A system and method for synchronizing and selectively addressing multiple receivers in a wireless communication system includes a spread spectrum transmitter and one or more spread spectrum receivers. The transmitter transmits a signal having an observable parameter which is pseudo-randomly varied. The receiver measures the relative times between recurrences of a selected value of the observable parameter being pseudo-randomly varied, and determines an initial state of the transmitter based upon the measured relative times. The receiver then synchronizes itself to the estimated current state of the transmitter using the determined initial state as a starting reference. In a frequency hopping embodiment, the spread spectrum transmitter comprises a feedback shift register, and transmits a sequence of pseudo-randomly hopped frequencies determined by the shift register. A receiver is tuned to one of the hopping frequencies, measures the relative times of arrival between consecutive transmissions, and determines the initial code word in the transmitter feedback shift register from the measured relative times of arrival by constructing and solving a set of linear equations. The receiver then matches comprises its feedback shift register to the initial code word, adjusted by an amount of time elapsed during the synchronization process. Similar techniques may also be applied both to direct sequence spread spectrum communication systems.

1) Field of the Invention
The field of the present invention relates to wireless communication systems and, more particularly, to techniques for synchronizing and selectively addressing multiple receivers in a wireless, spread-spectrum communication system.
2) Background
Spread spectrum communication, a technique for transmitting and receiving signal over a bandwidth wider than the data to be transmitted, has in recent years become widely for both military and commercial applications. Its advantages include, for example, resistance to interference, low power density (and hence minimal creation of interference) over the transmission frequency band, and security of communications.
The two most common spread spectrum communication techniques are generally referred to as direct sequence spread spectrum (DSSS) communication and frequency hopping spread spectrum (FHSS) communication.
Direct sequence spread spectrum communication involves direct sequence modulation of a carrier signal, which is a known technique for generating wide-band, low power density signals which have statistical properties similar to random noise. In a direct sequence spread spectrum communication system, the data to be transmitted is generally encoded in some fashion, in a manner which causes the signal to be "spread" over a broader frequency range and also typically causes the signal power density to decrease as the frequency bandwidth is spread. In a common method of direct-sequence spread spectrum modulation, a pseudo-random chip sequence (also called a pseudo-noise code sequence or a PN code sequence) is used to encode data which is then placed on a carrier waveform. The chipping rate of the pseudo-random sequence is usually much higher than the data rate. The resulting encoded signal is generally spread across a bandwidth exceeding the bandwidth necessary to transmit the data, hence the term "spread spectrum".
At the receiver, the signal is decoded, which causes it to be "despread" and allows the original data to be recovered. The receiver produces a correlated signal in response to the received spread spectrum signal when it is able to match the chip sequence to a sufficient degree. To do so, the receiver generates the same pseudo-random chip sequence locally, synchronizes its chip sequence to the received chip sequence, and tracks the signal by maintaining synchronization during transmission and reception of data.
Frequency hopping spread spectrum communication also involves a pseudo-random (i.e., spreading) code, but the code is used to select a series of frequencies rather than as information for directly modulating a carrier, as is generally done in direct sequence spread spectrum communication. In a very broad aspect, frequency hopping spread spectrum communication may be viewed as a type of frequency shift keying, but with many more frequency choices which are selected by use of the spreading code. In what is known as "fast" frequency hopping, a number of frequency changes or "hops" are carried out during the time period of sending one or more data symbols—e.g., a set of data bits—wherein the number of frequency changes or hops is greater than the number of data symbols to be transmitted. In "slow" frequency hopping, on the other hand, one or more data symbols is transmitted during each hopping interval.
In one type of frequency hopping spread spectrum communication, the frequency hopping transmitter includes a code generator and a rapid-response frequency synthesizer capable of responding to the coded output from the code generator. During each frequency hopping interval, a set of selected code bits are used to determine which frequency will be transmitted. Data may be transmitted in any way available to other communication systems, and in either analog or digital form. For example, a number of discrete data bits may be transmitted during each frequency hopping interval. Alternatively, a single data bit may be transmitted over a large number of frequency hopping intervals.
A frequency hopping receiver, like the transmitter, also typically includes a code generator and rapid-response frequency synthesizer. The received frequency hopping signal is then mixed with a locally generated replica of the transmitted signal (which may be offset by a fixed intermediate frequency) such that modulation of the received signal and the locally generated replica produces a constant difference frequency when the transmitter and receiver are in synchronism. Once the spread spectrum modulation is removed, the de-hopped signal is then processed to demodulate the transmitted information.
Both direct sequence and frequency hopping spread spectrum communication techniques may be used in the formation of a multiple access communication system. Distinct spreading codes can be used to distinguish transmissions, thereby allowing multiple simultaneous communication. Different users within a wireless communication system may, using distinct spreading codes, thereby transmit simultaneously over the same frequency without necessarily interfering with one another, particularly if the codes in use are selected to be orthogonal with respect to one another. A multiple-access communication system in which transmissions are distinguished according to the code used to encode the transmission is sometimes referred to as a code division multiple access (CDMA) communication system, which may be either a direct sequence or a frequency hopping spread spectrum system.
In either a frequency hopping or direct sequence spread spectrum communication system, the requirement of synchronization by the receiver has generally been a problem in the art. This requirement generally increases the difficulty of initially acquiring a spread spectrum signal, especially in a noisy environment, and also can cause difficulty in tracking and/or maintaining spread spectrum communication after established. Synchronization and tracking requirements often translate into additional circuit complexity at the receiver and increased cost, and may impose operational constraints on the communication system. For example, the extra time required to achieve synchronization can degrade the efficiency of the communication system, and may be detrimental in systems requiring very rapid establishment of a communication link.
In a frequency hopping system, in the absence of synchronization, the receiver must monitor all possible frequencies due to the otherwise unpredictable nature of the frequency hopped signal, which forces the receiver to employ a large number of synthesizers or even an array of distinct receivers. For example, the receiver may need to sample all of the possible frequency inputs at once, and then to select the channel with the largest signal in a given frequency hopping interval as the correct one. In order to monitor each possible frequency, the received signal is envelope detected and then band-pass filtered at each of the possible frequencies, with the largest of the filtered signals during a frequency hopping interval being deemed the transmitted frequency at that instant. This type of receiver design, however, has the drawback of requiring a potentially large number of band pass filters, one filter for each possible frequency.
If proper synchronization is achieved, on the other hand, it is possible to use a single (typically relatively high speed) frequency synthesizer to demodulate the incoming frequency hopped signal.
One technique for attempting to acquire synchronization of a frequency hopped signal is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,148,020. According to the technique disclosed therein, a frequency hopping receiver repeatedly mixes a partial code string which is part of the spreading code sequence for frequency hopping with the received signal. The receiver then attempts to synchronize by judging the detection level of a predetermined frequency. When the partial code string to be mixed coincides with part of the original code sequence, the detection level is presumed to become sufficiently large such that the receiver is judged to be in synchronization with the transmitter.
An alternative to the above-referenced technique is to use a preamble to attempt to synchronize a frequency hopping receiver. Such a technique is disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 6,084,905. As described therein, a frequency hopping transmitter transmits a continuous wave in a first field of a preamble field of a communication frame, then transmits a carrier which is modulated with a symbol timing signal in a second field in the preamble field, followed by transmission information. A timing recovery circuit in the receiver uses the preamble to help establish synchronization. In the particular system described in the foregoing patent, a synchronous frame is broadcast as a reference for each frequency hopping equipment in the communication system.
Besides difficulties in achieving synchronization in spread spectrum systems, it can also be challenging, particularly in multiple access communication systems, for a receiver to be aware of when a transmitter is attempting to transmit information to it. This can be particularly difficult in military and other applications in which secrecy is paramount.
In various situations it can be advantageous for a transmitter to be able to selectively transmit a broadcast transmission to only one or a few receivers from many possible receivers, and to exclude from reception those receivers to which the communication is not directed. However, few, if any, techniques exist for such selective broadcast. No known technique exists for selectively broadcasting a transmission only to one or a specified group of receivers from many possible receivers, without at least requiring participation of the receivers in the excluded group.
It would therefore be advantageous to provide a communication technique that provides improved synchronization and the capability of selectively addressing receivers, and which overcomes the drawbacks, disadvantages or limitations of conventional techniques.

