A multi-speed gearbox for a vehicle has fewer than 4 shiftable gears and has a gearbox input shaft, a gearbox output shaft, a gearbox housing and a planetary gearbox. The planetary gearbox has a planetary gearbox gear set, which has the following planetary gearbox elements: a sun gear, a first ring gear, and a second ring gear, at least one first planetary gear, which is engaged with both the sun gear and the first ring gear, at least one second planetary gear, which is engaged with the second ring gear, and with a planetary gear carrier, on which the at least one first planetary gear is rotatably mounted. The planetary gearbox gear set has multiple shift elements, which are designed to selectively connect one of the planetary gearbox elements to a further one of the planetary gearbox elements or to the gearbox housing for conjoint rotation and therefore to provide different gears. The at least one second planetary gear is mounted rotatably on the planetary gear carrier and is engaged with the first planetary gear, and the second ring gear can be selectively connected by way of a first of the shift elements to the gearbox housing for conjoint rotation, and the sun gear can be selectively connected by way of a second of the shift elements to the gearbox housing for conjoint rotation.

The invention relates to a multi-speed gearbox and to a vehicle having such a multi-speed gearbox. A multi-speed gearbox and a vehicle having such a multi-speed gearbox are known from DE 10 2013 226 473 A1.
The invention is described below on the basis of a drive train for an electric vehicle with a battery store (BEV), wherein this vehicle can be driven exclusively by means of an electric motor, while this is not to be understood as a restriction of the invention to such an embodiment.
In the case of such an electric vehicle there may occur operating states in which the drive power that is nominally possible can no longer be retrieved from this battery store or from this electric motor; in such a case it is said that the drive system is degraded. In particular, in the case of such a degraded drive system, the drive torque that can be provided by the electric motor is reduced. In particular to be able to provide a sufficient drive torque at the drive wheels of the vehicle in the case of a degraded drive system, multi-speed gearboxes with multiple shiftable transmission ratios, known as gears, are used in BEVs. DE 10 2013 226 473 A1 proposes a gearbox for an electric vehicle with 3 shiftable gears.
An object of the invention is to provide a multi-speed gearbox having a sufficient number of shiftable transmission ratios (gears) and a simple construction. This object is achieved by a multi-speed gearbox and by a vehicle having such a multi-speed gearbox according to the claimed invention.
In the context of the invention, a multi-speed gearbox should be understood as meaning a speed change gearbox which is designed for transmitting drive power from a driving motor to at least one or more drivable drive wheels. In this case, the driving motor is designed for providing a drive power for overcoming driving resistances in a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car.
Preferably, such a multi-speed gearbox has at least a gearbox input shaft, a gearbox output shaft, a gearbox housing and an epicyclic gearbox having an epicyclic gearbox gear set. Preferably, this epicyclic gearbox gear set is designed for providing different transmission ratios between the gearbox input shaft and the gearbox output shaft. Preferably, the multi-speed gearbox is designed for providing different transmission ratios in discrete stages, known as gears. Preferably, the multi-speed gearbox has precisely 3 or fewer shiftable transmission ratios. Also preferably, the multi-speed gearbox has two shifting elements and two discrete transmission ratios that can be shifted by said shifting elements, and the multi-speed gearbox preferably has three shifting elements and three discrete transmission ratios that can be shifted by said shifting elements.
In the context of the invention, such an epicyclic gearbox should be understood as meaning a gear mechanism which has at least one epicyclic gearbox gear set. Furthermore, such an epicyclic gearbox gear set should be understood as meaning a planetary gearbox gear set or a gearbox gear set that is made up of one or more complete or reduced planetary gearbox gear sets. Preferably, a complete planetary gearbox gear set should be understood as meaning a planetary gearbox gear set having a sun gear, a ring gear, a planetary gear carrier and at least one or more planetary gears mounted on this planetary gear carrier, and a reduced planetary gearbox gear set should be understood in the context of the invention as meaning a planetary gearbox gear set which does not have at least one of the aforementioned gearbox elements (sun gear, ring gear, planetary gear carrier), or a number of these elements.
The present epicyclic gearbox gear set preferably has the following epicyclic gearbox elements, a sun gear, a first ring gear and a second ring gear, at least one first planetary gear, which is preferably in engagement both with the first sun gear and with the first ring gear, and a second planetary gear, which is preferably in engagement with the second ring gear, and a planetary gear carrier, on which preferably the at least one first planetary gear and the at least one second planetary gear are rotatably mounted. Preferably, the first planetary gear and the second planetary gear are in engagement with one another. Also preferably, the epicyclic gearbox gear set has multiple first planetary gears and preferably multiple second planetary gears.
Preferably, the epicyclic gearbox gear set is arranged with respect to torque transmission between the gearbox input shaft and the gearbox output shaft, and also preferably spur-gear stages are provided for the kinematic connection, so that, by means of the epicyclic gearbox gear set, drive power coming from the driving motor can be transmitted from the gearbox input shaft via the epicyclic gearbox gear set to the gearbox output shaft. Also preferably, the gearbox input shaft and the gearbox output shaft are arranged axially parallel to one another and preferably radially at a distance from one another. In an embodiment that is also preferred, the gearbox input shaft and the gearbox output shaft are arranged coaxially in relation to one another.
In the context of the invention, in engagement should be understood as meaning that 2 gear wheels contact for power transmission, in particular two gear wheels mesh with one another for power transmission when they are in engagement with one another.
Preferably, the epicyclic gearbox has multiple shifting elements, wherein such a shifting element is designed for selectively connecting one of the aforementioned epicyclic gearbox elements to a further one of these epicyclic gearbox elements or to the gearbox housing for conjoint rotation. In particular, this selective connection for conjoint rotation allows different transmission ratios between the gearbox input shaft and the gearbox output shaft to be provided by the epicyclic gearbox, and consequently allows the epicyclic gearbox to be shifted to different gears by means of the shifting elements.
Preferably, the epicyclic gearbox gear set is constructed in such a way that this at least one second planetary gear is in engagement with this at least one first planetary gear and that preferably the second ring gear can be selectively connected to the gearbox housing for conjoint rotation by a first switching element (of these multiple shifting elements), and also preferably the sun gear can be selectively connected to the gearbox housing for conjoint rotation by a second of these shifting elements (of these multiple shifting elements).
Preferably, such a shifting element is formed as a brake, clutch or synchronizing device, these shifting elements being generally designed for selectively forming a frictional, interlocking or frictional/interlocking connection for conjoint rotation.
In particular, such a construction of the epicyclic gearbox gear set makes a compact construction possible and also good efficiency in the transmission of the drive power.
In particular, it is made possible by means of such an arrangement of the shifting elements that they transmit a relatively small torque in the closed state (torque is transmittable), and thus a compact construction of these elements is made possible. Preferably, the multi-speed gearbox is intended for transverse installation in a motor vehicle, more preferably for longitudinal installation.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the first ring gear can be selectively connected to the second ring gear for conjoint rotation by a third of these shifting elements (of these multiple shifting elements). If this third shifting element is closed, a rolling of the first and second planetary gears with respect to the first and second ring gears is prevented and a power transmission takes place from the gearbox input shaft to the gearbox output shaft without rolling power losses in the epicyclic gearbox, and consequently with a high efficiency. In particular by means of such a design of the epicyclic gearbox, a graduation of the individual transmission ratios that is suitable for motor vehicle construction can be achieved.
In a preferred embodiment of the multi-speed gearbox, drive power can be fed to it from a driving motor via the gearbox input shaft, and furthermore this drive power can be transmitted in the direction of the gearbox output shaft via the epicyclic gearbox. From the gearbox output shaft, this drive power can be delivered, preferably to a drive train adjoining the multi-speed gearbox.
In the transmission (direction from the driving motor to the drivable wheel(s)), the drive power can be fed to the first ring gear, as the first of the epicyclic gearbox elements. From the epicyclic gearbox gear set, the drive power can be fed from the planetary gear carrier, as the last of the epicyclic gearbox elements, to the gearbox output shaft. In this case, first and last apply to the power transmission from the gearbox input shaft to the gearbox output shaft. In particular, such a construction of the multi-speed gearbox makes a compact construction possible, and also good efficiency in the transmission of the drive power.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, with respect to the torque transmission, a first spur-gear gearbox is arranged between the gearbox input shaft and the first ring gear. In particular by means of this first spur-gear gearbox, drive power can be fed to the first ring gear from the gearbox input shaft, preferably can be fed directly. In particular by means of such a first spur-gear gearbox, the speed, or the torque, that can be provided by a driving motor can be adapted to the load requirement resulting from driving resistances.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, a second spur-gear gearbox is arranged between the gearbox output shaft and the planetary gear carrier, with respect to the torque transmission. In particular by means of this second spur-gear gearbox, drive power can be fed to the gearbox output shaft, preferably can be fed directly. In particular by means of such a second spur-gear gearbox, the speed, or the torque, that can be provided by a driving motor can be adapted to the load requirement resulting from driving resistances.
In a preferred embodiment, the multi-speed gearbox has a first spur-gear gearbox and a second spur-gear gearbox. With this or these spur-gear gearbox(es), a speed adaptation of a driving motor (driving motor of which drive power can be delivered to the gearbox input shaft) is made possible, in particular in the case of a high-speed driving motor (driving speed of up to over 10 000 rpm) to reduce the speed that can be delivered by the gearbox output shaft by means of a spur-gear stage or by means of two spur-gear stages.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the epicyclic gearbox has precisely three shifting elements; preferably, the epicyclic gearbox has this first shifting element, this second shifting element and this third shifting element. Also preferably, this epicyclic gearbox can be shifted by means of these three shifting elements into precisely three different transmission stages. Preferably, for forming a transmission ratio, at least one of the shifting elements is closed (torque is transmittable), and preferably the two other shifting elements are open (no torque is transmittable). For changing the transmission ratio, preferably the one closed shifting element is opened and also preferably one of the two other opened shifting elements is closed. In particular by means of such a design of the multi-speed gearbox, a sufficient number of different gears can be provided, with at the same time a small installation space requirement.
Furthermore, a vehicle, in particular a passenger car, having a multi-speed gearbox of the type described above is provided, and also preferably this vehicle has an electric motor as the driving motor, which for torque transmission, that is in particular for the transmission of an electric motor driving power, can be coupled to the gearbox input shaft, or preferably is already coupled to it.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, this vehicle can be driven exclusively by this electric motor or by multiple electric motors as a single drive source for overcoming the driving resistances.
In particular, the vehicle is therefore designed as a so-called BEV (battery electric vehicle). In particular in the case of such a BEV, the proposed drive can be used particularly advantageously because of a degradation of the drive system, in particular in order to be able to provide a sufficient tractive force of the vehicle.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the vehicle has a multi-speed gearbox having precisely three shifting elements, and consequently having precisely three shifting gears, and also this vehicle can be driven exclusively by one or more electric motors as a single drive source. To put it another way, the vehicle is therefore designed as a BEV, having a multi-speed gearbox of the type described above designed as a three-speed gearbox.
Particularly advantageously, the specified multi-speed gearbox can be used in the case of electric motors with a high rated speed; in this context, a high rated speed should be understood as meaning a speed of the electric motor of more than 10 000 rpm, and preferably of more than 14 000 rpm and particularly preferably of 17 000 rpm or more.
Other objects, advantages and novel features of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of one or more preferred embodiments when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

