable, but to date this has been hindered by the inability to molecularly identify the nicotinic acid receptor. Furthermore, other receptors of the same class may exist on the surface of adipocytes and similarly decrease hormone sensitive lipase activity through a reduction in the level of intracellular cAMP but without the elicitation of adverse effects such as flushing, thereby representing promising novel therapeutic targets. Recent work suggests that nicotinic acid probably acts through a specific GPCR [Lorenzen A, et al. (2001) Molecular Pharmacology 59:349–357 and reviewed therein]. Further work has suggested that the effects of nicotinic acid on macrophages, spleen and probably adipocytes are mediated via this specific GPCR [Lorenzen A, et al. (2002) Biochemical Pharmacology 64:645–648 and reviewed therein].

Fused pyrazole derivatives and methods of treatment of metabolic-related disorders thereof

Abstract: Also provided by the present invention are pharmaceutical compositions containing compounds of the invention, and methods of using the compounds and compositions of the invention in the treatment of metabolic-related disorders, including dyslipidemia, atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, Syndrome-X and the like. In addition, the present invention also provides for the use of the compounds of the invention in combination with other active agents such as those belonging to the class of α-glucosidase inhibitors, aldose reductase inhibitors, biguanides, HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors, squalene synthesis inhibitors, fibrates, LDL catabolism enhancers, angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, insulin secretion enhancers, DP receptor antagonists, and the like.


The present invention is a more efficient compressor control system and a more efficient method of operating a multiple compressor system because the method and control system are a function of both the system pressure and the volumetric flow rate capacity of the system. Specifically, a compressor is loaded or unloaded from the compressor system after sensing the actual system pressure and volumetric flow rate capacity. The inventor(s) of the present invention have discovered that it is more efficient to control the compressors upon sensing both the pressure and volumetric flow rate capacity of the fluid. Moreover, controlling the compressor system in response to sensing both the pressure and volumetric flow rate capacity of the fluid insures that the appropriate blend of compressors is loaded to the system in order to produce the most suitable pressure and volumetric flow rate capacity. In other words, the control system of the present invention loads the most appropriate compressors to the system in order to produce the most suitable pressure and volumetric flow rate capacity and minimizes the production of any excessive amounts thereof. Thus, controlling the compressors in response to both a change in pressure and a change in the volumetric flow rate capacity prevents the unwarranted utilization of electrical power, thereby producing a more efficient compressor control system.

