The coverage, connectivity and communication (C3) protocol method for wireless sensor networks is an integrated and energy-efficient protocol for Coverage, Connectivity and Communication (C3) in WSNs. The C3 protocol uses RSSI to divide the network into virtual rings, defines clusters with clusterheads more probably at alternating rings, defines dings, which are rings inside a cluster, uses triangular tessellation to identify redundant nodes, and communicates data to sink through clusterheads and gateways. The protocol strives for near-optimal deployment, load balancing, and energy-efficient communication. Simulation results show that the C3 protocol ensures partial coverage of more than 90% of the total deployment area, ensures 1-connected network, and facilitates energy-efficient communication, while expending only ¼th of the energy compared to other related protocols.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to wireless sensor network (WSN) protocols, and particularly to a coverage, connectivity and communication (C3) protocol method for wireless sensor networks.
2. Description of the Related Art
In ubiquitous and pervasive systems, the lower layer consists of wireless ad hoc and sensor networks. However, the use of wireless sensor networks (WSNs) is becoming more popular. Efficient use of energy is a key issue in WSNs due to very limited battery power. A sensor node that exhausts its battery dies and disconnects from the network, reducing the lifetime of a network. Most of the sensors' energy is consumed in data transmission, and idle listening. Therefore, efficient use of energy can be ensured by improved topology control, duty-cycling, communication protocols, and aggregation and compression of data.
Nodes in WSNs may be in either sleep mode or active mode. A node must be in active mode before it can receive or transmit a message. It is important to note that the sleep mode usually consumes three orders of magnitude less energy, while energy costs for receive and transmit are of the same magnitude. The energy costs for idle listening, receiving, and overhearing are almost similar (within 20-30%). For example, the CC2420 chip consumes only 60 μW in sleep mode, 59 mW while receiving, and 52 mW while transmitting. Therefore, it is best to keep the sensor radio in sleep mode when inactive. In other words, we can conserve energy by minimizing the number of transmissions and by putting the sensor nodes to sleep mode if they are redundant or have no data to send or receive. Therefore, the issues of coverage, connectivity and communication are of primary concern in WSNs. As WSNs are usually overdeployed, it is useful to keep redundant nodes in sleep mode until some neighboring node fails or exhausts its energy. However, identification of the redundant nodes should be done very carefully so that coverage and connectivity of the network is preserved.
While coverage is the ratio of area-sensing covered by the sensors to the total deployment area of the network, connectivity is the availability of a path between each node of the network. Some applications need partial coverage, whereas others need k-coverage. Similarly, some applications need simple connectivity, while others need k-connected network for fault tolerance, infrastructure creation, and maintenance, which consumes a lot of energy in WSNs. Therefore, energy-efficient algorithms are needed for coverage, connectivity and communication in WSNs.
Thus, a coverage, connectivity and communication (C3) protocol method for wireless sensor networks solving the aforementioned problems is desired.

Coverage, connectivity and communication (C3) protocol method for wireless sensor networks

KING FAHD UNIVERSITY OF PETROLEUM AND MINERALS

KING ABDULAZIZ CITY FOR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY


Device for recording flight data in a data recorder located in a spherical metal housing with thermal insulation on the interior surface and with connecting lines between the data recorder and data sources.

The invention relates to a device for recording flight data with a data recorder located in a protective metal housing with thermal insulation.
A device of this kind is known from German patent document DE 32 43 495 C2, in which the information is recorded on magnetic tape.
On-board flight recorders are known from German patent document DE-OS 15 06 020, U.S. Pat. No. 3,327,067, and the periodical Interavia 10/1966 pages 1560-1566 "Flight Recorders for Accident Investigation and Maintenance." These flight recorders for recording flight data are located in a mechanically and thermally shielded housing. The housing is located on a plug-in module inside an aircraft or helicopter. The flight recorders weigh up to 10 kg and are accommodated in correspondingly large containers. A considerable expenditure of time and effort is necessary to install these containers in the aircraft since the device must be secured on a plug-in module. Moreover, it is disadvantageous that, because of the design size, it must be accommodated inside the aircraft and, in the event of an accident, the device can be damaged by heavy aircraft components impacting it, despite its reinforcement, so that flight data for evaluating the course of the accident are not available. Also, these devices are difficult to recover when the accident has taken place over water.
The goal of the invention is to design a device for recording flight data with small dimensions and low weight that ensures a high degree of data recovery reliability in the event of an accident.
The primary goal is to accommodate the device in areas of the aircraft exposed to only small degrees of damage in the event of accidents, in a way that is easily possible, and enables flight data to be recorded with increased information density. A high degree of data security must be ensured.
This goal is achieved according to the present invention by a device for recording flight data with a data recorder located in a protective metal housing with thermal insulation on the interior and with connecting lines between the data recorder and data sources. The protective housing is a hollow sphere with an outer diameter of 5-8 cm consisting of two, firmly-joined hemispherical shells. A hole for the data lines is located in the wall of the sphere. The data recorder is a solid-state memory recorder embedded in a block of casting compound filling the cavity in the sphere.
It is an advantage of the present invention that the hemispherical shells be force-fitted together. Further, the shells are advantageously connected together via a screw thread.
It is further advantageous for one hemispherical shell to be flattened in the area of the hole for the data line. At least one other hole is provided for attachment members for connection to a component of the aircraft.
In another embodiment according to the invention, several spheres are installed separately in the aircraft and are connected together by point-to-point or ring-shaped signal lines. At least one of the spheres is installed in a watertight manner in a life raft of the aircraft.
The recorder according to the invention is approximately the size and shape of a tennis ball and is thus very different in appearance from known devices.


The present disclosure relates to methods, systems and a module for operating a power converter module, the power converter module comprises a voltage source, a remote control terminal configured to be connected to a voltage potential for remote control of the power converter module. A voltage converter is configured to send an alarm signal, determine the voltage potential of the remote control terminal, and control an output voltage of the voltage converter at an output terminal of the power converter module based on the determined voltage potential of the remote control terminal. An alarm branch is configured to change the voltage potential of the remote control terminal by a voltage source in response to an alarm signal from the voltage converter when the remote control terminal is connected to a voltage potential, thereby causing the voltage converter to control the output voltage at the output terminal.

In modern electronics a demand for more power at lower supply voltages constantly increases due to higher levels of integration and modern device technology.
A common solution for supplying a circuit with high currents is to connect several power converter modules in a current sharing configuration i.e. a parallel configuration. Such a current sharing configuration might cause some problems if one of the power converter modules therein all of a sudden malfunctions and is no longer operative. This loss of power from the malfunctioning power converter module causes the rest of the power converter modules in the current sharing configuration to supply a higher current. This might in turn trigger another power converter module to malfunction. If this series of events continuous uninterrupted a so called domino effect occurs. A further problem occurs if one of the previously malfunctioning power converter modules becomes operative again and is forced to supply a high current due to malfunctioning of the other power converter modules. The now operative power converter module quickly becomes overheated and malfunctions again. This domino effect might cause a power converter system configured for current sharing to completely shut down.
A number of techniques exist for allowing a power converter system to be used in a current sharing configuration without the problems associated with the domino effect. The obvious solution for eliminating the domino effect is to use synchronized start and stop of the power converter modules, respectively. The synchronized start and stop can be achieved by using a communication bus between the power converter modules for initiating synchronized start and stop thereof, such a bus can for example be a CAN bus or a dedicated digital power bus such as PMBus (Power Management Bus). The use of a dedicated communication bus for controlling a power converter system is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 7,372,682.
However, a dedicated communication bus might be unnecessary complicated for some applications.

Method for remote control of a power converter module and a device therefor


Disclosed are a radio transmission device and a radio transmission method capable of containing a plenty of mobile stations for receiving low-rate data and avoiding lowering a system throughput. A group ID assigning unit (108) groups UE receiving low-rate data and assigns a frequency by using the group ID. An SCCH processing unit (109) generates an SCCH containing the group ID. A low-rate control information processing unit (113) generates low-rate control information indicating a timing slot to which a low-rate UE has been assigned. A multiplexing unit (117) multiplies low-rate control information on RB to which low-rate data is assigned when multiplexing a pilot channel, SCCH, and data.

