A projectile for an air arm is integrally formed from a single piece of dense malleable material formed as a body of revolution about a longitudinal axis having a head portion dimensioned for free sliding in the bore of an air arm and a skirt-like portion of frusto-conical form. The rearward end of the skirt portion is dimensioned to be in slight interference fit with the bore and the forward end is joined with the head portion to define a reduced diameter waist. The frustum is shell-walled, having a central recess opening to the rear and extending forwardly into the head portion. The head portion has a parabolically shaped outer surface which transitions smoothly into a hyperbolically shaped outer skirt surface for aerodynamic efficiency. Vanes are formed on the head portion to enhance in-flight spiraling rotation.

A projectile loaded into the barrel bore of a conventional air arm is propelled by the pressure of air which increases abruptly in the conduit leading to the breech as the piston is spring driven on release of the piston shaft. The energy stored in the spring is largely converted to work of compression performed as a nearly adiabatic process compressing the air ahead of the piston, but significantly large losses arise in the process of transferring kinetic energy of motion to the projectile from the compressed fluid.
Ideally, the projectile should be a body whose configuration forms a perfect gas seal in the barrel and provides a predetermined large initial resistance to being dislodged from rest in its initial, loaded position, which resistance should abruptly fall to zero once the breech pressure has reached a high value nearly equaling the peak gas pressure achieved during the piston stroke. Stated otherwise, the body should move without friction once the gas temperature has peaked, and should accelerate to maximum muzzle velocity while the breech pressure remains near or at its highest value.
In any practical barrel form the space behind the projectile is a storage vessel in which volume the entire compressed air charge is confined when the piston has been driven almost to the breech, at which time the projectile is about to be expelled. Consequently, the friction of the work of compression represented by the column of highly compressed air in the bore is not available for further acceleration of the projectile as a secondary piston. Accordingly, it will be seen that any improvement in muzzle velocity is to be attained only by avoiding losses occurring while the projectile is in the barrel.
Previously, a large number of projectile designs have been experimented with in attempting to increase the muzzle velocity. Current high-performance pellets are of "daibolo" form, i.e. they have a head portion of normal bore diameter, a reduced-diameter waist, and a flaring skirt after-portion comprising a hollow frusto-conical shell wall merging at its lesser diameter end with the head portion. Certain high-power air arms having precision rifled steel barrels are capable of accelerating the better projectile forms to muzzle velocities in the 680–780 feet per second range, excluding compression-ignition assist by ether or a hydrocarbon vapor released from the pellet.
The known forms of pellets are made from such materials and have their dimensions so chosen as to provide adequate frictional holding in the breech end of the barrel so that the inserted pellet will reliably remain stationary during barrel-closing and sighting, and so that a certain amount of drag resistance to movement is provided until the pressure has risen to several hundred pounds per square inch. Once this pressure is reached the forward movement of the pellet "grooves" the largest-diameter surface portions, which engage the barrel lands and the rifling grooves, thereby imparting rotary movement to the pellet so that it is expelled from the barrel with a high spin velocity advantageous to trajectory stability. Lead and lead alloys are cast or molded in dies to produce such pellets, after which careful selection and cushioned packaging are performed to ensure that the pellets are without deformation when they are to be fired.
In general, the best prior art pellets have a skirt margin which is relatively stiff and unyielding, so that insertion into the breech end of the barrel, even when the breech is tapered, requires firm pressure by the user's thumb to perform the initial swaging operation. While firm seating is achieved by such pellet forms, and a certain amount of initial build-up of gas pressure in the breech chamber is assured before the pellet breaks away from the static friction restraint, the pellet is not inherently self-aligning with the barrel axis, nor is the periphery of the skirt capable of being urged into such intimate engagement with the barrel bore and the rifling grooves as to avoid substantial "blow-by" of compressed air.
Certain air arms have a pellet-receiving breech and portion of the barrel wherein the bore has a diameter nearly equal to the diameter as measured between opposed rifling grooves, or even slightly larger than this diameter, so that the pellet skirt is insertable without appreciable swaging of the metal while the head portion is received in a normal bore diameter barrel portion.
While the pellet may be inserted in an initially coaxial relation to the barrel axis, as the pellet is driven forward the skirt is abruptly frictionally engaged by the reduced diameter barrel portion and remains briefly arrested until increasing air pressure drives it ahead, swaging the skirt periphery to form grooves. During this time the sealing action is imperfect which allows significantly large gas blow-by to occur, and further escape continues past the skirt margin throughout the pellet travel through the barrel.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,005,660 to J. Pichard describes a high velocity pellet for an air gun wherein the free marginal portion of the frusto-conical skirt has an inner rearward surface portion formed with a coaxial bevel so that the skirt margin tapers in thickness toward a thin rearward edge, and has a short axial length portion not longer than the internally beveled portion which flares rearwardly outwardly with a greater apical angle, the maximum diameter of the skirt periphery being so dimensioned that it is a light interference fit in a barrel diameter equal to the diameter measured across opposed rifling grooves.
In Pichard, the pellet is formed of a material such as lead or lead alloy preferably without hardening components and preferably a virgin metal which will swedge readily in its reduced thickness terminal region, enabling the skirt periphery to rapidly engage the barrel wall intimately upon rise of air pressure in the breech. When the pressure in the bore has reached its maximum value, which in well designed air arms occurs when the projectile moved only a few inches, the pellet is a freely-sliding but closely-fitted secondary piston, the skirt margin being molded to an axially-short annular ring portion of substantial constant axial length, the outer surface of which is engaged in close conformity to the transverse cross-sectional internal surface of the barrel, i.e. sliding along both the barrel lands and the bottoms of the rifling grooves. The remainder of the terminal frusto-conical portion is out of contact with the barrel. The relatively pliant terminal edge portion assures that the pellet axis coincides substantially with the barrel axis.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,150,909 to Fitzwater describes an air gun pellet comprising a spherical projectile removably retained on a skirt assembly, wherein the skirt assembly provides an arrangement for separating the projectile from the skirt assembly after the initial firing of the gun but before the projectile exits the barrel of the gun. In one version, the skirt assembly has a skirt body, with a shaft affixed to the skirt body. A projectile clutch assembly includes a clutch body and at least two clutch jaws disposed about the projectile. A retained device is disposed within the clutch body such that the projectile is retained within the clutch jaws. A conduit is disposed within the clutch body such that the shaft is capable of traversing through the conduit and propelling the projectile from the clutch jaws.
The Fitzwater device has a number of shortcomings. The release of the projectile from the skirt portion while within the barrel will result in appreciable loss of range due to premature blow-by of the compressed air around the projectile, which has a substantially smaller diameter than the internal diameter of the gun barrel. Additionally, the loss of contact of the pellet with rifling within the bore will adversely affect both range and accuracy, as will the round shape of the pellet. The multi-part structure of the Fitzwater device is expensive and prone to inadvertently separating prior to firing, resulting to jamming and mis-feeding of pellets within the air gun mechanism.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,251,079 to Earl et al. describes a pellet for an air gun which has a head portion made of metal or metal containing plastics material and a shank extending rearwardly from the head portion. A skirt portion is secured to the head portion by the shank. The skirt portion has at least two sections, which are larger in diameter than the head portion and is made of elastic plastic material, for slidably engaging the gun barrel bore surface. The head portion provides weight for the skirt portion during flight. As in the case of Fitzwater, the Earl device employs plastic to affect a seal of the compressed gasses during firing. The use of elastic materials such as plastic can result in blow-by, with resulting loss of range and accuracy. Furthermore the irregular shape of the Earl device will result in an irregular flight trajectory, with further loss of range and accuracy.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,526,893 B2 to May et al. describes polymer ballistic tip pellets including soft lead pellets with hard polymeric tips for use in air guns. The lead pellets have forwarded pointed tip portions made from a hard polymeric material. The tip portions can have hollow or solid heads. The hard tip in each of the pellets enables the pellet when fired from an air gun to pierce the fur and skin of small game animals, for example, before the lead portions of the head and skirt of the pellet begin to deform, imparting shock to the surrounding soft tissue, and shattering bone. Although the lead portion of the May design may operate in a similar manner as described in connection with the Pichard device, the two-piece design adds cost and complexity to the manufacturing process. Furthermore, any irregularities or misalignment of the lead portion and tip will result in an irregular trajectory with attendant loss of accuracy.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,649,020 to Hall describes an air gun projectile including a conventional air gun slug having a forward nose portion and a skirt portion flaring outwardly and rearwardly from a reduced diameter central portion. The nose portion is placed within the cylindrical bore of an impact-yielding cap. The cap has a circular front wall end and a rearwardly extending cylindrical skirt. The cap skirt is snugly received over the slug nose portion and the external diameter of the cap skirt is substantially equal to the diameter of the slug skirt at its widest point. Disposed within a hollow defined by the slug nose, cap front wall, and cap skirt is an indicator comprising a flash producing powder and Amorce mixture, and/or a solvent-based paint. Regarding trajectory and accuracy, the Hall device has many of the shortcomings of the other multi-part air gun pellets described herein above.
In summary, prior art pellets for air guns typically fall into two broad categories, those intended for target or non-lethal usage which have a blunt, non-penetrating head profile and remain largely intact after impact, and pellets useful for hunting which either have a projecting leading surface for high target penetration and/or features to produce substantial radial expansion or fragmentation upon contacting a target to maximize impact and soft tissue damage.
Enhancing projectile flight trajectory, and thus, range and accuracy, were immeasurably improved with the advent of rifled bores. The spiral grooves within the bore of the weapon initially impart a rotary motion component to the projectile as it accelerates down the barrel. Once discharged from the barrel, however, there is nothing other than inertia to sustain the rotary motion and it will be reduced somewhat over time due to air turbulence and drag. Thus, as it nears its impact point, its accuracy will be diminished.
To optimize flight characteristics of a projectile throughout its entire trajectory to the point of impact, means must be provided to sustain or even increase its rate of rotation. This is well known and practiced in gravity bombs and large caliber munitions, particularly those, which are chemically propelled in flight to enhance their range, such as rocket-propelled grenades and the like. Most typically, an empennage structure is added, including guide surfaces behind the projectile.
Axially directed through passages have been proposed in large caliber munitions for guidance purposes. These have the advantage of permitting internally disposed (and thus relatively protected) guide vanes to enhance rotation. U.S. Pat. No. 517,560 to Ashley describes a large caliber, armor-piercing projectile for smooth bore weapons having a central passage and internal spiral ribs, thought to enhance rotation in flight. Although the Ashley device may have utility for large caliber weapons, it has several shortcomings that render it inapplicable for smaller caliber applications. The relatively large passageway of the Ashley device results in the mass of the device being distributed externally, far from the central axis. Thus, any irregularities or asymmetries will divert the projectile from its intended trajectory. Secondly, and more importantly, simply reducing the scale of the Ashley device to a diameter typically employed in air arms would render any spiral enhancing effect negligible and probably decrease accuracy.
Although accuracy, range and flight/trajectory characteristics are desirable for any projectile, the aerodynamics of known prior art pellets for air guns is uniformly poor. This is believed to be largely due to the relatively small caliber sizes involved, and the fact that air arms tend to be in the lower end market and, thus, their consumables are extremely cost sensitive. Little or no thought has been given to streamlining the pellet profile to maximize its in-flight aerodynamic behavior. Most known designs have blunt leading surfaces and/or irregular surface features and abrupt contours which produce turbulence in the adjacent air stream and range reducing drag.
Another shortcoming of known pellets for air arms results from lack of rigorous design methodologies in optimizing their ballistic characteristics. Most pellet designs comprise nothing more that an inartistic cylindrical lump of lead with a short conical tail. Little or no thought has been given to precise placement of the center of gravity of the projectile as an essential element of maximizing in flight stability, and thus accuracy and shot-to-shot repeatability.
It is, therefore, a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved aerodynamic projectile for an air arm which overcomes known shortfalls of existing devices without adding to part count, manufacturing complexity or cost.


