A method for enhancing transmission quality of streaming media. A first bandwidth for a first communication link and a second bandwidth for a second communication link of a network are determined. Provided the first bandwidth is greater than the second bandwidth, a first excess bandwidth is utilized to improve transmission quality in the first communication link, wherein said the excess bandwidth is related to a difference of the first bandwidth minus the second bandwidth. Provided the second bandwidth is greater than the first bandwidth, a second excess bandwidth is utilized to improve transmission quality in the second communication link, wherein the second excess bandwidth is related to a difference of the second bandwidth minus the first bandwidth.

As use of computer networks and the Internet continues to expand, streaming media use also continues to grow. One of the most desirable applications of streaming media is to present the streaming media on a wireless client. Typically, streaming media is streamed from a server over a wired network to a wireless base station that transmits the streaming media over a wireless connection to a client device. In this environment, there is typically a transmission rate mismatch due to the maximum bandwidth of the wired network (e.g., the server to the wireless base station) being different than the maximum bandwidth of the wireless link (e.g., wireless base station to client).
In order to accommodate the transmission rate mismatch in two wired networks, end-to-end congestion control is often implemented. In a wired network, data loss is typically directly related to the transmission rate. As such, it is possible to reduce the percentage of data packets lost by reducing the transmission rate. Similarly, in the case when media is streamed from a server in a wired network infrastructure to a wireless client via a last hop wireless link, conventional practice is to ignore the effects of the last hop wireless link and employ endpoint media adaptations based solely on observable endpoint statistics. Since endpoint statistics are aggregated across all wired and wireless links, it is impossible to distinguish the respective conditions of the wired and wireless networks.
The resulting problem with the conventional practice is that the server can confuse losses due to wireless link failure as losses due to wired network congestion given only endpoint statistics. If losses are due to wired network congestion, then the server should perform endpoint congestion control and reduce sending rate. Typical congestion control algorithms decrease the sending rate with increasing round trip time and packet loss rates between two endpoints. On the other hand, if losses are due to wireless link failure, then the server should increase the error resiliency of the transmitting media stream while keeping the same sending rate. By not being able to distinguish the two different types of losses, in the case when losses are caused by wireless link failure, the server confuses them as wired network congestion losses and will unnecessarily perform congestion control and reduce the sending rate. The end result is a decrease in performance.
It has been proposed to solve this problem is a Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP) monitoring agent—a network agent, placed at the intersection of wired network and wireless link, that monitors existing streaming flows and periodically sends statistical feedback in the form of RTP Control Protocol (RTCP) reports back to the senders of the flows. As part of the RTP monitoring agent design, a shaping point, placed in front of the RTP monitoring agent, adjusts the outgoing rate of all packet traffic to the rate of the radio link.
The shaping point operates in the following manner. Let R1 be the permissible bandwidth of the wired network as determined by a standard wired network congestion control algorithm, based on wired network endpoint observable round trip time and packet loss rate. Let R2 be the maximum sending rate permissible for the wireless link, as determined by the base-station during wireless link resource allocation phase of the connection setup. In the event that R1<R2, the shaping point does nothing, and the streaming server sends at rate R1 as a result of the default behavior of the wired congestion control algorithm. In the event that R1>R2, the shaping point drops packets before packet arrival at the RTP monitoring agent until the server reacts to the drops by reducing the sending rate to R2 due to perceived wired network congestion control.
In particular, when R1<R2, the shaping point does not drop packets and the RTCP reports from the agent have reliable statistics of the wired network. Alternatively, in the case when R1>R2, the shaping point drops packets before packet arrival at the agent to reduce sending rate to R2. Depending one whether R1<R2 or R1>R2, the server can gather certain information. However, at any given time the server does not know whether R1<R2 or R1>R2. In the absence of that knowledge then, the server can only induce the following information: (1) the smaller of R1 and R2, which is the resulting server sending rate, (2) an upper bound of the wired packet loss condition, and (3) packet loss in the wireless link only.

Method for enhancing transmission quality of streaming media

Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.


An ion mobility sensor for obtaining measurements of concentrations of constituents of multicomponent gaseous samples. The sensor having an ionization region into which the sample is entered connected to a drift region, the regions being separated by a grid electrode. A first electrode is disposed at an end of the ionization region opposite to the grid electrode. A collector electrode is provided at an end of the drift region opposite to the grid electrode and DC voltages are applied by the electrodes so as to create a unidirectional field across the sensor. A pulse of UV light is directed toward the grid electrode. A voltage pulse of selected magnitude is superimposed at the first electrode within the pulse width of the UV pulse. Ions characteristic of the sample travel through the grid electrode, across the drift region to the collector electrode. The electrical output in accordance with any ions received at the collector electrode is then measured.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates generally to devices for quantitatively measuring the concentrations of constituents of multicomponent gaseous samples, and more particularly to devices that conduct such measurements based upon the mobility of ions in a drift region.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Ion mobility spectroscopy is a powerful and well known method for providing quantitative measurements of the composition of a gaseous environment. In this context, the ion mobility sensor is usually designed for operation at atmospheric pressure although in principle it can operate at higher or lower pressures. The ion mobility sensor typically is comprised of two identifiable regions: (i) an ionization region where ions are formed representative of the gas sample to be analyzed, and (ii) a drift region into which the ions are injected and allowed to drift in an electric field before collection.
During the ions, drift in the drift region, the ions make many collisions with the sample gas and their motion in the electric field is characterized by the ion mobility. Since the ion mobility is a function of ion mass, ions of different mass segregate during their drift. Thus, by measuring the ion arrival time spectrum at the collector, a signature of the gas sample composition is obtained. Although positive ion spectra provide a selective signature for all gaseous species, the additional monitoring of negative ion spectra (for electronegative species) can provide supplementary information for either diagnostic or calibration purposes.
In currently available commercial instruments, the dimensions of the ionization region are comparable in magnitude to those of the drift region. The ions are produced primarily through ion-molecule reactions, where the impurity molecules of interest are ionized as a result of collisions with primary ions not necessarily derived from the background sample gas but rather from carrier gases deliberately introduced into the reaction region. These primary ions are produced as a result of collisions of beta particles emitted from a Ni-63 radioactive source (located within the ionization region) interacting with the sample and/or carrier gas. Since the beta particles are produced continuously, the ion production process is continuous and the species present in the ionization region represent an equilibrium composition developed over a relatively long time and which includes (deliberately in the case of the use of a carrier gas) ions produced as a result of ion molecule chemistry. Thus, in order to analyze the ions present in this equilibrium ion "sea", provision must be made to extract a pulse of ions into the drift region. This is usually accomplished using an electronic shutter whereby ions are only allowed into the drift region during the application of suitable electric potentials to the shutter electrodes. The detection limit of commercially available sensors depends on the particular species, and levels below one part per billion have been detected for certain organic molecules in air samples at atmospheric pressure without any preconcentration.
Although the ion mobility spectrometer is a well proven instrument, presently available models are relatively large, expensive and require ancillary gas supplies for calibration and for enhancing the ionization efficiency. In addition, present ion mobility spectrometers utilize a continuous nonadjustable ionization energy source. The ionization energy source is typically radioactive which is frequently undesirable. Because a continuous source has been presently used, a shutter is needed to inject a pulse of the total ions into the drift region. The shutter is typically a grid electrode that has a shutter voltage applied to it that injects the ions into the drift region.
The continuous source of the ionization energy is fixed and cannot be changed. Thus, when a complex molecule is being ionized, more than one species of ion may be generated if it interacts with sufficiently energetic electrons. This will disassociate the molecule into smaller fragments and some of those smaller fragments will also be ionized and so on. Therefore, there is very little control over which species of ion can be generated in current ionization methods.
It would also be advantageous to provide ion mobility sensors with a means for triggering an alarm when the concentration of a monitored species rises above some preset value. Alternatively, it would be advantageous to provide a means for the measuring of one or more different species.


A vibration sensor for detecting a vibration of a vibrating object includes a plurality of detecting members. Each of the detecting members includes a vibrating portion disposed to be separated from the vibrating object, a transmitting portion for transmitting the vibration from the vibrating object to the vibrating portion, and a detecting portion disposed on a vibrating face of the vibration portion. The detecting portion outputs an electrical signal corresponding to a resonance of the vibrating portion. At least two of the vibrating portions of the detecting members have resonance frequencies, which are different from each other.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a vibration-detecting sensor and a method of detecting vibration. The vibration-detecting sensor is mounted to a vibrating object, and detects vibration generated by the vibrating object.
2. Description of Related Art
A knock sensor, i.e., vibration sensor, for detecting engine knock vibration is mounted to a cylinder block of a vehicle engine, for example.
JP-A-9-126876 discloses a vibration sensor including a base, a silicon semiconductor substrate, a vibrating portion and a weight. The substrate is disposed on the base, and the vibrating portion is integrated with the substrate. The vibrating portion is displaced in accordance with the knock vibration. The weight is arranged on the vibrating portion such that the vibrating portion resonates with the knock vibration.
The vibration sensor detects the knock vibration due to the resonance of the vibrating portion. Therefore, the vibrating portion and the weight are set such that a natural frequency of the vibrating portion corresponds to a frequency of the knock vibration.
However, because the weight is required to be set in accordance with an engine type, many kinds of the weights are needed to correspond to many kinds of the engines. Therefore, productivity and general versatility of the vibration sensor are low.
Further, the vibration sensor detects only vibration in a narrow range of frequency set in accordance with the engine. Therefore, non-knock vibration generated by other factors except the knock vibration is difficult to be detected, and the vibration sensor is difficult to detect the knock vibration separately from general noise.

