A method for developing and testing an application for a device with one or more sensors using a sensor emulation environment that may allow testing of the application in a programmatic manner. The sensor emulation environment may emulate actual physical sensors. The sensor emulation environment may receive sensor simulation data from multiple types of sources of sensor data. A sensor data engine may receive sensor simulation data from a selected data source via an API. The data engine may provide data values at times that represent operation of a sensor. The sensor emulation environment may further include a sensor interface component that emulates a hardware interface to the emulated sensor in a physical target device such that application components, such as a driver, may interact with the sensor emulation environment.

As computing devices become more versatile, devices are able to accept multiple types of input data. Specifically, mobile computing devices may be equipped with a number of sensors that generate data for use by applications. For example, a computing device may receive touch data via a touch screen, global positioning system (GPS) tracking data via a GPS sensor, as well as input data collected via an accelerometer, gyroscope sensor and other peripheral devices.
Computing devices having one or more sensors may execute applications that process sensor data collected via the sensors. In developing and testing such applications, software developers typically rely on the presence of the devices.

Application development environment for portable electronic devices


In accordance with the present invention, a non-volatile integrated circuit memory includes an EEPROM array comprising a plurality of memory cells and a flash EPROM array comprising a second plurality of memory cells, wherein the EEPROM array is capable of being erased byte-by-byte or word-by-word, and the flash EPROM array is capable of being erased sector-by-sector. Both arrays are formed using the same memory cell which is programmed using hot-electron injection and is erased using Fowler-Nordheim tunneling.

The present invention relates to semiconductor memories, and in particular, to a semiconductor integrated circuit memory that includes both EEPROM and flash EPROM arrays.
Electrically erasable programmable read only memory (EEPROM) and flash erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM) are two known types of non-volatile memory devices.
An EEPROM device typically includes arrays of EEPROM cells arranged in rows and columns. In an EEPROM device, each group of memory cells forming a data byte (e.g., eight memory cells) is individually accessible and thus can be programmed and erased independent of the other data bytes. A conventional EEPROM cell includes a tunnel oxide through which electrons tunnel (a process commonly referred to as Fowler-Nordheim (FN) tunneling) during both programming and erase operations. Furthermore, in an EEPROM device, each memory cell has a dedicated select transistor.
A flash EPROM device typically includes arrays of flash EPROM cells arranged in rows and columns. In a flash EPROM device, erase operation is typically performed on a sector-by-sector basis, each sector including a block of cells, e.g., one or more rows or columns of cells. Therefore, all memory cells disposed in a sector are erased at once. Alternatively, if a flash EPROM array is not divided into sectors, all the flash EPROM cells disposed within the memory device are erased at once. A conventional flash EPROM cell uses hot electron injection for programming and FN tunneling for erase operations.
Flash EPROM and EEPROM devices are often used in different applications. Generally, because of its smaller size, a flash EPROM device is less expensive than an EEPROM device having the same storage capacity and is thus more widely used, for example, in mass data storage applications where reprogrammability occurs less frequently. However, where byte-by-byte reconfigurability and non-volatility is a requirement, EEPROM devices are typically used.
With the rapid growth of the battery operated portable electronic devices, there has been a parallel increase in demand for non-volatile memory devices such as EEPROMs and flash EPROMs within the same portable device. Cellular phones, for example, commonly include both types of memory devices, with the EEPROM typically storing the user reconfigurable information and the flash EPROM typically storing operating algorithms or other types of data.
The ever increasing market demands for more compact and low power electronic devices has made it desirable to combine these two types of memory arrays on the same integrated circuit housed within the same package. However, combining these two types of memories in the same integrated circuit in an efficient manner and such that each memory type maintains its flexibility (e.g., byte erasable EEPROM) has been difficult because of the divergent requirements of the flash EPROM and EEPROM cell technologies.
In accordance with the present invention, a non-volatile integrated circuit memory includes an EEPROM array comprising a plurality of memory cells and a flash EPROM array comprising a second plurality of memory cells, wherein the EEPROM array is capable of being erased byte-by-byte or word-by-word, and the flash EPROM array is capable of being erased sector-by-sector.
In one embodiment, both arrays are formed using the same memory cell which is programmed using hot-electron injection and is erased using Fowler-Nordheim tunneling.
In another embodiment, a pair of byte-select transitors couple each memory cell in the EEPROM array to a corresponding bitline. The pair of byte-select transistors respectively couple the memory cell to one of a signal line and a voltage supply line.
In another embodiment, the EEPROM and the flash EPROM arrays share the same high voltage circuitry and control logic.

Integrated circuit having an EEPROM and flash EPROM


A method and apparatus for establishing a Quality of Service QoS in an access network for a multimedia session between a home network and a remote device located outside the home network. At least one of the remote device and the home network is connected to the access network. When a session invite message is received from the remote device for device discovery in the home network, a default QoS is enforced in the access network. When a session re-invite message is received from the remote device for media communication with a selected home device in the home network, the QoS requirements are determined for the media communication based on session parameters exchanged during the setup of the media communication. An updated QoS is then enforced for the session in the access network based on the determined QoS requirements.

