An optoelectronic cellular neural network, which can be programmed optically, in amorphous or polycrystalline silicon, which makes up a monolithic image processing system with optical input and output which can be programmed by optical signals. Its layered structure for both the upper and lower surfaces are occupied, without discontinuity, by photosensitive and photoemissive devices. The network basically consists of an input photosensitive layer, a processing layer, a photosensitive control layer and also an optical control mask.

1! (Chua e Yang, 1988) L. O. Chua, L. Yang, "Cellular Neural Networks: Theory", IEEE Trans. on Circuit and Systems, CAS-38(10), 1257-1272 (1988). PA0 2! (Roska e Chua, 1993) T. Roska, L. O. Chua, "The CNN Universal Machine: a Universal Array Computer" IEEE Trans. on Circuits and Systems, CAS-II-40(3), 163-173 (1993). PA0 3! (Roska e Kek, 1994) T. Roska, L. Kek, "Analogic CNN Program Library", Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Budapest, rep. DNS-5-1994. PA0 4! (Balsi, 1994) M. Balsi, "Hardware Supervised Learning for Cellular and Hopfield Neural Neetworks", Proc. of World Canference on Neural Newtworks, San Diego, Calif., Jun. 4-9, 1994, III, 451. PA0 5! (Harrer et al., 1992) H. Harrer, J. A. Nossek, R. Stelzl, "An Analog Implementation of Discrete-Time Cellular Neural Networks", IEEE Trans. on Neural Networks, NN-3(3) 466-476 (1992). PA0 6! (Nossek et al., 1992) J. A. Nossek, G. Seiler, T. Roska, L. O. Chua, "Cellular Neural Networks: Theory and Circuit Design", International Journal of Circuit Theory and Applications, 20, 533-553 (1992). PA0 7! (Rodriguez-Vazquez et al., 1993) A. Rodriguez-Vazquez, S. Espejo, R. Dominguez-Castro, J. L. Huertas, E. Sanchez-Sinencio, "Current-Mode Techniques for the Implementation of Continuous- and Discrete-Time Cellular Neural Networks", IEEE Trans. on Circuit and Systems, CAS-II-40(3), 132-146 (1993). PA0 8! (Espejo el al., 1994) S. Espejo, A. Rodriguez-Vazquez, R. Dominguez-Castro, J. L. Huertas, E. Sanchez-Sunencio, "Smart-Pixel Cellular Neural Networks in Analog Current-Mode CMOS Technology", IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, SSC-29(8), 895-905 (1994). PA0 9! (Sani el al., 1994) A. Sani, S. Graffi, G. Masetti, G. Setti, "Design of CMOS Cellular Neural Networks Operating at Several Supply Voltages", Proc. of Third IEEE Int. Workshop on Cellular Neural Networks and their Applications (CNNA-94), Rome, Italy, Dec. 18-21, 1994, 363-368. PA0 10! (Sheu el al., 1994) B. J. Sheu, Sa H. Bang, W.-C. Fang, "Analog VLSI Design of Cellular Neural Networks with Annealing Ability", Proc. of Third IEEE Int. Workshop on Cellular Neural Networks and their Applications (CNNA-94), Rome, Italy, Dec. 18-21,1994, 387-39. PA0 11! (Raffo et al., 1994) L. Raffo, S. P. Sabatini, G. M. Bisio, "A Reconfigurable Architecture Mapping Multilayer CNN Paradigms", Proc. of Third IEEE Int. Workshop on Cellular Neural Networks and their Applications (CNNA-94), Rome, Italy, Dec. 18-21, 1994, 393-393. PA0 12! (Sargeni e Bonaiuto, 1994) F. Sargeni, V. Bonaiuto, "High Performance Digitally Programmable CNN Chip with Discrete Templates", Proc. of Third IEEE Int. Workshop on Cellular Neural Networks and their Applications (CNNA-94), Rome, Italy, Dec. 18-21, 1994, 67-72. PA0 13! (Cruz el al., 1994) J. M. Cruz, L. O. Chua, T. Roska, "A Fast, Complex and Efficient Test Implementation of the CNN Universal Machine", Proc. of Third IEEE Int. Workshop on Cellular Neural Networks and their Applications (CNNA-94), Rome Italy, Dec. 18-21, 1994, 61-66. PA0 14! (Lim e Moschytz, 1994) D. Lim, G. S. Moschytz, "A Programmable, Modular CNN Cell", Proc. of Third IEEE Int. Workshop on Cellular Neural Networks and their Applications (CNNA-94), Rome, Italy, Dec. 18-21, 1994, 79-84. PA0 15! (Doan el al., 1994) M.-D. Doan, M. Glesner, R. Chakrabaty, M. Heidenreich, S. Cheung, "Realisation of a Digital Cellular Neural Network for Image Processing", Proc. of Third IEEE Int. Workshop on Cellular Neural Networks and their Applications (CNNA-94), Rome, Italy, Dec. 18-21, 1994, 85-90. PA0 16! (Kinget e Steyaert, 1995) P. Kinget, M. S. J. Steyaert, "A Programmable Analog Cellular Neural Network CMOS Chip for High Speed Image Processing", IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, SSC-30(3), 235-243 (1995). PA0 17! (Beccherelli et al., 1994) R. Beccherelli, G. de Cesare, F. Palma, "Towards an hydrogenated Amorphous Silicon Phototransistor Cellular Neural Network", Proc. of Third IEEE Int. Workshop on Cellular Neural Networks and their Applications (CNNA-94), Rome, Italy, Dec. 18-21, 1994, 357-362. PA0 18! (Balsi el al., 1994) M. Balsi, I. Ciancaglioni, V. Cimagalli, F. Galluzzi, "Optoelectronic Cellular Neural Networks Based on Amorphous Silicon Thin Film Technology", Proc. of Third IEEE Int. Workshop on Cellular Neural Networks and their Applications (CNNA-94), Rome, Italy, Dec. 18-21, 1994, 399-403. PA0 19! M. Balsi, "Hardware Supervised Learning for Cellular and Hopfield Neural Networks", Proc. of World Conference on Neural Networks, San Diego, Calif., Jun. 4-9, 1994, III, 451.
As is known, a cellular neural network is a system consisting of elementary cells operating in continuous time, equipped with a eral state variable connected with the neighboring cells over a short distance in one-, two-, or three dimensional space. This system can be considered a programmable parallel, analog processor capable in particular of a wide range of applications in the image processing field. It can be made self-adaptive with the addition of the appropriate circuits.
The type of processing realized by a given cellular neural network depends on the entity (sign and module) of the interactions existing between the cells, hence it (the system) is programmable only if it is possible to vary, during the functioning phase, the values of the interactions.
The realization of two-dimensional cellular neural networks takes advantage of the planar typology of the system itself, and this is why it can be implemented using electronic and optoelectronic technology.
Cellular neural networks are generally based on conventional VLSI electronic techniques, and in particular on the CMOS technology.
The sole solution which envisages an integrated optical input on the device is that of Espejo et al (IEEE Journal of Solid-State Circuits, SSC-29(8), 895-905 (1994)).
However, none of the aforementioned systems makes use of an optical output and/or the reconfigurability (control) by means of optical signals.
As regards programmability, the known systems when they envisage such, furnish only the possibility of realizing a discrete series of values for the connection weights between the cells. Programming is always carried out by means of electrical signals, and normally each cell should be prorammed (controlled) in an identical manner to the others.
The possible use of hydrogenated amorphous or polycrystalline silicon was recently studied by Beccherelli et al and by the present inventors, Balsi et al.
The first solution does not contain the project for a complete cellular neural network but only the study of a possible implementative model of a single cell and an interaction mechanism with a similar other such cell. This solution in no way allows programmability during the network's functioning phase, neither does it allow the realization of a general CNN, as the interaction between the cells can only be positive and without gain.
The second solution concerns the preliminary plan for a general CNN, with optical input and output but which is not programmable, as the interactions are defined in absolute values by the relative dimensions of the transistors used, and as to the sign by the type of circuit connection.

Optically programmable optoelectronic cellular neural network

Universita' Degli Studi di Roma "La Sapienza"


A method of controlling the volume of user-plane traffic on the Iub or Iub/Iur interface between a Radio Network Controller and a Node B of a UMTS Radio Access Network during periods of overload. The method comprises, for individual uplink or downlink connections established over the Iub or Iub/Iur interface, monitoring at the Radio Network Controller the late arrival of frames at the Radio Network Controller or at the Node B transmitted over the Iub or Iub/Iur interface, and based on the results of said monitoring, causing a reduction in the Iub or Iub/Iur load for a connection when appropriate.