Method and system for synchronizing and selectively addressing multiple receivers in a wireless, spread spectrum communication system


Embodiments of the invention are directed to an unmanned air vehicle (UAV) system and a small unmanned air vehicle (SUAV) system for deploying and towing a sensor in a tow medium, and to methods related thereto. A UAV-sensor towing package comprises a fixed-wing UAV including a control and signal processing platform, a long range data RF link operably connected to the control and signal processing platform, a UAV wireless data link operably connected to the control and signal processing platform, and a tow body deployment system operably connected to the control and signal processing platform; a tow line attached at an end thereof to the UAV; a tow body attached to another end of the tow line; and a communications link including a transmitter/receiver component coupled to the tow line, and a T/R wireless data transmission link (194) operably connected with the transmitter/receiver component and the UAV wireless data link.

1. Field of the Invention
Embodiments of the invention are generally directed to the field of remote sensing and surveillance. More particularly, embodiments of the invention are directed to an unmanned air vehicle (UAV) system and a small unmanned air vehicle (SUAV) system for deploying and towing a sensor in a tow medium, and to methods related thereto.
2. Description of Related Art
Remote sensing and surveillance have many applications. The particular field of applications addressed by the embodiments of the invention relate to the towing of a tethered sensor system (tow body) through an atmospheric or an underwater tow medium by a tow vehicle. In a typical example, an active or passive SONAR-based sensor is attached to a tow line that may be attached to a water surface vessel. The sensor is dragged through the water to sense submerged and/or waterborne objects or to map the floor of the water body, for example. An exemplary tactical application of such sensing is tracking a submerged submarine. In this scenario, however, the use of a waterborne tow vessel becomes impractical. Although a ship has the power and thrust capacity to tow a submerged tow body at a desired speed and general direction, the resources and energy consumption are costly. Furthermore, the intended target will not likely be anywhere near the surface vessel, and the surface vessel will not be able to travel to the intended surveillance location in a timely manner.
To overcome these and other challenges, rotary winged aircraft have been typically employed as tow vehicles. Rotary winged aircraft are advantageous in that they can be dispatched relatively quickly and, by their nature, can hover for accurate deployment of a tow body. In addition, they are particularly suited to the relatively static towing constraints of dipped or submerged sensors, as well as those of, e.g., chemical-biological-radiological-nuclear (CBRN) sensors or other tactical atmospheric or local environment sensors.
Disadvantageously, however, rotary winged aircraft normally used with the above-mentioned sensor deployment and towing maneuvers have relatively limited range, endurance and payload capacity compared to a fixed wing aircraft such as an autonomous unmanned air vehicle (UAV) or a small autonomous unmanned air vehicle (SUAV), for instance.
In contrast to rotary winged aircraft, fixed wing aircraft generally require continuous and relatively high airspeeds to operate without stalling and ultimately crashing. Thus fixed wing aircraft are not normally associated with the static towing maneuvers and deployment requirements of local surveillance sensors, CBRN sensors, submerged SONAR tow bodies and the like.
The inventors have recognized, however, the many advantages of using a UAV or an SUAV as the tow vehicle for the types of tow bodies and sensor applications referred to above. These advantages include, but are not limited to, low cost, high endurance, quick dispatch, large payload capacity, long persistence sensing, long range delivery and mission adaptability. There is thus a recognized need for UAV and/or SUAV systems for deploying and towing air or water-based sensors flown in a manner to maintain airspeeds necessary for continuous flight while flexibly managing tow position and tow velocities relative to the earth's surface.
These advantages and benefits as well as others will become more evident to persons skilled in the art in view of the following description and drawings.

Small unmanned air vehicle system for deploying and towing a sensor in a tow medium and methods related thereto


A technique for building a callgraph for a software program that includes multiple function entry points using dynamic instrumentation. In one example embodiment, this is achieved by inserting function count probe code at each function entry point of each multiple entry function having multiple function entry points in the software program. Inter-entry point arc probe code is then inserted substantially before each arc source address of an arc. A performance analysis tool is then used to collect data resulting from execution of the software program including the function count probe code and the inter-entry point arc probe code and to obtain an actual function count value for each multiple entry function. A callgraph is then built using the obtained actual function count values.

Code instrumentation is a method for analyzing and evaluating program code performance. In one approach to code instrumentation, new instructions (or probe code) are added to the program, and, consequently, the original code in the program is changed and/or relocated. Some examples of probe code include adding values to a register, moving the content of one register to another register, moving the address of some data to some registers, etc. The changed and/or relocated code is referred to as instrumented code or, more generally, as an instrumented process. For purposes of the present discussion, instrumented code is one type of dynamically generated code. Although the following discussion explicitly recites and discusses code instrumentation, such discussion and examples are for illustration only. That is, the following discussion also applies to various other types of dynamically generated code.
One specific type of code instrumentation is referred to as dynamic binary instrumentation. Dynamic binary instrumentation allows program instructions to be changed on-the-fly. Measurements such as basic-block coverage and function invocation counting can be accurately determined using dynamic binary instrumentation. In some instances, dynamic binary instrumentation, as opposed to static instrumentation, is performed at program run-time and only instruments those parts of an executable that are actually executed. This minimizes the overhead imposed by the instrumentation process itself. Furthermore, performance analysis tools based on dynamic binary instrumentation require no special preparation of an executable such as, for example, a modified build or link process.
A typical prior art code instrumentation process implements dynamic binary instrumentation and analysis by compiling the source code of a target application (e.g., the application being analyzed) with a specific instrumentation option enabled. This option results in the application code being compiled and instrumented with probe code to facilitate analysis. The probe code is a sequence of instructions used to collect different metrics of the profiled application code. When the resulting instrumented application code is executed, profile data generated by the inserted probe code is collected in a file for later analysis. This instrumentation process does not require any prior modification to the application code. The profile data is then examined and used to create reports depicting the execution flow of the application code.
Current dynamic profiling tools combine dynamic binary instrumentation and periodic sampling to produce a callgraph for application code which has not been compiled/linked with any special options. The callgraph consists of entries for associated functions sorted according to the total time of their descendants and themselves. Every entry in the callgraph is accompanied by data that shows the number of times a function was called by its associated parent(s) and the number of times the function called its associated children.
Generally, to compile such data in the callgraph during the code execution the instrumentation process collects information such as sample counts, arc counts, and function counts. The sample counts include collecting instruction pointer samples, which are also referred to as a program counter samples, at regular intervals during the code execution of a profiled application. These instruction pointer samples are then processed to obtain an estimate of the amount of time taken at different functions during the code execution.
The arc count consists of a source address, a target address and a count representing the number of times this arc was executed. Only those arcs for which the target addresses form function entry points are considered to collect arc count values. The collected arc count values are then processed to determine the parents (callers) and children (callees) for every function in the profiled application code.
The function count consists of a function start address and a count value. The count value represents the number of times the function was executed in the profiled application code. In the current instrumentation process the callgraph is generated using static instrumentation and the function count for a function is not collected using the probe code, but is calculated by adding up the counts of all the call arcs for which this function formed the target. This type of callgraph generation according to the current instrumentation process is error prone since if for any reason the source function cannot not be instrumented, then there would not be any arcs from the source function to a target function. This can result in excluding the number of arcs from that source function in the total function count of the target function. This can in-turn result in an incorrect callgraph.
In addition, calculation of function counts of functions with multiple entry points, which can start executing from more than one single address, requires every entry point to be treated as a separate function and that the probe code be placed at every function entry point during the instrumentation process. Generally, for callgraph generation, since different function entry points are considered as separate functions and only the call arcs are collected, the point non-call arcs which contribute to the time propagated from one function entry point to another can get missed out and result in an incorrect callgraph.

System and method to build a callgraph for functions with multiple entry points

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


Dynamic allocation of communication resources in a wireless communication system employing simulcast transmission. When a simulcast station of a simulcast channel at a remote site becomes unavailable, a simulcast site controller determines if there is an unused simulcast station at the remote site. If there is an unused simulcast station, the simulcast site controller assigns the unused simulcast station to the simulcast channel thereby allowing the simulcast channel to continue to function. In an alternate embodiment, simulcast stations at a plurality of remote sites are dynamically assigned to simulcast channels as they become available.