A multitude of different communication terminals and devices are available today that are capable of packet-based multimedia communication using IP (Internet Protocol), such as fixed or mobile computers and telephones. Multimedia services typically entail transmission of media in different formats and combinations over IP networks. For example, an IP-enabled mobile terminal may exchange audio information as well as visual information with another IP-enabled mobile terminal, or may download media in any format from a content server.
A service and service-delivery control architecture called "IP Multimedia Subsystem" (IMS) has been developed by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) as a platform for handling multimedia services and sessions, commonly referred to as the IMS network. Thus, an IMS network can be used to initiate and control multimedia sessions for IMS-enabled terminals connected to different access networks, regardless of access technology. Although conceived primarily to enable multimedia services for mobile IP terminals, the IMS concept can also be used by fixed IP terminals. In ETSI (European Telecommunications Standards Institute), a working group called TISPAN (Telecom and Internet Services and Protocols for Advanced Networks) is currently working with the adoption of IMS in fixed networks.
Multimedia sessions are handled by specific session control nodes in the IMS network, typically including the nodes P-CSCF (Proxy Call Session Control Function), S-CSCF (Serving Call Session Control Function), and I-CSCF (Interrogating Call Session Control Function). An IMS network may also include various application servers for enabling various multimedia services, and a database node HSS (Home Subscriber Server) for storing subscriber and authentication data.
The signalling protocol called "SIP" (Session Initiation Protocol) is typically used for signalling messages during the setup of multimedia sessions in IMS networks. Standard SIP messages can thus be used by IP terminals or devices for establishing multimedia sessions. For example, a terminal can send an SIP message called "SIP INVITE" to initiate a session with another party in a session set-up procedure, e.g. when a multimedia application has been invoked in the terminal.
In SIP, an additional protocol called "SDP" (Session Description Protocol) is used for describing and specifying a multimedia session, and an SDP message can be embedded as a self-contained body within SIP messages. SDP messages are generally used to provide information on device capabilities and media properties, in order to specify and negotiate session parameters for multimedia sessions, as is well-known in the art. The term "session parameters" is used here to represent any device capabilities, media properties and address information necessary to establish a session. The above-mentioned SIP INVITE message and its common response message "SIP 200 OK" typically include an embedded SDP message with information on one or more codecs (coders/decoders) as well as other communication parameters needed for a session, such as an IP address and a port number.
According to 3GPP, a terminal must have an SIM (Subscriber Identity Module) application valid for IMS, generally referred to as "ISIM" (IMS SIM), in order to provide necessary authentication and subscriber data when registering with an IMS network. An ISIM stores an IMS Private Identity "IMPI" and at least one IMS Public Identity "IMPU", which are both known to the IMS network. IMPI is used for authentication and each IMPU is associated with an IMS service profile, typically tied to a user.
It is also desirable to provide IMS-based services for different IP terminals connected to a private network such as a residential or office network, generally referred to as a home network, home LAN (Local Area Network) or local LAN. In this description, the generic term "home network" is used for any such networks, and the term "home device" is used for any IP terminal within the home network.
A home network typically comprises different types of home devices including, e.g., fixed and wireless telephones, computers, media players, servers and television sets. In order to provide IMS services to non-IMS enabled home devices in a home network, a multimedia gateway referred to as a "Home IMS Gateway, HIGA" has been defined that can act as an IMS enabled terminal to access IMS services on behalf of any home device in the home network.
Among other things, the HIGA includes a "Back-to-Back User Agent" (B2BUA) acting basically as a bridge for communications between non-IMS enabled home devices and the IMS network. The B2BUA is equipped with an ISIM application and handles IMS signalling with the IMS network on behalf of the home devices. For example, if a home device sends an SIP REGISTER message containing an SIP identity but no IMS identity, the B2BUA in HIGA will translate the message into an IMS valid REGISTER message containing both an IMPI and an IMPU, according to regular IMS procedures.
In FIG. 1, a home network 100 is shown comprising a plurality of different home devices in a family residence or an office. As illustrated here, these devices include a wireless telephone, a fixed telephone, a TV set, a PC (Personal Computer) and a server. The home network 100 also includes a conventional residential gateway RGW 102 connected to an external access network 104 to provide an external communication link for the devices in network 100. The RGW 104 typically includes an NAT (Network Address Translation) function and a local DHCP (Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol) server providing local IP addresses to the devices valid only within the home network, as is well-known in the art.
The home network 100 further includes an HIGA 106 providing a connection to an IMS network 108 in which an HSS 110 is shown. The HIGA 106 is equipped with suitable interfaces towards the different devices in network 100, using device-adapted protocols. In practice, the HIGA 106 may be physically integrated in the RGW 102 although it is logically considered as an individual functional unit in this description.
In HIGA 106, identity information 112 associated with a profile is stored for each user in network 100, typically the above-mentioned IMPU, valid for accessing IMS network 108 where the same identity information is stored as subscriber information 114 in HSS 110, as indicated in the figure. When a user generally logs on to an IMS network via a specific device, that device's IP address is associated to the users IMPU. Thus, each home device in network 100 has been assigned a local identity that can be associated with a specific IMS identity when a user is logged on to that specific device. WO 2006/045706 outlines how home devices in a home network can obtain IMS services by means of an HIGA using different combinations of IMPI and IMPU.
When a home device in network 100 sends a request for an IMS service to HIGA 106, using a protocol within its capability, HIGA 106 identifies the device by means of its local identity (e.g. the local IP address of the device) and typically retrieves the corresponding IMS identity 112 of the device itself or of the user logged on to that device. Then, HIGA 106 translates the service request into a valid IMS request (e.g. SIP INVITE) on behalf of the device, to set up a session for the device by communicating suitable SIP messages with the IMS network 108, accordingly. In a similar manner, an incoming request for an IMS session with one of the home devices can be set up by HIGA 106 using an IMS identity 112 associated with the device. In either case, the session is routed from/to the device over the RGW 102 to communicate media over the access network 104, as indicated in the figure.
UPnP (Universal Plug-and-Play) is an architecture developed in a multi-vendor collaboration referred to as the UPnP Forum, for establishing standard device protocols for the communication between IP devices in a home network. UPnP thus provides peer-to-peer connectivity between devices in a home network for different access technologies, operating systems, programming languages, format standards and communication protocols used by the devices. Further, UPnP supports a process referred to as "discovery" (or "pairing") in which a device can dynamically join a home network, obtain a local IP address, announce its name and IP address, and exchange capabilities with other home devices. The UPnP Forum is currently in the process of defining an architecture for enabling remote access where remote UPnP devices located outside the private network can communicate media with home devices within the home network.
FIG. 1 further illustrates that a home device 100a moves outside the home network 100 to become a remote device 100a′. The remote device 100a′ then sends an INVITE message to the HIGA 106 over the IMS network 108 to initiate media communication with one of the home devices in network 100, requiring that the remote device has a valid IMS identity in order to access the IMS network. In WO 2006/079891 (Nokia), a solution is described for setting up a VPN (Virtual Private Network) tunnel as a data/media transport channel for remote UPnP access, e.g. using IPSec (IP Security).
In order to access a home device remotely, the remote device must have gained knowledge of the home device somehow in a discovery process. The remote device may have taken part in a regular discovery process recently while being located inside the home network 100, typically involving the exchange of certain discovery messages according to a protocol called SSDP (Simple Session Discovery Protocol). If this is not the case, however, such as when the remote device has in fact never been inside the network at all, it is necessary to exchange the discovery messages remotely.
FIG. 2 illustrates a possible logic structure in a remote device 200 and a residential gateway 202 of a home network for enabling remote access to home devices in the network (not shown). A Remote Access Client RAC 200a has been configured in the remote device 200 and a corresponding Remote Access Server RAS 202a has been configured in the residential gateway 202, which can be done preferably when both are present in the home network since RAC 200a and RAS 202a should be configured with matching profiles.
The remote access client 200a comprises a Remote Access Discovery Agent RADA 200b, and the remote access server 202a comprises a corresponding Remote Access Discovery Agent RADA 202b, configured to exchange discovery messages between the home network and the remote device. The remote access client 200a further comprises a Remote Access Transport Agent RATA 200c and the remote access server 202a comprises a corresponding Remote Access Transport Agent RATA 202c, configured to establish a transport channel for media between the remote device and the remote access server 202a. The RADA function may alternatively be referred to as a "UPnP proxy", and the RATA function may alternatively be referred to as a "connectivity client".
The configuration of RATA 200c, 202c is typically adapted to the characteristics of the used transport channel. When dynamic IP address assignments are used for residential gateways, the well-known solution of dynamic DNS (Domain Name System) can be used to resolve IP addresses of the residential gateway 202.
Additionally, the RADAs 200b, 202b may apply filters or the like to restrict the visibility of the home devices and/or services for the remote device, or vice-versa. Each RADA 200b, 202b may comprise an SSDP Proxy to aggregate information on home devices and services, and a Discovery Agent adapted to synchronize the remote access client 200a and the remote access server 202a.
It is well known that different types of services involving the communication of media have different requirements with respect to the rate and/or latency for the data transport, in order to provide satisfactory results at the receiving end. For example, a conversational service involving real-time communication of voice or video tolerates only very short delays. Further, a streaming service involving the transfer of large amounts of data to be played out simultaneously at the receiving party requires that a certain data rate or bandwidth (sometimes referred to as "throughput") is maintained during the session to avoid interruptions in the play-out, and so forth. Different levels or classes for QoS (Quality of Service) are therefore used of which, e.g., "real-time" guarantees low latency, "streaming" guarantees a certain bandwidth, and "best effort" has no guarantees for latency nor bandwidth whatsoever.
FIG. 3 illustrates schematically an architecture for the management of QoS in a fixed network for IMS sessions generally, as specified by TISPAN. A communication terminal referred to as user equipment 300 is attached to a fixed access node 302 in a fixed network. A layer 2 link connects the access node 302 to a suitable layer 2 termination point L2T 304 that constitutes an IP edge in the transition between the layer 2 communication and IP communication in layer 3. L2T 304 is in turn further connected to a gateway for communication with other networks, generally referred to as the "Border Gateway Function BGF" 306, in which an NAT function is typically implemented.
According to TISPAN, the control/management of QoS for IMS sessions is handled by a function called "Resource and Admission Control Subsystem RACS" 308 adapted to establish the QoS for each session which is then enforced at L2T 304 by a "Resource Control Enforcement Function RCEF" 310. RACS 308 is also generally responsible for policy control, resource reservation and admission control for IMS sessions, typically depending on the user. When an IMS session is established by an IMS network 312, e.g. using a P-CSCF node 312a for session control, the required session parameters or media properties are defined in SDP messages as described above, which the P-CSCF node 312a maps into QoS request information to be sent to RACS 308 and enforced by RCEF 310. Any address translation needed for the session in the network is also established in BGF 306 via RACS 308. The current scope of RACS generally covers the access network and the interconnection between different core networks.
However, the problem of providing a suitable or proper Quality of Service QoS for media sessions during remote access to a home network has not yet been addressed. When a remote device accesses a device in a home network to execute a multimedia session, the best effort type of QoS will only be obtained for the session since no QoS enforcement function is present, even though the service used may require a QoS level with higher demands.

Method and apparatus for remote access to a home network


A stacked layer including a first oxide, a nitride layer, a second oxide layer and an oxynitride layer is formed on the top of the first oxide layer. An etching is performed through a photoresist to etch the oxynitride, the second oxide and nitride. Oxide spacers are formed on the side walls of the pattern structure, the oxynitride layer is also removed during the formation of the oxide spacers. Trenches are generated by a dry etching technique. The second oxide and the oxide spacers are removed. Next, a thermal oxidation is performed to rounding the corners of the trench openings. A gap filling material is refilled into the trenches and formed on the nitride. Next, a chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) is used to remove the top of the CVD-oxide and the nitride layer. The residual nitride layer, the CVD-oxide and pad oxide are removed to create trench isolation structures with rounding corners.