The Third Generation Partnership Project group, known as 3GPP, is involved in ongoing standardisation work on the WCDMA group of protocols referred to as Universal Mobile Telecommunications System (UMTS) or 3G. A UMTS operator network can be separated into a number of major components, namely one or more core networks which are responsible for setting up and controlling user sessions, and a UMTS Radio Access Network (UTRAN) which controls access to the air interface. The architecture of a UTRAN is illustrated schematically in FIG. 1. The interface between the UTRAN and the user equipment (UE) is provided by nodes referred to as "NodeBs" (analogous to Base Stations in 2G/GSM networks). The NodeBs are responsible for transmitting and receiving data over the air interface and are controlled by Radio Network Controllers (RNCs). User and control data is routed between UEs and a core network via the NodeBs and the RNCs. The interface between a NodeB and an RNC is referred to as the Iub interface.
There are situations in which the same data may be transmitted between a given UE and an RNC via two or more NodeBs. This is referred to as Diversity Handover Function (DHO) or macro-diversity. The NodeBs may be controlled by the same or different RNCs. In the latter case, data is routed to the controlling (or serving) RNC via a drift RNC. The interface between the serving and the drift RNC is referred to as the Iur interface. Both scenarios are illustrated in FIG. 1.
The protocols responsible for carrying the payload between an RNC and a NodeB are described in 3GPP TS 25.435 and TS 25.427 for common (i.e. shared) and dedicated channels respectively. The protocol layers present at the RNC and NodeB are shown in FIG. 2. Of particular relevance here are the Frame Protocols (denoted FP in FIG. 2), which are responsible for carrying the user-plane data offered by upper layers (MAC/RLC) between the NodeB and the RNC.
The transport network (TN) underneath the Frame Protocol can be realized either as a cell-switched ATM network, or as a packet-based IP network. The typical approach to ensure that the transport network delivers the required service quality is to apply some kind of transport network admission control mechanism, which allows new connections as long as there is capacity available. This strategy works well for connections whose offered load and statistical properties are well known and understood, e.g. voice. The aggregated load of such connections can be easily and accurately estimated. If the estimated load exceeds the capacity of the transport network, no further connections are admitted. Thus, it can be ensured that all active connections receive the expected transport network service quality without wasting resources with an overly conservative admission mechanism.
Transport network reservation and admission control is much more difficult when packet switched (PS) data connections are considered, for a number of reasons:                The load presented by a PS channels can be much higher than for a voice connection: up to 384 kbps and more over a Dedicated Channel (DCH), and on the order of Mbps over a High Speed Downlink Shared Channel (HS-DSCH).        The traffic pattern over PS bearers shows a much higher degree of variation than for voice connections, having long idle periods followed by large data bursts.        The statistical properties of PS traffic are neither very well understood nor captured by any simple models. The load can be a complex function of link quality, pricing, customer segment, time of day/year, etc.
When a transport network admission procedure is used for PS traffic, two different approaches may be adopted:
Prudent Admission:
To make sure that the transport network always delivers the desired performance, incoming connections are blocked at moderate reservation levels. The drawback is the likelihood of the unnecessary blocking of incoming connections at times when the admitted connections exhibit low activity. This solution leads to low utilization of transport network resources and blocked connections.
Generous Admission:
To avoid unnecessary blocking, more PS users are admitted than could momentarily be served if all connections turned active (the assumption being that not all users will simultaneously choose to send or receive data). The drawback is the increased likelihood of transport network overload at times when too many connections offer load.
Typically, the first of these approaches is used, meaning that only a few PS connections of, say 384 kbps, can be admitted at any given time. This is particularly true if the Iub is realized with thin E1 or T1 links.
It would be desirable to admit more PS connections (to avoid blocking) and have some method to handle the potential Iub overload conditions. There are two problems in implementing such a solutions. Firstly, there is no mechanism for explicitly detecting congestion on the Iub interface on a per connection basis. Secondly, the involved Iub protocols are unresponsive to Iub congestion. This means that the FP entity will always supply the transport network with the load offered by the MAC/RLC entities, irrespective of the potential overload over the Iub interface. Existing art on Iub load control (e.g. Saraydar et. al: "Impact of rate control on the capacity of an Iub link: Multiple service case, Proceedings WCNC 2003) employs centralised solutions based on some congestion control algorithm. EP1331768 and US2003223454 also propose centralised solutions to the problem of Iub load control.
The problem can be further illustrated by assuming a generous admission strategy where several 384 kbps bearers have been admitted over a thin Iub realization. When several/all bearers happen to offer traffic simultaneously, the result is likely to be delayed or lost Iub frames for some or all of the connections. Since the PS bearers are typically realised with Acknowledged Mode (AM), the receiving RLC entities will request re-transmissions of the lost frame content. This means that the overload may persist, as the FP instances will continue to shuffle data over the Iub so long as the sending MAC/RLC offers it. In a worst case scenario, no connection receives any data on time and all lost data goes to the sending RLC re-transmission buffers. The RLC/MAC/FP entities will then keep offering overload data to the Iub without any relief until protocol errors occur and the re-transmissions are abandoned with resets.

Congestion control within a radio access network


The present invention relates to crystalline forms of 3-[5-(2-fluorophenyl)-[1,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl]-benzoic acid, pharmaceutical compositions and dosage forms comprising the crystalline forms, methods of making the crystalline forms and methods for their use for the treatment, prevention or management of diseases ameliorated by modulation of premature translation termination or nonsense-mediated mRNA decay.

1,2,4-oxadiazole compounds useful for the treatment, prevention or management of diseases ameliorated by modulation of premature translation termination or nonsense-mediated mRNA decay as described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,992,096 B2, issued Jan. 31, 2006, which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. One such compound is 3-[5-(2-fluorophenyl)-[1,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl]-benzoic acid.
Solid forms such as salts, crystal forms, e.g., polymorphic forms of a compound are known in the pharmaceutical art to affect, for example, the solubility, stability, flowability, fractability, and compressibility of the compound as well as the safety and efficacy of drug products based on the compound, (see, e.g., Knapman, K. Modern Drug Discoveries, 2000:53). So critical are the potential effects of solid forms in a single drug product on the safety and efficacy of the respective drug product that the United States Food and Drug Administration requires the identification and control of solid forms, e.g., crystalline forms of each compound used in each drug product marketed in the United States. Accordingly, new crystalline forms of 1,2,4-oxadiazole benzoic acids can further the development of formulations for the treatment, prevention or management of disease ameliorated by modulation of premature translation termination or nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. The present invention provides such novel crystalline forms, for example, crystalline forms of 3-[5-(2-fluorophenyl)-[1,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl]-benzoic acid.
Citation of any reference in Section 2 of this application is not to be construed as an admission that such reference is prior art to the present application.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Crystalline forms of 3-[5-(2-fluorophenyl)-[1,2,4]oxadiazol-3-yl]-benzoic acid for the treatment of disease


A laundry machine includes a height increasing member between a washing tub and an installation surface of a cabinet. The height increasing member includes a housing with an opening to support the washing tub in the cabinet, a body with a storage space that moves in and out of the opening in the housing, and a door panel to hide a servicing section when the body is moved into the opening and to expose the servicing section when the movable body is moved out from the opening. The servicing section may include or otherwise provide access to a filter.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a laundry machine capable of washing or drying laundry.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A washing machine is known as a home appliance for washing laundry, etc, and a drying machine is known as a home appliance for drying wet laundry. Recently, a home appliance having a combined function of a washing machine and a drying machine has been widely used. Hereinafter, a washing machine, a drying machine, and a home appliance having a combined function thereof will be generically referred to as a laundry machine, for convenience of description.
Generally, such laundry machines are classified into a top loading type and a front loading type in accordance with the laundry loading position. Also, laundry machines are classified into a vertical-axis type, in which a drum or a pulsator rotates, and a horizontal-axis type, in which a drum extending horizontally rotates. The representative example of such a horizontal-axis type laundry machine is a drum washing machine or a drum drying machine.
Typically, a conventional laundry machine is directly installed on a floor. In this connection, in the case of a front loading type laundry machine, it is inconvenient for the user to load and unload laundry because the position of the loading/unloading opening of the laundry machine is low. For this reason, it is necessary to increase the level of the opening of the laundry machine.
In this regard, as shown in FIG. 1, a height increasing member 2 may be installed beneath a laundry machine 1, for user convenience.
However, where the laundry machine 1 is placed upon the height increasing member 2, as mentioned above, there is a problem in that the appearance of the laundry machine 1 is spoiled.
Furthermore, the height increasing member 2 must have a sufficient strength to support the overall weight of the laundry machine 1. This may result in an increase in the manufacturing costs and weight of the height increasing member 2.
In addition, where the laundry machine 1 is placed upon the height increasing member 2, the generation of vibration at the laundry machine 1 increases, as compared to the case in which the height increasing member 2 is not used.
Meanwhile, in the conventional laundry machine 1, a drainage filter 6 is arranged at a lower portion of the laundry machine 1, to filter out foreign matter such as lint, etc. contained in drained wash water.
The drainage filter 6 is separably mounted, in order to allow the user to clean the drainage filter 6 when an excessive amount of foreign matter is accumulated on the drainage filter 6. The drainage filter 6 is mounted in the lower portion of the laundry machine 1. A low cover cap 4 is mounted to the cabinet such that the low cover cap 4 is openable/closable, to allow the user to separate the drainage filter 6 from the cabinet or to again mount the drainage filter 6 in the cabinet in an opened state of the low cover cap 4.
In the above-mentioned conventional laundry machine, however, there is a problem in that the appearance of the laundry machine is spoiled because the low cover cap 4 is arranged at the front side of the laundry machine.
Furthermore, since the height increasing member 2 is installed on the floor, there is inconvenience in that the user must stoop to open the drawer of the height increasing member 2.