Wireless communication systems employ simulcast to provide service over large areas or in hard to cover places such as deep inside buildings. With simulcast, transceivers at multiple base sites simultaneously transmit the same signal. As communication units, such as portable or mobile radios, move over the area covered by the wireless communication system, they are able to receive the signal from one or more of the base site transceivers. Because of the overlap of the areas covered by each of the base sites, there is a high probability that the communication units will be able to successfully receive the signal.
FIG. 1 shows an example of a simulcast system 100. The simulcast system 100 includes a prime site 105 and three remote sites 107, 109, 111 electrically coupled to a network 113. The prime site 105 and remote sites 107, 109, 111 are collectively referred to as a simulcast site. The prime site contains a simulcast site controller 120 and three comparators 122, 124, 126. Each of the remote sites 107, 109, 111 contains three simulcast stations 130–132, 133–135 and 136–138 respectively. The simulcast stations 130–138 are transceivers that transmit and receive signals to and from communication units (not shown) within a coverage area. The coverage areas of the remote sites 107, 109, 111 are illustrated by the circles on FIG. 1. The circles overlap to show that the coverage areas of the simulcast stations 130–138 at the different remote sites 107, 109, 111 overlap. When communication units (not shown) are in overlapping areas 140, 142, they may receive and transmit signals to and from more than one of the remote sites 107, 109, 111. For example, when a communication unit is in the overlapping area 140, it is able to receive and transmit signals to the remote site 107 and the remote site 109.
In the illustrated embodiment, the simulcast system 100 contains three simulcast channels. The comparator 122 and simulcast stations 130, 133, 136 (labeled as "CHL 1") comprise a first simulcast channel, the comparator 124 and simulcast stations 131, 134, 137 (labeled as "CHL 2") comprise a second simulcast channel and the comparator 126 and simulcast stations 132, 135, 138 (labeled as "CHL 3") comprise a third simulcast channel. For each of the three simulcast channels, the associated comparator 122, 124, 126 sends signals to be transmitted to each of the simulcast stations of the respective simulcast channel. The simulcast stations of each simulcast channel then simultaneously transmit the signals on the same frequency. For example, the comparator 122 of the first simulcast channel sends signals to the simulcast stations 130, 133, 136 of the first simulcast channel. The simulcast stations 130, 133, 136 of the first simulcast channel then transmit the signals simultaneously on the same frequency. The simulcast stations of each of the simulcast channels may also simultaneously receive signals from a communication unit if they are within range. The received signals are sent from each of the simulcast stations that receive the signal to the associated comparator 122, 124, 126 of the simulcast channel. For example, if a communication unit communicating on the first simulcast channel is located within the overlap area 140, the simulcast station 130 at the remote site 107 and the simulcast station 133 at the remote site 109 would receive a signal sent by the communication unit. The two simulcast stations 130, 133 would then send the signal to the comparator 122 associated with the first simulcast channel.
Occasionally, one of the simulcast stations will become unavailable. This could happen, for example, because of a malfunction of the simulcast station or because of problems with the network connection between the simulcast station and the comparator associated with the same simulcast channel. Heretofore, when a simulcast station becomes unavailable, the simulcast site controller 120 would shut down the entire simulcast channel containing the unavailable simulcast station. This was done because the simulcast system 100 doesn't know where the communication units (not shown) are located and hence does not know if service can reliably be provided to the communication units.
As an example of the shutdown of the simulcast channels, assume that the two simulcast stations 130, 134 of the simulcast system 100 shown by an 'X' in FIG. 1 become unavailable. The unavailability of the simulcast station 130 of the remote site 107 would cause the shut down of the first simulcast channel and hence the other two simulcast stations 133, 136 of the first simulcast channel would stop functioning. The unavailability of the simulcast station 134 at the remote site 109 would cause the shut down of the second simulcast channel and hence the other two simulcast stations 131, 137 of the second simulcast channel would stop functioning. As a result, the unavailability of two of the simulcast stations 130, 134 would cause two thirds of the simulcast stations 130–138 in the simulcast system 100 to become idle. This is not an efficient use of the resources of the simulcast system 100.
Accordingly, there is a need for a means to increase the number of simulcast channels that remain operational when simulcast stations become unavailable. This invention is directed to addressing this need.

Dynamic creation of channels in a simulcast wireless communication system


A portable computer in which a single switch is positioned to be closed when the case is closed, and also to be readily operable by the user's finger. Software polls the switch. If the switch is briefly depressed, the software detects that the user is requesting entry into standby mode, and accordingly powers down certain input/output functions until new stimulus is received. If the switch is held down for a long time by the user closing the case cover, or manually holding the button down for a long time, the software causes the system to enter sleep mode (its lowest power mode).