Isolation structures are necessary in a semiconductor wafer in order to isolate individual devices formed in the wafer. Several different isolation technologies have been proposed, including LOCOS (LOCal Oxidation of Silicon), shallow trench isolation (STI), LOCOS-based isolation such as poly-buffered LOCOS (PBL), and framed-mask PBL technologies. In that technique, isolation structures are created by thermally growing a thick field oxide layer over certain areas defined by a silicon nitride mask. Then, the silicon nitride mask is stripped.
As device geometry has shrunk to the sub-half micron order, conventional LOCOS isolation cannot meet the requirements of ULSI fabrication. The major drawback of LOCOS is the "bird's beak" effect. In this effect, the oxidant laterally diffuses at the edges of the silicon nitride during the formation of the isolation. Oxide forms under the nitride edges and lifts the nitride edges. This lateral extension of the field oxide causes unacceptably large encroachment on the field oxide into the device active regions. Further, the planarity of the surface topography is inadequate for sub-micron lithography needs.
Therefore, trench isolation offers potentially great advantages over LOCOS. Hence, STI can be considered as a replacement for conventional LOCOS isolation. Further, STI is gaining popularity for quarter-micron technology. In the basic STI technology, shallow trenches are formed in the silicon substrate by etching. Next, a gap filling material is refilled into the trenches and is then planarized by CMP (Chemical Mechanical Polishing) or etching back.
A variety of issues are generated during the development of this technology. For example, the dishing effect is one of the major issues. The dishing effect adversely impacts the planarity of a layer and impacts the control of lithography and ion implantation. The dishing effect is caused by chemical mechanical polishing that exhibits pattern-dependent polishing uniformity and instability of polishing rate.
One prior art approach to this issue is by the use of a dummy pattern. The use of this conventional method can improve the result of the CMP planarization. However, as seen in FIG. 1, the completed trench isolations 3 in the wafer 1 have shoulder recessed portions 5 formed at the edges of the structure. The shoulder recessed portions 5 will give rise to abnormal electrical characteristics in the devices. Therefore, what is required is a method of forming a trench isolation without shoulder recessed portions.

Method of fabricating a shallow trench isolation by using oxide/oxynitride layers

Vanguard International Semiconductor Corporation


In order to optimize an ultrasound measurement signal application-specifically, an error value is formed from features with which an evaluation of the received ultrasound measurement signal is possible. An ultrasound signal, whose signal shape is modified by section-by-section variation of the shape of the transmission signal is emitted out, received and an error value is formed anew. This procedure is repeated until the error value assumes a minimum. The ultrasound measurement signal at which the error value is minimal corresponds to the optimized signal.

1. Field of the Invention
The invention is directed to a method for the adaptive optimization of ultrasound measurement signals.
2. Description of the Prior Art
The measuring precision and the structural resolution of ultrasound pulse-echo systems is critically determined by the spectral system bandwidth and by the chronological shape of the measurement signal. For example, pulse-shaped measurement signals with a broad frequency response and optimally short build-up and decay times are desirable for a high measuring precision and good axial resolution. In standard ultrasound transducers, it is usually a matter of weakly attenuated, resonant transducers that preferably oscillate at specific modes and, due to their mismatch to the acoustic medium of air, exhibit a limited efficiency/bandwidth product. For this reason, a pulse-shaped excitation of these transducers does not as a rule lead to measurement signals that are optimum in the above sense.
The, reprint from Fachberichte Huttenpraxis Metall-Weiterverarbeitung. volume 19, No. 2, 1981, H. A. Crostak, "Grundlagen des CS-Technik", discloses a possibility for improving the transmission signal of an ultrasound transducer for materials' testing with ultrasound. This ensues by the variation of the frequency spectrum of the transmission signal, for example by multiplication of a pulse by one or more selected functions.
It is fundamentally possible to partially compensate the non-ideal transmission properties of the transducers with a suitable filtering. What are referred to as inverse filters can be applied in the field of ultrasound technology in order to improve the characteristic data of ultrasound measurement systems.
Such an inverse filter is disclosed in, Sedki M. Riad, "The Deconvolution Problem: An Overview", IEEE, 1986. This is thereby a matter of a post-filtering.
In inverse filtering, the ultrasound signal output by a transmission transducer is received and subsequently charged with the inverse transfer function of the system.
A further possibility is to calculate an inverse filter function into the signal to be transmitted. This represents an inverse pre-filtering.
Given post-filtering, the reception signals must be filtered after every measurement. Since analog variable filter can be realized only with great difficulty, this filtering usually ensues with digital filters, whereby implementing the filtering in real time is partly possible only with relatively great outlay.
One disadvantage of inverse pre-filtering is the need for a linear, broadband power transmission amplifier for the excitation of the ultrasound transducer. Due to the great outlay and the relatively high power consumption, the use thereof is often unacceptable, particularly given reasonably priced "stand alone" apparatus.
Both inverse pre-filtering as well as post-filtering have the disadvantage that information about the overall system is necessary for the calculation of the inverse filter, these having to be present in advance, and the method very easily becoming unstable when these information are not considered or given imprecise data and/or optimum results cannot be achieved.

Adaptive optimization process for ultrasonic measurement signals


A fundus camera capable of preferably photographing the periphery of a fundus irrespective of the state of an eye includes a photographing optical system having a photographing optical axis for photographing the fundus, a fundus observation optical system for picking up a fundus observation image, an alignment target projection optical system for projecting an alignment target onto an anterior segment of the eye, an alignment target image detection optical system, a photographing unit housing the systems, a moving mechanism moving the unit for alignment of the axis, a fixation target presenting system for guiding a visual line direction, a target presenting position being selectable or changeable, a display unit, and a controller controlling the display unit to display the observation and target images, wherein the controller includes a program for forming and displaying a reticle mark in displaying the observation image varying the shape of the mark with the presenting position.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a fundus camera which photographs a fundus of an examinee's eye.
2. Description of Related Art
There is known a fundus camera which changes a display position of a reticle mark that defines an alignment reference in accordance with a presenting position of a fixation target on which an examinee's eye is fixated (see Japanese Patent Application Unexamined Publication Hei11-4808). In such an apparatus, especially in photographing the periphery of a fundus of the eye, the display position of the reticle mark is changed so that a photographing optical axis of the fundus camera is aligned with the pupil center in accordance with the presenting position of the fixation target in order to prevent fundus illumination light from being blocked by an iris of the eye.
However, in the photographing of the periphery of the fundus, it is not necessarily most appropriate to perform the alignment of the photographing optical axis with respect to the pupil center. This is because if, for example, the photographing optical axis is largely deviated from a corneal vertex in the photographing, a photographing image of the fundus is apt to suffer flares. Accordingly, the alignment reference position such that a preferable photographing image of the fundus can be obtained differs with a pupil diameter, a corneal shape or other factors of the eye.


An interleaved ADC can advantageously provide synchronous sampling and time-multiplexed output. Differential I and Q input signals can first be stored by charging a plurality of capacitors. These stored differential signals can be buffered in a time-multiplexed sequence. For example, buffering can include transferring voltages stored by a first set of capacitors at a first time and then transferring voltages stored by a second set of capacitors at a second time. Advantageously, this time-multiplexing allow the ADC to be significantly smaller than conventional implementations of two-input ADCs. A folded mixer with gain control is also provided. This mixer can include a first stage having a first set of inductors and a plurality of first type transistors and a second stage having a second set of inductors and a plurality of second type transistors. The plurality of second type transistors in the second stage, which are in a folded configuration, can be driven by the first set of inductors in the first stage. The outputs of the mixer are positioned between the plurality of second type transistors and the second set of inductors. This configuration advantageously permits the mixer to use a low operating voltage.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an analog to digital converter (ADC) that provides synchronous sampling and time-multiplexed output. The present invention further relates to a folded mixer with gain control.
2. Related Art
The growing market for wireless voice-over-IP, network gaming, and internet services has fueled the demand for compact, low-power, low-cost wireless LAN (WLAN) solutions suitable for battery-operated handheld devices such as cell phones, PDAs, and portable gaming consoles. The majority of conventional WLAN devices operate in the unlicensed 2.4 GHz band and implement the IEEE 802.11 b/g standards. However, spectral crowding at 2.4 GHz and the abundance of unlicensed bandwidth at 5 GHz has resulted in greater demand for dual-band WLAN products that also support IEEE 802.11a.
Therefore, it would be desirable to implement a 0.18 μm CMOS, dual-band IEEE 802.11a/b/g WLAN SoC designed for low-power, reduced area embedded applications.