This invention relates to a compressor system and more particularly, to a compressor control system and method of operating a compressor system comprising multiple compressors.
Compressed fluids, such as air, are commonly used in an industrial environment and serve as a power source for various machines and tools. The actual demand for such compressed fluids typically fluctuates throughout the course of a standard work day due to the varying load requirements of each machine and tool. In order to fulfill the demand for a wide variation in load level, the system for supplying the compressed fluid typically includes a plurality of various sized compressors. The compressors are usually connected in parallel and/or series in order to produce a total capacity that can adequately satisfy the anticipated demand.
The compressors are typically started in sequence beginning with the smallest sized compressor and ending with the largest sized compressor. Thereafter, the compressors are cycled xe2x80x9conxe2x80x9d or xe2x80x9coffxe2x80x9d (i.e., loaded or unloaded) in response to the pressure demands required by the load(s) within the system. For example, in an industrial environment, the activation of one or more pneumatically powered tools that is connected to a compressed air system results in an outflow of compressed air, thereby reducing the overall system pressure. In order to maintain the desired system pressure, it may be necessary to load another compressor onto the system. Similarly, if a machine requiring compressed air is turned xe2x80x9coffxe2x80x9d, the system will have an over abundance of pressurized fluid, thereby increasing the system pressure. Hence, it may be necessary to unload one or more compressors. The issue, therefore, becomes which compressor should be loaded or unloaded (i.e., added or removed from the compressor system).
A pressure responsive control system typically includes a controller that is wired to measure the system pressure. When the system pressure drops below or climbs above a predetermined pressure set-point, the controller loads or unloads the next available compressor. This process is repeated as often as necessary, or until all of the compressors are either loaded or unloaded, in order to compensate for the change in system demand. Similarly, rather than controlling the compressor system in response to the system pressure, the compressor system could be responsive to a flow sensor that measures the fluid flow.
Whether responding to the system pressure or fluid flow within the system, it may be advantageous to initially sequence the loading and unloading of the compressors in order to produce an electrically efficient compressor system. Particularly, the operator of the system may recognize that the load requirements increase as the day progresses. Therefore, certain compressors are loaded and/or unloaded accordingly such that the pressure capacity of the system increases to satisfy the anticipated load requirements. In other words, the sequence is typically based upon an estimate of the anticipated system demand such that the estimate is close as possible to the actual system requirements. The goal of estimating the actual system demand and loading the appropriately sized compressors is to provide a moderately efficient system by minimizing the unused pressure capacity of the system, thereby minimizing the wasteful use of electrical power.
After initially loading the compressors according to the sequence, the compressors are thereafter loaded and/or unloaded in response to the pressure or fluid flow sensors to more particularly satisfy the demands of the system. In other words, if after the initial sequence of compressors is loaded and the system senses that it requires additional pressure, an additional compressor may be loaded to the system to satisfy the immediate demand. Likewise, if the system senses that it has an over abundant pressure capacity, a compressor may be unloaded to reduce the overall system pressure. Again, in order to produce an efficient compressor system, a compressor having a pressure rating similar to the additional system demand or similar to the over abundant pressure capacity will be selected and loaded or unloaded, respectively, such that total system pressure capacity closely resembles the actual system demand, thereby minimizing the wasteful use of electrical power.
However, controlling the compressor system solely in response to the pressure differential between the actual system pressure and the pressure requirement of the system may be not be as electrically efficient as originally believed. Specifically, although the system may produce fluid with sufficient pressure, the volume of fluid being produced may be inadequate or substantially excessive than what is actually required. Similarly, controlling the compressor system solely in response to a change in fluid flow may not be the most electrically efficient control method because although the system may produce the required volume of fluid, the pressure of fluid being produced may be substantially higher or lower than what is actually required.
Additionally, compressors may require a significant amount of time to produce fluid at their rated pressure capacity and fluid flow rate. Moreover, during such period, the compressors utilize a significant amount of electrical energy, which translates into a high operating cost. Furthermore, upon the compressors attaining their rated capacity, the present control systems do not insure that the appropriate blend of compressors is loaded to the system in order to produce the most suitable pressure and volumetric flow rate capacity. In other words, controlling the compressors in response solely to a change in pressure or fluid flow may produce excessive amounts thereof. These unnecessary quantities of fluid flow and pressure are the by products of the compressors utilizing an over abundance electrical energy. Thus, controlling the compressors in response solely to a change in pressure or fluid flow utilizes an unwarranted amount of electrical power, thereby producing an inefficient compressor control system.
It is an object of the invention to produce a more efficient compressor control system.
It is an other object of the invention to produce a compressor control system that does not merely control the operation of compressors as a function of the system pressure.
It is a further object of the invention to produce a compressor control system that does not merely control the operation of compressors as a function of the system""s volumetric flow rate capacity.
The present invention is a more efficient compressor control system and a more efficient method of operating a multiple compressor system because the method and control system are a function of both the system pressure and the volumetric flow rate capacity of the system. Specifically, a compressor is loaded or unloaded from the compressor system after sensing the actual pressure and volumetric flow rate capacity of the compressor system.
Moreover, the actual flow rate of the compressor system is compared to the online flow rate capacity, and the set-point pressure is compared to the actual pressure of the compressor system. Upon completing these two comparisons, a determination is made as to which, if any, compressors should be loaded or unloaded. These two comparisons allow the control system to load or unload the compressor that will produce the most efficient compressor system. If the pressure of the compressor system is greater than the pressure set-point and the flow rate for one of the compressors is less than the excess flow rate for the compressor system, that particular compressor will be unloaded from the compressor system. Additionally, if the actual pressure of the compressor system is less than the set-point pressure and the actual flow rate of the compressor system is equal to or greater than the online flow rate capacity of the compressor system, then a compressor will be loaded to the compressor system.
Accordingly, the present invention relates to a method of operating a compressor system having a plurality of compressors, wherein each of the compressors is capable of compressing a fluid at a predetermined volumetric flow rate capacity, the method comprising the steps of establishing a set-point pressure, measuring the pressure of the fluid in the compressor system, measuring the volumetric flow rate capacity of the fluid within the compressor system, determining which of the compressors are operating, determining the online volumetric flow rate capacity, wherein the online volumetric flow rate capacity is equal to the sum of corresponding predetermined volumetric flow rate capacities for each of the operating compressors, determining the excess volumetric flow rate capacity of the compressor system, wherein the excess volumetric flow rate capacity is equal to the online volumetric flow rate capacity minus the measured volumetric flow rate capacity and discontinuing the operation of one of the plurality of compressors upon sensing that the pressure of the fluid in the compressor system is greater than the set-point pressure and the corresponding volumetric flow rate capacity for the compressor is less than the excess volumetric flow rate capacity.
The present invention also relates to another method of operating a compressor system having a plurality of compressors, wherein each of the compressors is capable of compressing a fluid at a predetermined volumetric flow rate capacity, the method comprising the steps of establishing a set-point pressure, measuring the pressure of the fluid in the compressor system, measuring the volumetric flow rate capacity of the fluid within the compressor system, determining which of the compressors are operating, determining the online volumetric flow rate capacity, wherein the online volumetric flow rate capacity is equal to the sum of corresponding predetermined volumetric flow rate capacities for each of the operating compressors, and engaging the operation of one of the plurality of compressors upon sensing that the pressure of the fluid in the compressor system is less than the set-point pressure and the volumetric flow rate capacity of the compressor system is equal to or greater than the online volumetric flow rate capacity.
The present invention also relates to a control system for controlling a compressor system, wherein the control system comprises a plurality of compressors, each of said compressors being capable of compressing a fluid at a predetermined volumetric flow rate capacity and predetermined pressure, each of the compressors emitting an operational signal indicative of whether the corresponding compressor is operating, a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure of the fluid within the compressor system, a flow meter for measuring the volumetric flow rate capacity of the fluid within the compressor system, a controller having a programmed set-point pressure, the controller having a programmed volumetric flow rate capacity and pressure for each of the compressors, the controller receiving the operation signals from the plurality of compressors, the controller determining an online volumetric flow rate capacity, wherein the online volumetric flow rate capacity is equal to the sum of the corresponding predetermined volumetric flow rate capacities for each of the operating compressors, the controller determining an excess volumetric flow rate capacity of the compressor system, wherein the excess volumetric flow rate capacity is equal to the online volumetric flow rate capacity minus the measured volumetric flow rate capacity, the controller sending an unloading signal to one of the plurality of compressors upon sensing that the pressure of the fluid in the compressor system is greater than the set-point pressure and that the corresponding volumetric flow rate capacity for the compressor is less than the excess volumetric flow rate capacity.
The present invention also relates to another control system for controlling a compressor system, wherein the control system comprises a plurality of compressors, each of said compressors being capable of compressing a fluid at a predetermined volumetric flow rate capacity and predetermined pressure, each of the compressors emitting an operational signal indicative of whether the corresponding compressor is operating, a pressure sensor for measuring the pressure of the fluid within the compressor system, a flow meter for measuring the volumetric flow rate capacity of the fluid within the compressor system, a controller having a programmed set-point pressure, the controller having a programmed volumetric flow rate capacity for each of the compressors, the controller receiving the operation signal from each of the plurality of compressors, the controller determining an online volumetric flow rate capacity, wherein the online volumetric flow rate capacity is equal to the sum of the corresponding predetermined volumetric flow rate capacities for each of the operating compressors, the controller sending a loading signal to one of the plurality of compressors upon sensing that the pressure of the fluid in the compressor system is less than the set-point pressure and that the volumetric flow rate capacity for the compressor system is equal to or greater than the online volumetric flow rate capacity.

Control system for controlling multiple compressors


A method and apparatus for representing an address in canonical form. The address is received and an error indicator is computed according to whether the address is received in a correct canonical form. The error indicator is stored together with a portion of the address, the portion being less than the entire address. The error indicator, together with the portion of the address stored, represent the address received.

While a majority of the microprocessors used in personal computers may be 32-bit processors, there are applications that address larger amounts of virtual and physical memory. High-performance servers, computer aided design tools and database management systems, for example, can make use of larger address spaces and therefore may benefit from being able to perform computations on addresses more than 32-bits.
Modern computers often provide two distinct memory spaces: a virtual address space for the convenience of programmers, and a physical address space for system hardware designers. Extensions in digital data sizes are often made at convenient powers of two, for example: 8-, 16-, 32-, and 64-bits, etc. Practically though, it may not be necessary or economical to support a full 64-bit virtual address space in a microprocessor, let alone populate a 64-bit physical address space with memory. Therefore, a smaller address space may be defined, but defined in such a way as to provide for future expansions as necessary.
One form of an address, which may be useful for this purpose is called a canonical address form. For example, an address may be said to be in one type of canonical address form if all of the most significant bits, higher than some conveniently chosen number of address bits, are of the same value. That is to say that an M-bit virtual address space (M being an integer less than 64) may be supported inside a 64-bit virtual address space where all of the bits in the addresses starting from bit position M−1 to bit position 63 are of the same value (either all ones, or all zeroes).
An advantage of using canonical addresses is that expansion of the usable address space is possible. For example, an expansion from M bits to M+1 bits doubles the addressable storage space for newer programs while permitting older programs to execute correctly without modification.
One disadvantage of using an address in canonical form is that results of address computations may from time to time produce addresses that are not in a valid canonical form and so such results need to be checked to prevent errors. For example, if a 48-bit virtual address space is supported by a 64-bit canonical address then it may be necessary to check each of the most significant 16 bits (bit 63 through bit 48) against the value of the 48th bit (bit 47) to determine whether an address computation has produced a result in canonical form.
Another disadvantage is that the upper address bits do not provide addressing functionality, yet their support may require additional storage space, wider interconnects and additional digital logic. Any or all of these requirements may contribute to undesirable business consequences such as added costs and lower yields.

