A turbine blade having improved cooling characteristics is provided. The turbine blade has an airfoil portion having a span, and at least one cooling passageway in the airfoil portion extending from a root portion of the airfoil portion to a tip portion of the airfoil portion. A plurality of turbulation promotion devices are placed in the at least one cooling passageway. The turbulation promotion devices have a P/e ratio which varies along the span of the airfoil portion, where P is the pitch between adjacent turbulation promotion devices and e is the height of the turbulation promotion devices.

(a) Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to gas turbine engines in general and in particular to turbine blades or buckets having cooling passages with a plurality of turbulators tailored for heat load.
(b) Prior Art
It is customary in turbine engines to provide internal cooling passages in turbine blades or buckets. It has also been recognized that the various stages of turbine rotors within the engines require more or less cooling, depending upon the specific location of the stage in the turbine. First stage turbine buckets usually require the highest degree of cooling because those turbine blades, located after the first vane, are the blades exposed immediately to the hot gases of combustion flowing from the combustors. It is also known that the temperature profile across each turbine blade peaks along an intermediate portion of the blade and that the temperatures adjacent the root and tip portions of the blades are somewhat lower than the temperatures along the intermediate portion.
In some cases, a plurality of cooling passages are provided within the turbine blades extending from the blade root portion to the tip portion. Cooling air from one of the stages of the compressor is conventionally supplied to these passages to cool the blades. Turbulence promoters or turbulators have been employed throughout the entire length of these passages to enhance the heat transfer of the cooling air through the passages. Thermal energy conducts from the external pressure and suction surfaces of turbine blades to the inner zones, and heat is extracted by internal cooling. Heat transfer performance in a ribbed channel primarily depends on the channel diameter, the rib configuration, and the flow Reynolds number. There have been many fundamental studies to understand the heat transfer enhancement phenomena by the flow separation caused by the ribs. In the flow past surface-mounted ribs, a boundary layer separates upstream and downstream of the ribs. These flow separations reattach the boundary layer to the heat transfer surface, thus increasing the heat transfer coefficient. The separated boundary layer enhances turbulent mixing, and therefore the heat from the near-surface fluid can more effectively get dissipated to the main flow, thus increasing the heat transfer coefficient.
The turbulence promoters used in these passageways take many forms. For example, they may be chevrons attached to side walls of the passageway, which chevrons are at an angle to the flow of cooling air through the passageway.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,413,463 to Chiu et al. illustrates turbulated cooling passages in a gas turbine bucket where turbulence promoters are provided at preferential areas along the length of the airfoil from the root to the tip portions, depending upon the local cooling requirements along the blade. The turbulence promoters are preferentially located in the intermediate region of the turbine blade, while the passages through the root and tip portions of the blade remain essentially smoothbore.
Despite the existence of these turbine blades having turbulated cooling passageways, there remains a need for blades which have improved cooling.


A clock generation system for generating a first-, a second-, and a third-reference frequency clocks having respective frequencies having predetermined ratios to the reference frequency of a reference clock, using PL circuits in such a way that the clocks have sufficient S/N ratios in spite of the S/N ratio limitation by the noise floor. A first reference frequency clock is supplied to a first PLL circuit to generate an intermediate-frequency clock having an intermediate frequency having a predetermined ratio to the reference clock. The intermediate-frequency clock is supplied to a second and a third PLL circuits to generate a second and a third reference frequency clocks having frequencies respectively having a second and a third ratios to the intermediate frequency, respectively.

In the art of DVD system that utilizes, for example, a DVD player, a DVD-R, and a DVD-RW, it is necessary to provide a multiplicity of clocks of different reference frequencies (referred to as reference frequency clocks), including at least a 27 MHz clock series (first reference frequency series) for a video system, a 33.8688 MHz clock series (second reference frequency series) for a sound system (particularly CD) (the series including integral multiples of a sampling frequency of 44.1 kHZ), and a 36.864 kHz clock series (third reference frequency series) for another sound system (particularly DVD) (the series including integral multiples of 48 kHz and 32 kHz sampling frequencies).
These three reference frequency series can be obtained using individual oscillation modules. However, this approach is costly for a clock generation system because it requires one oscillation module for each of the required reference clock frequencies. Then, in order to reduce the cost, one might consider to generate two of the three reference frequency series from the remaining one, utilizing PLL (phase-locked loop) circuits, as shown in FIG. 7. FIG. 7 shows a clock generation system conjectured by the inventor in the process of devising the present invention, which is shown as a reference, but not prior art.
In the system shown in FIG. 7, a first reference frequency clock Fr1 (27 MHz) generated by an oscillation module is used as the basis for generating the remaining two reference frequency clocks, that is a second reference frequency clock Fr2 (33.8688 MHz) and a third reference frequency clock Fr3 (36.864 MHz).
In the first PLL circuit 70a as shown in FIG. 7, the first 27 MHz reference frequency clock Fr1 is supplied to a first frequency divider 71a, which frequency-divides the input first clock by a factor of 625 and supplies it to one comparison input terminal P1 of a phase comparator (PD) 73a. The second frequency divider 72a receives the output of the PLL circuit 70a and frequency-divides it by a factor of 3136, which is supplied to a PD 73a as another comparison input P2. The PD 73a compares the two inputs P1 and P2 and generates an output (referred to as comparison output) indicative of the phase difference between them. The comparison output is smoothed by a low-pass filter (LPF) before it is supplied to a voltage control oscillator (VCO) 75a as a control signal. The VCO 75a changes its oscillation frequency according to the control signal input so that the two inputs to the PD 73a coincide in frequency and in phase. The loop gain of this PLL circuit is large, so that remaining deviation is extremely small. Thus, the frequency of the output of the VCO 75a is converted to 135.4752 (=27×3136/625) MHz, in accordance with the frequency division ratio of the frequency dividers 71a and 72a.
The output frequency of the VCO 75a is frequency-divided by a frequency divider 76a by a factor of 4, generating a second reference frequency clock Fr2. The output frequency of the VCO 75a is further frequency-divided by a 1/6 frequency divider 77a, a 1/8 frequency divider 78a, and a 1/12 frequency divider 79a, respectively, into 22.5792 MHz, 16.9344 MHz, and 11.2896 MHz. These frequencies have specific relationships with the second reference frequency clock Fr2. These clocks belonging to the second reference frequency series have integral multiple of the sampling frequency of 44.1 kHz for use with CD systems.
The second PLL circuit 70b also performs frequency division similar to that of the first PLL circuit 70a, except that the frequency division ratio of the first frequency divider 71b is 1/375, while that of the second frequency divider 72b is 1/2048. The output frequency of the VCO 75b is converted into 147.456(=27×2048/375) MHz in accordance with the division ratios of the frequency dividers 71b and 72b. Incidentally, reference numeral 73b indicates a PD, and 74b indicates an LPF.
The output frequency of the VCO 75b is frequency-divided by the frequency divider 76b by a factor of 4 to produce a third reference frequency clock Fr3. Additionally, the output frequency of the VCO 75b is frequency-divided by a 1/6 frequency divider 77b, a 1/8 frequency divider 78b, and a 1/12 frequency divider 79b to generate frequencies of 24.576 MHz, 18.432 MHz, and 12.288 MHz, respectively, which have specific frequency relationship with the third reference frequency clock Fr3. The frequencies of these clocks belonging to the third reference frequency series Fr3s are integral multiples of audio sampling frequencies 48 kHz and 32 kHz in DVD systems.
Clocks of a first reference frequency series Fr1s are also generated. The series includes the first reference frequency clock Fr1 (27 MHz) and a clock of 13.5 MHz obtained by frequency division of the first reference frequency clock Fr1 by a 1/2 frequency divider 76d.
Thus, one may choose necessary frequency clocks from the first through third reference frequency series Fr1s–Fr3s for his use.
The S/N (signal-to-noise) ratios of the clocks generated by the clock generation system shown in FIG. 7 can be obtained based on a known S/N theory as follows. As an example, S/N ratio of clocks of the second reference frequency series Fr2s will be discussed. It will be understood that by the frequency division of the first reference frequency clock Fr1 by a factor of 625, the S/N ratio is improved by 20 log 625 [dB]. Hence, theoretically, the S/N ratio of the output signal of the first frequency divider 71a equals (S/N ratio of the output signal+20 log 625) [dB]. Assuming that the S/N ratio of the first reference frequency clock is 80 [dB], it is 80+56=136 [dB]. Note that the S/N ratios are rounded to integers for simplicity. (It is also the case in the following discussion.)
It should be noted, however, that since a PLL circuit is in operation on the noise floor of a given IC (integrated circuit) on which the PLL circuit is formed, the S/N ratio of the PLL circuit is limited by the S/N ratio of the noise floor. The S/N ratio of the noise floor is governed by the fluctuations in the power supply potential, which is on the order of 90 [dB]. Hence, the S/N ratio of the PLL circuit is limited by the S/N ratio of the noise floor (90 [dB]). Hence, the S/N ratio of the output of the first frequency divider 71a, that is, the S/N ratio of one comparison input P1 to the PD 73a is at most 90 [dB].
Since the S/N ratios of the comparison inputs P1 and P2 to the PD 71a are the same, the S/N ratio of the comparison input P2 is 90 [dB]. The S/N ratio of the comparison input to the second frequency divider 72a is lowered by 20log3136 [dB], since the input P2 is stepped up by a factor of 3136. Therefore, the S/N ratio of the input to the second frequency divider 72a becomes (90 (for the comparison input P2) −20log3136) [dB], or 20.3 [dB].
Thus, S/N ratios of clocks of the second reference frequency series Fr2s are 32.3 [dB] for the second reference frequency clock Fr2, 35.8 [dB] for the 22.5792 MHz clock, 38.3 [dB] for the 16.9344 MHz clock, and 41.8 [dB] for the 11.2896 MHz clock.
Similar calculations lead to S/N ratios of the clocks of the third reference frequency series Fr3s. They are: 36.0 [dB] for the third reference frequency clock Fr3; 39.5 [dB] for 24.576 MHz clock; 42.0 [dB] for 18.432 MHz clock; and 45.5 [dB] for 12.288 MHz clock.
In this way, using PLL circuits and frequency dividers as shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to generate clocks of a second reference frequency series Fr2s which include a second reference frequency clock Fr2 obtained by multiplying the frequency of the first reference frequency clock Fr1 by a predetermined ratio, and clocks of a third reference frequency series Fr3s which include a third reference frequency clock Fr3 obtained by a similar multiplication. However, the S/N ratios of the clocks of the second and third reference frequency series are lowered to 30 [dB] −40 [dB]. This deterioration in S/N ratio is a problem that must be solved, since DVD systems, etc. in general requires a S/N ratio of at least 50 [dB], preferably more than 60 [dB].


