The present invention provides inserting and deleting a breakpoint in a parallel processing system. A breakpoint is inserted in a module loaded into the execution environment of an attached processor unit. The breakpoint can be inserted directly. Furthermore, the unloaded image of the module can also have a breakpoint associated with it. The breakpoint can be inserted directly into the module image, or a breakpoint request can be generated, and the breakpoint is inserted when the module is loaded into the execution environment of the attached processor unit.

Parallel processing, which generally comprises employing a plurality of microprocessors coupled to the same computer system to concurrently process a batch of data, is of great importance in the computer industry. Generally, there are three major types of parallel processing. These are parallel processing systems employing shared memory or distributed memory, or a combination of the two. Typically, shared memory is memory that can be accessed in a single operation, such as a "load" or "read" command, by a plurality of processors. Distributed memory is memory that is localized to an individual processor. In other words, in a distributed system, each processor can access its own associated memory in single access operation, but typically cannot access memories associated with the other processors in a single operation. Finally, there is a hybrid, or "heterogeneous," parallel processing, in which there is some shared memory among one or more processors, also known as system memory, and some memory which is distributed and local to at least one processor.
One such example of a hybrid parallel processor system comprises at least one reduced instruction set (RISC) main processor unit (MPU), such as a PowerPC™ processor, and at least one specialized or "attached" processor unit (APU), such as a Synergistic™ APU (SPU). Typically, the MPU is employed to execute general purpose code, wherein the general purpose code comprises complex control flows and orchestrating the overall hybrid parallel processing function. The MPU has access to the full range of system memory. The APU is generally directed to executing dataflow operations. In other words, the APU calculates highly repetitive multimedia, graphics, signal, or network processing workloads which are identified by high compute to control decision ratios. In conventional hybrid systems, APUs do not have access to the system memory, and their own memory, the local store, is typically smaller than the shared memory.
Generally, while employment of the hybrid system provides high computational performance, it poses significant challenges to the programming model. One such problem relates to the APU. The APU cannot directly address system memory. Therefore, any code to be run on the APU has to be transferred to an associated local storage of the APU before this code can be executed on the APU. Furthermore, the APU and the MPU can have different instruction sets.
Furthermore, additional issues exist pertaining to the debugging of software that is to be compiled and linked to run in separate execution environments. To help solve various problems during software design and implementation, programmers employ debuggers. Typically, low-level operations used by a debugger are classified as one of three primitives. A first debugger primitive involves stopping a program at a well-defined location. This requires that the debugger (1) identifies the address associated with a function name, file/line number, or other uniquely identifying source code construct, and (2) setting a break point.
A second debugger primitive concerns mapping a program location to the file/line number, function name or other uniquely identifying source code construct. This requires the debugger to map a memory address to such source construct. The memory address mapped is usually the current address of the program counter PC which involves rereading the value of the PC register by the debugger. As is understood by those of skill in the art the, program counter comprises the memory address of the instruction currently being executed.
A third debugger primitive allows reading and writing of program data. This requires that the debugger identifies the memory address associated with a data object or variable. Typically, setting a breakpoint is used in conjunction with read or write accessing the contents of the address memory location.
Generally, each of the three primitives above comprise a mapping step and an operative step. The mapping step identifies the correlation between the executable object code and the source code, whereas the operative step comprises other operations performed by the debugger. To perform the mapping step, debuggers use a mapping table and debugging tables originally generated by the compiler, and updated by the linker, describing the location of each program object, each label, the correlation between file/line numbers and object addresses, the layout of variables, the stack layout, and so on.
Typically, setting a breakpoint for a debugger in non-heterogeneous architectures occurs in one of two ways. The first way is to replace a selected instruction or data at a "breakpoint" with a trap instruction, or other such sequence which will halt normal execution of the program and transfer control to the debugger. The second way is to initialize a breakpoint register with the address value (or address range) of the breakpoint. The hardware compares the program counter, that is, the register containing the address of the instruction that is executed, with the value of one or more breakpoint registers. If the values match, a transfer of control to the debugger occurs when the value in the breakpoint register matches the program counter. Matches can include a variety of matching functions, such as "equal," "falls in a range," "less," "greater," or other Boolean functions.
However, setting a breakpoint in a heterogeneous architecture can be more complicated. For instance, the instruction sets of the separate processor components can differ. This can create problems in debugging. For instance, the code configurations of a module can differ, depending upon whether it is loaded to the second execution environment. Furthermore, when a breakpoint is set in a module which can be loaded and unloaded, it is important to maintain breakpoints correctly across such loading and unloading activity in correspondence with the requested breakpoints. Thus, when a module is replaced by another module, and later reloaded, care must be taken that all breakpoints are maintained when breakpoints have been set.
Therefore, what is needed is a debugger for employment in heterogeneous parallel processing systems that overcomes the limitations of conventional debuggers.

Method and apparatus for setting breakpoints when debugging integrated executables in a heterogeneous architecture

International Business Machines Corporation


A method is provided for imaging targets using an unmanned air vehicle. The method comprises the steps of making a determination of cloud obscuration of a target, selecting an imaging sensor based on the cloud obscuration determination, and using the selected imaging sensor to produce an image of the target. An apparatus that performs the method is also provided.

There is an increased emphasis on the use of unmanned air vehicles (UAVs) for performing various activities in both civilian and military situations where the use of manned flight vehicles may not be appropriate. Such missions include surveillance, reconnaissance, target acquisition, target designation, data acquisition, communications relay, decoy, jamming, harassment, ordinance delivery, or supply.
Airborne surveillance systems typically include one or more unmanned aircraft each carrying one or more sensors for detecting, imaging or monitoring target items in an area under surveillance. Electro-optical or infrared (EO/IR) sensors can provide high resolution images. However, if clouds obscure the target, EO/IR sensors will not be able to image the target. Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) sensors can penetrate clouds but provide lower resolution images.
The communications devices used in the surveillance system may be bandwidth limited. That is, there may not be enough bandwidth to download imagery from all the sensors at the same time. In addition, electro-optical and infrared cameras may share the same set of lenses to reduce payload weight. In that case, only one EO or IR sensor may be used at a time. Even if all sensors could be used concurrently, there may be limited staff on the ground to evaluate the images; so all downloaded imagery should be the highest quality possible.
If the unmanned aircraft could automatically detect the presence of clouds, the type of sensor that is most appropriate for imaging could be selected. Thus there is a need for a method and apparatus for automatically detecting the presence of clouds from an unmanned aircraft.

Method and apparatus for imaging a target using cloud obscuration prediction and detection