Vibration sensor and method of detecting vibration


Device and method of efficiently controlling a traffic light using identification information having a layered structure are provided. A traffic light control device that controls signal light change of a management-target traffic light includes: a broadcast signal receiving unit that receives a broadcast signal emitted from a traffic control center via a broadcast network, wherein the broadcast signal includes identification information having a layered structure and a control command; and a traffic light control unit that determines whether the management-target traffic light belongs to a target of the control command on the basis of the identification information having a layered structure and that outputs the control signal for performing the signal light change based on the control command only when the management-target traffic light belongs to the target of the control command.

Traffic lights are devices which are installed at crossroads or crosswalks on roads and which indicate stop, detour, passing, and the like to passing vehicles or pedestrians by flickering of red light, green light, yellow light, green arrow light, and the like.
With an exponential increase of vehicles, traffic congestion has become serious problems. The vehicle stop time due to traffic lights at downtown crossroads or crosswalks occupies a considerable ratio of the congestion rate due to various factors of roads. Therefore, it has been thought that the traffic congestion could be released by controlling signal light cycles of traffic lights at crossroads or crosswalks so as to improve a flow of vehicles, and various countermeasures have been proposed for this purpose.
Traffic light controllers are connected to a traffic control center via a network and change signal light in accordance with a control signal output from the traffic control center to adjust a flow of vehicles. In the related art, the traffic light controllers and the traffic control center are connected to each other via a wired network using exclusive lines. Since the traffic control center and the traffic light controllers communicate with each other in a one-to-one manner, the traffic control center needs a complicated system to transmit different control commands to all the traffic light controllers. In addition, since the traffic control center has to finish communications with all the traffic light controllers within a predetermined time, the system or the wired network using exclusive lines should be kept at a high speed and thus much cost such as facility cost, communication cost, facility maintenance cost, and network maintenance cost is consumed.
Therefore, in general, only the traffic light controllers controlling traffic lights installed in important road zones such as crossroads are connected to the traffic control center. In this case, in the traffic light controllers installed out of the important road zones such as crossroads, the cycle of a signal light changing operation is set to be constant and the signal light is changed with a predetermined cycle to adjust a flow of vehicles. That is, the traffic light controllers other than the traffic light controllers connected to the traffic control center operate without any interlock with the control of the traffic control center.
As described above, since only the traffic light controllers connected to the traffic control center via exclusive lines perform a signal light changing operation on traffic lights on the basis of traffic information based on traffic conditions to control a flow of vehicles and the other traffic light controllers perform the signal light changing operation with a predetermined signal light change cycle, there is a problem in that signal light of all the traffic lights cannot be controlled as a whole and thus a flow of vehicles cannot be smoothly controlled.
As a solution to this problem, Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2001-0100275 filed by the applicant of the present invention discloses traffic light control device and method of controlling a signal light changing operation by causing a traffic control center to selectively output a control signal for controlling traffic light controllers in a wireless manner. The applicant of the present invention has filed a lot of patent applications such as Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2006-0129993. However, in this case, different controls signals have to be generated and output to control a lot of traffic light controllers.
In the related art, Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-2009-0008964 discloses a traffic light control device for smoothing a traffic flow in consideration of the number of vehicles by periodically counting passing vehicles, increasing a lighting time of a green light when the number of vehicles increases, and decreasing the lighting time of a green light when the number of vehicles decreases. In this case, a sensor unit for detecting a traveling vehicle and a counter unit for counting the number of vehicles need to be provided to each traffic light control device and the traffic lights are controlled independently of the control of the traffic control center. Accordingly, there is a problem in that the traffic lights may operate regardless of traffic flows of other roads.
Korean Patent Application Publication No. 10-1999-0061409 discloses a traffic-system link data constructing method of constructing link data using road names when roads having plural nodes and plural links have the road names including continuous links. It is intended to construct one N-bit link data piece having an additional link ID for a specific road, which is not regardless of traffic light control, and there is a problem in that the link data has a constant size of N bits.

Apparatus and method for controlling traffic signals using identification information having hierarchical structure


A process and system for producing pellets of high density carbon dioxide or other gases utilize a chamber containing a plurality of cell-like freezing compartments within which ice is to be formed. A gas desired to be frozen into ice is introduced into the chamber while the internal pressure of the chamber is maintained at a level which is below the equilibrium triple pressure of the gas. The temperature of the freezing compartments is lowered to a temperature which is below the equilibrium vapor pressure temperature of the gas at the chamber pressure so that the gas condenses into ice within the compartments. The temperature of the freezing compartments is thereafter raised so that the ice is thereby released from and falls out of the compartments as pellets for collection.

This invention relates generally to the production of ice and relates, more particularly, to the production of ice from a medium, such as carbon dioxide, which is gaseous when at room temperature and atmospheric pressure.
Ice, such as dry ice, is commonly used for the refrigeration of food products, for shipping of chilled packages and for use, when combined with compressed air or turbine wheel accelerators, as a blast media for cleaning surfaces.
Prior art processes used to form dry ice pellets of relatively high density commonly involve the flashing of liquid carbon dioxide into solid carbon dioxide snow which is subsequently compacted and formed into pellets via presses, by ram extrusion or by rotary extrusion. The density of the formed pellets formed by these processes is largely dependent upon parameters attending the extrusion step and can approach, but rarely achieves, the maximum density of solid carbon dioxide. Furthermore, the size of the pellets formed in such processes is normally determined by the sizes of the openings provided in plates associated with the extrusion step.
A limitation associated with prior art pellet-forming processes, such as the flashing/pressing technique described above, relates to the fact that only about forty percent of the liquid carbon dioxide is converted to solid while about sixty percent is converted into gas. Consequently, methods have been employed to convert a higher percentage of the liquid carbon dioxide into solid during pellet-forming processes. For example, one method described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,257,503 reclaims the lost carbon dioxide by capturing, compressing and re-liquefying the flash gas. Another method, addressed in each of U.S. Pat. Nos. 1,863,377, 2,138,758 and 3,901,044 involves a refrigeration unit which cools and directly freezes liquid carbon dioxide into solid form in molds, thereby eliminating the flashing step. The freezing of liquid in molds, however, requires the use of relatively complicated mechanisms to release the pellets from the molds. It would be desirable to provide a method and system for producing dry ice pellets in a manner which circumvents any need for or use of liquid carbon dioxide.
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved process and system for producing ice from a process medium which is normally gaseous at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, such as gaseous carbon dioxide.
Another object of the present invention is to provide such a process and system which is capable of converting a relatively high percentage of available gas, such as gaseous carbon dioxide, into solid form, i.e. ice, wherein the solid form possesses a very high density.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide such a process and system which circumvents the need or use of a process medium when in a liquid phase.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide such a process and system which requires no moving parts which must directly contact the ice forms, such as pellets, during production.
A further object of the present invention is to provide such a method or system which is well-suited for use in a process requiring gas pumping or in some other vacuum pump application.
A still further object of the present invention is to provide such a process and system which is capable of making ice and/or ice pellets of a predetermined shape and size.

Process and system for producing high-density pellets from a gaseous medium


An adjustable boss for securing an article carrier or rack assembly to a vehicle outer surface is disclosed. The adjustable boss is disposed between the rack assembly and the vehicle outer surface is employed having a body including an upper surface and a lower surface. A first protrusion extends away from the lower surface. A second protrusion extending away from the upper surface. The protrusions define an aperture whereby the first protrusion engages the vehicle outer surface.

Luggage carriers or article rack assemblies are used in a variety of applications to transport articles above an outer body surface of a vehicle. The rack assembly generally has an elevated frame that is supported above the vehicle surface by a plurality of support structures such as brackets or stanchions that connect the frame to the vehicle.
The frame may include a pair of side rails which extend longitudinally between the support assemblies, one or more cross rails that extend transversely between the side rails, and a support structure at each end of a side rail.
To facilitate the connection between the assemblies and the vehicle, apertures are placed in the vehicle surface. Fasteners are disposed between an assembly and the corresponding vehicle connection apertures. Vehicle surfaces are built with pre-determined tolerances as part of the vehicle surface specification. To account for these and other tolerances the assemblies typically include slots that receive the fasteners and to also permit the assemblies to adjust or slide in a fore and aft position.
Typically, the fasteners are bolts having a large head portion at a first end and a threaded shank portion at an opposing second end for threadingly engaging the connection apertures. The large head portion is used to seal the entire slot receiving the fastener to prevent fluid intrusion and take into account the largest tolerance specified on the vehicle surface. Fluids and other undesired contaminants would otherwise intrude into the aperture, flow down the shank portion, and leak into the vehicle interior.
Unfortunately, the packaging of the rack assemblies or the specification makes the use of fasteners with larger heads unavoidable. Thus, it would be desirable to have a structure that accounts for the build tolerances on vehicle surfaces, prevents the undesirable intrusion of contaminants into a vehicle, and permits the use of a fastener with a smaller head.