Multi-speed gearbox for an electrically drivable vehicle, and vehicle having such a multi-speed gearbox

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft


A thermoelectric element includes a body formed of a single thermoelectric material and extending in a first direction along which a thermal gradient is established in thermoelectric operation, wherein the body has at least first and second adjacent sections in the first direction; at least one of the sections is subject to stress which is applied to that section substantially all around a central axis of the body in the first direction; and the arrangement is such that the stress results in different strain in the first and second sections producing an energy barrier in the body to enhance thermoelectric operation.

This invention relates generally to thermoelectric elements. Thermoelectric elements are provided together with structures and devices incorporating such elements.
Thermoelectric energy converters (TECs) are devices which use thermoelectric materials for energy conversion. Thermoelectric materials exhibit the thermoelectric effect whereby a thermal gradient is generated in the material in response to an applied voltage, or a voltage is generated across the material on application of a thermal gradient. TECs can thus be used to derive electrical power from a thermal gradient or to generate a thermal gradient for heating or cooling purposes from an applied voltage.
The efficiency of a TEC is expressed by the dimensionless thermoelectric figure of merit ZT. This can be described by the expression ZT=σS2/κT, where σ is the electrical conductivity, κ is the thermal conductivity, T is the absolute temperature, and S is the Seebeck coefficient. It is generally assumed that a ZT value of 3 to 4 is required for economic power generation on a large scale. In bulk materials, σ, S and κ are interdependent and a ZT of greater than 1 is known to be difficult to achieve. Recent progress using nano-structured materials suggests that these parameters can be tuned separately. Nano-composites and superlattices combining metallic and semiconducting materials show a higher power factor σS2 than their respective bulk materials. These heterostructures combining different materials offer improved performance due to the energy filtering effect of electronic barriers. This effect, whereby an energy barrier is formed due to the particular combination of materials in the heterostructure, is discussed, for example, in "Improved Thermoelectric Power Factor in Metal-based Superlattices", Vashaee et al., Physical Review Letters, Vol. 92, No. 10, 2004.
Current state-of-the-art nano-composite based TECs achieve ZT values of 2 at best, and the maximum value is achieved only at very high temperatures or in a very narrow temperature range. Studies on one-dimensional systems such as semiconducting nanowires have shown that this geometry can enhance ZT by lowering the thermal conductivity κ. However, a general problem in heterostructures is the presence of interface states that tend to lower electrical conductance due to uncontrolled charge carrier scattering. Fabrication of suitable structures is also difficult and expensive. While heterostructures based on planar and one-dimensional nanostructures offer more precise control of the electronic barriers than nano-particle based composites, these require even more expensive fabrication techniques. In the case of nanowire arrays, for instance, the volume density poses an additional problem.
US Patent Application Publication US2008/0276979 discloses a strain superlattice nanowire. Quantum dots are arranged in anti-phase on opposite surfaces of a nanoribbon, whereby the dots on opposite surfaces are not positioned directly opposite one another but are at offset positions along the length of the ribbon. Lattice mismatch between the dot and ribbon materials induces intermittent surface strain modulation, producing a periodic variation in the band gap of the ribbon and hence a miniband structure for increasing the Seebeck coefficient.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION


A Web page cache that stores Web pages such that servers will be able to retrieve valid dynamic pages without going to a dynamic content server or origin Web server for the page every time a user requests that dynamic page. The dynamic content cache receives information that defines data upon which each dynamic page is dependent, such that when the value of any dependency data item changes, the associated dynamic page is marked as invalid or deleted. The dynamic page cache stores dependency data, receives change event information, and indicates when pages in the cache are invalidated or need to be refreshed.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to computer network communications and, more particularly, to cache techniques for network documents.
2. Description of the Related Art
When a computer network user begins a communication session over the Internet, the user can request data files from an Internet-connected computer called an origin server using the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP). An origin server is typically a web server on which a given resource resides or is to be generated. These data files are typically written or defined in a type of programming code or mark-up language called hypertext mark-up language (HTML), and can be viewed or displayed through a graphical user interface (GUI) program, such as "Netscape Communicator" from Netscape Communications Corporation or "Internet Explorer" from Microsoft Corporation. Such data files may specify a mixture of content including: text, graphics (image), audio, and video. The network nodes and collection of HTML are commonly referred to as the "World Wide Web" ("WWW"), and the GUI program to view the files is called a ("web browser"). A collection of related data files under a common Internet network domain name is commonly referred to as a Web site.
A network user can request a Web page (or page) on a Web site by clicking on a link on a Web page in the browser window or by typing in a uniform resource locator (URL) address in the browser location toolbar. When a Web page from a Web site is requested, the browser takes charge of displaying the returned collection of data files as a complete Web page. For example, if a Web page includes text, animated images, and audio, the web browser will retrieve the Web page and display the text, show the images, and play the audio sounds. The browser request is sent from the user computer to a series of switches and routers toward the appropriate origin web server, where the requested Web page is identified and/or generated, and returned to the user for display.
Because of extremely heavy data traffic over the Internet, cache techniques are being used to improve the speed of returning requested Web pages to network users. One way is by having a proxy server. A proxy server is a device that has a data store, cache, or cache memory that typically contains local copies of frequently requested Web pages. Proxy servers are distributed around the Internet so as to be readily accessible by various servers. Thus, if a user requests a Web page, for example, the proxy server checks the local data store to determine if it has the corresponding page in cache for the URL request just received. If the proxy server identifies that it has the Web page for the URL requested, it will return the cached Web page, found in the local proxy server, to the requesting user, rather than relaying the request all the way back to the origin server. This reduces the time for the Web pages to be returned to the user.
Often, Web pages are dynamically generated at the time they are requested to allow for content flexibility. (Dynamically created pages are hereafter referred to as dynamic pages or dynamic Web pages.) In conjunction with a web server, a script or program usually generates such dynamic pages. Typically, query parameters are also passed to the page-generating script, so that the data drawn from the data source is limited based on, for example, user's input or selection. (The process of generating Web pages is herein referred to as page generation.) One skilled in the art will recognize that Web pages may be generated via other programmed means, for example, generating Web pages using a high-level programming language, such as C++, without utilizing a web server. (Static pages are those pages that are not dynamically generated.)
Conventionally, a dynamic page is generated in response to a user request. Thus, if ten users request a dynamic page containing identical information, the origin server has to generate such page ten times to satisfy those ten requests even if no piece of information changed from the first request to the tenth request. For example, although a Web page containing a list of bids for an auction item does not change very often (probably, once every few hours during the initial posting of the item), it is likely implemented as a dynamic page and generated anew upon each user request. This unnecessary generation of Web pages, thus, adds a substantial load on the origin server's resources. Hence, a way to generate pages only when the Web page content is no longer valid and a way to alleviate the resource requirements on the origin server are highly desired.
Dynamic pages are typically not cached. Dynamic Web pages typically change frequently, often minute by minute. For example, dynamic Web pages may be used to communicate the latest bid information at an Internet auction site, or flight arrival information at a travel site, or may be used to post remaining inventory at a retail-shopping site. Because dynamic pages are not cached, all user requests for dynamic pages must travel all the way back to the origin server at the source Web site and, in addition, are generated by the origin server. This places a high demand on the origin servers for handling traffic and for generating dynamic Web pages, and can slow down the response time for web requests.
One way of caching dynamic pages is by having such pages be refreshed (i.e., replaced with a fresher or newer page) every few minutes, e.g., all cached dynamic pages that are fifteen minutes old or older are refreshed. This method, however, means that dynamic pages that are still valid (i.e., contain up-to-date information) are unnecessarily refreshed thereby needlessly taxing the resources of the system. Furthermore, users may also receive invalid web pages during the time frame when such pages have not been refreshed and contain invalid data.
Another way of caching dynamic pages enables developers to split up a dynamic page to different portions based on whether it contains static information, such as information that does not need to change, or whether it contains dynamic content, such as information drawn from a database. The system then composes a complete web page whenever a request is received. This method, however, involves redundant requests for dynamic contents considering that dynamic contents from previous requests may still be valid, as well as unnecessary delay considering that the request for dynamic content has to be sent all the way back to the origin server.
If dynamic pages were cached using conventional technology, the pages kept in cache could quickly become out of date, being superceded by more recent information from the origin server. Alternatively, if cached dynamic pages were refreshed with sufficient frequency to ensure they remain valid, the rate of refresh would likely be such that much of the cache operation would be devoted to handling refresh operations. This would tax the resources of the cache and reduce the effectiveness of the cache storage.
FIG. 1 shows a conventional arrangement 100 for providing dynamic pages to Internet users. A user at a computer with a browser 102 communicates with the Internet 104 using a network connection 105. The browser sends over the Internet Web page requests that are received by an origin server 106. Requests for dynamic pages are relayed to an origin dynamic content server 108, which generates the Web pages from a data store 110. The requested dynamic pages are then sent back to the users and displayed in the users' browsers 102.
From the discussion above, it is apparent that there is a need for an Internet cache technique that can store dynamic pages thereby reducing the workload on web servers, but efficiently maintaining valid pages without unduly taxing cache resources. The present invention fulfills this need.