The present invention relates to portable battery-powered computers.
The Ongoing Downsizing of Portable Personal Computers
Portable personal computers were introduced in the early 1980s, and proved to be very useful and popular. As this market has developed, it has become increasingly clear that users strongly desire systems to have small volume, small weight, and long battery-powered lifetime. Thus, small portable computers ("laptop" computers) have proven extremely popular during the late 1980s. Users continue to demand more features, longer time between recharges, and lower weight and volume. This combination of demands is difficult to meet. Moreover, as of 1990, another smaller generation of portable computers has begun to appear, referred to as "notebook" computers. This smaller form factor will only exacerbate the difficulty of the above tradeoffs.
Approaches to Power Conservation
There are three basic approaches to extending the operating lifetime of a portable computer. The simplest way is to specify components at the lowest economical power consumption. Thus, for instance, CMOS integrated circuits and liquid crystal displays (LCDs) will normally be used. An equally simple way is to increase battery capacity. However, both of these routes rapidly encounter limits, which are set simply by the tradeoff of the cost of lower-power components, or of the elimination of functionality, with user expectations.
The third way is to use power-management algorithms so that, at almost every instant, all components are being operated in the lowest-power mode for their current demands. Thus, for example, a processor which is not currently executing a program may be placed into "sleep" mode, to reduce its overall power consumption. For another example, substantial power savings can be achieved simply by stopping the system clock (or by slowing down the system clock to a very low rate). For another example, it is common practice, in portable computers with an LCD display, to provide backlighting for use of the display under low-light conditions; but. since this backlighting consumes relatively large amounts of power, it will normally be turned off after a short period of inactivity (or even, alternatively, after a short duration regardless of activity), until the user again demands backlighting.
All of these lines of approach have some inherent limits. For example, it is hard to foresee any integrated circuit technology which would be economical in the 1990s and more power-efficient than low-power low-voltage CMOS. Some further improvement in this area is foreseeable, but no revolutionary improvements appear likely. Moreover, in practice, such improvements are largely outside the control of system designers: when lower-power chips are sampled, system design houses will buy them; but system design houses cannot greatly accelerate the pace of introduction of such chips.
It is also true that the smartest power-management programs cannot reduce the time fraction during which the user wishes to look at the display, or enter data through the keyboard. However, in this area there does appear to be room for improvement, and system design improvements can help achieve power efficiency.
Many power management schemes have been proposed, where parts of the system are shut down during periods of inactivity.sup.1. These approaches tend to extend the usable working time between recharges. FNT .sup.1 One example of a portable computer system with power-monitoring functions is described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,980,836 to Carter et al., which is hereby incorporated by reference. Another source of proposed teachings regarding power-management functions is provided by the DS1227 product preview, contained in the 1988 data book of Dallas Semiconductor Corporation, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
In addition, it has been recognized that management of the charging and discharging cycles of Ni-Cd batteries can help to extend their life.
Either of these power-management functions requires some intelligent control. The conventional way to implement this has been using the main microprocessor (CPU). To accomplish this, the necessary program steps are inserted into the BIOS software (basic input/output system software), which is stored in ROM.
The Use of Standby Modes
Laptop computer systems will typically have an automatic power-down function. Since some of the components use significant power, even when no computation or input is occurring, the system will send itself into a standby or sleep mode if the user has not provided any input for a given period of time (e.g. 30 seconds or five minutes). (Sleep mode may not normally be entered, however, if new information is still being written to the display.)
There are various enhancements which have been proposed to the scheme. For example, it may be desirable to blank the display after a certain length of inactivity and shut down the system clock only after an additional length of inactivity.
Thus, there may be more than one reduced-power mode. For example, in the presently preferred embodiment a "standby" mode is used to transiently power-down subsystems (such as the display or the hard disk) without stopping the CPU. For deeper inactivity, a "sleep" mode can also be entered, in which nearly all functions of the system are turned off. From the standpoint of power consumption, entering sleep mode is almost the same as turning a conventional nonportable machine off (except that data will not be lost).
Commanding Entry into a Reduced-Power Mode
Most Laptop or Notebook computers that feature a Standby, Sleep, or Resume mode (e.g. Compaq's SLT and LTE families, most of the Toshiba portable family, and the Dell 316 and 320LT) have a Standby Button which, when pushed, puts the computer into Standby Mode. In the standard implementation, there is a separate Sleep Button and "case-closed" sensor (although on some of the less expensive or smallest units, the case-closed sensor may be left off completely), and the Sleep Button only recognizes one mode of push, regardless of the push duration.
By using two button/microswitch devices, more PCB real estate is required, more cost is added, and reliability is not as good, because one device depends on the other for proper activation of the Standby Mode. In this way, if either device fails, the Standby Mode will not be activated during case closure.
For example, the Dell 316 and 320 LT Laptop computers (which have a larger available volume than the "notebook" computer of the presently preferred embodiment) include a "case-closed" microswitch, separate from the button used to control entry into standby mode. This microswitch (located under the latch flap), was tripped whenever the screen was lowered and latched into position. The following events would then happen:
a) The screen's backlight was turned off.
b) A beeper was sounded to alert the user of "case-closed while ON" condition.
c) A power saving mode was entered, slowing down the processor, and turning off all unnecessary features.
In addition to this case-closing microswitch, a separate Standby Button was located adjacent to the keyboard area. This Standby Button was only accessible when the computer screen was opened. When this button was depressed (regardless of the duration) a Standby Mode would be entered until the button was depressed a second time, "waking up" the computer from Standby (also called Sleep) Mode.
In very small "notebook"-size computers, the amount of available circuit board space is very small. Each physical switch consumes board space for its connector. Moreover, each switch or button will itself require a nonzero volume, and this volume may become significant in relation to a very small total system volume.
Portable Computer with Dual-Purpose Standby Switch
The present invention provides a mechanism for efficiently controlling transitions into or out of either of two reduced-power states, using a single pushbutton. The button is positioned to be depressed either by closing the case, or by a push from the user's finger. The significance of a button signal is detected by monitoring HOW the button is pushed: a simple time computation determines whether the button's depression is momentary or extended. The appropriate mode transition can then be made.
This configuration provides an input to control activation or deactivation of a "Standby" mode during normal computer usage, while also detecting a "case-closed" condition. This modified button device replaces two separate devices--one button, and one microswitch--in more standard portable implementations.
The disclosed innovations provide a notebook computer in which the case-closed microswitch, and the Standby button, are replaced by a single button. This single button can be pressed by the user whenever the case is open. This button is positioned so that it will be held down whenever the case's cover is closed.
In the presently preferred embodiment, the combined button has a cam-like surface, for better mechanical interface with the case cover.
A software procedure polls the state of this combined button. By monitoring the duration during which the button stays down, the system can distinguish between a user pushing the Standby Button while the case is opened (momentary push) or a user closing the case while the computer is still on (an extended push--greater than some software-definable period of time). Thus, the software can detect the need for a transition into or out of the appropriate reduced-power state, depending on HOW the button is pushed.
A momentary push tells the software to put the unit into Standby until another momentary push is encountered, after which the computer will "wake up" to continue normal operation.
An extended push tells the software to put the system into a "sleep" mode, which provides the greatest possible power conservation (without loss of data). In this case the system remains in sleep mode until the Button is released, at which point the system would "wake up" to continue normal operation.
Of course, the system may have only the "sleep" or only the "standby" mode. In that case, the momentary push (off) has the same effect as closing the case of cause the system to go into the "sleep" or "standby" mode.
In the presently preferred embodiment, the duration threshold for distinguishing a momentary push from an extended push is preferably software-programmable.
Some significant advantages of the present invention include:
a) Saves space by combining two devices into one.
b) Saves cost by eliminating one microswitch per unit.
c) Improves reliability by combining two interdependent devices into one.
This disclosed invention is especially advantageous in Notebook-size computers, since they inherently have the on-board "intelligence" to distinguish HOW the button was pushed, and because full-function computing devices are getting smaller, more cost-sensitive, and greater reliability is demanded--and this device helps to satisfy all of these conditions.

Portable computer with time-sensitive tri-modal power management switch


A plasma processing apparatus includes a processing vessel, a means for holding a substrate to be processed, an evacuation system coupled to the processing vessel, a means for supplying plasma gas to an interior of the processing vessel, a microwave antenna provided on the processing vessel, and a process gas supply part comprised of two components. The first component includes a plurality of first apertures for passing through plasma formed in interior of the processing vessel, a process gas passage, and a plurality of second apertures in communication with the process gas passage. The second component includes a plurality of third apertures axially aligned with the first apertures in the first component and diffusion surfaces upon recessed areas of the second component, located opposite to the second apertures in the first component.

