A superconducting circuit includes a first transformer to produce a first alternating-current output at a secondary-side inductor, a second transformer to produce a second alternating-current output at a secondary-side inductor, a first pulse generating circuit to produce a single flux quantum pulse responsive to the first alternating-current output, a second pulse generating circuit to produce a single flux quantum pulse responsive to the second alternating-current output, and a confluence buffer circuit to merge the single flux quantum pulses from the pulse generating circuits, wherein each of the pulse generating circuits includes a superconducting loop including the secondary-side inductor, a first Josephson junction situated in the superconducting loop to generate the single flux quantum pulse, and a second Josephson junction situated in the superconducting loop, a threshold value of the second Josephson junction for an electric current flowing through the secondary-side inductor being different from that of the first Josephson junction.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention generally relates to superconducting circuits utilizing a single flux quantum, and particularly relates to a superconducting circuit that generates a high-frequency clock through frequency multiplication.
2. Description of the Related Art
As a macroscopic quantum effect of superconductor, a loop formed by superconductor results in magnetic flux being quantized within the loop. The minimum unit of magnetic flux that is quantized in superconductor is called an SFQ (single flux quantum). An SFQ circuit is a logic circuit that operates with magnetic flux quantum serving as information carriers. Logic "1" is represented by a state in which an SFQ is present in a superconducting loop including two Josephson junctions, and logic "0" is represented by a state in which an SFQ is absent.
A number of superconducting loops, each of which is the basic structure of the SFQ circuit, are connected together to form a ladder-type line comprised of superconductors and Josephson junctions. This is called a JTL (Josephson transmission line), and allows magnetic flux quantum to propagate. An SFQ generated in a given loop causes the switching of a next Josephson device, resulting in an SFQ being generated in the next loop. This chain reaction allows an SFQ to propagate. In this manner, various logic circuits such as flip flops or the like can be formed by use of the SFQ circuit. It is expected that such SFQ circuit is applicable to various analog/digital processing circuits, including circuits having analog circuit elements, such as A/D converters for use for high-speed signals or small-level signals and superconducting samplers for detecting high-speed signals.
These superconducting analog/digital circuits need a clock signal having high frequency with high precision. In order to provide a sigma-delta A/D converter of a superconductor/semiconductor-hybrid type capable of processing 14-bit data with a frequency band of 10 MHz, for example, a sampling clock signal having a frequency of 20 GHz with a jitter smaller than 2 ps is required.
It is difficult, however, to supply a high-frequency signal from a semiconductor circuit operating in a room temperature environment to a superconducting circuit operating in a low temperature environment. This is because the signal line is required to have a long length and a narrow width in order to suppress heat propagation through the signal line, and it is difficult for the high-frequency signal to propagate through such a signal line.
Accordingly, it is preferable to supply a low frequency signal from the external to the superconducting circuit and to step up the frequency inside the superconducting circuit, rather than supplying a high-frequency signal directly from the external to the superconducting circuit. For example, a 10-GHz sinusoidal wave signal may be supplied from the external, and a doubler circuit may be provided inside the superconducting circuit chip to generate a 20-GHz clock pulse signal.
As a frequency-multiplier circuit implemented by use of a superconducting circuit, a ladder+conditioner circuit (Non-Patent Document 1) and a frequency multiplier (Non-Patent Document 2) are known. The ladder+conditioner circuit has a configuration in which a ladder circuit having a multiple stages of JTL circuits is combined with a JTL-based conditioner circuit. A pulse signal supplied as an input is delayed by the JTL circuit provided at each stage of the ladder circuit, and the plurality of pulse signals having respective delays are superimposed one over another. Then, the conditioner circuit performs an adjustment such that the intervals of the pulses of the superimposed pulse signals become equal to each other. It is difficult, however, to provide a delay with high precision for the JTL at each stage of the ladder circuit, and, also, there is a limit to the capability of the conditioner circuit to adjust the pulse intervals. It is thus difficult to set the pulse intervals to equal length with high precision.
The frequency multiplier is a circuit that steps up frequency based on a phase change brought about by utilizing a transformer coupling. FIG. 1 is a drawing showing an example of the circuit configuration of a related-art frequency multiplier.
A frequency multiplier 10 shown in FIG. 1 includes a transformer circuit 11, inductors 12-1 through 12-5, inductors 13-1 through 13-5, current sources 14-1 through 14-4, current sources 15-1 through 15-4, Josephson junctions 16-1 through 16-6, Josephson junctions 17-1 through 17-6, an inductor 18, a current source 19, and a Josephson junction 20. The primary-side inductor L11, of the transformer circuit 11 receives a sinusoidal electric current Iin from an alternating-current power supply 21 through a resistor 22.
In response, the secondary-side inductor L21 of the transformer circuit 11 generates a sinusoidal electric current IL, which initially runs in the direction shown by an arrow illustrated in FIG. 1. When the sum of the bias current supplied from the current source 14-1 to the Josephson junction 16-1 and the sinusoidal electric current IL exceeds a critical current, the Josephson junction 16-1 is switched on to generate an SFQ pulse. This pulse causes the Josephson junction 16-2 at the next stage to be switched on to generate an SFQ pulse. In this manner, pulses successively propagate to next stages.
When the phase of the sinusoidal electric current Iin supplied from the alternating-current power supply 21 advances to π, the sinusoidal electric current IL generated by the secondary-side inductor L21 of the transformer circuit 11 flows in the direction opposite the direction of the illustrated arrow. When the sum of the bias current supplied from the current source 15-1 to the Josephson junction 17-1 and the sinusoidal electric current IL exceeds a critical current, the Josephson junction 17-1 is switched on to generate an SFQ pulse. This pulse causes the Josephson junction 17-2 at the next stage to be switched on to generate an SFQ pulse. In this manner, pulses successively propagate to next stages.
The pulses propagating through the upper circuit of the frequency multiplier 10 and the pulses propagating through the lower circuit of the frequency multiplier 10 merge at a confluence buffer circuit 23. The Josephson junction 20 is switched by the merged signal, and the voltage generated by this switching is supplied as an output voltage VOUT.
In the above description, for the sake of convenience of explanation, switching is explained to occur in response to the sum of the bias current and the sinusoidal electric current IL exceeding the critical current of the Josephson junction. In reality, however, a magnetic flux quantum is generated due to the switching of the Josephson junction, such that a circulating current is generated and superimposed on the sinusoidal electric current IL. Because of this, the actual operation of the frequency multiplier 10 is slightly different from the above description. As a result, a problem occurs in that the pulse intervals are not set to equal intervals.
FIG. 2 is a drawing showing waveforms relating to the operation of the frequency multiplier 10 shown in FIG. 1. The letter designation (a) in FIG. 2 shows the alternating current Iin supplied to the primary-side inductor L11 of the transformer circuit 11. The letter designation (b) shows the current IL flowing through the secondary-side inductor L21 of the transformer circuit 11. The waveform illustrated by the dotted line in (b) is the sinusoidal electric current generated by the secondary-side inductor L21. The waveform illustrated by the solid line in (b) is the sum of the sinusoidal electric current shown by the dotted line and an electric current IΦ0 generated by the magnetic flux quantum generated by the switching of the Josephson junction. Accordingly, the current IL flowing through the secondary-side inductor L21 of the transformer circuit 11 has the waveform as shown by the solid line.
In the frequency multiplier 10 shown in FIG. 1, the upper circuit and lower circuit connected to the respective ends of the secondary-side inductor L21 of the transformer circuit 11 need to have symmetrical structures in order to generate pulses at equal intervals. As shown in FIG. 2-(b), therefore, a threshold current (critical current) Ith(J1) of the Josephson junction 16-1 and a threshold current Ith(J2) of the Josephson junction 17-1 have the same magnitude (with opposite signs reflecting their opposite current directions).
As shown in FIG. 2-(b), the initial state (the state in which no magnetic flux quantum is present) lasts until time t1, and, in this state, the current IL flowing through the secondary-side inductor L21 is equal to the sinusoidal electric current illustrated by the dotted line. At the time t1, the current IL exceeds the threshold current Ith(J1) (which is the threshold current for the current IL, and includes the contribution from the bias current supplied from the current source 14-1). In response, the Josephson junction 16-1 is switched on such that a magnetic flux quantum is generated in the superconducting closed loop including the inductor L21, thereby generating a circulating current IΦ0 flowing counterclockwise in the loop. The current IL running through the secondary-side inductor L21 is thus deviated from the sinusoidal electric current by the amount equal to the circulating current IΦ0. Also, the pulse generated by the switching of the Josephson junction 16-1 propagates through the circuit, so that the voltage V1 shown in the upper circuit of FIG. 1 exhibits a pulse-like change (i.e., an SFQ pulse) as shown in FIG. 2-(c).
Thereafter, at the time t2, the current IL exceeds the threshold current Ith(J2) (which is the threshold current for the current IL, and includes the contribution from the bias current supplied from the current source 15-1). In response, the Josephson junction 17-1 is switched on such that a magnetic flux quantum is generated in the superconducting closed loop including the inductor L21, thereby generating a circulating current IΦ0 flowing clockwise in the loop. The current IL flowing through the secondary-side inductor L21 is thus shifted by the amount equal to the circulating current IΦ0 so as to return to the magnitude equal to the sinusoidal electric current. The magnetic flux quantum generated at the time t1 and the magnetic flux quantum generated at the time t2 are canceled with each other, resulting in the state in which no magnetic flux quantum is present. Also, the pulse generated by the switching of the Josephson junction 17-1 propagates through the circuit, so that the voltage V2 shown in the lower circuit of FIG. 1 exhibits a pulse-like change as shown in FIG. 2-(d).
At time t3, the current IL exceeds the threshold current Ith(J2). In response, the Josephson junction 17-1 is switched on such that a magnetic flux quantum is generated in the superconducting closed loop including the inductor L21, thereby generating a circulating current IΦ0 flowing clockwise in the loop. The current IL flowing through the secondary-side inductor L21 is thus deviated from the sinusoidal electric current by the amount equal to the circulating current IΦ0. Because of the associated pulse propagation, the voltage V2 shown in FIG. 2-(d) exhibits a further pulse-like change.
At time t4, the current IL exceeds the threshold current Ith(J1). In response, the Josephson junction 16-1 is switched on such that a magnetic flux quantum is generated in the superconducting closed loop including the inductor L21, thereby generating a circulating current IΦ0 flowing counterclockwise in the loop. The current IL flowing through the secondary-side inductor L21 is thus shifted by the amount equal to the circulating current IΦ0 so as to return to the magnitude equal to the sinusoidal electric current. The magnetic flux quantum generated at the time t3 and the magnetic flux quantum generated at the time t4 are canceled with each other, resulting in the state in which no magnetic flux quantum is present. Because of the associated pulse propagation, the voltage V1 shown in FIG. 2-(c) exhibits a further pulse-like change.
In the manner as described above, four pulses are generated at timings t1, t2, t3, and t4 during one cycle T of the input sinusoidal wave. These pulses are merged at the confluence buffer circuit 23, so that the output voltage VOUT exhibits a waveform as shown in FIG. 2-(e). In this output voltage VOUT, the time intervals between the pulses are Δt1, Δt2, Δt1, Δt2, and so on.
The pulse at the time t1 and the pulse at the time t3 are generated at the timing dependent on the waveform of the sinusoidal electric current as shown in FIG. 2-(b), so that these pulses are distanced from each other by half a cycle of the sinusoidal wave. Accordingly, there is no problem with the precision of the timing of these pulses. Namely, Δt1+Δt2 is equal to half the cycle of the input sinusoidal wave in FIG. 2-(e).
The pulse at the time t2 and the pulse at the time t4 are generated at the timing dependent on the waveform made by superimposing the circulating current IΦ0 on the sinusoidal electric current as shown in FIG. 2-(b). Accordingly, the interval between the pulse at the time t1 and the pulse at the time t2 as well as the interval between the pulse at the time t3 and the pulse at the time t4 are independent of the input sinusoidal wave. Namely, Δt1 and Δt2 shown in FIG. 2-(e) are not individually a quarter of one cycle of the input sinusoidal wave, but are independent of the cycle of the input sinusoidal wave. Further, the magnitude of the circulating current IΦ0 fluctuates depending on the circuit parameters, so that it is difficult to set the timing of the t2 pulse and t4 pulse with sufficient precision.
In this manner, it is difficult for the related-art frequency multiplier to generate a signal having pulses at equal intervals.
[Non-Patent Document 1] A. Yoshida et al, "Frequency Multiply Circuit for Superconducting A/D Converter," IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, Vol. 15, No. 2, pp 431-434 (2005)
[Non-Patent Document 2] J. C. Lin et al, "Design of SFQ-Counting Analog-to-Digital Converter," IEEE Transactions on Applied Superconductivity, Vol. 5, No. 2, pp 2252-2259 (1995)
Accordingly, there is a need for a superconducting-circuit-based clock generating circuit that can generate a clock signal with high precision and small jitter.