A medical imaging apparatus and a medical image management method provide information regarding image deletion to a user upon deleting stored images, thus allowing the user to intuitively recognize a storage capacity and to select a data capacity to be deleted. The medical imaging apparatus includes a storage unit storing images, a controller calculating a residual capacity among the storage capacity of the storage unit and determining whether or the residual capacity is less than a predetermined reference value, and a display unit displaying an auto deletion popup window receiving setting regarding a reference date for deletion of the stored images, if the residual capacity is less than the predetermined reference value.

1. Field
The following description relates to a medical imaging apparatus which images the inside of an object and a medical image management method which manages images stored in the medical imaging apparatus.
2. Description of the Related Art
Medical imaging apparatuses are apparatuses which may image the inside of an object to be used in diagnosis, and include a radioactive imaging apparatus which applies radiation to an object and detects radiation transmitted through the object, a magnetic resonance imaging apparatus which locates an object within a magnetic field, applies high-frequency signals to an object, and receives magnetic resonance signals from the object, and an ultrasound imaging apparatus which transmits ultrasonic waves to an object and receives echo signals reflected by the object.
Acquired medical images are stored in a storage space within a medical imaging apparatus or a Picture Archiving and Communication System (PACS) which manages medical images throughout a hospital. In order to prevent difficulty in storing acquired images due to insufficient storage capacity of the medical imaging apparatus or erroneous deletion of stored medical images, effective management of stored medical images based on user intention is required.

Medical imaging apparatus and medical image management method


States that are used in configuring a processing pipeline are passed down through a separate pipeline in parallel with the data transmitted down through the processing pipeline. With this separate pipeline, the states for configuring any one stage of the processing pipeline are continuously available in the corresponding stage of the state pipeline, and new states for configuring the processing pipeline can be transmitted down the state pipeline without flushing the processing pipeline. The processing pipeline and the separate pipeline for the states can be divided into multiple sections so that the width of the separate pipeline for the states can be reduced.

Conventionally, a processing pipeline of a graphics processing unit is configured using states that are broadcast to the processing pipeline. FIG. 1 illustrates how a processing pipeline 130 is configured using states that are broadcast. A register 110 receives data 101 to be processed by the processing pipeline 130 along with a state command. The data to be processed are passed to the processing pipeline 130 and the state command is detected by a state decoder 120, which decodes it to generate states for configuring the processing pipeline 130. The states are then broadcast to the individual stages of the processing pipeline 130 and used to configure them.
When a change in the configuration of the processing pipeline 130 is desired, new states are broadcast by the state decoder 120 to the individual stages of the processing pipeline. However, before the configuration of the processing pipeline 130 can be changed, the processing pipeline 130 must finish processing all of the data it received from the register 110, i.e., the processing pipeline 130 needs to be flushed. The time taken to flush the processing pipeline 130 can be as long as the processing latency of the processing pipeline 130 and introduces unwanted delay, especially in the case of a very deep processing pipeline with many stages. As a result, configuration changes in such a processing pipeline are generally kept to a minimum.

System and method for storing states used to configure a processing pipeline in a graphics processing unit


A dynamic mixer includes a housing structure having a mixing chamber, having an inlet opening through which a material or materials to be mixed is passed into the mixing chamber and an outlet. A mixer rod has mixing rod portion disposed in the housing structure and a plurality of mixing paddle portions each having a mixing surface. The mixing rod is adapted for attachment to a drive unit which imparts a rotational mixing force to the rod. In one exemplary non-limiting embodiment of a mixer, the housing structure includes a hollow tubular structure with first and second open ends, a hollow T fitting having a first opening attached to the first end of the hollow tubular structure, a second opening opposed to and in alignment with the first opening and a third opening transverse to the first and second openings, and a coupler fitting attached to the second open end of the tubular structure. An end cap structure is attached to the second opening of the T fitting for supporting the rod drive portion for rotation and sealing against material leakage. A support structure is positioned at the second open end of the tubular structure and secured in place by the coupler fitting, to support the drive rod while permitting material flow out the open second end.

Systems for mixing and dispensing single and multiple component fluid materials are known in the art. In the case of multiple component materials, the systems may include mechanisms for pumping the components to a mixing device that thoroughly mixes the components together. The mixed composition then flows out the mixing device for use. For example, the components may be reactive materials that require stirring or mixing for a reaction to take place, e.g., multi-part epoxies, silicones, polyesters, urethanes and acrylics, or non-reactive components that are mixed or stirred together, e.g., components of different colors which are mixed together to provide a composite color, liquids and solids, powders.
Dynamic mixing devices known in the art have generally been relatively expensive devices. The devices can be relatively difficult to clean after use, and thus are relatively expensive to maintain as well.


In an image forming apparatus according to the invention, an optical beam scanning apparatus of an overillumination scanning optical system includes a laser, a pre-deflection optical system, a polygon mirror, and a post-deflection optical system, wherein the post-deflection optical system includes at least one optical element configured by allowing a resin to flow into a molding die through a gate opening provided in advance to the molding die and then molding the resin into a prescribed shape; and in the optical element, a side corresponding to a side of the gate opening through which the resin flows is provided to a light incidence side where the luminous flux enters into the polygon mirror.