FIGS. 1A and 1B show the construction of a conventional microwave plasma processing apparatus 100 having such a radial line slot antenna, wherein FIG. 1A shows the microwave plasmas processing apparatus in a cross-sectional view while FIG. 1B shows the construction of the radial line slot antenna.
Referring to FIG. 1A, the microwave plasma processing apparatus 100 has a processing chamber 101 evacuated from plural evacuation ports 116, and there is formed a stage 115 for holding a substrate 114 to be processed. In order to realize uniform processing in the processing chamber 101, a ring-shaped space 101A is formed around the stage 115, and the plural evacuation ports 116 are formed in communication with the foregoing space 101A with a uniform interval, and hence in axial symmetry with regard to the substrate. Thereby, it becomes possible to evacuate the processing chamber 101 uniformly through the space 101A and the evacuation ports 116.
On the processing chamber 101, there is formed a plate 103 of plate-like form at the location corresponding to the substrate 114 on the stage 115 as a part of the outer wall of the processing chamber 101 via a seal ring 109, wherein the shower plate 103 is formed of a dielectric material of small loss and includes a large number of apertures 107. Further, a cover plate 102 also of a dielectric material of small loss is provided on the outer side of the shower plate 103 via another seal ring 108.
The shower plate 103 is formed with a passage 104 of a plasma gas on the top surface thereof, and each of the plural apertures 107 are formed in communication with the foregoing plasma gas passage 104. Further, there is formed a plasma gas supply passage 106 in the interior of the shower plate 103 in communication with a plasma gas supply port 105 provided on the outer wall of the processing vessel 101. Thus, the plasma gas of Ar, Kr or the like supplied to the foregoing plasma gas supply port 105 is supplied to the foregoing apertures 107 from the supply passage 106 via the passage 104 and is released into a space 101B right underneath the shower plate 103 in the processing vessel 101 from the apertures 107 with substantially uniform concentration.
On the processing vessel 101, there is provided a radial line slot antenna 110 having a radiation surface shown in FIG. 1B on the outer side of the cover plate 102 with a separation of 4–5 mm from the cover plate 102. The radial line slot antenna 110 is connected to an external microwave source (not shown) via a coaxial waveguide 110A and causes excitation of the plasma gas released into the space 101B by the microwave from the microwave source. It should be noted that the gap between the cover plate 102 and the radiation surface of the radial line slot antenna 110 is filled with the air.
The radial line slot antenna 110 is formed of a flat disk-like antenna body 110B connected to an outer waveguide of the coaxial waveguide 110A and a radiation plate 110C is provided on the mouth of the antenna body 110B, wherein the radiation plate 110C is formed with a number of slots 110a and slots 110b wherein slots 110b are formed in a direction crossing the slots 110a perpendicularly as represented in FIG. 1B. Further, a retardation plate 110D of a dielectric film of uniform thickness is inserted between the antenna body 110B and the radiation plate 110C.
In the radial line slot antenna 110 of such a construction, the microwave supplied from the coaxial waveguide 110 spreads between the disk-like antenna body 110B and the radiation plate 110C as it is propagated in the radial direction, wherein there occurs a compression of wavelength as a result of the action of the retardation plate 110D. Thus, by forming the slots 110a and 110b in concentric relationship in correspondence to the wavelength of the radially propagating microwave so as to cross perpendicularly with each other, it becomes possible to emit a plane wave having a circular polarization state in a direction substantially perpendicular to the radiation plate 110C.
By using such a radial line slot antenna 110, uniform plasma is formed in the space 101B right underneath the shower plate 103. The high-density plasma thus formed is characterized by a low electron temperature and thus, there is caused no damaging of the substrate 114 and there is caused no metal contamination as a result of the sputtering of the vessel wall of the processing vessel 101.
In the plasma processing apparatus of FIG. 1, it should further be noted that there is provided a conductive structure 111 in the processing vessel 101 between the shower plate 103 and the substrate 114, wherein the conductive structure is formed with a number of nozzles 113 supplied with a processing gas from an external processing gas source (not shown) via a processing gas passage 112 formed in the processing vessel 101, and each of the nozzles 113 releases the processing gas supplied thereto into a space 101C between the conductive structure 111 and the substrate 114. It should be noted that the conductive structure 111 is formed with openings between adjacent nozzles 113 with a size such that the plasma formed in the space 101B passes efficiently from the space 101B to the space 101C by way of diffusion.
Thus, in the case a processing gas is released into the space 101C from the conductive structure 111 via the nozzles 113, the processing gas is excited by the high-density plasma formed in the space 101B and a uniform plasma processing is conducted on the substrate 114 efficiently and with high rate, without damaging the substrate or the devices on the substrate, and without contaminating the substrate. Further, it should be noted that the microwave emitted from the radial line slot antenna is blocked by the conductive structure and there is no possibility of such a microwave causes damaging in the substrate 114.
Meanwhile, in the plasma processing apparatus 100 mentioned in FIGS. 1A and 1B, it is important to supply a process gas uniformly from the process gas supply part 111. Also, it is necessary that the process gas supply part 111 enable plasma excited in the space 101B to pass to the space 101C right above the substrate 114 without delay.
FIG. 2 is a bottom view showing a construction of the conventional process gas supply part 111.
Referring to FIG. 2, the process gas supply part 111 is a disk-like plate formed of a stainless steel added with Al or the like. In the process gas supply part 111, there are formed a number of large apertures 111B disposed in a matrix form to pass high-density plasma in the space 101B. Also, there is formed a process gas distribute passage 112A in communication with the process gas passage 112 along the outer circumference of the disk-like plate 111. There is formed a lattice-shaped gas passage 113A in communication with the process gas distribute passage 112A. In the lattice-shaped gas passage 113A, there are a number of nozzle apertures 113.
According to the construction, a process gas is released almost uniformly from a number of the nozzle apertures 113 to a surface of the substrate 114 to be processed represented in FIG. 2 by a broken line. On the other hand, the nozzle apertures 113 are formed toward the substrate 114 in the bottom view of FIG. 2. As a result, even if the nozzle apertures 113 are formed densely, it is difficult to diffuse the process gas enough to reach the surface of the substrate 114. On the other hand, if the nozzle apertures 113 are provided too densely, the process gas is mainly released on the fringe of the substrate 114. Accordingly, it is likely that the process gas is scarce around the center of the substrate 114. In addition, in the plasma processing apparatus 100, a distance between the shower plate 103 and the substrate 114 is shortened in order to evacuate the spaces 101B and 101C immediately. Therefore, the process gas released from the nozzle apertures 113 cannot diffuse sufficiently because the process gas reaches the substrate 113 immediately.
Furthermore, the plasma processing apparatus 100 in FIGS. 1A and 1B has the problem that the temperature thereof rises because the process gas supply part 111 is exposed to a large amount of thermal flux caused by high-density plasma.


The present invention provides a particulate nucleating agent and a method for manufacturing the same. The particulate nucleating agent has an average radial crushing strength of 0.2-25.0N/cm. A weight content of the active ingredients in the particulate nucleating agent is no less than 90 wt %. The particulate nucleating agent is a transparent particulate nucleating agent. The particulate nucleating agent of the present invention can be fed smoothly during production without the change of the chemical composition thereof, so as to realize uniform dispersion in the polymer and reduce defects such as white dots in the polymer. The present invention breaks the traditional view of refining particles of nucleating agent to obtain a polymer having desirable properties, and avoids adding large amount of materials except the active ingredients during the granulation process of the nucleating agent.

In production, nucleating agents are added into polymers. However, the powdery nucleating agent has fine granularity, small bulk density and static electricity. During the feeding process, the powdery nucleating agent is apt to adhere to a pipe, which may potentially lead to bridges and block, and further lead to uneven dispersion of the powdery nucleating agent in production and affect product quality of the polymer. In the prior art, one way to overcome this disadvantage is adding additives or antistatic agents which can improve fluidity into the nucleating agent, so as to improve the fluidity and the antistatic property of the nucleating agent. For instance, according to the disclosure of the prior art, ultrafine silica is added into 3988i of MILLKEN or stearic acid monoester (GMS) is added into 3988i of MILLKEN by other manufacturers. The foregoing method can remarkably improve the fluidity of the nucleating agent in the feeding process. However, the foregoing method cannot achieve uniformity of the feeding and reduce the purity of the product. Another way to overcome this disadvantage is to provide a premix which contains 50% active ingredients of nucleating agent via mixing antioxidant and acid scavenger in the formula, so as to achieve uniformity of feeding. However, this method limits the application flexibility of the formula and cannot achieve the diversity of products.
If the size of the particles of the nucleating agent is too small, i.e. powdery nucleating agent, dust is apt to occur, which may reduce the bulk density of the product and adversely affect the fluidity. The powder of the nucleating agent may form retention bridges in the feed hopper. If the size of the particles of the nucleating agent is too big, the nucleating agent is difficult to be dispersed evenly in the polymer, which may lead to uneven performances and quality instability of the polymer.
CN1500120 discloses a particulate or powdery diacetal composition including (A) at least one diacetal, (B) at least one anionic surfactant, and (C) at least one aliphatic monocarboxylic acid which may have at least one hydroxyl group in the molecule, wherein components (B) and (C) are uniformly dispersed in the particles of the particulate or powdery diacetal composition, and the weight content of component (B) in the diacetal composition is 0.1 to 3 weight % ("wt %") and the weight content of component (C) in the diacetal composition is 0.3-5 wt %, and the total weight content of components (B) and (C) in the diacetal composition is no more than 7 wt %. The composition may have any proper form and generally has a form of powder or particle, for instance having a shape of particle, cylinder and small spherical. As far as the form of powder is concerned, the average particle diameter thereof is 3-2000 μm, preferably 7-250 μm. If the average particle diameter is less than 3 μm, the property of the powder becomes poor and special crushing machinery is needed. As far as the form of particle is concerned, powdery diacetal composition can be formed into particulate diacetal composition having desirable shape and size. Compared with powdery diacetal composition, particulate diacetal composition can reduce dust and improve the fluidity of the particles. The particulate diacetal composition has a shape of particles, such as small particles or small round particles, and has desirable solubility and dispersibility in molten resin and various kinds of liquids. In addition, the particulate diacetal composition has desirable powder characteristics, such as better dust fluidity, less dust generated, less dust explosion and less adhesion to the inner wall of the feed hopper. CN1500120 intends to reduce dust and improve the fluidity of the particles via adding surfactant and controls the diameter of the particles. However, CN1500120 intends to reduce the melting point of the diacetal via adding specific anionic surfactants and specific aliphatic monocarboxylic acid.
CN1241190 discloses a particulate or powdery diacetal composition, comprising (a) at least one diacetal; and (b) at least one binder selecting from a group consisting of neutral or weakly acidic monovalent organic acid, neutral or weakly acidic polycarboxylic acid, certain salts of the neutral or weakly acidic polycarboxylic acid, sulfate, sulfonate, phosphate, organic phosphate, aluminum salt of neutral or weakly acidic polycarboxylic acid. The binder disperses evenly in the particles of the particulate or powdery diacetal composition. In the diacetal composition, the weight ratio of the binder to the diacetal is 0.01-100 to 100. The particle has a cylinder shape having a sectional diameter of 0.2-5 mm and a length of 0.2-15 mm. The particle can also have a shape of grain or disc having a diameter of 0.2-5 mm and a bulk density of 0.2-1.1 g/cm3. CN1241190 can remarkably reduce the melting point of the diacetal. Via evenly dispersing the specific compound in the powder of diacetal, the diacetal composition obtained has improved solubility, dispersion and dissolution rate in molten resin and other fluids, and the improvement has nothing to do with the shape of the composition. The adhesive effect of the specific compound (i.e. promoting particle agglomeration or caking) can improve the bulk density of the diacetal composition to a level of no less than 0.2 g/cm3, which can improve the fluidity and transportability of the diacetal powder, as well as inhibit the generation of the dust and adhesion of the diacetal on the wall of the equipments, for instance the pipe or the storage bucket. When the diacetal composition is used to form polyolefin resin pellets, the inherent nucleation property of the diacetal composition will be exhibited readily. Due to the sublimation of the nucleating agent, the extrusion die or the molding article will not be polluted. Generally, if the density of the diacetal composition increases remarkably, the fluidity of the powder increases while the dissolution rate is reduced. Conversely, if the density of the diacetal composition reduces remarkably, the dissolution rate of the powder increases while the fluidity is reduced. CN1241190 can remarkably reduce the melting point of the diacetal composition, because the increase of the density of the diacetal composition can improve the fluidity of the powder and the addition of the binder can improve the dissolution rate.
At present, there is still no technical solution which can successfully solve the problem of the fluidity and purity of the transparent nucleating agent. In some cases, the fluidity is increased at the cost of a reduced purity. In some other cases, the purity is increased at the cost of a reduced fluidity.
Generally, the fluidity is inversely proportional to the purity of the nucleating agent. The nucleating agent having desirable fluidity generally has low purity. The nucleating agent having high purity generally has poor fluidity.
The technical solution of the present invention can provide a solution to provide a desirable fluidity without affecting or slightly affecting the active ingredients of the nucleating agent, which can solve the problem of fluidity of the nucleating agent during preparation of polymer as well as provide desirable performances for the polymer prepared.