A sense amplifier, system and methods for increasing a noise margin of the sense amplifier are contemplated herein. In general, the sense amplifier includes a pair of cascode transistors coupled in parallel between a power supply node and a sense line of the sense amplifier. The sense amplifier also includes a precharge node coupled to the power supply node through a first precharge transistor, and a sense node coupled to the power supply node through a second precharge transistor. The sense amplifier described herein functions to separate the sense node from the precharge node with the pair of cascode transistors, which in turn, increases the noise margin of the sense amplifier by decoupling the sense node from any voltage fluctuations that may be present on the sense line during a sensing state.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to sense circuitry and, more particularly, to a sense amplifier having separate cascode devices for precharge and sensing portions of the sense amplifier.
2. Description of the Related Art
The following descriptions and examples are given as background only.
The proliferation of computers and other microprocessor-based devices has contributed to an increasing demand for semiconductor memory. Microprocessors are present not only in computers, but in a diverse range of products including automobiles, cellular telephones and kitchen appliances. A conventional microprocessor executes a sequence of instructions and processes information. Frequently, both the instructions and the information reside in semiconductor memory. Therefore, an increased requirement for memory has accompanied the microprocessor boom. As microprocessors have become more sophisticated, greater capacity and speed are demanded from the associated memory.
There are various types of semiconductor memory, including Read Only Memory (ROM) and Random Access Memory (RAM). ROM is typically used where instructions or data must not be modified, while RAM is used to store instructions or data which must not only be read, but modified. ROM is a form of non-volatile storage—i.e., the information stored in ROM persists even after power is removed from the memory. On the other hand, RAM storage is generally volatile, and must remain powered-up in order to preserve its contents.
A conventional semiconductor memory device stores information digitally, in the form of bits (i.e., binary digits). The memory is typically organized as a matrix of memory cells, each of which is capable of storing one bit. The cells of the memory matrix are accessed by word lines and bit lines. Word lines are typically associated with the rows of the memory matrix, while bit lines are associated with the columns. Raising a word line activates a given row; the bit lines are then used to read from (or write to) the corresponding cells in the currently active row. Memory cells are typically capable of assuming one of two voltage states (commonly described as "on" or "off"). Information is stored in the memory by setting each cell in the appropriate logic state. For example, to store a bit having the value 1 in a particular cell, one would set the state of that cell to "on;" similarly, a 0 would be stored by setting the cell to the off state. (Obviously, the association of "on" with 1 and "off" with 0 is arbitrary, and could be reversed.)
The contents of a memory cell are generally read by applying an input voltage to a selected wordline, and sensing whether the voltage on a selected bitline changes in response to the applied input voltage. In some cases, the bitline acts as a capacitor, and may be precharged to a predetermined voltage before the memory cell is read. When the memory cell is read, the bitline voltage may discharge to ground to indicate a first logic state, or may remain at the precharged voltage to indicate a second logic state. A sense amplifier is generally used to "sense" the logic state present on the selected bitline.
In some cases, a sense amplifier may be included for each column of memory cells in a memory array. The sense amplifiers may be single-ended or differential, depending on the particular configuration of the memory cell. For example, single-ended sense amplifiers may receive only one bitline as input, whereas differential sense amplifiers receive differential bitlines (i.e., a pair of complementary bitlines) as input. Single-ended sense amplifiers and memory cells are generally used to obtain smaller layouts than their differential counterparts, but often do so at the cost of reduced noise margins and operational speed. Though differential sense amplifiers and memory cells provide a somewhat larger layout, they are generally used in high-speed applications that benefit from relatively high common mode noise rejection.
Operational speed is often a primary concern in sense amplifier design. In some cases, the speed of the sense amplifier may be determined by the sensitivity of the sense amplifier to the discharge rate of the bitline. For example, a relatively sensitive sense amplifier may have a relatively high trip-point voltage (i.e., a voltage relatively close to the precharge voltage), which enables the sense amplifier to detect a programmed memory location once the voltage level on the bitline drops by a small amount. On the other hand, a sense amplifier with relatively low sensitivity may have a substantially lower trip-point voltage, which requires a much larger voltage drop on the bitline before a programmed memory location can be detected. Since it generally takes longer to discharge the bitline to a lower trip-point voltage (and to precharge the bitline to the precharge voltage when the bitline is discharged to a lower voltage), a more sensitive sense amplifier may be desired when operational speed is a concern.
Another consideration in sense amplifier design is power consumption. The act of charging and discharging the bitline generally results in power consumption; the greater the swing between precharged and discharged voltage values, the greater the power consumption. Low memory device power consumption is crucial in many devices, including portable computing and telecommunication devices (e.g., portable computers, personal digital assistants, cell phones, etc.). Therefore, the level to which the bitline is precharged is often limited, in some memory devices, to decrease the power consumption by reducing the swing between the precharged and discharged bitline voltage values.
For example, a cascode device may be coupled between the bitline of a memory cell and the output stage of a conventional single-ended sense amplifier. In some cases, a "cascode device" may be defined as a transistor, which is turned "on" and "off" by varying the voltage applied to the source terminal of the transistor, rather than varying the gate voltage. For example, an N-channel cascode transistor may have a source terminal coupled to a bitline, a drain terminal coupled to an input node of the sense amplifier output stage, and a gate terminal coupled to a constant voltage source (e.g., VCC). A pull-up device (or "precharge transistor") may be coupled to the drain terminal of the cascode transistor for precharging the bitline to a voltage value approximately equal to the value of the constant voltage source minus the threshold voltage (or turn-on voltage) of the cascode transistor. The input of the output stage may also be precharged to VCC. To reduce the precharge voltage swing, the constant voltage source may be some intermediate voltage between ground and VCC. If the selected memory cell is programmed, a drop in the bitline voltage during a read cycle will cause the cascode transistor to switch on, thereby coupling the bitline to the input of the output stage. The voltage at the input of the output stage drops rapidly to the voltage of the bitline through charge sharing.
Unfortunately, a problem with the conventional sense amplifier described above arises when noise on the bitline causes the cascode transistor to inadvertently switch on, resulting in the reading of invalid data. Potential noise sources may include, e.g., capacitive coupling between nearby bitlines in the same layer and/or within adjacent layers of the memory cell. Therefore, a noise margin must be provided to account for noise that can be injected on the bitline. Providing a sufficient noise margin increases the reliability of the data read from the memory cell.

Sense amplifier with dual cascode transistors and improved noise margin


A method includes receiving a system call from an application within a container executing on an operating system, the system call comprising a synchronization operation to synchronize memory of the application to storage. The method further includes determining, by the kernel, whether a system call filtering policy associated with the container indicates that the system call is to be prevented. preventing, by the kernel, performance of the synchronization operation in view of the system call filtering policy.

A file system synchronization operation provides for saving changes to data in memory to a file system of persistent storage. Therefore, the data can be persisted even if system failure occurs, such as power outage. A container may be an isolated execution environment in which one or more applications can execute. The container and the applications of the container can request sync operations to be performed for data of the requesting applications.

Speedup build container data access via system call filtering


In a radiation image storage panel which has a phosphor layer containing energy-storing phosphor particles, the energy-storing phosphor particles is composed of a mixture of a phosphor particle group having a relatively large median diameter and a phosphor particle group having a relatively small median diameter, the former group having a median diameter of 4 to 30 μm, the latter group having a median diameter of 1 to 8 μm, and the mixture having a particle size frequency distribution that satisfies the condition of:(x+y)/5>z in which x is a size frequency (%) at the peak in a larger range of the size frequency distribution curve, y is a size frequency (%) at the peak in a smaller range, and z is the lowest size frequency (%) in the range between the two peaks.

When the energy-storing phosphor (e.g., stimulable phosphor, which gives off stimulated emission) is exposed to radiation such as X-rays, it absorbs and stores a portion of the radiation energy. The phosphor then emits stimulated emission according to the level of the stored energy when it is exposed to electromagnetic wave such as visible or infrared light (i.e., stimulating light). A radiation image recording and reproducing method utilizing the energy-storing phosphor has been widely employed in practice. In that method, a radiation image storage panel, which is a sheet comprising the energy-storing phosphor, is used. The method comprises the steps of: exposing the storage panel to radiation having passed through an object or having radiated from an object, so that radiation image information of the object is temporarily recorded in the storage panel; sequentially scanning the storage panel with the stimulating light such as a laser beam to emit a stimulated light; and photoelectrically detecting the emitted light to obtain electric image signals. The storage panel thus treated is subjected to a step for erasing radiation energy remaining therein, and then stored for the use in the next recording and reproducing procedure. Thus, the radiation image storage panel can be repeatedly used.
The radiation image storage panel (often referred to as energy-storing phosphor sheet) has a basic structure comprising a support and a phosphor layer provided thereon. However, if the phosphor layer is self-supporting, the support may be omitted. Further, a protective layer is generally provided on the free surface (surface not facing the support) of the phosphor layer so as to keep the phosphor layer from chemical deterioration or physical damage.
Various kinds of energy-storing phosphor layers are known. For example, the phosphor layer can comprise a binder and energy-storing phosphor particles dispersed therein, or otherwise can comprise agglomerate of an energy-storing phosphor without binder. The latter layer can be formed by a gas phase-accumulation method or by a firing method.
The radiation image recording and reproducing method (or radiation image forming method) has various advantages as described above. However, it is still desired that the radiation image storage panel used in the method have as high sensitivity as possible and, at the same time, give a reproduced radiation image of as high quality (in regard to sharpness and graininess) as possible.
JP-B-4-75480 discloses a radiation image storage panel which comprises a phosphor layer containing a mixture of two groups of stimulable phosphor particles having the same chemical composition but having different sizes. The group of smaller particles has a size distribution in which the peak is positioned in the range of 1 to 8 μm, and the group of larger particles has a size distribution in which the peak is positioned in the range of 4 to 30 μm. The space between those peaks is at least 2 μm. In the mixture, the ratio by weight between the smaller particles and the larger particles is in the range of 20:80 to 90:10.
JP-A-9-269400 discloses a radiation image storage panel comprising a phosphor layer in which the packing degree of phosphor particles is 65% or more. The phosphor layer contains a mixture of smaller phosphor particles and larger phosphor particles. The smaller particles have a size distribution in which the peak (A) is positioned in the range of 0.5 to 5 μm, and the larger particles have a size distribution in which the peak (B) is positioned in the range of 6 to 30 μm. The ratio by weight between the smaller particles and the larger particles is in the range of 5:95 to 40:60. The particles of the peak B are larger than the particles of the peak A by 5 μm or more, or otherwise are three times or more as large as the particles of the peak A.
JP-A-2004-137359 discloses a process for preparation of a rare earth activated alkaline earth metal fluoride halide stimulable phosphor. The disclosed process comprises a step of classification using a curved pneumatic conveying classifier. In the publication, however, the treated phosphor is in the form of uniform particles.
For the purpose of improving the sensitivity and the image quality, it is known, as disclosed in the above-mentioned publications, that the phosphor layer is made to contain two groups of phosphor particles having different sizes. That is because large and small particles can be densely packed to improve the packing density of phosphor in the phosphor layer. However, if the larger particles are too large, the image quality such as sharpness is lowered and the size distribution is liable to widen out. On the other hand, if the smaller particles are too small, they often agglomerate and the amount of emission decreases to give poor emission properties. Accordingly, it is desired to produce a phosphor layer in which phosphor particles giving preferred properties are so densely packed that the image quality such as graininess can be improved without impairing the sensitivity.