Superconducting circuit for generating pulse signal

International Superconductivity Technology Center, The Juridical Foundation


A docking system is disclosed. The docking system includes a single docking station and a plurality of inserts that are placed in the docking station so that the docking station can accommodate hand held devices with differing sizes and shapes. The docking system is configured with a docking station and insert that matingly engage with one another via a rotating action. The docking system is also configured with a latching retention mechanism that secures the insert to the docking station when the insert is rotated into engagement with the docking station.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to docking stations for hand held electronic devices. More particularly, the present invention relates to a docking station that accommodates hand held electronic devices with different sizes and shapes.
2. Description of the Related Art
There exist today many styles of handheld electronic devices as for example cellular phones, personal digital assistants (PDA), media players (e.g., music player or video player), cameras, game player and the like. As is generally well known, these devices come in various shapes and sizes (e.g., thickness, width and height). The size and shape is typically dependent on various form factors including but not limited to ease of use, ergonomics, aesthetics, and the size of the components inside or outside the device. While it is likely that different manufacturers may produce the same type of hand held electronic device with differing shapes and sizes, it is also likely that one particular manufacturer may produce different models of the same type of hand held electronic device with different shapes and sizes.
By way of example, the iPod product line, which is manufactured by Apple Computer of Cupertino, Calif. comes in various sizes and shapes. Particularly, the iPod Mini has a pill shaped cross section and dimensions of 2.0×3.6×0.5 inches for 4 GB versions, while the standard iPod has a substantially rectangular cross and dimensions of 2.4×4.1×0.57 inches for a 20 GB version and 2.4×4.1×0.69 inches for a 40 GB version. Furthermore, the iPhoto model of the iPod has a substantially rectangular cross section similar to the standard version, but with dimensions of 2.4×4.1×0.75 for both 40 GB and 60 GB versions.
Docking stations provide a convenient interface for transferring data between the device and computing devices such as a personal computers or peripheral devices such as speakers, monitors and printers without having to reconnect and disconnect cables. The docking station may also provide an interface for connecting to a power source so that the hand held electronic device can be powered or charged (e.g., battery). In most cases, the docking stations include a slot within which the hand electronic device is received. The slot is configured to have a size and shape that coincides with the size and shape of the hand held device so that the hand held device rests snuggly within the slot. Furthermore, the slot includes a connector therein for operatively engaging a port of the hand held electronic device when the hand held electronic device is positioned within the slot. The connector is coupled to the external systems through a cable so that communications between the hand held electronic device and the external systems can take place.
Because the slot has a size and shape that coincides with the size and shape of a particular hand held device, the docking station is typically dedicated to the particular handheld device. Other devices typically cannot be used with the docking station. The slots themselves are simply incapable of supporting more than one device. As a result, users with an arsenal of devices have to wield a variety of docking stations, one for each device in their arsenal. This produces clutter and can be confusing to the user. This also presents problems to the manufacturer of multiple devices in that they need to produce a variety of docking stations (one for each unique device), which adds costs and complexity in the design, manufacture, assembly, and packaging of the devices. This is especially true with devices in the same product line as for example the iPod described above.
Some docking stations come packaged with removable spacers that can change the size and shape of the slot thereby accommodating more than one device.
FIG. 1 is an exemplary side elevation view of a docking station 10 that utilizes a removal spacer 12. The removable spacer 12 is positioned in an opening 14 in the housing 16 of the docking station 10, and includes a lip 18 and a bumper 20 disposed below the lip 18. The lip 18 and bumper 20, which protrude outwardly, completely surround the periphery of the spacer 12. The bumper 20 is formed from a deformable material such as rubber that can deform inwardly during insertion and extraction thereby allowing the bumper 20 to be pressed over an edge 22 of the opening 14. The peripheral lip 18 and the bumper 20 cooperate to form a channel that captures the edge 22 in order to secure the spacer 12 to the housing 16 of the docking station 10. Furthermore, the spacer 12 includes an opening 26 for receiving a connector 28 positioned in the opening 14 of the docking station 10.
Although spacers such as these work for their intended purpose, they still suffer from several drawbacks. For one, the spacer is difficult to insert and remove and has a rough feel, which leaves a negative impression on the user. This is due in part to the vertical positioning of the spacer within the docking station and the large force that is required to overcome the rubber bumper since it is somewhat rigid and extends completely around the spacer. Furthermore, in cases where the insert includes an angled basin, the hole in the bottom of the basin must be made large to allow enough space for the connector (e.g., clearance). This however, leaves gaps, which are aesthetically unpleasing and which provide paths for dust and other foreign matter into the docking system.
An improved docking station that utilizes spacers is therefore desired.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Docking station for hand held electronic devices


A method and apparatus for establishing an average test time (TA) include determining a first time interval (TG) nominally associated with non-failing testing of a unit under test (UUT), and determining a second time interval (TPR) nominally associated with troubleshooting and repairing a failed unit under test. Additionally, a percent yield (Y) nominally associated with a proportion of non-failing units under test is determined. The average test time is a sum of the first time interval associated with the non-failing testing of the UUT, and a ratio of the second time interval associated with troubleshooting and repair of a failed UUT with respect to the yield.