In recent years, in radio communication, particularly in mobile communication, various kinds of information such as images and data other than speech have become targets of transmission. Demand for higher-speed transmission is likely to increase in the future, and, to realize high-speed transmission, a radio transmission technique is desired that realizes high transmission efficiency by utilizing limited frequency resources efficiently.
Radio transmission techniques that respond to this demand include OFDM. OFDM refers to a multicarrier transmission technique for transmitting data in parallel using a large number of subcarriers, and is known as a technique that has high frequency utilization efficiency and characteristics of reducing inter-symbol interference under a multipath environment and that is effective in improving transmission efficiency.
A technique is studied of performing frequency scheduling when this OFDM is used in downlink and data for a plurality of mobile stations is frequency-multiplexed on a plurality of subcarriers (for example, see Non-Patent Document 1).
With frequency scheduling, a base station allocates subcarriers to mobile stations adaptively based on received quality of each frequency band at the mobile stations, so that it is possible to obtain a maximal multi-user diversity effect and perform communication very efficiently.
Data for the mobile stations for which allocation is determined by frequency scheduling (for example, speech, data and image) is transmitted using a shared channel. Further, a technique is studied of reporting in a shared control channel (hereinafter "SCCH") per mobile station, transmission parameters (for example, allocation RB [Resource Block] number, allocated mobile station ID and MCS [Modulation and Coding Scheme]) for data transmitted using a shared channel (see Non-Patent Document 1).
Non-Patent Document 1: R1-050590, "Physical Channels and Multiplexing in Evolved UTRA Downlink", NTT DoCoMo, 3GPP TSG-RAN WG1, 2005/06

Radio transmission device and radio transmission method


Quick Response barcodes (“QR Codes”) are used for videoconferencing between a peripheral device and a videoconferencing system, which can include a conferencing server and/or a videoconferencing unit. Conferencing related QR codes are embedded within video frames and are identified by either a peripheral device or a videoconferencing unit. Once identified, the device or unit acts according to the information provided by the QR code. The QR codes enables the peripheral device, videoconferencing unit, and conferencing server to operation in conjunction with one another even though one or more of the device may not share a compatible operation platform that would allow for direct communication of requests and responses.

Users may want to perform a number of operations during a videoconference, but they may be limited in their ability to do so because they lack a device that can communicate with a particular videoconferencing unit. For example, a user during a videoconference may want to pair a computer with the videoconferencing unit so the user can display content without installing software or connecting to another device. In another example, the user may want to display content on the user's computer, or perform advanced interactions with the videoconferencing unit without using the conventional remote control. Unfortunately, users today need to either install special software on a computer or physically connect to another device to do these and other operations with a videoconferencing unit.
The subject matter of the present disclosure is directed to overcoming, or at least reducing the effects of, one or more of the problems set forth above.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Videoconferencing system using QR codes for interaction


A reentry guide tool includes an overshot defining a lower end and comprises a bowl and grapple. The bowl defines an interior space of the overshot, and the grapple is disposed in the bowl and is operable to engage a tubular. A tubular guide nipple has a downhole and an uphole end, the downhole end complementary to the overshot and the uphole end complementary to the reentry guide. The guide nipple is operable to connect and provide a transition between the overshot and reentry guide. The reentry guide is a tubular piece having an uphole end with a bevel. A deployment mechanism is defined on the overshot, reentry guide, or guide nipple, and is operable to connect the reentry guide to a running tool for deployment. A method of providing a transition from a first to a second tubular in a wellbore is also provided.

During the life of a well, such as during workover, it may be necessary to orphan a packer or other piece of equipment in the well due to various circumstances. Orphaning a packer or other piece of equipment may include cutting the tubing above the packer or other piece of equipment and retrieving the tubing above the abandoned equipment. Doing so leaves a stub of cut tubing sticking up above the abandoned packer or other piece of equipment. Occasionally, it may be necessary to access below the abandoned packer or other piece of equipment, but the stub of cut tubing makes this extremely difficult. Accordingly, there is an ongoing need for methods and apparatuses that effectively and efficiently allow one to gain access below an abandoned packer or other piece of equipment through a stub of cut tubing. As further discussed herein, embodiments of the present disclosure meet this need and enhance the ability to access stubs of cut tubing above an abandoned packer or other piece of equipment, allowing access below an abandoned packer or other piece of equipment.

Methods and apparatuses for gaining reentry below abandoned packers


A vacuum pump capable of suppressing the solidification of gas in a normal operation of a pump is provided. Provided is a vacuum pump including a casing that has an inlet port for sucking gas from outside and an outlet port for exhausting the gas to the outside; a turbo-molecular-pump mechanism that is disposed in the casing and includes rotor blades and stator blades alternately arranged in multiple stages in an axial direction; a thread-groove-pump mechanism that is disposed in the casing and is connectedly disposed on an exhaust side of the turbo-molecular-pump mechanism; first temperature regulating means that is configured to regulate cooling of the turbo-molecular-pump mechanism; and second temperature regulating means that is configured to regulate heating of the thread-groove-pump mechanism.

The present invention relates to a vacuum pump and in particular to a vacuum pump used for a semiconductor manufacturing apparatus and an analyzer or the like.
During the manufacturing of a semiconductor device including memory and an integrated circuit, in order to avoid the influence of dust or the like in the air, an insulating film, a metal film, and a semiconductor film are formed and etched in a high-vacuum process chamber. In the process, gas introduced into the process chamber is exhausted to have a predetermined high degree of vacuum in the process chamber by using, for example, vacuum pumps such as a combination pump including a turbo molecular pump and a thread groove pump.
A vacuum pump that is a combination of a turbo molecular pump and a thread groove pump includes: an exhaust function unit that has rotor blades and stator blades alternately placed in multiple stages in the axial direction; thread groove means connected to the exhaust side of the exhaust function unit; and spacers for fixing spacings between the stator blades, in a casing having an inlet port for sucking a reaction product (gas) generated in a process chamber and an outlet port for exhausting the sucked reaction product to the outside.
The exhaust function unit stored in the casing is configured such that the stator blades are attached to a stator and the rotor blades of the respective stages are attached to a rotor while being disposed between the stator blades opposed to the rotor blades. The rotor is rotated with the rotor blades, forming a gas transfer unit where gas is transferred between the rotor blades and the stator blades. The rotor is rotated at a constant speed by driving means, e.g., an electric motor and the reaction product in the gas transfer unit is transferred to the exhaust side, so that external gas is sucked.
The reaction product is typically chlorine-type gas or fluorine sulfide-type gas. The gas has a low degree of vacuum and rises in sublimation temperature with a pressure, so that the gas is likely to be solidified and deposited in the vacuum pump. When the reaction product is deposited in the vacuum pump, a passage for the reaction product may be narrowed so as to reduce the capability of compression and exhaust by the vacuum pump. If the gas transfer unit in which the rotor blades and the stator blades are made of materials such as aluminum and a stainless material reaches an extremely high temperature, the rotor blades and the stator blades may decrease in strength and rupture during an operation. Moreover, electric parts in the vacuum pump and an electric motor for rotating the rotor may not offer desired performance at high temperatures. Thus, the vacuum pump needs temperature control for keeping a predetermined temperature.
As a vacuum pump for suppressing the deposition of a reaction product, the following structure is known: a cooling apparatus or a heating apparatus is provided around a stator so as to control a temperature in a gas passage and gas in the gas passage can be transferred without being solidified (for example, see Japanese Patent Application Publication No. H10-205486).
The discussion above is merely provided for general background information and is not intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter. The claimed subject matter is not limited to implementations that solve any or all disadvantages noted in the background.


A left-eye image signal and a right-eye image signal are supplied to a pixel structure converter of a stereoscopic image pre-processor, and multiplexed, so to form one image, an interlace image is formed by a frame/field converter, encoded in an MPEG format by an MPEG encoding unit, stored into a storage and transmitted outward by a transmitting/recording unit. The encoded stereoscopic image signal received from the outward and reproduced from the storage is decoded by am MPEG decoding unit after going through a receiving/reproducing unit, the interlace image is reproduced, returned to the frame image by a field/frame converter of a stereoscopic image post-processor, and reproduced as the left-eye image signal and the right-eye image signal and output by the pixel structure converter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a stereoscopic image encoding device for efficiently encoding and transmitting image data including a stereoscopic image, a stereoscopic image and plane image, a stereoscopic image and high resolution plane image, and a stereoscopic image and high resolution added image, and a stereoscopic image decoding device for efficiently receiving and decoding the image data.
2. Description of the Related Art
As the conventional encoding method of a stereoscopic image signal, patented is, for example, "Stereoscopic Video Image Transmission Method and System" disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open (kokai) No. Heisei 11-018111.
The constitutional example of this invention is shown in FIG. 20.
A stereoscopic image 2001 is formed by left-eye images (◯) 2002 and right-eye images (X) 2003. They are disposed on a display as shown by 2001. Namely, left-eye images and right-eye images are aligned alternatively in every other vertical line. The example of FIG. 20 shows the sum of 352 pixels×288 lines including the left-eye images of 176 pixels×288 lines and the right-eye images of 176 pixels×288 lines.
The stereoscopic image 2001 is converted into a conversion image 2004. Namely, on the screen of 352 pixels×288 lines, the left-eye images of 176 pixels×288 lines are disposed at the left half and the right-eye images of 176 pixels×288 lines are disposed at the right half.
Then, as for the conversion image shown by 2004, the processing including MPEG encoding 2005, transmitting/recording 2006, receiving/reproducing 2007, and MPEG decoding 2008 will be performed.
The output image signal from the processing of the MPEG decoding 2008 reproduces the same stereoscopic image 2009 as the input signal of the stereoscopic image 2001.
The conventional technique, however, has the following defects.
Since the left-eye images are disposed at the left half and the right-eye images are disposed at the right half in the signal of the conversion image 2004, correlativity between the left-eye image and the right-eye image cannot be applied in the MPEG encoding. Namely, in the stereoscopic image, a nearby object is the data with the left-eye image distant from the right-eye image and a distant object is the data with the left-eye image approximate to the right-eye image, and especially, in a block indicating a distant object, efficiency of the data encoding can be improved by using the correlativity between the left-eye image and the right-eye image. In the conventional encoding method, however, it cannot be realized.
When displaying a stereoscopic image after encoding and transmitting the same on a stereoscopic image display, it is necessary to have a consideration to display the same signal simultaneously on a display for high resolution plane image. Namely, it is important to efficiently encode and transmit the image data formed by not only the stereoscopic image but also the stereoscopic image and high resolution plane added image. The conventional example, however, has never considered this.