A dog training device may include a base with a first cross member slidably connected to the base and a second cross member slidably connected to the base. A first set of pedestals may be slidably connected to the first cross member and a second set of pedestals may be slidably connected to the second cross member. Advantageously, the distances between the cross members and the pedestals may be adjusted so that the dog training device may be used with dogs of various shapes and sizes. In addition, the base, cross members and pedestals may be quickly and easily connected and disconnected, which may facilitate transportation and storage of the device. The base, cross members and pedestals may also be securely interconnected to provide a stable and steady dog training device.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention is generally directed towards an animal training device and, in particular, to a dog training device such as a dog stacking trainer.
2. Description of Related Art
Animals, such as dogs, are often trained to perform certain actions. For example, dogs may be trained to follow obedience commands, perform tricks, be a guide dog to lead the blind, be a rescue dog to find victims of a disaster, be a hunting dog to aid in hunting, or serve as a guard animal.
Animals may also be trained for other purposes, such as to stand in a desired position as part of a competition. For example, dogs are frequently trained to stand a particular way when being presented or examined as part of a conformation competition at a show. Traditionally, this presentation is done by having the dog stand in a manner which shows off its physical features, position, stance, coat, etc. In particular, dogs are many times taught to stand in a slightly stretched position with all four feet on the ground. Standing in the proper position is often referred to as "stacking."
Dogs must be trained to stand in the proper position and many conventional dog training methods involve rewarding desired behavior while ignoring or correcting undesired behavior. Because dogs may have a strong sense of kinesiological awareness and may be acutely aware of their body position, dogs may be trained to stand in the desired position. During such training, the dog may be placed in the desired position and may be rewarded for maintaining the desired position. Over the years, many techniques and devices have been used to teach the dog the proper stacking position. Some trainers may have used soup cans, blocks of wood and the like to reinforce the proper stacking position.
Conventional dog training devices, however, may cause physical harm or injury to the dog. Conventional dog training devices may also include multiple parts and may be difficult to use. In addition, many traditional dog training devices may not be very sturdy and the components may not be securely fastened together. Thus, the devices may wobble or undesirably move, which may make the training of the dog more difficult and time consuming. Further, many known dog training devices can only be used with dogs of certain sizes or types, and cannot be used on dogs of different types, sizes and abilities.


The invention relates to a padlock in particular to a padlock for securing and monitoring a switch of an industrial plant. The invention further relates to a set of padlocks, to a padlock housing and to a method of retrofitting a padlock.

The invention relates to a padlock in particular to a padlock for securing and monitoring a switch of an industrial plant. The invention further relates to a set of padlocks, to a padlock housing and to a method of retrofitting a padlock.
A particular area of application of a padlock is in the field of occupational safety. There is the risk in connection with the servicing of industrial plants, for example, of a production machine, that the industrial plant deactivated for the purpose of service work is activated again by accident while the servicing work is still continuing. A substantial danger for the service engineer can result from this. It is therefore customary that the service engineer moves a switch associated with the industrial plant to an OFF position for the duration of the service work and secures it in this position, i.e. the switch is directly blocked or access to the switch is blocked. The named switch is typically an energy supply switch, for example a main electrical switch of a control device or of an energy supply device of the industrial plant (e.g. power switchbox). Alternatively to this, the named switch can, for example, be a valve of a liquid line or of a gas line.
In order to effectively avoid an accidental activation of the industrial plant by another person, each service engineer hangs a padlock on the named switch or on a blocking device associated with the switch before starting his work and locks said padlock. The switch is hereby secured in its OFF position, i.e. the switch cannot be moved accidentally back into an ON position by another person. When the service engineer has ended his work, he unlocks his padlock again and releases it from the switch. Each service engineer usually has his own individual padlock (or a plurality of his own individual padlocks) associated with him.
This procedure is also called locking out. The padlock used is accordingly called a lockout lock. The document U.S. Pat. No. 5,449,867 shows such a securing of an electric rocker switch by means of a padlock. It is known from the document U.S. Pat. No. 3,171,908 to secure the position of a rotary switch by means of a padlock.
So that a plurality of service engineers can block and release the switch again independently of one another, a plurality of receivers (e.g. eyelets) can be provided at the switch for hanging a plurality of lockout locks. This is known from the document U.S. Pat. No. 6,388,213, for example. If only a single receiver for a lockout lock is provided, a securing claw can be used which is hung into the respective eyelet of the switch or of the associated blocking device and which in turn has a plurality of hang-in eyelets for a respective padlock. Only when the last padlock has been removed from the securing claw, the securing claw can be removed from the switch so that it can again be brought into the ON position. Such a securing claw for use at an electric switchbox is known, for example, from documents U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,396,008, 5,365,757 and 3,667,259.
It is known in connection with such a securing of a switch of an industrial plant to equip the lockout lock having a lock body used with a housing of plastic, with a shackle being displaceably held at the lock body and with a lock cylinder being arranged in the lock body. The lock cylinder can selectively be brought from an open position into a locked position to lock the shackle to the lock body after the shackle has, for example, been hung into an eyelet of the switch. By forming the lock housing from plastic, a particularly light padlock results which is of advantage in the use as a lockout lock since the service engineers occasionally carry a plurality of lockout locks simultaneously. A housing of plastic can also contribute to a desired electrical insulation. By the use of a plastic housing, there is furthermore a particularly simple possibility of color marking the padlock. Such a lockout lock having a housing of plastic is known, for example, from documents U.S. Pat. Nos. 7,278,283 and 5,755,121.
Depending on the specific application or use, a customer may desire different designs of the lockout lock. It may for example be necessary to have a relatively long lock housing so that identity pictures or photos can be applied to the lock housing and/or warning messages can be printed on the lock housing in multiple languages. Such a modification of the exterior of the lockout lock should, however, not necessarily affect its interior (i.e. the lock body, particularly the locking mechanism including for example a lock cylinder, an associated key and displaceable locking members). It is also desirable that such a change of the design may be carried out fast and easily by a locksmith or a service unit. The known padlocks, however, require an enormous investment in inventory to meet the market's expectations for fast delivery of special versions, due to the numerous possibly required versions (e.g. color, size, shackle engagement length, cylinder configuration).