1. Technical Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an optical beam scanning apparatus and a method of manufacturing an optical beam scanning apparatus and to an image forming apparatus provided with this optical scanning apparatus and a method of manufacturing an image forming apparatus. In particular, the invention relates to an optical beam scanning apparatus which in an overillumination scanning optical system in which a width of a luminous flux made incident on a polygon mirror is wider than a width of one reflecting surface forming the polygon mirror, is capable of scanning the luminous flux on a photoconductive drum and a method of manufacturing an optical beam scanning apparatus and to an image forming apparatus provided with this optical beam scanning apparatus and a method of manufacturing an image forming apparatus.
2. Related Art
In recent years, in image forming apparatus of an electrophotographic mode, for example, laser printers, digital copiers and laser facsimiles, an optical beam scanning apparatus for irradiating laser light (optical beam) on a surface of a photoconductive drum and scanning the laser light to form an electrostatic latent image on the photoconductive drum is provided.
Recently, in order to devise to realize high-speed scanning on a surface of a photoconductive drum, for example, a method in which plural light sources (laser diodes) are provided in one laser unit, thereby increasing the number of laser light per one scanning (multibeam method) is proposed. In this multibeam method, plural beams for every color component emitted from each of light sources (for example, yellow, magenta, cyan, and black) are processed in a pre-deflection optical system and converted into one beam, which is then made incident on a polygon mirror. The beam deflected by the polygon mirror is mediated through an fθ lens configuring a post-deflection optical system and subsequently separated into a beam for every color component and irradiated on a photoconductive drum of every color component.
Here, the rotation axis direction of the polygon mirror as a deflector is defined as "sub-scanning direction", and a direction vertical to each of the optical axis direction of the optical system and the rotation axis direction of the deflector (polygonal mirror) is defined as "main scanning direction". Incidentally, the sub-scanning direction in the optical system is corresponding to a conveyance direction of a transfer material in an image forming apparatus, and the main scanning direction in the optical system is corresponding to a direction vertical to the conveyance direction within a surface of the transfer material in the image forming apparatus. Also, an image surface shows the surface of the photoconductive drum, and an imaging surface shows a surface on which a luminous flux (laser light) actually forms an image.
In general, a relation expressed by [Expression 1] is present among an image processing rate (paper conveyance rate), an image resolution, a motor rotation rate and a number of polygon mirror surfaces.
                              P          *          R                =                              25.4            *            Vr            *            N                    60                                    [                  Expression                                                              1                ]
In the foregoing expression, P (mm/s) represents a processing rate (paper conveyance rate); and R (dpi) represents an image resolution (number of dots per inch). Also, Vr (rpm) represents a number of revolutions of a polygon motor; and N represents a number of polygon mirror surfaces.
As expressed by the foregoing [Expression 1], the printing speed and resolution in the image forming apparatus are proportional to the number of revolutions of a polygon motor (Vr) and the number of polygon mirror surfaces (N). Accordingly, in order to realize high resolution as well as high speed in the image forming apparatus, it is necessary to increase the number of polygon mirror surfaces (N) or to raise the number of revolutions of the polygon motor (Vr).
However, in a conventional general underillumination scanning optical system, a width of a luminous flux (laser light) made incident on a polygon mirror in a main scanning direction is made smaller than a width of one reflecting surface forming the polygon mirror in the main scanning direction (reflection width) thereby reflecting the whole of the luminous flux (laser light) made incident on the polygon mirror.
However, since not only a beam diameter on the image surface is proportional to an F number, but also the F number Fn is expressed by Fn=f/D wherein f represents a focal distance of the imaging optical system, and D represents a beam diameter of the main scanning direction on the polygon mirror surface, when it is intended to make the beam diameter on the image surface small for the purpose of devising to realize high image quality, the beam diameter of the main scanning direction on the polygon mirror surface must be made large.
In other words, in order to obtain high image quality at a certain level or more, there is a restriction that the beam diameter of the main scanning direction on the polygon mirror surface must be regulated to a fixed size or more.
Nevertheless, in order to realize high resolution as well as high speed, when it is intended to increase the number of polygon mirror surfaces (N), the polygon mirror itself must be increased in size. As a result, when it is intended to rotate a large-sized polygon mirror at a high speed, a load to a motor for driving the polygon mirror becomes large, and the motor cost increases. In addition, at the same time, the noise or vibration of the motor or the generation of a heat becomes large, and a countermeasure thereto becomes necessary separately.
Then, an image forming apparatus using an over-illumination scanning optical system is proposed in place of the underillumination scanning optical system. In the overillumination scanning optical system, a width of a luminous flux made incident on a polygon mirror is made wider than a width of one reflecting surface forming the polygon mirror.
According to this, it is possible to reflect the luminous flux by using the entire surface of the reflecting surface forming the polygon mirror (or plural reflecting surfaces); and even in the case where it is intended to ensure the beam diameter on the polygon mirror surface while increasing the number of reflecting surfaces of polygon mirror (N) for the purpose of devising to realize high resolution as well as high speed, it is possible to make the diameter of the polygon mirror itself small. Accordingly, a load to a motor for driving the polygon mirror can be reduced, and the motor cost can be reduced. Also, since not only the diameter of the polygon mirror itself can be made small, but also the number of reflecting surfaces can be increased, it is possible to make the shape of the polygon mirror close to a circle, and it is possible to make the air resistance at the time of driving the polygon mirror low. As a result, even when the polygon mirror is rotated in a high speed, it is possible to reduce the noise or vibration and the generation of a heat.
Furthermore, following the reduction in the noise or vibration and the generation of heat, the whole or a part of countermeasures element for reducing the noise or vibration, such as glasses, become unnecessary, and the costs in manufacturing an image forming apparatus can be lowered. Also, a high duty cycle becomes possible.
The foregoing overillumination scanning optical system is described in, for example, Leo Beiser, Laser Scanning Notebook, SPIE OPTICAL ENGINEERING PRESS.
In the case where an imaging lens is manufactured by using a resin as a material of an imaging lens included in a post-deflection optical system and molding the resin into a prescribed shape, gate cutting becomes necessary. But, a residual stain or deformation is generated in the vicinity of the gate cut part of the manufactured imaging lens due to a heat at the time of gate cutting.
For example, in the case where the lens of a post-deflection optical system is a molded lens which is manufactured by molding a resin which has been allowed to flow into a molding die through a side gate opening, a residual strain or deformation or the like is generated in an end of the imaging lens in the side corresponding to the side of the gate opening or the like due to a heat at the time of gate cutting.
When a luminous flux (laser light) passes through a gate cut part of the lens in which a residual strain or deformation or the like has been generated due to a heat at the time of such gate cutting, the beam diameter on the image surface becomes large as compared with the usual.
In particular, in the case where the lens of a post-deflection optical system is configured of a single lens, since the lens requires a larger power, it is necessary that the lens is a thick-wall lens. For that reason, the cross-sectional area of the lens to be molded in the vicinity of the side gate opening for making a resin flow therein (gate cut part of the lens) becomes large so that when it is intended to gate cut this portion, a residual strain or deformation is more likely generated in the lens due to a heat at the time of gate cutting. As a result, when a luminous flux (laser light) passes through the gate cut part of the lens, the beam diameter on the image surface becomes larger as compared with the usual.
Here, in the conventional underillumination scanning optical system, a width of a laser beam L deflected by the polygon mirror corresponding to the main scanning direction was constant irrespective of the scanning position (angle). However, in the overillumination scanning optical system, the width of the laser beam L corresponding to the main scanning direction fluctuates depending upon the scanning position (angle).
Concretely, in the case where the optical axis of the laser beam L made incident on the polygon mirror and the optical axis of the post-deflection optical system form an angle, the width of the luminous flux corresponding to the main scanning direction fluctuates depending upon the scanning position (angle).
For that reason, the F number varies depending upon the scanning position (angle); and when the laser beam is made incident on the polygon mirror, as it goes from a light incidence side to an opposite side to the light incidence side, the beam diameter of the main scanning direction on the image surface becomes large, thereby generating scattering in beam diameter of the main scanning direction on the image surface. In other words, the beam diameter of the main scanning direction on the image surface is bilaterally asymmetric against the optical axis of the optical system in a scanning region on the photoconductive drum; and when the laser beam L is made incident on the polygon mirror, as it goes from a light incidence side to an opposite side to the light incidence side, the optical characteristics on the image surface become worse.
For that reason, in the case of manufacturing an imaging lens by molding a resin, when the side gate is used, if the gate cut part of the imaging lens is arranged in the opposite side to the light incidence side, in the opposite side to the light incidence side, in addition to the worseness of optical characteristics on the image surface, the beam diameter on the image surface becomes very large due to influences of a residual strain or deformation generated at the time of gate cutting.
As a result, scattering in the beam diameter in a scanning region of the photoconductive drum as an image surface becomes large.

Optical beam scanning apparatus, method of manufacturing optical beam scanning apparatus, image forming apparatus and method of manufacturing image forming apparatus


A portable golf training apparatus and method of use for teaching golfers the consistent achievement of proper ball placement, correct alignment, proper foot placement and stance, and for providing a visual reference or target line in relation to alignment and foot position.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to golf alignment training apparatus and methods of using such apparatus to teach and train golfer's proper stance, correct alignment, proper foot placement, proper ball placement and to provide a visual memory reference for aiming at the target.
2. Description of Related Art
Golf aids and training devices and methods are generally known in the art. However, most known art requires complex adjustment of the training device, often for each club used or dependent on the height and size of the golfer, or the device is not portable or at least compact enough to store in a golf bag zippered compartment.
Known related art includes the golf training aid depicted in U.S. Pat. No. 5,294,125 to Mietz, and the golf stance and swing practice device of U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,718 to Cachola. Other known related art training devices include U.S. Pat. No. 5,464,220 to Hansen et al., U.S. Pat. No. 4,718,674 to Henry, U.S. Pat. No. 4,583,739 to Kabbany, U.S. Pat. No. 5,246,234 to Zambelli, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,611,738 to Lundquist.
None of the devices in the above references solve the problem of using a training aid without complicated adjustments. Most, if not all, all of the prior art devices require the golfer to assemble the training device and/or set angles or distances on members of the device. If done improperly, the effectiveness of the device is diminished. The present invention requires only that it be laid flat on the ground or on a hitting mat and secured with tees or tape if the wind is blowing or if the golfer desires. Further, these prior art devices require that they be folded up in a proper manner and are cumbersome to store in a golf bag. The present invention can be wadded up and stuffed in a pocket on the golf bag. The embodiment of the present invention depicting a rigid training apparatus cannot be folded but is generally intended to be used in the same place over and over again by multiple golfers, for example, at a driving range or at a golf school.
Further, when using one of the referenced devices, the player must move the entire device after taking a divot out of the ground. Since taking a divot is a normal and preferred consequence of a golf swing especially with shorter irons, these devices must be moved after every shot. The present invention allows the golfer to hit numerous balls with divots without moving the invention.
Further, the prior art does not provide a target line, giving the golfer a visual reference for aiming shots, which is an essential feature of the present invention.

