The invention relates to a liquid composition that is a mixture of at least one natural triglyceride and at least one fatty acid ester different from triglycerides, wherein the fatty acids are derived from at least one vegetable oil or another equivalent natural resource.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to compositions of dielectric fluids, useful particularly as insulating fluids and coolants in electrical devices such as, for example, transformers, capacitors, cables, or circuit breakers
2. Description of the Related Art
Dielectric fluids compositions are commonly used in electrical devices, particularly in transformers. These liquids have the aim to isolate the various conductive elements of the device and to limit the heating of the device during its operation, and increase the useful life duration of the device. A performant fluid is essential to minimize the size of the device.
Much of the currently known dielectric liquid compositions are compositions comprising essentially hydrocarbons from specific cuts of crude oils. These compositions based on petroleum derivatives generally have a low ignition temperature (and therefore a significant flammability) and are also most often characterized by low biodegradability, if not also characterized by a relatively high toxicity (dielectric compositions based on petroleum derivatives have indeed, in most cases, aromatic molecules and/or halogen). These liquids are found to be relatively unsatisfactory for insulation of electrical devices. Indeed, especially when used in electrical transformers where large amounts of heat can be generated during operation, these fluids present significant flammable risks. In addition, in case of breakage of the envelope of the electrical device, liquid-based petroleum derivatives are likely to cause significant pollution (soil, rivers, ground water). In case of fire due to inflammation of these compounds, air pollution may also occur.
In addition to these dielectric fluids containing petroleum derivatives, one has developed other less toxic liquid compositions such as silicone oils, for example. These alternative compositions certainly prove more effective, but they have a much higher cost, and they are used in practice only in some specific appliances, with high-value, such as, for example traction transformers or electrical equipment installed in buildings of significant height and/or open to the public.
Therefore, to replace the dielectric fluids containing petroleum derivatives, one has sought to use compounds with interesting dielectric performances, which are nontoxic and biodegradable, and the synthesis of which is the cheapest possible. In this context, one has proposed including natural plant oils or animal waste fats as potential candidates, since some of them present some interesting insulation properties.
However, it has been found that natural plant oils cannot be used, in a large number of cases, as such as dielectric fluids in electrical devices such as, for example, transformers. Indeed, they have certain disadvantages, including high viscosity (especially at low temperatures) associated with a high pour point, and in general, they also may exhibit an important tendency to oxidation (oxidability) pending on their source, refining or handling in general.
To improve the characteristics of vegetable oils it has been proposed (in international applications WO 97/22977, WO 97/49100, WO 98/31021 and WO 00/11682) to modify these oils, by adding antioxidants, antifreeze, or viscosity improvers such as polymethacrylates, to counteract the aforementioned defects. However, these additives are also generally low or non-biodegradable or toxic, they prove to be damaging to electrical devices in which they are used. This is particularly the case of polymethacrylates, known for its acidity, which can therefore lead to significant corrosion in electrical devices, and particularly in electrical transformers.
To a lesser extent, attempts have been made to change the triglycerides (esters of glycerol and fatty acids) present in natural vegetable oils, in order to modify the properties of such vegetable oils without losing their biodegradability. In this regard, various attempts have been made to convert these esters of glycerol in esters of other alcohols, such as esters of isobutanol. These tests are however not fully conclusive: indeed, the works done in this particular context have failed to obtain compositions having all the physical and chemical properties that such a composition should have for an efficient and sustainable use in an electrical device. In particular, the tests performed so far to change the triglycerides of natural vegetable oils have failed to produce compositions with all the required characteristics for use as cooling dielectric fluid in a dielectric device. In particular, one has never described compositions of modified vegetable oils from a transformation of present triglycerides, which have properties adapted both in terms of electrical insulation, cooling properties, low viscosity, low density and stability vis-à-vis oxidation, as required by international standards IEC 60296, IEC 60465, or IEC 61099 and equivalent.
WO 2004/108871 discloses liquid compositions that are based on modified oleic canola oil and are used as insulating liquids and heat transfer liquids, and electrical devices containing said liquid compositions. In this prior publication, the liquid composition is based on a mixture of natural triglycerides and fatty acid esters of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, said fatty acids usually derived from a vegetable oil, the mixture may optionally contain other esters, in which:    (i) the fatty acids present in all the esters of glycerol (triglycerides) and esters of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol mixture include, by weight with respect to the total mass of fatty acids in the esters:            at least 70%, and preferably between 72 and 90% monounsaturated fatty acids in C18, such as, for example, oleic acid        between 10 and 20% of polyunsaturated fatty acids, the polyunsaturated fatty acids are generally mostly polyunsaturated fatty acids in C18, such as linoleic acid and/or linolenic acid        less than 10% and preferably less than 7% of fatty acids having a hydrocarbon chain containing a number of different carbon atoms of 18, and            (ii) the triglycerides present in the mixture corresponds to a mass of 25 to 80%, preferably between 40 and 75% compared to the total mass of the mixture, the fatty acid esters other than triglycerides present in said composition being, in general, essentially mono-esters of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol.
The main idea in this prior publication, which is further discussed below, was that by modifying some specific natural vegetable oils by converting the triglycerides of fatty acids present in a fraction of these oils in particular esters of an alcohol, namely 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, one obtained electrically insulating liquid compositions which, subject to control the final content of esters of 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, proved well suited as a dielectric fluid coolant for electrical devices, especially according to the criteria of these standards. Unexpectedly, these modified oils obtained after modification of a fraction of the oil with 2-ethyl-1-hexanol have interesting properties, especially in terms of electrical insulation and viscosity. Thus, the compositions obtained had proven to possess high breakdown voltages and low viscosities.
WO 2010/111698 discloses the use of soy oil as a heat-transfer dielectric fluid in a device to generate, store, convert and/or distribute electrical energy wherein the soy oil is one in which at least 70% of the fatty acids are C14 to C22 mono-unsaturated and less than 16% of the fatty acids are polyunsaturated.
A first example of a method for the extraction and the processing of soybean seeds to produce soybean oil and meal has been described in WO 2010/111698.
Another example of a method for producing fatty acid esters from flattened oleaginous grains has been disclosed in WO 2009/013349.
More specifically, the process taught by this prior publication is used to prepare fatty acid esters which can be used as biodiesel, prepared from whole oilseeds, and comprises the following steps:    a. Preheating the whole non-hulled seeds;    b. Flattening the oilseeds with their husks;    c. Drying the flattened seeds so as to obtain a water and volatile matter content of between 0.5 and 2.5%, preferably between 1.5% and 2%;    d. Transesterification by contacting the flattened, dried seeds with an alcohol medium in the presence of a catalyst;    e. Separating the liquid and solid phases resulting from transesterification;    f. Neutralizing the liquid phase derived from step e);    and    g. Removing the alcohol and separating the glycerin from the fatty acid esters.
Document WO 2010/124118, on the other hand discloses a process and device for making grease. In this publication, it has in particular been shown that vegetable oils have a uniquely different behavior when exposed to high temperatures. In the case of some vegetable oils, once the oil temperature exceeds 150° C. (300° F.), the oil begins to oxidize rapidly and if steps are not taken to remedy this rapid oxidation, the product will begin to polymerize, resulting in irreversible change. In such cases, the product could partially or fully polymerize or change state from a soap into a polymer with no or little lubrication value. But, several methods exist for stabilizing soybean or other vegetable oils so they can be reacted with lithium and produce stable greases. The use of high oleic vegetable oils is often employed to improve the oxidation stability of the final product. Vegetable oils, due to their higher viscosity index, present a more stable body when exposed to high temperatures. As a result, properly formulated vegetable oil-based grease would show more stable body in use.
In this prior publication, the Applicant has discovered, inter alia, that a soap, and in turn, grease of the described invention can provide an optimal combination of properties as compared to comparable soaps and greases prepared using conventional heating methods (e.g., hot plate, thermal blankets). The ability to provide more uniform and controllable heating can, in turn, help to make the entire process both faster and more efficient as well. More specifically, it has been described that heating with microwave energy imparts significantly less oxidative damage to a composition as compared to the same composition when heated using conventional means. For instance, the term OSI (for "Oil Stability Index") is a value that often corresponds with the ability of an oil composition to resist oxidation. A suitable method for determining OSI is known as the AOCS test method Cd 12-92, the disclosure of which is incorporated in this prior publication by reference. In turn, it is typically the fact that the higher the OSI, generally the better suited the composition will be for use, both in terms of initially preparing a soap, and also in terms of using the soap or corresponding grease over a longer period of time. To summarize, it has been shown in this prior publication that the use of microwaves to heat oils, typically oils with high oleic acid content, allows them to maintain their OSI high, in other words their ability to resist oxidation relative to their use as greases especially. The suitability of the OSI testing and relevance to the real performance in use of transformers remain unestablished.
For the electrical purpose of the present invention, fluids based on the use of vegetable oils traditionally use refined, bleached, deodorized and winterized (RBD) oils; therefore all prior usage is established on that basis. In traditional RBD operations. impurities are removed at various steps namely degumming, neutralizing, washing, drying, bleaching, filtering and deodorizing. This chemical process has many drawbacks, such as high energy demand, disposal of polluted effluents but also loss of essential components of the oils which have protective attributes in terms of the durability and preservation of the oil in food or industrial applications. In addition, RBD refineries are very large plants, which may not be suited to industrial applications of the invention.