A flush valve has a valve ring defining a downwardly open valve port, an overflow tube centered on an upright axis and having a lower end opening into the valve port, and a valve body at the tube lower end displaceable relative to the port between a closed blocking position and an open position. Mechanism inside the tube lifts the valve body into the open position. A float in the tank adjacent the port cooperates with a latch system connected to the valve body for holding the body in the open position while the float is generally submerged. The tube is internally formed with an inwardly projecting ridge. The mechanism includes a frame inside the tube and fixed axially in the tank, at least one claw axially displaceable in the tube relative to the frame and engageable with the ridge, an actuating element accessible from outside the tank above the tube and axially aligned with the tube, and a direction-reversing linkage mounted on the frame and connected between the actuating element and the claw for raising the claw when the element is depressed.

A standard flush valve is provided at an outlet port formed in a bottom wall of a toilet tank. When actuated it allows the water in the tank to rush out through the port and flush the toilet. Such a valve must remain open long enough for all the water to run out.
In order to prevent the tank from overfilling, there is invariably an upright overflow tube whose open upper end is at a level above which the water should not go, and whose lower end opens into the outlet port. Thus if for some reason the float-controlled fill valve fails, the tank will not overflow.
The flush valve itself normally is a mechanism provided adjacent the overflow tube so that the tank must be dimensioned to provide space for it. Furthermore this flush valve is exposed in the tank and can easily get damaged during installation or if something falls into the tank.

DAL-Georg Rost & Sohne Sanitaramaturen GmbH


An extrusion attachment for sausage making machines have three connection tubes with the inner tube defining a first passageway, the space between the inner and intermediate tubes comprising a second passageway, and the space between the outer tube and the intermediate tube defining a third passageway. The diameter of the inner tube is small so that meat emulsion passing into the inner tube is subjected to a higher pressure than that of the pressure in the second passageway. The lower pressure meat material in the second passageway is thinly coated on the strand of the high pressure meat material extruded from the inner tube. A thin layer of collagen material is extruded from the third passageway for deposit on the outer surface of the meat layer extruded from the second passageway.

In the manufacture of sausage strands, the smearing of fat particles on the surface of the sausage is a significant problem in that it substantially detracts from the appearance of the finished product. This is true in conventional sausage making, as well as in coextrusion for making sausage which have been more recently developed. Maintaining the shape of the resulting sausages during cooking has also been difficult.
It is therefore a principal object of this invention to provide a method and means for manufacturing coextruded sausage strands wherein the problem of smearing is essentially eliminated, and where a good appearance of the finished product is achieved wherein substantial portions of lean meat are visible.
A further object of this invention is to provide a method and means for coextruding a sausage strand wherein the shape of the sausage strand will be maintained while the finished product is being handled and is being cooked.
These and other objects will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

Method and means for making coextruded sausage strands


The present disclosure provides an unmanned flying vehicle (UAV) operable in a plurality of operating modes including a normal operations mode, a safe landing mode and an emergency landing mode. The normal operations mode is initiated when no errors are detected in the system. The safe landing mode is initiated when one or more non-critical components of the UAV are in non-responsive mode or do not work as desired. The emergency landing mode is initiated when one or more critical components are in non-responsive mode or do not work as desired. Further, the safe landing mode overrides the normal operations mode and the emergency landing mode overrides both the normal operations mode and the safe landing mode.

An unmanned flying device is an aircraft without an on-board human pilot. Unmanned flying devices are known and identified by different names or titles including Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (hereinafter UAVs), Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems (RPAS), drones, Remotely Piloted Vehicles (RPVs) and the like. These UAVs may be classified and categorized in terms of range or altitude, shapes, sizes, roles and the like. In terms of different military roles, UAVs can be used in areas including electronic attack (EA), strike missions, suppression and/or destruction of enemy air defense (SEAD/DEAD), network node or communications relay, combat search and rescue (CSAR), and the like. In addition, there a multiple civilian purposes and roles for UAVs such as survey, inspection, search and rescue, security, and surveillance. Moreover, the UAV has different components to perform the above mentioned goals.
Typically, the UAV has components which include an airframe, a propulsion system, a flight control computer or system, a navigation system, a sensor system, actuators, wings, engines, lights, sensors, radio interfaces, optical sensors, audio sensors and the like. The complete system having one or more UAVs and a ground control station, data links, displays, controls, remote human operators and the like, can be referred to as the Unmanned Aerial System (hereinafter UAS). Moreover, the UAV can be controlled either autonomously, based on pre-programmed route and/or mission data, or by the remote operator present on the ground control station.
The ground control station controls and communicates with one or more UAVs using data links. Moreover, one or more UAVs communicate with each other through the data links. Further, the data links between one or more UAVs and the ground control station are based on wireless links, satellite links, radio links and the like.
Traditionally, UAVs were simply used as a remotely operated aircrafts, without having proper autonomous control over the flight of the unmanned flying device. However, with the advancement in technology, these UAVs utilize autonomous control to control the flight. Moreover, depending upon situations, these UAVs can operate in different modes including normal flying mode, safe landing mode, emergency landing mode and the like. The normal flying mode and the safe landing mode are normal and convenient; however, the problem lies in the emergency landing mode. The emergency landing mode corresponds to landing in error situations when one or more functionalities of the UAV partially or completely break down or interrupt. In such situations, landing becomes difficult and risky. Thus, proper control is needed to minimize the damage caused.
In an example, an error such as loss of sensor logic or non-functioning of radio communication to ground control station may occur. In such situations, the UAV may crash on the ground, hit an object in the air or land on some undesired location such as military UAV landing on the land of hostile forces. The uncontrolled landing may pose serious danger to other aircrafts, to birds and to the persons on the ground. The damage caused by uncontrolled landing can be extreme due to considerable weight of the UAV in tens, hundreds or thousands of kilograms. When such an UAV drops on a street with people and cars, accident or even death might occur. Moreover, when such an UAV collides with a passenger airplane in air, the impact may destroy the whole aircraft causing hundreds of human casualties. Further, the UAV itself may be damaged or destroyed due to uncontrolled landing, leading to financial loss.
Traditionally, parachutes control the landing of the UAV in fatal or erroneous situations. However, parachutes are not adequate as they may result in uncontrolled landing to an arbitrary place. The landing may occur in areas with people, driving cars or some nuclear facility. Moreover, the UAV may collide in air with other aircraft. In any of the stated situations, the impact may cause death, accident or even a major disaster. Further, the recovery of the UAV may be difficult or impossible due to the arbitrary location of the emergency landing, leading to a loss of equipment and/or loss of data and/or enabling hostile ground units to recover the UAV for reverse-engineering and analysis.
In view of the aforementioned problems discussed above, there is a need for a method for controlling the emergency landing with high precision to minimize or avoid disaster. Moreover, the method should appropriately select the mode of operation of the UAV based on predictable results of operating with such errors in the UAV.


Systems and methods according to exemplary embodiments address, among other features, the area of calibrating a sensor using a constant vector field. In one exemplary embodiment, a method for calibrating a sensor includes the steps of placing the sensor in a cube, rotating the cube between a plurality of different orientations, collecting at least one reading from the sensor from each of the plurality of different orientations and calibrating the sensor using the collected readings.