Golf alignment training apparatus and method


A mechanical load indicator device continuously monitors the position of the frame of a vehicle relative to some point on the vehicle suspension. The load indicator device is calibrated to be triggered when a certain vehicle load limit is reached. When that load limit is reached or exceeded, the device is "triggered," providing an unambiguous visual indication to the vehicle operator that a vehicle overload condition has occurred. A method of installing, operating, and calibrating an overload detection system is also disclosed.

1. Field of the Invention
The field of the present invention relates to a load indicator apparatus for suspended wheeled vehicles, and more specifically pertains to a new and improved vehicle overload detection system. This system uses an indicator that utilizes the deflection of the suspension of the vehicle to determine if the maximum allowable axle loading limit has been exceeded.
2. Description of the Prior Art
It is important for operators of various types of passenger and cargo-carrying vehicles to be aware of vehicle overweight (overload) conditions occurring when the critical weight (load) limit is exceeded. Overweight conditions may present safety hazards if they exceed the design limit of the vehicle, or may present legal problems for the operator due to safety regulations, or both.
For example, commercial motor vehicles such as trucks, trailers, and containers-on-chassis must comply with Federal and State regulations with respect to the weight carried over each axle. There are both fines and possible removal from service for offenders exceeding the allowable axle loading.
Load indicators have been employed in the prior art to indicate loading of cargo-carrying vehicles relative to the axle structure. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 3,480,095 to Tuchman sets forth a load indicator structure which uses the relative motion of a railroad car and axle to drive a pointer linkage which indicates the car weight on a graduated scale. The structure in Tuchman provides an instantaneous indication of the specific load condition of the associated axle, but does not provide a simple qualitative indication of whether the maximum load limit has been exceeded. The Tuchman device also does not provide any mechanism by which the device may be re-calibrated for variables such as wear on the suspension system, which will effect the accuracy of the device.
Similarly, U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,628 to Jackson shows an overload detector with structure comprising a plurality of gears and cables, providing an indication of the instantaneous load condition to the operator. The structure in Jackson is relatively complicated, with a high part count, several moving parts, and the attendant reliability problems.
It has been recognized that what is required by the vehicle operator in most cases is a direct "Pass/Fail" indication of an overload condition, rather than a quantitative measure of vehicle weight. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,376,760 to Horsley describes an electric switch structure in association with the frame and leaf spring suspension structure of a truck. The signal resulting from activation of the switch provides an indication that the load condition associated with that switch has been exceeded. The use of electronics in the Horsley structure makes it susceptible to reliability problems which are not present in purely mechanical structures.
The instant invention overcomes the deficiencies in the prior art by providing for a direct "Pass/Fail" indication of an overload condition with a relatively uncomplicated mechanical indicator.


Provided is a method for driving a SERDES circuit, which may reduce waste of a space of the SERDES circuit. The circuit driving method includes generating a common clock signal from a common phase locked loop (PLL) supplying a clock signal to a serializer/deserializer (SERDES) circuit, distributing the common clock signal to an eye opening monitor and a data transmission lane in the SERDES circuit, and driving the eye opening monitor and the data transmission lane using the common clock signal.

1. Field
Example embodiments of the inventive concepts relate to a method for driving a serializer/deserializer (SERDES) circuit and/or a circuit performing the same.
2. Description of the Related Art
In order to monitor waveforms of a particular point of a circuit, an eye opening monitor, e.g., an on-chip eye opening monitor may be used. A clock signal for driving the eye opening monitor should have a clock phase shifting resolution that is high enough to sample a waveform of a particular spot. In order to increase the clock phase shifting resolution for driving the eye opening monitor, dedicated additional circuit devices for shifting a phase of the clock signal may be additionally designed, which may, however, increase circuit sizes and may reduce the integration level of the circuit devices, thereby resulting in waste of a circuit space. Therefore, there is a need for proposing a method for driving the eye opening monitor with a high clock phase shifting resolution without installing an additional circuit device dedicated to the eye opening monitor.


A dynamic biasing system (“DBS”) for dynamically biasing an amplifier with an adjusted bias signal is shown. The DBS may include a first biasing circuit that produces a bias signal and a second biasing circuit in signal communication with both the first biasing circuit and the amplifier, wherein the second biasing circuit compares the bias signal to a predetermined threshold and in response produces the adjusted bias signal.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention generally relates to power amplifiers, and in particular, to dynamic biasing of power amplifiers.
2. Related Art
In today's society, both the presence and use of communication systems are increasing at a rapid pace and wireless and broadband communication systems and infrastructures continue to grow. This acceleration has created a strong and ever-growing market for electronic equipment that employs more powerful, efficient, and inexpensive communication components.
Electronic equipment such as computers, wireless devices, broadband devices (i.e., standard telephones), radios, televisions and other similar devices may communicate with one another by passing transmission signals through free-space (i.e., air and space) and through guided media such as wire, cable, microwave, millimeter wave, sonic, and optical connections. These transmission signals go through various processing steps during their communication. One such processing step involves amplifying the transmission signals.
FIG. 1 is an example amplifier transfer function plot 100 of output voltage 102 versus input voltage 104 with an amplification curve 106 that graphically illustrates the typical linear amplification process. In FIG. 1, an input signal 108, having input amplitude 110, is linearly amplified to an output signal 112 having amplified output amplitude 114. If the amplifier gain is one ("0 decibels" also known as "0 dB"), the output amplitude 114 will be of the same magnitude as the input amplitude 110. If the amplifier gain is greater than one (a positive value in dB), the output amplitude 114 will be greater than the input amplitude 110. If the amplifier gain is smaller than 1 (a negative value in dB), the output amplitude 114 will be less than the input amplitude 110. If the amplifier operates in a mode that provides good linearity, then an increase in the amplitude of signal 110 in a given proportion will result in an increase of signal 114 in the exact same proportion. This mode of operation, however, generally requires a higher level of current supply, and thus tends to make the amplifier less energy efficient. For the amplifier to operate in a mode that yields good efficiency, it is required generally that the current consumption be lower. This, however, generally causes the amplifier to reach output signal compression earlier, meaning that for high levels of the output signal, the amplitude of signal 114 cannot increase in the same proportion as signal 110, but instead will have a smaller amplitude increase.
Thus, in amplifying these transmission signals, the power amplifiers within the electronic equipment (such as the type utilized in current commercial applications such as wireless handsets and the like) typically suffer a tradeoff between efficiency and linearity. According to this tradeoff, improvements in linearity are typically achieved by sacrificing the efficiency of the power amplifier through increased biasing.
As an example, FIG. 2 shows an example conventional amplifier 202 within an electronic device 200. The amplifier 202 is typically utilized to increase the power of an input transmission signal 204 from its original power level at an input 206 of the amplifier 202 to the desired power level of an output signal 208 at an output 210 of the amplifier 202. For an input transmission signal 204 having a low power level, the amplifier 202 generally receives sufficient bias current from a power supply 212 and from the biasing circuit 216 of the electronic device 200 to operate. It is appreciated by those skilled in the art that as the power level of the input transmission signal 204 increases, the amplifier 202 may require additional bias current from the power supply 212 and the biasing circuit 216 to operate properly. However, at higher power levels, the circuitry (not shown) that delivers the bias current from the power supply 212 and the biasing circuit 216 to the amplifier 202 may not be able to supply the higher bias current to the amplifier 202, due to hardware limitations in the circuitry.
A known approach to reduce the effects of this problem is to utilize a biasing circuit 216 that provides the amplifier 202 with a higher nominal bias current intensity via signal path 218. However, this approach tends to increase the current consumption of the amplifier, and thus degrade its energy efficiency at lower power levels.
Although this additional bias current enables the amplifier 202 to extend its linear amplification operation as power increases, the amplifier 202 may still experience compression at the highest power levels. When the amplifier 202 experiences compression, its actual output is less than a desired output. For example, if the amplifier 202 is designed to give a gain of 5 decibels ("dB") to a transmission signal 204 but only gives 4.5 dB, the amplifier 202 may be characterized as experiencing a compression of 0.5 dB. It is appreciated by those skilled in the art that extreme input transmission signal 204 power levels may actually cause the amplifier 202 to severely distort the signal and totally compromise the integrity of the information contained in that signal, beyond any possibility of recovering the data at a receiver.
When the power level of the input transmission signal 204 reaches a threshold value (typically known as the amplifier "gain compression point"), the compression of the amplifier 202 reaches a point at which it is more efficient, but less linear. Therefore, there is a need to extend the amplifier gain compression point to a higher output power level and improve the tradeoff between efficiency and linearity in a power amplifier.
FIG. 3 shows an example implementation of an electronic device 300 utilizing a known approach for extending the amplifier gain compression point to a higher output power level and improving the tradeoff between efficiency and linearity in an amplifier 302 utilizing a technique generally known as dynamic biasing. In dynamic biasing, the level of biasing is determined responsive to the amplitude of a radio frequency ("RF") signal 304 at the input 306 of the amplifier 302. As the amplitude changes, so does the level of biasing. A typical approach to dynamic biasing involves detecting the envelope of the RF signal 304 (through a diode-based circuit for example) and biasing the amplifier 302 as a function of the RF signal 304 envelope. This way, the biasing level is kept to a minimum at low power levels, and is allowed to automatically adjust at a higher level as the RF signal power increases, thus optimizing the energy efficiency at low power levels and improving the efficiency/linearity trade-off at higher power levels.
An external detection circuit 308 (i.e., a circuit external to a biasing circuit 310) is utilized to detect the envelope of the RF signal 304, via signal path 312, and provide the necessary information for linearity correction and efficiency control to the biasing circuit 310. Additionally, the external detection circuit 308 may also optionally detect the envelope of the RF output signal 314, via signal path 316. The biasing circuit 310 then provides the necessary biasing current, via signal path 318, to the amplifier 302.
However, a problem with this approach is that it may consume an excessive amount of semiconductor chip space. This problem in this approach is that the external detection circuit 308 is external to the biasing circuit 310, and may need temperature compensation circuitry (not shown) and pre-biasing circuitry (not shown). The temperature compensation circuitry compensates for temperature variations, and the pre-biasing circuitry is often required to place the external detection circuitry 308 in the necessary state of sensitivity. Additional problems with this approach also include excessive cost and complexity.
As a result, there is also a need to extend the amplifier gain compression point to a higher output power level and improve the tradeoff between efficiency and linearity in an amplifier utilizing a dynamic biasing system that is not external to the biasing circuit.