Liquid compositions used as insulating and heat transfer means, electrical devices containing said compositions and preparation method for such compositions


A method of error diffusion selects colorants, from a plurality of colorants defining a color space, to obtain an actual color which represents a desired color for respective pixels. The actual colors are output by an output apparatus. The process first determines the desired color for a pixel. Next, undercolor removal is performed for the desired color, thereby dividing the desired color into first and second components. A scalar error diffusion is then performed for the first component of the desired color, resulting in a first component of the actual color. A vector error diffusion is performed for the second component of the desired color. The vector error diffusion calculates an error as a negative of a distance in the color space between a closest available colorant in a subset of the plurality of colorants and the desired color. The error is added to the desired color to obtain a second component of the actual color. The first and second components of the actual color are combined to achieve the final actual color. The final actual color is output to a color output apparatus.

The present invention relates to color printing, and in particular to color printing in which a small set of colorants, such as inks, are placed on a sheet in a manner to create a large range of apparent colors. The present invention is most useful in digital printing devices, such as xerographic or ink-jet printers.
Digital halftoning is the process of converting a continuous tone image to bi-level. Many output devices, including many printers and some cathode ray tube (xe2x80x9cCRTxe2x80x9d) and liquid crystal display (xe2x80x9cLCDxe2x80x9d) based devices are intrinsically bi-level. In other words, the process only prints or displays a dot or the process does not print or display a dot. Thus, a variety of geometrical patterns are created such that a group of dots and blank areas represent the continuous tone image as closely as possible. Because the halftoned image is only an approximate representation of the continuous tone image, there are differences between the continuous tone image and the halftone image. Those areas of the halftone pattern which do not match the original image are noise or error. An objective of much research in digital halftoning is reducing the amount of visible noise.
There are two broad classifications of digital halftoning: conventional, passive halftoning and active halftoning. Conventional, passive halftoning yields an appearance that is similar to that provided by classical analogue processes developed before digital techniques were available. It is most appropriate for devices that cannot display isolated pixels. Active halftoning typically implements some type of error diffusion to produce an image having a more pleasing appearance. Images created using error diffusion tend to have noise at higher and, hence, less visible spatial frequencies. Error diffusion is most appropriate for devices that can display isolated pixels.
Digital printing devices implementing halftoning technology, such as electrophotographic laser printers and ink-jet printers, are well known. In color digital printing devices, a small set of primary colorants, typically black, yellow, magenta, and cyan, are selectably placed in different areas on a print sheet. Small areas of each primary colorant are then optically blended together to create a large range (i.e., gamut) of colors which would be apparent to an observer.
Error diffusion allows a large gamut of colors to be obtained from a small number of colorants in a halftoned image. In order to print a small area of a desired source color using error diffusion, the source color is located in color space relative to the locations of the primary colorants, such as cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. The colorant which is closest to the target color in color space is then selected for one pixel. However, the error, essentially meaning the Euclidean distance in color space between the source color and the selected colorant, is recorded, and is in effect distributed or diffused to the image data of subsequent neighboring pixels. In brief, this diffusion of each error to neighboring pixels influences the decision of which primary colorant to use in those neighboring pixels. The overall effect is, over a reasonably large number of pixels, an optical blend resulting in the desired source color.
Recently, particularly in the technology of ink-jet printing, there has been developed a hardware option in which selectably available colorants are provided beyond the usual pure primary colorants of cyan, magenta, yellow, and black. For example, some designs may include colorants of additive colors, such as red, blue, and green, in addition to the subtractive colors of cyan, magenta, and yellow. Other designs may include colorants representing a lighter or diluted version of another primary color, such as a light-cyan, which is 50% lighter than regular-cyan. The use of such additional colorants can enhance and/or enlarge the available gamut associated with a particular apparatus. One particular additional colorant, which will be the subject of the embodiment of the present invention described below, is, in addition to a pure black K colorant, a grey LK colorant. The grey LK colorant is a 50% dilution of black K ink. Selectable use of the grey LK ink will, of course, be helpful in the creation of monochrome halftones, such as black-and-white photographs, and also for the creation of non-saturated colors. Other additional colorants which will be discussed include light-cyan LC, light-magenta LM, and light-yellow LY.
These additional colorants, such as light-cyan or grey, are considered intra-gamut colorants. More specifically, the pure colorants such as cyan or magenta define a gamut and are, therefore, disposed at the corners of a cube 10 representing a color space of the gamut. The intra-gamut colorants, on the other hand, are disposed within the color space of the gamut. In other words, the intra-gamut colorants are along the edges, on the faces, or within the cube 10. While this is useful for obtaining accurate representations of colors, such as pastels, which are near the white or grey areas of a gamut, use of such intra-gamut colorants can interfere with the error-diffusion colorant selection process.
For example, an error-diffusion selection process may occasionally decide that an intra-gamut colorant such as grey LK, or a mixture of on-edge colorants such as light-cyan LC plus light-magenta LM (i.e., a color on one of the faces of the color cube), is desirable for a particular pixel in an image. In either of these situations, the resulting error from selection of the intra-gamut color, when diffused to influence the selection of colorants for neighboring pixels, may require the selection of colors which are out of the gamut. These out-of-gamut colors would be physically impossible to obtain with the available colorants. In other words, selection of a colorant either inside the gamut or on the face of the gamut may lead to errors which require selection of colorants outside the gamut, which are not available. Consequently, artifacts from large errors may occur.
To illustrate the drawback of the prior art system, FIG. 1 illustrates a cube 10 representing a color space CS1. The color space characterizes a gamut indicating a three-dimensional volume including every combination of the various primary colorants available for a particular printing apparatus. Starting at the lower corner W of FIG. 1, a white value indicates no colorant is placed for a particular pixel in an image to be printed. Three (3) axes extend from the lower corner W. Numeric values are associated with points along each of the three axes. More specifically, the value of zero (0) is assigned to the lower corner W and the value of 255 is assigned to the point of full color saturation along the different directions. These three directions represent contributions of three primary colorants, yellow Y, cyan C, and magenta M. The more a particular colorant is apparent, the farther along any particular axis and, consequently, the higher the value (up to 255) of the particular color along the axis in the color space.
A color desired to be printed in an image is indicated as a source color at the location marked X. The color X is disposed near the inside surface of the center of the face within the gamut CS1 formed by the points marked C, W, M, B. Therefore, the color X is closest to the location in color space of grey LK. The particular problem addressed by the present invention occurs when selecting which colorants to use in order to obtain this desired source color X by a combination of, in this case, cyan C, grey LK, magenta M, light-cyan LC, and light-magenta LM.
Under the basic well known technique of error diffusion to select colorants, a source color X desired to be printed is located in color space, and the colorant selected for a particular pixel is the colorant which is closest, by Euclidean distance, to the source color X in color space. Once the particular colorant is selected, the distance, here indicated as d, is calculated in terms of both magnitude and direction, and then the error, which is the negative of the distance (same magnitude, opposite direction), is then diffused to influence the color selection decision for a certain subset of neighboring pixels, as is known in the art. In other words, a fixed proportion such as xe2x80x9cFloyd-Steinberg weightsxe2x80x9d of the error is applied to each of a plurality of the neighboring pixels, thereby altering the position of the source color for the neighboring pixels.
The contribution of the diffused error from the colorant selection in one pixel influences the color selection for a neighboring pixel. Notably, the colorant selection for the neighboring pixel may be different than it originally would have been because the error from a previous pixel selection has been added to it. The specific desired overall color (such as a shade of brown) is obtained as the cumulative result of this error diffusion over a reasonably large number of pixels. Of course, the present discussion is directed to obtaining a desired source color over a fairly large set of pixel areas. In xe2x80x9cbusyxe2x80x9d images, where the desired source color changes abruptly across the image, an error-diffusion technique will have a different effect on the selection of colorants.
When an intra-gamut colorant such as LK is selected by the error diffusion algorithm as the closest available color, the error, meaning the negative of the distance to the source color X, which is diffused to influence the selection of other pixels, occasionally causes a practical problem. When this error is added to the source color X for the selection of a colorant for a neighboring pixel, the resulting new source color, indicated as X= in FIG. 1, is pushed effectively out of the gamut CS1. This pushing of the new source color out of the gamut comes about because the selected colorant LK is located toward the center of the gamut, and thus the resulting error vector is pointed directly out of the gamut CS1. If this error-diffused new source color X= is the color that would serve as the new source color from which a colorant would be selected in the neighboring pixel, it would be impossible to select a combination of primary colors such as C, M, Y, etc. which could possibly simulate this color, and the whole error-diffusion process is compounded. A similar problem arises if the error diffusion algorithm chooses a color on one of the faces (e.g., LC+LM, LC+LY, LM+LY, LK+LC, LK+LM, and LK+LY) as the closest available color.
The present invention is directed to an error-diffusion system, specifically for use with an apparatus wherein intra-gamut colorants, such as grey, or lighter or diluted versions of primary color colorants, are available. Furthermore, the present invention provides a new and improved apparatus and method which overcomes the above-referenced problems and others.
A method selects colorants, from a plurality of colorants defining a color space, for a set of pixels. The method obtains actual colors approximating desired colors for the respective pixels. The actual colors are output by an output apparatus. The method performs a variety of steps for each pixel in the set. Specifically, the method determines the desired color. Next, undercolor removal is performed for the desired color, thereby dividing the desired color into first and second components. A scalar error diffusion is performed for the first component of the desired color, resulting in a first component of the actual color. A vector error diffusion is performed for the second component of the desired color, resulting in a second component of the actual color. The vector error diffusion uses a reduced set of combinations achievable from the plurality of colorants. The first and second components of the actual color are combined to achieve the final actual color. The final actual color is output by the output apparatus.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, the step of performing undercolor removal includes performing full undercolor removal.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the color space includes at least one colorant for outputting at least one level of a black. The step of performing undercolor removal includes identifying a level of black as the first component of the desired color and identifying respective levels of other colorants defining the color space as the second component of the desired color.
In accordance with a more limited aspect of the invention, the color space is defined by eight colorants. The determining step includes determining components of the eight colorants included in the desired color.
In accordance with even a more limited aspect of the invention, the color space includes at least two colorants for outputting respective levels of the black, at least two colorants for outputting a dark and a light level of at least two of a cyan, a magenta, and a yellow, and at least one colorant for outputting the other of the cyan, the magenta, and the yellow. The step of performing vector error diffusion includes selecting a closest achievable color not including two of the light levels.
In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the outputting step includes printing the actual color on a color printer.
One advantage of the present invention is that unavailable colorants either inside the color space or on the xe2x80x9cfacexe2x80x9d of the color space are not chosen for vector error diffusion.
Another advantage of the present invention is that artifacts, occurring from large errors when a vector error diffusion algorithm chooses these unavailable colorants, are decreased.
Still further advantages of the present invention will become apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading and understanding the following detailed description of the preferred embodiments.