Interleaved ADC and folded mixer for WLAN devices


A favorable appearance can be achieved using a simple configuration, even when the configuration is provided with a back shell that moves up and down relative to a back frame. In a vehicle seat 10, the back of a seated person is adapted to be supported by a movable back shell 42 that is supported so as to be capable of moving in an up-down direction relative to a back frame 30. A non-movable back shell 46 that is attached so as to be incapable of displacement relative to the back frame 30 is disposed on a back face side of the movable back shell 42, and the back frame 30 is covered by the non-movable back shell 46.

A vehicle seat as described in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open (JP-A) No. 2008-526425 is provided with a back shell that is formed in a shape capable of holding the back of a seated person, and a cushion shell formed in a shape capable of holding buttocks of a seated person. The back shell is attached so as to be movable in an up-down direction and front-rear direction relative to a back frame, and the cushion shell is attached so as to be movable in the up-down direction relative to a cushion frame. The back shell and cushion shell are coupled together by a hinge, and the back shell moves up and down, tracing the up and down movement of the cushion shell. This kind of vehicle seat enables the seated person to be held comfortably by the back shell and cushion shell, and enables a comfortable ride by movement of the back shell and cushion shell to match the physique and posture of the seated person.


A system for detecting and analyzing electrical activity in the anatomy of an organism underlying an electromyographic (EMG) sensor device provides signals corresponding to electrical activity adjacent each electrode of sensor device. A method using the system may comprise determining EMG data for a patient using the EMG sensor device. The method may further include determining whether the determined EMG data for the patient corresponds to predetermined EMG data associated with at least one of a facet condition, a disc condition, and a muscle condition.

Knowledge of the presence of electromyographic (EMG) signals in the muscles of humans, and the change of these signals with muscle activity, spawned development of electronic devices and techniques for monitoring those signals for the evaluation of the muscles. Human musculature, however, involves many hundreds of muscles in various muscle groups, which interact to provide skeletal support and movement. Much of the recent development has been concerned with the techniques and/or devices for monitoring the signals, analyzing the information obtained and providing reliable and useful data for the patient or treating physician.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,004,312 of Dec. 21, 1999, hereby incorporated by reference herein shows an example of a system and method for sensing and monitoring EMG signals in a patient. U.S. Pat. No. 6,745,062 of Jun. 1, 2004, hereby incorporated by reference herein shows a further example of a system and method for sensing and monitoring EMG signals using a flexible and extensible EMG electrode array placed adjacent the back of a patient.
Each of these patents shows examples of systems operative to acquire data representative of the relative level of muscle activity across a two dimensional area. These systems employ an EMG electrode array comprised of a two dimensional grid of electrodes. These electrodes are placed in adhesive contact with the patient using an electrically conductive adhesive such as hydrogel.
The electrical signals are captured from each of the electrodes in the array. In one example embodiment, to quantify the relative level of muscle activity detected for each electrode, these systems calculate a root-mean-square (RMS) voltage between each pairing of adjacent electrodes. Data representative of the calculated RMS values for adjacent electrodes may be visually displayed in a two dimensional image. Such an image can be superimposed above different muscle groups to assist in diagnosing a pain causing condition being experienced by the patient.
However, the lower back of a human patient has 48 paired symmetric muscles. Correlating the data produced from an electrode array to various combinations of the muscles in the lower back of a patient may not reveal which condition is causing pain in the lower back of the patient. Thus there exists a need for a new method and system for analyzing EMG data acquired from a patient's back for purposes of making an accurate determination as to what pain causing conditions the patient may or may not have.


Systems and methods for secure peer-to-peer communications are described. Devices registered into trusted network may be capable of establishing a shared data encryption key (DEK). In embodiments, each device may be configured to obtain a share of a data encryption key (DEKi) that can be stored locally. The shares may be shares in an M of N Secret Sharing Scheme. This may involve a network that includes an integer, N, devices, and in which M devices may share a secret (i.e. the DEK) during communications, M being an integer less than or equal to N. To obtain the entire DEK during encryption/decryption, a requesting device may send requests to M of N devices for their shares of the DEK. Once M shares are obtained, they may be used generate the DEK for encrypting/decrypting data between the devices.

In today's technological environment, it is typical for messages to be encrypted between devices. Often times, these encryption schemes utilize a centralized server or other central data store for managing encryption keys. However, using a central server for managing encryption keys can be costly and can be vulnerable to an attack. This may be of significant concern with regards to network-enabled machines or "internet of things" devices. Such machines may include autonomous vehicles, smart appliances, and climate control devices, which if hacked could do physical harm. In addition, such devices are often connected as a group, and a vulnerability present on just one device could relinquish complete control over all connected devices.
Embodiments of the invention address this and other problems, individually and collectively.

Secure shared key establishment for peer to peer communications


A method is disclosed for configuring at least one communications link for transmitting medical image datasets by means of a special transmission protocol, in particular the DICOM protocol, from a first computing device to at least one second computing device, in particular a plurality of different second computing devices. In at least one embodiment, the transmission performance is determined automatically at the first computing device for a plurality of sets of configuration parameters of the communications link and the set of configuration parameters having the best transmission performance is selected for the configuration.

With the continuing development of medical imaging technologies, the file sizes of recorded image datasets are becoming larger and larger and the number of recorded image datasets is increasing all the time. For archiving, storage and/or diagnostic purposes it is necessary to transport said image datasets, comprising several hundred images of a series of an examination, for example, via communications links from one computing device to another computing device. The term "computing device", in the context of the present application, is to be understood in a broad sense, encompassing both communication-capable control devices and conventional desktop computers for example.
The DICOM (digital imaging and communications in medicine) standard has meanwhile become widely established in the medical domain as a standard for the file formats and also for the data transmission. It is therefore standard practice to transmit image datasets by means of the DICOM transmission protocol from a first computing device to a second computing device. Of course, other transmission protocols, possibly even proprietary transmission protocols, tailored to the special format and size of the image datasets are also known. The DICOM protocol and where applicable other similar transmission protocols are geared to the specific needs arising for the transmission of medical image datasets.
There is, however, a problem in that the communications link itself is not optimized for the specific profile of medical data that is to be transmitted between two computing devices, which means that it is not possible to achieve an optimal transmission performance. This is particularly relevant since for specific communication parameters the transmission performance is also dependent on the type of target system or, as the case may be, target computing device. Medical systems having a plurality of computing devices that are used for managing and/or processing images, for example radiology information systems (RIS) or hospital information systems (HIS), are in this case frequently highly heterogeneous systems that comprise computing devices of the most disparate types and from the widest variety of manufacturers, for example in imaging devices for different modalities from different manufacturers, but also in terms of an archive server (PACS), for example. It can happen, for example, that a first computing device is embodied for setting up communications links for the purpose of transmitting medical image datasets to between three and thirty second computing devices, all of which can have different specifications. An example of a possible system architecture can be found in US 2009/0091765 A1, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated herein by reference.
These days it is generally accepted practice to use a standard configuration for all communications links to and from a computing device. This configuration is mostly inherited as a manufacturer setup. It is, however, also known to have the configuration modified by a service technician in a complicated and time-consuming manual procedure. Ultimately, however, what one is left with in most cases is a suboptimal configuration which does not permit optimum transmission performance and consequently slows down the data transmission too much and ties up I/O resources of the computing devices.

Method for configuring at least one communications link for transmitting medical image datasets and system for managing and/or processing medical image datasets


The present invention includes a method and apparatus wherein webless zipper is provided with concave seal bridges. These concave seal bridges are complementary in shape to convex sealing bars. This captures or positions the seal bridges of the zipper profiles resulting in improved alignment of the profiles and improved performance of the manufacturing apparatus.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a zipper used for reclosable packages and the method of sealing the zipper to the reclosable package. In particular, the present invention relates to a concave shaped seal base or bridge on a webless zipper profile and a corresponding convex sealing bar to seal the webless zipper to the reclosable package in a form fill seal or similar apparatus.
2. Description of the Prior Art
In the prior art, the design and manufacture of reclosable packages, particularly by form fill seal methods, is well developed. However, further improvements leading to both decreased set-up and maintenance and higher manufacturing throughput are always desired.
In particular, flat seal bars are used for the sealing of webless zippers in form fill seal apparatus. However, this requires a proper set-up procedure in order to avoid manufacturing problems relating to the seal between the base or bridge and the package wall. Such problems include deficiencies in the tracking of the zipper relative to the seal bars, deficiencies in the uniformity of the seal and sensitivity to misaligned sealing equipment.
Any wandering or misalignment of the profile may create a seal which is biased to one side.