Method and apparatus for representation of an address in canonical form


An austenitic cast iron including basic elements of C, Si, Cr, Ni, Mn and Cu; and the balance including Fe, inevitable impurities and/or a trace-amount modifier element, which is effective in improving a characteristic of the cast iron, in a trace amount; and structured by a base comprising an Fe alloy in which an austenite phase makes a major phase in ordinary-temperature region; wherein the basic elements fall within compositional ranges that satisfy the following conditions when the entirety of the cast iron is taken as 100% by mass: C: from 2.0 to 3.0%; Si: from 4.0 to 5.4%; Cr: from 0.8 to 2.0%; Mn: from 3.9 to 5.6%; Ni: from 17 to 22%; and Cu: from 0.9 to 1.6%.

It is often the case that members being formed as complicated configurations, and relatively large-size members are manufactured by means of casting; what is more cast products being made of relatively inexpensive cast irons (hereinafter being simply referred to as "cast products") are used frequently.
In cast iron, carbon (C) in the alloy whose major component is made of iron-carbon exceeds the maximum solid solubility limit in γ iron (e.g., about 2% by mass), and the cast iron is accompanied by eutectoid solidification. Usually, in order to improve the characteristics, such as the mechanical properties, corrosion resistance and heat resistance, various alloying elements are added. Such a cast iron is referred to as an alloy cast iron, and especially those cast irons with great alloying-element amounts are referred to as high-alloy cast irons. These high-alloy cast irons are usually divided into ferritic cast irons and austenitic cast irons roughly depending on the difference between the crystalline structures of their crystallizing bases.
Among them, since the austenitic cast irons are comprised of austenite phase (or γ phase) mainly, not to mention in high-temperature region, but in ordinary-temperature region as well, they are good in terms of heat resistance, oxidation resistance, corrosion resistance, and the like; and are moreover good in terms of ductility, toughness, and so forth. Accordingly, the austenitic cast irons are often used for members that are made use of in harsh environments such as high-temperature atmospheres. For example, speaking of the field of automobiles, turbocharger housings, exhaust manifolds, catalyst cases, and the like, are given. Any of the members are a component part, and so on, respectively, which is exposed to high-temperature exhaust gases, and consequently which is required to exhibit long-term durability.
By the way, various types are available in the austenitic cast irons as well, and the following are representative ones: Niresist, nimol, nicrosilal, monel, minober, nomag, and the like. Moreover, in Japanese Industrial Standards (i.e., JIS), too, 9 types are prescribed for the flake graphitic cast iron (e.g., FCA), and 14 types are prescribed for the spheroidal graphitic cast iron (e.g., FCDA).
In the conventional austenitic cast irons, an austenite phase has been made obtainable even in ordinary-temperature region by having them contain nickel (Ni), namely, an austenite stabilizing element, in a large amount (Ni: from 18 to 36%, for instance). This Ni is expensive considerably compared with iron (Fe), namely, the parent material, and the other alloying elements, and consequently cast products comprising the conventional austenitic cast irons have been highly costly considerably.
For example, a Niresist cast iron being referred to as "D-5S," which is equivalent to FCDA-NiSiCr3552 according to JIS, is high in terms of austenite-phase stability, and exhibits good oxidation resistance, too, because it includes Ni in a large amount. Moreover, like a Niresist cast iron being referred to as "D-2" that is equivalent to FCDA-NiCr202 according to JIS, austenitic cast irons whose Ni contents are less comparatively have also come to be known publicly. However, the Niresist cast iron that is equivalent to FCDA-NiCr202 is poor in term of oxidation resistance. Consequently, it is unsuitable for a housing for variable nozzle turbocharger (e.g., "VNT™)," being called a variable capacity turbocharger as well), for instance. The VNT™ is a type of turbocharger. It makes the opening areas of a plurality of variable nozzles, which are disposed on the outer side of an exhaust turbine within the housing, variable in compliance with the revolving speeds of an engine, and controls the flow volume of exhaust gases to change the supercharging efficiency, thereby adjusting the revolving speeds of the exhaust turbine. In the VNT™, since the clearance between the housing and the turbine blades affects the flow volume of exhaust gases greatly, the housing's oxidation resistance is important from the viewpoint of securing a given dimension for the clearance. Moreover, there might also be concerns for oxides that have come off from the housing to be bitten between the turbine blades' movable parts so that the turbine blades have come to be unmovable or have been damaged. In addition, since the turbocharger housing as well as exhaust manifolds are component parts that are employed for an exhaust system, the oxides also become a cause of clogging honeycomb supports for exhaust-gas conversion catalyst when they are bulky large-sized ones.
As a cast iron being good in terms of corrosion resistance, Patent Literature No. 1 sets forth a highly-heat-insulating corrosion-resistant cast iron including C in an amount of from 0.8 to 2.0%. Silicon (Si) is added in order to upgrade the heat-insulating property. Moreover, from the viewpoint of corrosion resistance, chromium (Cr) and copper (Cu) are made to be contained. Although Patent Literature No. 1 does not at all refer to the relation between the hardness and composition of cast iron, the cast iron labeled Nos. 1 through 9, which are set forth in the examples, are all unsuitable for processing operations, because any one of them is of high hardness (e.g., about 280 Hv or more by Vickers hardness). Moreover, in Patent Literature No. 1, the cast iron's heat-insulating property is upgraded by making the C content less than those in usual cast irons. In particular, when focusing on the C amount, since the C amounts are from 0.8 to 1.0% in the alloys according to the respective examples being set forth in Patent Literature No. 1, those being disclosed in Patent Literature No. 1 can be referred to as cast steels rather than cast irons.
Moreover, Patent Literature No. 2 discloses an austenitic cast iron whose Si amount is augmented whereas the Ni amount is made much less than that in the foregoing Niresist cast iron. Patent Literature No. 2 discloses that, regarding oxidation resistance, one of the indexes of heat resistance for austenitic cast iron, as the Si amount is augmented, the oxidized weight increase per unit surface area decreases (see FIG. 6 in Patent Literature 2). However, according to studies by the present inventors, when the Si amount becomes excessive, it results in bringing about decline in the elongation of austenitic cast iron, and in deterioration of the machinability. Accordingly, taking the reliability, mass-producibility, and the like, of heat-resistant members comprising austenitic cast irons, it is not realistic at all to simply adjust the Si amount alone in order to enhance the oxidation resistance up to a practically sufficient level.
Hence, the present inventors disclosed an austenitic cast iron in Patent Literature No. 3, austenitic cast iron whose Ni content is less, and which is excellent not only in terms of thermal-fatigue strength, and the like, but also in terms of oxidation resistance. In the austenitic cast iron being set forth in Patent Literature No. 3, the Ni amount becomes a considerably small amount (i.e., the upper limit is 15%) as a whole of the cast iron. From the viewpoint of conventional technical common senses, it seems that no base, in which an austenite phase being stable in ordinary-temperature region makes a major phase, is obtainable. However, they succeeded in obtaining an austenite phase, whose Ni content was even a smaller amount than those conventional ones, by setting the respective contents of C (especially, Cs, a solute carbon content), Si, Cr, manganese (Mn) and Cu, namely, alloying elements other than Ni, so as to fall in appropriate ranges.