Error diffusion on moderate numbers of output colors


An apparatus for detecting a source code error location in a mixed-mode program is disclosed. The apparatus may include a compiler, a mapping table generator, a simulator, a comparison data generator and an error location detector. The apparatus extracts low-level data while simulating a verification program and while simulating a reference program. The low-level data is mapped to mapping tables for a verification program and a reference program, and by comparing the tables it is determined if there is an error in the mixed-mode program and if so, where.

1. Field
The following description relates to a multi-mode processing technology. For example, the following description relates to a technology for verifying mapped code in a mixed-mode program by a multi-mode reconfigurable processor, and a debugging technology to help find is source code errors.
2. Description of the Related Art
A reconfigurable architecture is an architecture that can alter the hardware configuration of a computing device based on the tasks to be performed by the computing device, thereby enabling optimization at the hardware level for each of the tasks. Such a capability is valuable because one piece of hardware is capable of performing multiple tasks well simply by changing settings of one piece of hardware, instead of requiring multiple pieces of hardware, each optimized for one task, or using a single piece of hardware that is not adaptable, and hence performs at least some of the tasks suboptimally.
When a task is processed using only hardware, it is difficult to efficiently handle even a slight alteration to the way in which tasks are performed, because most hardware is configured to function in a fixed way. On the other hand, when a task is processed using only software, it is possible to alter the software according to the nature of the task, and perform the task using the altered software. However, the task is processed slower than when the task is processed using fixed hardware, in that adapting software for various tasks may not be ideally adapted for optimal performance on the fixed hardware.
A reconfigurable hardware architecture offers the advantages of both hardware and software. More specifically, a reconfigurable hardware architecture ensures the optimal performance of customized hardware while providing the versatility of customized software. For these reasons, the use of reconfigurable architecture has increased, especially in the field of digital signal processing where the same tasks are often repeatedly performed and optimizing those tasks has a meaningful impact on the overall performance.
There are many kinds of reconfigurable architectures. A case in point is Coarse-Grained Array (CGA), which consists of a plurality of Processing Elements (PEs) connected to each other. By changing the way in which the PEs are connected to each other, the CGA may be optimized for performing a specific operation or task.
Recently, a new reconfigurable architecture has been developed, which utilizes a specific PE of a coarse-grained array as a Very Long Instruction Word (VLIW) machine. In such a reconfigurable architecture, there are two execution modes, a CGA mode and a VLIW mode. In a CGA mode, typically, one or more iterative loop operation are processed, and in VLIW mode, typically, general operations other than loop operations are processed. This approach is taken because the CGA mode may be more efficient for handling loops.
A reconfigurable processor based on the CGA has a very complex structure. Such a processor includes a plurality of Functional Units (FUs), a global register file, and a local register file.
If there is data dependency in the CGA, it is difficult for a compiler to analyze and process data. Data dependencies are important to identify because otherwise errors may occur if illegal or corrupted data is generated that does not satisfy the data dependencies. For example, if the compiler fails to overcome the data dependency, a user or programmer cannot even detect an error in binary data mapped in the CGA. As a result, an unintended result may be achieved during execution of a program. In order for reconfigurable hardware architecture to be a viable way of processing data, it must be able to avoid such runtime errors.

Apparatus and method for detecting location of source code error in mixed-mode program


A soundproofing covering (10) having resonators (30). Said covering (10) comprises a trellis (20) provided with at least two resonators (30) and at least one stud (50) for fastening at least two resonators (30) to a panel (5) that is to be treated, each resonator (30) including a blade (31) extending longitudinally in a plane (P1) from one end (32) of the resonator (30) that is fastened to a stud (50) to another end (33) of the resonator (30), said blade (31) having at least one transverse protuberance (35) for oscillating in an elevation direction (D1) perpendicular to said plane (P1), each stud (50) extending in elevation from a face for securing to the panel (5) that is to be treated towards each resonator (30) fastened to the stud (50), at least one stud (50) having damper means (60) interposed between said face and each of the resonators (30) fastened to the stud.

(1) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a soundproofing covering having resonators, to a panel including the covering, and to an aircraft.
The invention thus lies in the field of treating acoustic nuisance on board an aircraft.
(2) Description of Related Art
The present invention relates more particularly to systems for treating noise. Reducing the sound level of noise is an ever-increasing problem given the impacts of noise on the comfort and the health of people. This problem is encountered particularly, but not exclusively, in the technical field of aircraft, and in particular of rotary wing aircraft.
A rotary wing aircraft has at least one lift rotor that is driven in rotation by a power train, and possibly also a tail rotor for providing the aircraft with yaw control. The power train may include at least one engine and at least one main gearbox (MGB) interposed between the engine and the lift rotor.
Furthermore, an aircraft may have moving mechanical members for cooling equipment on board the aircraft, and in particular for cooling the main gearbox and also electronic equipment. Moving mechanical members may also be used for delivering air into a cabin. Conventionally, a fan is used for cooling equipment and/or for moving a mass of air.
Thus, such an aircraft generally has multiple noise sources, including for example a main gearbox, turboshaft engine blades, or indeed fans.
Under such circumstances, these sources of noise may immerse a rotorcraft with the entire frequency spectrum that is audible to humans, this audible noise frequency spectrum extending from a frequency component of about 20 hertz (Hz) to a frequency component of about 20,000 Hz.
A structural panel or cladding for an aircraft generally includes at least one wall made of metal, of composite, and/or of thermoplastic materials.
Several solutions have already been proposed in order to attenuate the noise transmitted through such panels.
In order to improve the soundproofing of panels for noise emitted at medium frequencies, conventionally understood as frequencies in the range 300 Hz to 1000 Hz, a first solution in widespread use relies on adding a layer of elastomer material to an outer surface of a panel.
That addition also presents the characteristic of increasing the mass per unit area of the panel. Unfortunately, the soundproofing capacity of a panel mainly follows a "weight" relationship whereby the soundproofing capacity of a panel as measured in decibels varies in proportion to the logarithm of the weight per unit area of the panel. Increasing the weight per unit area of the panel thus tends to optimize the acoustic performance of the panel, but to the detriment of the overall weight of the aircraft.
The elastomer layer also increases the damping of the panel thus making it possible to reduce the negative effect of potential vibratory resonances with auxiliary elements.
However, that first solution suffers from the drawback of increasing the weight of the panel.
Document FR 2 815 603 suggests incorporating a solid body in composite panels of sandwich structure, the solid body being incorporated in a closed space inside the sandwich structure.
That second solution is remarkable in that it enables the sandwich structure to be damped while adding little extra weight.
It is particularly effective for noise emitted in the high frequency range, but its effectiveness is less good for noise emitted at medium frequencies.
Document US 2011/0020592 proposes incorporating dissipative elements, in particular elements of elliptical geometry, in order to improve the damping of structural panels or cladding with little added weight. Such a dissipative element may amplify the movement of masses within a plane that is substantially parallel to the panel that is to be treated.
Under such circumstances, the weight per unit area of a panel may be increased at reduced "weight" cost.
Document FR 2 939 406 suggests interposing a foam between two walls. When a first wall is excited by noise, the second wall provides a vibratory response that seeks to eliminate the original excitation, like a resonator.
The foam optionally includes inserts to avoid sagging.
The effect of those solutions is particularly effective for seeking noise emitted at high frequency. Nevertheless, treating noise emitted at medium frequency is found to be difficult, and may lead to providing a device of high weight.
Active techniques based on actuators, e.g. piezoelectric actuators, have also been proposed, but they can present drawbacks such as complexity, cost, or indeed requiring the incorporation of high-power electronic equipment.
Other concepts are used for improving the soundproofing of panels, e.g. based on adding microperforations in a wall.
Also known are Documents US 2011/0189440, US 2011/0005165, WO 2012/131011, and US 2009/078519.