Discussed is a foldable display apparatus. The foldable display apparatus can include a display panel unfolded or folded at two stages with respect to first and second bending parts which are defined in a display area displaying an image, a first housing assembly configured to include a first panel supporting part which supports a central portion of the display panel between the first and second bending parts, a first connection housing connected to a first side of the first housing assembly to overlap the first bending part, a second connection housing connected to a second side of the first housing assembly to overlap the second bending part, a second housing assembly configured to support a first side of the display panel and connected to the first connection housing, and a third housing assembly configured to support a second side of the display panel and connected to the second connection housing.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a foldable display apparatus, and more particularly, to a foldable display apparatus which is folded or unfolded with respect to a bending part defined in a display panel.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
A display apparatus using a flat display panel, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) apparatus, a plasma display apparatus, an organic light emitting display apparatus, an electrophoretic display apparatus, or an electro-wetting display apparatus, is generally applied to notebook computers, portable electronic devices, televisions (TVs), and monitors.
Recently, even in portable electronic devices, the demand for a large screen is increasing, and thus, an apparatus including a display unit displaying a large screen is being developed and commercialized by connecting a flat display panel. In particular, foldable display apparatuses using the merits of a flexible display panel which is bendable or foldable provide portable convenience and include a display unit which displays a large screen. Thus the foldable display apparatuses are attracting much attention as the next-generation technology of the display field. The foldable display apparatus may be applied to various fields such as TVs and monitors, in addition to portable electronic devices such as mobile communication terminals, electronic notes, e-books, portable multimedia players (PMPs), navigation devices, ultra mobile personal computers (PCs), mobile phones, smartphones, tablet PCs.
Examples of the foldable display apparatuses may include a flexible display apparatus disclosed in U.S. Patent Publication No. 2013/0010405 (hereinafter referred to as a related art reference). The flexible display apparatus disclosed in the related art reference unfolds a flexible display with respect to a hinge having a link structure, thereby providing a large screen.
However, the flexible display apparatus disclosed in the prior art reference cannot stably maintain a bending curvature of a folded flexible display due to an empty space between housings caused by the hinge having the link structure, and cannot maintain a bending display area of an unfolded flexible display in a plane state.


A construction system utilizing 3D control includes a fixed base station of known location; a self-propelled construction machine located in the general vicinity of the fixed base station; and a rotating mobile unit assembly mounted on the self-propelled construction machine and having a location-determination device arranged to rotate around an axis. The location-determination device is adapted to operate in conjunction with the fixed base station to determine geodetic information about the self-propelled construction machine.