Laundry machine with height increasing member and drainage filter servicing section


A method of tracing processor data includes receiving a first trace stream from a first processor operating in response to a first clock and a second trace stream from a second processor operating in response to a second clock. The first trace stream is routed to a first dual-port synchronous memory in accordance with the first clock and the second trace stream is routed to a second dual-port synchronous memory in accordance with the second clock. The first trace stream and the second trace stream are delivered to a memory in accordance with a third clock.

Many systems with multiple processors operate those processors with independent clocks. Since real-time processor trace outputs are synchronous with the processor clocks, a debug instrument capable of receiving and correlating multiple trace streams must account for the multiple clock domains.
One approach to addressing this problem is to record each processor's trace using an independent instrument, each of which uses the clock source associated with a given processor. This technique facilitates the reliable recording of trace information. However, it is difficult to correlate the independently timed trace information. To address this problem, some systems record a trigger into all buffers at a synchronization point and then present activity from the trace point forward in time order knowing the rate at which the trace clock for each buffer operates. The problem with this approach is that a typical clock source has limited accuracy. Due to clock uncertainty and drift, time alignment is lost after a few thousand cycles from the synchronization point.
In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide an improved technique for tracing information from multiple clock domains.

Apparatus and method for tracing processor state from multiple clock domains


The present invention relates to a method of allocating a transmission band to a terminal in a Wireless Personal Area Network (WPAN). The method includes: determining an allocation period of a transmission band on the basis of characteristic information that a terminal has; transmitting a transmission band request to a WPAN coordinator; and receiving information relating to the transmission band allocation from the WPAN coordinator. The transmission band request includes the allocation period of the transmission band determined by the terminal; and the transmission band allocation is determined based on the transmission band allocation period determined by the terminal.

The IEEE 802.15.4 WPAN (wireless personal area network) standard is defined with respect to a close range (or short distance) communication technology for providing convenience in the interconnection between personal mobile devices (or user equipments).
In the 868/915 MHz band, the IEEE 802.15.4 standard uses BPSK (binary phase-shift keying) so as to provide transmission rates of 20 Kbps and 40 Kbps, and, in the 2.45 GHz band, the IEEE 802.15.4 standard uses O-QPSK (offset quadrature phase-shift keying) so as to provide a transmission rate of 250 Kbps.
FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary Network Topology based upon IEEE 802.15.4.
In the IEEE 802.15.4 network, two different types of devices, such as FFD (Full Function Device) and RFD (Reduced Function Device), may be involved. The FFD performs functions, such as network initialization, node management, node information storage, and so on, and, herein, the FFD is also referred to as a PAN coordinator (Personal Area Network coordinator), so that the remaining devices can configure any one of the respective networks.
As a device that can perform coordinator functions, the FFD may configure diverse forms (or types) of network topology, and the FFD may perform communication with both FFDs and RFDs. Moreover, since the FFD consumes a relatively larger amount of power in order to perform the coordinator functions, the FFD is generally supplied with power via wired connection.
Conversely, as a device that cannot perform the functions of a coordinator, the RFD becomes the coordinating target of the FFD. More specifically, the RFD may perform communication only with the FFD, and, by assigning the FFD with all network functions, the RFD may use only a minimum stack structure size, thereby being capable of saving (or economizing) operation (or calculation)/memory resource. Accordingly, after locating the PAN coordinator and transmitting data, since the RFD may immediately disconnect its connection, so as to enter (or shift to) a Save (Sleep) mode, the consumed amount of power becomes very small, thereby allowing the RFD to operate on battery power for a long period of time.
Referring to FIG. 1, a device being indicated as "F" represents the FFD, a device being indicated as "R" represents the RFD, and a device being indicated as "P" represents an FFD performing the roles of a coordinator.
FIG. 1 shows two different types of network topology that can be configured by the IEEE 802.15.4 system. Herein, (a) of FIG. 1 shows an example of a star type network (or star topology), and (b) of FIG. 1 shows an example of a Peer to Peer type network (or Peer to Peer topology).
In the star topology, only the communication between the device and the PAN coordinator may be established. At this point, the devices may correspond to a starting point or an ending point of the communication, whereas the PAN coordinator may correspond to a starting point, an ending point, or a router.
In the peer-to-peer topology, each device may perform communication with any one of the devices existing in the network. Therefore, a network having a more complicated structure, such as a mesh network, may be configured.
The star network may operate the devices so that the durability of the battery may be maintained for a long period of time, and, since the Peer to Peer network may configure at least one or more data delivery paths, the Peer to Peer network may have higher data reliability and higher access recognition rate.
FIG. 2 illustrates a structural view of a protocol stack in an IEEE 802.15.4 system.
As it can be known with reference to FIG. 2, the IEEE 802.15.4 protocol stack may consist of a PHY layer (Physical layer) (110), a MAC layer (Medium Access Control layer) (120), and an Upper layer (130).
The PHY layer (110) includes an RF transceiver (or transmitter/receiver) and a related control mechanism, the MAC layer (120) provides access to a physical channel for data transmission.
The Upper Layer (130) is configured of a Network Layer and an Application Layer. The network layer provides functions, such as network configuration, processing, message routing, and so on. The application layer provides the functions targeted by the device. For example, depending upon the type of the program installed therein. i.e., depending upon the type of the program processing the data of the application layer, an IEEE 802.15.4 device (100) may perform as an RFD (Reduced Function Device), an FFD (Full Function Device), or a coordinator.
FIG. 3 illustrates a structure of a super frame being used in the IEEE 802.15.4 system.
In accordance with its low power request, the IEEE 802.15.4 system is configured of an active period and an inactive period. And, the repetition cycle of the active period and the inactive period is referred to as a duty cycle.
The active period is configured of a Beacon, a CAP (Contention Access Period), and CFP (Contention Free Period), and data transmission occurs during the CAP period.
The CFP period is configured of multiple GTSs (Guaranteed Time Slots), and each GTS is allocated to a specific device, so that each device may use the allocated GTS for transmitting and receiving data to and from the PAN coordinator. The GTS may support one PAN and up to a maximum of 7 PANs.
The allocated content of each GTS is determined (or set up) in the form of a GTS descriptor by the PAN coordinator. The GTS descriptors are included in the GTS field of the beacon and are transmitted by the PAN coordinator.
In the GTS allocation method of the conventional IEEE 802.15.4 system, once a device is allocated with a GTS, the corresponding device is continuously allocated with a GTS for each super frame until de-allocation of the GTS is performed upon request of the device or due to a GTS expiration.
However, in this method, since the required GTS may differ for each GTS, this method is inefficient. This is because once a device is allocated with a GTS, no other device can be allocated with the corresponding GTS until the corresponding GTS is de-allocated.
Therefore, a method allowing a GTS to be allocated to each device at different cycle periods and allowing the device to use the GTS by using a time-division method is being required.

Scheduling method in a short distance wireless personal area network


In a digital broadcast receiving apparatus, digital broadcast signals provided by a digital broadcast method are supplied to various types of external units and are effectively utilized. In the above apparatus, a descrambler descrambles a transport stream output from a front end unit and supplies it to a digital interface and a demultiplexer. The demultiplexer extracts from the transport stream a compressed video signal and a compressed audio signal of a program specified by a user, and supplies the extracted signals to an MPEG decoder. The MPEG decoder decompresses the supplied video signal and the audio signal and supplies them to the digital interface, an NTSC encoder, and an audio signal D/A converter. The digital interface supplies either of the transport stream or the decompressed data to a digital external unit under the control of the controller.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a method and an apparatus for receiving digital broadcast signals, for example, digital satellite broadcast signals.
2. Description of the Related Art
As television broadcast systems using geostationary satellites, digital broadcast systems, as well as analog broadcast systems, are coming into use. In the digital broadcast system, signals representing a plurality of television programs compressed according to, for example, the Moving Picture Experts Group (MPEG) method, can be multiplexed onto a single carrier and then be provided.
In a digital broadcast receiving apparatus, a user selects a carrier including the multiplexed television broadcast program that the user would like to audio-visually observe. The selected carrier is then demodulated, thereby obtaining a transport stream in which compressed data representing a plurality of television broadcast programs are multiplexed.
The compressed data of the target television broadcast program is then extracted from the transport stream. The extracted compressed data is decompressed, and an analog output video signal and an analog output audio signal are formed from the decompressed digital data. Images and sound of the target television broadcast program are reproduced from the analog output video signal and the analog output audio signal, respectively.
The above type of digital broadcast receiving apparatus is provided with a digital interface. Through this interface, a transport stream in which compressed data representing a plurality of broadcast programs are multiplexed can be supplied to and recorded on, for example, a digital video tape recorder (hereinafter referred to as the "DVTR"). Also, the recorded transport stream can be supplied from the DVTR to the digital broadcast receiving apparatus, and a television broadcast program contained in the supplied transport stream can be audio-visually observed by using the digital broadcast receiving apparatus.
As discussed above, transport streams are supplied to and received from the digital interface of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus. Accordingly, it is impossible to record and reproduce broadcast program signals output through the digital interface by using only an apparatus that is not provided with a compression/decompression function compatible with a compression method used in digital broadcasting.
For example, it is now assumed that a broadcast program signal provided by digital broadcasting has been recorded on a video tape with a DVTR connected to a digital broadcast receiving apparatus installed in a living room. Such a signal cannot be reproduced by a DVTR installed in another room that is neither connected to a digital broadcast receiving apparatus nor provided with a compression/decompression function compatible with the digital broadcast data compression method.
As noted above, the digital interface of the digital broadcast receiving apparatus supplies and receives transport streams. Thus, signals compressed by the MPEG method that are normally used in broadcasts cannot be recorded on a recording medium through this digital interface. For example, by using a recording/reproducing apparatus that uses as a recording medium a small magneto-optical disc, which is referred to as an MD, having a compression format different from the MPEG method (this apparatus will hereinafter be referred to as a "MD unit"), it is not possible to record on the MD only digital audio signals of a target music program or an education program concerning, for example, English conversation.
As described above, in most cases, the transport streams transmitted and received through the digital interface of a digital broadcast receiving apparatus cannot be utilized without the digital broadcast receiving apparatus. Accordingly, it is not possible to record or reproduce only a target broadcast program on or from a recording medium by using various digital external units, such as a DVTR and an MD unit.