The present invention describes methods and systems for calibrating a sensor using a vector field.
Technologies associated with the communication of information have evolved rapidly over the last several decades. Television, cellular telephony, the Internet and optical communication techniques (to name just a few things) combine to inundate consumers with available information and entertainment options. Taking television as an example, the last three decades have seen the introduction of cable television service, satellite television service, pay-per-view movies and video-on-demand. Whereas television viewers of the 1960s could typically receive perhaps four or five over-the-air TV channels on their television sets, today's TV watchers have the opportunity to select from hundreds, thousands, and potentially millions of channels of shows and information. Video-on-demand technology, currently used primarily in hotels and the like, provides the potential for in-home entertainment selection from among thousands of movie titles.
The technological ability to provide so much information and content to end users provides both opportunities and challenges to system designers and service providers. One challenge is that while end users typically prefer having more choices rather than fewer, this preference is counterweighted by their desire that the selection process be both fast and simple. Unfortunately, the development of the systems and interfaces by which end users access media items has resulted in selection processes which are neither fast nor simple. Consider again the example of television programs. When television was in its infancy, determining which program to watch was a relatively simple process primarily due to the small number of choices. One would consult a printed guide which was formatted, for example, as series of columns and rows which showed the correspondence between (1) nearby television channels, (2) programs being transmitted on those channels and (3) date and time. The television was tuned to the desired channel by adjusting a tuner knob and the viewer watched the selected program. Later, remote control devices were introduced that permitted viewers to tune the television from a distance. This addition to the user-television interface created the phenomenon known as "channel surfing" whereby a viewer could rapidly view short segments being broadcast on a number of channels to quickly learn what programs were available at any given time.
Despite the fact that the number of channels and amount of viewable content has dramatically increased, the generally available user interface, control device options and frameworks for televisions have not changed much over the last 30 years. Printed guides are still the most prevalent mechanism for conveying programming information. The multiple button remote control with up and down arrows is still the most prevalent channel/content selection mechanism. The reaction of those who design and implement the TV user interface to the increase in available media content has been a straightforward extension of the existing selection procedures and interface objects. Thus, the number of rows in the printed guides has been increased to accommodate more channels. The number of buttons on the remote control devices has been increased to support additional functionality and content handling. However, this approach has significantly increased both the time required for a viewer to review the available information and the complexity of actions required to implement a selection. Arguably, the cumbersome nature of the existing interface has hampered commercial implementation of some services, e.g., video-on-demand, since consumers are resistant to new services that will add complexity to an interface that they view as already too slow and complex.
In addition to increases in bandwidth and content, the user interface bottleneck problem is being exacerbated by the aggregation of technologies. Consumers are reacting positively to having the option of buying integrated systems rather than a number of segregable components. An example of this trend is the combination television/VCR/DVD in which three previously independent components are frequently sold today as an integrated unit. This trend is likely to continue, potentially with an end result that most if not all of the communication devices currently found in the household will be packaged together as an integrated unit, e.g., a television/VCR/DVD/internet access/radio/stereo unit. Even those who continue to buy separate components will likely desire seamless control of, and interworking between, the separate components. With this increased aggregation comes the potential for more complexity in the user interface. For example, when so-called "universal" remote units were introduced, e.g., to combine the functionality of TV remote units and VCR remote units, the number of buttons on these universal remote units was typically more than the number of buttons on either the TV remote unit or VCR remote unit individually. This added number of buttons and functionality makes it very difficult to control anything but the simplest aspects of a TV or VCR without hunting for exactly the right button on the remote. Many times, these universal remotes do not provide enough buttons to access many levels of control or features unique to certain TVs. In these cases, the original device remote unit is still needed, and the original hassle of handling multiple remotes remains due to user interface issues arising from the complexity of aggregation.
A relatively new type of remote control devices is sometimes referred to as a "3D pointing device." The phrase "3D pointing" is used in this specification to refer to the ability of an input device to move in three (or more) dimensions in the air in front of, e.g., a display screen, and the corresponding ability of the user interface to translate those motions directly into user interface commands, e.g., movement of a cursor on the display screen. The transfer of data between the 3D pointing device and another device may be performed wirelessly or via a wire connecting the 3D pointing device to another device. Thus "3D pointing" differs from, for example, conventional computer mouse pointing techniques which use a surface, e.g., a desk surface or mousepad, as a proxy surface from which relative movement of the mouse is translated into cursor movement on the computer display screen. An example of a 3D pointing device can be found in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/119,663, entitled "3D Pointing Devices and Methods", the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference.
The '663 application describes, among other things, 3D pointers which enable the translation of movement, e.g., gestures or rotational movement of the handheld, into commands to a user interface. User movement of 3D pointing can be defined, for example, in terms of a combination of x-axis attitude (roll), y-axis elevation (pitch) and/or z-axis heading (yaw) motion of the 3D pointing device. Additionally, it is anticipated that 3D pointing devices will be held by a user in front of a display and that motion of the 3D pointing device will be translated by the 3D pointing device into output which is usable to interface with information displayed on a screen. According to an exemplary embodiment in the '663 application, two rotational sensors and one accelerometer can be employed as sensors in a 3D pointing device which can be used to sense motion of the pointing device. Alternatively, other sensors can be used in 3D pointing devices, such as magnetometers.
However, using magnetometers in 3D pointing applications requires a certain degree of accuracy in motion detection by the magnetometer. This, in turn, suggests the usefulness of calibrating the magnetometers. A currently used method for calibrating magnetometers involves using Helmholtz coils. A Helmholtz coil system generates a magnetic field of known size and uniformity. Typically a basic system consists of two identically wound, layered coils that are wired in series. The coils consist of a specific geometry wherein the mean coil spacing is equal to the mean radius. More complex Helmholtz coil systems can be designed for a variety of purposes.
However, there is still significant room for alternative methods for calibrating magnetometers, e.g., those magnetometers (or other sensors) used in 3D pointing devices.

Methods and systems for calibrating a sensor using a vector field


System and method for collection, control and wireless transmission of environmental and other data. Nodes may wirelessly connect to other nodes to relay node specific information, collected sensor data or commands to and from other nodes and gateway nodes linked to a central database. Node connections can be autonomously or statically configured and maintained. Nodes in gateway mode may be capable of aggregating and relaying commands and data between other nodes and a centralized database. Nodes may bypass other nodes and/or gateway nodes and communicate directly with the central database via satellite or cellular link. Nodes may be self-contained devices, inclusive of a wind or solar power source and a battery, eliminating the need for an external power source. Nodes may be configured independently or as a system to monitor and control various types of equipment including utility lines or water systems or used to collect environmental data.

Conventional wireless weather monitoring systems are unidirectional. They collect data and relay it to an assigned reception point, generally a base station unit that acts as a gateway. They require the use of base stations that collect data from one or more sensors on a one-to-one basis. For example: a base station may collect data from a sensor at one location and data from another sensor at a different location. If either sensor is out of range of the base station, that sensor's data will not be reported, even if it is within range of another sensor. This static 1-to-1 relationship between sensors and base stations limits the distance over which information may be collected from the base station without the installation of additional expensive base stations.
Remote Automated Weather Stations (RAWS) are bulky and expensive, often costing tens of thousands of dollars. RAWS use satellite uplinks and do not provide real time data, linking up to the satellite as little as once per hour. RAWS are very expensive to purchase and install so there are only a few thousand RAWS in the entire USA. The limited number of RAWS prohibits the collection of data on individual mountains, ridges or valleys because they are sporadically spaced tens to hundreds of miles apart. This spacing leaves large areas with unmonitored environmental conditions that can adversely affect infrastructure such as power lines. Additional weather-related information comes from other sources such as Automated Surface Observing Systems (ASOS) and Automated Weather Observing Systems (AWOS). These additional sources of data still leave miles between collection sites. Their placement is undertaken with little regard to the paths of utility lines and subsequently fail to measure actual weather conditions and their effects on utility lines.
Variances in weather, storm intensity, humidity and wind speed vary greatly at distances of less than one mile. Mountains, ridges and valleys can intensify weather variances by channeling weather in various directions. This channeling can intensify the severity of a wind gust or direct the weather in a different direction. Without a weather monitoring node in close proximity to these terrain changes, there is no measurement of the intensity of the wind or its effects on infrastructure in these specific areas.
In the power industry, utilities must make decisions on when to turn power off based on weather predictions and estimated wind speeds along the mountains, ridges and valleys between the weather monitoring stations. Further, utilities lack the ability to react quickly if the predictions are wrong, which can result in the utility being responsible for starting a wildfire.
When utilities are required to shut of power to avoid possible wildfires, the utilities have limited disconnection points resulting in affected areas much larger than necessary, inconveniencing customers and unnecessarily reducing revenue. People have become so reliant on utility power that outages can become life threatening for those relying on heating, cooling and/or medical equipment powered by the utility.
Thus, it would be advantageous to develop an affordable wireless weather monitoring system utilizing improved reporting intervals, sensors with enough density to determine changes in environmental conditions on a micro level vs. macro level and with the ability to send and receive commands to control other nodes.

Wireless remote monitoring system and data collection and control and method of using the same


An active ingredient from the group of an antihistamine, a decongestant, an antitussive or anticholinergic is dissolved in a suitable solvent and added to a dispersion of tannic acid in water to form the tannate salt complex of the active ingredient. The active ingredient tannate salt complex without isolation or purification is then added to a liquid or semi-solid medium composed of thickening, suspending, coloring, sweetening and flavoring agents, with stirring. Thereafter, preservatives, pH-adjusting and anti-caking agents in a suitable solvent are mixed with the liquid or semi-solid medium to generate a therapeutic dosage form.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to the field of tannate chemistry and more specifically to methods for processing tannate suspensions.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The use of tannate suspensions for pharmaceutical use is well-known. U.S. Pat. No. 6,287,597 describes tannate suspensions containing pyrilamine tannate and phenylephrine tannate. The suspension is prepared in a conventional manner such that one teaspoon contains 30 mg pyrilamine tannate and 5 mg phenylephrine tannate with benzoic acid, coloring agent, natural and artificial flavors, glycerin, kaolin, magnesium aluminum silicate, methyl paraben, pectin, purified water, saccharin, sodium hydroxide and sucrose or sorbitol. The January 1990 issue of Annals of Allergy, Volume 64, describes combinations of chlorpheniramine tannate, pyrilamine tannate and phenylephrine tannate. An article in Clinical Medicine, dated September 1965, pages 1475–1478 describes tablets of pyrilamine tannate, chlorpheniramine tannate and amphetamine tannate. Phenylephrine tannate compositions are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,599,846 and phenylephrine tannate and chlorpheniramine tannate compositions are disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,037,358. None of these references suggest or describe the production of a suspension by means of an in-situ conversion to the tannate salt of the active ingredient to provide a dosage form which affords a sustained release of the active ingredient over prolonged intervals of time. Such a suspension is needed to improve patient compliance with dosage requirements.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Process for preparing tannate liquid and semi-solid dosage forms


A device inspection apparatus that is capable of judging the functions of operating control buttons on a cellular phone or like device automatically and easily. The device inspection apparatus comprises an adapter unit 2 on which a cellular phone 1 is mounted; a camera 4 for picking up the image of an LCD panel 3, which serves as a display section for the cellular phone 1; a plunger unit 7, which has a plurality of releases 6 for pressing a key button 5 on the cellular phone 1; a computer 8 for controlling the operation of the plunger unit 7 and exercising control; and a monitor 9 for displaying an LCD panel image and an image based on a signal from the computer 8. A still picture, motion picture, or audio output, which is acquired when a release 6 presses a key button 5, is compared against a predetermined expected image or sound to judge the functionality of the cellular phone 1.