Manufactures of goods (i.e., products) convert (e.g., assemble) raw materials, components, sub-assemblies, and/or the like into finished products. Test operations are implemented either as part or after the manufacturing process to provide quality control and ensure customer satisfaction for the finished products. Test operations are considered a reverse-flow process for the product. In particular, if a unit under test (UUT) fails testing, the failed unit undergoes troubleshooting, repair, and retest. This process continues until the UUT either passes retest or is scrapped.
Product planning is used to estimate when a finished product will be available to the consumer. Product planning with respect to test operations currently includes introducing new product (finished product) at the test facility, where the product is tested and identified as either passing or failing. Passing product is shipped, while failing product is repaired and retested. Specifically, the failed product loops through the repair and test processes until all units have passed. Rarely is an entire system scrapped, since most manufacturing entities are high level systems that do not make an allowance for scrap. More likely, a sub-system or unit will be replaced. Product planners of test operations estimate an average test time ({overscore (T)}) required for testing, troubleshooting, and repairing the finished product.
Specifically, for N units of finished product being tested and a test time interval of TG to conduct each test, the total test time for testing N units of finished product is NTG. If the percent yield is Y, then (1−Y) units must undergo troubleshooting and repair. The time interval to troubleshoot and repair a unit under test is TPR. Therefore, the total time to test these N units of product is:T=N*TG+(1−Y)*N*(TG+TPR),  (1)where TG represents the time interval to test a product, assuming no failure during the test, TPR is the time interval to troubleshoot and repair a failing product, and Y is the yield (proportion of passing units).
Dividing by N, the Average Test Time estimates are determined by the equation:{overscore (T)}=TG+(1−Y)*(TG+TPR)  (2)
Equation (2) represents a first order approximation of the average test time. The Average Test Time of Equation (2) may be expanded to a second order approximation of average test time, in order to account for failures after the first repair, wherein:T=TG+(1−Y)*(TG+TPR)+(1−Y)2*(TG+TPR).  (3)
It is noted that this basic model assumes that the troubleshooting and repair occurs at the test facility. Therefore, all time incurred consumes the test facility. When there are no defective products (i.e., the yield is 100%), the average time per unit is TG, which is defined as the good test time in Equation (1).
When the process yields less than perfect product the overall yield declines, and the average test time increases significantly from the good test time interval TG. That is, as the yield goes down the average time to test a product increases significantly. As will be shown, this first order approximation of Equation (2) for the average test time works reasonably well for yields above 80%, while the second order approximation of Equation (3) works reasonably well for yields above 70%. However, as the yield drops below 70%, the average test time estimates provided by Equations (2) and (3) significantly underestimate the time it will take, on average, to move product through the test process.
Thus, current Average Test Time model of Equations (2) and (3) fail to account for significant factors that need to be recognized when estimating the average test time contribution for product planning. Therefore, there is a need in the art for a method and apparatus for determining impact of test operations at a product assembly and test facility with repairable products.

Determining impact of test operations at a product assembly and test facility with repairable product


The present invention relates to the automated processing of documents and, more specifically, to methods and systems for aligning, capturing and processing document images using mobile and desktop devices. In accordance with various embodiments, methods and systems for document image alignment, capture, transmission, and verification are provided such that accurate data capture is optimized. These methods and systems may comprise capturing an image on a mobile or stationary device, analyzing images using iterative and weighting procedures, locating the edges or corners of the document, providing geometric correction of document images, converting the color image into a black and white image, transmitting images to a server, and testing the accuracy of the images captured and transmitted.

A number of technologies have been developed to provide businesses and consumers with the ability to transmit or deposit checks and other documents electronically via desktop and mobile devices. These technologies allow users to transmit instruments such as a check by sending an image from a device such as a scanner, cell phone, tablet device, or digital camera, in a matter of minutes. Users can snap a picture of a document such as a check using the camera in such devices and then transmit the document image for further processing, such as submission for deposit into an account. These technologies can save money for institutions by reducing item processing costs and labor expense, and can provide substantial convenience for businesses and individuals.
The issues that must be addressed by these technologies include capturing an accurate image of the document, effectively and efficiently communicating with the user regarding the adequacy of that image, and verifying the accuracy of the data capture from the image. Problems in reading the document may arise from finding the document within the photograph; accounting for uneven lighting conditions; addressing skewed, warped, or keystoned photographs; identifying the size and scale of the document; and using optical character recognition ("OCR") technology to read the document. Other technologies employ various tools to attempt to address these problems. These typically involve taking a photograph of the financial instrument, transmitting the photograph to a distant server, allowing the server software to evaluate the image, and, if the image is found inadequate, communicating the failure back to the user, who must then make appropriate adjustments and try again.


The disclosure discloses a method and device for sending and receiving data, which are used to solve the problem that the existing device having the function of the laser pen and the function of the data card cannot implement the integrated control over the function of the laser pen and the function of the data card. The device includes a main module and a connection module. The connection module is configured to connect to a PC by using a USB mode, and the main module communicates with the connection module by high frequency. The method for sending data includes: the main module encapsulates data to be sent according to a type of the data to be sent and identification information corresponding to the type of the data, and sends the encapsulated data to the connection module; and the connection module decapsulates the encapsulated data and sends the decapsulated data to the PC. Since the device determines the identification information corresponding to the type according to the type of the received data, and encapsulates the identification information and the data, in order to be capable of performing corresponding processing when needed, so that intelligent integration of the function of the laser pen and the function of the data card is implemented and an intelligent control over the function of the laser pen is implemented.

Along with continuous development of 3G wireless data service technology, not only a user provides a higher demand for service contents of a 3G network, but also service requirements are increasing. Therefore, it needs to provide more services in order to satisfy the increasing requirements of the user.
At present, a device having the function of a laser pen and a data card mostly integrates the function of the data card with the function of the laser pen simply, and the data card only implements one function at the same time, that is to say, when the data card is connected with a Personal Computer (PC), it can access a 3G network; when the data card is used as the laser pen, it has to be disconnected with the PC. Moreover, when the data card is used as the laser pen, it only has a simple indication function, that is to say, the data card projects red or green laser used as an indication, and the red or green laser moves on a projection screen along with movement of a hand of the user. When the user needs to perform page turning display on contents of projection, it is only implemented by controlling a keyboard or a mouse.
Therefore, for the device having the function of the laser pen and the data card in the related art, the function of the laser pen and the function of the data card thereof are superimposed simply, it cannot implement an integrated control over the function of the laser pen and the function of the data card, and cannot perform an intelligent control during an operation of the laser, so that the requirements of users cannot be satisfied.

Method and device for sending and receiving data


Aspects of the present disclosure enable humanly-specified relationships to contribute to a mapping that enables compression of the output structure of a machine-learned model. An exponential model such as a maximum entropy model can leverage a machine-learned embedding and the mapping to produce a classification output. In such fashion, the feature discovery capabilities of machine-learned models (e.g., deep networks) can be synergistically combined with relationships developed based on human understanding of the structural nature of the problem to be solved, thereby enabling compression of model output structures without significant loss of accuracy. These compressed models provide improved applicability to “on device” or other resource-constrained scenarios.