1. Field of the Present Invention
The present invention relates generally to automated control of construction equipment, and, in particular, to the use of geodetic devices and information derived therefrom to automatically control, in three dimensions, the operation of slip form paving equipment and other construction equipment.
2. Background
In the construction industry, a longstanding issue has been how to accurately determine, on the construction site, the desired location for a building, road or other construction project as specified in plans developed by an architect, engineer, or the like. Most commonly, surveying techniques, supplemented in recent decades by advances in surveying technology, have been used to pinpoint and mark precise locations on a construction site, thereby guiding construction workers as they work.
Unfortunately, during construction, the locations marked by the surveyors may be affected by the construction process itself. For example, stakes that are laid out by surveyors to mark the edges of a planned road may be moved, covered or destroyed by earth-moving equipment as excavation, fill or the like is carried out. As a result, construction must often be halted temporarily while surveyors reestablish the construction locations, and the earth-moving process is continued.
More recently, advances in global positioning system ("GPS") technology have begun to find applicability in the construction industry. Perhaps most obviously, GPS technology is now widely used by surveyors because it permits actual physical locations to be determined with accuracy to the nearest hundredth of a foot. Because the plans for most construction projects today are developed via computer, such techniques are particularly useful because the plans can be coordinated with the GPS data, thereby providing precise guidance during the surveying process.
In addition, however, GPS has begun to be used to guide the operation of construction equipment during the construction process itself. In fact, the use of so-called three-dimensional ("3D") controls to direct the operation of construction equipment is becoming increasingly common, particularly with regard to earthmoving equipment. A typical implementation of a 3D control system in such a context involves the use of one or more fixed base stations, located in and around the construction site, coupled with one or more mobile units respectively disposed on the various pieces of construction equipment that are to be controlled via the system. As described below, the type of control system used may vary, but in each case, the exact position of each base station may be established by conventional surveying means, optionally supplemented by the use of GPS technology.
In one type of 3D control system, the mobile unit is a GPS unit, and thus the position of the mobile unit, and indirectly, the construction equipment on which it is carried, may be determined with some accuracy using only the mobile unit. However, in this arrangement, the GPS data developed by the mobile unit may be supplemented and adjusted, as appropriate, using additional location data from the fixed base stations, the position of each of which is known with great accuracy. This, in turn, provides highly accurate information about the exact position of the mobile unit, and indirectly, the construction equipment. Of course, as is well known, a stationary GPS unit, by itself, can not directly indicate any direction or orientation.
More commonly, however, the base station is a robotic laser-based tracking station, sometimes called a "total station," and the mobile unit is a prism, wherein the robotic tracking station produces one or more lasers and directs them toward the construction equipment, and more particularly, toward the prism, which is mounted in a prominent location on the construction equipment to maximize its ability to receive the laser. In this type of 3D control system, the laser is used to determine the position of the prism relative to the base station by calculating distance and angle. Because the position of the base station is known, the position of the prism, and indirectly the position of the construction equipment, may be established using the combination of the fixed location information developed or known by the base station (which may or may not utilize GPS information) and the relative positional information provided using the laser and prism.
Unfortunately, the use of prisms creates a number of complications. First, in order to maintain line-of-sight between the prism and the robotic tracking station, the prism is usually elevated above what it is measuring or controlling. As a result, the center of the prism usually cannot be physically held at the point you want to measure or locate. Thus, because the point being measured is always offset from the center of the prism, manual point location is currently achieved by placing the prism on a pole, of known length, and then by aligning and hold the poll plumb to the earth. This process, although very common, is time consuming and is prone to operator error.
Further, like a GPS device, a prism can only be used to locate a single XYZ point in space. A stationary prism, by itself, thus can not directly indicate any direction or orientation.
Still further, a robotic tracking station can only track one prism at a time. Using multiple prisms (e.g., two or three) will allow direction (using two prisms) or orientation (using three prisms) to be determined, but doing so requires additional robotic stations to be setup and calibrated.
Regardless of which type of system is used to determine it, position by itself is not sufficient to control the operation of the equipment. For example, steering a mobile machine further requires knowledge of the machine's orientation in two-dimensional space. Conventionally, the machine's orientation is determined indirectly as being closely related to the machine's direction of travel. Currently, determining a machine's travel direction involves comparing the machine's current location, determined via one of the previously-described systems, to its previous location. The vector defined by those two points approximately defines the machine's current direction of travel.
Unfortunately, this approach includes a number of inherent inaccuracies. First, this approach is dependent upon sufficient movement by the machine in a straight forward direction. The approach cannot work at all if the machine is not moving, because direction of travel cannot be determined in this way if the current location and the previous location are the same. Further, the approach may be highly inaccurate if the current location and the previous location are particularly close to each other, which may happen if the machine is operating in a confined area or is of a type that can spin in place or turn with a very tight turning radius.
For example, FIG. 1 is a plan view illustrating the path of a reference point 2, such as where a prism is likely to be mounted, on a conventional slip-form curbing machine 10 that is being used to form a curb 40 having a curved section of uniform radius. As the curbing machine 10 moves along the ground 12 in the direction of travel indicated by the arrows 14, the reference point 2 first follows a straight path that is substantially parallel to the course of the straight curb 40 being formed (i.e., the section of curb 40 shown at the bottom of FIG. 1). However, the path 4 of the reference point 2 begins to diverge from the course of the curb 40 when the curb begins curving. In particular, the path 4 of the reference point remains straight for a significant distance before its curvature begins to match that of the curb 40 itself. Notably, the effective distance between the path 4 of the reference point 2 and the course of the curb 40 is significantly greater along the curved section of the curb 40 than along the straight sections of the curb 40. When the curb 40 straightens out again, the reference point path 4 must thus make an adjustment to return to the lesser spacing that exists along straight sections of the curb 40. Overall, then, the dissimilarities between the path 4 of the reference point 2 and the course of the curb 40 in FIG. 1 thus graphically illustrate the inherent difficulty of tracking and controlling a construction machine 10 using a single reference point 2 on that machine 10.
Although not illustrated in FIG. 1, another inaccuracy stems from the fact that machine orientation is not exactly equivalent to direction of travel. For example, it is impossible to determine precisely whether the path traveled by the machine from its previous location to its current location followed a straight line or a curved one. The orientation of the machine at the current location will be different if the machine followed a straight line to get there than if it followed a curved one.
Yet another inaccuracy stems from the use of positional data for only a single point (the point at which the mobile unit is positioned on the machine) to represent the position of the entire machine. In fact, most machines are several meters wide, several meters long and at least a couple of meters high. Because GPS (coupled with one of the systems described above) may be used to determine location to accuracies of considerably less than a meter, the positional data thus determined is accurate only for a small part of the machine, i.e., the exact location of the mobile unit on the machine. The position or location of other parts of the machine, such as the machine's operational components, may be determined only by combining information about the relative disposition of the mobile unit on the machine with knowledge of the geometry of the machine. For machines whose typical use involves travel only in a linear direction, and deviations from such travel occur only infrequently, this approximation may be acceptable. However, for other types of machines that turn regularly, or whose operational components move or are adjusted dramatically relative to the rest of the machine (for example, excavator shovels), the error induced between the fixed position of the mobile unit and the position or orientation of the operational components can become dramatic, thus rendering the use of such a system unsuitable for controlling certain types of machines.
The significance of this problem increases in relation to the degree of independence with which the operational components of the machine move relative to the movement of the machine itself. For example, in a curbing machine, the slip forming equipment mounted on the machine is typically adapted to form curbs having very short radiuses of curvature while the machine itself moves forward or stops altogether. In such a process, the movement of the operational components is thus very different from the movement of the machine itself. Conventional 3D control systems are ill-equipped to address this issue.
Paving and curbing equipment further require the attitude of the machine side-to-side (generally referred to as "cross slope") and the attitude of the machine front-to-back (generally referred to as "long slope") to be accurately controlled in order to maintain the proper three-dimensional form (side-to-side and front-to-back) of the pavement or curbing being formed. Traditionally, the machine location, direction, and long slope is referenced from a string line, as better described below, that is placed ahead of time to guide the location of the slip-forming equipment on the machine, while cross slope is monitored by a cross slope sensor. To better illustrate this and other limitations of conventional 3D control systems with regard to paving apparatuses, the following description of a conventional paving apparatus is presented, wherein FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a conventional slip form paving apparatus 10 such as is illustrated schematically in FIG. 1. The paving apparatus 10 is illustrated in FIG. 2 traveling over a ground surface 12 in the direction indicated by the arrow 14. The paving apparatus 10 comprises a main frame 20 supported substantially horizontally on a plurality of ground engaging members 22. Often, a single front ground engaging member 22, which is steerable, and a pair of rear ground engaging members 22 are mounted to the main frame 20 in a triangular relation to each other to provide stable suspension of the frame 20 in a generally horizontal position above the ground surface 12.
A mold 32 having a desired cross sectional shape corresponding to the cross sectional shape of the structure to be formed, such as a curb and gutter structure, is supported by the frame 20 and positioned on one side of the paving apparatus 10 to facilitate continuous slip forming of a concrete curb and gutter such as are typically formed along the sides of a roadway during road construction. The paving apparatus 10 also includes a hopper 34 and a conveyor 36. Together, the conveyor 36 and hopper 34 are adapted to receive concrete or other flowable paving material 38 from a separate paving material supply (not shown) and to convey the flowable paving material 38 to the mold 32. Flowable paving material 38 is continuously supplied to the mold 32 such that a continuous paving structure 40 is formed on the ground surface 12 as the paving apparatus 10 moves along the ground.