Stereoscopic image encoding and decoding device multiplexing high resolution added images


A high-speed multiplier utilizing a layout architecture requiring very little area on a chip. The present invention employs a floor plan which exemplifies regularity and is approximately 33.3% more compact than conventional Wallace Trees. During a first phase of a first clock cycle, Booth coding takes place resulting in a first group of partial products. In a second phase of the first clock cycle, the first group of partial products are input into a first and a second carry-save adder. Results from the second carry-save adder are latched in a first and second register. Also during the second phase of the first clock cycle, a second group of partial products are Booth coded. In a first phase of a cycle 2, the second group of partial products are input into the first and second carry-save adders. Results from the second carry-save adder are latched into a third and fourth register. In a second phase of cycle 2, results from the first, second, third and fourth registers are input into a third and fourth carry-save adder. The outputs from the fourth carry-save adder are latched into a fifth and a sixth register. In a first phase of a cycle 3, results latched in the fifth and sixth registers are input into a CPA. The CPA then generates a final output for the multiplier.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a multiplier for integrated circuits, very large scale integrated circuits (VLSI), and ultra large scale integrated circuits (ULSI). More particularly, the present invention relates to a high-speed multiplication technique utilizing a layout architecture requiring very little area on a chip.
2. Related Art
Digital systems use a variety of multiplication algorithms. FIG. 1A illustrates a simple example of multiplication where 5.times.3=15. A binary multiplicand is multiplied by a binary multiplier. A series of shifted partial products are formed of zeros and ones. The shifted partial products are then added, resulting in a product. When an X-bit number is multiplied by a Y-bit number in a digital system, the resulting product will be X+Y bits in length.
In simple binary multiplication, partial products are formed by adding one-bit of the multiplier at a time, starting with the least significant bit of the multiplier. One of the simplest ways to generate partial products is to use AND gates as bit-by-bit multipliers. Using this simple multiplication technique, an X bit multiplier generates X partial products.
Prior approaches employ encoding techniques to reduce the number of partial products. Reducing the number of partial products reduces the number of additions that need to be performed. Reducing the number of additions in turn reduces the number of clock cycles necessary for binary multiplication.
One prior approach employs a Booth algorithm as an encoding technique to reduce the number of partial products by at least one half. The Booth algorithm increases the speed of a multiply operation which is a time-consuming operation. FIG. 1B illustrates Booth coding, which is a powerful algorithm for signed-number multiplication. Booth coding, sometimes called Booth recoding and decoding, essentially reduces the amount of partial products needed to generate a product. An example of Booth's algorithm and implementation in hardware is explained in Digital Computer Arithmetic: Design and Implementation, J. F. Cavanagh, chapter 3, McGraw-Hill Book Company (1984)(including Wallace Trees discussed below)(hereby incorporated by reference).
Once partial products are formed, they must be added together. Several types of conventional adders exist. One conventional two input adder is a carry propagate adder (CPA). The CPA adds a sum vector to a carry vector to produce one final sum. A CPA is a type of full adder. A full adder is a circuit that generates the sum of two operand bits plus a carry-in bit. The carry-in bit represents the carry-out of a previous lower-order bit position. The full adder produces two outputs: a sum bit and a carry-out bit.
Another type of adder is a carry-save adder (CSA). The CSA is simply a number of independent full adders or half adders. Full CSAs have three inputs and half CSAs have two inputs. CSAs are useful when multiple additions are performed, which is required in high speed multiplication.
A multiplicity of CSAs save the carry propagation until all the additions are completed. Typically, a CPA is used during a final clock cycle to complete carry propagation for all additions performed by the CSAs.
FIG. 2 illustrates a block diagram of an array multiplier 201. As shown in FIG. 2, two 8-bit numbers can be multiplied together using seven CSAs and a CPA. With the hardware of FIG. 2, multiplication can be pipelined, increasing the total throughput. However, it is typically not possible to fit an array large enough to multiply two double-precision numbers on a single chip and have space left over for other arithmetic operations using the design of FIG. 2.
Thus, VLSI designers tend to use other types of multipliers such as multipass array multipliers and even/odd multipliers (both not shown). For examples of such designs see Computer Architecture A Quantitative Approach, J. Hennessy & D. Patterson, Morgan Kaufmann Publishers, Inc., Appendix A (1990)(including Wallace Trees discussed below)(hereby incorporated by reference). These popular designs, although easier to implement in VLSI, are not the fastest designs available.
One of the fastest designs for increasing the speed of multiplication is a Wallace tree. A conventional Wallace tree multiplier is illustrated in FIG. 3. As shown, the Wallace tree is a combination of CSAs and a CPA. The idea of this design is that two adds proceed in parallel or, to put it another way, most streams of data pass through full adders allowing a multiplicity of pipelined stages. Wallace trees run at a minimum of twice the speed of array multipliers discussed above.
Wallace trees look great on paper. They require fewer gates than other conventional multipliers. Nevertheless, Wallace trees are no longer the choice of VLSI designers, because they are very difficult to implement in VLSI. Designers have discovered that they do not have the simple regular structure needed for VLSI design. Consequently, conventional Wallace trees require a significant amount of area on a chip; leaving less room for other circuitry. Referring to FIG. 3, notice that stages 302, 304, 306 and 308 have no unity. Each stage of the Wallace tree is different from the next. This is part of the reason why Wallace trees are so difficult to implement in silicon. Since Wallace trees have irregular structures they also require a significant amount of effort to verify for correctness. Additionally, mistakes in layout are very difficult to detect due to the Wallace tree's irregular structure. For these reasons VLSI designers have, for the most part, chosen other designs such as binary-tree multipliers (not shown), even though they are not as fast as the Wallace trees.
In short, Wallace trees require an abundance of chip area and require a significant amount of effort to implement due to their irregular structure. Therefore, what is needed is a device as fast as a Wallace tree, but having a regular structure requiring less area on a chip and less effort to implement.

Area efficient multiplier for use in an integrated circuit


An apparatus and method aligning magnetically coupled inspection probes are provided. In this regard, a tracking probe may be magnetically coupled to a driven probe and move in coordination therewith. An alignment compensator for magnetically coupled inspection probes offsets misalignments between a driven probe and a tracking probe. Misalignments between magnetically coupled probes may be caused by gravity, friction, and movement of the probes. An alignment compensator may use one or more magnets, or electromagnets, to improve the alignment of the probes. An alignment compensator may include a control system for adjusting the power to an electromagnet or repositioning a magnet to offset misalignment of probes.