Various forms of machine-learned models have revolutionized many areas of machine intelligence. As an early example, at one point in the past, maximum entropy models provided state-of-art performance in the area of natural language processing and other technical fields. Maximum entropy models adhere to the principal that the model should supply the least biased estimate possible on the given information; that is, it is maximally noncommittal with regard to missing information. More recently, however, artificial neural networks ("neural networks") have driven state-of-the-art solutions to a number of problem areas, including natural language processing. One main reason that maximum entropy modeling has been overtaken as a learning algorithm is that the features to be used by the maximum entropy model are hand crafted and not automatically learned.
Neural networks are a class of machine-learned models that are especially powerful, accurate, or otherwise high-performing for various tasks. A neural network can include a group of connected nodes, which also can be referred to as (artificial) neurons or perceptrons. A neural network can be organized into one or more layers. Nodes of the neural network can be connected with edges and a weight can be associated with each edge.
Neural networks that include multiple layers can be referred to as "deep" networks. A deep network can include an input layer, an output layer, and one or more hidden layers positioned between the input layer and the output layer. The nodes of the neural network can be fully connected or non-fully connected. Example neural networks include feed-forward neural networks, recurrent neural networks, convolutional neural networks, other forms of artificial neural networks, or combinations thereof.
Various machine-learned models such as neural networks are being used in countless applications today. However, their accuracy stems in part from having a large number of parameters which incur a high compute and memory overhead. As one example, a typical neural network can include a large number of weights (e.g., ten thousand to ten million to ten billion) that may all have a unique value. Storing and running a neural network typically requires storing and performing mathematical operations with each of these values, which requires a not-insignificant amount of memory and processor usage.
This problem is exacerbated in scenarios in which machine-learned models are used as classifiers to classify an input into a very large number of different possible classes. In particular, a machine-learned model used as a classifier will often have an output layer (e.g., a softmax layer) or other output structure that provides a respective output value for each of the available classes, which can be an extremely large number for certain tasks. As one example, a neural network used to perform "next word prediction" or other natural language processing tasks will often have an output layer that includes a number of nodes that is equal to the number of words included in a vocabulary associated with the classifier, which may in some instances include around one million words. Current applications on a cell phone reduce the vocabulary to several tens of thousands of words, since a larger vocabulary will not currently fit on a cell phone. Models that reside on a server in the cloud might have several million words in the application's vocabulary. Thus, in these scenarios, an outsized proportion of the parameters of the network can be located in the output layer of the network and associated structures.
Furthermore, as networks and hardware become better and faster, much of the computation is being shifted to an "on device" paradigm in which the machine-learned models are stored and implemented locally on embedded devices, user devices, edge devices, or other forms of "resource-constrained" devices, thereby delivering faster response time and better security and privacy guarantees. In particular, it would be beneficial if these networks could be stored and run (and thus their accuracy benefits received) on mobile and other resource-constrained devices such as smart devices or embedded devices. However, due to the significant amount of computing resources such as processing resources and memory resources required to store and run the networks, their use in resource-constrained environments/devices is somewhat limited.
As such, various techniques to "compress" machine-learned models to reduce their compute and memory overhead have been proposed with some success. However, to date, powerful solutions for achieving compression gains with respect to the output layer of a model that outputs into a very large number of different possible classes have not been identified.

Exponential modeling with deep learning features


A laser hardening device for forming a hardened layer on the surface of an object irradiated by a laser beam is so arranged as to emit a laser beam which is linearly polarized in the incidence plane containing the normal to the surface and the optic axis of the laser beam irradiating the surface. The device comprises a first concave mirror for condensing the laser beam the incidence plane, and a second concave mirror for condensing the laser beam in a perpendicular plane to the incidence plane, the first concave mirror being disposed closer than the second concave mirror to the laser oscillator in the path of the laser beam. Laser beam is therefore absorbed at a high absorption rate by the object, and a hardened layer is formed without coating a laser absorption agent onto the object. The incidence angle of the laser is preferably no less than 60 degrees, and by arranging that the laser beam is parallel on the irradiated surface, a uniform, hardened layer is obtained. Moreover, by blowing shield gas on the irradiated surface from a gas nozzle provided with a smoothing mechanism such as metal mesh, oxidation of the hardened layer or surface melting due to oxidation is prevented and a more desirable hardened surface is obtained.

Devices which perform hardening using a laser beam generally comprise an optical mechanism consisting of a laser oscillator, reflecting mirror and condensing lens, and shield gas supply system for excluding oxygen from the irradiated points.
Before an object to be hardened is irradiated by a laser beam, the surface of the object is coated with a laser absorbing agent to increase the laser absorption of the object and form a uniform hardened layer on the object. After irradiation, the coating is removed.
The laser is generally a CO.sub.2 laser, and the laser absorption agent may or example comprise the components in the Table 4.1 "CO.sub.2 absorption coating material table" on page 77 of "Laser Kakou Gijutsu" written by Hiromichi Kawasumi (Nikkan Kogyo Shinbunsha, 28 Jan., 1985).
If parts subject to hydraulic pressure, e.g. parts for automatic transmissions in automobiles, are to be hardened, it is desirable that oxide films or other impurities are not present on the surface so as to prevent deterioration of oil performance. Laser absorption agents prevent such oxidation of the object surface which would otherwise be caused by the laser irradiation.
Laser absorption agents therefore have a desirable effect on the formation of a hardened layer, but their application and removal require much effort which increases the cost of hardening.


A magnetic head for reading information from and writing information to a hard magnetic disk having reduced thermal protrusion at the air bearing surface. In some embodiments, a read-head portion of the magnetic head includes one or more read insulation layers, and a write-head portion of the magnetic head includes one or more write insulation layers. The magnetic head may optionally further include one or more insulation layers between the read-head portion and the write-head portion. One or more of these insulation layers includes a material with a negative thermal expansion characteristic, including but not limited to, carbon fiber, zirconium tungstate (Zr W2 O8), or hafnium tungstate (Hf W2 O8).

An important goal of the hard disk drive industry is to develop magnetic heads with continued increases in disk drive capacity and performance, and continued decreases in the cost of disk drives. Improvements in magnetic heads are sought that provide ever faster data writing speeds, and that allow data to be written with ever increasing data density, that is, with more data stored per unit of disk area.
Typically while a disk drive is operating, the magnetic head is separated from the surface of the disk by a small gap, which is termed the air bearing gap. The air bearing gap is maintained by a slider and a suspension system. The slider includes the magnetic head and an air bearing surface (ABS) that is shaped such that the rotation of the disk past the slider creates an aerodynamic force that tends to push the slider away from the disk. At the same time, the slider is pushed towards the disk by the suspension. The net effect is to maintain a generally uniform distance between the disk and the air bearing surface.
The size of the air bearing gap, also known as the air bearing fly height, is a key parameter of the disk drive. Smaller air bearing gaps allow magnetic heads to have faster writing speeds and higher data density. On the other hand when the gap becomes too small, it becomes too likely that the magnetic head may come into contact with the disk surface, which can permanently damage the magnetic head, the disk surface, or both.
A known problem with magnetic heads is that heat causes uneven thermal expansion of components within the head, thus distorting the air bearing surface of the head. The distortion takes the form of a protrusion of part of the magnetic head into the air bearing gap, where the size of the protrusion can be on the order of 20% of the height of the air bearing gap. The protrusion can contribute to unwanted contact of the magnetic head with the surface of the disk, which can damage the head, the disk, or both.

Magnetic hard disk recording head with self-compensating thermal expansion

Hitachi Global Storage Technologies Netherlands, B.V.


A clip for securing lobster trapping equipment to a buoy. The clip has an elongate tubular body through which a rope attached to a lobster trap is threaded. The rope is then threaded through a buoy loop and clipped to the outer wall of the elongate tubular body by a pair of hooks. The clipped rope extends through a slot formed between the pair of hooks. The slot has oppositely facing sets of teeth which grab the rope and prevent its release under normal rope tensions, ie rope tensions caused by the motion of the sea. However, under certain extreme rope tensions, such as a whale entangled in the rope, the teeth are specifically designed to be unable to hold the rope under the extreme tension and will allow the rope to slip back through the teeth, slot and hooks to become disengaged with the outer wall of the clip and from the buoy.

The past and current practice in the lobster trapping industry has been to support lobster traps on the floor of the ocean via ropes connected to buoys floating on the surface of the ocean so that the lobster traps can be readily retrieved. The connection between the free end of the rope, remote from the lobster trap, to the buoy has been formed by knots or other known sturdy connection means so that the connection does not inadvertently become broken due to increased rope tension, for example, as created by rough seas. The advantage of forming a sturdy connection between the ropes and the buoys is that it prevents the loss of trapping equipment.
Recently, the environmental impact of the lobster trapping ropes which extend from the floor of the ocean to the surface of the ocean has come under question. For instance, it has been argued that large marine life, such as whales, can become entangled in the ropes and perish. Therefore, in the future, lobster trapping requirements may mandate that break-away connections be used between the ropes and the buoys so that should a whale become entangle in the rope, the increase in rope tension will cause the rope to be released from the buoy to aid in freeing the whale.
Although known means for securing the ends of ropes may be satisfactory for their intended purposes, there is a need for an improved clip capable of securing the end of a rope to a buoy and for breaking the connection should a predetermined rope tension threshold be experienced. The clip should provide a reliable connection up to the tension threshold to prevent unwanted loss of equipment due to, for instance, rough seas. In addition, the securement clip should be inexpensive to manufacture and easy to use.

Rope securement clip for forming a break-away connection


An energy harvesting device, system and method are described. The energy harvester collects acoustic energy and transforms it into electrical energy for use by a sensor. The energy harvester utilizes a piezoelectric device, which may be encased, either wholly or partially, within an acoustic chamber. Alternatively, the piezoelectric device may be entirely exterior to the acoustic chamber, which acts to amplify the collected acoustic energy.