The ground surface 12 on which the paving structure 40 is to be laid in molded form is typically prepared in advance by suitable construction grading equipment. At least partially because of the problems described above, it is common practice during such preparations to construct an external datum from which the position of the curb or other paving structure can be determined. Typically, the external datum used consists of a string line 16 supported by a plurality of line holders 18, each of which includes a stake and a rod. Using an external datum such as a string line has traditionally proven advantageous because paver operations may be automatically controlled using various sensors for determining the position of the paving apparatus 10 relative to the string line 16.
Specifically, the paving apparatus 10 is often provided with a steer sensor 42, front grade sensor 46, rear grade sensor 48, and a slope sensor 49 (shown in FIG. 3). The steer sensor 42 and grade sensors 46,48 are neutral or "null" seeking, and each may be either a contact type sensor having a wand contacting the string line or a non-contact type sensor such as those using ultrasonic ranging or other non-contact sensing technologies. As illustrated in FIG. 2, the steer sensor 42 includes a steer sensor wand 44 and the front and rear grade sensors 46,48 include grade sensor wands 50. It should be noted that the steer and grade sensors 42,46,48 may be mounted on the paving apparatus 10 in a manner that allows the sensors to be horizontally and vertically adjustable relative to the paving apparatus 10. The mounting apparatus used, however, typically allows for the position of the steer and grade sensors 42,46,48 to be fixed relative to the paving apparatus 10 during paving operations.
The paving apparatus 10 is positioned on the ground surface 12 upon which the paving structure 40 is to be laid in such a manner that the mold 32 is located relative to the string line 16 in the position that the paving structure 40 is desired to be laid. The steer sensor wand 44 and grade sensor wands 50 are in contact with the string line 16 such that the wands are tangent to the string line 16. Generally, it is preferable to use two grade sensors 46,48, one on the front of the frame 20 and one on the rear of the frame 20. Each steer and grade sensor 42,46,48 produces an electrical output signal in proportion to the deflection of its respective wand from the neutral or null position. Preferably, a slope sensor 49 is located on the paving apparatus 10 to detect changes in cross slope as the apparatus 10 travels over the ground 12 and to generate an output signal proportional to the change in cross slope detected. Slope sensors may be, but are not required to be, of the dampened pendulum type.
The main frame 20 of the paving apparatus 10 is supported on the ground engaging members 22 by a plurality of posts, which are independently extendable or retractable to vary the position of the main frame 20 with respect to the ground engaging members 22. Because the mold 32 is also supported by the main frame 20, changing the position of the frame 20 changes the position of the mold 32 as well. The posts are typically operated by hydraulic piston-cylinder mechanisms 52,54,56 or, alternatively, the posts may be threaded posts that are rotated by associated reversible hydraulic motors. Three such piston-cylinder mechanisms are illustrated in FIG. 2, including a front grade piston-cylinder mechanism 52, a rear grade piston-cylinder mechanism 54, and a slope piston-cylinder mechanism 56. The front grade piston-cylinder mechanism 52 illustrated in FIG. 2 is supported by a ground engaging member 22 that includes a hydraulically operated steering mechanism, which may be a piston-cylinder mechanism or a hydraulically operated threaded post mechanism, that rotates the ground engaging member 22 relative to the front grade piston-cylinder mechanism 52 to thereby steer the paving apparatus 10.
Automatic paving operations may be conducted using the sensors 42,46,48 and piston-cylinder mechanisms 52,54,56 described above. After the paving apparatus 10 and sensors 42,46,48 are correctly positioned relative to the string line 16, paving apparatus 10 travel and paving operations may commence. When deviations in the horizontal direction of paving apparatus 10 travel are detected by the steer sensor 42, the steer sensor 42 generates an output signal used to operate a steering servo valve, which directs hydraulic fluid to the appropriate port on the steering mechanism in order to turn the steerable ground engaging member 22 in the direction required to return the steer sensor wand 44 to its neutral or null position. The paving apparatus 10 may further include an additional sensor (not shown) to measure the steered angle of the ground engaging members 22. The steering sensors command a proportional steered angle wherein the ground engaging member 22 steers and then remains at a fixed angle relative to the steering sensor.
Similarly, deviations in the vertical direction of the main frame 20 relative to the string line 16 are detected by the front and rear grade sensors 46,48 each of which generate an output signal used to control a servo valve associated with the front grade piston-cylinder mechanism 52 and the rear grade piston-cylinder mechanism 54, respectively. The piston-cylinder servo valves control extension or retraction of their associated piston-cylinder mechanisms 52,54,56 to return the frame 20 to a position in which the front and rear grade sensors 46,48 are in their null position.
Changes in mold cross slope as the paving apparatus 10 travels are detected by the slope sensor 49, which generates an output signal used to control a servo valve associated with the slope piston-cylinder mechanism 56, located on the opposite side of the frame 20 from the string line 16. Extension or retraction of the slope piston-cylinder mechanism 56 is used to change the position of one side of the frame 20 in order to compensate for changes in ground slope or to induce a desired cross slope on the mold 32. Although only one slope piston-cylinder mechanism 56 is shown in FIG. 2, additional slope posts or piston-cylinder mechanisms may also be used.
Typically, a pulse pickup device (not shown) is installed on the hydraulic motor of a driven ground engaging member 22 to generate a signal used to a determine the distance the paving apparatus 10 travels and the speed of the travel of the paving apparatus 10.
Proper control of the paving apparatus 10, and particularly of the mold 32, depends on proper determination and use of a variety of geometric relationships. For example, in many applications, it is desirable for slip form pavers to control the mold position during paving operations such that the cross slope of the mold is changed as the paving apparatus 10 travels along the string line 16 to thereby produce a paving structure 40 having a variable cross slope. Put another way, the paving apparatus 10 travels along a ground surface 12 that has a cross slope, and the paving apparatus 10 is capable of positioning the mold 32 with respect to the ground surface 12 such that the mold 32 itself has a cross slope.
Determination of the proper mold position is conventionally dependent on the determination of the current and/or proper mold position relative to the string line 16. FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating the relationship between the mold 32, the string line 16, and the control system sensors for the conventional paving apparatus 10 of FIG. 2. The value or angle of the cross slope for a particular mold is the value of the angle formed between the ground surface 12 and an imaginary reference plane 58 enclosing the bottom of the mold 32, when viewed in the transverse direction relative to the paving apparatus' direction of travel 14. Whenever it is desired to extrude a paving structure 40 having a transverse angle equal to the slope of the ground surface 12, then there would be no cross slope on the mold 32 for use in forming the given structure 40. In other words, the mold 32 would be level relative to the ground surface 12.
The determination of proper mold position is even more complicated in those applications in which it is desirable to form a paving structure 40 having a cross slope that is different from the slope of the ground surface 35 onto which the structure is laid. For example, it is often desirable when making gutters or curb and gutter structures 40 to form the gutter pan with either a "catch" or "spill" angle as previously described. Transitioning between an initial mold cross slope and a desired or altered mold cross slope during paving apparatus 10 travel along the string line 16 can be accomplished automatically as described, for example, in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 6,109,825, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference. In FIG. 3, the mold 32 is shown in a paving operation in which the ground surface 12 has zero slope and in which there is no cross slope on the mold 32. The steer sensor wand 44 and the grade sensor wand 50 are in contact with the string line 16 and the mold 32 is adjacent the ground surface 12 in a position relative to the string line 16 in which it is desired to form a curb and gutter structure 40. An imaginary control line 62 extends between the string line 16 and the slope sensor 49. Notably, the slope sensor 49 is illustrated only schematically in FIG. 3; this illustration does not therefore attempt to show the position of the pendulum in the slope sensor 49 at a given time. The desired location of the mold 32 relative to the string line 16 is measured as the distance, broken into a vertical mold distance ("VMD") and a horizontal mold distance ("HMD"), between the string line 16 and a predetermined reference point 60 on the mold 32. Where the mold 32 is a curb and gutter mold, the predetermined reference point 60 on the mold 32 is often the intersection of the back of curb ("BOC") and the top of curb ("TOC"). A cross slope may be established by extending or retracting the slope piston-cylinder mechanism 56. The extension or retraction of slope piston-cylinder mechanism 56 causes rotation of the mold and control sensors around the control string line 16, illustrated by double-pointed dotted lines in FIG. 3. For example, a cross slope may be established by extending the slope piston-cylinder mechanism 56, in which case the reference point 60 on the mold 32 moves up and to the right along the arcuate path illustrated in FIG. 3. The magnitude of the movement of the mold 32 in the horizontal and vertical directions may each be caused calculated as a function of the cross slope angle. Unfortunately, the extension or retraction of the slope piston-cylinder mechanism 56 causes numerous downstream interrelated effects that must be managed. Some of these problems, and one possible solution therefor, are discussed in the aforementioned '825 patent.
Solutions such as those described in the '825 patent, however, are dependent upon the use of a conventional string line 16 to control the paving apparatus 10. If a 3D control system of one of the types described hereinabove is applied to such equipment, the only information continuously established with regard to the machine is the location of the single mobile unit (most often, a prism); all other information must be extrapolated, with varying degrees of accuracy, or must be developed using other means. For example, the determination of long slope for the equipment requires an additional sensor over and above the cross slope sensor. Such a sensor is not usually provided on string line-controlled machines, and thus represents an additional complication in the application of conventional 3D control systems to, for example, paving and curbing machines.
Not to be ignored is the traditional importance of the string line 16 in establishing, indirectly, the location of other features as well. Conventionally, the string line 16 is one of the first construction elements put in place on a construction site. Other construction elements are either placed based directly on the string line 16 or are placed based on the paving structure 40 that is built by the paving apparatus 10.
In view of all of the foregoing, a need exists for a 3D control system for construction equipment, particularly paving and curbing equipment, that may be used reliably to guide the operation of such equipment. Such a control system needs to be able to determine geodetic information about the equipment, including its location, direction and orientation, with sufficient accuracy to be relied on to replace the use of string lines 16 and other technology in the construction environment.