Soundproofing covering having resonators, a panel provided with the covering, and an aircraft


Techniques regarding the development and/or analysis of one or more quantum computing programs are provided. For example, one or more embodiments described herein can comprise a system, which can comprise a memory that can store computer executable components. The system can also comprise a processor, operably coupled to the memory, and that can execute the computer executable components stored in the memory. The computer executable components can comprise a circuit component, operatively coupled to the processor, that can create a quantum computing program over a period of time. The computer executable components can also comprise a visualization component, operatively coupled to the processor, that can generates a quantum state visualization that depicts a characterization of the quantum computing program over the period of time.

The subject disclosure relates to quantum computing programs, and more specifically, to the development and/or analysis of one or more quantum computing programs.
Quantum computing programs (e.g., commonly referred to as "circuits") can be developed in a circuit creation environment generated by a computer program. The circuit creation environment can enable a user to create and/or modify circuit configurations to achieve one or more desired outcomes. However, conventional circuit creation environments provide limited means for analysis of developing quantum computing programs. For example, conventional developing quantum computing programs do not enable a user to preview changes made to the subject circuit over time, nor how the changes affect the operational characteristics of the circuit.
In addition, conventional developing quantum computing programs do not readily provide a user with a method to preview changes made to a subject quantum circuit over time or preview how the changes affect the quantum circuit. For example, conventional circuit creation environments fail to control multiple visualization of the quantum circuit and fail to selectively view modifications over the quantum circuit's entire course of development (e.g., rather than at a single point in development). Thus, conventional circuit creation environments provide static analysis of a subject quantum circuit without enabling a review of past modifications made through the development process and/or how past modifications have affected the subject quantum circuit through the development process.

Development and analysis of quantum computing programs

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A skate provided with a supporting frame for in-line wheels and comprising a shoe which is composed of a nonrigid upper that, in a sandwich-like fashion, surrounds a stiffening element which affects the regions of the tip, of the heel, of the ankle and of the sole of the foot, and a lateral band or rim made of rubber which externally and laterally surrounds said upper proximate to said region of the sole of the foot. An anchoring sole for the frame is formed thereat. A skate is obtained which at the same time allows optimum transmission of forces from the foot to the wheel supporting frame and optimum fit for the user's foot.

The present invention relates to a skate.
Conventional skates are normally constituted by a rigid shell which is associated, in a lower region and at the sole, with a frame which is usually U-shaped. The wings of the frame are directed towards the ground and two or more wheels are pivoted therebetween so as to be able to rotate freely and are thus mutually in-line.
Inside the rigid shell there is usually provided a soft innerboot suitable to improve the fit for the user.
These conventional skates, however, entail two drawbacks: the stiffness of the shell, which is required in order to allow optimum transmission of forces from the foot to the wheels, is in contrast with the need to allow an optimum fit of the skate. In fact in the sports practice, the stiffness causes pain to the user at the various pressure regions of the foot.
On the other hand, although a lesser stiffness of the shell slightly improves fit, it does not allow optimum transmission of forces from the foot to the wheels.
In an attempt to obviate these drawbacks, German patent DE-3 043 425 discloses a skate composed of a nonrigid upper containing an insole provided with pins or rivets which pass at the sole, at the upper, at suitable holes formed in a stiffening element, and then at a wheel or blade supporting frame.
The stiffening element is thus arranged outside the nonrigid shoe and is constituted by a rigid sole, by a toe cap and by a counter for the heel, which also acts as a partial rear support for the ankle.
Also this type of skate, however, entails drawbacks. Because of the external position of the stiffening element and to the shape of the heel counter, the stiffening element adheres to the foot imperfectly, thus offering a discontinuous support for said foot; for example, during forward flexing the stiffening element does not follow the ankle.
WO-95/15094 relates to a shoe for skates which is composed of an external structure, padded elements arranged inside said external structure, and a lining arranged inside the internal structure and inside the padded elements; its characteristic is that it has a plastic insert arranged between the external structure and the padded elements and comprises a U-shaped heel counter arranged in the heel region and a portion extending upward so as to affect the ankle.
Also this skate, however, entails drawbacks, since it does not cope with the need to provide lateral containment for the entire skate because no kind of structure is provided in the front part, and it does not offer adequate support for fixing to the wheel supporting frame. Moreover, it is structurally complicated, needing various production steps that require care in positioning the various components before mutually associating them.

Skate with non-rigid upper and stiffening element


A plasma display panel (PDP) including a plurality of cavities within a barrier structure is disclosed. In one embodiment, the PDP includes i) an upper substrate, ii) a lower substrate facing the upper substrate, iii) the barrier structure disposed between the upper substrate and the lower substrate and defining discharge cells, iv) upper discharge electrodes arranged at intervals within the barrier structure and each surrounding at least parts of the discharge cells, v) lower discharge electrodes arranged at intervals within the barrier structure, located under the upper discharge electrode, and each surrounding at least parts of the discharge cells, and vi) phosphor layers disposed over the discharge cells. According to one embodiment of the present invention, ineffective power consumption can be reduced and heat generated in the discharge cells can be effectively dissipated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a plasma display panel that can reduce ineffective power consumption and improve heat dissipation.
2. Description of the Related Technology
Plasma display panel (PDP) apparatuses can provide large screens and certain advantages, such as a high-quality image display, a very thin and light design, and a wide-range viewing angle. PDPs have attracted considerable attention as the most promising next-generation flat display devices, because they can be manufactured in a simplified manner and can be easily manufactured in a large size compared with other flat display panels.
Such PDPs are classified into a direct current (DC) type, an alternating current (AC) type, and a hybrid type according to discharge voltages applied to discharge cells. PDPs may also be classified into a facing discharge type and a surface discharge type according to the type of a discharge structure. In recent years, AC type PDPs having a surface discharge type three-electrode structure are generally used.
FIG. 1 illustrates a conventional AC surface-discharge type PDP 10 having a three-electrode structure. The PDP 10 includes an upper substrate 11 and a lower substrate 21 opposite to the upper substrate 11.
Common electrodes 12 and scan electrodes 13 together define discharge gaps and are formed on a bottom surface of the upper substrate 11. The common electrodes 12 and the scan electrodes 13 are buried in an upper dielectric layer 14. A protective layer 15 is formed on the lower surface of the upper dielectric layer 14.
Address electrodes 22, intersecting the common electrodes 12 and the scan electrodes 13, are formed on the upper surface of the lower substrate 21. The address electrodes 22 are buried in a lower dielectric layer 23. Barrier ribs 24 are arranged at predetermined intervals on the upper surface of the lower dielectric layer 23, thereby partitioning discharge spaces 25. A phosphor layer 26 is formed in each of the discharge spaces 25. The discharge spaces 25 are filled with discharge gas.
In the PDP 10, ultraviolet radiation is produced from plasma generated due to discharge in the discharge spaces 25. The ultraviolet light excites the phosphor layers 26. The excited phosphor layers 26 emit visible light, and thus an image is displayed using the visible light.
However, about 40% of the visible light emitted by the phosphor layers 26 are absorbed by the electrodes 12 and 13, the upper dielectric layer 14, and the protective layer 15 sequentially formed on the lower surface of the upper substrate 11 because those elements (12-15) block the light transmitting path of the PDP 10. Thus, the conventional PDP 10 has reduced luminous efficiency. Furthermore, when an image is being displayed for a long period of time, charged particles of the discharge gas are ion sputtered to the phosphor layers 26 due to an electrical field, so that image sticking or permanent afterimage occurs. This leads to reduction of the lifespan of the PDP 10.