The invention relates generally to a system, apparatus and method for harvesting energy, and more particularly to an energy harvesting system, apparatus and method for harvesting acoustic energy and converting it into electrical energy for running a sensing assembly.
The U.S. Congress promulgated the Transportation Recall Enhancement, Accountability and Documentation (TREAD) Act in 2000. The TREAD Act provides that by the year 2007, all new motorized vehicles operated on the U.S. transportation system must include a tire pressure sensing system to monitor for and report the occurrence of unsafe tire pressure. The TREAD Act is applicable to all consumer and commercial trucks and automobiles.
The tire pressure sensing system is to include a tire pressure sensor mounted in a position suitable for determining the tire pressure, such as, for example, on a wheel rim within each tire. Current power sources for sensors include batteries and RF sources. The use of batteries in some applications has disadvantages. Batteries are not environmentally friendly, amounting to millions of discarded batteries per year. For applications where replacement of the battery is problematic, the only battery option is a lithium ion battery (Li/CFx), which is expensive. Further, batteries are subject to a loss in capacity at certain temperatures, such as at minus 40° C. Further, many batteries have a large enough size and mass to render them impracticable for certain applications.
There exists a need for an applicable power source capable of providing power to sensors in small or crowded environments. For example, there exists a need for a power source for the required tire sensors. The power source must have a small enough profile to fit within wheel rims. Further, the power source should be renewable or, at the very least, have a long lifetime to lessen the need for replacement.

Energy harvesting system, apparatus and method


The present disclosure is directed to multi-protocol peripheral device communication. A method involves establishing a network connection between a management computing device and a peripheral device. The network connection utilizes a particular transport protocol. The method also involves generating, at the management computing device, a first message that represents a request for information from a peripheral device. The first message is in a format compatible with a first application protocol. The method further involves generating, at the management computing device, a second message based on the first message. The second message is in a format compatible with a second application protocol. The second application protocol is configured to communicate over the particular transport protocol. Additionally, the method involves transmitting, by the particular transport protocol, the second message from the management computing device to the peripheral device.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
Devices within homes, offices, and professional settings are becoming increasingly networked. Unlike offline devices, networked devices can be monitored and controlled by a separate device, allowing such networked devices to be remotely managed. Within a local network, a management device may be able to configure, control, and monitor aspects of devices connected to the network. A management device may also connect to such a local network from a separate network (e.g., via the Internet) in order to monitor and control various devices within that local network.
A typical peripheral device is configured to allow a management device to monitor and control the printing device over a specific protocol. Commonly, this protocol is the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP). The typical protocols utilized by printing devices are well suited for local network monitor and control. However, these protocols were not designed for messaging across networks. As a result, the typical printing device cannot easily be managed remotely.

Communication between peripheral device and client device


A computing system configured to receive an SMS message generated by a wireless device and include an indicia of an address, such as a telephone number, associated with a destination wireline device (e.g., telephone). The computing system may be configured to access a database located on a network and to store parameters defining type and usage of blocks of address identifiers (e.g., NPA-NXX block of telephone numbers). The computing system may further be configured to determine whether type and usage parameters associated with the destination wireline device are within a block of address identifiers defined to share communications between wireless and wireline networks. The computing system may further route the SMS message to the destination wireline device in response to determining that the type and usage parameters enable sharing between wireless and wireline networks.

Short message service (SMS) or text messaging is made available to mobile users as a peer-to-peer or peer-to-application message delivery service. Subscribers of any given cellular network can send SMS messages to a subscriber of any cellular network, in general, or to Internet Protocol (IP) applications under special agreements. For a mobile-oriented to wireline number destined SMS message, there is no guarantee that a short message service center (SMSC) of the originating wireless network will pass the message to an inter-carrier SMS gateway (ICSG) operator for further processing. The short message service center of the wireless network can drop the SMS message destined for a wireline telephone. In cases where the wireless carriers follow best efforts and forward these messages to the ICSG operator, the operator may drop the SMS message when it checks for a valid number for the destination address. Currently, inter-carrier SMS gateway operators do not have a destination identified for wireline numbers for terminating SMS messages.
FIG. 1 is an illustration of an exemplary telecommunications network 100 configured for conventional SMS message communications. As shown, there are three wireless networks, wireless network 102, wireless network 104, and wireless network 106. Wireless network 102 includes mobile switching centers 108a and 108b. To provide SMS messaging capabilities, a short message service center 110 is also included in the wireless network 102. As understood in the art, a home location register (HLR) 112 is included in the wireless network 102 to enable mobile switching centers 108 and short message service center 110 to look up address locations of mobile telephones 114a and 114b using mobile directory numbers (MDNS).
An SMS message or text message may be delivered from an origination mobile telephone 114a to a destination mobile telephone 114b by the user of the origination mobile telephone 114a preparing and sending an SMS message to a mobile directory number of the destination mobile telephone 114b in the form of data packets 116. The data packets 116 are communicated over a communication link 118 to mobile switching center 108a. The mobile switching center 108a determines that it has received an SMS message and communicates the message to the short message service center 110 via communication link 118b. In one embodiment, the communication link 118b utilizes a mobile application part (MAP) or IS-41 communications protocol to communicate between the MSC 108a and SMSC 110. The SMSC 110 looks up the location of the destination mobile telephone 114b in the home location register 112 of the destination mobile telephone 114b and communicates the SMS message to the MSC 108b serving the destination mobile telephone 114b. In the case of the destination mobile telephone 114b being turned off, the MSC 110 stores the SMS message and forwards the SMS message to a serving MSC when the destination mobile telephone 114b turns on at a later time.
If the destination address or mobile directory number is not recognized as a mobile directory number serviced by a wireless carrier that services the wireless network 102, then the SMS message is routed via a communications link 120 to an ICSG 122. In one embodiment, the communications link 120 utilizes a short message peer-to-peer protocol (SMPP). The ICSG 122 determines how to handle the SMS message by determining the SMS destination telephone number. Based on the SMS destination telephone number, the ICSG 122 determines the operating company number (OCN) of the wireless carrier serving the destination mobile telephone. If the destination telephone number is in a ported block, the ICSG 122 queries a local number portability (LNP) database 124 to determine the associated local routing number (LRN) and uses it to determine the OCN. If the OCN belongs to a carrier partner of the ICSG 122, then the message is appropriately routed via a communications link 126a to that carrier's SMSC 128. The SMSC 128 communicates the SMS message via communications link 126b to MSC 130. As understood, the MSC 130 queries the home location register 132 to determine the location of a destination mobile telephone 134 and communicates the SMS message over communications link 126c.
If the OCN does not belong to a carrier-partner of the ICSG 122, then the SMS message is communicated over communications link 135 to ICSG 136, which is a partner of the recipient's wireless carrier. The ICSG 136 determines the operating company and routes the SMS message to the OCN via a communications network 138a to the wireless carrier's SMSC 140 for further processing. The SMSC 140 stores the SMS message and notifies MSC 142 currently serving destination mobile telephone 146 that the SMS message is available. The MSC 142, in response to querying a home location register 144 serving the wireless network 106, downloads the SMS message and sends it to the destination mobile telephone 146 for display to the user via communications link 138c.
Communications of SMS messages between wireless networks, as provided above, operates fairly efficiently for a number of reasons. First, wireless carriers have agreements to share SMS messages between wireless networks. Second, wireless carriers use equipment that is configured to handle SMS messages in a common manner. Third, wireless devices that are in communication with wireless networks use the same communications standards that support SMS messages.
While wireless carriers have agreements and use communications equipment to seamlessly communicate SMS messages between mobile telephones and other wireless communications devices of subscribers among the different wireless networks, SMS message communications between wireless networks and wireline networks is generally not possible. FIG. 2 is an illustration of an exemplary conventional telecommunications network 200 including both a wireless carrier 202 and wireline carrier 204. To illustrate sending an SMS message from an origination mobile telephone 206 to a wireline telephone 208, a user of the origination mobile telephone 206 may send an SMS message to a telephone number of the wireline telephone 208. The mobile switching center 210 currently serving the mobile telephone 206 receives the SMS message and routes the SMS message to a short message service center 212. Because the SMS message is addressed to a mobile directory number not recognized by the wireless carrier 202, the SMSC 212 may either drop the SMS message or route it to the ICSG 214. Because SMS message communications are originator pay services, some wireless carriers choose to drop messages destined to non-wireless numbers. Interpreting a telephone number as being non-wireless is not well-defined. Typically, the telephone number to which the SMS message is destined is queried in a local exchange routing guide (LERG) (not shown, but typically located on a network (e.g., the Internet)), and determined as not being directed to a valid wireless telephone number. In the case of the SMS message being routed to the ICSG 214, the ICSG 214 determines the OCN associated with the destination telephone number, in this case the wireline carrier 204, so the ICSG 214 generally drops the SMS message as there is typically not an agreement between the wireless carrier 202 and wireline carrier 204 to communicate SMS message therebetween.
An alternative configuration that has been used is that the SMSC 212 determines that the SMS message is destined for a wireline telephone and converts the text message into a synthesized voice recording for communication to the wireline telephones. In response to the synthesized voice message being communicated to the wireline telephone, a text message is delivered to the origination mobile telephone 206 for notification that a synthesized voice message was delivered to the destination wireline telephone 208. However, the original intent of the user of the mobile telephone 206 is defeated in that the text message, in a text format, is not delivered to the wireline telephone 208.