Austenitic cast iron, austenitic-cast-iron cast product and manufacturing process for the same


The connecting element 1 for gluing onto a component surface B comprises a retaining pin 10 having a pin section 20, to which a structural component can be attached. An anchor 30 of the retaining pin 10 is attached in a disk 40 made of a material which can be penetrated by light such that due to the rotation-inhibiting and removal-inhibiting shape of the anchor, a reliable connection is established between the retaining pin 10 and the disk 40.

Several connecting elements are known from the prior art, which can be attached to a component surface with the aid of heat activated glue or hot melt adhesive. These connecting elements are described, for example, in the documents EP 0 741 842 B1, U.S. Pat. No. 3,3532,316, DE 103 59 466 A1, EP 0 504 957 A2 and DE 10 2006 012 411 A1.
For attaching these connecting elements to a component surface, the connecting elements have a disk or disk-like structure. This disk comprises an attachment surface that faces toward the component surface. The hot melt adhesive, for example, is applied on the attachment surface, and then activated by heat supply, and is cured. Various designs of these connecting elements show a flat attachment surface, an attachment surface having webs or supporting projections, and a depression-shaped attachment surface which receives the hot melt adhesive.
These connecting elements frequently have the problem that although the disk is sufficiently attached on the component surface, the pin fastened in the disk does not withstand the mechanical loading, for example, during the attachment of a structural component. This leads to a premature failure of the attachment of the structural component, even though the connecting element remains sufficiently attached to the component surface.
A further disadvantage is that the known connecting elements are designed for using heat activated glue. If, in contrast, a glue is used that is activated or cured by light, the light irradiated from outside does not reach the glue at all, or reaches it with an intensity that is too low, due to the non-transparency of the connecting element. This leads to the glue being insufficiently cured, and thus, the connecting element cannot be reliably attached on the component surface.
Therefore, it is the object of the present invention to provide a connecting element for gluing onto a component surface using a light curing glue. A further object is to provide a production method and an attachment method for this connecting element.

Connecting element for gluing onto a component surface and reproduction method and attachment method therefor


The invention pertains to a method for processing of liquid hydrocarbon raw materials. The method includes preliminary pretreatment of a flow of raw materials and further processing with fractionation. The pretreatment is performed by forming a primary flow of liquid hydrocarbon with the characteristics of a straight tubular laminar flow and then directing that flow through a spiral tubing at a velocity the maximal value of which maintains laminarity of the laminar primary flow through the spiral tubing. The laminary primary flow is fractionated following the pretreatment. The invention has applications to the field of petroleum processing and may find application in the petroleum and petrochemical industries, and in the field of fuel power engineering.

Treatment of crude oil for refinery (in particular crude oil which has complicated rheological structure) is a process that determines profitability of the whole petrochemical industry.
Upon availability of treatment (pre-processing of crude oil before feeding to the reactor for refining) the subsequent processing of oil raw materials requires much less time, thus increasing the productivity of the process.
Pre-processing of crude oil is performed with the following purposes:                desalting and dehydration,        viscosity reduction of oil and petroleum products (improvement of rheological properties),        removing sulfur and sulfur compounds from crude oil.
It was developed some methods of pre-processing of crude oil focused on partial modifications in the structure of hydrocarbon links in order to, in addition to the above, as far as possible to increase the yield of light ends on the earliest stages.
There is a method (RU 2158288, 27 Oct. 2000), under which crude oil before feeding to the column for refinery is exposed to complex hydro mechanical and acoustic treatment in the rotary-pulsating acoustic apparatus in a certain range of velocities in the gap between rotor and stator. As a result of changes in the disperse oil state, the yield of oil distillate fractions increases. Disadvantage of the method is a great energy and metal consumption.
There is a method (U.S. Pat. No. 4,323,448, 6 Apr. 1982), under which mechanical activation of hydrocarbons is carried out by passing them through a disintegrator with exposure of impacts at a given frequency.
There is a method (RU 2122457, 27 Nov. 1998), under which hydrocarbon compounds in a liquid form are placed in an artificial gravity field and supply of mechanical energy to the liquid is provided by means of mechanical elements. Disadvantage of these methods is a great energy and metal consumption.
There is a method of cavitation effect in the processing of different liquids, including for intensification of processing of hydrocarbon raw materials.
Method of patent (KZ 14129, 15 Mar. 2004) is characterized by the fact that, when petroleum passes through cavitator, formation and growth of cavitation bubbles and their subsequent collapse occur, accompanied by shock waves disrupting structure of heavy molecules of hydrocarbons, including paraffin and asphalt-resinous substances.
Gas temperature inside a cavitation bubble at the end of collapse becomes very high, because the process happens so quickly that it's no time to establish heat exchange between contents of the bubble and surrounding liquid. Hot gas contacting heavy molecules, heats them up to the temperature at which strength of links between atoms decreases and molecules are disintegrated to more simple compounds. At disintegration of paraffin molecules more simple hydrocarbons, light fractions, are formed (paraffin content is reduced due to disintegration of its molecules). Asphalt-resinous substances content decreases due to their dissolution by the formed light fractions.
However, using of petroleum raw materials of different chemical and fractional composition, different viscosity and other physical and chemical characteristics, for some of them the cavitation mechanism can not be realized and in this case the mechanical destruction of these raw materials may not be carried out.

Method for processing of liquid hydrocarbon raw materials


A stacked-plate heat exchanger. The plates are welded together alternately along lateral ridges and flanges formed around the periphery of the plates. The plates are also welded along the circumference of intake-and-outlet openings.