Plasma display apparatus including a plurality of cavities defined within a barrier structure


In an electric arc furnace system for making steel, a method and structure (1) for eliminating teeming hang-ups and ensuring temperature homogeneity in a ladle which teems into an ingot mold by gas purging at all possible steps under both atmospheric and vacuum conditions, and (2) for preventing non-metallic inclusions from appearing in the final product by deflecting the granular material in the teeming ladle well block away from the ingot mold by a heat resistant but combustible deflector just prior to entry of the teeming stream into the ingot mold.

The invention disclosed in that application relates to electric arc furnace steel making systems and specifically to such systems having a ladle metallurgical furnace therein, which systems have the advantage of requiring decreased energy input per unit of steel produced compared to prior art systems. It is particularly directed to making alloy steel at a rate limited only by the maximum melting capacity of the arc furnace. In addition the invention, without modification, is adaptable to nearly every end use found in the steel industry today and particularly to producing unique, one of a kind heats of widely varying compositions in a randomized production sequence.
For example, the invention disclosed therein makes possible the production of up to four different types of steel (as distinct from grades of steel) in a single electric arc furnace system without slowdown or delay in the processing sequence of heats regardless of the number or randomized order of the different types of steel to be made in a campaign. Thus the system will produce at least non-vacuum arc remelt steel, vacuum arc remelt steel, vacuum oxygen decarburized non-vacuum arc remelt steel and vacuum oxygen decarburized vacuum arc remelt steel as well as vacuum treated ladle metallurgical furnace steel.
Now, although the process time from the charging of the electric furnace to teeming in the invention disclosed in said application is considerably shorter than the charge to teem time in conventional electric furnace steel making, the time between furnace tap to teeming is not necessarily commensurably shortened because of the added step of ladle furnace treatment; indeed, the time span may equal or even somewhat exceed the time span in conventional electric furnace steel making due to the dwell time in the ladle metallurgical furnace. Although the ladle metallurgical furnace has heat input capacity, that capacity is considerably less than the heat input capacity of the electric arc furnace. As a consequence, and particularly in connection with the larger heat sizes experienced in the system of the aforesaid application, teeming problems may arise due to the tendency of the molten steel in the teeming vessel to cool an undesirable amount in the bottom of the teeming vessel. This cooling can adversely affect the teeming stream, as by forming a semi-solid plug or glob in or above and adjacent to the teeming nozzle which can restrict the flow rate of the teem stream.
It is therefore highly desirable that the steel in the region of the teeming nozzle be just as fluid as the steel in the balance of the teeming vessel so that blockage or restricted flow through the teeming nozzle may be avoided.
A drawback to teeming systems that utilize granular material in the teeming nozzle of the teeming vessel is the possibility that at the moment the teeming stream begins the granular material may find its way into the molten metal receiving teeming receptacle and, eventually, into the final solidified product thereby causing serious cleanliness problems in the final product.
Accordingly a need exists to ensure that the teeming stream from the teeming vessel is as fluid as it can be, even in heats of over 100 tons; that is, the temperature of the molten steel in the region of the teeming nozzle should be as close to the temperature of the steel in the regions above the teeming nozzle as possible so that a restricted flow from the teeming nozzle (sometimes referred to as a hang-up) is avoided.
And as the cleanliness specifications of the final product become tightened it is more and more incumbent on the steel maker to ensure that no steel is rejected due to an undesirably high inclusion content attributable to the insulating granular material present in the teeming nozzle region, often referred to as the well block or well block region.
It is accordingly an object of the invention disclosed herein to provide, in a system having a single arc furnace, a single metallurgical furnace and a single vacuum treatment station means for ensuring that teeming stream difficulties, such as hang-ups, do not arise due to a temperature differential between the molten steel adjacent the well block in a teeming ladle and regions of the steel remote from the well block.
Another object of the invention is to decrease or eliminate the presence of undesirable inclusions in the final, solidified product attributable to the presence of granular material in the passage in the nozzle of the teeming vessel.
Like numerals will be used to refer to like or similar parts from Figure to Figure of the drawing.

Flexible minimum energy utilization electric arc furnace system and processes for making steel products


A rotary cutting head adapted to allow a flexible strand of cutting wire to be inserted therein has a coupler for coupling the cutting head to a driveshaft of the motor, a support, and a clamping mechanism supported by the support in the rotary cutting head. The clamping mechanism is adapted to clamp the strand within the exterior housing. The clamping mechanism includes squeezing cams mounted so as to pivot in parallel planes therebetween and relative to the rotation axis of the cutting head. The support is axially translatable in the exterior housing. An application of actual movement in a direction opposite to the housing and the support causes a raising of the squeezing cams or a lowering of the squeezing cams.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention concerns a rotary cutting head using wire-shaped flexible cutting elements. It is advantageously intended for equipping portable cutting devices such as grass cutters, edge cutters, motorized brush cutters or mowers, hedge cutters and similar.
More precisely, the invention concerns a rotary cutting head using strands of flexible cutting wire constituted by lengths of wire, rods or slender sticks, made of any suitable material such as 'Nylon'® or other appropriate flexible material.
The invention concerns also portable cutting devices equipped with the cutting head disclosed in the description below.
2. Description of Related Art Including Information Disclosed Under 37 CFR 1.97 and 37 CFR 1.98
Motorized tools equipped with such cutting heads are currently used by professionals as well as private individuals. By way of examples documents US-2001/0023542, U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,344, U.S. Pat. No. 6,944,956, WO-2004/064489, WO-2005/032237, WO-2006/017372, WO-2008/139246, FR-2888085 are cited which describe various possible fittings of cutting heads using cutting elements constituted by strands of flexible cutting wires.
These cutting heads are mounted at the distal end of a handle equipped with a U-shaped handle or dual guide and control handle for the rotational drive motor of said cutting heads, and with a ring for attaching a carrying harness.
A cutting head of this kind supports one or several (most often two) wire-shaped cutting elements extending radially towards the outside, each cutting element presenting a predetermined limited length. The body of the cutting head features, laterally, at least one inlet opening for the engagement of a strand of cutting wire, and, in certain embodiments, at least one opposite opening for the removal of used or damaged cutting wire(s).
A clamping mechanism is housed in the body of the cutting head, this mechanism enabling, on the one hand, the driving in of one of the end portions of the cutting strands into the rotary cutting head, and, other hand, opposing the inverse movement of said strands which are thus locked in an active assembly position. This mechanism includes, most often, a toothed toggling cam subjected to the action of a pressure device.
According to document WO-2006/017372, each strand of cutting wire presents a predetermined length and can be squeezed, in a detachable manner, in an essentially closed chamber, by means of a squeezing mechanism including a mobile clamping element and a spring which tends to push said clamping element against the proximal end of the strand of cutting wire engaged in said chamber. A releasing element (special tool or screwdriver) is necessary to cooperate with the clamping element in order to move the latter away from the strand of cutting wire, to meet the antagonistic action exerted by the spring, in order to withdraw said strand of cutting wire from the cutting head.
In this case, to perform the replacement of a strand or the two cutting strands that are used or damaged, appropriate tools need to be available in order to proceed successively to the neutralization of the springs maintaining said strands in position. Besides being a constraining intervention which requires a certain knowledge and familiarity with the tool, this arrangement does not permit to modify the active length of the cutting strands while the device is being used, without going through the inconvenience pointed out above. Furthermore, the cutting strands cannot traverse the cutting head, because the axis or drive shaft providing the rotation of said cutting head passes through the middle of it. The operators are therefore obliged to use relatively short cutting strands, which increases the frequence of their replacement owing to wear.
Document US-2001/0023542 describes a cutting head provided with four side openings to allow the engagement and removal of four cutting strands. The proximal part of each of these strands is engaged in a closed chamber kept in position of active implantation by a dedicated clamping device for each strand. The control element of each clamping device is constituted by a sliding bar which is accessible from the upper face of the housing of the cutting head. Each clamping device is constituted by two horizontal cams subjected to the action of springs between which a strand of cutting wire can be engaged and squeezed. The clamping cams are punctually opened by activation of the sliding control bars placed on the upper part of the cutting head for the purpose of freeing the worn strand and or to allow insertion of a new strand. During the release of the sliding bars, the clamping cams come closer together to exert a squeezing action on the strand under the action of the spring.
Utilization of the cutting head described in this document leads to the same inconveniences as those pointed out previously concerning document WO-2006/017372, with, additionally, the inconvenience of a more complex fitting and utilization.
The length of the cutting strands is reduced, requiring consequently more frequent replacements of the worn strands. Two cams are necessary to block each cutting wire which increases the number of components and complicates the manufacture of the devices.
To remove the used wire, it is necessary:                either to extract the wire from below and through the center of the head by simple traction, after having removed the sliding bowl;        but one must have beforehand let a length of wire protrude, because otherwise this is impossible;        the area where to seize the wire strand for the purpose of extracting it is subject to clogging;        or actuate the control bar to unlock the cams;        unlocking is done wire by wire and each control bar must be actuated independently which causes a loss of time;        the control bars are of small dimensions and therefore difficult to manipulate while wearing gloves;        moving the control bars relative to the exterior bell of the cutting head requires some play and thus a risk of clogging and binding.
Document U.S. Pat. No. 6,401,344 describes a cutting head of a brush cutter.
This cutting device uses a traversing single strand wire and as such generates a significant loss of wire (the entire center of the head). If the wire breaks on one side of the head, it is obligatory to replace all of it. The unlocking bars are located at the outside, and hence subject to clogging.
The locking mechanism, in active position, of the single strand of cutting wire in the cutting head is constituted by a complex system of squeezing range which does not allow an automatic locking of the cutting wire, in this position.
The devices described in the documents above, and generally speaking, all cutting heads of the state of the art using flexible cutting strands, have these disadvantages:                the difficulty, or even in certain cases, the impossibility of making adjustments to the length of the cutting strands depending on the work to be done;        the time needed for removing worn cutting strands and for their replacement, because it is obligatory to wear gloves which complicates the manipulations;        clogging of exterior control devices for unlocking the blocking means of the cutting strands;        the need for having available a tool for opening the cutting head and unlocking the worn or damaged cutting strands.