System and method for enabling short message services between wireless and wireline communication systems


A method and an apparatus for monitoring the integrity of an endless sieve device (3) which is arranged to rotate around at least two spaced-apart turning rollers are described, the sieve device (3) being arranged to separate fluid and particles under a predetermined size from particles over the predetermined size, the method including the steps of:                positioning at least one signal transmitter (7) at a portion of the sieve device (3) by means of a holding device (5, 5′, 5″);        putting the at least one signal transmitter (7) in communication with at least one receiver (9), so that the signal transmitter (7) outputs a signal to the at least one receiver (9) at least once per turn of the sieve device (3);        exposing the holding device (5, 5′, 5″) to wear; and        letting the receiver (9) output a signal activating a warning device when the expected signal from the signal transmitter (7) ceases.

The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for monitoring a sieve device. More particularly, it relates to a method and an apparatus for monitoring the integrity of an endless sieve device which is arranged to rotate around at least two spaced-apart turning rollers, the sieve device being arranged to separate fluid and particles under a predetermined size from particles over the predetermined size.
In use, the sieve device rotates around the turning rollers so that the external surface of the sieve device between the turning rollers alternates between a position facing upwards, in which it may receive material, and a position facing downwards. In what follows, the portion of the filter belt which is in the position facing upwards will be referred to as being in the position of application, whereas the portion of the sieve device which is in the position facing downwards will be referred to as being in the return position.
One of the areas of application of the sieve device is in connection with the drilling of wells in the petroleum industry, in which there is a need to separate solid material from drilling fluid, as it will be known to a person skilled in the art.
The sieve device may be constituted by one, two or more layers of filter belts with different mesh apertures. A fine-meshed filter belt can be relatively fragile. To be able to carry the mass which is supplied to such a fine-meshed filter belt in the position of application, it is common for it to be supported. Such support may be provided by a relatively coarse-meshed filter or supporting belt which is considerably more robust than the filter belt. In order to inter alia keep the supporting belt and thereby also the filter belt substantially rectilinear between the turning rollers, the supporting belt is supported by a plurality of elongated, stationary supporting elements. The supporting elements may extend parallel to the direction of rotation of the sieve device or at any angle relative to the direction of rotation of the sieve device. Without the supporting elements, the supporting belt and thereby the filter belt may take a curved path of motion between the turning rollers in the position of application in consequence of the load caused by the solid particles and the fluid supplied to the sieve device. Such a curved path will cause further stretching of the sieve device, which is not desirable. It will be understood that in some situations in use, the sieve device may be constituted by just the supporting belt without any further, finer cloth being placed thereon.
In the position of application, the supporting belt will be moved along the stationary supporting elements and wear will arise.
It is important to keep control of the integrity or condition of the supporting belt. This is because a person skilled in the art will be acquainted with the fact that rupture in the entire supporting belt or parts thereof could have large negative consequences to a drilling operation and, at the same time, cause damage to the sieve apparatus. Thus, regular visual inspection of the supporting belt is required, an inspection which requires the sieve device to be stopped. Consequently, the drilling operation will also have to be stopped while the inspection is going on, or then again the mass to be purified must be redirected to another sieve apparatus. Inspections could also be carried out in connection with replacing the filter belt.
Experience goes to show that wear of the supporting belt is dependent only to a limited degree on the period of use or number of rotations of the supporting belt. This poses challenges with respect to planning the frequency of the visual inspection. The practice has therefore been to carry out relatively frequent inspections of the supporting belt, and that this has been replaced with a new one in good time before it strictly required replacing, so that the likelihood of a break in the supporting belt is reduced.
A possible cause of the relatively unpredictable wear of the supporting belt is that the fluid which is supplied to the sieve device or the liquid which is filtered through a possible filter belt contains a varying amount of particles, while, at the same time, the particles may be of different shapes and hardness according to what type of formation is being drilled. Another cause of the relatively unpredictable wear of the supporting belt may be explained as the wear being dependent on the supply rate of mass onto the sieve device, a higher supply rate entailing greater friction between the supporting belt and the stationary supporting elements. The combination of the properties of the drilling fluid that is coming out of the well, including temperature, intermingling of drilled cuttings, and influx of hydrocarbons may give large variations in the wear of the supporting belt.
Some of the stationary supporting elements could be provided with vibration devices which are arranged to set the supporting elements in vibration.
The inventors have realized that there is a need for automated monitoring of the integrity of the supporting belt.
From the publication WO 2010/033527 a monitoring system for a conveyor belt of the kind that is used for conveying ore in the mining industry, for example, is known. The purpose of the monitoring system is to be able to reveal whether critical damage, such as a rupture in the belt, for example, is in the process of arising. This is solved by means of a plurality of sensors integrated in a joint portion and in other portions of the belt that are empirically the most prone to damage. The sensors are connected to a control system and a display which presents the condition of the belt in real time to a user.
The sensors proposed for use according to WO 2010/033527 are integrated in the belt during its production. Thus, the positioning must be decided on before the belt is put in production. Replacing a damaged sensor, or positioning it elsewhere after the belt has been produced, is difficult and expensive.
General prior art are found from the publications EP 0906778, US 2010182001, EP 1570948, WO 2009/047282 and U.S. Pat. No. 4,981,208.
The invention has for its object to remedy or reduce at least one of the drawbacks of the prior art or at least provide a useful alternative to the prior art.
The object is achieved through features which are specified in the description below and in the claims that follow.
In a first aspect of the present invention, a method of monitoring the integrity of an endless sieve device arranged to rotate around at least two spaced-apart turning rollers is provided, the sieve device being arranged to separate fluid and particles under a predetermined size from particles over the predetermined size, the method including the steps of:                positioning at least one signal transmitter at a portion of the sieve device by means of a holding device including a wear element (51, 51′, 51″) which is arranged to release at least the signal transmitter (7) from the sieve device (3) when the wear element (51, 51′, 51″) is worn away;        putting the at least one signal transmitter into communication with at least one receiver, so that the signal transmitter is capable of outputting a signal to the at least one receiver at least once per turn of the sieve device;        exposing the holding device to wear; and        letting the receiver output a signal activating a warning device when the expected signal from the signal transmitter fails to appear.
The holding device is arranged to be placed at the sieve device after this has been manufactured. This includes placing the holding device at the supporting device in situ. This has the effect of enabling both the number of signal transmitters and its/their position(s) at the supporting belt to be optimally located. For example, the holding device may be moved from one place to another place where the wear turns out to be heavier.
The holding device may be arranged in such a way that it is exposed to substantially the same wear as the supporting belt as soon as the supporting belt is put into service for the first time, or then again it may be arranged in such a way that it is exposed to substantially the same wear as the supporting belt only after the supporting belt has sustained a certain amount of wear and tear.
The wear element may include at least one coupling element which is attached to a portion of the supporting belt, the coupling element being exposed to wear in such a way that the holding device is released from the supporting belt when all of the at least one coupling element is worn out.
The holding device may be constituted by a housing arranged to house the signal transmitter, wherein at least a portion of the housing is exposed to wear in such a way that the signal transmitter is released from the housing when a sufficiently large portion of the housing has been worn away so that the signal transmitter may pass through the worn portion of the housing. The housing may be constituted by a bore in a portion of the supporting belt, wherein the centre axis of the bore is arranged eccentrically relative to a centre axis of an element of the supporting belt in which the bore is located. Alternatively, the housing may be constituted by a jacket.
In one embodiment of the present invention, a second receiver which is arranged to communicate with the signal transmitter is placed in a downstream portion of the sieve device, the second receiver being arranged to output a signal to a further warning device when a signal is received from the signal transmitter. This has the effect of enabling a warning that the signal transmitter has been detached from the supporting belt and is at a distance therefrom. Said downstream portion may be in a portion in which separated solid particles are conveyed, or then again it may be a portion in which separated drilling fluid is conveyed. Thus, the latter may be placed in association with a secondary filter of the kind that appears from the applicant's Norwegian patent application NO 20101011.
In a preferred embodiment, the signal transmitter is a so-called RFID tag and the receiver is an RFID transceiver, which are both based on well-known and well-tested technologies that will be known to a person skilled in the art.
In one embodiment, a filter belt, too, of the kind that is arranged to be placed on the supporting belt is provided with at least one signal transmitter in addition to the signal transmitter or transmitters placed in the supporting belt. The signal transmitter in the filter belt is arranged for information communication with a receiver. The receiver is arranged to communicate with a control system which is arranged to check, at least when starting up after replacement of the filter belt, whether a signal is received from the signal transmitter and whether the signal contains an expected piece of information. If a signal fails to appear, or if the signal is not as expected, the system is arranged to output a signal to a warning device. This has the effect of enabling a warning to an operator if a filter belt is incorrectly installed, or if a wrong filter belt is used in relation to a predetermined filter belt. An RFID tag may output information on the type of filter belt. This information may be compared with data for the well planning containing information about the cleaning of drilling fluid. A control system may then warn if the information reading about type of filter belt does not agree with the planned type of filter belt.
The receiver which is arranged to receive a signal from the signal transmitter in the filter belt may be the same receiver that is arranged to receive a signal from the signal transmitter in the supporting belt.
With at least one signal transmitter in the supporting belt and at least one signal transmitter in the filter belt, it will be possible to monitor, by measuring the rotational speeds of the supporting belt and the filter belt, whether the filter belt and the supporting belt are rotating at the same speed, among other things. This may, among other things, provide information on whether there is sufficient engagement between the filter belt and the supporting belt, or whether the filter belt is slipping or "spinning" on the supporting belt.
The signal transmitter may be an RFID tag and the receiver an RFID transceiver, for example.
One of the advantages of providing the filter belt with a signal transmitter is that the usage history of the filter belt may be monitored. A person skilled in the art will be acquainted with the fact that, in some cases, it is necessary to replace a type of filter belt with another filter belt of a different mesh size, even if it is not worn out.
In a second aspect of the present invention, an apparatus for monitoring the integrity of an endless sieve devise which is arranged to rotate around at least two spaced-apart turning rollers is provided, the sieve device being arranged to separate fluid and particles under a predetermined size from particles over the predetermined size, the apparatus including:                a holding device arranged to carry a signal transmitter in a desired portion of the sieve device, the holding device including a wear element which is arranged to release at least the signal transmitter from the sieve device when the wear element is worn away;        a receiver which is arranged to receive a signal from the signal transmitter; and        a control system which is of an arrangement such that the receiver outputs a signal to a warning device when an expected signal from the signal transmitter fails to appear or ceases.
Additional features will appear from the claims 11-16 and from the following description.