Non-destructive inspection (NDI) of structures involves thoroughly examining a structure without harming the structure or requiring significant disassembly of the structure. Non-destructive inspection is typically preferred to avoid the schedule, labor, and costs associated with removal of a part for inspection, as well as avoidance of the potential for damaging the structure. Non-destructive inspection is advantageous for many applications in which a thorough inspection of the exterior and/or interior of a structure is required. For example, non-destructive inspection is commonly used in the aircraft industry to inspect aircraft structures for any type of internal or external damage to or flaws in the structure. Inspection may be performed during manufacturing of a structure and/or once a structure is in-service. For example, inspection may be required to validate the integrity and fitness of a structure for continued use in manufacturing and future ongoing use in-service. However, access to interior surfaces is often more difficult or impossible without disassembly, such as removing a part for inspection from an aircraft.
Among the structures that are routinely non-destructively tested are composite structures, such as composite sandwich structures and other adhesive bonded panels and assemblies. In this regard, composite structures are commonly used throughout the aircraft industry because of the engineering qualities, design flexibility and low weight of composite structures, such as the stiffness-to-weight ratio of a composite sandwich structure. As such, it is frequently desirable to inspect composite structures to identify any flaws, such as cracks, voids or porosity, which could adversely affect the performance of the composite structure. For example, typical flaws in composite sandwich structures, generally made of one or more layers of lightweight honeycomb or foam core material with composite or metal skins bonded to each side of the core, include disbonds which occur at the interfaces between the core and the skin or between the core and a septum intermediate skin.
Various types of sensors may be used to perform non-destructive inspection. One or more sensors may move over the portion of the structure to be examined, and receive data regarding the structure. For example, a pulse-echo (PE), through transmission (TT), or shear wave sensor may be used to obtain ultrasonic data, such as for thickness gauging, detection of laminar defects and porosity, and/or crack detection in the structure. Resonance, pulse echo or mechanical impedance sensors may be used to provide indications of voids or porosity, such as in adhesive bondlines of the structure. High resolution inspection of aircraft structure are commonly performed using semi-automated ultrasonic testing (UT) to provide a plan view image of the part or structure under inspection. While solid laminates may be inspected using one-sided pulse echo ultrasonic (PEU) testing, composite sandwich structures typically require through-transmission ultrasonic (TTU) testing for high resolution inspection. In through-transmission ultrasonic inspection, ultrasonic sensors such as transducers, or a transducer and a receiver sensor, are positioned facing the other but contacting opposite sides of the structure to be inspected such as opposite surfaces of a composite material. An ultrasonic signal is transmitted by at least one of the transducers, propagated through the structure, and received by the other transducer. Data acquired by sensors, such as TTU transducers, is typically processed by a processing element, and the processed data may be presented to a user via a display.
The non-destructive inspection may be performed manually by technicians who typically move an appropriate sensor over the structure. Manual scanning generally consists of a trained technician holding a sensor and moving the sensor along the structure to ensure the sensor is capable of testing all desired portions of the structure. In many situations, the technician must repeatedly move the sensor side-to-side in one direction while simultaneously indexing the sensor in another direction. For a technician standing beside a structure, the technician may repeatedly move the sensor right and left, and back again, while indexing the sensor between each pass. In addition, because the sensors typically do not associate location information with the acquired data, the same technician who is manually scanning the structure must also watch the sensor display while scanning the structure to determine where the defects, if any, are located in the structure. The quality of the inspection, therefore, depends in large part upon the technician's performance, not only regarding the motion of the sensor, but also the attentiveness of the technician in interpreting the displayed data. Thus, manual scanning of structures is time-consuming, labor-intensive, and prone to human error.
Semi-automated inspection systems have been developed to overcome some of the shortcomings with manual inspection techniques. For example, the Mobile Automated Scanner (MAUS®) system is a mobile scanning system that generally employs a fixed frame and one or more automated scanning heads typically adapted for ultrasonic inspection. A MAUS system may be used with pulse-echo, shear wave, and through-transmission sensors. The fixed frame may be attached to a surface of a structure to be inspected by vacuum suction cups, magnets, or like affixation methods. Smaller MAUS systems may be portable units manually moved over the surface of a structure by a technician. However, for through-transmission ultrasonic inspection, a semi-automated inspection system requires access to both sides or surfaces of a structure which, at least in some circumstances, will be problematic, if not impossible, particularly for semi-automated systems that use a fixed frame for control of automated scan heads.
Automated inspection systems have also been developed to overcome the myriad of shortcomings with manual inspection techniques. For example, the Automated Ultrasonic Scanning System (AUSS®) system is a complex mechanical scanning system that employs through-transmission ultrasonic inspection. The AUSS system can also perform pulse echo inspections, and simultaneous dual frequency inspections. The AUSS system has robotically controlled probe arms that must be positioned proximate the opposed surfaces of the structure undergoing inspection with one probe arm moving an ultrasonic transmitter along one surface of the structure, and the other probe arm correspondingly moving an ultrasonic receiver along the opposed surface of the structure. Conventional automated scanning systems, such as the AUSS-X system, therefore require access to both sides or surfaces of a structure which, at least in some circumstances, will be problematic, if not impossible, particularly for very large or small structures. To maintain the ultrasonic transmitter and receiver in proper alignment and spacing with one another and with the structure undergoing inspection, the AUSS-X system has a complex positioning system that provides motion control in ten axes. This requirement that the orientation and spacing of the ultrasonic transmitter and receiver be invariant with respect to one another and with respect to the structure undergoing inspection is especially difficult in conjunction with the inspection of curved structures.
Furthermore, manual, semi-automated, and automated scanning systems typically are limited in the size of a structure that can be inspected, generally limited to areas just a few meters square and typically limited to much smaller areas, although some larger, more complicated systems are available. Stiffness and weight limitations often restrict the distance a manual, semi-automated, or automated system may be able to extend inspection devices over a structure for inspection. Thus, large composite structures may not be capable of complete inspection. For example, contemporary inspection methods are not well suited for inspecting a Sea Launch payload fairing with a diameter of approximately four meters, a cylindrical length of approximately five meters, and an overall length of over twelve meters.
Additionally, alignment of various scanning systems is typically more complicated and requires more precision than can be provide by computer controlled robotic arms that are commonly used to align sensors. Alignment is especially important when using more than one scanning probe, such as for through transmission ultrasonic inspection. For example, gravity, friction, and movement often cause misalignment of one or more probes, or two probes with respect to each other when used as a pair.
Accessibility to the structure requiring inspection and particular features thereof is one consideration in choosing a non-destructive inspection device. Access to the structure requiring inspection may be so limited that a manual inspection by a technician or a semi-automated or automated system is not possible, typically due to systems requiring access to exterior and interior surfaces of the structure to be inspected. For example, the backside of an inlet duct for an Unmanned Combat Air Vehicle (UCAV) or an F-35 has limited access for inspection. Alignment and positioning of sensors such as transducers is similarly complicated by accessibility to the structure such as inaccessibility to one side of a composite structure. Additionally, the ability to properly align the device or devices used for inspection and the accessibility to do so may also be considerations in choosing an inspection device or system and knowing the quality and limitations thereof.
Accordingly, a need exists for an improved non-destructive inspection device and method to inspect a structure.

Alignment compensator for magnetically attracted inspecting apparatus and method


Incoming messages, such as phone calls, may be routed to destinations based on a variety of factors, such as the state of the callee's security system, the date and time, the identity of the caller, and the number of recent call attempts by the caller. Potential destinations include all or a subset of the phones associated with a subscriber and outside phones, such as cellular phones operated by third parties. The rules used to route calls may be defined or modified via a web interface.

In traditional telephone systems, the mapping between telephone numbers and the phones that ring in response to a call is generally fixed. All calls are delivered to the same destination, regardless of factors such as when the call is made, or the recipient's current status. More sophisticated systems may permit users to have their calls forwarded to another phone, but users often neglect such call forwarding features because they are too cumbersome to use. Accordingly, there remains a need for easy-to-use systems to allow users to receive incoming calls at different locations.


The invention relates to identifying callers in a terminal of a telephone communications network in which the caller's number is transmitted by the network at the time of an incoming call. The invention proposes providing the terminal with an agent which, on or after receiving a caller's number, selects at least one external server likely to be able to provide identity information; the agent then uses a request file and the caller's number to prepare a request whose argument is the caller's number and whose destination is the server. The request is sent to the server to obtain the information. In the absence of a result, the agent can send a plurality of requests in succession.

Many carriers providing various types of telephone communications network (public switched network, terrestrial or non-terrestrial public mobile network, etc.) offer the option of transmitting the telephone number of the caller with incoming calls. The number can be displayed on a screen of a terminal receiving the call or stored in a memory of the terminal. The problem addressed by the invention is that of associating a telephone number with information relating to the caller. The telephone number is not a straightforward identifier and it can be difficult for the terminal user to identify the caller only from their telephone number.
Various solutions to this problem have already been proposed. A first solution applies to terminals which store a directory of names with associated telephone numbers, in which case, when a caller's number is received, it is compared to all of the telephone numbers stored in the directory; if the caller's number as received coincides with a number stored in the directory, then the name corresponding to the number stored in the directory is displayed on the screen; in some terminals the display of the name of the caller replaces the number, while in others the name is displayed in addition to the number. That solution is employed in some of the mobile terminals currently available. It is limited to the directory or directories of the terminal and cannot provide the name of a caller who is not listed in the directory or directories of the terminal.
In the case of private networks (for example a PABX), the name of the caller can be transmitted and displayed if the caller is also on the private network. The service is not provided in the case of an outside caller who is not listed in the database of the private system.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,077,788 proposes another solution to the problem, dedicated to calls to the emergency services, obtained in the USA by dialing 911. It proposes to transmit such calls to a response station. The response station has a memory containing information relating to callers and information relating to emergency services. On receiving a call, the response station retrieves information relating to the caller from the memory, using the caller's number, and transmits the information to the appropriate emergency service agency. That solution is satisfactory only if information relating to the name of the caller is actually stored in the memory of the response station, and from this point of view that solution is entirely similar to the directory solution referred to above.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,341,414 describes various systems available in the United States and in particular the interstate automatic number identification (ANI) system which provides information relating to the caller from a single database, so that solution is limited by the content of that single database. WO-A-97/33418 describes an improvement to the ANI system intended to provide other types of information, but still based on a single database. The drawbacks are the same.
Finally, there are various services for providing a name from a telephone number. The French Minitel service, accessed by dialing 3617 and entering the code "ANNU", obtains the details of a subscriber from their telephone number. The Internet site annu.web provides the same service.

Method of obtaining information on the identity of a caller in a terminal of a telephone communications network


A semiconductor chip package may include a substrate, which may have bonding pads formed thereon. A semiconductor chip mounted on the substrate may have chip pads, and electrical connections for connecting the chip pads of the semiconductor chip to the substrate bonding pads. The semiconductor chip and the electrical connections on the substrate may be encapsulated, and a board attached to a portion of a surface of the substrate may not be encapsulated.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to semiconductor chip packages.
2. Description of the Conventional Art
Conventional art semiconductor packaging techniques for electrically and/or electronically connecting semiconductor chips to the external environment may include, for example, a Quad flat package (QFP) and/or a ball grid array (BGA) package.
A serializer/deserializer (SERDES) circuit may enable data transmission of a data rate, which may exceed, for example, a Gbps level.
Conventional art semiconductor packages, which employ the SERDES circuit, may be developed as, for example, BGA type packages.
FIG. 11 is a schematic view illustrating a structure in which a conventional semiconductor chip package may be connected to an external electronic device.
As shown in FIG. 11, a package 10 may be attached to a system board 20, and a board (e.g., a printed circuit board (PCB) or flexible PCB) connected to a connecter 40 of an external electronic device. The external electronic device may be a hard disk drive (HDD) 30, which may be connected to the system board 20.
The number of wiring patterns and the number of signal lines formed between the hard disk drive 30 and the board may be equal, or substantially equal.
Signal wirings may be used to transmit a data signal from the hard disk drive 30 to a semiconductor chip within the package 10. The signal wirings may be bonded to the system board 20 from a lower surface of the package 10, for example, by soldering on a circuit board 15 within the package 10.
As shown in FIG. 12, in which a conventional circuit wiring structure designed on the circuit board 15 is shown, all, or substantially all, of the circuit wirings of the circuit board 15 may be connected to the solder balls 11 through, for example, via holes. The number of the via holes may increase and the circuit wiring structure of the circuit board 15 may become more complex.