3D control system for construction machines


A liquid dispensing system equipped with a modular cord set for powering an electrically-operated dispensing module of the system. The cord set includes a plug removably inserted into receptacle extending through a manifold of the system. The manifold heats and supplies liquid to the dispensing module. When the plug is positioned in the receptacle, electrical contacts on the plug are coupled with corresponding electrical contacts on the dispensing module. The cord set and dispensing module can be independently disconnected from the manifold without disturbing each other.

Electrically-operated dispensing modules have been developed for product assembly lines requiring precise and intermittent placement of small amounts of a viscous liquid, such as heated hot melt adhesives, at a high speed onto a substrate. Generally, electrically-operated dispensing modules include an electromagnetic coil, a magnetic pole piece, a magnetic armature movable relative to the pole piece, and a valve stem operatively coupled for cyclic movement with the armature. Selectively energizing and de-energizing the electromagnetic coil moves the armature relative to the pole piece. When energized to initiate a dispensing cycle, the electromagnetic coil produces an electromagnetic field that magnetizes the armature and pole piece. The resulting attractive force moves the armature toward the pole piece, which disengages or unseats the valve stem from a valve seat and opens the dispensing module. When the electromagnetic coil is de-energized, the magnetization of the armature and pole piece rapidly dissipates, which discontinues the attractive force. A return spring biases the armature away from the pole piece to reestablish contact between the valve stem and valve seat and closes the dispensing module.
Electrically-operated dispensing modules are frequently used to dispense viscous liquids that are maintained at elevated temperatures to ensure proper flow characteristics and dispensability. The dispensing module is typically not directly heated but, instead, is coupled to a manifold with a thermally-conductive contact. The manifold is typically heated by an electric heating element and a resistive temperature detector (RTD) provides a feedback loop to a controller for regulating the manifold temperature. By maintaining the manifold and the liquid resident inside the manifold at an appropriate temperature, the dispensing module is also heated by thermal conduction.
The electromagnetic coil, the RTD, and the heating element are connected electrically by conductors in a cord set with the controller of the dispensing system for operation. Conventional electrical connections are hard-wired connections, which are cumbersome when assembling and disassembling the dispensing module from the manifold and when engaging and disengaging the cord set from the manifold. It follows that such conventional hard-wired electrical connections slow service and repair procedures.
Accordingly, there is a need for an electrical connector that simplifies the connection and disconnection of the dispensing module from the manifold, and simplifies connecting and disconnecting the cord set from the assembled dispensing module and manifold.

Liquid dispensing system having a modular cord set


A surgical portal apparatus for permitting introduction of a surgical object within tissue includes a portal member defining a longitudinal axis and having leading and trailing ends. The portal member includes an outer wall defining a longitudinal opening dimensioned for reception of a surgical object. At least one projection is disposed on the outer wall of the portal member and extends in at least a radial direction relative to the longitudinal axis. The at least one projection is dimensioned and configured for engaging tissue to resist movement of the portal member within tissue. The at least one projection defines a recess for receiving tissue portions adjacent thereto. A plurality of projections is spaced about the outer wall of the portal member. At least two of the projections are circumferentially spaced relative to the longitudinal axis and/or at least two of the projections are longitudinally spaced relative to the longitudinal axis.