In a third aspect of the present invention, an application of the sieve apparatus of the second aspect of the invention to record well data that are brought up from a well by means of data collected by means of at least one RFID tag circulated in the well is provided.
To gather information on, inter alia, factors of the well as mentioned above, greatly affecting the wear on the supporting belt, it has been found to be very appropriate to circulate one or more data acquisition devices such as appropriate RFID signal transmitters, for example, into the well and make them flow out of the well over the rotating filter. Data that the RFID signal transmitter has picked up downhole, may then be read directly by the antenna or the transceiver which is arranged in association with the rotating sieve device. Thus, by means of the control system and a database, the information read may thus build an algorithm for the remaining lifetime of the supporting belt.
In the figures, the reference numeral 1 indicates a sieve apparatus which includes an endless sieve device 3. The sieve apparatus 1 is of the kind sold under the trade mark "Mud-Cube®" by the present applicant. In FIGS. 1a and 1b, only a portion of the sieve device 3 which is at a turning roller 2 is shown.
FIG. 2 shows, on a larger scale, a detail A which is indicated in FIG. 1a. In FIG. 2, the sieve device 3 is shown as a supporting cloth or a supporting belt 3. When there is a need to sieve very coarse particles, the supporting belt 3 alone may function as a sieve device. However, a filter belt with smaller apertures, not shown in FIG. 2, will normally be placed externally on the supporting belt 3 when, for example, drilling fluid is to be separated from solid particles. However, it is the supporting belt 3 that in use rests glidingly against supporting elements 15 (see FIG. 6) and sustaining wear and tear which is desired to monitor by means of the method and the apparatus according to the present invention.
In the embodiment shown, a holding device 5 spans an aperture in the supporting belt 3. A signal transmitter in the form of an RFID tag (Radio Frequency Identification tag) 7 is attached to the holding device 5. A person skilled in the art will know that the RFID tag contains an antenna which enables it to receive and respond to radio frequency signals from an RFID transceiver 9 which is fixed at an antenna support 10 in the sieve apparatus 1. In the embodiment shown, the antenna support 10 is a guide element which is placed above an outer portion of the supporting belt 3.
In the embodiment shown, the RFID tag 7 is placed at an outer portion of the supporting belt 3 to ensure communication contact between the RFID tag 7 and the RFID transceiver 9.
In what follows, for simplicity, the RFID transceiver 9 will be referred to as the "receiver" 9. Because of the short distance between the RFID tag 7 and the receiver 9, the RFID tag 7 will have to be of a so-called passive kind. However, it will be understood that the RFID tag could also be of a so-called active kind, transmitting a more powerful response signal and thereby having a greater range. In contrast to a passive RFID tag, an active RFID tag requires a power source.
By placing an antenna support 10, carrying the RFID transceiver 9 or the receiver, for example transversely to or at an angle to the rotational direction of the supporting belt 3, even a passive RFID tag 7 could be placed anywhere in the supporting belt 3 as the RFID tag 7 will then pass the receiver 9 once per turn of the sieve device. Such a solution is indicated in FIG. 3 and in FIG. 5.
In FIGS. 1a and 1b, a second receiver 9′ is also shown, which is arranged to communicate with the signal transmitter 7 in a downstream portion of the sieve device 3, the second receiver 9′ being arranged to output a signal to a warning device when a signal is received from the signal transmitter 7, so that there will be a warning that the signal transmitter 7 has been detached from the sieve device 3.
In the embodiment shown, it will be understood that the sieve device 3 is rotating anticlockwise. Solid particles which are retained by the sieve device 3 will thus be carried to fall off to the left of the sieve device 3. The receiver 9′ shown in FIG. 1a may thus pick up signals from a signal transmitter 7 which might be carried along with the solid particles. To pick up signals from a signal transmitter that is being carried in drilling fluid which has been cleaned of solid particles, a further receiver 9″ may be placed in association with a downstream liquid portion, for example in a secondary filter 10′.
In the FIGS. 3, 4a-c and 5, the holding device shown in FIG. 2 and two alternative holding devices are shown in more detail.
In FIG. 3 is shown a portion of the supporting belt 3 seen from an underside; from the side of the supporting belt 3 that will rest against a turning roller 2 and against the supporting element 15 (see FIG. 6), that is. The portion of the supporting belt 3 shown is provided with three different types of holding devices: a first holding device 5 of the kind that is shown in FIG. 2; a second holding device 5′ which has been provided by means of a bore in the supporting belt 3, an RFID tag 7 being loosely positioned in the bore 5′; and a third holding device 5″ constituted by a housing placed in one of the apertures 11 of the supporting belt 3, a signal transmitter in the form of an RFID tag 7 being loosely positioned in the housing 5″.
For reasons of illustration, the second holding device 5′ and the third holding device 5″ are shown partially cut through.
The first holding device 5 is suspended across one of the apertures 11 in the supporting belt 3. In a first end portion (shown at the top in FIG. 3), the holding device 5 is provided with a coupling element 51 in the form of a clip which fits complementarily on a stay bar 31 in the supporting belt 3. The clip 51 surrounds at least half the circumference of the stay bar 31. At its second end portion, the holding device 5 is provided with a curved base 53 resting against a connecting stay 32 of the supporting belt 3. As the holding device 5 is fitted, the base 53 is pressed against the connecting stay 32 and the clip 51 is then pressed around the stay bar 31. By a possible dismounting, for example if the holding device 5 is desirably to be moved somewhere else on the supporting belt 3, the clip 51 is released from the stay bar 31, after which the holding device 5 will be loose.
In FIG. 4a, the holding device 5 is shown from the side, whereas in FIG. 5, it is shown in a top-side view.
A break in the supporting belt 3 could arise when a connecting rod 3′ (see FIGS. 4b-4c), which is passed through bores 32′ in the connecting stays 32, is released because of a portion of the bore wall having been worn away. It is the wear that may lead to such a break that is desirably to be monitored.
This is achieved by the clip 51 of the holding device 5 wearing out and thereby releasing the holding device 5 with the RFID tag 7 from the supporting belt 3 before the bore wall has been worn away sufficiently for said connecting rod 3′ to be released from the connecting stay 32 of the supporting belt 3. When the RFID tag 7 no longer responds to a signal from the receiver 9, a warning signal will be emitted. The warning signal may be for example a sound signal and/or a light signal or a message to a monitoring screen.
The holding device 5 being of such a design as that shown in FIG. 4a, it will be understood that the clip 51 will be exposed to the same wear as the connecting stay 32 only after the connecting stay 32 has worn somewhat. This is because the clip 51 has a "recessed" position relative to the portions of unused supporting belt 3 resting on the supporting elements 15 (see FIG. 6). I should be emphasised that the supporting elements 15 could also, or alternatively, extend transversely to or at an angle to the rotational direction of the supporting belt 3.
To achieve the same rate of wear on the supporting belt 3 and the clip 51, it may be an advantage if, but not necessary that, the clip 51 is made of the same material as the supporting belt 3 or of a material which has substantially the same wear rate as the supporting belt 3.
The control system needed to provide the warning signal when a signal from the RFID tag 7 fails to appear will be known to a person skilled in the art and, for that reason, will not be described in further detail in this document. For the same reason, the control system or its connection to the receiver 9 is not shown.
The positioning of the second holding device 5′ which has been provided by means of a bore in the supporting belt 3 appears clearly from FIG. 4b. The bore 5′ is placed eccentrically relative to an axis L which extends at right angles between longitudinal axes of bores 32′ in two parallel connecting stays 32. In the embodiment shown, the bore 5′ is thus positioned closer to a supporting element 15 supporting the supporting belt 3 than to a filter belt 4 that might be carried by the supporting belt 3. The purpose of the eccentric location of the bore 5′ is that its outer wall 51′ is to be worn away before a wall of the bore 32′ in the connecting stays 32 has been worn away as explained above.
When the outer wall of the bore 5′ has been worn away, the RFID tag 7 which is loosely positioned in the bore 5′ will be released from the supporting belt 3. When the RFID tag 7 no longer responds to a signal from the receiver 9, a warning signal will be emitted. The warning signal may be a sound signal and/or a light signal, for example. It will be understood that the end portion of the bore 5′ is sealed by means of a suitable sealing means after the RFID tag 7 has been positioned in the bore 5′.
The positioning of the third holding device 5″ which is constituted by a housing appears from FIGS. 3, 4c and 5. The housing 5″ is placed in an aperture 11 in the supporting belt 3, for example by means of two bases corresponding to the base 53 explained for the first holding device 5.
When the wall portion 51″ of the housing 5″ has been worn away, the RFID tag 7 which is loosely positioned in the housing 5″ will be released from the supporting belt 3 in a manner corresponding to that explained for the second holding device 5′.
Thus, the clip 51 and the walls 51′, 51″ of, respectively, the holding device 5, the bore 5′ and the housing 5″ constitute wear elements. While the wear on the clip 51 occurs only after the supporting belt 3 has sustained a certain amount of wear and tear, wear on the walls 51′, 51″ of the bore 5′ and the housing 5″ of the embodiments shown will occur at the same time as wear occurs on the supporting belt 3 will occur.
FIG. 6 shows a side view of a rotating sieve device, in which a filter belt 4 is placed on the supporting belt 3, and in which the supporting belt 3 is supported by supporting elements 15 (one shown) extending in the rotational direction of the sieve device.
The filter belt 4 is provided with a signal transmitter in the form of an RFID tag 7′. The purpose of the RFID tag 7′ is to enable information communication with the receiver 9. By putting the receiver 9 in communication with a control system which is arranged to check, at least when starting up after replacement of the filter belt 4, whether the signal received from the RFID tag 7′ corresponds to an expected signal, it may be revealed whether the right type of filter belt 4 is installed in the sieve apparatus 1. In addition, the control system may be arranged to output a signal to a warning device if a signal is not received at the start. This could be indicative of the filter belt 4 being installed the wrong way round. The signal transmitter 7′ may be attached to or integrated in the cloth in a manner known per se.
In FIG. 7 is shown, on a smaller scale, a principle drilling-fluid circulation system in which the apparatus 1 is included. Such a circulation system will be well known to a person skilled in the art and, thus, will be mentioned only briefly. From a container 60 for active drilling fluid and through a conduit 61, drilling fluid is conveyed by means of a pump 62 down a drill string (not shown) in a well 64. Drilling fluid and cuttings are carried out of the well 64 to a sieve apparatus 1 in which the drilling fluid is cleaned of particles exceeding a predetermined size. By means of an under pressure-generating device 66, drilling fluid that has been cleaned of said particles is returned to the container 60 and recirculated down the well 64.
By circulating one or more RFID tags (not specifically shown in FIG. 7), for example, together with the drilling fluid down the well 64, well data may be collected. The RFID tag(s) may be read by means of one or more of the transceivers 9, 9′, 9″ (see for example FIGS. 1-3). Well data of importance to the wear of the sieve device may then be used to estimate the lifetime of the sieve device, a lifetime which is monitored by means of the method and apparatus according to the first and second aspects of the invention. The RFID tag(s) circulated in the well 64 could also collect well data that could be used beyond estimating the lifetime of the sieve device. An example of this is data which may be used in connection with well monitoring.
Thus, the receiver 9, 9′, 9″ which is arranged in association with the sieve apparatus 1 may also be used in connection with monitoring a drilling operation. RFID tags larger than the mesh apertures of the sieve device are carried past the receiver 9″ (see FIG. 2), which is placed in the secondary filter 10′ of the sieve apparatus, and are circulated on into the well 64 and further back to the sieve apparatus 1 together with solid particles and drilling fluid, where the RFID tag is registered again and read by the receiver 9, 9′, for example.
In cases in which the RFID tag(s) is/are smaller than the mesh apertures of the filter belt 4 and the secondary filter, the tags could be circulated together with the drilling fluid.
RFID tags provided with pressure and temperature sensors are known. Well parameters may thereby be collected from the well by means of the method as outlined above.
Thus, the present invention provides a possibility of improved monitoring of the integrity of a rotating, endless sieve device in which signal transmitters may be placed in desired locations on the sieve device and possibly be moved in order to monitor one or more areas that show more wear than other areas.
While the invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, many changes may be made in the details of construction and the arrangement of components without departing from the spirit and scope of this disclosure. It is understood that the invention is not limited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes of exemplification, but is limited only by the scope of the attached claims, including the full range of equivalency to which each element thereof is entitled.