Systems and methods may involve circuitry that receives a first transition of a clocking signal. The circuitry may also to enable a compensation circuit characterized by a capacitance in response to the first transition of the clocking signal and may receive subsequent transitions of the clocking signal. The circuitry may also apply the capacitance to the subsequent transitions of the clocking signal after enabling the compensation circuit to generate a compensated clocking signal characterized by an adjusted duty cycle relative to a duty cycle of the clocking signal.

This section is intended to introduce the reader to various aspects of art that may be related to various aspects of the present techniques, which are described and/or claimed below. This discussion is believed to be helpful in providing the reader with background information to facilitate a better understanding of the various aspects of the present disclosure. Accordingly, it should be understood that these statements are to be read in this light and not as admissions of prior art.
Generally, a computing system includes processing circuitry, such as one or more processors or other suitable components, and memory devices, such as chips or integrated circuits. One or more memory devices may be used on a memory module, such as a dual in-line memory module (DIMM), to store data accessible to the processing circuitry. For example, based on a user input to the computing system, the processing circuitry may request that a memory module retrieve data corresponding to the user input from its memory devices. In some instances, the retrieved data may include firmware, or instructions executable by the processing circuitry to perform an operation and/or may include data to be used as an input for the operation. In addition, in some cases, data output from the operation may be stored in memory, such as to enable subsequent retrieval of the data from the memory.
Operational rates of memory devices, including the data rate of a memory device, have been increased over time. As speeds of memory devices increase, a likelihood for data errors occurring may increase since a duration of time to clock data signals is reduced. Furthermore, inter-symbol interference (ISI) may additionally or alternatively introduce challenges into memory device operation. ISI may be a component of noise affecting a data clock signal (DQS signal) of the memory device, and thus may change a transmission pattern of the DQS signal. For example, ISI may adjust a duration of a first transition of the DQS signal between logic high and logic low, such that a duration of the first transition may vary from durations of subsequent transitions. This variance may correct itself some over many clocking cycles. However, even one clocking cycle mis-clocking data to or from the memory device may cause a data error. Thus, more efficient ways to compensate for ISI altering the DQS signal may be desired.


An edge of a first piece of wood is secured in a groove formed in a second piece by a joining strip of U-section with a base and a pair of sides projecting from outer edges of the base. The strip is adapted to fit over the edge of the first piece and into the groove of the second piece and is formed with inner teeth projecting inward from the sides of the strip so that the teeth poke into the first piece of wood and outer teeth projecting outward from the strip so that the outer teeth poke into the second piece of wood.

It is frequently necessary in the construction of panel doors, cabinet carcasses, wooden I-beams, and the like to seat the edge of a panel made of plywood, pressed board, or the like into a groove in another wooden body that can serve as a support beam or frame. Once the groove has been formed in the support member, it is standard just to apply glue to the panel edge and then fit it into place. Some fasteners such as nails may be applied across the joint to further secure it together.
Such a procedure does not produce a very strong joint between the two pieces unless done with great care. Furthermore the joint can be messy, in particular when any fasteners are not carefully seated and covered.


A variable valve timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine comprising a housing member rotated in synchronism with one of a first shaft and a second shaft, the housing member comprising a circular space provided therein and at least one fan-shaped space radially extending from an outer circumferential surface of the circular space, a vane rotor rotated in synchronism with the other of the first shaft and the second shaft, the vane rotor is accommodated in the housing member in order to relatively rotate with respect to the housing member, the vane rotor comprising at least one vane radially extending so as to divide each the fan-shaped space into a first chamber and a second chamber, a locking member provided in one of the housing member and the vane, the locking member comprising a main body portion provided with a cylindrical shape and a leading head portion provided with a tapered surface whose diameter decreases toward an end face of the leading head portion, an engaging bore provided in the other of the housing member and the vane for accommodating the leading head portion, a diameter at the opening of the engaging bore being larger than a diameter at the end face of the leading head portion, and smaller than a diameter at which the leading head portion has a largest diameter.

This invention relates to a variable valve timing control apparatus provided in an internal combustion engine (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9can enginexe2x80x9d) to change the valve timing of intake valves or exhaust valves, thereby changing operation timing of the intake valves or the exhaust valves in accordance with engine conditions. A variable valve timing control apparatus is proposed in an engine to displace the rotational phrase of a camshaft and adjust the valve timing of either an intake valve or an exhaust valve.
This type of apparatus is generally known. For example, relevant related art is disclosed in Japan publication (koukai) No. 9-280018, and Japan publication (koukai) No. 10-159515. These publications disclose a vane-type variable valve timing control apparatus (hereinafter referred to as xe2x80x9cvane-type VTCxe2x80x9d or simply xe2x80x9cVTCxe2x80x9d) which has a housing member rotated by a crankshaft of the engine. The housing has a circular space and fan-shaped spaces protruding from circumferential surface of the circular space. A vane rotor is accommodated in the housing member and rotates in synchronism with a camshaft. There are plural vanes protruding from the circumferential surface of the vane rotor, each vane is accommodated in each fan-shaped space and defines an advancing hydraulic chamber and a retarding hydraulic chamber. Finally, there is a hydraulic actuating means for actuating hydraulic pressure in the advanced hydraulic chambers and the retarding hydraulic chambers. The hydraulic actuating means selectively supplies the hydraulic fluid to either the advancing hydraulic chambers or retarding hydraulic chambers and discharges the hydraulic fluid from the other of the advancing hydraulic chambers and retarding hydraulic chambers. Thereby the vane rotor is rotated relative to the housing.
The Japan publication No. 9-280018 further describes a locking mechanism for preventing a vane rotor from relatively rotating with respect to a housing. The locking member comprising a locking pin provided in a vane, and an engaging bore provided in the housing. When the engine is out of operation, or when the hydraulic pressure in the advancing hydraulic chambers or the retarding hydraulic chambers is under a predetermined value, a leading head portion of the locking pin is urged into an engaging bore by the urging force of a spring provided in the locking pin. As a result, an impinging sound that otherwise would be caused by the relative movement of the vanes and the housing member is prevented from being generated even if the camshaft undergoes positive or negative torque variation in driving the intake valves or exhaust valves, when the vanes are disposed at the most retarded position or the most advanced position in respect of the crankshaft. When the pressure in the advancing chambers or the retarding chambers is over the predetermined value by supplying hydraulic fluid to the advancing hydraulic chambers or the retarding hydraulic chambers, the leading head portion of the locking pin is retracted from the engaging bore and the vane rotor relatively rotates with respect to the housing member. The leading head portion and the engaging bore are both formed cylindrically.
However, since the both leading head portion and the engaging bore are formed cylindrically, a diameter of the engaging bore must be made larger than a diameter of the leading head portion of the locking pin in order that the leading head portion is accommodated positively in the engaging bore. As a result, a gap is made between the leading head portion and the engaging bore. This gap causes impinging between the leading head and the engaging bore by torque fluctuation of the camshaft undergoing the positive or negative torque variation.
The Japan publication No. 10-159515 also describes a locking pin of which the leading head portion is provided with a tapered surface, and an engaging bore provided with a tapered surface. Both taper angles correspond together.
However, since these tapers of the leading head portion and the engaging bore should be provided with precisely the same angle, it often is difficult to provide a taper angle of the leading head portion that corresponds to the taper angle of the engaging bore. If the taper angle of the engaging bore is larger than the taper angle of the leading head portion, a gap is provided between the entire outer surface of the leading head portion and the entire inner surface of the engaging bore. Thereby, the locking pin easily fits into the bore, thus allowing the leading head portion to be retracted from the engaging bore by torque fluctuation of the camshaft before the pressure in the advanced hydraulic chamber or the retarded hydraulic chambers reaches a predetermined value.
Even if the leading head portion of the locking pin and the engaging bore can be shaped so that the both taper angles correspond together, the torque fluctuation transmitted via the camshaft and the locking pin affects the whole surface of the engaging bore. This contact causes abrasion at the inner surface of the engaging bore. Thereby a gap is formed between the inner surface of the engaging bore and the outer surface of the leading head portion of the locking pin. Consequently, the locking pin may retract from the engaging bore by torque fluctuation of the camshaft before reaching the pressure in the advanced hydraulic chamber or the retarded hydraulic chambers to the predetermined value.
Accordingly, in view of above-described problems encountered in the related art, a principal object of the present invention is to provide a vane-type VTC which has a locking mechanism that is moved easily and consistently.
Another object of the present invention is to prevent the undesirable retraction of a locking member from an engaging bore.
Still another object of the present invention is to prevent the performance of the apparatus from degradation due to abrasion of the locking mechanism over time.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a locking mechanism having a locking member that is highly responsive.
In order to achieve these and other objects, there is provided a variable valve timing control apparatus for an internal combustion engine, having a first shaft and a second shaft, that comprises a housing member rotated in synchronism with one of the first shaft and the second shaft. The housing has a circular space provided inside of the housing and at least one fan-shaped space radially extending from an outer circumferential surface of the circular space, a vane rotor rotated in synchronism with the other of the first shaft and the second shaft and accommodated in the housing member in order to relatively rotate with respect to the housing member. The vane rotor has radially extending at least one vane so as to divide each the at least one fan-shaped space into a first chamber and a second chamber. There is a locking member provided in one of the housing member and the vane, the locking member having a leading head portion provided with tapered surface having a diameter that decreases toward an end face of the leading head portion. The locking member is movable in response to hydraulic pressure in the first hydraulic chamber or the second hydraulic chamber. There also is an engaging bore provided in the other of the housing member and the vane for accommodating the leading head portion, the engaging bore having an opening where the engaging bore accommodates the leading head portion. The diameter at the opening of the engaging bore is larger than a diameter at the end face of the leading head portion, and smaller than a diameter at a position where the leading head portion has the largest diameter.