1. Field of the Disclosure
The present disclosure generally relates to surgical instruments for performing laparoscopic and endoscopic surgical procedures, and, more particularly, relates to a surgical portal incorporating a novel retention mechanism for resisting slippage of and retropulsion of the portal during use in a highly pressurized environment.
2. Description of the Related Art
In laparoscopic and endoscopic surgical procedures, a small incision or puncture is made in the patient's body to provide access for a surgical portal which is inserted into the patient's body to permit viewing of the surgical site or for the insertion of instruments used in performing the surgical procedure. The surgical portal may be in the form of a trocar cannula assembly incorporating an outer cannula and an obturator which is positioned in the outer cannula. The obturator includes a sharpened point or tip which is used create a path to the surgical site. The obturator is then removed leaving the cannula in place to maintain access to the surgical site. Several incisions may be made to provide numerous access ports to the surgical objective, and once the cannulas are in place, various surgical instruments such as scissors, dissectors, retractors or the like, may be inserted by a surgeon to perform the surgery. Typically, a scope is used to view the area directly, or a miniature camera is used to display the surgical site on a video monitor in the operating room.
In order to maintain the cannula within the incision, it has been known to provide various mechanisms such as threaded cannulas, external sleeves, expandable members, balloons, etc. which engage the tissue surrounding the incision to prevent undesired removal of the cannula. However, such known mechanisms are generally complex in nature. Moreover, these mechanisms often are potentially invasive to the surrounding tissue thereby increasing the likelihood of undesired tissue tear which consequently increases patient trauma and recovery time.

Surgical portal with enhanced retention capabilities


Cache and architectural specific functions within a cache controller are layered to permit complex operations to be split into equivalent simple operations. Architectural variants of basic operations may thus be devolved into distinct cache and architectural operations and handled separately. The logic supporting the complex operations may thus be simplified and run faster.

1. Technical Field
The present invention relates in general to cache controllers in data processing systems and in particular to cache controllers which layer cache and architectural specific functions. Still more particularly, the present invention relates to layering cache and architectural specific functions within a cache controller to permit complex operations to be split into cache and architectural operations.
2. Description of the Related Art
Data processing systems which utilize a level two (L2) cache typically include a cache controller for managing transactions affecting the cache. Such cache controllers are conventionally implemented on a functional level, as depicted in FIG. 4. For example, a cache controller 402 may include logic 404 for maintaining the cache directory, logic 406 for implementing a least recently used (LRU) replacement policy, logic for managing reload buffers 408, and logic for managing store-back buffers 410. In traditional implementations, the cache is generally very visible to these and other architectural functions typically required for cache controllers, with the result that cache controller designs are specific to a particular processors such as the PowerPC.TM., Alpha.TM., or the x86 family of processors.
Operations supported by the basic cache controller design depicted in FIG. 4 may be simple or complex. Simple operations convey a single piece of information, while complex operations contain more than one distinct piece of information. Compare, for example, the READ and READ atomic operations supported by the PowerPC.TM. architecture. The READ operation simply conveys that a given memory location should be read. The READ atomic operation conveys that a specific memory locations should be read, and that the processor initiating the operation should be informed if any other device in the hierarchy changes the data in the memory location. The READ atomic operation is used for synchronization.
To the extent complex operations supported by a given architecture cannot be split, controller logic for supporting that operation must remain interdependent, Often the logic for a complex operations is an intricate state machine supporting a variety of special cases for the operation. Such logic is complex, requires significant silicon area to implement, and is difficult to interlock with other logic supporting other operations.
It would be desirable, therefore, to be able to split complex operations for simplification of the logic supporting the operation. It would further be desirable to split complex operations to increase the speed of their performance by implementing faster logic for performing the operations.

Method of layering cache and architectural specific functions for operation splitting

International Business Machines Corporation


A method is provided in a centrifugal blood processing system for adding replacement fluid without a dedicated peristaltic pump to blood components being returned to the donor. A disposable blood processing set for use in the method comprises a hermetically sealed set of blood bags, connecting tubes, needles or connectors, and supporting structures with a replacement fluid line coupled directly to a return reservoir without contact with an intervening pump.

Blood collection and blood processing play important roles in the worldwide health care system. In conventional large scale blood collection, blood is removed from a donor or patient (hereinafter "donor"), separated into its various blood components via centrifugation, filtration, or elutriation and stored in sterile containers for future infusion into a patient for therapeutic use. The separated blood components typically include fractions comprising red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets, and plasma. Separation of blood into its components can be performed continuously during collection or can be performed subsequent to collection in batches, particularly with respect to the processing of whole blood samples. Separation of blood into its various components under highly sterile conditions is critical to many therapeutic applications.
Apheresis blood collection techniques have been adopted in many large scale blood collection centers wherein a selected component of blood is collected and the balance of the blood is returned to the donor during collection. In apheresis systems, blood is removed from a donor and immediately separated into its components by on-line blood processing methods. Typically, on-line blood processing is provided by density centrifugation, filtration, or diffusion-based separation techniques. One or more of the separated blood components are collected and stored in sterile containers, while the remaining blood components are directly re-circulated to the donor. An advantage of this method is that it allows more frequent donation from an individual donor because only a selected blood component is collected and purified. For example, a donor undergoing plateletpheresis, whereby platelets are collected and the non-platelet blood components are returned to the donor, may donate blood as often as once every fourteen days.
Apheresis blood processing also plays an important role in a large number of therapeutic procedures. In these methods, blood is withdrawn from a patient undergoing therapy, separated, and a selected fraction is collected while the remainder is returned to the patient. For example, a patient may undergo leukapheresis prior to radiation therapy, whereby the white blood cell component of his blood is separated, collected and stored to avoid exposure to radiation.
Both conventional blood collection and apheresis systems typically employ differential centrifugation methods for separating blood into its various blood components. In differential centrifugation, blood is circulated through a sterile blood processing vessel which is rotated at high rotational speeds about a central rotation axis. Rotation of the blood processing vessel creates a centrifugal force directed along rotating axes of separation oriented perpendicular to the central rotation axis of the centrifuge. The centrifugal force generated upon rotation separates particles suspended in the blood sample into discrete fractions having different densities. Specifically, a blood sample separates into discrete phases corresponding to a higher density fraction comprising red blood cells and a lower density fraction comprising plasma. In addition, an intermediate density fraction comprising platelets and leukocytes forms an interface layer between the red blood cells and the plasma. Descriptions of blood centrifugation devices are provided in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,653,887 and 7,033,512.
When a blood component is removed it is often advisable to replace the volume of the removed component when the remaining portions of the blood are returned to the donor. This maintains the fluid volume in the cardiovascular system of the donor. It is an object of this disclosure to provide a safe and accurate means and method for providing a controlled quantity of replacement fluid.
A centrifugal blood component separation apparatus has been described in commonly assigned U.S. Pat. No. 7,605,388, for instance. As described in U.S. Pat. No. 7,605,388, an optical cell may be configured such that white blood cells can be extracted through a first extraction port, plasma and/or platelets can be extracted through second extraction port, and red blood cells can be extracted through third extraction port. As also mentioned in U.S. Pat. No. 7,605,388 (but not shown), optical cells of a blood separation vessel can include one or more dams positioned proximate to the extraction ports to facilitate selective extraction of separated blood components having reduced impurities arising from adjacent components.

System for blood separation with replacement fluid apparatus and method


A vehicle body assembly includes an outer component defining a cavity. The outer component has a pair of first flanges. An inner component has a pair of second flanges each joined to one of the first flanges. A reinforcement formed of carbon fiber is disposed in the cavity between the components. The reinforcement includes a faceplate joined to the outer component with a rivet and third flanges each joined to the inner component with a rivet.

The current regulatory and economic environment has increased the importance of making vehicles more fuel efficient while maintaining or improving functionality and durability. One way to reduce the fuel consumption of a vehicle is to reduce the weight of the vehicle. Vehicle weight can be reduced by changing the materials of select components from steel to composite.


Methods and systems that perform an offline search for an article are described. In one aspect of the invention, the aspect includes receiving a search query, determining whether the search query has been previously entered, if the search query has been previously entered, retrieving a previously stored result set, determining whether a previously stored result set meets at least one condition, and if the previously stored result set meets at least one condition, outputting the previously stored result set.