Methods, systems, and coaptation measurement devices as described herein include an elongate sensor body at the end of a proximal connecting member, and a plurality of sensors in an array across a face of the sensor body, wherein each sensor of the plurality of sensors is configured to detect if a portion of a heart valve is in contact with the sensor.

Assessment of heart valve function is currently accomplished by a variety of modalities. In the evaluation of a patient with heart valve disease, an echocardiogram is often the principle assessment tool for assessing the function of a heart valve. Each of the four major valves (the aortic valve, pulmonary valve, mitral valve, and tricuspid valve) have particular associated anatomical and functional characteristics. As these valves are assessed by echocardiogram, the degree of regurgitation or backward flow as well as stenosis or impairment to forward flow are important aspects of the valve function. Valves that are not functioning adequately may have one or more of several different mechanisms causing the poor function. For valves that are regurgitant or leaking, a lack of adequate and stable coaptation between adjacent heart valve leaflets is often the fundamental reason for the leakage through the valve. The exact mechanism for lack of adequate coaptation can vary and can include issues with the support structure below the valve (the subvalvar apparatus), issues with leaflets, or issues with the support structure around the valve (the annulus).
Coaptation is where the valve leaflets contact each other to create the valve seal and it is expressed as coaptation height. This height refers to the distance over which adjacent valve leaflets touch each other to close off the valve and prevent regurgitation through the valve. The taller the coaptation height, the better the valve will likely function in the short and long-term. The coaptation height between two leaflets can vary along the entire coaptation surface between two leaflets of the valve, and between different leaflet parings of the valves that have more than two leaflets.
Assessment of the coaptation height prior to any intervention on the valve has typically been done by echocardiogram. This is done with some frequency in adult valves where the leaflet tissues are thicker and coaptation height can be more easily imaged and often measured. In pediatric heart valves, the leaflets are thinner, often making it difficult to measure coaptation height by echocardiogram (ECHO), especially for the atrioventricular valves. Reports from adult and pediatric cardiac surgery literature cite the coaptation height as being an important predictor of function after valve repair.


It is depicted a rotating therapeutic bed which comprises: a structural base including in turn wheels located on its lower portion to allow moving the bed from one place to another; a first removable stretcher with a first mattress to support the patient laying on his back; a second removable stretcher with a second mattress being placed in a reversed fashion and over the first stretcher and the patient, who is supported between the mattresses of both stretchers; the second stretcher supporting the patient laying face down when stretchers are rotated by 180° on a rotation axis crossing along the patient; front and rear stretcher mounting and rotation members rotationally mounted on the structural base; the first and second stretchers being longitudinally mounted with a vertical spacing between them in such stretcher mounting and rotation means, which allow also their rotation; and side barriers coupled to the longitudinal sides of the first stretcher, as well as of the second stretcher, such barriers covering the vertical spacing between such stretchers where the patient is laying, preventing the patient's limbs from protruding from stretchers when they are rotated.