Method and apparatus for receiving digital broadcasts


A new Osteospermum plant particularly distinguished by having flowers with a white ray floret color and blue disc florets, medium flower size, flowers that stay open under low light conditions and mounded cascading plant habit, is disclosed.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of Osteospermum, botanically known as Osteospermum hybrida, and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name SAKOST3442′. SAKOST3442′ originated from a hybridization of proprietary hybrid Osteospermum breeding lines '98071' and '98064' in Aabyhoej, Denmark. The proprietary female parent, '98071' (unpatented) has a white flower color and a cascading plant habit. The proprietary male parent, '98064' (unpatented) has a dark pink flower color and a compact and semi-cascading plant habit.
In May 2001, the two Osteospermum lines '98071' and '98064' were crossed and seeds were obtained. The seeds were sown and 300 plants were grown in pots for evaluation. Out of 300 F1 lines, plant number 27 which has a white ray floret color with blue disc florets and a mounded cascading plant habit was selected.
In February 2002, plant number 27 was vegetatively propagated by cuttings and re-evaluated in an open field and a greenhouse. Plant number 27 was given the breeder code number '202187' and the stability of the distinct characteristics of this variety was confirmed.
In spring 2005, plants were evaluated again in pots and in an open field The selection was named 'SAKOST3442' and was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation.


A flow meter for measuring flow rate and flow composition of a process fluid includes a microwave source configured to generate a microwave signal. A probe tip is coupled to the microwave source and in near field proximity to the process fluid. The probe tip is configured to apply the microwave signal to the process fluid. A microwave detector coupled to the probe tip is configured to detect a near field microwave signal from the process fluid in response to the applied microwave signal. Flow calculation circuitry determines flow rate and/or composition of the process fluid as a function of the detected microwave signal.

The present invention relates to industrial process controlled monitoring systems. More particularly, the particular invention relates to measurement of flow of multiphase in industrial processes.
Industrial processes are used in the manufacturing and refinement of various fluids or components. Examples include oil refining or distribution, paper pulp facilities, and others. In many instances, it is desirable to measure a flow rate of a process fluid. Various techniques are employed to measure flow rates including differential pressure drop across an orifice plate, vortex sensing techniques, magnetic based techniques and others. However, measurement of flow rate of global multiphase process fluids (process fluids which are not homogenous and may contain multiple different materials in more than one phase such as gas, liquid or solid) has been problematic.
There is an ongoing need to provide measurement techniques for determining flow rate of a multiphase process fluid.

Flow measurement using near field microwaves


Described herein are methods for producing phosphonic compounds and compounds thereof.

Polyphosphonic acids have numerous applications in industry. For example, polyphosphonic acids can be used as corrosion inhibition agents in cooling water and boiler water systems (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,446,046 and 4,201,669) and inhibitors of fouling deposit formation on jet engine components during the combustion of finished turbine combustion fuel oils (U.S. Pat. No. 5,596,130). One approach to the synthesis of polyphosphonic acids involves the radical polymerization of unsaturated phosphonic acid monomers (U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,201,669, 4,446,046 and 5,519,102).
An unsaturated phosphonic acid monomer that has received considerable attention is isopropenylphosphonic acid, which has the formula H2C═C(CH3)(PO3H2), which is referred to herein as "IPPA." IPPA is currently prepared by reacting PCl3 with acetic acid and acetone (U.S. Pat. No. 4,446,046). This process, however, possesses numerous disadvantages. First, PCl3 is an extremely corrosive, hazardous, and toxic chemical. It requires special handling starting from transportation to storage to delivery to reactors. Any release of PCl3 would require immediate evacuation. Second, the process produces HCl and acetyl chloride, which are also very hazardous and volatile by-products. The process is further complicated since these by-products come out as a mixture and have to be scrubbed by water. This dilution magnifies the quantity of these by-products and leaves a mixture of HCl and acetyl chloride in water. Finally, PCl3 and the reaction by-products are very corrosive and require special equipment such as glass-lined reactors, condensers, scrubbers, collection tanks, etc. The use of PCl3 requires the use of equipment that is non-reactive with chlorides. Thus, equipment composed of other materials such as stainless steel cannot be used in the production of IPPA, which reduces large-scale commercial production capabilities.
Thus, it is desirable to have a process that produces phosphonic compounds that are precursors to polyphosphonic compounds on large scale that do not require the use of PCl3 and/or specialized equipment such as glass-lined reactors and accessories, etc. It would also be advantageous not to produce toxic, corrosive, and hazardous by-products during the synthesis of the phosphonic compound. Finally, it would be desirable to produce phosphonic compounds on commercial scale without special equipment such as glass-lined reactors. The methods described herein accomplish these goals.

Methods for synthesizing phosphonic compounds and compounds thereof


A method of making granule-covered roofing material comprises discharging granules onto continuously moving asphaltic material, pressing the granules into the asphaltic material, directing light toward the granule-covered asphaltic material, measuring the reflected light from the granule-covered asphaltic material, and responding to the measured reflected light by modifying a process parameter to effect a change in the reflectance of light from the granule-covered asphaltic material.

A common method for the manufacture of asphalt shingles is the production of a continuous strip of asphaltic shingle material followed by a shingle cutting operation which cuts the material into individual shingles. In the production of asphaltic strip material, either an organic felt or a glass fiber mat is passed through a coater containing liquid asphaltic material containing filler at a very hot temperature to form a tacky coated asphaltic strip. Subsequently, the hot asphaltic strip is passed beneath one or more granule applicators which apply the protective surface granules to the asphaltic strip material. Typically, the granules are dispensed from a hopper at a rate which can be controlled by making manual adjustments on the hopper. A typical shingle manufacturing process continuously manufactures the shingle material in a width sufficient for cutting the material into three, four or six shingles.
Prior to the shingle cutting stage, the granules are pressed into the still warm asphalt through a granule pressing means, such as a wringer-type granule press. Subsequently, the granule-covered roofing material is cooled so that the shingle cutting operation can operate on relatively cool shingle material.
One of the problems with granule-covered asphalt shingles is the problem known as "shading". Shading is defined as the tendency of a shingled roof to have certain areas which sometimes appear darker or lighter than the surrounding areas when the roof is viewed from different angles or under different light conditions. Shading is believed to result from slight variations in texture which occur during normal shingle production. The variation in texture necessary to cause shading with black or other dark colors is so slight that it cannot normally be detected during the manufacturing process. When light is reflected from certain roofs, the appearance varies as the viewer walks past the building. The impact will depend on the position of the sun and the overall light intensity. When the sun is directly overhead the shading may disappear.
It is believed that shading is caused by variation in the surface texture, and the angle, amount and direction of light reaching the roof - and the position from which the roof is viewed. A shaded appearance can also result from over or under embedment of the granules, or from mixing products from two manufacturing plants on the same roof. In summary, shading occurs when the roof appears to have color variation when viewed from a certain angle or at a particular time of day.
Previous attempts to eliminate shading problems have not been successful. Each year, replacement of numerous roofing applications is required because of shading complaints. Although shading does not affect the durability or performance of granule-covered asphalt shingles, the optical effect of shading is a serious problem in the residential roofing market.

Method and apparatus for manufacturing a granule-covered roofing material by modifying a process parameter in response to measured reflected light


The present technology is generally directed to coal charging systems used with coke ovens. In some embodiments, a coal charging system includes a charging head having opposing wings that extend outwardly from the charging head, leaving an open pathway through which coal may be directed toward side edges of the coal bed. In other embodiments, an extrusion plate is positioned on a rearward face of the charging head and oriented to engage and compress coal as the coal is charged along a length of the coking oven. In other embodiments, charging plates extend outwardly from inward faces of opposing wings.