The embodiments include a method for providing security for a set of configuration files corresponding to a remote monitoring application. The method may include accessing a server configured to store the set of configuration files. The server is also configured to receive a connection request, over a network, from an agent having the remote monitoring application, generate an encryption key in response to receiving the connection request, transmit the encryption key, over the network, to the agent, encrypt the set of configuration files according to an encryption algorithm and the encryption key, and transmit the encrypted set of configuration files to the agent. According to one embodiment, the server may be accessed by performing one or more maintenance actions on the server.

A solution manager diagnostics agent (e.g., a standalone program) may store and use configuration files stored on a file system associated with the solution manager diagnostics agent. The solution manager diagnostics agent may perform a series of tasks (e.g., monitoring, root cause analysis, data collection) on a productive system according to its configuration files, and then transmit the results, over a network, to a solution manager, which processes the results obtained by the solution manager diagnostics agent. However, the configuration files may include sensitive information such as password information. As such, the configuration files may require protection in order to prevent hackers from obtaining the sensitive information contained in the configuration files. Conventionally, the solution manger diagnostics agent may encrypt the configuration files using an encryption key provided by an administrator, and then store the encryption key on the file system. The encryption key may be valid until the administrator decides to change the encryption key (e.g., following the appropriate security policy), in which case the solution manager diagnostics agent may re-encrypt the configuration files. However, this conventional method does not provide a flexible protection mechanism, which can vary of a level of security depending on the user's requirements.

Configuration protection for providing security to configuration files


Exemplary embodiments of dispensers are disclosed herein. One exemplary dispenser is a soap or sanitizer dispenser. The dispenser includes a housing. A removable and replaceable concentrate container for holding concentrated soap or sanitizer is located within the housing. A concentrate pump is in fluid communication with the concentrate container. A diluent container for holding a liquid is also located within the housing and a diluent pump for pumping the diluent is also included. The dispenser includes a mixing chamber in fluid communication with the concentrate pump and the diluent pump. The dispenser includes an outlet. When concentrated soap or sanitizer is pumped from the concentrate container, it mixes with diluent pumped from the diluent container to form a diluted mixture. The diluted mixture is dispensed at the outlet of the dispenser.

Liquid dispenser systems, such as liquid soap and sanitizer dispensers, provide a user with a predetermined amount of liquid upon actuation of the dispenser. In addition, it is sometimes desirable to dispense the liquid in the form of foam by, for example, injecting air into the liquid to create a foamy mixture of liquid and air bubbles. Some dispensers contain a refill unit comprising a container full of liquid soap or sanitizer in a usable concentration and a pump to pump the liquid. During a dispense cycle, activating the pump causes a dose of the liquid to be dispensed. In a foam dispenser, the refill unit typically includes an air pump that causes air to be mixed with the liquid during a dispense cycle to form a foam that is dispensed.

Dispensers for diluting a concentrated liquid and dispensing the diluted concentrate


A new phlox plant particularly distinguished by pink flowers and a compact, upright to outwardly spreading and mounding plant and growth habit, is disclosed.

The present invention comprises a new and distinct variety of phlox, botanically known as Phlox drummondii and hereinafter referred to by the variety name 'KAZI14750'. 'KAZI14750' originated from a controlled-cross in Mijnsheerenland, The Netherlands in summer 2007 between the proprietary female phlox variety 'Surphlox 1' (unpatented) and the proprietary male phlox variety 'Surphlox 2' (unpatented). Seeds from the cross were obtained and plants were grown for evaluation.
A single plant was selected in August 2008 and subsequently named 'KAZI14750'. In August 2008, 'KAZI14750' was first vegetatively propagated by stem cuttings in Mijnsheerenland, The Netherlands and from September 2008 in Stuttgart, Germany. 'KAZI14750' was found to reproduce true to type in successive generations of asexual propagation via stem cuttings in Stuttgart, Germany.


In a method of measuring visibility from a vehicle in motion, images taken by an optical-electronic camera are transformed into selected image features establishing the loci of defined brightness variations in the images. A range determination of the selected features relative to the optical-electronic camera is carried out followed by filtration of the range readings to establish the prevailing visibility for a vehicle operator or a sensor system based on image processing. The advantage over conventional active methods is that, without requiring an active transmitter, the true visual object contrast as well as the atmospheric transmission enters into the visibility determination.

This invention relates to methods for measuring visibility from a moving vehicle by image processing techniques.
Most of the information required by a vehicle driver to guide the vehicle is registered visually. The importance of visibility to the driver becomes especially apparent in circumstances in which visibility of the environment to the driver is greatly impaired as, for example, in dense fog or darkness. In a driver's estimate of instantaneous visibility, great errors occur frequently and such errors are aggravated by the absence of reference points such as guideposts at the roadside. But even with such reference points, serious misapprehensions may result because of wide variations in the degree to which the visibility of reference points such as guideposts is impaired because they are faded or soiled. For this reason, the possibility of providing a system for automatic on-board visibility detection in a vehicle is an important consideration. Such a system can be of value not only to assist a human vehicle driver but also for a fully automatic vehicle guidance system.
Various systems for determination of visibility from a vehicle are known in the prior art. For example, German Patent No. DE 37 35 267 describes an arrangement for visibility measurement in which a light emitter, preferably a laser diode, and a light sensor are mounted on a rear-view mirror inside the vehicle. The laser diode produces extremely brief flashes of light aimed though a region of the windshield in the direction of vehicle travel. Depending on the degree to which the windshield is soiled, more or less of the emitted light is diffusely reflected from the windshield. Furthermore, if the vehicle is traveling through a foggy area or approaching a curtain of fog, or if visibility is limited by other matter suspended in the atmosphere, for example smoke, more or less of the light which passes through the windshield is diffusely reflected before it reaches a recognizable object to be detected such as a guidepost.
Light rays reflected back to the sensor by the windshield, the fog or smoke, and the object to be detected, cause the sensor to generate signals representing the level of light intensity picked up from time to time. Moreover, the shorter the visibility, the greater the intensity of the reflected light rays. The arrangement described in this German patent determines the visibility only indirectly, as a function of transmission through the atmosphere, or of the degree to which the windshield is soiled, only those reflected rays which are incident on the sensor being available for analysis.
Another arrangement for determining visibility based on analysis of emitted light rays is disclosed in German Patent No. DE 3,810,840. In that arrangement the physical visibility is determined by using an optical pulsed or continuous radar signal and measuring the range to an object by the transit time method, using parameters of atmospheric transmission, a signal from a brightness sensor, and a searchlight signal. This method is also based chiefly on measuring the proportion of the emitted light which is diffusely reflected by particles present in the atmosphere, and, in darkness, the parameter of brightness enters into the calculation of visibility through the searchlight signal and the brightness sensor. Because the searchlight, especially when stopped down, will not illuminate the roadway space completely, only those objects within the searchlight cone are visible unless an object is intrinsically luminous.

Method for measuring visibility from a moving vehicle


A method of reducing aerodynamic drag on a moving blunt-edged body, the method comprising actively generating a flow of air at a blunt edge of a body and using the generated flow of air to control an external flow of air moving relative to an edge of a moving blunt-body.