In modern society, there is a series of accidents that takes place often. In developed societies, accidents related to car traffic are one of the main causes of death. Likewise, many people who make it to survive those traffic accidents partially or fully lose their body motility control due to the injuries resulting from the abovementioned traffic events.
In addition to accidents, whether they are car traffic ones or not, there are other causes resulting in the loss of voluntarily moving some part of one's body. Such causes may be an illness or injury at any points along the motor nerve system between the brain and the muscle fibers, which may arise from injury, poisoning, infection, hemorrhage, occlusion of blood vessels, or tumors, where paralysis may be temporary or permanent.
Temporary paralysis, also known as paresis, often results from infections, traumas, or toxic substances which suppress for a while the motor activity, but do not result in serious injury of nerve cells. On the other hand, permanent paralysis results from extended injury in nerve cells or a nerve root, where nerve cells being seriously injured cannot regenerate. Paralysis of one limb is called monoplegia; paralysis of both limbs at the same side is called hemiplegia; paralysis of both lower limbs is called paraplegia or diplegia; and paralysis of the four limbs is called quadriplegia or tetraplegia.
The United States is known to have a total of about 250,000 permanent quadriplegic patients and its number increases at a rate of 10,000 cases per year. Likewise, according to data from the last general population census, Mexico has about 814,000 people having problems of motor disability.
The immovability of quadriplegic patients makes them to be most of the time laying on a bed and they are thus at risk of developing eschars and sores on their skin, since their immovability prevents them from moving their body and place them in a different position as often as normal people may do so. In this sense, the best to avoid the appearance of eschars and sores is to change the position of the patient in bed, in particular to initially place the patient lying on his back and then turn the patient face down and alternately changing the patient position in periods of time of at least four hours. An important aspect to be considered in this 180° position change is the safety that must be kept to avoid generating additional injuries to the patient.
Thus, in the state of the art, therapeutic beds have been developed to provide such a position change, such as the one depicted in the International Patent Application No. PCT/IE96/00087, published under number WO 97/22323, which depicts a therapeutic bed comprising a support-frame with wheels and a Trendelenburg position support-frame (where feet are located in a plane more elevated than the head) including curved arms that are mounted on guide wheels of the support-frame with wheels. The Trendelenburg position support frame has also guide wheels on which there are rings located in opposing ends of the bed. Likewise, a patient support platform is mounted on the rings, such platform including a mattress and leg supports. Furthermore, the bed includes side rails that are engaged and fastened to the patient support platform. Every side rail incorporates support means for the patient laying face down, the means comprising a head support, an adjustable abdomen support, and sections of support cushions which are longitudinally separated to define adjustable support parts that are mounted so that they can move as a hinge or blade, be engaged, and fastened.
The therapeutic bed provides the patient with a position in which he lies face down by means of the 180° rotation of the rings mounted on the guide wheels. Likewise, the bed may be used for kinetic therapy and/or Trendelenburg movement when a patient is laying face down.
This bed has a quite complicated design, since one of its objects is to be used in the treatment of patients having respiratory problems, being thus only used in hospitals and being operated exclusively by qualified personnel, which is a disadvantage when the bed is used for quadriplegic patients who, most of the times, are at their own home and are directly taken after by their relatives. Therefore, there is a need for beds having a simpler operation and construction which, however, are also provided with safety systems allowing to perform the patient 180° position change in a safely manner.
In particular, it is desirable to have beds where none of the patient limbs are hanging or protruding form the bed when performing the patient position change. Furthermore, beds must not have protuberances or projections that may prove dangerous when the patient position is changed. These are very important aspects to be considered when selecting a bed for quadriplegic patients or patients suffering from motor disability problems.
On the other hand, when a person is suspected to have an injury in the backbone and/or spinal cord, the patient is immobilized and subjected to a therapy known as cervical traction, which aims to keep the patient backbone straight. For that purpose, the patient's head is horizontally pulled by using a free weight hanging from the bed and, in particular, a diadem is placed on the patient and a string is attached to it, whose other end has a free weight which hangs from it. The cervical traction is also a recovery therapy applied in several cases (vertebral listhesis).
For the cases mentioned in the preceding paragraph, it is desirable that the patient position change is performed in a safely manner without ceasing to apply the cervical traction to it. It is worth mentioning that the bed depicted in document WO 97/22323 does not mentioned any means by which the cervical traction therapy may be performed.
Likewise, the operation of the previously depicted bed may represent a complex task for one person alone, since it is necessary to make a considerable effort to place on the patient the cushions which support him in a position in which he lies face down and which are adjusted and secured by using strings to rotate then the rings allowing to perform the 180° rotation.
Regarding the above, it is important bearing in mind the fact that the patient is laying face down and supported only by the cushions, which do not provide a support such as firm as when the patient is laying on his back and is supported by the platform. Furthermore, the safety of the patient laying face down may be reduced in this bed if the strings had not been properly stretched.
Another disadvantage that may be found in the bed depicted in the International Application No. PCT/IE96/00087 is the one related to the limited access to the patient when he is laying face down. In particular, with such bed there is only access to the patient's back when he is in such a position, since the support platform makes the access to the patient difficult, since it is securely fixed on the rings. In this sense, it is desirable to have an easy, rapid, and total access to the patient body when he is laying face down and even on his back. A total access facilitates taking care of the quadriplegic patients or patients suffering from motor disability.
On the other hand, in the prior art there is the bed depicted in the Patent International Application No. PCT/IE99/00049, published under number WO 99/62454, which shows improvements with respect to the bed depicted in International Publication No. WO 97/22323, such improvements being mainly focused to two issues, namely: 1) providing means for care lines directed to patients suffering from severe respiratory problems; and 2) providing the safety needed to rotate the patient.
Regarding the bed depicted in the Application No. PCT/IE99/00049, it can be mentioned that such a bed is to be used mainly in hospitals and, furthermore, it continues to show problems with respect to the limited access to patients when they are laying face down. In spite that the patient support platform provides panels that can be moved as a hinge or blade on a transversal central bar included in the platform to have access to the patient, such an access is partial and only towards the patient's back. Regarding safety, the bed of such a document provides in particular retention means to detachably fastening a patient to the support platform, such support means being operatively attached to the actuating means ruling the rotation of the patient support platform so that, if the retention means are in a proper position, the rotation is allowed. In order to achieve the above, the document mentions the inclusion of sensor in the clasps and strings indicating if the parts have been properly coupled.
Finally, in the state of the art there is a bed depicted in the US Patent Application Serial No. US 2002/0138906 A1, which is extremely similar to that described in the Application No. PCT/IE99/000049. The bed depicted in such US application incorporates improvements related to providing at the rotating rings a section that may be disassembled, sensors indicating if the strings are stretched enough, as well as providing side rails facilitating the access to the patient. In other words, such a document improves in certain aspects the functionality of the bed. However, it continues to have a design that it is mainly directed to be used in hospitals.
The bed depicted in the US Patent Application Serial No. US 2002/0138906 A1 more particularly comprises: A base frame, a platform to support the patient which is rotationally mounted on the base frame for a rotational movement around a longitudinal axis, an actuating system to rotate the patient support platform on the base frame, an end ring straightened up at the bed head board having a central opening to carry lines to take care of the patient, and a removable upper section to improve access to the patient's head. The patient support platform preferably has rotationally mounted side rails which are bent under the patient bed, as well as strings with string connectors indicating if the strings are stretched enough. A direct wired electric connection between the patient support platform and the base frame allows the full rotation of the patient in any direction. Furthermore, it includes a lever manually operated which disengages the patient platform from the actuating system to allow the manual rotation of the patient platform.
According to the above, in such a bed the patient is supported by a series of cushions that are fastened by means of strings incorporating sensors to indicate if such strings are stretched enough. However, as any electromagnetic device, there is the risk for failures in sensors, which would result in a full failure of the safety system.
As it may be seen, the beds depicted in the three abovementioned documents share a very similar structure, which is complex and bulky, mainly because the base with wheels is basically formed by a horizontal rectangular frame provided with various elements in order to provide the "Trendeleburg" position and provide support to the guide rings and, furthermore, the rings mounted at the bed head and foot are also very bulky.
In this sense, it is appropriate that a bed for these patients is not very bulky and, furthermore, that it may be easily assembled and disassembled by one single person, although the beds from the previous art do not consider any of these features. A bed having elements that can be easily disassembled would provide countless advantages to these patients, mainly regarding their relocation and hygiene. More particularly, it is appropriate that the platform providing support to the patient is rapidly removed from the bed and relocate the patient on it. However, the beds from the previous art do not allow this possibility.
Furthermore, it is desirable to have a bed not only allowing the patient to rotate, but providing also the patient with comfort. In particular, beds must be adjustable for height and inclination (Trendelenburg position), have an adjustable tilted back support in order for the patient to seat and have food, and it must be designed in order to conduct lines to provide saline solution to the patient or lines for providing other medical care, without these lines interfering with the operation of rotating the patient.
Moreover, it is desirable to have a bed in which various devices may be used, such as bedpans in order for the patient to evacuate. Considering that the patient is laying face down for long periods of time, the bed must have a window or space which represents no obstruction of the patient's visual field, in order for him to be able to read books or watch television screens.
Another important issue in these beds is that the lowest possible force is needed to change the patient position by a 180° turn, while in the beds from the previous art such a turn was achieved by means of electric motors. However, as it has been mentioned in this chapter, it is desirable to have a bed where one single person may be able to perform the turn and, furthermore, without the need of using electric motors. The above is considering that this rotation operation is a repetitive one.
Likewise, another disadvantage of the beds from the previous art is that, since they include electric or electromagnetic components, they cannot be in contact with water and thus patients need to be relocated in other devices for bath. It is therefore desirable to have a bed in which patients may have a bath on the bed itself.
As it may also be seen, the beds from the previous art, due to their design and use in hospitals, are considerably expensive and they are thus not affordable by families of developing countries, such as Mexico, where an important percentage of the population has low income and quadriplegic relatives.
Consequently, the disadvantages from therapeutic beds in the state of the art have been pretended to be overcome by developing a therapeutic rotationally bed having an extremely simple and economical construction, but having a design allowing a person to change the patient position by means of a 180° turn of the patient in an easy but above all safe fashion. The bed from the present invention eliminates the use of strings to fasten the patient when he is laying face down. However, for this position, it provides a firm support, such as when the patient is laying on his back. The bed of the present invention is integrated by elements which can be rapidly disassembled and facilitate a full access to the patient when he is laying on his back or face down, so that he is able to be provided with all the needed care. Likewise, the bed of the present invention has a not very bulky base allowing its movement through narrow corridors and, above all, it has a design allowing it to be used at home, as well as in hospitals. The inner part of the base has means allowing the provision of the Trendelenburg position.


The invention provides a support arm for an apparatus, preferably for a display screen, comprising a first fastening part for attachment to a frame or a wall, a first member, at one end coupled to the first fastening part and at another end coupled to a first pivot joint which allows rotation about a first axis of rotation, a second member which, at a first end, is coupled to the first pivot joint, and, at a second end, is provided with a second pivot joint which allows rotation about a second axis of rotation, a second fastening part for attaching the apparatus to the support arm, coupled to the second pivot joint, the first and second axes of rotation essentially being parallel to one another. The second fastening part is connected to a substantially L-shaped third member via a third pivot coupled to the second pivot joint.

The invention relates to a support arm for an apparatus, preferably a display screen, specifically a flat display screen. The invention furthermore relates to a pivot joint, in particular suitable for a support arm.
Such support arms are known per se. However, it is difficult to automate the known support arms and they are not stable.


A method of preparing a component (60) to be joined to another component (55). The method comprises growing an array of projections (56, 57) on a bond region of the component (55) in a series of layers, each layer being grown by directing energy and/or material from a head to selected parts of the bond region. The joint may be used to join a pair of structural components, for instance in an aerospace application. For instance the joint may be used to join a reinforcing plate, floating rib foot, or stringer to a panel such as a wing or fuselage cover. Alternatively the joint may be used to join adjacent layers in a laminate structure.

Joining between composite and metallic or thermoplastic components is currently approached in a number of ways, each with its own limitations.
The use of fasteners is commonplace but tends to result in de-lamination around fastener holes, as well as the associated difficulties of drilling holes in composites such as Carbon Fibre and Aramids such as Kevlar.
The bearing strength of laminated composites tends to be low, as does the inter-laminar shear strength. This results in a requirement for significant reinforcement around fastener holes, leading to a large weight increase, which is particularly undesirable in aerospace applications.
Fastened joints tend to be particularly weak in the pull-through direction (that is, the direction of axial load through the fastener) and as such are not well suited to aerospace applications such as fastening ribs to covers, where air and fuel pressure loads tend to result in significant axial component of load through the fastener.
Adhesive bonds are an increasingly common means of joining metallic components to composite laminates, however these perform poorly in peel, tension and cleavage, and tend to fail with little or no warning. Their weakness in peel and in tension makes bonded joints similarly limited in their application within conventional aerospace structures. Any mitigation for the poor performance in peel or tension tends to result in large bond surface areas, with the associated weight penalties that go with this.
Existing research into the use of 'surface' features to improve the strength of metallic/composite joints is limited.
WO 2004/028731 A1 describes a method by which surface features are generated by using a 'power-beam' such as an electron beam, in order to 'flick-up' surface material on a metallic component to sculpt protruding features that are intended to increase bond surface area and improve bond strength when incorporated into the matrix of a co-cured laminate.
This process has certain limitations.
Firstly, the process displaces surface material to create the protruding features. This could lead to surface damage of the component, and is likely to generate crack initiators that will adversely affect the fatigue life of the parent part.
Secondly, the process does not provide scope for optimising the profile and shape of the protrusions, which could produce significant improvements in the performance of the joint—particularly in tension and peel.
Thirdly, the process is an additional step in the production of a component and as such has an adverse time and cost impact.
Fourthly, the method can only form protruding features with a relatively low aspect ratio.