Variable valve control apparatus for an internal combustion engine


Process for manufacturing a galvanized steel sheet, comprising steps of coating a steel sheet with nickel in an amount of from 0.2 to 2 g/m.sup.2, heating the steel sheet thus coated to a temperature within the range of from 420.degree. C. to 500.degree. C. in a non-oxidative atmosphere, and dipping the nickel coated steel sheet into a molten zinc bath containing aluminum at a content of from 0.1 to 1% without contact with air, wherein the steel sheet is dipped into the molten zinc bath within 15 seconds after the temperature of the steel sheet exceeds 350.degree. C. in the heating step. An apparatus for performing the process comprises a nickel electroplating apparatus, a non-oxidative atmosphere-heating apparatus, and a galvanizing apparatus equipped with a molten zinc adhering amount-controlling device at the outlet side thereof, arranged sequentially in the steel sheet delivery direction, said non-oxidative atmosphere-heating apparatus comprising a ring transformer having a space for steel sheet delivery, a conductor roll provided at the inlet side of the ring transformer and being connected by use of an electroconductive member to a molten zinc bath of the galvanizing installation, thus a secondary coil of the transformer being formed from the conductor roll, the electroconductive member and the delivered steel sheet between the entering point in the molten zinc bath and the conductor roll contact point, and an atmospheric gas-feeding device for feeding a non-oxidative gas to the atmospheric chamber.

1. Field of the Invention:
The present invention relates to a process for manufacturing a hot-dip galvanized steel sheet by a nickel pre-coating method.
2. Descrption of the Related Art:
Heretofore, the process for manufacturing a galvanized steel sheet by a nickel pre-coating method is already disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 46-19282 and 63-48923.
In recent years, galvanized steel sheets, when used for building materials, household electric appliances, automobiles, and the like, are required to give superior surface appearance and superior coating adherence as important properties irrespective of their thickness, or whether they are made from hot-rolled sheets or cold-rolled sheets. The galvanized steel sheets manufactured by a nickel pre-coating method as disclosed in the aforementioned Japanese Patent Publication Nos. 46-19282 and 63-48923 give better external appearance and better coating adherence than those manufactured by other conventional galvanizing processes without nickel pre-coating such as a Sendzimir method or a non-oxidative furnace method. However, the nickel pre-coated galvanized steel sheets disclosed by the prior art, due to unsatisfactory heating conditions such as heating temperature and heating time after the nickel coating, are not optimal for securing surface appearance and coating adherence of building materials and household electric appliances, and coating adherence (or anti-powdering property) and corrosion resistance of severely worked portions for automobile application, especially when they are made from thick hot-rolled acid-pickled sheets. Therefore, further improvement of galvanized steel sheets is desired.
The inventors of the present invention studied the manufacturing process of the zinc-coated steel sheets by a galvanizing process employing a nickel pre-coating method to improve greatly the external appearance and the coating adherence, and further the coating adherence and the corrosion resistance of a severely worked portion thereof. Consequently, the inventors have found that the external appearance and the coating adherence, and further the coating adherence and the corrosion resistance of a severely worked portion are greatly improved, by conducting the galvanizing treatment under a specific heating condition after nickel pre-coating, in comparison with conventional galvanizing processes employing a nickel coating method.
As an experiment, a zinc-coating layer was prepared according to a conventional method of manufacturing a zinc-coated steel sheet employing a nickel pre-coating method as described in Japanese Patent Publication No. 46-19282, and the structure of the layer was investigated. In the preparation, after a steel sheet was pre-coated with 0.1 g/m.sup.2 of nickel, the nickel pre-coated steel sheet was heated for 8 seconds at 200.degree. C. which is the lowest heating temperature after nickel pre-coating as disclosed in the examples of the above-described patent publication. As the result, non-coating of zinc was caused and coating adherence was insufficient. Therefore, a more suitable heating temperature and a more suitable heating time were expected to be found for the heating treatment after the nickel pre-coating. In another experiment, a nickel pre-coated steel sheet was heated at 550.degree. C. in a furnace as disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-48923. As the result, some improvement was observed in comparison with the case of heating at 800.degree. C. according to the Sendzimir method without nickel pre-coating. However, local non-coating of zinc is liable to occur, and the zinc coating adherence was insufficient and the surface appearance tended to become whitish. The cause is considered to be as follows. The heating temperature of 550.degree. C. after the nickel pre-coating is still excessively high, and the heating time is excessively long because of furnace heating. Therefore, it is assumed that the nickel coating layer comes to diffuse into the base steel during the heating to form a Ni-Fe solid solution, becoming liable to be oxidized, which impairs coating adherence of zinc, and promotes formation of alloy of the base steel with zinc.
In view of the above investigation, the heating temperature range and the heating time after the nickel pre-coating are regarded as being important factors. Hence, investigation was made comprehensively regarding the heating conditions. Consequently, it was found that the surface appearance and the coating adherence of the zinc coating are greatly improved if nickel is coated in an amount of 0.2 to 2.0 g/m.sup.2, and the steel sheet is heated, before entering into a zinc bath containing aluminum at a concentration of from 0.1 to 1.0%, to a temperature within the range of from the melting temperature of the bath to 500.degree. C., and further the steel sheet is kept at a temperature of 350.degree. C. or higher for a time of not longer than 15 seconds before reaching the entering temperature for dipping the steel sheet into the molten zinc bath. Further it was found that the coating adherence after severe working and the corrosion resistance of the worked portion are greatly improved if the heating rate after the nickel pre-coating is raised to 30.degree. C./s or more. The resulting zinc coating layer was found to have a layer structure composed of a reaction layer, which consists of a quaternary alloy layer of Fe-Al-Zn-Ni, formed at the interface of the base steel, and a zinc coating layer formed thereon containing a minute amount of aluminum. Further, the Zn-Fe alloy layer on the base steel interface was found to be extremely thin.
As to the manufacturing process for realizing the manufacturing conditions such as rapid heating at a low cost with compact equipment, the beforementioned Japanese Patent Publication No. 46-19282 does not discloses specifically the constitution of the heating apparatus. On the other hand, the beforementioned Japanese Patent Publication No. 63-48923 discloses a heating method employing an indirect heating furnace. The indirect heating furnace, however, is based on radiation heating, employing a refractory-lined furnace body, which is not suitable for rapid heating and requires a long length of the furnace, resulting in a disadvantageous large-scale and expensive heating apparatus.
The inventors of the present invention investigated mainly the heating method, and have found a method for realizing an inexpensive and compact installation and conditions for producing a hot-dip galvanized steel sheet by employing direct resistance heating.
The present invention has been achieved based on the above-described findings.

Process for manufacturing galvanized steel sheet by nickel pre-coating method


Methods and systems are described for making posts and kerfs in an interdigital bonded composite. The desired alignment criteria for a plurality of posts and kerfs in a pair of slabs are determined, as well as the desired widths W of the posts and the desired widths K of the kerfs. The posts in the first slab are configured to be received into corresponding kerfs in the second slab, and vice versa, so that the pair of slabs can be interdigitated to generate a composite. At least one of an alignment post and an alignment kerf are created, in at least one of the slabs. The alignment posts and the alignment kerf are configured to allow the plurality of posts and kerfs to be correctly positioned and aligned, in accordance with the desired alignment criteria.

A wide range of techniques have been developed for fabricating composites. Some of the techniques may have inherently good positioning of the posts as a result of the manufacturing process but may not be capable of producing a finer scale composite or one with adequate consistency.
Fabrication technology for fine scale composites tends to be challenging, particularly for high frequency applications. One of the techniques for fine scale composites is referred to as the interdigital bonded composite method.
A common fault in the interdigital bonded composite method may be an inability to reliably achieve consistently positioned and aligned posts. This may result in composites being produced that may not perform as expected.

Post positioning for interdigital bonded composite


A method and apparatus for preventing the formation of leachable mercury in mercury arc vapor discharge lamps is provided which comprises providing in the lamp structure an effective amount of an antioxidant composition and an iron shield wherein the iron shield comprises a dose of elemental mercury.