As is generally known, cellular phones, PHS phones, PDAs, game machines, notebook personal computers, and car navigation devices are provided with a large number of operating control buttons and wired or wireless input terminals. Users of these devices are supposed to operate the operating control buttons and input signals with the input terminals. In recent years, many folding type devices are released. These devices are constructed so that an LCD or other display section and an operating control section having operating control buttons and other controls are hinged together. The operating control buttons on a cellular phone or PHS phone, for instance, are used not only for dialing a phone number and entering characters, but also for setting up various telephone functions and computer functions.
The functions set up as described above include automatic lock, call cost display, use time display, ringtone setup, user information setup, and language setup functions. A wide variety of complicated functions can be set up for currently marketed cellular phones. This also holds true for the PDAs, game machines, notebook personal computers, and car navigation devices.
Further, the display sections on the PDAs and car navigation devices often use a touch panel. The above-mentioned functions can be exercised by operating not only hard operating control buttons but also on-screen soft operating control buttons. Unless otherwise stated, the term "operating control buttons" hereinafter refers to not only hard operating control buttons but also on-screen soft operating control buttons.

Device inspection device, device inspection system using the same, and mobile telephone holding device


A method of dismantling a turbomachine includes opening a turbomachine casing in the region of a combustion chamber, releasing a top half shell from a bottom half shell, axially displacing the top half shell and thereafter removing the top half shell in essentially the radial direction, rotationally fixedly connecting an auxiliary tool to the rotor of the turbomachine, connecting the auxiliary tool to the bottom half shell via axially displaceable adapter slides arranged on said auxiliary tool, axially displacing the bottom half shell to release the bottom half shell from axial connecting contours, rotating the bottom half shell with the rotor by approximately 180° until the bottom half shell assumes essentially the position of the removed top half shell, and releasing the bottom half shell and removal of said bottom half shell.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a turbomachine with a combustion chamber, in particular a gas turbine. The invention also relates to a method of dismantling an element of a turbomachine.
2. Brief Description of the Related Art
Turbomachines, such as gas turbines for example, are common nowadays in power plant technology and are economical, in particular when they run continuously. Firstly, prolonged downtimes and frequent start-up and shutdown of the turbine have an adverse effect on the service life of the turbine, since the material stress is especially high in particular during start-up and shutdown; secondly, prolonged downtimes, for example due to maintenance work, cause high costs or loss of income. In order to keep the material stress as low as possible on the one hand and the costs as low as possible on the other hand, it is attempted to use the turbomachines in continuous operation. Of course, temporary outage of the turbomachine on account of maintenance work to be carried out is unavoidable, although these downtimes should be as short as possible.
The extent to which the turbomachine is constructed for ease of maintenance, that is to say how simply and quickly it can be maintained, has a particular effect on the length of the downtimes. In this case, complicated and expensive constructions prolong the downtime and make the maintenance more expensive.

Method of dismantling a portion of a turbomachine


According to a driver airbag apparatus according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, an airbag cover and an airbag housing are securely coupled to each other, and as a result, the airbag cover is not separated from the airbag housing by deployment force of an airbag when the airbag is deployed.

In general, a driver airbag apparatus, which protects a driver at the time of a vehicle accident, is mounted on a steering wheel of a vehicle.
The driver airbag apparatus includes an inflator which generates gas at the time of a vehicle accident, an airbag which is expanded and deployed by gas generated by the inflator and protects the driver using cushioning force, an airbag housing in which the airbag is inserted and disposed in a folded state, and an airbag cover which covers the airbag inserted into the airbag housing and is coupled to the airbag housing.
A tear line, which is torn by expansive force of the airbag, is formed in an inner surface of the airbag cover, such that the airbag tears the tear line while expanding, breaks through the airbag cover, and protects the driver.
However, there have been many instances in which the airbag cover is separated from the airbag housing by deployment force of the airbag while the tear line is torn by expansive force of the airbag, and strikes the driver.


A cable tie having a locking head, a strap, and a truss projecting from the plane of the strap separated from the head by a slot. The strap may be passed over the truss, fed through the slot, and rested upon the truss to form a loop having a cavity therein. The strap may be subsequently passed around an object and fed into the head to lock the cable tie. A cutting implement may be inserted into the cavity to cut the loop and thereby release the cable tie from the object.

The present invention relates to cable ties for tying, bundling, securing, marking, or tagging objects. For simplicity, the term "bundling" may be used to indicate any of the above or similar functions of a cable tie and the term "bundled object" may be used to indicate an object or objects to which a cable tie is secured. Additionally, the present invention relates to restraining devices such as handcuffs for tying together or restricting the motion of human wrists (hands) or legs (feet). Although the majority of illustrations of this disclosure depict cable ties that bundle objects, they apply equally to handcuff restraining devices. Cable ties are sometimes called zip ties, wire ties, tie wraps, and wire ties. Cable ties may be made of a variety of materials, for example plastic (e.g., polyamide such as Nylon 6/6) or metal (e.g., stainless steel such as AISI 304 or 314).
A cable tie generally comprises a head and an elongated strap. The head includes a channel to receive the strap so that the cable tie may form a closed loop around an object or some portion thereof. The channel includes a means to engage the strap, and may include a ratcheting mechanism so that the strap may move easily through the channel in one direction (insertion) but may not move easily in the opposite direction (withdrawal). A common means to engage the strap is a toothed pawl that mates with a serrated surface of the strap. Another means to engage the strap is a ball that becomes wedged between a smooth surface of the strap and an angled surface of the channel. For simplicity, the means to engage the strap will hereafter be referred to as a pawl regardless of the actual mechanism, regardless of whether the pawl performs a ratcheting function, and regardless of whether the strap includes a serrated surface or surfaces.
Cable ties may be secured to objects temporarily. Consequently, some cable ties are designed to be releasable and/or reusable by having a means to disengage the pawl and remove the cable tie from an object. However, existing methods for disengaging the pawl may be inconvenient or impractical. Further, reusable cable ties tend to be more expensive to produce than single-use cable ties. As a result, a majority of cable ties are designed for single use (e.g., disposable).
Removing a single-use cable tie may require a user to cut the strap with a cutting implement, for example snip pliers, electric pliers, cable cutters, shears, scissors, or knives. But it may be difficult to insert a cutting implement between the strap and a bundled object, and doing so may damage the object. Several methods are described below that attempt to aid in cutting of a cable tie, such as a cable tie having an integrated cutting blade or a cable tie having a supplemental arch that may be more easily accessed by a cutting implement.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,360,281 discloses a cable tie having a housing disposed on the strap that includes a pair of blades adjacent to the strap. When a user rotates or depresses the housing, the blades compress and cut through the strap.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,395,343 discloses a tie for anchoring medical tubing wherein the strap includes a region that arches away from the medical tubing to permit scissors to be inserted between the arched region and the tubing to cut the strap. This feature may be unsuitable for some applications because the unsupported arch may collapse when the tie is tightened. A winning entry of the 2012 RED DOT Concept Design Award was a cable tie designed to prevent total collapsing of an arch by forming the arch as tapering from a first height at a first edge of the strap to zero height at the opposite edge of the strap.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,964,013 discloses a cable tie having a flap that may be folded over the head and engaged with an arched spring region of the strap which compresses during bundling. When the flap is cut, the arched spring becomes uncompressed and thereby creates a space between the strap and a bundled object for inserting a cutting implement to remove the cable tie from the object.
Instead of enabling easier cutting of a cable tie, several methods have been developed that permit the cable tie to be torn apart by hand. A few references follow.
European Patent 398,562 discloses a tie that serves a security seal, which has a pull tab that causes a thinned region of one or both side walls of the head to tear open when pulled, thereby releasing the tie from a bundled object.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,281,302 discloses a cable tie having a pull tab that causes a thinned region of a side wall of the head to tear open when pulled, thereby releasing the tie from a bundled object.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,062,820 discloses a cable tie that serves as a tote box lid retainer, which has a pull tab that causes a thinned region of the strap adjacent to the head to tear apart when pulled, thereby releasing the tie from a bundled object.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,881,435 discloses a cable tie having a thinned region running the longitudinal length of the upper wall of the head adjacent to the channel which may tear open when the strap within the channel is forced upwards against the upper wall and away from a bundled object.
Instead of cutting or tearing a cable tie, it is possible to design cable tie in such a way that the pawl may disengage, thereby permitting the strap to be withdrawn from the channel. A reference follows.
U.S. Pat. No. 9,266,654 discloses a cable tie having two channels in the head, a first channel having a pawl that does not permit withdrawal of the strap and a second channel having a pawl that permits withdrawal of the strap by means of a lever extending from the pawl that causes the pawl to disengage when actuated with a finger.
Many of the previously described methods have limitations. For example, cable ties having integrating blades tend to be expensive to manufacture. Cable ties having thinned regions for tearing tend to be weaker than equivalent standard cable ties. Finally, cable ties having pawls with levers that can be pressed to disengage the pawl tend to be difficult to disengage.