As a vehicle moves forward, external air flow along surfaces of the vehicle separates from the surfaces at the aft end of the vehicle. Separation is most pronounced in vehicles with a substantially vertical aft face (e.g. trucks). The separation of flow from surface creates an area of low pressure behind the aft face of the vehicle. The area of low pressure "drags" the vehicle backward in a phenomenon known as aerodynamic drag. Aerodynamic drag on vehicles (e.g. trucks) significantly reduces fuel efficiency.
Reduced fuel efficiency leads to increased fuel consumption which contributes to air pollution and/or production of greenhouse gases and/or increased transportation cost.
Mechanical (static) flow deflectors mounted on vehicles in various configurations are employed to control external flow layer flow in an attempt to increase fuel efficiency. These mechanical flow deflectors are commonly referred to as "flarings" or "deflectors".
Aerodynamic drag accounts for approximately 50%-70% of total motion resistance on a moving ground vehicle (e.g. truck) at highway speeds. Therefore, a 20% reduction in aerodynamic drag has the potential to a net reduction of total drag by 10%. The 10% drag reduction has the potential to reduce fuel consumption by 7-10%. Actual reductions in fuel consumption from a 20% reduction in aerodynamic drag are influenced by other factors, including, but not limited to, vehicle weight and energetic cost of implementing the reduction. At current fuel prices, a truck traveling 50,000 miles/year at highway speeds could realize a net savings of $3000 per annum from a 20% reduction in aerodynamic drag. Trucks traveling greater distances can realize a proportionately greater savings. Alternatively, or additionally, the 7-10% reduction in fuel consumption could have significant environmental impact. Existing passive deflectors do not have the capacity to reduce aerodynamic drag and/or fuel consumption to this degree. Additional development of passive deflectors to increase a degree to which they contribute to fuel efficiency is considered impractical because of limitations imposed by size and/or weight and/or cost and/or operational considerations. Operational considerations include, but are not limited to, effects of loading and unloading goods, obstructing visibility of lights and reflectors, and significant overhang of devices.
Means of producing super-circulation via application of high speed wall-jets to curved aerodynamic shapes using the Coanda effect have been extensively studied. (See for example: Jones, G S and Englar, R J, AIAA paper 2003-3411, the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.) More recently similar concepts have been applied to reduce the drag of heavy vehicles. (See for example: SAE Technical paper 2001-01-2072 by R. J. Englar and AIAA paper 2004-2249 by R. C. McCallen et al., the contents of which are fully incorporated herein by reference.)
U.S. Pat. No. 4,736,913 to Bennett et al. describes a fluid flow control device which controllably maintains attached flow in the region of a body having a contour of rapid curvature utilizing tangential fluid discharge slots, positioned just upstream from the separation line, which issue a thin jet sheet to energize the external flow layer and entrain the surrounding flow. Bennett describes application to the aft fuselage of an aircraft to reduce separation and vortex drag at cruise and provide control forces and moments during low speed operation of the aircraft. The disclosure of this patent is fully incorporated herein by reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,104,498 to Englar et al. describes an aircraft comprising a channel wing having blown channel circulation control wings (CCW) for various functions. The described CCW relies upon a source of pressurized air and is capable of tangentially discharging pressurized air over the rounded trailing edge. The pressurized air being discharged over the rounded trailing edge provides a high lift that is obtained independent of an aircraft angle of attack, thus preventing the asymmetry, separated flow, and stall experienced by the CC wing at the high angle of attack it required for high lift generation. The aircraft can further include blown outboard circulation control wings (CCW) that are synergistically connected to the blown channel CCWs. The blown outboard CCWs provide additional high lift, control thrust/drag interchange, and can provide all three aerodynamic moments when differential blowing is applied front-to-rear or left-to-right. Both the blown channel CCW. The disclosure of this patent is fully incorporated herein by reference.
U.S. Pat. No. 7,055,541 to Seifert et al. entitled "Method and Mechanism for Producing Suction and Periodic Excitation Flow", the disclosure of which is fully incorporated herein by reference, describes exemplary valves suitable for use in some embodiments of the invention disclosed herein.
In earlier studies to characterize the effect of external flow control on wing sections, it has been determined that oscillating or pulsed streams of air applied to or near the surface for the purpose of controlling separation can be as much as one hundred times more effective than similar flows applied without oscillation or pulsing. (Seifert et al. (1996) J. of Aircraft 33 (4): 691-699).

Methods and apparatus for reduction of aerodynamic drag


A method of making a composite blade that is attachable to a rotating shaft using a conventional metal blade attachment. A blade is formed from a composite material with a blade root at one end thereof. A metallic member having an external shape conforming to a conventional metal blade root is shaped with an interior cavity having an opening for receipt of the blade root. Before the composite material is fully cured, a bladder is formed into or is inserted into an end of the blade root and inflated, thereby forcing the composite material into intimate contact with the interior cavity of the metallic member, thereby ensuring a fret-free interface upon final curing of the composite material. The interior cavity of the metallic member may be shaped or surfaced to improve the load carrying capability there between.

Metal blades are formed with an airfoil section for interface with a working fluid and a root section for attachment of the blade to a rotating metal disk. The root section may have any of a variety of known shapes (for example, dovetail, T-root, Christmas or fir tree, or a threaded attachment), but in each instance, the root section conforms to a corresponding attachment shape on the disk with a desired degree of looseness to facilitate the installation and removal of the blade. Slight movement between a metal blade root section and the corresponding attachment geometry on the disk during operation of the apparatus is accommodated by the inherent fretting resistance of the blade and disk materials.
Composite blades (for example epoxy, glass or ceramic materials) have advantages over metal blades, particularly their higher strength to weight ratio which allows for the design of lower weight parts. Composite blades have been used in compressors, fans, propellers and turbines. However, composite materials are not inherently fret-resistant, and the attachment of a composite blade to a metal disk is problematic. Special attachment techniques have been developed to address this problem, such as the use of a compliant interface layer and specially designed joints. Alternatively, composite disks have been designed with integrally formed composite blades. Nonetheless, improved attachment designs for composite blades are still desired.

Composite blade and method of manufacture


A signal processing device includes a control unit that suspends supplying of a signal to an A/D conversion unit which performs A/D conversion, during an A/D conversion period in which the A/D conversion is performed on the signal that depends on an electric charge read from a pixel; and a maintenance unit that maintains a signal value of the signal in a state where the signal is supplied by the control unit to the A/D conversion unit and that supplies the maintained signal value to the A/D conversion unit in a state where the supplying of the signal to the A/D conversion unit is suspended by the control unit.

The present technology relates to a signal processing device and method, an imaging device, and a solid state imaging element, and particularly to a signal processing device and method, an imaging device, and a solid state imaging element that are able to suppress an occurrence of a spurious signal.
In a column ADC circuit in an imaging element in the related art, an A/D conversion is performed by a comparator circuit comparing a reference voltage with a vertical signal line (VSL) in contact to an output terminal of a source follower circuit that performs pixel signal reading.
Generally, the vertical signal line (VSL) is connected directly to the comparator circuit. For this reason, there is a concern that when an output fluctuation in the vertical signal line (VSL) occurs during an A/D conversion period, an error occurs in a signal that is originally intended to be read and a resultant spurious signal is A/D-converted.
So, the technique in which a disconnection switch is provided in the vertical signal line (VSL) is provided as a technique that suppresses the output fluctuation (for example, refer to Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2008-67107).

Signal processing device and method, imaging device and solid state imaging element


An intraluminal system for retrieving an implantable medical device from a body vessel includes, according to one embodiment, a grasping component including at least one deployable arm, where a proximal end of the arm is configured to extend away from a longitudinal axis of the system when deployed, and a first sheath disposed adjacent to the grasping component, where the first sheath includes a radially expandable portion at a distal end thereof. A second sheath overlies the first sheath and the grasping component. Relative motion between the second sheath and the grasping component allows the proximal end of the deployable arm to be deployed for grasping a distal portion of an implantable medical device, and relative motion between the second sheath and the first sheath allows the expandable portion of the first sheath to radially expand to receive a proximal portion of the implantable medical device.

Stents are tubular support structures that may be implanted into body vessels to treat blockages, occlusions, narrowing ailments and other problems that may restrict flow through the vessel. Numerous vessels throughout the vascular system, including peripheral arteries, such as the carotid, brachial, renal, iliac and femoral arteries, and other vessels, may benefit from treatment by a stent. Generally, a stent comprises a framework of interconnected struts that allows the stent to be collapsed into a low profile configuration for delivery into the vessel and then radially expanded at the treatment site to support the vessel wall. Balloon-expandable stents expand in response to the inflation of a balloon, whereas self-expanding stents deploy automatically when released from a delivery device.
In some instances it may be necessary to remove a stent or other medical device that has been implanted in a vessel. The stent may have been deployed improperly (e.g., not fully expanded), for example, or positioned at an undesirable location in the vessel. To safely and successfully retrieve a device under these circumstances, open surgery is usually needed.

Intraluminal system for retrieving an implantable medical device


A current mode A/D converter for reducing current consumption while enhancing resolution. The A/D converter includes a V/I conversion circuit for sampling and converting an input voltage to a current, an I/V conversion circuit for converting the current supplied from the V/I conversion circuit to a comparison voltage, a comparator for comparing the current based on the comparison voltage and a reference current, and an encoder for generating a digital output signal based on the output signal of the comparator.

The present invention relates to an A/D converter for converting an analog input voltage to a digital signal having a plurality of bits.
A/D converters are installed in various types of electronic equipment to convert analog input voltage to a digital signal. In such A/D converters, comparators are supplied with reference voltages that have become finer due to lower power supply voltages and higher output signal resolution (increased number of bits). For instance, a reference voltage must be generated by dividing the power supply voltage by 1024 to obtain a digital output signal having 10 bits. If the power supply voltage is low, it becomes difficult to generate the reference voltage.
A current mode A/D converter for converting analog input voltage to a current and then comparing the converted current with a reference current with a plurality of comparators has been proposed. In such a current mode A/D converter, the reference voltage does not need to be prepared by dividing the power supply voltage. Thus, even if the power supply voltage is lowered, the current A/D converter is applicable for higher resolution of the A/D conversion operation, that is, for increased number of bits in the output signal.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. 8-79078 describes a serial-parallel A/D converter that performs A/D conversion through voltage comparison for higher ranks and A/D conversion process through current comparison for lower ranks. Thus, the serial-parallel A/D converter is applicable for lower power supply voltages.
Japanese Laid-Open Patent No. 9-98033 describes a circuit similar to the current-voltage conversion circuit used in the current mode A/D converter.