Method for monitoring the integrity of a sieve device and apparatus for practice of the method


Methods, devices, and integrated circuits are disclosed for a driver controller that internally calculates average output current. In one example, a method includes receiving an output voltage of an output line. The method further includes performing a calculation of an average output current at the output line based at least in part on the output voltage. The method further includes controlling an interval timing of a switch based at least in part on the calculation of the average output current at the output line, wherein the switch is configured for switching current to the output line.

Some driver circuit applications are directed to providing a driving current, such as for groups of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). The number of LEDs may vary depending on the specific application. A driver may control the current flowing through the LED chain, while the output voltage may be set by the number and the forward voltage of the LEDs that compose the chain. In many applications, it is desirable for the driver to deliver a constant average current (as opposed to, e.g., a constant voltage) through the load when the load is switched on. Many driver circuits typically use an external capacitor to measure the output current, to help ensure that the output current is maintained at a specified value.

Driver controller with internally calculated average output current


The problem of providing and interacting with a number of different security mechanisms in a clustered data processing environment is solved by providing a Mechanism Abstract Layer which presents a consistent interface to applications running on the various nodes within the cluster. Mechanism Pluggable Modules are provided for each security mechanism that one wishes to employ. The Pluggable Modules provide a mechanism for mapping individualized security mechanism parameters through an interface with the Mechanism Abstract Layer. This provides a consistent interface for applications running on the nodes and it also avoids costly adaptations that would otherwise be necessary to accommodate new security mechanisms or variations in prior security mechanisms.

The present invention is generally directed to providing a consistent interface to security services in a data processing environment which includes a plurality of independent nodes configured into one or more node sets referred to as clusters. More particularly, the present invention provides a multilayer interface which permits the modular inclusion of any number of old or new security protocols.
The IBM pSeries of data processing products include the capability of collecting independent data processing nodes together in an arrangement called a cluster for the purpose of providing application level programs with the ability of employing greater hardware resources in to carry out of their individual processing goals. The use of clusters is facilitated through the use of various operating system level utility programs accessed via defined Application Programming Interfaces (API's). Cluster Services are operating system level services that are related to the operation and administration of clusters. Since the data processing systems of the kind considered herein are typically used simultaneously by a large plurality of disparate users with each user requiring a secure computing environment in which to run, there is a corresponding need to imbue Cluster Services with inherent security protocols.
However, there are many different security mechanisms that can be used and each one of them provides a different API and a different implementation of the Global Services System API (GSS API). Application programmers who write code designed to interact directly with the security interfaces provided by the various security mechanisms and protocols must be aware of the differences in interface and implementation.
This situation has resulted in several problems. For example, customers may have different preferences in terms of the particular security mechanism that they want to use. If a customer wants to use a new security mechanism not originally provided for, cost becomes an issue since this often means that many other services need to be modified in order to support the new mechanism.
The Cluster Security Services (CtSec) subsystem of the present invention is designed to solve these problems while providing a secure computing environment for the operation of Cluster Services programming. As implemented herein Cluster Security Services exports a mechanism-independent interface for initial acquisition of such items as network identity, client-server authentication, and client authorization. Its use solves two significant problems. First, customers are no longer locked into the use of a particular security mechanism but now may configure their applications to use the underlying security mechanism of their own choice. Secondly, support associated with providing a new security mechanism impacts only one subsystem, that is, Cluster Security Services rather than impacting all of the subsystems in the cluster.
The advantages of using CtSec are several. First, the application program does not need to be aware of how the underlying security mechanism works. Second, there is thus provided an easy-to-use interface that is not changed whenever support for a new underlying security mechanism is desired. Thirdly, this scheme minimizes the number of changes required for supporting new underlying security mechanisms. Additions or modifications are required only in CtSec and not in the applications using it.

Mechanism independent cluster security services

International Business Machines Corporation