Particulate nucleating agent and method for manufacturing the same


A mobile robot can include an elongated body no more than two meters high and no more than one meter wide; at least one securable container; at least one depth sensor mounted near or at the top of the body to have a downward field of view (FOV), the at least one depth sensor comprising a video camera in combination with another distance sensor; and a drive mechanism configured to provide linear and rotational movement for the robot.

Mobile robots can rely on active sensors to detect their environment. Such sensors can be used to identify absolute or relative position, create maps through simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM), and detect obstacles such as walls or movable objects. Obstacle detection is particularly important for avoiding unwanted collisions with moving vehicles, humans, animals, or even other robots. Such obstacle avoidance commonly relies on long-distance rangefinders that actively scan the environment using laser, infrared, or sonar beams. While such active range finding sensor systems can provide highly accurate centimeter scale position data on millisecond timescales, they can be relatively expensive. For example, laser-based sensors with a wide field of view (up to 270°) can sense stationary or moving obstacles up to 30 meters away by projecting a long-range laser beam and scanning it to bounce off any obstacles in order to detect the distance to the closest obstacle along that beam's path. This effectively delivers a view of obstacles in a 270° field of view around the sensor, and provides mapping and/or obstacle avoidance data that can be used by robot operating system software (ROS) such as provided by the Open Source Robotics Foundation.
Unfortunately, such conventional sensor arrangements can be costly and too delicate for many types of applications. Since sensor systems are a significant component in a robot bill of materials, providing low cost commercial robots depends at least in part upon use of low cost robot sensor systems that are effective, rugged, and simple to calibrate and assemble.

Sensor configurations and methods for mobile robot


In a rope hoist (9), the output shaft (37) of the gearing (19) is provided in one piece with an end plate (57). This end plate (57) is designed in such a way that it can be inserted into a locating seat (66) of the tubular rope drum (17). The end plate (57) is screwed in the rope drum (17) by means of radial fitting screws (72). There is also a recess (67) at the other end of the rope drum (17), and a similar end plate (75) can be fastened in this recess (67) in the same manner. This other end plate carries a bearing journal (76). On account of this arrangement, the manufacture of the rope drum (17) and the entire assembly are simplified, complicated shaft joints between the output shaft (37) and the rope drum (17) being dispensed with on account of the mounting of the rope drum (17) by means of the output shaft (37) of the gearing (19). In addition, the rope hoist (9) may be split up into comparatively small subassemblies for dispatch.

In rope hoists, the rope drum is driven by an electric motor via interposed reduction gearing. The difficulty in this case consists in mounting the rope drum in such a way that alignment errors between the various bearings for the rope drum and the gearing are avoided as far as possible in order to avoid distortions and resulting increased wear of the bearings. This is not without its problems, because the rope drum has a considerable length and a considerable mass, so that the alignment of the bearings present at the ends cannot be easily produced with the required precision.
A further criterion is the number of components which are necessary for the drive and the mounting. Here, considerable attention has to be paid to the type of mounting of the rope drum, which for reasons of weight is tubular.
DE 12 05 247 B discloses a rope hoist whose rope drum contains a welded-in conical flange disk at one end, a tubular bearing journal being welded in place in the inner bore of the flange disk. The bearing journal in turn forms the output shaft of gearing, and the output gear of the reduction gearing sits on this output shaft in a rotationally locked manner. Located between the output gear and the rope drum is a rolling-contact bearing, which is accommodated in a bearing seat arranged in the frame of the rope hoist.
Since, in this design, the bearing journal, which is at the same time the output shaft of the gearing, cannot be separated from the rope drum, assembly of the rope hoist is extremely complicated. In addition, manufacture of the rope drum is expensive, for the flange disk welded to the bearing journal must first of all be welded into the rope drum. Only after that may the bearing journal be machined in order to produce the bearing seats. Producing the bearing seats before the welding in place would on no account result in the required precision. Slanting of the bearing seats of the bearing journal at least relative to the axis of the rope drum would be unavoidable, a factor which would cause enormous distortions in the gearing.
DE 438 528 C shows a rope hoist in which the rope drum is provided with an integrally cast hub, which is supported on the drum wall via spokes. Coaxially to this hub, the rope drum is provided with a recess, into which a cup-shaped internal gear is inserted. On the side of the drum hub, the internal gear merges into a disk-shaped base, from which a tubular extension protrudes. The hub and tubular extension are connected to one another via seats, so that the mounting of the drum is effected via the tubular extension of the internal-gear arrangement and the hub.
In this arrangement, the gearing output shaft, which carries a pinion meshing with the internal gear, is therefore separate from the drum mounting.
Since the internal gear is fastened by means of screws which are screwed into the end face of the rope drum, the rope drum must be relatively thick-walled, a factor which needlessly increases the weight of the rope drum. In addition, assembly and manufacture of the rope drum in this known solution is expensive.
DE 24 48 457 A1 shows a rope hoist in which multistage gearing is arranged in the interior of the rope drum. A bearing race forms the closure of the gearing at the end face of the rope drum, this bearing race being inserted into the rope drum and being rotationally locked by means of dowel pins, which pass radially through the drum. The race is mounted on an extension of the gearbox by means of a ball bearing. Alignment errors of this bearing seat, relative to the gearing in the interior of the rope drum, either load the bearing seat or lead to incorrect positions of the gears in the interior of the rope drum and thus to increased wear.
Against this background, the object of the invention is to provide a rope hoist in which a lightweight rope drum can easily be produced and in which no separate bearing points are necessary for the output shaft and the drum mounting.
In the novel solution, use is made of the fact that the rope drum must in any case be machined by turning. In this connection, locating seats which are coaxial to the outside of the rope drum can be produced on both front ends. These locating seats serve to locate end plates, which carry bearing journals. This ensures that the axes of the bearing journals are largely aligned both with one another and with the axis of the rope drum. One of the bearing journals is at the same time designed in such a way that it constitutes the output shaft of the reduction gearing. In this way, the mounting of the output shaft of the gearing at the same time becomes the mounting of the rope drum, a factor which makes additional bearings on the gearing side and compensating devices in the drive shaft unnecessary.
Since the end plate is inserted merely into the locating seat, greatly simplified assembly results. The gearing, with the output shaft and the gears, can be ready assembled and constitutes a comparatively light unit assembled at the works. In this case, no heavy or unwieldy rope drum impairs the assembly of the gearing, which can readily be checked without rope drum for operability and proper bearing play.
For the further assembly, it suffices to insert this preassembled gearing unit with the end plate sitting thereon for the rope drum into the latter and to secure it in the rope drum by means of the radially running fastening screws. Securing the end plate in the drum in this way permits the use of a rope drum whose wall thickness is dimensioned solely from the point of view of loading by the rope and is not needlessly enlarged on account of the use of screws screwed into the end face. Furthermore, the rope drum in the novel rope hoist is a simple tubular structure, on which no sensitive bearing journals project, as is partly the case in the prior art.
In addition, the radially running fastening screws for the end plate have the advantage of easy accessibility and they require no additional construction space between the rope drum and the adjacent gearbox wall.
The locating seat is preferably a recess, consisting of a cylindrical surface and an annular shoulder. If this annular shoulder is located in the interior of the rope drum, it is optimally protected against damage during transport. The annular shoulder, together with the cylindrical surface, forms a very good means of exactly centering the end plate in order to avoid wobbling runout and radial runout of the output shaft relative to the drum axis and the other bearing journal.
Assembly is further simplified if the output gear is profile-interlocked with the output shaft. As a result, simple slip-on attachment, which requires no especially large assembly force, is possible.
An especially robust construction is obtained if the gearbox is an essentially one-piece hollow formed part, in which the two end walls and the side-wall arrangement are connected to one another in one piece, the requisite bearing seats being accommodated in the end walls. For the purpose of assembly, an opening is contained in the side-wall arrangement in the region of the bearing seats for the output shaft, and the output gear sitting on the output shaft can be inserted through this opening.
In the novel rope hoist, the drive motor preferably sits outside the rope drum. Standard motors may therefore be used, and the cooling of the motor is not impaired by the surrounding rope drum and the air gap between motor and rope drum.