The present invention concerns a stacked-plate heat exchanger. Several corrugated and essentially rectangular plates are stacked and welded together to be sealed off from the environment. There are hollow spaces between the plates, and intake-and-outlet openings at the corners. Alternating spaces are occupied by one of two fluids. The fluids exchange heat.
Welded-stack heat exchangers are better than those that can be disassembled because the latter require resilient seals between the plates formed of, for example, an elastomeric material. Such seals can leak when they break down due to the presence of corrosive fluids or exposure to high temperatures and pressure, for example, and then they must be replaced. Welded-stack exchangers can be operated at higher temperatures and pressures and with more corrosive fluids because they have no elastomeric seals.
One type of welded-stack heat exchanger is known from GB Patent Application Nos. 2 126 703 and 2 167 175. The edges of adjacent plates are welded to strips of metal. The strips act as both spacers and seals. Each strip is welded to one plate such as to admit one particular fluid and the adjacent plate is positioned and welded to the same strip. The latter weld must always be welded through the upper plate. To prevent damage to the previous weld, each strip must be offset from the strip in the previous fluid space.
This requirement makes such an exchanger expensive to manufacture.


A method, apparatus and computer readable storage medium permit an updated radio map to be determined. In an iteration, the method obtains or holds available current radio map data representing a current radio map for a site and track data of a mobile device. The track data includes sensor data and radio signal observation data representing sets of radio signal observation results captured at different observation positions. The method estimates the observation positions on the track based on the current radio map data and the track data including the sensor data and the radio signal observation data and associates each estimated observation position with a respective set of radio signal observation results represented by the radio signal observation data to determine a sequence of radio fingerprints for the track. The method provides or uses the sequence of radio fingerprints for determining an updated radio map for the site.

Satellite signal based positioning technologies, which are mainly used outdoors, are usually not suited to deliver a satisfactory performance when used for indoor positioning, since satellite signals of global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), like the global positioning system (GPS) or the Galileo system, do not penetrate through walls and roofs strongly enough for an adequate signal reception indoors. Thus, these positioning technologies are not able to deliver a performance indoors that would enable seamless, equal and accurate navigation experience outdoors and indoors.
Therefore, several dedicated non-GNSS based radio positioning systems for indoor and outdoor positioning have been developed and commercially deployed during the past years. Examples comprise systems that are based on pseudolites, which are ground based GPS-like short-range beacons, ultra-sound positioning systems, Bluetooth low energy (BLE) based positioning systems, cellular network based positioning systems and wireless local area network (WLAN) based positioning systems.
Such a non-GNSS based radio positioning system (e.g. a self-contained positioning system) may be divided in at least three stages, an installation stage, a training stage and a positioning stage.
In the installation stage, dedicated positioning support radio nodes (e.g. Bluetooth beacons) may be installed in the environment for which a positioning system is to be provided. Alternatively or additionally, a non-GNSS based radio positioning system may make use of existing radio nodes like WLAN access points or cellular network nodes as positioning support radio nodes.
In the subsequent training stage, training data are collected. The training data may be collected in the form of radio fingerprints. A radio fingerprint may indicate an estimated observation position and a set of radio signal observation results captured when scanning for radio signals at the observation position.
The observation position may for example be a GNSS satellite signal based position. However, when collecting radio fingerprints inside a building in the training stage, it is often not possible to determine a GNSS satellite signal based position.
The training may be a continuous background process, in which mobile devices of a large number of consumers are continuously reporting collected radio fingerprints to a positioning server. Consumers may consent to a participation in such a radio fingerprint collection, if their device is equipped with the needed functionality. This approach is also referred to as crowd-sourcing. Since crow-sourcing is a background process that does not directly benefit the device user, it is desirable that the crowd-sourcing process only consumes limited resources of the device.
Alternatively or additionally, mobile devices may be used for collecting radio fingerprints in a systematic manner. Collected radio fingerprints may be uploaded to the positioning server, where algorithms may be run to generate and/or update radio maps for positioning purposes.
In the positioning stage, a mobile device may estimate its current position based on own measurements taken from the radio interface and on radio map that is available from the training stage.

Updating a radio map based on a sequence of radio fingerprint


A method for automatic vehicle testing, inspection and valuation for a manual front wheel drive vehicle. The method includes connecting a probe for the emission test to the exhaust pipe and connecting the rpm cable to the cigarette lighter before starting the test. The testing begins by driving in so that the front wheels of the vehicle enter the VCT rollers, running the vehicle to 60 km/h and then shifting to 3rd gear. The method also includes accelerating to maximum rpm before shifting to neutral and waiting until the vehicle speed drops back to 60 km/h and after 3 seconds applying the brakes to stop. Then the vehicle is advanced until the rear wheels engage the VCT rollers and after 3 seconds the rollers start rolling up to 90 km/h. The foot brake is pumped systematically until the speed drops to 20 km/h, and then the parking brake is operated to stop. The overall vehicle is evaluated relative to the model and year of the vehicle.

Modern vehicles are high-performance machines. Yet, in many cases the testing systems used to determine their annual roadworthiness are inadequate. Conventional vehicle testing systems operate according to inappropriate specifications. This creates serious problems as well as a false sense of safety on the road. Existing conventional testing equipment does not meet European Economic Community (EEC) requirements, since its maximum broke testing speed is only six (6) km/h. EEC standards 71/320/EEC, 88/194/EEC and 92/54/EEC relating to road-worthiness of brake systems, state that all vehicles should be tested at road speeds of 80 to 120 km/h. This equipment was designed to test vehicles in static mode or a maximum of 5 km/h. Separate units check each safety system in a static mode. Results are subject to a tester's judgment.
Unsuitable vehicle testing by current testing methods were developed years ago and have not been adapted to modern high-performance vehicles and much greater traffic congestion. The emission-speed equation and regulations for vehicle emission are for more severe today. Computerized and electronic systems embedded in modern vehicles can monitor safety systems and control gas emissions according to road speed. It is therefore futile to run such tests at minimal speed 6 km/h.
Manufacturer's produce vehicles to very high safety and emission standards. Those vehicles are then driven at high speeds for tens or hundreds of thousands of kilometers. Testing systems are required to ensure that they continue to meet manufacturer's parameters after the vehicles are bought.
In the western world there are more vehicles produced every year than babies. With so many cars on the road, it is very hard to adequately check all mechanical conditions at a reasonable throughput rate. Stolen vehicles and false licenses are a major problem all over the world, with the numbers constantly increasing. This calls for changes in the existing vehicle licensing and administration systems and a strong database link to vehicle testing centers.
Many vital criteria cannot be adequately considered unless a vehicle is tested at simulated road speeds of 80-150 km/h:                How do brakes behave in emergency conditions?        How does braking affect the vehicle's steering at high speeds, as well as vehicle direction influenced by wheel deviation?        What happens when brake friction materials overheat at high speeds during a descent?        Does the speedometer count as o safety element?        Are gas quantities expelled at high velocity higher and more toxic than those at low velocity?        To what extent is wheel geometry influenced by high velocity, acceleration and deceleration?            What happens when there is excessive play in the suspension system?            How does the retarder react in road conditions?            What happens to the vehicle's direction at high speeds when the vehicle's thrust line does not coincide with the chassis centerline?            Defects in any of a vehicle's major systems can be dangerous and fatal. They need to be inspected in a fast, accurate and unbiased manner. Existing testing systems cannot do this.
Furthermore, all prior reports to the customer are non-graphical, black and white and scarce on detail, providing only pass/fail results and one or two sentences on each subsystem.
Many prior art Web sites provide choices of vehicles to be made from pictures of the vehicles, but do not provide detailed, graphical information. These sites typically provide make and model, price and location.
Prior art testing systems only provide testing of stationary vehicles for horsepower.
Thus it would be desirable to provide a user-friendly vehicle testing and evaluation system wherein vehicles are inspected in a fast, accurate and unbiased manner, thereby enabling and providing an accurate valuation.