Conventional search applications operating in a networked computer environment such as the World Wide Web and client-device search applications operating in an individual computer can provide search results in response to entry of a user's search query. In many instances, the search results are ranked in accordance with the search application's scoring or ranking system or method. For example, conventional search applications score or rank articles of a search result for a particular query by the number of times a keyword or particular word or phrase appears in each article in the search results.
Users generate and access a large number of articles, such as e-mails, web pages, word processing documents, spreadsheet documents, instant messenger messages, and presentation documents, using a client device, such as a personal computer, personal digital assistant, or mobile phone. Some articles are stored on one or more storage devices coupled to, accessible by, or otherwise associated with the client device(s). Users sometimes wish to search the storage device(s) for articles.
If a search application returns more than one search result in response to a search query, the search results may be displayed as a list of article identifiers associated with the search results. An article identifier may be, for example, a Uniform Resource Locator (URL), a file name, a link, an icon, a path for a local file, or anything else that identifies an article. A user may browse and visit a web page associated with one or more of the search results to evaluate whether the web page is relevant to the user's search query. For example, a user may manipulate a mouse or another input device and "click" on an article identifier to view a web page associated with the search result. In many instances, the user will browse and visit several web pages provided in the search result, clicking on article identifiers associated with each of the several web pages to access various web pages associated with the search results before locating useful or relevant information to address the user's search query.
Typically, search results for a particular search query on a network search engine are from online data sources accessible via a network such as the Internet. If a particular user does not have access to a network such as the Internet, i.e. the user is working offline, obtaining search results may be limited to previously cached web pages stored by an Internet browser program. To obtain broader search results from the network, the user would have to wait to access the network, i.e. go online, and initiate the search query so that online data sources can be accessed via the network. Obtaining search results in the above manner can be time consuming and cumbersome since the user has to wait to access a network, which may not always be practical.
Users may generate and access a large number of articles, such as e-mails, web pages, word processing documents, spreadsheet documents, instant messenger messages, and presentation documents, using a client device, such as a personal computer, personal digital assistant, or mobile phone. Some articles are stored on a storage device associated with the client device. Users sometimes wish to search the storage device for articles. Some conventional client-device search applications can be slow to process search results including articles stored on a client-side device.

Methods and systems for performing an offline search


A password system and a method for authenticating a user of such a password system are disclosed. The present invention provides a novel method for inputting a password which is capable of preventing a password from being revealed to others observing the course of inputting the password, and an improved password system which is capable of providing a user interface suitable to such a method for inputting a password. The user interface provides at least two symbol boards, and symbols arranged on the two symbol boards are matched by means of matching means provided to a user. At this time, the symbols matched for inputting the password and other different false symbols disguised as the symbols matched for inputting the password are matched simultaneously, whereby it is not possible for an observer to distinguish which of the symbol matching is the one for inputting the password.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a password system and a user interface for such a password system, and more particularly to a novel method for inputting a password that is capable of preventing the password from being revealed to others observing the course of inputting a password, and to an improved password system that is capable of providing a user interface suitable to such a method for inputting a password.
2. Description of the Related Art
A user authenticating system is widely used in various apparatus and systems. User authentication is to verify whether a person who has access to a system is authorized. In actual environment, the user authentication is materialized by means of a user authenticating system. The user authentication system is composed of software and hardware, which are combined with each other. The user authentication is carried out using information provided by a user and information stored in the system.
The information provided by the user includes memorized information, information stored in media owned by the user, and vital information. An example of the memorized information may be an ID or a password; an example of the media owned by the user may be a card; an example of the vital information may be a fingerprint.
Generally, a user authenticating system using the information memorized by the user is software, while a user authenticating system using the media or the vital information is a combination of software and hardware. An example of the user authenticating system comprised of a combination of software and hardware may be a fingerprint recognizing system, which is comprised of a fingerprint recognizing apparatus for inputting a fingerprint information and software for processing a digital fingerprint.
A password system may be a user authenticating system, which uses information memorized by the user. Such a password system, in which the user inputs an ID and a password, is used widely. The password system includes a system related module and a user interface related module. Furthermore, a module materialized by a coding technology may be used selectively according to a system in use.
Generally, a password system of the system having only one user does not include a code module or other security platform modules. Examples of such a password system include a desktop alone and a cellular phone. Generally, a password system of the system having several users includes a code module or other security platform modules. Examples of such a password system include an internet banking system using a public key base structure and a UNIX system.
The password system is one of the user authenticating systems, which is used very widely, in that its use is convenient, its price is low, and its materialization is easy. However, the conventional password system has a drawback in that a password may be easily revealed to others observing the course of inputting the password.

User interface and method for inputting password and password system using the same


Disclosed herein is a hand held electrical appliance including a housing having therein a component operated by electrical current, and a current interrupting device located in the housing, electrically connected between the component and a source of electric current to provide a path for current between the component and the source of electrical current, and including structure located wholly within the current interrupting device and operable to interrupt the current in the path in the event of excessive current in the path within the current interrupting device.

The invention relates generally to hand held appliances which are subject to current interruption and which are associated with current interrupting devices and, more particularly, to hair dryers which are associated with current interrupting devices.
Attention is directed to the following U.S. Pat. Nos.
Des. Pat. No. 325,380, Rao et al., issued Apr. 14, 1992, PA1 Des. Pat. No. 353,579, Rao et al., issued Dec. 20, 1994, PA1 Des. Pat. No. 356,066, Rao et al., issued Mar. 7, 1995, PA1 Des. Pat. No. 391,922, Aromin, issued Mar. 10, 1998, PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 5,148,344, Rao et al., issued Sep. 15, 1992, PA1 U.S. Pat. No. 5,757,598, Aromin, issued May 26, 1998

Hair dryer with interior current interrupting device


A system for generating a device driver based on an archived template code using a device driver generation tool is provided. The device driver generation tool is configured to extract configuration files and template files from a template archive stored in a database, each of the files comprises high level configuration files and low level configuration files, each comprising one or more labels, parse a high-level configuration file, corresponding to a class of a device, and an operating system for which the driver is being generated, process a label from the high-level configuration file, extract template code from the template files to obtain an extracted template code, and generate a portion of the driver based on the extracted template code when a block label is identified, parse a low-level configuration file, and generate the driver using a first specification and a second specification when the label is a file label.

1. Technical Field
The embodiments herein generally relate to a device driver generation systems, and, more particularly, to a system and method for generating a device driver using an archive of template code.
2. Description of the Related Art
A hardware system typically includes multiple functional units with sets of such units connected to each other using a common interconnect (termed as a bus-fabric). A system can have multiple inter-connected bus-systems designed to achieve variety of functionalities/objectives. As of now the only way for synthesizing device driver code for a device is to dump a code as an output using print statements in a tool. All the device driver code synthesis was being done in the tool. This meant that all the driver code, whether it was specific to a particular device or specific to an operating system framework for a device class, is getting synthesized using fprintf( ) calls in the tool. The problem with such an approach is that any change in the framework or addition of any new framework needs recoding the tool and recompiling it. Further, in case there are any bugs in the synthesized code, even a missing semi colon meant changing the tool and recompiling it. This proved to be very cumbersome and time consuming. Accordingly there remains a need for a system and method to generate a code that pertains to a driver framework provided by an operating system for a specific device class.