Method of sealing a zipper with concave bridges or bases using convex sealing bars


A method and an apparatus for collecting ions in which ions are produced from a sample in an ion source. An electric field is provided that is more uniform in an area adjacent the sample than in an area adjacent an inlet to the ion transfer device or that is larger in field strength at the sample than at a point removed from the sample towards the inlet of the ion transfer device. Ions are received into the electric field and transferred through the ion transfer device to a sampling orifice of the mass spectrometer. The apparatus includes an ion transfer device coupled to a sampling orifice of a mass spectrometer. The ion transfer device has an inlet with a surface that extends in a direction from an axis of the ion transfer device. The ion transfer device can extend a distance of at least 10 times an inner diameter of a sampling orifice of the mass spectrometer.

1. Field of the Invention
This invention relates in general to ion sources, and in particular to MALDI mass spectrometry ion sources especially with pulsed dynamic focusing.
2. Background of the Invention
Ionization of chemical species can be accomplished by a variety of methods including matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization (MALDI), atmospheric pressure (AP)-MALDI, electrospray ionization (ESI), atmospheric pressure chemical ionization (APCI), field ionization, electron ionization, discharge and photoionization. These ionization techniques, when combined with an appropriate mass analyzer or ion mobility spectrometer, yield chemical and structural information about the molecules ionized. One goal of combining an ion source with an instrumental analyzer is to achieve a low limit of detection for a chemical species of interest (i.e., high sensitivity). Another goal is to acquire such information in the fastest time possible (i.e., high throughput).
One combination of ion source and spectrometer is an AP-MALDI mass spectrometry as described by Laiko et al. in Anal. Chem. 2000, 72:652–657; 72:5239–5243; and described in U.S. Pat. No. 5,965,884, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. As shown in FIG. 1, AP-MALDI system 2 uses a pulsed laser 4 for ionization, at ambient pressures, to create ions for analysis in a mass spectrometer 6. A capillary 8 is used in conventional AP-MALDI MS configurations to transfer ions from the sample target plate 10 (i.e., the ion source) to the mass spectrometer 6.
FIG. 2A is a diagram depicting an enlarged view of an AP-MALDI sampling interface configuration showing a tapered capillary 8, which is itself interfaced to the mass spectrometer 6 by a sampling orifice 9b to an inlet flange 9. The numbers depicted on the figures represent typical values for the dimensions used, and are not intended to specifically restrict the present invention. Capillaries (as shown for example in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2A) can be tapered.
Further, as shown in FIG. 2B, the sampling orifice 9b can utilize sharp tips. However, other sampling inlets 9, as shown in FIGS. 2C and 3, have been used, including arrangements as in FIG. 3 in which a non-parallel sample plate 10 is adjacent to the inlet flange 9. The non-parallel configuration permits laser irradiation to be aligned on-axis with the sampling interfaces, and illustrates one problem overcome by the use of extended capillaries, such as for example capillary 8 shown in FIG. 1, to provide better sample access.
Traditionally, samples were mounted on sample plates 10 and placed close to the inlet flange 9 of the mass spectrometer 6. However, pragmatic considerations such as line-of-sight for laser desorption and imaging drove the development of extended capillary delivery systems such as shown in FIG. 1, in which more space is obtained permitting flexibility in sampling and the sampling from multiple sample plates into one mass spectrometer unit.
To increase ion collection efficiencies in the above shown configurations, electric field extraction techniques were developed. An applied electric field serves to draw ions produced from the sample toward the capillary 8 or the sampling orifice 9b of the mass spectrometer 6. A further enhancement to the electric field extraction techniques has been the application of a pulsed dynamic focusing (PDF) technique which removes the electric field in the sample-to-inlet region, just prior to ions entering the capillary 8 or the sampling orifice 9b. The PDF technique reduces ion losses due to collisions of ions with walls of the capillary 8 or the sampling orifice 9b. This PDF technique as described in U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/367,917, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference, is often referred to as "timed-extraction" and has also been recently described by Tan et al. in 2004, Anal. Chem., the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.
In brief, the PDF technique permits the use of off-axis ion production techniques from the sampling interface 8, such as for example off-axis laser irradiation, to generate ions from regions not directly in front of the capillary 8 or the inlet flange 9. The PDF technique increases analytical throughput when laser spot sizes are increased. Improvements in throughput with PDF have been demonstrated using AP-MALDI ion trap MS systems with both capillary and conical sampling interfaces. In addition to the higher throughput afforded by the PDF technology, sensitivity was found to be positively correlated with electric field strength.
Ion trajectories and kinetics have been recently modeled for the conventional PDF techniques. Ion simulation typically apply a boundary element method on user-defined geometries, voltage settings and gas flow rates to determine electric field, gas dynamic flow, and ion trajectories. The ion trajectories can be determined based on ion mobility calculations. Such simulations made for example for the configuration shown in FIG. 1 with a tapered extended capillary 8 show that, in a static electric field, ions off-axis from the sampling interface are lost to the walls 12 and tip 14 of the sampling interface (see FIG. 4). Simulations further showed that when PDF was applied to AP-MALDI, off-axis ions are more efficiently collected, since the electric field being terminated before the ions arrive at the walls 12 and tip 14 of the sampling interface does not force the ions onto the walls. Rather, upon termination of the electric field, the ions are entrained in the gas flow entering the mass spectrometer 6.
Further simulations to include ion recombination kinetics to study the relative ion yield associated with different configurations and electric field strengths have determined that the electric field strength directly affects ion signal intensity (see FIG. 5). One possible theory to explain this phenomenon is that positive and negative ions ejected from the sample surface by the laser pulse initially occupy a narrow layer near the target plate. The applied electric field causes these positive and negative ions to move in opposite directions, minimizing ion losses that can result from gas-phase ion recombination and neutralization. From this theory higher electric fields at the site of ionization would improve ionization efficiency and hence sensitivity, as the positive and negative ions are more rapidly separated thus reducing the number of gas-phase ion recombination events.
One potential drawback with the sampling interface designs discussed above is that the electric field may not be optimized at the location of irradiation (i.e. the location of ion generation). Thus, a significant fraction of the ions can recombine or be neutralized. While applying higher voltages to the sample target plate could raise the electric field, arcing and discharge at the higher voltages can limit the upper bound to which the electric field can be adjusted. Furthermore, the electric field in the sampling interface designs may be limited to a range of effectiveness about the sampling interface.

Method and apparatus to increase ionization efficiency in an ion source


Mechanisms for efficiently transferring multiple unspent transaction output (UTXO) tokens in a blockchain network operating a UTXO-based token transaction model are disclosed herein. These methods allow for the use of less computer processing and network bandwidth resources in the transfer of blockchain items, particularly in blockchain schemes with lineage tracking mechanisms (e.g. as may allow for clawback of tokens). Some embodiments comprise generating a delegated account and transferring the UTXO tokens into the delegated account. The ownership of the delegated account can then be transferred to another use of the blockchain network in a single transaction, thereby avoiding the need to individually transfer the UTXO tokens and incur the memory and computational resource burden and costs associated with therewith.

Distributed ledger-based networks, also known as blockchain networks, utilize transparent and consensus-based verification schemes to validate transactions occurring on the networks. The schemes include verifications of the transactions by at least most of the computing nodes that make up the networks. Each of the computing nodes can keep records of the transactions in a distributed ledger that is extremely difficult to reverse, which allows participants of the networks to at least pseudo-anonymously transact on the networks with confidence about the validity of the transactions. One issue that has arisen with blockchain networks, however, is that their mechanisms do not include typical security and/or access controls found in other electronic transaction systems, and thus may in some circumstances help facilitate illicit activities by virtue of the anonymity or pseudo-anonymity allowed in transacting. Some techniques may allow for the tracking of transactions on the blockchains to curtail or eliminate the illicit activities. For example, tokens used for the transactions may have data structures that allow for the clawing back of tokens used in illicit activities. However, such techniques may also increase the memory and computational resource overhead for legitimate transactions that utilize the tokens.

Methods and systems for transferring unspent transaction output (UTXO) tokens in a blockchain network


A user administers web hosting on user's server from his computer remotely. When a run time error is generated, an error message is sent to a server connected to a knowledge database. If the error matches the known error form the knowledge database, the user is provided an article with a solution to the run-time error. Statistics of occurrence of the errors are saved in the knowledge database. The frequently occurring errors are provided to developers for creating hosting application updates. Additionally, security policies of the user's server can be updated based on the data from the knowledge database.

Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an error message processing system, and more particularly, to a method and system for processing run-time error messages generated during creation and running of web sites and implementing security policy configurations based on occurrence frequencies of run-time errors.
Description of the Related Art
When applications are executed, various run-time errors can be raised due to errors in an algorithm, OS errors, driver errors, incorrect functions of programmable OS interfaces and developer tools, etc. The run-time errors can result in data corruption and complete or partial data losses. The run-time errors can also result from security configurations exposing certain vulnerabilities. The run-time errors can require system or application reloads.
Typically, application developers implement support for their products based on user feedback in a form of calls, emails to support service, and by having special built-in modules that notify the developers about errors via the Internet. For example, in MICROSOFT WINDOWS if the OS generates errors, a user can click on a help and support menu under the start menu. The main shortcoming of these systems is a lack of anonymity in collection of feedback, which reduces a number of users who actually report errors. This, in turn, reduces the effectiveness of error correction.
Additionally, the conventional error handling systems take a long time for collection of user feedbacks and require a large developing staff for error corrections. Furthermore, conventional web hosting systems do not provide means for changing security policy configurations based on vulnerabilities revealed by frequent errors, if a user prohibits sending error notifications to the server. Another problem is user's unwillingness to reveal his problems and configurations of his system hardware and software to the Internet community.
Accordingly, a method for efficient and inexpensive exchange of information related to system configuration and errors is desired.

Processing run-time error messages and implementing security policies in web hosting


An electric motor with a heat source is arranged on a shaft in a co-rotating manner, wherein a first and a second cooling fin arrangement interact in order to dissipate heat from the heat source to the outside.

The invention relates to an electric motor which has a motor housing, a shaft which is rotatably mounted in the motor housing, and a heat source which is arranged on the shaft in a co-rotating manner.
A heat source of this kind which is arranged in a co-rotating manner may be an electronics system which is arranged in the electric motor in a co-rotating manner. The heat source typically generates heat loss which leads to an undesired increase in the motor temperature in the electric motor. In addition, heat from the heat source which is produced in any case can cause damage in the electric motor, in particular when said heat source is an electronics system.
It is conceivable to arrange a co-rotating electronics system on a motor shaft outside a motor housing in order to achieve a certain degree of thermal decoupling. However, this results in the problem that the electronics system has to be protected separately in order to realize protection, for example in accordance with one of the classes IP54 to IP56, which is common in commercially available electric motors. This requires additional expenditure.
One object of the invention is therefore to provide an electric motor which provides an effective cooling concept for heat sources which are arranged in a co-rotating manner.
According to the invention, this is achieved by an electric motor having a motor housing, a motor shaft which is rotatably mounted in the motor housing, and a heat source which is arranged on the motor shaft in a co-rotating manner. A first cooling fin arrangement is arranged on the motor shaft in a co-rotating manner and adjacent to the heat source, and a second cooling fin arrangement is arranged on the motor housing such that it points inward. The first cooling fin arrangement and the second cooling fin arrangement engage for the purpose of dissipating heat from the heat source out of the motor housing.
The invention relates to an electric motor. The electric motor has a motor housing and also a shaft which is rotatably mounted in the motor housing. The electric motor further has a heat source which is arranged on the shaft in a co-rotating manner.
According to the invention, the electric motor has a first cooling fin arrangement which is arranged on the shaft in a co-rotating manner and adjacent to the heat source, and also a second cooling fin arrangement which is arranged on the motor housing so as to point inward or in the direction of the first cooling fin arrangement. The first cooling fin arrangement and the second cooling fin arrangement interengage for the purpose of dissipating heat from the heat source out of the motor housing.
By means of the electric motor according to the invention, heat can be dissipated from the inside to the outside by interengaging cooling fins, so that the heat source can be arranged within the motor housing.
It is understood that the electric motor may also be, in principle, a generator.
The motor housing can be, in particular, water-tight, dust-tight or sealed against other influences. In this respect, said motor housing can comply with, in particular, a desired IP protection class.
The heat source can be, in particular, an electrical or electronic circuit, for example a power electronics system for open-loop/closed-loop control of the electric motor. An electronic circuit of this kind can be arranged within the electric motor or the motor housing in order to drive, for example, rotor coils, which are coupled to the motor shaft in a rotationally fixed manner, with wiring paths which are as short as possible.
The first cooling fin arrangement can have a number of concentrically arranged, circular cooling fins. Said cooling fins can fulfill the rotary movement of the shaft.
The second cooling fin arrangement can accordingly have a number of concentrically arranged, circular cooling fins.
Owing to the formation of circular cooling fins both on the first cooling fin arrangement and also on the second cooling fin arrangement, an interengaging configuration can advantageously be achieved taking into account the relative rotary movement. Distances between the cooling fins can be minimized in this way in order to allow particularly advantageous transportation of heat.
The cooling fins of the first cooling fin arrangement are preferably arranged radially offset in relation to the cooling fins of the second cooling fin arrangement with respect to the motor shaft. This prevents contact between the cooling fins and therefore damage.
The second cooling fin arrangement can, in particular, constitute an end plate (A or B end plate) of the electric motor or be integrated in an end plate. Since another device typically does not directly adjoin an end plate of this kind, the heat can be dissipated particularly effectively. The end plate can, in particular, also ensure the abovementioned protection.
According to one embodiment, a third cooling fin arrangement with a number of outwardly pointing cooling fins for dissipating heat which is absorbed by the second cooling fin arrangement is arranged on the outside in relation to the second cooling fin arrangement. This allows advantageous discharge of the heat to the outside.
A fan can be arranged on the motor shaft outside the motor housing, said fan being designed to generate an air flow past a surface section of the motor housing, which surface section is located on the outside of the second cooling fin arrangement, when the motor shaft rotates. This allows heat to be transported away in an improved manner, wherein the generated air flow can be directed, in particular, onto or through the third cooling fin arrangement.
The electric motor can further have a shielding part which, in a co-rotating manner with the shaft, is arranged on the heat source and serves to thermally shield the heat source from other parts of the electric motor, in particular from electrical windings. The shielding part can, for example, also be in the form of a shielding housing. In this way, improved thermal decoupling can be achieved in particular, this protecting the heat source against overheating.
The shielding part can be designed to press the heat source against the first cooling fin arrangement. A control electronics system, which can contain elements for wireless data communication with remote data communication stations which are fastened to other static elements of the motor, can be fastened to or in the shielding part, for example as a heat source. The shielding part can also have a circumferential sealing contour.
Electrical supply lines to the shielding part or to the heat source can be arranged in the shielding part. This allows simple manufacture.
The shielding part can be produced from plastic. This improves thermal shielding.
The shielding part can have a number of vanes for moving ambient air. This improves the transmission of heat. The shielding part can also accommodate elements for data communication with a remote station which is fastened to other—however static—parts of the motor.
The first cooling fin arrangement can have a number of vanes for moving ambient air. The air can also be advantageously moved in this way in order to improve the transmission of heat.
The first, second and/or third cooling fin arrangement and/or the motor housing can be composed of a metal, in particular of aluminum. In particular, a stable construction and good thermal conductivity are achieved in this way.
The conduction of heat can be achieved, in particular, by convection in air. However, it is understood that all heat conduction mechanisms, in particular even transmission by thermal radiation, can be considered in principle.
The heat source or the power electronics system can be fastened on a co-rotating heat sink such that they are effectively thermally connected.
It is understood that, owing to the configuration according to the invention, it is possible to minimize the number of mechanical components because of the multifunctional shielding part. In addition to shielding the heat from the electric motor, it is also possible, for example, for power semiconductors to be pressed, the control circuit board to be mechanically fastened and the contacts for electrical connection to the rotor to be guided, in particular by the shielding part.
An electronics system, including heat sink and shielding part, can be manufactured completely separately.
The electronics system or the heat source in general can be fastened on the rotor, before said rotor is inserted into the stator.
Owing to the cited measures, the electrical connections which are to be established are readily accessible.
In particular, there is also a cost advantage over solutions which are installed on the outside of the electric motor, wherein requisite housing parts which are separately sealed off are minimized.