A method for irradiating a workpiece making a relative move in accordance with a work program with a laser beam for cutting the workpiece includes steps of interrupting the cutting being executed and then restarting the cutting. As the cutting is restarted, machining of the workpiece is performed under specified conditions for a predetermined distance and a predetermined time to provide sufficient machining of the workpiece.

This invention relates to a laser beam machining system using a laser beam for cutting a workpiece and more particularly to an improvement in work failure at the work restart time after the work is interrupted.
FIG. 18 shows the configuration of a laser beam machine system. In a controller 1, a CPU (central processing unit) 2 reads a work program stored in a RAM 4 (random access memory) based on a control program stored in a ROM 3 (read-only memory) and controls the entire laser beam machining system. The RAM 4 stores work condition data, etc. in addition to the work programs. An I/O unit 5 converts a control signal output from the CPU 2 and sends the resultant control signal to a laser oscillator 6, which then performs emission, stopping, output change, etc., of a laser beam 7 in response to the received control signal. The laser beam 7 is sent via a mirror 8 to a laser beam machine 9.
The laser beam machine 9 is provided with a table to which a workpiece 10 is fixed and a work head 12 for irradiating the workpiece 10 with a laser beam. The laser beam 7 introduced into the work head 12 is gathered by a light gatherer disposed in the work head and is applied to the workpiece 10 through a nozzle 12a. At the same time, a work gas (not shown) is also sprayed to the workpiece through the nozzle. The laser beam machine 9 is provided with servo motors 13 and 14 for performing move control of the table 11 in two directions of X and Y axes. The servo motors 13 and 14 are connected to servo amplifiers 15 and 16 respectively in the controller 1 and are subjected to rotation control through the amplifiers in response to a control signal issued from the CPU 2. A move system in the Z axis direction for controlling the focus position of the laser beam applied to the workpiece 10 also exists, but here is omitted. Commands are given to the laser beam machining system and parameters are set for the system through a CRT/MDI unit 17.
FIG. 19 is a functional block diagram of the conventional laser beam machining system. The functions and configuration of the blocks will be discussed with reference to FIG. 19. In the controller 1, a program analysis section 18 analyzes the instruction contents of a work program and issues a command to a move command section 19 or a work condition command section 20. When receiving a work condition command from the program analysis section 18, the work condition command section 20 calls work condition data responsive to the command from a work condition registration section 21 and sets work conditions. If work condition values are specified directly in the program, the values are handled like the work condition data and the work conditions are set. The work condition data is data of piercing conditions, cutting conditions, etc., set in response to workpiece material and its plate thickness, such as laser output, duty, frequency, piercing time, etc., set as laser oscillator work conditions and speed set as a move condition of the laser beam machine for making a relative move of a workpiece with respect to a laser beam. If a move command is received from the program analysis section 18, the move command section 19 generates a travel distance from the work programmed path and setup work condition speed. An interrupt/restart determinating section 22 determines emergency stop to be caused by alarm occurrence, factitious temporary stop to be specified by a feed hold command, work restart to be specified by a work restart command such as the subsequent cycle start command, etc., and based on the determination, sends a stop/restart determination signal to the move command section 19 and the work condition command section 20. When receiving the stop/restart determination signal, the move command section 19 and the work condition command section 20 generate a move command and a work condition command and output them to the laser oscillator 6 and the laser beam machine 9.
FIG. 20A shows a work program example for the laser beam machining system and FIG. 20B shows a work process flow corresponding to the work program. The work operation will be discussed with reference to FIG. 20.
The program analysis section 18 analyzes the command on work program line N01 (piercing condition selection command) and outputs the piercing condition selection command. When receiving the piercing condition selection command, the work condition command section 20 calls piercing condition data stored in the work condition registration section 21 and sets piercing conditions at step S100 (the piercing is to make a hole at the work start time and the piercing condition data is laser output, duty, frequency, piercing time, etc.,). Likewise, the program analysis section 18 analyzes the command on work program line N02 (piercing execution command) and outputs the piercing execution command. Inputting the piercing execution command, the work condition command section 20 outputs a laser beam irradiation signal to the laser oscillator and waits for the piercing time set in the piercing conditions at step S101. Meanwhile, a through hole is made (completion of the piercing). Likewise, the program analysis section 18 analyzes the command on work program line N03 (cutting condition selection command) and outputs the cutting condition selection command. Inputting the cutting condition selection command, the work condition command section 20 calls cutting condition data and sets cutting conditions at step S102. Likewise, the program analysis section 18 analyzes the commands on work program lines N04 to N98 (move commands for moving the table in response to the cut shape) and outputs the move commands. Inputting the move commands, the move command section 18 drives the servo motors for moving the table at the speed set in the cutting conditions at step S103. As a result, the workpiece is cut to a desired shape. Subsequently, the program analysis section 18 analyzes the command on work program line N99 (cutting end command) and outputs the cutting end command. Inputting the cutting end command, the work condition command section 20 turns off the laser beam and work gas at step S104. Working of one workpiece is now complete.
If a temporary stop command is given due to alarm occurrence or by a feed hold command during the cutting following the program path (step S103), the interrupt/restart determinating section receives the temporary stop signal and outputs a work interrupt determination signal. When receiving the work interrupt determination signal, the move command section outputs a stop command for stopping the table move and the work condition command section outputs a stop command for stopping irradiation with the laser beam, spraying of the work gas, etc. Upon reception of the stop commands, the laser beam machining is stopped. Then, if a work continuation command is given by a cycle start command, the laser beam machining is restarted.
FIG. 21 shows a process flow at the work restart time. The operation at the restart time will be discussed with reference to FIG. 21. When a work restart command is given, the interrupt/restart determinating section receives the work restart command, determines work restart, and outputs a work start determination signal. Inputting the work start determination signal, the work condition command section restores the state required for the work gas spraying, laser beam irradiation, etc., to the state before the temporary stop (containing the work conditions) at step S105. Next, the move command section outputs a restart move command at step S106 and the cutting is restarted.
FIG. 22 is an illustration showing how laser cutting is performed. When cutting of the workpiece 10 by the laser beam 7 proceeds, a bottom face 10b of the workpiece 10 lags in the cutting progress behind a top face 10a (m shown in FIGS. 22 and 23). The thicker the workpiece and the faster the work speed, the more remarkable the tendency (as shown in FIG. 23). Therefore, if a temporary stop command is given during the cutting and the working is stopped, the top face of the workpiece is cut, but uncut portion m remains in the bottom face at the stop position. After this, if a work restart command is given in the state and the cutting is started in the same cutting conditions as before the stop, a flow of molten metal at the start time worsens because of the uncut portion m in the cutting restart part; work failure easily occurs.

Laser beam machining method with interrupt and restart functions


A four-stroke engine includes a piston cylinder, and a piston located in the cylinder and movable within the cylinder. The engine includes a crankcase attached to the cylinder, the piston providing a separation boundary of a combustion portion of the cylinder from the crank case, and a crank member located within the crankcase and operatively connected to the piston. The engine including components for operating the engine in a four-stroke sequence, and components for introducing a fuel mixture into the combustion portion of the cylinder, the fuel mixture having an ability to lubricate. The engine including a construction and/or configuration for promoting passage of a portion of the mixture from the combustion portion of the cylinder to the crankcase in a sufficient amount to provide lubrication within the crankcase without reservoir lubricant in the crankcase.

Two major types of engines are available, and are commonly referred to as two-stroke type and four-stroke type. In general, a two-stroke engine relies upon oil mixed with gas as the input fuel to provide for lubrication within the engine. In distinction, a four-stroke engine utilizes an oil reservoir to provide for lubrication within the engine.
Regulations concerning engine emission levels are intended to minimize emmision levels. Typically, a four-stroke engine can provide a better (e.g., lower) emmission level than a two-stroke engine. However, some four-stroke engine designs are somewhat difficult to utilize for some handheld power machine applications. In particular, the presence of an oil reservoir may hamper suitability of a fourstroke engine to be utilized in an application where the engine may be subject to large tilting angles or even inversion. Thus there is a need to address these issues.

Four-stroke engine lubricated by fuel mixture


An airflow measuring device includes a sensing portion provided in a bypass passage, which perpendicularly deflects part of air from a main passage to therethrough bypass the part of air. The sensing portion includes a heating resistor energized and dissipate heat to airflow. The sensing portion is configured to measure airflow in the bypass passage based on the heat radiation. The sensing portion further includes a pair of support members erected in the bypass passage to support the heating resistor. The heating resistor of the sensing portion is inclined at a first inclination angle with respect to a direction, which is perpendicular to a flow direction of air in the bypass passage. The heating resistor is inclined toward downstream at an outer streamline of the airflow in the bypass passage.