Preparation of a component for use in a joint


A process includes selecting a node associated with an extracted node and a node associated with the node accepted by an acceptance unit accepting a node from nodes included in a node link obtained from text relating to a specific matter, accepting a first item in which a registered content of an analysis target is registered, from items in a table relating to the specific matter, accepting the registered content of the analysis target, a second item for use in calculating degrees of association between registered contents in the first item in the table and nodes; calculating the degrees of association between each of the registered content in the first item in the table and the nodes selected, according to a registered content in the second item in the table; and extracting a node associated with the analysis target from the selected nodes, according to the calculated degrees of association.

There is a technique called text mining for analyzing the contents of text. For example, there is a node extraction technique by which the appearance frequency of a pair of nodes (content words or keywords) extracted from a plurality of text data by a morphological analyzer is set as degree of association, and a pair of nodes with a degree of association exceeding a predetermined value is extracted as a pair of associated nodes. By the use of the foregoing technique, a node link is generated such that the higher the degrees of association between extracted pairs of nodes become, the shorter the distances between the nodes become, and the generated node link is displayed. This allows a user to understand the feature of the entire text and visually grasp the degree of association between the nodes.
In addition, there is another technique called OLAP (online analytical processing) for subjecting data registered in a table of a DWH (data warehouse) to multi-dimensional analyses. The OLAP is intended to extract from data, a dimension in which the data is classified into a hierarchical structure (an item set on an axis) and numerical data included in the data, and subject the extracted data to multi-dimensional analyses using methodologies such as "slicing," "dicing," and "drill-down." The "slicing" is a process for subjecting analysis results to more detailed analysis on an axis with a new dimension. The "dicing" is a process for analyzing data in a different dimension (aspect). The "drill-down" is a process for subjecting data to more detailed analysis in a more detailed dimension.    Patent Literature 1: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2010-205077    Patent Literature 2: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2010-49411    Patent Literature 3: Japanese Laid-open Patent Publication No. 2005-202535    Non-Patent Literature 1: "General Information Manual for Interstage Navigator Explorer Server," [online], [searched on Jun. 15, 2012], the Internet <http:software.fujitsu.com/jp/manual/manualfiles/M060039/B1 WN7811/02Z200/gai02/gai00013.html>    Non-Patent Literature 2: "General Information Manual for Interstage Navigator Server 8.0," [online], [searched on Jun. 15, 2012], the Internet <http:software.fujitsu.com/jp/manual/manualfiles/M060059/B1 WN7601/03Z200/gaiaa/gai00086.html>
In some cases, a user may extract from a node link displayed through the foregoing technique for displaying a node link, a node group associated with a specific node and associated with a specific analysis target, by his/her experience or instinct. One example of such extraction by a user will be described. FIG. 26 is a diagram illustrating one example of an operation performed by a user. The example of FIG. 26 provides a node link 90 produced from responses to a plurality of questionnaires from persons who purchased electronic devices such as printers or personal computers in any of three districts, that is, Tobu District, Chubu District, and Seibu District. When the node link 90 illustrated in the example of FIG. 26 is displayed, if a user wishes to search for nodes specific to Tobu District with high degrees of association with the node "hot-selling" possibly inspiring consumers' buying motivation, based on the node link 90 obtained from the questionnaire result, the user performs the following operation. Specifically, the user selects a node group related to the node "hot-selling" and specific to Tobu District as an analysis target by his/her experience or instinct.
However, the user selects a node group by his/her experience or instinct, and thus there are cases where the selected node group is not associated with a specific node or an analysis target.
If a huge number of nodes are included in the node link, it takes enormous time for the user to manually select from the huge number of nodes a node group associated with a specific node and an analysis target.

Information processing device, computer-readable recording medium, and node extraction method


A multi-channel transmission system that provides dynamic mapping of data to channels is described. In one embodiment, a packet of data to be transmitted is broken up into a number of fragments. Fragments are loaded into transmit buffers. Active buffers are indicated by bits in an active-fragment register and active channels are indicated by bits in an active-channel register. A transmit buffer to channel mapping is provided by multiplexers. The multiplexers are controlled by a channel mapping table that uses the data in the active-fragment register and the active-channel register to decide which transmit buffers are mapped to which channels. Each transmit buffer can be simultaneously mapped to more than one channel in order to allow the same data to be simultaneously transmitted on more than one channel, thereby increasing the likelihood that the data will be successfully transmitted even if some of the channels are rendered inoperative. In one embodiment, an acknowledgement sent by a receiver indicates which channels are operative and which channels are inoperative.

The widespread availability of computers and communication devices (e.g. cellular telephones) has generated a rapid increase in the number of data networks. Networking two or more computers together allows the computers to share information, file resources, printers, etc. Connecting two or more computers together to form a network is, in principle, a simple task. The computers are simply connected together using a cable, and the necessary software is installed onto the computers. In network terminology, the cable is the network medium and the computers and printers are the network nodes. Unfortunately, in practice, creating a computer network is often not quite as simple as it sounds.
The electrical signal environment of a network medium typically limits the maximum speed at which data can be transmitted over the medium. The maximum speed is generally limited by the maximum bandwidth available on the medium and the noise (or more precisely, the signal to noise ratio) encountered on the medium. While the bandwidth of the medium is usually quite predictable, the noise (and thus the signal to noise ratio) can be unpredictable. Typical noise sources include motors, switching transients, ElectroMagnetic Interference, and the like. Noise-like sources can also include electrical discontinuities in the medium. Electrical discontinuities such as and connectors, cable bends, impedance variations, and the like, create reflections that interfere with data transmission.
In multi-channel systems, where the medium supports multiple independent channels, the changing characteristics of noise on the line can create situations where data sent on some channels is successfully received at the destination node while data on other channels (bad channels) is lost. Systems that retransmit lost data, that is, data bad channels, can suffer from excess system complexity, cost, and/or slow data throughput due to the overhead and latency associated with setting up the transmitter to retransmit lost data.

Apparatus and method for re-sending data on communication channels


A low array antenna having transmit/receive (T/R) modules, which contain a digitally-controlled variable attenuator, for each of the two polarizations (horizontal and vertical). The array has a cylindrically curved surface which closely conforms to the shape of the fuselage of an airborne vehicle or another structure. Each polarization feeds into an elevation beamformer apparatus which provides both a uniform taper and a Bayliss/Taylor taper. As the beam is scanned in elevation, the amplitude taper is adjusted via the variable attenuator to control the taper of a sum pattern and thereby achieve low sidelobe far field sum patterns. The same attenuators that are used for the sum pattern also feed a difference network. The T/R module attenuators are set to yield the desired low sidelobe sum illumination for a desired elevation scan angle. As the array is steered in elevation, the Bayliss difference taper is distorted since the fixed elevation beamformer cannot adjust the difference pattern for the new scan angle. A T/R module is provided at each column of the array to combine the distorted Bayliss difference pattern with the compensated Taylor sum pattern output. This combining permits the distorted Bayliss array illumination to be resymmetrized thereby producing a high quality, low sidelobe, compensated Bayliss far field pattern. This apparatus provides for complete compensation of both sum and difference patterns with only a single attenuator at each element of the array and a simple monopulse feed network.

This invention relates generally to phased array radar systems and, more particularly, to an illumination taper adjusting apparatus and method which provides scan compensation for a phased array antenna on a curved surface.
In phased array microwave radar systems, it is often required in a monopulse feed network to form two or more simultaneous beams on receive having different weightings. As an example, it may be required in a monopulse feed network to form a sum beam having Taylor weighting and a difference beam having a Bayliss weighting, along a linear array of, illustratively, sixty-four radiating elements.
The curvature of a conformal phased array antenna distorts the radiation pattern when the beam is scanned. In the prior art a paper by John Antonucci and Peter Franchi titled "A Simple Technique to Correct for Curvature Effects on Conformal Phased Arrays," Proceedings of the 1985 Antenna Applications Symposium, Rome Air Development Command, Report No. RADC-TR-85-242, Vol. 2, December 1985, describes a technique of using the sum and difference networks in combination to correct for curvature effects. A variable power divider is used to combine the power in a prescribed proportion at an arbitrary scan angle between the sum and difference channels. This recombination method partially restores the original aperture illumination for the scanned direction. The optimum amount of signal to be distributed to achieve the maximum restoration is found as a function of scan angle and curvature. However, this approach to correct conformal array curvature effects only partially corrects the illumination taper and still results in high sidelobes. In order to fully correct for conformal effects in the prior art, separate phase shifters and attenuators are placed at each radiating element, one for each beam, in order to properly correct for curvature effects. This represents a severe cost multiplier for the fabrication of curved phased array antennas.
The beamforming architecture of the prior art typically uses each column of a phased array to generate simultaneously sum and difference patterns on receive beams. Typically, these beamformers are used in planar arrays where scan compensation of the illumination is not needed or done when the beam is scanned. Similar architectures may be used to combine columns into a two dimensional array. Typically, a single T/R module with a single phase shifter and level set attenuator is used at each radiating element in the phase array. When building a curved or conformal array, it is necessary to limit the T/R module at the radiating elements to one phase shifter and attenuator, as is done with planar arrays, in order to keep array cost, size, volume and weight at reasonable levels.

Scan compensation for array antenna on a curved surface