Cable control with a simplified assembly


Technologies for securely transferring whiteboard content data from a smart whiteboard device to another smart whiteboard device are disclosed. The smart whiteboard device may securely transfer the whiteboard content data to a mobile device. In response to receiving the whiteboard content data from the smart whiteboard device, the mobile device may transfer the received whiteboard content data to the other smart whiteboard device. The other smart whiteboard device may display the transferred whiteboard content data and enable manipulation thereof.

Conventional whiteboards are used to display content, such as drawings, handwriting, schematics, text, diagrams, and the like, to people in the near vicinity of the whiteboards. They enable people to create and manipulate such content on the whiteboards themselves. As a result, conventional whiteboards are often used as collaborative tools and are typically found in offices, conference rooms, classrooms, or any other location in which collaboration between multiple people is beneficial. However, due to their static nature, it is often difficult to preserve the content created on a conventional whiteboard. For example, in order to preserve content created on a conventional whiteboard, a person must typically transcribe the contents of the whiteboard onto a physical medium such as paper, or they must take a picture of the contents.
Smart whiteboards are also used to display content to people in the near vicinity of the smart whiteboards. Like conventional whiteboards, smart whiteboards may be used by people to create and manipulate content on the smart whiteboards themselves. However, smart whiteboards differ from conventional whiteboards in that they electronically display content generated by a user. Although such content is electronically displayed to the user, it is oftentimes still difficult to preserve user-generated content. Additionally, due to the difficulties in preserving content generated on smart whiteboards, transferring content from one smart whiteboard to another is challenging. For example, content generated on one smart whiteboard must typically be transcribed onto paper and then re-drawn on the other smart whiteboard.


An information processing apparatus coupled to a device via at least one of a plurality of networks includes a memory having computer readable instructions and at least one processor configured to execute the computer readable instructions to transmit to the device first communication information for performing communication between the device and the information processing apparatus, when a process is requested from the device; determine whether the communication is possible via a first network to which the device is coupled according to whether the communication is performed using the first communication information; connect to a second network using second communication information for connecting to the second network, when the communication is determined impossible via the first network; and determine whether the communication is possible via the second network according to whether the communication is performed using the first communication information via the second network.

When a user who retains a terminal can cause the terminal to communicate with another device, such as an image forming apparatus, by wireless communication, to use a function of the other device, it is convenient because connection by wire is not necessary. However, the wireless communication for the terminal with the device often requires a parameter for wireless communication. Moreover, setting of the wireless communication parameter for the device is not always easy.
Then, conventionally, techniques for setting wireless communication parameters to the terminal without user's setting or with minimized user's setting have been devised (see, for example, Patent document 1). Patent document 1 discloses a management apparatus which reads out information stored in a user's NFC (Near Field Communication) chip, so as to connect a wireless communication device using different wireless communication parameters for the same device, and sets a wireless communication parameter for home or a wireless communication parameter for a visiting destination for a wireless communication apparatus.

Information processing apparatus, information processing system, and information processing method configured to construct a server in the mobile terminal through which an output device communicates with the mobile terminal using a communication information


Disclosed embodiments relate to isolation methods for full-duplex communication. In one example, a full-duplex antenna system includes a Tx (transmit) signal path including one or more elements each, means a power amplifier, one or more filters, and a Tx port of a Tx patch antenna operating at a Tx frequency band to transmit an outgoing signal to a satellite, the one or more elements each further including an Rx (receive) signal path including a low noise amplifier driven by an Rx port of an Rx patch antenna operating at an Rx frequency band to receive an incoming signal from the satellite, the Rx frequency band being separated by a guard band from the Tx frequency band, wherein the filters together with a physical separation between the Tx and Rx signal paths provide sufficient isolation to reduce coupling between the Tx signal path and the Rx signal path, allowing the full-duplex antenna system to operate in full-duplex.

The wireless revolution has resulted in ever-increasing demands on our limited wireless spectrum. Enabling full-duplex satellite communications, as compared to half-duplex, promises to improve the use of the limited wireless spectrum, and increase satellite communications throughput while maintaining the same antenna footprint. As used herein, the term full duplex describes simultaneous data transmission and reception from a single antenna. In other words, a full-duplex antenna system is capable of simultaneous bi-directional data transmissions. Half-duplex devices can only transmit in one direction at a time, where data can move in two directions, but not at the same time. Unfortunately, at least some of the power of the transmit signal can be radiated back into the circuitry of the receive portion. Transmitted signals are typically transmitted at fairly high-power levels. Received signals, however, are typically received at very low power levels. The signal energy fed back from the Tx signal can be greater than a noise floor of the Rx signal or worse, greater than the power of the Rx signal itself, thereby interfering with the Rx signal being reliably received. Reducing such coupling can improve the reliability of the received signal during full-duplex operation.

Isolation methods for full-duplex antenna systems


Oxycarbosilane materials make excellent matrix materials for the formation of porous low-k materials using incorporated pore generators(porogens). The elastic modulus numbers measured for porous samples prepared in this fashion are 3–6 times higher than porous organosilicates prepared using the sacrificial porogen route. The oxycarbosilane materials are used to produce integrated circuits for use in electronics devices.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an insulative material useful in microcircuitry applications, to a process of using the insulative material to prepare an integrated circuit, and to the integrated circuit obtainable thereby.
2. Description of Related Art
Low-k dielectric insulators are needed for, among other things, copper back-end-of-the-line (BEOL) on chip wiring in order to improve chip performance by minimizing crosstalk and capacitive coupling. The latter leads to substantial delays in signal propagation which becomes exacerbated as wiring dimensions decrease and densities increase. The difficulty of introducing any new material places a premium on dielectric extendibility, i.e., the use of materials with similar elemental compositions but with different dielectric constants for multiple device generations. The only true dielectric extendibility comes from the introduction of porosity. The introduction of porosity, while good for the reduction of dielectric constants, negatively impacts many other important material properties (electrical, thermal, mechanical).
Mechanical issues are particularly important for organosilicates, including chemical vapor deposition (CVD) and spin-on (SO) materials, which are intrinsically brittle materials and prone to cracking. Since organosilicates constitute, by far, the largest class of materials under consideration, mechanical issues move to the forefront because of concerns about reliability. The mechanical properties of these insulating materials are further compromised by the introduction of porosity to lower the dielectric constant. The mechanical properties of organosilicates have been addressed with limited success by variation in resin and/or porogen structures, control of porous morphologies and post porosity treatment using UV or e-beam exposure, usually at elevated temperatures. E-beam exposure has been shown to cause front end damage. For this reason, UV treatment of porogen/matrix nanohybrids or porous films generated by thermal calcination has become the method of choice for improving mechanical properties such as modulus and hardness.
Although improvements in modulii of 25–50% are sometimes achieved upon UV exposure, this requires a separate processing step and chemical changes are produced in the materials, which can degrade the electrical properties. Also, improved UV-efficiencies require specialized matrices and/or porogens for materials where the porosity is generated from sacrificial porogens. Although matrix structural modification can lead to improved modulii, this often occurs at the expense of dielectric constant, which, in turn, requires the addition of more porogen to achieve the dielectric target.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,263 describes a process for preparing an integrated circuit device comprising depositing a dielectric material comprising porous organic polysilica and a sacrificial porogen comprising a decomposable polymer onto a substrate. The entire contents of U.S. Pat. No. 5,895,263 are hereby incorporated by reference.
There still remains a need in the art to discover other materials that provide excellent dielectric properties without sacrificing mechanical properties.