The present invention provides a slider with locking device, in which a leaf spring with a locking pawl can be mounted easily on a slider body by press processing. A protruded piece is provided on a rear portion of an upper plate of a slider body and a pawl hole is made near the base portion of the protruded piece. Then, another protruded piece is formed on a front portion of the upper plate and a contact portion is formed on that protruded piece so that an engaging tongue piece of a leaf spring is in contact with the same protruded piece. A groove with an engaged portion is provided in a front face of a guide post of the slider body. The leaf spring is formed in the shape of a substantially fallen letter U and has a locking pawl at one end and a drooping piece at the other end. The drooping piece is provided with an engaging portion which is to be engaged with an engaged portion and the engaging tongue piece is formed in the center of the leaf spring. Then, the leaf spring is engaged with the rear protruded piece and the engaged portion of the guide post so that the engaging tongue piece is always in a press contact with the contact portion.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a slider having a locking mechanism for use in an ordinary type slide fastener and more particularly to a slider for slide fastener with locking device in which slider locking function of a leaf spring with a locking pawl is activated by raising or falling a pull.
2. Description of the Related Art
In a conventional slider for slide fastener having such a locking mechanism disclosed in Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 10-99107, as shown in FIG. 12, protruded pieces 12xe2x80x2, 17xe2x80x2 are provided on front and rear portions of an upper plate 4xe2x80x2 of a slider body 1xe2x80x2 and a cam portion 27xe2x80x2 provided on a journal of a pull 3xe2x80x2 is mounted between these protruded pieces 12xe2x80x2, 17xe2x80x2 and then, a leaf spring 2xe2x80x2 is disposed on an upper face of the cam portion 27xe2x80x2. The leaf spring 2xe2x80x2 is formed in the shape of a substantially fallen letter U and has a locking pawl 8xe2x80x2 at one end while it has a drooping piece 9xe2x80x2 at the other end. An engaging piece 24xe2x80x2 is provided in a central substrate such that it is inclined therefrom and has an engaging portion 25xe2x80x2 bent from a front end thereof. The leaf spring 2xe2x80x2 has such a configuration that the drooping piece 9xe2x80x2 is mounted on a guide post 6xe2x80x2 of the slider body 1xe2x80x2 and an opening 26xe2x80x2 provided in the vicinity of the locking pawl 8xe2x80x2 is placed on the protruded piece 17xe2x80x2 provided on the rear portion of the upper plate 4xe2x80x2 such that it is capable of moving freely. Then, the engaging portion 25xe2x80x2 of the engaging piece 24xe2x80x2 is placed inside the protruded piece 12xe2x80x2 provided on the front portion of the upper plate 4xe2x80x2. When the pull 3xe2x80x2 is raised, the engaging portion 25xe2x80x2 of the engaging piece 24xe2x80x2 can engage with an engaging portion 13xe2x80x2 in the protruded piece 12xe2x80x2 on the front side portion.
According to Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 59-38884, a pair of pull holding posts are provided protrudedly on the front and rear portions in the center of an upper plate of the body and a journal of a pull is mounted rotatably on the body. A journal of the pull is provided with a cam portion and a leaf spring is placed on the cam portion. The leaf spring is formed in the shape of substantially letter U and has a locking pawl at one end and a drooping portion at the other end. An engaging piece provided at a front end of the drooping portion is engaged with the engaging portion provided in a diamond of the body by snap action and then, a shoulder portion provided in the middle of the leaf spring is fit to a guide surface of a protruded portion on the front portion of the upper plate so that the shoulder portion is capable of swinging along the guide surface.
Because in the slider for slide fastener with locking device shown in FIG. 12 described previously, the leaf spring 2xe2x80x2 is mounted on the guide post 6xe2x80x2 of the slider body 1xe2x80x2 by crimping, a distance between the upper plate 4xe2x80x2 and the lower plate 5xe2x80x2 joined in the form of substantially letter U with respect to the guide post 6xe2x80x2 is enlarged due to deformation of the guide post 6xe2x80x2, so that elements cannot be guided accurately between the upper plate 4xe2x80x2 and the lower plate 5xe2x80x2. Further, the leaf spring 2xe2x80x2 is moved forward of the guide post 6xe2x80x2 at the time of crimping so that the mounting position is deviated. As a result, the locking pawl 8xe2x80x2 comes into a firm contact with the wall face of the pawl hole thereby disabling the locking pawl 8xe2x80x2 from retracting from or advancing to the element guide groove 19xe2x80x2.
Further, because in the slider for slide fastener with locking device according to the Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 59-38884, the shoulder portion of the leaf spring is moved with a circular trace in the vertical direction and back/forth direction along a guide surface accompanied by a rising motion of the pull, the shoulder portion rides over the guide surface when it is moved forward, so that when the pull is fallen, the leaf spring does not follow that motion and is not returned to its original position.
The present invention has been achieved in views of the above described problems and an object of the present invention is to provide a slider for slide fastener with locking device, wherein when mounting a leaf spring with a locking pawl on a slider body, the leaf spring is mounted not by crimping but by just pressing in snap action, thereby maintaining a stabilized condition for a long term and allowing a smooth sliding operation.
Another object of the invention is to provide a slider for slide fastener with locking device, wherein the leaf spring is prevented from floating from the slider body thereby always maintaining a stabilized condition of the leaf spring.
Another object of invention is to provide a slider for slide fastener with locking device, wherein the leaf spring with the locking pawl is mounted by pressing and the configurations of the protruded piece to be provided on the slider body and the engaging tongue piece to be provided in the leaf spring are specified in order to always maintain a stabilized condition of the same slider for a long term, the same slider for slide fastener being allowed to be modified in various types.
Another object of the invention is to provide a slider for slide fastener with locking device which allows the locking pawl of the leaf spring to retract from or advance to an element guide groove smoothly.
To achieve the above described object, according to the invention, there is provided a slider for slide fastener with locking device wherein a hook-like protruded piece is provided on a rear portion of an upper plate of a slider body and a pawl hole is provided in a base portion thereof; a protruded piece or a through hole is provided in a front portion of the upper plate and a contact portion is formed on this protruded piece or through hole to be in contact with an engaging tongue piece of a leaf spring; a concave groove is provided in a front face of a guide post of the slider body and an engaged portion, which is to be engaged with an engaging piece of the leaf spring, is provided in this groove; the leaf spring is formed in the shape of a substantially fallen letter U and includes a locking pawl at one end thereof and a drooping piece at the other end while this drooping piece has an engaging portion to be engaged with the engaged portion in the groove; and the engaging tongue piece is provided in a central substrate such that it is extended therefrom downwardly in a curved state.
With the above structure, a hooking hole is provided in the vicinity of the locking pawl and the hooking hole is engaged with the protruded piece provided on a rear portion of the upper plate freely movably; the engaging portion provided on the drooping piece is engaged with the engaged portion in the groove; the engaging tongue piece of the leaf spring is mounted on the upper plate such that it is always in a sliding contact with the contact portion; and a journal with a cam portion of a pull is disposed between the rear protruded piece and the engaging tongue piece of the leaf spring.
Consequently, instead of mounting the leaf spring on the slider body by crimping, after placing the pull on the slider body, the leaf spring can be mounted easily by just pressing against the slider body. Further, because the engaging tongue piece is always in a press contact with the contact face, the leaf spring can maintain a stabilized condition, thereby ensuring a smooth sliding operation of the slider.
Preferably, the protruded piece is provided in the front portion of the upper plate of the slider body in the form of a hook and an engaging protrusion is provided protrudedly in the center of a distal end of the protruded piece while the distal end of the protruded piece at both sides of the engaging protrusion is formed as the contact portions; a through hole is provided in the engaging tongue piece extended as bent from a central substrate of the leaf spring and the through hole is loosely engaged with the engaging protrusion of the protruded piece so that the surface of the engaging tongue piece is always in a press contact with the contact portion provided in the protruded piece.
Consequently, the protruded piece restricts the leaf spring from floating over the slider body and the engaging tongue piece always maintains a stabilized condition.
Preferably, the protruded piece is provided on the front portion of the upper plate of the slider body and a distal end of the protruded piece or a base portion of the protruded piece is formed as the contact portion so that the engaging tongue piece provided in the leaf spring is always in a press contact with the contact portion.
Also preferably, the through hole is provided in the front portion of the upper plate of the slider body and a wall face of the through hole is formed as the contact portion so that the engaging tongue piece provided in the leaf spring is always in a press contact with the contact portion.
Further preferably, a surface or a front end of the engaging tongue piece provided in the leaf spring is always in a press contact with the contact portion provided on the upper plate of the slider body.
Consequently, in combination of various type contact portions and the engaging tongue piece, the engaging tongue piece of the leaf spring can be always in a press contact with the contact portion provided on the upper plate and can slide. Further, the leaf spring can be mounted in a stabilized condition by a simple process of pressing. As a result, a slider for slide fastener with locking device ensuring an easy operation and excellent durability is produced.
And preferably, the contact portion provided on the upper plate of the slider body is formed with a vertical plane substantially at right angle with respect to a top face of the upper plate.
Consequently, in addition to the effect of the first aspect, the engaging tongue piece never rides over the contact portion, so that the engaging tongue piece can move smoothly and the locking pawl can retract from or advance to the element guide groove in a stabilized condition for a long term. Therefore, the effects which the present invention achieves are conspicuous.