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for preventing the formation of leachable mercury in mercury arc vapor discharge lamps.
Mercury arc vapor discharge lamps, otherwise commonly known as fluorescent lamps, are standard lighting means. The mercury arc vapor discharge lamp consists of metallic components such as lead wires, connector pins and end caps. The lead wires and portions of the end cap and connector pins are surrounded by a glass enclosure. The interior of the glass enclosure is typically coated with phosphor. Elemental mercury is added to the mercury arc vapor discharge lamp and typically, the elemental mercury adheres to the phosphor. In certain conditions, it has been found that when elemental mercury comes in contact with the metal components in a lamp such as copper and iron containing lead wires, brass pins, or other associated metallic mount components, the elemental mercury is transformed into a leachable form.
In order to address the growing concern that mercury from disposal of fluorescent lamps might leach into surface and subsurface water, the Environmental Protection Agency has established a maximum concentration level for mercury at 0.2 milligrams of leachable mercury per liter of extract fluid. The concentration level for mercury is generally determined by a standard analysis known as the Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP), a well known test procedure.
When carrying out the TCLP test, test lamps are pulverized to form lamp waste material similar to that which would result from lamp disposal in land fills or other disposal locations. The ambient conditions in disposal locations may be such as to promote formation of leachable mercury. The TCLP test conditions themselves tend to allow for formation of leachable mercury in amounts greater than the established limit of 0.2 milligrams per liter.
During the disposal of the lamp, and in the TCLP test, the glass enclosure of the lamp is broken. Elemental mercury that is contained in the lamp is then exposed to the metal components in an aqueous environment. Elemental mercury, when exposed to both the metal components and the aqueous environment, is oxidized to leachable mercury. The metal components in the lamp provide the source of oxidizable iron and oxidizable copper that promotes the formation of leachable mercury.
Several techniques have been developed which prevent the formation of mercury that can leach into the environment. The methods currently used are concerned with a method of delivering a chemical agent or metal upon disposal of a lamp or during the TCLP test. For instance, Fowler et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 5,229,686 and U.S. Pat. No. 5,229,687) describe methods that incorporate chemical agents in the lamp in either a glass capsule or the basing cement. These chemical agents include various salts such as bromide anions, chloride anions, iodide anions, iodate anions, periodate anions, and sulfide anions, to name a few. Other chemical agents include powders such as iron powder, copper powder, tin powder, and titanium powder.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,754,002 which has been assigned to the assignee of the present invention, Haitko et al. describes the addition of a mercury antioxidant for superior TCLP test performance. Mercury antioxidants include, for example, ascorbic acid, sodium ascorbate, and calcium ascorbate. These materials have been found to reduce or prevent the formation of leachable mercurous and mercuric compounds resulting from the oxidation of elemental mercury.
Generally, any modification of the lamp components is driven by the need to decrease the amount of leachable mercury. Methods and materials are constantly being sought which decrease the leachable mercury values upon performance of the TCLP extraction test.
The present invention provides a mercury vapor discharge lamp comprising an effective amount of an antioxidant composition and an iron shield wherein the iron shield comprises a dose of elemental mercury.
The present invention further provides a method for preventing the formation of leachable mercury compounds in mercury vapor discharge lamps comprising providing in the lamp structure an effective amount of an antioxidant composition and an iron shield wherein the iron shield comprises a dose of elemental mercury.

Control of leachable mercury in fluorescent lamps


A communication network comprises a device configured to place a call for an emergency service, a call processing system in communication with the device and configured to receive and process the call to route the call to a public service answering point (PSAP), initiate a location determination process, and terminate the call, and a location provisioning system configured to execute the location determination process to determine the location of the device, wherein the location provisioning system comprises a plurality of sub systems, and wherein the call processing system communicates with only a first sub system of the plurality of sub systems to initiate the location determination process and communicates with the first sub system and a second sub system of the plurality of sub systems to terminate the call.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to telecommunications, and in particular, to emergency call services, provisioning and termination.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Telecommunication service providers are increasingly required to provide location determination services for emergency service calls. For instance, when a wireless caller places a 911 call, the service provider carrying or otherwise handling the call must have the capabilities to determine the physical location of the caller. The public service answering point (PSAP) selected to handle the call can then use the location information to locate, find, and respond to the caller.
Often times, service providers provision their networks regionally. Typically, a single call processing center is assigned to a single region, such as a metropolitan region. Most regions include multiple PSAPs. In most cases, location determination systems exist to assist the call processing center with determining the geographical location of a caller.
A call processing center typically interfaces with location determination systems to initiate location processes and otherwise service emergency calls. An important facet of emergency call provisioning is the selection and distribution of a key that is utilized during a call to correlate information on the call by a wide variety of network elements. The key is typically selected from a finite pool of keys by the location determination system with which the call processing center interfaces. The key selection is then communicated by the call processing center to other elements, such as a PSAP, that need the key for information correlation purposes.
In many regions, the location determination system includes multiple sub-systems. Often times, the sub-systems are redundant. In these cases, the call processing center in a region may still communicate with only one of the sub-systems when provisioning an emergency call. The multiple sub-systems select keys from a shared pool of finite keys. Thus, when a call processing center communicates with one of the sub-systems on an emergency call, the one sub systems selects and reserves a key from the pool of keys. The other sub-system is prohibited from using the same key for any other calls that may be initiated to that other sub-system. An example of a sub-system is a mobile positioning center.
Problematically, when a call terminates, only one of the sub-systems is typically alerted of the termination. The one sub-system then releases the reserved key back to the pool of keys. However, the other sub-systems still holds the key in a reserved state. As a result, the other sub-system has one less key available for new calls. In times of high volume or congestion, such a situation can hinder emergency call processing and response.
FIG. 1 illustrates communication network 100 in an example of the prior art further describing the problems described above. Communication network 100 includes caller 101, communication network 110, call processing system (CPS) 121, public safety answering point (PSAP) 141, PSAP 151, and location provisioning system (LPS) 130. LPS 130 includes sub system 131 and sub system 132. Caller 101 is operatively coupled to communication network 110. CPS 121 is operatively coupled with communication network 110 and LPS 130, and in particular, with sub systems 131 and 132. PSAP 141 and PSAP 151 are also operatively coupled with communication network 110.
FIG. 2 illustrates an operational flow diagram describing the operation of communication network 100 in an example of the prior art. To begin, caller 101 places a 911 emergency services call to CPS 121. CPS 121 generally processes the call or call request to setup and connect the call to one of PSAP 141 or PSAP 151. CPS 121 selects either PSAP 141 or PSAP 151 based on the geographical location of caller 101. In the context of this example, it will be assumed that CPS 121 selects PSAP 141.
Sub system 131 and sub system 132 provide redundant location determination services for emergency calls placed to CPS 121. CPS 121 typically alternates communications between sub system 131 and sub system 132.
Upon receiving the call request, CPS 121 transmits a key request to sub system 131. The key request is typically part of a message sequence exchanged between CPS 121 and sub system 131 to determine the geographical location of caller 101.
Sub systems 131 and 132 store a pool of keys that are assigned to each 911 call initiated by CPS 121. The key is used by CPS 121 and other call elements, such as those elements within PSAP 141, to correlate call information for the emergency services call. After selecting the key, sub system 131 provides the key to CPS 131. The key is thereafter reserved or restricted by both sub system 131 and 132 from any use on any other calls.
CPS 121 responsively initiates call setup to PSAP 141, such as by transmitting call signaling. Included within the call setup process is a transfer of the key to PSAP 141. PSAP 141 queries sub system 131 with the key to obtain location information for caller 101. Sub system 131 initially responds with the location information. PSAP 141 continues a message dialogue with sub system 131 to maintain the location information.
Ultimately, a voice path is established between caller 101 and a termination point within PSAP 141, such as a phone, terminal, or computer of personnel within PSAP 141. The personnel can direct other personal, such as emergency service responders, to the location of caller 101.
Eventually, the call ends and caller 101 terminates the call, such as by hanging up, powering off, or otherwise ending the call. Caller 101 responsively transmits a termination message to CPS 121 alerting CPS 121 that the call has ended. CPS 121 forwards or generates and transmits a termination message to sub system 131. Sub system 131 responsively returns the reserved key to the pool of keys.
Unfortunately, a problem arises whereby sub system 131 is alerted of the call termination by CPS 121, but sub system 132 remains uninformed of the call termination. Thus, while sub system 131 returns the key to the key pool stored internally to sub system 131, sub system 132 maintains the key in a reserved or restricted state. As a result, the total number of keys available for emergency service calls is reduced. In times of high call volume, the pool of keys available to sub system 132 could become severely limited, if not exhausted entirely.


A solar concentrator has frame members connected together to form a framework, and a flexible sheet attached to the framework such that the flexible sheet takes a loose shape and can flex in response to shaping forces exerted thereon. The sheet has a reflective surface located between the frame members. A shaping force system is operative, when activated, to exert the shaping forces on the sheet, the shaping forces configured to draw the sheet from the loose shape into a desired shape such that solar rays striking the reflective surface are focused on a target, and a solar energy receiver is attached to the framework at a location corresponding to the target. Thin wall tubing filled with pressurized air can provide strong light frame members. When the shaping force system is deactivated, the flexible sheet reverts substantially to the loose shape.