Coke is a solid carbon fuel and carbon source used to melt and reduce iron ore in the production of steel. In one process, known as the "Thompson Coking Process," coke is produced by batch feeding pulverized coal to an oven that is sealed and heated to very high temperatures for twenty-four to forty-eight hours under closely-controlled atmospheric conditions. Coking ovens have been used for many years to convert coal into metallurgical coke. During the coking process, finely crushed coal is heated under controlled temperature conditions to devolatilize the coal and form a fused mass of coke having a predetermined porosity and strength. Because the production of coke is a batch process, multiple coke ovens are operated simultaneously.
Much of the coke manufacturing process is automated due to the extreme temperatures involved. For example, a pusher charger machine ("PCM") is typically used on the coal side of the oven for a number of different operations. A common PCM operation sequence begins as the PCM is moved along a set of rails that run in front of an oven battery to an assigned oven and align a coal charging system of the PCM with the oven. The pusher side oven door is removed from the oven using a door extractor from the coal charging system. The PCM is then moved to align a pusher ram of the PCM to the center of the oven. The pusher ram is energized, to push coke from the oven interior. The PCM is again moved away from the oven center to align the coal charging system with the oven center. Coal is delivered to the coal charging system of the PCM by a tripper conveyor. The coal charging system then charges the coal into the oven interior. In some systems, particulate matter entrained in hot gas emissions that escape from the oven face are captured by the PCM during the step of charging the coal. In such systems, the particulate matter is drawn into an emissions hood through the baghouse of a dust collector. The charging conveyor is then retracted from the oven. Finally, the door extractor of the PCM replaces and latches the pusher side oven door.
With reference to FIG. 1, PCM coal charging systems 10 have commonly included an elongated frame 12 that is mounted on the PCM (not depicted) and reciprocally movable, toward and away from the coke ovens. A planar charging head 14 is positioned at a free distal end of the elongated frame 12. A conveyor 16 is positioned within the elongated frame 12 and substantially extends along a length of the elongated frame 12. The charging head 14 is used, in a reciprocal motion, to generally level the coal that is deposited in the oven. However, with regard to FIGS. 2A, 3A, and 4A, the prior art coal charging systems tend to leave voids 16 at the sides of the coal bed, as shown in FIG. 2A, and hollow depressions in the surface of the coal bed. These voids limit the amount of coal that can be processed by the coke oven over a coking cycle time (coal processing rate), which generally reduces the amount of coke produced by the coke oven over the coking cycle (coke production rate). FIG. 2B depicts the manner in which an ideally charged, level coke bed would look.
The weight of coal charging system 10, which can include internal water cooling systems, can be 80,000 pounds or more. When charging system 10 is extended inside the oven during a charging operation, the coal charging system 10 deflects downwardly at its free distal end. This shortens the coal charge capacity. FIG. 3A indicates the drop in bed height caused by the deflections of the coal charging system 10. The plot depicted in FIG. 5 shows the coal bed profile along the oven length. The bed height drop, due to coal charging system deflection, is from five inches to eight inches between the pusher side to the coke side, depending upon the charge weight. As depicted, the effect of the deflection is more significant when less coal is charged into the oven. In general, coal charging system deflection can cause a coal volume loss of approximately one to two tons. FIG. 3B depicts the manner in which an ideally charged, level coke bed would look.
Despite the ill effect of coal charging system deflection, caused by its weight and cantilevered position, the coal charging system 10 provides little benefit in the way of coal bed densification. With reference to FIG. 4A, the coal charging system 10 provides minimal improvement to internal coal bed density, forming a first layer d1 and a second, less dense layer d2 at the bottom of the coal bed. Increasing the density of the coal bed can facilitate conductive heat transfer throughout the coal bed which is a component in determining oven cycle time and oven production capacity. FIG. 6 depicts a set of density measurements taken for an oven test using a prior art coal charging system 10. The line with diamond indicators shows the density on the coal bed surface. The line with the square indicators and the line with the triangular indicators show density twelve inches and twenty-four inches below the surface respectively. The data demonstrates that bed density drops more on the coke side. FIG. 4B depicts the manner in which an ideally charged, level coke bed would look, having relatively increased density layers D1 and D2.


A solar rotational manufacturing system having a monitoring device, a controller, a heliostat having a heliostat controller, a rotational apparatus having a rotational controller, and a mold, wherein the monitoring device is configured to collect actual data regarding a characteristic of the solar rotational heating system and transmit actual data to the controller, the controller is configured to receive a reference parameter, an affecting parameter, and linking instructions, receive actual data from the monitoring device, compare actual data with a reference parameter, determine an affecting parameter to alter, and transmit alteration instructions to the heliostat controller and/or the rotational controller, the heliostat controller is configured to receive the alteration instructions from the controller and execute the alteration instructions, and the rotational controller is configured to receive the alteration instructions from the controller and execute the alteration instructions.

The present invention relates generally to plastic manufacturing processes, and more particularly, to methods and systems for solar thermal molding of plastic.
Manufacturing process for plastic products typically includes heating various forms of plastic (e.g., pellets, powders, sheets, etc.) and forming the plastic into the desired shape. One common form of plastic molding is rotational molding. Rotational molding includes a hollow mold that can rotate in all three axis (X, Y, Z axis). The hollow mold is typically formed from a metal or similarly heat-conductive material. A quantity of plastic powder is placed inside the hollow mold. The hollow mold is then moved into an oven where the heat source substantially surrounds the hollow mold. The hollow mold is then rotated and heated in the oven.
As the hollow mold is rotated and heated in the oven, the plastic powder continually falls to the bottom of the inner surface of the hollow mold. The heated hollow mold heats the plastic powder on the bottom inner layer of the hollow mold. The melted plastic powder bonds together (e.g., sinters) to form a complete plastic layer in the bottom inner surface of the hollow mold. Continually rotating the mold forms a plastic layer on all inner surfaces of the hollow mold.
The hollow mold can be removed from the oven once the complete plastic layer is formed on the inner surface of the hollow mold. The hollow mold is then allowed to cool and then opened and the molded plastic product removed from the hollow mold.
Typical products formed in a rotational molding system are tanks, boats, shipping containers and other shapes.
In rotational molding systems, products formed can be inadvertently heated to a temperature that is greater than or less than the desired temperature resulting in a formed product that is unsuitable for use. In view of the foregoing, there is a need to ascertain the state or condition of the formed product during the manufacturing process so that the temperature of the formed product can be altered.

Systems and methods for altering rotation of a solar rotational manufacturing system


According to the invention, the driving stability of a utility vehicle combination, which is comprised of a towing vehicle and of a towed vehicle, is monitored (3-5) when the towed vehicle is braked. In the event of an unstable driving state, the vehicle combination is stabilized by effecting a cyclic or clocked reduction of the towed vehicle brake pressure (6).