System and method for generating a device driver using an archive of template code


An electric motor and/or a transmission consisting of an input shaft, an output shaft, and a case provided with a centering flange and/or a fixing flange. At least one extension sensor is allocated to the case.

The present invention relates to an electric motor and/or a transmission having an input drive shaft and an output drive shaft, and having a housing on which a centering flange and/or an attachment flange are/is provided.
Transmissions such as these are known and available in a very wide range of forms and embodiments on the market. They are used essentially for stepping up or down an input drive movement of a motor, electric motor or some other drive. Conventional known electric motors and/or transmissions have the disadvantage that it is difficult to determine their life, their need for maintenance or the maintenance intervals. Furthermore, the life is greatly reduced, for example, in the event of overloading, which is likewise undesirable.
Since no capability to determine the life as well as the operability and load capacity of the electric motor and/or transmission is often known, it is also not possible to influence the spare parts storage, so that a large number of spare parts must be kept in stock, which in turn results in undesirable stock keeping costs.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,384,493 discloses an electric motor which has a centering flange, in which case a housing of the electric motor is rotationally decoupled from the centering flange via a plurality of bearing elements. A force measurement cell is arranged between the housing and the centering flange.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,763,969 discloses an indicating display for an electric motor for driving a flywheel for ventilation, in which case the indicating display has a rotation speed indication in order to indicate the individual revolutions per minute.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,066,907 describes an electric motor having an input drive shaft and a housing, on which a centering flange is provided.
The present invention is based on the object of overcoming the disadvantages mentioned above and of providing an electric motor and/or transmission by means of which functional monitoring is possible for specific loads and uses, for example of forces, moments, temperature, leaks, maintenance intervals etc. A further aim is to allow faster and more reliable assembly and maintenance, with higher availability and productivity and a longer usage capability. A further aim is to make it possible to reduce the spare parts stockholdings. Furthermore, clarification of faults in use should likewise be possible.


A computer readable memory medium comprising program instructions for developing and testing a connectivity driver for an instrument is provided. The program instructions are executable by a processor to record transmissions to or from the instrument, place raw data from each recorded transmission into a primary field, and generate a secondary field associated with the primary field. The secondary field includes at least one of: a time that the transmission was transmitted at, a direction the transmission was transmitted in, a content of the transmission, and a state of the connectivity driver during the transmission. The program instructions are also executable by a processor to modify the content of the first or secondary fields, and play the modified transmission from computer readable memory medium in order to debug the communications software.

Unless otherwise indicated herein, the materials described in this section are not prior art to the claims in this application and are not admitted to be prior art by inclusion in this section.
A Laboratory Information Management System or Laboratory Integration Management Solution (LIMS) is a software system used in laboratories for the integration of laboratory software and instruments and the management of samples, laboratory users, standards and other laboratory functions such as Quality Assurance (QA) and Quality Control (QC), sample planning, invoicing, plate management, and workflow automation. LIMS implementations may also support information gathering, decision making, calculation, review and release into the workplace and away from the office. More recently, LIMS products are starting to expand into Electronic Laboratory Notebooks, assay data management, data mining and data analysis.
One core function of LIMS is the management of samples. This typically is initiated when a sample is received in the laboratory at which point the sample will be registered in the LIMS. This registration process may involve accessioning the sample and producing barcodes to affix to the sample container. Various other parameters may be recorded as well, such as clinical or phenotypic information corresponding with the sample. The LIMS may then track chain of custody of the sample as well as the sample location. Location tracking often involves assigning the sample to a particular location such as a shelf/rack/box/row/column. Other event tracking may be required such as freeze and thaw cycles that a sample undergoes in the laboratory.
Modern LIMS have implemented extensive configurability as each laboratories needs for tracking additional data points can vary widely. LIMS vendors often cannot make assumptions about what these data tracking needs are and therefore need to be adaptable to each environment. LIMS users may also have regulatory concerns to comply with such as CLIA, HIPAA, GLP and FDA specifications and this can affect certain aspects of sample management in a LIMS solution. One key to compliance with many of these standards is audit logging of all changes to LIMS data, and in some cases a full electronic signature system is required for rigorous tracking of field level changes to LIMS data.
One may configure a LIMS whereby users are assigned roles or groups. Typically the role of a user will dictate their access to specific data records in the LIMS. Each user account is protected by security mechanisms such as a user id and a password. Users may have customized interfaces based on their role in the organization. For example, a laboratory manager might have full access to all of a LIMS functions and data, whereas technicians might have access only to data and functionality needed for their individual work-tasks.
Some LIMS offer some capability for integration with instruments. A LIMS may create control files that are "fed" into the instrument and direct its operation on some physical item such as a sample tube or sample plate. The LIMS may then import instrument results files to extract QC or results data for assessment of the operation on the sample or samples. Data owners may access the resulting stored information at any time.
In order to communicate between the LIMS and an instrument, a device driver, also known as a connectivity driver, may be used. A connectivity driver is a computer program allowing a higher-level computer program, such as the LIMS, to interact with a hardware device, such as an instrument. A connectivity driver typically communicates with the hardware device through a system bus of a computer or a communications device connected with the computer, such as a radio or a network interface to which the hardware device connects. When a higher-level computer program invokes a routine in the connectivity driver, the connectivity driver issues commands to the hardware device. If the hardware device sends data back to the connectivity driver, the connectivity driver may invoke routines in the higher-level computer program and may translate and transfer information received by the hardware device into a format which can be read and used by the higher-level computer program. Connectivity drivers are often hardware-dependent and specific to the higher-level computer program. Connectivity drivers also usually provide interrupt handling required for any necessary asynchronous time-dependent interface between the hardware device and the higher-level computer program.
When developing a connectivity driver for a LIMS, a user typically has to write program code for a computer program from which the connectivity driver is executed for each hardware device for which the LIMS wishes to communicate and interact with. The task of writing program code for a connectivity driver is often laborious and requires many hours of work from a trained computer programmer to complete. Writing program code for a connectivity driver also requires an in-depth understanding of how the hardware device and the higher-level computer program function. Typically, the user of a LIMS does not have the type of training and skills needed to write the program code needed from which the connectivity driver is executed. Thus the task of writing program code for a connectivity driver usually falls to a software engineer.
When developing and building a connectivity driver, the software engineer, or person building the driver, needs to test the connectivity driver to see if it works and can successfully communicate between the LIMS and an instrument, with little or no errors being generated. The testing process, also known as debugging, is a methodical process of finding and reducing the number of bugs, or defects, in a computer program or a piece of electronic hardware, thus making it behave as expected. Typically, in order to do debug a connectivity driver, the connectivity driver needs to be in communication with both the LIMS and the instrument for which the connectivity driver is designed to interface with. Since these types of instruments are often found in a laboratory environment, and are rather expensive to use, the time available for the software engineer to debug the connectivity driver is rather limited. As a result, either the instrument for which the connectivity driver was designed to interface with needs to be offline for a substantial amount of time, which may cost the laboratory to incur losses in revenue, or the software engineer may need to debug the connectivity driver in a short amount of time, which may lead to not all of the "bugs," or defects, within the connectivity driver to be found or fixed.
It would be desirable to provide a simplified method for developing and building connectivity drivers which allows for a complete debugging of the connectivity driver without having to take an instrument offline for a substantial amount of time.

Method for developing and testing a connectivity driver for an instrument