Considerable effort is directed to efficiently and effectively harnessing solar energy. Photo voltaic (PV) panels convert received solar rays directly into electrical energy, while thermal systems concentrate solar rays to produce heat, which can be used directly for heating purposes, or is used to produce rotating mechanical power by operating a Stirling engine for example, or more commonly by creating steam to operate a steam turbine, which can then be used to produce electrical power. Solar power may also be concentrated on a PV panel to increase the amount of solar energy received on a given area of panel, and thus increase the power generated from the panel.
A typical solar collection and concentration system uses mirrors to reflect solar rays from a wide area onto a much smaller target such that the solar energy from the wide area is concentrated at the target. In concentrating point focus systems a parabolic dish focuses sunlight onto a solar receiver. The parabolic shape is preferred as it focuses the solar rays on a small target, thereby increasing the temperature at the target. Dishes can typically vary in size and configuration from a small diameter of perhaps 1 meter to much larger structures of a dozen or more meters in diameter. Point focus dish concentrators are mounted on tracking systems that track the sun in two axes, directly pointing at the sun, and the receiver is attached to the dish at the focal point so that as the dish moves, the receiver moves with it. These point focus systems can generate high temperatures exceeding 800° C. and even 1,800° C.
In central tower systems a solar receiver is mounted at the top of a tower. The tower is surround by heliostats, which are flat mirrors that redirect sunlight to the top of the tower and are controlled to track the sun and move so that sunlight is reflected in a constant direction at the receiver. Hundreds or thousands of heliostats may work in unison to direct sunlight to the top of the tower to generate high temperatures from 500° C. to 1,100° C. or more, typically used to operate a steam turbine.
A trough concentrator is a long concave trough shaped concentrator that forms a line focus instead of a point focus as is achieved in both the Point Focus Dish and Central tower designs. Again a parabolic shape is preferred for the cross section of the trough to concentrate the rays on a narrow line. This has typically been the lowest cost solar collection technology due to its simplicity. The long trough concentrator focuses its light onto a solar receiver tube that runs the length of the solar trough concentrator. Depending on the latitude of the location, the troughs are oriented length wise in a North-South or East-West direction, and then pivot on their longitudinal axes such that the concave faces of the troughs follow the sun. These trough concentrators thus are only required to pivot on one axis, rather than on two axes as is required with point focus concentrators. Trough concentrators cannot produce as high a temperature as either the point focus dish or central tower designs since it cannot focus to a point and can only focus to a line. Temperatures of typically less than 600 C can be achieved.
A major cost of any operation using solar energy is in the solar collection field, which can be made up of hundreds or thousands of concentrators. The reflective surface is typically provided by polished aluminum or glass mirrors. The glass or metal sheets of the mirror can be curved to form the required focusing shape or are often made up of an array of smaller flat mirror segments arranged on a frame to achieve the focusing effect. The mirrors are heavy, requiring significant structural support to carry the load of the mirrors and provide sufficient rigidity to maintain focus. These heavy structures also require heavy and expensive motors and gear boxes to steer the solar array to appropriately focus the sunlight.
To reduce the demands on the frame and tracking system light weight linear tensioned thin-film trough concentrators have been developed where a thin film of reflective sheet material is stretched over a framework. The framework comprises parabolic shaped ribs mounted side by side along the length of the trough, and then the film is attached to one end of the trough and stretched along the outside convex faces of the ribs and attached under tension at the opposite end. Such thin film trough concentrators are disclosed for example in United States Patent Application Number 2010/0258186 of Harrienstien et al. and U.S. Pat. No. 8,056,555 to Prueitt.
These thin film trough concentrators significantly reduce the weight of the mirror apparatus compared to more traditional designs utilizing rigid backed reflective material, with a corresponding reduction in the strength requirements of the frame and tracking system. The framework must however be sufficiently strong to resist deformation due to the considerable tension on the film stretched from end to end of the trough.


A quasi-cyclic LDPC encoding apparatus is disclosed wherein a matrix H of the form [0 T; D E] is used, where T is a triangular matrix and D and E are arbitrary matrices selected to improve encoding performance. T and E vary with the size of an encoded data word whereas D is maintained constant. T and E are sparse such that encoding operations performed on them are computationally simple. Likewise D and its inverse are constant and pre-computed further reducing computation. T, E, and D and the inverse of D may be constrained to be quasi-cyclic, which reduces storage required to represent them and enables the performance of encoding operations using shift registers.

Field of the Invention
This invention relates to systems and methods for implementing a low-density parity check (LDPC) decoding algorithm.
Background of the Invention
A. LDPC Codes and Min-Sum Decoding
Low-density parity-check (LDPC) codes were discovered by Gallager in 1962, and rediscovered and shown to be Shannon-limit approaching in the late 1990's. These codes, decoded with iterative decoding based on belief propagation, such as the sum-product algorithm (SPA), achieve near-capacity error performance [1].
Quasi-cyclic (QC) LDPC codes are a special class of the LDPC codes with structured H matrix which can be generated by the expansion of a mb×nb base matrix. Each 1's element in the base matrix can be expanded by a circularly right-shifted b×b identity sub-matrix. QC-LDPC codes have advantages over other types of LDPC codes in hardware implementations of both encoding and decoding. Encoding of a QC-LDPC code can be efficiently implemented using simple shift registers. In hardware implementation of a QC-LDPC decoder, the QC structure of the code simplifies the wire routing for message passing.
Richardson and Urbanke [2] showed there exists near-triangular sub-matrix HP in sparse matrix H=[HI, HP], such that
                              H          P                =                  [                                                    B                                            T                                                                    D                                            E                                              ]                                    (        1        )
where HP is an m×m matrix and retains the rank of H, and T is lower-triangular matrix whose dimension t is close to the full dimension m. An efficient encoding algorithm was derived exploiting the sparseness of HI (the identity matrix) and back-substitution over the lower-triangular matrix T. Myung, et al. [3] presented a special class of QC-LDPC codes which exhibit special near-lower-triangular QC H sub-matrix (i.e., H contains a lower triangular QC sub-matrix T whose dimension is near to m) and developed an efficient encoding algorithm which further incorporates the QC property into the back-substitution approach in [2]. For the practical LDPC coding system implementations, it has been well recognized that the conventional code-to-encoder/decoder design approach, i.e., first construct the code and then develop the encoder/decoder hardware implementations, is not the most efficient and a better solution is to jointly consider the code construction and encoder/decoder hardware implementation. This is referred to as joint LDPC coding system design. Zhong and Zhang [4] proposed a joint design of block-LDPC codes subject to certain hardware-oriented constraints that ensure the effective encoder and decoder hardware implementations. Consequently, the constructed codes enable a pipelined partially parallel block-LDPC encoder, following the methodology of [2], and a partially parallel block-LDPC decoder.
Li, et al. [5] showed the existence of QC generator matrix, denoted by G, for most QC-LDPC codes, and thus encoding may be carried out by multiplying an input data with the systematic QC G matrix. Xiang, et al. [6] presented an improved all-purpose multi-rate iterative decoder architecture for QC-LDPC codes, which implements the normalized min-sum algorithm, rearranges the original two-phase message-passing flow, and adopts an efficient quantization method for the second minimum absolute values, an optimized storing scheme for the position indexes and signs, and an elaborate clock gating technique for substantive memories and registers.
The systems and methods disclosed herein provide an improved approach for performing LDPC decoding using Tanner graphs.

Unified H-encoder for a class of multi-rate LDPC codes


In various embodiments, techniques for role management systems are provided. According to an embodiment, a method is provided to allow a role management system to be configured, modified, and restricted. Specific roles assignments may be decorated to be meaningful to an application but which are not generally applicable to an original role specification. A Policy Enforcement Point (PEP) role request response may be modified by an augmentation service, which evaluates a resource association to identify an appropriate resource profile. Resource decorations are identified by the selected profile, and are applied to the role request response.

Increasingly enterprises are faced with numerous internal users having different access requirements that span a large number of applications, networks, and systems. Maintaining the security of such modern dynamic enterprises is a critical and challenging task. In some industries, such as banking, the federal government has promulgated rules and regulations that require a certain degree of security. Thus, enterprises are not only concerned with their reputation but face potential civil liability for security breaches. The challenge lies in efficiently and securely provisioning system access to reflect constantly changing user responsibilities and computing environments.
Historic methods of manually granting individual user access on a resource by resource basis long ago proved administratively infeasible for organizations of even moderate size. Role Based Access Control (RBAC) systems advanced the art by attempting to secure and streamline user administration via constructing and maintaining a formal model of user privileges grouped into roles.
However, such models have scaled poorly because many users are unique; thus, resulting in role proliferation. For example, user diversity is often represented using new applications, departments, or systems, which are added to the enterprise security model. Where fine-grain role approaches are required, the number of roles may equal the number of users (or even exceed the number of user if users have many roles); therefore, the advantage of grouping is often lost. Application of policy rules as a complement to roles has allowed for greater flexibility and fewer generalized static role definitions. Nonetheless, the combination of increasingly complex Information Technology (IT) infrastructures, more diversified users requiring fine granularity access privileges, and growing numbers of users (including employees, subcontractors, partners, vendors, etc.) have shown that these conventional tools and processes to manage security are breaking down.
Consequently, what was considered a valuable security model for an enterprise has now become an administration and maintenance challenge.
Also problematic is the task of converting an enterprise to a role management system in the first place. Traditional role management systems are not conducive to the integration of existing systems to use roles nor do they provide the mechanisms necessary to allow multiple, disparate systems that are related only by the role information to add role functionality without affecting other applications using the role management system.
Accordingly, what is needed are mechanisms to better provision fine-grained role extensions without impacting existing role management systems.