Electric motor with rotating first concentric cooling fins and second concentric fins on the housing


The present invention relates to a rider holder for an amusement ride (14), comprising a holding portion (16) for holding a rider, a restraining device (24) which can be moved between an open position, in which the rider can access the holding portion (16), and a closed position, in which the held rider in the holding portion (16) can interact with the restraining device (24), a lockable securing device (32) which, in a locked state, fixes the restraining device (24) in the closed position and, in an unlocked state, releases the restraining device (24), and a control unit (52) which has detection means (55), by means of which it can be redundantly determined in a fail-safe manner whether the securing device (32) is in the locked or unlocked state, wherein the control unit (52) generates corresponding state signals. The invention further relates to a vehicle having at least one such rider holder for an amusement ride and to a method for operating such a vehicle. Furthermore, the invention relates to an amusement ride having at least one such vehicle.

The attractiveness of the amusement rides plays a very important role in the feasibility of a profitable operation of the amusement rides. Therefore, the goal is to create the most possible surprising ride experiences for the rider. With regard to roller coasters, these amusement ride experiences are created, inter alia, with loops, with sharp curves, with track sections with steep slopes and with spiral track sections.
These amusement ride experiences can be brought about only if the riders can be restrained safely in the amusement ride. For this purpose, the amusement rides include a number of vehicles with rider holders into which the riders can seat themselves, stand or lie. In the rider holders, the riders are secured with the help of restraining devices which frequently include securing clips. For this purpose, the restraining devices and in particular the securing clips are moved from an open position, in which the rider can access the rider holder, into a closed position, in which the rider interacts with the restraining device so that he/she cannot fall out of the rider holder during the ride, even in case of high accelerations and stresses. The securing clip can be moved between the open position and the closed position with the help of an adjustment device. The adjustment device is usually operated by means of a hydraulic system. However, it is also conceivable to operate the adjustment device mechanically, electrically or pneumatically. But the securing clip can also be moved between the open position and the closed position by the rider himself/herself or by an employee of the amusement ride.
To prevent the rider from falling out of the rider holder during the ride, the restraining device must be fixed in the closed position. For this purpose, lockable securing devices can be used, which, in the locked state, fix the restraining device in the closed position and, in an unlocked state, release the restraining device. The securing devices can be formed very differently and fix the restraining device in the closed position, for example, mechanically, pneumatically or hydraulically, so that the term "lockable" does not assume the presence of a mechanical lock.
In many cases, either the rider or an employee of the amusement ride has to move the securing device into the locked state. In the process, operating errors can occur, so that the securing device cannot ensure that the restraining device is fixed in the closed position. As a result, the safety of the rider cannot be ensured, which must be avoided under all circumstances. In order to prevent a ride from starting in spite of an operating error of the securing device, control units are disclosed, for example, in U.S. Pat. No. 7,837,566 B2, which are able to detect whether the securing device has been locked correctly. Some control units are configured so that a ride cannot be started if the control units detect that at least one of the securing devices has not been locked. However, the control units are unable to describe their own state and identify disturbances. Therefore, it can occur that the control unit does not work correctly to the extent that it reports that the securing device is locked although this is not the case. This is problematic to the extent that the employees of the amusement ride may tend to rely on the message of the control unit and omit manual or visual verifications of the securing device.
In many cases, the securing devices are arranged within reach of the rider. In control units which are configured as described, the riders can prevent or delay a ride by intentionally not transferring the securing device into the locked state or by unlocking it again. In addition, the riders can, for example, introduce metal plates that they bring along into the securing device so that the control units detect the locking of the securing device although this is not the case. Consequently, a ride can be started although at least one of the securing devices has not been locked, which can lead to unforeseeable consequences.

Rider holder and vehicle having at least one such rider holder for an amusement ride, method for operating a vehicle, and amusement ride having at least one such vehicle


A settling tank for settling inorganic matter such as sand, grit and plastic from a fluid stream such as a waste water stream entering a waste water treatment facility. A set of mechanical mixers directing energy into the fluid stream so as to cause spiraling flow parallel to a substantially horizontal axis. The mixer shaft is rotated by a motorized drive, the speed of which is adjustable to account for variations in fluid flow rate so that an optimal balance is achieved between the settling of inorganic solids and continuing suspension and resuspension of organic solids for subsequent treatment.

Waste water entering a waste water treatment facility normally includes a substantial quantity of sand, grit and plastic, in addition to suspended settleable organic matter (sludge). One of the first steps in treating the waste water is to remove these non-organic solids so that the waste water can then be treated by oxidation and biodegradation techniques without the non-organic solids fouling or wearing out the mechanical components of the facility. Frequently the plant design requires that inorganic solids having a specific gravity of 2.65 and higher and a size of 65 mesh or larger should be removed before further treatment of waste water.
Although it is important that the non-organic solids be removed early in the treatment process, it is equally important that the organic solids such as sewage sludge not be removed at that point. This is because at that point the waste water has not been subjected to the oxidation and biodegradation processes that clean the water by consuming the sewage. Therefore, if the organic solids are removed along with the inorganic solids before the treatment process, then the removed solid will contain raw sewage which presents difficult problems of storage and disposal of a possibly hazardous waste.
Fortunately, the inorganic solids are generally distinguishable from the organic solids on the basis of their specific gravities. Inorganic solids such as sand and grit tend to be much denser than organic solids such as sludge. Therefore, inorganic solids tend to settle to the bottom of a fluid stream quicker than organic solids.
In most of the existing waste water treatment facilities, it is this difference in density between inorganic solids and organic solids that is used to remove the inorganic solids. Typically, the incoming waste water flows through an inorganic removal chamber that may be referred to as a "grit chamber" or "settling tank". The settling tank normally operates with a continuous flow through it, rather than as a batch at a time. Waste water flows into the chamber through an inlet and out through an outlet. At the bottom of the tank is generally a mechanism for collecting the material that settles to the bottom between the inlet and outlet. The collection mechanism is commonly a set of buckets on a continuous chain which scoop up the material and transport it and dump it into a collection point, or an airlift pump which pumps the grit from the bottom of the chamber to an outside collection point, or some other suitable mechanical or electromechanical system.
It can be appreciated that the removal efficiency of a settling tank is directly affected by the flow rate through the tank. With a high flow rate the retention time of the waste water in the tank is quite low, and so the solids have little time to settle to the bottom where they can be collected. In addition, a high flow rate tends to induce turbulence in the tank, which further impairs and slows the settling of solids. On the other hand, a low flow rate produces a high retention time for the waste water and also promotes laminar flow. The combination of a higher retention time and more laminar flow in low flow conditions as compared to high flow conditions, allows more solids to settle.
This relationship between flow rate and the efficiency of solids removal presents a problem in the design and operation of the settling tanks. It is desired that the flow rate through the settling tank be sufficiently low that inorganic solids are settled and removed, or at least the larger and denser inorganic solids are settled and removed. But as explained above, it is important that the flow rate not be so low that the organic solids are settled and removed. Therefore, unless the relationship between settling efficiency and flow rate is addressed in some manner, a settling tank will achieve the optimal balance between removal of inorganic solids and removal of organic solids at one flow rate, but will remove too little of the inorganic solids at higher flow rates and too much of the organic solids at lower flow rates.
The way this problem has typically been addressed is to induce a flow in the settling tank that is independent of the flow rate of waste water through the settling tank. This induced flow does not have much effect on the average retention times in the settling tank, but it does have an important effect on the turbulence of the settling tank. The settling efficiency then becomes more a function of the induced flow conditions than a function of the flow rate, thereby diminishing the effect of flow rate on settling efficiency. In addition, the induced flow can be made variable to respond to changing flow rates. At a high flow rate, which results in low retention times and high turbulence, the induced flow can be minimized so that the settling tank will collect the inorganic solids. At a low flow rate, which results in high retention times and low turbulence, the induced flow can be maximized so that the settling tank will not collect the organic solids. In other words, the induced flow mechanism varies the variables that determine settling efficiency (turbulence and water velocity) to offset changes in the other variable (retention times). The variances in the induced flow that are necessary to offset variances in the retention times can be determined by experimentation and by known principles of fluid dynamics based on the dimensions and configuration of the settling tank and the characteristics of the waste water.
The systems for inducing a flow in the settling tank are generally either those that induce a flow about a vertical axis or those that induce a flow about a horizontal axis. Those that induce a flow about a vertical axis commonly use an impeller mounted on a vertical shaft near the center of the settling tank, so that fluid circulates in one vertical direction through the impeller near the center of the tank and then in the opposite direction along the walls of the tank. Due to the action of the impeller, the fluid also tends to circulate about the impeller shaft, thereby resulting in a spiralling toroidal flow pattern as the fluid circulates about the shaft simultaneously with its vertical movement. While such a "vertical shaft mixer" design can be effective in theory, tanks with such designs tend to be quite inefficient because of the asymmetric flows as seen in plan view, and turbulence caused by the conservation of angular momentum, i.e. the Coriolis effect.
The other type of system for inducing a flow in the settling tank, in which the flow is about a horizontal axis, typically relies upon the injection of compressed air from a line of jets positioned horizontally in the settling tank. The horizontal position of the line of jets is generally offset from the horizontal centerline of the settling tank, so that the rising air bubbles in the fluid drive the fluid upward on the side of the tank having the jets, across the top of the tank toward the wall opposite the jets, down the wall opposite the jets and across the bottom of the tank back to the wall with the jets. At the same time, the fluid is flowing through the tank perpendicular to the direction of the induced flow, so that the overall result is a spiral flow about the longitudinal axis of the tank. A serious drawback to the use of compressed air jets to induce flow in the settling tank is that the degree of induced flow cannot be modulated closely as a function of flow rates. The induced flow tends to be either "on" or "off" but with no reliable and precise way of adjusting it.
It can be appreciated that there is a need for a system to produce an induced flow in a settling tank in a way that is reliable, simple and adjustable. Preferably such a system would be adaptable for use with settling tanks that are currently in existence without the need for extensive design changes.