Rotary cutting head using wire-shaped flexible cutting elements, and cutting devices comprising such a cutting head


An electric power steering device includes a first housing 6 and a second housing 7, which are respectively provided at both end portions in an axial direction of a stator 2 of the motor 1, for sandwiching the stator 2; and a movement suppressing means 22 that prevents the sandwiched stator 2 from moving in a circumference direction of the stator 2 with respect to the first housing 6 and the second housing 7; wherein at least one of the first housing 6 and the second housing 7 is fitted to a portion of the stator 2, and the movement suppressing means 22 is provided at the portion for fitting.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates to an electric power steering device including a motor for assisting a steering power transmitted from a driver.
2. Background Art
A conventional electric power steering device is composed of a motor for mainly assisting a steering power transmitted from a driver, a control device for controlling the motor, a linking device for linking a deceleration mechanism that decrease a power output of the motor and transmits the output power to a steering shaft, and sensors for detecting the steering power and the like transmitted from the driver. Moreover, as one of countermeasures for downsizing the electric power steering device, a control device-integrated electric power steering device, in which a motor and a control device are integrated, already exists (for example, refer to Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2).
In the conventional electric power steering devices in which a motor and a control device are integrated, there are various types of electric power steering devices in which the control device is disposed in parallel to a direction where a shaft core of the output shaft of the motor is extended (hereinafter, refer to an axial direction) so as to be mounted on the motor, or the control device is vertically disposed with respect to the axial direction so as to be mounted on the motor. However, components has been down sized and integrated, and assembling works of the components has been more complicated.


An electronic control unit includes a first calculator and a second calculator. When the first calculator has an abnormality, even if a start switch of a vehicle is switched OFF by a driver of the vehicle, the second calculator is configured to maintain system main relays on a positive terminal side and a negative terminal side in a conductive state in case that a certain travel continuation condition is fulfilled. Therefore, even when the driver has erroneously switched OFF the start switch, an electric power is suppliable to an inverter via the system main relays kept in the conductive state, thereby the vehicle is travelable by using a vehicle travel-power motor.

The related art discloses a vehicle control device for controlling a main relay in a hybrid vehicle or an electric vehicle, which includes an inverter connected to a vehicular electric motor, a main battery for supplying electric power to the inverter, and the main relay for electrically conducting and interrupting a connection between the main battery and the inverter.
The vehicle control device is provided with a conductive state holding circuit that holds a conductive state of the main relay for a predetermined period of time when (i) the main relay is in the conductive state and (ii) an interruption instruction is output from a control electronic control unit (ECU) to the main relay. Even when the control ECU is reset while the vehicle is traveling and the interruption instruction is output to the main relay by the holding circuit, the main relay can be held in the conductive state for a predetermined time without being shut off. Therefore, when the control ECU "reboots" during the holding period of the main relay under control of the holding circuit (i.e., when the ECU could resume its operation within such a period), travel of the vehicle is continuable (i.e., the vehicle can continue to travel) without drawing attention of the driver to such an interruption.
However, in the related art, when the control ECU is not recoverable from abnormality by the reset of the ECU, the control ECU may be kept from normally operating after the lapse of the holding period by the holding circuit, thereby resulting in an interruption of the main relay. In such a case, since no electric power is supplied to the inverter, the vehicle may become immobilized. Further, even when a conduction instruction is output from the control ECU during the holding period and the conductive state of the main relay is maintained, (i.e., is kept unchanged) there may also be a possibility that the inverter cannot be appropriately controlled due to the abnormality of the control ECU.


In one embodiment, a system for automatically establishing a wireless connection between adapters includes a master adapter coupleable to a peripheral device. The master adapter can automatically enter an inquiry mode in response to the occurrence of a first event. In the inquiry mode, the master adapter automatically establishes one or more wireless connections between the master adapter and one or more slave adapters that are coupled to one or more computer systems. The master adapter can also automatically enter an operational mode in response to the occurrence of a second event. In the operational mode, the master adapter enables communication between the peripheral device and the one or more computer systems via the one or more wireless connections using a wireless protocol.

Universal Serial Bus (USB) connections provide a flexible and adaptable method for connecting peripheral devices to computers. The ability of USB devices to "plug and play" as well as the wide array of USB devices available make USB devices a common staple of computing accessories. As USB devices become more and more common, technologies that provide increased USB functionality become increasingly valuable.

Automatically establishing a wireless connection between adapters


A case feeder mechanism, used in quantities of two or more in a horizontal magazine, feeds cases to a removal position at the discharge end of the magazine, for extracting and processing by a case erecting machine. Each mechanism has two U-shaped channels, a sliding ratchet pawl channel and a fixed ratchet pawl channel, each containing a row of ratchet pawls. Each sliding ratchet pawl channel pushes the ratchet pawls against the back of the case group, driving the group towards the removal position. Individual sensing valves determine when the lead case is in the removal position and control each sliding ratchet pawl channel independently. Each fixed ratchet pawl channel holds the ratchet pawls in position, supporting the case group during resetting of the sliding ratchet pawl channel. To reload, cases are simply inserted, preferably in bundles, behind the existing case group.

This invention relates generally to packaging machinery such as machinery for squaring or erecting cases, and more specifically to horizontal magazines or hoppers for feeding packaging blanks.
Packaging machines, case erectors in particular, often utilize horizontal magazines, which store a reserve or group of flattened cases. As the lead case of the group is removed into the machine for processing, the magazine's feeder apparatus moves the group of cases towards the removal position. This places the new lead case in position for removal. The feeder apparatus typically consists of a single plate, or other substantial structure, which is in contact with and applying pressure against the rearmost case of the group. These magazines tend to fall into two basic types, related to their reserve capacity.
The first type of magazine is typically referred to as the "standard equipment" magazine, which has a capacity of approximately one hundred cases. This magazine is usually a basic, low-cost unit powered by a stored energy type of drive, such as gravity or spring tension. This type of magazine is typically inclined, so that the cases tend to flow downhill. A crude temporary support means is provided to facilitate reloading.
The second type of magazine is typically referred to as the "extended capacity" magazine, capable of handling two hundred cases or more. This magazine is usually a costly and complex upgrade, powered by electricity, compressed air, or fluid power, and may also incorporate automated controls to simplify operation and reloading. This invention relates to embodiments of the first type of magazine, to which there are currently several disadvantages, such as those listed below.
Retracting the feeding apparatus is a manual operation, typically involving reaching over the magazine and applying considerable effort. This is strenuous and awkward for the operator. Additionally, retracting the feeding apparatus can disturb or upset the remaining cases in the magazine, causing them to slide out of the magazine and disrupt operation of the case erecting machine.
The temporary support means used to hold the group of cases while loading typically does not adequately feed the cases. This can cause erratic feeding and jamming of the case erecting machine while the magazine is being loaded.
There are typically side guide rails provided to guide the outer edges of the cases. When loading, the additional cases must be lifted over these side guide rails from a position alongside the magazine, creating an awkward and difficult maneuver for the operator. When the magazine is mounted in an inclined manner, sloping downward towards the removal position, loading is made even more difficult.
Most magazines must be adjustable to accommodate a wide range of case sizes. An attempt is made to size and position the feeder apparatus to accommodate the widely varying area of the flattened case. This leads to a compromise in the reliability of the feeder apparatus, relative to where a particular case size falls in the range of the magazine. The largest cases are often most poorly served.
Most designs use only a single driving and/or braking mechanism to control case feeding. The lead case position is sensed or detected at only one point (the center of the bottom edge typically), if it is at all. This permits a good deal of variance in the attitude of the lead case as it is driven into the removal position. It may sit skewed, at an angle from top to bottom, or side to side, or both.
As the magazine empties, the decreasing pressure on the lead case causes an inconsistency in the final stopped location, at the removal position of the magazine. Particularly in case erecting machines that use a rotary motion to remove and square-up the case, this affects the squareness of the delivered case.