System and a method for vehicle testing and resulting valuation


An electrostatic protection circuit includes a trigger circuit connected between a first and second power source line. The trigger circuit outputs a trigger signal in response to a voltage difference between the power source lines, such as occurs when an electrostatic discharge is received along the power source lines. A buffer circuit in the protection circuit outputs a drive signal in response to the trigger signal. A switch circuit is connected between the first and second power source lines and controls the ON/OFF conduction state between the power source lines in response to the drive signal. A control circuit supplies a control signal to the switch circuit after the drive signal causes the switch circuit to switch to the ON conduction state. The control signal maintains the switch in the ON conduction state while the voltage difference between power source lines exceeds a predetermined value.

Conventionally, various circuits for protecting against an Electrostatic Discharge (ESD) have been proposed. As used herein, ESD means a discharge of electricity from a person or a machine charged with electricity to a semiconductor device or a discharge of electricity from a semiconductor device charged with electricity to a ground potential or the like.
When an ESD is received by a semiconductor device, an electric charge flows into the semiconductor device from terminals of the semiconductor device, and this electric charge generates a high voltage in the semiconductor device which may cause an insulation breakdown in an internal element of the semiconductor device and/or failure of the semiconductor device.
A typical example of an electrostatic protection circuit is an RCT (RC Triggered) MOS circuit. The RCT electrostatic protection circuit includes a trigger circuit, which includes a resistor and a capacitor connected in series between power source terminals, and a MOS transistor is driven using a voltage from a connection point (node) between the resistor and the capacitor as a trigger signal. The MOS transistor is switched to an ON state for discharging the electrostatic charge according to a time constant of the trigger circuit. That is, once the voltage at the connection node exceeds a threshold voltage of the MOS transistor, the MOS transistor is switched to a conductive state. The trigger signal maintains the MOS transistor in a conductive state while the capacitor remains charged above the threshold level of the MOS transistor. Hence, it is necessary to set the time constant of the trigger circuit such that an ESD surge can be sufficiently discharged. However, when the time constant becomes large, the trigger circuit will responds to fluctuations in the power supply voltage during normal operation of the internal circuit and hence, there is a possibility that the protective MOS transistor is erroneously operated when an ESD surge is not generated. When the MOS transistor is erroneously operated the power source voltage does not sufficiently rise to an intended value thus causing an operation failure in the internal circuit. Further, when the time constant is set such that that the protective MOS transistor is held in an ON state for a long time, there exists a possibility that the MOS transistor will break down.


Disclosed is an automated data storage library in which a library accessor, arranged for accessing data recording media stored in storage bins, may also exchange electronic components of the library. The media are provided with access engagement surfaces for engagement by the library accessor(s). A plurality of removable mounts, having access engagement surfaces matching the data recording media access engagement surfaces, are provided for individually mounting electronic components, such as data storage drives and communication jumpers. Component slots are provided in the library for individually supporting the removable mounts, and mating low insertion force connectors are provided respectively on the removable mounts and ones of the component slots for removably connecting the electronic components to the library. Thus, a library accessor may engage selected removable mounts to change communication jumper locations and may change the data storage drives between library controllers, and replace a failed RAID data storage drive with a spare drive. Actuators may be operated by a library accessor to release and engage the low insertion force connectors to effectively provide zero insertion force connections.

Automated data storage libraries are known for providing cost effective access to large quantities of stored data. Generally, automated data storage libraries include a large number of storage bins in each of which is stored a portable data recording medium. The typical portable data recording medium is a tape cartridge or an optical cartridge. An accessor or accessors typically accesses the data recording media from the storage bins and delivers the accessed media to a read/write recording device for reading and/or writing data on the accessed media. Suitable electronics, such as a library controller, both operates the accessors and transmits and/or receives data between an attached on-line host computer system and the read/write recording devices. A component of each library controller is often one or more data storage drives which contain the program for operating the library and tables for tracking the data stored in the portable data recording media and the bins in which the media are stored.
In a conventional automated data storage library, the storage bins are arranged in a planar orthogonal arrangement forming a "wall" of storage bins for holding data recording media. The plane may be a flat plane, or may be a cylindrical plane. To double the storage capacity, two "walls" of storage bins may be provided on either side of the accessors.
A number of different companies manufacture automated data storage libraries today, each model displaying various different features. Some of the automated data storage libraries have dual or multiple accessors to provide a level of redundancy, and some have dual library controllers to control the accessors, also providing a level of redundancy. One example is the dual accessor model IBM 3494 Data Storage Library. The redundancy may be for enhancing the access speeds, or to provide continuous operation in the event of a failure, or both. In some instances, complex electronic connections are made between the various accessors and various library controllers so that an electronic change can be made to alter the connections between the accessors and library controllers, for example, in the event an accessor fails or in the event a library controller fails.
As described above, automated data storage libraries provide a cost effective means of storing data. Such libraries typically come in a wide range of total cost, the higher cost systems typically providing the higher degree of redundancy. It would be advantageous in the lower cost environment to be able to provide a high degree of redundancy without the complex electronic connections.
Automated data storage library read/write recording devices may also fail and have to be replaced manually by service personnel and, if not replaced immediately, the library will run degraded until replaced.
Some automated data storage libraries have large cache memories for temporarily storing the data to be written or that has been read from the data recording media. One type of cache memory in use today is a plurality of data storage drives, such as magnetic disk drives, arranged in a RAID configuration. A RAID is a "redundant array of inexpensive disk drives" and stores data and parity amongst the disk drives in such a manner that, should one disk drive fail, the remainder may continue to operate without loss of any of the data. One example is the IBM 3494model B16 Virtual Tape Server. The RAID configuration does operate at a significantly slower speed with one failed disk drive. Thus, it would be helpful to be able to replace the failed drive as soon as possible. The replacement of the failed drive is typically done manually, in that service personnel will bring a similar disk drive to the RAID array and manually disconnect the failed drive and insert the similar disk drive. A high cost replacement procedure is to provide a "hot spare" drive, which is without data and which has complex electronic connections that allow the hot spare drive to be switched electronically into the RAID so as to assume the responsibility of the failed drive and improve performance immediately.