The present invention relates to a method of stabilizing the driving condition of a utility vehicle combination a towing vehicle and a towed vehicle (trailer).
In the future, utility vehicles will increasingly be equipped with an antilock braking system (ABS), a wheel slip control system (ASR) and an electronic stability program (ESP) in order to stabilize the vehicle or the vehicle combination in critical driving situations. By means of ABS and ASR systems, the brake pressures at the individual wheel brake cylinders are individually controlled such that a locking or a spinning of the wheels is avoided.
By means of an ESP system, electronically active brake pressures are controlled-in at one or several wheel brake cylinders of the towing vehicle and/or of the trailer in critical, that is, unstable, driving conditions, particularly when there a danger of swerving, in order to stabilize the vehicle or the vehicle combination. In this case, depending on the driving condition, also longer braking interventions may also occur at the trailer or semitrailer. Under unfavorable conditions, particularly when the tires are in poor condition or the ABS operates defectively, such longer braking interventions may result in the lateral "swinging-out" of the trailer or semitrailer.
This problem occurs particularly in the case of trailers or semitrailers which are braked when cornering. Braking then leads to a loss of the lateral control, which may cause a swinging-out. A "swinging-out" may occur during a braking by the driver as well as during an electronic braking intervention by the ESP.
It is an object of the invention to avoid the swinging-out of the trailer.
This object is achieved by a method of stabilizing the driving condition of a vehicle combination including a towing vehicle and a trailer, the method comprising the acts of a) monitoring whether a braking intervention is taking place at the trailer; b) sensing one or more driving condition quantities characterizing the momentary stability of the vehicle combination; c) determining whether an unstable driving condition is present or imminent; and d) lowering the braking torques at the trailer wheels when an unstable driving condition is detected in step c) during a braking intervention. Advantageous embodiments and further developments of the invention are described and claimed herein.
The basic principle of the invention consists of monitoring the driving stability of the vehicle combination during the braking of the trailer vehicle and stabilizing the vehicle combination in the event of an unstable driving condition by the cyclic or clocked reduction of the wheel braking torques of the trailer or of the trailer brake pressure.
In other words, the wheel braking torques of the trailer or the brake pressure to the trailer or semitrailer are "modulated". "Modulating" means that, during the operation of the trailer brakes, short phases are repeatedly "inserted" which have no brake pressure or only a slight brake pressure. This can take place as a function of the driving situation; that is, in the case of an unstable towing vehicle and a thereby required ESP intervention at the trailer/semitrailer, the brake pressure of the trailer or semitrailer is controlled in a clocked manner.
Preferably, a modulation or clocking of the trailer wheel braking torques takes place only in really critical driving situations. For this purpose, the "moving condition" of the vehicle combination has to be monitored. The moving condition, or the momentary stability of a vehicle combination is a complicated vector quantity, which can be approximately described by a plurality of variables.
Particularly, the vehicle speed or the rotational speeds of individual vehicle wheels, the steering angle, the articulation angle between the trailer and the towing vehicle, the articulation angle velocity, the lateral acceleration, the axle load distribution, etc. are characteristic with respect to the stability of a vehicle movement.
For measuring or determining these quantities, various sensors are provided on the towing vehicle or on the towed vehicle (trailer), such as rotational wheel speed sensors, yaw rate sensors, etc. For detecting the "swing-out danger", sensors can also be provided for measuring or determining the articulation angle between the trailer and the towing vehicle.
The clocking or modulating of the trailer wheel braking torques can take place during braking by the driver, as well as in the case of an ESP braking intervention.
The invention is particularly suitable for a semitrailer unit with a semitrailer tractor equipped with an ESP. The semitrailer unit is preferably equipped with a sensor for measuring the articulation angle between the tractor and the semitrailer.
However, as an alternative thereto, the invention is also suitable for a semitrailer unit which is equipped with an ESP but has no articulation angle sensor. In the case of an ESP-controlled braking of the semitrailer, for example, on a road with a low coefficient of friction, the brake pressure to the semitrailer controlled in by the ESP is reduced to zero at certain time intervals. As explained above, the semitrailer is thereby stabilized and a swinging-out is avoided.
When no articulation angle sensor is present, the articulation angle can be estimated on the basis of different available driving condition quantities and of a specifically defined mathematical-physical vehicle model. For this purpose, sensors can be provided which measure the "orientation" of the tractor and of the semitrailer, from which the articulation angle can be determined. In addition, signals can be analyzed which are supplied by a navigation or communication system present in the vehicle.
On the basis of the defined vehicle-specific mathematical-physical model, the ESP determines a desired value for the articulation angle between the towing vehicle and the semitrailer.
When the amount of the determined articulation angle is clearly above the desired value, that is, when a significant deviation exists between the desired value and the actual value and the semitrailer is braked simultaneously, it is assumed there is a danger that the semitrailer may swing out.
For stabilizing this unstable driving condition, as a result of the ESP, the brake pressure to the semitrailer is reduced to zero at certain time intervals. As a result, the wheels of the semitrailer can "run up" again, that is, accelerate, whereby lateral forces are built up and the semitrailer is stabilized.
When no sensor is available for measuring the articulation angle between the trailer and the towing vehicle, and the articulation angle can also not be determined or estimated in another manner, the swinging-out problem can also be countered "preventively". This means that the clocked controlling-in of the brake pressure or the repeated "braking force reduction" takes place in certain situations, for example, when the road is very smooth, specifically without the knowledge of the articulation angle. It may be provided that in this case only the information supplied by the towing vehicle is taken into account.
The signal for reducing the wheel braking torques or the trailer brake pressure can be transmitted, for example, pneumatically, electrically or by radio from the towing vehicle to the trailer vehicle.
In the following, the invention will be explained in greater detail by means of an embodiment in connection with the drawing.

Method for stabilizing the driving state of a utility vehicle combination

Knorr-Bremse Systeme fuer Nutzfahrzeuge GmbH


Reduction in power consumption of a video camera and a remote controller that displays a captured image of the video camera and improvement of operability are achieved. In a system including the video camera and the remote controller that displays a captured image of the video camera, when a period in which there is no operation on the operation unit of the remote controller reaches a first prescribed time, transmission of the captured image from the video camera to the remote controller via Wi-Fi communication and displaying processing on a display unit of the remote controller are stopped. Further, when a period in which there is no operation on the operation unit of the remote controller reaches a second prescribed time, the Wi-Fi communication is interrupted. Valid operation unit information in each mode is displayed on the display unit of the remote controller.

In recent years, a digital camera or digital video camera has been reduced in size and weight, and a camera having a communication function has been increasingly used and developed.
For example, there is a system in which a display for displaying images is provided to a remote controller capable of intercommunicating with a camera, start or stop of image capturing by the camera is controlled by an operation of the remote controller, and the captured image can be displayed on the display of the remote controller.
Note that examples of the existing techniques that disclose a system in which a camera operation is capable of being controlled by using a remote controller include Patent Literature 1 (Japanese Patent Application Laid-open No. 2015-127920).
In the system in which the camera is controlled by the remote controller, for example, an image captured by the camera is transferred to the remote controller and displayed on a display unit (display) on the remote controller side, so that a user as an operator of the remote controller can execute an instruction such as image recording start or stop processing.
Each of the camera and the remote controller is equipped with a battery (battery cell) and, with the power supply from the battery, executes various types of data processing such as image capturing processing, image display processing, and further communication processing between the remote controller and the camera.
However, image transfer, image display processing, and other types of data communication processing consume a large amount of power. Meanwhile, the capacitance of the battery mounted to the camera or the remote controller is limited, and reducing the power consumption as much as possible is demanded.

Information processing apparatus, imaging apparatus, information processing system, information processing method, and program


A system for maintaining continuous and progressive game play in a computer network. The system includes at least one server and at least one game-playing client, in communication with each other through a computer network. Each server includes a memory storing game data which includes initial game data specifying an initial game state and which includes accumulated game data specifying updates to the initial game state. Either the server or the client includes memory storing knowledge base rules and storing an executable computer game program for applying the knowledge base rules to the game data. The executable computer game program generates responses to the client and updates the accumulated game data. The system optionally comprises a second game-playing client and a second server including memory which stores game data connected to the network. The game data in the second server may be derived from and identical to the game data in the first server, thereby establishing a second instance of the first server game state.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to computer networks, and more particularly to a system and method for maintaining continuous and progressive game play in a computer network.
2. Description of the Background Art
Modern computer games have a beginning and an ending, and do not progress while a player is not playing. When a player boots up a computer game, the game either starts at the beginning or resumes where the player last left off.
An example of a well known, conventional computer game is the game of Adventure. A player starts the game, and for example, finds himself on a path standing next to a key lying on the floor. The player instructs the character to pick up the key. Accordingly, the character picks up the key and the game requests further instructions. The player instructs the character to proceed forward down the path by typing the word "forward" using the computer keyboard. The game responds by displaying the message "You have entered a cave." The player then instructs the character to turn left. The character accordingly turns left, and the game informs the player that the character is now facing a long hallway with a light in the distance. At any point, the player may save the game, thereby saving game assets, i.e., the key, and saving game status, i.e. facing a long hallway. Thus, when the player resumes play, he finds the character holding the key, facing the hallway, etc. While the player is not playing, the game environment does not progress and the player's status remains unchanged.
Another example of a modern computer game is Sim-City.RTM., manufactured by Maxis of Walnut Creek, Calif. Sim-City.RTM. provides a single-user game environment for building a virtual city, including residential areas, parks, utilities, business districts, etc. The player designs the city. As time passes, virtual characters move into or out of the residential areas, drive their cars to and from the business districts, etc. While a user is effecting changes to the city and while the user provides no input, the game continues. The city continues to earn revenues, the people continue to purchase property, natural disasters still occur, etc. However, when the player leaves the game environment, i.e., quits the game, the game stops.
Modern computer games do not enable a player to use a character in other game environments. If a character is created and developed in one game environment, the same character cannot enter into another game environment. For example, in a modern martial art simulator, a character may acquire new powers and new weaponry as the game progresses. The player cannot enter into another more advanced game environment, while maintaining its current knowledge and assets, to begin new game play.
Therefore, a system and method are needed for enabling progressive and continuous game play in a game environment, for enabling multiple players to enter multiple game environments, and for enabling players to maintain current knowledge and assets between game environments.

System and method for maintaining continuous and progressive game play in a computer network


A flash memory EEPROM device with a programming current limiting ability operates with six terminals and includes a source-side injection cell and a current limiter in series with the cell at a source region of the cell. During programming, an upper current limit is established for the overall channel current through the cell by controlling the voltage on a serial-gate of the current limiter. A second embodiment of a flash memory EEPROM device is structured with only four operating terminals, and includes a current limiting transistor integrally merged with a source-side injection cell. Merger is accomplished by eliminating the source junction of the injection cell and by combining the select-gate of the injection cell with the serial-gate of the current limiting transistor to create a conjoint select-gate. The unified channel under the conjoint select-gate consists of two channel sub-sections with different threshold adjustment implants and thus different threshold voltages. The first sub-section of this unique channel, adjacent to the injection point of the cell, is doped with a lower threshold adjustment implant dose than that of the second channel sub-section, adjacent to the source of the memory device. The second channel sub-section, or appended channel, in accordance with the second embodiment is fabricated using a dedicated photoresist mask to dope the second sub-section of the select-gate channel with a higher threshold adjustment implant dose than that for the first sub-section.