An automotive center stack panel assembly is provided comprising an automotive instrument panel assembly having a recessed display chamber. A video display panel assembly is mounted within the recessed display chamber. A rear pivot link assembly is included having a rear first fixed pivot end rotatably mounted to the automotive instrument panel assembly and a rear second fixed pivot end. A forward pivot link assembly is included having a forward first fixed pivot end rotatably mounted to the automotive instrument panel assembly and a forward second pivot end. A control panel includes an upper control panel end and a lower control panel end and a control panel slot guide. The rear second fixed pivot end rotatably is mounted to the upper control panel end and the forward second pivot end slidably is mounted within said control panel slot guide. The rear pivot link assembly and the forward pivot link assembly allow the control panel to rotate such that the control panel is pivotable between a display hidden position and a display exposed position. The control panel covers the recessed display chamber when in the display hidden position.

Automotive dash and control panels have been designed to incorporate an ever increasing array of controls and features. The increasing number of features has placed an increased value on instrument panel real estate. Increased density of controls and displays can hamper operator interaction. It is preferably for such interactions to be simplified so as to minimize distraction from primary vehicle operation. Under these desirable design constraints, automotive designers are now directed to incorporate navigation and other video displays into the already burdened center stack panels.
The video displays must be a reasonable dimension to facilitate easy visibility for a range of occupant sizes and proportions. The dimensions suitable for proper viewing can require a significant region of the center stack panel. Additionally, mounting a video display on the outer surface of the center stack panel often produces viewing angles that are poorly optimized for operation viewing. In this fashion, incorporation of video displays into the center stack or other vehicle control regions provides a significant challenge to automotive designers. It would be highly desirable to have a video display that provided a wide range of visibility for various occupants without resulting in an overly increased density of additional controls and features.
An additional challenge regarding video displays stems from the nature of their use within the automotive environment. Use for navigation and entertainment often only represents a small portion of vehicle operational time. During the remaining portions of time when the displays are not utilized they represent underutilized space within the vehicle interior. They may also create an undesirable appearance or distraction when they are not in operation. It would, therefore, be highly desirable to have a video display that only usurped valuable panel space when in operation.

Automotive movable center stack panel with moving panel and four bar hidden linkage


An image processing method includes: a generating step of generating a cumulative histogram of density values of pixels included in at least each of a first image and a second image; a calculating step of calculating a distance between a density value on a first histogram generated from the first image and a density value on a second histogram generated from the second image, in a space defined to include histogram frequencies of the cumulative histograms and the density values; and a determining step of determining a correspondence relation between the density values included in the first image and the density values included in the second image based on the calculated distances between the density values, and determining a conversion function for correcting a density value between the first image and the second image based on the determined correspondence relation.

The technique of stereoscopically displaying a subject by using images of the same subject captured from a plurality of points of view has been conventionally developed. In such a case, a density value corresponding to the same portion of the subject may vary from image to image, depending on a difference in conditions at the time of capturing the images, and the like. Therefore, processing is executed to correct a density value of pixels included in one image with respect to a density value of pixels included in the other image. Various conversion functions such as a density value conversion table is used for this correction processing.
The following is known as the prior art related to the aforementioned correction processing.
For example, in a color adjusting apparatus disclosed in Japanese Laid-Open Patent Publication No. 2010-16803 (PTD 1), a captured image represented by an RGB color space of one camera A of two cameras A and B is defined as a reference image Sa, and a captured image represented by an RGB color space of the other camera B is defined as an image to be adjusted Sb. Color space conversion is applied to image to be adjusted Sb by a color adjusting unit in the color adjusting apparatus, and cumulative histogram matching processing is applied with respect to a component Ha(k) of reference image Sa, for each component after this color space conversion. After this cumulative histogram matching processing, the original RGB space is recovered. An adjusted image Sb′ having the same color tone as that of reference image Sa is thus generated.
According to a method disclosed in "Color Calibration between Two Different Cameras", Shintaro Inamura, Akira Taguchi (NPD 1), images of the same subject are captured by two cameras arranged side by side, and conversion is made to match a histogram of the image captured by one camera to a histogram of the image captured by the other camera such that cumulative histograms of the obtained two images match with each other. Then, color space conversion is applied, and thereafter, histogram conversion is applied for each component. Thereafter, an RGB color space is recovered by reverse conversion.

Image processing method, imaging processing apparatus and image processing program for correcting density values between at least two images


Circuits for shortening a rise time of a load include a main pulse transformer coupled to a load, an auxiliary pulse transformer coupled to the load, and a diode connected between the auxiliary pulse transformer and the main pulse transformer. The main pulse transformer delivers a main pulse to the load. The auxiliary pulse transformer delivers an auxiliary pulse to charge the capacitance associated with the load. The diode isolates the auxiliary pulse transformer from the main pulse. By charging the capacitance in this manner, a rise time of the main pulse is shortened and ringing of the main pulse on the load is reduced.

1. The Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to systems and methods for pulsing a high impedance load. More particularly, the present invention relates to systems and methods for compensating the rise times and ringing or overshoot responses associated with pulsed high impedance loads.
2. Background and Relevant Art
Pulse generators are devices that are used, for example, to generate an energy pulse that is delivered or applied to a load. Pulse generators deliver an energy pulse to loads such as, for example, spectrometers, accelerators, radar transmitters, high impedance electron guns, klystrons, as well as other equipment that require high voltage pulses. In this type of equipment, the energy pulses generated by the pulse generators should be fast and powerful.
In order to reduce the voltages actually generated by the pulse generators, pulse transformers are used to deliver the energy pulse the loads. The pulse transformers have a turn ratio that can provide the voltages required by the load. In many situations, the voltage delivered to the load can be quite large. For example, a pulse transformer may be used to deliver a voltage on the order of 30 kV (kilovolt) to 100 kV. Typical high impedance loads range from 1500 ohms to 30 kilohms.
One problem associated with delivering a pulse to a high impedance load through a pulse transformer is that significant ringing may result in the waveform. The ringing is partially associated with the rise time. When a fast rise time is needed, the target voltage of the pulse is often overshot and ringing results as the circuitry attempts to compensate. In other words, high impedance loads that are driven through a pulse transformer often experience ringing when trying to achieve fast rise times.
Another reason that makes it difficult to shorten rise times and reduce ringing is related to stray capacitance associated with the load. Stray capacitance adversely affects the rise time of the pulse on the load. As the stray capacitance increases, the rise time increases. The impedance of the load in combination with the stray capacitance can thus affect the ability of a pulse transformer based system to generate pulses that have a sufficiently fast rise time and minimal ringing.

Circuit for compensating rise times and ringing in high impedance loads


Compounds having the formula ##STR1## wherein R is C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 lower alkoxy; C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 lower alkylthio; 3- to 6-membered heterocycle or substituted heterocycle; phenyl or substituted phenyl; R.sub.1 is hydrogen or C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 lower alkyl; R.sub.2 is selected from the group consisting of hydrogen, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 lower alkyl, C.sub.3 -C.sub.6 cycloalkyl, C.sub.1 -C.sub.3 lower alkylalkoxy or combinations thereof; R.sub.3 and R.sub.4 are independently selected from the group consisting of hydrogen; C.sub.1 -C.sub.6 lower alkyl; C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 lower alkenyl; C.sub.2 -C.sub.6 lower alkenyl; 3- to 6-membered heterocycle or substituted heterocycle; alkyl heterocycle or substituted alkyl heterocycle; phenyl or substituted phenyl; and where R.sub.3 or R.sub.4 is a basic heterocycle, herbicidally acceptable organic or inorganic salts thereof are herbicidally active.

This invention relates to herbicides and, more particularly, to certain novel substituted alkylidine aminooxyamides.
Certain aminooxy alkanoic acids and esters having the formula ##STR2## wherein
X is halogen, OM in which M is an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, silver or ammonium cation, OH or OR.sub.3 in which R.sub.3 is an alkyl or alkoxyalkyl group containing from 1-10 carbon atoms;
R is an alkyl group containing from 2 to 4 carbon atoms;
R.sub.1 is a hydrogen atom or an alkyl group containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, optionally substituted by one or more halogen atoms; and
R.sub.2 is an alkyl or alkenyl group containing from 1 to 6 carbon atoms, a phenyl group optionally substituted by one or more substituents selected from a halogen atom, a nitro group, an alkyl, alkylthio or alkoxy group containing from 1 to 4 carbon atoms, each optionally substituted by one or more halogen atoms, or by a methylenedioxy group; or
R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 taken together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a cyclic hydrocarbyl group containing from 3 to 12 carbon atoms, have been found to be useful as herbicides and plant growth regulators are taught in EPO 182,407, issued to Sanborn et al.
The novel compounds of our invention have been found to be active herbicides possessing herbicidal activity against various species of weeds in the broadest sense, the term "weeds" refers to plants which grow in locations in which they are not desired.
Our invention therefore also relates to a method for controlling undesirable vegetation, comprising applying to a locus where control of such vegetation is desired an herbicidally effective amount of a compound as described herein, and also relates to herbicidal compositions of matter comprising an herbicidally effective amount of a compound as described herein, together with an inert diluent or carrier suitable for use with herbicides.
As used herein the term "herbicide" refers to compounds which adversely control or modify the growth of plants, particularly of undesirable plants. By the term "herbicidally effective amount" is meant an amount of compound which causes an adverse controlling or modifying effect on the growth of plants. The term "plants" is means to include germinant seeds, emerging seedlings, and established vegetation, including roots and above-ground portions. Such adverse modifying and controlling effects may include all deviations from natural development.
Included with this invention is the composition of matter and method of use.