Horizontal ratcheting case feeder mechanism


This disclosure relates to a system and method for bonding an interconnect to a dense circuit device with a mechanically clamping substrate.

A circuit device typically communicates electrically through "interconnects." Interconnects are so named because they allow circuit devices to electrically connect with other circuit elements. Interconnects often include an arrangement of conductive wires to electrically connect a circuit device. Use of circuit devices that are small or densely packed ("dense circuit devices"), however, can be limited because of difficulties in bonding interconnects to such devices.
By way of example and referring to FIG. 1, a side-section view of a fragment of a dense circuit device is indicated generally by reference numeral 102. The device 102 includes electrical bond pads 104. The pads 104 have a width 106 and are generally separated from each other by a space 108. The smaller or denser the device 102, typically the less the width 106 and the space 108. As the width 106 and space 108 of the pads 104 get smaller and smaller with production of smaller or denser circuit devices, forming interconnections among and between these devices becomes more and more difficult.
Again referring to FIG. 1, a side-section view of a fragment of a conventional interconnect is indicated generally by reference numeral 110. The conventional interconnect 110 is typically made of different materials than the device 102, often because the materials used in the device 102 are relatively expensive. Also typically, to bond the conventional interconnect 110 to the pads 104 of the device 102, heat is used.
But a significant problem can occur when using heat to bond the conventional interconnect 110 to the pads 104 of the device 102. If the coefficient of thermal expansion (called "CTE") for the conventional interconnect 110 and the device 102 are even slightly different, wires 112 of the conventional interconnect 110 may not match up with the pads 104 when they are heated for bonding. When the width 106 or the space 108 is very small, the wires 112 may completely miss the pads 104 or line up with the wrong ones.
By way of example and referring to FIG. 2, a side sectional view of the device 102 and the conventional interconnect 110 when each is heated is shown. Both the device 102 and the conventional interconnect 110 are shown expanded in this example, but the expansion of the conventional interconnect 110 does not match the expansion of the device 102. As shown, the wires 112 do not properly match up with the pads 104. When the width 106 or the space 108 is very small, such as less than 100 nanometers, and the device 102 or the interconnect 110 is significantly larger than the width 106 or the space 108, a difference in coefficient of thermal expansion between the device 102 and the conventional interconnect 110 may cause the pads 104 and the wires 112 to not match up with each other. If, for instance, a coefficient of thermal expansion between the device 102 and the interconnect 110 is different by five percent, the wires 112 and the pads 104 may miss each other by hundreds and hundreds of nanometers. This failure of conventional heat bonding may make it impractical or unusable for interconnecting to some dense circuit devices.
Other prior-art techniques for bonding an interconnect to a circuit device can also cause various problems. Eutectic bonding, for instance, can require use of specific, non-optimal materials for the wires 112 and/or the bond pads 104. These non-optimal materials can limit the usability of the dense circuit device 102, because they may not be highly conductive, which is especially important with small-scale interconnects used with dense circuit devices. This eutectic bonding technique can also fail by providing too weak an electrical connection between the bond pads 104 and the wires 112.
Further, these and other typical techniques for electrically bonding the conventional interconnect 110 to the circuit device 102 include mechanical bonding of the wires 112 to the bond pads 104. This can cause a significant problem. If the device 102 and the conventional interconnect 110 are subject to heat, CTE mismatch of the wires 112 to the bond pads 104 can cause the mechanical bonding between them to fail. This mechanical failure often causes the electrical connection between the wires 112 and the bond pads 104 to also fail.
There is, therefore, a need for a technique for bonding interconnects to dense circuit devices that reduces CTE-related problems, and is reliable, less expensive, and/or more production-friendly than permitted by present-day techniques.
The same numbers are used throughout the disclosure and figures to reference like components and features.

Bonding an interconnect to a circuit device and related devices

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


A technique for enhancing a software layer while ensuring backwards compatibility is disclosed. In one implementation, the software layer is a hardware abstraction layer (HAL) that interfaces between hardware and an operating system of a computer system. The HAL can be enhanced with additional functionality without having to worry about crashing the operating system when the particular HAL in use with the computer system lacks the additional functionality. Hence, the inventive technique allows enhancements to the HAL to be made without causing any backwards compatible problems.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an operating system and, more particularly, to an operating system in which hardware dependencies are transparent to most parts of the operating system.
2. Description of the Related Art
FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the architecture of Microsoft.RTM. Windows NT.TM. operating system 100. The Windows NT operating system 100 is a modular operating system composed of layers. The Window NT operating system 100 includes an executive services system 102 which interacts with hardware 104 associated with a computer system on which the Windows NT operating system 100 executes. The executive services system 102 includes a hardware abstraction layer (HAL) 106, a kernel 108, and a set of services 110-120. The environment subsystems (not shown) which interact with the Windows NT operating system 100 can use any of the services 110-120.
Between the services 110-120 of the Windows NT operating system 100 and the hardware 104 is the HAL 106. Although the kernel 108 and the executive services system 102 could also directly interact with the hardware 104, the primary interaction with the hardware 104 by the Windows NT operating system 100 is through the HAL 106. The HAL 106 is a layer of software provided by the hardware manufacturer that hides (or abstracts) hardware differences from higher layers of the Windows NT operating system 100. As a result, different types of hardware all look alike to an operating system. Hence, it is not necessary to specifically tailor an operating system to the hardware with which it communicates.
The HAL 106 contains routines (function calls) that allow a single device driver to support the same device on numerous hardware platforms. The routines within the HAL 106 are typically called from either the base operating system (e.g., the kernel 108) or from device drivers residing within the I/O Manager 110. Accordingly, the HAL 106 enables device drivers to support a wide variety of input/output (I/O) architectures instead of either being restricted to a single hardware model or needing extensive adaptation for each new hardware platform.
The kernel 108 schedules activities for the computer system to perform. In the Windows NT operating system 100, the kernel 108 schedules the activities into threads. The kernel 108 dispatches threads in a way that ensures that the processor or processors of the computer system are always kept busy. The kernel 108 works closely with the HAL 106. Threads are defined in the context of a process which represents an address space, a set of objects visible to the process, and a set of threads that runs in the context of the process. Objects are resources that can be manipulated by the operating system.
The executive services system 102 includes the set of services including I/O manager 110, object manager 112, security reference monitor 114, process manager 116, local procedure call facility 118, and virtual memory manager 120. These services 110-120 are the interface between user-mode environment subsystems and the kernel 108. The I/O manager 110 manages all input and output for the Windows NT operating system 100. The object manager 112 provides uniform rules for retention, naming and security of objects. The security reference monitor 114 ensures that applications cannot access system resources without authorization. The process manager 116 manages the creation and deletion of processes. The local procedure call facility 118 manages local procedure calls (LPC) which involves message passing between applications and the environment subsystems. The virtual memory manager 120 manages the translation of virtual addresses to physical pages in memory.
FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the I/O manager 110 illustrated in FIG. 1. The I/O manager 110 includes, for example, a cache manager 200, file system drivers 202, network drivers 204 and device drivers 206. According to the Windows NT operating system 100, the architecture within the I/O manager 110 is layered so that separate drivers implement logically distinct layers of processing. For example, drivers in the lowest layer (device drivers 206) manipulate the physical devices of the computer system, while other drivers are then layered on top of the device drivers 206. The higher-level drivers 200, 202 and 204 pass logical I/O requests down to the device drivers 206 which in turn access the physical devices of the computer system on their behalf.
Additional details on the Windows NT operating system can, for example, be found in Microsoft Windows NT Resource Guide (for Windows NT workstation and Windows NT server version 3.51), Microsoft Press, 1995, which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Hardware vendors are able to customize their own HALs to provide functionality beyond what the Microsoft provided HAL provides. During installation, the Windows NT SETUP program determines which hardware platform is being configured and installs the appropriate customized HAL.
A major problem, however, is that a customized or enhanced HAL causes backwards compatibility problems. For example, if the HAL is modified such that it is enhanced to include additional entry points in a static fashion, then device drivers which make use of the additional entry points will likely cause the operating system to crash (with an unrecoverable error) if the HAL in use by the computer system does not have the additional entry points.
Thus, there is a need for techniques to extend the functionality provided by HALs, yet also provide backwards compatibility so that operating system crashes do not occur if the customized or enhanced HAL is not in use.