This invention involves floating gate memory devices known as flash EEPROM. Flash EEPROM can be programmed by hot-electron injection and erased by Fowler-Nordheim electron tunneling.
There are two types of hot-electron injection EEPROM cells classified by the injection locations; they are referred to as "drain-side" injection cells and "source-side" injection cells. In a drain-side injection cell, hot-electrons are injected onto the floating gate from a point in the source-drain channel nearest the drain-side; while in a source-side injection cell, hot-electrons are injected onto the floating gate from a point in the source-drain channel nearest the source-side.
Typical drain-side injection cells require a structure with a conduction channel and a control-gate stacked on top of a floating gate. FIG. 1 shows a typical drain-side injection cell comprising a substrate 10, a source region 12, a drain region 14, a floating gate 16, and a control-gate 18. The three major operating terminals in this cell are the drain, the source, and the control-gate. In this figure, for clarity, the isolating dielectric layers are not shown between the various elements. In this structure a conduction channel 20, located between the source region 12 and the drain region 14, is covered by the floating gate 16. During programming, the drain-side injection takes place under the floating gate 16 at a point 13 nearest the drain 14.
Drain-side injection cells are often referred to as "single-channel", or "one-transistor" cells, because from the hot-electron generation point of view, a minimum of only one channel section is all that required to produce the drain-side hot-electrons injections. However, in practical applications, as appeared in various prior art, some drain-side injection cells were designed with additional serial channels or split-gates for the purposes of avoiding drain-to-source "short-channel punchthrough" vulnerability, or of overcoming the so-called "overerased" shortcoming existing in flash memory cells fabricated using "dual-polysilicon" process.
Source-side injection cells differ structurally and functionally from drain-side injection cells. A minimum of two serial channel sections are required for a source-side injection cell. Source-side injection cells can be constructed by modifying or extending the source-end of a one-transistor cell structure to include either: (1) a split-gate at the source-side of the simple single-channel cell such as in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,280,446 and 5,278,439 per Ma et al., and U.S. Pat. No. 5,029,130 per Bing Yeh; or (2) a separate gate at the source-side of a single-channel cell such as papers in IEDM pp. 603-606, 1989 per Naruke et al., and IEDM pp. 319-322, 1991 per Yamauchi et al. In either case, a serial channel must be added immediately next to the source-side of the floating gate channel.
FIG. 2 shows a typical split-gate source-side injection cell comprising a p-type substrate 30, an n-type source region 32, an n-type drain region 34, a floating gate 36, a control-gate 38, a select-gate 40, a select-gate channel region 42 (that is the added serial channel 42), and a transitional channel region 44. The four major operating terminals in this cell are the drain, the source, the control-gate, and the select-gate. Again, for clarity, no isolating dielectric layers are shown between the various elements. The source-side injection takes place under the floating gate 36 at a point near the transitional channel 44. Note that the transitional channel 44 of FIG. 2 corresponds to the source terminal 12 of FIG. 1, hence dubbed the term "source-side injection."
The programming speeds of source-side injection cells and drain-side injection cells are comparable. However, a major difference between the source-side injection and the drain-side injection exists in the channel current requirements for programming the cells. That is, source-side injection cells require much less current to program than do drain-side injection cells.
The Kazerounian et al. U.S. Pat. No. 5,042,009 teaches a method for drain-side injection programming a floating gate transistor with a markedly reduced channel current. This patent shows a cell comprising a two-section channel region between a pair of associated source and drain regions. The channel region includes a first portion under a floating gate which is heavily doped and a second portion adjacent the source region which is more lightly doped. The device taught by Kazerounian et al. has only two polysilicon gates and it is programmed by a drain-side injection mechanism; it is therefore not adaptable to the type of memory array devices with which the present invention is intended to be used. Furthermore, as will become more evident in the following sections, the two channel portions described in the Kazerounian et al.'s dual-polysilicon cells must be doped in the opposite order of concentrations for threshold voltage adjustments in comparison to the present invention. This is due to the completely different underlying operation mechanisms between "dual-polysilicon" drain-side injection memory devices and a "triple-polysilicon" source-side injection memory devices.

Programming current limiter for source-side injection EEPROM cells


The invention mainly relates to a heat radiator for performing heat radiation of electronic parts (heat generating elements) that are heated by electric supply, such as semiconductor parts to be mounted on a circuit board surface of a printed circuit board. The heat radiator (1) according to the present invention is a heat radiator in which vertical heat radiative portions are formed by bending both right and left ends of a back surface plate (2) to the front face side. The heat generating element (5) that is an electronic part is mounted on the surface on the front face side or the back face side of the back surface plate. The radiating portions are further bent inwardly to form sleeve portions (3) extending up and down. Slits (12a) are formed on outer peripheral walls of the sleeve portions (3) for ventilating air. Inside the right and left sleeve portions (3), the bent back end sides of the peripheral walls of the sleeve portions (3) form bent back portions (4) bent and formed along the back surface plate. Furthermore, plate-like pressure portions (26) are provided in the inner end side of the bent back portions (4). The heat generating element (5) is inserted in between the back faces of the pressure portions (26) and the front surface of the back surface plate (2) and held in place by the pressure plate (26) and the back surface plate (2) to thereby define a part mountable space made of a space for securely holding the heat generating element (5).

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a heat radiator for radiating heat of electronic parts (heat generating elements) that radiates heat by electric supply, typically, such as a semiconductor parts mounted on a circuit board surface of a printed circuit board.
2. Description of the Prior Art
For instance, a conventional radiator is well known in which, as shown in FIG. 19, a sleeve member 52 formed and bent into a bellows is fixed to a back surface plate 51 made of aluminum alloy and a heat generating element a is mounted below the sleeve member 52. Bracket-like leg seats 54 provided with leg pins 55 for insert-fitting to a circuit board are mounted on both lower sides of the above-described heat generating element a.
Rail-like projections 53 extending in the lateral way are formed on an upper side of the surface of the back surface plate 51 for mounting the sleeve member 52 on the back surface plate 51. Then, press-fitting slits 50 for engagement with the above-described projections 53 are formed in a base end portion of the sleeve member 52. The sleeve member 52 is fixed to the back surface plate 51 by press-fitting the projecting surfaces of the projections 53.
Also, with respect to the leg seat 54, pin holes 57 formed in a side of each leg seat 54 hating an L-shaped cross-section are fitted with rivets 56 projecting from the surface by being pressed from the back surface of the back surface plate 51. The projecting end of each pin (rivet) 56 is press-fitted to be fixed to the back surface plate 51 in a one-piece manner. Reference numeral 58 denotes a positioning pin for the leg seat 54.
The conventional radiator having the above-described structure radiates heat of the lower heat generating element a mainly by the upstream flow of air within the sleeve member 52. However, since the back surface plate 51 and the sleeve member 52 are formed separately, the conventional radiator suffers from such various disadvantages that the press-fitting work is performed in an independent step after the back surface plate 51 and the sleeve member 52 are formed separately; the press-fitting portions have to be formed in the back surface plate 51; and the thickness has to be increased, thereby increasing in cost for production.
In addition, a volume of the overall radiator is disadvantageously increased, resulting in degraded heat radiation.


A process and system for providing a hydrogen-containing gas stream to a fuel cell anode that includes providing a hydrogen-containing gas stream that includes carbon monoxide, introducing the hydrogen-containing gas stream into a pressure swing adsorption module that includes at least one carbon monoxide-selective adsorbent to produce a purified hydrogen-containing gas stream, and introducing the purified hydrogen-containing gas stream to the fuel cell anode. The pressure swing adsorption module can also include a second adsorbent and/or catalyst. Also disclosed is a fuel cell system coupled to an internal combustion engine and a fuel cell system that utilizes fuel cell waste heat for vaporizing a hydrocarbon/water mixture.