Conventionally, a thermal flow measuring device is employed for measuring intake airflow of an internal combustion engine of a vehicle. A thermal flow measuring device includes a heating resistor and measures airflow in accordance with heat radiation from the heating resistor to the airflow. The heating resistor is constructed by winding a metallic resistive element around a bobbin in a cylindrical shape, and connecting both ends of the resistive element to a pair of lead members. The metallic resistive element is, for example, a platinum thin wire having a large temperature coefficient of resistance. The heating element is coated with a protective film at the surface and an end portion.
Heat dissipated from the heating resistor to airflow is substantially in proportion to the square root of velocity of the airflow and a temperature difference between the surface of the heating resistor and the airflow. The heating resistor and temperature compensating resistive element are combined to construct a resistance bridged circuit. The temperature compensating resistive element is configured to detect temperature of the airflow. As the heating resistor dissipates heat, resistance of the heating resistor changes. An electric current is supplied to the resistance bridged circuit, and the electric current is controlled such that temperature difference between the heating resistor and the temperature compensating resistive element is regularly maintained at a predetermined value. The velocity of the airflow is detected based on the electric current, and the amount of intake air, i.e., air mass flow is measured based on the flow velocity.
In the present structure, when a balanced condition of the resistance bridged circuit changes due to variation in temperature, the change in the balanced conditions can be compensated by the temperature compensating resistive element. However, suspended particulates such as dust are contained in intake air of the internal combustion engine, and such suspended particulates may adhere to the surface of the heating resistor and the lead members. Such adhesion changes a heat radiation characteristic of the heating resistor and a thermal property of the lead member. As a result, an output characteristic such as response of the thermal flow measuring device may be impaired.
In general, the heating resistor is maintained at high temperature, for example, 200° C. Therefore, even when water, which is contained in suspended particulates, adheres to the heating resistor, the water may be evaporated. However, oil contained in suspended particulates may adhere to the heating resistor and remain, even low-boiling-point components of the oil is partially evaporated on the heating resistor. Thus, the surface of the heating resistor may be contaminated by suspended particulates containing oil.
A conventional airflow measuring device has a structure configured to protect the lead member, the heating resistor, and a support member, which supports the heating resistor, from adhesion of suspended particulate as contamination substance contained in airflow.
JP-A-59-190623 proposes a thermal airflow measuring device including heating resistive elements for measuring air mass flow and temperature compensation, and the heating resistive elements are located along airflow in a bypass passage. The bypass passage leads part of airflow from a main passage. The heating resistive elements are inclined with respect to the airflow at an angle preferably less than 90°. In the present structure, the heating resistor for measuring airflow can be elongated with respect to the direction of the airflow in the bypass passage, which is limited in diameter, and whereby enhanced in response.
In the present structure, the heating resistive element and the lead member are inclined against the airflow in some degree, so that part of laminar flow in the airflow is easily shifted to turbulent flow on the surface of the heating resistor. Therefore, a heat transfer characteristic as a heat transfer coefficient is enhanced, so that output response may be improved. However, the airflow is added with a vertical component directed to the surface of the heating resistor, and consequently stagnation is apt to arise in the airflow. Thus, suspended particulates are apt to adhere to the heating resistor, the lead members, and support members that are located perpendicularly to the flow direction.
JP-A-59-190624 proposes a thermal airflow measuring device including a protection member provided upstream of the heating resistor for reducing adhesion of suspended particulates. In the present structure, adhesion of suspended particulates can be suppressed, so that the output characteristic can be maintained.
However, airflow may become unstable due to the protection member, and consequently airflow cannot be accurately measured.
JP-A-8-105778 proposes a thermal airflow measuring device including a heating resistor, which has a relatively large temperature coefficient of resistance. The heating resistor is located in a fluid passage and connected to a bridged circuit. The heating resistor is formed with a cylindrical bobbin having a center axis, which is perpendicular to the airflow. A pair of lead members connects both ends of the heating resistor with a pair of terminals, which is erected in the passage. Each lead member protrudes from each end surface of the bobbin to be in parallel with the center axis of the bobbin. A protection member is provided upstream of each lead member with respect to streamlines of the fluid. The protection member is located in parallel with the lead member so as not to disturb the fluid flow.
The size of the protection member is determined correspondingly to the size of the lead member, whereby adhesion of suspended particulates to the lead member can be suppressed. Consequently, measurement accuracy and a response characteristic can be maintained.
In the present structure, contamination of the surface of the lead member can be suppressed. However, contamination of the heating resistor as an essential component may not be effectively suppressed. The particulates adhered to the surface of the heating resistor may be partially burned or evaporated by heat of the heating resistor. However, suspended particulates, which contain oil, may not be removed and accumulate on the heating resistor.
In reality, intake air contains various kinds of suspended particulates such as very minute particulates, which are significantly light and easily scattered, relatively large and heavy particulates, which are applied with inertia and apt to collide against the surface, moisture, and oil. Such suspended particulates as contamination substance may exist in stagnation and adhere to the heating resistor, the lead member of the heating resistor, and the support member. As a result, the heat radiation characteristic changes, and the output characteristic such as response is impaired.
The above conventional structures are not sufficient to reduce adhesion. Therefore, accuracy in output characteristic such as response of the detection of the airflow may be impaired.

Flow measuring device having heating resistor in inclined position with respect to the flow direction


A cable connector includes an insulating housing having a plurality of cavities, a plurality of contacts received in corresponding cavities of the housing, and a plurality of cables terminated to the corresponding contacts. Each contact defines an intermediate portion, a pair of side contact beams extending from two opposite sides of the intermediate portion and a tail portion extending from an opposite end of the intermediate portion. The tail portion defines a second pair of gripping wings, each gripping wing defines a first locking portion and a second locking portion connecting with the first locking portion, the first locking portion and the second locking portion have a different height.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a cable connector, and particularly to a cable connector having improved contacts for ensuring a reliable connection with corresponding cables.
2. Description of Related Arts
Electrical connectors are widely used in electronic systems for establishing an electrical connection between two electronic devices thereof. Some electronic devices, such as servers, are equipped with power connectors for carrying power. These power connectors generally comprise two mating halves, i.e., a plug connector connecting with a circuit substrate and a receptacle cable connector connecting with a power supply system for supplying power to the circuit substrate. The receptacle cable connector generally comprises a unitarily molded insulating housing, a plurality of socket-type power contacts retained in the housing, and a plurality of cables terminated to corresponding power contacts. U.S. Pat. No. 6,905,373 issued to Jerry discloses a cable connector. The cable connector comprises a housing, a plurality of contacts received in the housing and a number of cables corresponding to the contacts respectively. The contact defines a pair of first gripping wings for engaging with outer insulator of the cable and a pair of second gripping wings for engaging with conductive core of the cable. The gripping wings are adapted to wrap around the corresponding cable by means of a crimp tool for ensuring a reliable connection between the contact and the cable. However, with the assembling factor, the gripping wings may be breaking the conductive core of the cable.
Hence, an improved electrical contact for a cable connector is required to overcome the disadvantages of the related art.

Cable connector with improved contacts ensuring reliable connection with cables


A liquid level indicator has a transparent vessel for retaining hot water therein and a thermo-sensitive tape (thermo-tape) attached at a side wall of the vessel with the sensing side of the thermo-tape facing the side wall of the vessel. The thermo-tape first exhibits black, then turns white after the hot water is poured into the vessel. When the thermo-tape is pressed against a partially filled liquid container, the thermo-tape turns black at one side of a boundary and turns white at the other side of the boundary that defines the liquid/gas interface in the container. This occurs because the liquid in the container cools the thermo-tape more rapidly than the gas in the container does. The boundary is observed through the walls of the transparent vessel and the hot water to detect the liquid level within the container.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and device for detecting a liquid level in a container and, more particularly, to a liquid level indicator and a method for detecting a liquid level within an opaque container.
(b) Description of the Related Art
Liquid containers made of opaque materials such as a metal are widely used for retaining therein a liquid. These containers do not explicitly show the amount of the liquid remainder within the container for the user. The amount of the liquid remainder within the container can be generally detected by simply lifting the liquid container to estimate the weight thereof or by shaking the container together with the liquid for estimation, if the container is light in weight as is the case of a spray can or juice can. If the liquid container cannot be easily lifted, however, as is the case of a heavy container, a transparent level gauge or sight glass is generally used for detecting the liquid level within the container.
Recently, vending machines are increasingly used wherein a concentrate of a soft drink and the like is diluted with water and sold to a customer at the request thereof. A liquid container retaining therein a concentrate soft drink is stocked in the vending machines for each of the soft drinks. The stock container is replaced by a new container filled with the concentrate soft drink after the stock container is found empty. The replaced container is then cleaned, disinfected, again filled with the concentrate, sealed with a pressured gas and delivered to another vending machine as a new stock container.
It is generally difficult to lift or shake the stock container located within the vending machine to estimate the amount of the liquid remainder within the container due to a relatively large weight of the container and a narrow space inside the vending machine. A transparent level gauge, if installed on the stock container, raises the fabrication cost thereof and complicates the outer shape of the container to thereby hinder the washing and disinfection operation. A sight glass for the container also complicates a gas-seal mechanism for the container to thereby raise the fabrication cost of the container.
In short, a transparent gauge or sight glass for each of the containers is not practical for the liquid container in the vending machine because of the added fabrication cost therefor.
Another method may be considered for detecting the liquid remainder by attaching a thermo-sensitive color tape (thermo-tape), which is affected by a temperature thereof to change the color thereon, to the outer wall of the container at a suitable height or by printing a color mark onto the outer wall of the container with a thermo-sensitive color ink (thermo-ink) having a similar temperature characteristic. In this method, the thermo-tape or thermo-ink (simply referred to as thermo-tape hereinafter) is first heated (or cooled) to rise (or fall) locally in temperature above (or below) the ambient temperature and then observed to change its color while it is being naturally cooled or warmed toward the ambient temperature.
During the natural fall (rise) in the temperature of the thermo-tape, the lower portion of the thermo-tape facing the liquid inside the container falls (rises) slowly to the ambient temperature whereas the upper portion of the thermo-tape facing the gas inside the container falls (rises) rapidly. Accordingly, the thermo-tape exhibits different colors at an instant during falling (rising) from the initial temperature to the ambient temperature. Thus, the liquid level within the container is estimated by detecting the boundary between the different colors. This method takes advantage of the difference in the thermal conductivity or thermal resistivity between the liquid and gas.
In the method using the thermal conductivity for detecting the liquid level as described above, cooling for the thermo-tape below the ambient temperature may be implemented by blowing cooled air, which is not practical however, because of the difficulty or high cost in implementing the device for cooling the air. When a refrigerator is used for cooling the thermo-tape instead, the thermo-tape must be detached and attached, which results in the reduction of the adhesiveness to render the thermo-tape useless.
Examples of the methods for heating the thermo-tape above the ambient temperature include blowing heated air, pressing the thermo-tape by using an external heater such as an iron, embedding a heater within the thermo-tape, touching the thermo-tape by hand etc., which methods are more practical than the method for blowing cooled air or cooling the thermo-tape.
The methods for heating the thermo-tape as described above, however, involve respective drawbacks therein. The method using heating by hand only provides a limited temperature rise which scarcely allows sufficient discrimination of temperatures by observation of the colors. The method using heated air dose not allow uniform heating of the thermo-tape. The method of using an iron or installing an electric heater within the thermo-tape requires a temperature control device for attaining an accurate and uniform temperature by, for example, fitting the thermo-tape with a temperature sensor, thereby raising the fabrication cost for the liquid container. The electric heater also requires an outlet for a power source in the vicinity of the liquid container, or otherwise, requires long and troublesome electric leads which may hinder the handling of the container or other work.
The external electric heater such as an iron, if used, covers the thermo-tape during the heating, which requires removing the iron from the surface of the thermo-tape during observation of the color thereon. In this case, removal of the iron results in a rapid natural cooling of the thermo-tape, which may hinder the effective detection of the color change of the thermo-tape by the operator. Further, possible overheating may damage the nature of the thermo-tape, which requires a thermo-fuse to further raise the fabrication cost of the container.