Apparatus and method of assembling an interior fuel systems component suitable for immersion in liquid fuel in a tank to an exterior component of different material weldable to the fuel tank. The exterior component is preferably formed of HDPE having a hardness in the range of about RR-40 to RR-80 and has an array of projections extending therefrom. The interior component has a corresponding array of radially extending slots having barbed edges for push on connection to the projections. The slots permit sliding movement due to material swelling of the projection on the barbs without loosening of the connection. The internal component is preferably formed of material comprising a member of the group consisting of Polyamide, Polyketone and Polyphenylamide and having a hardness in the range of about R112, such that the barbs deform the lugs to maintain the connection.

Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
Not Applicable.
The present invention relates to fuel system components such as, for example, fuel vapor flow control valves for use in liquid fuel tanks employed in motor vehicles. In present production of passenger and light truck vehicles, it is required to have valves for controlling the flow of fuel vapor from the fuel tank to a storage canister and also to provide valves capable of closing the vent in the event the vehicle is tipped beyond a threshold amount or rolled from the upright position. In providing such components in vehicle fuel tanks, problems have been encountered in forming the components of materials which are acceptably dimensionally stable when immersed in the fuel and yet which are compatible with the fuel tank. The choice of the materials for the fuel tank is generally dictated by the fabricating processes employed and a need for materials which may be welded together. Unfortunately, it has been found that the properties of the materials employed for the components immersed in the fuel are not compatible with welding attachment to the fuel tank materials.
In order to provide attachment to the fuel tank of such fuel vapor system components in a manner which will produce a robust and leak-proof attachment, it has been desired to weld the components onto the tank after assembly over an access opening in the tank. Thus, the material of the attached external component must be weldable to the tank material. Where the tank is formed of resinous or plastic material, it has been found virtually impossible to match the properties of the interior immersed components with those of the attachment components and to provide the requisite mechanical and fuel resistant properties needed for the immersed components. Therefore, it has long been desired to provide a way or means of attaching fuel system components which are designed for immersion in the fuel to the remaining components of the system which are designed to be attached and secured onto the tank by weldment. The problem has been particularly acute in finding a way or means of attaching fuel vapor flow control valves and rollover valves to fuel tanks formed of plastic material.
The present invention provides a solution to the problem of attaching fuel system components to a fuel tank where the components intended to extend interiorly of the tank and immersed in the fuel are formed of different material from the components intended for attachment exteriorly of the tank and particularly those intended for attachment to the tank by weldment.
The present invention employs an exterior component formed of material suitable for weldment to a fuel tank and an interior component formed of different material suitable for prolonged immersion in the liquid fuel in the tank in which the interior component is attached to the exterior component prior to assembly onto the tank. The present invention employs an exterior component which has a plurality of projections or lugs extending downwardly therefrom in a spaced array; and, the interior component has a correspondingly spaced array of radially extending slots with the sides of the slots having engagement surfaces, preferably barbs formed thereon for push-in attachment over the lugs on the exterior component. The barbs are preferably of harder material and deform the lugs to retain them in position. The radial slots with their barbed edges permit swelling and expansion of the immersed component and sliding of the lugs on the barbs without weakening or loosening of the engagement of the barbs on the projecting lugs.

Assembly of fuel system components on a fuel tank


An audio control console includes a housing. The housing includes: an operating board provided with a plurality of rows of a plurality of channel strips each including a plurality of operating members each for controlling a value of a parameter of an audio signal processing in a signal processing channel; a support board comprising a flat blank region allowing an object to be placed thereon; and a stepped surface connecting the operating board and the support board to each other. The stepped surface connects the operating board and the support board to each other such that a height position of the support board is above a height position of the operating board. The blank region is inclined downward toward the stepped surface.

Technical Field
The present invention relates to an audio control console such as a mixing console.
Description of the Related Art
There has been known an audio controller such as a mixer which blends together multiple sound sources or voice signals to produce combined output signals. Such an audio controller includes a plurality of channel strips provided with various kinds of controls (i.e., operating members) to control sound volumes and sound qualities of the respective sound sources that have input to signal processing channels.
In recent years, digital mixers which convert input voice signals to digital signals to process the voice signals have achieved widespread use in addition to analog mixers using analog processing to process input voice signals. Any of the digital mixers and the analog mixers executes signal processing in each channel such as gain control, equalization, panning control, and control for main sound volume (a fader). In the analog mixers, a plurality of channel strips respectively corresponding to signal processing channels are provided on an operation panel, and each of the channel strips is provided with a multiplicity of controls for individually controlling parameters for signal processings, resulting in increase in size of the operation panel. In the digital mixers, each channel strip can be assigned to a desired signal processing channels, and each control can be assigned to a desired one of parameters for the signal processings, resulting in reduced number of channel strips and controls provided on the operation panel, leading to a reduced-size housing. A mixer of a console type having a plurality of channel strips on an upper surface portion of a housing is called a mixing console, for example.
A digital mixer (i.e., a digital mixing console) is typically provided with a display on a main body for various kinds of settings. In such a digital mixer, signal processings such as controls of sound quality and sound volume, delay, and reverb are achieved by software. Also, larger packing densities, higher speed, and the like of semiconductor (such as a CPU, a DSP, and a memory) can greatly reduce the area of circuit components, printed circuit boards, and so on disposed in the digital mixer when compared with analog mixers, allowing greater functionality and less space.
For such mixing consoles, for example, various constructions have been proposed such as (i) a construction disclosed in Patent Document 1 (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-171227) in which devices including a speaker, a keyboard, and a mouse can be placed on an upper portion of a housing and (ii) a construction disclosed in Patent Document 2 (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2010-226261) in which even though the mixing console has a multiplicity of channels, the console is constructed so as to have a relatively small width and accordingly requires less space. Also, Patent Document 3 (Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 05-123224) discloses a construction in which a table for supporting a script is provided on an operating board of a mixing console.


In a case where a touch position is a peripheral portion, when spatial characteristics which correspond to an area and a length of a touch region exceed a first condition corresponding to a predetermined area and length, it is determined that the touch region is caused by a palm. When the spatial characteristics do not exceed the first condition, it is determined that the touch region is caused by a finger. In a case where a touch position is a central portion, when the spatial characteristics exceed a second condition corresponding to an area and a length that are larger than those of the first condition, it is determined that the touch region is caused by a palm. When the spatial characteristics do not exceed the second condition, it is determined that the touch region is caused by a finger.

1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a touch pad which is mounted on a notebook PC and the like.
2. Description of the Related Art
In recent years, there has been a tendency for touch pads mounted on a notebook PC and the like to be increased in size. However, in a case of the increase in size of the touch pad, there is a tendency for a touch of a palm to be performed when operating a keyboard, and thus an operational error is likely to occur. The present invention relates to means for preventing the operational error (palm determination function or palm rejection function).
U.S. Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2009-0095540 discloses that the determination of whether being a finger or a palm is performed on the basis of spatial characteristics such as an area, shape, and the like of a touch region and that an operation is set to be in an invalid state when being determined to be a palm. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent an operational error from occurring due to a palm. However, when spatial characteristics of a touch region when being touched by a finger are similar to those when being touched by a palm, it may be determined that a touch is caused by a palm in spite of the touch being caused by a finger, and thus an operation may be set to be in an invalid state. Thus, there is a problem in that it is not possible to smoothly perform a normal operation by a finger.