A tool for forming a dental restoration includes a mold body configured to provide a customized fit with at least one tooth of a patient. In some examples, the mold body defines an aperture configured to align with a portion of a surface of a tooth. The aperture is sufficiently large to allow placement and flow of restorative material over the desired portion of the surface of the tooth to be restored. The mold body is configured to combine with the at least one tooth of the patient to define a mold cavity encompassing at least a portion of desired tooth structure of the tooth to be restored.

A dental restoration, or a dental filling, utilizes a restorative dental material to improve function, integrity, and morphology of missing or irregular tooth structure. For example, a dental restoration may be used to restore missing tooth structure due to congenital discrepancies, following external trauma, or as part of a restorative treatment for dental caries, or tooth decay.
Restorative dentistry may also be an aesthetic treatment to improve appearance of teeth by, for example, altering their shape and/or optical properties (e.g., shape and/or translucency) by, for example, applying a veneer, enlarging an undersized tooth, managing position or contour of adjacent soft tissues, lessening or removing a gap (diastema), and/or resolving the appearance of malposition.
Restorative dentistry may also be used to adjust the biting or chewing function of teeth, to affect tooth function, and/or other aspects of overall oral health such as temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disorders, periodontal involvement, gingival recession or as part of a larger plan to construct a healthy and stable oral environment.
Restorative dentistry may include removing tooth structure, such as drilling decay from an infected tooth or reshaping teeth by removing undesired tooth structure (e.g., which may be referred to as "preparing" or "recontouring" the tooth) and then using relatively simple tools and a relatively high level of craftsmanship to isolate, retract, fill and contour the finished restoration.


A semiconductor light emitting device capable of realizing a long life, and a method of manufacturing the same. The impurity concentration of hydrogen in the active layer is 3×1019 cm−3 or less, and the impurity concentration of aluminum in the active layer is 1×1018 cm−3 or less. Thereby, the operating current is inhibited from increasing, and a long life can be realized.

The present invention relates to a semiconductor light emitting device in which an active layer includes a well layer made of a compound semiconductor containing at least gallium (Ga), arsenic (As), and nitrogen (N), a method of manufacturing the semiconductor light emitting device, and an optical module.
In these years, since information volume has been increased and communication speed has become high, optical communication using optical fiber has been increasingly demanded. Accordingly, development of light emitting devices for optical communication in 1.3 μm band or 1.5 μm band, in which transmission loss of optical fiber is low has been actively implemented. Traditionally, the light emitting devices have been mainly fabricated from GaInAsP materials using an InP substrate. However, when the InP substrate is used, there has been a disadvantage that the cost is high since the substrate is expensive and a cooling system is necessary in manufacturing due to the poor temperature characteristics.
Therefore, instead of the foregoing light emitting devices, fabricating a light emitting device using GaNAs materials on a GaAs substrate has been proposed (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. H06-37355). When the GaAs substrate is used as above, the substrate is not expensive, and the temperature characteristics are superior (for example, refer to "Japan Journal of Applied Physics," 2000, 6A, p. 39) and therefore a cooling system is not necessary, leading to reductions in cost.

Semiconductor light emitting device, method of manufacturing same, and optical module


The unfolding modular building system includes a main floor section having a plurality of square frames having inverted pyramidal support assemblies depending therefrom, hinged corner sections defining wall frames, hinged roof support and truss sections defining gable end frames, and hinged roof panel frames, whereby an interior perimeter may be defined by the interconnection of a system components. The system is easily transported and assembled and its modular construction enables the assembly of a structure having a plurality of interconnected modular units.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to prefabricated modular building assemblies, and particularly to a kit of modular building components that may be transported to a building site by a pickup truck or a trailer for erection of a building.
2. Description of the Related Art
Portable, prefabricated, foldable, and modular building structures have been developed to enable shipment of the structures in a collapsed state, thereby reducing the volume of space required for transport and avoiding the unnecessary costs of transportation of air volume within the structure.
One such structure is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,844, issued to J. Kalinowaki in January 1997, and includes a pre-fabricated, foldable, portable building, which, in a collapsed, folded condition, has an external shape and dimensions to fit within an envelope of an internationally standardized goods container.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,765,316, issued to Kavarsky in June 1998, discloses a modular building that is collapsible for transport and expandable for use. The '316 patent includes substantially vertical lateral and longitudinal walls and a core floor section, which, taken together, define a partially enclosed interior area. The floor assembly is connected to the core floor section for movement between folded and unfolded positions.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,950,373, issued to von Hoff et al. in September 1999, discloses a transportable structure kit having exterior panel sections adapted to attach together to form a completely enclosed transportable container. Within the container are placed a number of interior panel sections and telescoping footing sections to permanently adjust the height of the floor relative to a foundation.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,534,141, issued to G. Fagnoni in August 1985, discloses a transportable pre-fabricated building structure having an arrangement of closed longitudinal frames integral with base beams forming support and sliding runners, with a floor panel, a roof panel, and end walls, all defining a usable space. Foldable panels along lower longitudinal axes are adapted to form flooring and a roofing structure, together with panels adapted to form vertical walls for additional spaces. The panels are adapted to be supported by adjustable legs on the ground.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 5,447,000, issued to P. Larson in September 1995, discloses a containerized, prefabricated building kit comprising a frame having eight corners and twelve edges.
None of the above inventions and patents, taken either singly or in combination, is seen to describe the instant invention as claimed. Thus an unfolding modular building system solving the aforementioned problems is desired.


The present disclosure relates to the technical field of pigment dispersing agents, and provides an acrylate comb dispersing agent and a preparation method and use thereof, and a white ink-jet color paste and a preparation method thereof. The dispersing agent provided by the present disclosure is similar to a comb in structure and is synthesized from a hydrophobic monomer (comb handle) and a hydrophilic macromonomer (comb teeth). The acrylate comb dispersing agent provided by the present disclosure is good in dispersity, capable of stably dispersing titanium dioxide, relatively low in molecular weight and capable of meeting the requirements of ink-jet ink. The white ink-jet color paste provided by the present disclosure is strong in stability and low in viscosity, is not easy to settle and flocculate, and meets the requirements of the ink-jet ink.

Titanium dioxide is a most common white pigment that is currently used in coatings, inks, plastics and the like. Since that specific weight of titanium dioxide is large (4.23 g/cm3), it is easy to precipitate in a liquid phase and thus is difficult to produce a stable color paste. Especially in the ink-jet ink for which low viscosity is required, it is more likely to produce precipitation and flocculation, and thus cause problems such as inclined jet, ink breaking and print head clogging in jet printing. Therefore, in the field of ink-jet ink preparation, there is an urgent need for an aqueous titanium dioxide color paste with high stability.
Currently, commercial dispersants for titanium dioxide are rarely specifically designed for ink-jet inks. Because the ink-jet ink needs to pass through a micron-sized print head, the dispersing agent is required to have a short molecular length and a small molecular weight, so that the stability requirement under a low-viscosity system can be met. The current commercial dispersing agent is not suitable for an ink-jet color paste, and the stability of the titanium dioxide color paste is poor, so that the requirement of the ink-jet ink cannot be met.

Acrylate comb dispersing agent and preparation method and use thereof, and white ink-jet color paste and preparation method thereof

Zhuhai Trendvision New Materials Co., Ltd.


An injection molding machine uses a summed, multi-term control law to control ram velocity during the injection stroke of a molding cycle to emulate a user set velocity profile. An automatic calibration method sets no load ram speeds to duplicate user set ram speeds. Finite impulse response filters produce open loop, no load control signals at advanced positions on the velocity profile to account for lag in system response. An adaptive, error term indicative of load disturbance, observed from a preceding cycle is added at the advanced travel position predicted by the finite impulse response filter to produce a predictive open loop, load compensated control signal. Finally, an auto tuned PID controller develops a real time, feedback load disturbance signal summed with the open loop control signal to produce a drive signal for the machine's proportioning valve.