Method and device for detecting a liquid level in a container


Through-Silicon-Via (TSV) structures can include a conductive via through a substrate extending from an upper surface of the substrate to a backside surface of the substrate opposite the upper surface, a conductive protective layer including Ni and/or Co can be at a bottom of the conductive via, and a separate polymer insulating layer can be on the backside surface of the substrate in contact with the conductive protective layer.

Advances in integration technology have led to the development of a three dimensionally stacked LSI approach taken in favor of the conventional two-dimensional LSI approach. Some types of three dimensional integration include package stacking, die stacking, and wafer stacking. Among the wafer stacking approach, a technique called Through-Silicon-Via (TSV) can be used to extend a via hole through a substrate so that a conductive via may be formed that completely penetrates the substrate. In turn, multiple substrates including TSVs can be stacked on one another to achieve three dimensional integration. In particular, the TSVs of different substrates can conduct signals from one substrate to another without the use of, for example, wires.
Two approaches that can be used in the formation of TSVs include a "via first" approach and a "via last" approach. According to a via first approach, TSVs are formed through the substrate before a back end of line process, for example, a metal interconnection process, is accomplished. Furthermore, the via first approach may be used before CMOS devices are formed in the substrates. According to the via first approach, vias can be formed in the substrates to only partially penetrate the substrate wherein after the CMOS and back end of line processing can be provided. Subsequently, the substrates can be thinned so that the vias are exposed and bound together to achieve a three-dimensional stacked structure.
Alternatively, the TSVs can be formed after the formation of the CMOS devices but before the back end of line processing. In particular, the CMOS devices can be formed on the substrate whereupon the vias can be formed to partially penetrate the substrate. Then, the back end of line processing can be provided and followed by a thinning process to complete the TSVs. Finally, the substrates having the TSVs formed therein can be bonded together to provide the three dimensionally stacked structure.
According to the via first approach, vias can be formed in the substrate either before the CMOS devices are formed or before the back end of line processing is provided. For example, the vias can be formed before the formation of CMOS devices by first forming vias that partially penetrate the substrate. Then, the C-MOS and back end of line processing can be provided and followed by a thinning process, which can complete the formation of the TSVs and the substrate. Subsequently, multiple substrates including the TSVs can be bonded together to provide the three dimensionally stacked structure.
According to the via last approach, the vias can be formed during or after the back end of line processing (BEOL) or after a bonding process. When the TSVs are formed during the BEOL, the process can be referred to as a "TSV middle process." Conventionally, the TSV middle process can be included in the TSV last process as well. For example, processes for the formation of layer in a CMOS process, such formation of ILD, metal 1 TSV, and metal 2 processes.) For example, the via last approach can be used to provide TSVs after the back end of line processing, but before bonding by forming CMOS devices and a back end of line processing before the formation of vias which partially penetrate the substrate. Subsequently, a thinning process can be used to complete the TSV structure, which penetrates the substrate whereupon a bonding process can be used to connect the substrates including the TSV structures to provide the three dimensionally stacked structure.
Alternatively, the via last approach can be used to provide the TSVs after the bonding. For example, the CMOS and back end of line processing can be provided and followed by the bonding of separate wafers together. The bonding wafers can then be thinned to form the TSVs to provide the three dimensionally stacked structure.
TSV structures are also discussed in, for example, the following U.S. patent documents: U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,916,725, 7,214,615, 7,282,444, and U.S. Patent Publication No. 2004/0245623.

Through-silicon via structures including conductive protective layers


An adjustable magnetic binding system used for attaching a shoe to a bicycle pedal. The magnetic element is integrated into the bicycle pedal in such a manner as to exert attractive forces to the shoe, which contains a shoe piece. The pedal may contain a variety of differently shaped, sized, or number of magnets, which may be retained within the pedal by a protective layer of material. These variables can be easily modified to suit the rider's skill level and desired attractive force to the pedal. The shoe is further secured onto the pedal by means of a retaining system. The shoe is readily removed by the rider with a natural rotation of the foot, which breaks the attractive force.

The bicycle is a common mode of transportation and recreation. A bicycle is powered by a rider, who pushes down on foot pedals to engage a chain that drives the rear wheel. The foot pedal is an important contact point on the bicycle for two reasons. First, the pedal provides the cyclist with stability during riding, and second, it acts as the component through which the cyclist's exertion drives the rear wheel. Therefore, it is important that the pedal provide both of these functions.
A traditional pedal type is the platform pedal. This system is commonly used by many beginning riders, as well as by BMX and downhill riders. The platform pedal provides a stable contact point for the rider to engage the chain. Some pedals have studs on the surface which provide some traction to help keep the rider's feet in place. However, the rider's foot is not mechanically connected to the pedal, and so the rider is only able to supply force during the down stroke. Additional power would be supplied if the rider is able to exert force during both the down stroke and the up stroke.
To this end, a variety of bike pedals assist the rider in securing his feet on the pedal, allowing the rider to supply force during the down and up strokes. A commonly used system is the clipless pedal, which allows for the rider's shoe to mechanically clip into the bike pedal. This system is used by mountain bikers and road cyclists, and allows for greater stability as well as the ability to supply force through the full stroke. Another common system is the toe clip, which is a plastic or metal frame into which the rider's shoe slides for stability. This system is commonly used by riders who want some stability, but are afraid to have the complete fixation that the clipless pedal provides. This system also allows the rider to supply force through the full stroke.
Often a rider who is inexperienced in the usage of clipless pedals will find himself unable to clip out when his bike is falling over. Riders who have clipless pedals can describe their crash experiences when they first were learning to clip out, and have scars to show for it. It is due to this commonality of crashes that there exists a large fear of using clipless pedals among beginner and intermediate riders, notwithstanding the advantages.
What is needed is an intermediate bicycle pedal that features the advantages of the clipless pedals, in that the rider's feet are stably planted on the pedals, and also allow the rider to exert force during both the up and down strokes. At the same time, the pedal should allow the rider to easily and readily disconnect from the pedal to assuage any fears and limitations of releasing from the pedal.
Magnetic pedals have been developed to provide a pedal that allows the rider's feet to be stably planted on the pedal, and also provide enough attraction for the rider to exert force through the full stroke. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 588,038 was an early design for a magnetic bike pedal with a magnet in the bike pedal and a metal plate or magnet attached to a cyclist's shoe. U.S. Pat. No. 5,704,256 discloses a magnetic bike pedal that includes a ramp located on the pedal that allows the cyclist to disengage the magnetic field by using a rotating movement. However, there remains a need for a means to allow a rider to control the degree of magnetic attraction between the pedal and the shoe. What is needed is a magnetic bicycle pedal that can be modified by the rider to fit his changing demands.

Variable magnetic binding system for bicycle pedal