Method and apparatus for providing dynamic entry points into a software layer


A adjusting nut is arranged on a threaded spindle. The adjusting nut supports a first double arm lever unit with a first and a second arm. A second double arm lever unit is pivotally mounted at its first arm through a connecting strip to the second arm of the first double arm unit. The second arm of the second double arm unit is pivotally mounted through a control rod unit to a rocker. This rocker supports a upper feeding roller which co-operates with a lower feeding roller for a feeding of a strip shaped blank. The first arm of the first double arm unit supports a bolt which projects into a elongate hole of a eccentrically supported rod.

1. Field of the invention
The invention relates to a method of operating an apparatus for an intermitted feeding of a strip shaped blank to a punch press which is equipped with tools adapted for an intermittent working of the strip shaped blank, which feeding apparatus includes a housing and a threaded spindle housing arranged on said housing, an upper shaft assembly and an upper feeding roller mounted on said upper shaft assembly, a lower shaft assembly and a lower feeding roller mounted on said lower shaft assembly, which feeding rollers are adapted to grip said blank to be fed by clamping said blank at both its sides and to feed said blank intermittently by an intermittent rotational movement, of which shaft assemblies at least one is drivingly connected to an intermittently operating electric servomotor and the upper shaft assembly is supported in a rocker which is pivotally mounted at said housing through a rocker shaft, by means of which rocker said upper shaft assembly is moveable towards and away from said lower shaft assembly, which feeding apparatus includes further a control apparatus and cooperates with a press which has a moveable upper tool and a stationary lower tool, which upper tool is mounted to a punch which is moveable between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position, and comprises a press control apparatus which communicates with the control apparatus of the feeding apparatus, and comprises further a rod having a elongate hole and which is moveable between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position, and having a bolt extending through the elongate hole, whereby in order to insert a fresh strip shaped blank between the upper feeding roller and the lower feeding roller the upper feeding roller is moved into a high lift position in order to set a predetermined distance between the upper feeding roller and the lower feeding roller.
The invention relates further to a method of operating such a feeding apparatus, which feeding apparatus comprises a control apparatus and cooperates with a press which has a moveable upper tool and a stationary lower tool, which upper tool is mounted to a punch which is moveable between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position, and which comprises a press control apparatus which communicates with the control apparatus of the feeding apparatus, and comprises further a rod which is movable between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position, which rod has a elongate hole having a upper and a lower end, whereby the first arm of the first double arm lever unit engages the rod by a bolt extending through the elongate hole.
The invention relates also to a method of operating the feeding apparatus as set forth above, which feeding apparatus has a control apparatus and cooperates with a press which has a moveable upper tool and a stationary lower tool, which upper tool is mounted to a punch which is moveable between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position, and which has a press control apparatus which communicates with the control apparatus of the feeding apparatus, and has further a rod which is moveable between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position, which rod has an elongate hole having a upper and a lower end, whereby the first arm of the first double arm lever unit engages the rod by a bolt extending through the elongate hole.
The invention relates also to a method of operating the feeding apparatus set forth above, wherein the feeding apparatus comprises a control apparatus and cooperates with a press which has a moveable upper tool and a stationary lower tool, which upper tool is mounted to a punch which is moveable between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position, and which comprises a press control apparatus which communicates with the control apparatus of the feeding apparatus, and comprises further a rod which is moveable between a top dead center position and a bottom dead center position, which rod has an elongate hole having a upper and a lower end, whereby the first arm of the first double arm lever unit engages the rod by a bolt extending through the elongate hole which punch is driven by a rotating drive and the eccentric disc of the rod is driven by a drive motor, which upper tool has positioning pins for a precise positioning of the strip shaped blank in the press during the working of same, which positioning pins are moved into pre-punched positioning holes in the strip shaped blank and which positioning pins include a conical head portion, which upper feeding roller is moved away from the bottom feeding roller as soon as the conical head portions are moved partly into the positioning holes and thereafter set again onto the strip shaped blank as soon as the conical head portions have been lifted partly out of the positioning holes.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The punch presses referred to herein are especially high speed presses with stroke numbers up to 2000strokes per minute. These presses are equipped with tools for a working of a (or several) fed strip shaped blank(s), whereby punching operations, embossing operations, bending operations, a riveting, a producing of threads, etc. are performed.
The movement of the strip shaped blank which is processed in the press proceeds, thereby, intermittently, thus step by step. During a working step, e.g. a punching, quite obviously no feeding movement of the strip shaped blank occurs. It is often positioned precisely, thus arrested by positioning pins located in the tools. After the termination of the processing step, for instance after a punching tool has been moved out of the hole which has been punched through, the strip shaped blank is fed forwards by a set distance and is again stopped, so that the next subsequent processing step can be performed.
The feeding or advancing, resp. movement of the strip shaped blank is accomplished by a (or several, located at the entry and the exit of the press) feeding or forwarding, resp. apparatus (or apparatuses, resp.) in order to draw the strip shaped intermittently off a storage spool and feed same intermittently to the press.
These feeding apparatuses comprise conventionally feeding members in order to feed and forward the strip shaped blank. It is, thereby, clamped and moved forward by the feeding members. When the feeding members return into their initial, that is starting position, the clamping is released. Additionally, the clamping is temporarily released during the time span, during which the tools perform a processing or working, resp. step of the strip shaped blank, specifically in case of positioning pins.
Designs of such feeding apparatuses have become known, in which the clamping members are designed as linearly moving clamping tongues. Other designs comprise oscillating segment rollers which perform rotational movements.
Furthermore, feeding apparatuses with electrical servomotors have become known. A first servomotor is, thereby, allocated to the feeding operation of the clamping members and a further, second electric servomotor is allocated to the intermittent lifting of a clamping member off the strip shaped blank. Such servomotors are produced and sold by several companies. The operation of these servomotors is electronically controlled. These new feeding apparatuses comprise feeding members in form of completely cylinder shaped feeding rollers mounted on shafts which rotate intermittently always in the same sense of rotation. Of these feeding rollers one is supported in a structural member which is drivingly connected to the further servomotor, based on the operation of which this feeding roller is moved against the strip shaped blank for a clamping of same and away from this member for a releasing of same.
Due to the presently extremely high number of strokes, the masses of the moving parts of a feeding apparatus have a large impact due to the forces of inertia and the moments of inertia, and have, furthermore, a large influence regarding the precision of the produced product. Furthermore, due to the time spans for the acceleration and deceleration of movements, the arrangement and design of the moving parts must be selected in such a manner, that an operation of a high number of strokes can be performed safely.

Method of operating an apparatus for an intermittent feeding of a strip shaped blank to a press


A connecting means for a water flow appliance, for example a hand shower, contains a connecting element connected to a water guide, for instance, a house water mains. Arranged in the connecting element is a sieve element which can be shifted between a sieve position, in which it acts a sieve, and a cleaning position in which it is possible to remove the particles retained in the sieve element. The sieve position is always assumed when a connection is made to the connecting means. When this connection is removed the sieve element can be translated into the cleaning position for example by water pressure. The water flow can be passed through said sieve element in the cleaning position preferably in the reverse direction so that said sieve element is back-washed.

The invention is based on a connecting means for a water flow appliance. Such a connecting means may be, for example, a wall connecting bend fixedly connected to the house water mains and to which for example with the aid of a thread a hand shower can be screwed with the aid of a shower hose, the hand shower then representing the water flow appliance.
The connection of the hand shower to the end of the shower hose may also be termed as the connecting means for the water flow appliance, namely the hand shower.
Attaching a shower hose to a mixer may also be done with the aid of a connecting means.
The invention involves primarily connecting means in the sanitary field, but is not restricted to this field.
It is known that deposits, for example, particles of lime may occur in tap water which have formed and then dissolved, Particles of sand and rust may also be present in the water.
Sieves are often to be found in sanitary mixers, these sieves being inserted in the water pipe and usually constituting a wire mesh formed flat through which the water flows.
Also known is to employ combinations of seals and sieves for connecting flexible tubes, the sieve openings being contained in the rubber-like material of the seal.
Although all of these known sieves retain the particles, they are a nuisance in needing to be cleaned, this as a rule requiring the connecting means to be unscrewed and the sieve removed which may prove difficult under circumstances. Then, the removed sieve needs cleaning, also requiring deliming, where necessary.

Connecting means with sieve element for a water flow appliance