The molding cycle performed by an injection molding machine typically comprises the phases of clamp, inject, pack, recover and eject. This invention is principally concerned with the inject phase or injection stroke of the molding cycle.
The study of how plastic flows through the mold is called mold flow analysis. The flow of plastic is critical to a number of factors in the final part including surface flaws and structural integrity. Mold flow analysis predicts the shape of the part at all times as its is being formed and can predict areas of the part where a minimum injection speed is required to fill the part before the gates freeze or perhaps a maximum injection speed above which splaying may cause surface flaws. Experience gained from the use of any particular mold will show where certain speeds are required in mold filling to produce acceptable molded parts. On a production basis, typical practice is to minimize the injection time to achieve maximum machine throughput. All of this is achieved by controlling the injection speed of the ram during mold filling and to, a lesser extent, by the packing phase of the cycle which assures that the mold remains filled with molding material under a desired pressure until the molding material solidifies.
Very early molding machines were operated manually. To inject plastic into the mold, a crank wheel was turned. The faster the wheel was turned, the faster the injection speed. To increase pressure, the crank was turned harder. When crank wheels were replaced with hydraulic systems, the injection was controlled by the flow of oil into the injection cylinder. Various techniques have evolved over the years to control the flow and pressure of the oil. As noted above, controlling the oil flow controls the ram speed and controlling the ram speed controls how the molding material fills the mold. As mold flow analysis matured into a science, the art of injection molding became replaced with decisions dictated by mold flow analysis which required that controls be added to the hydraulic system to control the flow and pressure of the oil. This invention is directed to such a system (although the invention is also applicable to controlling the speed and torque of motors used in "all electric" molding machines).
Initially control systems were simply timers which caused various valve openings at set times during the injection stroke. The timers gave way to micro switches which were tripped by ram movement to cause various valve settings. The micro switches were replaced by feedback position sensors in use today developing signals used by programmable controllers to control ram speed.
The typical injection molding machine most likely observed today has an operator station with a screen display and keyboard which sends signals to a programmable logic controller (PLC). The operator station typically includes a screen whereat the operator can set desired ram velocities at fixed ram travel increments. Typically the ram travel of the machine is divided into ten equal lengths or zones. The operator sets the speed at each zone so that a series of bar graphs are assembled. The ram follows the bar graphs. Recent control improvements have replaced the bar graphs with points at each zone boundary so that the ram is not programmed to travel at constant speed within each zone but at a speed which constantly varies from one set point at one zone boundary to another set point at an adjacent zone boundary. When the operator makes a number of desired velocity settings at set ram travel positions which the ram is to follow, he establishes a "velocity profile". The object of the control system is to actually cause the ram to travel at the user set speeds at the user set positions i.e., to emulate the velocity profile. As will be explained in the Detailed Description of the Invention below, this invention causes better control of the ram speed than what heretofore has been possible.
The control within the PLC which causes the ram to follow the velocity profile is typically a PID controller (proportional/integration/derivative controller). A PID controller receives a velocity feedback signal from a sensor on the machine and compares it with the user set velocity control signal to generate an error compensated control signal by which the machine's speed is controlled. The control signal is then converted to an analog driving signal controlling a solenoid valve regulating a hydraulic proportioning valve in turn controlling flow from a pump to a prime mover causing ram movement. The PID controller is the typical mechanism for achieving closed loop control. It is generally used because the machine's control modules are typically purchased by injection molding machine manufacturers from control suppliers who assemble control systems for special applications, such as injection molding machines, from any number of common control modules having desired response times, sensitivities, robustness, etc. The systems use a common control, such as the PID controller.
The set points entered by the operator are turned into velocity control signals after the machine has been set up and calibrated. Functionally, the user entered set points at the machine console are converted into set point velocity signals by the PLC and outputted at ram travel positions as analog drive signals. The PLC uses the PID controller to provide closed loop control (vis-a-vis ram position sensor signals) to assure that the proper set point velocity signal, corrected for error, is outputted as the drive signal. To prevent the PID controller from having to generate large error corrections, normal practice is to manually calibrate the proportioning valve for set point velocity signals. The solenoid voltage is manually adjusted until movement of the ram is visually detected and the analog signal causing this initial movement is saved in digital form as the valve offset. The solenoid voltage is then manually adjusted to a value whereat maximum rated speed of the ram is observed to occur. For example, if maximum ram speed for the machine is one inch per second and rise travel was five inches, a technician, using his watch, would manually adjust solenoid voltage until he was able to cause the ram to travel five inches in about five seconds. At that point, the span voltage in digitized form would be entered. By assuming a straight line relationship between offset and span a digital signal corresponding to a user set velocity anywhere between zero and one inch per second is calculated by the machine's control. If the machine has an energy savings mode, a second calibration must be done. This technique is not precise. However, conventional thinking is that whatever errors are produced, they can be addressed in the PID control and calibration can only be done without load. Thus, the settings are made to simply assure capacity of the machine.
The PID control, however, has to be tuned. While factory default settings are, of course, provided, the tuning is done through a trial and error procedure by the molding machine manufacturer's technician during machine set up. Basically, the procedure followed after setting span and effect is to boost the ram during the injection stroke and observe the speed response. Various "art form=" techniques are used to adjust the factory settings if the response is deemed sluggish.
Many current machines allow the operator to select open loop or closed loop control to achieve velocity profiling. The open loop mode is achieved by simply using the manually calibrated valve settings set during machine set-up as described. Closed loop is achieved through the tuned PID controller as described or by using the default factory settings for the PID controller. In practice, it often occurs that the PID loop is out of tune with wear and age or if the molder simply changes the molded part. The machine user does not have the sophistication to re-tune the PID loops and closed loop control does not follow the velocity profile. In fact, in many cases the machine with the control in open loop will more closely follow the velocity profile even though, assuming perfect calibration of the proportioning valve, the open loop control cannot account for the load and specifically the disturbances or resistances imposed by the melt on the ram during the injection stroke.
The above summarizes, to a good part, what the assignee of this invention has observed in the marketplace with respect to current control systems (apart from assignee's control system which is the subject of this invention). The literature has disclosed, however, a number of control techniques applied to injection molding control systems.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,645,775 to Spahr et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 5,258,918 to Giancola; U.S. Pat. No. 5,182,716 to Stroud, III et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 5,062,785 to Stroud, III et al. disclose control systems which have specific features for controlling the ram velocity. In these systems, the velocity profile is broken down into zones as discussed above. In order to transition smoothly from one zone to the next zone, the controls transition from open loop to closed loop within a zone. Additionally, there is discussed feed forward but in the sense of feeding a present signal ahead in time and not a predictive signal. Additionally there is disclosed adaptive learning concepts. The latter techniques are well known in control theory and the references simply show that they have been applied to control systems for injection molding machines.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,482,662 to Nakamura et al. discloses a somewhat more sophisticated approach to feed forward control for ram velocity in that pressure sensed by the valve is used to develop a feed forward signal to account for latency response of the valve and another control term is added in when the ram position feedback signal reaches a set differential ratio to the set velocity term. The valve control is said to eliminate overshoot tendencies of the valve resulting from changing signals and the velocity feedback contributes to accuracy during steady state. The Nakamura system appears to be more advanced than the concepts earlier discussed but still uses an additional term switched in or out of the control during injection depending on feedback of a current event.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,578,256 to Austin utilizes the relationship between ram velocity and mold flow to develop a plastic flow characteristic, i.e., pressure, sensed in the mold during a run which is then inputted into the control as an adaptive error term in the next succeeding cycle.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,753,588 to Kiya and U.S. Pat. No. 5,552,690 to Hiraoka relate to electric drive injection molding machines controlling ram speed. Kiya discloses using a feed override look up table to modify the set speeds. Hiraoka uses separate control terms to control motor torque and motor speed. Feedback control at the zone boundaries is used to adjust the torque and velocity settings.
None of the systems discussed appear to utilize feed forward concepts in the predictive sense as disclosed in my U.S. Pat. No. 5,493,503 and this invention may be viewed as an extension of and an improvement to that patent. Further the systems are generally geared to sensing events at zones and making changes during zone progressions by switching control modes or simply by adding adaptive, learned error signals. None of the systems cited discuss the set point signals. They simply generate the set point signals corresponding to the user set points and then utilize feedback techniques to produce the desired ram control.