Slider for slide fastener with locking device


An optical module includes first optical elements disposed on a first surface side of optical waveguides, first signal wirings disposed on the first surface side in parallel with each other in a direction intersecting with a transmission direction of an electrical signal transmitted by a first signal wiring, second optical elements disposed on a second surface side of the optical waveguides, and second signal wirings disposed on the second surface side in parallel with each other in a direction intersecting with a transmission direction of an electrical signal transmitted by a second signal wirings, the optical waveguides being disposed in parallel with each other in a direction intersecting with an optical waveguide direction of an optical signal guided by an optical waveguide at an interval which is narrower than an interval between the adjacent first signal wirings and narrower than an interval between the adjacent second signal wirings.

An optical module known in the related art optically couples a planar optical device configured to emit or receive light in a direction substantially perpendicular to a substrate and an optical waveguide configured to guide light in a direction parallel to the substrate. A technology included in such an optical module disposes optical devices two-dimensionally by shifting the positions of the optical devices so as to reduce the pitch of the optical devices to be narrower than that of optical waveguides. See, e.g., U.S. Pat. No. 7,474,815.
Also, a technology known in the art mounts optical elements on the opposite sides of an optical waveguide to sandwich the optical waveguide therebetween in which the light coupled to the optical element disposed on the first side of the optical waveguide and the light coupled to the optical element disposed on the second side of the optical waveguide are propagated in opposite directions within the optical waveguide. See, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2006-120956.
In addition, a technology known in the art optically couples an optical fiber and an optical element by forming a recess inclined at 45 degrees on the core of the optical fiber, installing a mirror in the recess, and disposing the optical element directly above the mirror. See, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication 2005-331702.
Furthermore, a technology known in the art optically couples an optical element and an optical fiber by disposing optical elements on the sides of the optical fiber to sandwich the optical fiber therebetween in which light is totally reflected by a total reflection plane. See, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-open Publication No. 2012-032509.


A DMMP vapor generator, system, and method includes a mixing chamber that receives heated air; at least one heating coil operatively connected to the mixing chamber, wherein the at least one heating coil receives liquid DMMP and uses the heated air to heat the liquid DMMP; a mist sprayer operatively connected to the mixing chamber, wherein the mist sprayer receives the heated liquid DMMP and atomizes the heated liquid DMMP into a DMMP aerosol; and a tube operatively connected to the mixing chamber, wherein the tube receives and vaporizes the DMMP aerosol. The DMMP vapor generator may further include a heater operatively connected to the tube, wherein the heater maintains a temperature in at least a portion of the tube to continue a steady vaporization of the DMMP aerosol. The heated air in the mixing chamber and in the at least a portion of the tube is approximately 195° F.

1. Technical Field
The invention and embodiments described herein generally relate to vapor generators, and, more particularly, to a dimethylmethylphosphonate (DMMP) vapor generator for high output applications.
2. Description of the Related Art
DMMP is used to determine the capacity that gas filters have for filtering toxic nerve agents without using toxic materials. Generally, vaporizing DMMP in large quantities (e.g., 100 cfm or more) has always been difficult and complete vaporization is next to impossible. In the late twentieth century, the concept of spraying DMMP into a length of heated pipe was first explored. Some of the earliest prototypes used an eight foot length of ¾ inch pipe heat traced to 350° F. by solar radiation where the pipe was held at a focal point in an eight foot parabolic trough reflector. Next, DMMP was sprayed into the end of the pipe and the nozzle air carried the DMMP mist through the pipe. The DMMP mist then vaporized before exiting the pipe. Data from this prototype was used later in the fabrication of the DMMP and agent vapor generator used in evaluating the filter developed for the V-22/Osprey vertical takeoff aircraft. One problem with this vapor generator was that the pipe was coiled and immersed in a tank of thermal heat transfer oil, which took hours to preheat.
Conventionally, no off-the-shelf vapor generator exists for vaporizing chemicals as heavy as DMMP which has the consistency of light-weight motor oil. Conventionally, DMMP vapor generators used for testing by the military generally suffer from chemical fallout, that is, not all of the DMMP that was injected into the test system vaporized. Thus, older test systems typically suffered from contamination issues, slow challenge concentration development, and could not be run clean. Most systems in use, utilize a spray nozzle. However, as mentioned above, there is a problem in that not all of the DMMP vaporizes. What does not vaporize stays in an aerosol or drops to the bottom of the test equipment such as a Q262 gas life test machine and must be drained away. Accordingly, a new and improved DMMP vapor generator that overcomes the limitations of the conventional solutions would be beneficial to the industry.

The United States of America as Represented by the Secretary of the Army


Techniques for physically implementing fiber ring networks which achieve full mesh connectivity, such networks including a 2-fiber WDM ring network composed of a clockwise ring and counter clockwise ring, and a 4-fiber WDM Self-Healing Ring network. The number of wavelengths required is derived for both odd and even number of nodes on the ring. To physically set-up all required connections in the network, optimal wavelength assignment algorithms are devised so that the wavelength assignment between nodes on the ring is systematic and engenders full mesh connectivity while avoiding any possible violation of the color clash constraint. An illustrative algorithm uses a simple matrix approach for calculating the interconnection arrangement.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates to fiber telecommunication systems and, more particularly, to techniques for optimally selecting appropriate paths and setting-up connections in wavelength division multiplexed ring networks by assigning the minimum number of wavelengths that preclude color clash violations and implement shortest path routing.
2. Description of the Background Art
In today's integrated networks, it is essential that a single communications medium be able to handle traffic with different characteristics, operating in the range of a few Mb/sec to a few Gb/sec. This will enable the networks to handle such applications as large volume data or image transfers (e.g., supercomputer interconnections, supercomputer visualization, and high resolution uncompressed medical images) that have very large bandwidth requirements, as well as such applications as voice or video which require much smaller bandwidth.
The enormous potential of optical fiber to satisfy the demand for these networks has been well established over the last few decades. Optical fiber is highly reliable (Bit Error Rate (BER) in commercially deployed systems less than 10.sup.-11), it can accommodate longer repeater spacing, and it has unlimited growth potential. Single mode fiber offers a transmission medium with Tb/sec bandwidth (enough capacity to deliver a channel of 100 Mb/sec to hundreds of thousands of users), combined with high speed transmissions experiencing low loss and low bit error rates. Traditional network architectures, however, which use electrical switches and the optical fiber as a simple substitute for copper wire or other communications media, are limited by an electronic speed bottleneck and cannot be used in current networks with a growing demand for Gb/sec applications. As the next step in the evolution of the existing transport networks, Wavelength Division Multiplexed (WDM) optical networks can be deployed to provide concurrency by multiplexing a number of wavelengths for simultaneous transmission within the same medium. This approach then provides each user with a manageable portion of the enormous aggregate bandwidth.
Rapid advances in optical fiber communications technology and devices (such as filters, multiplexers/demultiplexers, fiber couplers, optical switches, multiwavelength amplifiers, Wavelength Add/Drop Multiplexers (WADM's) and Wavelength Selective Cross-connects (WSXC's)), in terms of performance, reliability and cost over the last few years, enable the future deployment of optically routed WDM networks which can be used to create high capacity nationwide broadband networks. In these networks, optical signals can flow end-to-end between users, without being converted to electrical signals at the network switches. They can offer large bandwidth, simple cross-connecting of high bit-rate streams, signal format and bit rate independent clear channels, equipment and operational savings, as well as maximum flexibility. WDM components and (mostly point-to-point) networks are currently been manufactured by a number of companies.
The WDM optical networks are envisioned to be used as transport networks for a number of technologies such as Synchronous Optical Network (SONET), Synchronous Digital Hierarchy (SDH), and Asynchronous Transfer Mode (ATM) as well as to provide end-to-end clear channels between users. Various applications utilizing these technologies or the optical network directly (clear channels) can then be provided.
An illustrative example of a WDM network is a self-healing WDM ring. Such a ring is a leading candidate architecture for high capacity local exchange carrier networks because of the survivability capabilities that the ring provides and the fact that its capacity can be shared by all the network nodes connected to the ring.
The ring network of FIG. 1 depicts an example of a self-healing ring architecture, namely, a so-called 4-fiber WDM shared protection ring 100. Two of the fibers are used as "working" fibers (carrying the network traffic) and the other two are used as "protection" fibers (dark--used only during a failure in order to restore the service). Since there are two working fibers available and the connections are always routed via shortest paths, every working fiber carries only half of the optical signal traffic on the ring. For instance, given a clockwise working fiber ring 101, a counterclockwise working fiber ring 102, along with corresponding protection fiber rings 103 and 104, the optical signal traffic from network node 111 to network node 112 can be carried in the clockwise working ring 101 and, conversely, the optical signal traffic from network node 112 to network node 111 can be carried by counterclockwise ring 102. To recover from fiber cut failures or network node failures, each operational node provides a loop-back protection switching function so that traffic on a working ring can be diverted to a protection ring to bypass the failure.
The subject matter of the present invention deals with a general ring architecture which is composed of a clockwise working ring and a counterclockwise working ring; a self-healing ring is but one example of the general principles in accordance with the present invention.
In assigning wavelengths to carry the optical signals, it is necessary to ensure that optical signals simultaneously sharing a single fiber have different wavelengths; otherwise, a so-called Color Clash (CC) occurs or, expressed equivalently, there would be in violation of the CC constraint.
In addition, it is also important practically to deploy a minimum number of wavelengths in implementing the ring network. Each additional wavelength typically requires electro-optical equipment (e.g., an optical network card including a laser) to be added in each node, thereby increasing not only the cost of connection set-up in the network but the costs of provisioning and maintenance of the network as well.
In the past, ad hoc procedures have been devised in an attempt to assign wavelengths to the required connections in the network so as to avoid Color Clash violations. As suggested, these procedures are not systematic nor scalable. These methods are not systematic because the techniques rely upon trial-and-error attempts to produce a viable wavelength assignment for a given interconnection configuration, for a given number of nodes in the ring. These methods are not scalable in the sense that if it is desired to add another node to the network with minimal disruption to the interconnections of the already-present nodes, there is no known prior art technique for adding this node in an orderly or systematic way while ensuring use of the minimum number of wavelengths, shortest path routing, and avoidance of a Color Clash. In contrast, in accordance with the present invention, the scaling technique for adding two nodes results in no disruptions, whereas the scaling technique for adding one node results in disturbing a very small number of existing connections.
A reference representative of the technological field of the present invention which discusses the ad hoc technique is the article entitled "Multiwavelength Survivable Ring Network Architectures", authored by A. F. Elrefaie and published in the Proceedings of the International Conference in Communications (ICC), 1993. Whereas this reference does address the issue of determining the minimum number of wavelengths to avoid violation of the CC constraint (for the case of odd nodes on the ring only), an ad hoc technique for assigning wavelengths to all connections on the ring is presented, which is only satisfactory for situations in which the number of nodes on the ring is an odd number. This reference does not address the case when the number of nodes on the ring is an even number. Moreover, the ad hoc method does not address a procedure for the systematic determination of wavelength assignment, nor a systematic procedure for assigning wavelengths when the ring network scales.
Thus, a need exists in the art for a systematic procedure to implement a wavelength assignment in a ring network with a minimum number of wavelengths, for either an even or odd number of nodes, in accordance to shortest path routing and without a Color Clash. Furthermore, a need exists in the art for a systematic method to assign wavelengths to the network connections whenever it is desirable/necessary to add nodes to the network.