Certain alkylidine aminooxyamide compounds useful as herbicides


Measured efficiency of an air conditioner or heat pump system is needed to accurately evaluate the economics of operating the system to provide a known amount of cooling. Significant degradation of air-conditioner and or heat pump components increases the operating cost by lowering the capacity of the system and/or increasing the power consumption. The invention provides measurement of the energy efficiency of any operating DX cooling, refrigeration, or heating unit, expressed in standard units by measuring the cooling or heating capacity and the power usage.

The thermodynamic method used in nearly all air conditioners, refrigerators and heat pumps is the vapor compression cycle also called the refrigeration cycle. The cycle uses four primary components: a compressor, a condenser, an expansion device, and an evaporator; some systems may use additional components such as a receiver, additional heat exchangers, two or more compressors, and/or an accumulator and other specialized components. The four primary components are piped in series to form a closed loop system that carries out the changes in temperature, pressure and state of the working fluid refrigerant that form the vapor compression cycle. Furthermore, within air conditioners, refrigerators, and heat pumps outside of the refrigeration cycle there are typically ancillary components that move the desired heat transfer medium, such as the blowing of air or of flowing of water that is to be cooled or heated, across the primary heat exchangers being the condenser coil and the evaporator coil. In addition there is typically a control circuit that energizes and de-energizes the driven components including the compressor and such as fan motors, pump motors, damper actuators, and valves accordingly to meet a desired temperature, ventilation and/or humidity or other set points and operating parameters.
The efficiency of vapor compression cycles is conventionally given by an energy efficiency ratio (EER) and/or a coefficient of performance (COP). The EER generally refers to the air conditioning, refrigerating or heating system and is the ratio of the heat absorbed by the evaporator cooling coil over the input power to the equipment, or conversely for heat pumps, the rate of heat rejected by the condenser heating coil over the input power to the equipment. EER is defined as the ratio of cooling or heating provided to electric power consumed, in units of kBTU/hr per kW. EER varies greatly with cooling load, refrigerant level and airflow, among other factors. The COP generally refers to the thermodynamic cycle and is defined as the ratio of the heat absorption rate from the evaporator over the rate of input work provided to the cycle, or conversely for heat pumps, the rate of heat rejection by the condenser over the rate of input work provided to the cycle. COP is a unitless numerical ratio. In addition, there is a standard weighted average of EER at various conditions known as the integrated energy efficiency ratio (IEER).
The efficiency of an air conditioner or heat pump system is needed to accurately calculate the electrical costs of operating the system to provide a known amount of cooling. Significant degradation of the air-conditioner, refrigerator, or heat pump components over time, such as refrigerant loss, compressor wear, or fouled heat exchangers, increase the operating cost by lowering the capacity of the system and/or increasing the power consumption. Either effect of lowering capacity or increasing power manifest in reduced energy efficiency and a reduced EER, COP and IEER while correcting or mitigating degradations will restore efficiency and manifest in an increased EER.
The measured EER and COP are affected by the load under which the air conditioning, refrigeration or heating system is running; the load is a function of the evaporating and condensing temperatures. An increase in evaporating temperature will raise the measured EER and COP, as will a decrease in condensing temperature; as can be predicted by the thermodynamic cycle parameters. Likewise, lower evaporating temperature will reduce the measured EER and COP, as will higher condensing temperature.
Having the actual operating EER is key to improving efficiency, because it provides an absolute, realistic assessment of current condition with feedback so operating parameters can be adjusted and maintenance needs can be identified. Measuring the EER, COP and JEER of systems based on the vapor compression cycle is difficult, more so while operating in a field environment rather than a test laboratory. An accurate heat absorption measurement for these systems is quite complex and requires measurement of the mass flow rate of fluid through the heat exchanger along with enthalpies entering and leaving the heat exchanger. The prior art uses estimating methods, circuitous logic trees, or manufacturer's published data as a substitute for actual mass flow rate measurement, and temperatures as a substitute for enthalpy determination. A simultaneous power measurement along with the heat absorption measurement is required for an accurate EER calculation result; prior art uses manufacturer's published tables or polynomial equations as a substitute for actual power measurement. The use of manufacturer's published capacity or power data inherently assumes the compressor is in like-new condition, as in the manufacturer's laboratory when an un-used sample was tested under ideal conditions to produce the published data. Consequently, the effects of degradation, such as a worn compressor or a change in oil properties, under typical field conditions on the primary system components and the actual operating EER and COP is largely missed by the prior art.
The prior art methods and devices do not result in an EER or an IEER measurement that is directly comparable against measurements made at different loads, evaporating or condensing temperatures of the same system over time, nor against other systems, nor against published standard efficiency ratings; rather the prior art measurements are relativistic not absolute values and thus application is mostly limited to before versus after comparisons of a certain system operating under the load conditions at a particular time. An efficiency meter by Schulz, Sr. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,186,563) does not actually measure efficiency in absolute units, rather, it provides a relative measurement that cannot be compared against other units or performance specifications. A coefficient of performance measuring device by Brantly, et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,432,232) gives an indirect indication of efficiency based on air measurements that include only sensible cooling and neglect dehumidification latent cooling, and relies on inaccurate airflow and single point air temperature measurements. Another coefficient of performance measuring device by MacArthur, et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 4,510,576) relies on stored motor loss tables and compressor manufacturer data, and thus cannot take into account the degradation in compressor performance over time versus the performance of a new, laboratory tested compressor. An invention by Rossi, et al. (U.S. Pat. No. 6,701,725) does not make an actual measurement of energy efficiency, rather, it relies upon manufacturer's compressor performance data to make an indirect estimate of energy efficiency, and thus does not take into account real versus rated compressor performance degradation. A method by Mowris (U.S. Pat. No. 8,583,384) makes only a relative estimate of the improvement in energy efficiency and does not provide an absolute measurement of energy efficiency, rather, it relies on temperature differences relative to standard tables to infer a diagnosis. An application by Bersch et al. (US 20100153057 A1) describing a method for determining the coefficient of performance, which relies on an indirect calculation of power usage by the compressor, rather than an accurate power measurement, and neglects motor, frictional, volumetric and other compressor losses and does not make a refrigerating capacity measurement.

Energy efficiency ratio meter for direct expansion air-conditioners and heat pumps


A motorcycle frame is provided such that the spacing between a main frame and a side plate can be easily adjusted, and joint surfaces, at which the side plates and engine hangers abut the main frame, can be easily formed. Each side plate is provided with upper and lower plate-side bosses used for adjusting the spacing between itself and a main frame. A surface of an upper first boss of the main frame, which abuts on the upper plate-side boss, and surfaces of upper second bosses of the main frame, which abut on an upper engine hanger, are provided on the same plane. In addition, a surface of a lower first boss of the main frame, which abuts on the lower plate-side boss, and surfaces of lower second bosses of the main frame, which abut on a lower engine hanger, are provided on the same plane.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a frame for a motorcycle. More particularly, the present invention relates to a motorcycle frame of a mono-backbone type, in which a single main frame extends rearwardly along a center of vehicle width, from a head pipe to a pivot portion.
2. Background Art
There is a conventional frame assembly structure in which a main frame, for suspending an engine, extends rearwardly from a head pipe along the center of vehicle width, and then bends on the rear side of the engine so as to extend downwardly to a pivot portion. In this conventional structure, left and right side frames are fastened to a boss, provided in the vicinity of the pivot portion, and a front end portion of a swing arm is held between the main frame and the left and right side plates. Such a frame assembly structure is disclosed, for example, in Japanese Patent Laid-Open No. Hei 09-095279.
The boss, which permits adjustment of the spacing between the pivot portion and the left and right side plates, is provided in the vicinity of the pivot portion, and, in the vicinity of the boss, there is provided a boss for fastening an engine hanger.
In the above-described conventional structure, however, when modifying the swing arm width, due to a modification in the vehicle body design, the adjustment of the spacing between the main frame and each of the side plates must be carried out by modifying the main frame, which is a comparatively large component part. This leads to an increase in cost, and imposes a limitation on the degree of freedom in vehicle body design.
In addition, in the above-described conventional structure, joint surfaces of the bosses that abut on the side plates, used for fastening the side plates, and a joint surface of the boss that abuts on the engine hanger, used for fastening the engine hanger, are provided at different heights. Therefore, when carrying out mechanical work to enhance the surface accuracy of each of the abutting joint surfaces or other similar case, the mechanical work processes are conducted individually, resulting in an increase in the number of steps for manufacturing the frame assembly.
The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and provides a motorcycle frame in which spacing between a main frame and each side plate can be easily adjusted, and in which joint surfaces, abutting on the side plates and an engine hanger, of the main frame, can be easily processed.