Fuel cells provide an environmentally friendly source of electrical current. One form of fuel cell used for generating electrical power, particularly for vehicle propulsion and for smaller scale stationary power generation, includes an anode channel for receiving a flow of hydrogen gas, a cathode channel for receiving a flow of oxygen gas, and a polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) which separates the anode channel from the cathode channel. Oxygen gas which enters the cathode, reacts with hydrogen ions, which cross the electrolyte to generate a flow of electrons. Environmentally safe water vapor is produced as a byproduct.
External production, purification, dispensing and storage of hydrogen (either as compressed gas or cryogenic liquid) requires costly infrastructure, while storing of hydrogen fuel on vehicles presents considerable technical and economic barriers. Accordingly, for stationary power generation, it is preferred to generate hydrogen from natural gas by steam reforming or partial oxidation followed by water gas shift reaction. For fuel cell vehicles using a liquid fuel, it is preferred to generate hydrogen from methanol by steam reforming or from gasoline by partial oxidation or autothermal reforming, again followed by water gas shift reaction. However, the resulting hydrogen contains contaminants, such as carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide impurities, that cannot be tolerated respectively by the PEM fuel cell catalytic electrodes in more than trace levels.
The conventional method of removing residual carbon monoxide from the hydrogen feed to PEM fuel cells has been catalytic selective oxidation, which compromises efficiency as both the carbon monoxide and a fraction of the hydrogen are consumed by low temperature oxidation, without any recovery of the heat of combustion. Palladium diffusion membranes can be used for hydrogen purification, but have the disadvantages of delivering purified hydrogen at low pressure, and also the use of rare and costly materials.
Pressure swing adsorption systems (PSA) have the attractive features of being able to provide continuous sources of oxygen and hydrogen gas, without significant contaminant levels. PSA systems and vacuum pressure swing adsorption systems (VPSA) separate gas fractions from a gas mixture by coordinating pressure cycling and flow reversals over an adsorber or adsorbent bed, which preferentially adsorbs a more readily adsorbed gas component relative to a less readily adsorbed gas component of the mixture. The total pressure of the gas mixture in the adsorber is elevated while the gas mixture is flowing through the adsorber from a first end to a second end thereof, and is reduced while the gas mixture is flowing through the adsorbent from the second end back to the first end. As the PSA cycle is repeated, the less readily adsorbed component is concentrated adjacent the second end of the adsorber, while the more readily adsorbed component is concentrated adjacent the first end of the adsorber. As a result, a "light" product (a gas fraction depleted in the more readily adsorbed component and enriched in the less readily adsorbed component) is delivered from the second end of the adsorber, and a "heavy" product (a gas fraction enriched in the more strongly adsorbed component) is exhausted from the first end of the adsorber.
Numerous copper-based, CO-selective adsorbents have been disclosed by Rabo et al (U.S. Pat. No. 4,019,879), Hirai (U.S. Pat. No. 4,587,114), Nishida et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,743,276), Tajima et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,783,433), Tsuji et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,914,076), Xie et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,917,711), Golden et al. (U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,126,310; 5,258,571; and 5,531,809), and Hable et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,060,032). Use of some such CO-selective adsorbents in pressure swing adsorption processes for removal or concentration of CO has been commercially established at industrial scale.
Using certain adsorbents for removing CO from reformate for PEM fuel cells has been investigated by researchers at the Argonne National Laboratory, as reported in the 1998 annual report of the Fuel Cells for Transportation Program of the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Advanced Transportation Technologies. Bellows (U.S. Pat. No. 5,604,047) discloses using selected noble metals, and the carbides and nitrides of certain metals, as carbon monoxide adsorbents in a steam displacement purge cycle for removing CO from reformate feed to fuel cells.
However, the conventional system for implementing pressure swing adsorption or vacuum pressure swing adsorption uses two or more stationary adsorbers in parallel, with directional valving at each end of each adsorber to connect the adsorbers in alternating sequence to pressure sources and sinks. This system is cumbersome and expensive to implement due to the large size of the adsorbers and the complexity of the valving required. Further, the conventional PSA system use of applied energy inefficiently because of irreversible gas expansion steps as adsorbers are cyclically pressurized and depressurized within the PSA process. Conventional PSA systems could not be applied to fuel cell power plants for vehicles, as such PSA systems are far too bulky and heavy because of their low cycle frequency and consequently large adsorbent inventory.
Another problem is the need for air compression with a substantial mechanical parasitic load to achieve high power density and high voltage efficiency with PEM fuel cells, either in the absence of PSA in prior art fuel cell systems, or to a lesser extent with the use of PSA to increase oxygen concentration. If, as usual by the case, mechanical power is provided by an electric motor powered by the fuel cell, significant efficiency losses occur in electrical power conversion and conditioning for variable speed compressor drive, and the fuel cell stack must be substantially larger to support this parasitic load as well as the application load to which useful power is delivered. In prior art PEM fuel cell power plants for automotive and other transportation applications, approximately 20% of the gross power output of the fuel cell is diverted to the parasitic load of air compression.
Yet another problem arises in the need to provide heat for endothermic fuel processing reactions to generate low purity reformate hydrogen from hydrocarbon fuels (e.g. natural gas, gasoline or diesel fuel) or oxygenate fuels (e.g. methanol, ethanol or dimethyl ether). In the prior art, the necessary heat for steam reforming of natural gas or methanol is provided least in part by burning hydrogen provided as anode tail gas from the fuel cell. Especially in the case of methanol reforming, which can be performed at relatively low temperature, combustion of valuable hydrogen to generate such low grade heat is extremely detrimental to overall energetic efficiency.
Likewise, the necessary heat for processing heavier fuels, such as gasoline, is achieved by combusting a portion of the fuel in a partial oxidation or autothermal reforming process. Again, a portion of the high-grade fuel is consumed to upgrade the remainder of that fuel to low purity hydrogen than can be purified for use in the fuel cell. With a low temperature fuel cell, thermal efficiency of prior art fuel processing systems has been extremely low, as high grade fuel is consumed. No opportunity has been found for efficient thermal integration between a high temperature fuel processor and a low temperature fuel cell in transport applications.
Combined cycle power plants with a gas turbine cycle integrated with a fuel cell system have been disclosed. Fuel cell auxiliary power units have been proposed for automobiles and passenger railcars with internal combustion engines as primary power plants. PCT Patent Application Publication No. WO 00/16425 provides examples of how PSA units may be integrated with gas turbine power plants, or with fuel cell power plants having a gas turbine auxiliary engine.

Systems and processes for providing hydrogen to fuel cells


A device and method for displaying data simultaneously in two-dimensional and three-dimensional formats. A user selects data to be represented in multiple formats simultaneously. A data rendition server retrieves the data and determines the three-dimensional representations that are possible. The user then selects the three-dimensional representation desired, and the server renders the data to the user in both two-dimensional and three-dimensional formats. The data may be rendered together with static data such as digital terrain data and other static data types. Data representations may be rotated and morphed as desired by the user.

The various embodiments described herein provide a system and method for dynamically rendering a 3D representation of data in a dimension different than an initial 2D base layer representing related space and aerospace datasets, although the techniques described herein will find broader occasions in a variety of data representation situations.
In an embodiment, the user selects desired parameters from a datastore to be displayed in the 2D base layer. The user also selects one or more parameters to be represented in a third dimension from a datastore. The system has an inventory of display techniques through which certain data may be displayed.
The system also comprises rules for the display of specific data. For example, and without limitation, certain data may be appropriately displayed in one format but is not susceptible to being displayed in a second format. The processor and server have rules associated with the data type to allow the processor to present the user options for display of a specific data based upon the techniques by which that data may be displayed. Thus the user is presented only with choices for display that are relevant to the data type.
Based on the type of data selected by the user, the processor determines which of a plurality of predetermined display formats would be appropriate and presents the options to the user. The user selects the desired display format from the list of choices and the processor generates the image.
The various display formats are selected from the set comprising 2D surface morphing, 2D plane rotation, 2D to 3D continuous morphing, 3D to 2D continuous morphing, and 2D/3D combined data representation. This list is by way of illustration only and is not meant as a limitation.

System and method for data rendering and transformation images in 2- and 3- dimensional images


An overload relay, which trips a current flow between a power source and a load, includes a trip capacitor that stores therein an electric charge to excite a trip coil so as to trip the current flow, a reset capacitor that stores therein an electric charge to excite a reset coil so as to reset the tripped current flow, an energizing unit that energizes the coils, and a capacitor-diagnosing unit that diagnoses the capacitors. The energizing unit forcibly energizes the trip coil by using the trip charge when the capacitor-diagnosing unit diagnoses that there is a degradation of a property of the trip capacitor.

An overload relay is an electric switch that is generally used in a field of industrial machines and industrial facilities, as a unit that protects electric devices (such as a motor, hereinafter, "load") from damage generated due to overheating or an excessive current. This overload relay is generally used as an electromagnetic switch which is combined with a separate relay called an electromagnetic contactor having no current detecting function. This electromagnetic switch is inserted into a current path that connects between a power source and the load, thereby protecting the load to be protected. In other words, when the overload relay detects an overload state, power is supplied to a coil (a trip coil) equipped in the overload relay. A contact part within the overload relay becomes open due to an excitation work of the conducted trip coil, and the excitation of the coil of the electromagnetic contactor that is serially connected to the contact part is cancelled. As a result, the contact of the electromagnetic contactor is operated to become an open state. Consequently, a power supply to the load is interrupted, thereby preventing the load from being damaged.
The overload relay includes a thermomotive overload relay having a bimetal element or a resistive heater, and an electronic overload relay in which a control device such as a microcomputer performs a switch control based on a load current detected by a current detector such as a CT and a hall element. Particularly, the latter electronic overload relay has low power, and therefore, attracts attention as an overload relay with excellent easiness of control. Many overload relays of this type are available.
According to the former typical thermomotive overload relay and the former typical electronic overload relay, when the electromagnetic switch becomes open, a power supply to the own overload relay is also interrupted. Therefore, a recovery operation needs to be manually carried out. A product that drives an overload relay using a separate power source is also available. However, when this product is used, a power source of a separate system needs to be prepared in addition to a power source system that drives the load, which increases the facility cost. Therefore, this product is not used except for a special use.
On the other hand, many industrial machines operate in recent industrial facilities, and their operations are automated. When an operator performs a recovery operation of a trip-operated overload relay at the site at each time of the trip operation, the work efficiency is significantly reduced. Therefore, there has been a request from users for a self-feeding-type overload relay that automatically performs a recovery operation after a lapse of a predetermined time of the trip operation.
For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a technique of preventing execution of a reset operation before cooling of the load or a recovery from an abnormal state, in an overload relay which is not of a self-feeding-type. According to the Patent Document 1, attention is focused on a point that a mechanical thermomotive overload relay has a function of not resetting the operation until when the heater is cooled even when a reset bar operates in a manual reset mode. Based on this, an electronic overload relay realizes a function equivalent to this function of the mechanical thermomotive overload relay.
Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2004-22203

Overload relay and operating method thereof