Porous organosilicates with improved mechanical properties

International Business Machines Corporation


The present invention is directed to a rubber compound, such as for use in tires, containing one or more polyoxyalkylene amines, such as to reduce the amount of silane coupling agent conventionally used therein. The presence of the polyoxyalkylene amine(s) allows for the silane coupling agent to be present in a low percent by weight of silica without substantially sacrificing the performance characteristics of the rubber compound. In one embodiment, the rubber compound includes 100 phr of a natural elastomer, a synthetic elastomer, or combinations thereof, no less than about 20 phr silica, a silane coupling agent present in an amount no more than 8% by weight of the silica, and about 2 phr to about 10 phr of at least one polyoxyalkylene amine defined by a primary amino group attached to the terminus of a polyether backbone.

Rubber compounds for various tire components (e.g., tire treads) typically contain particulate reinforcing fillers. While traditional methods have used carbon black as filler, silica fillers are becoming more prevalent in tire compounds due to their improved tradeoffs in stiffness, hysteresis, and wet skid resistance. Additionally, silica fillers can reduce the rolling resistance of tires, thereby potentially increasing fuel economy.
To optimize reinforcement properties, reinforcing filler should be capable of being finely divided and homogeneously distributed throughout the elastomeric matrix. While the traditional carbon black filler has both of these capabilities, silica filler tends to agglomerate due to hydrogen bonding between silanol groups on the surface of the silica particles. This agglomeration leads to poor silica dispersion within the elastomeric matrix and tends to yield a rubber compound with undesirable performance characteristics. To minimize this problem, silica can be dispersed by the addition, for example, of a bi-functional silane coupling agent, or a mixture of such agents, that have one moiety (e.g., a silyl group) which reacts with the silanol groups on the surface of the silica particles and another moiety (e.g., a polysulfide group) that binds the silica particles to the elastomer upon vulcanization. Such bi-functional silane coupling agents are known to those having ordinary skill in the art.
Although these silane coupling agents tend to produce adequate dispersion of the silica filler throughout the elastomeric matrix, there are at least two disadvantages when using these agents. First, silane coupling agents are expensive relative to most other rubber compound ingredients. Second, a relatively large amount of the silane coupling agent, sometimes as much as 20% by weight based on the weight of the silica filler, is required to obtain adequate silica dispersion. Together, these two disadvantages substantially increase the cost of the resulting rubber compound used in the tire.
It would therefore be desirable to provide a rubber compound that includes silica filler and a silane coupling agent wherein the amount of silane coupling agent can be reduced without substantially sacrificing the performance characteristics of the rubber compound.

Rubber compounds containing polyoxyalkylene amines


A spool is provided having opposing identical end flanges coupled to a central barrel. An annular rim portion of the flanges is provided with a plurality of openings positioned at different radial and circumferential positions. The openings are sized such that if the openings were rotated into angular alignment, the openings would span the annular rim portion from an inner radius to an outer radius. The openings thus allow a user to view contents of the spool. Each flange may further provide a generally semi-circularly shaped recess sized and shaped to receive a winding dog.

It is known to provide spools or reels upon which filaments, including monofilaments such as wire, rope, or cable may be wound for subsequent shipment, storage, and use. Such reels typically include a central barrel connected to opposing end flanges. It is further known to provide a plurality of openings in the end flanges. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,942,741 (Hussar et al.) discloses a reel having flanges with a plurality of openings provided to reduce the amount of material used to fabricate the end flanges and to facilitate visual determination of the reel contents (the openings forming a plurality of view ports).
It is still further known to provide one or more dog holes adapted to receive a winding dog of a winding machine used to rotate the spool. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 6,715,710 (Russell et al.) discloses a cable reel having a such a dog hole.
A need exists for a reel which provides a novel arrangement of openings in the reel flange to provide visual access to the reel contents while also providing the flange with desirable structural stiffness characteristics. A further need exists for a reel having a novel dog hole design which receives a winding dog while maintaining a high level of structural rigidity. A reel combining these features would be particularly desirable.


In a liquid cartridge, a surface of a valve lid side of a valve member communicates with a liquid supplying part, a surface of a first part of a wall face side of a liquid containing section communicates with the liquid containing section, in regard to the valve member, and a surface of a second part communicates with the liquid supplying part, and if the pressure of the liquid supplying part is smaller than the pressure of the liquid containing section, the valve member is pressed to the valve lid side, the liquid containing section and the liquid supplying part communicate with each other over the first and second parts of the valve member, the valve member is formed of a material softer than the wall face of the liquid containing section, and a projection is provided on a surface being in contact with the valve member in regard to the wall face of the liquid containing section along an outer circumference surrounding the first and second parts of the valve member, being in pressure contact with the valve member.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a pressure-difference regulating valve unit, a liquid cartridge and a method for assembling a liquid cartridge. More particularly, the present invention relates to a pressure-difference regulating valve unit, a liquid cartridge and a method for assembling a liquid cartridge, wherein the liquid cartridge supplies a liquid to a liquid ejecting apparatus when mounted on the liquid ejecting apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
In an inkjet type recording apparatus, ink is supplied to a recording head while mounting an ink cartridge containing the ink on a holder of an inkjet type recording apparatus. Here, the ink, the inkjet type recording apparatus and the ink cartridge are an example of the liquid, the liquid ejecting apparatus and liquid cartridge respectively.
The ink cartridge is provided with, for example, an ink accommodating section for containing the ink, a valve member that operates based on the pressure difference between the ink accommodating section side and the recording head side and an atmospheric valve for connecting the ink accommodating section with the atmosphere. This ink cartridge is mounted on a holder of an inkjet type recording apparatus, and thus the atmospheric valve allows the ink accommodating section to be connected with the atmosphere. Further, in the state where the ink cartridge is mounted on the holder, the pressure difference occurs in the valve member because the recording head consumes the ink, so that a center part of the valve member is elastically deformed by the pressure difference, and thus the ink is supplied to the recording head from the ink accommodating section as disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 1999-170558.
In the ink cartridge above, the valve member has a peripheral edge part with the difficulty to be elastically deformed in contrast to the center part, and the peripheral edge part is fixed to the ink cartridge by ultrasonic welding. Therefore, there was a problem that the dust caused by ultrasonic welding was mixed into the ink.

Pressure differential regulating valve unit, a liquid cartridge and a method for assembling a liquid cartridge


A new and distinct cultivar of Lobelia plant named ‘Balobperiblu’ characterized by its mounded and trailing growth habit, dark lavender blue-colored flowers with white “eye”, dark green-colored foliage, and day length neutral flowering habit.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct Lobelia plant hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name 'Balobperiblu'.
This new cultivar originated in a controlled breeding program during August 2001 at Arroyo Grande, Calif. The objective of the breeding program was the development of new Lobelia cultivars with unique flower colors, and vigorous and trailing growth habits.
The new cultivar was the result of the self-pollination of the Lobelia hybrida cultivar Periwinkle Blue, U.S. Plant Pat. No. 12,536, which exhibits large, sky blue-colored flowers with white 'eye', a vigorous growth habit, and is extremely floriferous. The resulting seed was collected and germinated. From the flowering progeny, a single plant was discovered and selected by the inventor during January 2002.
Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar by terminal stem cuttings since January 2002 at Arroyo Grande, Calif., and West Chicago, Ill., has demonstrated that the new cultivar reproduces true to type with all the characteristics, as herein described, firmly fixed and retained through successive generations of such asexual propagation.