Auto-tuned, adaptive process controlled, injection molding machine


An insertion device is used to deform a deformable intraocular lens to a reduced size and insert the deformed lens into an eye through an insertion tube. The insertion device includes a push rod for pushing and inserting the lens into the eye, and a posture control member disengagably engaged with a tip end portion of the push rod. The posture control member prevents deflection of the push rod from a center axis. The engagement between the posture control member and the push rod is broken when the push rod arrives at a predetermined position during a step of advancing the push rod.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a device for inserting a deformable intraocular lens into the eye. Examples of such a deformable intraocular lens include a deformable intraocular lens that is inserted into the eye in place of the natural lens when the latter is physically extracted because of cataracts, and a vision correction lens that is inserted into the eye for the sole purpose of vision correction.
2. Description of the Related Art
In general, during cataract surgery, an intraocular lens is inserted into the eye, from which the natural lens has been removed (lens-removed eye), such that the intraocular lens is located in the original position previously occupied by the natural lens and restores vision. Various studies on the material and shape of such an intraocular lens have been carried out since Ridley performed the first implantation of an artificial lens in 1949.
In recent years, in addition to studies on intraocular lenses which are used for vision restoration after cataract surgery, intense studies on intraocular lenses for refractivity correction have been ongoing. Such an intraocular lens for refractivity correction is inserted into the eye which still has a natural lens (lens-carrying eye), for correction of nearsightedness or farsightedness.
In relation to cataract surgery, a technique for crushing the lens tissue by means of ultrasonic emulsification and suctioning the crushed tissue away has been popularized. This technique enables performance of lens removal surgery to excise an opaque lens through a small incision. Along with progress in the operational technique itself, intraocular lenses themselves have recently been improved. Such an improved intraocular lens is disclosed in, for example, Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 58-146346. In the intraocular lens, the optical portion is made of a deformable elastic material. The intraocular lens is inserted, in a folded state, into the eye through a small incision and restored to its original shape within the eye allowing it to exert its proper lens function.
Accompanying these technical developments, the material of the optical portion of such an intraocular lens has been changed gradually from hard polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) to silicone or soft acrylic resin, which enables the intraocular lens to be inserted into the eye in a folded state.
Moreover, in recent years, studies have been conducted on copolymers such as hydroxyethyl methacrylate and methyl methacrylate, as well as on hydrophilic materials such as 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA).
Further, intraocular lenses of different shapes have been studied and put into practical use, including an intraocular lens having a circular optical portion and loop-shaped support portions formed of different materials, an intraocular lens whose loop-shaped support portions and optical portion are formed of the same material, and an intraocular lens having plate-shaped support portions.
Furthermore, the following patent publications disclose insertion devices for inserting the above-described deformable intraocular lens into the eye in a compressed or folded state.
(1) Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 5-103803 discloses a device designed such that a holding member which holds a folded lens is attached to a main body, and the lens is inserted into the eye through an insertion tube provided at the tip end of the holding member.
(2) Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (kokai) No. 7-23991 discloses a disposable insertion device for one-time use in which a portion for holding a folded lens is integrated with a main body of the device and the entirety of the device is formed of resin.
The above-described are typical examples of conventional intraocular-lens insertion devices, which are divided into various types in accordance with their mechanisms for folding an lens; such as a type in which a lens is folded by use of a taper portion of a holding member, and a type in which a lens is folded by use of a hinged portion of a holding member.
However, a conventional intraocular-lens insertion device of the former type in which a lens is folded by use of a taper portion of a holding member involves the following problem. Since a space of the holding member for placement of an intraocular-lens is large, the posture of a push rod within the space cannot be controlled, and consequently the push rod deflects in the course of a step of advancing the push rod.
When the push rod deflects, the intraocular lens may be caught between the inner wall surface of the holding member and the push rod with resultant breakage of the intraocular lens, or a tip end portion of an insertion tube of the insertion device may be broken.
Meanwhile, the tip end portion of the push rod, which provides a function of pushing the intraocular lens out of the insertion device, has a diameter that is determined in accordance with the inner diameter of the insertion tube at its tip end. Therefore, in the intraocular-lens insertion device of the type in which a lens is folded by use of the taper portion (i.e., the insertion tube), the tip end of the push rod cannot be formed to have a large diameter, even though the insertion device has a large space at its lens placement section. Accordingly, when the intraocular lens is pushed out, a large load or pressure acts on the intraocular lens.


An apparatus for cooling heat producing devices is disclosed. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a heat absorber attached to a first end of a base. Both the base and the heat absorber may be formed of a thermally conductive material, and a width of the heat absorber is greater than a width of the base.

Electronic devices, such as microprocessors, become heated during use. If the excess heat is not efficiently dissipated, it can impair performance by slowing the processing times. Thus, solutions have been proposed which provide ways of cooling the hot electronic devices.
Conventionally, heat exchangers (e.g., devices which absorb heat from one area and transfer it to another area for dissipation) are mounted directly above the heat producing device. Such heat exchangers tend to be of a uniform width and tend to dissipate the excess heat through a plurality of fins stacked above the base of the heat exchanger. Although efficient, this type of heat exchanger is not desirable in mobile computing systems because the height of the heat exchanger exceeds the depth of a mobile computer casing.
Another type of heat exchanger, called a remote heat exchanger, is used in mobile computing systems. Conventional remote heat exchangers include a base member (e.g., a heat pipe) of uniform width, and a plurality of fins attached to one end of the base. Although the end opposite the fins may be applied directly to a silicon die (e.g., a processor), a more efficient heat transfer occurs when a heat spreader is used. A heat spreader is a piece of heat conductive material, generally having a cross-sectional area larger than a surface area of the heat producing device. Typically the uniform width of the heat exchanger base is less than the width of the heat spreader. Consequently, a less-than-optimum cooling results because heat escaping through portions of the heat spreader not covered by the base is dissipated into the air rather than being conveyed through the base to a remote heat dissipation area.

Use of adjusted evaporator section area of heat pipe that is sized to match the surface area of an integrated heat spreader used in CPU packages in mobile computers


A loading device for marine transfer of fluids, via a flexible loading hose, from a petroleum production platform to an ordinary tanker vessel has a main hull which includes a submerged hull and a structure resting on the submerged hull an rising above the waterline. A loading hose is arranged in a crane boom and is connected upstream to the flexible hose and arranged for transferring fluid to the tanker vessel. The loading device further includes fixed contact surfaces having upwards directed surfaces on the submerged hull. The submerged hull is arranged for being ballasted and deballa ted for docking towards the bottom of the tanker vessel""s hull, using direct contact friction. A power device is arranged for moving the loading device into and out of a catching position with the tanker vessel, and is arranged for controlling the position of the tanker vessel during the operation of fluid transfer.

This application claims priority to Norvegian patent application Serial No. 1999.3251, filed Jun. 29, 1999.
Not applicable.
1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to a surface loading buoy for transfer of petroleum cargo to an ordinary tanker vessel.
From the source or the upstream side the floating loading buoy receives the petroleum cargo from a petroleum production platform or ship via a flexible loading hose with an electrical (umbilical) cable. The floating loading buoy may possibly receive the petroleum cargo via a submerged loading buoy, e.g., a so-called STL-buoy from the upstream side. The invention comprises a surface loading buoy being arranged for connecting itself to ordinary tanker vessels, and to transfer the cargo directly to, ordinary tanker vessels. From these properties an abbreviation arises, which hereafter will be applied for a preferred embodiment of the invention, a DPDL-buoy: Dynamic Positioning Dock Loading buoy. The loading buoy, according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, is locked to the tanker vessel and takes over the dynamic position control over the vessel. The positioning control is conducted either by means of thrusters and dynamic positioning, or alternatively conducted by using the mooring system of a submerged turret loading buoy (STL-buoy) which normally is moored with a circular-spread anchor line system. Taking the control over the tanker vessel and conducting the position control can take place by a combination where the floating loading buoy, according to a preferred embodiment of the invention, picks up and hooks on to a tanker vessel and conducts a takeover of the physical control of it by means of the buoy""s thrusters, and thereafter it transfers the petroleum cargo from the STL-buoy via the DPDL-buoy to the tanker vessel. In an alternative preferred embodiment of the invention, the DPDL-buoy commands an STL-buoy to dock into an STL-dock in the bottom of the DPDL-buoy, and transfers the cargo.
2. Description of the Related Art
A side elevation view of parts of a tanker vessel 200 is shown in FIG. 3, and a simple cross-section of hull 210 and tanks are shown in FIG. 1. Ordinary tanker vessels 200 usually have a pipeline system for loading and offloading petroleum cargo with the vessel being loaded and unloaded via a midship manifold 230 directed out towards the hull""s side on the deck 220 of the tanker vessel. Such an arrangement is not normally directly applicable for offloading petroleum cargo from a floating loading buoy in the open sea, without making essential modifications. If the tanker vessel 200 becomes lying in a disadvantageous attitude with respect to the combined wind- and wave direction, it encounters strong side forces and it may show impossible to keep the vessel in position even though it may be provided with dynamic positioning systems (xe2x80x9cDPxe2x80x9d). Further, a floating loading buoy""s anchor lines normally are dimensioned to keep the buoy itself in a fixed position with respect to wind, waves and current, and may be also a tanker vessel if the tanker vessel is lying directed with the bow on the weather. The mooring lines are normally not dimensioned to keep a tanker vessel lying across the weather""s direction. Such loading buoys may comprise systems for transfer of cargo via fixed pipes or floating loading hoses running from the loading buoy to the bow 213 of the tanker vessel 200, with mooring lines between the loading buoy""s and the tanker vessel""s respective starboard and port sides.
Floating production, storage, and offloading vessels (FPSO-vessels) 300 are also known, with cargo transfer of petroleum happening via a floating loading hose arranged between starboard or port side of the FPSO""s stem, to the corresponding starboard or port midship manifold 230 with a manifold connector 337 on an ordinary tanker vessel 200. Damage and wear of such floating loading hoses are well known to people skilled in the art.
Submerged Turret Loading (STL)xe2x80x94buoys 331 are well known and are used for transferring cargo from a petroleum source 300 to a tanker vessel 200. The STL-buoy normally is arranged at the end of an STL-umbilical 332 which may comprise a loading hose or a riser pipe. The STL-buoy is adapted to be arranged at a distance below the sea surface to be raised as a plug for insertion into a corresponding STL-dock 233 arranged through the bottom 212xe2x80x2 of a specially adapted (modified) STL tanker vessel 200xe2x80x2, and with the STL-buoy at the same time being connected to a connector of a manifold coupled to pipelines leading to tanks on board the STL-tanker vessel 200xe2x80x2. STL-buoys usually are moored by means of at least eight anchor lines (340) arranged with anchors around the periphery. By means of the anchor lines 340 the STL-buoy 331 is kept in its position, and the vessel may normally lie freely pivotable in the STL-buoy 331. By means of ordinary STL-buoys a wire system on the tanker vessel is normally required for connecting to the STL-buoy, and communication devices for controlling the submergence and rise of the STL-buoy. Further it is required that the tanker vessel is specially designed with the particular STL-dock 333 having a shape of an inverted funnel-shaped vertical pipe channel arranged through the bottom of the vessel, ahead of midship of the tanker vessel 200xe2x80x2. The STL-dock is arranged for receiving and holding the STL-buoy, and is provided with connectors for the petroleum conductor in the STL-buoy, valves, valve control, and a pipe manifold arranged at the receiving part. The pipe manifold is connected to one or more pipelines leading to petroleum tanks in the tanker vessel. One problem in the known art is thus that such an STL-dock must be arranged in all dedicated vessels which are to receive an STL-buoy. This incurs huge costs in installing this equipment on tanker vessels 200xe2x80x2 during construction of new vessels 200xe2x80x2 or for refitting of ordinary tanker vessels 200.
The invention is constituted by a loading device for marine transfer of fluids via a flexible hose which preferably also has an electrical cable for power supply to the loading device, preferably petroleum fluid from an upstream source, e.g. a petroleum production platform, to an ordinary tanker vessel, and with a main hull comprising an underwater part and a part above the surface with a loading hose in a crane boom, arranged for transferring petroleum cargo from the flexible hose to the tanker vessel via the loading device. What is particular for the invention comprises the following features:
fixed contact surfaces constituted by the top surfaces of a longship pontoon and an athwartships pontoon respectively, arranged for being ballasted and deballasted for docking, by direct friction contact with the tanker vessel""s hull, preferably against the outer side of the tanker ship""s bottom, and
power devices arranged to move the loading device to and from a catching/holding position with the tanker vessel, and arranged for essentially controlling the position of the tanker vessel during the petroleum transfer operation.