Automated data storage library component exchange using media accessor

International Business Machines Corporation


A water pump for feeding water under the action of centrifugal force created by rotation of an impeller disposed within a pump case includes a cooling water discharge port formed at a position offset in the axial direction of the pump from the outer peripheral portion of the impeller. A flow path structure having a projecting portion for guiding cooling water from the outer peripheral portion of the impeller up to the discharge port is intended to provide a flow path structure capable of smoothing the flow of cooling water, thereby increasing the amount of cooling water discharged and improving the pumping performance.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a water pump, and in particular, to a water pump used in the cooling system of an internal combustion engine on a vehicle.
2. Description of the Background Art
Various water pumps are known in which a cooling water discharge port is formed in the outer peripheral portion of an impeller adapted to rotate within a pump case. For example, in Japanese Utility Model Laid Open No. 60095/88, cooling water which is fed to the outer peripheral portion of the impeller by virtue of centrifugal force created by rotation of the impeller is discharged directly from the discharge port.
However, certain vehicle body layouts may not permit formation of the discharge port at the outer peripheral portion of the impeller. Therefore, the discharge port must be formed at a position offset in the axial direction of the pump from the outer peripheral portion of the impeller. An example of such a case is shown in FIG. 9.
FIG. 9 is a vertical sectional view of a water pump 101. The water pump 101 has a pump case including a pump body 102 and a pump cover 103.
The pump body 102 has a cylindrical portion 102a which supports a pump shaft 106 rotatably through a bearing 105. A bowl-like portion 102b is expanded radially from an end of the cylindrical portion 102a so as to cover about half of an impeller 107 which is fitted on an end portion of the pump shaft 106.
The pump cover 103 is brought into abutment with the bowl-like portion 102b of the pump body 102 through mating surfaces of the two to cover the remaining half of the impeller 107. The pump cover 103 has a suction port 103a formed toward the center of the impeller 107, and a discharge port 103b formed at a position offset in the axial direction of the pump from the outer peripheral portion of the impeller 107.
When the pump shaft 106 is rotated by operation of an internal combustion engine (not shown), the impeller 107 rotates together with the pump shaft 106, whereby cooling water is sucked into the central portion of the impeller 107 through the suction port 103a. The cooling water is then directed to the outer peripheral portion of the impeller 107 by. virtue of centrifugal force generated due to rotation of the impeller 107. The cooling water then passes through a passageway 108 which is bent approximately at a right angle. Thereafter, the cooling water travels to the discharge port 103b located at the offset position, and is then discharged.
In the conventional water pump where the discharge port is located at a position offset in the axial direction of the pump from the outer peripheral portion of the impeller, as mentioned above, the passageway 108 causes the flow of cooling water to bend at a right angle in the area from the outer peripheral portion of the impeller 107 up to the discharge port 103b. Consequently, the cooling water directed to the outer peripheral portion of the impeller 107 by the centrifugal force of the impeller is bent abruptly in the axial direction of the pump, so that the flow in the passageway 108 is disturbed and is not smoothly transported to the discharge port 103b.


A side panel safety apparatus for a bed, and a related method comprises: a horizontal stabilizer for placement at least partially underneath a mattress of said bed; and a vertically-extending panel attached substantially perpendicularly thereto; wherein: placement of said horizontal stabilizer at least partially underneath said mattress secures said vertically-extending panel in a substantially-vertical orientation along a side of said bed. One embodiment further comprises a cover covering both said mattress and said horizontal stabilizer. Another embodiment comprises the foregoing side panel safety apparatus in combination with a safety rail of said bed, further comprising: said safety rail; wherein: said horizontal stabilizer blocks a person in said bed from moving a part of said person's body into contact with said safety rail such that said body part becomes entrapped from said contact. Another embodiment comprises: said vertically-extending panel comprising at least two movable vertical sections; said horizontal stabilizer comprising at least two horizontal stabilization sections, each said horizontal stabilization section attached substantially perpendicularly to one of said movable vertical sections; and a hinge assembly between two adjacent said movable vertical sections enabling said adjacent movable vertical sections to be rotated relative to one another within a vertical plane of said movable vertical sections.

Patients in hospital or long-term care facilities often reside in beds disposed between safety rails. Although the use of these safety rails provides some degree of protection against the risk of the patient falling off the bed, these safety rails present their own safety concerns. Patients, especially elderly or "developmentally disabled" patients, frequently injure themselves by trapping their heads, arms, legs, or other body parts between the safety rails and the mattress. In extreme cases, deaths have also occurred due to these entrapments.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bed assembly 63 comprised of a mattress 12 and foundation 14, according to the prior art.
Disposed on bed assembly 63 are Bed Safety Rail (BSR) assemblies 48 and 49 respectively, shown in the raised or upper operating position. BSR 48/49 are held in place by two adjustable lateral supports 50 and 51 respectively. Lateral supports 50/51 extend at least the width of mattress 12 and are disposed between mattress 12 and foundation 14. In the lowered or down configuration, the BSR 48/49 are irrelevant to patient safety as the patient, not shown, is generally out of bed when the BSR 48/49 are in this configuration. These prior art BSR assemblies are generally manufactured of metal but could be made of any material and be in any configuration or shape of those BSR assemblies currently available on the open market.
Referring to FIG. 1, the length of BSR assemblies 48/49 respectively, is typically not coextensive with the length of mattress 12. In one embodiment, the differences between these lengths 53, 54, 53a and 54a respectively are from about 2 to 24 inches. As is apparent, these differences create inherent "gaps" that pose a substantial risk to the patient, becoming entrapped between either the headboard 65 or the footboard 66 and the BSR 48/49.
FIG. 2 depicts an end view of the prior art bed assembly 63 of FIG. 1, comprised of mattress 12 (hidden from view), foundation 14 (hidden from view), BSR 48/49, lateral supports 50 (partially shown) and 51 (not shown), headboard 65 (partially obstructed) and footboard 66.
Referring to FIG. 2, inherent gaps 55 and 55a are created between mattress 12 and BSR 48/49. In one embodiment, the reason for this gap is the additional space required to raise and lower BSR 48/49 in their normal function. In this illustration, gap 55/55a is from about 1–3 inches. Another reason for gap 55/55a is the limited adjustment capabilities of supports 50/51.
These "gaps" pose a substantial risk to the patient, becoming entrapped between the mattress 12 and the BSR 48/49.
Degrees and severity of entrapment can vary from patient to patient depending on several factors. These factors include but are not limited to height, weight, cognitive function, and level of ambulatory ability.
Entrapment can involve numerous body parts including but not limited to hands, feet, arms, legs, torso, neck, or head.
Injuries sustained also vary according to the type and length of entrapment. Bruising, sprains and breaks would result from more minor events. More serious injuries up to and including, but not limited to death can also occur in cases of prolonged events involving choking or suffocating entrapments.
These safety concerns have given rise to a multiplicity of lawsuits against hospitals and long-term care facilities. Thus, within the past ten years, the Long Island, N.Y. Developmental Disabilities Service Office has been sued at least twice for injuries and or deaths resulting from a patient's entrapment with a safety rail assembly.
In one care facility, located in Schenectady, N.Y., the management of such facility has discontinued the use of safety rail assemblies in some cases, and now has those patients sleeping on mattresses that have been placed upon the floor. As is apparent, this alternative arrangement presents its own set of problems.
It is therefore an object of this invention to eliminate or greatly reduce the risk of entrapments and injuries sustained therefrom. Preferably, the invention, through proper implementation and monitoring, will eliminate the need for BSR entirely in some cases, or substantially limit the need for their use in others.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a mattress assembly that can be used with or without existing safety rails and which will minimize the likelihood of patient entrapment that exists with the prior art assemblies.
It is a further object of this invention to provide a method and apparatus for retrofitting existing beds so as to eliminate the safety problems set forth above, without having to replace the entire bed unit.
This and other objects of the invention will be described more fully below.