Connection set-up and path assignment in wavelength division multiplexed ring networks


A method for mitigating multipath impacts on azimuth accuracy in a monopulse interrogator is accomplished by calculating samples of monopulse ratio for samples of antenna boresight angles based on data received from an interrogation of a target. Samples of traditional target azimuth from the samples of monopulse ratio are calculated. A mean of the samples of traditional target azimuth is calculated. An alternative target azimuth from the samples of monopulse ratio is calculated. Whether a multipath signal exists is determined from observing a standard deviation of the samples of traditional target azimuth, and using the mean of the traditional target azimuth if a multipath signal does not exist and using the alternative target azimuth if a multipath signal does exist.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a technique for mitigating multipath impacts on azimuth accuracy in a monopulse interrogator.
2. Description of Related Art
Identification Friend or Foe (IFF) monopulse interrogators are typically used to determine an azimuth bearing of a target such as an aircraft. The target azimuth bearing is determined by processing magnitudes of monopulse ratio measured by a horizontally rotated beam of two-channel monopulse antenna.
In the presence of multipath signals arising from target images on nearby reflectors, the IFF monopulse ratio becomes complex having a real part and an imaginary part. The real part of the complex monopulse ratio has been used to obtain an estimate for the target azimuth, hereinafter it is called the traditional target azimuth.
The standard deviation of traditional target azimuth has been used as a flag to indicate the presence of multipath signals. Processing either the magnitude or the real part of the complex monopulse ratio yields inaccurate values for the target azimuth which can lead to target trajectories experiencing a bias and wandering azimuth.

Technique for mitigating multipath impacts on azimuth accuracy in a monopulse interrogator


A display device includes: a display unit daisy-chain connected to a source device that outputs an image signal encoded with a prescribed version of a standard specified as a prescribed standard, displaying an image generated by decoding the image signal encoded with the prescribed version; a determination unit that determines the number of connected sink devices that are daisy-chain connected to the source device; and a setting unit that sets, from among the prescribed versions, a version in which the image that was generated by decoding the image signal encoded by the source device is displayable on the display units of all of the daisy-chain connected sink devices, depending on the number of connected sink devices.

The use of DVI (Digital Visual Interface), which is the interface standard between a personal computer (hereinbelow referred to as a "PC") and a display, enables a digital signal to be sent directly from a PC to a display. Accordingly, an image that is generated based on the digital signal can be shown on the display without causing degradation, and image quality can thus be improved. The use of HDMI (High-Definition Multimedia Interface) (trademark), which is a standard that is a further development of these DVI standard, enables the transmission of a clear video/audio signal (hereinbelow, a "video/audio signal" is referred to as a "content signal") as a digital signal. HDMI can be rated as an important standard that supports HDTV (High-Definition Television).
In fields such as DVDs (Digital Versatile Disks) and digital television broadcasting, a content signal is protected by using encryption technology. Accordingly, even when a content signal is simply extracted to produce a reproduction, the content signal cannot be reproduced. However, when a device such as a PC is used to reproduce a content signal, the code is decoded when being shown on a display and the content signal enters a vulnerable state. At this instant, the concern arises that a reproduction known as a pirated copy will be produced by extracting the content signal from the transmission system between the PC and the display.
When the transmission system between a PC and a display is realized by using an analog signal, only a degraded content signal can be obtained even when a reproduction is produced by extracting the content signal from the transmission system as when using a video deck to dub to a tape. However, when a digital signal that uses the DVI standard is used in the transmission system between a PC and a display, a reproduction that is free of degradation can be produced by extracting the content signal that is transmitted from the PC. In this way, a standard referred to as HDCP (High-bandwidth Digital Content Protection) was decided upon and managed by an organization known as Digital Content Protection, LLC as one copyright protection technology that prevents the illegal production of reproductions and that with the original content signal and image quality.
In HDCP, a content signal is encoded on the path of transmission of a digital signal between a video reproduction apparatus such as a PC and a display apparatus such as a display. More specifically, the apparatus on the transmitting side of the content signal authenticates the apparatus on the receiving side. Then, by using public key cryptography, the key that is used to encode the content signal is shared between the transmitting-side apparatus and receiving-side apparatus. The transmitting-side apparatus uses this public key to encode the content signal and then transmits. In this way, extraction or alteration of the content signal is prevented during transmission. A content signal that is protected by HDCP is not displayed on the receiving-side apparatus when the transmitting-side apparatus and receiving-side apparatus are not both compatible with the HDCP standard. Further, even if a bogus apparatus is used to extract the content signal, authentication to determine whether an apparatus is legitimate is not achieved. As a result, transmission of the content signal to a bogus apparatus from the transmitting-side apparatus is denied.
The HDCP standard is currently being updated to HDCP ver. 2.2 (hereinbelow referred to as "HDCP 2.2") that is necessary in models compatible with 4K television broadcasting. Copyright protection technology is becoming more robust in proportion to the improvement in image quality that comes with 4K television broadcasting. Further, because 4K television broadcasting is currently still at the stage of test broadcasting, mainstream image reproduction apparatuses and image display apparatuses (these apparatuses are hereinbelow collectively referred to as "display devices") that have gone on the market are currently compatible with HDCP ver. 1.4 (hereinbelow referred to as "HDCP 1.4") that is the current HDCP standard and HDCP 2.2 that is a standard in which HDCP 1.4 has been updated.
In addition, display devices that are compatible with the HDCP standard are subject to more severe restrictions regarding the number of display devices that are daisy-chain connected (strung in a row) in order to make the copyright protection technology more robust.
Display devices (hereinbelow referred to as "sink apparatuses") or relay apparatuses (hereinbelow referred to as "repeater apparatuses") that are compatible with the HDCP standard must receive the authentication of the signal source (hereinbelow referred to as "source apparatus") such as a PC. A sink apparatus is an apparatus that displays images on the basis of a content signal, for example, that is copyright protected by the HDCP standard. A repeater apparatus is an apparatus that is arranged between, for example, a source apparatus and a sink apparatus and that distributes a content signal that is copyright protected by the HDCP standard. Finally, a sink apparatus may be provided with the functions of a repeater apparatus. When sink (repeater) apparatuses and source apparatus are connected using a cable that conforms to the HDMI standard and the above-described authentication is performed, the maximum depth and maximum number of devices of the repeater apparatuses that relay the content signal are determined in advance as limitations on the number of devices that are daisy-chain connected. Here, the depth refers to the number of levels in which repeater apparatuses are connected. The number of devices is the number of devices that are connected in all levels.
For example, in the case of HDCP 1.4, the maximum depth of repeater apparatuses is 8, and the maximum device number of sink apparatuses is limited to 128. Further, in the case of HDCP 2.2, the maximum depth of repeater apparatuses is 4, and the maximum device number of sink apparatuses is limited to 32.