Dynamic positioning dock-loading buoy (DPDL-buoy) and method for use of such a DPDL-buoy


An entertainment device has a metal shielding member that covers the CPU and image processing unit and a flexible sheet that is interposed between the CPU and metal shielding member. The metal shielding member contains metal oxide magnetic particles for cutting off electromagnetic radiation generated from the CPU and image processing unit, while the flexible sheet is positioned to radiate heat away from the CPU and image processing unit.

This invention concerns an electronic device that has a calculation processing device generally, and more particularly an electronic device that has a shield member that protects the electronic device from electromagnetic radiation emitted from the calculation processing device.
Entertainment devices, personal computers, and other electronic devices have long had a built-in calculation processing device such as a central processing unit (CPU) for processing at high speed an enormous amount of multimedia or other information. Because the calculation processing device generates electromagnetic waves such as electromagnetic noise of many frequencies, it is important to implement on the electronic device measures against electromagnetic interference. Thus, measures against electromagnetic interference are taken by interposing an electromagnetic radiation-absorbing substance between the CPU and a heat sink, as shown in unexamined patent H11-335472 [1999], etc.
However, prior art measures against electromagnetic interference are unable to completely cut off electromagnetic radiation emitted from a CPU. In particular, faster CPU speed brings with it the desire for electronic devices that can more surely and completely cut off electromagnetic radiation. Thus, there is a need for an electronic device that can surely and completely cut off the electromagnetic radiation generated from a calculation processing device.
It is an object of the present invention, therefore, to provide an electronic device that can surely and completely cut off the electromagnetic radiation generated from a calculation processing device.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide an electronic device that has a calculation processing device covered by a metal shielding member for shielding electromagnetic interference generated by the calculation processing device.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an electronic device that has a calculation processing device covered by a metal shielding member and a flexible sheet interposed between the calculation processing device and shielding member, said flexible sheet containing metal oxide magnetic particles.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an electronic device having a calculation processing device covered by a shielding member and a heat radiating means for radiating heat away from the calculation processing device.
It is a still further object of the present invention to provide an electronic device having a flexible sheet composed by mixing silicone gel and metal oxide magnetic particles.
Still other objects and advantages of the invention will become clear upon review of the following detailed description in conjunction with the appended drawings.
An entertainment device having a calculation processing device is provided with a metal shielding member that covers the calculation processing device and prevents electromagnetic radiation generated from such calculation processing device from interfering with the entertainment device. A flexible sheet interposed between the metal shielding member and calculation processing device is provided with a heat-conductive filler that facilitates the radiation and discharge of heat away from the calculation processing device. The flexible sheet is preferably composed by mixing silicone gel and metal oxide particles, with the silicone gel providing superior heat resistance and the metal oxide particles contributing to the shielding of electromagnetic radiation. Thus, the combination of the metal shielding member and flexible sheet assures that electromagnetic radiation generated by the calculation processing device is completely cut off.


An approach for providing cloud-based profile access is described. A profile platform receives, at a cloud-based service platform, a request for a device profile from a mobile device, wherein the device profile specifies information relating to configuration of a graphical user interface and one or more applications associated with the mobile device, determines context data for the mobile device, selects one of a plurality of device profiles based on the determined context data, and generates a control message specifying the selected device profile for configuring the mobile device.

Wireless networking technologies offer users the convenience of mobility and ease of connection to a network. As mobile devices continue to expand in functionality, so does the quantity information and applications stored on mobile devices. Users not only employ these devices for personal applications, e.g., social networking, personal finance, entertainment, but also for business. Thus, mobile devices often contain personal information, personal preferences, applications and associated data, as well as media files. Additionally, such devices are routinely utilized for work or other environments in which other types of data are stored and manipulated. Because mobile devices are used in a broad array of environments, it is becoming increasingly difficult for users to manage the abundance of applications and associated data. Consequently, inefficiencies in accessing these resources result, along with an increasing burdensome user experience.
Therefore, there is a need for an approach that provides convenient and efficient management of mobile device resources.

Method and system for managing device profiles


An apparatus for tensioning a fastener while measuring displacement of the fastener relative to a female threaded member may include a driver extension having an interior channel aligned along the extension's central cylindrical axis, open to a socket driver at an output end of the driver. The apparatus may further include a measurement probe in the interior channel, coupled to a measurement indicator on an exterior of the extension by a coupling that moves the measurement indicator in proportion to movement of the measurement probe and a measurement gauge coupled to an exterior of the driver extension that gauges displacement of the measurement indicator. A method for using the apparatus includes driving a female threaded member along a threaded rod by the driver extension while holding the measurement probe against an end of a bolt, screw, or other threaded fastener of which the threaded rod forms a part and while reading the measurement gauge.

Many precision assembly operations require measuring the amount of tensile strain applied to fasteners. For example, in the fabrication of engines and pressure vessels, stretch bolts need to be torqued while measuring the amount of bolt stretch to ensure tensile strain on the fastener is within specification. For threaded fasteners, precision fastening entails a cumbersome two-part process: first, the bolts are torqued to a certain specification and then, the tensile strain of the fastener is measured. This process is repeated until the manufacturing specs are achieved for each fastener.
Applications for tensioned fasteners include tensioned spoke wheels. Tensioned spoke wheels are useful for lightweight wheels such as used on bicycles, motorcycles, handcarts, and other conveyances. Fabrication, maintenance and repair of tensioned spoke wheels is labor-intensive using existing tools and methods. The torque placed on a spoke nipple does not necessarily indicate an amount of displacement, thus requiring frequent measurement of nut position on the spoke for accurate truing.
Typical spoke tools include small manual open-end wrenches with a square head that clamps on the sides of a nut or flats of a spoke nipple. These tools can torque the nut or nipple onto the spoke's thread with limited rotation depending on the clearance. Usually, when using these wrenches, the nut or nipple is turned about a ¼ turn or less each time. Using typical spoke tools and stopping the installation of a nut or nipple to make a measurement are tedious and slow the installation process. Truing a spoked wheel can be imprecise when done without precise measurement tools, resulting in wheels that are not perfectly round and/or are eccentric.
It would be desirable, therefore, to develop new methods and apparatus for tensioning precision fasteners, that overcomes these and other limitations of the prior art.

Combination tool for tensioned fasteners


A novel system for providing for safe operation of railgear, that is, a set of guide wheels that allow road vehicles to travel on railroad tracks, based on the use of overload indicators installed on the suspension arm of each guide wheel to give operators a quick, visual representation of whether or not a guide wheel is overloaded.

Railgear are retractable railroad track compatible guide wheels attached to the body of a road vehicle having rubber automobile or truck tires that can be lowered into place so that the vehicle can travel safely on railroad tracks and not fall off the tracks. Railgear have a maximum load rating for safe operation to prevent derailment, failure and excessive wear. Their maximum load rating is typically limited by the railgear's suspension bodies and guide wheels. These suspensions bodies can be equipped with overload indicators as shown by this disclosure of the present invention in order to reveal individually when each wheel exceeds its maximum rating due to a vehicle's payload.