There is disclosed a circuit for stabilizing the bias of a paging receiver. An oscillation control signal of first period is generated at the time when a voltage source is connected to the RF components. An oscillation means generates a signal of the center frequency of a received modulated signal in response to the oscillation control signal. A demodulation means demodulates the signal of the center frequency so as to generate a signal of second voltage that is received by a waveform reshaping means to stabilize the bias into the level of the second voltage. The RF receiver converts the received RF modulated signal into a signal offset by a frequency deviation from the center frequency during second period after the termination of the first period. The demodulation means generates a demodulated signal of first or third voltage according to the logical state of the received modulated signal. The waveform reshaping means compares the received demodulated signal with the bias so as to generate a digital signal of a constant duty ratio.

The present invention relates to a paging receiver, and more particularly a circuit for receiving a message signal by stabilizing the bias of the paging receiver when periodically controlling a voltage source.
Generally, the paging receiver receives a radio frequency signal (hereinafter referred to as RF signal) transmitted by a paging system, converts the RF signal into an intermediate frequency signal that is demodulated into the original digital data. The demodulated signal is an analog signal shaped into a digital waveform based on a reference signal and applied to a controller. The controller identifies the digital data as self-data, then generates a calling sound signal through the speaker.
Such paging receiver makes use of a small DC battery, and thus power consumption should be minimized so as to lengthen the life span of the battery. To this end, the power supplying of the RF components is controlled so as to reduce the power consumption of the battery. The RF components include a RF receiver, a demodulator and a waveform shaping circuit which are the main cause of most power consumption.
The RF signal transmitted by the paging system is of a given data form. Assuming the RF signal is in the form of POCSAG codes, the signal comprises a preamble part, word sync and frame data. The controller periodically supplies the power to the RF components in order to search for the preamble part (Preamble Search Mode). If the preamble part is detected, the controller keeps on supplying the power and searches for the word sync. Once the word sync is detected, the controller stops supplying the power, thereafter resupplying the power in the self-frame period (Address Search Mode).
However, in such a conventional paging receiver, since all the RF components should be supplied with the power in the preamble search mode, there occurs a large power consumption. The reason is that the power should be supplied to the RF components before receiving the substantial message data, so as to establish a reference signal voltage.
In view of the fact above, there is disclosed an apparatus for saving the power by sequentially supplying the power to the RF components in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,479,261 issued to Japanese Nippon Electric Co., Ltd. on Oct. 23, 1984, as shown in FIGS. 1-3 attached to the present application. In this case, a voltage source control signal with J period through the first and second timers 34 and 35 is provided by the controller 13. The first and second switch circuits 16 and 17 are sequentially switched on in response to the voltage source control signal so as to supply the power of the battery 15 to the waveform reshaping circuit 12 and the receiver 11.
Specifically, if the first timer 34 generates a voltage source control signal as shown in FIG. 3B at a time point D1, the first switch circuit 16 switches on to apply the power to the waveform reshaping circuit 12. Then the output voltage of the low pass filter 21 of the waveform reshaping circuit 12 as showing in FIG. 2 is supplied as the reference signal to the capacitor 24 connected in parallel to the reference terminal (-) of the voltage comparator 25. Thereafter, if the second timer 35 generates a voltage source control signal as shown in FIG. 3C with a J period at a time point D2, the second switch circuit 17 switches on to supply the power to the receiver 11 for enabling conversion and demodulating the RF signal received through the antenna 10. Thus the power supplying of the waveform reshaping circuit 12 and the receiver 11 are controlled by the J period, thereby reducing the power consumption of the receiver 11.
In such controlling of the power, the reference voltage charged in the capacitor 24 at a time point D2 when the receiver 11 is in a reception mode does not effectively serve to determine the logical state of the data output from the receiver 11. The reason is that if the receiver 11 receives the RF signal after the time point D2, the level of the reference voltage is increased by the resistor 23 and the capacitor 24 according to the logical state of the received data. And at the time point D3, the reference voltage is changed to the average voltage of the substantial data.
Thus the charged voltage of the capacitor 24 that serves as the reference signal is delayed by J and K periods after generation of the voltage source control signal, thereby stabilizing the bias voltage. Therefore the data received in the K period suffers a duty change by the unstable reference voltage, so that there may occur data receiving error. In order to prevent such error the reference voltage must be stabilized by sequentially driving the first and second switch circuits 16 and 17 prior to the reception of data. Such stabilizing apparatus is disclosed in the U.S. Pat. No. 4,631,737 issued to the Motorola Company of the U.S.A. on Dec. 23, 1986.
This bias stabilizing apparatus is briefly described with reference to FIGS. 4-7. The RF signal received through the antenna 40 is converted and demodulated in the receiver 41. The demodulated signal output from the receiver 41 has a voltage corresponding to its logical state, and is applied to a comparing terminal of a limiter 44. The demodulated signal is also applied to a peak detector 45 and a valley detector 47. The peak detector holds the peak value of the received data as shown in FIG. 7B, while the valley detector 47 holds the valley value of the received data as shown in FIG. 7C. The peak and valley values are averaged and then applied to the limiter as a reference voltage. Thus, the limiter 44 receives as the reference signal the voltage averaged according to the logical state of the received data, and therefore determines the logical state of the demodulated signal input through the comparing terminal, and then applies the output to the controller.
FIGS. 5 and 6 are respectively the circuits of the peak and valley detectors. When detecting the peak and valley values, there occurs a delayed time caused by each component. As shown in FIG. 7, d1-d3 period is a delayed time period which is representative of a charging time of the capacitor 56. Only by charging the capacitor 56 are operated the transistors 54 and 76 that are respectively of static current sources of the peak and valley detectors 45 and 47. After the time point d3, there is needed the period d3-d4 in order to charge the capacitor 60 with the peak value and to discharge it to the valley value. Consequently it is the time point d4 when the limiter 44 works to determine the data with the substantially stabilized bias.
Such bias stabilizing apparatus, using the average of the peak and valley values of the received data, needs all the RF components (RF receiver, demodulator, waveform reshaping circuit) being provided with the voltage source, thus increasing the power consumption.

Circuit for stabilizing the bias of a paging receiver with power saving functions