Display device, display method, and program


According to one embodiment, a memory system includes a volatile memory, a nonvolatile memory, and a controller which is configured to turn off a power of the volatile memory after storing data of the volatile memory in the nonvolatile memory in a first mode, turn on the power of the volatile memory in the second mode, and change a first timing as a future timing switching to the first mode based on a second timing as a past timing switching to the second mode.

To reduce power consumption of a memory system, for example, a system-on-a-chip (SOC) comprises a plurality of areas whose power is separated from each other and has the function of switching between an active mode and a sleep mode in accordance with a command from a host. In the sleep mode, a power of a predetermined area of the plurality of areas is shut off to achieve power save.

Memory system, method of controlling memory system having volatile memory and nonvolatile memory, and controller


The present disclosure provides a global simultaneous interpretation method and production thereof, the method includes the following steps: receiving a calling request sent by a terminal by a smart phone, connecting the calling request, and establishing a calling connection; receiving a first voice information transmitted through the calling connection by the smart phone, and when the first voice information is identified and is determined as a non-specified language, translating the first voice information into a second voice information of a specified language; and playing the second voice information by using a speaker device by the smart phone.

Simultaneous interpretation is an interpretation manner in which an interpreter translates a speech of a speaker for audience uninterruptedly without interrupting the speaker. An electroacoustic system used for translation is dedicatedly disposed in a conference hall or a theater. Interpreters simultaneously translate a speech or lines into different languages, the translated content is transmitted through the electroacoustic system, and the audience may freely select and listen to content in a certain language.
Existing simultaneous interpretation is implemented based on professionals, leading to great costs and high limitations. Because an existing mobile phone cannot implement translation of conversations, and cannot reach a simultaneous interpretation requirement, a mobile phone capable of implementing simultaneous interpretation is necessary, which can affect user experience.

This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.

Global simultaneous interpretation mobile phone and method

WING TAK LEE SILICONE RUBBER TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO., LTD


A multi-speed transmission has input and output shafts, gearsets (RS1, RS2, RS3, RS4), shafts (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8), and shifting elements (A, B, C, D, E). A carrier of gearset (RS4) and the input shaft couple as shaft (1). A carrier of gearset (RS3) and the output shaft couple as shaft (2). Sun gears of gearsets (RS1, RS4) couple as shaft (3). Ring gears of coupled gearsets (RS1, RS2) respectively form shafts (4, 8). Sun gears of gearsets (RS2, RS3) couple as shaft (5). A carrier of gearset (RS1) and a ring gear of gearset (RS3) couple as shaft (6). A carrier of gearset (RS2) and a ring gear of gearset (RS4) couple as shaft (7). Arranged within the power flow: elements (A, B) are respectively between shaft (3, 4) and a transmission housing; element (C) between shafts (1, 5); element (D) between either shafts (2, 8) or (6,8); element (E) between two of shafts (5, 7, 8).

Automatic transmissions, particularly for motor vehicles, in the state of the art, include planetary gearsets that are shifted by way of friction or shifting elements, such as clutches and brakes, and a starting element, such as a hydrodynamic torque converter or a fluid clutch, subjected to a slip effect and optionally provided with a lockup clutch.
Within the scope of DE 101 15 983 A1 of the Applicant, a multi-speed transmission with an input shaft connected to an input side gearset and an output shaft connected to an output side gearset is described with a maximum of seven shifting elements, the optional shifting of which implements at least seven can be without group shifts. The input side gearset is composed of a shiftable or non-shiftable planetary gearset or of a maximum of two non-shiftable planetary gearsets that are coupled to each other. The output side gearset is configured as a two-carrier, four-shaft transmission with two shiftable planetary gearsets and features four free shafts. The first free shaft of this two-carrier, four-shaft transmission is connected to the first shifting element; the second free shaft to the second and third shifting element; the third free shaft to the fourth and fifth shifting element, and the fourth free shaft is connected to the output shaft. For a multi-speed transmission with a total of six shifting elements, according to the invention, it is proposed to connect the third free shaft or the first free shaft of the output side gearset additionally to a sixth shifting element. For a multi-speed transmission with a total of seven shifting elements, according to the invention, it is proposed to connect the third free shaft additionally to a sixth shifting element, and the first free shaft additionally to a seventh shifting element.
Several other multi-speed transmissions are also known from DE 101 15 995 A1 of the Applicant, which are provided with four shiftable planetary gearsets that are coupled to each other and six or seven non-positive shifting elements, by the selective engagement thereof, a rotational speed of an input shaft of the transmission can be transferred, in such a way, to an output shaft of the transmission that nine or eleven forward gears and at least one reverse gear can be engaged. Depending on the gearbox design, two or three shifting elements are engaged in each gear, and when shifting from one gear into the next higher or next lower gear, only one engaged shifting element is disengaged and one shifting element that was not previously engaged is engaged to avoid range shifts.
In addition, the unpublished patent application DE 10 2005 002 337.1 of the Applicant proposes a multi-speed transmission with an input shaft, an output shaft, four individual planetary gearsets that are coupled to each other and five shifting elements, with eight forward gears being shifted into without group shifts. That is, in such a way, that when shifting from a forward gear into the next higher or lower forward gear, only one of the previously engaged shifting elements is disengaged and only one of the previously disengaged shifting elements is engaged. This multi-speed transmission also features one reverse gear. In all forward gears and in the reverse gear, three shifting elements are engaged at any one time. With regard to the kinematic coupling of the four planetary gearsets to each other and to the input and output shafts, it is provided that a carrier of the fourth planetary gearset and the input shaft are connected to each other and form a first shaft of the transmission; a carrier of the third planetary gearset and the output shaft are connected to each other and form a second shaft of the transmission; a sun gear of the first planetary gearset and a sun gear of the fourth planetary gearset are connected to each other and form a third shaft of the transmission; a ring gear of the first planetary gearset forms a fourth shaft of the transmission; a ring gear of the second planetary gearset and a sun gear of the third planetary gearset are connected to each other and form the fifth shaft of the transmission; a carrier of the first planetary gearset and a ring gear of the third planetary gearset are connected to each other and form a sixth shaft of the transmission; a sun gear of the second planetary gearset and a ring gear of the fourth planetary gearset are connected to each other and form a seventh shaft of the transmission, and a carrier of the second planetary gearset forms an eighth shaft of the transmission. Regarding the kinematic coupling of the five shifting elements to the four planetary gearsets and to the input and output shafts, it is provided that the first shifting element is arranged in the power flow between the third shaft and a housing of the transmission; the second shifting element between the fourth shaft and the housing of the transmission; the third shifting element between the first and fifth shafts; the fourth shifting element either between the eighth and second shaft or between the eighth and sixth shaft, as well as the fifth shifting element either between the seventh and fifth shaft or between the seventh and eighth or between the fifth and eighth shaft.
Automatically shiftable motor vehicle transmissions in planetary design have, in general, already been described many times in the state of the art and are subjected to constant further development and improvement. These transmission should, therefore, feature a sufficient number of forward gears, as well as one reverse gear and transmission ratios that are very well suited for motor vehicles, with a high total transmission ratio spread, and with favorable progressive ratios. In addition, they should enable a high startup gear ratio in forward direction and contain a direct gear for use in both passenger cars and commercial vehicles. In addition, these transmissions should not have a complicated construction and require in particular a small number of shifting elements and avoid double shifting with a sequential shifting method so that only one shifting element is changed at one time when shifting within defined gear ranges.
It is an object of the invention to propose an automatic multi-speed transmission of the type named above with at least eight forward gears and at least one reverse gear in which the lowest possible number of shifting elements is required with the use of a total of four planetary gearsets. In addition, the transmission should feature a large spread with comparatively harmonic gear stepping and, at least in the main driving gears, a favorable degree of efficiency with comparatively little drag and gearing loss.